Hyderabad, Sept. 29:

The International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will host the sixth international conference on Legume Genetics and Genomics (ICLGG) here.

The six-day conference will begin on October 2. About 500 delegates from 44 countries are expected to attend the conference to discuss advances in the area of legume genetics and genomics.

William D. Dar, Director-General of ICRISAT; Swapan Datta, Deputy Director-General (Crop Science) of ICAR; and Rick Dixon, Plant Biology Division Director and Senior Vice-President of Noble Foundation, the USA, will address the conference.

This conference is of great significance for India as legumes form an important constituent of the vegetarian diet consumed globally and complement cereal crops as a rich source of dietary protein (ranging from 20-40 per cent), Dar said here in a statement.

India is the largest or one of the largest producers of a majority of pulse crops in the world. It contributes 25 per cent to the global legume production.

Despite being the largest producer for the majority of pulse crops there is a significant difference in its production and consumption. Owing to this huge difference in the production and consumption, India has to spend a significant amount of its foreign currency on import of these legumes to fill the gap. In 2008, India spent about $2 billion on the import of these legumes, an ICRISAT statement said.

Earlier editions of the conference have been held in the US (twice), France, Australia and Mexico.

kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

Continued here:
Meet on legume genetics to open in Hyderabad on Oct. 2

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By Maureen Salamon HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- A sophisticated genetic test sometimes used during pregnancy can't always predict if chromosomal abnormalities will cause problems in children, leading some mothers to label the information "toxic knowledge" they wish they hadn't received, a small new study shows.

Researchers from three universities found that expectant mothers receiving bad news about a genetic test called a DNA microarray -- more often used after birth to identify chromosomal problems in children with unexplained delays or defects -- reported mostly negative responses, ranging from feeling blindsided to needing support to digest the information and make critical decisions about their pregnancies.

The women's reactions challenge the notion that knowledge is power, especially when that knowledge pertains to ambiguous information about an unborn baby's health, said study author Barbara Bernhardt, a genetic counselor and clinical professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

"I think we need to have better information readily available to patients and providers . . . to make the decisions they need to make in a timely manner," Bernhardt said. "We also need additional education of obstetricians and midwives to feel more comfortable talking to patients about it and counseling them about the results."

The study was published online recently in the journal Genetics in Medicine.

Standard DNA testing offered to pregnant women uses tests such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, which involve "karyotyping" to identify common abnormalities such as Down syndrome. But DNA microarrays can detect smaller-scale chromosomal changes that can signal future problems such as autism or congenital disorders, although the test can't necessarily predict how severe the problem will be or even if a gene variant will produce any discernible conditions in the child.

Some of the 54 study participants, 23 of whom were interviewed at least six months after childbirth or pregnancy termination, had learned from ultrasound or other tests that their fetus had abnormalities. But for those whose prior tests had come back "normal," learning their baby had genetic variants of unknown significance sent some of them into a tailspin.

Bernhardt's team identified five key responses that described the women's experiences, including considering the microarray results toxic knowledge they wish they hadn't learned. Many of the women accepted the testing -- which costs between $1,500 and $3,000 -- because it was offered at no charge to them, which they felt was "an offer too good to pass up."

Unlike children who are tested using DNA microarrays to help diagnose existing problems, children tested prenatally may never develop health or developmental issues arising from their genetic variants. "We discovered in the course of the study that some of the parents have the same [chromosomal] deletion or duplication as their fetus" but never suffered any ill effects, said Bernhardt, also co-director of the Penn Center for the Integration of Genetic Healthcare Technologies.

Read more from the original source:
Prenatal test presents dilemmas to expectant mothers

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

September 28, 2012

Image Caption: A Metabiota field staff member collects blood samples from bushmeat in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Credit: Metabiota

John Neumann for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

An intriguing new virus from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been identified as the cause of a deadly outbreak of acute hemorrhagic fever, which killed two people and left one gravely ill in the summer of 2009.

Described this week in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens the new microbe has been named Bas-Congo virus (BASV) after the province in the southwest corner of the Congo where the three people lived.

The virus was first discovered when a teenager, living in the rural village of Mangala in the DRC, suddenly fell ill and developed symptoms of a hemorrhagic fever, including bleeding from mucous membranes and blood in the vomit. This victim died within three days of the first signs of illness.

A week later, a 13-year-old girl who attended the same school and lived in the same neighborhood came down with a similar illness and also died within three days, writes Nathan D. Wolfe, Joseph Fair, and Charles Chiu for National Geographic.

Known viruses, such as Ebola, HIV and influenza, represent just the tip of the microbial iceberg, explains Joseph Fair, PhD, a co-author and vice president of Metabiota. Identifying deadly unknown viruses, such as Bas-Congo virus, gives us a leg up in controlling future outbreaks.

These are the only three cases known to have occurred, although there could be additional outbreaks from this virus in the future, said Charles Chiu, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of laboratory medicine at UCSF and director of the UCSF-Abbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center, who spearheaded the UCSF effort to identify the virus.

As a first step, Metabiota enlisted the help of close collaborator Dr. Eric Delwart at Blood Systems Research Institute (BSRI). Using sophisticated genetic sequencing techniques, Dr. Delwart detected a fragment of genetic information related to the rhabdovirus family.

Continue reading here:
New Genetic Snooping Technique Finds New Deadly Virus

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Jeffrey Bland, PhD and Metagenics, Inc., a nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine company focused on improving health and reversing chronic illness, today announced the formation of a new organization, the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI). The PLMI, founded by Dr. Bland, will be a not-for-profit organization focused on promoting the importance of personalized lifestyle medicine as the safest and most effective approach to the management of early stages of chronic illness. To help reach its goal of reducing the rising global burden of chronic illness, Metagenics is providing the founding grant to the new organization.

With its rich 30-year history in developing science-based nutritional therapeutics to improve health and reduce chronic illnesses, Metagenics recognizes the years of contribution that Dr. Bland has made to the evolution of the company as its Chief Science Officer, and is the right person to launch this innovative and revolutionary institute, commented Fred Howard, Chief Executive Officer of Metagenics. Forming this institute is an exciting step forward in helping to pave the way for personalized lifestyle medicine to be viewed as a key element in global healthcare systems.

Dr. Bland, who has been the Chief Science Officer for Metagenics for the past 12 years, is an internationally known research scientist and educator in lifestyle and functional medicine. He will lead the Institute in its mission to integrate the principles of personalized lifestyle medicine into healthcare systems around the world.

Dr. Bland brings a unique background as the President of the PLMI:

The PLMI will collaborate with some of the most dedicated and well-regarded thought leaders and decision makers in lifestyle medicine, each to serve an active role in the development of the organization. The PLMI will work to engage researchers, clinicians, health science educators, patient advocacy groups, medical institutions, medical societies, and regulatory and legislative groups to help move its mission forward and further the adoption of lifestyle medicine worldwide. The PLMI will provide educational resources that will facilitate the successful adoption of this approach to the global community through its website (www.plminstitute.org).

I could not be happier to join forces with some of the most dedicated and well-regarded thought leaders and decision makers in the evolving discipline of lifestyle medicine to share information and foster scientific support for this field, said Dr. Bland. This institute will unite researchers, clinicians, health science educators, patient advocacy groups, medical institutions, medical societies, and regulatory and legislative groups to further the adoption of lifestyle medicine.

Within this role and my deep involvement and dedication to educating, publishing and advocacy through the institute, I believe I will make the greatest contribution toward my personal and professional mission: improving health through nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine, Dr. Bland concluded.

In his new role, Dr. Bland will continue to serve on the Metagenics Board of Directors. He will provide continuing medical education programs sponsored by Metagenics and other organizations that promote the delivery of personalized lifestyle medicine as the best initial approach for the prevention and management of chronic disease.

The PLMI is based in Seattle, WA, and can be reached at 206-922-2915 or info@plminstitute.org.

Follow this link:
Dr. Jeffrey Bland Appointed as President of Newly Formed Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI)

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Readmore: Local, News, Community, Amarillo, Texas Panhandle, Luis Morales, Vega High School, Vega Football Player, Football Player Paralyzed, Injured Player Returns to School, Phillip Wiggins, Joni Wagner, Jaci Wagner, Student Body Welcomes Student Back, Wheeler Football, Vega Football, Player Hits Retaining Wall, Player Hits Wall, Gridiron, Grid Iron Foundation, Foundation Donates Van

VEGA, TEXAS -- A wheelchair-accessible van is being donated to the family of the Vega football player who suffered a spinal cord injury last year.

Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Foundation plans to present a wheelchair-accessible van to Luis Morales and his family during halftime at Friday night's Vega High School football game.

It was last September when a Morales, a junior, collided with a retaining wall after he was pushed out of bounds.

Morales suffered a C-5/C-6 spinal cord injury. He returned to school this past January.

Gridiron said the donated van will be the first wheelchair-accessible vehicle the family has used since the injury.

This will be the eighth wheelchair-accessible van the non-profit organization has donated. Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Foundation was started in 2003 to "provide immediate and long-term resources and support to individuals sustaining catastrophic spinal cord injury through activities associated with high school football."

For more information on the foundation,click here.

Continue reading here:
Foundation donates van to injured Vega football player

Recommendation and review posted by sam

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

BioTime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: BTX), an Alameda-based company engaged in research and development of innovative new products in the field of regenerative medicine utilizing stem cells and related technology, announced today that it has formed a new wholly owned subsidiary, BioTime Acquisition Corporation, to pursue opportunities and acquire assets and businesses in the fields of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Thomas Okarma, PhD, MD, will serve as the Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the board of directors of BioTimes new subsidiary. Dr. Okarma is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Geron Corporation and served on that companys board of directors.

Since 2010, BioTime has expanded the scope of its business through strategic acquisitions and has been continually exploring other acquisition opportunities in its fields of interest. BioTimes strategic acquisitions include:

Global advances on multiple fronts of stem cell biology have established the foundation for an integrative business approach to consolidate and translate these discoveries into products that may revolutionize clinical medicine, said Thomas Okarma, the new companys CEO. Living cell therapies can now be scalably manufactured, efficiently distributed to points of care, and tested in controlled clinical trials.The goal of regenerative medicine is to go beyond the reach of pills and scalpels to achieve a new level of healing that may, after a single administration of therapeutic cells, permanently restore function to tissues and organs damaged by chronic disease or injury. BioTime Acquisition Corporation intends to build its business by identifying, consolidating, and commercially developing the best available cell therapy technologies to realize the potential of regenerative medicine. Ultimately, the goal is to bring these new therapies to the many millions of patients who need them.

The breadth of Dr. Okarmas experience in the field of cell-based therapeutics is simply spectacular, said Michael D. West, PhD, BioTimes Chief Executive Officer. We look forward to working together with him to translate these new scientific advances into commercial products for the large and growing markets driven by age-related degenerative diseases.

Dr. Okarma has had a distinguished career as a physician and an innovator and executive in the biotechnology industry. Dr. Okarma served as Gerons President, Chief Executive Officer, and as a member of its board of directors from July 1999 until February 2011, after having previously served as that companys Vice President of Research and Development and Vice President of Cell Therapies. In 1985, Dr. Okarma founded Applied Immune Sciences, Inc. (AIS) and served initially as its Vice President of Research and Development and subsequently as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and as a director until that company was acquired by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer in 1995. After that acquisition, Dr. Okarma served as a Senior Vice President at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer until December 1996. From 1980 to 1992, Dr. Okarma was a member of the faculty of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Okarma holds an AB from Dartmouth College, an MD and PhD from Stanford University, and is a graduate of the Executive Education program of the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

About BioTime, Inc.

BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is enhanced through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of application. BioTime develops and markets research products in the fields of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary ACTCellerate cell lines, HyStem hydrogels, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime is developing Renevia (formerly known as HyStem-Rx), a biocompatible, implantable hyaluronan and collagen-based matrix for cell delivery in human clinical applications. BioTime's therapeutic product development strategy is pursued through subsidiaries that focus on specific organ systems and related diseases for which there is a high unmet medical need. BioTime's majority owned subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd. is developing therapeutic products derived from stem cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative diseases. BioTime's subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is developing therapeutic applications of stem cells to treat orthopedic diseases and injuries. Another subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of stem cell technology in cancer, including the diagnostic product PanC-Dx currently being developed for the detection of cancer in blood samples. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. is developing applications of BioTime's proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology to reverse the developmental aging of human cells to treat cardiovascular and blood cell diseases. BioTime's subsidiary LifeMap Sciences, Inc. markets GeneCards, the leading human gene database, and is developing an integrated database suite to complement GeneCards that will also include the LifeMap database of embryonic development, stem cell research and regenerative medicine, and MalaCards, the human disease database. LifeMap will also market BioTime research products. BioTime's lead product, Hextend, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corporation under exclusive licensing agreements. Additional information about BioTime can be found on the web at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for BioTime and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the ability to identify and complete potential acquisitions, the ability to realize anticipated benefits of and achieve expected financial performance following completed acquisitions, the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of BioTime and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in BioTime's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. BioTime disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Follow this link:
BioTime Forms BioTime Acquisition Corporation

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Stem Cell Research Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry Article Date: 28 Sep 2012 - 1:00 PDT

Current ratings for: Purging Stem Cells To Make Therapy Safer

The study appears in a 27 September issue of the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine.

iPS cells have properties similar to embryonic stem cells, which are "master cells" with an unlimited capacity to differentiate into any type of tissue in the body, such as brain, lung, skin, heart, and liver. Thus their potential in regenerative medicine, where damaged or diseased tissue can be repaired or replaced by growing new tissue, is huge, as senior author Timothy Nelson explains in a press release:

"Pluripotent stem cells show great promise in the field of regenerative medicine; however, the risk of uncontrolled cell growth will continue to prevent their use as a therapeutic treatment."

Nelson is Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology and works in the General Internal Medicine department and the Transplant Center at the Mayo.

The idea of using iPS cells is for doctors to be able to take some adult tissue, for example skin cells, from the patient who needs the treatment, and then turn the cells from that tissue into iPS cells.

Then, those iPS cells are coaxed to turn into the target type of cell, for instance lung cells. As a result of the coaxing the iPS cells turn into (differentiate) the target tissue type.

But current ways of doing this leaves some iPS cells undifferentiated, so they get transplanted into the patient along with the differentiated cells, leaving the risk that they will differentiate on their own in an uncontrolled way and form tumors.

For their study, Nelson and colleagues used lab mice to show that pretreating iPS cells with a chemotherapy drug, selectively damages the DNA of the stem cells, killing them off so they cannot grow uncontrollably and form tumors. The chemotherapy kills the iPS cells by triggering cell suicide or apoptosis, which is a natural response to DNA damage.

View post:
Purging Stem Cells To Make Therapy Safer

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By Ryan Flinn - 2012-09-28T11:30:00Z

Cytori Therapeutics Inc. (CYTX), a biotechnology company with $10 million in annual revenue, won a $4.7 million U.S. government contract to develop a stem cell therapy to treat burns caused by thermal or radioactive bombs.

The two-year contract with the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority may be worth $106 million over five years if certain milestones are met, San Diego-based Cytori said today in a statement. The company had a net loss last year of $32 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Cytoris experimental therapy takes adipose tissue, or body fat, from a patient and through its device separates the adult stem and regenerative cells before transferring them to a burn wound. Money from the contract will be used to develop the device and take it through the U.S. regulatory approval process with the Food and Drug Administration, Chief Executive Officer Christopher Calhoun said.

These cells help to facilitate the healing of the injury, he said in a telephone interview. They release growth factors that stimulate new blood flow.

Testing the technology in a clinical trial and getting approval may take five years, Calhoun said. The company is currently testing its therapy for other soft tissue damage, as well as cardiovascular disease.

Once approved, the device will be deployed in hospitals across the country, and can be used for routine burns as well as a treatment for patients in wake of a mass casualty event that could injure 10,000 people, Cytori said in the statement.

Cytori declined 39 cents, or 9.2 percent, to $3.86 at the close yesterday in New York. The companys shares gained 75 percent this year through yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Flinn in San Francisco at rflinn@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Reg Gale at rgale5@bloomberg.net

See original here:
Cytori’s Stem Cell Therapy for Burns Wins U.S. Contract

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

27-09-2012 03:27 Almost £60 million of awards from the Medical Research Council (MRC) will help scientists gain fresh insights into illnesses and inherited disorders. The funding to the University's MRC Human Genetics Unit and the MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM) will help doctors develop and deliver new tests and therapies for patients. It will boost research into conditions such as schizophrenia, cystic fibrosis and genetic eye disorders including retinitis pigmentosa, coloboma and anophthalmia. Dr Chris Boyd, Dr Alastair Innes and Dr Steve Cunningham tell us about a groundbreaking gene therapy trial for adults and children with cystic fibrosis (CF) - coordinated by the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium (GTC).

Follow this link:
UK's first cystic fibrosis gene therapy trial - Video

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

ScienceDaily (Sep. 27, 2012) For a cancer patient, over-expression of the MYC oncogene is a bad omen. Scientists have long known that in tumor cells, elevated levels of MYC's protein product, c-Myc, are associated with poor clinical outcomes, including increased rates of metastasis, recurrence, and mortality. Yet decades of research producing thousands of scientific papers on the subject have failed to consistently explain precisely how c-Myc exerts its effects across a broad range of cancer types. Until now, that is.

The prevailing theory emerging from this massive body of research has been that in tumor cells, c-Myc affects the expression of specific genes or sets of genes -- that so-called Myc target genes are being selectively activated or repressed, leading to aberrant cellular behavior. Now, however, researchers in the lab of Whitehead Institute Member Richard Young are dispelling this commonly held notion, showing that elevated expression of c-Myc amplifies the activity of all expressed genes in tumor cells of multiple cancer types. It turns out that high levels of c-Myc send a tumor cell's gene expression program into overdrive. Transcription increases dramatically, allowing malignant cells to overwhelm factors that might normally hamper their growth and proliferation. This surprising finding, published in this week's issue of the journal Cell, provides a simple, elegant explanation for how a single protein can have such profound effect in so many and varied types of cancer. The newly revealed mechanism may also help scientists develop novel therapeutic approaches that disrupt c-Myc's activity.

"MYC is a key driver in most major cancers, but it has been notoriously difficult to drug," says Young, who is also a professor of biology at MIT. "Now that we know the mechanism by which c-Myc acts, we can go after the components of that mechanism as potential drug targets. This research creates an even stronger impetus to find a way to drug the thing."

One potential drawback to thwarting c-Myc's activity is the important role it plays in normal cell division. That role is so powerful that cells co-evolved an emergency death pathway to keep c-Myc expression in check. If c-Myc's production spins out of control in an otherwise normal cell, the cell immediately commits suicide through a process called apoptosis. But in cancer cells in which c-Myc is overproduced, this suicide pathway is compromised, allowing the cell to survive and proliferate.

"MYC is the most deregulated gene in cancer," says Charles Lin, a graduate student in the Young lab and co-author of the Cell paper. "It's been called a bad-boy, a Swiss army knife, and a jack-of-all-trades because, according to previous research, it could do everything under the sun in a cancer cell. But most of the different attributes ascribed to MYC are contradictory or seemingly incompatible."

Propelled by its earlier research that identified c-Myc as an important regulator of transcription in embryonic stem cells, the Young lab began to focus on c-Myc's activity within cancer cells. Lab members found that as the expression of c-Myc increases in these cells, the protein attaches to the promoters and enhancers of all active genes, thereby amplifying the active genes' transcription. The heightened transcription produces cells bloated with excessive RNAs and proteins capable of altering normal cellular functions. Researchers observed this phenomenon in cells from a host of cancers, including Burkitt's lymphoma, small cell lung cancer, multiple myeloma, and glioblastoma multiforme.

"The previous research now makes sense -- finally!" says Jakob Lovn, co-author and postdoctoral researcher in the Young lab. "Our findings provide a way to unify everybody's seemingly conflicting data. I think that's really nice. Instead of saying 'you're all wrong,' we're saying 'you're all right, and here's why.' The model makes a lot of sense in terms of the biology that has been described so far."

With a better understanding of how c-Myc can wreak so much damage, the Young lab is turning its efforts to disrupting c-Myc's activity. Although cancer cells that overproduce c-Myc are associated with poor clinical outcomes, their reliance on c-Myc for survival may represent an Achilles' heel. When these "Myc-addicted" cells are deprived of c-Myc in vitro, even for a short period of time, they quickly die. Research in mice has shown that, Myc-addicted tumors deprived of the protein shrink dramatically. Despite c-Myc's necessary role in normal cell division, particularly in tissues with rapid cell turnover, such as the intestine and blood, these mouse studies have shown that if c-Myc activity is restored after a brief period, normal tissues quickly bounce back, while tumors are unable to regain their footing.

"So what we think now is that potentially, if drugs can tune down the levels of transcription just slightly, this might be catastrophic for the Myc-addicted cancer cells," says Peter Rahl, co-author and postdoctoral researcher in the Young lab. "You wouldn't need to abolish all transcription because that would be toxic to your other cells. So we're hoping that our model will show us ways to create a therapeutic window where the Myc-addicted cells just won't be able to adapt to lower levels of transcripts."

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (grants HG002668 and CA146445), Swedish Research Council, American Cancer Society, and Damon-Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

Read the original here:
Aggressive cancer exploits Myc oncogene to amplify global gene activity

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY--(Marketwire - Sep 28, 2012) - Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc. ( OTCBB : PWRV ) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Genetic Immunity, Inc., a Phase III clinical stage biotechnology company with experimental nanomedicines that will lead to the next generation of immunotherapies, in a market that is projected to reach $11.00 billion by 2018.

Genetic Immunity's lead product candidate is an immune boosting drug for HIV, which is now only treated by antiretroviral drugs that decrease the ability of the immune system to fight with the virus. DermaVir HIV-specific Immunotherapy is the first of a new line of curative nanomedicine products developed for the treatment and eradication of HIV. In addition, Genetic Immunity has implemented a Predictive Genomic Biomarker as companion diagnostics to accurately predict potential responder patients to DermaVir treatment. Such innovations towards personalized medicine increase the treatment effect and reduce the cost of pivotal trials in full compliance with the FDA's initiatives to improve products for patients (Driving Biomedical Innovation, 2011). In addition, following a successful DermaVir trial on HIV-infected adults, the US government is sponsoring a Phase II pediatric clinical trial.

DermaVir is the first therapeutic vaccine that consistently boosts broadly directed central memory T-cells in human subjects. This immune response has been correlated with containment of viremia in Elite Controllers. The Phase II randomized, multicenter, placebo controlled trial conducted in Germany established the optimal DermaVir dose and provided data that demonstrates the killing of HIV-infected cells. Therefore, the eradication of HIV or the conversion of progressors to Elite Controllers via DermaVir immunization became a testable hypothesis.

"This acquisition milestone is the result of our collaboration for a common goal to sell stock in Genetic Immunity to the public. The acquisition of a private company by a public one corresponds to a novel IPO, and offers tremendous upside potential for all the shareholders of Genetic Immunity and PWRV. Starting today, financial market participants will have an opportunity to determine the price of our business. We are eager, because comparable technology companies trade at over half a billion dollar valuation. On a more personal note, I believe that Genetic Immunity's platform technology is a once in a lifetime opportunity. For the first time we are truly in reach of eradicating a highly infectious disease. We are proud to be a part of the process whereby the innovations presented by Genetic Immunity can become publicly available," commented Viktor Rozsnyay, CEO of Power of the Dream Ventures.

"Through this highly innovative financial transaction, Genetic Immunity achieves its corporate objective to become a publicly traded company and to retain the control over the business. The financial and technological synergy between the two Companies provides for substantial growth opportunity and high return on investment to our shareholders," said Dr. Julianna Lisziewicz, CEO of Genetic Immunity.

With the acquisition Genetic Immunity becomes a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc.

About PDV Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc. is a leading technology holding company. We identify and harness the unique technological prowess of Hungary's high-tech industry, turning promising ideas and ready to market products/technologies into global industry leaders. We focus on developing, acquiring, or co-developing technologies that originate exclusively in Hungary. For more information, please visit http://www.powerofthedream.com

About Genetic Immunity Genetic Immunity is a clinical stage technology company committed to discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing a new class of immunotherapeutic biologic drugs for the treatment of viral infections, cancer and allergies. The Company's two distinguished technology platforms will revolutionize the treatment of these chronic diseases. Our Langerhans' cell targeting nanomedicines are exceptional in both safety and immune modulating activity boosting specific Th1-type central memory T cells. Such immune responses differ from antibodies induced by vaccines. These are essential to eliminate infected cells or cancerous cells, and balance the immune reactivity in response to allergens. Our IT team generated a complex algorithm to match the mechanism of action of our drugs with clinical efficacy. In the future, we will predict the clinical and immunological benefits of our drugs based on the patient's disease and genomic background. The unique mixture of our technologies represents the next generation of personalized but not individualized medicines ensuring a longer and higher economic return.

Genetic Immunity's primary focus is the development of DermaVir that acts to boost the immune system of HIV-infected people to eliminate infected cells that remain in the reservoirs after successful antiretroviral treatment. Three clinical trials conducted in the EU and US showed that DermaVir immunizations were as safe as placebo and only four sequential patch treatments required to reduce the HIV infected cells in the blood within 24 weeks.

In 1988 Drs. Lisziewicz and Lori founded Genetic Immunity in the US after they described the 1st patient whose immune system was boosted to control HIV after treatment interruption (Lisziewicz et al. New England Journal of Medicine 1999) that lead to the invention of DermaVir. The Company's innovative technology team directed by Dr. Lisziewicz, a champion of immune busting therapies, is now headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. For more information please visit http://www.geneticimmunity.com

Read the rest here:
Power of the Dream Ventures Acquires Genetic Immunity

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 27-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jennifer Schutz newsbureau@mayo.edu 507-284-5005 Mayo Clinic

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Mayo Clinic researchers have found a way to detect and eliminate potentially troublemaking stem cells to make stem cell therapy safer. Induced Pluripotent Stem cells, also known as iPS cells, are bioengineered from adult tissues to have properties of embryonic stem cells, which have the unlimited capacity to differentiate and grow into any desired types of cells, such as skin, brain, lung and heart cells. However, during the differentiation process, some residual pluripotent or embryonic-like cells may remain and cause them to grow into tumors.

"Pluripotent stem cells show great promise in the field of regenerative medicine; however, the risk of uncontrolled cell growth will continue to prevent their use as a therapeutic treatment," says Timothy Nelson, Ph.D., M.D., lead author on the study, which appears in the October issue of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine.

Using mouse models, Mayo scientists overcame this drawback by pretreated stem cells with a chemotherapeutic agent that selectively damages the DNA of the stem cells, efficiently killing the tumor-forming cells. The contaminated cells died off, and the chemotherapy didn't affect the healthy cells, Dr. Nelson says.

"The goal of creating new therapies is twofold: to improve disease outcome with stem cell-based regenerative medicine while also ensuring safety. This research outlines a strategy to make stem cell therapies safer for our patients while preserving their therapeutic efficacy, thereby removing a barrier to translation of these treatments to the clinic," says co-author Alyson Smith, Ph.D.

Stem cell therapies continue to be refined and improved. Researchers are finding that stem cells may be more versatile than originally thought, which means they may be able to treat a wider variety of diseases, injuries and congenital anomalies. Stem cell therapy is an emerging regenerative strategy being studied at Mayo Clinic.

"By harnessing the potential of regenerative medicine, we'll be able to provide more definitive solutions to patients," says Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., co-author and director of Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Medicine.

###

Other members of the Mayo research team included Clifford Folmes, Ph.D., Katherine Hartjes, Natalie Nelson and Saji Oommen, Ph.D. The research was supported by the Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, National Institutes of Health New Innovator Award OD007015-01, and a Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine accelerated research grant.

Read the rest here:
Mayo Clinic finds way to weed out problem stem cells, making therapy safer

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 27-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: NHLBI Office of Communications nhlbi_news@nhlbi.nih.gov 301-496-4236 NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Scientists may have discovered why a protein called MYC can provoke a variety of cancers. Like many proteins associated with cancer, MYC helps regulate cell growth. A study carried out by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and colleagues found that, unlike many other cell growth regulators, MYC does not turn genes on or off, but instead boosts the expression of genes that are already turned on.

These findings, which will be published in Cell on Sept. 28, could lead to new therapeutic strategies for some cancers.

"We carried out a highly sophisticated analysis of MYC activity in cells, but came away with a simple rule. MYC is not a power switch but a universal amplifier," said co-lead study author Keji Zhao, Ph.D., director of the Systems Biology Center at the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). "This discovery offers a unifying idea of how and why abnormal levels of MYC are found in so many different cancer types, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and several blood cancers."

"MYC is much like the volume control of a music player," added co-lead David Levens, M.D., Ph.D., a senior investigator in the Laboratory of Pathology at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), also part of NIH. "If you're listening to opera, for example, adding more MYC will make the opera louder, but it won't change the program to rap. And if you have only silence, MYC will just give you more silence."

Both researchers noted that this new understanding of MYC function could influence future treatment efforts for MYC-associated tumors. They suggest that trying to limit MYC activity, or turning down the volume just the right amount, would be a better strategy than using targeted chemotherapy to try to eliminate all MYC activity.

MYC aids in cell activation, a process in which cells mature and divide quickly. During an immune response, for example, white blood cells are activated to help fight infections. If activation isn't properly regulated, then cells can start growing out of control and result in cancer. Researchers have known that abnormally high levels of MYC can lead to cancer, but until now, no one had been able to explain how it can lead to so many different cancers.

Zhao, Levens, and their colleagues used a specially designed fluorescent protein that allowed them to track MYC in white blood cells in a lab dish. They chose white blood cells, specifically B cells and T cells that fight infections, because they are frequently affected by abnormal MYC and can transform into lymphoma and myeloma cells.

The team exposed the B and T cells to foreign toxins to stimulate an immune response and activate the fluorescent MYC. The researchers could then examine the cells at different time points and see which genes the MYC proteins seemed to affect.

Read more from the original source:
Major cancer protein amplifies global gene expression, NIH study finds

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/gdkzds/down_syndrome) has announced the addition of Elsevier Science and Technology's new book "Down Syndrome: From Understanding the Neurobiology to Therapy, Vol 197" to their offering.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common example of neurogenetic aneuploid disorder leading to mental retardation. In most cases, DS results from an extra copy of chromosome 21 (HSA21) producing deregulated gene expression in brain that gives raise to subnormal intellectual functioning. The topic of this volume is of broad interest for the neuroscience community, because it tackles the concept of neurogenomics, that is, how the genome as a whole contributes to a neurodevelopmental cognitive disorders, such as DS, and thus to the development, structure and function of the nervous system.

This volume of Progress in Brain Research discusses comparative genomics, gene expression atlases of the brain, network genetics, engineered mouse models and applications to human and mouse behavioral and cognitive phenotypes. It brings together scientists of diverse backgrounds, by facilitating the integration of research directed at different levels of biological organization, and by highlighting translational research and the application of the existing scientific knowledge to develop improved DS treatments and cures.

- Leading authors review the state-of-the-art in their field of investigation and provide their views and perspectives for future research

- Chapters are extensively referenced to provide readers with a comprehensive list of resources on the topics covered

- All chapters include comprehensive background information and are written in a clear form that is also accessible to the non-specialist

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/gdkzds/down_syndrome

Source: Elsevier Science and Technology

Read the rest here:
Research and Markets: Down Syndrome: From Understanding the Neurobiology to Therapy, Vol 197

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 27-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Zachary Rathner Zachary.Rathner@oup.com 301-841-1286 Journal of the National Cancer Institute

The CRCgene database, which gathers all genetic association studies on colorectal cancer, allows for researchers to accurately interpret the risk factors of the disease and provides insight into the direction of further colorectal cancer research, according to a study published September 27 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Approximately 950,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year. The risk of developing the disease also increases with age, and as life expectancy rises, the incidence continues to grow. These factors paired with rising health care costs have made both diagnosis and treatments for the disease costly. While diet and lifestyle may affect colorectal cancer incidence, so may genetic factors, and it is important to determine which genetic factors are most heavily associated with colorectal cancer incidence.

In order to determine the genetic factors associated with colorectal cancer, Julian Little, Ph.D., of the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine at the University of Ottawa and colleagues, gathered data from previously published guidelines for assessing cumulative evidence on genetic association studies, and performed meta-analyses on all the data, compiling all genetic association studies published in the field. The credibility of the studies was determined by the Venice criteria and the Bayesian False Discovery Probability (BFDP) test.

The researchers found 16 independent gene variants had the most highly credible links to colorectal cancer, with 23 variants. "The number of common, low-penetrance variants that appear to be associated with colorectal cancer is very much less than anticipated, therefore decreasing the feasibility of combining variants as a profile in a prediction tool for stratifying screening modalities on primary prevention approaches," the authors write. Still, they feel that, "the analysis here provides a resource for mining available data and puts into context the sample sizes required for the identification of true associations."

###

Contact Info:

Julian Little, Ph.D., jlittle@uottowa.ca

Evi Theodoratou, Ph.D., e.theodoratou@ed.ac.uk

More here:
Colorectal cancer gene database helpful in furthering research

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Newswise WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Sept., 26, 2012 Fewer than 100 people in the world are known to be affected by a movement disorder called rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism (RDP), but its symptoms are life-changing. Seemingly normal young people are suddenly and dramatically unable to control movement of their arms or legs and have trouble speaking or swallowing. A normal life is nearly impossible.

RDP is caused by a genetic mutation (ATP1A3) that often runs in families. Now Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers believe that same the genetic predisposition might also be associated with psychiatric problems, such as anxiety, mood disorders and substance abuse/dependence.

Allison Brashear, M.D., chair of neurology at Wake Forest Baptist, and the lead investigator in this $2.5 million, four-year study funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), said this is one of the few studies to look at this rare condition that has no known treatment. RDP often occurs suddenly after a stressful episode, such as running a marathon or childbirth, said Brashear. Patients become severely disabled over hours to days and do not recover.

Brashear and nine other Wake Forest Baptist scientists, as well as colleagues from Harvard Medical School and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, enrolled 56 individuals for this study. Twenty-three of the RDP patients were related, three RDP patients were unrelated.

Of the 29 participants with the genetic mutation, 26 had dystonia symptoms and three were carriers, but without the motor symptoms; the remaining 27 participants without the mutation, were enrolled as the control group.

Following standard physical examination and behavioral assessment, Brashears team found that individuals with the mutation but without the motor symptoms did not report any history of psychiatric disorder, while those with dystonia symptoms reported anxiety (48 percent; control 41percent), mood (50 percent; control 22 percent), psychotic (19 percent; control 0 percent) and substance abuse/dependence (38 percent; control 27 percent).

Researchers concluded that ATP1A3 mutations cause a wide spectrum of motor and nonmotor symptoms and that psychotic symptoms tended to develop before or simultaneous to the beginning of motor dysfunction. Further, the team believes the findings suggest psychiatric disorders may be another expression of the genetic mutation. Brashear said there are also clinical implications as a result of this study and suggested that those who deal with patients with psychosis, particularly in families with a history of dystonia-parkinsonism, consider the genetic mutation as a possible contributor to the mental illness.

Co-authors in this study were: Jared F. Cook, M.A., Deborah F. Hill, M.A, Alethea Amponsah, B.A., Beverly M. Snively, Ph.D., Laney Light, M.S., Cynthia K. Suerken, M.S., W. Vaughn McCall, M.D., and Niki Boggs, B.A., of Wake Forest Baptist; Laurie Ozelius, Ph.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine; and Kathleen J. Sweadner, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School.

Funding for this study was provided by the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke through Grant # NINDS 5R01-NS058949-04.

See the original post here:
Shared Genetic Link in Psychiatric and Movement Disorders

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

ScienceDaily (Sep. 27, 2012) An isolated outbreak of a deadly disease known as acute hemorrhagic fever, which killed two people and left one gravely ill in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the summer of 2009, was probably caused by a novel virus scientists have never seen before.

Described this week in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens, the new microbe has been named Bas-Congo virus (BASV) after the province in the southwest corner of the Congo where the three people lived.

It was discovered by an international research consortium that included the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and University of California, Davis (UCD), Global Viral, the Centre International de Recherches Mdicales de Franceville in Gabon, the Institut National de Recherche Biomdicale, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Metabiota and others.

"Known viruses, such as Ebola, HIV and influenza, represent just the tip of the microbial iceberg," said Joseph Fair, PhD, a co-author and vice president of Metabiota. "Identifying deadly unknown viruses, such as Bas-Congo virus, gives us a leg up in controlling future outbreaks."

"These are the only three cases known to have occurred, although there could be additional outbreaks from this virus in the future," said Charles Chiu, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of laboratory medicine at UCSF and director of the UCSF-Abbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center, who spearheaded the UCSF effort to identify the virus. Chiu and his team continue to work on new diagnostics to detect the virus so that health officials in Congo and elsewhere can quickly identify it should it emerge again.

One odd characteristic of the Bas-Congo virus, Chiu said, is that while a number of other viruses in Africa also cause deadly outbreaks of acute hemorrhagic fever -- Ebola virus, Lassa virus and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus to name a few -- the new virus is unlike any of them.

Genetically it is more closely related to the types of viruses that cause rabies, which are known to infect people with a very different sort of disease -- a neurological illness that is uniformly fatal if untreated but may take months to develop.

An antibody test developed in this study was applied to the one patient who survived and to others who had come into contact with him. It suggested that the disease may be spread from person to person but likely originated from some other source, such as an insect or rodent.

The identity of this animal "reservoir" and the precise mode of transmission for the virus remain unclear and are currently being investigated by Metabiota and the central African members of the consortium through the PREDICT Project of USAID's Emerging Pandemic Threats Program. (http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ohi/predict/index.cfm)

How the New Virus Emerged

Read the original post:
Genetic sleuthing uncovers deadly new virus in Africa

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9p5pz7/dentoorocraniofa) has announced the addition of Elsevier Science and Technology's new book "Dento/Oro/Craniofacial Anomalies and Genetics" to their offering.

Dental defects may be the physical expression of genetic defects, and so they can often be seen in a variety of syndromes associated with malformations of organs. However, dental defects are often not recognized, identified, nor characterised despite representing a possible diagnostic sign for an undiagnosed condition. This book addresses this gap by providing an understanding of dental genetics and its developmental biology counterpart. With approximately seventy well-illustrated examples, the authors present the clinical oro-facial manifestations accompanying various syndromes, providing the necessary knowledge for diagnostic purposes, as well as giving insight into recent development for each specific condition. The clarity and format of this book make it an ideal support guide both in the clinic and while conducting research.

Key Features:

- Comprehensive examination of dento/oro/craniofacial anomalies

- Well-illustrated examples

- Presented in a compact, easy to use format

Topics Covered:

1. Odontogenesis, Anomalies and Genetics

2. Missing Teeth (Hypodontia, Oligodontia)

View original post here:
Research and Markets: Dento/Oro/Craniofacial Anomalies and Genetics

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nuvilex, Inc. (NVLX), an international biotechnology provider of cell and gene therapy solutions, announced today that Austrianova Singapore Pte Ltd (ASPL) will reveal confirmatory findings from a second phase 2 pancreatic cancer clinical trial that used the encapsulated cytochrome P450 expressing cells followed by chemotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer at the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCGT) meeting next week.

ASPL's Chief Operating Officer, Dr John Dangerfield, will be presenting the clinical data at the upcoming ISCGT meeting in Singapore, October 4-7. The ISCGT has previously organized numerous meetings in the US, England, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, China, India and Egypt. The ISCGT works in close collaboration with national societies and organizations, as well as local clinicians, to promote cell and gene therapies for use in cancer therapy advancement and treatment. Council members of the ISCGT include leading experts and peers that have made major contributions to advance cell and gene therapies.

Dr. Brian Salmons, CEO of ASPL stated, "We determined that the ISCGT would be an important forum for presenting this additional data. The value for bringing this to ISCGT is a result of how they have been championing major developments in cell and gene therapy based approaches to treat cancer over the past several years. We are very pleased to have Dr. Dangerfield representing us as a speaker at this year's conference and presenting this important advancement to our work."

Dr. Robert F. Ryan, CEO of Nuvilex said, "The most important aspect of what will be presented at ISCGT is that safety and mean survival pancreatic cancer trial data being shown has not previously appeared in the public domain. Therefore, we are very pleased that this data will be shown at this conference. The data that Dr. Dangerfield will present confirms and extends the previous clinical trial results - namely that our encapsulated cell therapy, when used in combination with the appropriate chemotherapy, is safe, well-tolerated and efficacious for treating pancreatic cancer."

About Nuvilex

Nuvilex, Inc. (NVLX) is an international biotechnology provider of live therapeutically valuable, encapsulated cells and services for research and medicine. Substantial progress in multiple areas will be providing the Company with increased potential and we look forward to bringing those forward shortly. Our company's clinical offerings will include cancer, diabetes and other treatments using the company's cell and gene therapy expertise and live-cell encapsulation technology.

The Nuvilex, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13494

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements described within the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act involving risks and uncertainties including product demand, market competition, and meeting current or future plans which may cause actual results, events, and performances, expressed or implied, to vary and/or differ from those contemplated or predicted. Investors should study and understand all risks before making an investment decision. Readers are recommended not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Nuvilex is not obliged to publicly release revisions to any forward-looking statement, reflect events or circumstances afterward, or disclose unanticipated occurrences, except as required under applicable laws.

Continued here:
Nuvilex's Subsidiary, Austrianova Singapore, to Provide Confirmatory Findings From Additional Pancreatic Cancer Trial ...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

NEWARK, Calif., Sept. 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (STEM) today announced that the first patient with an incomplete spinal cord injury has been enrolled in the Company's Phase I/II clinical trial in chronic spinal cord injury and transplanted with the Company's proprietary HuCNS-SC(R) neural stem cells. The patient, a Canadian man who suffered a thoracic spinal cord injury from a sports-related accident, was administered the cells yesterday at Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, a world leading medical center for spinal cord injury and rehabilitation. This is the first patient in the second cohort of the trial, which will be comprised of four patients who retain some sensory function below the level of trauma and are therefore considered to have an incomplete injury.

"This is an important milestone for StemCells and the spinal cord injury community as it is the first time anyone has ever transplanted neural stem cells into a patient with an incomplete injury," said Stephen Huhn, MD, FACS, FAAP, Vice President and Head of the CNS Program at StemCells, Inc. "Given the encouraging interim data from the most severely injured patient cohort that we reported earlier this month, testing patients with less severe injury should afford us an even better opportunity to continue to test safety and to detect and assess clinical changes. Unlike the patients in the first cohort, patients with incomplete injuries have retained a degree of spinal cord function that might be even further augmented by transplantation with neural stem cells."

Earlier this month, the Company reported that interim six-month data from the first patient cohort in the Phase I/II clinical trial continued to demonstrate a favorable safety profile, and showed considerable gains in sensory function in two of the three patients compared to pre-transplant baselines. Patients in the first cohort all suffered a complete injury to their spinal cord, leaving them with no neurological function below the level of injury. Following transplantation with HuCNS-SC cells, there were no abnormal clinical, electrophysiological or radiological responses to the cells, and all the patients were neurologically stable through the first six months after transplantation. Changes in sensitivity to touch, heat and electrical stimuli were observed in well-defined and consistent areas below the level of injury in two of the patients, while the third patient remained stable. Importantly, the changes in sensory function were confirmed objectively by measures of electrical impulse transmission across the site of injury, each of which correlated with the clinical examination.

About the Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trial

The Phase I/II clinical trial of StemCells, Inc.'s HuCNS-SC(R) purified human adult neural stem cells is designed to assess both safety and preliminary efficacy. Twelve patients with thoracic (chest-level) neurological injuries at the T2-T11 level are planned for enrollment, and their injuries must have occurred within three to twelve months prior to transplantation of the cells. In addition to assessing safety, the trial will assess preliminary efficacy based on defined clinical endpoints, such as changes in sensation, motor function and bowel/bladder function. The Company has dosed the first patient cohort, all of whom have injuries classified as AIS A according to the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). In AIS A injuries, there is no neurological function below the injury level. The second cohort will be patients classified as AIS B, in which there is some preservation of sensory or motor function below the injury level. The third cohort will be patients classified as AIS C, in which there is some preservation of both sensory and motor function.

All patients will receive HuCNS-SC cells through direct transplantation into the spinal cord and will be temporarily immunosuppressed. Patients will be evaluated regularly in the post-transplant period in order to monitor and assess the safety of the HuCNS-SC cells, the surgery and the immunosuppression, as well as to measure any recovery of neurological function below the injury site. The Company intends to follow the effects of this therapy long-term, and each of the patients will be invited to enroll into a separate four year observational study after completing the Phase I/II study.

The trial is being conducted at Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, a world leading medical center for spinal cord injury and rehabilitation, and is open for enrollment to patients in Europe, Canada and the United States. Enrollment for the second cohort is now underway. If you believe you may qualify and are interested in participating in the study, please contact the study nurse either by phone at +41 44 386 39 01 or by email at stemcells.pz@balgrist.ch.

Additional information about the Company's spinal cord injury program can be found on the StemCells, Inc. website at http://www.stemcellsinc.com/Therapeutic-Programs/Clinical-Trials.htm and at http://www.stemcellsinc.com/Therapeutic-Programs/Spinal-Cord-Injury.htm, including video interviews with Company executives and independent collaborators.

About Balgrist University Hospital

Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich is recognized worldwide as a highly specialized center of excellence providing examination, treatment and rehabilitation opportunities to patients with serious musculoskeletal conditions. The clinic owes its leading international reputation to its unique combination of specialized medical services. The hospital's carefully-balanced, interdisciplinary network brings together under one roof medical specialties including orthopedics, paraplegiology, radiology, anesthesiology, rheumatology, and physical medicine. More information about Balgrist University Hospital is available at http://www.balgrist.ch.

See the original post:
StemCells, Inc. Achieves Spinal Cord Injury Milestone With First Neural Stem Cell Transplant Into Patient With Sensory ...

Recommendation and review posted by sam

By Barbara Puffer, Conn. Health I-Team Writer

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) this week asked the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate patents for two genes used to test for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer held by a Utah Company.

The lawsuit against Myriad Genetics of Utah which holds the patents on genes called BRCA1 and BRCA 2 charges that the patents are illegal and restrict both scientific research and patients access to medical care. In the 15 years that Myriad had held the patent, the cost for the test has more than doubled to about $3,340 -- and plaintiffs say that the cost is too expensive for some women.

The ACLU and the Public Patent Foundation filed the lawsuit against Myriad in 2009 on behalf of 20 plaintiffs including Ellen Matloff of New Haven, a research scientist in genetics at the Yale School of Medicine and director of Cancer Genetic Counseling at the Yale Cancer Center.

The suit also raises broad legal and ethical questions under the First Amendment about whether genes are products of nature or commercial commodities.

Myriad has previously stated: Since a landmark US Supreme Court decision in 1980, the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted tens of thousands of genetic and genetic related patents which cover a large number of life-saving pharmaceutical and diagnostic productsMyriad strongly believes that its patents are valid and enforceable and will be upheld by the courts.

For women who have had breast or ovarian cancer before the age of 50, and/or have immediate family members who had had one of these cancers, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic test could be a lifesaver. Precautions can be taken by those who discover they have the mutation. The testing also detects familial risk in men. Yet many uninsured and underinsured candidates are finding Myriads monopoly testing costs out of reach, the lawsuit says.

Connecticut has the second highest incidence of female breast cancer in the nation with 2,920 new breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2008and ranks 35th in the nation for breast cancer mortality. The U.S Preventive Services Task Force estimates that 2 percent of all women which would include about 2,700 of the uninsured women in Connecticutare likely candidates for the BRAC Analysis test.

Sandra Park, staff attorney with the ACLU Womens Rights Project, said, We are asking the Supreme Court to rule in favor of women who are counting on access to the best possible medical care and research. No single company should be able to stop the brightest scientific minds from advancing what we know about two genes that are connected to devastating diseases.

In July 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the patents. The appeals court decision was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and in March, the high court issued an order directing the appeals court to reconsider its initial decision in light of a related patent case decided by the court a year earlier. In August, by a 2-to-1 vote, the appeals court ruled Myriad could hold the patents.

Continued here:
Breast cancer gene patent suit heads back to U.S. Supreme Court

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 27-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Paula Faria pfaria@wakehealth.edu 336-716-1279 Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Sept., 26, 2012 Fewer than 100 people in the world are known to be affected by a movement disorder called rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism (RDP), but its symptoms are life-changing. Seemingly normal young people are suddenly and dramatically unable to control movement of their arms or legs and have trouble speaking or swallowing. A normal life is nearly impossible.

RDP is caused by a genetic mutation (ATP1A3) that often runs in families. Now Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers believe that same genetic predisposition might also be associated with psychiatric problems, such as anxiety, mood disorders and substance abuse/dependence.

Allison Brashear, M.D., chair of neurology at Wake Forest Baptist, and the lead investigator in this $2.5 million, four-year study funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), said this is one of the few studies to look at this rare condition that has no known treatment. "RDP often occurs suddenly after a stressful episode, such as running a marathon or childbirth," said Brashear. "Patients become severely disabled over hours to days and do not recover."

Brashear and nine other Wake Forest Baptist scientists, as well as colleagues from Harvard Medical School and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, enrolled 56 individuals for this study. Twenty-three of the RDP patients were related, three RDP patients were unrelated.

Of the 29 participants with the genetic mutation, 26 had dystonia symptoms and three were carriers, but without the motor symptoms; the remaining 27 participants without the mutation, were enrolled as the control group.

Following standard physical examination and behavioral assessment, Brashear's team found that individuals with the mutation but without the motor symptoms did not report any history of psychiatric disorder, while those with dystonia symptoms reported anxiety (48 percent; control 41percent), mood (50 percent; control 22 percent), psychotic (19 percent; control 0 percent) and substance abuse/dependence (38 percent; control 27 percent).

Researchers concluded that ATP1A3 mutations cause a wide spectrum of motor and nonmotor symptoms and that psychotic symptoms tended to develop before or simultaneous to the beginning of motor dysfunction. Further, the team believes the findings suggest psychiatric disorders may be another expression of the genetic mutation. Brashear said there are also clinical implications as a result of this study and suggested that those who deal with patients with psychosis, particularly in families with a history of dystonia-parkinsonism, consider the genetic mutation as a possible contributor to the mental illness.

###

See the original post here:
Research suggests shared genetic link in psychiatric and movement disorders

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 26-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kristen Woodward kwoodwar@fhcrc.org 206-667-5095 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

SEATTLE Uncovering colon cancer's genetic roots is the focus of a new $13 million, four-year, National Cancer Institute-funded project at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Ulrike (Riki) Peters, Ph.D., M.P.H., a member of the Hutchinson Center's Public Health Sciences Division, will lead the effort. She and her colleagues will use next-generation sequencing, a technique that captures entire genome sequences, to identify genetic links to colorectal cancer.

"This is an important step, to look at much of the genetic variation across the entire genome. We didn't have the opportunity to study this in the past with the technologies we had before," Peters said. "We are now able to investigate millions of common and rare variants across the genome. Next-generation sequencing is becoming more readily available to look at these variants on a large scale." Colorectal cancer is the third most common and second deadliest cancer in the U.S., killing more than 50,000 every year. About one-third of these cancers can be attributed to heritable factors, meaning genetic mutations play a role in the cancer's development. Some of these genetic variations can also affect a person's susceptibility to environmental risk factors. For example, smoking increases the risk of colorectal cancer, but it's possible that certain genetic factors in combination with smoking could even further increase that risk.

For the past four years, Peters and colleagues have been studying the genes linked to colorectal cancer through the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium, a collaboration involving researchers from North America, Australia and Europe who have pooled data from approximately 40,000 study participants, approximately half of whom have colorectal cancer. The Hutchinson Center houses GECCO's coordinating center and Peters is its principal investigator.

Due to the infrastructure the team already has built and the knowledge gained from GECCO, they are well equipped for this next stage of work on heritable risk factors for colorectal cancer.

Peters' new study will use next-generation sequencing to reveal entire genome sequences of a subset of GECCO's samples. Her study is among the first NCI-funded projects to use this technology on such a large sample set.

Peters' past studies have also looked at genetic links to colorectal cancer in these same study participants, but using the traditional means of genotyping allowed her group to identify only the most common variants and only certain types of mutations. Next-generation sequencing will capture more rare variants and many more types of genetic irregularities that could be linked to heritable factors of colorectal cancer.

Identifying rare genetic variants involved in colorectal cancer could ultimately help everyone with or at risk for this disease, Peters said. Knowing which genes play a role in triggering the cancer will lead to a better understanding of how the cancer develops and could ultimately lead to improved drug development.

Peters' and other researchers' work has identified about 20 different common genetic links to colorectal cancer, which explains about 8 to 10 percent of inherited colorectal cancers. "Our new grant will allow us to identify some of the missing heritability that has not been found so far," Peters said.

Visit link:
Colorectal cancer genetics research gets $13 million boost

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. There was a time when Marquis Daniels thought he would never play again. Now, after recovering from a spinal cord injury he suffered in February 2011 and playing out the rest of last season in a reserve role in Boston, the veteran guard has signed with the Milwaukee Bucks -- likely filling the team's final roster spot for the upcoming season.

Daniels averaged just 3.2 points in 38 games with the Boston Celtics last season, but he played a key role off the bench on defense due to his ability to guard quick point guards and also longer wing players. At a Bucks workout last week, Daniels, 31, said he wants to be known primarily as an unselfish player the kind of player who will play defense and create for his teammates, first and foremost.

But for now, he's just happy to be a professional basketball player at all. After a collision on the court resulted in a bruised spinal cord which was made worse by a preexisting condition making him more susceptible to neck or spinal injuries, Daniels said there were questions about his ability to return to the court.

"Once a couple injuries happened, they were like, 'You can't play no more,'" he said. "I was like, 'I'm fine. I can walk.' My doctor gave me the surgery and said I could play again."

After the surgery, Daniels said he felt some of his skills on the court came easier than they had in the past.

"Actually, I feel so much better now," Daniels said. "I wish I would have known earlier in my career. My strength and my grip and everything is a lot better than it had been in the past."

With a healthy Daniels, the Bucks get a versatile player who can defend multiple positions something their defense desperately needed, considering how small in stature Milwaukee's guards are, collectively. Daniels' spot on the team may make it more difficult for rookie Doron Lamb to get minutes, but for a backcourt desperate for defense, Daniels' signing was indeed necessary.

Daniels' deal is expected to be a one-year contract, but the details of the contract have not yet been released by the Bucks.

Follow Ryan Kartje on Twitter.

Read the original post:
Bucks fill out roster with ex-Celtics swingman

Recommendation and review posted by sam

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xwcbjb/applied) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Applied Statistics for Network Biology. Quantitative and Network Biology (VCH)" to their offering.

This book introduces a number of cutting edge statistical methods which can be used for the analysis of genomic, proteomic and metabolomic data sets. In particular in the field of systems biology, researchers are trying to analyze asmuch data as possible in a given biological system (such as a cell or an organ). The appropriate statistical evaluation of these large scale data is critical for the correct interpretation and different experimental approaches require different approaches for the statistical analysis of these data. This book is written by biostatisticians and mathematicians but aimed at experimental researcher as well as computational biologists who often lack an appropriate background in statistical analysis.

Key Topics Covered:

MODELING, SIMULATION AND MEANING OF GENE NETWORKS.

Network Analysis to Interpret Complex Phenotypes

Stochastic Modelling of Regulatory Networks

Modeling eQTL in Multiple Populations

INFERENCE OF GENE NETWORKS.

Transcriptional Network Inference based on Information Theory

Continue reading here:
Research and Markets: Applied Statistics for Network Biology: Quantitative and Network Biology (VCH)

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith