Mutations in 3 genes linked to autism spectrum disorders – Mutations in three new genes have been linked to autism, according to new studies including one with investigators at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. All three studies include lead investigators of the Autism Sequencing Consortium (ASC).
April is Autism Awareness Month — The fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2012 – 5th annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2012. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events.
Study of twins suggests genetic component of autism spectrum disorders may be moderate — Environmental component may be substantial – Shared environmental factors ? experiences and exposures common to both twin individuals ? accounted for 55% of strict autism and 58% of more broadly defined autism spectrum disorders (ASD), revealed by researchers. Genetic heritability accounted for 37% of autism and 38% of ASD.
5-minute screen identifies subtle signs of autism in 1-year olds — NIH-funded study demonstrates feasibility and effectiveness of conducting systematic screening during well-baby check-ups – A novel strategy developed by autism researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, called “The One-Year Well-Baby Check Up Approach,” shows promise as a simple way for physicians to detect cases of Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD), language or developmental delays in babies at an early age.
Interactive Autism Network releases findings on critical safety issue, launches new research survey on pregnancy – The Interactive Autism Network (IAN), reveals the preliminary results of the first major survey on wandering and elopement among individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and announces the launch of a new research survey on the association between pregnancy factors and ASD.
Palomar Expands International Presence With the Opening of Subsidiary in Germany – Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMTI), a maker of aesthetic laser devices (laser device for skin), announced that it will establish a subsidiary in Germany to help the company gain international market share.
QNEXA? Phase 3 Data in The Lancet Show Significant Weight Loss and Broad Improvements in Co-Morbidities – VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) announced that detailed results from the 56-week CONQUER study were published in The Lancet evaluating the efficacy and safety of investigational drug QNEXA in 2,487 patients across 93 sites in the US.
Using EEGs to diagnose autism spectrum disorders in infants — Machine-learning system finds differences in brain connectivity – A computational physicist and a cognitive neuroscientist at Children’s Hospital Boston have come up with the beginnings of a noninvasive test to evaluate an infant’s autism risk.
Geron Initiates Clinical Trial of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Therapy — First Patient Treated at Shepherd Center in Atlanta – Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) announced the enrollment of the first patient in the company’s clinical trial of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, GRNOPC1.
Autism genome project identifies genetic variants that may make people susceptible to disorder – Autism is caused in part by rare genetic changes called copy number variants (CNVs), revealed by an international consortium of researchers from more than 70 universities, including the University of Utah.
Federal District Court Rules Isolated DNA Claims are Not Patentable — Myriad to Appeal Decision to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals – A federal judge on Monday struck down patents on two genes — BRCA1 and BRCA2 — linked to breast and ovarian cancer. Shares of Myriad Genetics (MYGN.O) fell as much as 7 percent, a day after the ruling.
Life Technologies, TGen and US Oncology partner on groundbreaking breast cancer sequencing research — First-of-its-kind project will sequence difficult breast cancers to provide insight into treatment strategies – Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) announced that it is collaborating with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and US Oncology to sequence the genomes of 14 patients afflicted with triple negative breast cancer whose tumors have progressed despite multiple other therapies.
