China holds the largest searchable DNA database in the world; genetic information from over 40 million individuals that is ostensibly to be used in the fight against crime. However, the way in which these data are collected and the protection given to providers leave much to be desired, according to the European Society of Human […]
Screening for both genetic diseases and chromosomal defects with a single biopsy improves pregnancy rates
Couples who are undergoing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in order to avoid transmission of inherited diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis, should also have their embryos screened for abnormal numbers of chromosomes at the same time, say Italian researchers. By doing this, only embryos that are free not only of the genetic […]
Increasing the age limit for Lynch syndrome genetic testing may save lives
Copenhagen, Denmark: Raising the age limit for routine genetic testing in colorectal cancer could identify more cases of families affected by Lynch syndrome, a condition that accounts for around 5% of all colon cancers, according to new research presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics. Professor Nicoline Hoogerbrugge, head of […]
Genomics tracks migration from lost empires to modern cities
Copenhagen, Denmark: New genomic tools are enabling researchers to overturn long-held beliefs about the origins of populations, a researcher told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics. Dr Eran Elhaik, Assistant Professor of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, said that new technologies were enabling scientists to track the origins […]
New genomic analysis promises benefit in female urinary incontinence
Copenhagen, Denmark: Urinary incontinence in women is common, with almost 50% of adult women experiencing leakage at least occasionally. Genetic or heritable factors are known to contribute to half of all cases, but until now studies had failed to identify the genetic variants associated with the condition. Speaking at the annual conference of the European Society […]
Obesity can cause cardiovascular ill-health, even in the young
Copenhagen, Denmark: Higher than normal body mass index (BMI) is known to lead to cardiovascular ill-health in mid-to-late life, but there has been limited investigation of its effect in young, apparently healthy, adults. Researchers have now shown that having a higher BMI can cause worse cardiovascular health in those aged as young as 17, according to […]
Open-access genetic screening for hereditary breast cancer is feasible and effective
Copenhagen, Denmark: Ashkenazi Jewish women are known to have a predisposition to the inherited breast cancers BRCA1 and BRCA2, but currently genetic testing in this group is limited to women affected by breast and ovarian cancers and those who are unaffected but have a family history of the disease. Ms Sari Lieberman, a genetic counsellor […]
Balancing rights and responsibilities in insurers’ access to genetic test results
Copenhagen, Denmark: Genetic testing is widely used across the developed world in order to diagnose and predict disease. However, along with its usefulness comes concern about how others, such as employers and insurers, can have access to and use its results. This in turn leads to the risk that individuals may avoid medically recommended genetic testing, […]
Market pressures and inadequate production are hampering access to essential antibiotics, including those for treating babies and children
Antibiotics used to treat a variety of common bacterial infections are becoming more difficult to access, mostly because the drugs are less profitable for manufacturers to produce and market. Writing in a commentary in Clinical Microbiology and Infection [1], researchers say the problem is particularly acute for formulations needed to treat sick babies and children. […]
Brachytherapy rather than surgery is a good option for cancer of the penis
Vienna, Austria: Results from the largest group of men treated for cancer of the penis by a single institution have shown that treatment with brachytherapy (a type of radiotherapy) is a good option that can be used instead of surgery in many cases. The study was presented at the ESTRO 36 conference and is important […]