Genes Linked to Health Problems in Blacks
HealthDay: "Genes Linked to 2 Health Problems in Blacks
Findings could lead to new screening for preterm birth, prostate cancer, studies say
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- New studies have found a genetic component to two health problems in blacks: premature birth and prostate cancer.
The findings buttress previous research linking genetics to health problems in different racial and ethnic groups.
In the case of premature birth and prostate cancer, knowing the increased risk may lead to new treatments, the researchers said. The findings were published in this week's edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In the first report, researchers pinpointed a gene that appears to be involved in the significantly increased risk of premature birth among black women. The researchers found that a variation in the SERPINH1 gene heightens the risk of an early break in the amniotic sac, resulting in premature delivery.
'We were interested in finding genetic contributors to preterm birth in African-Americans, because they have a substantially higher risk of delivering a preterm baby than non-black individuals,' said lead researcher Dr. Jerome F. Strauss III, dean of Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Medicine.
'There are genetic factors that might predispose the 'bag of waters' to break early and result in a preterm birth,' Strauss said.
In the study, Strauss and his colleagues studied this gene variation, called the minor 'T' allele polymorphism, which is a marker of African ancestry. They found that this polymorphism leads to decreased levels of a protein that stabilizes collagen, which is needed to strengthen the membrane that contains the fluids that surround the fetus"
Findings could lead to new screening for preterm birth, prostate cancer, studies say
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- New studies have found a genetic component to two health problems in blacks: premature birth and prostate cancer.
The findings buttress previous research linking genetics to health problems in different racial and ethnic groups.
In the case of premature birth and prostate cancer, knowing the increased risk may lead to new treatments, the researchers said. The findings were published in this week's edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In the first report, researchers pinpointed a gene that appears to be involved in the significantly increased risk of premature birth among black women. The researchers found that a variation in the SERPINH1 gene heightens the risk of an early break in the amniotic sac, resulting in premature delivery.
'We were interested in finding genetic contributors to preterm birth in African-Americans, because they have a substantially higher risk of delivering a preterm baby than non-black individuals,' said lead researcher Dr. Jerome F. Strauss III, dean of Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Medicine.
'There are genetic factors that might predispose the 'bag of waters' to break early and result in a preterm birth,' Strauss said.
In the study, Strauss and his colleagues studied this gene variation, called the minor 'T' allele polymorphism, which is a marker of African ancestry. They found that this polymorphism leads to decreased levels of a protein that stabilizes collagen, which is needed to strengthen the membrane that contains the fluids that surround the fetus"
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