Novel gene loci identified, that influence “extreme“ tallness and body weight
Within the framework of the international consortium GIANT (“Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits”) NGFN-scientists analyzed gene loci associated with the upper versus the lower 5th percentiles of body mass index, height and waist-to-hip ratio, as well as clinical classes of obesity. On the basis of a genome-wide search including over 250.000 individuals they identified eleven new gene loci. The results were published in Nature Genetics.
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Genetic Causes of Heart Attack are Deeply Ingrained
An international consortium has defined more precisely the impact of the congenital factor on cardiac infarction. The international team headed by NGFN scientists Prof. Dr. Jeanette Erdmann, Lübeck, and Prof. Dr. Heribert Schunkert, Munich, identified 104 genetic loci, strongly associated with the risk of developing a cardiac infarction. In total, 46 chromosomal sections are now identified, that are confirmed to cause this threatening disease with genome wide significance. Thus the risk of a heart attack is much deeper ingrained than assumed so far.
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Germany has a „big“ problem - Workshop on obesity prevention in Germany
In Germany more than half of the population suffer from overweight, about every fourth German even suffers from obesity. To counteract this development it is necessary to enhance the prevention of obesity in Germany. Therefore it is essential to approach obesity within a social consensus. Stakeholders from different areas such as politics, science, public health service, food industry as well as the media are most commonly considered to be responsible and are called to act jointly. This was the conclusion drawn by the experts at of the workshop “Perspectives of Obesity Prevention in Germany – Possibilities and Limits” that successfully took place on the 25th October 2012 in Berlin.
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New diagnostic method improves treatment options for breast cancer - Protein test finds hidden molecule
Immunotherapy can be a successful treatment option for breast cancer
patients. The method uses antibodies, which bind to the surface
molecules of the tumor, hindering its growth. One of these antibodies
targets the HER2 protein, which is not actually present in all variants
of the tumor. Now researchers have developed a sensitive new diagnostic
method that could allow more patients to benefit from the treatment.
This new test also detects cancer cells that appear to be free of HER2 –
but which do actually carry the molecule.
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Breaking
the „1000 genomes barrier"
International research team publishes a catalogue of genome variants of various population groups NGFN-researchers within the 1000 genomes project sequenced 1092 human genomes from individuals around the world and reported the data of rare genetic variations in a detailed catalogue. The results, reported in the journal “Nature”, will help researchers to interpret the genetic changes in people with disease. It is the first study worldwide, in which more than 1000 individual genomes have been sequenced and characterized.
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Cancer-promoting effect of a protein elucidated: LIN28B induces growth of neuroblastoma
Neuroblastomas are the most common solid tumors in children and account for 15% of pediatric cancer deaths. Therefore the search of new therapeutic strategies for targeting neuroblastoma is of great relevance. An international research team led by Prof. Dr. med. Johannes H. Schulte from the National Genome Research Network (NGFN) now successfully found a potential opportunity for such novel therapeutic strategies. The team proved the tumor promoting effect of the protein LIN28B in the development of neuroblastomas. The results of this work have been published in the journal Nature Genetics.
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Tracking the novelty-induced exploration and the Parkinson's disease: ion channels control dopamine neurons
How are the activity of neurons, the novelty-induced exploration and the Parkinson's disease connected with each other? The teams of NGFN researchers Professor Birgit Liss from the University of Ulm and Professor Jochen Roeper from the University of Frankfurt discovered a specific protein, an ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP) ion channel, to be crucial for the activity of dopamine substantia nigra neurons. Consequently they are important for the pathophysiology of the Parkinson disease but also for novelty-dependent exploratory behavior. These new scientific findings which have been funded amongst others by the National Genome Research Network (NGFN) are now published in Nature Neuroscience.
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