Protecting Your Shoulders and Staying Active after Spinal Cord Injury
If you push a wheelchair or use crutches for walking, your shoulders are working much harder than they were designed to do and can easily be damaged over time. How do you stay independent and active while avoiding shoulder pain and injury? This presentation by physical therapist Kristin Kaupang of Harborview Medical Center focuses on techniques and exercises for preserving and protecting your shoulders to minimize injury, decrease pain, increase strength, and maintain use of your shoulders for the long haul.From:UWSpinalCordInjuryViews:3 0ratingsTime:01:01:55More inScience Technology

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Protecting Your Shoulders and Staying Active after Spinal Cord Injury - Video

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World Stem Cell Summit - Terzic
The World Stem Cell Summit, December 3-5 in West Palm Beach, Fla. unites internationally renowned scientists, clinicians, students, policymakers, regulators, patient advocates, and philanthropists to share knowledge and advance collaborations in the stem cell and regenerative medicine community. The meeting includes in-depth programming and more than 150 renowned international speakers. In this video, Dr. Andre Terzic, director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine addresses the importance of the summit and the emerging field of regenerative medicine.From:mayoclinicViews:6 0ratingsTime:05:34More inScience Technology

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World Stem Cell Summit - Terzic - Video

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The World Stem Cell Summit - Dr. Yaszemski
The World Stem Cell Summit, December 3-5 in West Palm Beach, Fla. unites internationally renowned scientists, clinicians, students, policymakers, regulators, patient advocates, and philanthropists to share knowledge and advance collaborations in the stem cell and regenerative medicine community. The meeting includes in-depth programming and more than 150 renowned international speakers, including leaders from Mayo Clinic #39;s Center for Regenerative Medicine. Among them is Mayo Clinic Dr. Michael Yaszemski. In this video he talks about the summit, the emerging field of regenerative medicine and his unique military perspective.From:mayoclinicViews:5 1ratingsTime:04:16More inScience Technology

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World Stem Cell Summit - Windebank
The World Stem Cell Summit, December 3-5 in West Palm Beach, Fla. unites internationally renowned scientists, clinicians, students, policymakers, regulators, patient advocates, and philanthropists to share knowledge and advance collaborations in the stem cell and regenerative medicine community. The meeting includes in-depth programming and more than 150 renowned international speakers, including leaders from Mayo Clinic #39;s Center for Regenerative Medicine. In this video, Dr. Anthony Windebank talks about the emerging field of regenerative medicine.From:mayoclinicViews:8 0ratingsTime:03:39More inScience Technology

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ScienceDaily (Dec. 3, 2012) Researchers have derived dopaminergic neurons from bone marrow stem cells in monkeys.

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that is characterized by tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulty walking. It is caused by loss of the neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine (known as dopaminergic neurons). One of the primary goals in Parkinson's disease research is to develop a replacement for dopaminergic neurons.

In a new study, researchers led by Takuya Hayashi at the RIKEN Center for Molecular Imaging Science in Kobe, Japan, derived dopaminergic neurons from bone marrow stem cells in monkeys. The cells were retrieved during a standard bone marrow aspiration and then treated with growth factors that directed the stem cells to become dopaminergic neurons. The monkeys that donated the stem cells were treated with a chemical to induce Parkinson's disease and then received a transplant of the new dopaminergic neurons that had been derived from their own bone marrow stem cells. Monkeys that received the transplant showed significant improvement in motor defects.

This study demonstrates that dopaminergic neurons derived from adult bone marrow stem cells can be safely used to improve motor function in Parkinson's disease in monkeys.

The research is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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Stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons rescue motor defects in Parkinsonian monkeys

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BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Akron Biotechnology, LLCs Quality Management System was registered on November 30th, 2012 on the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 standards by BSI Group America Inc. This ISO Certification emphasizes Akron Biotechs commitment to quality and meeting their customers needs and expectations. It covers all relevant functions of the Company: development, production, storage and distribution of Akron Biotechs products, i.e. cryopreservation media, recombinant proteins, media supplements, scaffolds and cell culture systems.

"This is an important step in our commitment to quality standards that will continue to enhance our products and services. We are looking forward to building upon this base towards a stronger foundation of excellence and compliance as we develop innovative products within our pipeline." said Claudia Zylberberg, PhD, Akrons President and CEO. She further stated We are committed to providing our customers with the unique ability to seamlessly transition from R&D to pre-clinical and clinical development with minimal change control in order for them to focus on their clinical outcome.

About ISO 9001:2008 - Quality Management System

ISO 9001:2008 is one of the most widely used management systems related to quality standards and ensuring that a company is meeting the needs of customers and regulatory requirements. Third party certification bodies (e.g. BSI Group America, Inc) provide independent confirmation that an organization has met the requirements of ISO 9001:2008.

About Akron Biotech

As a global supplier, Akron Biotech (www.akronbiotech.com) manufactures and distributes components and raw materials for cell therapy discovery, development and commercialization, meeting the industrys needs worldwide. The Companys unique business model emphasizes flexibility, quality and unparalleled service from research and development through clinical trial to market authorization and commercial product.

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Akron Biotech, a Leading Global Supplier for the Cell Therapy Industry, Receives ISO 9001:2008 Certification

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WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Histogenics Corp., a biologics company that combines cell therapy and tissue engineering technologies to develop highly innovative products primarily for orthopaedic tissue repair and regeneration, today announced the appointment of Kevin L. Rakin to its Board of Directors. Mr. Rakin has over 20 years of experience in the biotechnology industry and most recently served as President of Regenerative Medicine at Shire plc.

We are very pleased to welcome Kevin to the Histogenics Board of Directors. His broad experience in biotechnology and regenerative medicine over a 20 year career will be extremely valuable during this exciting time for the company, said Patrick ODonnell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Histogenics. We believe that Kevins experience with regenerative medicine treatments and understanding of niche markets will help us advance the clinical development program of NeoCart and prepare it for commercialization.

Kevin Rakin was most recently the President of Regenerative Medicine at Shire plc, a leading specialty biopharmaceutical company. Prior to joining Shire, Mr. Rakin served as the Chairman and CEO of Advanced BioHealing (ABH) from 2007 until its acquisition by Shire for $750 million in June 2011. Before this, he served as the interim CEO of ABH and executive-in-residence at Canaan Partners. Previously, he was a co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., a publicly held pharmacogenomics company, until its merger with Clinical Data Inc. in October 2005.

He currently serves on the executive committee for Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE), Connecticuts bioscience cluster. He has previously served as a board member for Ipsogen SA, Vion Pharmaceuticals Inc., OMRIX Biopharmaceuticals Inc. and Clinical Data Inc. Mr. Rakin holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University and received his graduate and undergraduate degrees in Commerce from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

About Histogenics

Histogenics is a leading regenerative medicine company that combines cell therapy and tissue engineering technologies to develop highly innovative products for tissue repair and regeneration. In May of 2011, Histogenics acquired Israeli cell-therapy company ProChon BioTech. Histogenics flagship products focus on the treatment of active patients suffering from articular cartilage derived pain and immobility. The Company takes an interdisciplinary approach to engineering neocartilage that looks, acts and lasts like hyaline cartilage. It is developing new treatments for sports injuries and other orthopedic conditions, where demand is growing for long-term alternatives to joint replacement. Histogenics has successfully completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials in which the NeoCart autologous tissue implants effectiveness is compared to that of standard microfracture surgery. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company is privately held. For more information, visitwww.histogenics.com.

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Kevin Rakin Appointed to the Histogenics Board of Directors

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NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE MKT:NBS) ("NeoStem" or the "Company"), an emerging leader in the fast growing cell therapy market, today announced that the Company and its subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy ("PCT"), will present at multiple conferences in December.

World Stem Cell Summit

RedChip Small-Cap Equities Virtual Conference

Cell Therapy Manufacturing (Informa Life Sciences' 3rd Annual VIC Congress 2012)

American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition ("ASH")

NeoStem's abstract on VSELTM Technology titled "A Lin-CD45-CD34+ Population of Extracellular Vesicles in Human Blood That Mimics Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells (VSELs) by Flow Cytometry" has been selected for publication online in December in conjunction with the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 8-11, 2012. The abstract will be available at http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/site/misc/ASH_Meeting_Abstracts_Info.xhtml.

About NeoStem, Inc.

NeoStem, continues to develop and build on its core capabilities in cell therapy, capitalizing on the paradigm shift occurring in medicine. We anticipate that cell therapy will have a significant role in the fight against chronic disease and in lessening the economic burden that these diseases pose to modern society. We are emerging as a technology and market leading company in this fast developing cell therapy industry. Our multi-faceted business strategy combines a state-of-the-art contract development and manufacturing subsidiary, PCT, with a medically important cell therapy product development program, enabling near and long-term revenue growth opportunities. We believe that, with our expertise and research capabilities and collaborations, we will achieve our mission of becoming a premier cell therapy company.

Our contract development and manufacturing service business supports the development of proprietary cell therapy products. NeoStem's most clinically advanced therapeutic, AMR-001, is being developed at Amorcyte, LLC ("Amorcyte"), which we acquired in October 2011. Amorcyte is developing a cell therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and is enrolling patients in a Phase 2 trial to investigate AMR-001's efficacy in preserving heart function after a heart attack. Athelos Corporation ("Athelos"), which is 80%-owned by our subsidiary, PCT, is collaborating with Becton-Dickinson in the early clinical exploration of a T-cell therapy for autoimmune conditions. In addition, pre-clinical assets include our VSELTM Technology platform as well as our mesenchymal stem cell product candidate for regenerative medicine. Our service business and pipeline of proprietary cell therapy products work in concert to create a competitive advantage that we believe is unique to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Supported by an experienced scientific and business management team and a substantial intellectual property estate, we are well positioned to succeed.

For more information, please visit http://www.neostem.com.

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NeoStem to Present at Multiple Conferences in December

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GULF SHORES, Ala., Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --More than 75 percent of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients who received neural reprogrammed stem cell therapy have shown a positive response to the procedure. The groundbreaking technique was introduced to the United States this year by Precision StemCell (http://www.precisionstemcell.com), an outpatient imaging and image-guided treatment facility located in Gulf Shores, Ala.

The procedure is performed by Dr. Jason R. Williams, a board-certified radiologist with extensive training in image-guided procedures. Under his care, 14 out of 18 patients diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, have shown signs of recovery.

"The improvements are mild, with patients reporting improved movement, breathing and speech, but we still have a long way to go," Dr. Williams stated. "Only time will tell how this therapy will affect the patients' long-term prognosis."

In Precision StemCell's neural reprogrammed stem cell therapy, fat-derived stem cells are injected into the spine of the patient. Dr. Williams uses a drug called selegeline, which has been shown to be a pre-inducer of adipose-derived stem cells into neural-like cells. Dr. Williams contends that the therapy is probably one of the largest advances seen in ALS therapy. "Before we started this therapy, I would have been happy just to see the progression of the disease halted, but to see some actual improvement, that was just shocking," he said

The first patient treated with the technique was Frank Orgel who continues to see improvement since his first treatment seven months ago. Eight years ago, Orgel's quality of life had declined to the point that he could not move his left arm or leg, walk or even stand on his own. The therapy has allowed Orgel to stand without assistance, and he continues to work with a physical therapist to regain the ability to walk. Another patient, Dexter Johnson, previously walked with a cane. After the treatment, Johnson has been able to walk without his cane for the majority of the time and he has been able to walk at a much faster pace.

The Precision StemCell center focuses on advanced imaging techniques, which include a 3T Open MRI, a low-dose 64-Slice CT Scanner, ultrasound and fluoroscopy, also known as real-time x-ray. The center is headed by Dr. Williams, who specializes in image-guided procedures, had already been performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), ultrasound and fluoroscopy-guided stem cell injections for joint and orthopedic conditions.

In addition to their current work on advanced stem cell harvesting and processing with image-guided stem cell injections, Precision StemCell staff are planning to conduct further research so as to develop even more advanced techniques such as adding gene therapy to the current neural reprogramming platform. "Our therapy techniques not only hold promise for ALS patients, but also for people with other neural-related conditions such as Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries," said Dr. Williams. "There are several candidate genes that we plan to add to the adipose-derived stem cells and study in the mouse model. Though we are happy with our initial progress, our goal is to develop an effective cure."

About Precision StemCell

Located in Gulf Shores, Alabama, Precision StemCell conducts stem cell procedures using advanced imaging techniques, which include an Open 3T MRI, a low-dose 64-Slice CT scanner, ultrasound, and real time x-ray (fluoroscopy). Headed by Jason Williams, MD, a board-certified radiologist with extensive training in image-guided procedures, the facility performs advanced stem cell harvesting and processing with image-guided stem cell injections.

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Precision StemCell's Neural Reprogrammed Stem Cell Therapy Yields Better-Than-Expected Results for ALS Patients

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(DGAP-Media / 04.12.2012 / 10:15) Munich, Bielefeld, Heidelberg (Germany), SIRION Biotech and PlasmidFactory agreed to actively promote adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for advanced preclinical research. Dr. Oliver Mueller, University of Heidelberg, will serve as scientific advisor. AAV vectors have been identified as most promising gene delivery candidates for curative therapy of gene defects that need long-term treatment. It is estimated that over 4000 human diseases are caused by single gene defects. Besides acting as highly versatile gene delivery agents they also serve for functional genomic studies. To date 44 clinical trials are being conducted with AAV for diseases like Parkinson, Alzheimer or Stage IV Gastric cancer. The first AAV vector-based gene therapy for lipoprotein lipase deficiency (LPLD) has been approved in Europe for Human Use just a few weeks ago. Generating AAV, especially for use in preclinical and clinical applications requires a mix of skills: plasmid DNA in reproducible and certified quality both in research and clinical grades, solid experience in generating AAV vectors for preclinical use and the ability to generate entire cell models according to desired specifications. This week's agreement between PlasmidFactory and SIRION Biotech allows for commercial supplies of highly innovative AAV vectors for preclinical research and up to clinical phase III studies. Within just 8 weeks SIRION Biotech is able to supply research quantities for in vivo studies in small animals. Working with AAV vectors for many more clinical trials is now made a realistic option for researchers worldwide. About SIRION BIOTECH, PlasmidFactory and PD Dr. Oliver Mller SIRION Biotech was founded in 2006 in Munich and has sites in Tokyo and New Hampshire. It stands for sophisticated cell modelling and viral vector platforms. These enable much improved target identification and compound screening in the drug, the food & cosmetic industries. Its technology has over the years been validated in more than 250 commercial projects with more than 70 academic and industrial organizations worldwide. As a result, primary cell immortalizations are being technically advanced, so is the recombinant virus vector construction serving for gene therapy applications and novel vaccines. PlasmidFactory is a biopharmaceutical company, founded in Bielefeld in 2000. Today the company is formed by a young team of biologists, chemists, engineers and technicians and is Europe's leading contract manufacturer of plasmid DNA. The company produces clients' plasmids according to their requirements (incl. GMP use) in modern laboratories with high quality standards. PlasmidFactory holds the worldwide exclusive license from DKFZ for manufacturing, distribution and use of the Helper & Packaging Plasmids from the pDG and pDP family, respectively1. Dr. Oliver Mueller leads a team at the Dept. of Internal Medicine III at the University of Heidelberg whose aim is to develop gene therapies for hereditary heart diseases. The department's research is addressing chronic diseases by close interaction of medical and biology basic research. Contact: SIRION BIOTECH GmbH Dr. Christian Thirion Am Klopferspitz 19 D-82152 Martinsried Tel.: +49-89-700 961 99-15 eMail: Thirion@Sirion-Biotech.com http://www.Sirion-Biotech.com PlasmidFactory GmbH & Co. KG Dr. Martin Schleef Meisenstr. 96 D-33607 Bielefeld Tel.: +49-521-299 7350 eMail: info@PlasmidFactory.com http://www.PlasmidFactory.com 1References: [1] Grimm et al. (1998), Novel Tools for Production and Purification of Recombinant Adenoassociated Virus Vectors, Human Gene Therapy, Vol. 9, 2745-2760. [2] Raake PWJ, Schlegel P, Ksienzyk J, Reinkober J, Barthelmes J, Schinkel S, Pleger S, Mier W, Haberkorn U, Katus HA, Koch WJ, Most P, Muller OJ. AAV6.ARKct cardiac gene therapy ameliorates cardiac function and normalizes the catecholaminergic axis in a clinically relevant large animal heart failure model. Europ Heart J. Jan 12. (2012) [Epub ahead of print] [3] Grimm et al. (2003), Helper Virus-Free, Optically Controllable, and Two-Plasmid-Based Production of Adeno-associated Virus Vectors of Serotypes 1 to 6, Molecular Therapy, Vol. 7, 839-850. [4] Kronenberg et al. (2005), A Conformational Change in the Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 Capsid Leads to the Exposure of Hidden VP1 N Termini, Journal of Virology, Vol. 79, 5296-5303. [5] Moullier, P. and Snyder, R.O. (2008), International efforts for recombinant adenoassociated viral vector reference standards, Molecular Therapy, Vol. 16, 1185-1188 [6] AAV-DNA helper sequences EP 0 934 423 End of Media Release =-------------------------------------------------------------------- Issuer: Sirion Biotech GmbH Key word(s): Health 04.12.2012 Dissemination of a Press Release, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at http://www.dgap-medientreff.de and http://www.dgap.de =-------------------------------------------------------------------- 195744 04.12.2012

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 04, 2012 04:15 ET (09:15 GMT)

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Sirion Biotech GmbH: Adeno-associated virus now easily available for research and preclinical studies

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Institutes to Share Resources to Identify Potential Compounds Targeting TDP-43 Form of ALS

CAMBRIDGE, MA and SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) and the Gladstone Institutes today announced the formation of a research collaboration to speed the discovery of potential treatments for ALS through the preclinical drug development process.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110204/DC42625LOGO)

"We are thrilled about the potential this collaboration holds to accelerate ALS therapeutic development," said Steve Perrin, PhD, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer at ALS TDI. "Both our organizations have unique infrastructures, and by linking them this way, we may be able to advance potential treatments faster than before."

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to paralysisand eventually deathdue to the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain. About 30,000 people in the United States live with the disease today, and the global population of ALS patients is approximately 400,000. Approximately 5,000 new cases of ALS are diagnosed in the United States each year, and there is no known cure or treatment to halt or reverse the disease. The average patient survives only two to five years following their diagnosis.

Under this new agreement, which starts immediately, Gladstone will evaluate potential pharmaceutical compounds using a human model of ALS. Gladstone generated the model by transforming skin cells from ALS patients into stem cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), and then programming them into neurons. The technique builds on a discovery for which Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, a Gladstone senior investigator, won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

This particular iPS-based ALS model includes a gene mutation that produces TDP-43, a protein commonly found in most forms of ALS. Promising drug compounds that pass the initial evaluation process at Gladstone will be fast-tracked for pre-clinical testing at ALS TDI, which will assess the compounds for activity and efficacy in various mouse models of human neurodegeneration.

"We hope our human model of ALS will help us to move quickly and effectively to identify promising therapeutic candidates for ALS," said Gladstone Senior Investigator Steve Finkbeiner, MD, PhD, who is also a professor of neurology and physiology at the University of California, San Francisco, with which Gladstone is affiliated. "The strong evidence that abnormal TDP-43 protein is involved in the development of ALS, coupled with models that may replicate ALS more faithfully than other tools, may speed development of therapies for the thousands of individuals diagnosed with this devastating disease."

The collaborators will conduct a joint webinar to discuss the project plan in depth in January 2013. To register, visit http://www.als.net/webinars.

About the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI)

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ALS Therapy Development Institute And Gladstone Institutes Collaborate To Discover Potential ALS Treatments

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Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Its an undeniable fact that many teenagers are going to experiment with alcohol before they are mentally ready enough to do so. Now, a new study may help explain why some of these teenagers are more prone to continue drinking alcohol after trying it than others are.

A study, led by researchers at Kings College Londons Institute of Psychiatry (IoP), provides the most detailed understanding yet of the brain process involved in alcohol abuse. The research team recently discovered a geneRASGRF-2which is one of many already suggested being associated with binge drinking.

Publishing their work in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the team found that animals lacking the gene had far less desire for alcohol than those who did have it. Adding to that finding, brain scans of 663 teenage boys showed that those with the human version of the gene had heightened dopamine responses in tests.

Alcohol, as well as some addictive drugs, activates the dopamine system in the brain which is responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward. Recent studies on RASGRF-2 in mice showed that the gene is a risk factor for alcohol abuse; yet, the exact mechanism involved in the process has remained a mystery until now.

During a task designed to make the test subjects anticipate a reward, the 14-year-old boys had more activity in an area of the brain called the ventral striatum, an area known to be involved with dopamine release. When the boys were contacted again at age 16 and asked about their drinking habits, the team found the boys with the RASGRF-2 variation drank more frequently than those who didnt have the gene.

Lead researcher Professor Gunter Schuman acknowledged that his teams findings do not necessarily prove that the gene variation causes binge drinking, but noted a variety of environmental factors along with several genes could be the right ingredients to contribute to the issue. He does believe, however, that his teams findings help shed light on why some people appear to be vulnerable to the allure of alcohol.

Schuman said the gene appears to regulate how rewarding alcohol is for some people.

People seek out situations which fulfill their sense of reward and make them happy, so if your brain is wired to find alcohol rewarding, you will seek it out. We now understand the chain of action: how our genes shape this function in our brains and how that, in turn, leads to human behavior, he said in a statement.

We found that the RASGRF-2 gene plays a crucial role in controlling how alcohol stimulates the brain to release dopamine, and hence trigger the feeling of reward. So, if people have a genetic variation of the RASGRF-2 gene, alcohol gives them a stronger sense of reward, making them more likely to be heavy drinkers, Schuman continued.

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Gene Plays A Role In Binge Drinking In Young Teenagers

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LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have unpicked the brain processes involved in teenage alcohol abuse and say their findings help explain why some young people have more of a tendency to binge drink.

A study published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal found that a gene known as RASGRF-2 plays a crucial role in controlling how alcohol stimulates the brain to release dopamine, triggering feelings of reward.

"If people have a genetic variation of the RASGRF-2 gene, alcohol gives them a stronger sense of reward, making them more likely to be heavy drinkers," said Gunter Schumann, who led the study at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry.

Alcohol and other addictive drugs activate the brain's dopamine systems, which induces feelings of pleasure and reward.

Worldwide, some 2.5 million people die each year from the harmful use of alcohol, accounting for about 3.8 percent of all deaths, according to the World Health Organisation.

Recent studies also carried out by scientists at the IoP have found that RASGRF-2 is a risk gene for alcohol abuse, but until now the mechanism involved in the process was not clear.

For this study, scientists initially looked at mice who had been modified to have the RASGRF2 gene removed, to see how they reacted to alcohol. They found the lack of RASGRF-2 was linked to a significant reduction in alcohol-seeking activity.

They also discovered that when the mice did consume alcohol, the absence of RASGRF-2 reduced the activity of dopamine-releasing neurons in a region of the brain called the ventral tegmental area (VTA) - preventing the brain from releasing dopamine and limiting any sense of reward.

The team then analyzed brain scans of 663 14-year old boys and found that when they were anticipating a reward in a mental test, those with genetic variations to the RASGRF2 gene had more activity in an area of the brain closely linked to the VTA and also involved in dopamine release.

This suggests people with a genetic variation on the RASGRF-2 gene release more dopamine when anticipating a reward, and hence derive more pleasure from it, the scientists said.

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Scientists find gene link to teenage binge drinking

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FIRST PERSON | The Supreme Court announced on Nov. 30 that it plans to rule on the issue of gene patents. This stems from a case in 2010, when the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) took the drug research company Myriad Labs to court over its patent on the BRCA gene. The ACLU claims that naturally occurring genes should not be patented. Myriad Labs disagrees, stating that it will not be financially viable to conduct important medical research without the ability to patent.

To patent or not

CBS News reported that the Supreme Court plans to hear the case in early spring 2013. This will finally lay to rest the question as to whether human genes are patentable. It is not a simple question. Right now, only Myriad Labs can test or perform medical research on the BRCA genes. Researchers wishing to test the BRCA gene sequence must pay royalties to Myriad Labs.

BRCA genes

The BRCA genes are an important sequence from a research standpoint. Certain mutations involving these genes leave women at high risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are at the heart of this legal battle. Testing for BRCA1 or BRCA2 is extremely expensive. Because Myriad Labs holds the patent, no other company can design a less expensive test.

Testing

I had genetic testing done because of my family history with breast cancer. It involved genetic counseling and a blood draw. Testing from Myriad Labs cost $5,000. Insurance paid for some of it, but I still had a significant amount to pay out of pocket. Women who receive Medicare, Medicaid, or those without insurance may not be able to afford the test -- leaving them without access to potentially life-saving medical information.

If you are BRCA positive, your risks for cancer skyrocket. Important decisions about your health care, including preventative surgical procedures, must be made. Sharing your BRCA status with immediate family members may impact important life decisions such as deciding to have children. This is why the ACLU sued.

Genes should not have patents

I had a diagnosis of breast cancer before undergoing genetic testing. It was important for me to share the test results with my family. Fortunately, my cancer is not BRCA1 or 2 related. This does not rule out my cancer being genetic. Here is the problem with Myriad Labs owning the patent on the gene: They are not looking for new mutations and no one else can undertake this important research without paying royalties to Myriad.

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Supreme Court to Decide If Gene Patents Are Legal: It's About Time

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Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs Also Included In: Genetics;Pediatrics / Children's Health Article Date: 04 Dec 2012 - 3:00 PST

Current ratings for: Gene May Prime Teens To Binge Drink

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The study, led by King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) is published online this week in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, PNAS.

But what has become more common in this age group is binge drinking: consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short space of time.

Studies show teens's alcohol consumption has gone up from 6 units a week in 1994 to 13 in 2007.

The authors note that every year in the UK, around 5,000 teenagers are hospitalized because of drink.

Apart from the obvious problems such as increased anti-social and risk-taking behavior (for example drunk driving and unsafe sex), alcohol abuse in teenagers has also been linked to poor brain development and long term health problems.

Several genes have been linked to risk for alcohol abuse, including RASGRF-2, identified in recent studies from King's IoP.

But this latest study is the first to suggest the underlying mechanism through which the gene stimulates the brain to release dopamine.

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Gene May Prime Teens To Binge Drink

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Why do some people binge drink? It may be in their genes.

Researchers from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry have previously discovered that the RASGRF2 gene is linked to alcohol abuse. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Dec. 3 now shows how that gene affects alcoholics.

The RASGRF-2 gene works to control how the brain releases dopamine, a chemical neurotransmitter that makes people feel pleasure and reward. Alcohol and other addictive substances stimulate the brain's dopamine system.

"So, if people have a genetic variation of the RASGRF-2 gene, alcohol gives them a stronger sense of reward, making them more likely to be heavy drinkers," lead author Gunter Schumann, professor of biological psychiatry, said in a press release.

One out of six people in the United States has a drinking problem, the National Institutes of Health report.

In 2009, 10.4 million people between the ages of 12 and 20 admitted to drinking more than a few sips of alcohol, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. By age 15, 70 percent of teens have had at least one drink. More than 190,000 people under the age of 21 went to the emergency room for an alcohol-related injury in 2008 alone. Five thousand people under 21 die each year from alcohol-related car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning.

People who are at risk of becoming alcoholics are men who have 15 or more drinks a week, or women who have 12 or more drinks a week, according to the National Institutes of Health. Anyone who has five or more drinks per occasion at least once a week is also at risk. On average, while young adults drink less often than adults they drink five drinks on a single occasion.

Young adults under peer pressure, people with history of depression and other mental disorders, easy access of alcohol, low self-esteem, problems with relationships, stressful lifestyles and those who live in a culture where drinking is common and accepted have a higher chance of developing alcoholism.

The study first looked at mice without the RASGRF-2 gene to see how alcohol affected them. They found these mice had significantly lowered alcohol-seeking behavior because the lack of the gene partially blocked their brains from releasing dopamine -- the reward sensation -- from an area of the brain called the ventral tegmental area (VTA).

Researchers then scanned the brains of 663 14-year-old boys who had not been exposed to large amounts of alcohol. Individuals who had a certain genetic variation of the RASGRF2 gene had more activation in their VTA region, meaning more dopamine was released when they were looking forward to a reward from a cognitive task. This meant that their brains released more dopamine when they were about to receive something good, giving them more happiness from that experience.

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Gene variation may make a person more likely to binge drink

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Why do some people binge drink? It may be in their genes.

Researchers from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry have previously discovered that the RASGRF2 gene is linked to alcohol abuse. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Dec. 3 now shows how that gene affects alcoholics.

The RASGRF-2 gene works to control how the brain releases dopamine, a chemical neurotransmitter that makes people feel pleasure and reward. Alcohol and other addictive substances stimulate the brain's dopamine system.

"So, if people have a genetic variation of the RASGRF-2 gene, alcohol gives them a stronger sense of reward, making them more likely to be heavy drinkers," lead author Gunter Schumann, professor of biological psychiatry, said in a press release.

One out of six people in the United States has a drinking problem, the National Institutes of Health report.

In 2009, 10.4 million people between the ages of 12 and 20 admitted to drinking more than a few sips of alcohol, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. By age 15, 70 percent of teens have had at least one drink. More than 190,000 people under the age of 21 went to the emergency room for an alcohol-related injury in 2008 alone. Five thousand people under 21 die each year from alcohol-related car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning.

People who are at risk of becoming alcoholics are men who have 15 or more drinks a week, or women who have 12 or more drinks a week, according to the National Institutes of Health. Anyone who has five or more drinks per occasion at least once a week is also at risk. On average, while young adults drink less often than adults they drink five drinks on a single occasion.

Young adults under peer pressure, people with history of depression and other mental disorders, easy access of alcohol, low self-esteem, problems with relationships, stressful lifestyles and those who live in a culture where drinking is common and accepted have a higher chance of developing alcoholism.

The study first looked at mice without the RASGRF-2 gene to see how alcohol affected them. They found these mice had significantly lowered alcohol-seeking behavior because the lack of the gene partially blocked their brains from releasing dopamine -- the reward sensation -- from an area of the brain called the ventral tegmental area (VTA).

Researchers then scanned the brains of 663 14-year-old boys who had not been exposed to large amounts of alcohol. Individuals who had a certain genetic variation of the RASGRF2 gene had more activation in their VTA region, meaning more dopamine was released when they were looking forward to a reward from a cognitive task. This meant that their brains released more dopamine when they were about to receive something good, giving them more happiness from that experience.

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Gene variation may make a person more likely to drink alcohol more

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Genetic Engineering Magic!
Have fun everyone! All clips are courtesy of HistoricClips.com!From:MrPenflipViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:12More inPeople Blogs

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Genetic Engineering Magic! - Video

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The Truth About Genetic Engineering
This is the truth about genetic engineering, Genetic modification, and genetic enhancement.From:seaweed603Views:0 0ratingsTime:11:47More inNews Politics

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The Truth About Genetic Engineering - Video

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Genetic Engineering (Genetics Podcast 2 of 3)
Mrs. Inabinet describes genetic engineering.From:MrsInabinetViews:0 0ratingsTime:14:56More inEducation

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Genetic Engineering (Genetics Podcast 2 of 3) - Video

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Far Cry 3 Live Action Trailer (VAAS STORY)
Far Cry 3 is an open world first-person shooter set on a tropical island unlike any other. This is a place where heavily armed warlords traffic in slaves. Where outsiders are hunted for ransom. And as you embark on desperate quest to rescue your friends, you realize that the only way to escape this darkness... is to embrace it. Far Cry 3 releases December 4th on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. For more information go to http://www.farcrygame.com. -- Story of the franchise: Far Cry is a first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek Studios and published by Ubisoft on March 23, 2004, for Microsoft Windows. Far Cry sold 730000 units within four months of release.[1] It received positive reviews upon release. The original game has since spawned a series of sequels and spin-off games and a movie. The game #39;s story follows a former US Army Special Forces operative Jack Carver, who is stranded on a mysterious archipelago. He is searching for a female journalist he was escorting after she went missing when their boat was destroyed by mercenaries. The game includes thematic elements relating to the dangers of weaponizing genetic engineering and the genocide of local islanders as can be seen by the deformed creatures created by a mad scientist named Krieger. The terrain in Far Cry varies greatly. Set on a South Pacific archipelago, the landscape includes beaches, dense rain forests, towering canyons, mines, swamps, and even volcanic forests. Many of the interiors range from simple ...From:Michael MyersViews:0 0ratingsTime:02:40More inFilm Animation

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Far Cry 3 Live Action Trailer (VAAS STORY) - Video

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On the wish lists of Americans: A fully operational Death Star, a nationalized Twinkie industry, and motorcycle-riding "judges" who also act as jury and executioner

The White House's "We the People..." website allows Americans to petition the Obama administration on a variety of issues citizens believe need addressing. Requests range from serious (petition to have the White House publicly acknowledge the U.S. drone program) to self-interested (federally legalize weed now!) to completely absurd (have Vice-President Joe Biden serve asGuy Fieri's sidekick on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives). Most are angry with the administration, with roughly 70 percent of current petitions asking that individual states like Texas be allowed to peacefully secede. What's more: Anyone can create a petition, with the caveat that each request must garner 25,000 signatures in order to be considered for an official White House response. Presented without comment (and in no particular order), here are 11 of the most ridiculous White House petitions awaiting signatures:

1. Secure resources and funding, and begin construction of a Death Star by 2016

SEE MORE: Obama's second term: The case for implementing health care reform

Those who sign here petition the United States government to secure funding and resources, and begin construction on a Death Star by 2016.

By focusing our defense resources into a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense.

SEE MORE: Will Republicans abandon their opposition to Susan Rice?

2. Allow United States military service members to place their hands in their pockets

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the bonds of service to the United States military, this regretful termination of service to this great nation is often precipitated by inane uniform and personal conduct policies.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all uniforms have pockets and hands fit perfectly inside them, and they sheathe our knife hands gloriously. It must be acknowledged that placing one's hands in one's pockets is not a sign of disrespect, but a precautionary action to prevent injuries.

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11 ridiculous White House petitions

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Public release date: 4-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

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

New Rochelle, NY, December 4, 2012Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) can develop into bone cells and are useful for tissue engineering and regeneration. However, when grown in the laboratory they quickly lose their ability to continue dividing and they die. A method for genetically engineering hMSCs so they become immortal and still retain their ability to become bone cells is described in an article published in BioResearch Open Access, a bimonthly peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the BioResearch Open Access website at http://www.liebertpub.com/biores.

D.S. Bischoff, N.S. Makhigani, and D.T. Yamaguchi, Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and The David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, inserted a gene called human telomerase (TERT) into hMSCs. The authors provide evidence to support the ability of human TERT to enhance the growth capacity of hMSCs in "Constitutive Expression of Human Telomerase Enhances the Proliferation Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells." They demonstrate that they were able to produce a stable hMSC cell line that can be grown in culture through repeated cell divisions and that the stem cells can differentiate into osteoblasts for potential use in bone engineering applications.

"Generating a stable human mesenchymal stem cell line that retains osteoblastic and adipogenic potential has important benefits for bone engineering studies, particularly those which require a large number of cells," says Editor-in-Chief Jane Taylor, PhD, MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

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About the Journal

BioResearch Open Access is a bimonthly peer-reviewed open access journal that provides a new rapid-publication forum for a broad range of scientific topics including molecular and cellular biology, tissue engineering and biomaterials, bioengineering, regenerative medicine, stem cells, gene therapy, systems biology, genetics, biochemistry, virology, microbiology, and neuroscience. All articles are published within 4 weeks of acceptance and are fully open access and posted on PubMedCentral. All journal content is available on the BioResearch Open Access website at http://www.liebertpub.com/biores.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com) is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells and Development, Human Gene Therapy and HGT Methods, and AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website at http://www.liebertpub.com.

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New method for creating long-lived stem cells used for bone replacement

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 4-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

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

New Rochelle, NY, December 4, 2012About 30 million women in the U.S. have osteoporosis, with low bone mass and deteriorating bone structure that increases their risk for fractures. Racial differences in the rates of detection and management of osteoporosis were explored in a study of African American and white women published in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Women's Health website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jwh.

The study, "Osteoporosis Health Care Disparities in Postmenopausal Women," compared referral rates for and the results of bone mineral density screening with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and medication prescribing for women found to have low bone mineral density.

Irene Hamrick, MD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Qing Cao, MD and Doyle Cummings PharmD, East Carolina University, and Dorothy Agbafe-Mosley, MD, Wilmington, NC, reported that only about a third of eligible women in the study, who were 60 years of age or older and seen in a primary care practice, completed DXA scan screening to determine their osteoporosis risk.

"The results of this study indicate that new strategies are needed to improve rates of screening and treatment for osteoporosis in primary care settings, especially for African American women," says Editor-in-Chief Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health, Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA, and President of the Academy of Women's Health.

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About the Journal

Journal of Women's Health, published monthly, is a core multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the diseases and conditions that hold greater risk for or are more prevalent among women, as well as diseases that present differently in women. The Journal covers the latest advances and clinical applications of new diagnostic procedures and therapeutic protocols for the prevention and management of women's healthcare issues. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Journal of Women's Health website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jwh. Journal of Women's Health is the Official Journal of the Academy of Women's Health and the Society for Women's Health Research.

About the Academy

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Are there racial disparities in osteoporosis screening and treatment?

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igsp headline news Published by KENDALL MORGANThursday, November 29, 2012

An all-new edition of Genomic and Personalized Medicine promises to be a one-stop shop for doctors and other health professionals as they face the rapid growth of genetic and genomic testing in the clinic. The comprehensive resource volumes edited by the Duke Institute for Genomes Sciences & Policy's Geoffrey Ginsburg and Huntington Willard are one solution to an increasingly obvious problem: the healthcare workforce on the whole lacks the background to make personalized medicine a reality for patients.

The two-volume set is now available for purchase from Elsevier and Amazon.com as either a hard copy or Kindle Edition. The books can also be purchased electronically in whole or as individual chapters (for just over $30 a piece) from Science Direct, with institutional bulk rates available.

"These books directly connect to our goal of making the genome relevant to our patients and to society," Ginsburg said. "We took this project on because we saw a need to pull together all these bits of fragmented genomic information that could have a bearing on health and healthcare and put them in one place. There is nothing else like it."

The first book in the two-volume set covers everything from essential genome technologies and approaches to their ethical and societal implications and their translation to personalized medicine in the clinic. The second volume presents the latest developments in disease-based genomic and personalized medicine, with sections dedicated to cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic disease, mental health, and infectious disease. It's a soup-to-nuts resource intended for specialists in all medical disciplines, for research professionals, and for medical and graduate students alike.

"Once again, Ginsburg and Willard have recruited an impressive cast of geneticists and genomicists to contribute chapters spanning a wide spectrum of topics from fundamentals in genomics research to key clinical areas that represent some of the 'lowest hanging fruit' in terms of opportunities to have genomics change medical practice," writes Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute Eric Green in the foreword. "Together, these chapters provide unequivocal evidence about the current state of genomic and personalized medicine that the opportunities are breathtaking, that the challenges are immense, and that the potential to improve health is nearly unlimited."

"This is the definitive textbook providing the content for a new era of medicine - an era where disease is defined at the molecular level rather than the anatomic level; where therapies are individualized and targeted rather than uniformly applied across a population," said Dietrich Stephan, President and CEO of Silicon Valley Biosystems and Co-Founder of Navigenics. "We have an opportunity with this text to improve patient outcomes using new tools and strategies, which is certainly an exciting prospect for each of us. This text should be mandatory reading for every physician, or physician in training."

Genomic and Personalized Medicine By the Numbers

2 Volumes 164 Contributors 1306 Pages 101 Chapters 63 New Chapters 245 Figures 49 Tables

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New Book on Genome and Personalized Medicine Preps Doctors for Changing Reality

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith