http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. A metanalysis published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine has confirmed that polymorphisms (SNP) in the gene coding for interleukin-28 (IL28B) influence natural hepatitis C viral (HCV) clearance and response to pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV). Information about IL28B genotype could be used to provide personalized medicine and target treatment options effectively. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-hepatitis-treatment-importance-interleukin-il-.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:00:01 EST news276775322 Previous research had identified an individual's subjective response to alcohol as a marker of alcoholism risk. The A118G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene had also been previously associated with subjective response to alcohol in heavy drinkers. A new study extends this research, showing that the OPRM1 genotype seems to moderate the pleasant and stimulating effects to alcohol among alcohol-dependent (AD) individuals but not its unpleasant and sedative effects. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-mu-opioid-receptor-genotype-marker.html Addiction Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:00:05 EST news274695807 Alcohol use during adolescence is harmful on multiple levels, including an increased risk for developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs) later in life. Recent research suggests that genetic influences are moderated by environmental factors. A new study of gene-environment interactions between a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene (A118G) and the risk for developing an AUD during adolescence, with a specific focus on the influence of parenting practices or affiliation with deviant peers, has confirmed that environmental factors can moderate this association. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-environmental-factors-mitigate-genetic-alcohol.html Addiction Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:00:05 EST news271604537 The causes of autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are complex, and contain elements of both nature (genes) and the environment. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Molecular Autism shows that common genetic polymorphisms (genetic variation) can add up to an increased risk of ASD. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-adding-autism.html Autism spectrum disorders Mon, 15 Oct 2012 05:25:02 EST news269497423 Three previously unknown loci, or regions of the genome, are associated with an increased risk of Japanese men developing prostate cancer, according to RIKEN-led research on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with this disease1. An SNP associated with prostate cancer at a fourth locus—related to one found earlier in European men—appears to be associated with diet, the first hard evidence of such an environmental link. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-diversifying-populations-japanese-men-plotting.html Cancer Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:25:24 EST news262599913 Pancreatic cancer patients with a genetic marker linked to increased expression of the receptor for vitamin D have higher rates of overall survival, according to findings presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges conference, held here June 18-21. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-genetic-marker-vitamin-d-receptor.html Cancer Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:30:01 EST news259325751 New research confirms that a variant on the patatin-like phospholipase-3 (PNPLA3) gene increases risk of steatosis and fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). The PNPLA3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs 738409 may represent an important genetic predictor and potential therapeutic target in chronic HCV liver damage. Study details are published in the July issue of Hepatology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-gene-variant-fatty-liver-fibrosis.html Genetics Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:45:37 EST news228476717