Archive for February, 2012

The genetic code of the most common type of hereditary breast cancer has been mapped for the first time, raising hopes for better diagnosis and treatment for the killer disease, scientists have said.

Researchers say they have "fully sequenced" the DNA of two breast cancers caused by a faulty BRCA1 gene, which is responsible for aggressive and highly drug-resistant tumours.

The team from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) say they hope that their work will lead to more tailored treatment for patients.

Dr Rachael Natrajan, one of the scientists involved in the study, said: "It is exciting to find new genes which could be involved in causing and driving breast cancer. Now these have been identified we have to do more work to find out the role that they play. Ultimately, this knowledge could help us develop new treatments that target the specific defects of each patient's disease."

Breast cancers genetically passed down through families account for up to 10% of all cases, affecting around 4,500 people in the UK each year.

The scientists said cases caused by the BRCA1 gene are "usually aggressive" and "do not benefit" from targeted drugs such as tamoxifen and herceptin.

The research, published in the Journal of Pathology, found that despite both tumours being caused by the same source they mutated in almost completely different ways.

Professor Jorge Reis-Filho, who co-authored the study, said: "We often consider patients with a faulty BRCA gene as one group but our work shows that each tumour can look very different from each other genetically. Now we understand this, we can start to identify the best treatment strategies to save more lives of hereditary breast cancer patients."

The study also included teams from the Institut Curie in France, the University Medical Centre Utrecht in the Netherlands, The Cancer Research UK London Research Institute in London and the University of Nottingham.

Last week the ICR, writing in the British Journal of Cancer, said all women under 50 who are diagnosed with triple-negative (TN) breast cancer should be screened for the BRCA1 gene fault, which also carries with it an additional high risk of developing ovarian cancer. It said the screening could identify hundreds of extra women every year who may benefit from tailored therapy.

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Gene work raises breast cancer hope

Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 1:03 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 5:24 p.m.

The original benefactors to the University of Florida's Powell Gene Therapy Center have donated another $5 million.

The contribution by Earl and Christy Powell of Miami will establish a chair in gene therapy and genetics research at the UF Health Science Center, UF announced Wednesday. The Powells first donated $2 million in 2000 to UF's program in gene therapy research and the university renamed the center in their name.

The center has worked on gene therapies aimed at helping patients with inherited blindness and paralyzing neuromuscular diseases. The new chair will focus on the developing methods for the delivery of therapeutic genes to patients with a variety of diseases, according to UF.

Earl Powell is a former UF trustee and founding partner of Trivest Partners, a private equity investment firm in Miami.

- Nathan Crabbe

Powells donate $5 million to Gene Therapy Center Gainesville.comFebruary 22, 2012 5:24 PM

<p>The original benefactors to the University of Florida's Powell Gene Therapy Center have donated another $5 million.</p><p>The contribution by Earl and Christy Powell of Miami will establish a chair in gene therapy and genetics research at the UF Health Science Center, UF announced Wednesday. The Powells first donated $2 million in 2000 to UF's program in gene therapy research and the university renamed the center in their name. </p><p>The center has worked on gene therapies aimed at helping patients with inherited blindness and paralyzing neuromuscular diseases. The new chair will focus on the developing methods for the delivery of therapeutic genes to patients with a variety of diseases, according to UF. </p><p>Earl Powell is a former UF trustee and founding partner of Trivest Partners, a private equity investment firm in Miami.</p><p><i>- Nathan Crabbe</i></p>

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Powells donate $5 million to Gene Therapy Center

Friday, Feb. 24, 2012

Japan has made great strides in the fight against leukemia in the last two decades that have seen bone marrow transplants increase, while the implementation of a nationwide donor program also has contributed significantly.

But the donor pool still needs to be expanded further to give more patients on the waiting list a chance of finding a marrow match, and a better shot at undergoing the life-saving surgery.

As of the end of 2011, about 400,000 potential donors were registered with the Japan Marrow Donor Program and around 13,700 patients in total had received bone marrow transplants since its inception in 1991. Approximately 34,600 patients have sought transplants since the program started.

But many patients still die before a suitable donor match is found, and the program is looking to expand the donor pool through raising public awareness about bone marrow donations. Undergoing a transplant in time can eradicate the cancer, which attacks the body's blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow and the lymphatic system.

"I wish more people would join the program and that all patients could be given the chance to survive," said former leukemia patient Chikako Kimura, 39, who had one of the early bone marrow transplants during the program's first years.

Kimura was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in 1991, a year after graduating from high school and starting to work. That spring, she felt constantly tired but shrugged it off as resulting from the rigors of her job.

That December, however, Kimura saw a doctor about swelling in her legs. She was immediately hospitalized and started to receive treatment, but didn't learn she had leukemia until several years later.

Kimura was not informed she had leukemia until spring 1993, when her doctor told her a donor with bone marrow matching her type had been found and encouraged to her to undergo a transplant. A year earlier, the doctor had put her on the waiting list of the fledgling bone marrow donor program.

Initially, she balked at the proposal as her condition had been stabilized through chemotherapy. But she eventually decided to take a chance.

"I was really lucky to find a matching donor so soon, given the small pool of donors at the time," Kimura recalled.

According to the foundation that set up the program, more than 527,000 people have registered as potential bone marrow donors since January 1992.

The donor pool swelled after a TV campaign was launched in July 2005 featuring Masami Ihara, a former captain of Japan's national soccer team, who appealed for more people to register. The high-profile campaign helped raise public awareness over the issue and led to a flood of inquiries to the four toll-free numbers the foundation set up.

"From the first day (of the TV ads), we had our hands full answering phone calls" from the public asking how to become donors, said Hidehiko Okubo of the foundation.

The TV campaign was later amended to use the images of actress Masako Natsume, who died of leukemia in 1985, and singer Minako Honda, who died in 2005.

The easing of criteria that must be met before being allowed to register as a donor and an increase in locations nationwide where people can register also helped to boost donor numbers.

The donor pool has now expanded to a level where more than 90 percent of leukemia patients on the waiting list can expect to find at least one suitable match.

But even if they find a potential donor, logistical or other reasons currently prevent about 40 percent of leukemia patients from actually receiving transplants. And it remains extremely difficult to find donors for some patients with rare white blood cell types.

The foundation's Okubo said trying to cure leukemia only by bone marrow transplants has its limits, and noted another kind of transplant was granted the green light in October 2010.

The procedure, which uses hematopoietic stem cells extracted from the blood of healthy people, had until 2010 only been allowed in Japan for transplants involving family members.

While 33 medical facilities are capable of performing such transplants, only two leukemia patients have been operated on so far.

The new procedure is expected to increase the number of people willing to become donors, as it involves fewer health risks than bone marrow transplants.

More than 18 years on from her transplant, Kimura now works as a nurse. "Many people have supported me. I wanted to be of some help to other people," she explained.

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More bone marrow donors sought

12-02-2012 04:51 More info: effotset.com

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Stem Cell Skin Repair - Video

20-02-2012 18:40 This episode of http://www.PersonalizedMedicineTV.com covers discussion of personalized medicine vs. genomic medicine and terminology related to this topic. Ralph Snyderman, MD, who is with the Center for Research on Prospective healthcare, Department of Medicine, Duke University delves on the terminology related to personalized Healthcare.

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Personalized Medicine is more than Genomic Medicine - Video

Date: Thursday Feb. 23, 2012 5:45 PM ET

Victims of spinal cord injuries who undergo surgery within 24 hours are less likely to suffer paralysis, a new study suggests.

In fact, the timing of treatment for victims of spinal cord injuries can have a significant impact on the eventual outcome of their recovery, according to multi-clinical trials undertaken by Toronto's Krembil Neuroscience Centre.

Key findings also show that a patient is twice as likely to experience a "major neurological recovery" when they have surgery within a day of their injury.

"The differences that we are seeing with early decompression surgery are very significant and the results have a major impact on a person's life," said lead author and neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Fehlings.

The importance of a quick surgery is to ease pressure on the injured spinal cord, doctors say.

In the study, half of the patients waited the usual two days for their conditions to stabilize before undergoing decompression surgery.

"We are seeing about 1 in 5 people walking away from an injury they might not have otherwise," said Fehlings.

The report was spurred by concerns that early decompression surgery on patients suffering spinal injuries could cause complications later on. The traditional wisdom among some practitioners was to avoid too much surgery too soon.

But with improved technology like MRIs, better surgical tools and refined techniques, the study's authors say that a "new standard of care for patients" is on the horizon.

"Since timing is such an important factor for treating spinal cord injuries, we need to ensure that patients can get timely access to neurosurgical care," said Fehlings.

"This could mean the creation of neurosurgical centres of excellence, similar to stroke centres in Ontario."

For patients like Glen Williams, the study's findings have proved to be life-changing.

Four years ago, Williams slipped on a patch of ice and broke his neck. Once he realized he was paralyzed, he feared he would never walk again.

"It was the scariest day of my life," he said.

While Williams knew that he was in for the fight of his life if he hoped to regain mobility, he quickly signed up to be part of the study probing the timeliness of spinal surgery.

Today, he is mobile, and he traces his good fortune to the surgery.

"I am part of the evidence that it does work," he said.

According to the study's authors, between 1,500 and 1,700 Canadians suffer spinal cord injuries each year.

The Rick Hansen Foundation notes that such injuries cost the health care system $3 billion annually.

With a report from CTV's medical specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip

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Surgery most effective within 24 hrs of spinal injury

Setting their wheelchairs aside, three quadriplegics each got on their feet one morning this week and moved parts of their bodies medical professionals had all but given up on.

A former high-school-football player — who suffered a spinal-cord injury in a tackle two years ago during the final game of his senior year — worked out on an elliptical machine. A 29-year-old mother rear-ended at a red light 12 years ago took strides on a treadmill.

And a former insurance executive — the visionary behind the novel recovery center in Longwood — stood balanced against a metal frame, his thigh muscles quivering and firing as they worked to get stronger.

All were gaining strength and hope at CORE, the Center of Recovery and Exercise. The new 3,200-square-foot facility officially opens today, although it has been slowly rolling out services since November.

"I feel 5-foot-10 again — instead of 3 feet," said CORE founder Matthew Davies, paralyzed by a 2005 auto accident on Interstate 4 near Daytona Beach.

The tragedy stunned the community, in which Davies wore many hats, including that of president for UnitedHealthcare of Central and North Florida. He was equally well-known for his volunteer efforts with groups working to improve access to health care.

Making muscles fire

In April, as he began a neurorecovery program in a Sanford center with exercise physiologist Malerie Murphy, Davies stood for the first time since his accident.

"When I first saw him, he couldn't hold his core straight and barely had enough energy to speak," said Murphy, now CORE's senior trainer. The fact that he is upright is the result of new — but not yet widely embraced — advancements in neurorecovery.

Since Davies started the exercise training 10 months ago, his lung function has gone from 50 percent to 70 percent.

"I have energy again," said Davies, who trains two hours a day, four times a week.

Much of the exercise-based approach to recovery comes from the Christopher Reeves Foundation, named for the "Superman" actor who suffered a spinal-cord injury after a horseback-riding accident.

The latest technology, including electrical stimulation that helps retrain arm and leg muscles to fire correctly, has helped paralyzed patients gain independence, and, in some cases, walk again. One of their formerly wheelchair-bound clients now walks with a cane.

"My whole purpose is to help people who have had spinal-cord accidents regain independence by regaining muscle and movement," said Davies, 50.

'Watched my body degenerate'

"It's daunting when you're told at 17 that your life span will be greatly reduced because of your spinal-cord injury," said Dana Guest, a quadriplegic who drove herself from Tampa three times a week for treatments with Murphy before moving to Longwood in December 2010.

"I could see why. I watched my muscles wither and my body degenerate," said the former basketball player.

Those stranded in wheelchairs suffer many secondary health conditions, including problems with circulation, osteoporosis, weight gain, lung function, digestion and pressure sores from sitting all the time. All those problems improve when patients get up and move.

Reeves died of an infection that resulted from a pressure sore.

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New center gets those with spinal-cord injury on their feet

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

By: Sheryl Ubelacker, The Canadian Press

23/02/2012 4:48 PM | Comments: 0

TORONTO - Getting people who suffer an upper spinal cord injury into the operating room for decompression surgery sooner rather than later can have a significant payoff, even reducing the likelihood of permanent paralysis for some patients, researchers say.

A Canadian-U.S. study of patients with trauma to the cervical spinal cord found that those who had surgery within 24 hours of the injury had twice the chance of a much improved neurological recovery compared to those who had to wait longer for their operation.

The cervical spinal cord is encased in seven bony vertebrae that begin at the nape of the neck. Immediately below are the thoracic vertebrae, followed by those in the lumbar region that end in the tail bone.

The study focused on trauma to the cervical spine, the area which accounts for 30 per cent of all spinal cord injuries and can lead to a person becoming a quadriplegic.

"These are patients who have a very severe injury of the spinal cord," said Toronto neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Fehlings, who led the study.

Traumas that cause upper spinal cord injury often occur from falls, sports injuries or motor vehicle accidents, said Fehlings, medical director of the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at Toronto Western Hospital.

"In most cases, there is a fracture of the cervical spine that results in either a dislocation of the vertebrae or a crush of one of the vertebra," he said. "Or in some cases, patients who have pre-existing narrowing of the spinal canal due to degenerative disc disease or arthritis can have blunt trauma injury to the cord without an actual fracture."

In the study of 313 patients with cervical spinal cord injury, published online Thursday in the journal PLoS ONE, almost 20 per cent of those who had decompression surgery on their spines within 24 hours showed marked improvement in function compared to less than nine per cent of those who had surgery later.

The operation involves releasing the pressure on the injured spinal cord and then stabilizing it.

“The differences that we are seeing with early decompression surgery are very significant and the results have a major impact on a person’s life,” said Fehlings. In rare cases, and depending on the severity of the injury, a patient who otherwise would likely have been paralyzed was able to walk.

"The timing for a spinal cord injury matters. In other words, it's like a stroke or a heart attack. Both stroke and heart attack (are) medical emergencies ... The same is true for spinal cord injury."

Fehlings said regional centres that specialize in traumatic spinal cord injuries should be created across Canada with the aim of providing patients, who may need to be transported from remote areas, more timely access to surgery.

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Timing matters for spinal cord injury, surgery sooner improves outcome: study

22-02-2012 16:33 see also sens.org - mitworld.mit.edu - techtv.mit.edu NEW : check out our facebook-community page NEW join and share cutting edge lectures and debates http://www.facebook.com

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Dr. Aubrey de Grey - Regenerative Medicine Against Aging 1/2 - Video

Newswise — The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is pleased to announce the winner of the 2012 McEwen Award for Innovation, a coveted prize in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. The 2012 recipient is Rudolf Jaenisch, MD, Founding Member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in recognition of his pioneering discoveries in the areas of genetic and epigenetic control of development in mice that directly impact the future potential of embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells for therapeutic utility.

The McEwen Award for Innovation is supported by the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The $100,000 award honors original thinking and groundbreaking research pertaining to stem cells or regenerative medicine that opens new avenues of exploration towards the understanding or treatment of human disease or affliction.

“Rudolf Jaenisch has consistently contributed new and groundbreaking discoveries to stem cell biology and regenerative medicines that have changed the way stem cell research is conducted, said Fred H. Gage, PhD, ISSCR President. “Importantly, Rudolf not only has an uncanny sense of the next big question, but also conducts his experiments with such thoughtful and critical experimental design that his results have an immediate impact. This critical attention to detail and experimental design has greatly benefited the many gifted students that have passed through his lab and now populate many of the major stem cell centers throughout the world. Rudolf is very deserving of this award.”

Winner of the inaugural McEwen Award for Innovation in 2011, Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, ISSCR President-Elect agrees. “Dr. Rudolf Jaenisch has always been on the cutting-edge of our field and his research has been a source of inspiration not only for myself, but has influenced the careers of some of our most esteemed colleagues.”

Dr. Jaenisch will be presented with the award at the ISSCR 10th Annual Meeting, in Yokohama, Japan, on Wednesday, June 13, 2012.
***
The International Society for Stem Cell Research is an independent, nonprofit membership organization established to promote and foster the exchange and dissemination of information and ideas relating to stem cells, to encourage the general field of research involving stem cells and to promote professional and public education in all areas of stem cell research and application.

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ISSCR Honors Stem Cell Research Pioneer with Prestigious McEwen Award for Innovation

22-02-2012 05:16 Waisan Poon, Chinese U, Hong Kong, speaking on, "Clinical trial of umbilical cord blood stem cells in spinal cord injury" at the International Conference of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases to be held at the Tzu-Chi Hospital in Hualien, Taiwan on April 22-24, 2010.

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Waisan Poon, "Clinical trial of umbilical cord blood stem cells in spinal cord injury" - Video

22-02-2012 05:41 Alok Sharma, LTMG Hospital, Bombay, "Clinical trial of bone marrow stem cells in spinal cord injury" at the International Conference of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases to be held at the Tzu-Chi Hospital in Hualien, Taiwan on April 22-24, 2010.

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Alok Sharma, "Clinical trial of bone marrow stem cells in spinal cord injury" - Video

Published Wednesday, February 22, 2012 12:12 AM By MAGGIE KIELY
maggie.kiely@theeagle.com

Two Texas A&M cancer awareness organizations are encouraging people to participate in an event that could save lives.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 1 and March 2 at the Recreation Center, residents will have an opportunity to register their bone marrow into a global data base used to help patients waiting for a donor match.

Spearheading the drive are Christina Ruiz, president of the Texas A&M Cancer Society, and Courtney Hawes, president of Texas A&M American Childhood Cancer Organization.

The two campus groups have teamed up with DKMS, a global bone marrow donor center, for the event.

Registering bone marrow involves swabbing the inside of the person's cheek to gather tissue used to determine the DNA type.

Amy Roseman, donor recruitment coordinator for DKNS Texas region, said finding a match is a challenge for many patients.

"What we're looking for is a genetic twin, so it's really hard to find a match," she said. "Within a family, a patient only has a 30 percent chance of matching a relative."

Each year, there are about 20,000 patients seeking a match, but only four out of 10 are successful, she said.

That's why it's so important to increase the size of the bone marrow data base: "The more the marrower," said Roseman.

Roseman said that 80 percent of patients in need of bone marrow donations are looking for blood stem cells, while only 20 percent -- mainly children -- require a full transplant.

Giving the stem cells involves a process similar to donating blood, she said.

To donate bone marrow, the donor is put under anesthesia while doctors draw tissue from the pelvic bone.

All of the procedures are paid for by DKNS, she said.

Ruiz, a junior molecular and cell biology major, said her plan is to become an oncologist.

Cancer entered her world in middle school when her best friend's mother was diagnosed with lymphoma.

The friend's mom, who had been her after-school caretaker, died her freshman year, but because of two bone marrow transplants, she was able to live longer than expected.

Hawes said several of her family members have been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer since her middle school years, which is what prompted her to join the campus cancer society as a freshman.

She founded ACCO last summer and has recruited about 30 members since, she said.

The cancer society has about 40 members, Ruiz said, adding that most of their work centers around raising awareness about cancer prevention and ways people can contribute to research or treatments.

Josh Lemon, a freshman visualization major from Waco, said he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma -- a rare form of bone cancer -- two years ago as a senior in high school.

Even though he didn't receive a bone marrow transplant, he did require a platelet transfusion, which wouldn't have been possible without a donor.

"For me, it was very beneficial that someone had donated," he said. "You never know, you may know someone who will be affected by cancer."

For more information about what it takes to register or become a bone marrow donor, visit getswabbed.org.

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A&M to host bone marrow donor drive

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Claire Cox: “The identification of the factors involved in controlling these populations and thus epidermal maintenance is highly valuable. Not only will it provide information as to how a complex tissue is organized and controlled, the principles that are learnt can be applied to other tissues. Through the work that I am completing, I hope that I can also gain a perspective as to what goes wrong in disease processes such as skin cancer. Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world, and understanding what goes wrong and the factors involved could potentially lead to new ideas as to prevention and treatment.”

The image is 700µm in width – this is about the size of the full stop in this sentence. About 5000 cells would fit on the surface of a full stop.

Under the Microscope is a collection of videos that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up. They are released every Monday and Thursday and you can see them here: http://bit.ly/A6bwCE

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Under the Microscope #10 - Mouse tail skin

02-01-2012 18:36 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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"Joe Guintu", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video

11-02-2012 20:40 Filling the gap in spinal cord injury recovery treatment Often patients care is based on compensatory strategies and the training provided is to get the patient and family members taught to care for the patient after discharge from the hospital in the fastest manner possible. For example, traditional acute therapy programs help patients become as independent "as possible" before insurance or funding runs out. Many patients with a high spinal cord injury are discharged within weeks of their injury. Neurological injuries and disorders take time to attain maximum function and regain lost abilities. In traditional outpatient physical therapy programs, facilities often based services on the patient's insurance benefits. Due to the slow return on treatment for neurological disorders and injuries, outpatient therapy programs are often pushed by insurance companies to terminate services because funding will not be provided for slow gains in progress. Available insurance benefits, however, have no correlation to a patient's ability to improve. As insurance and medical benefits become exhausted, many outpatient therapists are referring their patients to training facilities like Neuroxcel® that offer comprehensive, activity-based strength training with state-of-the-art gait strengthening equipment and modalities.

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Filling the gap in spinal cord injury recovery treatment - Video

20-02-2012 07:56 Watch as rehablab investigators work with spinal cord injured individuals to improve walking.

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Rehablab - Spinal cord injury - Video

Not long after they got married, Ed and Karen Matayka, both medics in the Vermont National Guard, were deployed to the Middle East.

"We honeymooned in Kuwait," Karen, 32, says. "They say the first year of marriage is the hardest. I don't know, is it harder or easier in a combat zone?"

Now the couple is facing a different kind of battle.

They're celebrating Valentine's Day not at home but in San Antonio, where Ed is undergoing therapy at San Antonio Military Medical Center after he sustained life-threatening injuries in Afghanistan.

He has been learning how to walk on prosthetics after both his legs were amputated above the knee. Complicating the process are a spinal cord injury, head injury and weakness on his left side resulting from a stroke.

Doctors once predicted he wouldn't survive. He owes his tremendous progress, he says, to Karen.

Without her devotion and support, "I think I would still be sitting in a hospital bed," Ed, 34, says. "I was motivated to quit feeling sorry for myself and get better."

Karen and Ed married in summer 2004. After a 14-month deployment working security in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, they settled in New Hampshire, bought a house and contemplated starting a family.

Then came another deployment. They left for Afghanistan in March 2010.

At first, they loved it, says Karen, who interacted with the locals, went hiking and bought local food and garments.

Then, on July 2, Ed was riding in a military vehicle when an IED exploded.

"I don't remember it at all," he says.

Karen was awakened at 5 a.m. She immediately suspected what had happened.

"It was a gut instinct," she says.

The doctors told her Ed wouldn't make it 24 hours.

"Everyone else who's had these injuries passed away," Karen says. "He broke every lumbar vertebrae, broken jaw, liver laceration, kidney bleed, bruised lung, stroke, amputation. His liver failed."

Ed was in a coma for five weeks. As he was transported first to Germany, then to the U.S., Karen wrote him letters, talked to him, played music for him, rubbed his head, held his hand.

"He would actually respond to me," Karen says. "He'd answer questions by squeezing my hand. The doctors and nurses were shocked that when I would enter the room, his blood pressure would go down, his heart rate would go down, his respiratory rate would go down."

Despite predictions, Ed eventually woke from the coma and began recovering from his injuries. After bouncing around to several hospitals across the country, the Mataykas came to San Antonio in 2011.

When Ed became an outpatient, Karen took over her husband's daily care. She had to dress him, help him shower, shave him, prepare his meals, cut his meat and give him his medications.

He's slowly becoming more independent, but she still helps him dress - it's faster - and helps him in the bathroom.

They live in a small room in one of the Fisher Houses at Fort Sam Houston, a home for wounded warriors and their families.

In addition to Ed's hours of daily therapy, they take classes, such as cooking or crafts, at the Warrior Family Support Center on base.

They're also working on having children (he originally wanted six; she's talked him down to two or three). Because of Ed's injuries, they're relying on in-vitro fertilization.

The Mataykas know how often couples split after one spouse is injured in war; they've seen it happen.

"Either the relationship wasn't good to begin with and the spouse stays out of guilt and they become resentful and it blows up," Karen says, "or the spouse feels bad so then they don't express their feelings, they get bottled up, and things go sour from there."

But Karen and Ed aren't afraid to let each other know when they're frustrated or irritated.

"We still fight just as bad as ever," Ed says.

They also tease each other - a lot.

"I wear sandals everywhere," Karen says. "I'll say, 'Man, my toes are cold. How are yours, Ed?' I'm sure there are people who are out there who go, 'My God, she's a horrible wife.' But that's how we cope with it. We laugh a lot."

jbelasco@express-news.net

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Wife's love gets fellow veteran through near-fatal war injuries

A bill to create a trust fund to support charitable clinics serving brain and spinal cord injury patients won committee approval on Wednesday.

The fund would be overseen by a five-member board including lawmakers and a senior health official. It would be built with private donations and fees tacked onto moving violations, such as tickets for speeding and DUIs. HB400 also leaves open the possibility of legislative funding, but contains no fiscal note for this year.

“That’s because I intend to prove it’s a cost-effective way to treat this population,” said sponsor Rep. Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns.

Seven states have similar trusts, but most use the money for research and wheelchairs for the uninsured or underinsured. Hutchings wants the money to go to physical rehabilitation techniques proven to help patients regain mobility and independence.

Physical therapy isn’t well covered by most insurance plans, but it can make the difference between someone walking and working again or winding up disabled and on public aid, he said.

Rep. Bradley Daw, R-Orem, voiced concern about taxing drivers whose habits may, or may not, cause accidents in which people are seriously injured. The bill gives the trust’s board of directors and Utah Judicial Council broad discretion on who to fine and how much.

“I love this bill, except for the fee part,” said Daw, one of two no votes. “With some changes I’m glad to change that to an enthusiastic yes.”

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Bill to create trust for spinal cord, brain injury victims advances

CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Vomaris Innovations, Inc., a leading regenerative medicine company focusing on wound care with bioelectric technology, has named Michael P. Nagel as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Nagel will also join Vomaris Innovations, Inc.'s Board of Directors. Mr. Nagel brings more than 26 years of sales, marketing and management experience in the medical device industry along with a visionary leadership approach. Before joining Vomaris, Nagel served as Chief Commercial Officer of Neomend. He has also served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Incisive Surgical and was co-founder and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Vascular Solutions (VASC).

At Neomend, Nagel oversaw the commercial launch of a PMA device, Progel®, a pleural air leak sealant that quickly penetrated more than 1,200 hospitals and experienced rapid sales growth in the United States and Europe. He helped take Vascular Solutions from inception to IPO in 39 months and led the launch of a novel, biological vascular closure device into the interventional marketplace. With Incisive Surgical, Nagel led the launch of a new, absorbable skin closure technology, INSORB, built the entire distribution channel, sold INSORB to more than 1,000 U.S. hospitals and then launched the technology in Europe.

"With expertise ranging from diagnostics to cardiovascular devices, Nagel's proven leadership skills in commercializing biological sealants, hemostats and biomaterials will drive the regenerative technology at Vomaris forward," said Paul Foster, Chairman of Vomaris. "Mike brings the proven experience and leadership needed to accelerate the continued development and commercial launch of an innovative wound care technology. In addition, he brings unparalleled expertise in launching new technology into the medical marketplace that will help Vomaris expand its reach and become a global company," continued Foster.

"I value the opportunity to work with an elite, highly focused team including employees and leading physicians who are dedicated to redefining wound care advancements," Nagel said. "Driven by the increasing number of patients suffering from full-thickness wounds, there is a need to provide an advanced technology that will help expedite wound healing while reducing the associated pain and scarring. Vomaris is changing how wounds are managed, which will enhance the quality of patient care worldwide," continued Nagel.

The Company's product Procellera® is the first totally self-contained, comfortable, cut-to-fit, electrically active wound dressing in the world. The technology is extremely versatile and scalable and spans multiple healthcare specialties. For more information about Procellera®, please visit http://www.vomaris.com.

About Vomaris Innovations, Inc.

Vomaris Innovations, Inc., based in Chandler, Arizona, is a regenerative medical device company specializing in the emerging bioelectrical field, generating innovative technologies for the wound care market. FDA cleared, Procellera® Wound Dressing is the world's first wireless, self-contained antimicrobial wound dressing that generates a sustained electrical microcurrent at its surface when activated with a conductive fluid. Procellera® is indicated for professional use for partial and full-thickness wounds such as pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers, burns, surgical incisions, and donor/recipient graft sites. Randomized controlled trials are in process to obtain clinical data for supporting expanded indications for use, including faster healing, reduced pain and decreased scarring. A recently published study in the Journal of Burn Care and Research on skin graft donor site wounds concluded that Procellera® healed wounds 35% faster and resulted in a significant decrease in scar appearance and improved patient subjective outcomes as compared to semi-occlusive control wound dressings. Vomaris' ongoing research efforts are focused on evaluating additional benefits associated with emerging bioelectrical field generating technologies. For more information, visit http://www.vomaris.com or call 480.921.4948.

Originally posted here:
Vomaris Innovations, Inc. Names New CEO

TYLER, TX (KLTV) -

Over the last 3 months, life has changed drastically for Cody Chandler, a Tyler doctor diagnosed with leukemia just after Thanksgiving.

A bone marrow drive will be hosted Wednesday afternoon in his honor, and one of the main things Chandler stresses now is his new-found passion to get people who need bone marrow transplants the help they need.

"To be very honest, I didn't realize the severity of it. I was like, leukemia, what do you mean leukemia? And he said, you have cancer, and we need to start chemo tomorrow," Chandler recalls.

Chandler is a young father, husband, and doctor. He describes himself as being "pretty healthy" before he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in November.

"The severity of the diagnosis doesn't really hit you until you unfortunately start looking at statistics, and what it's going to take for me to get treated and get healthy and to live past 5 years," he said. "And I don't think I can explain that feeling. I think the real definition of being humbled, I've really learned what humility means."

Chandler's cancer is currently in remission and he continues to have chemo treatments. But if he relapses, he'll have to have a bone marrow transplant. Heart to Heart Hospice in Tyler is hosting a bone marrow drive Wednesday afternoon to get people on the national registry.

"They wanted to reach out and help and let people know how simple the process is to get into the registry and how simple the process is now to donate," said April Brown, the host of Wednesday's blood drive.

To join the registry, it only takes someone 15 seconds to swab their cheek and a few minutes to fill out some paperwork. And Brown says the bone marrow donation process is much easier than people think.

"They put an IV in both arms. They take the blood out and it goes into a machine that separates the stem cells and they'll collect the stem cells and the blood goes back into the arm," she said.

A process chandler says he now realizes the importance of -- he wishes he could help Leslie Harris, a young Arkansas mother given 6 months to live without a bone marrow transplant.

"I would give her my bone marrow if I could, and I can't, but there's a million people in the upper East Texas region that could. There's 100,000 people in Tyler that could, with a 15-second swab, can maybe save somebody's life, and the reality is it could actually save someone exactly like me," Chandler said.

If you'd like to attend today's bone marrow drive, it's being held at Heart to Heart Hospice here in Tyler from 1 to 6 pm.

If you'd like to help but can't make it, there are a few ways you can do so.

You can donate to the Chandler family at http://www.comfortforcody.com.

And you can find out more about becoming a bone marrow donor at http://www.getswabbed.org.

Copyright 2012 KLTV. All rights reserved.

Link:
Bone marrow drive held Wednesday for Tyler doctor

Monkeys suffering from Parkinson's disease show a marked improvement when human embryonic stem cells are implanted in their brains, in what a Japanese researcher said Wednesday was a world first.

A team of scientists transplanted the stem cells into four primates that were suffering from the debilitating disease.

The monkeys all had violent shaking in their limbs -- a classic symptom of Parkinson's disease -- and were unable to control their bodies, but began to show improvements in their motor control after about three months, Kyoto University associate professor Jun Takahashi told AFP.

About six months after the transplant, the creatures were able to walk around their cages, he said.

"Clear improvements were confirmed in their movement," he said.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological illness linked to a decrease in dopamine production in the brain. There is currently no medical solution to this drop off in a key neurotransmitter.

The condition, which generally affects older people, gained wider public recognition when Hollywood actor Michael J. Fox revealed he was a sufferer.

Takahashi said at the time of the implant about 35 percent of the stem cells had already grown into dopamine neuron cells, with around 10 percent still alive after a year.

He said he wants to improve the effectiveness of the treatment by increasing the survival rate of dopamine neuron cells to 70 percent.

"The challenge before applying it to a clinical study is to raise the number of dopamine neuron cells and to prevent the development of tumours," he said.

"I would like to make this operation more effective and safe" before clinical trials, Takahashi said.

Takahashi said so far he had used embryonic stem cells, which are harvested from foetuses, but would likely switch to so-called Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells, which are created from human skin, for the clinical trial.

His team, which has also transplanted iPS cells into monkeys, are now looking to see if the primates with Parkinson's disease show similar improvements in their motor control.

Scientists say the use of human embryonic stem cells as a treatment for cancer and other diseases holds great promise, but the process has drawn fire from religious conservatives, among others.

Opponents say harvesting the cells, which have the potential to become any cell in the human body, is unethical because it involves the destruction of an embryo.

The Japanese government currently has no guidelines on the use of human stem cells in clinical research.

In October last year, the Court of Justice of the European Union banned the patenting of stem cells when their extraction causes the destruction of a human embryo, a ruling that could have repercussions on medical research.

Scientists warned that the ruling would damage stem cell research in Europe, while the Catholic church hailed it as a victory for the protection of human life.

Here is the original post:
Stem cell implants boost monkeys with Parkinson's

OXFORD, England--(BUSINESSWIRE)--

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), provider of innovative clinical genetics and diagnostic solutions to advance molecular medicine, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Inven2, the technology transfer office at Oslo University Hospital (OUS) and University of Oslo (UiO), for 12 highly promising colorectal cancer tissue biomarkers.

The exclusive license allows OGT to commercialise any resulting test developed using these biomarkers and to sublicense the markers to other parties. The DNA methylation biomarkers were developed in the laboratory of Professor Ragnhild A. Lothe, in the department of Cancer Prevention, the Norwegian Radium Hospital, part of the Oslo University Hospital.

OGT has validated the results obtained in Professor Lothe’s laboratory showing sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 90% when using tissue biopsies. Further work investigating the efficacy of these biomarkers in blood and faecal samples is ongoing.

“This licensing agreement gives OGT exclusive access to genetic markers which are associated with colorectal cancer.” stated Mike Evans, CEO, of OGT. “We believe that developing tests that include these genetic markers will permit the earlier identification of patients at risk of this disease and allow for more timely diagnosis and clinical interventions.” He added, “The higher specificity of this new panel of markers could provide a more robust screening tool than the tests currently used, while eventually lowering overall costs, which would be of significant benefit for both patients and the clinicians using them.”

“Biomarkers have the potential to greatly improve the accuracy and impact of colorectal cancer screening.” commented Professor Lothe, from the Norwegian Radium Hospital. “We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with OGT to develop and validate a future test which will help screen people early for this treatable form of cancer.”

Benedicte Bakke, Business Development Manager at Inven2 AS, Oslo technology transfer office, concluded: “We fully support the collaboration with Oxford Gene Technology to develop a new method of detecting colorectal cancer using these biomarkers. This deal demonstrates the importance of industry and academic collaboration in turning scientific excellence into products that address medical needs.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

About Oxford Gene Technology

Founded by Professor Ed Southern, Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) provides innovative clinical genetics and diagnostic solutions to advance molecular medicine. The company has two trading businesses, Biomarker Discovery and Clinical & Genomic Solutions. Biomarker Discovery: OGT delivers tailored biomarker discovery solutions that optimise drug and diagnostic development programmes. With expertise in genomic and proteomic diagnostic biomarkers, OGT provides highly specific customised biomarker panels for cancer and other diseases, both for direct sale and also for collaboration with partner companies. Clinical & Genomic Solutions: OGT’s Genefficiency™ is a unique combination of world-leading platforms, people, processing power and performance synchronised to deliver rapid, high-quality genomic data to customers worldwide. OGT’s CytoSure™ cytogenetics array, labelling and interpretation software products and services provide a complete solution for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities. Together, Genefficiency and CytoSure offer a unique, standardised and integrated solution for cytogenetics research.

For more information on the Company, please visit our website at: http://www.ogt.co.uk

CytoSure: For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About Inven2

Inven2 is the Technology Transfer Office for the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Norway's largest and leading university and hospital representing pioneering research. Inven2 is the largest contributor in Norway within the field of commercialization of research within Life Science. For more information on Inven2, please visit our website at: http://www.inven2.com

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (commonly known as colon or bowel cancer) is the 2nd most common cancer in women (behind breast) and the 3rd most common cancer in men (behind prostate and lung). Worldwide, 1.23 million new cases of bowel cancer were diagnosed in 2008. The chance of cure is much better if this cancer is detected at an early stage rather than at a later stage. In the past decade, there has been unprecedented progress in reducing colorectal cancer incidence and death rates; this progress has come about largely through the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer through screening. However, it is estimated that there could be further improvement ? up to 20,000 fewer deaths from colorectal cancer over the next 20 years ? if just 60% of those eligible took up the invitation for bowel screening (Cancer research UK).

Colorectal cancer screening

In the UK, the current primary screening tool is the faecal occult blood test in England (FOBt; the Faecal immunochemical test, FIT, is used in Scotland). The test is based on determining the presence/absence of blood within a patients stool. Although the test does not diagnose colorectal cancer it directs patients for further evaluation should a positive test be returned to the health care professional. This could ultimately lead to a further examination entailing a colonoscopy. However, the presence of blood in the faeces can be due to a number of factors and so for every 10 people who undergo a colonoscopy 7 will have a ‘normal’ result. The poor positive predictive value of the FOBt leads to unnecessary concern for the patient and a huge cost implication for the NHS.

Consequently, there is a need for a robust preventive strategy that can stratify patients into appropriate screening or surveillance programmes for the early detection of cancer. Internationally, the chosen modality of colorectal cancer screening varies, with cost and availability of diagnostic resources likely to be leading factors in?uencing programme design. The majority of countries, where a national screening programme exists, employ the FOBt (inclusive of Japan and Taiwan). In North America and other European countries, there is ongoing regional colorectal cancer research initiatives/pilot programmes intended to evaluate the potential of implementing national screening programmes.

Recently, there has been growing interest in investigating biomarkers (aberrant hypermethylation of CpG islands) in patients who suffer from colorectal cancer to develop more accurate and patient-friendly tests.

Contact

Oxford Gene Technology
Stephen Archibald, Marketing Communications Manager
T: +44 (0) 1865 856826
F: +44 (0) 1865 848684
E: products@ogt.co.uk
W: www.ogt.co.uk
or
College Hill (PR Agency for OGT)
Melanie Toyne Sewell / Jayne Crook
T: +44 (0) 20 7457 2020
E:OGT@collegehill.com
or
Inven2
Benedicte Bakke, Business Development Manager
T: +47 03 44 40 29
E:Benedicte.bakke@inven2.com
W:www.inven2.com

See the rest here:
OGT Signs Licensing Deal for Colorectal Cancer Biomarkers

Public release date: 21-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 21, 2012?Babies are not able to metabolize or excrete caffeine very well, so a breastfeeding mother's consumption of caffeine may lead to caffeine accumulation and symptoms such as wakefulness and irritability, according to an interview with expert Ruth Lawrence, MD, published in Journal of Caffeine Research, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The interview is available on the Journal of Caffeine Research website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jcr.

Caffeine is found in a wide range of products in addition to coffee, tea, and chocolate, including soft drinks, sports drinks, and some over-the-counter medications.

In a provocative discussion with Dr. Ruth Lawrence, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Jack E. James, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Caffeine Research, asks a variety of probing questions. Is there a safe level of caffeine intake while breastfeeding? Are there potential long-term effects of caffeine exposure on development and intellect? Can a baby whose mother consumed caffeine during pregnancy experience withdrawal if she then abstains from caffeine while breastfeeding? Dr. Lawrence bases her responses on the scientific and medical evidence related to caffeine exposure in breastfed babies, and distinguishes between what is and what is not well understood in this developing field of study.

"Usually a mother, particularly if she is breastfeeding, is cautioned to limit her caffeine intake," says Dr. Lawrence, who is Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed journal Breastfeeding Medicine. After giving birth, mothers "should consume all things in moderation and try to avoid the excesses that might really add up to a lot of caffeine."

###

About the Journal

Journal of Caffeine Research: The International Journal of Caffeine Science is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal published in print and online that covers the effects of caffeine on a wide range of diseases and conditions, including mood disorders, neurological disorders, cognitive performance, cardiovascular disease, and sports performance. The Journal explores all aspects of caffeine science including the biochemistry of caffeine; its actions on the human body; benefits, dangers, and contraindications; and caffeine addiction and withdrawal, across all stages of the human life span from prenatal exposure to end-of-life. Tables of content and a free sample issue may be viewed on the Journal of Caffeine Research website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jcr.

About the Company

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 Breastfeeding Medicine, Journal of Medicinal Food, 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 online at http://www.liebertpub.com.

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

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Can consuming caffeine while breastfeeding harm your baby?