New research suggests the primary genetic mutation that causes alpha-1 antritrypsin deficiency, a condition that results in liver damage and a wide variety of other problems, also affects risk for liver disorders associated with cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited, childhood-onset disorder that causes the lungs, intestines and pancreas to become clogged with mucus, resulting [...]

Tags: AAT, JAMA

A new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association adds to the mounting evidence that genetic variations impact the efficacy of clopidogrel (Plavix®), a drug used to prevent blood clots in people who have had a heart attack or stroke and also those with peripheral artery disease and unstable angina.
Previous research has shown [...]

Tags: angina, clopidogrel, clotting, heart attack, JAMA, peripheral artery disease, Plavix, stroke

Treatment advances have dramatically increased the cure rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common diagnosed cancer in children, from less than 10% in the 1960’s to more than 80%.
But even in those children who are cured, the response to treatment varies from patient to patient. For some, just a couple of weeks [...]

Tags: ALL, JAMA, leukemia, minimal residual disease

It’s a situation that would leave many physicians at a loss. A 55-year-old man with a family history of dementia asks his doctor about genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease. Is there a test? Which test should be used? Is testing even appropriate?
This week the Journal of the American Medical Association published [...]

Tags: genetic association study, JAMA, user guide

SNPwatch gives you the latest news about research linking various traits and conditions to individual genetic variations. These studies are exciting because they offer a glimpse into how genetics may affect our bodies and health; but in most cases, more work is needed before this research can provide information of value to individuals. For that [...]

Tags: 9p21, blood sugar, CAD, coronary artery disease, diabetes, Harvard, JAMA, Joslin Diabetes Center

SNPwatch gives you the latest news about research linking various traits and conditions to individual genetic variations. These studies are exciting because they offer a glimpse into how genetics may affect our bodies and health; but in most cases, more work is needed before this research can provide information of value to individuals. For that [...]

Tags: adiponectin, colorectal cancer, JAMA, obesity

The latest indication that the medical establishment takes personalized medicine seriously – this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association is a special theme issue dedicated to genetics and genomics.
The journal points to the incredible pace of recent discoveries associating specific genetic markers to various diseases and conditions. It even adds a few new revelations [...]

Tags: 23andMe, American Medical Association, JAMA, personalized medicine