Genetherapy

Archive for February, 2010

Story Summary: org/articles/view/42338?key=4238dhsm34ikjw9xu2k3VIROLOGY: New insight into Chikungunya virus infection from nonhuman primatesChikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted to humans from mosquitos. CHIKV infection is currently modeled in mice, but mouse models do not accurately mimic the disease seen in humans and are not useful for the development of vaccines and immune cell-based therapeutics. Now, Pierre Roques and colleagues, at the Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique, France, have successfully modeled CHIKV infection in cynomolgus macaques. Importantly, using this model of CHIKV infection, the authors determined that CHIKV infection persisted long term in joints, muscles, lymphoid organs, and liver, and that during this long-term infection the virus resided in immune cells known as macrophages. The authors hope this model of CHIKV infection will be useful to develop new therapeutic and/or prophylactic strategies, a sentiment echoed by Stephen Higgs and Sarah Ziegler, at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, in an accompanying commentary. TITLE: Chikungunya disease in nonhuman primates involves long-term viral persistence in macrophages AUTHOR CONTACT:Pierre RoquesService dimmunovirologie, Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France. org/articles/view/42392?key=5s874984222348f4s89eNEPHROLOGY: New gene linked to kidney diseaseNephronophthisis (NPHP) is the most common genetic cause of kidney failure in children. Ten causative genes (NPHP1-NPHP9 and NPHP11), all of which generate proteins that localize to a cellular complex known as the primary cilia-centrosome complex, have been identified previously. Unlike all the known NPHP proteins, XPNPEP3 protein localizes to cellular compartments known as mitochondria. The authors therefore conclude that there is a link between mitochondria and ciliary dysfunction, a key component of NPHP. As highlighted by Erwin Bottinger, at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, these data provide exciting new avenues of research for understanding ciliopathies, genetic disorders caused by damage to cellular structures known as primary cilia. TITLE: Individuals with mutations in XPNPEP3, which encodes a mitochondrial protein, develop a nephronophthisis-like nephropathy AUTHOR CONTACT:Friedhelm HildebrandtUniversity of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. By studying mice and humans, a team of researchers, led by Alain Hovnanian and colleagues, at CHU Necker-Enfants Malades, France, has now generated data that indicate an important role for the protein elastase 2 (ELA2) in maintaining skin barrier function and suggest that ELA2 might have a role in the development of the rare genetic skin disease Netherton syndrome. Importantly, ELA2 was found to be hyperactive in skin from patients with Netherton syndrome. Further, transgenic mice overexpressing ELA2 in the epidermal layer of the skin exhibited cellular abnormalities characteristics of Netherton syndrome and these led to dehydration. org/articles/view/41440?key=6487f1d61ce6104ea750DERMATOLOGY: Watching immune cell movement to and from the skinImmune cells known as Tregs have an important role in preventing other immune cells from attacking the cells of our body and causing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In the study, Tregs were found to move from the skin to designated regions for immune cell clustering known as draining lymph nodes. TITLE: Activated regulatory T cells are the major T cell type emigrating from the skin during a cutaneous immune response in mice AUTHOR CONTACT:Kenji KabashimaKyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Michio TomuraResearch Center for Allergy and Immunology, RIKEN, Yokohama City, Japan. org/articles/view/42280?key=ij489s9cn2jkcxs98433Source: Karen HoneyJournal of Clinical Investigation Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. Contact Our News EditorsFor any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form. Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months: What Is Anal Itching?…Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: The technique could be used to analyse DNA in a drop of saliva. Professor Mark Bradley of the Universitys School of Chemistry, who also took part in the study, said: We plan to test the technology further, extend our collaborations with leading researchers and companies in the DNA sequencing field and establish our first commercial operations within the next six months. Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months: New Route To Potential Breast Cancer Cure Discovered26 Aug 2009UK scientists have discovered a new route to a potential cure for breast cancer, one that focuses on how the cancer manipulates genetic pathways to spread through the body, rather than on how tumors develop in the first place. Cooking to the Right Temperatures Keeps Bacteria Off the MenuThere are 76 million cases of foodborne illness every year in the United States. But cooking food to the right temperatures can help keep harmful bacteria off the menu. Find out what are the right temperatures for some of the most common main courses….Read the Full Story

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1. Genes, Environment, Or Chance?
2. Cancer Council And Clinical Oncological Society Of Australia Applaud US Government Recommendations On Gene Patent Policy
3. Biophysicists Show That Incomplete Penetrance Is Not Just A Question Of Nature Versus Nurture

Story Summary: Todays neural implants work by delivering measured doses of electrical stimulation via a thin electrode surgically inserted through a small hole in a patients skull, with its tip implanted in a localized brain area. Beyond the blunt fact of their physical locations, they stimulate neurons near the electrode indiscriminately. That overactivity can trigger dizziness, tingling, and other side effects. Researchers first introduce a gene for a light-sensitive molecule, called channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2), into a specific subset of neurons. Shining blue light on these neurons then causes them to fire. It also provides a way to shut neurons off–introducing a different molecule, halorhodopsin (NpHR), silences the cells in response to yellow light. It allows us to silence neurons activity, which is extraordinarily difficult with electrostimulation. While academic scientists are developing new tools to deliver light to the brain, Medtronic is developing an optogenetically based implant for commercial use. Youll read in-depth features that investigate how these technologies work….Read the Full Story

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1. MIT Neuroengineers Silence Brain Cells With Multiple Colors Of Light
2. Decoding the Brain with Light
3. Silencing brain cells with yellow and blue light

Story Summary: Companies selected to present their technologies are:– ACell – extracellular matrix devices to repair and remodel damaged tissues and organs– America Stem Cell Inc. – technologies to enhance and expand the therapeutic potential of stem celltransplants– Articular Engineering – cells and tissue to repair articular cartilage and intervertebral disc disorders — Arterion – artificial blood vessels– AvitaMedical – a cell harvesting, processing and delivery technology to treat skin defects using the patients own cells in a regenerative process– Bioheart – autologous cell therapies for the treatment of chronic, acute heart damage, and peripheral vascular disease– Creative Bioreactor Designs Inc. – equipment and techniques to develop and deliver tissue-engineered products to the marketplace– ISTO Technologies Inc. – biologic products to regenerate and restore damaged cartilage and bone– Juventas Therapeutics – a therapy to recruit the bodys own stem cells to damaged tissue. — Southern Access Technology – durable heart valve devices– Ventrix – injectable cell therapy to treat heart attack victimsAbout the Regenerative Medicine FoundationThe Regenerative Medicine Foundation is an internationally-focused, not-for-profit organization created to enable the advancement of new treatments and therapies based on regenerative medicine, and ultimately, to realize the goals of personalized medicine. Launched in 2005, the Foundation hosted one of the first regulatory meetings with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the topic of regenerative medicine, and was instrumental in the formation of STRAC, the Soldier Treatment and Regeneration Consortium, a precursor to the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM), and the Washington, DC-based Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. Through educational programs, translational conferences and public policy initiatives, the Foundation advocates for increased medical research, promotes the training and education of scientists, and facilitates the translation of therapies to patients. Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months: What Is Pulmonary Edema? This fluid collects in air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Cholesterol ManagementEach year more than a million Americans have heart attacks. High cholesterol can form a blockage in the arteries and lead to heart disease….Read the Full Story

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1. Venture Forum To Be Featured At Translational Regenerative Medicine Event
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Story Summary: Instead the results reflect the interplay between the research environment, researchers and the study object. This is the result of a dissertation in Theory of Science from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. According to MIM, researchers based in Africa have a more comprehensive understanding of malaria and its effects on the population. They must also take such issues as the right to co-ownership at each stage of knowledge production into consideration. Neither can they focus solely on financial support or the content and organisation of the research; they must also engage with the political and social effects of research and research support, says Gunilla Priebe. Source: University of Gothenburg Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months: New Disease Among HIV-infected Gay Men28 Nov 2009A rare parasitic disease, which normally only is transmitted by contaminated water, has been shown to be transmitted by gay sex between hiv-positive men. Find out what are the right temperatures for some of the most common main courses….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: Such experiments were also of wider scientific interest to Daley and his colleagues because they hoped the outcome might lead to new insight into how broken telomeres are fixed in iPS cells. We found increased activity of all of the cellular machinery required for telomere maintenance. During normal DNA replication, the very ends of a DNA molecule are worn down. Patients with dyskeratosis congenita, however, have inherited defective telomerase genes. The first signs of problems usually turn up in patients blood cells, which are normally prone to rapid proliferation. The resulting decline in blood stem cells often gives rise to bone marrow failure – and people with dyskeratosis congenita typically die in their teens. In the study reported in Nature, Daley and colleague Suneet Agarwal, both from the Childrens Hospital Boston and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, collected skin cells from three patients with dyskeratosis congenita. Closer inspection of the cells telomeres revealed that the structures grew with each successive cell division – the opposite of what happens to telomeres in the skin cells of patients with the disease. The researchers then examined one component of the cellular machinery that lengthens telomeres, a molecule called TERC, or telomerase RNA component. The cells of patients with dyskeratosis congenita normally make about 90 percent less TERC than normal cells. Its clear now that TERC activity gets reset by the iPS reprogramming technique, said Daley. This work suggests that if we can somehow boost the production of TERC – perhaps with a drug – we might be able to ameliorate the effects of this disease. However, when the researchers let the reprogrammed cells exit their pluripotent state and grow into various types of tissue, the TERC levels decreased again and the telomeres shortened. The pluripotent state itself is what seems to fix the defect and lengthen telomeres, said Daley. Daley said this finding helps explain how iPS reprogramming works to keep cells immortal — able to divide and maintain themselves indefinitely. A philanthropy serving society through biomedical research and science education….Read the Full Story

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1. Rewinding the Clock for Aging Cells
2. Mice regain ability to extend telomeres suggesting potential for dyskeratosis congenita therapy
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Story Summary: The work, published inNatureon Feb. 18, may also be relevant to human diseases that display incomplete penetrance, such as Parkinsons disease and Type 1 diabetes, says van Oudenaarden. For example, knowing the specific points in cellular pathways that are most important in controlling a cells response to mutation could give drug designers better targets for new therapies. How they did it: The team studied the embryonic development of the digestive tract of C. elegans. The team first characterized normal progression of intestine development, using a probe the team members developed that binds to messenger RNA inside cells, allowing them to count the number of copies of a particular messenger RNA sequence. ) They then studied worms with a mutation in skn-1, and found that some of the worms developed normal digestive tracts while others failed to develop a digestive tract. The number of end-1 mRNA strands varied greatly in embryos with the mutation: In those with a number above a certain threshold, development proceeded normally; if the number was below the threshold, no digestive tract developed. It appears that evolution has produced networks of genes that smooth out the effects of those fluctuations, which are revealed only when there is a mutation in the pathway, says van Oudenaarden. Source: Jennifer HirschMassachusetts Institute of Technology Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months: New Route To Potential Breast Cancer Cure Discovered26 Aug 2009UK scientists have discovered a new route to a potential cure for breast cancer, one that focuses on how the cancer manipulates genetic pathways to spread through the body, rather than on how tumors develop in the first place. But cooking food to the right temperatures can help keep harmful bacteria off the menu. Find out what are the right temperatures for some of the most common main courses….Read the Full Story

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1. Random fluctuations give rise to odd genetic phenomenon
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Story Summary: The collaboration between academia, government and industry brings together a diverse team of world-class scientists with complementary expertise for understanding, manipulating and creating novel soft materials. The joint effort will focus on developing new, sustainable technologies in the field of soft condensed matter, a science at the interface of chemistry, biology, physics and nanotechnology. Penn will also gain access to the formulation expertise of a variety of visiting scientists. This collaboration illustrates how world-class researchers, international outreach and industrial know-how can accelerate the pace of research and move basic science into the consumer and industrial world, Steven J. Fluharty, vice provost for research at Penn, said. This agreement brings together some of the best research talent and facilities in the world, Paul-Joel Derian, Rhodias vice president and worldwide director of research, said. Together we are exploring practical research applications to improve the sustainability of everyday products….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: This means that in addition to making cells with a specific function, they also make many new stem cells. These cells have a huge capacity for self-renewal, and when the pathways that control self-renewal are augmented or changed, they can form tumors, says Witte. Many scientists suspect that although tumors are made up of many cells, only the tumor cells derived from stem cells contribute to the growth of the tumor. For certain cancers, such as breast cancer and leukemia, that idea is well established. They have been attacking this problem by dividing mouse prostate tissue into its component cell types, culturing those cells, and then reassembling them to understand how they interact. Now, for the first time, theyve accomplished that feat with human tissue. The group is in the early stages of putting the technique to use, but Witte says it offers some distinct advantages for developing new cancer drugs. Drugs that are effective in stopping their growth may not have the same impact on prostate tumors driven by different gene mutations. Starting from prostate stem cells, Witte knows exactly which genetic changes have made a cell cancerous. Now we have to understand how best to use those therapies….Read the Full Story

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1. New tool illuminates connections between stem cells and cancer
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Story Summary: Girls aged 12 and 13 have been offered the HPV vaccine in the UK since 2008. This group of women will be the first to benefit from the vaccine and they provide an early indication of benefits that will be seen as these girls age. It shows that the vaccine has great potential in preventing the disease in the near future, but also that itll take several decades before we see its full benefits. There are around 2,800 new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in the UK each year, and around 225 of these are in women in their twenties. Around two thirds of women with cervical cancer survive for five years or more but around 940 women die from cervical cancer each year in the UK. Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: This is really good news for girls who have had the vaccine and for those who will have it in the future. But its important to remember that the vaccine will not completely wipe out cervical cancer because it doesnt protect against every type of high risk HPV. Screening can prevent cervical cancer by detecting unusual changes in the cervix before cancer develops and it saves thousands of lives in the UK each year. Contact Our News EditorsFor any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: Scientists have devised a new computational model that can be used to reveal genetic regulatory elements responsible for development of the human heart and maintenance of its function. Although the teams focused on the heart, the computational method they developed is broadly applicable to other tissues, and was successfully used to identify regulatory elements for cells of the limbs and brain. The computational model is a tool to detect those switches within vast stretches of DNA. The two research teams went through several cycles of training the computers to recognize the genetic code and testing the new predictions in zebrafish eggs to achieve the final set of predictions that would light up a high percentage of candidate regulatory elements in the heart. If you go randomly in the genome and pull out a sequence to test, the chance that youre going to hit a heart enhancer is probably going to be a fraction of a percent, Nobrega said. Yet with our list of sequences, you have a 60 percent chance. With the advance of computational methods, we can use computers to break this code, learn its encryption, and understand the signals heart cells receive to regulate genes. Nobrega and Ovcharenko and their colleagues will provide a significant new tool for scientists trying to unravel the intricate regulatory code controlling heart formation, said Brian Black, professor and associate director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of California, San Francisco. The University of Chicago research was co-funded by NHLBI and the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH. The University of Chicago research was co-funded by NHLBI and the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH. NCBI is a division of the National Library of Medicine, the worlds largest library of the health sciences. NCBI is a division of the National Library of Medicine, the worlds largest library of the health sciences. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHGRI supports the development of resources and technology that will accelerate genome research and its application to human health. NHGRI supports the development of resources and technology that will accelerate genome research and its application to human health….Read the Full Story

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1. Gladstone scientists receive $10 million to identify genetic cause of congenital heart disease
2. Optimization of codon composition and regulatory elements for expression of human insulin like growth factor-1 in transgenic chloroplasts and evaluation of structural identity and function – 7thSpace Interactive
3. UW to explore genetic origins of common heart, lung, and blood diseases in federal project

Story Summary: Marnie Blewitt (left) and Dr. Clare Scott have been awarded the inaugural Dyson Fellowship and Cory Fellowship, respectively. The five-year fellowships were established last year by the Walter and. At a ceremony on 25 February, Nobel Prize winner for medicine Professor Elizabeth Blackburn announced Dr Scott and Dr Blewitt as the successful fellowship recipients. Dr Scott has a particular interest in ovarian cancer and, through the fellowship, will design a program of epithelial ovarian cancer research that will be undertaken over the next five years. Dyson Fellow Dr Blewitt, who also became a laboratory head at the institute on 1 January, studies epigenetics, a relatively new field of research that seeks to reveal how a cell knows which of its genes should be active at any given time. Mr John Dyson, who co-manages the Dyson Bequest with Ms Rose Gilder, said the Dyson Fellowship was awarded to Dr Blewitt because of the enormous potential for her research to overhaul our understanding of the human genome. If our support goes some way towards Marnie reaching that goal then it is money well spent. Sometimes that over-production of protein is due to epigenetics; the normal gene is still there but the epigenetic modifications have changed and so the gene is on or off when it shouldnt be. If we find some epigenetic modifiers that have a role in cancer that information could help develop new treatments for cancer. She has a medical degree from the University of Melbourne and was awarded a PhD in medical biology in 2000, also by the University of Melbourne. Dr Scotts clinical focus is on ovarian cancer although her research focus has been leukaemia and other blood cancers. About Marnie BlewittMarnie Blewitt is a geneticist who was awarded her PhD in molecular and microbial biosciences by the University of Sydney in 2004. Dr Blewitt leads a laboratory in the Walter and Eliza Hall Institutes Molecular Medicine division and focuses her research on epigenetics. Dr Blewitt leads a laboratory in the Walter and Eliza Hall Institutes Molecular Medicine division and focuses her research on epigenetics. Dr Blewitt leads a laboratory in the Walter and Eliza Hall Institutes Molecular Medicine division and focuses her research on epigenetics. The fellowships are named after some of the institutes most distinguished scientists: Professor Sir Gustav Nossal, Professor Donald Metcalf, Professor Jacques Miller and Professor Suzanne Cory….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: This vaccination is the simplest and most effective way of protecting young women from strains of the HPV virus which cause more than 70 per cent of cervical cancer. Most women are exposed to HPV infection at some point in their lives, but do not go on to get cervical cancer. They usually do not even know they have been infected because they have no symptoms. However, for some women, the virus can lead to the development of cancer. She said: You never think it will happen to you. When I was younger cervical cancer wasnt on my radar at all. I understand that some girls may be scared of needles, but the HPV vaccine is only three injections. Throughout my treatment Ive had to have regular blood tests – initially this was an injection every day. However it is recommended that girls have the vaccine whether they are sexually active or not. – The Welsh Assembly Government has invested over PS9 million to accelerate the planned two-year catch-up campaign to ensure that an additional 40,000 girls and young women are offered protection against cervical cancer. – The vaccine has passed all the rigorous safety and efficacy standards required for it to be used in the UK and other European countries. – If parents or young people are worried about the safety of any vaccine they should speak to their GP to discuss their concerns. – In January 2009 a catch-up campaign began for young women born between 1st September 1990 and 31st August 1991, followed by an additional catch-up campaign for older girls born between 1st September 1991 and 31st August 1995. Contact Our News EditorsFor any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form. Please donate to the Doctors Without Borders Haiti Appeal….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: Mutations in MeCP2 cause the autism spectrum disorder Rett Syndrome as well as some cases of neuropsychiatric problems including autism, schizophrenia and learning disabilities. The discovery of MeCP2s global reach was made in the laboratory of Adrian Bird, Ph. These children lose speech, motor control and functional hand use, and many suffer from seizures, orthopedic and severe digestive problems, breathing and other autonomic impairments. This raises the possibility that the neuronal defect brought about by mutations in this gene affect all neurons in a similar way. If there really is a generic defect shared by many neurons, then the causes of Rett Syndrome may be less complicated than we feared. This idea now needs to be tested by further work, said Professor Bird. The linker histones, such as histone H1, seal the DNA onto the spool formed by the core histones. In this way linker histones act as a padlock to hold the DNA in this structure and stop inappropriate access to the DNA outside of genes. In the absence of MeCP2, the amount of linker histone H1 doubles, suggesting an attempt to compensate for the lack of MeCP2. The Bird lab also found an increase in histone acetylation in MeCP2-deficient neurons, but not in glia. This suggests that the role of MeCP2 is to globally suppress the genome. In the absence of MeCP2, we discovered an increase in the spurious transcription of the so-called junk DNA which lies between genes. This suggests to us that rather than targeting specific genes, MeCP2 functions on a genome-wide level and may act as the watchdog of the neuronal genome, said Skene. Our short-term goal is to deliver clinical trials of a novel treatment strategy within five years….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: In many cases this is associated with aberrant epigenetic changes to chromatin: dynamic modifications of DNA and its associated proteins, including histones. It has become increasingly clear that there are many other key epigenetic related enzymes that can be targeted and which may offer greater specificity of action. CellCentric has an innovation platform built upon relationships with over 30 world leading research labs in epigenetics. With an extensive portfolio and rich pipeline, CellCentrics strategy is to develop some target programmes through licences and collaborations with Pharmaceutical companies while retaining other programmes for development itself. Dr Hiroyuki Odaka, General Manager of the Pharmaceutical Research Division of Takeda said Epigenetics is an important area for novel oncology therapeutics. Dr Will West, CEO of CellCentric added This licence is a strong endorsement of the way we are approaching innovation in epigenetics. This is an area that is no longer seen as just interesting, but as a necessity for pharmaceutical companies growing their armoury for tackling intractable diseases such as cancer. Formed in 2004, it works with over 30 academic labs worldwide to identify, patent and commercialise product opportunities. Located in Osaka, Japan, Takeda is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to striving toward better health for individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical products….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: With tens of millions of dollars in financial support from the National Cancer Institute and the U. S. Department of Defense, scientists have identified when estrogen metabolism is out of balance it can start the process leading to breast cell mutations. Cavalieri and Rogan were the first researchers to study the effects of Resveratrol on this estrogen metabolism in cells. While focusing on maintaining peoples health rather than curing disease, this all-natural supplement combines four dietary supplements called antioxidants. It offers a natural, low-cost way to reduce the level of estrogen-DNA adducts. EQ Biosciences, Inc. , a Las Vegas, Nevada company, was formed in association with the research scientists to assist women and men in achieving and maintaining healthy, normal levels of estrogen metabolites through the use of Prevennia, a dietary supplement. Taken twice daily, Prevennia reacts with natural components in the body to protect each cell and block the initiation of mutations….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: In the latest study, the UT Southwestern researchers studied mice that had been genetically engineered to lack NL1. When treated with a drug called D-cycloserine, which activates nerves in those brain regions, the excessive grooming lessened. Our goal was not to make an autistic mouse but rather to understand better how autism-related genes might alter brain function that leads to behavioral abnormalities, Dr. Powell said. By studying mice that lack neuroligin-1, we hope to understand better how this molecule affects communication between neurons and how that altered communication affects behavior. Other UT Southwestern researchers participating in the study were co-lead authors Jacqueline Blundell, former postdoctoral researcher in neurology, and Dr. Cory Blaiss, postdoctoral researcher in neurology; Felipe Espinosa, senior research scientist in neurology; and graduate student Christopher Walz. The research was supported by Autism Speaks, the Simons Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, BRAINS for Autism, and the Hartwell Foundation….Read the Full Story

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is about to change its definition of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in light of recent trends in stem cell research.

In March of 2009 President Barack Obama signed an executive order once again permitting the use of hESCs in research. According to the executive order, the NIH is charged with ensuring that NIH-funded research in which hESCs are used is ethically responsible, scientifically worthy, and conducted in accordance with applicable law. NIH does that by setting strict guidelines for what types of cells may be used and how they must be derived.

According to the current NIH guidelines, part of the definition of hESCs is that they are cells “derived from the inner cell mass of blastocyst stage human embryos”1. But the definition apparently had the unintended consequence of excluding some cell lines that were derived from even earlier, morula-stage cells (Review Figure 21.5 in Johnson’s Human Biology). The revised language will read, “derived from early stage human embryos, up to and including the blastocyst stage”, so that these more recent cell lines may be used in federally funded research projects.

The new guidelines do not change the rigorous ethical standards for deriving human cell lines. They just make more stem cell lines available to researchers.

1 Federal Register vol. 75, no. 35, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, p. 8085-8086.

Story Summary: We know that synapses are essential for learning, memory and perception and suspect that imbalances in synapse formation impact disorders of the brain such as autismand schizophrenia, said Elva Diaz, assistant professor of pharmacology and senior author of the study. She and a team of molecular neurobiologists and electrophysiologists isolated cells from rat hippocampal neurons for a number of tests to understand the proteins functions. We think it is a key driver of the entire synaptic process, but we need to test this in an in vivo model before we can confidently say this is true. Next, Diaz and her research team will test the role of SynDIG1 in live mice where the gene that encodes the protein is knocked out to determine the molecular and behavioral outcomes. She will also test the role of SynDIG1 in both early and established brain cells. We predict that SynDIG1 will be equally important in both new and older neurons, meaning that it has importance in both neurodevelopmental and later-onset diseases, said Diaz. The study lead author was Evgenia Kalashnikova of UC Davis. Improving Health CareImprovements are necessary to make sure Americans get the best quality health care and that money for this care is being spent as effectively as possible. Improving Health CareImprovements are necessary to make sure Americans get the best quality health care and that money for this care is being spent as effectively as possible. Meningitis OverviewEach year you hear about small outbreaks of meningitis. Meningitis OverviewEach year you hear about small outbreaks of meningitis. Learn why the classic symptoms of a high fever and stiff neck shouldnt be ignored. Learn why the classic symptoms of a high fever and stiff neck shouldnt be ignored….Read the Full Story

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2. MIT Neuroengineers Silence Brain Cells With Multiple Colors Of Light — New Tools Show Potential For Treating Brain Disorders
3. Unraveling The Molecular Mechanisms Of Friedreichs Ataxia

Story Summary: (The Institute of Medicines (IOM) 2004 report on thimerosal and autism)The Coalition for Vaccine Safety urges Congress to view the claims of HHS and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that vaccines are safe with a jaundiced eye. This suppression may be due to potential liability and financial conflicts of interest involving individuals and organizations responsible for scientific studies and vaccine safety policies. Furthermore, HHS has blatantly disregarded laws passed by Congress requiring it to properly and thoroughly study vaccine safety, reads the letter. The letter also notes pending National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program decisions at stake, An important additional reason for Congress to act now is that the Court of Federal Claims is likely to release its Omnibus Autism Proceeding test cases on the possible link between the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal and autism soon. The Department of Health and Human Services is legally and ethically bound to do everything reasonably possible to ensure the safety of vaccines. The Department of Health and Human Services is legally and ethically bound to do everything reasonably possible to ensure the safety of vaccines. Senator (D-IA), Chairman, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator (R-WY), Ranking Member, Cong. Senator (D-IA), Chairman, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator (R-WY), Ranking Member, Cong. (D-NJ) Chairman, Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Cong. (R-GA), Ranking Member….Read the Full Story

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3. Federal Vaccine Court Rulings Against Autism Families Due to Governments Refusal to Fund Sound Science

Story Summary: Combined Drug Therapy to Treat TB and HIV Significantly Improves Survival Initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) during tuberculosis therapy significantly reduced mortality rates by 56 percent in a randomized clinical trial of 642 patients co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis. Findings are published in the February 25th issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. The new study, called the Starting Antiretroviral Therapy at Three Points in Tuberculosis (SAPiT), was designed to determine the optimal time to initiate antiretroviral therapy in patients with HIV and tuberculosis co-infection who were receiving tuberculosis therapy. Only patients with TB and HIV infection with a CD4+ cell count of less than 500 cells per cubic millimeter were included in the study. On World AIDS Day in 2009, President Zuma of South Africa announced the new policy, to provide ART to all TB patients with HIV infection and CD4 counts below 350 cells per cubic millimeter. Story Source:Adapted from materials provided by . Journal Reference:Abdool Karim et al. Timing of Initiation of Antiretroviral Drugs during Tuberculosis Therapy. Get the latest science news with our free email newsletters, updated daily and weekly. Or view hourly updated newsfeeds in your RSS reader:FeedbackTell us what you think of the new ScienceDaily — we welcome both positive and negative comments….Read the Full Story

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1. Science & Medicine | Early Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy Improves HIV Survival Rates, Study Says – Kaisernetwork.org
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Story Summary: Dr Steve Paterson, from the Universitys School of Biosciences, explains: Historically, it was assumed that most evolution was driven by a need to adapt to the environment or habitat. This theory is widely accepted in the science community, but this is the first time we have been able to show evidence of it in an experiment with living things. Dr Michael Brockhurst said: We used fast-evolving viruses so that we could observe hundreds of generations of evolution. We found that for every viral strategy of attack, the bacteria would adapt to defend itself, which triggered an endless cycle of co-evolutionary change. The virus was also able to evolve twice as quickly when the bacteria were allowed to evolve alongside it. The team used high-throughput DNA sequencing technology at the Centre for Genomic Research to sequence thousands of virus genomes. The next stage of the research is to understand how co-evolution differs when interacting species help, rather than harm, one another. The research is published in Natureand was supported by funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); the Wellcome Trust; the European Research Council and the Leverhulme Trust. Story Source:Adapted from materials provided by , via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. Journal Reference:Steve Paterson, Tom Vogwill, Angus Buckling, Rebecca Benmayor, Andrew J. Spiers, Nicholas R. Thomson, Mike Quail, Frances Smith, Danielle Walker, Ben Libberton, Andrew Fenton, Neil Hall & Michael A. Brockhurst….Read the Full Story

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Story Summary: Webb Miller, professor of biology and computer science at Penn State, who performed the comparative analysis of the genomes, underscores the genetic uniqueness of the Bushmen by saying, On average, there are more genetic differences between any two Bushmen in our study than between a European and an Asian. To know how genes affect health, we need to see the full range of human genetic variation, and Southern Africa is the place to look. A nearly life-long medical history accompanies each of the studys five personal genomes, facilitating the identification of genetic differences that may have contributed to particular health conditions. To date, a genome-wide approach to identifying genetic disease susceptibility has disproportionally benefited the Western World in comparison to the African continent but As a result of this project, Hayes said, Southern Africans will immediately be included in genome-wide disease association studies, increasing our ability to examine regionally significant diseases. To make our results easier to use than earlier genome sequences, we have established freely available Internet servers at Penn State, Miller said. Inclusion in pharmocogenomic studies is expected to benefit Southern Africans, who often have been poorly represented in pharmaceutical trails and who suffer from population-based differences in the effectiveness of drugs, such as anti-viral treatments for HIV/AIDS. The research, which involved 50 investigators, was led by Penn State University. Other institutions participating in the study include the Childrens Cancer Institute Australia, the University of New South Wales, the University of Washington, the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, the University of Limpopo in the Republic of South Africa, Cornell University, the Genome Center of Washington University in St. Louis, the Broad Institute, the Sperling Foundation, and the National Human Genome Research Institute, along with supporters in Namibia. Source: Barbara K. KennedyPenn State Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. Contact Our News EditorsFor any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form. Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: Haiti AppealThe severe earthquake that struck Haiti has inflicted damage and devastation on a massive scale. Please donate to the Doctors Without Borders Haiti Appeal….Read the Full Story

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1. Southern African genomes sequenced: Benefits for human health expected
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Story Summary: Unsurprisingly, they found the highest DISC1 activity in connections between nerve cells. To determine how DISC1 regulates dendritic spine formation, the researchers studied which brain proteins interact with the protein expressed by the DISC1 gene. They identified one, called Kal-7, which earlier studies suggested is critical for proper dendritic spine formation. Connections between neurons are constantly being made and broken throughout life, with a massive amount of broken connections, or pruning, happening in adolescence, Sawa says. In the second study, published in the Feb. 25 issue of Neuron, Sawas team generated a new animal model of schizophrenia by temporarily shutting off the DISC1 gene in mice in the prefrontal cortex, a brain area known to differ in schizophrenic people. The researchers created their novel model by, again, using RNA interference. They injected short pieces of the nucleic acid RNA engineered to shut off the DISC1 gene into cavities in the developing brains of mouse fetuses two weeks after conception. Furthermore, the animals showed signs of a deficit of interneurons, nerve cells that connect other neurons in neural pathways. They also found several behavioral differences between these mice compared to normal mice as the animals entered adolescence. If we can learn more about the cascade of events that lead to these anatomical differences, we may eventually be able to alter the course of schizophrenia….Read the Full Story

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1. Blocked enzyme reverses schizophrenia-like symptoms
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Story Summary: Multiple sclerosis, Italian researchers discover a possible onset mechanism for the diseaseA non-pathogenic bacterium is capable to trigger an autoimmune disease similar to the multiple sclerosis in the mouse, the model animal which helps to explain how human diseases work. Multiple sclerosis is a disease due to an inflammatory reaction provoked by the immune system. To demonstrate the viability of this idea, scientists have fooled the mouse immune system, modifying subtly a bacterium of the common family of mycobacteria (the same family to which also the bacterium causing tuberculosis belongs) to make it look like to myelin, the protein coating nerve cells. Since they are innocuous bacteria, although very common in the environment, and since they induce an immune reaction, they are the ideal bacteria scientists can use to study the environmental factor contributing, together with the genetic factor, to cause multiple sclerosis. Normally, T-cells cannot penetrate into the Central Nervous System, adds Rea, because the hematoencephalic barrier prevents them from doing so. But the bacterium modifies the characteristics of the T-cells and allows them to overcome the barrier. This way, they begin to attack the myelin of the nerve cells, and here is how the immune disease breaks out. But there is a whole world of infectious agents which do not induce the production of antibodies, as is the case in our research: mycobacteria and many other bacteria produce a very low and variable number of antibodies. Obviously, this is only the first step to better understand the way this very complex and devastating disease works. Might it truly be a good experimental model for multiple sclerosis? And what about the myelin-like bacterium protein: where should it lie? On the surface, or inside?…Read the Full Story

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