Researchers at Niigata University conducted the first comprehensive reappraisal of Alzheimer's disease risk in Japanese APOE-e4 homozygotes, finding a substantially lower risk than previously cited estimates. The study suggests that the risk is comparable to estimates reported in large studies of people with European ancestry.
A new liquid biopsy technology, Bridge Capture, has been developed to overcome the challenges of sensitive and cost-efficient cancer diagnostics. It detects rare variant allele frequencies with superior sensitivity compared to existing methods.
A recent study has uncovered three previously unreported genetic loci associated with eyebrow thickness in Europeans, as well as rediscovering two of the four genetic loci previously found in non-Europeans. The research expands genetic knowledge on human eyebrow variation, with implications for dermatology and other fields.
SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 5, 2023
Researchers estimate that up to 1.7% of the Japanese population may have undiagnosed Gitelman syndrome, a salt-wasting tubulopathy that affects kidney function and electrolyte balance. The condition can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, and arrhythmia, but is often misdiagnosed or overlooked due to its subtle symptoms.
A 2012-2015 field study in north central California found that the sea star Pisaster ochraceus experienced 81% mortality, leading to shifts in allele frequencies among surviving adult and juvenile individuals. These changes may persist in future generations of sea stars, with implications for conservation efforts.