General Medical & Cancer News

[Guest guest]

" Pediatric researchers have identified hundreds of gene variations that occur

more frequently in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

than in children without ADHD. Many of those genes were already known to be

important for learning, behavior, brain function and neurodevelopment, but had

not been previously associated with ADHD. "

Just when you thought you had heard it all about ADHD and lived through it,

there is something new to learn. Read entire article here:

Source: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com:80/articles/155087.php

_____________________________________

Indothelin Causes Decrease in Cerebral Blood in Alzheimer's

" Dr. C Palmer and colleagues at the University of Bristol have

discovered that endothelin converting enzyme-2 (ECE-2) may cause the decrease in

cerebral blood flow seen in Alzheimer's disease. These results are presented in

the July 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Aß peptide, which

accumulates in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients, is thought to lead to

tightening of the blood vessels and reduction of cerebral blood flood. ECE-2 may

contribute to these symptoms by converting an inactive precursor to

endothelin-1, which constricts blood vessels. "

More at this web site:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com:80/articles/155387.php

Source: American Journal of Pathology

_______________________________________

Using DNA to Detect Disease:

" A study reported in the December issue of the journal Blood showed that serum

DNA was able to identify a secondary cancer in a patient before it was

clinically apparent.

Of special interest in this current study is the finding that these DNA

signatures occurred primarily in non-coding regions of the genome, where

geneticists typically would not look. Chronix scientists believe these findings

may lead to a better understanding of the genetics of disease development, while

advancing Chronix's own ability to harness these early changes for diagnostic

and prognostic applications. "

This is only a portion of entire article. Balance can be found here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com:80/articles/155217.php

____________________________________

Breast Cancer Research Leads To Patient Trial

Of New Generation Cancer Drug:

" The drug, called olaparib, specifically targets hereditary cancer caused by

faulty BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The small scale patient trial has shown remarkable

benefit for patients with breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. The trial was

carried out by The Institute of Cancer Research with the Royal Marsden Hospital,

working with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, with results published in the

New England Journal of Medicine on 9 July 2009.

" The journal's editorial said: " This trial not only reports important results -

it also points to a new direction in the development of anticancer drugs. " The

results of the Phase I trial showed that, despite having had many standard

therapies prior to taking olaparib, more than half of patients' tumours shrank

or stabilised. One of the first patients to be treated is still in remission

after two years. Phase I trials look at dosage levels, side effects and if the

drug shrinks tumours.

" Professor Alan Ashworth, Director of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research

Centre, said: " We are delighted that the work we did in the lab has been

translated so quickly into benefit for patients. We are hopeful that olaparib

could provide a new targeted treatment for women with BRCA-related breast

cancer. However, this drug is still at an early stage of development and further

clinical trials are necessary to fully evaluate its potential. "

The initial research into a potential targeted treatment for BRCA-related breast

cancers was carried out by Professor Ashworth's team at the Breakthrough

Research Centre in London, working with KuDOS pharmaceuticals, now part of

AstraZeneca . It is through this research that the discovery of a very specific

weakness of these tumours was made. This research enabled the further

investigation of olaparib in a clinical trial.

Entire article can be seen at this web site:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com:80/articles/155525.php

http://www.breakthrough.org.uk

____________________________________

FYI,

Lottie