Archive for March, 2012

31-03-2012 00:11 Project Walk in conjunction with SCI Business Solutions, has recently released our brand new Telehealth Program . Initial entry into this program is limited to only 200 "Pilot" members. These members will receive a large discount for joining our "Pilot" program and helping us develop this system for future spinal cord injury clients who may or may not be able to visit a Project Walk facility.

Read more:
Spinal Cord Injury - Home Workout - Video

Is your child about to lose her milk tooth? Instead of throwing it away, you can now opt to use it to harvest stem cells in a dental stem cell bank for future use in the face of serious ailments. Now thats a tooth fairy story coming to life.

Still relatively new in India, dental stem cell banking is fast gaining popularity as a more viable option over umbilical cord blood banking.

Stem cell therapy involves a kind of intervention strategy in which healthy, new cells are introduced into a damaged tissue to treat a disease or an injury.

The umbilical cord is a good source for blood-related cells, or hemaotopoietic cells, which can be used for blood-related diseases, like leukaemia (blood cancer). Having said that, blood-related disorders constitute only four percent of all diseases, Shailesh Gadre, founder and managing director of the company Stemade Biotech, said.

For the rest of the 96 percent tissue-related diseases, the tooth is a good source of mesenchymal (tissue-related) stem cells. These cells have potential application in all other tissues of the body, for instance, the brain, in case of diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons; the eye (corneal reconstruction), liver (cirrhosis), pancreas (diabetes), bone (fractures, reconstruction), skin and the like, he said.

Mesenchymal cells can also be used to regenerate cardiac cells.

Dental stem cell banking also has an advantage when it comes to the process of obtaining stem cells.

Obtaining stem cells from the tooth is a non-invasive procedure that requires no surgery, with little or no pain. A child, in the age group of 5-12, is any way going to lose his milk tooth. So when its a little shaky, it can be collected with hardly any discomfort, Savita Menon, a pedodontist, said.

Moreover, in a number of cases, when an adolescent needs braces, the doctor recommends that his pre-molars be removed. These can also be used as a source for stem cells. And over and above that, an adults wisdom tooth can also be used for the same purpose, Gadre added.

Therefore, unlike umbilical cord blood banking which gives one just one chance - during birth - the window of opportunity in dental stem cell banking is much bigger.

Read more from the original source:
Your child’s milk tooth can save her life

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Transgenomic, Inc. (OTCBB: TBIO.OB - News) today announced that Jeana DaRe, Ph.D., Assistant CLIA Laboratory Director at Transgenomic, presented clinical findings from patients tested for nuclear mitochondrial disorders using Transgenomics NuclearMitome Test on Thursday, March 29, at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) in Charlotte, North Carolina. The discussion, titled Clinical re-sequencing of over 410 genes to diagnose mitochondrial disorders included details of both the technical performance of the NuclearMitome Test as well as the wide variety of clinically revealing results discovered through its use. The NuclearMitome Test employs next-generation sequencing technology to identify mutations in 448 genes, and represents the most comprehensive genetic test available for mitochondrial disorders.

In her presentation, Dr. DaRe highlighted two case studies. In both cases, patients achieved a definitive diagnosis through the identification of genetic mutations far outside the normal spectrum of genetic testing. These results concluded the patients diagnostic odysseys, which had encompassed wide-ranging genetic and non-genetic tests as well as consultation with various medical specialties, all of which had failed to pinpoint the underlying disease. These results are a typical occurrence in patients sent for NuclearMitome testing.

The NuclearMitome Test is a cutting-edge technology that is reshaping the process for accurately diagnosing and effectively treating patients with mitochondrial disorders, said Craig Tuttle, CEO of Transgenomic. Since its launch in June 2011, clinicians have embraced this test as a way to simultaneously assay the hundreds of genes relevant to mitochondrial-based developmental disorders and achieve otherwise impossible diagnoses. The NuclearMitome test is rapidly becoming an important asset for the medical and patient communities and for Transgenomic.

About Mitochondrial Diseases

Mitochondrial diseases are the most common metabolic diseases of childhood with an estimated frequency of 1 in 2000 births. They are characterized by multi-organ involvement, particularly neuromuscular symptoms, and often follow a rapidly progressive course. The variability in clinical presentation makes diagnosis tremendously challenging, as it traditionally relies on often-inconclusive enzymatic analyses that do not pinpoint the underlying molecular defect. Knowledge of the specific cause of disease can be important for developing personalized treatment strategies.

About Transgenomic, Inc.

Transgenomic, Inc. (www.transgenomic.com) is a global biotechnology company advancing personalized medicine in cancer and inherited diseases through its proprietary molecular technologies and world-class clinical and research services. The company has three complementary business divisions: Transgenomic Pharmacogenomic Services is a contract research laboratory that specializes in supporting all phases of pre-clinical and clinical trials for oncology drugs in development. Transgenomic Clinical Laboratories specializes in molecular diagnostics for cardiology, neurology, mitochondrial disorders, and oncology. Transgenomic Diagnostic Tools produces equipment, reagents, and other consumables that empower clinical and research applications in molecular testing and cytogenetics. Transgenomic believes there is significant opportunity for continued growth across all three businesses by leveraging their synergistic capabilities, technologies, and expertise. The company actively develops and acquires new technology and other intellectual property that strengthen its leadership in personalized medicine.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements of Transgenomic within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those with respect to management's current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results, including the ability of the Company to grow its involvement in the diagnostic products and services markets. The known risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting these forward-looking statements are described from time to time in Transgenomic's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any change in such factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to in such statements. Accordingly, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to all statements contained in this press release. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release and Transgenomic does not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

More here:
Transgenomic, Inc. Announces Presentation of Results from 448-Gene NuclearMitome Test in 78 Patients at the 2012 ...

HOUSTON, March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Rice University and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a partnership to build the first award-winning IBM Blue Gene supercomputer in Texas. Rice also announced a related collaboration agreement with the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil to initiate the shared administration and use of the Blue Gene supercomputer, which allows both institutions to share the benefits of the new computing resource.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )

Rice faculty will use the Blue Gene to further their own research and to collaborate with academic and industry partners on a broad range of science and engineering questions related to energy, geophysics, basic life sciences, cancer research, personalized medicine and more.

The collaborative agreement securing Brazil's share of time on Rice's Blue Gene was signed in Sao Paulo March 27 by a delegation that included Rice President David Leebron and USP President Joao Grandino Rodas. Leebron is traveling with a delegation led by Houston Mayor Annise Parker. The delegation includes Rice Provost George McLendon, Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) President and CEO Jeff Moseley and other GHP members.

"Collaboration and partnership have a unique place in Rice's history as a pre-eminent research university, and it is fitting that Rice begins its second century with two innovative partnerships that highlight the university's commitments to expanding our international reach, strengthening our research and building stronger ties with our home city," Leebron said.

USP is Brazil's largest institution of higher education and research, and Rodas said the agreement represents an important bond between Rice and USP. "The joint utilization of the supercomputer by Rice University and USP, much more than a simple sharing of high-tech equipment, means the strength of an effective partnership between both universities," he said.

Mayor Parker, a 1978 Rice alumna, said, "When I was at Rice, it looked inward. Today it looks outward through this agreement. It strengthens not only Rice University but also the city of Houston."

Rice's new Blue Gene supercomputer, which has yet to be named, is slated to become operational in May. It is based on IBM's POWER processor technology, which was developed in part at the company's Austin, Texas labs. Rice and IBM shared the cost of the system.

"High-performance computers like the IBM Blue Gene/P are critical in virtually every discipline of science and engineering, and we are grateful for IBM's help in bringing this resource to Rice," McLendon said. "For individual faculty, the supercomputer will open the door to new areas of research. The Blue Gene also opens doors for Rice as the university seeks to establish institutional relationships both in our home city and with critical international partners like USP."

Unlike the typical desktop or laptop computer, which have a single microprocessor, supercomputers typically contain thousands of processors. This makes them ideal for scientists who study complex problems, because jobs can be divided among all the processors and run in a matter of seconds rather than weeks or months. Supercomputers are used to simulate things that cannot be reproduced in a laboratory -- like Earth's climate or the collision of galaxies -- and to examine vast databases like those used to map underground oil reservoirs or to develop personalized medical treatments.

More:
Rice University, IBM Partner to Bring First Blue Gene Supercomputer to Texas

A forum critical of UC Berkeleys plans to ramp up genetic engineering research at a planned massive new second campus of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Richmond drew a capacity crowd to the David Brower Center Thursday night.

One speaker after another ripped into the potential consequences of the universitys grandiose plans, including the human and environmental devastation certain to be wrought on Africa and Latin America.

We will be posting several articles on the gathering, but we will begin with a focus on some of the ways the labs end products could impact other lands targeted by the labs emphasis on using genetic engineering to transform living plants into fuel.

A resonant voice from Nigeria

Environmental activist Nnimmo Bassey, executive director of Environmental Rights Action in Nigeria and chair of Friends of the Earth International, ripped into comments made a day earlier by Jay Keasling, UC Berkeley professor, founder of three genetic engineering companies, and head of the Department of Energy-funded Joint BioEnergy Institute [JBEI], which is slated to relocate to the new Richmond campus.

In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Keasling had dismissed criticisms by Bassey and others that any successful program to use genetically altered microbes to create fuel from plant matter would wreak ecological and human devastation in Africa, Latin America, and Asia:

Thast so-called wasteland is somebodys land, Bassey said. The worlds pastoralists thrive on lands marginal or unsuitable for farming. People do live in the Sahara desert. People do live in the Kalahari Desert. People do live in the desert here in the United States.

The one sure result of a global land grab is conflict, he said. A second is the introduction of genetically modified organisms [GMOs] into more nations where theyve been previously banned.

Bassey, whose words flow in resonant, almost musical bass tones, is a winner of the 2010 Right Livelihood Award, often called the Alternate Nobel Prize because it is awarded by the Swedish legislature the day before the Nobels are handed out in the same city, Stockholm. The prize is given for working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today.

Much of Basseys work has centered on the devastation wrought on his country by oil companies like Chevron, which has sunk its claws and talons into Richmond, and, like Shell, BP, and other oil companies is moving into agrofuels.

Here is the original post:
Stakeholders weigh in on UC Berkeley GMO complex

30-03-2012 11:44 Personalized medicine is becoming an increasingly important aspect of cancer treatment. Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute, describes a new database of nearly 1000 cancer cell lines, across numerous tumor types, that will be used to help predict the effectiveness of cancer drugs based on a tumor's genetic profile.

See more here:
Levi Garraway on cancer cell genetic profile catalogs | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - Video

Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology Also Included In: Heart Disease;Genetics Article Date: 30 Mar 2012 - 8:00 PDT

email to a friend printer friendly opinions

Current Article Ratings:

Following PCI, the standard care for patients commonly consists of aspirin and clopidogrel to reduce the risk of blood clot formation, however, this dual antiplatelet therapy results in many patients becoming vulnerable to major adverse cardiovascular events.

This persistent vulnerability is linked to elevated on-treatment platelet reactivity, which can lead to a sudden blockage in the stents that can cause heart attacks or death. The characteristics of elevated on-treatment platelet reactivity are inadequate inhibition of the platelet PsY12 receptor following clopidogrel treatment.

According to scientists, numerous clinical variables have been implicated, however, the strongest predictor is the loss-of-function CYP2C19*2 allele (rs4244285), which is a common genetic variant that occurs in almost 30% of western Europeans and in about 50% of Asians.

Two unique P2Y12 inhibitors are prasugrel and ticagrelor, which compared with clopidogrel provide a more potent platelet inhibition. Although both drugs reduce major adverse cardiovascular events following acute coronary syndrome, they are also linked to higher complications in terms of bleeding. The researchers point out that retrospective genetic studies demonstrated that both, prasugrel and ticagrelor remained unaffected by the CYP2C19*2 allele. According to the authors, personalization of dual antiplatelet therapy after PCI could successfully minimize major adverse cardiovascular and adverse bleeding events if CYP2C19*2 carrier status could be identified in the future.

Spartan Biosciences in Ottawa, ON, Canada, has developed Spartan RX CYP2C19 as a point-of-care genetic test for the CYP2C19*2 allele that is performed with a buccal swab, which enables health-care personnel with no previous training in genetic laboratory techniques to undertake genotyping at the patient's bedside.

The researchers decided to evaluate the clinical feasibility and pharmacodynamic efficacy of personalized dual antiplatelet therapy in patients who receive PCI treatment for acute coronary syndrome and stable coronary artery disease.

The standard care for these patients is a medical regimen of aspirin and clopidogrel, however, the new genetic test means that physicians can personalize the patient's therapy and select whether they should opt to administer a more potent anti-platelet drug like prasugrel to those patients who have a high risk of failing treatment with clopidogrel.

Read the original post:
Using Antiplatelet Therapy After Coronary Interventions - Study

By a GenomeWeb staff reporter

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) Interleukin Genetics today reported that its fourth-quarter revenues increased 13 percent, driven by a partnership with Amway.

The Waltham, Mass.-based genetic test maker had total revenues of $575,339 for the three-month period ended Dec. 31, compared to $510,767 for the fourth quarter of 2010. It said that its revenue came primarily from the sale of its Inherent Health genetic tests through the Amway global sales channel. That partnership dates back to October 2009.

Interleukin's net loss for the quarter was $1.4 million, or $.04 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million, or $.03 per share, for Q4 2010.

Its R&D spending increased to $387,106 from $354,051 year over year, while its SG&A spending declined to $1.1 million from $1.3 million.

For full-year 2012, Interleukin's revenues climbed around 45 percent to $2.9 million from $2 million in 2011.

"Our genetic testing revenue has grown by more than forty percent this year over last year as we added new partnerships for distribution of our tests," Interleukin Genetics CEO Lewis Bender said in a statement. "In addition, our collaboration with Stanford University continued with an extension study whose results showed that the genetic patterns identified by our Weight Management Test can help individuals lose more weight when diets are selected based on genotype."

The firm also is developing a genetic test for periodontal disease risk.

Interleukin posted a net loss of $5 million, or $.14 per share, compared to a net loss of $6 million, or $.17 per share, for 2010.

Its R&D spending for the year was $1.4 million, flat with 2010, and its SG&A expenses declined to $4.7 million from $5.5 million.

Read more:
Interleukin Genetics' Revenues Rise

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (Euronext: AMT - News), a leader in the field of human gene therapy, announced that the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of shareholders was held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today in accordance with the EGM Notice of February 17, 2012. At the EGM, shareholders approved all the resolutions proposed for the substantial corporate restructuring and financing transaction, which will result in the assets and certain liabilities being acquired by a newly formed private company, uniQure BV, and the AMT legal entity being liquidated.

The shareholders in uniQure previously included a condition to the transaction that meant an additional 1.0 million of investment was to be secured by AMT prior to completion. This condition has been waived. Completion of the uniQure transaction is expected to occur in early April 2012. Further details on timing on the uniQure transaction are set out on the company's website.

The resolutions put to the EGM convened in accordance with the Notice were passed by a majority in excess of 99 percent. The detailed voting information and results pursuant to Section 2:120 paragraph 5 of the Dutch Civil Code will be posted on the website http://www.amtbiopharma.com.

About Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics

AMT is a world leader in the development ofhuman gene based therapies.AMT has a product pipeline of gene therapy products in development for hemophilia B, acute intermittent porphyria, Parkinson's disease and SanfilippoB. Using adeno-associated viral (AAV) derived vectors as the delivery vehicle of choice for therapeutic genes, the company has been able to design and validate probably the world's first stable and scalable AAV manufacturing platform.This proprietary platform can be applied to a large number of rare(orphan) diseases caused by one faulty gene and allows AMT to pursue its strategy of focusing on this sector of the industry. The assets of AMT are subject to a proposed acquisition by uniQure BV. AMT was founded in 1998 and is based in Amsterdam. Further information can be found at http://www.amtbiopharma.com.

About uniQure

uniQure BV is a private company created specifically to acquire specific assets and liabilities of Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (AMT). The company is funded by Forbion Capital Partners, an existing investor in AMT. uniQure will act as the new holding company for the gene therapy business currently carried out by AMT.

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" including those that refer to management's plans and expectations for future operations, prospects and financial condition. Words such as "strategy," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "will," "continues," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of AMT only. Undue reliance should not be placed on these statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and can be affected by factors that are beyond the control of AMT. Actual results could differ materially from current expectations due to a number of factors and uncertainties affecting AMT's business. AMT expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements herein except as required by law.

Continued here:
Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Announces Results of Extraordinary General Meeting

By: Mahita Gajanan / Staff Writer

Posted on 30. Mar, 2012 in News

For one Pitt alumnus, a simple cheek swab was enough to begin a process that would eventually help save a childs life.

In 2010, Jenna Tamburro, then a sophomore, registered at Pitts first annual bone marrow drive sponsored by the Nursing Student Association through DKMS, a bone marrow donation center.

The next year, Tamburro found out she was a potential match for a cancer patient, and after some blood work and a physical, discovered that her bone marrow was suitable to be transplanted into a patient.

This year, NSA will hold its third bone marrow drive with DKMS on April 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the William Pitt Union. Nursing students Rebecca Sponberg, Lindsey Pretsch and Jarae Payne organized the event.

At the drive, students who are interested in donating bone marrow will have a nurse swab the inside of their cheek with a cotton swab. The interior lining of the cheek provides a persons human leukocyte antigen, a protein on the bodys cells that allows the immune system to recognize the cells as its own, said Sponberg, the vice president of NSA. This test will allow potential candidates to find out if they are eligible to donate bone marrow.

Its important that the donors HLA matches the recipients HLA so the immune system will accept it, Sponberg, a sophomore, said.

Sponberg said that in the past two years, 604 students have registered as donors. Out of the 604, 19 students have been contacted as actual matches and 6 of the 19 have gone through the marrow donation process. None of the organizers could estimate how many people they are expecting to register this year.

I thought it was so crazy that I got matched, Tamburro, who now works at Phipps Conservatory, said. I was shocked when it happened, but then actually really excited.

Go here to see the original:
Nursing Student Association hosts bone marrow drive

LIVINGSTON, NJ--(Marketwire -03/30/12)- Inpatient Medical Associates (www.imahospitalists.com), a provider of hospitalist services, will debut its personalized iPad-based recruiting application at the Society of Hospital Medicine's annual meeting HM12, April 1-4, 2012, at the San Diego Convention Center. The medical group will also showcase its innovative approach in using scribes to support hospitalists' quality of practice.

"We identified the need to develop a personalized solution that quickly and effectively matches providers' practice preferences, recreational interests and geographical preference with available positions," explains Raymond Iannaccone, MD, FACEP, president and chief executive officer of Inpatient Medical Associates. "Through the eco-friendly app, recruiting information is sent electronically to interested providers before they even leave our exhibit booth."

The second innovation to dbut at HM12 is Inpatient Medical Associate's hospitalist-specific scribe program, which is intended to improve physician productivity, patient satisfaction and physician quality of practice. While emergency physician groups have used scribes for years, the practice is still new to hospitalists. The use of scribes has been shown to increase patient satisfaction and enhance physician productivity, which is critical in today's hospitalist practice where up to 34% of a hosptialist's time can be devoted to documentation, even when charting using an electronic medical record.

"Healthcare reform places greater emphasis on reducing lengths of stay, readmissions and supporting value-based purchasing. Our scribe program supports our commitment to achieving exceptional clinical and operational performance while remaining focused on patient satisfaction," states Maninder "Dolly" Abraham, MD, medical director for Inpatient Medical Associates.

Inpatient Medical Associates is exhibiting at Booth 213 at the 2012 Society of Hospitalist Medicine's annual HM12 conference in San Diego.

About Inpatient Medical AssociatesInpatient Medical Associates is an inpatient medicine practice providing hospitalist services at academic medical centers and community hospitals on the east coast. For more information, visit http://www.imahospitalists.com, http://www.twitter.com/IMAHospitalists or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Inpatient-Medical-Associates/104876569598099.

See original here:
Inpatient Medical Associates to Showcase Personalized Recruiting Application and Scribe Program at HM12 in San Diego

Eric LeGrand took the stage Wednesday in front of an audience of 70 people at the Busch Campus Center to present his outlook for the future, reflecting the events theme of Dont Stop Believing.

Dr. Wise Young, his physical therapist and mentor, held the microphone for LeGrand as he recalled his injury during the Oct. 16, 2010 Scarlet Knights football game against Armys Black Knights in the Meadowlands Stadium.

When I first got hurt, I was laying on that field, and I felt like I knocked the wind out of myself, LeGrand said. Coach [Greg] Schiano came running up to me and said you just got to keep praying, you just got to fight.

LeGrand said he saw his mother before he was taken off the field and assured her that he would be all right.

After seeing his mother, LeGrand said he blacked out and was unable to remember anything that happened until the following Wednesday, four days after his injury.

The first year, you face things youve never faced in your whole life, LeGrand said.

Young, director of the Unversitys W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience said he first met LeGrand about six weeks after his injury.

Young said he told LeGrand that he was working on therapies for chronic spinal cord injuries and that he wanted LeGrand to feel that he was not alone.

I want to make sure that Eric understands that we are here working for him, Young said. Hes my hero. He always was poised. He always had this confidence that he was able to do this.

LeGrand said he began therapy with a lot of stretching and soon progressed to therapies, such as what he called the standing frame where LeGrand would be able to stand with assistance from a mechanical frame.

See the rest here:
LeGrand expresses hope in research

VANCOUVER, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - The Rick Hansen Institute (RHI) and Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) today thanked the Harper government for partnering in their vision of an accessible and inclusive society and a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Today's Federal Budget announcement will support essential advancements in research for a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury, and make a positive difference by promoting the translation of promising research discoveries and best practices into real, practical benefits for the more than 86,000 Canadians with spinal cord-related injuries and illnesses.

"The Government of Canada has been a critical partner in my 25 year journey towards a healthier and more inclusive world, and we are extremely grateful for their continued support," said Rick Hansen. "This renewed federal investment will allow us to further advance in our collective goal of achieving a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury and achieve better medical care and outcomes as we assist SCI patients in becoming more active members of the community. While much has been accomplished, I truly believe our best work is in front of us."

The Rick Hansen Institute and the Rick Hansen Foundation are committed to advancing clinical research studies in such priority areas as reduction of paralysis and secondary complications; the implementation of validated best practice guidelines in SCI care nationally and build capacities for hospitals to adopt these standards; and the expansion of the pan-Canadian SCI clinical research network to enhance collaboration between Canadian and international SCI experts.

"Together we are solidifying Canada's position as a global leader and a world-class SCI centre of excellence," added Hansen. "The path we are taking is reducing hospital visits, readmissions from secondary complications, and the financial burden that comes with the injury, as we work towards a world without paralysis after SCI. We are grateful for not having to take the path alone".

About RHI: The Rick Hansen Institute's goal is creating a world without paralysis after SCI. It works towards this goal by accelerating research and translating clinical findings into practical solutions to develop new treatments, improve care and reduce the cost burden on taxpayers.

About RHF: In 1987, following the Man In Motion World Tour (MIMWT), Rick established the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to continue his quest for an accessible and inclusive society and a cure for spinal cord injury (SCI). Under Rick's leadership, RHF functions as a social innovator - finding collaborative solutions to challenges in the community and the resources necessary to implement those solutions. RHF has been successful in leveraging the original $26M raised during the MIMWT to more than $245M in support of people, programs and research in pursuit of a healthier and more inclusive world. As part of the 25th Anniversary campaign, the Rick Hansen Foundation has launched a national public fundraising campaign to support ongoing programs and initiatives. For ways to get involved, or to make a donation, please visit http://www.rickhansen.com.

Go here to see the original:
Renewed Federal Government Investment Gives Further Hope to Canadians living with Spinal Cord Injury

U.S. researchers say they have developed a lifesaving genetic screening program for families at high risk of contracting colorectal cancer.

Dr. Samir Gupta, assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, who is also head of the high-risk colorectal cancer clinic, said colorectal cancer is the second-leading killer after lung cancer -- and while hereditary colorectal cancer is rare, its family impact can be widespread.

Cancer tends to develop rapidly in those with Lynch syndrome, one of the more common inherited conditions. Lynch syndrome accounts for 3 percent to 5 percent of all colon cancers, and often is undiagnosed until the disease is advanced.

Families that have Lynch syndrome usually have more cases of colon cancer than would typically be expected, and at an earlier ages, than in the general population.

Gupta said doctors screen the tumors of colorectal cancer patients younger than age 70 and uterine cancer patients younger than age 55 to determine whether there is a high risk of a genetic cancer predisposition. If so, patients are encouraged to bring in as many family members as possible for testing, Gupta said.

"If we can bring in family members, we have a chance to catch their colon cancer early and even prevent it," Gupta said in a statement.

Patients with Lynch syndrome have an 80 percent risk of contracting colorectal cancer and as much as a 60 percent risk for uterine cancer, and higher than average risks for other cancer types, Gupta added.

Read the original:
Genetic Screening For Colorectal Cancer

Published: March. 29, 2012 at 11:18 PM

DALLAS, March 29 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they have developed a lifesaving genetic screening program for families at high risk of contracting colorectal cancer.

Dr. Samir Gupta, assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, who is also head of the high-risk colorectal cancer clinic, said colorectal cancer is the second-leading killer after lung cancer -- and while hereditary colorectal cancer is rare, its family impact can be widespread.

Cancer tends to develop rapidly in those with Lynch syndrome, one of the more common inherited conditions. Lynch syndrome accounts for 3 percent to 5 percent of all colon cancers, and often is undiagnosed until the disease is advanced.

Families that have Lynch syndrome usually have more cases of colon cancer than would typically be expected, and at an earlier ages, than in the general population.

Gupta said doctors screen the tumors of colorectal cancer patients younger than age 70 and uterine cancer patients younger than age 55 to determine whether there is a high risk of a genetic cancer predisposition. If so, patients are encouraged to bring in as many family members as possible for testing, Gupta said.

"If we can bring in family members, we have a chance to catch their colon cancer early and even prevent it," Gupta said in a statement.

Patients with Lynch syndrome have an 80 percent risk of contracting colorectal cancer and as much as a 60 percent risk for uterine cancer, and higher than average risks for other cancer types, Gupta added.

Original post:
Genetic screenings detect at-risk families

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ThermoGenesis Corp. (NASDAQ: KOOL - News), a leading supplier of innovative products and services that process and store adult stem cells, said today that its customer Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Beike) has become the first company in China to receive accreditation from the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks). AABB is an international, not-for-profit association representing nearly 2,000 institutions and 8,000 individuals involved in the fields of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies.

A leading stem cell and regenerative medicine company in China, Beike will be using ThermoGenesis' AXP AutoXpress (AXP) and BioArchive Systems for the processing and storage of stem cells from cord blood. The Company expects the AXP device to receive registration approval in China during the current year.

Beike produces a full line of products derived from umbilical cord tissue, cord blood and bone marrow stem cells. It also operates three stand-alone cord blood processing and storage facilities, 18 specialized laboratories processing cord blood collection, five stem cell banks and two stem cell research laboratories.

"This AABB accreditation represents a major accomplishment for Beike and demonstrates its leadership position in China's regenerative medicine sector. It provides Beike a strong platform from which to further develop what we believe will be an increasingly prosperous cord blood stem cell market in China. We are pleased to be providing them our market leading tools to realize their strategy," said Matthew Plavan, Chief Executive Officer of ThermoGenesis.

"We are delighted to become the first bank in China to receive AABB accreditation for the processing and storage of cord blood and cord tissue. Our adoption of the AXP and BioArchive technologies is a critical component of our market vision to become the country's technology and quality leader in cord blood processing and storage," said Dr. Shengqin Ye, Chief Executive Officer of Beike.

About ThermoGenesis Corp.

ThermoGenesis Corp. (www.thermogenesis.com) is a leader in developing and manufacturing automated blood processing systems and disposable products that enable the manufacture, preservation and delivery of cell and tissue therapy products. These include:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors including timing of FDA and foreign regulatory approvals, changes in customer forecasts, our failure to meet customers' purchase order and quality requirements, supply shortages, production delays, changes in the markets for customers' products, introduction timing and acceptance of our new products scheduled for fiscal year 2012, and introduction of competitive products and other factors beyond our control could result in a materially different revenue outcome and/or in our failure to achieve the revenue levels we expect for fiscal 2012. A more complete description of these and other risks that could cause actual events to differ from the outcomes predicted by our forward-looking statements is set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K and other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, and you should consider each of those factors when evaluating the forward-looking statements.

ThermoGenesis Corp. Web site: http://www.thermogenesis.com Contact: Investor Relations +1-916-858-5107, or ir@thermogenesis.com

See the article here:
ThermoGenesis Announces AABB Accreditation for Cord Blood Products Customer in China

NEW YORK, March 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE Amex:NBS) ("NeoStem" or "the Company"), a leader in the cell therapy industry, announced today the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 15,000,000 units at $0.40 per unit. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase one share of common stock with a per share exercise price of $0.51. Maxim Group LLC acted as sole bookrunner. The Company expects to receive $6,000,000 in gross proceeds, prior to deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. These funds will be used for working capital purposes, including research and development of cell therapeutic product candidates, expansion of business units, strategic transactions and other general corporate purposes. The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 units to cover over-allotments.

The financing is expected to close on or about April 3, 2012, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

This offering is being made by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov or from Maxim Group LLC, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10174 or via telephone at (212) 895-3685.

A shelf registration statement relating to the offering was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and became effective on June 13, 2011. This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities. No offer, solicitation or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.

Further information regarding the offering is contained in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and which may be accessed at http://www.sec.gov.

About NeoStem, Inc.

NeoStem, Inc. ("we," "NeoStem" or the "Company") continues to develop and build on its core capabilities in cell therapy to capitalize on the paradigm shift that we see occurring in medicine. In particular, we anticipate that cell therapy will have a large role in the fight against chronic disease and in lessening the economic burden that these diseases pose to modern society. Our January 2011 acquisition of Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC ("PCT") provides NeoStem with a foundation in both manufacturing and regulatory affairs expertise. We believe this expertise, coupled with our existing research capabilities and collaborations, will allow us to achieve our mission of becoming a premier cell therapy company. Our PCT subsidiary's manufacturing base is one of the few current Good Manufacturing Practices ("cGMP") facilities available for contracting in the burgeoning cell therapy industry. Amorcyte, LLC ("Amorcyte"), which we acquired in October 2011, is developing a cell therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Amorcyte's lead compound, AMR-001, represents NeoStem's most clinically advanced therapeutic and has commenced enrollment for a Phase 2 trial to investigate AMR-001's efficacy in preserving heart function after a heart attack. We also expect to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial by 2013 to investigate AMR-001's utility in arresting the progression of congestive heart failure and the associated comorbidities of that disease. Athelos Corporation ("Athelos"), which is approximately 80%-owned by our subsidiary, PCT, is engaged in collaboration with Becton-Dickinson that is exploring the earlier stage clinical development of a T-cell therapy for autoimmune conditions. In addition, our pre-clinical assets include our VSELTM Technology platform as well as our MSC (mesenchymal stem cells) product candidate for regenerative medicine.

For more information on NeoStem, please visit http://www.neostem.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements include statements herein with respect to the successful execution of the Company's business and medical strategy, including with respect to the development of AMR-001 and other cell therapies and its divestiture of its interest in Suzhou Erye Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. about which no assurance can be given. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward- looking statements as a result of various factors. Factors that could cause future results to materially differ from the recent results or those projected in forward-looking statements include the "Risk Factors" described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2012 and in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's further development is highly dependent on future medical and research developments and market acceptance, which is outside its control.

Here is the original post:
NeoStem Announces Pricing of Public Offering for $6,000,000 in Gross Proceeds

28-03-2012 18:37 Plot: Dream Sequence: Melfina had been kidnapped. Taken by Hazanko, a mystic cult leader, bound and determined to use her powers to forward his own ambitions. But, before he can do anymore to her, Gene arrives to her rescue. Gene tries to finish him off quickly with one shot from his caster, but Caster Shell #4 proves insufficient in dealing with Hazanko. Melfina tries to get him to flee, fearing for her friend's life. But Gene remains determined to save her. With one final shot, Gene fires Caster Shell #13 at Hazanko, who responds with a magic attack of his own, resulting in an explosion that ends up killing Hazanko, but also mortally wounds Gene. Before blacking out, he sees Melfina's distraught face, pleading with him to not die... Jim is cooking "Breakfast" for Gene before he goes off to perform in his show. Gene, still hung over from one of his many nights of frivolity, groggily gets ready. Jim notes that Gene was rather restless during his sleep, and mentions that bad dreams can sometimes be caused by feelings of regret. He doesn't say it out loud, but he knows what's bothering Gene. All the better, as far as Jim was concerned. He hadn't yet fully forgiven Gene over what he had done. After his show was over, Gene spends some time alone, thinking back to Melfina. His thoughts are accompanied by a song Melfina used to sing, to help lift Gene and Jim's spirits. She had come to them, seeking protection from Hazanko. She was a healer, an exceptionally talented one, and ...

See the original post:
[CM] Regrets of the Past (Gene Starwind) - Video

29-03-2012 09:34 The mission of Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers is to expand treatment options for all cancer patients through investigational vaccine, gene and cellular therapies. At Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers, there is a belief that a paradigm shift is occurring in cancer care, in which personalized molecular medicine will eventually transform the way patients are treated.

Read the original:
Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers' Mission - Video

29-03-2012 12:24 More LXBN TV interviews at: lxbn.lexblog.com While talk this week of course focuses on the oral arguments in the Affordable Care Act case, the Supreme Court last week ruled in a very important and influential intellectual property case. In Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories, Inc., the court ruled that the patent Prometheus had obtained for correlations between blood test results and patient health is not eligible for a patent because it incorporates laws of nature. Not only does this have a big impact on the medical community, but also another major case—the Myriad "gene patenting" case. To explain the background of Mayo v. Prometheus, whether or not these types of patents slow medical research and what this means for the Myriad case, we bring in Foley & Lardner Partner Antoinette Konski, who has covered this case exceptionally on the Personalized Medicine Bulletin-- http://www.personalizedmedicinebulletin.com

Read the original post:
Mayo v. Prometheus and Its Impact on Myriad "Gene Patenting" Case—Antoinette Konski - Video

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

Contact: Rebecca Scott rebeccas@unimelb.edu.au 61-383-440-181 University of Melbourne

An international team of researchers led by the University of Melbourne has used new technology to fast track the discovery of a breast cancer risk gene and could assist in the discovery of other cancer genes.

Professor Melissa Southey of the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology at the University of Melbourne, who led the study, said it was a significant discovery and the first breast cancer risk gene to be discovered using the latest genetic sequencing technology.

"The mutations in the newly identified gene XRCC2, although rare, explain another proportion of breast cancers that run in families where there is no known genetic cause and that particularly occur at an early age," she said.

"We identified this gene quite quickly using genetic technology called massively parallel sequencing, which enables sequencing of large amounts of human DNA at high speed.'

"Due to these results and our methodology we believe that further risk genes will be identified at a faster rate than before and potentially for other cancers such as colorectal and prostate cancers," she said.

Professor Southey said the discovery could help manage the risk of breast cancer for families with a strong history of the disease and no known genetic cause.

"This discovery will assist some families to determine individual risk and which family members are at high risk of contracting the disease," Professor Southey said.

"Unaffected relatives of people with a mutation in this gene could also be offered predictive testing, subsequent genetic counselling and ongoing clinical management on the basis of their mutation status.'

The rest is here:
Breast cancer risk gene discovery fast tracked by new technology

ScienceDaily (Mar. 29, 2012) Mutations in a gene called XRCC2 cause increased breast cancer risk, according to a study published March 29 in the American Journal of Human Genetics. The study looked at families that have a history of the disease but do not have mutations in the currently known breast cancer susceptibility genes.

Sean Tavtigian, Ph.D., a Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) investigator and associate professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah (U of U) is one of three co-principal investigators on the study, along with David Goldgar, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Dermatology at the U of U and an HCI investigator, and Melissa Southey, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

"We have added to the list of genes that harbour mutations causing breast cancer," said Tavtigian. "This knowledge will improve breast cancer diagnostics and add years to patients' lives. More important, relatives who have not been affected by the disease but carry the mutations will benefit even more. They can find out they are at risk before they have cancer and take action to reduce their risk or catch the cancer early."

XRCC2 may also provide a new target for chemotherapy. "A type of drug called a PARP inhibitor appears to kill tumor cells that have gene mutations in a particular DNA repair pathway. XRCC2 is in this pathway, as are BRCA1 and BRCA2. It's reasonably likely that a breast cancer patient who has a mutation in XRCC2 will respond well to treatment with PARP inhibitors," said Tavtigian.

According to Tavtigian, many breast cancer cases appear in families with a weak history of the disease. Only about 30 percent of the familial risk for breast cancer can be explained by a combination of mutations to and common sequence variation in the known breast cancer susceptibility genes. "So far most of the clinical diagnostic effort has been directed toward the very strong family history set of breast cancer cases and their close relatives," he said. "Our research looks at a population with a weaker family history, and as it turns out, a very rare gene mutation."

The researchers used a technology called exome capture massively parallel sequencing (exome sequencing), which shows the exact order of the nucleotides (the four building blocks of DNA) in all of the protein coding genes in the human genome. The ability of this technology to analyze the DNA of all of the genes in the genome in a single experiment, according to Tavtigian, makes it an amazingly powerful tool for genetic research. "We focused on the genes involved in a particular type of DNA repair, because most known breast cancer genes have been found there. That focused analysis allowed us to identify XRCC2 as a breast cancer susceptibility gene in individuals with a family history of breast cancer," says Tavtigian. "From the exome sequencing data, we found two different types of XRCC2 mutations that occur in breast cancer patients."

He explains that one type of mutation causes the gene to create an incomplete version of the protein. The resulting protein is usually dysfunctional. The other type occurs when a single amino acid in the protein is changed.

"It's a subtle change to the protein, but the resulting change in function could range anywhere from innocuous to even worse dysfunction than the incomplete protein causes," says Tavtigian. "Our sequence analyses suggest that we may have found the full spectrum of results in our study."

Further research is underway. "A worldwide effort has already been launched to figure out what fraction of breast cancer is due to mutations in this gene and how high the risk conferred by these mutations actually is," he says.

The article lists 30 co-authors from HCI, the U of U, and other research organizations based in North America, Australia, and Europe. The study was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (R01CA155767 and R01CA121245) plus several other worldwide research foundations. The study also benefited from resources gathered by the Breast Cancer Family Registry, the Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer, and several other breast cancer research efforts taking place around the world.

Original post:
New breast cancer susceptibility gene

The expression of a gene, when an organism's DNA is transcribed into a useable product, requires activation via a promoter or an external trigger. Plant research to be published in Science helps to show that later stages of transcription are just as important. This is likely to apply to other organisms, including humans.

Termination is the final stage of transcription. Successful termination is dependent on DNA being transcribed into RNA with the correct sections, including a certain length tail.

Scientists at the John Innes Centre on Norwich Research Park have found that where effective termination through the normal mechanisms has not occurred, DICER-LIKE 4 (DCL4) steps in to tidy up. Without termination, transcription continues down the chromosome unchecked.

In this way, DCL4 plays a crucial and previously unknown role in transcription termination. It helps formation of the gene product. DCL4 is more commonly known to play a part in the opposite effect, gene silencing.

"DCL4 is a back-up to termination processes, helping a gene to be successfully expressed," said lead author Professor Caroline Dean from JIC, which is strategically funded by the BBSRC.

The findings may help explain why gene silencing happens so often with transgenes. It was not known that so much attention should be given to the tail end of a gene.

"Our research shows that for successful expression the end of a gene is just as important as its beginning," said Dean.

When termination fails a lot of aberrant RNA is made this is degraded as part of a cell's quality control mechanism. This can have consequences for other sequences in the genome that match the aberrant RNA.

"If a gene ends badly, aberrant RNA will trigger silencing pathways," said Dean.

DCL4's ability to step in to rescue poor termination makes it important for both successful gene expression, a previously unknown role for it, and gene silencing.

See the article here:
Plant research reveals new role for gene silencing DICER protein

ScienceDaily (Mar. 29, 2012) A DICER protein, known to produce tiny RNAs in cells, also helps complete an important step in gene expression, according to research on Arabidopsis thaliana. The expression of a gene, when an organism's DNA is transcribed into a useable product, requires activation via a promoter or an external trigger. Plant research to be published in Science helps to show that later stages of transcription are just as important. This is likely to apply to other organisms, including humans.

Termination is the final stage of transcription. Successful termination is dependent on DNA being transcribed into RNA with the correct sections, including a certain length tail.

Scientists at the John Innes Centre on Norwich Research Park have found that where effective termination through the normal mechanisms has not occurred, DICER-LIKE 4 (DCL4) steps in to tidy up. Without termination, transcription continues down the chromosome unchecked.

In this way, DCL4 plays a crucial and previously unknown role in transcription termination. It helps formation of the gene product. DCL4 is more commonly known to play a part in the opposite effect, gene silencing.

"DCL4 is a back-up to termination processes, helping a gene to be successfully expressed," said lead author Professor Caroline Dean from JIC, which is strategically funded by BBSRC.

The findings may help explain why gene silencing happens so often with transgenes. It was not known that so much attention should be given to the tail end of a gene.

"Our research shows that for successful expression the end of a gene is just as important as its beginning," said Dean.

When termination fails a lot of aberrant RNA is made -- this is degraded as part of a cell's quality control mechanism. This can have consequences for other sequences in the genome that match the aberrant RNA.

"If a gene ends badly, aberrant RNA will trigger silencing pathways," said Dean.

DCL4's ability to step in to rescue poor termination makes it important for both successful gene expression, a previously unknown role for it, and gene silencing.

Go here to read the rest:
Plant research reveals new role for gene silencing protein

A plan by Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory to merge its energy labs into a major new research facility in Richmond where scientists would work to develop biofuels through genetic engineering came under fire Wednesday by activists who fear that dangerous new microbes would be created there.

And even if the venture succeeds in transforming plants into biofuels by altering the genes of microbes, the activists argued, the Richmond lab could become an unregulated front for corporate interests and turn millions of acres of croplands used to grow food in underdeveloped countries into huge plantations for energy production.

Their protests reflect deep concerns about the dramatic new science called "synthetic biology," an unfamiliar term that in part involves engineering the genes of microbes to transform worthless plants like switchgrass into potentially unlimited sources of energy. The controversy also recalls an epic time in science nearly 40 years ago when manipulating genes was in its infancy and the public was deeply fearful that some genetically altered "Andromeda Strain" microbe might escape and imperil the world with unknown diseases.

That fear was largely ended when, after a 1975 conference at Asilomar near Monterey, biologists, lawyers and physicians agreed on enforceable guidelines for proceeding with genetic engineering projects.

It marked the first time that scientists agreed to be regulated and led to the public start of recombinant DNA research and what would become the huge international biotech industry.

Concerns about engineering "synthetic biology" are arising anew among activists.

On Wednesday, they gathered at the Center for Genetics and Society in Berkeley to express their concerns that the new research lab would be a poorly regulated entity with ties to unknown energy companies, that the work there would expose employees to dangerous microbes and, if successful, ultimately rob undeveloped nations of their croplands.

"This is a wild, wild, dangerous world," said Becky McClain, a onetime molecular biologist at a Pfizer lab in Connecticut who claimed that she had been sickened by a genetically engineered virus and was fired for speaking out about it.

"We can't afford to leave it to the corporations to self-regulate," said McClain, who won a $1.37 million lawsuit against Pfizer as a whistle-blower.

Gopal Dayaneni, an Oakland organizer, argued that the entire project - with so many engineered microbes - should never be built where earthquake hazards are high.

Originally posted here:
Plan to merge labs for biofuel research criticized