http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Johns Hopkins researchers say they have discovered specific chemical alterations in two genes that, when present during pregnancy, reliably predict whether a woman will develop postpartum depression. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-genetic-predictors-postpartum-depression-uncovered.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:02 EST news288291866 Childhood adversity can lead to chronic physical and mental disability in adult life and have an effect on the next generation, underscoring the importance of research, practice and policy in addressing this issue, according to a Viewpoint in the May 1 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on child health. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-shadow-childhood-adversity.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:07:06 EST news286535071 Despite efforts to reduce intervention rates during labour, vaginal births without medical intervention are becoming increasingly rare in Australia and overseas: nearly one in three women in Australian now give birth by caesarean; more than half are induced or have the process sped up with drugs; and 50% are given antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-caesarean-sections-susceptibility-disease.html Health Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:40:01 EST news286018037 Scientists from King's College London have identified patterns of epigenetic changes involved in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by studying genetically identical twins who differ in autism traits. The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, is the largest of its kind and may shed light on the biological mechanism by which environmental influences regulate the activity of certain genes and in turn contribute to the development of ASD and related behaviour traits. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-epigenetic-biological-mechanism-autism.html Autism spectrum disorders Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:00:01 EST news285877545 Researchers have generated preclinical data demonstrating that the protein KDM1, which functions as a lysine demethylase, is a potential target for glioma treatment, according to Gangadhara R. Sareddy, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Vadlamudi Laboratory at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, who presented the results at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-kdm1-therapeutic-glioma.html Cancer Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:00:01 EST news284629245 The blood of young and old people differs. In an article published recently in the scientific journal Blood, a research group at Lund University in Sweden explain how they have succeeded in rejuvenating the blood of mice by reversing, or re-programming, the stem cells that produce blood. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-reversing-blood-freshening.html Medical research Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:13:11 EST news283425183 A study published today in the journal Nature Genetics explores a new mechanism that may contribute to the development of several tumours, including Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, a type of cancer that affects more than a thousand new patients in Spain each year. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-link-cancer-failures-chromosome.html Genetics Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:35:49 EST news282908142 Type 2 diabetes has strong hereditary tendencies and the genes we are born with cannot be changed. However, new research from Lund University in Sweden shows that we can modify the function of the genes through the epigenetic changes that take place in the course of life. Epigenetic changes are usually described as a link between heredity and environment and come about as a result of factors such as ageing, chemicals, medication, diet, exercise and drugs. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-clues-heredity-diabetes.html Genetics Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:58:16 EST news282905889 At the 28th Annual EAU Congress currently ongoing in Milan until Tuesday, W. Tan and colleagues presented their study on neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy which showed that epigenetic changes are potential key drivers in the development of chemo resistance in bladder cancer. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-epigenetic-key-role-chemo-resistance.html Cancer Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:00:02 EST news282818485 Tumourigenesis is driven by genetic alterations and by changes in the epigenome, for instance by the addition of methyl groups to cytosine bases in the DNA. A deeper understanding of the interaction between the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms is critical for the selection of tumour biomarkers and for the future development of therapies. Human tumour specimens and cell lines however contain a plethora of genetic and epigenetic changes, which complicate data analysis. In contrast, certain mouse tumour models contain only a single genetic mutation and allow the analysis of nascent tumours. Scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have now discovered a recurring pattern of more than 13,000 epigenetic alterations in young tumours of the mouse. This genome-wide pattern was found to be partly conserved in human colon carcinoma, and may therefor facilitate the identification of novel clinical colon cancer biomarkers for early detection. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-colon-cancer-epigenetic-pattern-mice.html Genetics Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:00:03 EST news279472308 In a genome-wide analysis of 13 metastatic prostate cancers, scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center found consistent epigenetic "signatures" across all metastatic tumors in each patient. The discovery of the stable, epigenetic "marks" that sit on the nuclear DNA of cancer cells and alter gene expression, defies a prevailing belief that the marks vary so much within each individual's widespread cancers that they have little or no value as targets for therapy or as biomarkers for treatment response and predicting disease severity. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-personal-epigenetic-signatures-prostate-cancer.html Cancer Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:00:08 EST news278165142 (Medical Xpress)—A few years ago, scientists discovered an unexpected layer of information woven into the genetic code – a nucleotide called 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, or 5hmC. Its meaning was unknown at the time, but a new analysis suggests that a regulatory protein called MeCP2, known for its involvement in the nervous system disorder Rett Syndrome, recognizes 5hmC in the brain and facilitates activation of the genes in which it is most abundant. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-epigenetic-decoder-scientists-rett-syndrome.html Medical research Fri, 21 Dec 2012 06:32:24 EST news275293937 New research in human volunteers has shown that molecular changes to our genes, known as epigenetic marks, are driven mainly by ageing but are also affected by what we eat. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-evidence-epigenetic-effects-diet-healthy.html Genetics Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:46:32 EST news274013181 New insight into the aggressive behavior of certain adult B-acute lymphoblastic leukemias has provided researchers with a potential new prognostic biomarker and a promising new therapeutic target. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-biomarkers-behavior-therapeutic-adult-b-acute.html Cancer Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:10:01 EST news270726671 A study developed by researchers at the IDIBELL, led by Manel Esteller, has identified epigenetic changes that occur in adult stem cells to generate different tissues of the human body. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-adult-stem-cells-epigenome.html Medical research Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:27:25 EST news268399589 Since the 1960s, when the defoliant Agent Orange was widely used in Vietnam, military, industry and environmental groups have debated the toxicity of its main ingredient, the chemical dioxin, and how it should be regulated. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-dioxin-disease-reproductive-problems.html Medical research Wed, 26 Sep 2012 17:00:15 EST news267894676 Leading a sedentary lifestyle increases risk of developing type 2 diabetes. European scientists focused on delineating the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of exercise on our metabolism. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-molecular-mechanisms-benefits.html Other Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:30:06 EST news267347965 (HealthDay)—Distinct chromatin patterns accompany the development of heart cells from embryonic cells, providing a blueprint that could help identify the causes of congenital heart disease, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in Cell. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-distinct-chromatin-patterns-linked-heart.html Medical research Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:58:28 EST news267105497 A study in mice conducted by researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) suggests that a woman's risk of anxiety and dysfunctional social behavior may depend on the experiences of her parents, particularly fathers, when they were young. The study, published online in Biological Psychiatry, suggests that stress caused by chronic social instability during youth contributes to epigenetic changes in sperm cells that can lead to psychiatric disorders in female offspring across multiple generations. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-male-mice-exposed-chronic-social.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:12:50 EST news264852763 Using advanced computer simulations, University of Utah College of Pharmacy researchers have produced moving images of a protein complex that is an important target for anti-cancer drugs. This advancement has significant implications for discovering new therapies that could attack cancer without damaging the DNA of healthy cells, according to an article published July 31, 2012 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-molecular-movies-anti-cancer-drug-discovery.html Genetics Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:20:03 EST news264413053 Arsenic is a natural element in the environment, sometimes found in air, soil and water. Arsenic contaminated water is a global threat, currently affecting more than 100 million people. Both genetic and epigenetic changes drive arsenic-induced carcinogenesis and lung cancer is one of the main consequences of this process. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-scientists-explore-molecular-link-arsenic.html Cancer Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:00:01 EST news262439549 In what could be a breakthrough in the practical application of epigenetic science, U.K. scientists used human tissue samples to discover that those with osteoarthritis have a signature epigenetic change (DNA methylation) responsible for switching on and off a gene that produces a destructive enzyme called MMP13. This enzyme is known to play a role in the destruction of joint cartilage, making MMP13 and the epigenetic changes that lead to its increased levels, prime targets for osteoarthritis drug development. In addition to offering a new epigenetic path toward a cure for osteoarthritis, this research also helps show how epigenetic changes play a role in diseases outside of cancer. This finding was recently published online in the FASEB Journal. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-scientists-epigenetic-osteoarthritis.html Genetics Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:51:05 EST news260790657 (Medical Xpress) -- Collaboration between scientists at Cambridge University and the Babraham Institute have demonstrated a new technique that will significantly improve scientists' ability to perform epigenetics research and help unlock the door to understanding how cells develop and function. Epigenetics is a branch of genetics that studies modifications to the DNA which affect gene activity. The research, published today (April 26) in the journal Science, has important implications for stem cell research and the development of regenerative medicines. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-technique-epigenetics.html Genetics Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:00:10 EST news254665466 Changes in the epigenome, a structure that controls the function of genes, were found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-genetic-function-brain-linked-alzheimer.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:10:01 EST news254134377 It should be possible to significantly improve the response of common cancers to existing "classical" chemotherapy drugs, say scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), by introducing agents that alter the interaction of cancer cells with their immediate surroundings, called the tumor microenvironment. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-imaging-response-cancer-drugs-boosted.html Cancer Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:59:03 EST news253799935 (Medical Xpress) -- Women who fall pregnant while dieting are more likely to have a child that could become obese or diabetic in later life, new research suggests. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-epigenetic-twins-dieting-mothers-obesity.html Genetics Sun, 01 Apr 2012 05:48:34 EST news252478103 In a new study, researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have identified epigenetic changes – known as DNA methylation – in the blood of patients with schizophrenia. The researchers were also able to detect differences depending on how old the patients were when they developed the disease and whether they had been treated with various drugs. In the future this new knowledge may be used to develop a simple test to diagnose patients with schizophrenia. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-epigenetic-blood-samples-schizophrenia.html Genetics Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:53:29 EST news252060803 Epigenetics is the new hip science. Time Magazine's front cover and article, 'Why your DNA isn't your Destiny' from January 2010 explains why. Its more explicit subtitle provided the hook - 'The new science of epigenetics reveals how the choices you make can change your genes - and those of your kids'. Who wouldn't be interested in this? http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-epigenetics-epidemiology-hip-hype.html Genetics Thu, 15 Mar 2012 05:17:12 EST news251007329 Cancer is usually attributed to faulty genes, but growing evidence from the field of cancer epigenetics indicates a key role for the gene "silencing" proteins that stably turn genes off inside the cell nucleus. A new study from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) promises to speed research in the field by rapidly identifying the genes that epigenetic proteins can target for silencing. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-cancer-epigenetics-breakthrough-iding-genes.html Cancer Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:55:30 EST news250876524 (HealthDay) -- Maternal glycemic status and adiponectin levels are linked to epigenetic changes in the adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ), according to a study published online March 6 in Diabetes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-maternal-glycemic-status-linked-epigenetic.html Diabetes Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:20:01 EST news250490738