Archive for February, 2015

Flow chart of one method of engineering T cells to fight cancer.

Tough blood cancers are responding to treatment with the patient's own genetically engineered immune cells, according to a cancer specialist who is helping test the bold -- and risky -- approach.

The treatment has produced complete remissions in large percentages of patients treated, up to 90 percent in one group of 30 patients. Moreover, these are all extremely sick patients, whose cancer has resisted other therapies, leaving them with virtually no options. The longest survivor has been in complete remission for more than 4 years, said Dr. David Porter of the University of Pennsylvania.

Porter spoke Sunday at the 35th Annual Conference on Clinical Hematology & Oncology, held in La Jolla by Scripps Health. Speakers like Porter came from around the country to discuss advances in their field, part of a continuing medical education program to keep doctors up to date with the latest medical advances. The conference continues through Tuesday.

Dr. David Porter / University of Pennsylvania

Porter works with Dr. Carl June and other colleagues to hone the effectiveness of using T cells genetically programmed to attack malignant B cells. B cell malignancies cause such cancers as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL; acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The genetically altered T cells are given an artificially created gene to produce a chimeric antigen receptor. This receptor recognizes the protein CD19, produced almost exclusively on B cells. The T cells hone in on this protein and kill the B cells. When the cancer is knocked down, some of the T cells remain behind, ready to pounce on any recurrence.

The trials are now expanding to include myloma, Porter said. For more information on the university's T cell-based clinical trials, go to http://www.penncancer.org/tcelltherapy.

June's team began testing the therapy in 2010 in CLL patients and then in those with ALL. These were all patients with relapsed cancers that had become resistant to other therapies. The therapy has been progressively refined, Porter said. Other centers have developed their own versions of this therapy.

In October, 2014, the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia announced that 27 out of 30 patients with relapsed ALL achieved a complete remission within one month of treatment, and 23 were still alive 6 months after treatment. As of October, 19 of the patients remained in remission. Most treated, 25 out of 30, were children. The response rate with CLL is about 47 percent, Porter said.

Continue reading here:
Cancer gene therapy advances

Dr. Oz - Insights Ideas for Change Mehmet Oz Personalized Medicine
Dr. OZ explains why "personalized medicine" can save time, money LIVES! Pharmacogenetics testing is a simple "swab the cheek" test that will make a tremend...

By: EliteMarketing InternationalLLC

Go here to read the rest:
Dr. Oz - Insights Ideas for Change Mehmet Oz Personalized Medicine - Video

FES therapy and establishing a hypothesis: Virtual Clinical Trials: Spinal Cord Injury
Prior to setting up the spinal cord injury clinical trial, students work with a Biomedical Engineer to learn about spinal cord injury, functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy, and how...

By: cttl1

See the rest here:
FES therapy and establishing a hypothesis: Virtual Clinical Trials: Spinal Cord Injury - Video

Spinal Cord Injury | My Recovery Journey

By: Trip Tastic

View post:
Spinal Cord Injury | My Recovery Journey - Video

Cellular Therapies and Regenerative Medicine Strategies for Treatment of Diabetes - Camillo Ricordi
Rejuvenation Biotechnology 2014 Diabetes Session (August 23, 2014, 12:30pm) "Cellular Therapies and Regenerative Medicine Strategies for Treatment of Diabete...

By: SENS Foundation

Originally posted here:
Cellular Therapies and Regenerative Medicine Strategies for Treatment of Diabetes - Camillo Ricordi - Video

Dr. Curt Civin Discussing Regenerative Medicine
Tune in to find out about the next revolution in medicine and how it can change your life. Featuring Curt Civin, Director of the Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Assistant...

By: Next Healthcare Inc.

Go here to see the original:
Dr. Curt Civin Discussing Regenerative Medicine - Video

How about Stem Cell Therapy for LBD, Nova Cells Institute stem cells
Nova Cells Institute makes a difference because we care - like the Bumble Bee - doing the impossible- http://www.novacellsinstitute.com.

By: NCIM

Original post:
How about Stem Cell Therapy for LBD, Nova Cells Institute stem cells - Video

Stem Cell Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction - Alvarado Hospital
The first study in the U.S. to determine if stem cell therapy can treat erectile dysfunction. Alvarado Hospital #39;s Drs. Irwin Goldstein and Barry Handler discuss this FDA-approved study and...

By: AlvaradoHospital

Go here to read the rest:
Stem Cell Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction - Alvarado Hospital - Video

X-Ray Spex - Genetic Engineering

By: Robert Allen

Continued here:
X-Ray Spex - Genetic Engineering - Video

Genetic Engineering Notes

By: Ben Matthews

See the rest here:
Genetic Engineering Notes - Video

Genetic Engineering The Rise Of Civilization - Part 2
The advent of agriculture gave rise to the meteoric development of nation-states around 6000 years ago. Dr. Rita Louise delves into the mundane topic of agr...

By: Just Energy Radio

Read more here:
Genetic Engineering & The Rise Of Civilization - Part 2 - Video

Ocean Grown Genetics - Alien Rift Dragons Breath
Ocean Grown Genetics #39; Alien Rift Dragons Breath after one week of flowering.

By: kbgrowkid420

Continue reading here:
Ocean Grown Genetics - Alien Rift & Dragons Breath - Video

The Big Picture in Genetics, Part 1 (CIRTL MOOC)
Dr. Kathy Friedman, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University, and Dr. Jennifer Osterhage, Lecturer in Biology at the University of...

By: VandyCFT

View original post here:
The Big Picture in Genetics, Part 1 (CIRTL MOOC) - Video

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2005 Apr; 18(2): 134137.

1From the Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Presented at the Department of Pathology Fall Symposium, Baylor University Medical Center, November 23, 2004.

Genetic counseling deals with the human problems associated with the occurrence, or the risk of occurrence, of a genetic disorder in the family (1). Genetic counseling is essentially a communication processabout medical facts, the contribution of heredity to certain conditions, the interpretation of test results, and the options available. It also involves supportive counseling to enable patients to make decisions and to make the best possible adjustment to the presence or risk of genetic disease. Genetic counselors have master's degrees from certified programs and are certified by either the American Board of Medical Genetics or the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

This article reviews several case scenarios in order to highlight some themes and lessons from genetic counseling.

In recent years, obstetricians have begun offering cystic fibrosis carrier screening to all couples either planning a pregnancy or in the early stages of pregnancy. The incidence of cystic fibrosis in Caucasians is about 1 in 2500. Caucasian men and women with no family history of cystic fibrosis would each have a 1 in 25 chance of being a carrier, i.e., of having one of over 1300 different mutations in the CFTR gene. The screening test usually includes analysis for only 23 to 25 of the most common mutations. At this time, sequencing the gene from beginning to end to search for a mutation would be too expensive and time consuming as a screening test.

The decision to undergo carrier screening is a personal one. Some people consider cystic fibrosis a serious disorder appropriate for screening, and others do not. Those who do not may focus on the fact that half of those with the disease survive until the age of 30 or 31, and cystic fibrosis does not involve mental retardation or birth defects. A couple may opt for screening for one or several reasons: because the chance of being a carrier seems high to them, because they would consider prenatal diagnosis if they were shown to be carriers, or because results are usually reassuring. Similarly, those who don't feel the odds of being a carrier are high enough may not be interested in the screening test. Others may not be interested because the cost is not covered by their insurance, the test is imperfect and will not identify all carriers, or they would rather not have the information. Indeed, getting information can provoke anxiety, and some patients prefer not to go down that path.

Some practitioners discourage screening unless the patient plans to pursue prenatal diagnosis. However, my experience has shown that people often change their minds. Some come in with very set ideas about what they would and would not do; until they're faced with a particular circumstance, they may not re-ally know. The point is, options need to be made available.

We will discuss a case in which the woman was screened and found to have mutation G542X (Figure ). This means that in the 542 amino acid position, glycine has been converted to a stop codon. She is a cystic fibrosis carrier. Since cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder, this should not affect her health. However, her husband was subsequently screened, and he was shown to have the most common mutation, F508, a deletion of phenylalanine at position 508. Even though they have different mutations, the mutations are in the same gene. The child now has a 1 in 4 risk of inheriting both mutations and therefore having cystic fibrosis.

Pedigree of a couple presenting for carrier screening for cystic fibrosis. (See discussion in the text.) Squares represent males, circles represent females, diamonds are used when the gender is unknown or unspecified, and a P within ...

Read more here:
Genetic counseling: DNA testing for the patient

Lokomat training C6 SCI
Working out at SCI-FIT, Pleasanton, CA. Theo St. Francis: C6 spinal cord injury recovery Visit theovercoming.org for the latest progress and reflections on what it means for me to #39;overcome. #39;...

By: Theo St Francis

Follow this link:
Lokomat training C6 SCI - Video

Hands-Free Harmonica after Spinal Cord Injury
Playing a bit of Hands-Free Harmonica in the local Cornish Pumphouse (Wooden Heart)

By: Jeremy Olson

More:
Hands-Free Harmonica after Spinal Cord Injury - Video

Pathogenic Inflammation and Innovative Regenerative Biological Therapies
Please visit my website at http://www.zenbeautyinstitute.com for more information on this and other topics. The overexpression of inflammatory interleukins is the pathologic basis of a bevy of conditions...

By: Ron Shane

See the article here:
Pathogenic Inflammation and Innovative Regenerative Biological Therapies - Video

The University of California, Davis, Department of Chemistry will spotlight a special focus on rare-disease research with this years 15th annual R. Bryan Miller Symposium. Experts in rare diseases will gather at the UC Davis Conference Center March 5 for a conference highlighting the opportunities and challenges in applying cutting-edge technologies and precision medicine to better treat conditions that together affect millions of people, especially children. The event is held in conjunction with Rare Disease Day, which this year is Feb. 28.

On the 15th anniversary of the R. Bryan Miller Symposium, the chemistry department is proud to sponsor this event and aims to continually grow the event every year, said conference chair Sundeep Dugar, a Ph.D. graduate of chemistry at UC Davis and current chief operating officer of Carderox, a Bay Area biotech company with a focus on rare diseases and associated morbidities. Our aim with the conference is to be a central and convening partner to the many academia and industry researchers in the area that are navigating the research obstacles to find cures for those with rare disease.

The Rare Disease Conference at UC Davis will look at the obstacles and novel approaches that are shaping the future of rare-disease research. Speakers include leaders in rare-disease research from academia and industry, as well as from UC Davis. Presentations will also spotlight how patient advocates and foundations play an integral role in driving rare-disease research forward.

Topics will include emerging technologies, such as: stem cell therapy, gene therapy and RNAi therapy, while also emphasizing new research fundraising models and partnerships, the importance of diagnostics, and integrative biologic strategies.

The organizations represented include the Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, UC Davis, UC San Diego, NEA Partners, Transderm, Benefunder and rare-disease nonprofit organizations such as EndDuchenne, the Cystinosis Research Foundation, CheckOrphan and RARE Science.

The event will be followed March 6 by the annual Miller Symposium on pharmaceutical chemistry. Both events are organized by the UC Davis Department of Chemistry. More information and registration details can be found at http://chemistry.ucdavis.edu/seminar/miller_symposium/.

There are over 7,000 rare diseases that have been identified to date. A rare disease is defined as one that affects 200,000 or less people in the U.S. and one out of 2,000 individuals in Europe. Combined, it is estimated that over 25 million Americans are affected by a rare disease.

Developing a treatment for even a common disease takes an average of 14 years at a cost of $2 billion with a 95 percent failure rate. Patients, researchers and clinicians fighting rare diseases face additional problems of restricted resources, small patient populations, and limited specialists and researchers that understand the rare disease. In addition, 50 percent of rare diseases affect children, and 30 percent of patients die before their fifth birthday. These challenges demand urgent and new, innovative approaches for rare-disease researchers.

In his 2015 State of the Union address, President Obama announced details of the Precision Medicine Initiative, which will pioneer a novel model of patient-centered research. Precision medicine takes into account patients' genetic makeup, environment and lifestyles to better understand disease and tailor treatments to a specific individual and condition.

Read this article:
Miller symposium spotlights rare-disease research and precision medicine

Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi on Issue of Cloning Genetic Engineering Getting in the Way of God #39;s Work
Rabbi Mizrachi Website: http://www.divineinformation.com ----- Rabbi Mizrachi YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY_RXl0nXVp4w3VpEwsNhUg.

By: ShadeManVendetta

Read the original:
Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi on Issue of Cloning Genetic Engineering Getting in the Way of God's Work - Video

Genetic engineering part 2
Lol.

By: Gayatri JC

See more here:
Genetic engineering part 2 - Video

Editors note:Ryan Clarke is a biochemistry PhD candidate with an interest in genetic engineering. He is a published scientist with a background in synthetic biology and social analytics.James Hyun is aPhD student in the life sciences with a background in molecular biology. He haspublished numerous scientific paperswheregenetically engineered microorganisms were used to produce high value therapeutic proteins.

In the midst of the lowest oil prices our nation has seen in six years, its easy to forget that the primary energy source in the world is in finite supply. Fracking and extraction from shale have enhanced the potential amount of obtainable oil (and Americas total reserves have the potential to be the highest in the world), but these means are still limited by the Earths reserves.

In fact, British Petroleum projects that we will deplete the Earths oil reservoirs in roughly 50 years. With this sobering reality looming over our heads, we can look to recent advances in the biotechnology of biofuel production as a potential solution. Moving beyond bioethanol, the unsuspecting platform of algae may be the most promising.

Our vision for a carbon neutral world is one in which the ultimate goal is replacing petroleum-based energy consumption systems with clean energy production/consumption. However, replacing fossil fuel-derived energy with renewable sources such as wind, solar or hydro is a daunting task. These electricity-producing energy sources have a lower energy density, which is measured in joules per liter or kilogram, or BTUs (British Thermal Unit):

Furthermore, solar, wind and hydro cannot be controlled with an on and off switch. Rather, the electricity generated must be used immediately or stored in batteries and is considerably more expensive than fossil fuels. On a large scale, a coal mine or oil field, for instance, yields five to 50 times more power per square meter than a solar facility, 10 to 100 times more than a wind farm, and 100 to 1,000 times more than a biomass plant like corn.

If we want to avoid hitting the brick wall of a global energy drought when we tap our final oil reserves, we must do what humans do best: solve the problems we have created ourselves. Big oil and other major players in the market are highly cognizant that current petroleum supplies are finite, so they have been heavily investing (i.e. BP has invested $4 billion since 2005) in alternative energy sources to alleviate our dependency on classic fossil fuels. A significant portion of this funding is focused on biofuels, which might be the most realistic answer to the fossil fuel issue.

Biomasses to Bioethanol.The conversion of cellulose (a prolific sugar produced in plants), such as corns and sugar cane, to ethanol through chemically catalytic procedures has been a major prospect for ridding petroleum dependency for 20 years in the U.S.

Unfortunately, it turns out our existing combustion engines can only handle 10 percent ethanol mixtures with our gasoline (denoted as E10 fuels) on average, unless the engine has been modified or produced (flex-fuel engines) to handle 85 percent ethanol (E85 fuels), which is much less common. In America, there are roughly 10 million flex-fuel vehicles out of the total 250 million, so an infrastructure turnover is required for ethanol to be a plausible alternative.

The utmost defeating point for the ethanol argument is that oil yields 50 times more energy than ethanol from corn and 10 times more than ethanol from sugar cane, according to ecological economist Cutler Cleveland.

If we were to commit to ethanol as a petroleum replacement and ethanol werethe sole source used to achieve the 2020 federal mandates for renewable fuel, then 100 percent of the corn currently available in the U.S. would be required. To meet these mandates and maintain todays 30 percent corn crop utilization would require an increase in corn harvest by 423 percent.

Excerpt from:
A Third Act For Biofuels

Genetics of the Porsche 918 Spyder
http://bit.ly/PorscheAutoGallery | This is the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder. A work of art. Sculpted like no other...for those with a passion for life, style and ...

By: Porsche Auto Gallery Woodland Hills

Link:
Genetics of the Porsche 918 Spyder - Video

Quick Medical Genetics - Disorders of Phenylalanine and Tyrosine Metabolism
This is a lecture about the disorders of phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, a family of genetic disorders. The lecture is intended for trainees and medical professionals. Lecture by Philip...

By: Quick Medical Genetics

Go here to see the original:
Quick Medical Genetics - Disorders of Phenylalanine and Tyrosine Metabolism - Video

Innovation, research and Public Health policies in Personalized Medicine. Discussion
Instituto Roche Forum on Personalized Medicine: Challenges for the next decade 25th september 2014, Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Galicia. Session 2...

By: institutoroche

More here:
Innovation, research and Public Health policies in Personalized Medicine. Discussion - Video

Autologous Stem Cell Transplant | Animation Video
What is a Autologous Stem Cell Transplant? Most stem cells are in your bone marrow. You also have some in your blood that circulate from your bone marrow. Bo...

By: Medical.Animation.Videos.Library

Read more here:
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant | Animation Video - Video