Health & Wellness - July 2012 Archives

INTRO: You may already know that people who are diagnosed with celiac disease should not eat foods containing wheat, barley or rye, because their bodies develop an immune response which can damage the lining of their intestine…and did you know the number of cases is actually on the rise and that it can happen to people of all ages? B-roll of gluten-free items and sound bites with Dr. Murray are available in the downloads. Expert title for broadcast cg: Dr. Joseph Murray, Mayo Clinic Gastroenterologist Voiceover text is below.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — July 31, 2012.  Researchers at Mayo Clinic have completed the world's first genome-wide sequencing analysis of peripheral T-cell lymphomas, unlocking the genetic secrets of this poorly understood and highly aggressive cancer of the immune system. Andrew Feldman, M.D., a Mayo Clinic pathologist and Damon Runyun Clinical Investigator, and a team of researchers affiliated with Mayo's Center for Individualized Medicine and Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, found 13 genomic abnormalities that were seen in multiple peripheral T-cell lymphomas. Of particular interest, five of these abnormalities relate to production and behavior of the p53 protein — often called the "guardian of the genome" because of the central role it plays in regulating cell life cycles and, therefore, suppressing cancers. The study, entitled "Genome-wide Analysis Reveals Recurrent Structural Abnormalities of TP63 and other p53-related Genes in Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas," is scheduled for early release in the online edition of the journal Blood at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012. "Every time I diagnose a peripheral T-cell lymphoma, I know that two out of three patients will succumb to that lymphoma," says Dr. Feldman. "That's a very unsatisfying feeling, and I hope that our research can help change those statistics." Peripheral T-cell lymphomas account for about 12 percent of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and carry remarkably high mortality rates. Fewer than 35 percent of patients live five years beyond diagnosis. New diagnostic biomarkers (chemical or genetic clues in the body's system) and treatments aimed at specific subgroups of peripheral T-cell lymphomas could lead to improved outcomes, says Dr. Feldman. Developing these, however, has been a challenge for several reasons. Lymphomas that look remarkably similar under a microscope may differ substantially in their overall prognoses and responses to treatment. Additionally, scientists and doctors have a relatively poor understanding of how peripheral T-cell lymphomas develop and proliferate. "The most common type of T-cell lymphoma is called 'not otherwise specified.' It's basically a wastebasket diagnosis because we don't understand enough about the specific genetic abnormalities to be able to pinpoint subtypes of T-cell lymphomas that might trigger different treatments by the treating oncologist," says Dr. Feldman. Dr. Feldman's study will be used to improve diagnostic tests and develop targeted treatments for peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

Orthopedics This Week released a list of the top 26 knee surgeons (subscription required to view the article) in the United States. Among those on ...

An estimated 1.8 million Americans in the U.S. have celiac disease and roughly 1.4 million of them are unaware. Results from a Mayo Clinic study, published in The American Journal ...

Low Back Pain Usually Can Be Managed Without Surgery July 27, 2012 Dear Mayo Clinic: What treatment options are available for low back pain? ...

Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Common in Children July 27, 2012 Dear Mayo Clinic: Both of my children have been diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum. What ...

The National Football League is teaming with leading experts in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and mental health messaging and comunications to launch free, confidential and ...

MEDIA ADVISORY: Mayo Clinic Infectious Disease Expert Offers Tips on Avoiding Illness in Crowds Massive crowds from around the globe are converging on London during the Olympics, ...

Running a marathon obviously takes training and dedication, but sometimes external factors can ruin your run and even make it dangerous. Excessive heat, like we’ve seen ...

Current guidelines disqualify most people with long QT syndrome (LQTS) — a genetic abnormality in the heart’s electrical system — from every sport and continues to ...

July 20, 2012 Dear Mayo Clinic:My daughter developed numerous hemangiomas, most of them on her face and stomach, when she was a few months old. She ...

July 20, 2012 Dear Mayo Clinic:I am a 36-year-old woman in decent health, but lately I have noticed unsightly cellulite on my thighs. How does cellulite ...