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, January 6, 2011       Volume 26   Number 1

Spotlight

New EGAPP™ Recommendation on Genetic Testing for Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

This month the independent Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP) Working Group has released a new evidence-based recommendation on the use of “cardiogenomic profiles” (or “heart health”) genetic tests. These tests are being marketed to physicians and the general public as a way to find out a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease, and some can be ordered online without the involvement of a physician. The EGAPP Working Group did not find enough evidence to indicate whether these tests should or should not be used to determine future cardiovascular risk in the general population, and currently discourages the use of this testing except in research settings. Access the EGAPP recommendation. Read more about the EGAPP recommendation. 

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Announcements

• Call for abstracts is now open for the 2011 American Public Health Association conference in Washington, DC.  Submit an abstract to the Genomics Forum. Deadline: February 9, 2011.

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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.

Autoimmune Disorders

Trace amounts of germ-killing molecules predict disease survival, NIH News, December 29

Cancer

Missing gene: A Cause for common brain cancer, Ivanhoe, January 5

Which types of cancer are hereditary, Boston.com, January 3

Family history not the sole risk for breast cancer, Reuters, December 31

Gene alteration identified that predisposes to syndrome with high risk of cancer, Medical News Today, December 31

Ovarian cancer progresses when genes are silenced, Ivanhoe, December 31

Genetic marker discovered that can better detect prostate cancer, Ivanhoe, December 30

Cardiovascular Disease

Masonic research scientists discover new genetic links to sudden cardiac death, wktv.com, January 3

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI)

Genome hackers, Forbes, December 30

Family History

Plan for 2011: Gathering your family health history, Health News, December 30

How to start a search for family medical history, eHow, December 29

Seeking signs of health risks in the family tree, The Star Online, December 29

Take time to make a record of family health history, Sign on San Diego, December 28

Flu

Singapore and US scientists first to develop a publicly available and fully automated system to detect dangerous genetic changes in influenza virus, Medical News Today, January 3

Genetic Testing

Genetic test regulation - one size does not fit all, PHG Foundation, January 5

An affordable, accessible test for genetic eye diseases? (and) new scorecard helps predict vision, life quality after cataract surgery, sys.con,com, January 4

Couple with genetic disorders gets greatest gift - a healthy baby, kdvr.com, January 4

Blood test breakthrough could help save babies and prevent miscarriages, This is Staffordshire, January 1

Your genome in minutes: New technology could slash sequencing time, Science Daily, December 31

Neurologic Conditions

Women with MS more likely to have MS-related gene than men, Medical News Today, January 6

Australians open to genetic testing for depression risk, Behavioral Healthcare, January 5

Kidney disease gene linked to debilitating mental disorder, Bombay News, January 5

Positive views on genetic testing for depression, PHG Foundation, January 4

Resurrecting the so-called "depression gene", Medical News Today, January 4

Large-scale screening of the Gaucher's disease-related glucocerebrosidase gene in Europeans with Parkinson's disease, Bioscience Technology, January 3

Researchers find gene that protects against dementia in high-risk individuals, Medical News Today, January 2

Genetic risks for stroke: International study group, Newswise, December 29

Newborn Screening

Newborn screening and early treatment for rare genetic disorder, Ivanhoe, December 29

Personalized Medicine

Personalized medicine suggested as future of health care, Health Care News, January 3

'Personalised' breast cancer tests, Google News, December 31

Boy's DNA aids his treatment, The Monterey County Herald, December 30

U.S. researchers find new way to gauge rare genetic condition, Medline Plus, December 29

Smoking, Tobacco and Alcohol

Family history of alcoholism increases risk of obesity, Citizen Report, January 5

Genetic variant + alcohol may trigger impulsive, violent behavior, Psych Central, January 3

Other

Scientists closer to finding treatment for life-threatening hereditary disease, Medical News Today, January 5

Taking DNA sequencing to the masses, The New York Times, January 4

Science magazine credits Turkish doctor’s gene study, Today’s Zaman, December 31

Studies say hispanics genetically predisposed to fatty liver disease, Los Angeles Downtown News, December 31

Breakthrough scientists receive awards from Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, Medical News Today, December 30

Gene machine, Forbes, December 30

Large-scale study identifies new genetic variants associated with height, Medical News Today, December 30

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Genomics in the Scientific Literature

Cancer

Influence of polymorphisms on EGFR targeted therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer
Giovannetti E, et al.
Front Biosci 2011;16:116-30

Psychological Impact of Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer: The Role of Cancer History, Gender, Age, and Psychological Distress
Hasenbring MI, et al.
Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2010 Dec

Systematic Review: Anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Treatment Effect Modification by KRAS Mutations in Advanced Colorectal Cancer
Dahabreh IJ, et al.
Ann Intern Med 2011 Jan;154(1):37-49

Diabetes

Genetics of type 2 diabetes: pathophysiologic and clinical relevance
Herder C & Roden M
Eur J Clin Invest 2010 Dec

Epigenomics

Genome-wide epigenetic modifications in cancer
Park YJ, et al.
Prog Drug Res 2011;67:25-49

Genetic Testing

A Clinical Scoring System for Selection of Patients for PTEN Mutation Testing Is  Proposed on the Basis of a Prospective Study of 3042 Probands
Tan MH, et al.
Am J Hum Genet 2010 Dec

Obesity

Genetics of eating behavior: established and emerging concepts
Grimm ER & Steinle NI
Nutr Rev 2011 Jan;69(1):52-60

Pharmacogenomics

Development and implementation of a pharmacist-managed clinical pharmacogenetics  service
Crews KR, et al.
Am J Health Syst Pharm 2011 Jan;68(2):143-50

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters: Effects on Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Anticancer Agents
Lee NH
Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2011 Jan

Other

Meta-analysis of Dense Genecentric Association Studies Reveals Common and Uncommon Variants Associated with Height
Lanktree MB, et al.
Am J Hum Genet 2010 Dec

HuGE

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

GAPP

For the most recent information on genomic applications in practice and prevention, please visit the GAPP Knowledge Base.

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