Genes 'linked to heart failure'

Toowoomba Chronicle ^ | 23rd March 2009 | NA

[neverdem]

SCIENTISTS combing the human genome have discovered ten common genetic mutations that boost the risk of sudden cardiac arrest by subtly disrupting the heart beat, two studies released on Sunday reported.

The findings shed light on the cause of the irregular rhythms that often underlie severe heart problems, and could point to new treatments, said the study, published in Nature Genetics.

Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide, claiming upward of 17 million lives every year, according to the World Health Organization.

Smoking, obesity and high cholesterol are common risk factors, but genes can be a critical factor too.

In the absence of symptoms, identifying genetic variants that affect the timing of heart contractions - known as the "QT interval" - could become a critical means of predicting the likelihood of sudden cardiac death.

An international team of more than 40 scientists, led by Arne Pfeufer of Munich University, analysed the genomes of nearly 16,000 individuals whose QT intervals had been measured by electrocardiogram.

They screened some 2.5 million sites on each genome, trying to match subtle alterations in gene sequence with aberrant patterns of heart contractions.

The study turned up ten bits of wayward genetic code. One, a gene known as Nos1ap, had already been identified as contributing to heart trouble, and several others had been placed on a list of suspects.

"But almost half were surprising new genes that no one would have guessed as being involved in cardiac biology," said Dan Arking, a professor at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, and a co-author of the study.

"So it really does open up a new world of investigation because these are genes that would have never come up if we had only focused on a list of known candidates."

In separate research, scientists led by Christopher Newton-Cheh at Massachusetts General Hospital found similar results from more than 13,000 individuals.

"We were very reassured to see such strong replication in two independent studies," he said in a press statement.

A single genetic variation in an individual does not necessarily mean a higher risk of an irregular heart beat, much less increased risk of sudden cardiac death, the researchers pointed out.

But when all the data is taken together, the results become statistically significant.

"The reason people die from this cardiovascular disorder is because we know nothing about the antecedents," said Aravinda Chakravarti, also a professor at John Hopkins and a co-author of the first study.

[neverdem]

Sudden Cardiac Death would have been a better choice of words than 'heart failure' in the Toowoomba Chronicle title, although the irregular rhythm causes an acute 'heart failure' because it is then pumping ineffectively.

Ten Genes Associated With A Risk Factor For Sudden Cardiac Death Identified

Genetic Risk Factors Identified for Sudden Cardiac Death

Common variants at ten loci modulate the QT interval duration in the QTSCD Study

Using the DOI #, I could only find one abstract.

[Enterprise]

Here's some genes that could lead to an elevated pulse rate.

[Crim]

And if you carry the gene...there no reason for Dear leader to waste “the peoples” money on your health care.

[neverdem]

Study: Blacks 20 Times Likelier For Heart Failure

Prostate Cancer Screening May Not Reduce Deaths - Studies Cast Doubt on Usefulness of Common Test for Disease

A Polymer Coating That Can Heal Itself Thanks to UV Light

Giant solar waves spew more energy than 10 bn atom bombs

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[SierraWasp]

That could cause “red-lining” on the old EKG machine!!!

[BIGLOOK]

Smoking, obesity and high cholesterol are common risk factors, but genes can be a critical factor too.

I gave up genes for Lent.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Title is misleading. The study is about risk of sudden cardiac death, presumably from abnormal ‘electrical’ activity in the heart, not heart failure. Still, interesting. It's hard to know what these genome-wide association studies mean though.

[BIGLOOK]

There may be a correlation with ocular migraines, once thought to be vascular, turns out to be a neurological misfiring as causation.

Remember Len Bias who was drafted by the Celtics? Dropped dead after snorting cocaine. (Doubt it was the first time as reported, but a result of a history of use.) There may be a chemically induced interference in the neurological system which occurs in victims of 'sudden death' which would only be discovered on an exhaustive case by case analysis.....after the fact. With all the panaceas available on the market or by prescription, most which work well within their specified parameters.....but what is the effect on the neurological system in the long haul?

Mixed signals?

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[oprahstheantichrist]

"...correlation with ocular migraines, once thought to be vascular, turns out to be a neurological misfiring..."

Okay, how are a person's migraines designated "ocular," or "vascular?"

[60Gunner]

Knew that.

[BIGLOOK]

Ocular migraines have symptoms of wavy or blurring in part of the field of vision in one or both eyes. There isn't usually any headache pain but there may be some sensitivity to bright light or sun light that causes discomfort. It's a neurologic misfiring that usually clears up in a matter of minutes.

Migraine headaches are vascular, painful and last much longer. I'm no authority, never had one but know people who suffer from them.

[bert]

The report seems to say that a substantial portion of the black population is unequal to the rest of mankind.

[SunkenCiv]

thanks neverdem.

Study: Blacks 20 Times Likelier For Heart Failure
[gee, diet may be a factor]
CBS | Mar 20, 2009 | Dr. Holly Phillips
Posted on 03/22/2009 1:03:11 PM PDT by neverdem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2212181/posts

[allmendream]

Genes are not there to cause disease.

The gene for Huntington’s disease is not there to cause Huntington's. The gene is there to code for a protein that does a job, only a mutation in the gene makes it stack up in aggregates that cause insanity and death in later life.

Similarly man genes that are associated with “intelligence” will be found to be genes involved in immune function. What does the immune system have to do with IQ? An early fever can fry the brain, other than that, nothing.

Similarly these genes are not there to cause heart malfunction.

[oprahstheantichrist]

Thanks, mine are NOT ocular then....