News

Levels of the hormone irisin are elevated in obese people, but not in those with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), likely reflecting underlying differences in fat and muscle composition, a new study shows. The study, “Irisin levels in genetic and essential obesity: clues for a potential dual…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a vast government bureaucracy, employs about 17,500 people and had a budget of $5.7 billion in 2019. Yet even with its enormous resources, the FDA these days relies more and more on patients to…

The gleaming new Dutch headquarters of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), fronting Domenico Scarlattilaan in Amsterdam’s suburban Zuidas business district, finally opened for business last month — just over two years after the European Union decided to relocate the EMA to the Netherlands in the wake of Brexit.

Individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have difficulty recognizing voices and other sounds, which may contribute to their problems with social interaction, a study found. The study, “A Study of Voice and Non-Voice Processing in Prader-Willi Syndrome,” was published in the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. People with…

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants with limited womb mobility, polyhydramnios — excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid — low birth weight and muscle tone, feeding difficulties, and also among those born by caesarean section, a study says. Considering PWS…

Although uncommon, blood-clotting problems are more likely to occur in people with Prader-Willi syndrome than in obese individuals without the disorder, researchers report. The study, “Age Distribution, Comorbidities and Risk Factors for Thrombosis in Prader–Willi Syndrome,” was published in the journal Genes. PWS is the most…

Parents of preschoolers with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) tend to be relatively more stressed and overinvolved in interactions with their children, while the children themselves show less interest and social skill in these interactions, compared with their typically developing peers, according to a new study. The study, titled “…

Adenotonsillectomy — a surgery to remove both the adenoids and tonsils — may help ease obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a Taiwanese study suggests. However, the procedure’s limited rate of success requires additional therapies post-surgery, the investigators said. The study, “Adenotonsillectomy…

People with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) rarely undergo hip or knee replacement surgery, but those who do tend to be younger than their counterparts in the general population, a large U.S. nationwide study reports. The study, “Comparison of Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Rates of Individuals With and Without Prader-Willi…

Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) — which sends signals to a key nerve that runs through the neck — may help reduce temper outbursts and improve quality of life in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a small trial suggests. The study, “Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS): A…