Archive for February, 2012

16-01-2012 16:52 On October 1st, 2009 I was diagnosed with Leukemia. After 9 months of intense chemotherapy treatments, the decision was made that I would need a bone marrow transplant. A suitable donor was not found within my family so I would have to rely on the national Be The Match® marrow registry to locate one for me. A match was found and on August 18th, 2010 I underwent a stem-cell transplant using an unrelated donors stem-cells. Today, I'm cancer free! Her generosity and selflessness has allowed me to call myself a 'survivor'. This video was captured of my donor and I meeting face-to-face for the first time. It was truly an amazing experience! I have made it my life's mission to 'Pay it Forward'. After transplant, I started working for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where I am able to use my wounds for good on a daily basis. My diagnoses was not in vain! To learn how you can help create a world without cancer, visit http://www.LLS.org and to join the Be The Match® registry, visit join.marrow.org

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Leukemia Survivor Meets His Bone Marrow Donor - Video

Diseases of the cerebral cortex range from developmental conditions, such as epilepsy and autism, to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s.  Today’s findings will enable scientists to study how the human cerebral cortex develops, how it ‘wires up’ and how that can go wrong (a common problem leading to learning disabilities).

It will also allow them to recreate brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, in the lab.  This will give them previously impossible insight, allowing them to both watch the diseases develop in real time and also develop and test new drugs to stop the diseases progressing.

Dr. Rick Livesey of the Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge, principal investigator of the research, said: “This approach gives us the ability to study human brain development and disease in ways that were unimaginable even five years ago.”

For their research, the scientists took skin biopsies from patients and then reprogrammed the cells from the skin samples back into stem cells.  These stem cells as well as human embryonic stem cells were then used to generate cerebral cortex cells.

Dr. Livesey added: “We are using this system to recreate Alzheimer’s disease in the lab. Alzheimer’s disease is the commonest form of dementia in the world, and dementia currently affects over 800,000 people in the UK. It’s a disease that primarily affects the type of nerve cell we’ve made in the lab, so we’ve the perfect tool to create a full, human model of the disease in the lab.”

Dr. Simon Ridley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said: “We are really pleased to have contributed funding for this work and the results are a positive step forward. Turning stem cells into networks of fully functional nerve cells in the lab holds great promise for unravelling complex brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

“Dementia is the greatest medical challenge of our time – we urgently need to understand more about the condition and how to stop it. We hope these findings can move us closer towards this goal.”

Provided by University of Cambridge (news : web)

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Brain cells created from patients' skin cells

Public release date: 7-Feb-2012
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Contact: Gillian Shasby
gshasby@thejns.org
434-924-5555
Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group

Charlottesville, VA (February 7, 2012). Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center's VCU Massey Cancer Center and Harold F. Young Neurosurgical Center (Richmond, VA) and Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA) have discovered that suppression of Wilms tumor 1 protein (WT1) results in downregulation of CD97 gene expression in three glioblastoma cell lines and reduces the characteristic invasiveness exhibited by glial tumor cells. This finding is announced in the article, "Novel report of expression and function of CD97 in malignant gliomas: correlation with Wilms tumor 1 expression and glioma cell invasiveness," by Archana Chidambaram, Ph.D., and colleagues, published online ahead of print today in the Journal of Neurosurgery. Although further studies must be performed, the authors propose that CD97 may prove to be a new target for anti-glioma therapies.

According to William C. Broaddus, M.D., Ph.D., neurosurgeon and leader of the research team, "the invasive behavior of glioma cells is a key feature of their malignancy in the first place, and more recently there is evidence that treatment of gliomas with anti-angiogenic approaches such as bevacizumab (Avastin) may stimulate the invasive behavior of some gliomas. This may even serve as the mechanism by which these tumors fail to respond to bevacizumab treatment. That means that treatments to attack the invasiveness of gliomas by attacking CD97 expression may have special promise as a new treatment strategy."

WT1 is a transcription factor involved in the normal development of several tissue types. Usually expression of this protein is switched off when tissue reaches the normal adult stage. However, WT1 expression has been identified in numerous malignant diseases?leukemia, lung and breast cancers, sarcomas, reproductive organ tumors, and gliomas to name a few. In fact, the same team of researchers previously documented WT1 expression in 80% of glioma cells and tumor specimens. Because WT1 expression in tumor cells has been shown to play a role in resistance to radiation and chemotherapy as well as promotion of cell proliferation, invasion, and/or angiogenesis, Dr. Broaddus brought together the team to investigate what genes present in malignant gliomas could be mediated by WT1 to confer the virulence displayed by this particular tumor. According to the authors, "given its structural identity?and functional history, it seemed logical that WT1 might regulate the transcription (or posttranscriptional expression) of other genes."

To this end, the research team set out to silence WT1 gene expression in malignant glioma cells and observe the effects of this silencing on other genes in these cells. The researchers did this by using short interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against WT1 in three glioblastoma cell lines: U251-MG, U1242-MG, and GBM-6.

Application of siRNA consistently suppressed WT1 gene expression levels, which in turn produced a significant reduction in cellular invasiveness. A microarray analysis identified other genes that were affected by WT1 silencing. These included 27 genes that were significantly downregulated and 11 that were significantly upregulated. The authors point out that nine of the 27 downregulated genes have putative or established roles in oncogenesis, and seven of the 11 upregulated genes have putative or established roles in tumor suppression. All but one gene demonstrating dysregulation during WT1 silencing have at least one potential binding site for WT1 in their promoter regions; the other gene (PDGF-D) has binding sites for Egr1, which recognizes and binds consensus binding sequences shared by WT1.

Prior to this study, there were no reports of CD97 overexpression in glioma cells. It was therefore surprising to the research team that the CD97 gene consistently displayed a direct correlation with WT1 in all three glioblastoma cell lines. Given CD97's putative role in aiding cell invasiveness and neoangiogenesis in other non-brain tumors, the decision was made to examine this cell-surface receptor specifically.

CD97 belongs to the adhesion G-protein?coupled receptor family. Western blot analysis demonstrated overexpression of CD97 protein in the three cell lines. Quantitative reverse transcriptase??polymerase chain reaction showed a six- to 21-fold increase in CD97 expression in the tumor cells over that found in normal human astrocytes, which displayed minimal CD97 expression. After siRNA transfection methods were applied to silence the CD97 gene, CD97 mRNA levels lowered significantly: approximately 50% in U251-MG cells, nearly 80% in GBM-6 cells, and 20% in U1242-MG cells. To examine whether these results would impact the glioblastoma cells' invasive capabilities, the researchers plated cells on Matrigel-coated filters of Transwell plates to see whether the cells would invade the Matrigel. In each cell type the cellular invasiveness potential decreased: to 54% of control (tumor cells) in U251-MG cells, approximately 50% of control in GBM-6 cells, and 26% of control in U1242-MG cells.

Perhaps the greatest challenge faced in treating malignant gliomas is their strong invasive capacity. The authors believe their data indicate that upregulation of CD97 mediated by WT1 possibly promotes this invasiveness. The findings of this study show a definite relationship between CD97 overexpression and the invasive quality of malignant glioma cells, which is correlated to the relationship between WT1 expression and the invasive characteristic of glioma cells?relationships that in the future may be exploited in a therapeutic setting.

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Chidambaram A, Fillmore HL, Van Meter TE, Dumur CI, Broaddus WC. Novel report of expression and function of CD97 in malignant gliomas: correlation with Wilms tumor 1 expression and glioma cell invasiveness. Laboratory investigation. Journal of Neurosurgery, published ahead of print February 7, 2012; DOI: 10.3171/2011.11.JNS111455.

Disclosure: The research presented in this paper was supported in part by the F. Norton Hord, Jr. Fund of the Medical College of Virginia Foundation and the Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University. The authors report no conflict of interest concerning the materials or methods used in this study or the findings specified in this paper.

For additional information, contact:
Ms. Gillian Shasby, Director of Publications?Operations
Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group
1224 Jefferson Park Avenue, Suite 450
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Email: gshasby@thejns.org
Telephone 434-924-5555
Fax 434-924-5782

For well over 60 years, the Journal of Neurosurgery has been recognized by neurosurgeons and other medical specialists the world over for its authoritative, clinical articles, cutting-edge laboratory research papers, renowned case reports, expert technical notes, and more. Each article is rigorously peer reviewed. The Journal of Neurosurgery is published monthly by the JNS Publishing Group, the scholarly journal division of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (http://www.aans.org), an association dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to promote the highest quality of patient care. The Journal of Neurosurgery appears in print and on the Internet (http://www.thejns.org).

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CD97 gene expression and function correlate with WT1 protein expression and glioma invasiveness

TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- In certain people with Parkinson's disease, mutations in the parkin gene disrupt the proper function of dopamine, the brain chemical that controls body movement.

The finding could lead to new treatments and screening methods for the disease, according to the University at Buffalo researchers.

Using live human neurons in the laboratory, the team found that parkin mutations hinder the actions of dopamine and produce more "free radicals," harmful molecules that destroy dopamine-laden brain cells, leading to Parkinson's disease.

"Once parkin is mutated, it can no longer precisely control the action of dopamine, which supports the neural computation required for our movement," study author Jian Feng, a professor of physiology and biophysics in the university's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said in a university news release.

The parkin mutation is responsible for only a small percentage of Parkinson's disease cases, Feng stressed. Nevertheless, understanding how parkin works is relevant to all Parkinson's patients, he said.

One expert agreed that the finding may not be of direct help to most Parkinson's patients at this time.

"One should be cautious in overstating the importance of this since most cases of idiopathic [arising from unknown cause] Parkinson's disease are not caused by parkin mutations," explained Dr. Andrew Feigin, director of the experimental therapeutics division of the Center for Neurosciences at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y. However, he added that, "the creation of human neurons containing a parkin mutation may provide a new means for screening potential therapies for Parkinson's disease."

The study appears in the current issue of the journal Nature Communications.

The researchers said this is the first study to use live human neurons to investigate the role that parkin plays in Parkinson's disease, and it was made possible by the use of stem cells.

The research team created human neurons using human skin cells taken from four people: two with a rare type of Parkinson's disease in which their disease is caused by the parkin mutation, and two with healthy people who served as controls.

There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, which affects at least 500,000 people in the United States.

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Gene Research Offers Clues to Parkinson's Disease

Public release date: 7-Feb-2012
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Contact: Cathia Falvey
cfalvey@liebertpub.com
914-740-2100
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, February 7, 2012?People visit social networking sites such as Facebook for many reasons, including the positive emotional experience that people enjoy and want to repeat, according to an article in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.. The article is available free online at http://www.liebertpub.com/cyber

Measurements of physical and psychological responses such as breathing rate, brain activation, and pupil dilation, designed to assess a person's psychophysiological state, were collected in a group of individuals participating in either a relaxing or stressful task or being online on their own personal Facebook account. The results revealed a significantly different experience for stress or relaxation exposure compared to the response to Facebook.

Maurizio Mauri, PhD, Pietro Cipresso, PhD, Anna Balgera, MA, Marco Villamira, PhD, MD, and Giuseppe Riva, PhD, from IULM University, Auxologico Italian Institute, and Catholic University of Sacro Cuore, in Milan, Italy, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, report the design, findings, and conclusions of this study in the article entitled, "Why Is Facebook so Successful? Psychophysiological Measures Describe a Core Flow State while Using Facebook." http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cyber.2010.0377

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Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly in print and online that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet and interactive technologies. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed online at http://www.liebertpub.com/cyber

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Games for Health Journal, Telemedicine and e-Health, and Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at http://www.liebertpub.com.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215 http://www.liebertpub.com
Phone: (914) 740-2100 (800) M-LIEBERT Fax: (914) 740-2101

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New study shows Facebook use elevates mood

GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global outlook on Genetic Engineering Industry. The disparity in demand and supply arising due to increasing global population and stagnant food production is a major factor responsible for growing food crisis, and also a reason for nations to view genetic engineering (GE) as a viable solution. The benefits of GM crops and its subsequent commercialization have considerably helped in overcoming food shortage, alleviation of poverty, tackling biodiversity and other socio-economic issues.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) February 07, 2012

Follow us on LinkedIn – Genetic engineering (GE) deals with the manipulation of genes for human welfare. The versatility of genetic engineering has extended its benefits to agriculture, medicine, diagnosis and several other industries. These advancements helped in dealing with several socio-economic issues and more importantly the blistering issue of global food crisis. As global population grows and climate change impacts crop yields, GM crop varieties offer a healthy and safe alternative to traditionally produced crops in order to meet the future food demand. Modern breeding techniques are an effective amalgamation of traditional breeding protocols and advanced biotechnology methods including the use of genetic engineering to develop plants that have certain exceptional properties. For instance, market assisted selection uses genetic markers to identify traits in plants such as drought tolerance and improved yield, without the need to actually transfer genes from donor to target organisms. Genetically modified (GM) foods are being commonly used, with a significant share of staples such as soybeans and corn being produced in genetically modified varieties.

The growing consumer awareness about the benefits of GM crops is a primary driver for increasing consumer interest in the biotech foods. Ever since the commercialization of GM crops in 1996, agricultural biotechnology has spread very rapidly and currently, 29 countries cultivating GM crops are reaping its benefits. While markets such as the US, Brazil and Argentina have already accepted GM seed products, Europe, after opposing biotech crops for years, is now beginning to realize the benefits of GM foods. China and India, the countries with ever-growing population and yet self-sufficient food production, increasingly favor GM crops. Korea and Japan, both of which largely depend on imports of food in order to meet their food requirements, exhibit a moderate attitude towards GM foods. The US is the largest producer of GM crops covering an area of 69 million hectares in 2011 and accounts for almost three-fourth of total GE crops production across the world. Canada, Argentina, and Brazil are home to genetically modified soy, corn and canola, while China produces insect resistant rice.

Despite the fact that biotech crops offers innumerous benefits, the industry has been facing tough challenges with regard to ethical and moral issues, herbicide and pesticide resistance, species specific action and others. For instance, the European Union still remains indecisive over the acceptance of biotech crops in context of the potential threats associated with it. Several countries in the European Union banned the cultivation of genetically modified potato and maize attributable to concerns over antibiotic resistance. Globally, several protocols have been laid to ensure safe transfer, use and handling of biotechnologically modified living organisms. Adoption of cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation is a prime agenda of the protocols. Important precautions included regulations on international trade of genetically altered crops to curb the spread of associated diseases, pests and ensure fair trade practices.

The research report titled “Genetic Engineering: A Global Outlook” announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers an aerial view of the industry, highlights latest developments, and discusses demand drivers, issues and concerns, and regulatory environment. Discussion on the industry’s most noteworthy regional market, the US, is amply detailed with unbiased research commentary to provide the reader a rudimentary understanding of the prevailing market climate. Market discussions in the report are punctuated with fact-rich market data tables. Regional markets elaborated upon include United States, Canada, India, China, and South Africa among others. Also included is an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of companies worldwide.

For more details about this comprehensive industry report, please visit –

http://www.strategyr.com/Genetic_Engineering_Industry_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.

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Global Food Crisis to Spur Sturdy Growth of Genetically Engineered Crops, According to New Report by Global Industry ...

13-01-2012 20:25 SEE OUR RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTS VISIT http://www.2buildmusclefast.com "LIKE US ON FACEBOOK" http://www.facebook.com WE ARE NATURAL BODYBUILDERS AND DO NOT USE STEROIDS OR PRO HORMONES. OUR SUPPLEMENTS WE APPROVE OF ARE CREATINE WHEY PROTEIN and AND A GOOD PRE WORKOUT LIKE JACK3D OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

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TMW: Do You Have Horrible Genetics to Build Muscle - Video

11-12-2011 13:07 Doctors are hailing a major breakthrough in gene therapy that could revolutionise treatment of the blood clotting disorder Haemophilia. Sufferers currently have to take an ongoing series of injections to control the condition. A study at University College London hopes to change all that. Al Jazeera's Gerald Tan has been taking a look at the findings.

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Breakthrough in Haemophilia treatment - Video

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB: SVFC.PK) (PINKSHEETS: SVFC.PK); (“IntelliCell”) or the (“Company”), was invited to demonstrate its stromal vascular fraction technology at the recent Baseball Injuries Symposium at the Andrews Sports Medicine Institute in Alabama held and sponsored by USA Baseball. The course Chairman is Dr. James Andrews, and moderated by PT Kevin Wilk, and Dr. Jeff Dugas. One of the courses presented during the three day event was on stem cell technology presented by Dr. Joshua Hackel. Dr. Hackel presented the state of regenerative medicine technology in the role of treating sports injuries. The link is http://www.mediafire.com/?u7bfa662e3r1sdp.

Dr. Hackel compared the IntelliCell SVF technology to several other methods of regenerative medicine being considered to be used by the leading orthopedic sports medicine doctors. Dr. Steven Victor, CEO of IntelliCell stated, "We are extremely excited that IntelliCell’s technology compares very favorably to all the other technologies, for procedures common to all major sports industries. We are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to present to over 200 leading doctors and trainers looking to treat major league, collegiate and amateur baseball players with regenerative medicine. IntelliCell Biosciences believes that its technology will be utilized by such experts this year."

About IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc.

IntelliCell is a pioneering regenerative medicine company focused on the expanding regenerative medical markets using stromal vascular fraction derived from adult adipose tissue. IntelliCell intends to initially focus on selling laboratory suites and licensing its technology to doctors for use in their offices for their patients. The company is also setting up Centers of Excellence where doctors can treat their patients. In addition, IntelliCell BioSciences is exploring storing the stromal vascular fraction in cryo-storage for future uses. The company is also starting FDA IND clinical trials at major medical centers for clinical indication approval. IntelliCell intends to pursue expansion to secondary markets and beyond the U.S. through a combination of company-owned and licensed clinical facilities.

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IntelliCell Demonstrates at the American Sports Medicine Institute Held in Conjunction with and at the Andrews Sports ...

RED BANK, NJ--(Marketwire -02/07/12)- American CryoStem Corporation (OTCQB: CRYO.OB - News) announced today that it has completed providing stem cell processing services for Personal Cell Sciences Corp., a cutting edge manufacturer of anti-aging skin care products.

The study involves researching the regenerative function of a conditioned medium obtained from each participant's adipose (fat tissue) derived mesenchymal stem cells and their ability to promote the production or secretion of collagen, elastin and fibronectin related to skin wound healing.

John Arnone, CEO of American CryoStem and Founder of Personal Cell Sciences, commented, "CRYO's patented tissue culture media and its proprietary, aseptic adipose tissue processing methodology allows, as an added benefit for PCS customers to store a clinical grade sample of their own stem cells for future use in regenerative medicine. We are pleased to provide comprehensive Bio-Insurance storage solutions at our clinical facility."

The adipose tissue samples were acquired utilizing a mini-liposuction procedure. A total of sixty milliliters (approximately 2 fluid ounces) of adipose tissue was collected in the physician's office and sent to CRYO's laboratory for processing. Once processed, the resulting stromal vascular fraction (SVF) was forwarded to the Personal Cell Sciences laboratory for proprietary formulation for patient specific products.

"We are very excited to announce our service agreement and participation in this clinical study for Personal Cell Sciences. This contractual manufacturing agreement reinforces our capabilities to provide CRYO's exceptional clinical processing for relevant adult stem cell related products," said Anthony Dudzinski, COO of American CryoStem. "We look forward to our continued business relationship with PCS and expanding these services to other developers to speed their product's time to market."

About American CryoStem: American CryoStem Corporation (OTCQB: CRYO.OB - News) markets clinical processing products and services for Adipose (fat) Tissue and Adipose Derived Adult Stem Cells. CRYO's clinical processing and preservation platform supports the science and applications being discovered globally by providing the highest quality, clinically processed cells and assuring their sterility, viability and growth cap abilities, while at the same time developing cutting edge application, therapies and laboratory products and services for consumers and physicians.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain of the statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements with respect to events, the occurrence of which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors. Information concerning potential factors that could affect the Company is detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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American CryoStem Completes Cell Processing for Clinical Study

14-12-2011 20:22 Human tissue cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells recapitulate many of the characteristics and functionality expected of in vivo cell types. iCell® Cardiomyocytes are derived from human IPS cells and are currently being used in both drug discovery and basic research in Industrial and Academic settings. Dr. Eric Chiao of Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche) will lead this presentation and provide data showing the characterization and utility of iCell Cardiomyocytes, how they are being used in drug development, and how they are increasing our understanding of basic human cardiomyocyte cellular biology.

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Utilizing Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes for Early Safety Screening - Webinar Presentation - Video

29-01-2012 18:01 Biomarkers in Depression, Anxiety and ADHD

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Dr Evian Gordon - World Conference on Personalized Medicine 2012 (15 Minutes).mp4 - Video

01-02-2012 14:27 Theral Timpson, Host and Producer at Mendelspod.com shares his thoughts about the Personalized Medicine World Conference 2012 (PMWC2012), which was held in Mountain CA, USA (January 2012). The interview covers the company competition conducted during the PMWC2012 and discusses the winner of the 2012 First Prize - Auxogyn. Please leave your comments and questions on this page.

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Review of the Personalized Medicine World Conference 2012 - Video

Enlarge image Siemens Signs First Personalized Medicine Diagnostics Deals

Guenter Schiffmann/Bloomberg

A sign sits on a wall outside the entrance to Siemens AG's headquarters in Munich.

A sign sits on a wall outside the entrance to Siemens AG's headquarters in Munich. Photographer: Guenter Schiffmann/Bloomberg

Siemens AG, Europe’s largest engineering company, is wading into the multibillion-dollar field of personalized medicine by announcing deals to develop companion tests with two drugmakers.

The Munich-based company will work with HIV drugmaker ViiV Healthcare Ltd. and Tocagen Inc., a developer of an experimental brain tumor treatment, to create tests that will determine which patients will benefit from the therapies, said Trevor Hawkins, head of Siemens’ next generation diagnostics division.

“This is a major step forward for us, moving into this multibillion market, which we haven’t been in up until today,” Hawkins said in an interview. “We have every expectation to now growth this much further beyond where we are.”

Personalized medicine involves determining whether a patient is genetically susceptible to a particular disease or would be especially responsive to certain treatments. These new therapies often require special genetic tests, which are being created by separate companies, in some cases.

Siemens, which makes products ranging from light bulbs to high-speed trains, is under increased pressure to keep up with competitors such as Basel, Switzerland-based Roche AG, which is attempting a hostile takeover of gene-mapping company Illumina Inc., Ben Uglow, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, wrote in a note to clients last month.

Molecular Diagnostics

The market for molecular diagnostics, which includes personalized medicine tests, will more than double in the U.S. to $5.5 billion in 2016 from its $2.5 billion size in 2010, according to TriMarkPublications.com.

ViiV, a venture between London-based GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK) and New York-based Pfizer Inc. (PFE), the world’s biggest drugmaker, has an HIV drug called Selzentry that works with patients that have a specific form of the virus. Siemens will develop a test to help doctors determine which patients would benefit from the therapy.

Tocagen, based in San Diego, is working on a treatment for glioma, or brain cancer, called Toca 511 that’s in early human trials. Working with Siemens will give the company more credibility in discussions with the Food and Drug Administration and a quicker approach in marketing if approved, said Harry Gruber, chief executive officer of closely held Tocagen.

Formal Process

“We realized you really have to have a company that could commercialize as part of your team during the registration studies,” Gruber said in an interview. “We went through a very formal process to interview all the major players in the companion diagnostics space, and from the very beginning, this is the team we jelled with.”

No financial details of the agreements were disclosed.

Siemens, Roche and Abbott Laboratories (ABT) are seeking to form partnerships with drugmakers to develop these companion tests, said David Parker, vice president of the consulting firm Boston Healthcare.

“The test makers are all out there talking with potential pharma partners,” Parker, based in Washington, said in an interview. “I think we’re going to see nothing but an increase in the frequency in which drugs and diagnostics come to market.”

The pace of such approvals has accelerated, said Gwen Gordon, a spokeswoman for the Personalized Medicine Coalition, an industry advocacy group based in Washington. More than 72 such therapies are available today, a fivefold increase from the 13 available in 2006.

“In the past, it had been a much more difficult process to get the drug and the diagnostic approved, because there’s different people at the FDA that work on each set of products,” Gordon said. Now, the groups are coordinating more as drugmakers recognize the market’s potential. “They recognized that there is a market for tailored therapies for patients that know that the drug is going to work.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Flinn in San Francisco at rflinn@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Reg Gale at rgale5@bloomberg.net

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Siemens Signs First Agreements for Personalized Medicine Diagnostics

27-12-2011 11:44 Spinal cord injury treatment. http://www.projectwalk.org exists to provide an improved quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries through intense exercise-based recovery programs, education, support and encouragement.

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"Lori Hammond", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video

01-02-2012 16:34 Spinal cord injury treatment. http://www.projectwalk.org exists to provide an improved quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries through intense exercise-based recovery programs, education, support and encouragement.

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"Kyle Eade, "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video

A BRIGHT man suffered a spinal cord injury that paralysed both his legs after being stabbed in the lower back during a fight between two families, the County Court at Wangaratta has heard.

Shannon Larry Orcher, 20, is on trial, accused of stabbing Daniel Robinson three times and his father Alan Robinson seven times, in the early hours of October 4, 2009.

Orcher’s lawyer says his client acted in self-defence in attacking the pair, while prosecutors insist the Eurobin man intentionally set out to seriously injure the two men.

A 13-person jury was empanelled for the trial yesterday morning and given an outline of the facts of the case by prosecutor David O’Doherty.

He told the court Orcher and his brother Cheyne Orcher had visited the Robinson home after they left the Alpine Hotel in Bright when it closed at 1am.

Orcher allegedly told a friend of the Robinsons, Mathew Walsh, he was going to “bash” Daniel Robinson and have sex with his sister, Jessica Robinson.

At 3am, the Robinson siblings had arrived at their Cobden Street home after their night out at the same hotel when Daniel Robinson said he heard footsteps coming down the driveway and the Orcher brothers yelling they were

going to kill him, rape his

sister and burn down the house.

Mr Robinson woke up his father and the pair said they went out in a car to find the Orchers “to talk to them and calm the situation down”.

But the court heard yesterday the Robinsons were met with aggression and verbal abuse when they met Shannon Orcher, his brother and another relative in the driveway of the Orcher brothers’ home.

Police said a fight broke out between the men, both inside and outside the house.

They allege Orcher stabbed Alan Robinson seven times in the back and shoulders in the bedroom of the house, before stomping on his face and choking him to the point that he started to lose consciousness.

Orcher is alleged to have then walked out of the house and stabbed Daniel Robinson in the lower back three times, causing immediate paralysis to both his legs.

Police say the accused then left the scene and went to Beau Orcher’s Coronation Avenue unit, where he hid the knife, took off his blood-stained shirt and washed blood off his arms.

He later showed to police the shirt and knife, which he had hidden under a mattress in a couch, and admitted to stabbing both Robinson men, although he said they were both inside his house at the time of the stabbing.

Orcher told police he “lost it” and “I didn’t mean to ... do so much but I tried to stop them”.

The court heard both Robinson men had been armed, the father with a piece of a broom handle and the son with a cricket bat but the Orcher men didn’t report receiving any injuries in the incident.

Orcher’s lawyer said his client injured the Robinson men “to stop them” — an act of self-defence.

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Dad, son injured in stabbing frenzy

07-11-2011 15:39 http://www.StemCellTreatment.org Salima had stem cell treatment for Fibromyalgia and had very good results. We have had great success with stem cell therapy for Fibromyalgia also known as FMS. Fibromyalgia symptoms include pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles and other soft tissue. Stem cell treatment for fibromyalgia is something that ASCAAC specializes in. Go to our website for more information and fill out the form or give us a call so we can answer your stem cell and fibromyalgia questions!

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Stem Cell Treatment Fibromyalgia - Video

20-12-2011 09:01 If you would like more information please call us Toll Free at 877-578-7908. Or visit our website at http://www.usastemcells.com Or click here to have a Free Phone Constultation with Dr. Matthew Burks usastemcells.com Real patient testimonials for USA Stem Cells. Adult stem cell therapy for COPD, Emphysema, and Pulmonary fibrosis.

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Adult Stem Cell Treatments for COPD -Real patient results, USA Stem Cells- Donald W. Testimonial - Video

10-01-2012 17:54 Cell-based therapy research at Swedish Heart and Vascular Institute is quintessential to medical advancement. Medical director Dr. Paul P. Huang researches stem cell therapy pertaining to cardiovascular disease. He provides an historical perspective of stem cell research and explains how stem cells can help cardiovascular patients avoid surgery and improve their quality of life. Dr. Huang believes that regenerative medicine is medicine's next frontier. For more information visit http://www.swedish.org

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Cell-based Therapy Research - Video

12-01-2012 07:24 If you would like more information please call us Toll Free at 877-578-7908. Or visit our website at http://www.usastemcells.com Or click here to have a Free Phone Constultation with Dr. Matthew Burks usastemcells.com Real patient testimonials for USA Stem Cells. Adult stem cell therapy for COPD, Emphysema, and Pulmonary fibrosis.

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Adult Stem Cell Treatments for COPD -Real patient results, USA Stem Cells- Leon B. Testimonial - Video

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA and SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire -02/06/12)- Benitec Biopharma (ASX: BLT.AX - News) and Medistem (Pinksheets: MEDS.PK - News) announced today the successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in preclinical models using Benitec Biopharma's patented gene silencing technology applied to stem cell-derived immune system cells called dendritic cells. The studies, which were led by Dr. Wei-Ping Min of the University of Western Ontario, were published in the "Journal of Translational Medicine" on the 31st January 2012(1). Benitec Biopharma's CEO Dr Peter French and Medistem's scientist Dr Rosalia De Nochea Champion were co-authors on the paper.

"In 2003, Dr Wei-Ping Min's group, together with Medistem's CEO Dr Thomas Ichim, were the first to apply the technology of RNA Interference to the immune system, by silencing the autoimmune disease-associated gene IL-12p35(2)," said Dr. Peter French. "In the current paper, Dr. Min expanded these studies to a disease-relevant model, and using stem cell-derived dendritic cells was capable of developing promising preclinical data relevant to rheumatoid arthritis."

By specifically "silencing" various genes, Benitec Biopharma's ddRNAi technology is capable of modulating stem cells outside of the body, in order to endow them with new desired therapeutic activities. The first clinical study which combined stem cell therapy with Benitec Biopharma's ddRNAi technology was in a trial of AIDS-related lymphoma patients, the results of which were published in 2010 and showed the safety and feasibility of the approach(3).

In the current paper, ddRNAi was used to generate dendritic cells that acted as a "tolerogenic vaccine," which specifically blocked the pathological immune response in rheumatoid arthritis, without blocking healthy immune responses. It is contemplated that by blocking pathological immunity, ddRNAi-modified stem cell-based therapies, such as those being developed by Medistem, could provide novel treatment and curative approaches to tissue that has been damaged. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis the tissue would be cartilage and synovium.

"Medistem is the first company to take a stem cell from discovery to clinical trials in the short span of four years," said Dr. Weiping Min. "This is a unique example of merging basic research, as performed in my laboratory with the translational expertise of Dr. Ichim's company."

Medistem has previously published work in the area of rheumatoid arthritis, however the company's main efforts are currently focused on heart failure, for which it has started the RECOVER-ERC 60 patient double blind, dose escalating, placebo controlled trial using its Endometrial Regenerative Cell (ERC) universal donor stem cell. The company also has a critical limb ischemia trial recently approved by the FDA.

"In our opinion the Benitec Biopharma technology platform is the only means of inducing the stable expression of gene silencing in a stem cell," said Dr. Ichim, CEO of Medistem. "Given that Benitec Biopharma has pioneered ddRNAi for human therapy, and has been involved in applying it to stem cell manipulation, we are eager to continue our collaborations and finding means of leveraging the unique properties of the ERCs with the transformational technology of ddRNAi to develop novel cell therapies for a range of chronic life-threatening human diseases."

"Benitec Biopharma and Medistem are in discussions as to how to advance this work both in rheumatoid arthritis and in a range of other disease states that would lend themselves to such a novel combination therapy," Dr. French added.

About Medistem
Medistem Inc. is a biotechnology company developing technologies related to adult stem cell extraction, manipulation, and use for treating inflammatory and degenerative diseases. The company's lead product, the endometrial regenerative cell (ERC), is a "universal donor" stem cell being developed for critical limb ischemia and heart failure. A publication describing the support for use of ERC for this condition may be found at http://www.translational-medicine.com/content/pdf/1479-5876-6-45.pdf.

Cautionary Statement This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of our securities. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking information. Factors which may cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements are discussed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Benitec Biopharma

Benitec Biopharma Ltd is developing novel treatments for chronic and life-threatening conditions based on targeted gene-silencing activity using a transformational technology: DNA-directed RNA interference (ddRNAi) -- sometimes called expressed RNAi. The technology's potential to address unmet medical needs and to cure disease results from its demonstrated ability to permanently silence genes which cause the condition. Importantly, this technology's target gene and related gene pathways will rarely have presented as a therapeutic avenue for research for the traditional small molecule agents, currently accounting for the majority of today's pharmaceutical products.

Benitec now either owns or exclusively licenses from CSIRO more than 40 granted or allowed patents in the field of RNA interference for human therapeutic applications. Patents have been granted in key territories such as the USA, the UK, Japan, Europe, Canada and Australia. In addition, Benitec has almost 50 patent applications pending for which it is the owner or exclusive licensee from CSIRO, and has further intellectual property under development as a result of its pipeline program.

Founded in 1997 and trading publicly since 2001, Benitec Biopharma is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the symbol "BLT." Benitec aims to deliver a range of novel ddRNAi-based therapeutics to the clinic in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to its focused R&D strategy in infectious diseases, cancer and chronic cancer-associated pain, Benitec Biopharma is pursuing programs with licensees.

References
(1) Li, R et al. Gene silencing of IL-12 in dendritic cells inhibits autoimmune arthritis. "Journal of Translational Medicine" 2012, 10:19 doi:10.1186/1479-5876-10-19.
(2) Hill JA et al. Immune modulation by silencing IL-12 production in dendritic cells using small interfering RNA. "The Journal of Immunology," 2003, 171: 691-696.
(3) DiGiusto DL et al. RNA-based gene therapy for HIV with lentiviral vector-modified CD34+ cells in patients undergoing transplantation for AIDS-Related Lymphoma. "Science Translational Medicine," 2(36): 36ra43.

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Benitec Biopharma and Medistem Technologies Successfully Combined in Preclinical Stem Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid ...

Their sophisticated data-filtering strategy, which uses gene expression during normal development as a starting point, offers a new, efficient and potentially game-changing approach to gene discovery.

Babies born with CDH—representing one in every 3,000 live births—have a hole in the diaphragm that separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity, and may die due to poor growth of the lung.

Patricia K. Donahoe, M.D., director of the Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories at MGHfC, explained, "That hole can be fixed surgically if CDH has been diagnosed in time. But even surgery does not rescue the infants' impaired lung development, which often leads to fatal respiratory complications." Patients who survive into adulthood "tend to have a lot of ongoing health issues," she noted.

Donahoe and her colleagues Meaghan Russell, Ph.D., and Mauro Longoni, M.D., and Jackson Laboratory Professor Carol J. Bult, Ph.D., a computational biologist, led the research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The team had two goals: to identify the genes and gene networks that cause the hole in the diaphragm in order to develop new diagnostics and preventive treatments, and to learn more about how healthy lungs form to boost lung development in post-operative infant patients.

Bult and her Jackson colleague Julie Wells, Ph.D., generated gene expression profiles—snapshots of gene activity—for embryonic mouse diaphragms at multiple stages of development. Using algorithms designed by the JAX-MGH team, they used these data to then predict genes likely to contribute to diaphragm defects.

Bult said, "We asked which genes in our developmental data sets work together in common pathways, and which of these pathways contain previously known CDH genes from human studies and mouse models?"

To build gene networks, the researchers used the Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) data base resource based at The Jackson Laboratory. MGI, freely available to the research community, maintains the most comprehensive collection of mouse genetic and genomic information.

The researchers' filtering strategy identified 27 new candidate genes for CDH. When the investigators examined the diaphragms of knockout mice for one of these candidate genes—pre-B cell leukemia transcription factor 1 or Pbx1—they found previously unreported diaphragmatic defects, confirming the prediction.

The next step in the project is to screen patients for mutations in Pbx1 using the collection of CDH patient data and DNA that MGHfC and Children's Hospital Boston have been accumulating for years in collaboration with hospitals from around the world.

The research reported in the paper opens the door "not only to further research to explore the effects of the other 26 CDH candidate genes," Bult said, "but to a disease gene identification and prioritization strategy for CDH, an approach that can be extended to other diseases and developmental anomalies."

Provided by Jackson Laboratory

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Researchers find clues to common birth defect in gene expression data

18-12-2011 05:11 "By chance, the light-skinned coloured fish that I used for that research also taught us a lot about how Europeans, how humans became lighter skinned ... what Professor Cheng discovered was perhaps one of the most important genetic mutations ever found. A single change among literally billions of coded instructions within Zebrafish DNA that reduced black pigment from their stripes... Soon after this, identical genetic mutation was found in fair-skinned Europeans ... not only did white-skinned people evolve from black-skinned people, but lighter-skinned people, whether they're European, or whether they're Asian, ... we're actually mutants, of the dark-skinned people..." Nina Jablonski breaks the illusion of skin color http://www.ted.com Always Revealing, Human Skin Is an Anthropologist's Map http://www.nytimes.com

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09-01-2012 15:30 January 6, 2012 - The Genomics in Medicine Lecture Series More: http://www.genome.gov

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