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People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
Genetics & Birth Defects
Strange organisms shed light on how living things evolve
Researchers at Seattle’s Institute for Systems Biology have discovered how a group of organisms that thrive in places where conditions would kill most living things —such as hot springs, geysers, and salt ponds — rapidly adapt to changing conditions.
Top maternity hospitals in Massachusetts stop early elective deliveries
Early deliveries, from induced labor or C-sections, has been on the rise for more than a decade. One reason is that we’ve come to expect that babies born “a little bit early” will be fine. But babies born even a bit early are at risk for a variety of problems.
RNAi explained: Animation by Ballard’s Arkitek Studios
A video explaining RNA interference — or RNAi — from the journal Nature Reviews Genetics. The animation by Ballard-based Arkitek Studios.
Health on the Web: This week’s top picks
A drug that wakes the “near dead.” Romneycare and abortion. Low-birthweight affects adult cognitive abilities. Technology to connect doctors and caregivers. Trisomy 18 and Rick Santorum’s daughter.
Finding cures for rare diseases: Film and discussion, Dec. 13th
NWABR’s Community Conversation Series this month will include a showing of excerpts from the soon to be released film RARE, a documentary about the struggle to find new treatments for Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS), a rare genetic disorder.
Cystic fibrosis drug improves lung function and symptoms, Seattle-led study finds
A new drug, called ivacaftor or VX-770, significantly improves lung function and other symptoms in cystic fibrosis patients with a specific mutation — Seattle Childrens/UW study finds
Racial labels may be poor predictor of medical risks
Certain races are thought to be of higher risk for certain diseases, but a study of 1,000 people who identified themselves as European American, African-American, or Hispanic finds that the genetic variability within racial groups was so great that racial labels would not be a reliable guide for medical treatment.
The Modern Legacy of Ancient Viruses
May Eastside Science Café: The Modern Legacy of Ancient Viruses May 9, 2011 – 7 p.m. – Wilde Rover In the past century, we’ve seen outbreaks of new viruses such as HIV, SARS and several flu strains, but what about the viruses that came before them? These ancient, extinct viruses (“paleoviruses”) affect modern humans, too. [...]
Scientists work out the curious genetics behind common form of muscular dystrophy
Early genetic studies indicated that the gene was located at the end of chromosome 4. But where the gene was and how it became activated was a puzzle.
Consumer gene tests “misleading and of little or no practical use” — GAO
Listen to examples of deceptive or dangerous marketing used by genetic testing companies, obtained through undercover contact and telephone calls.
One in ten Washington infants born prematurely
“This week alone, 183 more babies will be born prematurely.”
Personalized Medicine’s Frontier Is Coming Into View
By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. August 18, 2009 Our parents and grandparents share family values, traditions, and heirlooms with us to help define who we are. They also pass along genes that determine our eye color, height, and risk for developing certain medical conditions. Decades of experience have shown us that inherited risks play a [...]
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