Archive for March, 2012

(CNN) -

A Florida cardiologist could have his medical license revoked by state authorities who have accused him of performing illegal stem cell therapy on a patient who died during the procedure.

Florida's Department of Health ordered the emergency suspension of Zannos Grekos' medical license Wednesday, accusing the Bonita Springs doctor of violating an emergency order against using stem cell treatments in Florida and causing the death of an unidentified elderly patient. Grekos can appeal the order.

According to the license suspension order, Grekos performed a stem cell treatment this month on the patient, who was suffering from pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis. Both diseases restrict blood flow to the heart.

"During said stem cell treatment, patient R.P. suffered a cardiac arrest and died," the suspension order said.

CNN first investigated Grekos' activities in 2009, when he said he was using stem cell therapy for a company called Regenocyte Therapeutic. His profile, listed on the company's website, describes Grekos as having "extensive experience in the field of stem cell therapy" and says he "was recently appointed to the Science Advisory Board of the United States' Repair Stem Cell Institute."

At the time of CNN's interview, Grekos said he extracted stem cells from patients and then sent the blood to Israel for laboratory processing. That processing, he said, resulted in "regenocytes," which he said would help heal crippling diseases, mostly associated with lung problems.

The president of the International Society of Stem Cell Research, Dr. Irving Weissman, told CNN at the time that "there is no such cell."

"There is nothing called a regenocyte," he said.

After CNN's initial report, Grekos said the name was "advertising" and was not intended to be scientific.

The rest is here:
Doctor accused of illegal stem cell therapy suspended

FRIDAY, March 9 (HealthDay News) -- The first gene linked to an often painful neck disorder has been identified by researchers.

Adult-onset primary cervical dystonia, which is characterized by involuntary twisting of the neck, occurs in about 30 of every 100,000 people, previous research has reported.

In this new study, researchers conducted a genetic analysis of a patient with the condition, his identical twin whose neck also twisted and family members, some of whom also had the disorder. The investigators pinpointed a mutation in the CIZ1 gene, which produces a protein expressed in certain nerve cells in the brain and appears to be involved in cell cycle activities.

However, the researchers did not identify the cellular mechanism associated with cervical dystonia.

The study findings were released online in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of the Annals of Neurology.

While the researchers believe that CIZ1 is one genetic cause of the disorder, it's likely that other genes linked to cervical dystonia will be found, according to Dr. Ryan Uitti, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.

There are a number of treatments for cervical dystonia. The most common is botulinum toxin injections, which incapacitate the nerve in the affected muscle and eliminate chronic pain and muscle pulling/contraction.

But some people with the condition don't realize that it is unusual and that they should seek medical help, Uitti noted.

"They think they slept wrong at some point, or, because the twisting might straighten out with another maneuver, such as walking backwards, they might actually [not be taken seriously]," Uitti said in a Mayo Clinic news release.

More information

Read this article:
Researchers ID Gene for Neck Disorder

Psoriasis affects up to 7.5 million Americans, making it the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the country, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

An autoimmune disease means the immune system is functioning abnormally by attacking the body it is normallymeant to protect. In the case of psoriasis, the immune system dysfunction affects skin cell growth, resulting in chronic, visible inflammation. Psoriasis is a non-contagious diseasethat typically first occurs between the ages of 15 and 35.

Here is a guide to understanding psoriasis:

Overview The human body is constantly losing and replacing skin cells. Newly produced cells grow at the bottom layer of the skin, and they take around one month to develop and rise to the skins surface. Theabnormally aggravated immune system causes this skin production to enter overdrive, and skin cells are produced and move to the surface in one to two weeks. This excess skin begins to accumulate, forming the visible scales and inflammation that characterize psoriasis.

Types There are various types of psoriasis, distinguished by their visible characteristics. While usually only one type will appear at a time, an individual with psoriasis candevelop another form if triggered. Plaque psoriasis accounts for most cases of the disease. It is markedby raised, inflamed lesions with silver-white patches called scales, generally found on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back. Guttate psoriasis occurs as red spots on the skin, appearing on the trunk and limbs, and they are usually thinner thanplaque lesions. Inverse psoriasisappears on skin foldsaround the armpits, groin, breasts, genitals and buttocks. It shows up as bright-red lesions that are smooth and shiny instead of scaly. Pustular psoriasis appears as pus-filled white blisters that are non-infectious. Erythodermic psoriasis results insevere inflammation that causes the skin toappear widely red. It is particularly dangerous and should be addressed immediately, as a flare-up could result in protein and fluid loss.

Symptoms Psoriasis is characterized by skin lesions and inflammation. Additional symptoms can include genital lesions in males, arthritis, nail damage or severe dandruff. The presence of psoriasis also makes an individual more susceptible to other serious disorders. Many people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis, marked by jointpain and swelling.Other chronic conditions that can occur with psoriasis include cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer and depression.An individual with psoriasis should work continuouslywith a health care professional to prevent these illnesses from developing.

Cause Psoriasis is believed to be the result of genetic and non-genetic factors. The National Psoriasis Foundation reports that a child with one parent with psoriasis has a 10 percent chance of inheriting the disease. This number jumps if both parents have the disease, resulting in a 50 percent chance of being diagnosed.Because not everyonewith the genesfor psoriasis develops it, researchers believe triggers act ascatalysts for the disease. Some medications may trigger psoriasis. This is particularly true of lithium, which is primarily used to treat psychiatric disorders. Psoriasis triggers are different for everyone, but common causes include stress or skin injuryan effect known as the Koebner phenomenon.

Treatment Treatment will depend on the severity of the psoriasis.Different therapies may includetopical treatments, light therapyandmedication. Topical treatments are applied directly to the skin just like a lotion. These ointmentscan help slow down cell growth as well as alleviate itchiness or inflammation. Light therapy, also calledphototherapy, involves a prescribed and controlled regimen of exposing the skin to ultraviolet rays. When topical treatments and phototherapy are inadequate, health care professionals may prescribe medication to help control skin cell growth.

Continued here:
Psoriasis caused by genetics, external triggers

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -03/09/12)- The newest player in the regenerative medicine (RM) field in Canada is taking a collaborative approach to commercializing stem cell and biomaterials products. The Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) has created an industry consortium that is working together to address real-life bottlenecks in their RM product pipelines.

CCRM's scientific leadership is recognized by the global RM community as being world-leading. According to Michael May, CEO of CCRM, partnering with industry completes the puzzle. "By working with industry, CCRM captures business expertise that informs product development and commercialization. We already had access to some of the best scientific minds in the field and now we have access to seasoned industry experts. This is key to our success and will accelerate product development."

The members of the industry consortium represent the key sectors of the RM industry: therapeutics, devices, reagents, and cells as tools. CCRM has built three core development platforms: reprogramming, cell manufacturing, and biomaterials and tissue mimetics. The intellectual property and infrastructure of CCRM's six research institution partners and support from 20 leading RM companies will enhance Canada's already strong leadership role in the RM field.

"CCRM is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of industry and academia," explains Greg Bonfiglio, Chair of CCRM's Board of Directors. "CCRM boasts scientific expertise and state-of-the-art resources in its development lab and this combination will benefit the regenerative medicine community that can capitalize on our ability to complete projects quickly and cost competitively."

The industry consortium members are as follows:

About the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM)

CCRM, a Canadian not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence program and six academic partners, supports the development of technologies that accelerate the commercialization of stem cell- and biomaterials-based technologies and therapies. A network of academics, industry and entrepreneurs, CCRM aims to translate scientific discoveries into marketable products for patients. CCRM launched in Toronto's Discovery District on June 14, 2011.

Read this article:
New Industry Partnership to Strengthen Regenerative Medicine Industry in Canada

(CNN) -

A Florida cardiologist could have his medical license revoked by state authorities who have accused him of performing illegal stem cell therapy on a patient who died during the procedure.

Florida's Department of Health ordered the emergency suspension of Zannos Grekos' medical license Wednesday, accusing the Bonita Springs doctor of violating an emergency order against using stem cell treatments in Florida and causing the death of an unidentified elderly patient. Grekos can appeal the order.

According to the license suspension order, Grekos performed a stem cell treatment this month on the patient, who was suffering from pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis. Both diseases restrict blood flow to the heart.

"During said stem cell treatment, patient R.P. suffered a cardiac arrest and died," the suspension order said.

CNN first investigated Grekos' activities in 2009, when he said he was using stem cell therapy for a company called Regenocyte Therapeutic. His profile, listed on the company's website, describes Grekos as having "extensive experience in the field of stem cell therapy" and says he "was recently appointed to the Science Advisory Board of the United States' Repair Stem Cell Institute."

At the time of CNN's interview, Grekos said he extracted stem cells from patients and then sent the blood to Israel for laboratory processing. That processing, he said, resulted in "regenocytes," which he said would help heal crippling diseases, mostly associated with lung problems.

The president of the International Society of Stem Cell Research, Dr. Irving Weissman, told CNN at the time that "there is no such cell."

"There is nothing called a regenocyte," he said.

After CNN's initial report, Grekos said the name was "advertising" and was not intended to be scientific.

Originally posted here:
Patient dies during procedure

(CNN) -

A Florida cardiologist could have his medical license revoked by state authorities who have accused him of performing illegal stem cell therapy on a patient who died during the procedure.

Florida's Department of Health ordered the emergency suspension of Zannos Grekos' medical license Wednesday, accusing the Bonita Springs doctor of violating an emergency order against using stem cell treatments in Florida and causing the death of an unidentified elderly patient. Grekos can appeal the order.

According to the license suspension order, Grekos performed a stem cell treatment this month on the patient, who was suffering from pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis. Both diseases restrict blood flow to the heart.

"During said stem cell treatment, patient R.P. suffered a cardiac arrest and died," the suspension order said.

CNN first investigated Grekos' activities in 2009, when he said he was using stem cell therapy for a company called Regenocyte Therapeutic. His profile, listed on the company's website, describes Grekos as having "extensive experience in the field of stem cell therapy" and says he "was recently appointed to the Science Advisory Board of the United States' Repair Stem Cell Institute."

At the time of CNN's interview, Grekos said he extracted stem cells from patients and then sent the blood to Israel for laboratory processing. That processing, he said, resulted in "regenocytes," which he said would help heal crippling diseases, mostly associated with lung problems.

The president of the International Society of Stem Cell Research, Dr. Irving Weissman, told CNN at the time that "there is no such cell."

"There is nothing called a regenocyte," he said.

After CNN's initial report, Grekos said the name was "advertising" and was not intended to be scientific.

See original here:
Doctor accused of illegal stem cell therapy suspended

06-03-2012 18:12 Visit http://www.pmwcintl.com for more info

See the rest here:
Alexis Borisy: Personalized Medicine Here and Now - Video

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -03/09/12)- The newest player in the regenerative medicine (RM) field in Canada is taking a collaborative approach to commercializing stem cell and biomaterials products. The Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) has created an industry consortium that is working together to address real-life bottlenecks in their RM product pipelines.

CCRM's scientific leadership is recognized by the global RM community as being world-leading. According to Michael May, CEO of CCRM, partnering with industry completes the puzzle. "By working with industry, CCRM captures business expertise that informs product development and commercialization. We already had access to some of the best scientific minds in the field and now we have access to seasoned industry experts. This is key to our success and will accelerate product development."

The members of the industry consortium represent the key sectors of the RM industry: therapeutics, devices, reagents, and cells as tools. CCRM has built three core development platforms: reprogramming, cell manufacturing, and biomaterials and tissue mimetics. The intellectual property and infrastructure of CCRM's six research institution partners and support from 20 leading RM companies will enhance Canada's already strong leadership role in the RM field.

"CCRM is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of industry and academia," explains Greg Bonfiglio, Chair of CCRM's Board of Directors. "CCRM boasts scientific expertise and state-of-the-art resources in its development lab and this combination will benefit the regenerative medicine community that can capitalize on our ability to complete projects quickly and cost competitively."

The industry consortium members are as follows:

About the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM)

CCRM, a Canadian not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence program and six academic partners, supports the development of technologies that accelerate the commercialization of stem cell- and biomaterials-based technologies and therapies. A network of academics, industry and entrepreneurs, CCRM aims to translate scientific discoveries into marketable products for patients. CCRM launched in Toronto's Discovery District on June 14, 2011.

Read this article:
New Industry Partnership to Strengthen Regenerative Medicine Industry in Canada

Over at the Texas A&M Reproductive Sciences Complex, you'll find several animals with unique capabilities.

Goat number 21 is one of those creatures.

"This project is one of the most interesting that we've been involved with because it has so much potential world wide," said Texas A&M researcher Charles Long.

Long & fellow A&M researcher Mark Westhusin keep a careful eye on goat number 21 because her milk holds a vaccine for malaria.

"There are lots of different things that one can think about producing in the milk. Malaria vaccine is one that's really important because there's a big demand for it in a lot of impoverished countries," said Westhusin.

Through genetic engineering, this goat could be the golden goose when it comes to preventing malaria in third world countries. A disease that kills a child in Africa every minute according to the World Health Organization.

"What you'd have is an animal that could be in any village around the world and all natives would have to do is drink some of that milk and be immunized against malaria," said Long.

But before any of that happens, this goat has to jump through a lot of hoops.

"We'd love to start air dropping goats into Africa but the reality is we're not going to be able to achieve that objective for another five or 10 years at least," joked Long.

"What we have to do is milk the goat, purify the protein, then we'd have to do all kinds of clinical testing and safety testing. Just like as if we were to take any drug and go to market with it," said Westhusin.

The rest is here:
Texas A&M Researchers Create Goat With Malaria Vaccine In Her Milk

ScienceDaily (Mar. 8, 2012) UT Southwestern Medical Center investigators have identified a genetic manipulation that increases the development of neurons in the brain during aging and enhances the effect of antidepressant drugs.

The research finds that deleting the Nf1 gene in mice results in long-lasting improvements in neurogenesis, which in turn makes those in the test group more sensitive to the effects of antidepressants.

"The significant implication of this work is that enhancing neurogenesis sensitizes mice to antidepressants -- meaning they needed lower doses of the drugs to affect 'mood' -- and also appears to have anti-depressive and anti-anxiety effects of its own that continue over time," said Dr. Luis Parada, director of the Kent Waldrep Center for Basic Research on Nerve Growth and Regeneration and senior author of the study published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

Just as in people, mice produce new neurons throughout adulthood, although the rate declines with age and stress, said Dr. Parada, chairman of developmental biology at UT Southwestern. Studies have shown that learning, exercise, electroconvulsive therapy and some antidepressants can increase neurogenesis. The steps in the process are well known but the cellular mechanisms behind those steps are not.

"In neurogenesis, stem cells in the brain's hippocampus give rise to neuronal precursor cells that eventually become young neurons, which continue on to become full-fledged neurons that integrate into the brain's synapses," said Dr. Parada, an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, its Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The researchers used a sophisticated process to delete the gene that codes for the Nf1 protein only in the brains of mice, while production in other tissues continued normally. After showing that mice lacking Nf1 protein in the brain had greater neurogenesis than controls, the researchers administered behavioral tests designed to mimic situations that would spark a subdued mood or anxiety, such as observing grooming behavior in response to a small splash of sugar water.

The researchers found that the test group mice formed more neurons over time compared to controls, and that young mice lacking the Nf1 protein required much lower amounts of anti-depressants to counteract the effects of stress. Behavioral differences between the groups persisted at three months, six months and nine months. "Older mice lacking the protein responded as if they had been taking antidepressants all their lives," said Dr. Parada.

"In summary, this work suggests that activating neural precursor cells could directly improve depression- and anxiety-like behaviors, and it provides a proof-of-principle regarding the feasibility of regulating behavior via direct manipulation of adult neurogenesis," Dr. Parada said.

Dr. Parada's laboratory has published a series of studies that link the Nf1 gene -- best known for mutations that cause tumors to grow around nerves -- to wide-ranging effects in several major tissues. For instance, in one study researchers identified ways that the body's immune system promotes the growth of tumors, and in another study, they described how loss of the Nf1 protein in the circulatory system leads to hypertension and congenital heart disease.

The current study's lead author is former graduate student Dr. Yun Li, now a postdoctoral researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Other co-authors include Yanjiao Li, a research associate of developmental biology, Dr. Rene McKay, assistant professor of developmental biology, both of UT Southwestern, and Dr. Dieter Riethmacher of the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.

Read the rest here:
Genetic manipulation boosts growth of brain cells linked to learning, enhances effects of antidepressants

Public release date: 8-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Emily Ng eng3@nshs.edu 516-562-2670 North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System

MANHASSET, NY A collaborative group of investigators has joined together to identify five genetic variations associated with Crohn's disease (CD) and Jewish individuals of Eastern and Central European decent, who are also known as Ashkenazi Jews. These findings were published in the March issue of PLoS Genetics.

CD causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract and can be both painful and debilitating, and sometimes may lead to life-threatening complications. CD is two-to-four times more prevalent among individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish decent compared to non-Jewish Europeans. The study conducted at multiple institutions across the world, including the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, was an important step toward understanding the genetic reasons for this higher prevalence.

"This large collaborative study made it possible to define more precisely the genetic contributions to Crohn's disease that are enriched in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, which has carried a higher risk for this disorder." said Peter K. Gregersen, head of the Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics and Human Genetics at the Feinstein Institute. "The study identified genetic regions that hadn't been discovered before, and if additional studies of these regions are conducted there is a chance that biological pathways affecting susceptibility to Crohn's disease could be found and novel treatments could be developed."

About Crohn's Disease (CD)

Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is one of the five most prevalent gastrointestinal disease burdens in the United States, with an overall health care cost of more than $1.7 billion. Each year in the United States, IBD accounts for more than 700,000 physician visits, 100,000 hospitalizations, and disability in 119,000 patients. CD is two-to-four times more prevalent among individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish decent compared to non-Jewish Europeans.

CD causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea and malnutrition. CD can be both painful and debilitating, and sometimes may lead to life-threatening complications. There currently is no cure for CD, but available therapies can greatly reduce the signs and symptoms of CD.

About the Study

Seventy-one genetic variants had already been identified in patients who had Crohn's disease (CD) and were of European decent. A collaborative group of investigators, including some from the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, led by Inga Peter at Mt Sinai School of Medicine took a step further and conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) aimed at exploring genetic variation associated with CD in Jewish individuals of Eastern and Central European decent (Ashkenazi Jews). The study was conducted by combining raw genotype data across 10 Ashkenazi Jew cohorts consisting of 907 cases and 2,345 controls in the discovery stage followed up by a replication study in 971 cases and 2,124 controls. The study confirmed 12 of the known variants and identified five novel genetic varation regions not previously found. These five novel genetic regions were mapped to chromosomes 5q21.1, 2p15, 8q21.1, 10q26.3, and 11q12.1.

Read more from the original source:
Researchers discover 5 genetic variations associated with Crohn's disease in Ashkenazi Jews

Patients are holding out hope that someday soon, they hope physicians will be able to personalize medical treatment more precisely than theyve been able to in the past. For people with cancer, this might mean taking a quick biopsy, studying the genetic profile of a tumor and then tailoring interventions to target the cancer effectively, with as few side effects as possible.

But a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday underscores why the vision remains a challenge. Cancer researchers in England showed that individual kidney tumors and their metastases had different mutations in different locations and that those mutations, in turn, affect the biology of those tumors in varying ways in different locations.

A single tumor-biopsy-specimen reveals a minority of genetic aberrations that are present in an entire tumor, wrote Dr. Marco Gerlinger of the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute and co-authors.

For example, the scientists found that one region of a renal carcinoma could display gene expression signatures associated with a good prognosis, while signatures in another region of the same tumor could be associated with a poor prognosis.

The basic insight that a single cancer can contain a number of mutations isnt entirely new, but the teams genetic analysis helps demonstrate why it probably wont be possible to devise targeted, patient-specific treatment strategies by looking at minimally invasive biopsies collected from a single site, wrote Dr. Dan Longo of the National Institute on Aging in an editorial accompanying the study.

A new world has been anticipated in which patients will undergo a needle biopsy of a tumor in the outpatient clinic, and a little while later, an active treatment will be devised for each patient on the basis of the distinctive genetic characteristics of the tumor, he wrote. But a serious flaw in the imagined future of oncology is its underestimation of tumor heterogeneity.

The Los Angeles Times has reported on tumor genetics in the past. In April 2011, writer Amber Dance described efforts to catalog the mutations that cause cancer. Earlier that year, Thomas H. Maugh II explained how researchers sequenced the genomes of prostate cancers in seven different men.

More:
Personalized cancer treatment: Genetic differences abound in tumors

Jesse Gildea was a senior in high school when a motocross racing accident left him with a spinal cord injury.

Hes now 24, and is a Voice for Injury Prevention (VIP) for ThinkFirst Iowa, an injury prevention program for students. On Monday, March 12, Gildea will speak at three area schools, starting with Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne High School at 8:30 a.m., LuVerne Elementary at 10:30 a.m. and finishing with Algona Middle School at 2:30 p.m.

I saw the ThinkFirst presentation about two months before my injury, said Gildea. After my injury, I contacted them. I wanted to talk to the speaker about living with a spinal cord injury.

For the full story, pick up a copy of this week's Algona Upper Des Moines newspaper.

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of algona.com.

You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.

The rest is here:
ThinkFirst comes to area

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Tengion, Inc. (NASDAQ: TNGN - News), a leader in regenerative medicine, today announced that A. Brian Davis, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Finance of Tengion, will present at the upcoming 24th Annual ROTH Investor Conference on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. PDT in Laguna Niguel, California.

A live audio webcast of the presentation can be accessed at http://wsw.com/webcast/roth26/tngn/ or under "Calendar of Events" in the Investors section of the Company's website at http://www.tengion.com. A replay of the presentation will be available on Tengion's website for 90 days. Investors interested in listening to the live webcast should log on before the start time in order to download any software required.

About Tengion

Tengion, a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company, is focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing a range of neo-organs, or products composed of living cells, with or without synthetic or natural materials, implanted or injected into the body to engraft into, regenerate, or replace a damaged tissue or organ. Using its Organ Regeneration Platform, the Company creates neo-organs using a patient's own cells, or autologous cells. Tengion's proprietary product candidates harness the intrinsic regenerative pathways of the body to regenerate a range of native-like organs and tissues. The Company's product candidates are intended to delay or eliminate the need for chronic disease therapies, organ transplantation, and the administration of anti-rejection medications. An initial clinical trial is ongoing for the Company's lead product candidate, the Neo-Urinary Conduit, an autologous implant that is intended to catalyze regeneration of native-like bladder tissue for bladder cancer patients requiring a urinary diversion following bladder removal. The Company's lead preclinical candidate is the Neo-Kidney Augment, which is designed to prevent or delay dialysis by increasing renal function in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Tengion has worldwide rights to its product candidates.

More:
Tengion to Present at the 24th Annual ROTH Investor Conference

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

BioTime, Inc. (NYSE Amex:BTX), a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of regenerative medicine, today announced that Chief Financial Officer, Peter S. Garcia, will present a corporate overview of BioTime and its subsidiaries at the ROTH 24th Annual Growth Stock Conference. The presentation will take place on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. PDT at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dana Point, California. The presentation will be webcast and available online at the Investors section of the website at http://www.biotimeinc.com and at http://wsw.com/webcast/roth26/btx/.

ROTH Capital Partners will host more than 400 growth companies at its annual investment conference, March 11-14, 2012, including more than 130 healthcare companies in the biotechnology, healthcare services, medical device, and pharmaceutical sectors.

About BioTime, Inc.

BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is developed through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of applications. BioTime develops and markets research products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary ACTCellerate cell lines, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime's wholly owned subsidiary ES Cell International Pte. Ltd. has produced clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell lines that were derived following principles of Good Manufacturing Practice and currently offers them for use in research. BioTime's therapeutic product development strategy is pursued through subsidiaries that focus on specific organ systems and related diseases for which there is a high unmet medical need. BioTime's majority owned subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences, Ltd. is developing therapeutic products derived from stem cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative diseases. Cell Cure's minority shareholder Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has an option to clinically develop and commercialize Cell Cure's OpRegen retinal cell product for use in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. BioTime's subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is developing therapeutic applications of stem cells to treat orthopedic diseases and injuries. Another subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of stem cell technology in cancer, including the diagnostic product PanC-DxTM currently being developed for the detection of cancer in blood samples, therapeutic strategies using vascular progenitor cells engineered to destroy malignant tumors. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. is developing applications of BioTime's proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology to reverse the developmental aging of human cells to treat cardiovascular and blood cell diseases. BioTime's newest subsidiary, LifeMap Sciences, Inc., is developing an online database of the complex cell lineages arising from stem cells to guide basic research and to market BioTime's research products. In addition to its stem cell products, BioTime develops blood plasma volume expanders, blood replacement solutions for hypothermic (low-temperature) surgery, and technology for use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment and other applications. BioTime's lead product, Hextend, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corp. under exclusive licensing agreements. Additional information about BioTime, ReCyte Therapeutics, Cell Cure, OrthoCyte, OncoCyte, BioTime Asia, LifeMap Sciences, and ESI can be found on the web at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for BioTime and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of BioTime and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in BioTime's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. BioTime disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

To receive ongoing BioTime corporate communications, please click on the following link to join our email alert list:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83805&p=irol-alerts

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BioTime to Present at ROTH 24th Annual Growth Stock Conference

Cancer sufferer Pamela Bou Sejean wants your help to save her life

Pamela Bou Sejean has Hodgkin's Lymphoma and needs a stem cell transplant. Picture: Alison Wynd Source: News Limited

PAMELA Bou Sejean is fighting for her life.

After 16 months battling an aggressive form of Hodgkin's Lymphoma, the 26-year-old has turned to Facebook in a last ditch bid to find the stem cell donor to keep her alive.

TheVictorian woman in Belmont does not match with any registered bone marrow donor in the world so is now pleading for the public to come forward to be blood tested for a possible match.

"I don't know how much time I have, I get too afraid to ask," Ms Bou Sejean told the Geelong Advertiser.

"I want to focus on what we're doing now.

"The waiting process is hard."

With her life in the balance, Ms Bou Sejean's brother Matt a week ago set up the Facebook page How You Can Help Cure Pamela.

There, Facebook users are told about her fight and how to be blood tested for a possible stem cell match.

Read the original here:
Stem cells are my last hope. Can you help?

By David Fitzpatrick and Drew Griffin, Special Investigations Unit

updated 1:34 PM EST, Thu March 8, 2012

Dr. Zannos Grekos, seen here in 2009, could have his license suspended.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- A Florida cardiologist could have his medical license revoked by state authorities who have accused him of performing illegal stem cell therapy treatment on an elderly patient who died during the procedure.

Florida's Department of Health ordered the emergency suspension of Dr. Zannos Grekos' medical license Wednesday, accusing the Bonita Springs doctor of violating an emergency order against using stem cell treatments in Florida and allegedly causing the death of an unnamed elderly patient. Grekos can appeal the order.

According to the license suspension order, Grekos performed a stem cell treatment earlier this month on the patient, who was suffering from pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis. Both diseases restrict blood flow to the heart.

"During said stem cell treatment, patient R.P. suffered a cardiac arrest and died," the suspension order said.

CNN first investigated Grekos's activities in 2009 and, at that time, he said he was using stem cell therapy for a company he called Regenocyte Therapeutic. His profile, listed on the company's website, describes Grekos as having "extensive experience in the field of stem cell therapy" and says he "was recently appointed to the Science Advisory Board of the United States' Repair Stem Cell Institute."

At the time of CNN's interview, Grekos said he extracted stem cells from patients and then sent the blood to Israel for laboratory processing. That processing, he said, resulted in "regenocytes," which he claimed would help heal crippling diseases, mostly associated with lung problems.

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Florida suspends doctor accused of illegal stem cell therapy

Public release date: 8-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Catriona Kelly Catriona.Kelly@ed.ac.uk 44-131-651-4401 University of Edinburgh

Scientists have made fresh discoveries about the processes that govern plants' internal body clocks and help them adjust to changing seasons, triggering the arrival of flowers in spring.

Researchers tested computer models of gene networks in a simple cress plant to determine the role played by a protein, known as TOC1, in governing these daily cycles. The model shows how 12 genes work together to run the plant's complex clockwork, and reset the clock at dawn and dusk each day.

Researchers found that the TOC1 protein, which was previously associated with helping plants to wake up, is in fact involved in dampening gene activity in the evening, helping them stay dormant at night.

The findings, from the University of Edinburgh, contradict what scientists had previously understood about the gene and its role in early morning activity. Scientists in Barcelona independently reached a similar conclusion to the Edinburgh team. The two studies pave the way for further research to define how the cycles improve plant growth and allow plants to adapt to our changing environment.

These internal 24-hour cycles known as circadian clocks also allow people, animals and plants to make tiny adjustments as daylight changes, and adapt to changing seasons. Researchers hope their discovery will bring them a step closer to understanding other seasonal rhythms that affect plants and people including the flowering of staple crops such as wheat, barley and rice, and the breeding patterns of animals.

The Edinburgh-led study, published in Molecular Systems Biology, was funded by the European Commission, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The Barcelona-led study, published in Science, was funded by the European Commission, the Ramn Areces Foundation, and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Professor Andrew Millar, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, who led the modelling study, said: "The 24-hour rhythms of biological clocks affect all living things including plants, animals and people, with wide-ranging effects on sleep, metabolism and immunity. We are now far better placed to understand how this complex process impacts on the plant's life and what happens when the rhythms are interrupted, for example by climate change."

Professor Paloma Mas, of the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics in Spain, who led the experimental study, said: "The biological clock controls essential processes in plant growth and development, such as flowering and the control of growth by light. We can now extend the knowledge we have gained of cyclic processes to the major crops and other plants of agronomic interest."

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Clock gene helps plants prepare for spring flowering, study shows

A woman receives cancer treatment

(CBS/AP) BOSTON - Scientists are reporting what could be very bad news for efforts to customize cancer treatment based on each person's genes.

PICTURES: Got cancer? 10 secrets for better decisions

They have discovered big differences from place to place in the same tumor as to which genes are active or mutated. They also found differences in the genetics of the main tumor and places where the cancer has spread.

This means that the single biopsies that doctors rely on to choose drugs are probably not giving a true view of the cancer's biology. It also means that treating cancer won't be as simple as many had hoped.

New treatment for kidney transplant patients may reduce need for anti-rejection drugs

By analyzing tumors in unprecedented detail, "we're finding that the deeper you go, the more you find," said one study leader, Dr. Charles Swanton of the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute in England. "It's like going from a black-and-white television with four pixels to a color television with thousands of pixels."

Yet the result is a fuzzier picture of how to treat the disease.

The study is reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine.

It is a reality check for "overoptimism" in the field devoted to conquering cancer with new gene-targeting drugs, Dr. Dan Longo, a deputy editor at the journal, wrote in an editorial.

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Gene differences in tumors making cancer treatment difficult

BOSTON Scientists are reporting what could be very bad news for efforts to customize cancer treatment based on each persons genes.

They have discovered big differences from place to place in the same tumour as to which genes are active or mutated. They also found differences in the genetics of the main tumour and places where the cancer has spread.

This means that the single biopsies that doctors rely on to choose drugs are probably not giving a true view of the cancers biology. It also means that treating cancer wont be as simple as many had hoped.

By analyzing tumours in unprecedented detail, were finding that the deeper you go, the more you find, said one study leader, Dr. Charles Swanton of the Cancer Research U.K. London Research Institute in England. Its like going from a black-and-white television with four pixels to a colour television with thousands of pixels.

Yet the result is a fuzzier picture of how to treat the disease.

The study is reported in Thursdays New England Journal of Medicine.

It is a reality check for over-optimism in the field devoted to conquering cancer with new gene-targeting drugs, Dr. Dan Longo, a deputy editor at the journal, wrote in an editorial.

About 15 of these medicines are on the market now in the U.S. and hundreds more are in testing, but they have had only limited success. And the new study may help explain why.

The scientists used gene sequencing to a degree that has not been done before to study primary tumours and places where they spread in four patients with advanced kidney cancer. They found that two-thirds of gene mutations they detected were not present in all areas of the same tumour. They also were stunned to see different mutations in the same gene from one part of a tumour to another.

That means a single biopsy would reveal only a minority of mutations. Still, its not clear whether doing more biopsies would improve accuracy, or how many or how often they should be done.

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Single gene may not determine tumour’s nature

THURSDAY, March 8 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have identified five new genetic mutations associated with Crohn's disease in Jews of Eastern European descent (Ashkenazi Jews) and say their findings may help explain why Crohn's is nearly four times more prevalent in this group than in the general population.

Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes swelling and irritation in the digestive tract. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fever.

Previous research pinpointed 71 genetic variants associated with Crohn's disease risk in people of European ancestry. In this new study, Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers compared almost 2,000 Ashkenazi Jews with Crohn's disease to another 4,500 Ashkenazi Jews without the disease.

The team found 12 of the known risk variants and also discovered five new genetic risk regions on chromosomes 5q21.1, 2p15, 8q21.11, 10q26.3 and 11q12.1.

"This is the largest study to date, and the first to discover the unique risk factors of Crohn's disease in the Ashkenazi Jewish population," study leader Inga Peter, an associate professor of genetics and genomic sciences, said in a Mount Sinai news release.

"The prevalence of this disease is so much higher in Ashkenazi Jews, and the involvement of genetic variants predominant in this population might help understand why that is," she added.

The researchers also found that the genetic structure of the newly-identified regions associated with Crohn's disease risk in Ashkenazi Jews was much less diverse than that of non-Jewish Europeans.

"Not only did we discover different risk factors for Ashkenazi Jews, but we found that some previously known risk factors are more potent to this population," Peter said. "Armed with this new information, we can begin to analyze the specific signals in order to pinpoint causal genetic mutations, discover why they are malfunctioning, and eventually develop novel treatment approaches."

The study is published March 8 in the online edition of PLoS Genetics.

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Gene Mutations Linked to Crohn's Disease in Ashkenazi Jews

March 8, 2012 at 2:20 PM

As students start transitioning into spring, researchers are transitioning into a new era of gene research.

Dr. Frank Pugh, Willaman Chair in Molecular Biology, and his researchers have found a way to isolate proteins at the genes they regulate and to determine where exactly the protein bound to the gene.

Genes are the hereditary units that determine what traits, like eye and hair color, people have. They are composed of sequences of deoxyribose nucleic acid, or DNA.

These DNA sequences also are what determine which proteins bind where to control gene expression.

Pugh and his team began by isolating and purifying a particular protein using a technique called chromatin immunoprecipitation, otherwise known as ChIP. The technique uses antibodies to identify proteins associated with specific parts of a genome.

After purifying the protein they used an enzyme called exonuclease to destroy the DNA not involved in the gene they were examining, for the protein protected the DNA sequence to which it was bound.

This method, Pugh wrote in an email, reduced the noise that had interfered with previous methods, like extra DNA sequences that contaminated the samples that were being examined. He compared this noise to background noise that might interfere with someone listening to music.

These contaminations give the impression that there are additional binding sequences, Pugh wrote, and there is no way to distinguish between the actual binding sequences and the contaminations.

Once Pugh's team ran the tests, the results shocked them. They had expected the protein to bind to a few hundred places, but instead discovered that it bound to a few thousand locations - much more than they expected, even with the ChIP-exo method.

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Researchers discover breakthrough with DNA testing

London, March 8 (IANS) A single cancer can be dramatically different within one person, say experts. They discovered that different parts of a tumour can have different genes.

And a tumour that has spread to the chest can be genetically very different to the original tumour in the kidney, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.

The finding is important because cancer has traditionally been thought of as a disease in which a single cell starts dividing out of control, creating a tumour in which every cell is the same. Now it is clear that the disease is much more complex.

The genetic changes could help explain why cancer causes so many deaths, despite huge advances in medicine, and why a drug that has helped initially suddenly stops working.

Researchers funded by Cancer Research UK tested samples taken from kidney cancer patients being treated at London's Royal Marsden Hospital, the Mail said.

The research is still at an early stage, but, in future, doctors might take several biopsies from a patient, instead of just one. The genetic changes in the tumours accumulate over time, so early diagnosis will also be vital.

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Genetic changes make cancer deadly

Public release date: 8-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Deborah Wormser deborah.wormser@utsouthwestern.edu 214-648-3404 UT Southwestern Medical Center

DALLAS -- UT Southwestern Medical Center investigators have identified a genetic manipulation that increases the development of neurons in the brain during aging and enhances the effect of antidepressant drugs.

The research finds that deleting the Nf1 gene in mice results in long-lasting improvements in neurogenesis, which in turn makes those in the test group more sensitive to the effects of antidepressants.

"The significant implication of this work is that enhancing neurogenesis sensitizes mice to antidepressants meaning they needed lower doses of the drugs to affect 'mood' and also appears to have anti-depressive and anti-anxiety effects of its own that continue over time," said Dr. Luis Parada, director of the Kent Waldrep Center for Basic Research on Nerve Growth and Regeneration and senior author of the study published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Just as in people, mice produce new neurons throughout adulthood, although the rate declines with age and stress, said Dr. Parada, chairman of developmental biology at UT Southwestern. Studies have shown that learning, exercise, electroconvulsive therapy and some antidepressants can increase neurogenesis. The steps in the process are well known but the cellular mechanisms behind those steps are not.

"In neurogenesis, stem cells in the brain's hippocampus give rise to neuronal precursor cells that eventually become young neurons, which continue on to become full-fledged neurons that integrate into the brain's synapses," said Dr. Parada, an elected member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, its Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The researchers used a sophisticated process to delete the gene that codes for the Nf1 protein only in the brains of mice, while production in other tissues continued normally. After showing that mice lacking Nf1 protein in the brain had greater neurogenesis than controls, the researchers administered behavioral tests designed to mimic situations that would spark a subdued mood or anxiety, such as observing grooming behavior in response to a small splash of sugar water.

The researchers found that the test group mice formed more neurons over time compared to controls, and that young mice lacking the Nf1 protein required much lower amounts of anti-depressants to counteract the effects of stress. Behavioral differences between the groups persisted at three months, six months and nine months. "Older mice lacking the protein responded as if they had been taking antidepressants all their lives," said Dr. Parada.

"In summary, this work suggests that activating neural precursor cells could directly improve depression- and anxiety-like behaviors, and it provides a proof-of-principle regarding the feasibility of regulating behavior via direct manipulation of adult neurogenesis," Dr. Parada said.

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Genetic manipulation boosts growth of brain cells linked to learning, enhances antidepressants

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A study of kidney cancer patients finds the complexity of tumors may thwart simple attempts to personalize treatment.

A study of kidney cancer patients finds the complexity of tumors may thwart simple attempts to personalize treatment.

Cancer may be even more complicated than everybody already thought. And that's why a single tissue sample taken from a single tumor may not be the best way to figure out a course of treatment.

British researchers took multiple samples within kidney tumors (before and after drug treatment) and also got samples from tumors that had spread from the original cancers in four patients.

They performed all kinds of genetic tests, including detailed DNA sequencing, on the cancers and found wide variations in some key traits.

"We used every possible genomics technique available," senior author Charles Swanton told science blogger Ed Yong. "Even then we are only scratching the surface of the complexity within each cancer."

Even so, they found that some genetic variations that would be considered unfavorable for patients and others that would be good news for them were present in different parts of the same tumor.

Those results help explain why some treatments that seem like a good idea may not work. And they underscore the challenge in developing personalized tests and drugs for cancer therapy.

"It's a sobering finding," Andrew Futreal, a cancer geneticist and co-author of the study told The Wall Street Journal. The work was published in the latest New England Journal of Medicine.

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Detailed Genetic Tests Reveal Cancer's Complexity