Gene responsible for heart attack will assist in diagnosis

Gene responsible for heart attack will assist in diagnosis An extended family living in the American mid-west state of lowa has helped scientists to find the first gene that unequivocally causes heart attacks in late middle age. The family has an extensive history of heart attacks with the risk highest at about the age of 60. A heart attack becomes almost inevitable in members of the family who have inherited a defect in gene known to be involved in the formation of blood vessels. Eric Topol Cleveland Clinic Foundation on Ohi said that although the genetic defect has only been found in this family, its discovery could lead to a better understanding of heart attacks in the general population. "This stands out because of its potential impact. It's a great first step towards understanding the basis of coronary artery disease at its genetic studies that once you get the first gene it starts to unlock whole story". Doctors eventually traced 26 closed family members with heart problems. The researcher took blood samples for DNA analysis in the hope of finding a common genetic link to the discover. The study found that a region of chromosome 15 - one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human genome - contained a linkage "hotspot" that was known from previous studies to include a gene called MEF2A.

Low Aspirin does little for heart diseas to patients of diabetes Dr. Michele Sacco, from the Consorzio Mario Negri in Italy, and other members of the Primary Prevention Project (PPP) collaborative Group note that low dose aspirin reduces the risk of heart disease- related death by more that 40 percent when used by patients with at least one heart disease risk factor. However, other research suggests that diabetics are less likely to benefit from aspirin. Therefore, the PPP group analyzed results for their study group, which included 1031 diabetics 3753 nondiabetics followed for around 4 years. Patients were randomly selected to recieve aspirin or no aspirin and vitamin E or no vitamin E.

Modified poliovirus targets brain Cancer Cells Under normal circumstances, being injected with the poliovirus would be considered a bad thing. But for a patient suffering from brain cancer, that could one day be an effective means of treating the disease. A modified form of polio has been tested in monkyes and kills cancer cells while leaving healthy neurons untouched. Now scientists writing in the December 9 issue of the proceeding of the National Academy of Science have shed light on The mechanism behind this selectivity.