Seattle Genetics has been ripping higher, and one investor is milking income from the trend.

optionMONSTER's tracking systems detected a surge of activity in the August 22.50 puts, which were sold for $0.80, and the July 20 puts, which were bought for $0.15. An even 1,700 traded in each, but volume was below open interest in the July contracts.

The investor apparently sold those at an earlier date to earn income and yesterday adjusted the trade to collect an additional $0.65. He or she also took on more risk by agreeing to stay in the trade for another month but raised by $2 the price at which he or she would be forced to buy shares.

SGEN rose 2.53 percent to $25.57 yesterday and is up 24 percent in the last month. Most of those gains have come after the company announced positive Phase 1 drug-trial data for its prospective cancer compound ASG-5ME.

Selling puts is a common strategy when investors like a stock but don't want to spend capital up front to buy shares. If their bullish outlook is correct and the stock does not fall, they can continue to collect income every month by rolling the contracts forward. (See our Education section for more strategies that turn time into money .)

Overall option volume was more than 7 times greater than average in the session.

More From optionMONSTER

View post:
Seattle Genetics draws income trade

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Forget patches: gene therapy could suppress cigarette cravings by preventing the brain from receiving nicotine. The treatment is effective in mice, but with gene therapy still not fully tested in people, human trials and treatments are a long way off.

For drug users who really can't quit, vaccination might one day be an option, and several groups have attempted to develop such treatments.

But nicotine vaccines have mostly flopped. This is because nicotine is a very small molecule, so the immune system has difficulty recognising the drug and making antibodies that bind it. Physicians can inject antibodies directly into a patient, but this treatment quickly becomes expensive because the antibodies don't last long.

Ronald Crystal of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and his team decided to bypass that problem by putting the gene for a nicotine antibody right into the body.

They selected the strongest antibody against nicotine from a mouse and isolated the gene that produced it. They then placed this gene into a carrier called adeno-associated virus (AAV), which is widely used for gene therapy.

When the researchers injected the virus and its cargo into nicotine-addicted mice, the rodents' livers took up the virus, began making antibodies and pumped them into the bloodstream. The researchers injected two cigarettes' worth of nicotine into AAV-infected mice. The antibodies were able to bind 83 per cent of the drug before it reached the brain.

Without their drug, the mice's behaviour changed. Nicotine usually causes mice to "chill out", Crystal says, but the researchers found that the treated mice stayed active and their heart rates stayed normal when they received nicotine.

Eighteen weeks later, the mice's livers were still making the antibody, suggesting that the therapy might render nicotine useless to smokers for long periods.

Jude Samulski at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who was part of the team that developed AAV as a gene therapy vector, says he's "ecstatic" that the vector has come so far. He calls the research "a gorgeous piece of work" that has "leapfrogged" the difficulties faced by vaccines.

But he has doubts about whether gene therapy is well-tested enough to be used to treat nicotine addiction. So far, AAV has been clinically tested in people with HIV or terminal cancer where potential benefits far outweigh the risks. "It's ahead of its time. In 10 years there may be enough safety data," he says. "Quitting smoking might be easier."

Read the original here:
Gene therapy curbs nicotine addiction in mice

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By Elizabeth Lopatto - 2012-06-27T18:00:00Z

An experimental vaccine againstnicotine, delivered using gene therapy, prevents the substance from reaching the brain and may make quitting easier for smokers, a study using mice indicates.

A single dose of vaccine allowed the liver to produce antibodies that stopped most of the nicotine from getting to the brain, according to a study in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The concentration of nicotine in the brains of treated mice was just 15 percent of that in untreated ones.

Of the more than 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, it is nicotine that leads to addiction, the researchers wrote. Keeping the substance away from the brain might stymie nicotines addictive power by preventing smokers from enjoying their cigarettes, giving them no incentive to relapse, said Ronald Crystal, one of the studys researchers.

This looks really terrific if youre a mouse, but the caveat is that they arent small humans, said Crystal, the chairman of genetic medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, in a telephone interview.

The gene therapy delivers the vaccine to the liver using a virus engineered not to be harmful. The gene sequence for the antibodies is inserted into liver cells, which then begin to create antibodies to nicotine.

The antibody is floating around like Pac-Man in the blood, Crystal said. If you give the nicotine and the anti- nicotine gobbles it up, it doesnt reach the brain.

The idea of vaccines against nicotine has emerged before, in the form of injections used to trigger an immune response. Those methods proved ineffective, according to the researchers. They turned to gene therapy to trigger production of antibodies.

About 20 percent of U.S. adults are smokers, and most relapse shortly after quitting.

We dont have very effective therapies, Crystal said. The problem is even with the drugs we have now, 70 percent of people go back to smoking within 6 months of trying to quit.

Follow this link:
Gene Therapy Against Nicotine May Someday Help Smokers Quit

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

VATICAN CITY, Italy, June 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, as part of an ongoing mission to advance scientific research on adult stem cell therapies and explore their cultural and ethical implications, Monsignor Tomasz Trafny of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture, joined Dr. Robin Smith, CEO of NeoStem (NYSE MKT:NBS) and Chairman and President of the Stem for Life Foundation, and Dr. Max Gomez, trustee of the Stem for Life Foundation, to present the first copy of their forthcoming book, Our Stem Cells: The Mystery of Life and Secrets of Healing, to The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.

The book is the result of a unique collaboration between the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture (via its charitable foundation STOQ International) and the Stem for Life Foundation, and will be available later this year. It includes a special address by His Holiness Benedict XVI, urging increased support and awareness for advancements in adult stem cell research in order to alleviate human suffering.

The book focuses on concepts discussed at the First International Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference (2011) and presents the reader with an engaging, comprehensive overview of adult stem cells and their vital role in a future of regenerative medicine. In powerful, accessible language the book showcases a wide array of emerging adult stem cell breakthroughs, including their ability to repair damaged hearts and organs, restore sight, kill cancer, cure diabetes, heal burns and stop the march of degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and Lou Gehrig's disease.

"In addition to making the science easy to understand, we filled the book with here-and-now case studies on how adult stem cell therapies are already helping real people suffering needlessly from deadly and debilitating diseases and medical conditions," said Dr. Smith. "Not only does the book speak to the success of our historic partnership with the Vatican, but it sets the stage for our next events."

"This book promotes a powerful dialogue between scientific and religious communities," said Monsignor Tomasz Trafny. "This dialogue needs to find its expression within the important framework of searching for truth and being guided by the highest ethical values. We hope this book will help educate people throughout the world regarding the importance of ethical scientific research and help them understand they do not need to choose between their faith and science; but in fact, the two can work together to profoundly improve humanity."

To preorder the book, go to: http://www.stemforlife.org/ourstemcells

About the Stem for Life Foundation

Stem for Life Foundation (SFLF) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of millions of people suffering from dozens of painful and sometimes debilitating medical conditions by providing information and updates about adult stem cell research, therapy development and possible healthcare applications. SFLF focuses on educating the public, convening the best minds in adult stem cell medicine and research, supporting clinical research, and subsidizing adult stem cell collection and storage for those who need it most.

Understanding that adult stem cell research could lead to better treatments and possibly cures for chronic disease, as well as reduce health care costs and improve quality of life for those with chronic disease and disability, SFLF was established in 2007. SFLF's Board of Trustees and staff are deeply committed to expediting development of stem cell therapies that offer real hope to individuals suffering from a wide-range of life-threatening medical conditions.

About The Pontifical Council for Culture

See the original post here:
The Pontifical Council for Culture and the Stem for Life Foundation Present Groundbreaking Book on Adult Stem Cell ...

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Douglas Kell has been reappointed as chief executive and deputy chair of the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said this week.

Kell has held the top post at BBSRC since 2008, and before that he was director of the Manchester Centre for Integrative Systems Biology. He also has served as director of research at the Institute of Biological Sciences at the University of Aberystwyth, and he was a founding director of Aber Instruments. His research has included a range of topics including systems biology, analytical chemistry, and biochemical and data modeling.

The Institute for Systems Biology has appointed Robert Lipshutz to be chief business officer and senior VP for strategic partnerships. Lipshutz spent nearly two decades at Affymetrix in various roles focusing on business development, licensing, diagnostics, and emerging markets, and most recently as senior VP for corporate development.

Verinata Health CEO Caren Mason has resigned but will continue to provide the company with consultative services. Mason joined Verinata in November 2010. She was previously the president and CEO of Quidel, president and CEO of MiraMedica, CEO of eMed Technologies, and general manager of GE Healthcare. The firm plans to recruit a new CEO.

Link:
Personalized Medicine Leaders Launch Non-Profit to Educate Dx Industry Stakeholders

Recommendation and review posted by sam

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/h3n97n/companion_diagnost) has announced the addition of the "Companion Diagnostics in Personalized Medicine and Cancer Therapy" report to their offering.

Companion diagnostics (CDx) refers to a particular clinical diagnostic test that is under evaluation and is specifically linked to a known drug therapy. This linkage could be important in the therapeutic application and clinical outcome of a drug, such as with personalized medicine for oncology patients. The molecular diagnostics field plays a vital part in personalized medicine and has greatly expanded over the past twenty years, expanding by more than 20% annually compared to most other laboratory procedures. Research will continue to produce an increased understanding of disease processes, and diagnostics manufacturers will continue to expand and refine the technology and automation needed for clinical testing. Companion diagnostics, although smaller at present, is one of the fastest growing segments in the in vitro diagnostic (IVD) market. And while the concept of a drug-diagnostic combination is not new, it has only recently started to generate interest with the move of healthcare towards pharmacogenomics.

This TriMark Publications report examines the use of companion diagnostics in personalized medicine and cancer therapy. The study provides a qualitative and quantitative review of the industry, including cancer biomarker tests, pharmacogenomics tests, recurrence prediction tests, blood-based technologies, proteomics and regulatory trends. Moreover, this analysis profiles the leading companies that are developing and manufacturing companion diagnostics solutions. Each company is discussed in extensive depth with a section on its history, product line, business and marketing analysis, and a subjective commentary of the company's market position. Detailed tables and charts with sales forecasts and market share data are also included.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Overview

2. Companion Diagnostics and Personalized Medicine

3. Companion Diagnostics: Qualitative and Quantitative Market Analysis

4. Trends and Overview

5. Biomarker Tests Co-developed with Cancer Therapeutics as Companion Diagnostics

Here is the original post:
Research and Markets: Companion Diagnostics in Personalized Medicine and Cancer Therapy

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Washington, June 27 : Taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements and turmeric, an Indian curry spice, may benefit people with spinal-cord injury.

UCLA researchers have discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient of curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury.

The findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

"Normal aging often narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and injuring tissue," explained principal investigator Dr. Langston Holly, associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

"While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it can't repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers. We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself," Holly stated.

The UCLA team studied two groups of rats with a condition that simulated cervical myelopathy a progressive disorder that often occurs in people with spine-weakening conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Cervical myelopathy can lead to disabling neurological symptoms, such as difficulty walking, neck and arm pain, hand numbness and weakness of the limbs. It's the most common cause of spine-related walking problems in people over 55.

The first group of animals was fed rat chow that replicated a Western diet high in saturated fats and sugar. The second group consumed a standard diet supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and curcumin, a compound in turmeric, an Indian curry spice. A third set of rats received a standard rat diet and served as a control group.

Why these supplements? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid shown to repair damage to cell membranes. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that previous studies have linked to tissue repair. Both reduce inflammation.

"The brain and spinal cord work together, and years of research demonstrate that supplements like DHA and curcumin can positively influence the brain," said co-author Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery.

"We suspected that what works in the brain may also work in the spinal cord. When we were unable to find good data to support our hypothesis, we decided to study it ourselves," he noted.

More:
Omega-3 fatty acid and turmeric help spinal cord heal itself

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq: HBIO), a life sciences tools company, says the first two successful stem cells laryngotracheal transplants have been completed in Russia using the companys specially-designed bioreactor to grow the cells, which were taken from the patients bone marrow.

Last November, the Holliston, Mass.-based company announced that a simpler procedure, a tracheal transplant, had been completed using stem cells grown in the bioreactor. A few month later, the company announced that the recipient of the tracheal transplant, Christopher Lyle, had died.

The transplants, which required more than six months of preparation, were performed on the first two patients enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial at Krasnodar Regional Hospital in Russia. The company said the procedures are the result of a global collaboration involving organizations in the U.S., Sweden, Russia, Germany, and Italy. The patients were treated as part of a $4.8 million Russian government grant designed to foster international collaboration.

Both of the patients are under 35 and suffered severe damage to their tracheas due to car accidents and subsequent comas they sustained. The company said both patients were able to breathe and speak normally after the procedure.

Excerpt from:
Harvard Bioscience plays role in stem cell transplants

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

WWL-TVs Sally-Ann Roberts talks about her sisters health battle. Watch Richard Ford on The Colbert Report. TV tweet of the day so far.

TV Linkzilla Daily for 6/27/12 starts now.

When Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts announced June 11 that shed been diagnosed with a rare form of bone-marrow cancer MDS, or myelodysplastic syndrome -- and would undergo chemotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant, her sister, WWL-TV anchor Sally-Ann Roberts, was cast in a key recovery role.

Sally-Ann Roberts, it turned out, was a perfect match to be a bone-marrow-cell donor for her sister. The New Orleans anchors medical contribution wont come for weeks or perhaps months, but shes already begun efforts to raise awareness of the need for donors.

Her station has launched a Perfect Match Supporting Sally-Ann & Robin page on its website, which now holds several stories on the topic, including a Wednesday (June 27) piece in which WWL staffers sign up to join a bone-marrow registry.

An informational and registration phone-bank, staffed by volunteers from organ- and bone-marrow-donation organizations, will operate from 6-9 p.m. Thursday (June 28), in coordination with the stations morning news block.

In a recent interview, Sally-Ann Roberts said her match is a real blessing, because only 25 percent of people who need a bone-marrow transplant actually find a match among their siblings.

She continued:

The majority of people who need a bone marrow donor have to go outside of their family in order to find one. Sometimes it's like a needle in a haystack, and that's why Robin wants to use this challenge that she's facing right now to try to bring attention to the national narrow donor registry. Millions of people are part of it. If a person -- man woman or child -- is in search of a bone marrow donor they can go to this registry and have a chance to find one. There are many, many people who have used the registry successfully.

The only problem is that minorities are underrepresented in the donor registry. Unlike organ donations, where it really doesn't matter what the ethnic background of an individual is for an organ donation, bone marrow for stem cells has to be aligned with the person's genetic makeup. And that's why if you're African American you will find a match with another African American. Native Americans, the same thing. So that's why every racial group needs to be represented in the marrow-donor registry. That's what were trying to do. Were trying to direct people to BeTheMatch.org. If they do, they'll get a packet in the mail and will be able to do a swab, just the inside of their cheek, and will get a self-addressed stamped envelope. They mail it back with the required information. They may get a phone call, they may never get a phone call. But people who have done so -- I've gone online to listen to some of their stories -- they feel so grateful that they were able to reach out and help another individual in need.

Follow this link:
WWL-TV and Sally-Ann Roberts rally support for bone-marrow donor registry

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A mother with three daughters who have Fanconi anemia sued the federal government for the right to compensate bone marrow donors. The U.S. Attorney General will not pursue the case with the Supreme Court, thus making a lower court's ruling law. That means bone marrow donors may now receive vouchers worth up to $3,000. NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman reports.

By JoNel Aleccia

Certain bone marrow donors could soon be compensated for their life-saving stem cells after federal officials declined to take the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court, allowing a lower court order to become law.

At least one agency, MoreMarrowDonors.org, hopes to begin a pilot program offering up to $3,000 in scholarships, housing vouchers or charity donations -- but not cash -- in exchange for matching donations of marrow cells derived from blood.

This decision is a total game-changer, said Jeff Rowes, a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice, which filed the lawsuit three years ago on behalf of cancer victims and others seeking bone marrow matches. Any donor, any doctor, any patient across the country can use compensation in order to get bone marrow donors.

That may be the effect of the decision by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to forgo a high court review of a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that certain kinds of bone marrow donations are exempt from federal rules banning compensation.

Under the ruling, donors who provide marrow cells through a process similar to blood donation, called peripheral blood stem cell apheresis, can be compensated because those cells are no longer regarded as organs or organ parts as defined in the National Organ Transplant Act.

The ruling does not apply, however, to bone marrow obtained through traditional techniques that use a needle to aspirate the cells from the hip.

Although it applies only to nine states covered by the 9th Circuit Court, Rowes expects the effects to be felt nationwide.

The move met with praise from Doreen Flynn, 36, of Lewiston, Maine, the lawsuits namesake and the single mother of three daughters with an incurable blood disorder called Fanconi anemia.

View original post here:
Bone marrow donors may be compensated after ruling stands

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A mother with three daughters who have Fanconi anemia sued the federal government for the right to compensate bone marrow donors. The U.S. Attorney General will not pursue the case with the Supreme Court, thus making a lower court's ruling law. That means bone marrow donors may now receive vouchers worth up to $3,000. NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman reports.

By JoNel Aleccia

Certain bone marrow donors could soon be compensated for their life-saving stem cells after federal officials declined to take the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court, allowing a lower court order to become law.

At least one agency, MoreMarrowDonors.org, hopes to begin a pilot program offering up to $3,000 in scholarships, housing vouchers or charity donations -- but not cash -- in exchange for matching donations of marrow cells derived from blood.

This decision is a total game-changer, said Jeff Rowes, a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice, which filed the lawsuit three years ago on behalf of cancer victims and others seeking bone marrow matches. Any donor, any doctor, any patient across the country can use compensation in order to get bone marrow donors.

That may be the effect of the decision by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to forgo a high court review of a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that certain kinds of bone marrow donations are exempt from federal rules banning compensation.

Under the ruling, donors who provide marrow cells through a process similar to blood donation, called peripheral blood stem cell apheresis, can be compensated because those cells are no longer regarded as organs or organ parts as defined in the National Organ Transplant Act.

The ruling does not apply, however, to bone marrow obtained through traditional techniques that use a needle to aspirate the cells from the hip.

Although it applies only to nine states covered by the 9th Circuit Court, Rowes expects the effects to be felt nationwide.

The move met with praise from Doreen Flynn, 36, of Lewiston, Maine, the lawsuits namesake and the single mother of three daughters with an incurable blood disorder called Fanconi anemia.

Here is the original post:
Bone marrow donors soon may be compensated

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

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

Contact: David Eve celltransplantation@gmail.com Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair

Putnam Valley, NY. (June 26 , 2012) Researchers in Japan who evaluated the risks and efficacy of transplanting two varieties of stem cells into mouse cochlea have concluded that both adult-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells demonstrate similar survival and neural differentiation capabilities. However, there is a risk of tumor growth associated with transplanting iPS cells into mouse cochleae. Given the potential for tumorigenesis, they concluded that the source of iPS cells is a critical issue for iPS cell-based therapy.

Their study is published in a recent issue of Cell Transplantation (21:4), now freely available on-line at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct/,

"Hearing loss affects millions of people worldwide," said Dr. Takayuki Nakagawa of the Department of Otolaryngology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan. "Recent studies have indicated the potential of stem-cell based approaches for the regeneration of hair cells and associated auditory primary neurons. These structures are essential for hearing and defects result in profound hearing loss and deafness."

The authors noted that embryonic stem cells have previously been identified as promising candidates for transplantation, however they have also been associated with immune rejection and ethics issues. Consequently, this study compared the survival and neural differentiation capabilities of ES and three clones of mouse iPS cells.

"Our study examined using induced pluripotent stem cells generated from the patient source to determine if they offer a promising alternative to ES cells," explained Dr. Nakagawa. "In addition, the potential for tumor risk from iPS cells needed clarification."

Four weeks after transplantation, the researchers found that the majority of cochleae that had been transplanted exhibited the settlement of iPS or ES-derived neurons. However, there was a difference in the number of cells present based on cell lines. They noted that the number of cells able to be transplanted into cochleae is limited because of the cochleae's tiny size. Thus, the number of settled cells is low.

They also noted the formation of a teratoma (encapsulated tumor) in some cochlea after transplantation with one group of iPS cells.

"To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of teratoma formation in cochleae after cell transplantation," said Dr. Nakagawa.

See more here:
Stem cell transplantation into mouse cochlea may impact future hearing loss therapies

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

26-06-2012 15:56 Ain't nobody fuckin wit dis young nigga!!!DGB shit!!!Young J

Go here to read the rest:
Cell Therapy Freestyle - Video

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Optimal stem cell therapy delivery to damaged areas of the heart after myocardial infarction has been hampered by inefficient homing of cells to the damaged site. However, using rat models, researchers in France have used a magnet to guide cells loaded with iron oxide nanoparticles to key sites, enhancing the myocardial retention of intravascularly delivered endothelial progenitor cells.

The study is published in a recent issue of Cell Transplantation (21:4), now freely available online.

"Cell therapy is a promising approach to myocardial regeneration and neovascularization, but currently suffers from the inefficient homing of cells after intracavitary infusion," said Dr. Philippe Menasche of the INSERM U633 Laboratory of Surgical Research in Paris. "Our study was aimed at improving and controlling homing by loading human cord-blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) for transplant with iron oxide nanoparticles in order to better position and retain them in the hearts of myocardial-injured test rats by using a subcutaneously implanted magnet."

The researchers found that the cells were sufficiently magnetic to be able to be remotely manipulated by a magnet subsequent to implantation.

According to the researchers, an objective assessment of the technique to enhance the homing of circulating stem cells is the ability to track their fate in vivo. This was accomplished by visualization with MRI.

"We found a good correlation between MRI non-invasive follow-up of the injected cells and immunofluoresence or quantitative PCR data," said Dr. Menasche. The researchers concluded that further studies were needed to follow cell homing at later time points. They noted that the magnitude of homing they experienced may have been reduced by the relatively small number of cells used, owing to their large size and the subsequent risk of coronary thrombosis.

"In a rat model of myocardial infarction, this pilot study suggested homing of circulating stem cells can be improved by magnetic targeting and warrants additional benchwork to confirm the validity of concept," said Dr. Menasche. "There is also a need to optimize the parameters of targeting and assess the relevance of this approach in a clinically relevant large animal model."

"This study highlights the use of magnets to target transplanted cells to specific sites which could increase their regenerative impact. Factors to still be extensively tested include confirming the safety of the cells containing the magnetic particles and whether this process alters the cell's abilities" said Dr. Amit N. Patel, director of cardiovascular regenerative medicine at the University of Utah and section editor for Cell Transplantation.

More information: Chaudeurge, A.; Wilhelm, C.; Chen-Tournoux, A.; Farahmand, P.; Bellamy, V.; Autret, G.; Mnager, C.; Hagge, A.; Larghro, J.; Gazeau, F.; Clment, O.; Menasch, P. Can Magnetic Targeting of Magnetically Labeled Circulating Cells Optimize Intramyocardial Cell Retention? Cell Transplant. 21 (4):679-691; 2012.

Journal reference: Cell Transplantation

See more here:
Magnet helps target transplanted iron-loaded cells to key areas of heart

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

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

Contact: Mary Ellen Peacock maryellen.peacock@nationwidechildrens.org 614-355-0495 Nationwide Children's Hospital

Scientists now have clues to how a gene mutation discovered in families affected with congenital heart disease leads to underdevelopment of the walls that separate the heart into four chambers. A Nationwide Children's Hospital study appearing in PLoS Genetics suggests that abnormal development of heart cells during embryogenesis may be to blame.

When babies are born with a hole in their heart (either between the upper or lower chambers), they have a septal defect, the most common form of congenital heart disease. Although it's not clear what causes all septal defects, genetic studies primarily utilizing large families have led to the discovery of several causative genes.

Vidu Garg, MD, the study's lead author, previously reported that a single nucleotide change in the GATA4 gene in humans causes atrial and ventricular septal defects along with pulmonary valve stenosis. In mice, the GATA4 gene has been shown to be necessary for normal heart development and its deletion leads to abnormal heart development.

"While GATA4 has been shown to be important for several critical processes during early heart formation, the mechanism for the heart malformations found in humans with the mutation we previously reported is not well understood," said Dr. Garg, a pediatric cardiologist in The Heart Center and principal investigator in the Center for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

To better characterize the mutation, Dr. Garg and colleagues generated a mouse model harboring the same human disease-causing mutation. They saw heart abnormalities in the mice that were consistent with those seen in humans with GATA4 mutations. Upon further examination, they found that the mutant protein leads to functional deficits in the ability for heart cells to increase in number during embryonic development.

"Our findings suggest that cardiomyocyte proliferation deficits could be a mechanism for the septal defects seen in this mouse model and may contribute to septal defects in humans with mutations in GATA4," said Dr. Garg, also a faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. "This mouse model will be valuable in studying how septation and heart valve defects arise and serve as a useful tool to study the impact of environmental factors on GATA4 functions during heart development."

###

Link:
New mouse model helps explain gene discovery in congenital heart disease

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

On Wednesday, the Street was finally able to initiate coverage on Facebook, 40 days after the IPO.

And it seems widely followed Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster may have found a new object of affection.

During a live interview on CNBCs Fast Money Halftime Report he sounded almost as enthusiastic about Facebook

Although Munster concedes that in the near-term Facebook may be facing headwinds, he tells us that Given what theyre doing, to even think about the next 6 months is missing the whole point, he says.

Ahead of the broadcast Munster told us there are a few big reasons investors should own Facebook.

They are: - Trades significantly below companys long term EBITDA - Extremely unique property online

But aside for the reasons mentioned above - Munster believes there's another upside catalyst and it's a doozy. In fact, it's the same catalyst famed venture capitalist Roger McNamee told us back on May 18th, the day of the IPO. Facebook is about to change the way we shop.

------------------------------------------------------

In case youre curious heres how the Street rates Facebook:

------------------------------------------------------

Link:
Why You Should Own Facebook Now: Gene Munster

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Newswise An international team including scientists from the University of Saskatchewan-Saskatoon Health Region and University of British Columbia, with the help of Saskatchewan Mennonite families, has identified an abnormal gene which leads to Parkinsons disease.

This discovery paves the way for further research to determine the nature of brain abnormalities which this gene defect produces, says Dr. Ali Rajput, a world expert in Parkinsons disease who has been studying the disease for 45 years and working with the main family in the study since 1983.

It also promises to help us find ways to detect Parkinsons disease early, and to develop drugs which will one day halt the progression of the disease.

The abnormal gene is a mutated version of a gene called DNAJC13, identified by UBC medical genetics professor Matthew Farrer, who led the study.

Thirteen of 57 members of one extended Saskatchewan family in the study had been previously diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. Three other single cases from Saskatchewan and one family from British Columbia were also found to have the same mutation. All were of Mennonite background, a Christian group who share Dutch-German-Russian ancestry.

The findings were presented last week to the more than 5,000 delegates at the 16th International Congress of Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders in Dublin, Ireland.

Rajput and his son, fellow neurologist and researcher Alex Rajput, are long-time collaborators of Farrer. The research drew on the Rajputs work over the past four decades. The research team also includes scientists from McGill University, the Mayo Clinic in Florida, and St. Olavs Hospital in Norway.

A key contribution is the Rajputs collection of more than 500 brains and nearly 2,200 blood samples from Parkinsons patients. Farrer explains that confirmation of the genes linkage with Parkinsons disease required DNA samples from thousands of patients with the disease and healthy individuals. He adds that the contributions of the Saskatchewan Mennonite family, who have asked to remain anonymous, were critical.

A breakthrough like this would not be possible without their involvement and support. They gave up considerable time, contributed clinical information, donated blood samples, participated in PET imaging studies and on more than one occasion following the death of a family member donated brain samples, says Farrer, who holds the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neurogenetics and Translational Neuroscience.

The whole-hearted and unselfish commitment of this family is remarkable, Rajput says. They went out of their way in every conceivable manner to help solve this mystery. We, on behalf of all the Parkinsons disease patients in this province, Canada, and around the world, are grateful to them for making this discovery possible.

View original post here:
Team Identifies Parkinson's Disease Gene with Help of Saskatchewan Mennonite Families

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Several tests are now available that can analyse fetal DNA present in a pregnant woman's blood.

BSIP/PHOTOTAKE

Genetic tests that analyse fetal DNA from a pregnant woman's blood are arriving in a rush, giving parents powerful tools for gleaning information about their unborn offspring. Three companies have launched versions of such tests in the past 12 months, and a fourth plans to do so later this year.

But the commercialization of these tests has brought a legal battle that could not only affect corporate profits, but also limit which patients will be able to access the tests and under what terms. The tangle of lawsuits may also offer a taste of future conflicts in the rapidly growing medical-genomics industry.

If a single company has a monopoly on the market, it will essentially be able to dictate the standard of care and the quality of care, says Mildred Cho, a bioethicist at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California.

The four firms are all based in California Sequenom in San Diego, Ariosa Diagnostics in San Jose, and Verinata Health and Natera, both in Redwood City and use similar techniques to identify fetal DNA in maternal blood samples. The tests can spot genetic abnormalities, such as those that cause Down's syndrome, as early as ten weeks after conception several weeks sooner than tests already in use. In studies of women at high risk of carrying offspring with Down's syndrome, the tests also produced fewer false positives.

Patents are at the core of the conflict (see 'Blood feuds'). Sequenom licensed the method for detection of cell-free fetal DNA in a mother's bloodstream in 2005, and it now says that other companies are infringing this patent.

A spate of prenatal DNA tests has brought with it a host of legal disputes.

14 OCTOBER 2005

Sequenom licenses a patent for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.

Visit link:
Fetal tests spur legal battle

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

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

Contact: Brian Lin brian.lin@ubc.ca 604-822-2234 University of British Columbia

An international team led by human genetic researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health has identified the latest gene associated with typical late-onset Lewy body Parkinson's disease (PD), with the help of a Canadian Mennonite family of Dutch-German-Russian ancestry.

Twelve of the 57 members of the Saskatchewan family who participated in the study had previously been diagnosed with PD.

UBC Medical Genetics Prof. Matthew Farrer, who led the research, notes that unequivocal confirmation of the gene's linkage with PD required DNA samples from thousands of patients with PD and healthy individuals. He refers to the new discovery as the "missing link," as it helps to unify past genetic discoveries in PD.

"A breakthrough like this would not be possible without the involvement and support of the Saskatchewan Mennonite family who gave up considerable time, contributed clinical information, donated blood samples, participated in PET imaging studies and, on more than one occasion following the death of an individual, donated brain samples," says Farrer, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neurogenetics and Translational Neuroscience and the Dr. Donald Rix BC Leadership Chair in Genetic Medicine.

"We are forever indebted to their generosity and contribution to better understanding and ultimately finding a cure for this debilitating disease."

The mutation, in a gene called DNAJC13, was discovered using massively parallel DNA sequencing. Conclusive evidence came from the identification of the gene mutation in several other families across many Canadian provinces, including British Columbia.

"This discovery is not only significant for researchers, but also for those families carrying this genetic mutation and afflicted with this disease in that it offers hope that something good might yet result from their suffering," says Bruce Guenther, President of the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary Canada, a community leader and spokesperson for the family that participated in the study.

"The family involved is very grateful for the research team's respectful, collaborative and sensitive approach, and we hope that this enables the discovery of more effective treatments, and hopefully eventually a cure."

See more here:
Parkinson's disease gene identified with help of Mennonite family: UBC-VCH research

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The Sugar Land company involved in Gov. Rick Perry's unlicensed adult stem-cell procedure is rife with basic manufacturing problems, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In a report one expert called a blow to the entire adult stem-cell industry, the FDA found that Celltex Therapeutics Corp. cannot guarantee the sterility, uniformity and integrity of stem cells it takes from people and then stores and grows for eventual therapeutic reinjection.

"You have not performed a validation of your banking and thawing process to assure viability" of the stem cells, reads the April 27 report, meaning that the company cannot verify the cells are alive.

The FDA report, which followed an April 16-27 inspection of Celltex, was released under the Freedom of Information Act Monday to the Houston Chronicle and a University of Minnesota bioethicist who complained in February that Celltex is a potential danger to patients and not in compliance with federal law.

The report, partially redacted, was not accompanied by a warning letter.

A former FDA official who asked not to be identified, however, said the deficiencies - 79 in all, from incorrectly labeled products to failed sterility tests - are so serious that Celltex risks being shut down if it does not remedy the problems quickly.

Adult stem cells are cells in the body that multiply to replenish dying cells. Long used to treat leukemia and other cancers, they have shown promise for tissue repair in many other diseases in the last decade, although most scientists in the field consider them not ready for mainstream use.

Rules take effect July 8

Celltex has been in the public eye since it was revealed that Perry's Houston doctor treated him with his own stem cells during back surgery last July and in follow-up appointments. His stem cells were stored and grown at Celltex.

Perry subsequently called for Texas to become the nation's leader of adult stem cell medicine, which he touts as an ethical alternative to embryonic stem cells. Perry worked with his Houston doctor and a state representative to write legislation intended to commercialize the therapy in Texas.

See the rest here:
FDA report faults Houston stem-cell company

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq: HBIO), a life sciences tools company, says the first two successful stem cells laryngotracheal transplants have been completed in Russia using the companys specially-designed bioreactor to grow the cells, which were taken from the patients bone marrow.

Last November, the Holliston, Mass.-based company announced that a simpler procedure, a tracheal transplant, had been completed using stem cells grown in the bioreactor. A few month later, the company announced that the recipient of the tracheal transplant, Christopher Lyle, had died.

The transplants, which required more than six months of preparation, were performed on the first two patients enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial at Krasnodar Regional Hospital in Russia. The company said the procedures are the result of a global collaboration involving organizations in the U.S., Sweden, Russia, Germany, and Italy. The patients were treated as part of a $4.8 million Russian government grant designed to foster international collaboration.

Both of the patients are under 35 and suffered severe damage to their tracheas due to car accidents and subsequent comas they sustained. The company said both patients were able to breathe and speak normally after the procedure.

Go here to see the original:
Harvard Bioscience plays role in stem cell transplants

Recommendation and review posted by sam

IRVING, Texas, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/--Caris Life Sciences, a leading biosciences company focused on enabling precise and personalized healthcare through molecular profiling and blood-based diagnostic services, today announced the launch of Caris Target Now Select, an advanced, evidence-based molecular profiling service for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, and cancers of the breast, colon and ovary. In addition, the company has enhanced the original Caris Target Now comprehensive molecular profiling service offering for all solid tumors.

"This latest effort by Caris is another significant step in what I call health improvement, while at the same time fulfilling on the promise of personalized medicine," said David D. Halbert, Chairman and CEO, Caris Life Sciences. "With these enhancements, we believe we can prolong the lives of patients and improve outcomes, while also lowering costs to the healthcare system."

Caris Target Now Select incorporates updated, evidence-based technology platforms to determine the genomic information unique to a patient's tumor based on the presence of relevant biomarkers. In addition to providing focused biomarker profiles designed for earlier-stage cancer patients, it offers the advantages of known "on-Compendium-only" drug associations, faster turnaround time, the capability to derive meaningful results from smaller tissue samples, up to 30 reported biomarkers per patient (depending on tumor type), and for the first time Clinical Trials Connector, a service that enables biomarker-specific clinical trial matching.

"Caris Target Now Select is an important new tool to assist physicians in choosing among standard drug choices earlier in the course of treatment, where molecular profiling can have the largest benefit to patient care," said Tom Spalding, Oncology Senior Vice President and Group Head, Caris Life Sciences. "In addition, the new Clinical Trials Connector uncovers even more possibilities by linking patients to open and enrolling clinical trials based upon their individual biomarker status."

Using the strongest clinical evidence, Caris Target Now Select highlights known therapeutic associations with appropriate, tumor-specific treatments for the five target tumor types, as identified in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Drug & Biologics Compendium[1]. In addition, the newly enhanced version of Caris' original molecular profiling service (now renamed Caris Target Now Comprehensive) provides both on- and off-Compendium therapeutic associations for all solid tumors, across a wide range of evidence.

"Caris Target Now Select is an evidence-based molecular profiling service that can help both earlier-stage and later-stage cancer patients, as it employs the most relevant biomarkers and technologies to help decode a patient's tumor," said Sandeep Reddy, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Senior Medical Director at Caris. "This service allows physicians to augment their years of experience with advanced theranostic resources, further personalizing cancer care based on the expression status of specific biomarkers."

Through analysis with multiple, highly integrated technology platforms such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA sequencing, both the Caris Target Now Select and Comprehensive services provide vital information that may be useful to oncologists in individualizing therapeutic regimens for cancer patients. By utilizing the most relevant, evidence-based molecular profiling technologies to determine the biomarkers unique to a patient's tumor, and performing an extensive review of clinical literature correlating biomarkers to drug response, Caris Target Now Select can help illuminate the benefit (or lack thereof) of specific agents, and may reveal appropriate treatments not previously considered.

Both services can be requested for cancer patients by physicians seeking to utilize biomarker analysis to inform therapeutic decision-making. For more information, visit http://www.caristargetnow.com.

About Caris Life Sciences

Caris Life Sciences is a leading biosciences company focused on developing and delivering innovative molecular diagnostic, prognostic, and theranostic services. The company's evidence-based molecular profiling service, Caris Target Now, matches molecular data generated from a patient's tumor with biomarker/drug associations derived from the world's leading clinical cancer literature. Caris Target Now uses the most advanced and clinically relevant technologies to provide physicians with information to aid in the selection of personalized cancer treatments more likely to work for each patient. Caris is also developing a series of blood tests based on the company's patented Carisome platform a proprietary, blood-based testing technology for diagnosis, prognosis, and theranosis of cancer and other complex diseases. Through the precise and personalized information provided by technologies like Caris Target Now and Carisome, the company believes that the quality of healthcare can be dramatically improved, while also significantly reducing costs. Headquartered in the Dallas metroplex, Caris Life Sciences offers services throughout the United States, Europe, and other international markets. To learn more, please visit http://www.carislifesciences.com or http://www.caristargetnow.com.

The rest is here:
Caris Life Sciences Launches Caris Target Now™ Select for NSCLC, Melanoma, and Cancers of the Breast, Colon, and Ovary

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Newswise UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

Normal aging often narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and injuring tissue, explained principal investigator Dr. Langston Holly, associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it cant repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers. We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself.

The UCLA team studied two groups of rats with a condition that simulated cervical myelopathy a progressive disorder that often occurs in people with spine-weakening conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Cervical myelopathy can lead to disabling neurological symptoms, such as difficulty walking, neck and arm pain, hand numbness and weakness of the limbs. Its the most common cause of spine-related walking problems in people over 55.

The first group of animals was fed rat chow that replicated a Western diet high in saturated fats and sugar. The second group consumed a standard diet supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and curcumin, a compound in turmeric, an Indian curry spice. A third set of rats received a standard rat diet and served as a control group.

Why these supplements? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid shown to repair damage to cell membranes. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that previous studies have linked to tissue repair. Both reduce inflammation.

The brain and spinal cord work together, and years of research demonstrate that supplements like DHA and curcumin can positively influence the brain, said coauthor Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery. We suspected that what works in the brain may also work in the spinal cord. When we were unable to find good data to support our hypothesis, we decided to study it ourselves.

The researchers recorded a baseline of the rats walking and re-examined the animals gait on a weekly basis. As early as three weeks, the rats eating the Western diet demonstrated measurable walking problems that worsened as the study progressed. Rats fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin walked significantly better than the first group even six weeks after the studys start.

Next, the scientists examined the rats spinal cords to evaluate how diet affected their injury on a molecular level. The researchers measured levels of three markers respectively linked to cell-membrane damage, neural repair and cellular communication.

The rats that ate the Western diet showed higher levels of the marker linked to cell-membrane damage. In contrast, the DHA and curcumin appeared to offset the injurys effect in the second group, which displayed equivalent marker levels to the control group.

Levels of the markers linked to neural repair and cellular communication were significantly lower in the rats raised on the Western diet. Again, levels in the animals fed the supplemented diet appeared similar to those of the control group.

See the original post here:
Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Curry Spice Repair Tissue Damage, Preserve Walking Ability in Rats with Spinal-Cord Injury

Recommendation and review posted by sam

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2012) UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

"Normal aging often narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and injuring tissue," explained principal investigator Dr. Langston Holly, associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it can't repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers. We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself."

The UCLA team studied two groups of rats with a condition that simulated cervical myelopathy -- a progressive disorder that often occurs in people with spine-weakening conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Cervical myelopathy can lead to disabling neurological symptoms, such as difficulty walking, neck and arm pain, hand numbness and weakness of the limbs. It's the most common cause of spine-related walking problems in people over 55.

The first group of animals was fed rat chow that replicated a Western diet high in saturated fats and sugar. The second group consumed a standard diet supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and curcumin, a compound in turmeric, an Indian curry spice. A third set of rats received a standard rat diet and served as a control group.

Why these supplements? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid shown to repair damage to cell membranes. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that previous studies have linked to tissue repair. Both reduce inflammation.

"The brain and spinal cord work together, and years of research demonstrate that supplements like DHA and curcumin can positively influence the brain," said coauthor Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery. "We suspected that what works in the brain may also work in the spinal cord. When we were unable to find good data to support our hypothesis, we decided to study it ourselves."

The researchers recorded a baseline of the rats walking and re-examined the animals' gait on a weekly basis. As early as three weeks, the rats eating the Western diet demonstrated measurable walking problems that worsened as the study progressed. Rats fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin walked significantly better than the first group even six weeks after the study's start.

Next, the scientists examined the rats' spinal cords to evaluate how diet affected their injury on a molecular level. The researchers measured levels of three markers respectively linked to cell-membrane damage, neural repair and cellular communication.

The rats that ate the Western diet showed higher levels of the marker linked to cell-membrane damage. In contrast, the DHA and curcumin appeared to offset the injury's effect in the second group, which displayed equivalent marker levels to the control group.

Levels of the markers linked to neural repair and cellular communication were significantly lower in the rats raised on the Western diet. Again, levels in the animals fed the supplemented diet appeared similar to those of the control group.

Read more:
Curry spice, omega-3 fatty acid preserve walking ability following spinal-cord injury

Recommendation and review posted by sam

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

Contact: Elaine Schmidt eschmidt@mednet.ucla.edu 310-794-2272 University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences

UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient of curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

"Normal aging often narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and injuring tissue," explained principal investigator Dr. Langston Holly, associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it can't repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers. We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself."

The UCLA team studied two groups of rats with a condition that simulated cervical myelopathy a progressive disorder that often occurs in people with spine-weakening conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Cervical myelopathy can lead to disabling neurological symptoms, such as difficulty walking, neck and arm pain, hand numbness and weakness of the limbs. It's the most common cause of spine-related walking problems in people over 55.

The first group of animals was fed rat chow that replicated a Western diet high in saturated fats and sugar. The second group consumed a standard diet supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and curcumin, a compound in turmeric, an Indian curry spice. A third set of rats received a standard rat diet and served as a control group.

Why these supplements? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid shown to repair damage to cell membranes. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that previous studies have linked to tissue repair. Both reduce inflammation.

"The brain and spinal cord work together, and years of research demonstrate that supplements like DHA and curcumin can positively influence the brain," said coauthor Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery. "We suspected that what works in the brain may also work in the spinal cord. When we were unable to find good data to support our hypothesis, we decided to study it ourselves."

The researchers recorded a baseline of the rats walking and re-examined the animals' gait on a weekly basis. As early as three weeks, the rats eating the Western diet demonstrated measurable walking problems that worsened as the study progressed. Rats fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin walked significantly better than the first group even six weeks after the study's start.

Next, the scientists examined the rats' spinal cords to evaluate how diet affected their injury on a molecular level. The researchers measured levels of three markers respectively linked to cell-membrane damage, neural repair and cellular communication.

Go here to see the original:
Spinal cord, heal thyself

Recommendation and review posted by sam