An international research group led by Professor Toru Takumi (Senior Visiting Scientist, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research) and Researcher Chia-wen Lin at Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine has shown that idiopathic autism is caused by epigenetic abnormalities in hematopoietic cells during fetal development, which results in immune dysregulation in the brain and gut.
Scientists from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) collaborated with researchers from New York to determine that 9/11 first responders to the World Trade Center have increased levels of mutations that escalate their risk for blood cancers or cardiovascular disease, according to a study published March 7 in Nature Medicine.
Gene therapy trials for sickle cell disease have been showing great promise, even offering hope of a cure. But in early 2021, the trials ground to a halt after reports of blood malignancies in two people in a trial sponsored by bluebird bio.
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) evolves due to genomic instability, dysregulated signaling pathways, and overproduction of inflammatory markers. Reactive oxygen species contribute to the inflammatory response, which causes gene damage, cellular remodeling, and fibrosis. MDS can be a debilitating condition, and management options in patients with MDS aim to improve cytopenias, delay disease progression, and enhance quality of life. High serum ferritin levels, a source of iron for reactive oxygen species production, correlate with a higher risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia, and iron overload is compounded by blood transfusions given to improve anemia. 6-shogaol is a natural phenolic compound formed when ginger is exposed to heat and/or acidic conditions, and it has been shown to possess anti-tumor activity against leukemia cell lines and antioxidant effects. This narrative review assessed the potential benefits of this phytochemical in lower-risk MDS patients through examining