CHICAGO, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifacts Systems, Inc. announces that it has granted an exclusive license for a genetic test patent to Mayo Clinic. The patented test detects Alpha Thalassemia mutations and their use as predictors of blood-related disorders. The patent is the invention of Lemuel J. Bowie Ph.D., an African American from Vicksburg, Mississippi who was educated at Xavier University in New Orleans, Howard University, and Johns Hopkins. Through this licensing agreement, Mayo Clinic's reference laboratory, Mayo Medical Laboratories will make the test available to patients worldwide.
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disease particularly prevalent among Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islanders, Asian, and African peoples. The genetic defect that causes a reduced rate of synthesis for hemoglobin is believed to provide some protection against malaria in malaria-prone areas. However, it can lead to anemia, which is the characteristic presenting symptom, and other health complications involving the spleen, gall stones, and heart failure. There is no cure for thalassemia and the best treatment available today consists of frequent blood transfusions (every two to three weeks) with iron chelation therapy administered subcutaneously.
The severity of alpha thalassemia is correlated with the number of affected globin loci:
If both parents carry a hemoglobinopathy trait, there is a 25 percent chance with each pregnancy for an affected child. Genetic testing and birth screening are recommended for families that carry a thalassemia trait. Some countries are seeing a large increase of thalassemia patients due to lack of genetic counseling.
About Medifacts Systems
Medifacts Systems is a privately-held corporation located in the Chicago Technology Park in the Illinois Medical District. Medifacts Systems also provides archival computer systems for Medical Examiners, Pathology, Surgery, and institutions with research and/or teaching responsibilities. The system archives medical images including DICOM images, audio and video, and accompanying data.
About Mayo Clinic
Mayo is a private group practice of medicine dedicated to providing diagnosis and treatment of patient illnesses through a systematic focus on individual patient needs. Mayo provides comprehensive hospital and outpatient services at each of its major locations -- Rochester, Minn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Scottsdale, Ariz. The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic maintains an active diagnostic test development program. Mayo utilizes these proven diagnostic technologies in the care of its patients and offers them to more than 5,000 health care institutions around the world through Mayo Medical Laboratories. Revenue from Mayo Medical Laboratories is used to support medical education and research at Mayo Clinic.
Visit http://www.MayoMedicalLaboratories.com for additional information.
ctyus@medifactssystems.comhttp://www.medifactssystems.com
CONTACT: Cheryl Tyus of Medifacts Systems, Inc., +1-312-498-6172, fax,
1-866-530-8005, ctyus@medifactssystems.com
Web site: http://www.medifactssystems.com/
http://www.MayoMedicalLaboratories.com/
