http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. For women diagnosed with a form of breast cancer known as estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, tamoxifen is an essential drug used in the treatment and prevention of recurring breast cancer. Currently, tamoxifen is used in a one-size-fits-all approach where the same dose is prescribed for every patient. New research at Lawson Health Research Institute has found that in addition to patient-specific genetic factors, lack of exposure to vitamin D during the long winter months affects the body's ability to metabolize the drug. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-cold-winters-breast-cancer-treatment.html Cancer Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:30:01 EST news285512979 As part of an EU-supported IMI-PREDECT consortium (http://www.predect.eu), a Dutch study showed that anti-androgenic properties of the drug abiraterone may provide an additional mechanism of action in blocking tumour growth of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-additional-role-abiraterone-blocking-tumor.html Cancer Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:00:02 EST news282499173 (Medical Xpress)—Diagnosed in toddlers, X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common form of heritable rickets, in which soft bones bend and deform, and tooth abscesses develop because infections penetrate soft teeth that are not properly calcified.  Researchers at McGill University and the Federal University of Sao Paulo have identified that osteopontin, a major bone and tooth substrate protein, plays a role in XLH. Their discovery may pave the way to effectively treating this rare disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-elusive-substrate-protein-common-heritable.html Medical research Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:40:05 EST news280569805 Pompe disease, a severe glycogen storage disease appearing in Lapphunds is caused by a genetic defect in acid α-glucosidase gene. The same genetic mutation also causes the equivalent disease in humans. Based on this finding, canine Pompe disease can now be diagnosed with a genetic test. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-genetic-defect-pompe-disease-humans.html Genetics Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:40:03 EST news280158933 Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have discovered a new gene that regulates hemoglobin synthesis during red blood cell formation. The findings advance the biomedical community's understanding and treatment of human anemias and mitochondrial disorders. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-loss-essential-blood-cell-gene.html Medical research Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:00:07 EST news271507940 A Ben-Gurion University of the Negev research group led by Prof. Ohad Birk has identified a gene whose defect specifically causes myopia or nearsightedness. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-gene-myopia-nearsightedness.html Genetics Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:31:53 EST news234099102