your information resource in human molecular genetics
2008-06-26
Enzyme Variant May Contribute to Off-task Behaviour in ADHD A single genetic change to an enzyme that regulates dopamine in the brain could account for the difficulties some children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have staying on task.
Prenatal Test for Devastating Skin Disorder A rare genetic disorder that causes extremely fragile skin and mucosa can be easily diagnosed in a first trimester fetus thanks to a non invasive immunofluorescence procedure.
Improving Stroke Therapy The mechanism that may cause the undesirable bleeding associated with blood clot 'dissolving' enzymes is described in a paper published online.
Cut Off the Food to Spite the Tumour Researchers have uncovered the important role of a molecule in directing the formation of blood supply to tumours.
Muscle Degeneration Researchers have identified a molecule that is involved in muscle ageing, and show that a balance between this and another known factor interferes with regeneration.
Preventing Amyloid Formation Epigallocatechin gallate, an antioxidant popularly known as EGCG, can prevent the formation of amyloid fibrils, toxic protein aggregates associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Helping Seizures With Acidity Activation of certain acid-sensing molecules in the brain can interrupt severe seizures associated with epilepsy, reports a study published online.
A Drug Against Blood Cancer May Also Fight Lupus A drug used to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells, could also be useful for the treatment of the chronic autoimmune disease lupus erythematosus.
Zipping To Sites Of Infection The way in which immune cells focus in on invading bacteria within infected tissues is reported online.
Multi-Part Bacterial Sensor One process through which immune cells "sense" the presence of dangerous bacteria is revealed online.
Rare 'de novo' Mutations Contribute To Schizophrenia Risk Individuals who have a non-familial form of schizophrenia are approximately eight times more likely than those without the disease to harbour copy number mutations in their genomes.
New Prognostic Marker For Breast Cancer Scientists have identified a genetic variant that strongly predicts poor survival among women with breast cancer, particularly after treatment with a commonly used form of chemotherapy.
Cellular Senescence And Ageing Two tumour suppressor genes with crucial effects on the ability of cells to divide and replicate have been found to affect the ageing process in mice.
Sequence Of Response Immunologists have uncovered a molecular mechanism that alerts the immune system to the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.