StemCell Therapy

Introduction

The immune system is one of nature's more fascinating inventions. With ease, it protects us against billions of bacteria, viruses, and other parasites. Most of us never reflect upon the fact that while we hang out with our friends, watch TV, or go to school, inside our bodies, our immune system is constantly on the alert, attacking at the first sign of an invasion by harmful organisms.

The immune system is very complex. It's made up of several types of cells and proteins that have different jobs to do in fighting foreign invaders. In this section, we'll take a look at the parts of the immune system in some detail. If you're reading about the immune system for the first time, we recommend that you take a look at the Immune System Overview first (see link below).

The Complement System

The first part of the immune system that meets invaders such as bacteria is a group of proteins called the complement system. These proteins flow freely in the blood and can quickly reach the site of an invasion where they can react directly with antigens - molecules that the body recognizes as foreign substances. When activated, the complement proteins can

Phagocytes

This is a group of immune cells specialized in finding and "eating" bacteria, viruses, and dead or injured body cells. There are three main types, the granulocyte, the macrophage, and the dendritic cell.

White blood cells called lymphocytes originate in the bone marrow but migrate to parts of the lymphatic system such as the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus. There are two main types of lymphatic cells, T cells and B cells. The lymphatic system also involves a transportation system - lymph vessels - for transportation and storage of lymphocyte cells within the body. The lymphatic system feeds cells into the body and filters out dead cells and invading organisms such as bacteria.

On the surface of each lymphatic cell are receptors that enable them to recognize foreign substances. These receptors are very specialized - each can match only one specific antigen.

To understand the receptors, think of a hand that can only grab one specific item. Imagine that your hands could only pick up apples. You would be a true apple-picking champion - but you wouldn't be able to pick up anything else.

In your body, each single receptor equals a hand in search of its "apple." The lymphocyte cells travel through your body until they find an antigen of the right size and shape to match their specific receptors. It might seem limiting that the receptors of each lymphocyte cell can only match one specific type of antigen, but the body makes up for this by producing so many different lymphocyte cells that the immune system can recognize nearly all invaders.

T cells come in two different types, helper cells and killer cells. They are named T cells after the thymus, an organ situated under the breastbone. T cells are produced in the bone marrow and later move to the thymus where they mature.

B Cells

The B lymphocyte cell searches for antigen matching its receptors. If it finds such antigen it connects to it, and inside the B cell a triggering signal is set off. The B cell now needs proteins produced by helper T cells to become fully activated. When this happens, the B cell starts to divide to produce clones of itself. During this process, two new cell types are created, plasma cells and B memory cells.

The plasma cell is specialized in producing a specific protein, called an antibody, that will respond to the same antigen that matched the B cell receptor. Antibodies are released from the plasma cell so that they can seek out intruders and help destroy them. Plasma cells produce antibodies at an amazing rate and can release tens of thousands of antibodies per second.

When the Y-shaped antibody finds a matching antigen, it attaches to it. The attached antibodies serve as an appetizing coating for eater cells such as the macrophage. Antibodies also neutralize toxins and incapacitate viruses, preventing them from infecting new cells. Each branch of the Y-shaped antibody can bind to a different antigen, so while one branch binds to an antigen on one cell, the other branch could bind to another cell - in this way pathogens are gathered into larger groups that are easier for phagocyte cells to devour. Bacteria and other pathogens covered with antibodies are also more likely to be attacked by the proteins from the complement system.

The Memory Cells are the second cell type produced by the division of B cells. These cells have a prolonged life span and can thereby "remember" specific intruders. T cells can also produce memory cells with an even longer life span than B memory cells. The second time an intruder tries to invade the body, B and T memory cells help the immune system to activate much faster. The invaders are wiped out before the infected human feels any symptoms. The body has achieved immunity against the invader.

Conclusion

Although rather long and complex, our presentation is just a glimpse of the immune system and the intricate ways in which its various parts interact. Immunity is a fascinating subject that still conceals many secrets. When the immune system is fully understood, it will most likely hold the key to ridding humankind of many of its most feared diseases.

First published 8 November 2004

Read the original post:
The Immune System - in More Detail - Nobelprize.org

Science Photo Library - PASIEKA./ Brand X Pictures/ Getty Images

By Regina Bailey

Updated January 14, 2015.

There's a mantra in organized sports that says, defense is king! In today's world, with germs lurking around every corner, it pays to have a strong defense. I'm talking about the body's natural defense mechanism, the immune system.

Cells of the immune system, known aswhite blood cells,are found in our bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, tonsils, and in the liver of embryos. When microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses invade the body, nonspecific defense mechanisms provide the first line of defense.

These are the primary deterrents which ensure protection from numerous germs. There are physical deterrents (including the skin and nasal hairs), chemical deterrents (enzymes found in perspiration and saliva), and inflammatory reactions. These particular mechanisms are named appropriately because their responses are not specific to any particular pathogen. Think of these as a perimeter alarm system on a house. No matter who trips the motion detectors, the alarm will sound.

In cases where microorganisms get through the primary deterrents, there is a back-up system the specific defense mechanisms which consists of two components: the humoral immune response and the cell mediated immune response.

The humoral immune response or antibodymediated responseprotects against bacteria and viruses present in the fluids of the body. This system uses white blood cells called B cells, which have the ability to recognize organisms that don't belong to the body. In other words, if this isn't your house, get out! Intruders are referred to as antigens. B cell lymphocytes produce antibodies that recognize and bind to a specific antigen to identify it as an invader that needs to be terminated.

The cell mediated immune response protects against foreign organisms that have managed to infect body cells. It also protects the body from itself by controlling cancerous cells. White blood cells involved in cell mediated immunity include macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, and T cell lymphocytes. Unlike B cells, T cells are actively involved with the disposal of antigens. They make proteins called T-cell receptors that help them recognize a specific antigen. There are three classes of T cells that play specific roles in the destruction of antigens: Cytotoxic T cells (which directly terminate antigens), Helper T cells (which precipitate the production of antibodies by B cells), and Regulatory T cells (which suppress the response of B cells and other T cells).

There are serious consequences when the immune system is compromised. Three known immune disorders are allergies, severe combined immunodeficiency (T and B cells are not present or functional), and HIV/AIDS (severe decrease in the number of Helper T cells). In cases involving autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks the body's own normal tissues and cells. Examples of autoimmune disorders include multiple sclerosis (affects the central nervous system), rheumatoid arthritis (affects joints and tissues), and graves disease (affects the thyroid gland).

The lymphatic system is a component of the immune system that is responsible for the development and circulation of immune cells, specifically lymphocytes. Immune cells are produced in bone marrow. Certain types of lymphocytes migrate from bone marrow to lymphatic organs, such as the spleen and thymus, to mature into fully functioning lymphocytes. Lymphatic structures filter blood and lymph of microorganisms, cellular debris, and waste.

See the original post here:
Immune System - the Body's Natural Defense Mechanism

"Genetic Engineering" is a song by British band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released as the first single from their fourth studio album Dazzle Ships. Frontman Andy McCluskey has noted that the song is not an attack on genetic engineering, as many assumed at the time, including veteran radio presenter Dave Lee Travis upon playing the song on BBC Radio 1. McCluskey stated: "I was very positive about the subject. People didn't listen to the lyrics...I think they automatically assumed it would be anti."[2]

Charting at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart, "Genetic Engineering" ended the band's run of four consecutive Top 10 hits in the UK. It was also a Top 20 hit in several European territories, and peaked at number 5 in Spain. It missed the United States Billboard Hot 100 but made number 32 on the Mainstream Rock chart. US critic Ned Raggett retrospectively lauded the "soaring", "enjoyable" single in a positive review of Dazzle Ships for AllMusic, asserting: "Why it wasn't a hit remains a mystery."[3]

Critics in prominent music publications have suggested that the first 45 seconds of the song were a direct influence on Radiohead's "Fitter Happier", which appears on that band's 1997 album OK Computer.[3][4][5] Theon Weber in Stylus argued that the Radiohead track is "deeply indebted" to "Genetic Engineering".[4] The synthesized speech featured on the track is taken from a Speak & Spell, an educational electronic toy developed by Texas Instruments in the 1970s intended to teach children with spelling.

Side one

Side two

Side one

Side two

"Genetic Engineering" was covered by indie rock band Eggs and released as a single in 1994.[10]

It was also covered by Another Sunny Day as a limited edition single in 1989 and as an extra track on the re-release of on their 'London Weekend' album.

Optiganally Yours recorded a cover for a "very low-key tribute compilation".[11]

More recently, it has been covered by the indie rock band Oxford Collapse as part of the Hann-Byrd EP released in 2008.

Follow this link:
Genetic Engineering (song) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Introduction

Diabetes is a lifelongcondition that causes a person's blood sugar level to becometoo high.

There are two main types of diabetestype 1 and type 2.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin to function properly, or the bodys cells don't react to insulin. This means that glucose stays in the blood and isn't used as fuel for energy. Learn more about the causes of type 2 diabetes.

The high blood sugar level makes you:

Learn more about thesymptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Untreated diabetes can damage your organs, so it's important that it's diagnosed as early as possible.

Results for Edit

Find your GP's contact details

Your location could not be found. Please try again or enter an alternative location.

Please enter a location.

Sorry, there has been a problem retrieving your results. Please try again later.

No GPs were found for your location

Sorry, there has been a problem retrieving details of your GP. Please try again later.

Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity and tends to be diagnosed in older people. It's far more common than type 1 diabetes.

It's estimated that more than 1 in 16 people in the UK has diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed), and this figure is rising rapidly.

There are currently 3.9 million people living with diabetes in the UK, with 90% of those affected having type 2 diabetes.

Learn about whos at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes can cause serious long-term health problems. It's the most common cause ofvision lossand blindness in people of working age. Everyone with diabetes aged 12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year for diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetes is also responsible for most cases ofkidney failure and lower limb amputation (other than accidents).

People with diabetes are up to five times more likely to have cardiovascular disease (such as a stroke) than those without diabetes.

Read more about the complications of type 2 diabetes.

If you're at risk of type 2 diabetes, you may be able to prevent it developing by making lifestyle changes.

You should:

If you already have type 2 diabetes, it may be possible to control your symptoms by making the above changes. This will also minimise your risk of developing complications.

Read more about living with type 2 diabetes.

As type 2 diabetes usually gets worse, you may eventually need medication (usually tablets) to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.

Read more about the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Bloodglucose levels cansometimes rise during pregnancy, making it difficult for insulin to absorb it all. This is called gestational diabetes, which affects about5% of pregnant women.

Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an unborn baby, so it's important to control your blood glucose levels.

In most cases, gestational diabetes disappears after the baby is born. However, women who developthe condition haveabout a 30% risk of developing type 2 diabetes in later life.

Read more about gestational diabetes.

Diabetes can have serious health consequences, including heart disease and blindness. But with careful management you can reduce your risk

Page last reviewed: 18/06/2014

Next review due: 18/06/2016

Follow this link:
Type 2 diabetes NHS Choices

We use DNA analysis techniques on blood samples to carry out testing for a wide range of genetic disorders. Full details of all the tests available and the turnaround times are in ourdirectory of tests for bothinherited and acquired disorders. Pleasecontact us if the test you require is not listed in our directory.

The types of investigation include:

The laboratory offers testing for a range of core disorders plus a set of more specialist services for which samples are received on a supra-regional or national basis.

The laboratory is also a member of theUKGenetic Testing Network (UKGTN) and we can forward DNA samples to other UK genetics laboratories for testing of a large range of single gene disorders, where appropriate. ContactUKGTN or our laboratory for full details. Details of services for rare disorders not currently available in the UK are available fromOrphanet andGeneTests as well as our laboratory.

DNA can be extracted from 2ml saliva (collected using the OrageneTM DNA collection system), or using buccal swabs (collected using the IsoHelixTM system). Please note that buccal swabs may not necessarily provide sufficient DNA for all available tests. Please contact us using these sampling methods to ensure that the test required can be carried out. DNA can be extracted from fresh or frozen tissue samples, and it also possible to obtain limited results for some assays from blood spots or paraffin embedded fixed tissue samples. Please contact us before using these sampling methods to ensure that sufficient DNA of appropriate quality for the test required can be extracted. Prenatal diagnosis for single gene disorders is usually carried out on chorionic villus samples, but amniotic fluid or fetal blood samples can be used where necessary. Rapid aneuploidy (QF-PCR) testing can be carried out on DNA extracted from amniotic fluid or chorionic villus samples, as appropriate.

Please note that clotted blood samples or samples that are inadequately labelled or packaged will not be accepted by the laboratory. If samples are known to present a high risk to laboratory staff, then this should be clearly indicated on the referral card and sample tube.

We can provide advice on scientific and technical issues. Please call us on 0151 702 4228. The Trust voice mail system operates on all external lines. When diverted to voice mail, please leave a message and someone from the laboratory will get back to you as soon as possible. In addition the laboratory has the nhs.net email account dna.liverpool@nhs.net that is monitored daily. This account is suitable for receipt of patient-identifiable information sent to the laboratory providing the sender also uses an nhs.net account. Patient-identifiable information should NOT be sent to other laboratory email addresses.

Please note for advice on clinical and counselling issues, telephone theClinical Genetics Service on 0151 802 5001.

Mailing address for correspondence and samples

Merseyside and Cheshire Regional Molecular Genetics Laboratory Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust Crown Street Liverpool L8 7SS

Other ways of contacting the laboratory

Tel: 0151 702 4228 Fax: 0151 702 4226 E-mail: dna.liverpool@nhs.net

Laboratory Staff

Head of Laboratory - Roger Mountford (Consultant Clinical Scientist) Tel: 0151 702 4219 E-mail: roger.mountford@lwh.nhs.uk

Duty Head Victoria Stinton (State Registered Clinical Scientist) Tel: 0151 702 4231 Email: Victoria.Stinton@lwh.nhs.uk

Other Scientific staff

Emma McCarthy - State Registered Clinical Scientist - 0151 702 4011 Diane Cairns - State Registered Clinical Scientist - 0151 702 4225 Kym Jones - State Registered Clinical Scientist - 0151 702 4225 Abi Rousseau - State Registered Clinical Scientist - 0151 702 4011 Trudie Cottrell - STP Trainee Healthcare Scientist (Genetics) 0151 702 4011 John Hall - Trainee Clinical Molecular Geneticist 0151 702 4011 Emma Brownsell - Trainee Clinical Molecular Geneticist 0151 702 4225

Laboratory working hours

Laboratory working hours are: 9am -5:30pm Monday - Friday (An out-of-hours service is not currently provided)

More:
Molecular Genetics - Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust

Dr. Carin van Zyl talks to Jose Garcia Flores about his treatment. His wife listens.

Aging & Longevity

Need for palliative care highlighted by new aid-in-dying laws

Contrary to some patients fears, palliative care doctors are not there to hasten death

By Anna Gorman, Kaiser Health News

Dec. 1, 2015 More times than she can count, Dr. Carin van Zyl has heard terminally ill patients beg to die. They tell her they cant handle the pain, that the nausea is unbearable and the anxiety overwhelming.

Aging & Longevity

Aid-In-Dying advocacy group ready for battles after California victory

Check map to see if your state is considering aid-in-dying or already has it

Dec. 1, 2015 - Fresh off a political triumph in California, the nations chief advocacy group for physician-assisted suicide laws, Compassion & Choices, is mobilizing for many more battles on behalf of terminally ill patients. More...

Aging & Longevity

Retirement may not be bliss many expect before reaching age 65

Key factors physical impairment, chronic medical conditions, approach of death depress seniors

Nov. 14, 2015 - A new study punches a hole in the balloon of happiness and bliss that many have associated with turning age 65, which is generally considered the age we become senior citizens. The new study says we become more depressed from age 65 onward. More...

Aging & Longevity

Aid-in-Dying Bill to become law in California

Gov. Jerry Brown says it is what he would want; terminally ill can buy lethal medication

Oct. 5, 2015 - California Gov. Jerry Brown says it all came down to what he would want in the face of his own death, when he signed landmark legislation today to allow terminally ill patients to obtain lethal medication to end their lives.

Aging & Longevity

Do you know that person or is aging memory just confusing you?

Scientists have identified part of hippocampus that creates, processes this type of memory

Aug. 20, 2015 - You see a person at the store. They look familiar. Is this an old classmate or do they just look alike? Or is your aging brain just confusing you. One tiny spot in the hippocampus of the brain has the answer, scientists have discovered.

Aging & Longevity

Is longevity linked to intelligence shorter life may surprise many

First research to seek answer confirms some smart people live longer but its mostly genetic

Aug. 3, 2015 We probably know a lot of people who are going to a die a lot early than they think, if new research is accurate. There is a recognized tendency for more intelligent people to live longer, but it may not be because they are smarter.

Aging & Longevity

Senior citizens can follow five easy steps to avoid heart failure

These simple lifestyle factors cut risk of heart failure after age 65

June 14, 2015 Senior citizens people age 65 and older can follow five simple healthy behaviors and their risk of heart failure will be cut in half, says a large, multi-year study. More...

Aging & Longevity

Have they found a path to longevity without severe fasting

Study with mice and humans indicates severe fasting may not be only answer

June 14, 2015 Success in extending the lifespan of mice with a calorie-restricted diet for only eight days a month led scientist to try it with a small group of people and it appears to have worked. More...

Aging & Longevity

Tablets can help senior citizens cross the 'digital divide'

They make it easier for older people to get online, breaking down barriers that kept them from getting connected

June 9, 2015 - Too often, senior citizens are introduced to the digital world through a computer or tiny hand-held phone. And, too often, they find the challenge too much for their resolve. There is an easier way, according to new research, and its called a tablet. More...

Aging & Longevity

Seniors who have trouble sorting out different smells face shorter lives

This is not first study to find smell as factor in longevity.

June 3, 2015 A new study supports earlier findings that when older people have trouble distinguishing between odors they appear to have a shorter life span. The latest study of people on Medicare found a high death rate for those with the worse smell test scores, which was the same finding of a study released last October. More...

Aging & Longevity

This is despite higher rates of multiple underlying conditions on admission

May 26, 2015 - Patients aged 80 and above are significantly less likely to be carefully examined or aggressively treated after surgery than their younger counterparts, reveals a national audit of hospital deaths in Australia, published in the online journal BMJ Open. More...

Aging & Longevity

Elder Orphans emerges to identify childless, unmarried, vulnerable baby boomers

22 percent of Americans over age 65 currently or at risk to remain unsupported, vulnerable while elderly, says new research

May 20,2015, Great Neck, NY - With an aging Baby Boomer population and increasing numbers of childless and unmarried seniors, nearly one-quarter of Americans over age 65 are currently or at risk to become "elder orphans," a vulnerable group requiring greater awareness and advocacy efforts, according to new research by a North Shore-LIJ geriatrician and palliative care physician. More...

Aging & Longevity

Longevity facts revealed in 50 year study of men who made it to 100

Among interesting discovers: longevity more closely related to mothers than fathers; 20% had dementia; cardiovascular disease big killer

May 5, 2015 A 50-year study of men born in 1913 has found that only 10 of 855 (1.2%) lived to become centenarians 100 years of age. The study provides interesting insight after the age of 80 as to the causes of death and the numbers with dementia. The researchers also have some ideas on what it takes to reach the age of 100. More...

Aging & Longevity

Senior citizens need to understand Cognitive Aging not Alzheimers or dementia

New free report from Institute of Health is a good source for understanding the mental challenges of aging

By Tucker Sutherland, editor-publisher, SeniorJournal.com

April 23, 2015 As one who for years nursed a mother as she faded into the abyss of Alzheimers and has written extensively on senior citizen topics, I am stunned at how little we know about cognitive aging. Still, AD and memory problems come up almost every time two or more senior citizens get together. A new book that is available free from the Institute of Medicine has already made me a whole lot better informed on cognitive aging and I hope it gets wide distribution. More...

Aging & Longevity

Senior citizens jubilant after a good house cleaning, so the research shows

Keeping their homes maintained more important physically, mentally than where they live, what they own

April 16, 2015 - Senior citizens who keep a clean and orderly home tend to feel emotionally and physically better after tackling house chores. The reason for this jubilance is the exercise it takes to get the job done, according to new findings by a Case Western Reserve University school of nursing researcher. More...

Aging & Longevity

Can aging face become more likeable, feminine with plastic surgery?

Study in Journal of American Medical Association says there is more to the surgery than looking younger

April 9, 2015 Senior citizens usually think of facial plastic surgery as a way to look younger. A new study the first to examine perceptions after plastic surgery has found it does more than make you look youthful. It concludes that women who have certain procedures are perceived as having greater social skills and are more likeable, attractive and feminine. More...

Aging & Longevity

Chronically lonely seniors likely to turn to physicians for social contact

More doctors' office visits by older adults suffering chronic loneliness

April 3, 2015 - Experiences of loneliness and social isolation can lead to increased health care use among seniors, finds new research from the University of Georgia College of Public Health. More...

Aging News from other media

Great-grandma skydives and swims with sharks for 100th birthday

March 16, 2015 - Georgina Harwood celebrated her 100th year in style Saturday by skydiving in Cape Town, South Africa. Her friends and family joined her, watching safely from the ground. You might say she's the coolest 100-year-old person that has ever lived, considering she started skydiving at age 92. Read more, see video - Mashable

Aging News from other media

Seven financial scams that target seniors

March 6, 2015 - As many senior citizens spend their retirement traveling with family, pursuing second careers or becoming more active in the community, con artists are creating devious schemes to prey on their accumulated wealth. Fox Business

Aging & Longevity

Aging in Place sounds great but may not be for Boomers or their parents

There is a lot more going on at the group home to support successful aging

Feb. 25, 2015 - Baby boomers trying to pick the best living arrangements for themselves or their parents as they age should be wary of a phrase they coined in their younger years: If it feels good, do it. More...

Aging & Longevity

When one half of elderly couple stops driving it impacts both

Having a spouse who still drives does not remove the consequences of driving cessation for senior citizens

Feb. 24, 2015 Even if just one member of a senior couple stops driving, negative consequences result for both the driver and non-driver, according to a new study from the University of Missouri. It recommends that the elderly, and their adult children, carefully discuss and plan for the transition to driving cessation. More...

Aging News Other Media

At 90, She's Designing Tech for Aging Boomers

Jan. 20, 2015 - In Silicon Valley's youth-obsessed culture, 40-year-olds get plastic surgery to fit in. But IDEO, the firm that famously developed the first mouse for Apple, has a 90-year-old designer on staff. Barbara Beskind says her age is an advantage. "Everybody who ages is going to be their own problem-solver," she says. And designers are problem-solvers. More at NPR

Aging & Longevity

What is successful aging? Gerontologists still trying to reach agreement

Is the bottom line of successful aging for many elderly Americans simply surviving with reasonable cognition and some mobility, or is it much broader

Feb. 16, 2015 The debate over defining successful aging is raging again among the professionals in the field of gerontology. Despite books, years of research and numerous analytical articles in the past, there are 16 articles in the latest issue of The Gerontologist. One suggests those in the U.S. define it in more multidimensional terms than do most scholars. More...

Aging & Longevity

Love is in the air and here is proof you are never too old to fall in love

Residents at retirement communities around the country find love in their golden years

Feb. 12, 2015 - As Valentines Day approaches, seniors across the country who have lost their sweethearts are finding love again - but this time, it is with fellow residents in senior living communities, according to Holiday Retirement, that operates homes for senior citizens. More...

Aging & Longevity

Is surgery a viable option for patients age 80 plus with acute spinal conditions?

Study found no difference in complications, mortality when compared to younger patients

Read the original:
Aging and Longevity News for Senior Citizens

Our aim is to help you understand how long you might live and what you can do about it.

"How long will I live"and "what could I do to live longer?" are vital questions for everyone.

Most people want answers to how long will I live and what can I do about it.

Most people have no idea how long they might live. The starting point is your current age.You could then use the Australian Life Tables but these are only averages and also fail to factor in ongoing improvements in mortality.They don't explain that the longer you live,the longer you're likely to live. Or that ageing is a personal journey.

Few people really understand how many factors influence their ageing and life expectance.The starting point is your current age. The Australian Life Tables give average life expectancies but are not useful at a personal level - we are all different! Also, they do not allow for the trend for successive generations to be living longer and ageing better.

Many different factors influence how long you will live. The Australian Life Tables give averages for each age group . However none of us is "average"and the personal differences can be very important.Each generation is living longer than the last. The "official" tables do not take full account of these changes in life expectancy or the personal nature of ageing.

On our website you can learn about your own situation. The first step is to complete a simple analysis.The questions cover these five key areas.

You can learn more about your own life expectancy by completing a simple analysis. Five key areas are covered by the questions

You can learn more about whether or not you may live longer than average by answering questions which cover five key areas.

The rest is here:
My Longevity - Life expectancy calculator, life expectancy ...

Adult stem cell function declines with age leading to the decline in fitness

The potential therapeutic use of stem cells is a very hot topic these days. Most of the attention has focused on embryonic stem cells and induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPS cells), which can form every tissue type in the body to regenerate failing organs. The problem is that detailed knowledge is lacking for how to stimulate the embryonic stem cells to form differentiated tissues (e.g. cells that form the heart, pancreas, muscle, and brain). Moreover, because embryonic stem cells are unlimited in their ability to form any type of tissue, the risk of cancer looms large over the therapeutic use of embryonic stem cells. For example, both embryonic and IPS stem cells can form tumors called teratomas when injected into immune-compromised mice. Enter the bodys adult stem cells, which have not generally been associated with cancer and have been used safely as therapeutics in many countries. The problem with adult stem cells is that it is difficult to get enough of them to be effective for most indications or target the harvested adult stem cells to the proper tissue. Moreover, there are scores of different types of adult stem cells in the body, so picking the best type of adult stem cell for a particular therapeutic can be challenging. Thus, adult stem cell therapeutics with all its potential to regenerate damaged organs and tissues is still a work in progress.

But what about the many populations of endogenous adult stem cells that everyone has embedded in every organ system of the body? All the organs and differing tissues of the body appear to have adult stem cells available for regenerating cells in case of injury or disease. It was recently discovered that even brain neurons and heart muscle cells (previously thought to be non-dividing and irreplaceable in adults) have their own reservoirs of adult stem cells for regeneration. Unfortunately, as we age most adult stem cell populations either decline in number and/or lose the ability to differentiate into functional tissue-specific cells. For example, cardiac muscle stem cells exist but old folks have only one half the number of cardiac stem cells found in young people. Thus, adult stem cells become more and more dysfunction with age, which progressively increases organ and tissue dysfunction with age.

There are many examples revealing the role of adult stem cells in aging. First, the outer surface of your skin continuously sloughs off dead cells, so that adult stem cells must continuously replenish the dying skin cells to maintain the skin as an effective protective barrier to the outside world. With age, there are progressively fewer functional skin stem cells, so cell turnover in the skin slows, leading to thinner, dryer skin that loses its elasticity and youthful beauty. Second, hair also thins and goes grey, as functional follicle stem cell decline and the adult stem cells generating hair color also decline. Third, the differing adult stem cells that maintain the tissues composing skeletal muscle, pancreas, heart, bone, liver, kidney, and the immune system lose functional capacity, raising the potential for decline in tissue function or outright failure with age. As a final example, the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch slowly wane with age, as the declining stem cell populations responsible for maintaining these functions are unable to fully replenish the sensory neurons after injury and random cell death.

If your own adult stem cells are a key factor in aging and disease, then one novel way to slow aging and disease is to stimulate your own adult stem cells to maintain their proper numbers and functional capacity to differentiate into the various tissues as needed for repair and regeneration. This makes sense, because in most, if not all, organs of the body, old cells are continually being replaced by new cells coming from the adult stem cell populations. If stem cells are not producing enough new cells, then organs slowly decline in function as you age. Thus, stimulating your own stem cells can be a winning strategy to stave off many of the disorders associated with aging.

In practice, however, stimulating adult stem cell populations in the body is not a simple task. If the proliferation of adult stem cells is over stimulated, then one may get overgrowth of tissues or a potential tumor. Alternatively, one may stimulate the stem cells to proliferate in a balanced and regulated way, but the stem cells lose functionality and cannot differentiate into the desired specialized tissues to replace senescent cells. These twin problems promoting over stimulation or dysfunctional stem cells put real limits on any proposed therapeutic for stimulating stem cells. For example, most current treatments to stimulate immunity or stem cells (nave T cells) rely on complex carbohydrates from mushrooms or microorganisms to provide antigenic material that can stimulate immunity. This will activate the immune system stem cells to make more differentiated non-stem memory T cells directed against the antigenic material, but it does nothing to stimulate more immune stem cells (nave T cells). Indeed, chronic use of such stem cell enhancers may actually lead to stem cell depletion, as more adult stem cells are exhausted from the requirement to respond to the constant presence of the polysaccharide antigen. Indeed, one theory of how the HIV virus causes a defective immune system is that it exhausts the supply of nave T cells by the repeated attacks of the mutating HIV virus.

Stem Cell 100TM is a nutraceutical supplement that improves the function of your existing stem cells rather than over stimulate stem cells to differentiate or divide. By promoting the stability and vitality of adult stem cells they have the capacity to divide when the body signals a need for more stem cells and differentiated cells. When an organ or tissue is damaged, it will send out natural signals that new cells are needed to replace old or damaged cells. Stem Cell 100TM allows the adult stem cells to respond to the damage signal by provided new differentiated cells to replace the old damaged cells and also make more adult stem cells to keep up the stem cell population. Two other compounds in Stem Cell 100TM provide further natural support for stem cells.

(Note that not everyone will experience the same effects, as conditions vary among individuals. The general expectation is that for most health measurements that are in the Normal Range for your age, Stem Cell 100TM will promote readings that you had when some 20 years younger.)

The statements above have not been reviewed by the FDA. Stem Cell 100TM is not meant as a preventive or treatment for any disease.

Here is the original post:
Stem Cells and Aging | Life Code

All Clinical Services

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a screening test used to determine if genetic or chromosomal disorders are present in embryos produced through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Preimplantation genetic diagnosis screens embryos before they are transferred to the uterus so couples can make informed decisions about their next steps in the IVF process. Embryos unaffected by the genetic or chromosomal disorder can be selected for transfer to the uterus.

For couples undergoing IVF, preimplantation genetic diagnosis may be recommended when:

Thousands of clinical preimplantation genetic diagnosis cycles have been performed worldwide, resulting in the birth of hundreds of healthy babies.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be used to determine if embryos produced through in vitro fertilization carry a gene mutation associated with a specific genetic disorder, such as cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy.

The benefit of preimplantation genetic diagnosis is that the diagnosis can be made before the embryos are transferred to the uterus and a pregnancy is established. Embryos unaffected by the genetic disorder can be selected for transfer to the uterus, therefore greatly reducing the risk that a couple will pass a genetic disorder onto their child.

Couples who are at high risk of having a child with a severe genetic disorder may choose preimplantation genetic diagnosis for many reasons, including:

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is also offered to couples when one partner has a chromosomal abnormality, such as an unbalanced translocation or anerplocity. If the abnormality is present in the embryo, the condition could ultimately prevent embryo implantation, lead to pregnancy loss, or result in the birth of a child with congenital malformations (physical problems) or mental retardation.

The benefit of preimplantation genetic diagnosis is that the diagnosis can be made before the embryos are transferred to the uterus and a pregnancy is established. Embryos unaffected by the chromosomal abnormality can be selected for transfer to the uterus, therefore greatly reducing the risk that the pregnancy will be adversely affected by the chromosomal abnormality.

Couples who are at high risk of having a child with a chromosomal disorder may choose preimplantation genetic diagnosis for many reasons, including:

Genetic counseling is an important step to determine if preimplantation genetic diagnosis is an appropriate option for a patient. Penn Fertility Care providers work closely with the genetic counselors in Penns Division of Reproductive Genetics. For couples undergoing IVF who are concerned that their child may inherit a genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormality, genetic counselors are available to discuss options and can advise patients on how raising a handicapped child may affect a family.

Learn more about Genetic Counseling services at Penn

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is available for couples undergoing IVF. The steps of the IVF process include:

Embryo biopsy may be performed after 3 days of culture in the laboratory. The embryos are typically 8-cell embryos on Day-3 and the process involves the removal of one to two cells.

After the biopsy and following receipt of the results from the genetic/chromosomal testing, embryo(s) of the best quality that are not affected by the genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormality) are selected for transfer to the uterus. For day 3 embryo biopsies, the embryo is usually transferred "fresh" following two additional days of culture in the laboratory (Day-5 embryo transfer).

In some cases, the biopsy will be done on either Day-5 or -6 (trophectoderm biopsy). At this stage, the embryo consists of many cells and is called a blastocyst. Cells are removed from the outer layer of cells called the trophectoderm.

Following the biopsy of a good quality blastocyst, the blastocyst is then frozen. When the patient receives the results from the genetic testing, the non-affected or chromosomally normal blastocyst(s) are thawed and transferred in a subsequent frozen embryo cycle.

Embryos are analyzed by one of the techniques described below:

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is performed on the biopsied cell(s) to determine the presence of a single gene. This is done when a couple has a significantly increased risk of conceiving a child with a severe genetic disorder. When PCR is to be performed, the cell(s) obtained at biopsy is loaded into a tiny tube of medium and sent to for analysis. The specific area of DNA of interest is amplified by making thousands of copies of the DNA through repeated cycles of DNA strand separation and replication. The sample can be analyzed for the presence of a specific sequence of DNA or gene and also for linkage markers near the gene. The biopsied cell(s) are destroyed during this process. Therefore, they cannot be used for another purpose or returned to the embryo.

The genetic material (DNA) within the biopsied cell(s) is amplified using a technique called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This amplification produces enough DNA to use a second technique, known as array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). Array CGH assesses the amount of DNA derived from each chromosome, revealing whether or not there are both a normal amount and correct number of chromosomes. The biopsied cell(s) are destroyed during this process. Therefore, they cannot be used for another purpose or returned to the embryo. aCGH can be used to screen for numeric abnormalities in all chromosomes and/or known rearrangements of chromosomes (translocations). Array CGH does not detect all types of chromosome aberrations or genetic mutations and cannot distinguish between no translocation present and balanced translocation present.

The results of preimplantation genetic diagnosis are reported to the couple no later than the morning of their scheduled day for embryo transfer. Typically this is five days after oocyte retrieval and in vitro fertilization are performed. Of the embryo(s) that are not affected by the genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormality, the best quality embryo(s) are selected for transfer to the uterus. If additional unaffected and good-quality embryos are available, they may be cryopreserved for a future embryo transfer.

No, preimplantation genetic diagnosis does not replace prenatal testing, such as chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis provides diagnostic information based on the analysis of asinglecell. Therefore, prenatal testing is still recommended and currently remains the standard of care.

Learn more about prenatal testing services at Penn

For more information about preimplantation genetic diagnosis or to schedule an appointment with a Penn Fertility Care specialist, call 800-789-PENN (7366).

Need an appointment? Request one online 24 hours/day, 7 days/week or call 800-789-PENN (7366) to speak to a referral counselor.

Link:
preimplantation genetic diagnosis - Penn Medicine

An Important Word to Parents

The purpose of this website is to provide parents with fun eye exercises toenhance their childrens visual processing skillsforbetter school performance and sustained attention.If you know a child whostruggles, the underlying cause may be visioneven ifthe childhas 20/20 eyesight. Visual processing skills like tracking, eye teaming, and visual perception are developmentalskills that all children need in addition to seeing clearly. If these skills dont develop normally, children can struggle with demanding visual tasks like reading. Each year as print gets smaller, school performance drops, and as visual fatigue sits in, children become easily frustrated and distracted. All too often, these children appear to have a learning disability or attention problems when the real culprit is poor visual processing skills. Glasses cant help, but eye exercises can! This website will give you good information on vision-based learning problems, and we have even provided you with a great assessment tool to determine if your child is at risk. However, children do not have to have poor vision skills to benefit from these eye exercises. Even children with adequate visual processing can sharpen and improve the learning-related vision skills they already have!

Please Read: The exerciseson this websitearenot vision therapy. Vision therapy is a medical treatment prescribed by developmental optometrists and involves a much wider scope of remediation procedures involving the use oflenses, prisms, filters, and special instruments to train the visual system to work efficiently.Decades of research support the effectiveness of vision therapy to remediate disorders in visual processing. The vision exerciseson this website are designed for visual enhance- ment and are not a substitute for professional care. Like any exer- cise program, we encourage you to check with your eye doctor before beginning. These exercises can improve and sharpen visual skillsimportant for reading, learning, andsustained attention. However, if your childhas difficulty with these activities, it could indicate there is a more significant problem. Talk to your family eye doctor orcontact a developmental optometrist for further evaluation. To locate a doctor in your area, contact the national certifying board for optometrists who specialize in vision therapy at covd.org. It should also be noted that these vision exercises are not meant for children withstrabismus and/or amblyopia.If your child has either condition,do not begin even a simple eye exercise program without the adviceof your eyedoctor.Vision therapy is highly successful in treating both these conditions, butamblyopia and strabismus requirestrictsupervision by a trained professional. Want to learn more about vision-based learning and attention problems?

Go to Eyes CAN Learn.

Continue reading here:
Eye Can Learn | Eye Exercises for Visual Health and School ...

(Image source: allthingsstemcell.com)

Dental pulp is the soft live tissue inside a tooth. Dental pulp contains stem cells, known as Dental Pulp Stem Cells. The finest Dental Pulp Stem Cells are found in a baby teeth or milk teeth. The stem cells from the milk teeth are 'mesenchymal' type of cells i.e. cells that have the ability to generate a wide variety of cell types like chondrocytes, osteoblasts and adipocytes. Chondrocytes are cells that have the ability to generate cartilage, which can play an important role in the treatment of arthritis and joint injuries. Osteoblasts are cells that have the ability to generate bones. Adipocytes are cells that have the ability to compose adipose tissue, specialized in storing energy as fat. In essence, dental stem cells can generate solid structures of the body such as bone, new dental tissue, cartilage and muscle. New research suggests the potential (currently under experimental research)to regenerate nerves. This is being studied further for use in dentistry and medicine. With these properties of dental stem cells, you can well imagine the sheer confidence with which the next generation can face a host of life-threatening situations later in life, since they will be equipped with the means to rectify and regenerate parts of their own bodies.

Dentition

The following table lists the age-span during which milk teeth and permanent teeth start appearing.

Baby Teeth (Primary)

Upper Teeth

Eruption of Teeth

Loss of Teeth

Central incisor

8 to 12 months

6 to 7 years

Lateral incisor

9 to 13 months

7 to 8 years

Canine

16 to 22 months

10 to 12 years

First molar

13 to 19 months

9 to 11 years

Second molar

25 to 33 months

10 to 12 years

Lower Teeth

Eruption of Teeth

Loss of Teeth

Central incisor

6 to 10 months

6 to 7 years

Lateral incisor

10 to 16 months

7 to 8 years

Canine

17 to 23 months

9 to 12 years

First molar

14 to 18 months

9 to 11 years

Second molar

23 to 31 months

10 to 12 years

Permanent Teeth

Upper Teeth

Eruption of Teeth

Central incisor

7 to 8 years

Lateral incisor

8 to 9 years

Canine

11 to 12 years

First premolar

10 to 11 years

Second premolar

10 to 12 years

First molar

6 to 7 years

Second molar

12 to 13 years

Lower Teeth

Eruption of Teeth

Central incisor

6 to 7 years

Lateral incisor

7 to 8 years

Canine

9 to 10 years

First premolar

10 to 12 years

Second premolar

11 to 12 years

First molar

6 to 7 years

Second molar

11 to 13 years

Third molar (Wisdom Teeth)

17 to 21 years

Read more here:
Dental Stem Cells - Stemade Biotech

Stem cells from wisdom teeth could help repair corneas

Stem cells inside your teeth could one day help repair eye scratches that cause blindness, scientists report February 23 in Stem Cells Translational Medicine. Read article >

Corneal disease causes nearly 10 percent of blindness cases worldwide, and the condition is typically treated with donor corneas. But researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered that stem cells from the dental pulp of wisdom teeth can be manipulated to form cells of the eyes cornea a finding that may provide an easier procedure to repair corneal scarring. Read article >

Stem cells from the dental pulp of wisdom teeth can be coaxed to turn into cells of the eye's cornea and could one day be used to repair corneal scarring due to infection or injury, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings, published online today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, indicate they also could become a new source of corneal transplant tissue made from the patient's own cells. Read article >

Recent research aimed at finding a treatment for a common form of blindness could give new meaning to the term "eye teeth." In a study in mice published in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh show how stem cells harvested from teeth extracted during routine dental procedures can potentially be used to restore sight in those suffering from corneal blindness. Read article >

Today Shows Chief Medical Editor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman discusses dental stem cells - click here to view the Today Show Health segment.

We are thrilled to report an exciting development in stem cell research: the first human study using dental stem cells was published November 12th in the European Cells and Materials journal! This is great news for National Dental Pulp Laboratory, which stores dental stem cells and has long believed in their potential for future medical use.

In the study, patients had wisdom teeth that were impacted, which caused bone loss (resorption) at the site of impaction. Because the bone defect would not repair on its own after the wisdom teeth were removed, the researchers used a mixture of dental pulp stem cells harvested from the patient's non-impacted, upper wisdom teeth and placed them onto a "scaffold" made of collagen sponge. This mixture was then used to fill in the injured areas that were left when the impacted teeth were removed from the lower jaw. (The upper jaw area served as a control, or comparison, area-no dental stem cells were used there).

Three months after treatment, bone had completely regenerated at the injury site and the periodontal tissue had been restored. Optimal bone regeneration was seen in the seven patients who returned for the one year follow up. The investigators concluded that this clinical study demonstrates that dental stem cells and a collagen sponge scaffold can completely restore bone defects in the human jaw and indicates that these cells have the potential to repair and/or regenerate tissues and organs.

Previously, jaw defects had been repaired using dental stem cells in an animal model only-never in humans. In fact, no dental stem cell therapies have ever been shown in humans. As you can guess, this bone grafting study is very exciting for all of us who believe in the future promise of dental stem cell therapies-whether a dental stem cell banking facility like our own NDPL, or individuals who want to preserve their own or their children's pulp in order to have a source of stem cells that they might be able to put to use for future medical needs.

Read more from the original source:
National Dental Pulp Laboratory | Stem Cell News

Key facts

Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus. In 1980, before widespread vaccination, measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year.

The disease remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. Approximately 114900 people died from measles in 2014 mostly children under the age of 5.

Measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family and it is normally passed through direct contact and through the air. The virus infects the mucous membranes, then spreads throughout the body. Measles is a human disease and is not known to occur in animals.

Accelerated immunization activities have had a major impact on reducing measles deaths. During 2000-2014, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 17.1 million deaths. Global measles deaths have decreased by 79% from an estimated 546800 in 2000 to 114900 in 2014.

The first sign of measles is usually a high fever, which begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus, and lasts 4 to 7 days. A runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks can develop in the initial stage. After several days, a rash erupts, usually on the face and upper neck. Over about 3 days, the rash spreads, eventually reaching the hands and feet. The rash lasts for 5 to 6 days, and then fades. On average, the rash occurs 14 days after exposure to the virus (within a range of 7 to 18 days).

Most measles-related deaths are caused by complications associated with the disease. Complications are more common in children under the age of 5, or adults over the age of 20. The most serious complications include blindness, encephalitis (an infection that causes brain swelling), severe diarrhoea and related dehydration, ear infections, or severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia. Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children, especially those with insufficient vitamin A, or whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS or other diseases.

In populations with high levels of malnutrition and a lack of adequate health care, up to 10% of measles cases result in death. Women infected while pregnant are also at risk of severe complications and the pregnancy may end in miscarriage or preterm delivery. People who recover from measles are immune for the rest of their lives.

Unvaccinated young children are at highest risk of measles and its complications, including death. Unvaccinated pregnant women are also at risk. Any non-immune person (who has not been vaccinated or was vaccinated but did not develop immunity) can become infected.

Measles is still common in many developing countries particularly in parts of Africa and Asia. The overwhelming majority (more than 95%) of measles deaths occur in countries with low per capita incomes and weak health infrastructures.

Measles outbreaks can be particularly deadly in countries experiencing or recovering from a natural disaster or conflict. Damage to health infrastructure and health services interrupts routine immunization, and overcrowding in residential camps greatly increases the risk of infection.

The highly contagious virus is spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.

The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to 2 hours. It can be transmitted by an infected person from 4 days prior to the onset of the rash to 4 days after the rash erupts.

Measles outbreaks can result in epidemics that cause many deaths, especially among young, malnourished children. In countries where measles has been largely eliminated, cases imported from other countries remain an important source of infection.

No specific antiviral treatment exists for measles virus.

Severe complications from measles can be avoided through supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and treatment of dehydration with WHO-recommended oral rehydration solution. This solution replaces fluids and other essential elements that are lost through diarrhoea or vomiting. Antibiotics should be prescribed to treat eye and ear infections, and pneumonia.

All children in developing countries diagnosed with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements, given 24 hours apart. This treatment restores low vitamin A levels during measles that occur even in well-nourished children and can help prevent eye damage and blindness. Vitamin A supplements have been shown to reduce the number of deaths from measles by 50%.

Routine measles vaccination for children, combined with mass immunization campaigns in countries with high case and death rates, are key public health strategies to reduce global measles deaths. The measles vaccine has been in use for over 50 years. It is safe, effective and inexpensive. It costs approximately one US dollar to immunize a child against measles.

The measles vaccine is often incorporated with rubella and/or mumps vaccines in countries where these illnesses are problems. It is equally effective in the single or combined form. Adding rubella to measles vaccine increases the cost only slightly, and allows for shared delivery and administration costs.

In 2014, about 85% of the world's children received 1 dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday through routine health services up from 73% in 2000. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended to ensure immunity and prevent outbreaks, as about 15% of vaccinated children fail to develop immunity from the first dose.

In 2010, the World Health Assembly established 3 milestones towards the future eradication of measles to be achieved by 2015:

By 2014, the global push to improve vaccine coverage resulted in a 79% reduction in deaths. During 2000-2014, with support from the Measles & Rubella Initiative, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 17.1 million. During 2014, about 219 million children were vaccinated against measles during mass vaccination campaigns in 28 countries. All WHO Regions have now established goals to eliminate this preventable killer disease by 2020.

Launched in 2001, the Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&R Initiative) is a global partnership led by the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF and WHO. The M&R Initiative is committed to ensuring that no child dies from measles or is born with congenital rubella syndrome; reducing measles deaths by 95% by 2015; and achieving measles and rubella elimination in at least 5 WHO regions by 2020.

In 2012, the M&R Initiative launched a new Global Measles and Rubella Strategic Plan which covers the period 2012-2020.

The Plan provides clear strategies for country immunization managers, working with domestic and international partners, to achieve the 2015 and 2020 measles and rubella control and elimination goals.

Based on current trends of measles vaccination coverage and incidence, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) concluded that the 2015 global milestones and measles elimination goals will not be achieved on time.

Measles is highly infectious and strong, sustained efforts are needed to maintain the current level of control. Improving coverage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India and other high-burden countries will require changes in policies and practices that currently prevent vaccination of children 12 months of age or older.

To assess the reasons for the slowdown in progress since 2010 and to modify current strategies as needed, the Measles & Rubella Initiative partners have commissioned a mid-term strategy review.

View original post here:
WHO | Measles

are fascinating! They also teach us about our visual perception, and its limitations. Emphasis here is on beauty, interactive experiments, and attempts at explanation of the visual mechanisms involved.

Dont let it irk you if you dont see all the phenomena described. For many illusions, there is a percentage of people with perfectly normal vision who just dont see it, often for reasons currently unknown.

If you are not a vision scientist, you might find my explanatory attempts too highbrow. That is not on purpose, but vision research is not trivial, like any science. So, if the explanation seems gibberish, simply enjoy the phenomenon ;). More: Bach & Poloschek (2006) OpticalIllusionsPrimer; on the programming: Bach (2014, PDF).

Optical illusion sounds pejorative, as if exposing a malfunction of the visual system. Rather, I view these phenomena as highlighting particular good adaptations of our visual system to experience with standard viewing situations. These experiences are based on normal visual experiences, and thus under unusual contexts can lead to inappropriate interpretations of a visual scene (=Bayesian interpretation of perception).

Before we delve in, Id like to express my thanks for your @feedback ; any advice is appreciated .

Excerpt from:
Optical Illusions and Visual Phenomena - Bach

Biotechnology is a top-notch field of study that emerged into the scientific world as a result of revolutions in Biology, Chemistry, Informatics, and Engineering. It is considered to be an applied branch of Biology. Biotechnology helps out this old and respectable field of science keep up with the pace of time and remain competitive in the contemporary world.

With a Master in Biotechnology, students will study the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in technology, engineering, medicine, agriculture and results in all kinds of bioproducts, from genetically modified food to serious cutting-edge devices used to carry out gene therapy. Students in Master in Biotechnology programs may also explore bioinformatics, which is the application of statistics and computer science to the field of molecular biology. Bioinformatics is extremely important for contemporary biological and molecular researches because the data amount there grows by geometric progression and it is necessary to have adequate technology to process it. Bioinformatic methods are widely used for mapping and analyzing DNA and protein samples, as well as for the study of genetics and molecular modeling. Biotechnology and Bioinformatics do a great favour to traditional fields of study, refreshing them with new methods of research, which allows their drastic development, and you can make your contribution with a Master in Biotechnology degree.

Find out about various Master in Biotechnology programs by following the links below. Don't hesitate to send the "Request free information" form to come in contact with the relevant person at the school and get even more information about the specific Master in Biotechnology program you are interested in.

Follow this link:
Best Master's Degrees in Biotechnology 2016

The Current Opinion journals were developed out of the recognition that it is increasingly difficult for specialists to keep up to date with the expanding volume of information published in their subject. In Current Opinion in Biotechnology, we help the reader by providing in a systematic manner: 1. The views of experts on current advances in biotechnology in a clear and readable form. 2. Evaluations of the most interesting papers, annotated by experts, from the great wealth of original publications.

Division of the subject into sections The subject of biotechnology is divided into themed sections, each of which is reviewed once a year. The amount of space devoted to each section is related to its importance.

Analytical biotechnology Plant biotechnology Food biotechnology Energy biotechnology Environmental biotechnology Systems biology Nanobiotechnology Tissue, cell and pathway engineering Chemical biotechnology Pharmaceutical biotechnology

Selection of topics to be reviewed Section Editors, who are major authorities in the field, are appointed by the Editors of the journal. They divide their section into a number of topics, ensuring that the field is comprehensively covered and that all issues of current importance are emphasised. Section Editors commission reviews from authorities on each topic that they have selected.

Reviews Authors write short review articles in which they present recent developments in their subject, emphasising the aspects that, in their opinion, are most important. In addition, they provide short annotations to the papers that they consider to be most interesting from all those published in their topic over the previous year.

Editorial Overview Section Editors write a short overview at the beginning of the section to introduce the reviews and to draw the reader's attention to any particularly interesting developments. This successful format has made Current Opinion in Biotechnology one of the most highly regarded and highly cited review journals in the field (Impact factor = 8.035).

Ethics in Publishing: General Statement

The Editor(s) and Publisher of this Journal believe that there are fundamental principles underlying scholarly or professional publishing. While this may not amount to a formal 'code of conduct', these fundamental principles with respect to the authors' paper are that the paper should: i) be the authors' own original work, which has not been previously published elsewhere, ii) reflect the authors' own research and analysis and do so in a truthful and complete manner, iii) properly credit the meaningful contributions of co-authors and co-researchers, iv) not be submitted to more than one journal for consideration, and v) be appropriately placed in the context of prior and existing research. Of equal importance are ethical guidelines dealing with research methods and research funding, including issues dealing with informed consent, research subject privacy rights, conflicts of interest, and sources of funding. While it may not be possible to draft a 'code' that applies adequately to all instances and circumstances, we believe it useful to outline our expectations of authors and procedures that the Journal will employ in the event of questions concerning author conduct. With respect to conflicts of interest, the Publisher now requires authors to declare any conflicts of interest that relate to papers accepted for publication in this Journal. A conflict of interest may exist when an author or the author's institution has a financial or other relationship with other people or organizations that may inappropriately influence the author's work. A conflict can be actual or potential and full disclosure to the Journal is the safest course. All submissions to the Journal must include disclosure of all relationships that could be viewed as presenting a potential conflict of interest. The Journal may use such information as a basis for editorial decisions and may publish such disclosures if they are believed to be important to readers in judging the manuscript. A decision may be made by the Journal not to publish on the basis of the declared conflict.

For more information, please refer to: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/authorshome.authors/conflictsofinterest

Hide full aims and scope

See the rest here:
Current Opinion in Biotechnology - Journal - Elsevier

Prof James du Preez is professor of microbiology and former chairperson (2002 2014) of the Department of Microbial, Biochemical & Food Biotechnology at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. He obtained his PhD in microbiology from the above university in 1980 after completing a major part of his doctoral research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zrich, which laid the foundation for his further work in the field of fermentation biotechnology. His special interests include continuous (chemostat) cultures, yeast physiology, the production of heterologous proteins and microbial metabolites, as well as bioethanol production from starchy and lignocellulosic feedstocks, including pentose fermentation by yeasts. The physiology of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an ongoing interest.

James has authored close to 100 peer-reviewed articles as well as several other papers and book chapters. Involvement with the science community includes membership of the council of the South African Society for Microbiology and the International Commission for Yeasts. He was the American Society for Microbiologys ambassador to South Africa until 2014. He serves on the editorial board of FEMS Yeast Research and was a guest editor for a thematic issue of FEMS Yeast Research on yeast fermentations and other yeast bioprocesses. He was an associate editor for World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology until early 2015, currently is a joint editor-in-chief for Biotechnology for Biofuels and recently served on the Editors Advisory Group of BioMed Central. In 2014 he was appointed external expert on the Biological Production Systems panel of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and in 2015 served for a second term on a grant evaluation panel of the European Research Council. Among honours received are election as member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, the award of a silver medal for exceptional achievement from the South African Society for Microbiology and awards from his home university for research excellence.

Dr Michael Himmel has 30 years of progressive experience in conducting, supervising, and planning research in protein biochemistry, recombinant technology, enzyme engineering, new microorganism discovery, and the physicochemistry of macromolecules. He has also supervised research that targets the application of site-directed-mutagenesis and rational protein design to the stabilization and improvement of important industrial enzymes, especially glycosyl hydrolases.

Dr Himmel has functioned as PI for the DOE EERE Office of the Biomass Program (OBP) since 1992, wherein his responsibilities have included managing research designed to improve cellulase performance, reduce biomass pretreatment costs, and improve yields of fermentable sugars. He has also developed new facilities at NREL for biomass conversion research, including a Cellulase Biochemistry Laboratory, a Biomass Surface Characterization Laboratory, a Protein Crystallography Laboratory, and a new Computational Science Team. Dr. Himmel also serves as the Principal Group Manger of the Biomolecular Sciences Group, where he has supervisory responsibly for 50 staff scientists.

Prof Debra Mohnen received her B.A. in biology from Lawrence University (Wisconsin) and her MS in botany and PhD in plant biology from the University of Illinois. Her PhD research was conducted at the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel, Switzerland. She held postdoctoral research associate positions at the USDA's Richard Russell Research Center and at the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC) in Athens, GA where she won an NIH National Research Service Award for her postdoctoral research. She was appointed to the CCRC faculty in September 1990 and is currently Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and also adjunct faculty member in the Department of Plant Biology and member of the Plant Center at UGA. Dr Mohnen has served on the Committee on the Status of Women in Plant Physiology of the American Society of Plant Physiologists, invited faculty sponsor for the UGA Association for Women in Science (AWIS), past member-at-large in the Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division of the American Chemical Society, and is currently a member of the Council for Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division in the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy. As Co-PI on the NSF-funded Plant Cell Wall Biosynthesis Research Network Dr Mohnen established the originally NSF-funded service CarboSource Services, that provides rare substrates for plant wall polysaccharide synthesis to the research community. Her research centers on the biosynthesis, function and structure of plant cell wall polysaccharides is supported by funding from the USDA, NSF and DOE. Her emphasis is on pectin biosynthesis and pectin function in plants and human health, and on the improvement of plant cell wall structure so as to improve the efficiency of conversion of plant wall biomass to biofuels.

Prof Charles Wyman has devoted most of his career to leading advancement of technology for biological conversion of cellulosic biomass to ethanol and other products. In the fall of 2005, he joined the University of California at Riverside as a Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and the Ford Motor Company Chair in Environmental Engineering with a research focus on pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and dehydration of cellulosic biomass to produce reactive intermediates for conversion to fuels and chemicals. Before joining UCR, he was the Paul E. and Joan H. Queneau Distinguished Professor in Environmental Engineering Design at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. Dr. Wyman recently founded Vertimass LLC that is devoted to commercialization of novel catalytic technology for simple one-step conversion of ethanol to fungible gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel blend stocks. Dr. Wyman is also cofounder and former Chief Development Officer and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for Mascoma Corporation, a startup focused on biomass conversion to ethanol and other products.

Before joining Dartmouth College in the fall of 1998, Dr. Wyman was Director of Technology for BC International and led process development for the first cellulosic ethanol plant planned for Jennings, Louisiana. Between 1978 and 1997, he served as Director of the Biotechnology Center for Fuels and Chemicals at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado; Director of the NREL Alternative Fuels Division; and Manager of the Biotechnology Research Branch. During that time, he held several other leadership positions at NREL, mostly focused on R&D for biological conversion of cellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. He has also been Manager of Process Development for Badger Engineers, an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of New Hampshire, and a Senior Chemical Engineer with Monsanto Company.

Continued here:
Biotechnology for Biofuels | Home page

Forms for Student Athletes

Vision Statement

The University of Alabama Sports Medicine Program shall provide injury prevention, care and rehabilitation services and athletic education of recognized excellence to each and every student-athlete. The University of Alabama Sports Medicine Program is committed to becoming the leader in sports medicine services in the country.

Mission Statement

The mission of The University of Alabama Sports Medicine program is to provide the highest quality healthcare available to our student-athletes in a professional and caring manner in order to prevent athletic injury. Should an injury or illness occur, it is our mission to recognize and refer the student-athlete to the appropriate medical care returning them to competition as quickly and safely as possible.

We are committed to using whatever technology is available and affordable in the delivery of these services. We will remain committed to the continuous upgrading of the education, clinical skill development, and equipment used in the delivery of sports medicine services so that our student-athletes will be assured of the most modern care available in the country.

The purpose of the Sports Medicine Program is four-fold. First, we hope to allow easy access to sports medicine services to student-athletes. Second, we hope to encourage a philosophy of sport that places a high value of health and wellness. Third, we hope to enable injured student-athletes to return to their sports as soon as medically safe. Finally, we hope to be able to substantially reduce the risk of athletic injury for those student-athletes in our service.

The underlying philosophy for the Sports Medicine Program is that the needs of the student-athletes shall always be the first consideration for all members of the Sports Medicine staff. Furthermore, we expect the athletic trainers who will be providing these services to maintain the highest standards of quality consistent with the National Athletic Trainers Association Code of Professional Practice and the credentialing statutes of the State of Alabama.

We are committed to ongoing evaluation of our Sports Medicine Program so that our student-athletes can be assured of the highest quality in sports medicine care. Furthermore, we are committed to addressing problems and concerns in a timely manner so the needs of our student-athletes and employees can continue to be met.

Finally, The University of Alabama Sports Medicine Program aspires to be a program of recognized excellence. It is our intention to support the program with human and financial resources necessary to accomplish the stated goals of the program. It is our desire to establish The University of Alabama as the most outstanding provider for the delivery of sports medicine in the nation.

See the original post here:
Sports Medicine - ROLLTIDE.COM

The UCLA Sports Medicine Center is a unique state-of-the-art facility designed to care for competitive athletes of all levels. Our multi-disciplinary team of physicians consists of orthopaedic surgeons, family medicine specialists, and physical therapists, who work collaboratively to develop a treatment plan tailored to each individual patient's needs.We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of all athletic injuries and offer special expertise in reconstructive surgery.Our goal is to help each patient achieve the highest possible level of function.

In addition, our team participates in cutting-edge research such as knee ligament reconstruction, tissue engineering, and athletic fractures.The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery also sponsors a full-time Sports Medicine Fellowship for two orthopaedic surgeons per year who have completed their residencies. The Department of Family Practice sponsors a full-time fellowship in primary care sports medicine.These physicians spend an additional one to two years of training to gain special expertise in the field of sports medicine.

VIDEO - Stay in the Game: Advances in Sports Medicine for the Ageless Athlete

By supporting the UCLA Sports Medicine Center, you will enable us to advance our cutting-edge research and educational efforts, refine our existing therapies, and develop innovative new treatments.

You are partners with us in this mission, and we are grateful for your thoughtful generosity.

For additional assistance regarding donations, please contact:

Courtney Bailey UCLA Health Sciences Development 10945 Le Conte Ave., Suite 3132 Los Angeles, California 90095-1784 Phone: (310) 267-11155 cbailey@support.ucla.edu

Original post:
UCLA Orthopaedic Surgery | Sports Medicine

Endocrine Reviews

Enduring resource with the fields highest impact factor Editor-in-Chief: Leonard Wartofsky, MD, Washington Hospital Center

With an Impact Factor of 19.358, Endocrine Reviews is in the top one percent of biomedical journals. Comprehensive reviews cover clinical and research topics, including thyroid disorders, pediatric endocrinology, growth factors, and reproductive medicine. Each issue provides translational and basic research articles with knowledge, understanding, and perspective in diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism.

Online access

Essential resources on the cutting edge of endocrine research Editor-in-Chief: Andrea C. Gore, PhD, University of Texas at Austin

Endocrinology has defined the science of endocrinology for more than 95 years, publishing 6,000 pages each year of original basic research related to the endocrine glands and their hormones.

Online access

Editor-in-Chief: Stephen R. Hammes, MD, PhD, University of Rochester

With less than a month from breakthrough to publication, Molecular Endocrinology reports rapidly on receptor and hormone signals in the regulation of gene expression, development, physiological function, and disease.

Online access

Two-for-one value Institutional subscriptions bundle two well-respected journals, Endocrinology and Molecular Endocrinology, at a discount.

Research spanning basic, translational, and clinical research on endocrine neoplasias and on the impact of hormones on all aspects of cancer biology Editor-in-Chief: Nancy L. Weigel, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine

This bi-monthly joint Endocrine Society/Springer journal publishes research articles and reviews on all aspects of the effects of hormones on tumors and studies of endocrine neoplasias. Manuscripts submitted to Hormones and Cancer will undergo rapid peer-review by leading experts. There are no page charges for accepted manuscripts, no restrictions on manuscript length or limits to the number of figures. Importantly, all 18,000 Endocrine Society members have free online access to this journal.

Published by Springer in cooperation with the Endocrine Society.

Online access

The most cited clinical journal in the field Editor-in-Chief: R Paul Robertson, MD, Universities of Washington and Minnesota and Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism is the worlds leading peer-reviewed journal for endocrine clinical research and clinical practice information. Each issue provides up to date coverage of new developments that enhance our understanding of pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of endocrine and metabolic disorders. Regular features of special interest include original reports of important advances in patient-oriented endocrine and metabolic research, personal perspectives on endocrinologic topics, clinical trials, clinical reviews, clinical practice guidelines, and case reports. According to the latest Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Report, JCEM articles were cited 69,351 times in 2013. With an Impact Factor of 6.310, it is ranked 13th out of 121 journals in the category of original articles in Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Online access

Science and practice combined in an authoritative translational series Editor-in-Chief: R Paul Robertson, MD, Universities of Washington and Minnesota and Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute

This one-of-a-kind journal explores the latest "bench to bedside" research in endocrinology. Each volume provides an integrated approach that updates and interrelates clinical and basic information, providing the best of translational science.

Online access

Read the original here:
Society Journals | Endocrine Society