Spinal Cord Injury Awareness - Aaron Kearney ABC Radio Segment
Aaron Kearney from ACB Radio speaks about SCI and Paraquads annual Wheels for a Day Event.

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Spinal Cord Injury Awareness - Scott Hutton
One of three podcast created by some of our members aimed at helping reduce the incidence of SCI in school-aged children. This podcast was created by Scott H...

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GAITHERSBURG, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

MaxCyte, Inc., the pioneer in scalable, high performance cell transfection systems, is hosting a series of events at IBCs 9th Annual Cell Line Development & Engineering Conference being held May 20-22 in La Jolla, CA. During this cutting-edge conference on innovations for bioproduct development, MaxCyte will present breakthrough transient gene expression (TGE) data in a scientific podium presentation and detail unmatched novel antibody production capabilities in two technical posters. MaxCyte scientists will be available throughout the conference at Booth #12 to provide technical details on the use of flow electroporation for large scale transient gene expression and rapid stable cell line generation.

Dr. James Brady, Director of Technical Applications at MaxCyte, will present data on flow electroporation in a podium presentation entitled Streamlining Antibody Development Using Large Scale, CHO Transient Gene Expression (TGE) followed by Rapid Production of CHO Stable Clones on Tuesday, May 21, at 1:30 PM within a session dedicated to accelerating cell line and process development.

Dr. Bradys presentation demonstrates the unmatched performance of the MaxCyte Scalable Transfection Systems to achieve antibody titers of over 1 gram/liter using transient gene expression in CHO cells. In addition, using the same technology, high yield stable cell lines can be identified within just 6-8 weeks, says Dr. Karen Donato, Executive Vice President of Global Business Development & Marketing at MaxCyte. From the earliest phases of discovery and development, companies using the MaxCyte transfection platform now have a powerful tool to generate antibodies in CHO cells rapidly and reproducibly in meaningful quantities for identification and characterization.

MaxCyte will also present two scientific posters, both available for viewing throughout the conference. The first poster, entitled CHO Transient Gene Expression (TGE) Optimization for Multi-Gram Level Antibody Production: Effects of Expression Construct, Post Transfection Cell Density and Feed Conditions demonstrates a simple, optimized process to achieve antibody titers exceeding 1 gram/liter within 14 days of transfection. This poster is presented in collaboration with Vivalis, a key client and leading provider of innovative cell-based solutions to the pharmaceutical industry for the manufacture of vaccines and recombinant proteins.

The second poster, entitled Bioproduction Using Large Scale Transient Transfection: From >1.2 grams/L Antibody Titers via Transient Gene Expression (TGE) to Rapid, High Yield Stable Cell Line Generation, presents data demonstrating the utility of the MaxCyte platform at multiple steps in antibody development including high yield antibody production via transient gene expression and rapid generation of stable cell lines in 6-8 weeks for later stage development and biomanufacturing.

Companies are already realizing the benefits of streamlining progression from early to late stage development by using MaxCytes one-of-a-kind technology that brings together transient gene expression and rapid stable cell generation, says Douglas Doerfler, President, and CEO of MaxCyte. MaxCyte flow electroporation is a truly enabling technology and we look forward to presenting our latest scientific findings to leaders in the development of biotherapeutics at the 9th Annual Cell Line Development & Engineering Conference.

About MaxCyte

MaxCyte specializes in cell modification technologies to enable the discovery, development, manufacturing, and delivery of innovative therapeutic products. Drawing on its cell therapy expertise, MaxCyte designed a portfolio of products including the MaxCyte STX Scalable Transfection System and MaxCyte VLX Large Scale Transfection System, ideal tools for use in drug discovery research and screening and protein production environments. These products provide for the rapid development and consistent production of billions of (co)transfected primary cells, stem cells, and cell lines for protein and antibody production and for cell-based assays with comparable results and Seamless Scalability from the bench to HTS and pilot and production scale.

For more information, http://www.maxcyte.com

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Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime - Episode #282
Bill and his roundtable guests (Mark Bittman, Zachary Quinto, Charles Cooke, Glenn Greenwald, Joy Reid) answer fan questions from last week #39;s show. For more ...

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WORLD HISTORY GENETIC ENGINEERING PROJECT
7th period.

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Genetic Engineering: What it is and How it will Affect Our Future

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Editor's Choice Main Category: Cancer / Oncology Also Included In: Genetics;Preventive Medicine Article Date: 21 May 2013 - 0:00 PDT

Current ratings for: UK Aims To Make Genetic Testing Available To All Cancer Patients

3 (2 votes)

The program, involving the Institute of Cancer Research, London, The Royal Marsden, the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics and Illumina Inc, aims to find a way to allow more cancer genes to be tested in more people.

Mutations in some genes, referred to as cancer predisposition genes, considerably raise the probability that a person will have cancer.

Although scientists can identify about 100 cancer predisposition genes, in the UK, testing for these genes is currently very limited.

Looking for gene mutations is now quicker and at a more reasonable cost than ever before as a result of recent advances in methods for reading the genetic code, called sequencing.

There is now a possibility to transform cancer gene testing and to improve the health consequences of several cancer patients as well as their families, the scientists explained.

Professor Nazneen Rahman, lead researcher of the program and Head of Genetics at theInstitute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Cancer Genetics Clinical Unit at The Royal Marsden, said:

It also improves the information available for relatives about their own cancer risks. Sometimes a relative is found to also have an increased risk of cancer and screening or preventative measures can be employed. Just as frequently, testing provides the reassuring news that a relative is not at increased risk of cancer and does not need interventions."

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

Contact: Mark Couch Mark.Couch@ucdenver.edu 303-724-5377 The JAMA Network Journals

Variation in the gene MUC5B among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was associated with improved survival, according to a study published online by JAMA. The study is being released early online to coincide with its presentation at the American Thoracic Society international conference.

"Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive disease with a median [midpoint] survival of 3 years," according to background information in the article. The prognosis is variable; patients may remain stable for several years, slowly lose lung function, progress in an intermittent fashion, or experience precipitous acute exacerbations. "Current prediction models of mortality in IPF, which are based on clinical and physiological parameters, have modest value in predicting which patients will progress. In addition to the potential for improving prognostic models, identifying genetic and molecular features that are associated with IPF mortality may provide insight into the underlying mechanisms of disease and inform clinical trials."

Anna L. Peljto, Dr.P.H., of the University of Colorado Denver, and colleagues conducted a study to determine whether the variation (rs35705950) of the gene MUC5B, previously reported to be associated with the development of pulmonary fibrosis, is associated with survival among patients with IPF. The study included two independent cohorts of patients with IPF: the INSPIRE cohort, consisting of patients enrolled in the interferon-1b trial (n=438; December 2003 - May 2009; 81 centers in 7 European countries, the United States, and Canada), and the Chicago cohort, consisting of IPF participants recruited from the Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic at the University of Chicago (n = 148; 2007-2010). The INSPIRE cohort was used to model the association of MUC5B genotype with survival. The Chicago cohort was used for replication of findings.

The median follow-up period was 1.6 years for INSPIRE and 2.1 years for Chicago. During follow-up, there were 73 deaths among the INSPIRE cohort patients and 64 deaths among the Chicago cohort patients. Analysis indicated that the unadjusted 2-year cumulative incidence of death was lower among patients carrying 1 or more copies of the IPF risk allele (an alternative form of a gene) (T) in both the INSPIRE cohort and the Chicago cohort.

According to the authors, "The addition of the MUC5B genotype to the survival models significantly improved the predictive accuracy of the model in both the INSPIRE cohort and the Chicago cohort."

"These findings suggest that the common polymorphism in the promoter of MUC5B (rs35705950), previously reported to be strongly associated with the development of familial interstitial pneumonia and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, is significantly associated with improved survival in IPF. These findings are consistent with a previous report of an association between the MUC5B variant and less severe pathological changes in familial interstitial pneumonia, as well as another report of slower decline in forced vital capacity for patients with IPF. This study is, to our knowledge, the first to demonstrate that a genetic variant is associated with survival in IPF."

"Further research is necessary to refine the risk estimates and to determine the clinical implications of these findings," the researchers conclude.

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Genetic variation among patients with pulmonary fibrosis associated with improved survival

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

Contact: Mark Couch mark.couch@ucdenver.edu 303-724-5377 University of Colorado Denver

AURORA, Colo. (May 21, 2013) Research into genetic features of pulmonary fibrosis by physicians and scientists at the University of Colorado School of Medicine may lead to improved treatment of this deadly lung disease, according to a paper published online by JAMA.

The study found that a particular genetic variation helps predict survival in some cases of pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic progressive disease with a median survival of three years. As a result of the study, researchers may want to consider including genetic testing in future clinical trials.

The researchers looked at whether the MUC5B promoter polymorphism, which previously was found to be associated with developing the disease, is also associated with survival time for individuals with pulmonary fibrosis. MUC5B is a protein that is a component of the mucous produced by the bronchial tubes. Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition where lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff and scarred.

The investigators found that genetic changes in the MUC5B gene are associated with marked improvement in survival among patients with pulmonary fibrosis. This represents the first genetic test that can be used to prognosticate in pulmonary fibrosis and may prove useful taking care of patients with this disease. Currently in the United States, there are no drugs approved for use in cases of the disease. This paper indicates that future drug trials should consider including this genetic test to determine the benefit of their intervention.

The research was supported by funding from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Endowed Chair for Pulmonary Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Twenty-two authors shared credit for the paper, including researchers from the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt University and InterMune from Brisbane, Calif.

Anna L. Peljto, DrPH, from the Colorado School of Public Health was the first author and David A. Schwartz, MD, chairman of the School of Medicine's Department of Medicine, was the senior author of the paper. Additional authors from Colorado institutions were Tasha E. Fingerlin, PhD, from the Colorado School of Public Health; Lori J. Silveira, PhD, Max A. Seibold, PhD, Kevin K. Brown, MD, and Janet L. Talbert, MS, from National Jewish Health; and Elissa Murphy, MS and Marvin I. Schwarz, MD, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

David Schwartz this month gave the American Thoracic Society's Amberson Lecture, an honor bestowed annually on an individual with a career of major lifetime contributions to clinical or basic pulmonary research and/or clinical practice. The JAMA study was released online to coincide with its presentation at the American Thoracic Society's international conference.

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

Contact: Mark Couch mark.couch@ucdenver.edu 303-724-5377 University of Colorado Denver

AURORA, Colo. (May 21, 2013) A paper recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine and co-written by physicians and scientists at the University of Colorado School of Medicine finds that an important genetic risk factor for pulmonary fibrosis can be used to identify individuals at risk for this deadly lung disease.

Researchers looked at a fairly common variant of the gene for mucin-5B, a protein that is a component of the mucous produced by the bronchial tubes. While this variant of the MUC5B gene is fairly common, pulmonary fibrosis is an uncommonly reported disease.

In a review of CT scans of more than 2,600 adults who did not have a clinical diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, researchers found imaging evidence of lung inflammation and scarring in about 9 percent of those over age 50. In this age group, these abnormal findings on CT scans were significantly more common among the 21 percent people with the MUC5B genetic variant.

Importantly, definite lung fibrosis seen on CT scan was strongly associated with the MUC5B genetic variant. While these abnormalities do not necessarily indicate a disease that will progress, the presence of these abnormalities were associated with more shortness of breath and cough as well as smaller lung sizes and ability to transfer oxygen.

The findings suggest that pulmonary fibrosis, which is a condition where lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff and scarred, may be a part of a much more common, but likely less severe, syndrome and could potentially be predicted on the basis of the MUC5B genetic variant.

David A. Schwartz, MD, chairman of the School of Medicine's Department of Medicine, was a corresponding and senior author of the paper. Gary M. Hunninghake, MD, MPH, from the pulmonary and critical care division of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston was a corresponding and first author of the paper. The research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the U.S. Veterans Administration.

Twenty-one authors shared credit for the paper, including researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston University. Joining Schwartz from Colorado were Elissa Murphy, MS, and Marvin I. Schwarz, MD, from the School of Medicine and Tasha E. Fingerlin, PhD, from the Colorado School of Public Health.

David Schwartz this month gave the American Thoracic Society's Amberson Lecture, an honor bestowed annually on an individual with a career of major lifetime contributions to clinical or basic pulmonary research and/or clinical practice.

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Researchers find genetic risk factor for pulmonary fibrosis

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Genomics Forum 2013 - Joan Scott, The National Coalition for Health Education in Genetics
Managing Incidental Findings: Context Matters DATE: Friday, May 3, 2013 HOSTED BY: Genome BC.

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Hemp 101: Feral Hemp Genetics, A Viable Energy Solution
Hemp entrepreneur and inventor Agua Das explains how feral hemp genetics can be a viable resource to restore industrial hemp-seed development to a scale that...

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Let #39;s Play The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics - Episode 8 - Parents of the Year
Stefan and Heather continue to work on raising their two children and planning for their third, to Stefan #39;s dismay. A few moments of selfish neglect raise qu...

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Let's Play The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics - Episode 8 - Parents of the Year - Video

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Biology Genetics Sophia and Madison
7th period, Booker T. Washington Judah.

By: Sophia Maas

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Let #39;s Play The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics - Episode 9 - New View in Riverview
The family braces for Bailey #39;s upcoming birthday to discover if he is indeed the perfect genetic heir. In addition, a new arrival is imminent and it pushes t...

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Kenneth Miller Evolution Creation Genetics Christian Atheist The Collapse of Intelligent Design 4

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SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - May 21, 2013) - Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, is sponsoring two screenings of the new film Decoding Annie Parker at the Seattle International Film Festival on June 6 and 8, 2013.

Based on true events, Decoding Annie Parker follows a 15-year war waged on both scientific and emotional fronts by a pair of women demonstrating extreme bravery under pressure. Annie Parker (Samantha Morton) is on intimate terms with breast cancer, having watched both her mother and sister succumb to it. When she herself is diagnosed with the disease, she struggles to hold her family together, displaying a force of spirit that belies the odds. Elsewhere, geneticist Mary-Claire King (Helen Hunt) is researching the idea of an undiscovered link between DNA and cancer, a process that finds her scrambling for both funding and the support of her disbelieving colleagues. How the paths of these two women intersect is funny, irreverent and heartwarming. Director Steven Bernstein's feature debut deftly balances the seriousness of the situation with the all-too-human response, finding unpredictable grace notes of beauty and wit during even the darkest of times. Featuring stellar performances by Morton, Hunt and a first-rate supporting cast, Bernstein's film pays ample tribute to one of the most important scientific discoveries of the 20th century as well as the people forever changed in its wake.

Dr. Steven Quay, chairman, CEO & president of Atossa Genetics, stated, "We are honored to sponsor Decoding Annie Parker, a work that celebrates Dr. Mary-Claire King's laboratory at the University of Washington and its mission to further understand the role of genetics in breast cancer. It is a mission we all applaud at Atossa Genetics, which is focused on assessing breast cancer risk with our recently launched ForeCYTE Breast Health Test. We are also dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer through the development and commercialization of an investigative intraductal therapy approach to treat precancerous abnormalities, including ductal carcinoma in situ."

"The Seattle International Film Festival is proud to partner with Atossa Genetics in honoring Dr. King's discovery of the link between DNA and breast cancer," said Mary Bacarella, Managing Director, Seattle International Film Festival. "Decoding Annie Parker is a film that pays tribute to one of the most important scientific discoveries of the 20th century. Dr. King's BRCA test and Atossa Genetics' ForeCYTE Breast Health Test are changing the future of breast cancer detection and prevention. SIFF is extremely proud to play a role in raising public awareness of this incredible work."

More information about Decoding Annie Parker is available at http://www.siff.net/festival-2013/decoding-annie-parker and http://www.decodingannieparkerfilm.com/.

About the Seattle International Film Festival

Founded in 1976, the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world with the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema and FutureWave Education.

Recognized as one of the top film festivals in North America, the Seattle International Film Festival is the largest, most highly attended film festival in the United States reaching more than 150,000 annually. The 25-day festival is renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming presenting over 250 features and 150 short films from over 70 countries each year.

About Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, is based in Seattle, WA, and is focused on preventing breast cancer through the commercialization of patented diagnostic medical devices and patented laboratory developed tests (LDT) that can detect precursors to breast cancer up to eight years before mammography, and through research and development that will permit it to commercialize treatments for pre-cancerous lesions.

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

Cancer Genetics, Inc. (CGIX) ("CGI" or the "Company"), a leader in oncology-focused personalized medicine, will attend for the first time the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on May 31-June 4, 2013 at McCormick Place in Chicago. CGI will be at stand number 19120 during the event.

The ASCO Annual Meeting brings together more than 25,000 oncology professionals from a broad range of specialties to discuss challenges and developments in cancer care and research.

Fitting with the theme of this years meeting, Building Bridges to Conquer Cancer, CGI has established research collaborations with premier institutions including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, National Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic. These and other efforts have resulted in the Companys commercial launch of multiple proprietary tests for the diagnosis and treatment management of hematological and urogenital cancers.

CGI diagnostic tests include MatBA, based on proven genomic data for the clinical management of hematological cancers, and UroGenRA, designed for kidney cancer diagnosis and subtyping.

In addition to presenting these proprietary tests to healthcare professionals, CGI plans to meet with biopharmas as well. CGIs Select One program, launched in early 2012 to serve the clinical trial needs of biopharmas, has shown constant growth since its inception. The Company looks forward to creating new opportunities at the ASCO meeting.

To learn more about the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting, visit http://chicago2013.asco.org.

About Cancer Genetics, Inc.

Cancer Genetics, Inc. (CGI) is an emerging leader in DNA-based cancer diagnostics and servicessome of the most prestigious medical institutions in the world. Our tests target cancers that are difficult to diagnose and predict treatment outcomes. These cancers include hematological, urogenital and HPV-associated cancers.

We also provide a comprehensive range of non-proprietary oncology-focused tests and laboratory services that provide critical genomic information to healthcare professionals as well as biopharma and biotech. Our state-of-the-art reference lab is focused entirely on maintaining clinical excellence and is both CLIA certified and CAP accredited and has licensure from several states including New York State.

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Cancer Genetics to Attend ASCO Annual Meeting

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

Cancer Genetics, Inc. (CGIX) ("CGI" or the "Company"), a leader in oncology-focused personalized medicine, has entered into an agreement with MultiPlan, Inc. (MultiPlan), the industrys most comprehensive provider of healthcare cost management solutions.

As a participating provider in the PHCS and MultiPlan networks, CGI will be able to offer providers with its cutting-edge proprietary tests and testing services in hematological and urogenital cancers. MultiPlan contracts with 900,000 healthcare providers across the United States, and has an estimated 57 million consumers accessing MultiPlan network products.

Dr. Anthony Sposato, MultiPlan Vice President & Corporate Medical Director, stated, The inclusion of CGIs oncology-focused testing services and proprietary tests are a welcome addition to our provider networks, allowing for efficient incorporation of genomic information in patient care.

This is a tremendous opportunity for us and further validates our position in cancer diagnostics, stated Panna Sharma, president and CEO of CGI. We expect the MultiPlan agreement to increase access to our oncology-focused services for patients and clinicians while providing the potential to streamline reimbursements.

About Cancer Genetics

Cancer Genetics, Inc. (CGI) is an emerging leader in DNA-based cancer diagnostics and servicessome of the most prestigious medical institutions in the world. Our tests target cancers that are difficult to diagnose and predict treatment outcomes. These cancers include hematological, urogenital and HPV-associated cancers.

We also offer a comprehensive range of non-proprietary oncology-focused tests and laboratory services that provide critical genomic information to healthcare professionals as well as biopharma and biotech. Our state-of-the-art reference lab is focused entirely on maintaining clinical excellence and is both CLIA certified and CAP accredited and has licensure from several states including New York State.

CGI has established strong research collaborations with major cancer centers such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Cleveland Clinic and the National Cancer Institute. For further information, please seewww.cancergenetics.com.

About MultiPlan

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Public release date: 20-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Kelly jpkelly@utmb.edu 409-772-8791 University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have been awarded a five-year, $1.8 million grant by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to apply the techniques of gene therapy to the problem of neuropathic pain that is, pain that arises from a malfunction in the nervous system.

Neuropathic pain is a daily reality for millions of Americans, manifesting itself in a variety of life-impairing ways. Someone suffering from neuropathic pain might feel intense discomfort in response to a light touch, for example, or suddenly feel as though he or she were freezing in response to a small decrease in temperature. Caused by either accidental or disease-induced nerve damage, this kind of pain has proven very difficult to treat.

"Patients in neuropathic pain are willing to do almost anything to get relief," said Dr. Volker Neugebauer, the co-principal investigator on the grant. "They're in torment, often in really desperate situations."

To make matters worse, long-term neuropathic pain often causes depression, acting through emotional mechanisms in the brain meant to underscore the importance of pain signals. Depression further increases the perception of pain, creating a vicious cycle of increasing pain and depression. And while conventional pain medicines can block the pain signal, they are usually successful for only a limited time only; eventually the pain returns when the nervous system compensates for the blockade.

Neugebauer and his UTMB colleague and co-principal investigator Thomas Green believe that a better anti-neuropathic pain strategy is to target higher brain regions and prevent the abnormal generation of persistent emotions. They focus on the amygdala, a structure best known for its role in emotional responses, including anxiety and depression and in Neugebauer's previous work for its connection to pain regulation. Neugebauer and Green hypothesize that stopping abnormal activity in the amygdala by a particular type of receptor for the neurotransmitter serotonin will enable the successful treatment of neuropathic pain.

Although increased serotonin activity in the brain is generally thought of as a good thing it's the mechanism used by many antidepressant drugs activation of the serotonin 2C receptor in the amygdala can cause problems, according to Neugebauer. "In neuropathic pain we see that this receptor is activated on cells that regulate output from the amygdala to brain areas where responses to potentially harmful situations are generated," Neugebauer said. "This activity should be turned off when such response is no longer needed or useful, but these serotonin 2C receptors continue to drive amygdala output, creating a chronic pain state."

In experiments with laboratory rats in which neuropathic pain behavior has been induced by nerve damage, Neugebauer and Green plan to investigate the possibility of "re-normalizing" the amygdala by injecting it with specially designed viruses containing genetic material that blocks cells' generation of serotonin 2C receptors.

"The viruses that we're using are adeno-associated viruses, very common vectors that about 80 percent of the people in our society have been exposed to," Green said. "We've modified them so that they can't replicate, and inserted a gene that instructs the amygdala cells to make small pieces of RNA that interfere with the production of serotonin 2C receptors."

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Pain, pain, go away

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SAN DIEGO, May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Ceregene, Inc. today announced additional efficacy data from a secondary analysis of its double-blind, randomized, controlled Phase 2b clinical study of CERE-120 (AAV-neurturin). CERE-120 is a gene therapy product designed to deliver the neurotrophic factor neurturin, for Parkinson's disease. This exploratory analysis identified a more robust response to CERE-120 in Parkinson's patients diagnosed within 5 years prior to treatment relative to those diagnosed 10 years or more (p<.005 as measured by change from baseline on the unified parkinson disease rating scale or motor-off primary endpoint for this study. previously ceregene reported that was not met overall study population although one of prescribed secondary endpoints off did demonstrate statistical significance and no safety issues were identified. in addition to cere-120 favorably impacting updrs patients treated within years diagnosis additional exploratory analyses revealed similar improvement same other important measurements including pdq-39 measure quality life patient daily diaries hours without troubling dyskinesias>

Raymond T. Bartus, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Ceregene stated: "The concept that earlier-stage patients may respond better to neurotrophic factor therapies such as CERE-120 is consistent with the field's long-standing appreciation for their mechanism of action, as well as more recent information derived from autopsy brain tissue donated by Parkinson's disease patients. While a number of practical considerations will have to be addressed in order to design and execute clinical trials that enroll only early-stage patients, this additional exploratory analysis adds further empirical support that the concept deserves serious consideration."

These and other efficacy and safety data related to the CERE-120 program were presented, by invitation, at a symposium at the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy annual meeting in Salt Lake City on May 18, 2013. The title of Dr. Bartus' talk was: "CERE-120 (AAV2-neurturin) for the treatment of Parkinson's disease: Experience from 4 clinical trials and human autopsy data".

During its 12-year history, Ceregene has established leadership positions in the fields of gene therapy and neurotrophic factors for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to publishing 24 peer-reviewed scientific publications describing novel nonclinical and clinical findings in those fields, the company has safely dosed a total of over 100 patients in two clinical programs: CERE-120 (AAV-NRTN) for Parkinson's disease and CERE-110 (AAV-NGF) for Alzheimer's disease. A randomized, controlled Phase 2 study of CERE-110 for Alzheimer's is continuing. It is fully enrolled and financially supported in large part by a grant from the NIH, with top line data expected by late 2014. In addition to the Parkinson's and Alzheimer's programs, Ceregene has conducted extensive preclinical work with CERE-120 for Huntington's disease, as well as another gene therapy/neurotrophic factor product (AAV-NT4) for blinding ocular diseases (such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma) and yet another (AAV-IGF1) for Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). Cergene is currently evaluating strategic alternatives to advance its AAV gene therapy and neurotrophic factor platforms. This study was partially funded by a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research.

About CERE-120 and its Application to Treating Parkinson's DiseaseCERE-120 is composed of a harmless adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector carrying the gene for neurturin, a naturally occurring protein known to repair damaged and dying dopamine-secreting neurons, keeping them alive and restoring function. Neurturin is a member of the same protein family as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The two molecules have similar pharmacological properties and both have been shown to benefit the midbrain dopamine neurons that degenerate in Parkinson's disease. Degeneration of these neurons is responsible for the major motor impairments of Parkinson's disease. CERE-120 is delivered by stereotactic injection to the terminal fields (i.e., the ends of the degenerating neurons), located in an area of the brain called the putamen, as well as the cell bodies for these same neurons, located in a different area of the brain, called the substantia nigra. Once CERE-120 is delivered to the brain, it provides stable, controlled and highly targeted neurturin expression for years following a single injection, confirmed in both animal and human studies.

About Parkinson's DiseaseParkinson's disease is a progressive movement disorder that affects a million people in the United States. Its main symptoms, stiffness, tremors and slowed movements and gait, are caused by a loss of dopamine-containing nerve cells in the substantia nigra, which project their axons to the putamen. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in controlling movement and coordination, so Parkinson's patients exhibit a progressive inability to initiate and control physical movements. There is currently no treatment that can reverse the degeneration of these neurons, let alone cure Parkinson's disease.

About CeregeneCeregene, Inc. is a San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on the development of nervous system growth factors (neurotrophic factors) as treatments for neurodegenerative and retinal disorders using gene transfer for their delivery. The company has established a leadership position in the fields of gene therapy and neurotrophic factors, having launched 6 separate clinical trials in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, enrolling a total of nearly 200 patients, over 100 whom have been administered the gene therapy products, some several years ago, with no safety serious issues. Ceregene's clinical program for Alzheimer's disease involves CERE-110, an AAV2-based vector expressing nerve growth factor (NGF). A fully enrolled multi-center, controlled Phase 2 study with CERE-110 is ongoing, conducted in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study and partially funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Ceregene was launched in January 2001. The company's investors include Alta Partners, MPM Capital, Hamilton BioVentures, Investor Growth Capital, California Technology Partners and BioSante Pharmaceuticals.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's ResearchAs the world's largest private funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors, and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $325 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of Thousands of Team Fox members around the world.

Read more:
Ceregene Reports Additional Efficacy Data From Parkinson's Disease Phase 2b Study

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

uniQure B.V., a leader in the field of human gene therapy, today announced that with its consortium partners it is to receive a EUR 2.5 million Eurostars grant to develop an RNA interference (RNAi) gene therapy for Huntington's disease. The consortium is a pan-European collaboration consisting of uniQure as the coordinator, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland, University Medical Center Gttingen, Germany, and Maria Curie-Skodowska University, Poland.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130220/595152 )

The program's aim is to develop a gene therapy for the treatment of Huntington's disease (HD), a rare and devastating neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the Huntingtin (Htt) gene. As a result of the defective gene, mutated proteins accumulate in the brain and destroy neurons, leading at first to involuntary, random body movements, but eventually to progressive cognitive decline and finally dementia. Onset of the disease usually manifests itself around 35 to 44 years of age, while life expectancy after diagnosis is on average 20 years. The program will start on June 1, 2013 and run for three years.

"Our Huntington's disease program is part of our strategic effort to demonstrate the potential of our AAV-delivery platform in RNAi," says Jrn Aldag, CEO of uniQure. "The RNAi field has great promise to become a new and important treatment modality. However, the field has been held back by the lack of effective delivery mechanisms. We believe that our AAV technology is ideally suited to deliver RNAi compounds with high accuracy and efficacy. In addition, the development with the consortium of a gene expression system for GDNF will not only benefit the HD program, but also holds great promise for our Parkinson's disease program, and potentially other CNS disorders."

About the program

The consortium's goals are to develop a regulated gene expression system for glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to improve the maintenance and survival of neurons as a HD gene therapy, and to develop regulated expression of artificial miRNA to conditionally silence the Htt gene. The main outcome of the program is a robust pre-clinical assessment of the first regulated gene therapy vector suitable for optimized treatment of HD patients. The ability to regulate gene expression would additionally represent an exciting innovation in the field of gene therapy, creating new opportunities to tackle challenging diseases where gene expression is only required at certain times. The consortium expects that the program's results should lead to clinical safety trials within two years after the conclusion of the project.

About uniQure

uniQure is a world leader in the development ofhuman gene based therapies.uniQure's Glybera, a gene therapy for the treatment of lipoprotein lipase deficiency has been approved in the European Union, and is the first approved gene therapy in the Western world. uniQure's product pipeline of gene therapy products in development comprise hemophilia B, acute intermittent porphyria, Parkinson's disease and Sanfilippo B. Using adeno-associated viral (AAV) derived vectors as the delivery vehicle of choice for therapeutic genes, the company has been able to design and validate probably the world's first stable and scalable AAV manufacturing platform.uniQure's largest shareholders are Forbion Capital Partners and Gilde Healthcare, two of the leading life sciences venture capital firms in the Netherlands. Further information can be found at http://www.uniqure.com.

More:
uniQure and Consortium to Receive EUR 2.5 Million Eurostars Grant to Develop RNAi Gene Therapy for Huntington's Disease

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

CLEARWATER, Fla., May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sports Medicine is always at the forefront of innovative medical technology. Athletes are constantly striving to improve. Records are broken as humans run faster, jump higher, and strive for higher levels of performance. Athletes expose their bodies to more wear and tear as performance increases. Scientific training principles and diet have changed drastically over time. Technological breakthroughs have also impacted the rehabilitation process. The use of regenerative medicine has grown significantly in recent years. The popularity of Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) has escalated as many high profile elite athletes from a diverse array of sports have opted for this treatment. The likes of Kobe Bryant, Rafael Nadal, and Tiger Woods garner ample press coverage when they are treated for injuries. Stem Cell Therapy becomes headlines when Peyton Manning undergoes this treatment. The goal of regenerative medicine therapies is to aid the body to heal itself. Understanding and accepting stem cell therapies for athletic injuries and sports medicine is gathering keen interest.

Dr. Dennis Lox, http://www.drlox.com a Sports and Regenerative Medicine Physician in the Tampa Bay Florida area, comments that the scientific backdrop of cell signaling and inflammatory mediators has led to a new understanding of how tissues heal. This also explains why injured tissues fail to heal, and is why the aging athlete recovers and heals more slowly than his younger counterpart. It is felt that the use of growth factors in Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) is a localized cellular response to control negative repair processes and direct healing toward a positive restorative pathway. This directional approach to control repair, is more complex in stem cells, and as such, may be more effective for healing injured tissue. The stem cells are the body's repair cells that direct the necessary patterns of cellular messenger signals to target the repair process. It is not a simple chemical reaction where two chemicals react and one outcome results. There are a myriad of complicated molecules that interact to direct the repair process, and to counter the effects of a multitude of other molecules and signals regulating the breakdown or degradation of tissue. Dr. Lox points out, it is overcoming the many undesirable messages that occur with injury, whereby regenerative medicine may enhance sports injury recovery. Athletes are in need of rapid recovery to avoid losing peak conditioning. Aging athletes do not heal as effectively. Finding successful measures to aid the body in the healing naturally, is desirable for athletes and in preventing degenerative arthritis. Understanding the scientific rationale for the use of Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy, may pave the way for the expansive role for these treatments in future directions for athletic injury.

About Dr. Dennis Lox Dr. Lox practices in the Tampa Bay Florida area. Dr. Lox is a Sports and Regenerative Medicine Physician, who specializes in the use of regenerative and restorative medicine to assist in treating athletic and arthritis conditions. Dr. Lox may be reached at (727) 462-5582 or visit Drlox.com.

Read the rest here:
Sports Medicine New Frontiers: Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Businessman had an increased risk of cancer through the BRCA2 gene He entered a trial at Institute of Cancer Research as it ran in his family BRAC1 and BRAC2 genes are linked to an aggressive form of cancer Angeline Jolie had a double mastectomy after testing positive for BRAC1

By Sophie Borland

PUBLISHED: 19:21 EST, 19 May 2013 | UPDATED: 02:01 EST, 20 May 2013

A businessman has become the first man to have his prostate removed after discovering he was carrying a faulty gene that raises the risk of cancer.

The 53-year-old was told he had the rogue BRCA2 gene after taking part in a clinical trial at the Institute of Cancer Research in London.

Last week Angelina Jolie revealed that she had had a double mastectomy after discovering that the BRCA1 gene gave her an 87 per cent risk of developing breast cancer.

Scientists believe that other men who know they are carriers will choose to go down the same route (stock image)

Both the BRCA2 and BRCA1 genes have long been known to increase the risk of breast and ovarian forms of the disease but recent research has also linked them to the prostate.

The businessman, who has not been identified but is married with children and lives in London, has other family members who have suffered breast or prostate cancers.

See more here:
British businessman has his prostate removed over cancer risk from 'Jolie gene'

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vrrrm8/growth) has announced the addition of the "Growth Opportunities in Global Steam Turbine Market in Power Generation 2012-2017: Trends, Forecasts and Opportunity Analysis" report to their offering.

The global steam turbine market stands on the threshold of strong growth. In 2011, the market topped $12.1 billion, growing at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.4%. The Asia Pacific (APAC) region captured the largest market share with approximately $9.3 billion, representing 77% of the market. According to market forecasts, the global steam turbine market is poised for growth at 3% CAGR over the next five years (2012-2017) to reach approximately $15.3 billion in 2017.

The author discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by the global steam turbine market. The steam turbine market is affected by renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power. The prices of other sources of energy such as natural gas are another factor affecting this market. The demand for steam turbines, however, will remain solid with emerging, large economies, such as India and China, generating high demand.

The study encompasses the market's major drivers. APAC accounts for the largest market share of steam turbines. North America and Europe represent larger markets than the Rest of the World market.

This report highlights the aspects of the global steam turbine market. Due diligence has been given to the current market scenario, as well as the technological and financial benefits of installing steam turbines in power generation plants globally. China has emerged as the leading player in the manufacturing and installation of steam turbines.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vrrrm8/growth

About Research and Markets

Research and Markets is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Research and Markets: Growth Opportunities in Global Steam Turbine Market in Power Generation 2012-2017 Report Lets ...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith