Genomics & Health Weekly Update

This weekly update provides information about the impact of human genomic research on disease prevention & population health. Learn more about the Genomics & Health Weekly Update.

Thursday, October 15, 2009       Volume 23   Number 16

 

Spotlight

Family Health History Still an Important Tool but Knowledge Gaps Remain

CDC addresses public health implications of the findings and recommendations just released by a multidisciplinary panel of the Family History State-of-the-Science Conference hosted by the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, on August 24-25, 2009. CDC participated as a partner in this conference. Read more. Access the panel’s statement.

 

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Announcements

• October is breast and ovarian cancer month. Learn more about: the role of family health history and risk categories, genetic testing information and guidelines, and genetic counseling.
• The Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS) has released presentations and Webcasts from the 20th meeting held October 8-9, 2009 in Washington, DC. Access these materials.
• New journal dedicated to translational research in biomedicine, Science Translational Medicine, launched as a companion publication to Science by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Read the debut edition.

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Genomics In The News

• The following are headlines from on-line news articles published during the past week.
• The headlines and lead sentence are exactly as they appear in the popular press & do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of CDC.
• Free registration required for some articles.

Cancer

Discovery of new cancer gene, Medical News Today, October 14

Genetic analysis may help physicians individualize treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, Medical News Today, October 14

Widely sought molecular key to understanding P53 tumor suppressor gene discovered, Science Daily, October 14

Aspirin fights colon cancer risk of gene disorder, Reuters Health, October 13

Genotyping at multifactorial loci modified breast cancer risk, HemOnc Today, October 12

Skin cancer gene 'inherited' in families, Press TV, October 10

Genetic testing guidelines for melanoma are developed, Medical News Today, October 9

Breakthrough in breast cancer gene sequencing, The Examiner, October 8

Breast cancer is linked to genetics, stltoday.com, October 8

Cardiovascular Disease

Common genetic mutation in breast cancer may point to new treatments for heart disease, Medical News Today, October 15

Gene mingling increases sudden death risk, EurekAlert, October 12

Preventing sudden death in sports by means of genetic testing: study launched, Medical News Today, October 9

Epigenomics

Salk researchers map the first complete Human Epigenome, Medical News Today, October 15

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI)

Recommendation to exempt US gene patents from infringement, PHG Foundation, October 14

Future raises moral issues in genetics, The Valley Vanguard, October 12

Teams call for 'Omics data sharing, genome project standards, Genome Web, October 9 [by free subscription only]

SACGHS prepping draft report on genomics education, Genome Web, October 9  [by free subscription only]

Genetic Testing

Are commercial genetic tests worth taking, Health Day, October 14

Family Ties: Genetic tests mean more than results, News 8 Austin, October 13

DTC genomics report for HHS expected by year's end, Genome Web, October 9 [by free subscription only]

Genetic testing important for those of Jewish descent, Dayton Daily News, October 9

Infectious Disease

Method of testing RNA unreliable, Ivanhoe Newswire, October 14

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Discovery of genetic defect may lead to better treatments for common gut diseases, Medical News Today, October 12

Mental Health

Researchers to study schizophrenia genetic, UPI, October 12

Project to look for autism gene, The Harvard Crimson, October 9

Personalized Medicine

Gene data tool advances prospects for personalized medicine, EurekAlert, October 8

Other News

Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies 22 regions associated with blood cell traits, Medical News Today, October 13

Ironing out the genetic cause of hemoglobin problems, Medical News Today, October 13

Researchers at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine identify gene responsible for regulating optic nerve regeneration, Medical News Today, October 12

Silence of the genes: Berkeley researchers get first look at gene-silencing human RISC-loading complex, Insciences Organization, October 12

Scientists decipher the 3-D structure of the human genome, Medical News Today, October 9

Researcher solves mystery about proteins that package the genome, Red Orbit, October 8

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Genomics in Scientific Literature

 

Aging

Genome-wide association studies in Alzheimer's disease
Bertram L & Tanzi RE
Hum Mol Genet 2009 Oct;18(R2):R137-45

Cancer

Colon cancer risk in persons at familial or hereditary risk aged < 55 years
Waldmann A, et al.
Z Gastroenterol 2009 Oct;47(10):1052-8

Family History of Cancer Rather Than p53 Status Predicts Efficacy of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin and Oxaliplatin in Relapsed Ovarian Cancer
Nicoletto MO, et al.
Int J Gynecol Cancer 2009 Aug;19(6):1022-8

Immuno-modulatory gene polymorphisms and outcome in breast and ovarian cancer
Kim S, et al.
Immunol Invest 2009;38(3-4):324-40

Family-based screening for colorectal cancer: The Australian perspective
Leggett BA
J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2009 Oct;24 Suppl 3:S29-32

The Counseling and Management of Young Healthy BRCA Mutation Carriers
Eitan R, et al.
Int J Gynecol Cancer 2009 Oct;19(7):1156-9

Cardiovascular Disease

Realising the potential of the family history in risk assessment and primary prevention of coronary heart disease in primary care: ADDFAM study protocol
Qureshi N, et al.
BMC Health Serv Res 2009 Oct;9(1):184

Environmental Health

The era of genome-wide association studies: opportunities and challenges for asthma genetics
Zhang G, et al.
J Hum Genet 2009 Oct

Epigenetics

Epigenetics: Origins and implications for cancer epidemiology
Nise MS, et al.
Med Hypotheses 2009 Oct

Molecular genetics and epigenetics of the cytochrome P450 gene family and its relevance for cancer risk and treatment
Rodriguez-Antona C, et al.
Hum Genet 2009 Oct

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI)

Perceptions of High-Risk Care and Barriers to Care Among Women at Risk for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer following Genetic Counseling in the Community Setting
Morgan D, et al.
J Genet Couns 2009 Oct

The development of a cancer genetic-specific measure of coping: the GRACE
Phelps C, et al.
Psychooncology 2009 Oct

Genetic Testing

Attitudes toward genetic testing in childhood and reproductive decision-making for familial adenomatous polyposis
Douma KF, et al.
Eur J Hum Genet 2009 Oct

Attitudes Toward Genetic Testing in a German Population
Balck F, et al.
Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2009 Oct

Development of Genomic DNA Reference Materials for Genetic Testing of Disorders Common in People of Ashkenazi Jewish Descent
Kalman L, et al.
J Mol Diagn 2009 Oct

Polymorphism of Human Cytochrome P450 2D6 and Its Clinical Significance: Part I
Zhou SF
Clin Pharmacokinet 2009 Nov;48(11):689-723

Infectious Disease

Host genetics influences on HIV type-1 disease
Fellay J
Antivir Ther 2009;14(6):731-8

Maternal and Child Health

Genetics of human neural tube defects
Greene ND, et al.
Hum Mol Genet 2009 Oct;18(R2):R113-29

Personalized medicine: a pediatric perspective
Arnold D & Jones BL
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2009 Nov;9(6):426-32

General Articles

Finding the missing heritability of complex diseases
Manolio TA, et al.
Nature 2009 Oct;461(7265):747-53

General practitioners' attitudes to assessment of genetic risk of common disorders in routine primary care
McCahon D, et al.
Clin Genet 2009 Oct

HuGE

For this week's human genome epidemiology articles, please visit the HuGE Navigator.

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