A recent study has suggested that Metformin, a cheap and widely available tablet used to treat common conditions such as diabetes, could have a role in preserving telomere length. Metformin has been shown to promote telomere repeat-containing ribonucleic acid (TERRA). TERRA is a molecule that protects and preserves the telomeres, via activation of a natural chemical present[…]
Arteriovenous (AV) malformations revealed as additional cause of lung disease in dyskeratosis congenita. Arteriovenous (AV) malformations are joins between arteries and veins. They bypass the tiny capillaries that deliver oxygen to the tissues. Recent reports suggest that AV malformations in the lungs, as well as in the intestine, could be a problem in dyskeratosis[…]
Each year in December, the British Thoracic Society hold an annual meeting to update respiratory physicians and scientists on the latest news and developments in research and treatment of lung disease. DC Action was delighted to see that Professor Christine Garcia from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in Dallas was invited to[…]
The possible role of telomere disorders such as dyskeratosis congenita in primary immune deficiency-related disorders was highlighted in two presentations: Revy (Paris) described the role of RTEL1 in families with severe dyskeratosis congenita and also in pulmonary fibrosis: 9 of 47 patients in 35 families with pulmonary fibrosis carried an RTEL1 gene. Revy thought that[…]