Blood Pressure Problems After a Spinal cord injury
Autonimic dysreflexia occurs after a spinal cord injury. It can cause a heart attack or a stroke if blood pressure is not properly managed. If you wish to kn...

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Scar Removal Orlando | Cicatrices | Eterna MD
Watch the scar removal procedure performed by Dr. Carlos Mercado of Eterna MD. Learn more by visiting our website at http://eternamd.com.

By: Eterna MD Regenerative Medicine

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A Japanese scientist who was among a team of researchers accused of falsifying the results of two stem cell studies committed suicide Tuesday at a government science institute in western Japan. Yoshiki Sasai, deputy director of the Riken Center for Developmental Biology, was found by a security guard at the Kobe facility with a rope around his neck, the Associated Press reports. Authorities said he had suffered from cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead two hours later.

Sasai, 52, was considered an expert in embryonic stem cell research and co-authored two research papers published in January in the journal Nature that detailed a seemingly groundbreaking method of harvesting stem cells to grow new human tissue. Sasai and lead author Haruko Obokata reported having successfully altered ordinary mouse cells into versatile stem cells by immersing them in a mildly acidic solution. The resulting cells were named stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells.

The studies were initially praised as being on the cutting edge of stem cell treatment, but were quickly disputed when other scientists could not replicate the experimental procedure. The papers were retracted six months later after the journal found they contained erroneous data, among other flaws.

Scientists at RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe are deeply concerned about the allegations regarding the recently reported STAP cells, the center said in a statement released in March. We wish to express our strong commitment to maintaining the highest level of scientific integrity to the public and the scientific community. We are fully aware that trust from the society is crucial for research activities carried out in RIKEN.

The scandal apparently affected Sasais health. Following the initial revelation that the research he was involved in may have been flubbed, he was hospitalized in March for stress, according to Riken spokesman Satoru Kagaya, who told reporters during a televised news conference on Tuesday that Sasai "seemed completely exhausted" when they talked over the phone in May.

Several suicide notes were found on Sasais secretarys desk, according to the Wall Street Journal. The content of the notes has not been made public, but officials said two of the notes were addressed to Riken officials, one of whom was Obokata.

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Yoshiki Sasai Suicide: Japanese Stem Cell Scientist Found Dead In Kobe Facility

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Yoshiki Sasai, who was embroiled in a stem-cell scandal, committed suicide He was found with a rope around his neck at science institute Riken in Japan Mr Sasai, 52, was deputy chief of Riken's Center for Developmental Biology He co-authored stem-cell research papers with falsified contents

By Ted Thornhill

Published: 06:20 EST, 5 August 2014 | Updated: 13:25 EST, 5 August 2014

A senior Japanese scientist embroiled in a stem-cell research scandal died on Tuesday in an apparent suicide, police said.

Yoshiki Sasai, who supervised and co-authored stem-cell research papers that had to be retracted due to falsified contents, was found suffering from cardiac arrest at the government-affiliated science institute Riken in Kobe, in western Japan, according to Hyogo prefectural police.

Sasai, 52, was deputy chief of Riken's Center for Developmental Biology.

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Tragic:Yoshiki Sasai, who was embroiled in a stem-cell scandal, committed suicide and was found with a rope around his neck at his place of work

A security guard found him with a rope around his neck, according to Riken. Sasai was rushed to a hospital, but was pronounced dead two hours later.

Police and Riken said Sasai left what appeared to be suicide notes, but refused to disclose their contents.

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Japanese scientist stem-cell scientist Yoshiki Sasai commits suicide

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Brain cells that were grafted into the brains of mice have become fully functionally integrated after six months. The successful neuron transplant could pave the way for therapies to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.

A team of stem cell researchers at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine created the grafted neurons -- induced neuronal stem cells -- in a petri dish out of the host's reprogrammed skin cells. This technique dramatically improved the compatibility of the implanted cells.

Six months after the brain cells were implanted into the hippocampus and cortex regions of the brain, the neurons were fully integrated with the original brain cells via newly formed synapses (the contact points between neurons). The induced neuronal stem cells had changed into different types of brain cells -- neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes -- over time within the host brain. Functional integration with the existing network of cells is absolutely critical for long-term survival of the new brain tissue. The new brain cells exhibited normal activity in tests and the mice showed no adverse side effects.

The plan for researchers is now to explore replacing the type of neurons that tend to die off in the brain of Parkinson's patients -- those neurons found in the substantia nigra that produce dopamine. It may, in the future, be possible to implant neurons to produce the diminished dopamine, which could prove to be an effective treatment for the disease.

Of course, it's a bit leap from the current research to human trials. "Successes in human therapy are still a long way off, but I am sure successful cell replacement therapies will exist in future," says team leader and stem cell researcher Jens Schwamborn. "Our research results have taken us a step further in this direction."

The study has been published in Stem Cell Reports and is available to read for free.

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Implanted brain cells integrate fully with mouse brain tissue

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Scientists at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg have grafted neurons reprogrammed from skin cells into the brains of mice for the first time with long-term stability. Six months after implantation, the neurons had become fully functionally integrated into the brain. This successful, lastingly stable, implantation of neurons raises hope for future therapies that will replace sick neurons with healthy ones in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients, for example.

The Luxembourg researchers published their results in the current issue of Stem Cell Reports.

The LCSB research group around Prof. Dr. Jens Schwamborn and Kathrin Hemmer is working continuously to bring cell replacement therapy to maturity as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. Sick and dead neurons in the brain can be replaced with new cells. This could one day cure disorders such as Parkinson's disease. The path towards successful therapy in humans, however, is long. "Successes in human therapy are still a long way off, but I am sure successful cell replacement therapies will exist in future. Our research results have taken us a step further in this direction," declares stem cell researcher Prof. Schwamborn, who heads a group of 15 scientists at LCSB.

In their latest tests, the research group and colleagues from the Max Planck Institute and the University Hospital Mnster and the University of Bielefeld succeeded in creating stable nerve tissue in the brain from neurons that had been reprogrammed from skin cells. The stem cell researchers' technique of producing neurons, or more specifically induced neuronal stem cells (iNSC), in a petri dish from the host's own skin cells considerably improves the compatibility of the implanted cells. The treated mice showed no adverse side effects even six months after implantation into the hippocampus and cortex regions of the brain. In fact it was quite the opposite -- the implanted neurons were fully integrated into the complex network of the brain. The neurons exhibited normal activity and were connected to the original brain cells via newly formed synapses, the contact points between nerve cells.

The tests demonstrate that the scientists are continually gaining a better understanding of how to treat such cells in order to successfully replace damaged or dead tissue. "Building upon the current insights, we will now be looking specifically at the type of neurons that die off in the brain of Parkinson's patients -- namely the dopamine-producing neurons," Schwamborn reports. In future, implanted neurons could produce the lacking dopamine directly in the patient's brain and transport it to the appropriate sites. This could result in an actual cure, as has so far been impossible. The first trials in mice are in progress at the LCSB laboratories on the university campus Belval.

Story Source:

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

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Implanted neurons become part of the brain, mouse study shows

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Gold River, CA (PRWEB) August 05, 2014

SkinStore.com, the nations leading e-commerce specialty retailer providing scientifically sound solutions for healing and maintaining healthy skin, has reintroduced DermaQuest to its assortment of premium products.

As the leader in botanical stem cell technology since 1999, DermaQuest is at the edge of innovation in advanced skincare. The luxurious formulas are rich in vitamins, peptides, plant stem cells and essential ingredients that hydrate, protect and actually rejuvenate the skin. Through specialized collections for every skin concern, and specific layering sequences to ensure maximum effectiveness and product absorption, DermaQuests formulas are able to realize the desires of any skin type. Their strict quality control and use of only superior ingredients has become unparalleled, results-oriented skincare: If they arent doing it, it simply cant be done yet.

The notable DermaQuest Stem Cell 3D Complex is powered by advanced Biotech Marine and botanical stem cells, peptides and potent antioxidants. The rich, silky formula was formulated to be a wonder tonic, a cure-all for the myriad signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture and tone.

Christina Bertolino, Senior, Buying Manager at SkinStore.com, said, DermaQuest offers the best of both worlds: luxury and proven results. The science behind the line is unparalleled and the visible effects speak for themselves.

About SkinStore.com. Physician-founded in 1997, SkinStore carries over 300 premium brands of skin care, cosmetics, hair care, beauty tools and fragrances from around the world, including high quality products normally found in luxury spas, fine department stores and dermatologist offices. An esthetician-staffed call center is available Monday through Friday to answer customer questions and help shoppers choose products best-suited for their skin type. The company is headquartered in Gold River (Sacramento), California. For more information visit SkinStore.com, SkincareStore.com.au or SkinStoreChina.com.

Contact Information Denise McDonald, Content & Production Manager SkinStore http://www.skinstore.com 916-475-1427

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Luxury Skin Care: SkinStore.com Adds Reformulated, Repackaged DermaQuest

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Researchers have identified a gene mutation that may allow people who have it to function normally on less than six hours of sleep per night. People who have the gene also seem to be more resistant to the effects of sleep deprivation.

In a study on 100 pairs of twins, researchers found that a twin who had a variant of the BHLHE41 gene called p.Tyr362His slept for only about five hours per night, more than an hour shorter than his twin brother who did not carry the gene.

Moreover, the twin who carried the gene mutation had 40 percent fewer average lapses of performance during 38 hours without sleep, and required less recovery sleep after the period of sleep deprivation. The twin with the gene mutation only slept eight hours after being sleep-deprived for an extended period of time, compared with his brother, who slept for 9.5 hours.

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These simple strategies from top sleep experts can help you fall asleep faster and sleep better

"This work provides an important second gene variant associated with sleep deprivation and for the first time shows the role of BHLHE41 in resistance to sleep deprivation in humans," study author Renata Pellegrino, a senior research associate in the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said in a statement. "The mutation was associated with resistance to the neurobehavioral effects of sleep deprivation."

All of the twins in the study were the same sex and were healthy. To conduct the study, the researchers measured the twins' sleep duration for seven to eight nights. The investigators also analyzed their response to 38 hours of sleep deprivation and length of recovery sleep. The twins' cognitive performance was examined every two hours during sleep deprivation.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that adults get about seven to nine hours of sleep per night, even though individual sleep needs may vary. Very few people in the population are so-called natural short-sleepers who can get by on less than six hours of sleep without feeling tired and being less alert during the day.

But, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 percent of U.S. adults report sleeping six hours or less in a 24-hour period. Many will suffer from daytime sleepiness and concentration problems as a result.

"This study emphasizes that our need for sleep is a biological requirement, not a personal preference," American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, said in a statement. "Most adults appear to need at least seven hours of quality sleep each night for optimal health, productivity and daytime alertness."

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Gene mutation may explain why some people need less sleep

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Three of the worlds foremost experts in gene editing have joined the scientific advisory board of Cambridge UK medical technology innovator, Horizon Discovery.

CEO Dr Darrin Disley is hailing the appointments from Europe and Boston as a global triumph as the business supplies more and more research tools to accelerate progress towards personalised medicines.

The world renowned scientists who have joined Horizons SAB are Dr Emmanuelle Charpentier currently working in Germany and Drs Keith Joung and Feng Zhang from Massachusetts.

Dr Charpentier is head of the Department of Regulation in Infection Biology at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig and Hannover Medical School. She is known worldwide for her work on bacterial immunity and uncovering key functional components of the bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 system.

Dr Charpentier was principal co-author on a seminal publication suggesting how the CRISPR-Cas9 system could be adapted from use in bacteria for broad application in mammalian genome editing. She is also a co-founder of ERS Genomics and CRISPR Therapeutics and was recently awarded the Alexander von Humboldt professorship and Dr Paul Janssen Award.

Dr Charpentier said: Horizon is fast becoming recognised as a leader in the field of gene editing, applying CRISPR and other technologies to develop innovative research for understanding the genetic basis of disease and the development of personalised medicines.

I am excited to help guide the next stage in the companys development and the application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to their products and services.

Dr Joung has a long history in the development and application of engineered DNA-binding domains and systems for creating customised nucleases for genome editing. Over the past 10 years, his lab has pioneered methods for targeted genome editing using engineered zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, as well as CRISPR-Cas9.

In a recent publication, Dr Joung and his co-workers described a novel system that combines CRISPR-Cas9 with a nuclease domain to generate dimeric RNA-guided FokI nucleases with greater specificity than first-generation CRISPR reagents.

Dr Joung is the recipient of a NIH Directors Pioneer Award and also a scientific co-founder of Editas Medicine. He currently serves as Associate Chief of Pathology for Research at Massachusetts General Hospital and is an Associate Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School.

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Gene editing world leaders boost Horizon SAB

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(CBS) - Researchers have identified a gene mutation that may allow people who have it to function normally on less than six hours of sleep per night. People who have the gene also seem to be more resistant to the effects of sleep deprivation.

In a study on 100 pairs of twins, researchers found that a twin who had a variant of the BHLHE41 gene called p.Tyr362His slept for only about five hours per night, more than an hour shorter than his twin brother who did not carry the gene.

Moreover, the twin who carried the gene mutation had 40 percent fewer average lapses of performance during 38 hours without sleep, and required less recovery sleep after the period of sleep deprivation. The twin with the gene mutation only slept eight hours after being sleep-deprived for an extended period of time, compared with his brother, who slept for 9.5 hours.

"This work provides an important second gene variant associated with sleep deprivation and for the first time shows the role of BHLHE41 in resistance to sleep deprivation in humans," study author Renata Pellegrino, a senior research associate in the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said in a statement. "The mutation was associated with resistance to the neurobehavioral effects of sleep deprivation."

All of the twins in the study were the same sex and were healthy. To conduct the study, the researchers measured the twins' sleep duration for seven to eight nights. The investigators also analyzed their response to 38 hours of sleep deprivation and length of recovery sleep. The twins' cognitive performance was examined every two hours during sleep deprivation.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that adults get about seven to nine hours of sleep per night, even though individual sleep needs may vary. Very few people in the population are so-called natural short-sleepers who can get by on less than six hours of sleep without feeling tired and being less alert during the day.

But, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 percent of U.S. adults report sleeping six hours or less in a 24-hour period. Many will suffer from daytime sleepiness and concentration problems as a result.

"This study emphasizes that our need for sleep is a biological requirement, not a personal preference," American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, said in a statement. "Most adults appear to need at least seven hours of quality sleep each night for optimal health, productivity and daytime alertness."

The new study was published Monday in the journal Sleep.

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Gene mutation makes people need less sleep

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

5-Aug-2014

Contact: Kathryn Ryan kryan@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, August 5, 2014 -- Women who visit Internet pornography sites are at risk of developing cybersex addiction. A comparison of the tendency toward cybersex addiction among heterosexual women who do or do not use Internet pornography and factors predictive of developing cybersex addiction are described in a study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

In "Cybersex Addiction in Heterosexual Female Users of Internet Pornography Can Be Explained by Gratification Hypothesis," authors Christian Laier, Jaro Pekal, and Matthias Brand, University of Duisburg-Essen (Duisburg, Germany), and Erwin L. Hahn, Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Essen, Germany), explore the role of anticipating and receiving sexual gratification in the development of cybersex addiction.

"The authors found that cybersex addiction in the study population of heterosexual female users is similar to that of heterosexual males," says Editor-in-Chief Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCB, BCN, Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Brussels, Belgium and Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, California. "Although the study population was only limited to individuals under 30, this helps to advance our understanding of cybersex addiction in females."

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About the Journal

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with Open Access options and in print that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet and interactive technologies, plus cybertherapy and rehabilitation. Complete tables of contents and a sample issue may be viewed on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

About the Publisher

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What drives cybersex addiction among female internet pornography users?

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Translating genetic advances into day to day clinical practice
By Prof Subra Kugathasan.

By: Joint Sessions of the Alumni of Faculty of Medicine, Jaffna

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Translating genetic advances into day to day clinical practice - Video

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The research team, directed by Dr. Karol Estrada, analyzed genetic sequencing of 8000 Mexicans and found a mutated gene related to diabetes in 30% of mestizos and in half the indigenous population.

The largest genetic study of type II diabetes made between Mexican population has identified a gene present in mestizos (mixed race) and indigenous people of the country that rises five times the likelihood of developing the disease, compared to other populations of the world. The study integrates researchers from the Broad Institute (Harvard University and Massachusettes Institute of Technology), the National Institute of Nutrition and the Institute of Biomedical Research of the UNAM.

The research results were reported in June 2014 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which notes that the mutated gene called SLC16A11 occurs in 30 percent of the mestizo population and up to 50 percent of the Mexican indigenous.

In this study, the scientist Karol Estrada, who works for the Broad Institute in Boston, directed the genetic sequencing analysis using computational elements.

To locate the gene, the first part of the research of DNA samples of more than eight thousand Mexicans, half of whom live in Mexico City and one in Los Angeles, California were taken; in the second stage just over four thousand attended nationals, with a ratio of 75 percent in the capital and the remaining in the Californian city.

"The collection of samples took a long time, and then, from the genetic information and clinical data began the search of the variant among millions of data generated. Many see it as finding a needle in a haystack, but identifying the gene has been a professional success that satisfies me personally."

"My job is to make the analytical part, and to make sense of what the computer sequencing generated; if Mexican researchers hadn't collected this information I wouldn't have come to this, "says Karol Estrada.

Karol Estrada founded in 2005 the Department of Computational Genomics at the National Institute of Genomic Medicine. In 2012 arrived at the Broad Institute to conduct research in osteoporosis, but what was done in diabetes research caught his eye and decided to integrate a scientific team looking for the gene among the Mexican population; this major study is sponsored by the Consortium SIGMA (Slim Initiative for Genomic Medicine Version).

"Once we had all the data on sequenced DNA it took us a year to process the information and infer the needle in the haystack. We found the gene can develop diabetes MODY (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young), which usually occurs in young people, and in the Mexican population may occur around age 50; then the patient comes to the clinic and is treated for type II diabetes.

"A genetic DNA test could determine the type of diabetes in minutes and from this the treatment to follow, with all the correct dose of treatment to improve the patient's condition. In the second part of the international study a genetic diagnostic tool that costs less than 100 pesos is being developed. It enables us to do the work knowing that it is a single gene variant for the Mexican population and not having to test for many other genes, "says Dr. Karol Estrada.

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Diabetes-related mutation found in Mexican population

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By U-T San Diego Editorial Board3:36 p.m.Aug. 4, 2014

The worlds of science, technology, medicine and philanthropy all came together Monday in a remarkable way that will benefit children in San Diego for decades. Businessman Ernest Rady and his wife Evelyn are donating $120 million to the medical center that already bears their family name, Rady Childrens Hospital.

The new donation, one of the most generous acts of philanthropy ever in San Diego, will be used to create an institute intended to ultimately be capable of sequencing and analyzing the genetic makeup of every young patient who comes through the hospitals doors. With that data, doctors hope to dramatically increase their ability to diagnose and treat genetic disorders.

The impact of the donation will be felt in many ways. San Diego already is a leader in many fields of science, technology and medicine. This gift will further cement that status for the city. It will also boost the growing and hugely promising field of genetic medicine.

And, most important, the work made possible by this money will mean a longer life and a higher quality of life for thousands of children, many of whom today may not have such hopes.

The $120 million from the Radys raises the total they have given the hospital since 2006 to $180 million. On behalf of a grateful community, thank you.

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A remarkable act of philanthropy again

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Bubba Fresh Norstar Genetics is here Come say hello
California Proposition 215 Legal Medical cannabis collective.

By: XcHaze

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Bubba Fresh Norstar Genetics is here Come say hello - Video

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Good Genetics Hair Peruvian Loose Wave! 2 week Update
This video is my 2 week update on the Peruvian loose wave hair I received from Good Genetics Hair! Product Used On The Hair: Creme of Nature Chamomile Conditioner Link To Initial Review: https://w...

By: Mocha Hontas

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Lets Play The Sims 3 Perfect Genetics-100 Baby Challenge Live Stream Part 12
Kasey #39;s life gets a little easier but we still are struggling for money! -- http://www.twitch.tv/gbabychallenger/c/4812071 utm_campaign=archive_export utm_source=gbabychallenger utm_medium=youtube.

By: GBabyChallenger

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Lets Play The Sims 3 Perfect Genetics-100 Baby Challenge Live Stream Part 12 - Video

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Lets Play The Sims 3 Perfect Genetics-100 Baby Challenge Live Stream Part 11
Life continues to unravel and be hectic for Kasey and the kids! -- http://www.twitch.tv/gbabychallenger/c/4812041 utm_campaign=archive_export utm_source=gbabychallenger utm_medium=youtube.

By: GBabyChallenger

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Lets Play The Sims 3 Perfect Genetics-100 Baby Challenge Live Stream Part 11 - Video

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RainDance Technologies - Complex Genetics Made Simple
RainDance Technologies is leading a transformation in disease research by making innovative tools that simplify complex genetic analysis. We are focused on delivering innovative Digital Droplet-bas...

By: RainDance Technologies

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

5-Aug-2014

Contact: Peggy Calicchia calicchi@cshl.edu 516-422-4012 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

August 5, 2014 A major hurdle in gene therapy is the efficient integration of a corrected gene into a patient's genome without mutating off-target sites. In a paper published today in Genome Research, scientists have used CRISPR/Cas genome editing technology to seamlessly and efficiently correct disease-causing mutations in cells from patients with -thalassemia.

-thalassemia results from inherited DNA mutations in the hemoglobin beta (HBB) gene, resulting in reduced HBB expression in red blood cells and, in the most severe forms, anemia. The only established curative treatment is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; however, this treatment requires a matched donor. Gene therapy, which delivers a corrected copy of a gene into patient cells, could bypass the need for a donor. Previous attempts using a virus to randomly insert a normal gene into the genome has been successful in one -thalassemia patient, but the long-term effect of viral insertion is not yet known.

To correct HBB mutations directly in a patient's genome, researchers first generated induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs, from skin cells of patients. The real breakthrough came when they applied CRISPR/Cas9 to precisely engineer a double strand DNA break at the HBB locus in these cells, allowing a donor plasmid with the corrected sites to be efficiently integrated, thus replacing the mutated sites. The donor plasmid also contained selectable markers to identify cells with corrected copies of the gene. These selectable markers were subsequently removed with transposase and a second round of selection, generating a seamless, corrected version of HBB in the patient's genome.

Importantly, the researchers could differentiate the corrected iPSCs into mature blood cells, and these blood cells showed restored expression of hemoglobin. However, much work is needed before these cells could be transplanted back into a patient for treating -thalassemia. "Although we and others are able to differentiate iPSCs into blood cell progenitors as well as mature blood cells, the transplantation of the progenitors into mouse models to test them has so far proven very difficult," said senior author Yuet Wai Kan from the University of California, San Francisco. "I believe it will take quite a few more years before we can apply it in a clinical setting."

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Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco and the Blood Systems Research Institute contributed to this study.

This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

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Seamless gene correction of beta-thalassemia mutations in patient-specific cells

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Time Posted: August 5, 2014 9:43 am

Yanick Mulumba

Kabungo Yanick Mulumba, a resident of Maamba, Zambia, a graduate of St. Canisius High School, and now a senior at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, is one of forty undergraduate students accepted into the 2014 Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Internship Program, which provides participants with a challenging summer research experience in a cutting-edge stem cell science laboratory.

Mulumba is spending ten weeks, from June 9 to August 15, in the Harvard University Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology laboratory of HSCI Principal Faculty member Chad Cowan, PhD, known for his research on genetic disease modeling. Mulumbas project this summer is to engineer transplantable white blood cells that dont attack the bodys own cells when used for adoptive immunotherapya treatment that uses biological substances to boost a patients immune system.

The internship has enhanced my critical thinking through troubleshooting and planning of experiments, Mulumba said. Ive also been exposed to leaders in academia and industry who have helped me learn how to combine my interests in medicine, research, and healthcare management.

Over the course of the program, interns participate in a stem cell seminar series, a career pathways presentation, and a weekly stem cell companion course. They present their summer research findings, both orally and in poster format, at an end-of-program symposium.

This program represents an exciting opportunity for undergraduates to gain hands-on experience in stem cell research while working in an HSCI laboratory under the supervision of an experienced researcher, said HSCI Internship Program co-director M. William Lensch, PhD.

The Harvard Stem Cell Institute gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following sponsors for the 2014 HSCI Internship Program: Biogen Idec, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine, Loughborough University (UK), Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

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Maamba resident awarded Harvard Stem cell institute internship

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Knee arthritis 28 months after stem cell therapy by Harry Adelson, N.D.
Cory describes his outcome from a single bone marrow/adipose stem cell treatment for his arthritic knees by Harry Adelson, N.D. http://www.docereclinics.com.

By: Harry Adelson, N.D.

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Knee arthritis 28 months after stem cell therapy by Harry Adelson, N.D. - Video

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Could stem cell injections help rejuvenate your face or body? Probably not, plastic surgery experts say, but ads for these types of bogus procedures abound on the Internet.

"Stem cells offer tremendous potential, but the marketplace is saturated with unsubstantiated and sometimes fraudulent claims that may place patients at risk," a team led by Dr. Michael Longaker, of Stanford University Medical Center, wrote in a review published in the August issue ofPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The experts say consumers need to be wary of advertisements promoting the benefits of "minimally invasive, stem cell-based rejuvenation procedures." Claims for stem cell procedures for facelifts, breast augmentation and vaginal rejuvenation are not only unsubstantiated, but also risky, Longaker's team said.

They note that, to date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved only one cosmetic stem cell procedure designed to treat fine facial wrinkles. And since that single procedure was approved, the product involved has been monitored extensively.

Overall, cosmetic stem cell procedures have not undergone significant scientific scrutiny, the Stanford team said. The risks associated with stem cell and tissue processing have not been closely examined. The effects of aging on stem cells are also not well established, the researchers explained.

14 Photos

Tummy tucks and facelifts pale in comparison to these surprising surgeries patients request

To investigate concerning claims being made about cosmetic stem cell procedures, the researchers performed a basic Internet search. They found the most common result was "stem cell facelifts." Most of the procedures used stem cells isolated from fat but did not provide details on the quality of the stem cells.

More than 100 clinical trials are currently evaluating stem cells derived from fat, but few are focusing on cosmetic treatments. The researchers cautioned that the products used in these cosmetic procedures likely involves additional types of cells unless they utilized sophisticated cell-sorting techniques.

Many blood plasma-enriched "platelet protein treatments" are also incorrectly advertised as stem cell therapy, the study's authors noted.

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Stem cell beauty treatments? Be wary, experts say

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Gary Valenciano. File Photo.

MANILA Veteran singer and concert performer Gary Valenciano is set to undergo a stem cell therapy so he could continue dancing.

In an interview with entertainment site Push, Valenciano said the treatment is primarily for his knees.

Kasi medyo masakit na talaga siya. I have hardly any cartilage left. Yung meniscus ko has multiple tears and it has been like this for years so Im going through a procedure na sana mag-regenerate yung cartilage ko, he said.

Because of this, Valenciano said he will take a short break from his showbiz commitments.

"Ill give myself a little time na mawala yung pain and then hataw ulit. Kasi hindi ko talaga mapigilan yung sarili ko eh. Even if sinasabi ko na sa sarili ko na Tama na, tama na hindi eh," he said.

Valenciano, who just staged the repeat of his concert "Arise" at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last weekend, also explained why he no longer holds concerts as often as before.

"I slowed down na kasi if you watched my past concerts yun yung talagang pure energy ang thrust ko eh. Yun ang ginawa ko ngayon, he said. Ayaw ko kasi yung manood yung mga tao at sabihin nila Ay hindi na niya kaya, dapat huminto na siya no? Ayaw ko ng ganon, mas mabuti pa yung kaya pa niya and then stop. [Tapos sasabihin ng tao] Oh bakit? Sabagay matagal na rin siyang sumasayaw.

Valenciano, who is turning 50 on Wednesday, said he also wants the other performers to enjoy the spotlight.

Siguro magiging awaited moment na ng mga tao na makita akong sumayaw kasi marami na talagang magagaling din ngayon who deserve also the limelight, he said, citing Sam Concepcion, Billy Crawford, Rayver Cruz, Vhong Navarro and even his son Gabriel.

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Training In BJJ With A Spinal Cord Injury: Maximiliano Ulloa
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