Sickle cell anemia

Effective treatment for sickle cell underused by doctors

harminka — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:59:03 -0500

Uncertainties about proper use and possible long-term effects of hydroxyurea in the treatment of sickle cell anemia may be wrongly influencing doctors to avoid prescribing it to those in serious need, according to results of a literature review by specialists at Johns Hopkins.

Researchers develop human stem cell line containing sickle cell anemia mutation

harminka — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:18:44 -0500

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have established a human cell-based system for studying sickle cell anemia by reprogramming somatic cells to an embryonic stem cell like state. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have established a human cell-based system for studying sickle cell anemia by reprogramming somatic cells to an embryonic stem cell like state.

Researchers investigate predictors for sickle-cell-anemia complications

harminka — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:54:22 -0600

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have determined that the level, or saturation, of oxygen in blood could be used to identify children with sickle cell anemia who are at an increased risk of stroke.

Novel therapy shows benefit for anemic patients via hydration of red blood cells

harminka — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:17:08 -0600

Researchers are identifying innovative therapeutics for sickle cell anemia that focus on specific factors in the disease's progression, such as the important role of hydration of the red blood cells.

Gene variant linked to moderated symptoms of beta-thalassemia

harminka — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:48:29 -0600

Beta-thalassemia is a serious, potentially life-threatening disease that affects red blood cells, cells that carry oxygen via hemoglobin throughout the body. As part of the SardiNIA Study of Aging, supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of the National Institutes of Health, scientists have found a genetic variant in the BCL11A gene that can explain why some people with beta-thalassemia seem to be protected from most dangerous symptoms.

Importamt role of Teamwork between 2 key proteins

harminka — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:07:38 -0500

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers studying hemoglobin genes, mutations of which play a role in genetic blood disorders like sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia, have identified two proteins that are responsible for regulating overlapping groups of genes during the development of red blood cells.

Predicting risk of death in sickle cell disease

harminka — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:40:29 -0500

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) have developed a method to estimate sickle cell disease severity and predict the risk of death in people with this disease. The study appears online in the June issue of the journal Blood.

Keeping red blood cells hydrated in sickle cell disease

harminka — Sat, 19 May 2007 04:32:30 -0500

Sickle cell anemia is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States. The transport of potassium (K) and chloride (Cl) ions in and out of red blood cells is a major determinant of the cells' volume and density. Overactivation of K-Cl cotransport out of red blood cells leads to red blood cell dehydration and distortion (sickling).