Preimplantation factor (PIF), a 15 amino acid peptide secreted by viable embryos, is reported to play a crucial role in embryo implantation as well as achievement of maternal tolerance via local and systemic immunomodulation. Now, a recent genomic and proteomic study has provided further credence to the positive influence of PIF in embryo attachment and successful pregnancy. The findings have been published in the current edition of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Continue Reading

Several factors, such as race, donor age, and compliance with immunosuppressive agents, affect the survival of grafts after transplantation. There has been recent interest in the role of donor and recipient genetics in allograft survival, with extensive studies being conducted to evaluate this relationship. One such study published in the latest issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the presence of the gene caveolin-1 (CAV1) variant is associated with a high risk of renal allograft failure. Continue Reading

Heart transplant recipients are required to undergo routine biopsy tests throughout their lifetime in order to monitor the risk for organ rejection; the procedure usually being uncomfortable and nerve-wrecking. Now, a recent study reports that the blood test, AlloMap® (XDx, Inc.), in addition to clinical and echocardiogram evaluation, could help determine the risk for rejection and thereby safely reduce the number of endomyocardial biopsies to be performed. The findings of the multicentered, invasive monitoring attenuation through gene expression (IMAGE) trial are published in the recent online issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Continue Reading

Preterm birth (PTB), which may be associated with long-term liabilities, is identified as the leading cause of all deaths during the first month of fetal life, globally, and contributes to substantial medical, economic, and psychological burden. Such births are attributed to cost the US healthcare system more than $26 billion, annually. Now, a recent case-control study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports the identification of maternal and fetal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that enhance the risk for spontaneous preterm births (SPTB). Continue Reading

A collaborative study by an international group including researchers from the National Institutes of Health, Hannover Medical School, and University College London, has identified mutations in two genes, interleukin-10 receptor 1 (IL10R1) and interleukin-10 receptor 2 (IL10R2), that cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children. The discovery enabled researchers to bring about disease remission in one of the patient participants by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The findings are published in the recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Continue Reading

In a genome-wide association study on Alzheimer disease (AD), considered the largest ever, an international team of researchers have identified two novel gene variants that may possibly increase the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer, the most common form of the condition. The findings of the study are reported in the online issue of the journal Nature Genetics. Continue Reading

Two independent research teams in the UK and US have identified inherited genetic variants that raise the risk of developing childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The findings, claimed to be the first evidence of the role of genetic inheritance in childhood ALL, are published in the recent issue of the journal, Nature Genetics. Continue Reading

A remarkable rise in antibiotic resistance has necessitated the exploration of novel approaches for combating several bacterial illnesses. Now, a recent study published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, reports that iron triple helicate ([Fe₂L₃]⁴⁺), a synthetic metallomolecule, exhibits bactericidal activity by binding to the major groove of bacterial DNA, causing coiling and preventing its replication. Owing to the direct interaction with DNA, the molecule has been suggested to overcome multi-drug resistance. Continue Reading

Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT), the most common type of cancer affecting men between 15 to 44 years of age, has been strongly associated with genetic inheritance; however, the genetic factors linked to the development of the neoplasm are ambiguous. Now, the results of two independent genome-wide association studies conducted by US and UK researchers have reported genetic variations on chromosomes 5, 6 and 12 that considerably heighten the risk of developing TGCT. These variants are supposedly the first genetic risk factors identified for the cancer. Both the study findings are published in the recent online issue of the journal Nature Genetics. Continue Reading

A team of US researchers have linked the age of onset of natural menarche and menopause with 10 genetic variants identified at two chromosomal regions and 13 genetic variants at four chromosomal regions, respectively. As the early commencement of menarche and early/late onset of menopause are identified as risk factors for breast and endometrial cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, etc., this association marks a crucial step in developing preventive strategies for these conditions. Continue Reading