About Rare DiseasesGet the latest headlines from the About.com Rare Diseases GuideSite.Neurofibromatosis- June 29, 2008 Neurofibromatosis is a genetic nervous system disorder that causes tumors to grow around nerves. There are three types of neurofibromatosis: type 1 (NF1), type 2 (NF2), and schwannomatosis. An estimated...http://rarediseases.about.com/b/a/257820.htm June is Vision Research Month in U.S.- June 27, 2008 According to the foundation Prevent Blindness America, while millions of Americans benefit from vision research, many eye diseases have no effective treatments or cures. In addition, for many rare eye...http://rarediseases.about.com/b/a/257821.htm Losartan slows rate of enlargement of aorta in Marfan syndrome- June 25, 2008 In Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, the main artery which carries blood away from the heart, the aorta, is weak and fragile. Over time it enlarges, and it can...http://rarediseases.about.com/b/a/257819.htm Spina Bifida- June 22, 2008 Spina bifida occurs when the fetus is growing in the womb and its spine doesn't form correctly (a neural tube defect). Some of the vertebrae (bones in the spine) don't...http://rarediseases.about.com/b/a/257818.htm Aminoglycoside antibiotics increase risk of kidney failure in CF- June 20, 2008 Researchers from the University Nottingham, UK, studied factors associated with an increased risk of kidney failure in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), an exocrine disorder. Several types of intravenous antibiotics...http://rarediseases.about.com/b/a/257817.htm June is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month in U.S.- June 17, 2008 June 2008 is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month in the U.S. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder. It is not inherited, and it is not contagious. It is not clear...http://rarediseases.about.com/b/a/257816.htm Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency- June 15, 2008 Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited genetic condition in which lack of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) may cause lung and liver damage. Photo A.D.A.M....http://rarediseases.about.com/b/a/257815.htm Baby with rare tumor born twice- June 11, 2008 MSNBC.com reports the story of Macie Hope McCartney, a baby diagnosed with a rare non-cancerous tumor while in utero, who came out of the womb twice--once for surgery and the...http://rarediseases.about.com/b/a/257814.htm |