SAN DIEGO, May 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. announced today that its strategic partner in Mexico, Grupo Angeles Health Services, has received approval from Mexico's regulatory agency, COFEPRIS, for a Phase I/II single-blind randomized clinical trial for chronic heart failure. COFEPRIS is the Mexican equivalent of the United States FDA. The clinical trial, to be conducted at multiple hospital sites throughout Mexico, will utilize Stemedica's adult allogeneic ischemia tolerant mesenchymal stem cells (itMSC) delivered via intravenous infusion. The trial will involve three safety cohorts at different dosages, followed by a larger group being treated with the maximum safe dosage. The COFEPRIS approval is the second approval for the use of Stemedica's itMSCs. COFEPRIS approved Stemedica's itMSCs in 2010 for a clinical trial for ischemic stroke. These two trials are the only allogeneic stem cell studies approved by COFEPRIS.

Grupo Angeles is a Mexican company that is 100% integrated into the national healthcare development effort. The company is comprised of 24 state-of-the-art hospitals totaling more than 2,000 beds and 200 operating rooms. Eleven thousand Groupo Angeles physicians annually treat nearly five million patients a year. Of these, more than two million are seen as in-patients. In just over two decades, Groupo Angeles has radically transformed the practice of private medicine in Mexico and contributed decisively to reform in the country's health system. Grupo Angeles hospitals conduct an estimated 100 clinical trials annually, primarily with major global pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

"We are pleased that we will be working with the largest and most prestigious private medical institution in Mexico to study Stemedica's product for this indication. If successful, our stem cells may provide a treatment option for the millions of patients, both in Mexico and internationally, who suffer from this condition," said Maynard Howe, PhD, CEO of Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc.

Roberto Simon, MD, CEO of Grupo Angeles Health Services, noted, "We are proud to be the first organization to bring regulatory-approved allogeneic stem cell treatment to the people of Mexico. We envision that this type of treatment may well become a standard for improving cardiac status for chronic heart failure patients and are pleased to be partnering with Stemedica, one of the leading companies in the field of regenerative medicine."

Nikolai Tankovich, MD, PhD, President and Chief Medical Officer of Stemedica commented, "For the more than five million North Americans who suffer from chronic heart failure, this is an important trial. Our ischemia tolerant mesenchymal stem cells hold the potential to improve ejection fraction--the amount of blood pumped with each heart beat--and therefore, dramatically improve quality of life."

For more information about Stemedica please contact Dave McGuigan at dmcguigan(at)stemedica(dot)com. For more information about Grupo Angeles and the chronic heart failure trial please contact Paulo Yberri at pyberri(at)angelesehealth(dot)com.

About Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc.(http://www.stemedica.com) is a specialty bio-pharmaceutical company committed to the manufacturing and development of best-in-class allogeneic adult stem cells and stem cell factors for use by approved research institutions and hospitals for pre-clinical and clinical (human) trials. The company is a government licensed manufacturer of clinical grade stem cells and is approved by the FDA for its clinical trials for ischemic stroke. Stemedica is currently developing regulatory pathways for a number of medical indications using adult allogeneic stem cells. The Company is headquartered in San Diego, California.

This article was originally distributed on PRWeb. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/stemedica-clinical-trial/chronic-heart-failure/prweb9550806.htm

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Stemedica Stem Cells Approved for Clinical Trials in Mexico for Chronic Heart Failure

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This finding can help researchers model diseases in the lab, and allow these diseases to be studied

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found a way to turn both embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes.

Sean Palecek, study leader and professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, along with Timothy Kamp, professor of cardiology at UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and Xiaojun Lian, a UW graduate student, have developed a technique for abundant cardiomyocyte production, which will allow scientists to better understand and treat diseases.

Cardiomyocytes are important cells that make up the beating heart. These cells are extremely difficult to obtain, especially in large quantities, because they only survive for a short period of time when retrieved from the human heart.

But now, the UW researchers have found an inexpensive method for developing an abundance of cardiomyocytes in the laboratory. This finding can help researchers model diseases in the lab, and allow these diseases to be studied. Researchers will also be able to tests drugs that could help fight these diseases, such as heart disease.

"Many forms of heart disease are due to the loss or death of functioning cardiomyocytes, so strategies to replace heart cells in the diseased heart continue to be of interest, said Kamp. "For example, in a large heart attack up to 1 billion cardiomyocytes die. The heart has a limited ability to repair itself, so being able to supply large numbers of potentially patient-matched cardiomyocytes could help."

The UW research team found that changing a signaling pathway called Wnt can help guide stem cell differentiation to cardiomyocytes. They just turned the Wnt pathway on and off at different times using two small molecule chemicals.

"Our protocol is more efficient and robust," said Palecek. "We have been able to reliably generate greater than 80 percent cardiomyocytes in the final population while other methods produce about 30 percent cardiomyocytes with high batch-to-batch variability.

"The biggest advantage of our method is that it uses small molecule chemicals to regulate biological signals. It is completely defined, and therefore more reproducible. And the small molecules are much less expensive than protein growth factors."

This study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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New Method Turns Embryonic/Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Cardiac Muscle Cells

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SOURCE: Biostem U.S., Corporation

Highly Recognized Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Specialist Added to Existing Member Expertise in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Cardiology, and Pathology

CLEARWATER, FL--(Marketwire - May 29, 2012) - Biostem U.S., Corporation, (OTCQB: HAIR) (PINKSHEETS: HAIR) (Biostem, the Company), a fully reporting public company in the stem cell regenerative medicine sciences sector, today announced that Philip A. Lowry, MD, has been appointed as the Chairman of its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors (SAMBA).

According to Biostem CEO, Dwight Brunoehler, "As Chairman, Dr. Lowry will work with a team drawn from a cross-section of medical specialties. His combination of research, academic and community practice experience make him the perfect individual to coordinate and lead the outstanding group of physicians that makes up our SAMBA. As a group, The SAMBA will guide the company to maintain the highest ethical standards in every effort, while seeking and developing new cutting edge technology based on stem cell use. I am privileged to work with Dr. Lowry, once again."

Dr. Lowry stated, "Dwight is an innovative businessman with an eye on cutting-edge stem cell technology. His history in the industry speaks for itself. I like the plan at Biostem and look forward to working with everyone involved."

Dr. Philip A. Lowry received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College before going on to the Yale University School of Medicine. His completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Virginia then pursued fellowship training in hematology and oncology there as well. During fellowship training and subsequently at the University of Massachusetts, he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Quesenberry working on in vitro and in vivo studies of mouse and human stem cell biology.

Dr. Lowry twice served on the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center from 1992-1996 and from 2004-2009 as an assistant and then associate clinical professor of medicine establishing the bone marrow/stem cell transplantation program there, serving as medical director of the Cryopreservation Lab supporting the transplant program, helping to develop a cord blood banking program, and teaching and coordinating the second year medical school course in hematology and oncology. Dr. Lowry additionally has ten years experience in the community practice of hematology and oncology. In 2010, Dr. Lowry became chief of hematology/oncology for the Guthrie Health System, a three-hospital tertiary care system serving northern Pennsylvania and southern New York State. He is charged with developing a cutting-edge cancer program that can project into a traditionally rural health care delivery system.

Dr. Lowry has also maintained a career-long interest in regenerative medicine springing from his research and practice experience in stem cell biology. His new role positions him to foster further development of that field. As part of a horizontally and vertically integrated multi-specialty team, he is closely allied with colleagues in cardiology, neurology/neurosurgery, and orthopedics among others with whom he hopes to stimulate the expansion of regenerative techniques.

About Biostem U.S., Corporation

Biostem U.S., Corporation is a fully reporting Nevada corporation with offices in Clearwater, Florida. Biostem is a technology licensing company with proprietary technology centered on providing hair re-growth using human stem cells. The company also intends to train and license selected physicians to provide Regenerative Cellular Therapy treatments to assist the body's natural approach to healing tendons, ligaments, joints and muscle injuries by using the patient's own stem cells. Biostem U.S. is seeking to expand its operations worldwide through licensing of its proprietary technology and acquisition of existing stem cell-related facilities. The company's goal is to operate in the international biotech market, focusing on the rapidly growing regenerative medicine field, using ethically sourced adult stem cells to improve the quality and longevity of life for all mankind.

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Biostem U.S., Corporation Appoints Philip A. Lowry, MD as Chairman of Its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors

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Posted May 29, 2012

Philip A. Lowry

Highly Recognized Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Specialist Added to Existing Member Expertise in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Cardiology, and Pathology

CLEARWATER, FL -- Biostem U.S., Corporation, (OTCQB: HAIR) (PINKSHEETS: HAIR) a stem cell regenerative medicine sciences company, announced that Philip A. Lowry, MD, has been appointed as the Chairman of its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors (SAMBA).

According to Biostem CEO, Dwight Brunoehler, "As Chairman, Dr. Lowry will work with a team drawn from a cross-section of medical specialties. His combination of research, academic and community practice experience make him the perfect individual to coordinate and lead the outstanding group of physicians that makes up our SAMBA. As a group, The SAMBA will guide the company to maintain the highest ethical standards in every effort, while seeking and developing new cutting edge technology based on stem cell use. I am privileged to work with Dr. Lowry, once again."

Dr. Lowry stated, "Dwight is an innovative businessman with an eye on cutting-edge stem cell technology. His history in the industry speaks for itself. I like the plan at Biostem and look forward to working with everyone involved."

Dr. Philip A. Lowry received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College before going on to the Yale University School of Medicine. His completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Virginia then pursued fellowship training in hematology and oncology there as well. During fellowship training and subsequently at the University of Massachusetts, he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Quesenberry working on in vitro and in vivo studies of mouse and human stem cell biology.

Dr. Lowry twice served on the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center from 1992-1996 and from 2004-2009 as an assistant and then associate clinical professor of medicine establishing the bone marrow/stem cell transplantation program there, serving as medical director of the Cryopreservation Lab supporting the transplant program, helping to develop a cord blood banking program, and teaching and coordinating the second year medical school course in hematology and oncology. Dr. Lowry additionally has ten years experience in the community practice of hematology and oncology. In 2010, Dr. Lowry became chief of hematology/oncology for the Guthrie Health System, a three-hospital tertiary care system serving northern Pennsylvania and southern New York State. He is charged with developing a cutting-edge cancer program that can project into a traditionally rural health care delivery system.

Dr. Lowry has also maintained a career-long interest in regenerative medicine springing from his research and practice experience in stem cell biology. His new role positions him to foster further development of that field. As part of a horizontally and vertically integrated multi-specialty team, he is closely allied with colleagues in cardiology, neurology/neurosurgery, and orthopedics among others with whom he hopes to stimulate the expansion of regenerative techniques.

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Biostem Appoints Philip A. Lowry, MD as Chairman of Its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors

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ScienceDaily (May 29, 2012) Researchers from South Korea, Sweden, and the United States have collaborated on a project to restore neuron function to parts of the brain damaged by Huntington's disease (HD) by successfully transplanting HD-induced pluripotent stem cells into animal models.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be genetically engineered from human somatic cells such as skin, and can be used to model numerous human diseases. They may also serve as sources of transplantable cells that can be used in novel cell therapies. In the latter case, the patient provides a sample of his or her own skin to the laboratory.

In the current study, experimental animals with damage to a deep brain structure called the striatum (an experimental model of HD) exhibited significant behavioral recovery after receiving transplanted iPS cells. The researchers hope that this approach eventually could be tested in patients for the treatment of HD.

"The unique features of the iPSC approach means that the transplanted cells will be genetically identical to the patient and therefore no medications that dampen the immune system to prevent graft rejection will be needed," said Jihwan Song, D.Phil. Associate Professor and Director of Laboratory of Developmental & Stem Cell Biology at CHA Stem Cell Institute, CHA University, Seoul, South Korea and co-author of the study.

The study, published online this week in Stem Cells, found that transplanted iPSCs initially formed neurons producing GABA, the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, which plays a critical role in regulating neuronal excitability and acts at inhibitory synapses in the brain. GABAergic neurons, located in the striatum, are the cell type most susceptible to degeneration in HD.

Another key point in the study involves the new disease models for HD presented by this method, allowing researchers to study the underlying disease process in detail. Being able to control disease development from such an early stage, using iPS cells, may provide important clues about the very start of disease development in HD. An animal model that closely imitates the real conditions of HD also opens up new and improved opportunities for drug screening.

"Having created a model that mimics HD progression from the initial stages of the disease provides us with a unique experimental platform to study Huntington's disease pathology" said Patrik Brundin, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Science at Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), Head of the Neuronal Survival Unit at Lund University, Sweden, and co-author of the study.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and psychiatric problems. It typically becomes noticeable in mid-adult life, with symptoms beginning between 35 and 44 years of age. Life expectancy following onset of visual symptoms is about 20 years. The worldwide prevalence of HD is 5-10 cases per 100,000 persons. Key to the disease process is the formation of specific protein aggregates (essentially abnormal clumps) inside some neurons.

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Neuron function restored in brains damaged by Huntington's disease

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Arrangement pairs one of Canada's most successful biotech executive teams with academic discovery engine to address the need for better drugs targeting cancer stem cells and regenerative medicine.

TORONTO/HAMILTON, May 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Actium Research Inc., ("Actium" or the "Company") Toronto, and McMaster University ("McMaster"), Hamilton, have entered into a landmark collaboration covering McMaster's proprietary adult human stem cell lines, cancer stem cells and the directed differentiation platform developed by Dr. Mick Bhatia and his team at the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute ("The Stem Cell Institute"). Together these technologies and the expertise at The Stem Cell Institute provide leading edge tools for drug discovery and better treatments for serious illnesses.

Actium is a drug discovery and development company targeting two types of stem cells; cancer stem cells to improve survival and health outcomes and normal tissue stem cells to promote healing and address the need for cure in chronic diseases. Actium was founded by Dr. David Young and Helen Findlay. Dr. Bhatia joined as the scientific founder in 2012. The team will put their experience with managing drug discovery platforms, development pathways and product pipelines to work to build Actium into a leading biotech company.

Previously, Dr. David Young and Ms Helen Findlay were uniquely successful in creating ARIUS Research Inc. ("ARIUS"), a public biotech company, trading on the TSX, specializing in the discovery and development of therapeutic cancer antibodies based entirely on technology developed in its own research labs. ARIUS' FunctionFIRST technology was partnered with leading companies such as Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Japan's largest drug company, Genentech, the leader in cancer antibodies, and Protein Design Labs, a pioneer in antibody humanization. These and other partnerships represented over $400 million of value. ARIUS was a singular financial success story in Canada. The sale of the company to Roche in 2008 generated a five times return on capital, cash on cash, representing the largest return to date for investors in a Canadian biotech company. More importantly, the company created the first specific cancer stem cell drug to enter human clinical trials. The company was well recognized for its accomplishments: it was named as a top 50 company by the TSX Venture Exchange in 2005, a top 10 company by Ottawa Life Sciences Council in 2006, and Biotech Company of the Year by BioteCanada in 2009.

"After we founded Actium we were presented with many interesting technologies looking for commercialization support." said David Young, Actium CEO. "Ontario has a wealth of great researchers and I think with Dr. Mick Bhatia's leadership and the support from the community, the Stem Cell Institute at McMaster stands at the forefront. Much has been written about Canada's commercialization gap and desperate need to move our research from the bench into the clinic so that we benefit from medical innovation both as patients and as a society. The federal government placed a lot of emphasis on addressing this gap in the most recent budget and our agreement with McMaster represents a great example of academia working with the private sector to achieve these goals. Actium is pleased to join the other companies and groups working to see Ontario's medical research advanced to provide our physicians with new tools to achieve better outcomes."

McMaster University is committed to creating collaborations that help accelerate the pace intellectual property is transferred from its labs and to the marketplace, where it will have the greatest impact.

"This specific initiative will assist us in doing just that," said Mo Elbestawi, McMaster Vice-President, Research and International Affairs. "These discoveries from Dr. Bhatia's lab show great promise and we're delighted with his efforts to commercialize the results of his research, from which many will benefit."

Initially, Actium will develop anti-cancer stem cell drugs that are directed against a newly identified cancer stem cell marker in leukemia and breast cancer. Cancer stem cells are a unique group of cells within a tumor that do not respond to conventional therapies and may be responsible for cancers that spread or that return after treatment. The company will also work through research agreements with McMaster and The Stem Cell Institute to identify drugs that cause "normal" stem cells to become specialized as different tissue types to promote healing. In addition, the Actium strategy includes accessing technologies that expand drug development capabilities or fill pipeline gaps. The overall development strategy is guided by principles of pipeline management where projects compete with each other for resources, and allocations are made according to success-based performance metrics. "This is the most efficient way to allocate resources to the compounds with the best chances of becoming breakthrough drugs. In this horse race the winners go on to the next race until a champion is crowned", said Dr. Bhatia, Actium Chief Scientific Officer.

About McMaster University and the McMaster Industry Liaison Office

McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. With a research income of more than $395 million, McMaster ranks second in research intensity among Canadian universities. It is home to more than 23,000 students, 1,300 faculty members, and 70 world-class research centres and institutes. Through the McMaster Industry Liaison Office, the University facilitates the commercialization efforts of its faculty by connecting them to the marketplace.

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Actium Research and McMaster University Collaborate to Commercialize Stem Cell Technologies

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There seems to be a healthy competition going on in the beauty industry as leading brands are bottling plant stem cells in skincare products. While Lancome is hyping anti-ageing roses, on the other side of the Atlantic Estee Lauder has been harnessing the power of tuberose for a luxurious anti-ageing and whitening range.

In Thai the flower is known as sorn klin, meaning hidden scent, when it actually has a seductive scent. Its little white flowers are used in Indian wedding ceremonies and traditional rituals, and so there's something magical about this delicate bloom.

In northern climates, only in August does this flower come to life, blooming only at night and living for merely 40 days.

For its plant stem cell project, the US cosmetic company picked white tuberose grown in an arid field in Latin America.

A single petal of the flower from a living plant is placed in a special laboratory culture dish and transported to a lab in Japan, where it is further cultivated with customised nutrients that unlock latent plant stem cells within the petal.

These precious tuberose cells are then harvested and their valuable benefits are extracted for the formulation of Re-Nutriv Radiant White Age-Renewal collection.

How could the white tuberose serve as a skin-brightening ingredient?

In folklore, its nectar is known to have special powers and Ayurvedic medicine believes in its renewing properties. Estee Lauder scientists associated the flower with inflammation, claiming that it can help calm the skin.

Inflammation has been identified as a major cause of age spots. Studying the genes of samples of age spots, the scientists found increased expression of genes promoting inflammation that triggers melanocytes to overproduce melanin, resulting in menacing age spots.

Created for Asian-type skin, Re-Nutriv Radiant White Age-Renewal formulas feature tuberose plant stem cell, green tea and rice bran extracts, licorice as well as vitamins C and E for a synergistical skin-brightening effect.

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Harnessing a flower's hidden powers

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 29-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Tim Hawkins Tim.Hawkins@vai.org 616-234-5519 Van Andel Research Institute

Grand Rapids, Mich. (May 29, 2012) Researchers from South Korea, Sweden, and the United States have collaborated on a project to restore neuron function to parts of the brain damaged by Huntington's disease (HD) by successfully transplanting HD-induced pluripotent stem cells into animal models.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be genetically engineered from human somatic cells such as skin, and can be used to model numerous human diseases. They may also serve as sources of transplantable cells that can be used in novel cell therapies. In the latter case, the patient provides a sample of his or her own skin to the laboratory.

In the current study, experimental animals with damage to a deep brain structure called the striatum (an experimental model of HD) exhibited significant behavioral recovery after receiving transplanted iPS cells. The researchers hope that this approach eventually could be tested in patients for the treatment of HD.

"The unique features of the iPSC approach means that the transplanted cells will be genetically identical to the patient and therefore no medications that dampen the immune system to prevent graft rejection will be needed," said Jihwan Song, D.Phil. Associate Professor and Director of Laboratory of Developmental & Stem Cell Biology at CHA Stem Cell Institute, CHA University, Seoul, South Korea and co-author of the study.

The study, published online this week in Stem Cells, found that transplanted iPSCs initially formed neurons producing GABA, the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, which plays a critical role in regulating neuronal excitability and acts at inhibitory synapses in the brain. GABAergic neurons, located in the striatum, are the cell type most susceptible to degeneration in HD.

Another key point in the study involves the new disease models for HD presented by this method, allowing researchers to study the underlying disease process in detail. Being able to control disease development from such an early stage, using iPS cells, may provide important clues about the very start of disease development in HD. An animal model that closely imitates the real conditions of HD also opens up new and improved opportunities for drug screening.

"Having created a model that mimics HD progression from the initial stages of the disease provides us with a unique experimental platform to study Huntington's disease pathology" said Patrik Brundin, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Science at Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), Head of the Neuronal Survival Unit at Lund University, Sweden, and co-author of the study.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and psychiatric problems. It typically becomes noticeable in mid-adult life, with symptoms beginning between 35 and 44 years of age. Life expectancy following onset of visual symptoms is about 20 years. The worldwide prevalence of HD is 5-10 cases per 100,000 persons. Key to the disease process is the formation of specific protein aggregates (essentially abnormal clumps) inside some neurons.

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Researchers restore neuron function to brains damaged by Huntington's disease

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

HONG KONG--(Marketwire -05/29/12)- Today, http://www.BrightonMarkets.com announced new reports highlighting Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) and Teradyne, Inc. (TER). Gain market insight with full analysis and research downloads available at http://www.BrightonMarkets.com/index.php?coa=OXY&cob=TER.

With markets in correction mode, investors are looking to quantify an accurate model, weighing positives and negatives of the months ahead. Upcoming negative pressures include China's slowdown, the European recession, the end of the Fed's Operation Twist stimulus program, continued geopolitical risks, election uncertainty, and potential 2013 budget bombshell of tax hikes and spending cuts. Meanwhile, positive offsets are driven by central banks (particularly China) cutting rather than hiking rates, deceleration in fuel and food prices, increase in consumer sentiment and resulting retail sales, signs of improvement in housing sales and new strength in auto production schedules.

Despite the current situation, our team continues to identify high momentum situations with growth potential -- there remains strong opportunity within careful discretion.

Brighton Markets is releasing new coverage on Occidental Petroleum Corporation for its current position within the basic materials industry. Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Occidental) conducts its operations through various subsidiaries and affiliates. The Company operates in three segments: oil and gas segment; chemical segment; and midstream, marketing and other segment. The oil and gas segment explores for, develops and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas. The full research report on Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) is available here: http://www.BrightonMarkets.com/index.php?coa=OXY.

Brighton Markets has released research on Teradyne, Inc. for its changing role within the technology industry. Teradyne, Inc. (Teradyne) is a global supplier of automatic test equipment. The Company designs, develops, manufactures and sells automatic test systems and solutions used to test complex electronics in the consumer electronics, automotive, computing, telecommunications, wireless, and aerospace and defense industries. The full research report on Teradyne, Inc. (TER) is available here: http://www.BrightonMarkets.com/index.php?cob=TER.

About Brighton Markets Brighton Markets was founded on the guiding principle of providing highly relevant, meaningful, and actionable information direct to investors. Across the investment spectrum, Brighton Markets shines light on today's events.

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Upcoming Economic Outlook - Report Highlights Genetic Technologies Limited (ADR) and Complete Genomics, Inc.

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Public release date: 29-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Bridget Dempsey b.dempsey@qmul.ac.uk 44-207-882-7927 Queen Mary, University of London

A rare disease which often first presents in newborn babies has been traced to a novel genetic defect, scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have found.

The research, published online in Nature Genetics (27 May) discovered 20 distinct mutations in a specific gene found in patients with the rare adrenal disease, Familial Glucocorticoid Deficiency (FGD).

The potentially fatal disease means affected children are unable to produce a hormone called cortisol which is essential for the body to cope with stress.

Lead researcher Dr Lou Metherell*, endocrine geneticist at Queen Mary, University of London, said: "People who inherit this disease are unable to cope with physical stress. For example, the normal response to infection or traumatic injury is to produce cortisol supporting the metabolic response to the event. Patients with FGD cannot do this and may die if untreated.

"We found 20 distinct defects in the antioxidant gene nicotinamide nucleotide transhydogenase (NNT) in patients from all over the world who suffer from FGD."

The researchers, which include Eirini Meimaridou and Professor Adrian Clark, also at Queen Mary in the William Harvey Research Institute, had previously found defects in four genes present in this disease. The new research uncovered mutations in NNT, an antioxidant gene, which provides a new mechanism for this adrenal disease.

"Patients with this form of FGD exhibit oxidative stress (OS) in the adrenal, a process which is involved in other diseases such as neurodegenerative conditions, cancer, stroke, diabetes and cardiac dysfunction," Professor Clark said.

"If we can discover how the OS causes its effect then this might give us clues to the mechanism in other diseases like those listed above and it may then be possible to use appropriate drugs to reduce or prevent it."

The rest is here:
Scientists discover gene which causes rare disease in babies

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Men have higher rates of bowel cancer than women because of a genetic fault in the female sex chromosome, British experts said Monday.

In an international collaboration led by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), scientists suggested that the development of the disease can be linked to a defect in the X chromosome that is associated with lower levels of a gene called SHROOM2, which controls how cells develop and take shape.

The fault can occur in both genders, but because females have two X chromosomes, one faulty version is masked by the normally-functioning version. This is not possible in men, who have only one X chromosome, paired with a Y chromosome.

Professor Richard Houlston from the ICR said, "To our knowledge, this is the first time that anyone has shown that one of the sex chromosomes is involved in the development of a cancer that can afflict both sexes."

He added, "This may help explain why bowel cancer is slightly more common in men. Ultimately, it could also help us target screening to those who are more at risk of the disease."

The study, which also involved research from the universities of Oxford and Edinburgh, was published in the journal Nature Genetics.

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Faulty sex gene behind high rates of male bowel cancer, experts say

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CANBERRA, Australia, May 29,2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Australia's leading science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has been granted foundational patents in the US and Europe for short hairpin RNAi (shRNA) gene silencing technology.

shRNA technology is a powerful method that is widely used as a research tool to test the function of genes and is being developed for a range of targeted therapies in humans. Potential human therapeutic applications using shRNA include protection against viruses, such as HIV or hepatitis. Animal applications include the selection of production traits in livestock and the treatment of, and protection against, diseases such as influenza in chickens.

The newly granted patents (US8183217 and EP1650306) substantially strengthen CSIRO's already extensive RNAi portfolio of more than 60 granted patents, stemming from the pioneering work of CSIRO Plant Industry scientists who were the first to develop hairpin RNA in 1997.

Hairpin RNAi technology was first used in plants and has revolutionised the search for genes responsible for valuable traits. The technology has since been developed for use in animals, particularly in mammals where shorter RNAi molecules are commonly used.

CSIRO makes its patented RNAi technologies available for licensing for research use and for the development of commercial products.

Read more about CSIRO's gene silencing technology: http://www.csiro.au/en/Outcomes/Food-and-Agriculture/Gene-silencing

Read more about CSIRO: http://www.csiro.au/

For more information about the technology or to discuss licensing, please contact: Dr Rob Defeyter CSIRO, Sydney, AustraliaWork: +61 2 6246 5528 Mobile: +61 (0) 406 786 897 Email: robert.defeyter@csiro.au

Link:
CSIRO Granted Foundational Patents for RNAi Gene Silencing Technology

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

SAN DIEGO, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Sequenom, Inc. (SQNM), a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, today reported on a recently released publication in which the Sequenom MassARRAY System (for research use only) was used in a groundbreaking independent study that detected the transforming fusion gene EML4/ALK in non-small cell lung cancer. The study was conducted by researchers at Kinki University in Japan and appears in the May online issue of The Journal of Thoracic Oncology. The full results of the study can be found online at: http://journals.lww.com/jto/Abstract/2012/05000/A_Novel_Mass_Spectrometry_Based_Assay_for.20.aspx.

The research study describes an assay which detects the transforming fusion gene echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Current research methods have limitations in terms of detecting different variants, and this study demonstrates the successful detection of nine EML4-ALK variants in total RNA obtained from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens of NSCLC tissue.

As stated in the paper, "Our assay is able to distinguish between the different EML4-ALK variants in a small amount of formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded NSCLC tissue and it should prove to be a useful tool for the detection of EML4-ALK variants in testing for this fusion gene," said Kazuto Nishio, MD, Ph.D., Lead Author, Kinki University.

The EML4-ALK translocation occurs in five to 10 percent of lung cancer patients. Crizotinib, a tyrosine kinase activity inhibitor of ALK and MET, has been shown to be effective for the treatment of lung cancer patients harboring this translocation. In contrast to dual-color split-signal FISH analysis that is commonly used for screening ALK rearrangement or real-time PCR assays, this assay, utilizing the MassARRAY System, can detect nine EML4-ALK variants and wild-type ALK including 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5a, 5b, 6, and 7 transcripts.

The research study was led by Dr. Kazuto Nishio, MD, PhD of the Departments of Genome Biology and Medical Oncology at the Kinki University in Osaka, Japan. The Sequenom MassARRAY system is for research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About SequenomSequenom, Inc. (SQNM) is a life sciences company committed to improving healthcare through revolutionary genetic analysis solutions. Sequenom develops innovative technology, products and diagnostic tests that target and serve discovery and clinical research, and molecular diagnostics markets. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Sequenom maintains a Web site at http://www.sequenom.com to which Sequenom regularly posts copies of its press releases as well as additional information about Sequenom. Interested persons can subscribe on the Sequenom Web site to email alerts or RSS feeds that are sent automatically when Sequenom issues press releases, files its reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission or posts certain other information to the Web site.

Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding the use, benefits, and impact of the MassARRAY system and assays performed on the MassARRAY system, and Sequenom's commitment to improving healthcare through revolutionary genetic analysis solutions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks and uncertainties associated with Sequenom's ability to develop and commercialize new technologies and products, particularly new technologies such as prenatal and other diagnostics and laboratory developed tests, Sequenom's ability to manage its existing cash resources or raise additional cash resources, competition, intellectual property protection and intellectual property rights of others, government regulation particularly with respect to diagnostic products and laboratory developed tests, obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals, ongoing litigation, including patent litigation, and other risks detailed from time to time in Sequenom, Inc.'s most recent Quarterly Report on Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Form 10-Q and Annual Report on SEC Form 10-K for 2011 and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that may change and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Sequenom, Inc. undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of this press release.

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Recently Published Independent Research Study Detects Gene Variation In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using The Sequenom ...

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Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Genetics Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail;Medical Devices / Diagnostics Article Date: 29 May 2012 - 11:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'People's Geographic Origins Traceable With New Genetic Method'

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The team, from the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, UCLA's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Tel Aviv University, write about their work in a paper published online in Nature Genetics on 20 May.

The researchers hope their method, which they call "spatial ancestry analysis" or SPA, will increase understanding of genetic diversity among populations, which in turn helps us better understand human disease and evolution.

Research areas that may benefit from the new method include finding links between genetic variants and disease and locating parts of genomes that have been subject to positive selection.

SPA is a software tool for analyzing spatial structure in genetic data. It models genotypes in two- and three-dimensional space.

With SPA researchers can model the spatial distributon of each genetic variant. And in this study, the team showed that particular frequency patterns of spatial distribution of gene variants are tied to particular geographic locations.

For genetic variants the team used SNPs ("snips", short for single-nucleotide polymorphisms) from various parts of the genome, including "the well-characterized LCT region, as well as at loci including FOXP2, OCA2 and LRP1B".

An SNP is a DNA sequence variation where there is a single nucleotide (A, T, C or G) difference in the "spelling" of the sequence.

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People's Geographic Origins Traceable With New Genetic Method

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A technician in Nigeria breeds cassava plants to maximize vitamin A.

Courtesy Harvest Plus

in 1994 Howarth Bouis stood before potential donors at a conference in Maryland and unveiled his plan for combating malnutrition in the developing world. Bouis, an economist at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), envisioned impoverished farmers in Africa and South Asia growing staple crops that are enriched in key nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin A. His presentation had the audience hookeduntil he said he would accomplish the feat via old-fashioned plant breeding techniques.

At that point Bouis might as well have been lecturing on plows and sickles. Conference attendees wanted to solve the hunger problem with high-tech science, the kind of advances that produced incredibly effective fertilizers and pesticides during the green revolution of the 1970s. Their attention had just turned to genetically modified crops, engineered with specific genes that would not only enhance nutrition, as Bouis proposed, but also boost yields and instill resistance to pests and weed killers. Bouis came away with a single $1 million granta fraction of the money needed to reach his goals.

People ignored Bouis then, but they dont anymore. While most genetically modified food projects are stuck in political purgatory, Bouiss HarvestPlus program has brought nutrient-rich crops to tens of thousands of African farmers, and they will soon be available to millions more. When you breed conventionally, Bouis says, theres no controversy.

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Bouiss passion for improving agriculture in the developing world began in the 1980s, when he went on aid expeditions throughout the Middle East and Asia. Some 65 percent of African and Southeast Asian children have iron deficiencies that can lead to anemia and fatigue. Vitamin A deficiency produces 500,000 annual cases of blindness among children under age 5 (half of whom do not survive), and lack of zinc kills 800,000 a year. They had so much strength and courage despite their poverty, he says. Thats always inspired me.

That inspiration drove Bouiss work IFPRI, where he began exploring the idea of taking native plants and mating them with similar varieties that have a desired trait. If an African species of sweet potato could attain the nutritional benefits of a North American variety naturally high in vitamin A, for instance, then perhaps malnourished African farmers could grow their own nutritious sweet potatoes. Unfortunately Bouis needed money to find out whether that would work. It was not easy selling a meticulous program dedicated solely to fighting malnutrition when geneticists said they were on their way to solving that and a slate of other problems.

In 1993 European researchers Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer began infecting rice grains with genetically modified bacteria that transmitted individual genes into the plants DNA. Seven years later, they found three genesone from a bacterium and two from a daffodilthat programmed the plant to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. The genes also gave the grains a yellow tint, earning them the name Golden Rice. Further tinkering added genes to increase yields and ward off insects. When Potrykus and Beyer published their results in Science, many scientists and media outlets proclaimed that genetically modified crops would hasten a second green revolution.

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Big Idea: Fighting Hunger With Ancient Genetic Engineering Techniques | DISCOVER

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ScienceDaily (May 29, 2012) The discovery of a mummified Korean child with relatively preserved organs enabled an Israeli-South Korean scientific team to conduct a genetic analysis on a liver biopsy which revealed a unique hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C2 sequence common in Southeast Asia.

Additional analysis of the ancient HBV genomes may be used as a model to study the evolution of chronic hepatitis B and help understand the spread of the virus, possibly from Africa to East-Asia. It also may shed further light on the migratory pathway of hepatitis B in the Far East from China and Japan to Korea as well as to other regions in Asia and Australia where it is a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The reconstruction of the ancient hepatitis B virus genetic code is the oldest full viral genome described in the scientific literature to date. It was reported in the May 21 edition of the scientific journal Hepathology by a research team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment; the Hebrew University's Faculty of Medicine, the Hadassah Medical Center's Liver Unit; Dankook University and Seoul National University in South Korea.

Carbon 14 tests of the clothing of the mummy suggests that the boy lived around the 16th century during the Korean Joseon Dynasty. The viral DNA sequences recovered from the liver biopsy enabled the scientists to map the entire ancient hepatitis B viral genome.

Using modern-day molecular genetic techniques, the researchers compared the ancient DNA sequences with contemporary viral genomes disclosing distinct differences. The changes in the genetic code are believed to result from spontaneous mutations and possibly environmental pressures during the virus evolutionary process. Based on the observed mutations rates over time, the analysis suggests that the reconstructed mummy's hepatitis B virus DNA had its origin between 3,000 to 100,000 years ago.

The hepatitis B virus is transmitted through the contact with infected body fluids , i.e. from carrier mothers to their babies, through sexual contact and intravenous drug abuse. According to the World Health Organization, there are over 400 million carriers of the virus worldwide, predominantly in Africa, China and South Korea, where up to 15 percent of the population are cariers of the virus. In recent years, universal immunization of newborns against hepatitis B in Israel and in South Korea has lead to a massive decline in the incidence of infection.

The findings are the result of a collaborative effort between Dr. Gila Kahila Bar-Gal of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Koret School of Veterinary Medicine; Prof. Daniel Shouval of the Hadassah Medical Center's Liver Unit and Hebrew University; Dr. Myeung Ju Kim of Dankook University, Seok Ju Seon Memorial Museum; Dr. Dong Hoon Shin of Seoul National University, College of Medicine ; Prof Mark Spigelman of the Hebrew University's Dept. of Parasitology and Dr. Paul R. Grant of University College of London,Dept. of Virology.

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EMBARGOED UNTIL 3 pm CT/4 pm ET, Tuesday, May 29, 2012

DALLAS, May 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rapid advancements in genetic disease research necessitate innovative safeguards for patients, according to new American Heart Association policy recommendations published in Circulation, an American Heart Association journal.

Recent scientific progress includes the mapping of the entire human genetic code, or genome, which was completed in 2003, and new accelerated gene-sequencing techniques. These discoveries have led to cheaper, more readily available genetic tests, but regulations have lagged behind.

"The potential of the new technologies is incredible," said Euan A. Ashley, M.R.C.P., D.Phil., chair of the policy statement writing group and assistant professor of medicine in the Cardiovascular Division and director of the Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease at Stanford University School of Medicine, in Stanford, California.

"Genetic testing provides a tremendous opportunity but also a challenge in being responsible with that information," Ashley said. "If the information is available, how best do we use it to really improve care for individual patients?"

Focusing on heart and blood vessel diseases, the policy statement recommends:

In the modern era, gene sequencing simply involves observation of the natural world and not invention, therefore genes should not be patentable. The investigators cite a controversial case, now before the Supreme Court, of a company that patented the two primary genes -- BRCA1 and BRCA2 -- linked to an increased breast and ovarian cancer risk. The company has a monopoly on testing related to these genes and some believe this monopoly has reduced access to this test for women.

Establishing federal oversight of genetic tests

All genetic tests should be regulated for quality. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is well suited to this task because it has statutory authority, scientific expertise and experience in regulating genetic tests.

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Safeguards Against Misuse of Genetic Data Urged

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Newswise LOS ANGELES (MAY 28, 2012) David L. Rimoin, MD, PhD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute, a pioneer in research in skeletal disorders and abnormalities who played a pivotal role in developing mass screenings for Tay-Sachs and other heritable disorders, died early Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 75.

Rimoin, Cedars-Sinais Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Pediatrics, died after a diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in early May.

Beloved throughout the academic medical world as a mentor who demonstrated model dedication, compassion, kindness, humor and personal balance to colleagues and dozens and dozens of physicians and scientists, many of whom would become leaders in the field, Rimoin was just the second member of his extended family to go to college.

He became a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, a Master in the American College of Physicians and an Honorary Life member of Little People of America. From 1979 to 1983, Rimoin served as founding president of the American Board of Medical Genetics, formed to improve the standards of care in the area of medical genetics.

Rimoin, a longtime Beverly Hills resident who was a devoted husband and father, is survived by his wife, Ann, and three children. While his funeral will be closed, planning is under way for a public memorial.

David Rimoin was a magnificent scientist and physician whose contributions were global in scale, said Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai. The arrival of David and his team in 1986 represented an essential element of the foundation on which Cedars-Sinais academic mission has grown and flourished over the years. His kindness and his grace were without equal."

Working with Michael M. Kaback, MD, Rimoin played a fundamental role in developing mass screenings for Tay-Sachs, a rare and fatal genetic disorder that affected the Ashkenazi Jewish population in the United States and Israel. The Tay-Sachs testings were the first large-scale genetic screening and have virtually eliminated the disease.

We have lost a giant in medicine, said Lawrence B. Platt, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors. For those of us who had the great fortune of having David in our lives, we have lost a cherished friend. David touched the lives of so many people in such significant ways that his passing leaves a void that will never be filled."

For 18 years prior to founding the Medical Genetics Institute in 2004, Rimoin served as chair of the Cedars-Sinai Department of Pediatrics. Before joining Cedars-Sinai in 1986, Rimoin served as chief of the Division of Medical Genetics at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He also was director of the Genetics Clinic at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Rimoins primary research focused on medical genetics, specifically short stature and skeletal dysplasias a group of disorders associated with abnormalities in the size and shape of the limbs, torso and skull as well as heritable disorders of connective tissue. He founded and directed the International Skeletal Dysplasia Registry, the largest such registry in the world and wrote a primary textbook, Emery and Rimoins Principles and Practices of Medical Genetics, now in its sixth edition.

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David L. Rimoin MD, PhD, Director of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute, 1936 - 2012

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SAN DIEGO, May 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. announced today that its strategic partner in Mexico, Grupo Angeles Health Services, has received approval from Mexico's regulatory agency, COFEPRIS, for a Phase I/II single-blind randomized clinical trial for chronic heart failure. COFEPRIS is the Mexican equivalent of the United States FDA. The clinical trial, to be conducted at multiple hospital sites throughout Mexico, will utilize Stemedica's adult allogeneic ischemia tolerant mesenchymal stem cells (itMSC) delivered via intravenous infusion. The trial will involve three safety cohorts at different dosages, followed by a larger group being treated with the maximum safe dosage. The COFEPRIS approval is the second approval for the use of Stemedica's itMSCs. COFEPRIS approved Stemedica's itMSCs in 2010 for a clinical trial for ischemic stroke. These two trials are the only allogeneic stem cell studies approved by COFEPRIS.

Grupo Angeles is a Mexican company that is 100% integrated into the national healthcare development effort. The company is comprised of 24 state-of-the-art hospitals totaling more than 2,000 beds and 200 operating rooms. Eleven thousand Groupo Angeles physicians annually treat nearly five million patients a year. Of these, more than two million are seen as in-patients. In just over two decades, Groupo Angeles has radically transformed the practice of private medicine in Mexico and contributed decisively to reform in the country's health system. Grupo Angeles hospitals conduct an estimated 100 clinical trials annually, primarily with major global pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

"We are pleased that we will be working with the largest and most prestigious private medical institution in Mexico to study Stemedica's product for this indication. If successful, our stem cells may provide a treatment option for the millions of patients, both in Mexico and internationally, who suffer from this condition," said Maynard Howe, PhD, CEO of Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc.

Roberto Simon, MD, CEO of Grupo Angeles Health Services, noted, "We are proud to be the first organization to bring regulatory-approved allogeneic stem cell treatment to the people of Mexico. We envision that this type of treatment may well become a standard for improving cardiac status for chronic heart failure patients and are pleased to be partnering with Stemedica, one of the leading companies in the field of regenerative medicine."

Nikolai Tankovich, MD, PhD, President and Chief Medical Officer of Stemedica commented, "For the more than five million North Americans who suffer from chronic heart failure, this is an important trial. Our ischemia tolerant mesenchymal stem cells hold the potential to improve ejection fraction--the amount of blood pumped with each heart beat--and therefore, dramatically improve quality of life."

For more information about Stemedica please contact Dave McGuigan at dmcguigan(at)stemedica(dot)com. For more information about Grupo Angeles and the chronic heart failure trial please contact Paulo Yberri at pyberri(at)angelesehealth(dot)com.

About Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc.(http://www.stemedica.com) is a specialty bio-pharmaceutical company committed to the manufacturing and development of best-in-class allogeneic adult stem cells and stem cell factors for use by approved research institutions and hospitals for pre-clinical and clinical (human) trials. The company is a government licensed manufacturer of clinical grade stem cells and is approved by the FDA for its clinical trials for ischemic stroke. Stemedica is currently developing regulatory pathways for a number of medical indications using adult allogeneic stem cells. The Company is headquartered in San Diego, California.

This article was originally distributed on PRWeb. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/stemedica-clinical-trial/chronic-heart-failure/prweb9550806.htm

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Stemedica Stem Cells Approved for Clinical Trials in Mexico for Chronic Heart Failure

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27-05-2012 05:31 05/25/2012 Women have many options when it comes to birth control, while men don't have any. But all that could change. Researchers have discovered a gene that is essential to the production of sperm. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh found that the gene, called Katnal1, causes temporary infertility in male mice when blocked. The team gave mice a chemical called ENU that triggers genetic mutations. They then bred the mice to see if any of them became infertile, isolated the impotent mice, and backtracked through their genetic code to identify which gene was disrupted by ENU. The team identified that Katnal1 is used to regulate a structure known as microtubules, which are the parts of sperm needed for nutrients and support. According to the study, this gene could be key in developing birth control for men, and better understanding male infertility. With this key bit of information, scientists say a non-hormonal contraceptive for men may be just five to 10 years away. This video is [FAIR USE], under © COPYRIGHT LAW it is: ? noncommercial ? trans-formative in nature ? not competitive with the original work ? not effecting its market negatively ? Thank you. [FAIR USE NOTICE]: [This video contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyrig owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understandichtice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such ...

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New Sperm Gene Discovery Could Lead to Male BIRTH CONTROL [©IBTimesTV] - Video

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Editor's Choice Main Category: Cancer / Oncology Also Included In: Genetics Article Date: 28 May 2012 - 16:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'Chronic Inflammation Gene May Destroy Tumors'

Robert J. Schneider, PhD, the Albert Sabin Professor of Molecular Pathogenesis and associate director for translational research and co-director of the Breast Cancer Program at the NYU Langone Medical Center, who was the principal investigator of the study, declared:

Scientists have known for decades that accelerated ageing, inflammation and cancer are somehow related, yet exactly how these conditions are linked has so far been unknown. The little knowledge available has partly been obtained in Schneider's previous studies, mainly that a gene called AUF1 controls inflammation by switching off the inflammatory response to prevent the onset of septic shock, and although this finding is significant, it fails to shed light on the link to ageing and cancer. The team observed that accelerated ageing occurred when the AUF1 gene was deleted, which led them to investigate further. A decade later, they have finally discovered the link between inflammation, advanced aging and cancer.

They found out that aside from controlling inflammation, AUF1, which belongs to a family of four related genes, also maintains the integrity of chromosomes. It activates telomerase, an enzyme, to repair the ends of chromosomes, and by doing so, it simultaneously reduces inflammation, prevents rapid aging and cancer from developing. Dr. Schneider explained: "AUF1 is a medical and scientific trinity. Nature has designed a way to simultaneously turn off harmful inflammation and repair our chromosomes, thereby suppressing aging at the cellular level and in the whole animal."

Armed with this new discovery, Dr. Schneider and his team are currently researching how the alterations manifest and present themselves clinically. They are examining human populations for specific types of genetic changes in the AUF1 gene, which are associated with rapid ageing, higher risk of cancer and co-developments of certain immune diseases.

Written By Petra Rattue Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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Petra Rattue. "Chronic Inflammation Gene May Destroy Tumors." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 28 May. 2012. Web. 29 May. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245916.php>

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Obituaries

May 28, 2012

Dr. David Rimoin

Dr. David Rimoin, a pioneering physician and researcher in the field of medical genetics, died May 27, 2012 at the age of 76.

Dr. Rimoin succumbed after a private battle with pancreatic cancer.

Colleagues and friends, many of whom were not aware of his sudden diagnosis, reacted with shock.

We have lost a giant in the field of medicine, said an official statement from the Cedars Sinai board of directors. His medical contributions will continue to bring healing for generations.

Dr. Rimoin held the Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Pediatrics and was Director of the Medical Genetics Institute at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He was also Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Human Genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. At Cedars, he conducted groundbreaking research into dwarfism and skeletal dysplasia. His 1970 demonstration that diabetes mellitus was the reflection of multiple genetic variants laid the foundation for the field of common disease genetics. His 1983 textbook, Emery and Rimoins Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics remains a classic in the field. Dr. Rimoin published over 400 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

David Rimoin was born in 1936 in Montreal, Canada. He earned his PhD from McGill Medical School in 1961, and received his PhD in human genetics in 1967 from Johns Hopkins.

In 1970 he arrived in LA, where he built the division of human genetics first at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, then at Cedars Sinai.

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Dr. David Rimoin, pioneering geneticist, dies at 76

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FARMINGTON

Dr. Frank Torti, the University of Connecticut Health Center's new vice president of health affairs, says that personalized medicine could be the next big thing in health care and that he expects the university to play a major role in it.

With UConn's work in genomics and the upcoming arrival of genetic research company Jackson Laboratory to campus, Torti said the health center is well-positioned to advance the field of personalized medicine, in which a patient's genetic information is used to customize treatment for a particular condition.

"Where we want UConn to lead is where we can actually begin to identify for individual patients drugs that are likely to work for them and be able to identify drugs that are likely to produce toxicity," Torti said, sitting in his new, sparsely furnished office. "If we can do that, we would change the face of how medicine is delivered. If we can do that, people will laugh at 20th-century and early 21st-century medicine the way that we now laugh at some of the things that were done in the 19th century, because we will have changed the way that we conceptualize how to treat a patient for a disease."

Now four weeks into his new position, Torti recently outlined his goals for the next few years.

"We want to find those areas, those intersections where science is going nationally and worldwide that's one part of the question," he said. "The other part of it is where does UConn currently, or could, have a unique contribution to that?"

Developing science is only half the battle. Actually getting it to the public is the other half. Negotiating the maze of the drug approval process is a matter that requires its own expertise, he said, and his earlier work as chief scientist and acting commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should help significantly in that respect.

"I have seen many good compounds, many good potential drugs never reach patients not because they weren't effective, but because the [developer] did not understand the pathway to get that drug approved," he said. "This is a science in its own right. This is a science that I bring to UConn."

UConn President Susan Herbst said that Torti's FDA experience was one reason she wanted to bring him to the health center.

"Drug discovery is a critical part of what we're going for," she said. "With our investment in genomics and in stem cell research, we need the expertise of someone who understands the drug approval process. To have someone who led the FDA, that's special and unusual for a university."

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28 May 2012 Last updated at 09:14 ET

A 54m cutting-edge stem cell research centre in Edinburgh has been officially opened by the Princess Royal.

The Royal opened the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine as well as the 24m bio-incubator facility, Nine, in the Edinburgh BioQuarter.

Research into conditions such as multiple sclerosis and heart and liver disease will benefit from the new facilities in Little France.

The Princess Royal unveiled plaques at the centres.

Edinburgh University's Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine is the first large-scale, purpose-built facility of its kind and provides accommodation for up to 250 stem cell scientists.

The centre, funded by Edinburgh University, Scottish Enterprise, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the British Heart Foundation through its Mending Broken Hearts Appeal, is being opened by the Princess Royal in her role as Chancellor of Edinburgh University.

It includes the most up-to-date facilities in the UK, which meet the highest guidelines, to manufacture stem cell lines that could be used for patient therapies.

Nine, which has been jointly funded by Scottish Enterprise and the UK government's department for business, innovation and skills, has 85,000 sq ft of laboratory and office space for both established biotechnology companies and start-up ventures.

The Edinburgh BioQuarter is in the city's Little France area and includes the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Edinburgh University's Queen's Medical Research Institute and Chancellor's Building.

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Princess opens stem cell centre

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THE MAKATI Medical Centers Cancer Center celebrated its first year anniversary and marked the occasion with the launch of its Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory. Present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Dr. Eric Flores, head, Spine Clinic and Stem Cell Lab; Rosalie Montenegro, Makati Medical Center president and CEO; Dr. ManuelO. Fernandez Jr., executive vice president and director, Professional Services; Dr. Remedios G. Suntay, director and treasurer, MDI Board; Dr. Benjamin N. Alimurung, medical director; Dr. Francis Chung, scientific officer, Stem Cell Lab; and Augusto P. Palisoc Jr., executive director, president and CEO, MPIC Hospital Group.

MAKATIMEDS Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory is managed by experienced scientists with extensive training and is affiliated with the International Society for Cellular Therapy.

Stem cell therapy is now being offered at Makati Medical Center (MMC) as potential cure for a wide range of illnesses, from various types of cancer and heart ailments to incurable diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons and Alzheimers.

Stem cell therapy is believed to be effective in bone marrow transplant for leukemia patients, and with early intervention, yields desirable results among renal and prostate cancer patients.

Launched in the first year anniversary of the hospitals cancer center, MMCs Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory is equipped with technology touted to be totally unmatched in our country, says Dr. Francis Chung, scientific officer of the lab. No system exists elsewhere.

Employing the strictest sterility standards at par with that of the US Food and Drug Administration, the lab has state-of-the-art facilities. The Clinimacs CD34 Reagent System is a machine that isolates specific cells needed for the procedure, while the Flow Cytomer ensures the purity of cultured cells.

Transplantation

Sourcing the stem cells, however, is what truly sets the Philippines premier health institution apart from chi-chi spas that also push stem cell therapy for beauty and anti-aging procedures.

At MMC, healthy stem cells are acquired from the patients themselves, a process known as autologous transplantation. For those suffering from an ailment, a parent, sibling or other close relative could be the donor. The hospital strives for utmost compatibility between patient and donor through a 10-point DNA matching system.

If a battery of tests finds a patient to be up to it, medication is given to prepare him for stem cell harvest.

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