A mutation in a gene that supervises the proper formation of collagen in the cell causes a lethal form of osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, when the infant inherits two faulty genes – one from each parent, according to researchers – including those from Baylor College of Medicine – in a report in the current issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. BCM scientists, led by Dr. Brendan Lee, associate professor of molecular and human genetics and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, first identified the novel function in the gene CRTAP (cartilage-associate protein) and mutations in humans in a report in Cell in October. When CRTAP is mutated, the change prevents or reduces chemical modification of a particular protein called CASP that helps or "chaperones" collagen as it assumes its proper structure. Mice that lack CRTAP have severe osteoporosis and low bone mass. In mice, the disease can vary from mild to lethal. In …

You might have read in the news that recently New York City passed a law to phase out the use of trans fat in restaurants. It is rumored that other cities, including Boston and Chicago, might follow the lead. The question is it enough? Experts say that it is one step in the right direction, but insist that lot more to be done. I tend to agree with them........

A link between obesity and the microbial communities living in our guts is suggested by new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The findings indicate that our gut microbes are biomarkers, mediators and potential therapeutic targets in the war against the worldwide obesity epide........

Severe sinus sufferers can breathe a sigh of relief now that a new procedure at Baylor College of Medicine can open their sinuses without traditional surgery. Dr. Mas Takashima, head of the new Allergy and Sinus Clinic at BCM, is among the first to use balloon sinuplasty to treat chronic sinus problems without the cutting involved in surgery. "This procedure involves pushing a balloon catheter into the affected sinus," said Takashima, assistant professor of otolaryngology at BCM. "Then the device is inflated which dilates the sinus passageways open." This procedure helps to alleviate chronic sinusitis, an inflammation of the sinuses that affects an estimated 32 million Americans. Balloon sinuplasty is an alternative to traditional sinus surgery, which involves cutting away the inflamed tissues. People who undergo this procedure recuperate relatively quickly because no cutting is involved, so bleeding and soft tissue trauma is kept …

Something as simple as turning off the computer can help insomnia sufferers get their Zzzz's back. "Most people will have some insomnia at some point during their lives," said Dr. Michael Abene, assistant professor of neurology and neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "It can be due to stress, something more serious like depression or other medical problems such as cardiac disease or chronic pain. It can even be worsened by exposure to the bright screen of a computer before bed." If an expert determines that a psychiatric condition or medical problem is not the culprit, Abene, also the medical director of the BCM Neurophysiology Sleep Disorders Clinic and Sleep Lab at St. Luke's Hospital, suggests the following remedies in addition to logging off well before bedtime: Develop a regular pre-bedtime routine 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed, such as brushing your teeth and doing some light reading …