Archive for the ‘Gene Therapy Research’ Category

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Insight Genetics, a molecular diagnostics company focused on advancing precision medicine in cancer care, announced today that it will present new data on triple-negative lung cancer at the American Association for Cancer Researchs (AACR) Annual Conference, which will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. on April 6-10, 2013. The companys presentation will take place on April 8, 2013, from 1-5 p.m. in Hall A-C, Poster Section 32.

In a poster titled, The Unknown Piece of the Pie: Molecular Markers in Triple-Negative Lung Cancer, Insight Genetics scientists will highlight current research in evaluating the prevalence of the biomarker, DEPDC1, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as a subset of triple-negative lung cancer, the cohort of lung cancers with the poorest prognosis.

Recent advancements in pulmonary oncology have linked the over-expression of DEPDC1 to extremely poor prognosis in a subset of triple-negative lung cancers not associated with mutations in EGFR, KRAS, and ALK. Using proprietary methods, Insight Genetics scientists have developed an assay to monitor the variants of DEPDC1, which could serve as a prognostic biomarker for this patient population.

The clinical results of this research may prove significant. Novel peptide vaccines against DEPDC1 antigens, which have been shown to be effective against bladder cancers, could potentially be extended to target the triple-negative lung cancer population.

Linking more cancers to specific biomarkers is one of the most promising new frontiers in oncology, said David Hout, Ph.D., Insight Genetics Vice President of Research and Development These findings have exciting diagnostic as well as therapeutic implicationsfor a subset of lung cancer patients, who today have limited treatment options and very poor prognoses.

About Insight Genetics

Insight Genetics is a molecular diagnostics company focused on enabling precision medicine in cancer therapy. The companys companion diagnostics detect specific cancer biomarkers related to therapeutics that are currently in development or on the market. Insight partners with leading academic researchers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, clinical reference laboratories, and IVD kit manufacturers to provide new standards of care for cancer patients worldwide.www.insightgenetics.com

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Insight Genetics to Present Lung Cancer Findings at AACR 2013 Annual Meeting

RUTHERFORD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Cancer Genetics, Inc., a diagnostics company focused on developing genomic-based, oncology tests and services, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 600,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $10.00 per share. The gross proceeds to Cancer Genetics from the initial public offering are expected to be $6,000,000 (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option), before underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by Cancer Genetics. Cancer Genetics has granted the representative of the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 90,000 additional shares of common stock from Cancer Genetics to cover over-allotments, if any. Shares of Cancer Genetics common stock are expected to be quoted on the OTCQB Marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group, under the symbol CGIX beginning on April 5, 2013. Investors will be able to find Real Time Level II quotes for CGIX on http://www.otcmarkets.com.

The offering is expected to close on April 10, 2013, subject to customary closing conditions.

Aegis Capital Corp. is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering.

Feltl and Company, Inc. is acting as co-manager for the offering.

This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained by contacting Aegis Capital Corp., Prospectus Department, 810 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10019, telephone: 212-813-1010, e-mail: prospectus@aegiscap.com.

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 4, 2013. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Cancer Genetics:

Cancer Genetics, Inc. is an early-stage diagnostics company focused on developing and commercializing proprietary genomic tests and services to improve and personalize the diagnosis, prognosis and response to treatment (theranosis) of cancer. The proprietary tests being developed by Cancer Genetics target cancers that are difficult to prognose and predict treatment outcomes by using currently available mainstream techniques. These cancers include hematological, urogenital and HPV-associated cancers. Cancer Genetics recently has begun to provide its proprietary tests and services along with a comprehensive range of non-proprietary oncology-focused tests and laboratory services that it has provided historically to oncologists and pathologists at hospitals, cancer centers and physician offices. Cancer Genetics is currently offering its tests and laboratory services in its 17,936 square foot laboratory located in Rutherford, New Jersey, which has been accredited under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 to perform high complexity testing.

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Cancer Genetics , Inc. Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering of 600,000 Shares of Common Stock

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, Inc. (ACGT), http://www.acgtfoundation.org, https://twitter.com/acgtfoundation, and https://www.facebook.com/acgtfoundation, today announced that it has joined the inaugural The Rally for Medical Research http://www.rallyformedicalresearch.org as a partnering organization, one of more than 200 national organizations and institutions that have publicly expressed their support, including thousands of attendees and millions more engaged in advocacy activities across the nation. The Rally will be held on the steps of the Carnegie Library, across from the Washington Convention Center, at Mt. Vernon Square, 801 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 on Monday, April 8, at 11:00 a.m. A live stream of the event can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y23FFtBWzdY.

WHO:

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, Inc. (ACGT) ACGT is the only not-for-profit in the U.S. solely dedicated to cancer cell and gene therapy treatments for all types of cancer. 100% of contributions go directly to research. ACGT has funded 41 grants since its founding in 2001 totaling almost $24 million to fund both basic research and clinical translation. Seventeen ACGT funded research projects have been approved for human clinical trials; 11 of which are underway, including the two recently announced groundbreaking T-cell therapy treatments for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia resulting in full remissions in both children and adults who had no other hope of recovery.

ACGT recently announced an additional $500,000 in awards to two Young Investigators to fund more cutting-edge cell and gene therapy cancer research, which is particularly noteworthy as the National Institutes of Health has abruptly eliminated about 80% of funding for early career investigators as part of the sequester. To donate, visit http://www.acgtfoundation.org or call 203.358.8000.

WHAT:

Inaugural Rally for Medical Research to be held in Washington, DC. Federal funding for medical research continues to decline, threatening the future health of Americans.

WHEN:

Monday, April 8th, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. Join us and thousands of advocates, survivors, researchers, clinicians, business leaders, and members of the general public to speak with one voice.

WHERE:

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ACGT Joins Inaugural ‘The Rally for Medical Research’ as Participating Organization; Rally To Be Held On The Steps of ...

Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India.
Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. After Stem Cell Therapy PT assessment: 1) In walking, whole foo...

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Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Muscular Dystrophy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India.
Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Muscular Dystrophy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. After Stem Cell Therapy 1. Could stand with calipers and walker (after 7...

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Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Muscular Dystrophy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. - Video

Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India.
Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. After Stem Cell Therapy 1. Ankle clonus/jerk in both legs has reduced. P...

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Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Cerebral Palsy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India.
Stem Cell Therapy Treatment for Cerebral Palsy by Dr Alok Sharma, Mumbai, India. After Stem Cell Therapy PT assessment: 1) Speech has improved. Now he is abl...

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Stem cell therapy for AVN in India, Experience of patient from Canada
Avascular necrosis also known as osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis, and ischemic bone necrosis. It is a disease resulting from the temporary or permanent loss ...

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Stem cell therapy for AVN in India, Experience of patient from Canada - Video

China Rises
What are they teaching our children - Capitalism is bad and Communism is good? According to this parent that #39;s exactly right!

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MONDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- The benefits of genetic testing to assess the risk of breast and ovarian cancers linked to the BRCA gene are limited to a small number of women, a new report indicates.

Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes greatly increase a woman's risk of developing these cancers. Women with these mutations have a 70 percent chance of developing breast cancer -- which is five times greater than in the general population -- and increase their lifetime risk of ovarian cancer from less than 2 percent to as high as 46 percent.

An important step in preventing these cancers is helping women understand their risk, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

In preparing a draft report and recommendations, the task force examined available evidence to determine if genetic counseling and testing could benefit women most likely to have BRCA mutations.

The task force concluded that more than 90 percent of American women -- those whose family history does not indicate an increased risk for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations -- will not benefit from genetic testing or counseling.

This is because current tests often provide inconclusive results and these women could be burdened with the uncertainty of whether they are at increased risk for cancer. Many of these women might choose to take powerful medications or have major surgery to reduce their risk of cancer, which would be unnecessary if they were not at increased risk.

Therefore, the task force said it continues to recommend against genetic counseling and BRCA testing in these women.

"At this point, scientific evidence only shows that BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing is beneficial for women who have reviewed their family history of breast or ovarian cancer with a primary-care professional and discussed the pros and cons of the screening test with a trained genetic counselor," task force chairwoman Dr. Virginia Moyer said in task force news release.

"We hope that further research into ways to use genomic science, such as identifying women who have harmful BRCA genes but do not have a family history of cancer, could improve screening practices and even prevent some cancers," she added.

The task force said it also found evidence to recommend that primary-care health providers screen women who have family members with breast or ovarian cancer to determine if their family history is associated with an increased possibility of having BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

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Breast Cancer Gene Tests Won't Help Most Women: Report

CLARENCE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

22nd Century Group, Inc. (OTCBB: XXII), a company that has developed groundbreaking technology for tobacco harm reduction products, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (US PTO) has issued Patent No. 8,410,341 for the N-methylputrescine oxidase (MPO) gene technology. MPO is essential for production of nicotine in the tobacco plant. As previously announced, the US PTO issued a Notice of Allowance on December 24, 2012 for this technology; however, yesterdays issuance marks the official grant of the patent.

The allowed claims of Patent No. 8,410,341, entitled, NUCLEIC ACID ENCODING N-METHYLPUTRESCINE OXIDASE AND USES THEREOF, cover nucleic acids encoding MPO, methods for producing tobacco plants with either reduced or increased nicotine levels and tobacco plants produced by the foregoing. The US PTO granted Patent No. 8,410,341 on April 2, 2013 to the National Research Council Canada (NRC). 22nd Century is NRCs exclusive worldwide licensee of MPO and other technologies.

Patent No. 8,410,341 is the first MPO gene patent issued anywhere in the world. Including the patent term adjustment, this U.S. patent will expire in December 2027. Patent Application PCT/IB2007/003550 is the related international application to U.S. Patent No. 8,410,341. Additional MPO patent applications are pending in the U.S., Canada and China.

The MPO gene encodes a protein involved in a key step of nicotine biosynthesis. Scientists have attempted to clone the MPO gene for decades. MPO expression can be either down-regulated or up-regulated to produce tobacco plant varieties and tobacco products with a wide range of nicotine levels (from very low to high), or altered ratios of nicotine and other nicotinic alkaloids such as anatabine and nornicotine. Dr. Jonathon Page and Enwu Liu of the NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute are the inventors of the MPO technology. 22nd Century funded subject patent and research and development expenses at NRC from 2006 to 2008.

The MPO gene technology is one of several 22nd Century patent families representing the companys second-generation gene technology for modifying the content of nicotine and other nicotinic alkaloids in the tobacco plant. 22nd Centurys vice president of research and development, Dr. Michael Moynihan stated, We are very pleased that the US PTO has granted the MPO patent. Our second-generation technology has significant advantages over our first generation technology.

22nd Centurys patent portfolio consists of 15 issued U.S. patents and 9 pending U.S. patent applications. Globally, 22nd Century owns or is the exclusive licensee of 109 issued patents in 78 countries plus an additional 39 pending patent applications mainly related to all of the key nicotine biosynthesis genes and transcription factors and tobacco harm reduction products produced therefrom.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.xxiicentury.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking information, including all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of 22nd Century Group, Inc., its directors or its officers with respect to the contents of this press release. The words may, would, will, expect, estimate, anticipate, believe, intend and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be considered with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect actual results, later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, filed on March 18, 2013, including the section entitled Risk Factors, and our other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected.

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22nd Century Group Announces U.S. Patent Issues for MPO Nicotine Biosynthesis Gene

GCSE History Revision 2
A song to help GCSE students revise material about Hitler and the Nazi State.

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Genetically Evolved Technology: Luke Bawazer at TEDxWarwick
Luke Bawazer works in Fiona Meldrum #39;s laboratory at University of Leeds, where he conducts research at the interface of chemistry, materials science, and syn...

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Mixing Human DNA Genetic engineering

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Mark of the beast, the work of fallen angels.
like or dislike the video please.

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Mark of the beast, the work of fallen angels. - Video

Public release date: 2-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, April 2, 2013The seizures that affect people with temporal-lobe epilepsy usually start in a region of the brain called the hippocampus. But they are often able to involve other areas outside the temporal lobe, propagating via anatomically and functionally connected networks in the brain. New research findings that link decreased brain cell concentration to altered functional connectivity in temporal-lobe epilepsy are reported in an article in Brain Connectivity, a bimonthly peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Brain Connectivity website at http://www.liebertpub.com/brain.

Martha Holmes and colleagues from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, identified regions in the brains of patients with temporal-lobe epilepsy that had reduced gray-matter concentrations. Greater reductions in gray-matter concentration correlated with either decreased or increased signaling and communication between brain regions connected through known functional networks.

The authors present their findings in the article "Functional Networks in Temporal-Lobe Epilepsy: A Voxel-Wise Study of Resting-State Functional Connectivity and Gray-Matter Concentration."

"This is one of the first studies to actually correlate both functional and structural brain changes in epilepsy," says Christopher Pawela, PhD, Co-Editor-in-Chief and Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin. "This is an exciting finding and may have impact in other brain disorders in which both the structure and function of the brain are involved."

###

About the Journal

Brain Connectivity is the journal of record for researchers and clinicians interested in all aspects of brain connectivity. The Journal is under the leadership of Founding and Co-Editors-in-Chief Christopher Pawela, PhD and Bharat Biswal, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. It includes original peer-reviewed papers, review articles, point-counterpoint discussions on controversies in the field, and a product/technology review section. To ensure that scientific findings are rapidly disseminated, articles are published Instant Online within 72 hours of acceptance, with fully typeset, fast-track publication within four weeks. Tables of content and a sample issue can be viewed on the Brain Connectivity website at http://www.liebertpub.com.

About the Publisher

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Epileptic seizures can propagate using functional brain networks

Apr. 2, 2013 A paper published this month in the medical journal The Lancet Neurology suggests that a broad spectrum of developmental and psychiatric disorders, ranging from autism and intellectual disability to schizophrenia, should be conceptualized as different manifestations of a common underlying denominator, "developmental brain dysfunction," rather than completely independent conditions with distinct causes.

In "Developmental Brain Dysfunction: Revival and Expansion of Old Concepts Based on New Genetic Evidence," the authors make two key points:

Developmental disorders (such as autism and intellectual disability) and psychiatric disorders (such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), while considered clinically distinct, actually share many of the same underlying genetic causes. This is an example of "variable expressivity:" the same genetic variant results in different clinical signs and symptoms in different individuals. When quantitative measures of neuropsychological and neurobehavioral traits are studied instead of categorical diagnoses (which are either present or absent) and individuals are compared to their unaffected family members, it is possible to more accurately demonstrate the impact of genetic variants.

According to Andres Moreno De Luca, M.D., research scientist at the Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute at Geisinger Health System and article co-author, "Recent genetic studies conducted in thousands of individuals have shown that identical genetic mutations are shared among neurodevelopmental disorders that are thought to be clinically distinct. What we have seen over the past few years is that genetic mutations that were initially found in individuals with one disorder, such as intellectual disability or autism, are then identified in people with an apparently different condition like schizophrenia, epilepsy, or bipolar disorder."

"It turns out that the genes don't respect our diagnostic classification boundaries, but that really isn't surprising given the overlapping symptoms and frequent co-existence of neurodevelopmental disorders," said Scott M. Myers, M.D., autism specialist at Geisinger Health System and article co-author.

"We believe this study supports use of the term 'developmental brain dysfunction' or DBD, which would encompass the broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders," said David H. Ledbetter, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer at Geisinger Health System, and article co-author. "Additionally, it is clear that diagnostic tools such as whole genome analysis for both children and their families are essential when diagnosing and treating these disorders in order to ensure the most personalized treatment."

An example used in the study was analysis of intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. The average IQ score in the general population is 100. Historically, the medical community has defined intellectual disability as an IQ of less than 70 (with concurrent deficits in adaptive functioning). But according to Dr. Ledbetter, there is little difference in the function of a child with an IQ of 69 versus 71, yet one may be diagnosed with a disability and the other may not.

"We know a variety of factors contribute to IQ score, including genetics, as a child's IQ is highly correlated with that of his or her parents and siblings. Therefore, an important factor to take into consideration when interpreting IQ is family background," said Dr. Ledbetter. "Imagine if we have a child with a genetic abnormality, but the child's IQ is 85. Technically, we would not diagnose this child with a disability. However, if the family of this child has IQs around 130, we could consider that this child's genetic anomaly has 'cost' him or her 45 IQ points -- a very substantial difference."

According to Dr. Myers, "One implication of this concept is that studies designed to investigate the causes and mechanisms of developmental brain dysfunction should focus on measurement of quantifiable neuropsychological and neurobehavioral traits across groups of individuals with different clinical diagnoses. Another is that whenever possible, individuals with a particular genetic variant or other risk factor should be compared to their unaffected family members, not just to population norms."

Other authors on the paper were Thomas Challman, M.D. of Geisinger; Daniel Moreno De Luca, M.D., of Yale University, New Haven, Conn.; and David Evans, Ph.D., of Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa.

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New genetic evidence suggests a continuum among neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders

Gene Therapy: Repairing our DNA -- February 21, 2013
The idea of gene therapy mdash;replacing a damaged gene with a working copy mdash;has been around for a long time, but with only modest success. But that has all changed...

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Gene Therapy: Repairing our DNA -- February 21, 2013 - Video

Breakthrough cancer research studies DNA
Scientists say they have found dozens of DNA markers that could help predict a person #39;s risk of developing certain types of cancer. It means tests could be u...

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SP1202 Draft - Gene Therapy
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SP1202 Draft - Gene Therapy - Video

London, UK - Fertility regulators in the UK have paved the way for the introduction of a radical form of gene therapy in which babies are created using cellular material from three people.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) advised the government recently that there is no evidence "mitochondrial replacement" - an advanced form of in-vitro fertilisation - is unsafe, and ministers will now decide whether to proceed with the technique.

Critics say the move is the first step on a slippery slope towards the creation of "designer babies" built to order that heralds a new era of "consumer eugenics" - with potentially disastrous implications for humankind.

"There has been a consensus for some time in about 50 or 60 countries that we should not manipulate the human 'germline' - that is, the cells that give rise to a new individual," saidDr David King, director of the group Human Genetics Alert.

"This is the first time that there has been official approval for crossing that line and, once you cross the Rubicon, it becomes difficult not to move to the next stage - full-fledged enhancement, genetic engineering."

Mitochondria are cigar-shaped components of body cells that provide them with energy. If they are defective, it can starve the body of energy, leading to muscle weakness, blindness, deafness, epilepsy, heart failure, early dementia and even death.

Some form of mitochondrial disease affects about one in 200 children born each year - or a few dozen babies in Britain.

The proposed therapy targets women who harbour harmful mitochondrial DNA mutations, but who want to have their own genetic offspring instead of relying on a donated egg.

The treatment would take a donated egg cell then remove its nucleus and chromosomes containing the genetic information, but retain its healthy mitochondria. The nucleus from the egg of an affected mother would be inserted into it - either before or after fertilisation - and the fertilised egg would then be implanted in the mother's womb.

A baby born as a result should be free of the mother's mitochondrial defects - and that child's own eventual offspring should also be free of these, changing the genetic line for ever.

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New gene therapy births 'designer baby' fears

Apr. 2, 2013 Leukemia patients receive a bone marrow transplant, which allows them to build a "new" immune system. However, this immune system not only attacks cancer cells but healthy tissue too. Special antibodies will be used to protect healthy tissue in future.

Not too long ago, leukemia left us with no chance. Today doctors can give patients hope by transplanting bone marrow, the starting point of a "new" immune system. These transplanted cells replace the diseased, blood-building stem cells in the bone marrow and take over their job of producing healthy blood cells, while also destroying leukemia cells. The problem is that this immune system originates from a foreign body and therefore can also attack healthy tissue in the patient. The skin, liver, and intestine are most affected by these attacks -- their cells can be destroyed and the organs damaged, sometimes so severely as to cause organ failure. The medical term for this phenomenon is graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), and the scale of the problem posed by this misdirected immune response is illustrated by statistics revealing that up to 50 percent of all patients ultimately suffer from GvHD-induced damage; in up to 20 percent of cases this damage is fatal. Not to ignore the further risk: that one in five leukemia patients suffer a relapse after the transplant.

In order to combat the cancer effectively, doctors give leukemia patients chemotherapy and radiation therapy before the transplant. These treatments destroy the patient's entire blood-building system, creating space for the donor's healthy cells. Any cancer cells that might survive this treatment are identified and destroyed by the new immune cells. So that the "foreign" immune system does not turn against healthy tissue, doctors additionally give patients immunosuppressants to artificially suppress the immune system. There is a fine balance to be struck here, as immunosuppressants not only inhibit GvHD but also the desired immune response, i.e. killing off the cancer cells.

Minimizing the risk of a misdirected immune reaction

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI in Leipzig are investigating how to improve the situation for leukemia sufferers. "Our goal is to avoid GvHD without changing how the new immune effect acts on the tumor," says Dr. Stephan Fricke, head of the Immune Tolerance unit at the IZI and doctor at the Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig. "Our hopes are pinned on monoclonal antibodies, which specifically bind to the surface of immune cells and prevent the immune cells reacting adversely with the patient's tissue." It's particularly important that the antibodies also act on the blood stem cells to be transplanted and on all immune cells that develop from them. This allows researchers to modulate the cells in advance of transplantation, causing them to "tolerate" the patient's healthy tissue instead of attacking it. "We're then able to effectively reduce the risk of a GvHD without any side effects," explains Fricke. The antibodies do not alter the immune response against remaining cancer cells -- they are still destroyed as before. This reduces the risk of leukemia coming back after the transplant.

IZI scientists are currently collaborating with their colleagues from the Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the Universitt Leipzig on research into the cellular foundations of these effects. What is the optimum point at which to add the antibodies to the donor bone marrow? How many antibodies should be used? Setting out to answer these questions, researchers first simulate both GvHD and the human immune system using a variety of established models. They can then determine all relevant parameters based on the simulations.

The researchers have already provided proof of principle, i.e. they were able to demonstrate that the therapy works. Now initial tests are underway on mice with a human immune system. The scientists hope that a clinical study can begin before the year is out.

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Promising stem cell therapy for leukemia patients

ARAD, Israel, April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Andain Inc. (ANDN) ("Andain" or the "Company"), a company engaged in commercializing novel technologies in biotech, medical and life sciences fields through its incubator program, today discussed and provided an update on its breakthrough, innovative stem cell therapy for treating and regenerating severely damaged muscle tissue.

Andain's innovative stem cell therapy technology rehabilitates and heals damaged muscle tissue by initiating regenerative myogenic cells (cardiac muscle), as well as striated muscle cells (skeletal muscle) growth in damaged tissue sites such as the myocardium (cardiac muscle) following an myocardial infarction (heart attack), limb pressure ulcers, and degenerative muscular diseases. The short term application is directed towards the treatment of patients with peripheral vascular disease, while the long term application is focused on the healing and regeneration of cardiac muscle following acute myocardial infarction or chronic heart failure.

Employing a patient's own cells (autologic transplantation), the Company's unique technology and process diverts the patient's own cells into specific targeted myogenic cells, which can then be inserted into the damaged tissue and accelerates the healing process. The administered myogenic or skeletal stem cells work as a network, acting in exactly the same way that the cells of skeletal and heart muscle tissue perform, and actually replenish the existing cells, thus strengthening the intended injured site following the transplantation process. This process can be utilized for different clinical pathologies as mentioned above and can also be utilized for patient using different donor as the source of the stem cells.

Our developed technology and protocols results in a promising safe regenerative therapy, without side effects, tissue rejection or the requirement of suppressive immunological treatment or malignant tumor hazard. Our technology also provides a simple, fast and safe treatment, overcoming technological difficulties associated with using other stem cell therapies sources such as embryonic, placenta, or umbilical cord blood cells that require cryogenic storage.

Andain's President and CEO Sam Elimelech, commented, "The field of stem cell therapeutics is in its early stages of growth as companies and researchers continue to uncover the vast potential and promising uses for them in the treatment and prevention of countless tissue injuries and diseases. We are in an excellent position to capitalize on the emergence of this new market. It is our belief that Orcell's cutting-edge technology and process is unique in regard to the fact that it allows for the safe and efficient directing of the patients own cells as into myogenic cells or striated muscle cells, thus eliminating the hazards associated with rejection and malignant tumors. Via our industrial incubator platform and expert scientific team, we look forward to helping Orcell commence their clinical trials later this year and make considerable progress of their technology and process closer to market."

Andain's incubator platform is currently undergoing with its stem cell technology a build-up of GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) production line as a preparation for the FDA approval stage with clinical trials scheduled for Q1 2014 at one of the foremost Heart centers in Israel under the direction of Professor Mickey Scheinowitz, one of Israel's leading scientists who gained vast experience in the understanding and treating of cardiovascular diseases.

ABOUT ANDAIN INC

Established in 2004 as a Nevada corporation with locations in Israel and the US, Andain (OTC: ANDN) commercializes novel technologies in the biotech, medical and life sciences fields, specializing in identifying technical innovations and providing a unique incubator/accelerator development and industrial platform. The company also offers technical know-how and business strategy expertise to commercialize new technologies and deliver shareholder value. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.andaininc.com.

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The definition of the word gene has evolved as our knowledge has advanced. Credit: Katy.Tresedder

There's a very confusing exchange in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass: "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to meanneither more nor less."

When people use the word "gene" it's also important to know what they intend it to mean. The meaning may depend on whether one is talking about carrying a gene, expressing a gene, transferring a gene or discussing how many genes we have.

One reason the definition is so confusing is that the term was coined in 1909, before we really knew what a gene was. And the effects of genes inherited characteristics were observed before we understood genes.

As our knowledge has advanced, the definition of the word gene has evolved; and with all the information from the new ENCODE project, the definition needs updating again. For an excellent academic summary of the current definition see the recent paper and poster in the journal Genome Research.

The molecular basis of inheritance

The Austrian monk Gregor Mendel carried out the first genetics in the 1860s and showed that characteristics were inherited.

We have always known that pea seeds grow into pea plants, not into kangaroos. What's more, plants with red flowers usually have offspring that have red flowers: children resemble their parents.

Mendel showed that crossing a red pea with a white pea could give rise to peas that were not pink but were either white or red.

We miss this point sometimes because we all have features from our two parents, and many features seem to blend. But Mendel showed that distinct characteristics could be inherited intact and we can think of these as each being encoded by a gene.

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Explainer: What is a gene ?

1 out of 4 women infected with the herpes virus suffer from memory problems. polyDNAs herpes remedy, Gene-Eden-VIR, helps immune system kill HSV-1, and therefore may be effective in treating memory problems.

Rochester, NY (PRWEB) April 01, 2013

This is even more noteworthy since 60 percent of U.S. men and women between the ages of 14 and 49 carry the herpes simplex type 1 virus. [2]

Cinnamon is a natural antiviral. [3] Moreover, cinnamon has also been found to naturally boost memory and other cognitive functions by inhibiting tau aggregation and filament formation, which are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). [4]

Gene-Eden-VIRs all natural ingredients include cinnamon. In fact, Gene-Eden-VIR contains five all natural antiviral ingredients including cinnamon, selenium, quercetin, and licorice extract.

Mike Evans from polyDNA said The fact that nature has given us an all natural ingredient that has scientifically been shown to combat both herpes as well as prevent other cognitive problems is amazing. Its even more amazing since herpes can also cause brain problems. When we developed Gene-Eden-VIR, we knew we wanted it to be a natural remedy with as broad an application as possible. This research shows exactly how Gene Eden can take on two seemingly unrelated illnesses, focus on the source of those illnesses, and then work to combat those illnesses origin.

The public should be aware of the relationship between herpes and cognitive problems and take steps to prevent those problems from arising. polyDNA recommends boosting the immune system against a latent herpes infection through the use the all natural herpes remedy, Gene-Eden-VIR.

A recent post marketing clinical study showed that Gene-Eden-VIR is effective against the latent herpes virus. By helping the body's immune system target the latent herpes virus, people also lower their risk of developing fever blisters, cold sores, or genital herpes symptoms. [5]

Gene-Eden-VIR is highly effective against the latent herpes virus, each ingredient was chosen through a scientific approach. Scientists scanned thousands of scientific and medical papers published in various medical and scientific journals around the world to identify the safest, most effective natural ingredients that target the latent forms of both HSV-1 and HSV-2. [6]

To learn more about Gene-Eden-VIR, visit http://www.gene-eden-kill-virus.com.

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Herpes Remedy, Gene -Eden-VIR, Can Be Effective Against Herpes Related Memory Problems