Genetherapy

Personalized Medicine 4 FIFTH – Video

February 26th, 2014

Personalized Medicine 4 FIFTH

By: Grace Earley

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Personalized Medicine 4 FIFTH - Video

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From Student to Teacher: Geoff Krill Tells You What it’s Like to Be an Adaptive Ski Instructor – Video

February 26th, 2014

From Student to Teacher: Geoff Krill Tells You What it #39;s Like to Be an Adaptive Ski Instructor
Ten months after suffering a spinal cord injury, Geoff Krill was skiing again thanks to an adaptive program at his home mountain. Geoff is a PSIA-AASI #39;s Adaptive Team member and loves to teach...

By: PSIA-AASI

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From Student to Teacher: Geoff Krill Tells You What it's Like to Be an Adaptive Ski Instructor - Video

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KINA NI – Latest New Nepali Movie MOKSHYA – Benisha Hamal – on HD – Video

February 26th, 2014

KINA NI - Latest New Nepali Movie MOKSHYA - Benisha Hamal - on HD
Published on Feb 7, 2014 Kina ni Full HD Song Vocal: Sanjeev Singh / Shreya Sotang Lyrics/Music: Dhilung Rai Film MOKSHYA Audio On: Budha Subba Music Cinemat...

By: Budha Subba

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KINA NI - Latest New Nepali Movie MOKSHYA - Benisha Hamal - on HD - Video

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Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland Launch – Video

February 26th, 2014

Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland Launch
The Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland at NUI Galway is the first facility of its kind on the island of Ireland The CCMI at NUI Galway is the first ever f...

By: REMEDI Galway

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Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland Launch - Video

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RoosterBio Inc, a Frederick Maryland Biotech Startup, Achieves Rapid Traction with Product Launch and Fundraising …

February 26th, 2014

Frederick, MD (PRWEB) February 25, 2014

RoosterBio Inc is a new biotech start-up supplying human bone marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hBM-MSC) for tissue engineering research and stem cell-based product development into the high growth Synthetic Biology and Regenerative Medicine fields. RoosterBio, Inc. initiated laboratory operations in October, 2013, and has achieved the critical milestone of first product shipment to paying customers in just four short months. In addition to the early validation of their business model and rapidly generating revenue, Roosterbio has raised over 250K in seed investment and are actively seeking funds via AngelList (https://angel.co/roosterbio).

RoosterBio credits their quick-to-market accomplishments to hyper-efficient operations and the passion that the RoosterBio team shares in their desire to assist tissue engineers and cell therapists to accelerate life-saving technologies into the clinic. Our laser focus coupled with operational excellence has enabled us to reach these milestones; we will delight our customers with our product offering, says Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Uplaksh Kumar. The RoosterBio teams extensive experience sourcing raw materials, manufacturing stem cell products, and controlling for high quality with best-in-class characterization techniques has allowed them to successfully launch their flagship hBM-MSC product quickly and efficiently.

Dr. Jon Rowley, RoosterBios Chief Executive said I cant express how proud I am of our small, highly dedicated team that worked tirelessly to get our first products designed, manufactured, quality tested, released, and just as importantly sold and shipped to our first paying customers. This was truly a team effort that couldnt have been done without each and every person at RoosterBio.

Having spent years as cell and tissue technologists, the RoosterBio team has an intimate understanding of the pain points surrounding the generation of large numbers of robust, reproducible, standardized cells for research and product development purposes. RoosterBio products are designed to solve this problem and they believe that high volume and affordable cellular raw materials will kick-start the cell-based medical product revolution.

Dr. Sarah Griffiths, a Researcher at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, believes that RoosterBios MSCs will do exactly that, and was anxiously awaiting receipt of the product. "We are excited to receive the first shipment of RoosterBios product. The potential to generate large stocks of MSCs in a short period of time will be a tremendous advantage to the progress of our research."

Researchers in the fields of Synthetic Biology and Regenerative Medicine, such as Dr. Griffiths, will use RoosterBios MSCs to develop new medical therapies to provide treatments for degenerative diseases such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers diseases, or to repair or replace tissue after a catastrophic injury such as traumatic bone and cartilage injury, spinal cord damage, heart attack, or significant burns.

RoosterBios current focus is to supply high volume research-grade cells manufactured with processes consistent with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). They are rapidly approaching their next milestones by laying the groundwork for initiating production of clinical-grade cells to be used in translational R&D and clinical studies.

About RoosterBio RoosterBio is focused on building a robust and sustainable Regenerative Medicine industry. Our products are affordable and standardized primary cells and media, manufactured and delivered with highest quality and in formats that simplify product development efforts. RoosterBio products are made with care in Frederick, MD, and will accelerate the translation of cell therapy and tissue engineering technologies into the clinic.

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RoosterBio Inc, a Frederick Maryland Biotech Startup, Achieves Rapid Traction with Product Launch and Fundraising ...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

New biological scaffold offers promising foundation for engineered tissues

February 26th, 2014

Our cells don't live in a vacuum. They are surrounded by a complex, nurturing matrix that is essential for many biological functions, including growth and healing.

In all multicellular organisms, including people, cells make their own extracellular matrix. But in the lab, scientists attempting to grow tissue must provide a scaffold for cells to latch onto as they grow and proliferate. This engineered tissue has potential to repair or replace virtually any part of our bodies.

Typically, researchers construct scaffolds from synthetic materials or natural animal or human substances. All have their strengths and weaknesses, but no scaffolds grown in a Petri dish have been able to mimic the highly organized structure of the matrix made by living things, at least until now.

Feng Zhao of Michigan Technological University has persuaded fibroblasts, cells that makes the extracellular matrix, to make just such a well-organized scaffold. Its fibers are a mere 80 nanometers across, similar to fibers in a natural matrix. And, since her scaffold is made by cells, it is composed of the same intricate mix of all-natural proteins and sugars found in the body. Plus, its nanofibers are as highly aligned as freshly combed hair.

The trick was to orient the cells on a nano-grate that guided their growth -- and the creation of the scaffold.

"The cells did the work," Zhao said. "The material they made is quite uniform, and of course it is completely biological."

Stem cells placed on her scaffold thrived, and it had the added advantage of provoking a very low immune response.

"We think this has great potential," she said. "I think we could use this to engineer softer tissues, like skin, blood vessels and muscle."

The work is described in the paper "Highly Aligned Nanofibrous Scaffold Derived from Decellularized Human Fibroblasts," coauthored by Zhao, postdoctoral researcher Qi Xing and undergraduate Caleb Vogt of Michigan Technological University and Kam W. Leong of Duke University and published Jan. 29 in Advanced Functional Materials. Zhao designed the project. Xing and Vogt did the work, and Leong developed the template for cell growth.

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New biological scaffold offers promising foundation for engineered tissues

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Coconut Oil For Hair Growth and OTC (ovation Cell Therapy ) Alternative! – Video

February 26th, 2014

Coconut Oil For Hair Growth and OTC (ovation Cell Therapy ) Alternative!
Heard of OTC (Ovation Cell Therapy) on the radio? Well it #39;s amazing, and EXPENSIVE! Here #39;s what I use instead: MegaTek hair repair conditioner I also use coc...

By: glamourw00d

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Coconut Oil For Hair Growth and OTC (ovation Cell Therapy ) Alternative! - Video

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Should I Remove My Ovaries? Demystifying Cancer Gene Research

February 26th, 2014

A new study shows that women who have a gene mutation called BRCA1 can greatly reduce their risk of deadly ovarian cancer if they have their ovaries removed while young. For many women, this can be a difficult and heart-wrenching choice beginning with asking the right questions. Here are some basics on how this research might affect you.

Watch Dr. Nancy Snyderman's Nightly News report here:

Step one is to talk to a doctor. They can use a tool called a risk calculator to help you figure out if you have a high enough risk to justify getting the test. Myriad Genetics, the company that made the first BRCA gene tests, has a risk calculator. The National Cancer Institute offers one here. You can find an outline of ovarian cancer risks at the Ovarian Cancer Alliance. And a group called Facing Our Risk Empowered also provides guidance.

Just because your mother had breast cancer doesnt mean youll get it, and it doesnt mean that you have this genetic mutation. Monday's findings only apply to women with BRCA1 mutations -- and those only account for a small percentage of breast cancer cases.

Having a close relative like a mother or sister does raise your risk of breast cancer, but it doesnt mean you have a mutation. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that only women with a strong family history consider getting a BRCA genetic test.

This makes it a tough decision. An analysis of all the women in the study showed that the best protection was for women who removed their ovaries by the age of 35. Thats before some women have finished, or even started, a family. Women without ovaries cannot naturally conceive. There are some options, such as having your eggs frozen or, if you have a partner, having IVF and freezing the embryos, and then deciding whether to try to become pregnant without fallopian tubes or to have a surrogate gestate the embryo.

No. Doctors remove ovaries in order to slash the bodys production of estrogen, the hormone that fuels most cases of breast cancer. Replacing the estrogen would be risky and might undo the protection provided.

It is true that many cases of breast cancer are linked to poor diet and a lack of exercise. But thats whats called sporadic breast cancer -- the kind that isn't caused by an inherited gene mutation. So while most women can lower their risk of breast cancer by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and getting daily vigorous exercise, that's not the case for women with BRCA1 mutations. The mutation has destroyed the bodys ability to repair the damage that leads to tumors.

They studied more than 5,000 women and compared women who chose to have their ovaries removed to women who did not, or who waited for a few years after finding out they had the mutation. Not very many of the women developed cancer -- just 186 of them got ovarian cancer or a related cancer over six years of follow up.

That was the good news.

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Should I Remove My Ovaries? Demystifying Cancer Gene Research

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Early ovary removal may reduce cancer risk, study says

February 26th, 2014

For women who carry a notorious cancer gene, surgery to remove healthy ovaries is one of the most protective steps they can take. New research suggests some may benefit most from having the operation as young as 35.

Women who inherit either of two faulty BRCA genes are at much higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer than other women, and at younger ages. Actress Angelina Jolie generated headlines last year when she had her healthy breasts removed to reduce her cancer risk.

Monday's study is the largest yet to show the power of preventive ovarian surgery for those women. The surgery not only lowers their chances of getting either ovarian or breast cancer. The study estimated it also can reduce women's risk of death before age 70 by 77 percent.

Ovarian cancer is particularly deadly, and there is no good way to detect it early like there is for breast cancer. So for years, doctors have advised BRCA carriers to have their ovaries removed between the ages of 35 and 40, or when women are finished having children.

The new study suggests the surgery, called an oophorectomy, should be timed differently for the different genes.

For women who carry the higher-risk BRCA1, the chance of already having ovarian cancer rose from 1.5 percent at age 35 to 4 percent at age 40, said lead researcher Dr. Steven Narod of the University of Toronto. After that, the risk jumped to 14 percent by age 50.

In contrast, the researchers said carriers of the related BRCA2 gene could safely delay surgery into their 40s. The study found only one case in a woman younger than 50.

Ovarian surgery "is the cornerstone for cancer prevention," declared Narod, whose team published the research in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. "The typical woman with a BRCA1 mutation will benefit to a large extent from an oophorectomy at age 35, and we want to make that a pretty standard recommendation."

Future studies would have to verify the findings, and other specialists urged caution.

Waiting until age 40 for ovary removal, as many women with BRCA1 do today, makes a very small difference, stressed Dr. Claudine Isaacs, an oncologist and cancer risk specialist at Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, who wasn't involved in the new research.

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Early ovary removal may reduce cancer risk, study says

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

New study finds concussion-related health problems in retired football players

February 26th, 2014

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

25-Feb-2014

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

New Rochelle, NY, February 25, 2014Repeated concussions and mild brain trauma can result in reduced levels of growth hormone, gonadotropin, and testosterone, causing disorders such as metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction and overall poor quality of life. The results of a new study of retired professional football players that compares number of concussions sustained during their careers and health problems associated with hormonal deficiency is published in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Neurotrauma website at http://www.liebertpub.com/neu.

In the article "Prevalence of pituitary hormone dysfunction, metabolic syndrome and impaired quality of life in retired professional football players: a prospective study," the authors report that more than 50% of the retired players evaluated for growth hormone deficiency, hypogonadism, and quality of life had suffered at least three concussions during their careers in the National Football League. Repeat concussion is common in the NFL.

John T. Povlishock, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Neurotrauma and Professor, Medical College of Virginia Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, notes that "although as emphasized by the authors, this study awaits further confirmation with expanded sample sizes and a more critical linkage to a history of concussion intensity and intervals between the concussive injuries, the findings are of considerable interest. Importantly, this study moves us away from the singular focus that repetitive concussive brain injuries ultimately lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy to the premise that such injuries can elicit pituitary dysfunction and metabolic syndrome that may be significant contributors to a poor quality of life in a subset of professional athletes."

###

Contact:

Vicki Cohn Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 914-740-2100 vcohn@liebertpub.com

About the Journal

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New study finds concussion-related health problems in retired football players

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Dr Shane McKee – Video

February 26th, 2014

Dr Shane McKee
Shane says, "I #39;m a doctor in Genetic Medicine, but I #39;m intrigued by Egypt, science, the development of religions and many other esoteric pursuits. I have a b...

By: Past Preservers

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Dr Shane McKee - Video

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Researchers crack the genetic secret of mosquito resistance to DDT and ITNs

February 26th, 2014

22 hours ago

Researchers from LSTM have found that a single genetic mutation causes resistance to DDT and pyrethroids (an insecticide class used in mosquito nets). With the continuing rise of resistance the research, published in the journal Genome Biology, is key as scientists say that this knowledge could help improve malaria control strategies.

The researchers, led by Dr Charles Wondji, used a wide range of methods to narrow down how the resistance works, finding a single mutation in the GSTe2 gene, which makes insects break down DDT so it's no longer toxic. They have also shown that this gene makes insects resistant to pyrethroids raising the concern that GSTe2 gene could protect mosquitoes against the major insecticides used in public health.

Mosquitoes (Anopheles funestus) are vectors of malaria, and most strategies for combating the spread of the disease focus on control of mosquito populations using insecticides. The spread of resistance genes could hold back efforts to prevent the disease. The authors say that knowing how resistance works will help to develop tests, and stop these genes from spreading amongst mosquito populations.

Charles Wondji said: 'We found a population of mosquitoes fully resistant to DDT (no mortality when they were treated with DDT) but also to pyrethroids. So we wanted to elucidate the molecular basis of that resistance in the population and design a field applicable diagnostic assay for its monitoring.'

They took mosquitoes from Pahou in Benin, which were resistant to DDT and pyrethroids, and mosquitoes from a laboratory fully susceptible strain and did a genome wide comparison study. They identified the GSTe2 gene as being upregulated - producing a lot of protein - in Benin mosquitoes.

They found that a single mutation (L119F) changed a non-resistant version of the GSTe2 gene to a DDT resistant version. They designed a DNA-based diagnostic test for this type of resistance (metabolic resistance) and confirmed that this mutation was found in mosquitoes from other areas of the world with DDT resistance but was completely absent in regions without. X-ray crystallography of the protein coded by the gene illustrated exactly how the mutation conferred resistance, by opening up the 'active site' where DDT molecules bind to the protein, so more can be broken down. This means that the mosquito can survive by breaking down the poison into non-toxic substances.