Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Gene mutation tied to transplant rejection in kids
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A mutation, or "variant," of a key immune system gene appears to increase the risk of liver transplant rejection by children who carry the variant, Pennsylvania-based researchers report in the journal Gastroenterology.
Dr. Rakesh Sindhi of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and colleagues used standard tests to look for variants in immune system genes in 240 DNA samples from 80 pediatric liver transplant recipients and their biological parents. Thirty-seven of the children had early rejection of their transplant and 43 did not.
Of 57 variants examined, the researchers found one, designated rs9296068, that was associated with an increased risk of transplant rejection. Further analysis suggested that this variant allowed certain immune cells to invade the new liver, thereby promoting rejection.
The authors believe that in the future such testing could help identify which patients are at risk for rejection and to ultimately develop a treatment or intervention to reduce the risk.
SOURCE: Gastroenterology, September 2008.
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