Personalized Medicine: The Future is Now
Personalized medicine is upending hierarchies with consumer products like Scanadu, designed to track physiological signals, and 23andMe.com, which provides raw genetic data. Meanwhile, our...

By: The Aspen Institute

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Personalized Medicine: The Future is Now - Video

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ProofX - 3D Biomedical Printing for Personalized Medicine http://www.proofx.co
ProofX is a leader in 3D Biomedical Printing, a technology that is redefining standards for patient care by improving access to personalized medicine. We are building global networks to connect...

By: Dima Elissa

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ProofX - 3D Biomedical Printing for Personalized Medicine http://www.proofx.co - Video

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Aquatic Therapy at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute
The International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute provides rehabilitation with our innovative aquatic therapy pools. We use aquati...

By: KennedyKrieger

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(Well, OK. Maybe it is a little creepy.)

Authorities last month accused the 54-year-old of stealing $357,000 worth of regenerative medicine products from Mercy Philadelphia Hospital.

Dudek had access to the items, and the hospital, because he worked for Organogenesis, the Massachusetts-based company that manufactures the products.

Media accounts repeatedly described the products as skin grafts, which naturally triggered a host of uneasy questions.

*Were the supposed grafts being resold on a medical black market?

*Had other area hospitals been robbed as well?

*Was Dudek involved in some sort of larger, sinister scheme?

The answer to all three is a resounding "no," said Dudek's attorney, Eugene Tinari.

"Look, this is not anything that would generate headlines like something out of a horror movie," he said.

"I'm not admitting anything, but whatever happened - be it criminal, be it negligence, be it an employer-employee misunderstanding - there was not some type of nefarious [sale] of these items on a black market.

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A Skin-tilating tale?

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Durham, NC (PRWEB) June 27, 2014

A new study released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine suggests a new way to produce endothelial progenitor cells in quantities large enough to be feasible for use in developing new cancer treatments.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are rare stem cells that circulate in the blood with the ability to differentiate into the cells that make up the lining of blood vessels. With an intrinsic ability to home to tumors, researchers have focused on them as a way to deliver gene therapy straight to the cancer. However, the challenge has been to collect enough EPCs for this use.

This new study, by researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore and Zhejiang University led by Shu Wang, Ph.D., explored whether human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could provide the answer. iPSCs, generated from adult cells, can propagate indefinitely and give rise to every other cell type in the body, much like human embryonic stem cells, which are considered the gold standard for stem cell therapy.

However, human iPS cells can be generated relatively easily through reprogramming, a procedure that circumvents the bioethical controversies associated with deriving embryonic stem cells from human embryos, Dr. Wang said.

After inducing human iPS cells to differentiate into the EPCs, the research team compared the stability and reliability of the induced EPCs with regular EPCs by injecting them into mice with breast cancer that had metastasized (traveled) to the lungs. The results showed that their induced EPCs retained the intrinsic ability to home to tumors, just as regular EPCs do. They also did not promote tumor growth or metastasis.

We next tested the induced EPCs therapeutic potential by infusing them with an anticancer gene and injecting them into the mice, Dr. Wang said. The results indicated that the tumors were reduced and the animals survival rates increased.

Since this approach may use patient's own cells to prepare cellular therapeutics and is based on non-toxic immunotherapy, it holds potential for translation to clinical application and may be particularly valuable as a new type of anti-metastatic cancer therapy.

With the increasing potential of using EPCs as cancer therapeutics, it is important to have a reliable and stable supply of human EPCs, said Anthony Atala, M.D., editor of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. This study demonstrates the feasibility of generating EPs from early-passage human iPS cells.

###

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New Stem Cell Production Method Could Clear Way for Anticancer Gene Therapy

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TOKYO: Japanese stem cell scientists have succeeded in slowing the deterioration of mice with motor neuron disease, possibly paving the way for eventual human treatment, according to a new paper.

A team of researchers from the Kyoto University and Keio University transplanted specially created cells into mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's, or motor neuron disease.

The progress of the creatures' neurological degeneration was slowed by almost eight per cent, according to the paper, which was published on Thursday in the scholarly journal Stem Cell Reports.

ALS is a disorder of motor neurons -- nerves that control movement -- leading to the loss of the ability to control muscles and their eventual atrophy.

While it frequently has no effect on cognitive function, it progresses to affect most of the muscles in the body, including those used to eat and breathe.

British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has been almost completely paralysed by the condition.

In their study, the Japanese team used human "iPS" -- induced pluripotent stem cells, building-block cells akin to those found in embryos, which have the potential to turn into any cell in the body.

From the iPS cells they created special progenitor cells and transplanted them into the lumbar spinal cord of ALS mice.

Animals that had been implanted lived 7.8 per cent longer than the control group without the procedure, the paper said.

"The results demonstrated the efficacy of cell therapy for ALS by the use of human iPSCs (human induced pluripotent stem cells) as cell source," the team said in the paper.

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Cell scientists slow degeneration in motor neuron mice

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Friday 27 June 2014 22.31

Japanese stem cell scientists have succeeded in slowing the deterioration of mice with motor neurone disease, possibly paving the way for eventual human treatment.

A team of researchers from the Kyoto University and Keio University transplanted specially created cells into mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's, or motor neurone disease.

The progress of the creatures' neurological degeneration was slowed by almost eight percent, according to the paper, which was published Thursday in the scholarly journal Stem Cell Reports.

ALS is a disorder of motor neurones -- nerves that control movement -- leading to the loss of the ability to control muscles and their eventual atrophy.

While it frequently has no effect on cognitive function, it progresses to affect most of the muscles in the body, including those used to eat and breathe.

British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has been almost completely paralysed by the condition.

In their study, the Japanese team used human "iPS" -- induced pluripotent stem cells, building-block cells akin to those found in embryos, which have the potential to turn into any cell in the body.

From the iPS cells they created special progenitor cells and transplanted them into the lumbar spinal cord of ALS mice.

Animals that had been implanted lived 7.8% longer than the control group without the procedure, the paper said.

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Scientists slow degeneration in motor neurone mice

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June 25, 2014 - Stem Cell Therapy / David Steenblock

By: Dennis Courtney

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June 25, 2014 - Stem Cell Therapy / David Steenblock - Video

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Animal Cell Therapies - Tucker #39;s Story
Tucker shows notable improvement in gait and movement after receiving stem cell therapy from Animal Cell Therapies.

By: Animal Cell Therapies, Inc.

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Animal Cell Therapies - Tucker's Story - Video

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Poway, CA (PRWEB) June 27, 2014

South Reno Veterinary Hospital and Mathew Schmitt, VMD have recently discovered the secret to prolonging a pets quality of life with the use of stem cell therapy, and the ability to bank stem cells for the future care of a pet. Dr. Schmitt and South Reno Veterinary Hospital offer stem cell therapy and stem cell banking through Vet-Stem, Inc. for small animal osteoarthritis and partial ligament tears.

As many as 65% of dogs between the ages of 7 and 11 years old will be inflicted with some degree of arthritis. For certain specific breeds the percentage is as high as 70, such as Labrador Retrievers. Barley, a Labrador mix, was treated using cells from a sample of his own fat, and some stem cells are also stored (or banked) with Vet-Stem just in case he needs future treatment with Dr. Schmitt. Those banked stem cells do not have to be used for the same use as they were originally used for either. For example, if a pet has stem cell therapy initially for osteoarthritis pain and inflammation, the banked stem cells can be used years later for an acute injury.

After rupturing the canine cruciate ligaments in both of his stifles, or hind knees, Barleys pain was managed by medication but then medication was finally not enough and he was facing the possibility of surgery. Dr. Schmitt reported shifting lameness in Barleys hind end, which was a sign of severe discomfort. Barleys owner did not want to put him through surgery on both knees. Instead, Barleys owner elected for stem cell therapy.

I fully believe stem cell therapy has significantly prolonged Barleys quality of life and I am so glad I found out about the therapy when he was injured at six years old. He just turned 13 and his legs are still doing well. It truly is a miracle of science and I tell all my friends about it, said Barleys mom.

Vet-Stem, along with countless research and academic institutions, is working to support additional uses for stem cells which may include treatment for liver disease, kidney disease, auto-immune disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease in animals. These uses for stem cells are in the early stages of development and may provide additional value to the ability to bank stem cells to ensure a pets quality of life into the future.

About Vet-Stem, Inc. Vet-Stem, Inc. was formed in 2002 to bring regenerative medicine to the veterinary profession. The privately held company is working to develop therapies in veterinary medicine that apply regenerative technologies while utilizing the natural healing properties inherent in all animals. As the first company in the United States to provide an adipose-derived stem cell service to veterinarians for their patients, Vet-Stem, Inc. pioneered the use of regenerative stem cells in veterinary medicine. The company holds exclusive licenses to over 50 patents including world-wide veterinary rights for use of adipose derived stem cells. In the last decade over 10,000 animals have been treated using Vet-Stem, Inc.s services, and Vet-Stem is actively investigating stem cell therapy for immune-mediated and inflammatory disease, as well as organ disease and failure. For more on Vet-Stem, Inc. and Veterinary Regenerative Medicine, visit http://www.vet-stem.com/ or call 858-748-2004.

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South Reno Veterinary Hospital is Prolonging Pet Quality of Life with Stem Cell Therapy and the Ability to Bank Cells ...

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Dr. Patrick Byrne speaks on Genetic Engineering for YVSC Talking Green
Talking Green is an adult educational program of the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council.

By: YVSustainability

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Dr. Patrick Byrne speaks on Genetic Engineering for YVSC Talking Green - Video

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Deafhood Genetics: Sleepwalking into Eugenics? - Part 4
A groundbreaking nature of the research were the group interviews held with laypeople who had no information or understanding of Deaf people or deaf issues. ...

By: Clive Mason

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Deafhood & Genetics: Sleepwalking into Eugenics? - Part 4 - Video

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Minister EnQi Brother Polight Imam Bashir Bro Nasi Bro HaShaw Black Genetics

By: BlackandNobel Books

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The Sims 3 Perfect Genetics LP Part 8.5 - janice526
Leave a like, subscribe, comment. You know the drill! Love yall! (((hugs)))

By: janice526

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The Sims 3 Perfect Genetics LP Part 8.5 - janice526 - Video

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A study of individuals who have been adopted has identified genetics as the dominant risk factor in 'familial' breast, prostate and colorectal cancers.

Researchers at the Centre for Primary Health Care Research at Lund University and Region Skne in Sweden have presented the new research findings based on studies of population registers.

"The results of our study do not mean that an individual's lifestyle is not important for the individual's risk of developing cancer, but it suggests that the risk for the three most common types of cancer is dependent to a greater extent on genetics," said Bengt Zller, a reader at Lund University who led the study.

The researchers studied adoptees born in Sweden in relation to both their biological parents and their adoptive parents. The Swedish multi-generation register and the cancer register were used to monitor 70 965 adopted men and women. They were all born between 1932 and 1969 and developed breast cancer, prostate cancer or colorectal cancer between the years 1958 and 2010. Using register studies, the researchers also looked at their adoptive and biological parents over the same period.

The risk of cancer in adoptees with at least one biological parent who had had the same cancer was 80-100 per cent higher for breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer than for a control group without a biological parent with the same cancer. There was, however, no higher risk for individuals with adoptive parents affected by breast cancer, prostate cancer or colorectal cancer than for a control group. Individuals with a biological parent with cancer also developed the disease at a younger age than those without a biological parent with the same cancer. The age at which an individual developed cancer was not, however, affected by whether an adoptive parent had had the same cancer.

The results are an important indicator of the significance of hereditary factors for breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, according to Bengt Zller.

"The occurrence of breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer in biological parents is an important risk factor that should be included in patients' medical history and examinations. It is therefore important that doctors ask about family history so that they can decide whether further tests are needed," said Bengt Zller.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Lund University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Genetics the dominant risk factor in common cancers

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

27-Jun-2014

Contact: Bengt Zller bengt.zoller@med.lu.se 46-403-91954 Lund University

A study of individuals who have been adopted has identified genetics as the dominant risk factor in 'familial' breast, prostate and colorectal cancers.

Researchers at the Centre for Primary Health Care Research at Lund University and Region Skne in Sweden have presented the new research findings based on studies of population registers.

"The results of our study do not mean that an individual's lifestyle is not important for the individual's risk of developing cancer, but it suggests that the risk for the three most common types of cancer is dependent to a greater extent on genetics", said Bengt Zller, a reader at Lund University who led the study.

The researchers studied adoptees born in Sweden in relation to both their biological parents and their adoptive parents. The Swedish multi-generation register and the cancer register were used to monitor 70 965 adopted men and women. They were all born between 1932 and 1969 and developed breast cancer, prostate cancer or colorectal cancer between the years 1958 and 2010. Using register studies, the researchers also looked at their adoptive and biological parents over the same period.

The risk of cancer in adoptees with at least one biological parent who had had the same cancer was 80 per cent higher for breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer than for a control group without a biological parent with the same cancer. There was, however, no higher risk for individuals with adoptive parents affected by breast cancer, prostate cancer or colorectal cancer than for a control group. Individuals with a biological parent with cancer also developed the disease at a younger age than those without a biological parent with the same cancer. The age at which an individual developed cancer was not, however, affected by whether an adoptive parent had had the same cancer.

The results are an important indicator of the significance of hereditary factors for breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, according to Bengt Zller.

"The occurrence of breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer in biological parents is an important risk factor that should be included in patients' medical history and examinations. It is therefore important that doctors ask about family history so that they can decide whether further tests are needed", said Bengt Zller.

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Genetics dominant risk factor in common cancers

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By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Bone marrow transplants save thousands of lives but patients are vulnerable to severe viral infections in the months afterward, until their new immune system kicks in. Now scientists are developing protection for that risky period - injections of cells specially designed to fend off up to five different viruses at once.

"These viruses are a huge problem, and there's a huge need for these products," said Dr. Ann Leen, who leads a team at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital that found an easier way to produce these long-desired designer T cells.

Healthy people have an army of T cells that roams the body, primed to recognize and fight viruses. People with suppressed immune systems - such as those undergoing a bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia or other diseases - lack that protection. It can take anywhere from four months to more than a year for marrow stem cells from a healthy donor to take root and start producing new immune cells for the recipient. When patients get sick before then, today's antiviral medications don't always work and cause lots of side effects.

The proposed solution: Take certain virus-fighting T cells from that same bone marrow donor, and freeze them to use if the recipient gets sick. Years of experiments show it can work. But turning the idea into an easy-to-use treatment has been difficult. A dose had to be customized to each donor-recipient pair and protected against only one or two viruses. And it took as long as three months to make.

Wednesday, Leen reported a novel technique to rapidly manufacture so-called virus-specific T cells that can target up to five of the viruses that cause the most trouble for transplant patients: Epstein-Barr virus, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, BK virus, and human herpesvirus 6.

Essentially, Leen came up with a recipe to stimulate donated T cells in the laboratory so that they better recognize those particular viruses, and then grow large quantities of the cells. It took just 10 days to create and freeze the designer T cells.

To see if they worked, Leen's team treated 11 transplant recipients. Eight had active infections, most with multiple viruses. The cell therapy proved more than 90 percent effective, nearly eliminating all the viruses from the blood of all the patients, Leen reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

The other three patients weren't sick but were deemed at high risk. They were given early doses of the T cells protectively and remained infection-free, Leen said.

Next, her team is beginning a bigger step - to try creating a bank of those cells from a variety of healthy donors that any patient could use, without having to custom-brew each dose.

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Designer T cells fight viruses after transplants - Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

24-Jun-2014

Contact: Caroline Marin crmarin@umn.edu 612-624-5680 University of Minnesota Academic Health Center

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (June 23, 2014) A key cancer-causing gene, responsible for up to 20 percent of cancers, may have a weak spot in its armor, according to new research from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.

The partnership of MYC, a gene long linked to cancer, and a non-coding RNA, PVT1, could be the key to understanding how MYC fuels cancer cells. The research is published in the latest issue of the journal Nature.

"We knew MYC amplifications cause cancer. But we also know that MYC does not amplify alone. It often pairs with adjacent chromosomal regions. We wanted to know if the neighboring genes played a role," said lead author Anindya Bagchi, Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of Minnesota Medical School, the College of Biological Sciences and member of the Masonic Cancer Center. "We took a chance and were surprised to find this unexpected and counter-intuitive partnership between MYC and its neighbor, PVT1. Not only do these genes amplify together, PVT1 helps boost the MYC protein's ability to carry out its dangerous activities in the cell."

Contributors to this research include Yuen-Yi Tseng, graduate student with Anindya Bagchi, David Largaespada, Ph.D., professor in the College of Biological Sciences, Yasuhiko Kawakami, Ph.D., assistant professor in the College of Biological Sciences, York Marahrens, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Biological Sciences and Kathryn Schwertfeger, Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of Minnesota's Medical School.

Bagchi and his team focused on a region of the genome, 8q24, which contains the MYC gene and is commonly expressed in cancer. The team separated MYC from the neighboring region containing the non-coding RNA PVT1. Using a specialized gene manipulation technique called chromosome engineering, researchers developed genetically engineered mouse strains in three separate iterations: MYC only, the rest of the region containing PVT1 but without MYC and the pairing of MYC with the regional genes.

The expected outcome, if MYC was the sole driver of the cancer, was tumor growth on the MYC line as well as the paired line. However, researchers found growth only on the paired line. This indicates MYC is not acting alone and needs help from adjacent genes.

"The discovery of this partnership gives us a stronger understanding of how MYC amplification is fueled. When cancer promotes a cell to make more MYC, it also increases the PVT1 in the cell, which in turn boosts the amount of MYC. It's a cycle, and now we've identified it, we can look for ways to uncouple this dangerous partnership," said Largaespada.

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Master regulator of key cancer gene found, offers new drug target

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

25-Jun-2014

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

New Rochelle, NY, June 25, 2014For some children an allergic reaction to common foods such as milk, eggs, or peanuts can cause an anaphylactic reaction. At present no effective treatment for food allergy exists, and strict dietary avoidance of known food triggers is the only preventive option available. Ongoing trials are exploring options for oral immunotherapy (OIT) for desensitization in the treatment of Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy, as described in a Review article in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology website.

In "Oral Immunotherapy for Treatment of Immunoglobulin E-Mediated Food Allergy: The Transition to Clinical Practice," Giovanni Pajno, MD and coauthors, University of Messina, Italy and Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, review the current state of OIT research for the induction of tolerance in individuals with food allergies. While early trials with OIT appear promising, rigorous, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed to address remaining questions regarding optimal formulation, dosing, and duration for the induction of tolerance in affected patients.

"Oral immunotherapy for the treatment of IgE-mediated food allergy remains experimental with a number of unanswered questions," says Editor-in-Chief Mary Cataletto, MD, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook (Stony Brook, NY) and practicing pediatric pulmonologist at Winthrop University Hospital. "However, it offers the potential for not only a life-saving but life-changing therapy for individuals with food allergies."

###

About the Journal

Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal published in online with Open Access options and in print. The Journal synthesizes the pulmonary, allergy, and immunology communities in the advancement of the respiratory health of children. The Journal provides comprehensive coverage to further the understanding, and optimize the treatment, of some of the most common and costly chronic illnesses in children. It includes original translational, clinical, and epidemiologic research; public health, quality improvement, and case control studies; patient education research; and the latest research and standards of care for functional and genetic immune deficiencies and interstitial lung diseases. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology website.

About the Publisher

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New treatment option in development for individuals with food allergy

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Personalized medicine is the customization of healthcare. Already, a suite of molecular approaches is being used to tailor certain medical decisions, practice and products to the individual patient. For example, melanoma, leukemia and metastatic lung, breast and brain cancers can be routinely molecularly diagnosed and treated with medicines that target the specific genetic mutations. These represent a remarkable improvement over trial-and-error medicine.

Other diagnostic tests use the patients DNA sequence to determine drug-metabolizing capabilities. This helps improve dosing of drugs for conditions as wide-ranging as depression, coronary artery disease, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer.

And the scope of personalized medicine has rapidly broadened to encompass all sorts of personalization measures. Among these are tools that will help transform medicine from the treatment of illness to the maintenance of wellness. This not just some future-world vision: personalized medicine is already beginning to happen, and happen quickly. In 2006, there were just 13 prominent examples of personalized drugs, treatments and diagnostics on the market. By 2011, this number had risen to 72, and today there are 113. Thats a 57 percent increase in the last three years. But the introduction of personalized medicine cant happen quickly enough.

The great opportunity for personalized medicine is its potential to introduce new scientific, business, and medical models. Segmenting populations into groups of patients who have a greater likelihood of responding to a particular treatment or avoiding side effects not only can change the dynamic of drug development but also the practice of medicine. Patients can benefit from better drugs, as well as new diagnostic and prognostic tools.

The way forward

As part of the effort to maintain momentum, yesterday a new report was published, titled The Case for Personalized Medicine. This is the fourth version the first version was published in 2006 and it is required because of the speed of progress in personalized medicine since the third edition was published in 2011. The Case is an examination of the opportunities and the challenges that the continued development and adoption of personalized medicine is meeting, set against a backdrop of faster and cheaper genetic sequencing, increase commitment from the pharmaceutical industry and evolution in the public policy landscape.

The Case for Personalized Medicine is published by the Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC), which represents innovators, scientists, patients, providers and payers. With progress comes a greater responsibility to move personalized medicine forward, says Edward Abrahams, President of PMC. In a time of unprecedented scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements, personalized health care has the capacity to detect the onset of disease at its earliest stages, preempt the progression of disease, and, at the same time, increase the efficiency of the health care system by improving quality, accessibility, and affordability. Weve come a long way, but we have a lot to do, especially in education and advocacy.

The report identifies seven major benefits of personalized medicine. These are to:

Team effort required

To achieve the above benefits, the report argues, we need intelligent coverage and payment policies, new regulatory guidelines, and modernized professional education to prepare the next generation of doctors and other health care professionals for personalized medicine. The report pays special attention to the laws and regulations that govern personalized medicine products and services used in clinical practice which are, necessarily, complex. FDA policies pertaining to personalized medicine tests, pharmaceuticals, and companion diagnostics are of particular importance. Likewise, coverage and payment policieswhether in government programs like Medicare or those of private payersplay an essential role. Payers recognize the benefits of personalized medicine products in patient care management, but they increasingly seek additional evidence of their clinical, if not economic, value. In addition, payers are expanding new models for health care payment and delivery that could have a significant impact on the ability of patients to gain access to personalized medicine products and services. Understanding the changes and potential consequences these policies will have on personalized medicine tests, pharmaceuticals, and companion diagnostics is essential to ensure continued progress in the improvements to patient care.

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Making the Case for Personalized Medicine

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Researchers at Oxford hope that the new face-recognition software could similarly diagnose rare genetic conditions in children from family photographs.

Just as it did with Lincoln, the programme allows a computer to scour family snaps for facial features characteristics of conditions such as Downs syndrome, Angelman syndrome, or Progeria.

Between 30 and 40 per cent of rare genetic disorders are thought to involve changes in the shape of the face and skull.

However, they may not be obvious, and genetic confirmation is time consuming and costly.

The computer learned to identify each condition from a pattern of 36 facial features, such as the shapes of eyes, brows, lips and noses.

"A doctor should in future, anywhere in the world, be able to take a smartphone picture of a patient and run the computer analysis to quickly find out which genetic disorder the person might have, said lead researcher Dr Christoffer Nellaker, from the Medical Research Council's Functional Genomics Unit at Oxford University.

"This objective approach could help narrow the possible diagnoses, make comparisons easier and allow doctors to come to a conclusion with more certainty.

It wont provide rock solid diagnosis but it helps narrow the possibilities, as it did with Lincoln. All you need is a computer and a digital photo.

The computer algorithm has been created by mapping the features of thousands of people with genetic conditions and a control group.

Analysing ordinary family photos, it maps the corners of the eyes, nose, mouth and other features and compares the results with a database of remembered features.

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The genetic secret behind Abraham Lincoln's towering success

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

25-Jun-2014

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 x2156 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, June 25, 2014Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website and Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) are proud to announce that they will again serve as joint platinum media sponsors of the Genetics Policy Institute 2014 World Stem Cell Summit that will take place at the Marriott River Center, December 4-6, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas.

In a new collaborative effort in 2014, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. will also organize a World Stem Cell Summit panel, comprised of leading editors from their peer-reviewed journals intersecting the field to predict the most innovative translational research that will impact regenerative medicine in the next five years.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. will also publish the 2014 World Stem Cell Report as a special supplement to the peer-reviewed journal Stem Cells and Development. Dr. Graham Parker, Editor-in-Chief of Stem Cells and Development, and Bernard Siegel, Executive Director of Genetics Policy Institute (GPI), will serve as Co-Editors-in-Chief of the Report, joined by Rosario Isasi (McGill University) as Managing Editor. The World Stem Cell Report will be made available to all subscribers of Stem Cells and Development and attendees of the World Stem Cell Summit. It will also be available free online in 106 developing countries, courtesy of the Publisher, to facilitate global stem cell research.

"We are very pleased to expand our collaboration with Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., and GEN," says Bernard Siegel, Founder and Co-chair of the Summit. "The commitment by those prestigious publishers to journalistic integrity and scientific knowledge and education matches our enthusiasm to advance the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine for the betterment of humanity. We look forward to working with Graham Parker and the skilled editorial team at Stem Cells and Development to publish our annual Report. We are especially excited to have the expertise of the Liebert editors engaged on the program at the World Stem Cell Summit."

"The World Stem Cell Summit is unequivocally a paramount meeting that brings together the leaders in the field from academia, industry, and business, thereby ensuring the advancement of collaborative opportunities," says Mary Ann Liebert, publisher & CEO of both Stem Cells and Development and GEN. "Bernie Siegel and GPI also recognize the importance of public advocacy at this most important international conference. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is delighted to expand our own collaboration with Bernie Siegel and GPI and to publish the 2014 Report.

GEN Editor-in-Chief John Sterling stated, "The World Stem Cell Summit is the critical global meeting, providing the best opportunity for the GEN community to participate in the world of regenerative medicine. Our platinum media sponsorship allows GEN readers and advertisers to have a front row seat to listen and learn from the top experts on the very dynamic and expertly conceptualized Summit platform."

The Summit program delivers on the "big picture," featuring over 200 prominent scientists, business leaders, regulators, policy-makers, advocates, economic development officers, experts in law and ethics, and visionary gurus who will discuss the latest scientific discoveries, business models, legal and regulatory solutions, and best practices. The Summit is expected to attract attendees from more than 40 nations.

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2014 World Stem Cell Summit presented by GPI, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, and GEN

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How Your Lifestyle Can Change Your Genetics (2010)
This is a video of a talk Dr. Rhonda Patrick gave in 2010 at IgniteMemphis. Ignite features a presentation format in which the speaker #39;s presentation is limi...

By: FoundMyFitness

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How Your Lifestyle Can Change Your Genetics (2010) - Video

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Let #39;s Play: The Sims 3 Perfect Genetics Challenge (Part 2) - Leia #39;s PREGNANT!
Hey Guys! I hope you enjoy this part. Let me know in the comments what you think and finally Leia is pregnant 😀 Now let #39;s just hope the baby has her genes lol. Thanks 😀 Comment, Rate, Subscribe.

By: DisneySims

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Let's Play: The Sims 3 Perfect Genetics Challenge (Part 2) - Leia's PREGNANT! - Video

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Building A Family With The Sims 4 #39;s New Genetics Tool
Create your whole family tree and see what your offspring, siblings, and parents could look like.

By: IGN

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Building A Family With The Sims 4's New Genetics Tool - Video

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith