Genome analysis of more than 53,000 people offers valuable insights into dangerous diseases
Apr 5 2021
A new analysis of the entire genetic makeup of more than 53,000 people offers a bonanza of valuable insights into heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders, paving the way for new and better ways to treat and prevent some of the most common causes of disability and death.
Stephen S. Rich, PhD, a genetics researcher at the School of Medicine, helped lead a massive genome analysis of more than 53,000 people. Image Credit: UVA Health
The analysis from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program examines the complete genomes of 53,831 people of diverse backgrounds on different continents. Most are from minority groups, which have been historically underrepresented in genetic studies. The increased representation should translate into better understanding of how heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders affect minorities and should help reduce longstanding health disparities.
Scientists scour genes of 53,000+ people to better battle dangerous diseases eurekalert.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eurekalert.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
ARTICLE DATEARTICLE AUTHOR AUTHOR EMAIL April 01, 2021
A new analysis of the entire genetic makeup of more than 53,000 people offers a bonanza of valuable insights into heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders, paving the way for new and better ways to treat and prevent some of the most common causes of disability and death.
The analysis from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine, or TOPMed, program examines the complete genomes of 53,831 people of diverse backgrounds on different continents, all de-identified data from existing NIH studies. Most are from minority groups, which have been historically underrepresented in genetic studies. The increased representation should translate into better understanding of how heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders affect minorities and should help reduce longstanding health disparities.
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PITTSBURGH, Feb. 22, 2021 - Compared with women whose blood pressure during pregnancy was normal, women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, have major differences in the structure and function of the heart a decade after childbirth, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers report today in the
Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The changes, which mainly affect the left ventricle of the heart, may predispose some women to ischemic heart disease and heart failure later in life without them knowing it. The findings may help clinicians identify those at high risk of long-term cardiac complications and enable early therapeutic interventions to prevent heart disease from developing.