According to the Asthma Research Center at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, researchers have found the gene, VNN1, that affects whether a child with asthma would respond to corticosteroid treatment. Researchers identified biomarkers of corticosteroid treatment of 57 children with asthma and analyzed their genomes. The study found how a child responds to corticosteroid treatment by how active one’s VNN1 gene is. This gene can help treat people who respond poorly to corticosteroid treatment. It to be useful in creating or improving existing treatments for asthma.
Original Link: http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/gene-biomarker-childhood-asthma/article/410870/
Related Link: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/basics/definition/con-20026992
As an asthmatic, it is absolutely terrifying that some people don't respond to corticosteroid treatments. Asthma attacks are terrifying on their own, let alone with minimal chance that the medicine for it may not even work. This research, should it lead to active advances in asthma medications, could literally save lives. More than 3,000 people a year die from asthma attacks, this number could be greatly decreased should this research provide useful in pharmacology.
ReplyDeleteThe potential benefits of this discovery can change the world for individuals who suffer from asthma and fail to respond to corticosteroid treatments. With this discovery I hope researchers are able to develop medications to increase the efficiency of the VNN1 gene.
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