Navigation Links
Gene variations explain drug dose required to control seizures

the IGSP Center at Duke University Medical Center and senior author of the study.

"In medicine today, physicians must rely on a one-size-fits-all approach when making decisions about which drug to use and in what dose," Goldstein said. "This study makes clear that such an approach is not sufficient. People with epilepsy are genetically different from one another, and some of those differences affect their responses to drugs in a predictable manner.

"We are beginning to understand how genetics can be applied to medicine in such a way as to reduce trial and error and improve quality of life for patients," he added.

Epilepsy and seizures affect 2.5 million Americans of all ages, with approximately 181,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Phenytoin and carbamazepine are important first-line anti-epileptic drugs that are widely prescribed throughout the world, Goldstein said. Both drugs commonly spur adverse reactions.

"Physicians have long recognized that patients with the same condition differ in their responses to the same drugs," said neurologist and epilepsy specialist Sanjay Sisodiya, M.D., leader of the University College London effort and co-author of the study. "This study establishes the principle that genetic differences between patients do influence variation in response to anti-epileptic drugs for patients with epilepsy.

"In time, we hope to have a number of such gene variants that together can explain and predict more and more of the variation among patients in drug response, allowing better informed treatment decisions," he continued.

Control of epilepsy with phenytoin can be a difficult and lengthy process because of the wide range of doses required by different patients and the drug's narrow therapeutic index, explained study co-author Nicholas Wood, Ph.D., of the University College London. The therapeutic index refers to the ratio between a drug's toxic and therapeutic dose, used as a measure of the drug's r
'"/>

Source:Duke University Medical Center


Page: 1 2 3 4

Related biology news :

1. Researchers map of genetic variations implicated in disease
2. A new kind of mutation could explain numerous phenotypic variations in various species
3. Gene variations contribute to aggression and anger in women
4. Jumping gene helps explain immune systems abilities
5. Gene sequencing explains bioremediation bug
6. Variation in womens X chromosomes may explain differences among individuals, between sexes
7. Iron exporter revealed that may explain common human disorder
8. New book explains antibiotic resistance for a broad audience
9. Cats indifference towards sugar explained
10. Monkeypox mystery: New research may explain why 2003 outbreak in the US wasnt deadly
11. Scientist uses form to explain function of key building blocks of life
Post Your Comments:
(Date:12/14/2009)... use as a defining feature of humans. That,s until examples ... birds and an array of other mammals. Now, a report ... a Cell Press publication, adds an octopus to the growing ... manages a behavioral trick that the researchers call stilt walking. ... coconut shell "bowls," makes its eight arms rigid, and raises ...
(Date:12/13/2009)... about how a popular class of drugs used ... previously hidden components of chemical communication in the ... the illness, people with schizophrenia also struggle to ... order, difficulties that interfere with their ability to ... Schroeder, a student in the medical scientist training ...
(Date:12/11/2009)... consumer demand for premium fruit increases, growers are ... market. And to boost their bottom line, orchard ... increase fruit quality while reducing labor costs. , ... to produce larger, healthier fruit, is among the ... impact on fruit production overhead, and, ultimately, prices ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Tool use in an invertebrate: The coconut-carrying octopus 2New biosensors reveal workings of anti-psychotic drugs in the living brain 2Horizontal string trimmer reduces labor costs, increases peach size 2WAV Distribution Partners with Vecima Networks Inc 60866 1WAV Distribution Partners with Vecima Networks Inc 60866 2WAV Distribution Partners with Vecima Networks Inc 60866 3Father Norman Weslin and Four Pro Lifers Still in Jail 60863 1Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing Urges Policies and Prevention To Reduce Deaths from Venous Thromboembolism 60860 1Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing Urges Policies and Prevention To Reduce Deaths from Venous Thromboembolism 60860 2Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing Urges Policies and Prevention To Reduce Deaths from Venous Thromboembolism 60860 3
... of the strange, bony crests on the heads of ... incredibly long, convoluted nasal passages that loop up over ... University of Toronto, Ohio University and Montana State University ... crests and reconstruct the brains and nasal cavities of ...
... the University of Missouri Department of Psychological Sciences ... with the opening of the Brain Imaging Center ... conduct behavioral research on diseases that can have ... other neurocognitive disorders using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ...
... for Biophysics has honoured Professor Ray Norton from ... Robertson Award. , Conferred annually in Australasia, the ... of biophysics. Professor Norton,s groundbreaking research has focused ... targets, using the advanced technique of nuclear magnetic ...
Other Biology News:Key to function of dinosaur crests found in brain structure 2MU brain imaging center provides research for autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease 2
(Date:12/16/2009)... Special Protocol Assessment with the Food and ... /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - AEterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: ... global biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology and ... its partner Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. ("Keryx") ( ... trial for perifosine (KRX-0401), the Company,s PI3K/Akt ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... Calif., Dec. 15 Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation, ... genetic medicine, gained international validation of the cutting-edge ... , when scientists around the world rediscovered the ... major locus of cancer pathogenesis and disease progression, ... Recently, scientists at the NIH National Cancer Institute ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... Medical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board : AEMD) announced ... Comper have joined the Science Advisory ... Schorey and Dr. Comper are leading researchers in ... of Aethlon Medical, was recently formed to leverage ... being advanced as an adjunct therapy for Hepatitis-C ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... The Center for Business Intelligence (CBI), a ... announce the full agenda for the ... . The forum will take place at ... ,, Over 1,500 senior-level Finance, Accounting, Audit ... event since its inception, and this year,s ...
Breaking Biology Technology:AEterna Zentaris Partner, Keryx, Initiates Phase 3 Registration Trial with Perifosine (KRX-0401) for the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Multiple Myeloma 2AEterna Zentaris Partner, Keryx, Initiates Phase 3 Registration Trial with Perifosine (KRX-0401) for the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Multiple Myeloma 3AEterna Zentaris Partner, Keryx, Initiates Phase 3 Registration Trial with Perifosine (KRX-0401) for the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Multiple Myeloma 4AEterna Zentaris Partner, Keryx, Initiates Phase 3 Registration Trial with Perifosine (KRX-0401) for the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Multiple Myeloma 5Scientists Rediscover Gene Target for Cancer Therapy 2Scientists Rediscover Gene Target for Cancer Therapy 3Aethlon Medical Appoints Jeff Schorey and Wayne Comper to Exosome Sciences Advisory Board 2Aethlon Medical Appoints Jeff Schorey and Wayne Comper to Exosome Sciences Advisory Board 3Aethlon Medical Appoints Jeff Schorey and Wayne Comper to Exosome Sciences Advisory Board 4Aethlon Medical Appoints Jeff Schorey and Wayne Comper to Exosome Sciences Advisory Board 5CBI Announces the Agenda for Their 6th Annual Pharmaceutical/Biotech Accounting and Reporting Congress 2
... Biotech Ltd. (NYSE Amex: SVA ), a leading ... it has filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F with ... December 31, 2008 on May 1, 2009. The Annual ... website under the investor relations section at: ...
... Aesculap AG, Introduces MonoMax(R) Monofilament Suture at the German ... CE Mark LEXINGTON, Mass., May 1 Tepha, ... its corporate partner, Aesculap AG, has received a CE ... for general surgical indications in Europe. The product ...
... Laboratories have created the first carbon nanotube device ... light, a feat that could soon allow scientists ... molecules respond to light, observe how the molecules ... molecules and nanotubes. , Carbon nanotubes are ...
Other Biology Technology:Sinovac Biotech Ltd. Files Annual Report on Form 20-F 2Tepha Partner Launches Novel Monofilament Absorbable Suture Utilizing Tepha's Proprietary Biomaterial 2Tepha Partner Launches Novel Monofilament Absorbable Suture Utilizing Tepha's Proprietary Biomaterial 3Sandia researchers construct carbon nanotube device that can detect colors of the rainbow 2Sandia researchers construct carbon nanotube device that can detect colors of the rainbow 3