Rett Syndrome could be defeated by man made virus
Rett Syndrome, which took the life of Coleen Rooney's teenage sister Rosie earlier this year, causes neurological and physical regression. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - October 19, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Redefining Rett syndrome gene dysfunction
Whitehead Institute researchers have redefined the function of a gene whose mutation causes Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental autism spectrum disorder. This new research offers an improved understanding of the defects found in the neurons of Rett syndrome patients and could lead to novel therapies for the disease. "The action of the MECP2 protein is just the opposite of how it was held for the past 15 years," says Whitehead Founding Member Rudolf Jaenisch, who is also a professor of biology at MIT. "It was thought that this protein globally repressed the expression of methylated DNA... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - October 7, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Autism Source Type: news
Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmen...
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs), cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. These disorders are usually first diagnosed in early childhood and range from a severe form, called autistic disorder, through pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), to a much milder form, Asperger syndrome. They also include two rare disorders, Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. (Source: About.com Mental Health)
Source: About.com Mental Health - September 28, 2013 Category: Psychiatry Tags: health Source Type: news
First pre-clinical gene therapy study to reverse Rett symptoms
The concept behind gene therapy is simple: deliver a healthy gene to compensate for one that is mutated. New research published in the Journal of Neuroscience suggests this approach may eventually be a feasible option to treat Rett Syndrome, the most disabling of the autism spectrum disorders. Gail Mandel, Ph.D., a Howard Hughes Investigator at Oregon Health and Sciences University, led the study. The Rett Syndrome Research Trust, with generous support from the Rett Syndrome Research Trust UK and Rett Syndrome Research & Treatment Foundation, funded this work through the MECP2 Consortium... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - August 22, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Autism Source Type: news
First pre-clinical gene therapy study to reverse Rett symptoms
(Rett Syndrome Research Trust) The concept behind gene therapy is simple: Deliver a healthy gene to compensate for one that is mutated. New research published today in the Journal of Neuroscience suggests this approach may eventually be a feasible option to treat Rett Syndrome, the most disabling of the autism spectrum disorders. Gail Mandel, Ph.D., a Howard Hughes Investigator at Oregon Health and Sciences University, led the study. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - August 20, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Cholesterol connection to Rett Syndrome
Statins, a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs found in millions of medicine cabinets, may hold the key to finding a treatment for Rett Syndrome, a severe autistic disorder that affects young girls. The Connecticut-based Rett Syndrome Research Trust (RSRT) has sponsored work to identify a number of targetable genes that act on the Rett gene, MECP2 (methyl-CpG-binding protein 2), in mice. Results of the cholesterol metabolism in Rett syndrome study are published in the journal Nature Genetics... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - July 31, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology / Neuroscience Source Type: news
Statins suppress rett syndrome symptoms in mice
(Rett Syndrome Research Trust) Statins, a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs found in millions of medicine cabinets, may help treat Rett Syndrome, according to a study published today in Nature Genetics. The Rett Syndrome Research Trust funded this work with generous support from the Rett Syndrome Research Trust UK and Rett Syndrome Research & Treatment Foundation. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - July 28, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Statins improve symptoms in Rett mouse model
Baylor College of Medicine researchers found that a mutation in a gene involved in the synthesis of cholesterol may have a role in treating patients with Rett Syndrome. (Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)
Source: Baylor College of Medicine News - July 26, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
A Mutant Strain Of Zebrafish Is An Alternative Model For Rett Syndrome In Humans
An important challenge for neuroscientists is to find cures for diseases that affect the central nervous system, such as autism, Alzheimer's, or Parkinson's disease. For this purpose, researchers use several vertebrate species as model organisms. The zebrafish has recently received much attention because it has many advantages over other vertebrate models. For example, development of its nervous system can be followed from its earliest stages in naturally behaving individuals... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - July 18, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology / Neuroscience Source Type: news
Frontiers news briefs: July 16
(Frontiers) This week's news briefs include: drinking water can boost cognitive performance; differences in brain circuitry make it more difficult for impulsive persons to control their craving for cigarettes; a mutant strain of zebrafish is an alternative model for Rett syndrome in humans; and how tick-borne diseases evade the tick's immune system. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - July 16, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
D.C. Premier of Documentary on Rett Syndrome
The award-winning documentary RETT: THERE IS HOPE -- which showcases the struggles of families living with Rett Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder that strikes toddler girls -- will hold its Washington, D.C. premier on July 9 at the National Academies' Keck Center. The panel discussion following the screening will include IOM member Huda Zoghbi and IOM President Harvey V. Fineberg. Members of the public are invited to attend. Learn more (Source: News from the National Academies)
Source: News from the National Academies - July 8, 2013 Category: Science Source Type: news
Discovery Of A Mutant Gene In Rett Syndrome
Discovery of a mutant gene responsible for a disease is a milestone, but for most conditions, it may be only a first step towards a treatment or cure. Understanding Rett Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, is further complicated by the fact that the implicated gene controls a suite of other genes. Two papers, published in Nature Neuroscience and Nature, reveal key steps in how mutations in the gene for methyl CpG-binding protein (MECP2) cause the condition... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - June 19, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Autism Source Type: news
Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmen...
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs), cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. These disorders are usually first diagnosed in early childhood and range from a severe form, called autistic disorder, through pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), to a much milder form, Asperger syndrome. They also include two rare disorders, Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. (Source: About.com Mental Health)
Source: About.com Mental Health - June 5, 2013 Category: Psychiatry Tags: health Source Type: news
Genetic Material From 'Dark Genome' Is Involved In Rett Syndrome
Researchers at the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program at IDIBELL led by Manel Esteller, ICREA researcher and professor of genetics at the University of Barcelona, have described alterations in noncoding long chain RNA sequences (lncRNA) in Rett syndrome. These molecules act as supervisor agents responsible of 'switch on' or 'switch off' other genes in our genome that regulate the activity of neurons. The work has been published in the last issue of the journal RNA Biology. Dark genome Only 5% of our genetic material are genes that encode proteins... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - May 6, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology / Neuroscience Source Type: news
'Dark genome' is involved in Rett Syndrome
(IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute) Researchers at the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program at IDIBELL led by Manel Esteller, ICREA researcher and professor of genetics at the University of Barcelona, have described alterations in noncoding long chain RNA sequences in Rett syndrome. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - May 2, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
