Archive for the ‘Gene Therapy Research’ Category

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Aug 22, 2013) - Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), the Breast Health Company, will visit the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square to celebrate its listing on the NASDAQ Stock Market, which occurred on November 8, 2012. In honor of the occasion, Dr. Steven C. Quay, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, will ring the closing Bell.

Where:NASDAQ MarketSite -- 4 Times Square -- 43rd & Broadway -- Broadcast Studio When:Monday, August 26nd, 2013 -- 3:45 pm to 4:00 pm ET How:A live webcast of the NASDAQ Closing Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx

Dr. Steven C. Quay, Chairman, CEO and President, stated, "As a leading molecular diagnostics company, we offer unique innovative solutions for breast health, including our ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, an early warning system for precancerous abnormalities that may lead to breast cancer. We are pleased to have a listing on NASDAQ as it provides an efficient platform to grow our business."

Dr. Quay continued, "We look forward to an exciting event at Nasdaq for friends and family of Atossa Genetics, including Ms. Sidney Powell, founder of Sidney Powell, P.C., a law firm dedicated to federal appellate practice, and Mr. Steven Bernstein, Director of the soon-to-be-released feature film Decoding Annie Parker, which tells the story of Annie Parker, a breast cancer victim."

About the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test

The ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, intended for the 110 million women in the U.S. ages 18 to 73, is a painless, quick and non-invasive procedure that can be done in a physician's office. A small sample of fluid, aspirated from the nipple of each breast with the Company's modified breast pump, can provide vital early detection of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions that may progress to cancer over an approximately eight year period and before cancer can be detected by mammography or other means and without the risks of radiation, especially in women younger than age 50. No invasive biopsy needles or open surgical incisions are used in the Atossa test and the test is painless.

Just as the Pap smear has reduced cervical cancer rates by over 70 percent, becoming the most successful screening test in medicine, the goal of Atossa Genetics is to reduce the stubbornly high rate of breast cancer through the early detection of the precursor changes that can lead to breast cancer and the treatment of those early changes.

About Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, based in Seattle, WA, is focused on preventing breast cancer through the commercialization of patented, FDA-designated Class II diagnostic medical devices and, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, the National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health, Inc. (NRLBH), patented, laboratory developed tests (LDT) that can detect precursors to breast cancer up to eight years before mammography.

The NRLBH is a CLIA-certified high-complexity molecular diagnostic laboratory located in Seattle, Washington.

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Atossa Genetics to Ring the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell in Celebration of Recent Listing on NASDAQ Stock Market

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Aug 22, 2013) - In the news release, "Atossa Genetics and Its Subsidiary the National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health to Exhibit Their Products and Services at Two Upcoming Conferences," issued Wednesday, August 21, 2013 by Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), we are advised by the company that the second embedded link of the first paragraph should go to "http://www.survivorsconvention.com/" rather than "http://gaobgyn.com/resources/meeting-events/" as originally issued. Complete corrected text follows.

Atossa Genetics and Its Subsidiary the National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health to Exhibit Their Products and Services at Two Upcoming Conferences

SEATTLE, WA -- August 21, 2013 --Atossa Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS) and its subsidiary The National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health (NRLBH), will display their products and services at the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society 2013 Annual Meeting, August 22-25, in Greensboro, Georgia, and at the inaugural National Women's Survivors Convention, August 22-24, in Nashville, Tennessee.

The ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, provided by the NRLBH, detects reversible precancerous conditions in the breast up to eight years before they become cancer. The test uses a sample of nipple aspirate fluid collected with Atossa's hand-held, FDA Class II medical device which is quick, painless, and non-invasive and can be administered during an OB/GYN office visit. Unlike mammograms, which are commonly recommended for women starting at age 40 to 50, the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test is more age agnostic, uses no radiation and does not require invasive biopsy needles or surgical incisions. To view a video about Atossa's device, click here: https://vimeo.com/62365818.

"The ForeCYTE Breast Health Test serves as an early warning system for the detection of precancerous cellular abnormalities that heighten a woman's breast cancer risk," said Chris Destro, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "This is particularly true for younger women for whom little is done today in terms of risk assessment or screening unless there is a specific reason for concern, such as a strong family history. We believe the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test empowers all women with vital information that they and their doctors can use to take charge of their breast health and make more informed treatment decisions."

Mr. Destro continued, "We are excited to work with outstanding organizations like the Women Survivors Alliance, which provide vital services to breast cancer victims. In times of trouble women need to come together, share information and feel the support of other women as they cope with their disease and their new normal. As we continue to roll out the ForeCYTE test nationally, we believe we will have a significant impact on the incidence of this dreaded disease so that in the future fewer women will be afflicted. We look forward to meeting with physicians, patients and other breast health stakeholders at these important conferences."

Atossa's specimen collection devices are available through physicians nationwide.

About Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, based in Seattle, WA, is focused on preventing breast cancer through the commercialization of patented, FDA-designated Class II diagnostic medical devices and, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, the NRLBH, patented, laboratory developed tests (LDT) that can detect precursors to breast cancer up to eight years before mammography.

The NRLBH is a CLIA-certified high-complexity molecular diagnostic laboratory located in Seattle, Washington.

See the original post:
/ CORRECTION - Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Scientists have come a step closer to being able to repair the damage done by heart attacks, using a cocktail of genes to transform scar tissue into working heart muscles.

Novel techniques to mend broken hearts using gene therapy and stem cells represent a major new frontier in the treatment of heart disease.

In the latest breakthrough, achieved by researchers at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease in California, researchers were able to re-programme scar-forming cells into heart muscle cells, some of which were capable of transmitting the kind of electrical signals that make the heart beat, according to the latest issue of the Stem Cell Reports journal.

The same team demonstrated their technique last year in live mice, transforming scar-forming cells, called fibroblasts, into beating heart muscle cells, but this is the first time that human fibroblasts have been re-programmed in this way.

So far, the work with human fibroblasts has only been done in the lab, but it paves the way for new treatments for heart attack victims. Researchers said that the cocktail of genes used to regenerate cells could one day be replaced with small drug-like molecules that would offer safer and easier delivery.

We've now laid a solid foundation for developing a way to reverse the damage [done by a heart attack] something previously thought impossible and changing the way that doctors may treat heart attacks in the future, said Dr Deepak Srivastava, director of cardiovascular disease at the Gladstone Institutes. Our findings here serve as a proof of concept that human fibroblasts can be re-programmed successfully into beating heart cells.

In 2012, Dr Srivastava and his team reported in the journal Nature that, by injecting three genes into the hearts of live mice that had been damaged by heart attack, fibroblasts could be turned into working heart cells.

The scientists attempted the same technique using human fibroblasts from foetal heart cells, embryonic stem cells and neonatal skin cells, injected with genes in petri dishes in the lab. An increased number of genes was required to transform the human cells, and the efficiency of the transformed cells was low, but the team were encouraged by the results.

While almost all the cells in our study exhibited at least a partial transformation, about 20 per cent of them were capable of transmitting electrical signals a key feature of beating hearts, said Gladstone staff scientist Ji-dong Fu, the studys lead author.

The number of people who survive heart attacks has increased considerably in recent decades. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said earlier this year that 70 per cent of women and 68 per cent of men were now surviving. However, success in keeping people alive after a heart attack has led to a rise in the number of people suffering from the long-term after-effects, which include debilitating heart failure.

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Scientists come closer to 'mending broken hearts' by using gene therapy to repair muscles damaged in heart attacks

Targeting Cancer with Genetically Engineered Poliovirus
PVS-RIPO is a genetically engineered poliovirus that is being investigated as a new anti-cancer agent at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke....

By: Duke Media Services - Duke University

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Targeting Cancer with Genetically Engineered Poliovirus - Video

Bono, what would Jesus say about changing the DNA of Nature?
Bono and Monsanto Forum for Conscious Debate and Discovery https://www.facebook.com/BonoMonsanto?ref=hl (also known as "A Letter to Bono Concerning Monsanto ...

By: Marenka Cerny

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Bono, what would Jesus say about changing the DNA of Nature? - Video

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Alcoholism and certain types of eating disorders share common genetic risk factors, according to a new study.

Researchers looked at nearly 6,000 adult fraternal and identical twins in Australia. Of those, nearly 25 percent of men and 6 percent of women were alcoholics, nearly 11 percent of men and 13 percent of women reported binge eating, and about 14 percent of women reported purging tactics such as self-induced vomiting or laxative abuse.

Genes appeared to account for 38 percent to 53 percent of the risk of developing these conditions, and some of the same genetic risk factors that make people susceptible to alcoholism also make them vulnerable to binge eating or purging, according to the study in the September issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

The findings support "the idea that there are common genetic factors contributing to alcohol dependence and these eating disorder symptoms," lead researcher Melissa Munn-Chernoff, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said in a journal news release.

Learning more about genetic and other risk factors may lead to better treatments for these disorders, she noted.

Previous studies found that women who binge eat or purge have higher-than-average rates of alcohol use disorders, but it wasn't clear if the disorders had genetic risk factors in common. While this new study indicates that this is the case, it's not clear exactly which genes are involved.

"We need to be aware that these problems can occur together, in both men and women," Munn-Chernoff said.

She suggested that when doctors see patients with a drinking problem, they may want to ask about binge eating and purging symptoms, or vice versa. Currently, that is something that is not routinely done.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more about eating disorders.

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Genetic risks for eating disorders, alcoholism may be connected

People who suffer from alcohol addiction may be more vulnerable to certain types of eating disorders and vice versa. Now, new research indicates this susceptibility may lie in their genetics.

In a study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, researchers found that common genetic factors may underlie both alcoholism and specific symptoms of eating disorders most notably, the binge eating and purging habits associated with bulimia nervosa.

Prior studies have shown that among people who had eating disorders, there were higher rates of alcohol abuse and dependence than those who didnt have these eating disorders, study author Melissa Munn-Chernoff, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told FoxNews.com. Also, studies had found higher rates of alcohol dependence in bulimia nervosa than anorexia nervosa.

Although past research has shown a connection between the two disorders, it was never clear whether genetics could explain the association.

To better understand the underlying link, Munn-Chernoff and her team analyzed data from nearly 6,000 adult Australian twins both identical and fraternal. Identical twins share all of their same genes, while fraternal twins only share about half, making them genetically similar to siblings who arent twins. Munn-Chernoff explained that studying both types of twins helps researchers better distinguish whether conditions are more a product of genes or of the environment.

Doing these types of studies is a necessary first step, because if they dont show the traits are heritable, then we wouldnt need to study the genes directly, Munn-Chernoff explained. ..If identical twins are more similar to these behaviors than the fraternal twins, this would suggest that genes would be more important than environment.

The researchers conducted a series of diagnostic interviews to determine the participants alcohol and eating habits. The found that nearly 25 percent of men and 6 percent of women studied had been alcohol dependent at some point in their lives, and 11 percent of men and 13 percent of women had experienced problems with binge eating. Additionally, 14 percent of women admitted to using two or more purging tactics. Men were not asked about their purging histories.

After comparing the twins to one another, they found that genetics seemed to play a crucial role in the development of any of the three disorders, explaining 38 percent to 53 percent of a persons risk. Furthermore, the same genetic risk factors for alcoholism seemed to make people susceptible to binging and purging as well.

Though genetics seem to play an important role in these disorders, Munn-Chernoff noted that a persons environment still influences a persons risk for alcoholism or bulimia.

These types of studies capture the nature and nurture debate, she said. Its always a combination of both, but these studies are designed to tap into that, and even though we didnt find significant environmental risk factors, it doesnt mean that theyre not important.

Original post:
Alcohol dependence and bulimia may share common genetic risk factors

Using a computer drawing and video recording application, intern Neil Rens has helped create videos designed to educate doctors, patients, students and others about genomic medicine.

Rapid advancements in DNA mapping have created new tools to personalize medical treatment, but many doctors remain ill-informed on how they should use genetic information to manage patient care.

Thats the main reason the Scripps Translational Science Institute is trying to develop an online video program to educate physicians, students and others about genomic medicine.

As genetic sequencing the mapping of the biological code that shapes each person expands from research labs into doctors offices, some are calling for better education about its growing role in medicine. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps institute and chief academic officer for Scripps Health, said genomics has an increasing impact on prescribing medicine and diagnosing diseases.

The institute has worked on the education project since 2010, when it received a $300,000 grant from the Life Technologies Foundation to establish an online program that would credential doctors in genomics. The effort has since been broadened to include educational videos for a wider audience, including patients and high school and college students.

Some of the videos might be presented on a platform like the Khan Academy, which provides free online video tutorials on a variety of topics and is frequently used by K-12 and college students.

For doctors, the Scripps genomics videos would be provided as part of a formal continuing-education program. It must be able to authenticate users, so that people who complete the program would receive proper credit.

It has been well-documented that far less than 10 percent of physicians feel comfortable with any genomic data of patients, which comes into play especially in prescription medications that have a (Food and Drug Administration) genomic label, Topol said. There are 110 medications like that, many of them in common use.

In those cases, Topol said, doctors are supposed to get a patients genotype before they prescribe the medication. But too often, he said, the physicians dont take that step.

Topol said the education program has been delayed because theres not enough money to fully produce and launch the videos, along with the need to find an adequate platform that would reach targeted physicians. Once the program is up and running, Topol said he hopes to generate positive buzz in the medical community.

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Educating doctors, patients on genetics

Public release date: 21-Aug-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Elizabeth Streich eas2125@cumc.columbia.edu 212-305-3689 Columbia University Medical Center

NEW YORK (August 21, 2013) Reproductive genetics researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) are leading a multicenter prospective clinical study investigating the effects of chromosomal abnormalities (duplicative or missing material) found prenatally through microarray analysis. The goal of the study is to gain further information on genetic variances previously not well reported in the medical literature and share it with parents during pregnancy.

Led by principal investigator Ronald J. Wapner, MD, professor and vice chair for research at CUMC's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and director of reproductive genetics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia, the research is the next phase of a project to advance clinicians' ability to diagnose in utero conditions such as developmental delays, structural abnormalities, and treatable or life-threatening diseases.

"Parents of children found to have a genetic variance want a better understanding of what it means. Our goal is to give them as much information and support as possiblefrom detailed genetic counseling to ways to connect with other people expecting children with the same variance," said Dr. Wapner.

In December 2012, Dr. Wapner and colleagues published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) findings of a trial involving 4,400 patients at 29 centers nationwide. That study showed that microarray analysis of a fetus's DNA gave significantly more clinically relevant information than the standard method of analysis, known as karyotypinga visual analysis of the fetus's chromosomes. [Click here for a news release about that study.]

In the current studywhich has ongoing clinical recruitmentdata on babies included in the NEJM article will be augmented by data on patients recruited by 10 major prenatal diagnostic centers around the country that offer microarray to all their patients. Each center aims to recruit 1,000 patients. Of the anticipated 10,000 or so microarray analyses, the researchers aim to follow 300600 children born with genetic variances, for at least three years. (See below for more about microarray.)

"While the majority of abnormalities found with microarray are associated with known conditions, in many cases the full implications of findings are not well understood, and about 1.5 percent are unidentified. The goal is to fill in these knowledge gaps," said Dr. Wapner. "Ours is the only study of its kind that is identifying genetic variances in utero and following the kids over time to see how the abnormalities present and to gather as much clinical information about them as possible, such as the severity of problems and life expectancy."

"When we counsel parents now, we can give them only limited information, drawn from what we know about children who have undergone genetic testing. But these children often represent the severe end of the spectrum," said Dr. Wapner. "There might be people who, because they had no symptoms, were never identified as having a variance, limiting the prognostic information we are able to give parents."

NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia is the primary recruitment center. The other centers participating in the study are: the Center for Fetal Medicine, Northwestern University, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, San Francisco Perinatal, Carnegie Hill Imaging, Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Lenox Hill, and North Shore LIJ.

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Trial aims to advance prenatal diagnosis of genetic defects

It #39;s genetics lol

By: ieatfyregurl

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It's genetics lol - Video

Let #39;s Play The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge - Episode 25
My Sims 3 Page: http://mypage.thesims3.com/mypage/Llandros2012 My Blog: http://Llandros09.blogspot.com My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Llandros09?ref=t...

By: Llandros09

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Let's Play The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge - Episode 25 - Video

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Aug 21, 2013) - Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, announced today that Dr. Steven C. Quay, Chairman, CEO and President, and Mr. Kyle Guse, Chief Financial Officer & General Counsel, will present the Company's products, services and business strategy at the 15th Annual Rodman & Renshaw Global Investment Conference on Monday, September 9, 2013, at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.

The Company's presentation is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. EDT and will be available via a live webcast. To access the webcast, please go to http://client.irwebkit.com/AtossaGenetics/events or http://wsw.com/webcast/rrshq23/ATOS.

About Atossa Genetics

Atossa Genetics, Inc., based in Seattle, WA, is focused on preventing breast cancer through the commercialization of patented FDA-designated Class II diagnostic medical devices and, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health, Inc. ("NRLBH"), patented laboratory developed tests (LDT) that can detect precursors to breast cancer up to eight years before mammography.

The NRLBH is a CLIA-certified high-complexity molecular diagnostic laboratory located in Seattle, Washington.

For additional information on Atossa, please visit http://www.atossagenetics.com. For additional information on the ForeCYTE test and the National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health, please visit http://www.nrlbh.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or estimated future results, including the risks and uncertainties associated with planned and ongoing product launches, expected levels of future expenditures, actions by the FDA, regulatory clearances, responses to regulatory matters, Atossa's ability to continue to manufacture and sell its products, the efficacy of Atossa's products and services, the market demand for and acceptance of Atossa's products and services, performance of distributors and other risks detailed from time to time in Atossa's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, each as amended and supplemented from time to time.

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Atossa Genetics to Present at the 15th Annual Rodman & Renshaw Global Investment Conference

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Aug 21, 2013) - Atossa Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS) and its subsidiary The National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health (NRLBH), will display their products and services at the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society 2013 Annual Meeting, August 22-25, in Greensboro, Georgia, and at the inaugural National Women's Survivors Convention, August 22-24, in Nashville, Tennessee.

The ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, provided by the NRLBH, detects reversible precancerous conditions in the breast up to eight years before they become cancer. The test uses a sample of nipple aspirate fluid collected with Atossa's hand-held, FDA Class II medical device which is quick, painless, and non-invasive and can be administered during an OB/GYN office visit. Unlike mammograms, which are commonly recommended for women starting at age 40 to 50, the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test is more age agnostic, uses no radiation and does not require invasive biopsy needles or surgical incisions. To view a video about Atossa's device, click here: https://vimeo.com/62365818.

"The ForeCYTE Breast Health Test serves as an early warning system for the detection of precancerous cellular abnormalities that heighten a woman's breast cancer risk," said Chris Destro, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "This is particularly true for younger women for whom little is done today in terms of risk assessment or screening unless there is a specific reason for concern, such as a strong family history. We believe the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test empowers all women with vital information that they and their doctors can use to take charge of their breast health and make more informed treatment decisions."

Mr. Destro continued, "We are excited to work with outstanding organizations like the Women Survivors Alliance, which provide vital services to breast cancer victims. In times of trouble women need to come together, share information and feel the support of other women as they cope with their disease and their new normal. As we continue to roll out the ForeCYTE test nationally, we believe we will have a significant impact on the incidence of this dreaded disease so that in the future fewer women will be afflicted. We look forward to meeting with physicians, patients and other breast health stakeholders at these important conferences."

Atossa's specimen collection devices are available through physicians nationwide.

About Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, based in Seattle, WA, is focused on preventing breast cancer through the commercialization of patented, FDA-designated Class II diagnostic medical devices and, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, the NRLBH, patented, laboratory developed tests (LDT) that can detect precursors to breast cancer up to eight years before mammography.

The NRLBH is a CLIA-certified high-complexity molecular diagnostic laboratory located in Seattle, Washington.

For additional information on Atossa, please visit http://www.atossagenetics.com. For additional information on the ForeCYTE test and the National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health, please visit http://www.nrlbh.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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Atossa Genetics and Its Subsidiary the National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health to Exhibit Their Products and ...

Bearded Collie OA BEFORE Stem Cell Therapy

By: MediVet Arizona

Excerpt from:
Bearded Collie OA BEFORE Stem Cell Therapy - Video

Stem Cell Therapy Orlando | Stem Cell Treatments in Orlando
Stem cell therapy in Orlando is available at Eterna MD. We have stem cell treatments available for those suffering from COPD, Type II Diabetes, Osteoarthriti...

By: Eterna MD Regenerative Medicine

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Stem Cell Therapy Orlando | Stem Cell Treatments in Orlando - Video

2 months after stem cell therapy
Eveybody agrees that the therapy works. There is very big improvment the way Toby walks now.

By: Jacek Kozlowski

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2 months after stem cell therapy - Video

By Philip C. Tubeza Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, PhilippinesSaying that doctors were exacting exorbitant fees for what is still experimental medicine, the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) launched Tuesday an online petition urging the Department of Health (DOH) to put a stop to experimental stem cell therapies in the country.

Human stem cell therapy for unproven indications is proliferating in the Philippines and posing serious safety issues to unknowing Filipinos The Philippine College of Physicians is alarmed by the false claims, misinformation and exorbitant fees for such stem cell treatments, read the petition on http://www.change.org.

The PCP urged the DOH to issue a cease and desist order to all doctors performing such therapies as the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) clarified that stem cell therapy was not covered by the governments universal healthcare program.

Cease and desist

We, the undersigned, call on the (DOH) to issue a cease and desist order to all doctors, clinics and hospitals that [offer] human stem cell therapy for unproven indications until scientific evidence to support claims of efficacy and safety are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it said.

The PCP, the umbrella organization of Internal Medicine specialists in the country, said that transplanting human blood-forming stem cells to treat cancerous and noncancerous diseases of the blood was the most widely accepted clinical application of stem cell therapy.

The effectiveness and safety of human stem cell therapy has yet to be proven for heart, neurologic, skin, rheumatologic and gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, hypertension, autism, cancer, aging and aesthetics, HIV/AIDS and other conditions, the group said.

Lack of evidence

Despite the lack of solid scientific evidence to support the [application] of human stem cell therapy for these conditions, reports of its use precisely for these conditions being received and exorbitant fees being paid by prominent personalities abound in media, the PCP said.

Link:
Docs seek stop to expensive, experimental stem cell therapy

CHEYENNE, WY- (ACCESSWIRE - August 20,2013) - Therapy Cells Inc (OTC Pink: TCEL) announces that on 13 February 2013, US patent US 11/702,895 was awarded to renowned scientist Dr Patrick Casey and Transplantation Ltd, for his transformational cell therapy, exclusively licensed to Therapy Cells Inc for use in human applications.

This revolutionary science dispenses with the traditional notion that cells cannot divide once they are fully mature. Dr Casey has shown that adult cells, given the right environment, can in fact divide and be grown in the laboratory. These new cells can then be used for transportation back to damaged tissue in the body, to enact tissue and organ healing.

The research team headed by Dr Casey has to date treated more than 80 horses including thoroughbreds, standardbreds, polo ponies and horses at the highest level of equestrian competition.

"With a growing level of trial success in horses, Therapy Cells' target is to gain FDA approval, and in short order have human applications in human tendons," Dr Casey says. "An initial valuation of $30 million USD for our science and technology has been appraised. FDA approval for clinical use of this technology in humans, will likely increase this factor by at least 10 times." The horse is an FDA approved model species for athletic injuries.

Dr Casey is a Veterinary graduate from Massey University (BVSc, 1988), and graduate from the University of California in 1992 with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Comparative Pathology). During his time in the United States he also completed an Equine Surgical Internship at Hagyard-Davidson and McGee, Lexington, Kentucky, followed by a three year residency programme in Equine Reproduction, with a minor in Equine Medicine at UC Davis. In 1992, 1993, and 1994 he received a post-doctoral fellowship from the Equine Research Laboratory at the University of California, which allowed him to set up with the late, world renowned, Professor Liggins at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Since 2011, Dr Casey has been chief scientific consultant to a public company in the USA - Therapy Cells Inc (TCEL on the OTC Market).

This exciting Bio Tech/Med tech Company holds the exclusive technology that allows adult cells from a specific tissue (e.g. Achilles tendon) to grow again from an individual to enact repair and regeneration of that tissue, effectively by-passing the need for Stem Cell treatment.

"The financial and curative potential of this biotechnology platform is immediately obvious," states Dr Casey. "When we talk about regenerative procedures, the ability to rejuvenate tissues and organs with cultivated natural cell therapy, it's easy to understand how enormous the opportunity and the impact will be. The awarding of this US Patent for our transformational science is a significant milestone in the steps we have been taking to get our therapies to market."

Contact:

Contact: Patrick Casey

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Therapy Cells, Inc Receives USA Patent Granted for Revolutionary Cell Therapy

Newswise MANHATTAN, Kan. -- A new study about the common problem of preharvest sprouting, or PHS, in wheat is nipping the crop-killing issue in the bud.

Researchers at Kansas State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, or USDA-ARS, found and cloned a gene in wheat named PHS that prevents the plant from preharvest sprouting. Preharvest sprouting happens when significant rain causes the wheat grain to germinate before harvest and results in significant crop losses.

"This is great news because preharvest sprouting is a very difficult trait for wheat breeders to handle through breeding alone," said Bikram Gill, university distinguished professor of plant pathology and director of the Wheat Genetics Resource Center. "With this study, they will have a gene marker to expedite the breeding of wheat that will not have this problem."

Gill conducted the study with Guihau Bai, a researcher with the Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research Unit of the USDA-ARS, adjunct professor of agronomy at Kansas State University and the study's lead author. Also involved were Harold Trick, professor of plant pathology; Shubing Liu, research associate in agronomy; Sunish Sehgal, senior scientist in plant pathology; Jiarui Li, research assistant professor; and Meng Lin, doctoral student in agronomy, all from Kansas State University; and Jianming Yu, Iowa State University.

Their study, "Cloning and Characterization of a Critical Regulator for Pre-Harvest Sprouting in Wheat," appears in a recent issue of the scientific journal Genetics.

The finding will to be most beneficial to white wheat production, which loses $1 billion annually to preharvest sprouting, according to Gill.

He said consumers prefer white wheat to the predominant red wheat because white wheat lacks the more bitter flavor associated with red wheat. Millers also prefer white wheat to red because it produces more flour when ground. The problem is that white wheat is very susceptible to preharvest sprouting.

"There has been demand for white wheat in Kansas for more than 30 years," Gill said. "The very first year white wheat was grown in the state, though, there was rain in June and then there was preharvest sprouting and a significant loss. The white wheat industry has not recovered since and has been hesitant to try again. I think that this gene is a big step toward establishing a white wheat industry in Kansas."

Gill said identifying the PHS gene creates a greater assurance before planting a crop that it will be resistant to preharvest sprouting once it grows a year later. Wheat breeders can now bring a small tissue sample of a wheat plant into a lab and test whether it has the preharvest sprouting resistance gene rather than finding out once the crop grows.

Much of the work to isolate the PHS gene came from Gill and his colleagues' efforts to fully sequence the genome -- think genetic blueprint -- of common wheat. Wheat is the only major food plant not to have its genome sequenced. The genome of wheat is nearly three times the size of the human genome.

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Study Finds PHS Gene That Prevents Wheat From Sprouting

LONDON, Aug. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent research on the gene expression profiling services market, Frost & Sullivan presents TATAA Biocenter with the 2013 European Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Value Leadership. TATAA Biocenter offers an end-to-end range of services for analyzing genetic material, from quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to nucleic acid extraction and sample preparation. Its services are sometimes coupled with hands-on training courses and commissioned research services such as assistance during experimental design and validation of kits, reagents and instruments of key market vendors.

TATAA Biocenter has stayed ahead of the curve by offering a multitude of services such as extraction and purification of ribonucleic acid (RNA), microRNA (miRNA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein, microarray analysis, protein profiling and biostatistical analysis. Customers have the option of using services from a wide variety of instruments available from the most reputed vendors, including Roche, Life Technologies, Qiagen and Fluidigm.

"The center ensures that it validates the use of kits and reagents prior to offering services using the vendor's products," said Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst Divyaa Ravishankar. "Frost & Sullivan research confirms that TATAA Biocenter is the only company that adheres to high quality standards in comparison to its competitors in Europe."

TATAA Biocenter's facility is known for its highly advanced infrastructure and trained laboratory personnel. It is one of the very first laboratories to have obtained ISO/IEC 17025:2005 flexible certification for qPCR analysis in Europe and recognition at an international level. Its numerous industrial collaborations help it stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and build up its extensive service expertise on the changing market needs and customer preferences.

In addition, TATAA Biocenter organises training programs which include world-class qPCR training that is offered in collaboration with international organizations. These programs are recognized by well-known institutions such as EMBO, FEBS, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UNESCO and Pittcon.

The center hosts lecture programs throughout the year and trainees and technicians have acclaimed them as some of the best in the world. Its workshops train attendees to design assays, conduct quality control of qPCR experiments, sample preparation and thresh out ways to derive highest quality results. The center also enables customers to design and optimize the setup costs and improve the output of results.

"TATAA Biocenter is a well-equipped, one-stop facility to perform all the steps of gene expression profiling, starting from sample preparation and extraction to qPCR and data analysis," noted Ms Divyaa Ravishankar. "It is the most advanced park in Europe, with 16 real-time PCR thermal cyclers from leading brands and has the capacity to support high throughput extraction and quality control."

The center also aims to disseminate knowledge on state-of-the-art technologies and know-how related to nucleic acid analysis to academic researchers. It offers seamless workflow from storage of samples, extraction, qPCR, analysis to downstream application. The risk of contamination is completely eliminated as it has individual facilities for each of the workflow processes.

Frost & Sullivan believes that TATAA Biocenter is best positioned to offer the most comprehensive range of services pertaining to nucleic acids. The main reasons for its superior performance include the strength of its offerings and educational programs, highest quality of service, strong vendor partnerships and infrastructure capabilities, and the overall acumen of its personnel.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Customer Value Leadership Award to a company that has demonstrated excellence in implementing strategies that proactively create value for its customers with a focus on improving the return on the investment that customers make in its services or products. The award recognizes the company's inordinate focus on enhancing the value that its customers receive, beyond simply good customer service, leading to improved customer retention and ultimately customer base expansion.

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Frost & Sullivan Recognizes TATAA Biocenter's Complete, Best-in-Class Services for Analyzing Genetic Material

Newswise Researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) have identified a gene that contributes to the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This pivotal finding follows 40 years of University of Chicago research that has slowly unraveled the genetic basis of leukemia.

In 1973, Janet Rowley, PhD, Blum-Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, and Human Genetics, was examining the DNA of leukemia cells and observed that one copy of chromosome 7 was missing. She deduced that one out of the more than 1,000 genes found on chromosome 7 could possibly be responsible for keeping the growth of leukemia cells in check.

The search for a tumor suppressor gene continued among Dr. Rowleys colleagues at the University of Chicago. In the 1990s, Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, UCCCC director and the Arthur and Marian Edelstein Professor of Medicine, used a high-resolution technique called fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to define the segment of chromosome 7 that was commonly deleted. She narrowed the region of interest to about 50 genes.

Most recently, in 2009, Kevin White, PhD, professor of human genetics and director of the Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology (IGSB), and his research team harnessed advanced technology to further map the genes. Specifically, they used single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays to detect variations in the genes, as well as next-generation sequencing to analyze gene expression at high sensitivity.

Because these techniques generate an overwhelming amount of information, Dr. White teamed with IGSB Director of Informatics Robert Grossman, PhD, to develop a large computing infrastructure that could meet the processing and storage demands of the biological data being generated.

The analyses indicated that the CUX1 gene was the most significantly differentially expressed gene in cells that had lost chromosome 7. Interestingly, the researchers also identified a CUX1 fusion transcript, in other words, part of CUX1 fused to another gene. They hypothesized that this disruption in CUX1 may contribute to the growth of abnormal blood cells, a hallmark of AML.

Next, the researchers tested the genes activity in the fruit fly. When they knocked out the CUX1 gene, some of the fruit flies developed leukemia. Collaborating with John Cunningham, MD, professor of pediatrics, the investigators carried out similar studies in mice and again observed that deficient levels of CUX1 contributed to abnormal growth of blood cells. They described their findings in an article published in the February 7 issue of Blood, the American Society of Hematologys journal.

The first author of the paper, Megan McNerney, MD, PhD, instructor of pathology and fellow in Dr. Whites laboratory, said, This is a uniquely University of Chicago story, starting with findings from Janet Rowley and continuing over the years with an excellent group of clinicians and scientists using different technologies who worked collaboratively on myeloid leukemias. She added that further studies that reveal how CUX1 regulates other genes will help find a potential pathway that can be targeted with drugs.

This study was supported by the Cancer Research Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Chicago 1000 Cancer Genomes Project, and grants CA150631 and CA40046 from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

-------------------------------------------------------------- The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. These centers are characterized by scientific excellence and the capability to integrate a diversity of research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer. They play a vital role in advancing towards NCI's goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from cancer.

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UCCCC Researchers Pinpoint Tumor Suppressor Gene Involved in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Asher Chanan Khan, an oncologist with the Mayo Clinic Florida, calls individualized medicine the future of medicine.

Amelia Island residents Cecilia and Dan Carmichael are making a down payment on that future with a $5 million donation to help establish a Center of Individualized Medicine at the Mayo Clinics Jacksonville campus.

The Carmichaels gift will help Mayo move from talking about the promise of genomic medicine to making it a reality for patients, said Alexander Parker, who is now the Cecilia and Dan Carmichael Family Associate Director of the Mayo Clinics Center for Individualized Medicine in Florida.

Individualized medicine uses genetic testing to establish a patients genome sequencing.

Such individualized approaches are not uncommon, said Chanan Khan, assistant director of the Center of Individualized Medicine.

But in most cases, the genetic testing doesnt answer the most important question, he said.

The report tells you whether your gene is bad or good, he said. It doesnt tell you what to do.

What will be different at Mayo is that a team of 14 to 16 people from a variety of fields will sit together and give a patients genetic results the most sophisticated and most detailed analysis.

Chanan Khan said that team will put together a report that tells the patient and the patients treating physician: This is what you have and we think this will work for you.

The Carmichaels interest in individualized medicine dates to 2008 when they retired to Amelia Island (Dan Carmichael, a retired insurance executive, had grown up in Jacksonville).

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$5 million gift helps Mayo Clinic establish a Center of Individualized Medicine in Jacksonville

August 20, 2013

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Predicting future behavior is never easy, but new research from scientists at Indiana University has found that certain genetic biomarkers can help predict when someone will attempt suicide.

According to a report of their study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, Indiana researchers found elevated levels of certain RNA biomarkers in the blood of both bipolar disorder patients having suicidal thought as well individuals who had committed suicide.

Suicide is a big problem in psychiatry. Its a big problem in the civilian realm, its a big problem in the military realm and there are no objective markers, said study author Dr. Alexander B. Niculescu, a lab director at the Institute of Psychiatric Research in the IU School of Medicine. There are people who will not reveal they are having suicidal thoughts when you ask them, who then commit it and theres nothing you can do about it.

We need better ways to identify, intervene and prevent these tragic cases, he added.

Over the course of three years, the researchers tracked male volunteers diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Volunteers were interviewed and provided blood samples every three to six months. The researchers performed specific analyses on samples from a subset of participants who suddenly began reporting strong suicidal thoughts.

The tests revealed differences in genetic activity between the low and high states of suicidal thoughts. Using a system of genetic analysis called Convergent Functional Genomics, the scientists were able to locate and prioritize the best markers for their mental state. One particular marker SAT1 as well as several others provided the strongest biological predictor for suicidal thoughts.

To test their initial findings, the IU researchers coordinated with a local coroners office to obtain and test blood samples from suicide victims. The researchers found that some of same genetic markers were significantly elevated in these samples.

In a final set of tests, the research team looked at blood test results from two more groups of patients and found that biomarkers were also correlated with both future suicide-related hospitalizations and hospitalizations that had occurred before the blood tests.

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Predicting Suicide With Genetic Biomarkers

NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Within weeks of the Supreme Court's historic decision declaring that human genes cannot be patented, two scientists have started a company that will democratize the human genome and give people direct access to their own genetic information which can have an immediate impact on their health and well being. The court's decision spurred the two scientists, Christopher Mason, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medical College, and Jeffrey Rosenfeld, PhD, of Rutgers Medical School, to form Genome Liberty and begin offering immediate, personalized genetic testing directly to the public although the results should used in concert with a doctor.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130820/MN65902)

"The Supreme Court's decision opened an era of genomic liberty, allowing people to look at the DNA for all of their genes which had been hidden behind patent walls for companies that had a monopoly on such testing," Mason said. "Our next-generation sequencing technology allows individuals to be proactive in understanding how their genome can affect their health decisions."

Previously, individuals had to rely on their doctors to understand their health and to make proper medical decisions for them. As scientists and doctors have found the molecular basis for disease and drug response, it has become increasingly clear that a "one-size-fits-all" framework for medicine is not in patients' best interest.

"Genome Liberty fills an important void in our current medical system," Rosenfeld said. "For example, there are clear genetic markers for many medications that will determine whether a person will respond properly or may have extreme side-effects, including estrogen, codeine, Plavix, Nexium, Prilosec, Zocor, Dilantin, Coumadin, Haloperidol, Abilify, and Celexa. Such tests are very rarely performed before a drug is prescribed, but they offer distinct advantages. They overcome most doctors' insufficient understanding of, and even fear of, genetics and genetic testing."

Genome Liberty will work directly with consumers as well as doctors to offer a Gene-Drug Interaction Test. Here is how the test works:

The test costs $99, provides information for a lifetime, and covers dozens of frequently prescribed drugs. It also looks for a condition known as Factor V Leiden that can cause dangerous blood clots when women who have this condition take estrogen, either for birth-control or hormone replacement. Many of these tests are encouraged by the FDA on the drug label, but they are not widely requested.

"The test provides only immediately useful information," Mason said. "Many people are wary of having a genetic test performed because they do not want results that will scare them. Some people do not want to be told that they are at high risk for diseases that are currently untreatable. Genome Liberty's primary focus is on actionable genetic information to help people make smart medical choices."

Genome Liberty's co-founders are established leaders in genetics and the understanding the human genome. Dr. Christopher Mason is a faculty member of the Weill Cornell Medical School and was a witness for the successful plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case. Dr. Jeffrey Rosenfeld is a faculty member at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School where his research focuses on human genome variation. He is also a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History.

To learn more about Genome Liberty's mission, go to http://www.genomeliberty.com or to support their crowdfunding campaign, go tohttp://www.rockethub.com/29313.

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Genetic Testing Explodes after Supreme Court Patent Decision

Newswise Part of the risk for alcohol dependence is genetic, and the same is true for eating disorders. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found its likely some of the same genes are involved in both.

In the September issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, the researchers report that people with alcohol dependence may be more genetically susceptible to certain types of eating disorders and vice versa.

In clinical practice, its been observed that individuals with eating disorders also have high rates of alcohol abuse and dependence, said Melissa A. Munn-Chernoff, PhD, the studys first author. Other studies have focused on the genetic connections between alcohol dependence and eating disorders, but all of those studies looked only at women. Ours was the first to include men as well.

According to Munn-Chernoff, a postdoctoral research scholar in psychiatry, thats important because although eating disorders tend to be thought of as a female problem, they affect men, too.

Studying data gathered from nearly 6,000 adult twins in Australia, Munn-Chernoff and her colleagues found that common genetic factors underlie alcoholism and certain eating-disorder symptoms, such as binge eating and purging habits that include self-induced vomiting and the abuse of laxatives.

By studying twins, the researchers used statistical methods to determine the odds that certain traits result from the same genes. Those statistical insights are based on the fact that identical twins share 100 percent of their genetic makeup while fraternal twins share about half.

By comparing the findings in identical and fraternal twins, we can develop estimates of how much of the difference in particular traits is due to genes or environment, Munn-Chernoff explained. We found that some of the genes that influence alcohol dependence also influence binge eating in men and women.

Even with the growing awareness and more frequent diagnoses of problems such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, rates of the full-blown forms of these disorders are relatively low, and theyre rare in populations of twins. So the researchers surveyed study subjects about whether they suffered from eating-disorder symptoms.

The symptoms can cut across multiple eating disorder diagnoses, said Munn-Chernoff. And several past studies have suggested that the particular behavior of binge eating, as well as purging and other practices that we call compensatory behaviors, may be closely associated with alcohol dependence, which is why we focused on those symptoms.

All of the men and women in the study were surveyed about their alcohol use and binge eating, but because the researchers were analyzing data that had been gathered previously for a different study, not everyone was asked about compensatory behaviors, such as purging or using laxatives and diuretics. Only the female twins were asked about those symptoms.

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Alcohol Abuse, Eating Disorders Share Genetic Link