Labslink Research News

Asian carp DNA not widespread in the Great Lakes

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:23:37 PDT

Scientists from the University of Notre Dame, The Nature Conservancy, and Central Michigan University presented their findings of Asian carp DNA throughout the Great Lakes in a study published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. “The good news is that we have found no evidence that Asian carp are widespread in the Great Lakes basin.......> Full story

Painted turtle gets DNA decoded

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:04:55 PDT

Scientists have decoded the genome of the western painted turtle, one of the most abundant turtles on Earth, finding clues to their longevity and ability to survive without oxygen during long winters spent hibernating in ice-covered ponds.........> Full story

Misregulated genes may have big autism role

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:36:56 PDT

A new study finds that two genes individually associated with rare autism-related disorders are also jointly linked to more general forms of autism. The finding suggests a new genetic pathway to investigate in general autism research........> Full story

More accurate, sensitive DNA test allows early identification of fungus causing WNS

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:52:31 PDT

Even after researchers studying White Nose Syndrome (WNS) established that a fungus called Geomyces destructans is at the heart of the devastating disease, detecting it depended largely on finding dead or dying bats.......> Full story

Triple-negative breast cancer subtypes identified using microRNA

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:07:21 PDT

A new, large-scale study of triple-negative breast cancer shows that small molecules called microRNA can be used to define four subtypes of this aggressive malignancy.........> Full story

Genome-wide atlas of gene enhancers in the brain online

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:17:02 PDT

Future research into the underlying causes of neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia, should greatly benefit from a first-of-its-kind atlas of gene-enhancers in the cerebrum (telencephalon). This new atlas, developed by a team led by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is a publicly accessible.......> Full story

Target Meeting’s 2nd World Molecular & Cell Biology Online Conference Held on February 5-8, 2013: Join for Free

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:34:12 PDT

A Free Virtual Molecular & Cell Biology Conference at Targetmeeting.com featuring 80+ live presentations (17 sessions) from academic and industry experts around the world. Computer and internet connection are required. Do not need any special equipment or software. All the attendees just connect to the online conference's server to participate in real time with their distinguished counterparts from across the globe. They can participate from their home or office depending on their convenience, which will save them the trouble of traveling and in utilizing their time optimally. Furthermore, attendees can earn the free Certificates of Attendance. It is a great opportunity to learn about recent advances in the field of molecular & cell biology without travel and money cost.

Major sessions (17 sessions) include
Cell signaling pathways
Cell death
RNA biology
Stem cells
GPCR structure & function
Protein structure & modification
Animal model
Cancer biology & therapy
Cell adhesion & migration
Neuron biology & neurological diseases
And many more…

Keynote & Featured Speakers (80+) include
Devyn M. Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Neusentis Research Unit at Pfizer, USA.
Richard G. Pestell, Chairman & Associate Dean, Thomas Jefferson University, USA.
Rolf D Hubmayr, Walter and LeonoreAnnenberg Professor, Mayo Clinic, USA.
Rakesh Srivastava, Tyler Endowed Professor, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA.
Min Du, Professor & Chair, University of Wyoming, USA.
Leif Hertz, Professor, University of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada.
David Hecht, Professor, Chemistry, Southwestern College, USA.
Jacek Jawien, Professor & Chair, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Poland.
Steven Stacker, Head, PeterMacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia.
Dan Tulpan, Professor, University of Moncton, Canada.
Romano Maria Fiammetta, Professor, Federico II University of Naples, Italy.
Farid Menaa, Director R&D, Fluorotronics, Inc. USA.
Kathleen L. Hefferon, Professor& Director, Cornell University, USA.
Yin-Yuan Mo, Professor, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, USA.
Ming Pei, Director, West Virginia University, USA.
View all speaker profiles, visit www.targetmeeting.com

Researchers, medical professionals, and other related people can enjoy many benefits by participating in the 2nd World Molecular & Cell Biology Online Conference. They can know, learn and follow up on major developments taking place in the areas of interest. You can have the rare privilege of meeting the best international speakers and world-renowned researchers in real time. You can have that much-needed opportunity of networking and exchanging views with the target audience directly. Participants get a worldwide platform to express their opinions and ideas. With their experience and expertise, they can build a solid reputation and create a tremendous and lasting impact on the community. The 2nd World Molecular & Cell Biology Online Conference can create new opportunities for the leading life science professionals and can help them establish new associations with fellow researchers. According to Target Meeting, all presentations and discussions happen in real time. Importantly, they save the participants the hassle of travel; help them use their valuable time effectively and save money. Participants can ask questions, discuss problems, and exchange their ideas on the online platform. The conference presents them the ultimate opportunity to discuss their proposals and initiatives with global experts, something that perhaps would not have been possible using other methods of communication or correspondence. Target Meeting is a leading online life science conference organizer. Thousands of international speakers and ten thousands of attendees participated in the online symposiums and conferences at Target Meeting. With the persistent efforts, Target Meeting has achieved a well-respected reputation among the attendees and within life science communities, based on the quality of organizers, speakers and scientific programs, as well as excellent attendee experience. They have a solid record of having created outstanding opportunities for scientists and clinicians to share their latest research and in inspiring breakthrough ideas. The conferences are a great way to establish and maintain professional relationships with the best brains in medical science. Sign up early (free) to secure your seat, please visit http://www.targetmeeting.com. Upcoming Free Online Conferences at Target Meeting
• February 5-8, 2013, TM’s 2nd world molecular & cell biology online conference.
• March 19-21, 2013, TM’s 2nd world immunology online conference.
• April 16-18, 2013, TM’s 2nd world virology & microbiology online conference.
• May 21-23, 2013, TM’s 2nd world genetics & genomics online conference.
• June 18-20, 2013, TM’s 2nd world neuroscience online conference.
And many more… Contact: William Smith Target Meeting Williams @ targetmeeting dot com
Address: Belliare, TX, 77401, USA

Scientists find gene interactions that make cocaine abuse death 8 times more likely

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:31:17 PDT

Scientists have identified genetic circumstances under which common mutations on two genes interact in the presence of cocaine to produce a nearly eight-fold increased risk of death as a result of abusing the drug........> Full story

Gene in eye melanomas linked to good prognosis

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:06:18 PDT

Melanomas that develop in the eye often are fatal. Now, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report they have identified a mutated gene in melanoma tumors of the eye that appears to predict a good outcome........> Full story

Scripps Florida scientists create new approach to destroy disease-associated RNAs in cells

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:59:31 PDT

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have developed a new approach to alter the function of RNA in living cells by designing molecules that recognize and disable RNA targets. As a proof of principle, in the new study the team designed a molecule that disabled the RNA causing myotonic dystrophy........> Full story

Discovery of 100 million-year-old regions of DNA shows short cut to crop science advances

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:15:26 PDT

Scientists have discovered 100 million-year-old regions in the DNA of several plant species which could hold secrets about how specific genes are turned ‘on’ or ‘off’.......> Full story

Intelligence is in the genes, but where?

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:38:36 PDT

You can thank your parents for your smarts—or at least some of them. Psychologists have long known that intelligence, like most other traits, is partly genetic. But a new study led by psychological scientist Christopher Chabris of Union College reveals the surprising fact that most of the specific genes long thought to be linked to intelligence probably have no bearing........> Full story

Study finds how BPA affects gene expression, anxiety; Soy mitigates effects

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:43:30 PDT

New research led by researchers at North Carolina State University shows that exposure to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) early in life results in high levels of anxiety by causing significant gene expression changes in a specific region of the brain called the amygdala. The researchers also found that a soy-rich diet can mitigate these effects........> Full story

Oh, my stars and hexagons! DNA code shapes gold nanoparticles

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:51:11 PDT

DNA holds the genetic code for all sorts of biological molecules and traits. But University of Illinois researchers have found that DNA’s code can similarly shape metallic structures........> Full story

Scientists find new way to induce programmed cell death, or apoptosis

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:35:59 PDT

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Science have developed a technique to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, that could lead to new approaches to treating cancer........> Full story

UTHealth, French researchers discover gene defect for new syndrome

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:47:28 PDT

Research teams from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Paris, France have discovered a gene defect linked to a cluster of systemic complications, including life-threatening thoracic aortic disease and intracranial aneurysms. The new syndrome is similar, but distinct from known syndromes such as Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndrome........> Full story

Variations in sex steroid gene expression can predict aggressive behaviors

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:32:31 PDT

An Indiana University biologist has shown that natural variation in measures of the brain's ability to process steroid hormones predicts functional variation in aggressive behavior........> Full story

Newly modified nanoparticle opens window on future gene editing technologies

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:23:21 PDT

The scientific and technological literature is abuzz with nanotechnology and its manufacturing and medical applications. But it is in an area with a less glitzy aura-plant sciences-where nanotechnology advancements are contributing dramatically to agriculture.......> Full story

great tool to find conference and courses

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:36:59 PDT

Hey guys

Some people working at the NKI (Netherlands Cancer Institute) have setup a
search engine for scientific meetings. check the description and the website
as well, if interested...
This website, called biomeeter (www.biomeeter.com) is really well done as it
gives a nice overview of the upcoming meetings organized, and the search can
be done by field or keyword, or even by location (as it's always possible to
combine business with pleasure ;-)).
Another great characteristic of Biomeeter is that you can add yourself
meetings to the website and share the info. And last but not least: you can
get informed with an email alert about upcoming meetings in your field.
So, check it out and if you like it, spread the word in your lab and
institute!

Scripps Research Institute scientists find the structure of a key 'gene silencer' protein

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:52:17 PDT

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have determined the three-dimensional atomic structure of a human protein that is centrally involved in regulating the activities of cells. Knowing the precise structure of this protein paves the way for scientists to understand a process known as RNA-silencing and to harness it to treat diseases........> Full story

'Junk DNA' can sense viral infection

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:25:28 PDT

Once considered unimportant "junk DNA," scientists have learned that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) — RNA molecules that do not translate into proteins — play a crucial role in cellular function. Mutations in ncRNA are associated with a number of conditions, such as cancer, autism, and Alzheimer's disease........> Full story

New genes contributing to autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders uncovered

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:36:59 PDT

When chromosomes replicate, sometimes there is an exchange of genetic material within a chromosome or between two or more chromosomes without a significant loss of genetic material. This exchange, known as a balanced chromosomal abnormality (BCA), can cause rearrangements in the genetic code........> Full story

First description of a triple DNA helix in a vacuum

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:52:34 PDT

A team of researchers at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) have managed for the first time to extract trustworthy structural information from a triple helix DNA........> Full story

Direct transfer of plant genes from chloroplasts into the cell nucleus

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:13:58 PDT

Cyanobacteria are among the oldest life forms, and appear to be the forerunners of green chloroplasts in plant cells. They do not possess a true cell nucleus, but their genetic substance is made up of the same four building blocks as that of humans, plants and animals. Therefore, the genes encoded in the chloroplast DNA can also be read in the cell nucleus......> Full story

Study finds peoples' niceness may reside in their genes

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:39:12 PDT

It turns out that the milk of human kindness is evoked by something besides mom's good example. Research by psychologists at the University at Buffalo and the University of California, Irvine, has found that at least part of the reason some people are kind and generous is because their genes nudge them toward it........> Full story

A new application allows online statistical analysis of gene-expression data

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:20:17 PDT

The journal Computers in Biology and Medicine has published an article on the new IT application BootstRatio, created by IDIBELL researchers. The application allows online statistical analysis of data from gene expression. It is accessible through http://regstattools.net/br and any scientist is already to use it........> Full story

Tiny reader makes fast, cheap DNA sequencing feasible

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:30:06 PDT

Researchers have devised a nanoscale sensor to electronically read the sequence of a single DNA molecule, a technique that is fast and inexpensive and could make DNA sequencing widely available.......> Full story

Researchers develop better control for DNA-based computations

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:25:16 PDT

A North Carolina State University chemist has found a way to give DNA-based computing better control over logic operations. His work could lead to interfacing DNA-based computing with traditional silicon-based computing. The idea of using DNA molecules – the material genes are made of – to perform computations is not new; scientists have been working on it for over a decade........> Full story

World Molecular & Cell Biology Online Conference Held on February 16-18, 2012

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:52:52 PDT

Target Meeting (www.targetmeeting.com) is a leading life science conference organizer. They specialize in organizing conferences, symposiums and workshops, which brings together the known researchers, professors and life science suppliers from across the world to debate over the latest developments in biomedical research.

The 2012 World Molecular & Cell Biology Online Conference scheduled to be held on February 16 - 18, 2012. The 14 sessions, which will be spread over three days will discuss cell signaling pathways, neuron biology and neurological diseases, DNA / protein structure & function, stem cell biology, microbiology and immunology, receptor structure & function, gene expression & regulation, cell adhesion & migration, cancer biology / therapy and many more. More than 60 leading professors and researchers will give oral presentations at the online conference.

All the attendees just have to connect to the online conference's servers to participate in real time with their distinguished counterparts from across the globe. They can participate from their home or office depending on their convenience, which will save them the trouble of traveling and in utilizing their time optimally. According to Target Meeting, you don't need to have any fancy and special equipment to participate and exchange views. A good Internet connection and a headphone is all that is required.

Researchers and medical professionals can enjoy many benefits by participating in this World Molecular & Cell Biology Online Conference. They can know, learn and follow up on major developments taking place in the areas of interest. You can have the rare privilege of meeting the best international speakers and world-renowned researchers in real time. You can have that much-needed opportunity of networking and exchanging views with the target audience directly.

Participants get a worldwide platform to express their opinions and ideas. With their experience and expertise, they can build a solid reputation and create a tremendous and lasting impact on the community. The 2012 World Molecular & Cell Biology Online Conference can create new opportunities for the leading professionals and can help them establish new associations with fellow researchers.

According to Target Meeting, all presentations and discussions happen in real time. Importantly, they save the participants the hassle of travel; help them use their valuable time effectively and save money. Participants can ask questions, discuss problems, and exchange their ideas using an online platform. The conference presents them the ultimate opportunity to discuss their proposals and initiatives with global experts, something that perhaps would not have been possible using other methods of communication or correspondence.

The organizers have an impeccable reputation of having organized many such online conferences covering various aspects of life science. They have a solid record of having created outstanding opportunities for scientists to share their latest research and in inspiring breakthrough ideas. The conferences are a great way to establish and maintain professional relationships with the best brains in life science.

Target Meeting is organizing 80+ symposiums and 10+ conferences in 2012. For more information about symposiums and conferences, please visit www.targetmeeting.com. Sign up early to secure your seat.

Parasites or not? Transposable elements in fruit flies

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:43:05 PDT

Nearly all organisms contain pieces of DNA that do not really belong to them. These “transposable elements”, so called because they are capable of moving around within and between genomes, generally represent a drain on the host’s resources and in certain cases may lead directly to disease, e.g. when they insert themselves.......> Full story

New Queen's University research sheds light on gene destruction linked to aggressive prostate cancer

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:32:48 PDT

Researchers at Queen’s University have identified a possible cause for the loss of a tumour suppressor gene (known as PTEN) that can lead to the development of more aggressive forms of prostate cancer.......> Full story

Biochip measures glucose in saliva, not blood

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:08:51 PDT

For the 26 million Americans with diabetes, drawing blood is the most prevalent way to check glucose levels. It is invasive and at least minimally painful. Researchers at Brown University are working on a new sensor that can check blood sugar levels by measuring glucose concentrations in saliva instead........> Full story

Researchers develop gene therapy that could correct a common form of blindness

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:06:52 PDT

A new gene therapy method developed by University of Florida researchers has the potential to treat a common form of blindness that strikes both youngsters and adults. The technique works by replacing a malfunctioning gene in the eye with a normal working copy that supplies a protein necessary for light-sensitive cells in the eye to function. The findings are published today (Monday, Jan. 23) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences online........> Full story

Researchers find gene critical to sense of smell in fruit fly

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:07:16 PDT

Madison, Wisconsin - Fruit flies don't have noses, but a huge part of their brains is dedicated to processing smells. Flies probably rely on the sense of smell more than any other sense for essential activities such as finding mates and avoiding danger........> Full story

Receptor for tasting fat identified in humans

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:06:26 PDT

Why do we like fatty foods so much? We can blame our taste buds. Our tongues apparently recognize and have an affinity for fat, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. They have found that variations in a gene can make people more or less sensitive to the taste of fat........> Full story

Researchers find malignancy-risk gene signature for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:11:57 PDT

A malignancy-risk gene signature developed for breast cancer has been found to have predictive and prognostic value for patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer. The advancement was made by researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla........> Full story

ISU scientist helps find structure of gene-editing protein named Method of the Year

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:02:03 PDT

In the two and a half years since Adam Bogdanove, professor at Iowa State University in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, along with Matthew Moscou, a former graduate student in that department, discovered how a class of proteins from plant pathogenic bacteria find and bind specific sequences in plant genomes, researchers worldwide have moved fast to use this discovery........> Full story

Oxidative DNA damage repair

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:51:55 PDT

Oxidative stress damages DNA. Researchers in the Vetsuisse Faculty have now decoded the mechanism that repairs DNA damaged in this way. This repair mechanism could lead to less invasive approaches in cancer therapy and contribute to the development of new tests for the early diagnosis of cancer........> Full story

Built-in 'self-destruct timer' causes ultimate death of messenger RNA in cells

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:52:39 PDT

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered the first known mechanism by which cells control the survival of messenger RNA (mRNA) — arguably biology’s most important molecule. The findings pertain to mRNAs that help regulate cell division and could therefore have implications for reversing cancer’s out-of-control cell division. The research is described in today’s online edition of the journal Cell.......> Full story

Scientists discover second-oldest gene mutation

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:27:54 PDT

A new study has identified a gene mutation that researchers estimate dates back to 11,600 B.C., making it the second oldest human disease mutation yet discovered........> Full story

The mystery behind the building of muscle

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:22:09 PDT

Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have discovered two proteins that are essential for the fusion of muscle cells to build muscle fibres.......> Full story

Gene expression in mouse neural retina sequenced

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:31:26 PDT

The population of Eric Morrow’s seminar “Neurogenetics and Disease” comprises mainly undergraduates who were skipping down the halls of their elementary schools when the first drafts of human genome sequences were published. When Morrow, assistant professor of biology.......> Full story

Cancer cells' DNA repair disrupted to increase radiation sensitivity

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:17:25 PDT

Shortening end caps on chromosomes in human cervical cancer cells disrupts DNA repair signaling, increases the cells’ sensitivity to radiation treatment and kills them more quickly, according to a study in Cancer Prevention Research........> Full story

First analysis of tumor-suppressor interactions with whole genome in normal human cells

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:12:02 PDT

Scientists investigating the interactions, or binding patterns, of a major tumor-suppressor protein known as p53 with the entire genome in normal human cells have turned up key differences from those observed in cancer cells.......> Full story

BWH researchers develop a vaccine prototype stronger than traditional vaccines

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:15:05 PDT

Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) researchers have created a vaccine that is more potent than traditional vaccines available today. The glycoconjugate vaccine prototype is 100 times more effective than traditional glycoconjugate vaccines........> Full story

Scripps Research scientists uncover new role for gene in maintaining steady weight

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:06:32 PDT

Against the backdrop of the growing epidemic of obesity in the United States, scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have made an important new discovery regarding a specific gene that plays an important role in keeping a steady balance between our food intake and energy expenditure. The study may help scientists better understand the keys to fighting obesity and related disorders such as diabetes.......> Full story

New biosensor benefits from melding of carbon nanotubes, DNA

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:48:26 PDT

Purdue University scientists have developed a method for stacking synthetic DNA and carbon nanotubes onto a biosensor electrode, a development that may lead to more accurate measurements for research related to diabetes and other diseases.......> Full story

Enzyme boosts metabolism, prevents weight gain in mice

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:48:37 PDT

In a new study, scientists report that they substantially curbed weight gain, improved metabolism, and improved the efficacy of insulin in mice by engineering them to express a specific human enzyme in their fat tissue. Although the obesity prevention came at the significant cost of widespread inflammation, the research offers new clues about the connections among obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and inflammation........> Full story

Discovery of new gene could improve efficiency of molecular factories

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:43:49 PDT

The discovery of a new gene is helping researchers at Michigan State University envision more-efficient molecular factories of the future........> Full story

Researchers find gene variants that cause stent thrombosis in people with coronary artery disease

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:02:54 PDT

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered several gene variants contributing to early stent thrombosis (ST), a devastating and often deadly complication after coronary stent implantation in people with coronary artery disease. The team found that three of these variants were associated with impaired sensitivity to the common blood thinner clopidogrel, and a fourth that affects a blood platelet receptor involved in platelet aggregation and clot formation. Analyzing these gene variants will help researchers identify patients at risk for early stent thrombosis and take measures to prevent it. The data also provide a clinical and genomic score that indicates the best predictive accuracy for stent thrombosis risk. The findings are published in the Oct. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Through a partnership with the Institut de Cardiologie at Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital in Paris, France, the research team evaluated the DNA of 123 patients who had undergone stent implantation and developed early ST while treated with dual antiplatelet therapy, which is a combination of aspirin and clopidogrel. The patient information was shared as part of ONline ASSIstance for Stent Thrombosis (ONASSIST), a nationwide web registry of patients in France. Looking at 23 genetic variants previously associated with clopidogrel metabolism, platelet receptor function, and the control of blood clotting, they found four that were predictive risk factors of early ST. They also found that a low dose of clopidogrel in combination with a proton pump inhibitor, which is a drug to treat acid reflux, also increased the risk of early ST. "Our research indicates that early stent thrombosis is strongly related to ineffectiveness of clopidogrel in certain patients," said Jean-Sebastien Hulot, MD PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and Director Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Therapeutics at the Cardiovascular Research Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "Now that we have a clearer understanding of the mechanism behind the development of stent thrombosis, we can take preventive measures to protect our patients from this deadly complication." The research team compared the genetic code of people registered in the ONASSIST program with 246 coronary patients without early ST. They evaluated alleles, which are types of genetic variation that arise from mutations, of 23 genes. They found that CYP2C19*2 allele, which is commonly associated with loss of enzyme function, was highly prevalent in people presenting with early ST, as was the allele ABCB1 3435T, and both were infrequent in the control group. Two other alleles, CYP2C19*17 and ITGB3, were prevalent in the healthy control group but not in the early ST group indicating a protective effect. The scientists developed a genetic score where the more of these mutations that the patient had, the higher their risk for developing early ST. This risk was independent of clinical risk factors, including the use of proton pump inhibitors, acuteness of PCI, complexity of cardiac lesions, left ventricular heart function, and a high dose of clopidogrel. Only two of these risk factors– clopidogrel dose and proton pump inhibitor use – are modifiable in reducing risk for early ST. Eventually, the best prediction was achieved using the combination of both clinical and genetic factors. The authors conclude that this "clinico-genomic" approach could be useful prior to stent implantation to identify the patients with high-ST risk. "We found that, independent of other clinical risk factors, these genetic factors play a critical role in the development of early ST," said Dr. Hulot. "Altogether, our data will help clinicians understand the factors contributing to early ST, and allow them to reduce the outcome risk to these patients. Understanding the genetic factors provides researchers with new drug targets for future study to reduce the genetic risk as well."