Genetic Testing

Identify changes that may cause disease or other health conditions:

Genetic Disorders
Cancer Risks
Family Planning
Determines the likelihood of passing genetic conditions
Predicts individual drug effectiveness
Guides personalized treatment plans
Enables early medical interventions

What is a Genetic Testing?

Genetic testing is a powerful tool in modern medicine that allows for the analysis of an individual's DNA to identify genetic variations associated with various health conditions, inherited disorders, and potential disease risks. This advanced diagnostic technique has become increasingly important in several medical fields, offering numerous benefits while also presenting some challenges.

Applications and Benefits

Diagnostic precision genetic testing provides accurate diagnoses for various conditions. It can clarify where traditional diagnostic methods may fall short in rare genetic disorders. For instance, in primary lymphedema, genetic testing has led to the discovery of new mutations, such as in the HGF gene, contributing to a better understanding of the disease's etiology.

Early Detection and Prevention

One of the most significant advantages of genetic testing is its ability to identify potential health risks before symptoms appear. This is particularly valuable in conditions like:

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes)
Fabry disease, where early diagnosis through family genetic testing can lead to timely, disease-specific therapies
Motor neuron diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where genetic testing can help identify subtypes amenable to targeted therapies

Personalized Treatment

Genetic information can guide treatment decisions, allowing for more tailored and effective interventions. In thyroid nodules, for example, molecular testing helps evaluate indeterminate cases, potentially avoiding unnecessary surgical procedures.

Family Planning

Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in assisted reproductive technology has become increasingly common, especially in the United States, where PGT cycles increased from 13% to 27% between 2014 and 2016. This technology allows couples at risk of transmitting genetic abnormalities to make informed decisions about family planning.

Challenges and Limitations

Variants of Uncertain Significance (VUS)A significant challenge in genetic testing is the interpretation of VUS. A study of 1,689,845 individuals undergoing multigene panel testing found that 41% had VUS, mostly missense changes. These results can be difficult to interpret and may lead to uncertainty for patients and healthcare providers.

Ethical Considerations

Genetic testing raises important ethical questions, particularly regarding testing in asymptomatic individuals or for conditions without current medical actionability. The potential psychological impact and implications for family members must be carefully considered.

Diversity in Genomic Databases

Improving the diversity of genomic databases is crucial for reducing uncertainty in genetic testing. Current databases may not adequately represent all ethnic groups, potentially leading to misinterpretation of results.

Cost and Accessibility

While genetic testing has become more widely available, issues of cost and accessibility remain. Healthcare systems must consider the resources needed for clinical genetic testing and the impact of different care models.

Conclusion

Genetic testing offers significant benefits in diagnosing and managing various health conditions, from rare genetic disorders to more common diseases with genetic components. As technology advances and our understanding of genetics improves, the utility of genetic testing is likely to expand further. However, it's crucial to address the challenges associated with interpreting results, ensuring equitable access, and navigating the ethical implications of this powerful diagnostic tool. Continued research, guideline development, and education for healthcare providers and the public will be essential in maximizing the benefits of genetic testing while minimizing potential risks.

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What is Biofeedback?

Biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance. Precise instruments measure physiological activity such as brainwaves, heart function, breathing, muscle activity, and skin temperature. These instruments rapidly and accurately “feedback” information to the user. The presentation of this information — often in conjunction with changes in thinking, emotions, and behavior — supports desired physiological changes. Over time, these changes can endure without continued use of an instrument.
What conditions are helped by Biofeedback training?

Successful outcomes, not limited to those listed below, have been reported by Neurofeedback Practitioners for: ADD/ADHD, addictions. anger, anxiety, autism, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, closed head injuries, concentration, depression, headaches and migraines, learning disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), pain management, reading skills, seizure disorders, sleep disorders and stroke recovery. Biofeedback has also proven effective when used for Peak Performance Training, such as developing memory skills, focusing abilities, and increasing concentration.
What childhood conditions is Biofeedback successful in treating?

Biofeedback has been used to treat seizures and subclinical seizure activity, problems of attention and learning, bipolar disorder, autistic spectrum, and other conditions.
Why does Biofeedback work?

The brain is amazingly adaptable. It is capable of making adjustments to improve its own performance if given cues about what to change. When the brain is regulating itself well and is alert and attentive, brainwaves (EEG) show particular patterns. We challenge the brain to maintain this “high-performance” alert and active state. Gradually, after 20 or more training sessions, the brain learns to stay at this high-performance state for longer periods of time and to retain these new skills.
Do the effects of Biofeedback training really last?

If the problem being addressed is one of brain dysregulation, then the answer is yes, and that covers a lot of ground. Biofeedback involves learning by the brain and if that brings order out of disorder, the brain will continue to use its new capabilities, and thus reinforce them.
How is Biofeedback training done?

At a training session, sensors are placed on your body. The sensors pick up information on your brain’s and body activity at very specific locations. (No electricity enters your brain. The sensors merely read information from the brain and body and relay it to the Practitioner’s computer.) You then sit back in a comfortable chair as you watch a computer monitor that displays a computer game, a movie, a bar graph, music, sounds or simply colors that change as your brainwaves change. The Practitioner monitors your brainwaves and sets training parameters which are based upon information obtained during your comprehensive intake process. This process gives your brain instantaneous feedback about its performance during the training session. On a subconscious level it begins to “work out” and It begins to produce more of the helpful type of brainwave patterns and less of those that are correlated with the symptoms you wish to address. With practice, your brain learns new patterns. Desirable neuronal pathways are strengthened and new pathways are created.
How long do sessions last?

Each session takes between 45 and 60 minutes. The actual training period lasts a maximum of 30 minutes. Additional time is needed beforehand for sensor placement and adjustment. We also speak with our clients briefly before and after each training session to monitor how things are progressing. We reserve 60 minutes for each client to ensure that no one is rushed and that there will be time to discuss the results you are experiencing.
How many sessions will I need?

Results from Biofeedback training are seen gradually, over time. Initial progress can be seen within 10 sessions for most conditions. A typical treatment program consists of between 15 and 30 sessions, depending upon the conditions being addressed, with the average being 15 sessions. Current understanding among Biofeedback providers is that it takes a minimum of 20 sessions for learning to be consolidated so the client can maintain the gains that have been made. Sometimes a client will complete 20 sessions, take a year off, and then return to complete training.
How frequent should the training session be?

When starting neurofeedback training, sessions should be regular and frequent at two or three (or more) sessions per week. As learning begins to consolidate, the pace can be reduced.
What happens if Biofeedback clients are taking medication?

With successful Neurofeedback / EEG Biofeedback training, the medications targeting brain function may very well no longer be needed, or they may be needed at lower dosages, as the brain takes over more of the role of regulating itself.
What is the research on Biofeedback?

Research continues to show that biofeedback therapy training, results in patients learning to control their own brain activity, while effectively “retraining” their own brain waves toward healthier patterns. Since its inception in the 1960s biofeedback has been rigorously studied. A recent review of the term biofeedback on the National Institute of Health’s database ‘PubMed’ reported that Biofeedback has gained attention in recent years showing only 948 articles and peered-reviewed research published between 1990 and 1995, and 2,267 published since 2010 to present. For current researh articles and publication visit our research page here.
What is Neuroplasticity and how Biofeedback plays a role?

Historically the brain was seen as hard wired with each area having its own function; when that area was injured the function was lost. Today the concept of neuroplasticity has replaced the hard wired model. Neuroplasticity refers to changes in neural pathways and synapses which are due to changes in behavior, environment and neural processes, as well as changes resulting from bodily injury. Neuroplasticity occurs on a variety of levels ranging from cellular changes due to learning to large-scale changes involved in cortical remapping in response to injury. The role of neuroplasticity is widely recognized in healthy development, learning, memory and recovery from brain damage, all from which Biofeedback can help.
How to prepare for a medical evaluation?

Get a good night’s sleep (Try to get eight hours the night before your exam so your blood pressure is as low as possible.) Avoid salty or fatty foods. (Salty, fatty foods elevate your blood pressure and triglycerides. Avoid them for at least 24 hours before your exam, and two or three days would be even better.) Avoid exercise. (We’d never tell you not to exercise. But strenuous exercise before a medical exam can elevate your heart rate and drop your potassium levels.) Don’t drink coffee or any caffeinated products (Keep your blood pressure down and avoid caffeine for at least one hour before your exam.) Fast (Don’t eat for at least two hours before the exam to keep blood sugar and blood pressure from elevating. Twelve hours of fasting is preferred, so try to schedule your exam in the morning so you can fast overnight.) Drink water (To help produce a urine sample, drink water two hours before your exam.) Know your meds (Have a list of any medications (prescription and OTC) you’re taking for the examiner to record.)