Nerdy Science Blog

ScienceDaily:

Systemic lupus can involve the joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain and blood. The disease occurs in about 31 out of every 100,000 people and affects women nine times more frequently than men. Scientists believe that lupus is caused by genetic variants that interact with each other and the environment.

The scientists found evidence of an association with multiple SNPs in three genes: ITGAM, KIAA1542 and PXK, and also at SNP rs10798269, which is not within any known gene. ITGAM is important for both the adherence of immune cells and for cleaning up pathogens. KIAA1542 is important for translating the DNA code into proteins. PXK encodes a molecule that transmits signals and controls complex processes in cells. These scientists also found association in genes previously associated with lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

Guess we need to change our lifestyle to prevent lupus. I read an interesting sentence from somewhere (I can’t remember where), it said like this, “If you won’t die because of heart disease today, you’re likely to die because of cancer.” How true.

PHYSORG:

The Scripps Research scientists found the mutation on a single genetic locus-the position of a gene on a chromosome-called Lmb3 that plays a major role in modulating autoimmunity in transgenic mice. The cloned version of the Lmb3 mutation resulted in developmental and functional alterations in T cells, including reduced migration, survival, and activation. The study also showed that the Lmb3 autoimmune-suppressing phenotype could be transmitted only through Coro1aLmb3 T cells.

Lupus is in my family gene, just like diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. It’s just the matter of time. A curse huh? At least we die slowly.

After reading “Should Children Be Permitted To Get Genetic Testing For BRCA 1/2 Mutations?” from ScienceDaily yesterday, my answer would be a “YES”. In my opinion, prevention is always better than curing. If I have children, I would give them a genetic testing just for their sake.

Does your kid have asthma? Perhaps it’s a gene-linked disease.

In a genetic study of more than 2,000 children, scientists established that genetic markers on chromosome 17 had a striking effect on the risk of asthma in children. They also found that these markers altered the levels of a new gene called ORMDL3, which was at a higher level in the blood cells of children with asthma than in those without.

—— ScienceDaily: Gene Linked With Childhood Asthma Is Identified, Giving Hope For New Therapies

Both my brother and I had asthma when we were young, it was such an irritating thing. We did not have the freedom to drink cold drinks (coke used to be luxury to us) and can’t run around like other kids.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiration system. People having asthma often facing breathing difficulties when they encounter certain factors, such as allergens (animals, dust), irritants (air, odours), emotional factors and also illness.

Long-acting bronchodilator is a piece of equipment that asthma patient should carry around. One of the most common long-acting bronchodilator is Serevent (salmeterol), I used to carry this inhaler around with me when i was still an asthma patient.

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