Fatal Infantile Mitochondrial Disease With OPA1 MutationFatal Infantile Mitochondrial Disease With OPA1 Mutation
The authors establish a causal link between a pathogenic homozygous OPA1 mutation and human disease, emphasizing the vital role played by OPA1 in mitochondrial biogenesis. Journal of Medical Genetics (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - March 14, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pathology & Lab Medicine Journal Article Source Type: news
Mitochondrial Function: The Other Half Of The Anti-Aging Story
Telomere science changed everything we knew about aging. But today, I want to talk to you about the other half of the anti-aging equation.
Regular readers will already know by protecting your telomeres, you can slow — and even reverse — the aging process.
You see, your telomeres are like little countdown clocks that protect the DNA in your cells. They shorten with each cell division. And the shorter they get the faster you develop the signs of aging. So by protecting and nourishing them, you can literally turn back the years.
I was one of the first doctors to put telomere science to the test. And for years, I’ve bee...
Source: Al Sears, MD Natural Remedies - March 9, 2016 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Al Sears Tags: Anti-Aging mitochondria telomere Source Type: news
NBC Show 'Chicago Med' Should Be Ashamed Of Its Handling Of A Deadly Childhood Disease
NBC should be ashamed for how they have portrayed kids with mitochondrial disease and their families. They owe them an apology. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - March 7, 2016 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Judy Stone Source Type: news
[In Depth] Why do cells' power plants hang on to their own genomes?
A new study suggests why mitochondria—the powerhouses of the cell—still hang on to tiny genomes of their own. These organelles originated more than a billion years ago as single-celled organisms that were swallowed by larger cells. Since then the mitochondrial genome has shrunk, with many genes migrating to the cell nucleus. But that makes it all the more puzzling that mitochondria have retained any genes at all, especially considering that mutations in some of those genes can cause rare but crippling diseases. The new study, based on an analysis of more than 2000 different mitochondrial genomes, revealed some common f...
Source: ScienceNOW - February 26, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Laurel Hamers Tags: Evolution Source Type: news
Genome editing: US could apply UK's approach to evaluate safety, ethics
Two potential ways of stamping out serious disease by manipulating the genomes of human embryos are under intense public debate: mitochondrial replacement therapy and germline genome editing. The UK has already approved the former. Its process could guide the US as it considers allowing either or both of the techniques. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - February 25, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Genome editing: US could apply UK's approach to evaluate safety, ethics
(Brown University) Two potential ways of stamping out serious disease by manipulating the genomes of human embryos are under intense public debate: mitochondrial replacement therapy and germline genome editing. The UK has already approved the former. Its process could guide the US as it considers allowing either or both of the techniques. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - February 25, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
[Policy Forum] Finding an ethical path forward for mitochondrial replacement
Mitochondria are organelles found in nearly all cells in the human body and are best known for their role in regulating cellular energy balance (sometimes described as the “energy factory” of the cell). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the only source of DNA in human cells found outside of the nucleus. The mitochondrial genome contains 37 genes (as compared with the 20,000 to 30,000 found in the nuclear genome), but pathogenic mutations in mtDNA can lead to rare, serious diseases that tend to affect organs with the highest energy demand and can be severely debilitating, progressive, and sometimes fatal in childhood (1, 2)....
Source: ScienceNOW - February 12, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Anne B. Claiborne Tags: Ethics of New Technologies Source Type: news
Mitochondrial Replacement 'Ethically Permissible,' IOM SaysMitochondrial Replacement 'Ethically Permissible,' IOM Says
If the FDA agrees with the finding of a new report, scientists will now be allowed to further investigate whether mitochondrial replacement techniques can prevent mitochondrial DNA disease. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - February 9, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Ob/Gyn & Women ' s Health News Source Type: news
We'll NEVER give up on our baby: Says parents of four-year-old with mitochondrial disease
WHEN Maxwell Smith was born four years ago weighing a healthy 8lbs 5oz, he was, in the words of his parents Emma and Pete, the perfect baby boy. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Source: Daily Express - Health - February 8, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Clinical Investigations of Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques Are 'Ethically Permissible'
Conducting clinical investigations of mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRT) in humans is ethically permissible as long as significant conditions are met, says a new Academies report. One of those conditions, among many laid out in the report, is that initial MRT clinical investigations should be limited to women who are at risk of transmitting a severe mitochondrial genetic disease that could lead to a child's early death or substantial impairment. Read More (Source: News from the National Academies)
Source: News from the National Academies - February 3, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Hope for Huntington's Disease Patients
An estimated 30,000 Americans have Huntington's disease and more than 200,000 people are at risk of inheriting it. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) researchers identified a mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi1) that may be a promising molecule for the treatment of patients with this disease. (Source: Disabled World)
Source: Disabled World - January 24, 2016 Category: Disability Tags: Medical Research Source Type: news
Mitochondrial DNA Levels in the Blood May Predict Risk of Developing Chronic Kidney Disease
High levels of mitochondrial DNA in the blood was linked with a 25% reduced risk of developing chronic kidney disease compared with low levels, report researchers at the conclusion of a study. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - January 22, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Mitochondrial troublemakers unmasked in lupus
Mitochondria could provoke the inflammation characteristic of lupus, an autoimmune disorder affecting the joints, skin, heart and brain. Byproducts of cells' power stations goad certain white blood cells into making mesh traps as a precursor to cell death. Mitochondrial DNA is spewed out, triggering a warning and a response that can damage various organ tissues. Mouse studies suggest this disease mechanism might respond to potential drug therapies. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - January 21, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
How the cell's power station survives attacks
Mitochondria, the power generators in our cells, are essential for life. When they are under attack -- from poisons, environmental stress or genetic mutations -- cells wrench these power stations apart, strip out the damaged pieces and reassemble them into usable mitochondria. Now, scientists have uncovered an unexpected way in which cells trigger this critical response to threats, offering insight into disorders such as mitochondrial disease, cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative disease. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - January 14, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Baby who defied doctors' expectations survives to see Christmas
Parents of a baby who defied doctors' expectations and survived despite having life support machine turned off are looking forward to Christmas together (Source: Telegraph Health)
Source: Telegraph Health - December 23, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: death survivor addenbrokes baby mitochondrial families disease lee moore chrostmas dead Source Type: news
