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LEGALIZING STEM CELL THERAPY in the U.S.A. By: Dr. Arturo Pacheco Reyes, MD U.S. Senator – Video


LEGALIZING STEM CELL THERAPY in the U.S.A. By: Dr. Arturo Pacheco Reyes, MD U.S. Senator
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LEGALIZING STEM CELL THERAPY in the U.S.A. By: Dr. Arturo Pacheco Reyes, MD U.S. Senator - Video

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New recommendations for post-treatment care of prostate cancer survivors

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

4-Aug-2014

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

New Rochelle, NY, August 4, 2014 -- Many of the more than 2.5 million men in the U.S. who have received treatment for prostate cancer deal with the often disabling side effects of surgery and radiation and hormonal therapies. To aid in the transition of these patients from specialty to primary care for long-term management of problems such as urinary incontinence and sexual and bowel dysfunction, updated guidelines for prostate cancer survivorship care are published in Journal of Men's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Men's Health website at http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jomh.2014.0026 until September 4, 2014.

Ted Skolarus, MD, MPH led a team of authors from University of Michigan, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (Ann Arbor), and Michigan State University (East Lansing) in preparing the article "Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Survivorship Care: An Update to the 2009 Michigan Cancer Consortium Guidelines for the Primary Care Management of Prostate Cancer Post-Treatment Sequelae." Based on information gathered from an expert panel and focus groups, additions to the updated guidelines include patient-reported symptoms assessment, self-management strategies for treatment-related side effects, recommendations for involving partners in survivorship care, and new care coordination strategies.

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About the Journal

Journal of Men's Health is the premier peer-reviewed journal published quarterly in print and online that covers all aspects of men's health across the lifespan. The Journal publishes cutting-edge advances in a wide range of diseases and conditions, including diagnostic procedures, therapeutic management strategies, and innovative clinical research in gender-based biology to ensure optimal patient care. The Journal addresses disparities in health and life expectancy between men and women; increased risk factors such as smoking, alcohol abuse, and obesity; higher prevalence of diseases such as heart disease and cancer; and health care in underserved and minority populations. Journal of Men's Health meets the critical imperative for improving the health of men around the globe and ensuring better patient outcomes. Tables of content and a sample issue can be viewed on the Journal of Men's Health website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jmh.

About the Societies

Journal of Men's Health is the official journal of the International Society of Men's Health (ISMH), American Society for Men's Health, Men's Health Society of India, and Foundation for Men's Health. The ISMH is an international, multidisciplinary, worldwide organization, dedicated to the rapidly growing field of gender-specific men's health.

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New recommendations for post-treatment care of prostate cancer survivors

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Scientists push for GMO adoption in Ghana

Business News of Thursday, 31 July 2014

Source: Graphic Online

Two Ghanaian research scientists made a case for Ghana to adopt genetic engineering (GE) or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) instead of sticking to the conventional method of breeding.

While agreeing that conventional plant breeding had been going on for hundreds of years and had dramatically increased the productivity and quality of plants for food, feed and fibre, they maintained that it could no longer be sustained.

At the opening of a three-day symposium, organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) on GMOs last Monday, Dr Ibrahim Dzido Kwasi Atokple, a researcher at the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Tamale, said Conventional breeding is the basis, but with that alone we cannot make progress.

According to Dr Atokple, practising conventional breeding could no longer be done exclusively, in view of the population explosion and developments that are taking up the arable lands. So we need to combine all biotechnological tools to increase the productivity of the few lands that are left.

He said although the USA depended on hybrids for maize till the 1990s, the trend changed for more improved yields by adopting GMOs (inserting genes to improve yields and make maize more tolerant to insects).

In any case, we started eating GM maize from 1996 till today, he said, adding that although there had been a few success stories in Ghana, the country could do better. Almost all the improved varieties grown in Ghana are from conventional breeding but we cannot continue to do this.

We need to adopt the modern plant breeding strategies and multi-disciplinary and co-ordinated process where a large number of tools and elements of conventional breeding techniques, bioinformatics, molecular genetics, molecular biology and genetic engineering are utilised and integrated to overcome the vagaries of the environment, with respect to climate change, soil degradation and increasing biotic factors, he stated.

Dr Atokple, who is credited with introducing varieties of Maruka-resistant cowpea (beans) and rice, said it even became more imperative to employ GMO breeding because it was a faster, less laborious and more efficient way to improve crop yields.

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Scientists push for GMO adoption in Ghana

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Advances in assisted reproduction create more options and new legal issues for LGBT couples

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

1-Aug-2014

Contact: Sophie Mohin smohin@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, August 1, 2014Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who want to conceive a child may face the same problems as some of their heterosexual and cisgendered peers, such as reduced fertility, but in addition they often face additional physiological and legal challenges to become parents. A comprehensive review of the most recent advances in assisted reproduction options is presented in the article "LGBT Assisted Reproduction: Current Practice and Future Possibilities," published in LGBT Health, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. Cutting-edge research and options likely to be available in the future are also discussed. The article is available free on the LGBT Health website.

A. Evan Eyler, MD, MPH, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington; Samuel C. Pang, MD, Reproductive Science Center of New England, Lexington, MA; and Anderson Clark, PhD, a Reproductive Biologist from Boston, MA, discuss the many medical options available to the LGBT community. The authors provide expert commentary on topics such as gestational surrogacy, in vitro fertilization, donor egg banks, and techniques to preserve future reproductive capability for transgender individuals whose transition plan entails procedures that will, or are likely to, compromise their fertility. The article also explores important economic and legal implications of assisted reproduction.

"In the past, many people in the LGBT communities did not regard reproduction as a realistic option; however, social and scientific progress have changed that," says Editor-in-Chief William Byne, MD, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. "Clinicians who work with LGBT-identified people, particularly transgender youths and their families, should familiarize themselves with the material covered in this interview. Future options may become available even for transgender youths who undergo pubertal suppression prior to the production of viable gametes."

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About the Journal

Spanning a broad array of disciplines LGBT Health, published quarterly online with Open Access options and in print, brings together the LGBT research, health care, and advocacy communities to address current challenges and improve the health, well-being, and clinical outcomes of LGBT persons. The Journal publishes original research, review articles, clinical reports, case studies, legal and policy perspectives, and much more. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the LGBT Health website.

About the Publisher

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Advances in assisted reproduction create more options and new legal issues for LGBT couples

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As genetic counseling grows, so do Iowas needs

By Chelsea Keenan, The Gazette

About 30 college students gathered last week at the University of Iowa to ask questions about genomic medicine and learn more about the growing field of genetic counseling.

I really just wanted to learn what a genetic counselor does and see if its something to consider, said Katie Knudtson, who will be a freshman at Iowa State University this fall.

Genetic counselors educate patients about how their genes affect their health. The counselors specialize in certain areas, such as pediatric, cancer, prenatal or psychiatric.

Its a good marriage between education and research, said Erin Davidson, an intern at the Iowa Institute of Human Genetics at the UI.

Davidson, who studied biology at Colorado State University, is in the process of applying to graduate school.

The research and technology is exploding, she said. I want to help people understand their options and what their tests mean.

The Iowa Institute of Human Genetics promotes education, clinical care and research. The organization, which was created two years ago, develops new tests, such as how the body and its genetic makeup metabolize drugs, and works on integrating them into a clinical setting, said Colleen Campbell, a certified genetic counselor and assistant director of the institute.

That way we can predict what category you fall into and prescribe the right drug the first time, she said.

As more areas of medicine begin to integrate genetics, more genetic counselors will be needed, Campbell said. The state has only 12 practicing genetic counselors, or one for every 250,000 residents.

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As genetic counseling grows, so do Iowas needs

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PM hopes to make Britain 'world leader in genetics'

Prime Minister David Cameron hopes Britain will become a world leader in genetic research after unveiling a "landmark" 300 million project which will map 100,000 complete DNA code sequences.

The study, which will be completed in 2017, aims to lead the way in research on cancer and rare diseases and could be pivotal to the development of future personalised treatments, which has the potential to revolutionise medicine.

The government-backed genome project could help find a cure for a deadly eye disease which is the leading cause of blindness in children.

Professor Graeme Black, strategic director at the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, said it was a "very, very exciting development" in the search for a possible treatment for the condition known as retinitis pigmentosa or RP.

At the moment around 200 genes relating to the illness have been identified which if mutated can cause sight loss, but there are thought to be more than 500.

RP Fighting Blindness chief executive David Head said: "For people faced with blindness as a result of inherited retinal dystrophies, this is really important."

The 100,000 Genomes Project announced today aims to map 100,000 complete DNA code sequences - the scale of which has never been attempted before.

The genetics revolution "is changing medicine," life sciences minister George Freeman has said.

"Genetics is allowing us to really understand which patients are getting which diseases and why," he continued.

"It means we can diagnose earlier, develop preventative medicines, we can develop new treatments."

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PM hopes to make Britain 'world leader in genetics'

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Tumor suppressor mutations alone don't explain deadly cancer: Biomarker for head and neck cancers identified

Although mutations in a gene dubbed "the guardian of the genome" are widely recognized as being associated with more aggressive forms of cancer, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found evidence suggesting that the deleterious health effects of the mutated gene may in large part be due to other genetic abnormalities, at least in squamous cell head and neck cancers.

The study, published online August 3 in the journal Nature Genetics, shows that high mortality rates among head and neck cancer patients tend to occur only when mutations in the tumor suppressor gene coincide with missing segments of genetic material on the cancer genome's third chromosome.

The link between the two had not been observed before because the mutations co-occur in about 70 percent of head and neck tumors and because full genetic fingerprints of large numbers of cancer tumors have become available only recently.

"These two genetic malfunctions are not two separate stab wounds to the body," said co-senior author Trey Ideker, PhD, chief of the Division of Genetics. "One exposes the Achilles tendon and the other is a direct blow to it."

To patients with these cancers, the study's results mean that there may be therapeutic value in testing tumors for the two genetic identifiers, known as a TP53 mutation (short for tumor protein 53) and a 3p deletion (short for deletions of genetic information on the short arm "p" of the third chromosome).

TP53 plays a key role in regulating cell growth, detecting and fixing DNA, and directing cell apoptosis (death) if the DNA damage is irreparable. Because of this, the TP53 protein is sometimes called the "guardian of the genome."

The study's findings suggest that if both markers are present, treatment should be intensified. If only one mutation is present, treatment might be de-intensified because the TP53 mutation alone is less deadly than previously thought. The latter would have immediate benefits in reducing deaths caused by complications related to medical care.

"We are in the early stages of being able to personalize head and neck cancer treatments based on the tumor's actual biology, the same as what's done with breast cancers," said co-senior author Quyen Nguyen, MD, PhD, associate professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. "In the past, treatments have been based largely on the size and location of the tumor. Now, we know that some large tumors may respond to less aggressive treatment while some small tumors may need intensified treatment. This will have a huge impact for patients."

The study analyzed the complete genomic signatures of 250 cases of squamous cell head and neck cancer extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas, a repository of sequenced cancer genomes for more than 20 different types of human cancers maintained by the National Institutes of Cancer. All of the tumors were from patients younger than 85 years of age.

Of these, 179 had both mutations; 50 had one of the two mutations; and 22 had neither mutation. Comparisons with patient outcome data showed that half of patients with both mutations would likely die of cancer within 2 years, while 66 percent of patients with one or neither mutation would be expected to live five years or more. These survival statistics were independent of the patients' clinical cancer stage.

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Tumor suppressor mutations alone don't explain deadly cancer: Biomarker for head and neck cancers identified

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Stem.MD | National Regenerative Medical Practice

Call A Stem.MD Health Advisor Now (561) 287 3018

Stem.MD

National Regenerative Medical Practice

Mets sign Bartolo Colon, 41, to a 2 year $20mm deal after being treated with the Stem MD proprietary BMAC procedure.

Stem MDs foundation is built on the combined knowledge of the most trusted and effective sources and practitioners in regenerative medicine today. Leveraging our vast resources and collective experience, Stem MD offers a treatment plan tailored specifically to each patients needs. Our Health Consultants carefully assess your case and work with you and our doctors to ensure you get the treatment you deserve. We are committed to the best possible solution, which means knowing where breakthrough regenerative medicine can be used effectively, and only performing invasive surgery as a last resort. Read more about the Stem MD patient experience.

Dr. Joseph Purita is a pioneer within the worldwide orthopaedic surgery community. He has lectured on five continents and has been instrumental in helping some countries design their policies concerning the use of regenerative medicine. Dr. Purita graduated from Georgetown University Medical School and completed his residency at University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital. Like all Stem.MD physicians, Dr. Purita prides himself on offering the latest surgical and non-surgical techniques to our clients, which range from celebrities to weekend athletes to the elderly. Read more about Stem MD.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H5oxvt6Gt4[/youtube]

In 2010, MLB player, Bartolo Colon received stem cell injections from Dr. Purita after half a decade struggle with shoulder and elbow injuries. Dr. Purita treated him and in a comeback that was nothing short of miraculous, Colon went on to pitch his signature 95-mile-an-hour fastball the next season.

Stem MDs meticulously developed treatment plans are tailored to specific conditions and needs. Our most commonly treated conditions include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis and torn ACL, joint degradation, COPD and more. For information regarding your particular condition, give us a call at (561) 287 3018.

Keep your shoulder swinging free and painless with regenerative medicine.

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Stem.MD | National Regenerative Medical Practice

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Dr Felix new protocol on Stem Cell therapy – Video


Dr Felix new protocol on Stem Cell therapy
Dr. FELIX molecular biologist , medical doctor developed world first protocol using peptides with Stem Cell therapy to improve patients outcome.

By: Soraya Felix

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Dr Felix new protocol on Stem Cell therapy - Video

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American Health Journal: Jerome Rotter MD Personalized Medicine segment – Video


American Health Journal: Jerome Rotter MD Personalized Medicine segment
Personalized Medicine featuring Dr. Jerome Rotter.

By: LA BioMed

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American Health Journal: Jerome Rotter MD Personalized Medicine segment - Video

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Study Regenerative Medicine or Biomedical Gerontology – Video


Study Regenerative Medicine or Biomedical Gerontology
Study regenerative medicine or biomedical gerontology. Aging is tragic. Studying about biomedical gerontology or regenerative medicine might enable you to co...

By: Michael Ten

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Study Regenerative Medicine or Biomedical Gerontology - Video

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Let It Grow – High School Stem Cell Researchers – City of Hope – Video


Let It Grow - High School Stem Cell Researchers - City of Hope
http://www.cirm.ca.gov Through a grant funded by California #39;s Stem Cell Agency (CIRM), high school students across California spent their summer getting hand...

By: California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

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Let It Grow - High School Stem Cell Researchers - City of Hope - Video

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Childhood coxsackie virus infection depletes cardiac stem cells, might compromise heart health in adults

here is epidemiological evidence that links type B coxsackie virus (CVB) infection with heart disease, and research published on July 31st in PLOS Pathogens now suggests a mechanism by which early infection impairs the heart's ability to tolerate stress at later stages of life.

CVB infection is very common and affects mostly children. The symptoms range widely: over half of the infections are thought to be asymptomatic, the majority of children who get sick have only a mild fever, and a very small proportion get inflammation of the heart or brain. On the other hand, 70 -- 80% of patients with heart failure show signs of a previous CVB infection but have no history of viral heart disease, raising the possibility that even a mild earlier infection makes them more vulnerable to get heart disease later on.

To investigate this, researchers from San Diego State University, USA, led by Roberta Gottlieb and Ralph Feuer, first established a mouse model of mild juvenile CVB infection. Mice infected with a non-lethal dose of the virus shortly after birth did not develop any heart disease symptoms during the infection or into adulthood, but they had a predisposition to heart disease later in life.

Detailed analysis of the mice after infection showed that the virus does indeed target the heart and is found in cardiac stem cells. When comparing the numbers of cardiac stem cells in previously infected adult mice with uninfected ones, the researchers found significantly smaller numbers in the infected mice.

To test whether the childhood infection and stem cell depletion had any effect on the adult heart, the researchers exposed infected mice to two different types of cardiac stress. They treated some of the mice with a drug known to overstimulate the heart, and they challenged another group by making them swim for 90 minutes every day for 14 days. Following both treatments, the infected mice showed clear signs of early heart disease whereas uninfected controls showed little or no symptoms.

Analyzing the stressed mice in more detail, the researchers found that the hearts from previously infected mice had impaired ability to re-arrange their heart blood vessels and grow new ones. This process, called vascular remodeling, is critical for the heart to respond to changes in the environment, including stress.

As discussed in the article, important open questions remain. For example, does CVB infection affect cardiac stem cells at any age, or is there a vulnerable period in early childhood? It is also not clear whether other strains of CVB have similar properties to the one used here, which was isolated from a patient with heart disease.

Nonetheless, the researchers conclude that their results "support the hypothesis that a mild CVB3 infection early in development can impair the heart's ability to undergo physiologic remodeling, leading to heart disease later in life." They also suggest that "the subtle cardiac alterations might go undetected under normal circumstances but emerge in the setting of increased demand such as intense exercise or chronic high blood pressure."

Story Source:

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

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Childhood coxsackie virus infection depletes cardiac stem cells, might compromise heart health in adults

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Quebec womans leukemia battle highlights need for minority bone marrow and stem cell donors

MONTREALA Quebec womans desperate online plea for a compatible stem-cell donor in her bid to fight cancer a second time is shedding light on the lack of minorities on official lists in Canada and abroad.

Mai Duong finds herself battling leukemia again and doctors say they would like to proceed with a transplant of bone marrow or cord blood stem cells within a month.

But Duong, 34, has discovered that locating the right person can be a needle-in-a-haystack challenge, particularly for those who are from a non-Caucasian background.

This is a global problem, Duong, who is of Vietnamese origin, said in an interview from her room at Montreals Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital.

We cant do a scavenger hunt every time someone has this type of problem.

Duong, who returned home a few days after being interviewed, said a recent bone marrow biopsy showed no signs of cancer. She will now begin four weeks of maintenance chemotherapy, which is given in lower doses to assist in prolonging a remission.

The mother of a 4-year-old girl, Duong successfully fought off acute leukemia in 2013 with chemotherapy. She had to terminate a 15-week pregnancy to undergo the treatment. Duong was in remission until a blood test revealed leukemia had returned this past May.

Seventy per cent of people who had that type of leukemia were just cured with chemotherapy, and unfortunately Im in the 30 per cent, she said.

The diagnosis and a lack of a match in her family have touched off a mad scramble to find a fellow Vietnamese donor. An online campaign has taken that hunt global.

I have cancer, I had a relapse, I dont have a bone marrow (donor) these are things I cannot change, Duong said. So I said, what can I do about it?

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Quebec womans leukemia battle highlights need for minority bone marrow and stem cell donors

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Bone marrow donor programme celebrates 100 donors and new patron

SINGAPORE - Singapore's life-saving Bone Marrow Donor Programme celebrated its 100th donor and new patron, Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam, on Thursday.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

Here is the statement from the Bone Marrow Donor Programme:

The Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP) celebrates 21 years of saving lives through an extraordinary gift of kindness and generosity as ordinary Singaporeans commit to helping a fellow human being.

As bone marrow transplants become the preferred treatment for a wide number of blood related diseases such as leukaemia and lymphoma, the new BMDP Patron, Minister K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs and MP for Nee Soon GRC gave an award to the 100th Singaporean bone marrow donor, Lim Yun Song a 27 year-old Engineer and NTU graduate. This was in recognition of the commitment he and all the other bone marrow donors have made in a purely voluntary capacity to give of themselves a priceless gift of bone marrow (blood stem cells) to save the life of a stranger.

The BMDP manages Singapore's only registry of bone marrow donors and can literally be the last chance of survival for patients with terminal blood-related illnesses. Sadly, though, the chance of finding a donor whose DNA profile is a match to the patient is an alarming 1 in 20,000. With Singapore's unique and rapidly changing demographic, it is more important than ever to recruit more volunteers to join the registry and make sure that each patient is given this last chance of survival.

In conjunction with the 21st anniversary and office inauguration, the BMDP shared a number of significant milestones achieved in recent months.

In addition to reaching the 100th local donor, the number of local donors identified as a patient match increased from 38 in 2012 to 73 last year and year-to-date 64 donors were called up for Confirmatory Typing.

In tandem, the number of volunteers actually going through to make their life-saving donation has increased from seven in the whole of 2013, to nine in the first half of this year with more scheduled.

Minister Shanmugam says, "Bone marrow donors are heroes. They are given a chance to help a fellow human being through a simple yet selfless act of kindness - and they take it. This opportunity is available to everyone but so few rise to the challenge and I hope that more young people - the future of Singapore - will be inspired by what we are seeing here today and will sign up as volunteer bone marrow donors. I'm honoured to join the BMDP as their Patron, and look forward to working with them to build our community of heroes".

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Bone marrow donor programme celebrates 100 donors and new patron

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Aging Immune System May Get Kick-Start from Discovery of Molecular Defect

Health and Medicine for Seniors

Aging Immune System May Get Kick-Start from Discovery of Molecular Defect

Old stem cells are not just sitting there with damaged DNA ready to develop cancer, as it has long been postulated

"The decline of stem-cell function is a big part of age-related problems. Achieving longer lives relies in part on achieving a better understanding of why stem cells are not able to maintain optimal functioning."

Emmanuelle Passegu, PhD

July 31, 2014 - There's a good reason seniors over 60 are not donor candidates for bone marrow transplantation. The immune system ages and weakens with time, making the elderly prone to life-threatening infection and other maladies, and a UC San Francisco research team now has discovered a reason why.

"We have found the cellular mechanism responsible for the inability of blood-forming cells to maintain blood production over time in an old organism, and have identified molecular defects that could be restored for rejuvenation therapies," said Emmanuelle Passegu, PhD, a professor of medicine and a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCSF.

Passegu, an expert on the stem cells that give rise to the blood and immune system, led a team that published the new findings online July 30, 2014 in the journal Nature.

Blood and immune cells are short-lived, and unlike most tissues, must be constantly replenished. The cells that must keep producing them throughout a lifetime are called "hematopoietic stem cells."

Through cycles of cell division these stem cells preserve their own numbers and generate the daughter cells that give rise to replacement blood and immune cells. But the hematopoietic stem cells falter with age, because they lose the ability to replicate their DNA accurately and efficiently during cell division, Passegu's lab team determined.

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Aging Immune System May Get Kick-Start from Discovery of Molecular Defect

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Cancer fight shows lack of minorities on donor lists

By Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press Published Saturday, August 2, 2014 8:56AM EDT

MONTREAL -- A Quebec woman's desperate online plea for a compatible stem-cell donor in her bid to fight cancer a second time is shedding light on the lack of minorities on official lists in Canada and abroad.

Mai Duong finds herself battling leukemia again and doctors say they would like to proceed with a transplant of bone marrow or cord blood stem cells within a month.

But Duong, 34, has discovered that locating the right person can be a needle-in-a-haystack challenge, particularly for those who are from a non-Caucasian background.

"This is a global problem," Duong, who is of Vietnamese origin, said in an interview from her room at Montreal's Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital.

"We can't do a scavenger hunt every time someone has this type of problem."

Duong, who returned home a few days after being interviewed, said a recent bone marrow biopsy showed no signs of cancer. She will now begin four weeks of maintenance chemotherapy, which is given in lower doses to assist in prolonging a remission.

The mother of a four-year-old girl, Duong successfully fought off acute leukemia in 2013 with chemotherapy. She had to terminate a 15-week pregnancy to undergo the treatment. Duong was in remission until a blood test revealed leukemia had returned this past May.

"Seventy per cent of people who had that type of leukemia were just cured with chemotherapy and unfortunately I'm in the 30 per cent," she said.

The diagnosis and a lack of a match in her family has touched off a mad scramble to find a fellow Vietnamese donor. An online campaign has taken that hunt global.

See the rest here:
Cancer fight shows lack of minorities on donor lists

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Early Stem Cell Transplant Vital in 'Bubble Boy' Disease

By Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, July 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born with so-called "bubble boy" disease can often be cured with a stem cell transplant, regardless of the donor -- but early treatment is critical, a new study finds.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), as the condition is medically known, actually refers to a group of rare genetic disorders that all but eliminate the immune system. That leaves children at high risk of severe infections.

The term "bubble boy" became popular after a Texas boy with SCID lived in a plastic bubble to ward off infections. The boy, David Vetter, died in 1984 at the age of 12, after an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant -- an attempt to give him a functioning immune system.

Today, children with SCID have a high chance of survival if they receive an early stem cell transplant, researchers report in the July 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

In the best-case scenario, a child would get stem cells -- the blood-forming cells within bone marrow -- from a sibling who is a perfect match for certain immune-system genes.

But that's not always an option, partly because kids with SCID are often their parents' first child, said Dr. John Cunningham, director of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. He was not involved in the study.

In those cases, doctors typically turn to a parent -- who is usually a "half" match, but whose stem cells can be purified to improve the odds of success. Sometimes, stem cells from an unrelated, genetically matched donor can be used.

The good news: Regardless of the donor, children with SCID can frequently be cured, according to the new findings. But early detection and treatment is vital.

"These findings show that if you do these transplants early -- before [the age of] 3.5 months, in a child without infection -- the results are really quite comparable to what you have with a matched sibling," said lead researcher Dr. Richard O'Reilly, chief of the pediatric bone marrow transplant service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

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Early Stem Cell Transplant Vital in 'Bubble Boy' Disease

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Early stem cell transplant may cure "bubble boy" disease

"Bubble boy" David Vetter lived in a protective environment designed by NASA engineers. He died of complications after receiving a bone marrow transplant in 1984, at the age of 12. Baylor College of Medicine Photo Archives

Babies born with so-called "bubble boy" disease can often be cured with a stem cell transplant, regardless of the donor -- but early treatment is critical, a new study finds.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), as the condition is medically known, actually refers to a group of rare genetic disorders that all but eliminate the immune system. That leaves children at high risk of severe infections.

The term "bubble boy" became popular after a Texas boy with SCID lived in a plastic bubble to ward off infections. The boy, David Vetter, died in 1984 at the age of 12, after an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant -- an attempt to give him a functioning immune system.

15 Photos

Immune disorder forced David Vetter to live in bubble - but breakthroughs from his story now enable similar kids to live free

In the best-case scenario, a child would get stem cells -- the blood-forming cells within bone marrow -- from a sibling who is a perfect match for certain immune-system genes.

But that's not always an option, partly because kids with SCID are often their parents' first child, said Dr. John Cunningham, director of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. He was not involved in the study.

In those cases, doctors typically turn to a parent -- who is usually a "half" match, but whose stem cells can be purified to improve the odds of success. Sometimes, stem cells from an unrelated, genetically matched donor can be used.

The good news: Regardless of the donor, children with SCID can frequently be cured, according to the new findings. But early detection and treatment is vital.

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Early stem cell transplant may cure "bubble boy" disease

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Oxford Gene Technology Market Size, Share, Analysis, Trends and Forecasts 2014

Albany, NY (PRWEB) August 01, 2014

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) is a biotechnology company. The company develops biomarkers. Its products include CytoSure heamatological cancer +SNP Array, CytoSure ISCA arrays, CytoSure ISCA +SNP Array, CytoSure ISCA UPD array, CytoSure ISCA sample tracking spike-ins and CytoSure syndrome Plus v2 array. OGT offers services, such as targeted sequencing services, SureSeq Solid Tumour Panel Sequencing Service, RNA-Seq service, miRNA analysis, gene expression analysis, cytosure services and aCGH for CNV analysis. The companys customers include Agilent Technologies, University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK, Alberta Childrens Hospital, Bioarray and many more. OGT is headquartered in Begbroke, Oxfordshire, the UK.

To view the table of contents for this market research report please visit :http://www.researchmoz.us/oxford-gene-technology-product-pipeline-analysis-2014-update-report.html.

This report is a source for data, analysis, and actionable intelligence on the companys portfolio of pipeline products. The report provides key information about the company, its major products and brands.

The report enhances decision making capabilities and help to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage.

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Oxford Gene Technology Market Size, Share, Analysis, Trends and Forecasts 2014

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

'Thatcher gene' is key to needing less sleep

Scientists at Centre for Applied Genomics in Philadelphia, US, discovered that people carrying the gene variant p.Tyr362His were able to function on fewer than five hours of sleep per night.

The researchers studied 100 sets of twins to find out which genetic variants were responsible for changes in sleep patterns.

The study revealed that those with the variant chose to sleep for less time than those without it, and were also far better at mental tasks after being deprived of sleep for 38 hours.

One twin with the gene mutation had 40 percent fewer lapses of performance during 38 hours without sleep and required less recovery sleep afterward sleeping only eight hours after the period of extended sleep deprivation compared with his twin brother, who slept for 9.5 hours.

This study emphasizes that our need for sleep is a biological requirement, not a personal preference, said American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr Timothy Morgenthaler.

Most adults need at least seven hours of quality sleep each night for optimal health, productivity and daytime alertness.

Charles Moore, Thatchers official biographer, said it was impossible to know if the former prime minister had a special gene that made her less susceptible to tiredness, but said much of her ability stemmed from a drive to prove herself.

I do not know whether or not she had a gene of this sort. I suppose one would know that only by conducting a genetic test.

I think she found it hard: she wanted to show she didn't need much sleep. In fact, she needed more than she said. It was part of her desire, as the first and only woman, to beat the men.

Though it is true that she could work very long hours and did need less sleep than most of us.

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'Thatcher gene' is key to needing less sleep

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

USC Institute of Genetic Medicine Exhibition "Molecular and Social Systems" – Video


USC Institute of Genetic Medicine Exhibition "Molecular and Social Systems"
Molecular and Social Systems: Learning through Creative Exploration The University of Southern California University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Institute for Genetic Medicine...

By: Professor Marcela Oliva

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USC Institute of Genetic Medicine Exhibition "Molecular and Social Systems" - Video

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Genomics: what it could mean for the future of medicine

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From the Telegraph Genomics are not overhyped: they really can change medicine

It is correct that science has not made as much progress as had been hoped in unlocking the genetic factors that contribute to most common diseases. But quite staggering progress has been made elsewhere. In three areas in particular cancer, rare congenital diseases and infections the plummeting cost of reading DNA and sciences growing ability to interpret it is already transforming medical practice. The Genomics England project is about bringing these benefits to NHS patients, and enabling further scientific discoveries to emerge from their care.

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From the Guardian What we can all gain from personal genetics

Learning about your genetics enables you to optimize your health. It will take us decades to understand all 3bn base pairs in the human genome, but today we already know what thousands of important genetic differences mean for individuals.

We know that genes affect your risk for conditions like cystic fibrosis and breast cancer, and we know how your genes affect your responses to drugs like Warfarin. As genetic testing becomes more affordable, more people can benefit from understanding their genetics and use that understanding to improve their health, help them prevent the harmful side-effects of some drugs and potentially avoid preventable deaths.

For example, roughly 8 per cent of people with European ancestry have a genetic variant that puts them at higher than average risk for blood clots. There are a number of easy ways to minimize this risk, ranging from avoiding oral contraceptives to staying hydrated and maintaining mobility during airplane flights.

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From Huffingon Post Personal Genomics for All

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Genomics: what it could mean for the future of medicine

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

DNA Project 'to Make UK World Genetic Research Leader'

63281949 story Posted by timothy on Saturday August 02, 2014 @12:08AM from the looking-for-the-true-descendants-of-arthur dept. mrspoonsi (2955715) writes A project aiming to revolutionise medicine by unlocking the secrets of DNA is under way in centres across England. Prime Minister David Cameron has said it "will see the UK lead the world in genetic research within years". The first genetic codes of people with cancer or rare diseases, out of a target of 100,000, have been sequenced. Experts believe it will lead to targeted therapies and could make chemotherapy "a thing of the past". Just one human genome contains more than three billion base pairs the building blocks of DNA. Prof Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, said: "I can see a future where genetics is going to come into every bit of medicine from cardiology to oncology to infectious diseases." "Twenty years from now there's going to be a plethora of those, we will have a series of mutations which academics and industry will have developed therapies for, which will be targeted at you and specific for that cancer." He said chemotherapy, which attacks all dividing cells in the body, would be replaced with such therapies. "We will look back in 20 years' time and think of blockbuster chemotherapy [as] a thing of the past and we'll think 'Gosh, what an era that was'." David Cameron has announced a series of investments across government, industry and charities totalling 300m ($500m). You may like to read: Post

When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried.

Working...

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DNA Project 'to Make UK World Genetic Research Leader'

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Let’s Play The Sims 3 – Perfect Genetics Challenge – Episode 32 – Video


Let #39;s Play The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge - Episode 32
VampireClan #VampireClan4Life.

By: vampiregirl101101101

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Let's Play The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge - Episode 32 - Video

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith


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