StemCell Therapy

Side effects are a very real consequence to some medication and they could be telling you something you may not know. According to mygeneRX, your genetics have a direct effect on how your body processes medication, this metabolism, in turn, may lead to severe side effects.

A DNA sample of a simple cheek swab can now be accurately profiled to determine your risk of side effects, which will allow you to adjust dosages and avoid certain medications altogether.

According to medical experts, personalised medicine will be the future of medicine as we know it. Personalised medicine is focused on tailoring treatment for the individual. According to mygeneRx, in order for the medication to have the desired effect and then be expelled from the body, proteins called enzymes break down the medication. Some individuals enzymes work more efficiently than others other people dont possess certain enzymes at all.

ALSO READ:Scientist may be able to reverse DNA and ageing

Medications act as inhibitors or inducers of enzymes affecting how the medication works and at what dosages.

According to mygeneRX, simple, non-invasive and affordable genetic testing analyses the genotypes associated with responsiveness to a range of medications, and gives your healthcare practitioner the knowledge to tailor your treatment accordingly. It means greater confidence in taking and prescribing medication.

A body that metabolises certain medications slower may need reduced dosages, whereas a body that has a rapid metabolism might require stronger dosages for the medication to have the desired outcome.

According to mygeneRX, Dr Danny Meyersfeld, a molecular biologist and the founder of DNAlysis biotechnology, says it is critical to understand the genetic make-up of a patient in relation to the prescription of medicine. If healthcare practitioners were to use genetics, heres what they could learn about prescribing the common painkiller codeine.

ALSO READ:Pupils enjoy National Science Week

Typically, the body produces an enzyme called CYP2D6 that breaks down the drug into its active ingredient, morphine, which provides pain relief. Yet up to 10% of patients have genetic variants that produce too little of the enzyme, so almost no codeine gets turned into morphine.

These people get little or no help for their pain. Similarly, about 10% of the population has too many copies of the gene that produces the enzyme, leading to overproduction. For them a little codeine can quickly turn to too much morphine, which can lead to a fatal overdose and side effects such as constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, says Meyersfeld.

Typically, patients with cardiovascular diseases are on different medications such as blood thinners, beta blockers and statins, and with each one, the risk of adverse medicine interaction significantly increases. A genetic test for cardiac patients for drug response has shown to be more effective in guiding treatment decisions or improving outcomes.

He said mygeneRx tests for more than 150 medications including cardiovascular, psychiatry and pain management. It can be ordered online and the cheek swab is done in the privacy of your own home. According to mygeneRX, it is a simple process with substantial benefits.

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How your DNA can prevent medicine side effects - Centurion Rekord

A team of UC San Francisco researchers will receive $11.7 million over four years from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to launch a new Program in Prenatal and Pediatric Genomic Sequencing (P3EGS) at UCSF. The program is aimed at pursuing equity in the implementation of genomic precision medicine for children and families in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Genomic precision medicine is a broad effort to connect the vast amounts of genetic sequencing data that have been collected in the past decades with information about human population health in order to understand why individuals respond differently to sickness and medical treatment, and to apply this knowledge toward developing more precise diagnostics and therapies targeted to the needs of particular patients and groups.

To advance equity in precision medicine within the Bay Area, the P3EGS team will recruit 1,100 families with children with potential prenatal or pediatric genetic disorders drawn from a diverse set of backgrounds, including medically underserved communities. P3EGS will not only provide state-of-the-art genomic assessments to these families, but also provide genetic counseling, develop software to aid in displaying and communicating genetic data in community clinics, and study the long-term benefits of providing genetic sequencing for these families and children as well as identify the barriers they face in accessing care.

The effort leverages the outstanding clinical, genomics, informatics, bioethics, health economics, and medical anthropology expertise that together form a robust genomics infrastructure at UCSF. The P3EGS team will be helmed by four leading members of the Institute for Human Genetics (IHG) at UCSF:

Neil Risch, PhD, the director of the UCSF Institute for Human Genetics, notes that P3EGS will be among the first users of the newly approved UCSF Whole Exome Sequencing service hosted by the Genomic Medicine Initiative, which he co-directs with Kwok.

Patients will be recruited from the diverse communities served by UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital Oakland, UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital San Francisco, UCSF Betty Irene Moore Womens Hospital, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFGH).

Funding for the P3EGS program is part of $18.9 million being awarding by the NIH this year toward research accelerating the use of genome sequencing in clinical care at six sites across the United States, called the Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER2) Consortium. The consortium is funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), both part of NIH, and it builds upon an earlier Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research (CSER) Consortium, initiated in 2010, which included an award to Koenig and colleagues to study the ethics of informing family members of participants in cancer biobank research about unanticipated genetic findings.

The CSER2 awards are designed to support the development of methods needed to integrate genome sequencing into the practice of medicine, improve the discovery and interpretation of genomic variants, and investigate the impact of genome sequencing on health care outcomes. In addition, the funds are intended to generate innovative approaches and best practices to ensure that the effectiveness of genomic medicine can be applied to all individuals and groups, including diverse and underserved populations, and in health care settings that extend beyond academic medical centers.

The full press release about the CSER2 awards is available on the NHGRI website

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New UCSF Program Aims to Advance Equity in Genomic Medicine in the Bay Area - UCSF News Services

Brian J. O'Roak, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular and medical genetics, OHSU, January 4, 2017. Credit: OHSU/John Valls

Autism spectrum disorder affects approximately one out of every 68 children in the United States. Despite expansive study, the origin and risk factors of the complex condition are not fully understood.

To better understand the root causes, an international team led by researchers at OHSU in Portland, Oregon has applied a new systematic analysis to a cohort of 2,300 families who have a single child affected with autism. The study focused on identifying and characterizing low-lying genetic mutations that may have been missed in previous research, given these mutations are only present in a fraction of the bulk DNA of an individual.

Known as postzygotic mosaic mutations, or PMMs, these genetic changes occur after the conception of the human zygote during the development cycle of a fetus. An individual will contain a mosaicor assortmentof mutated and non-mutated cells with the level of mosaicism depending on the time and location of the mutation's occurrence. This emerging class of genetic risk factors has recently been implicated in various neurologic conditions, however, their role in more complex disorders, such as autism, has been unclear.

Autism risk due to unexpected mosaic mutations

By comparing genetic sequencing data of these familiespart of the Simons Simplex Collection, a permanent repository of precisely characterized genetic samplesthe research team determined that approximately 11 percent of previously reported new mutations affecting a single DNA base, which were thought to have be present at the time of human conception, actually show evidence of the mutation occurring during the development process.

"This initial finding told us that, generally, these mosaic mutations are much more common than previously believed. We thought this might be the tip of a genetic iceberg waiting to be explored," said the study's principal investigator Brian O'Roak, Ph.D., an assistant professor of molecular and medical genetics in the OHSU School of Medicine.

To investigate this possibility, a custom approachleveraging next generation sequencing and molecular barcodes - was developed to both identify these low-level mutations, and also validate that they are, in fact, real and not technological artifacts. With this more sensitive method, the rate of potentially PMMs increased to 22 percent of the new mutations present in children.

The researchers then compared the rates of PMMs that result in different predicted effects on the genome in affected children and their unaffected siblings. This lead to an unexpected finding that so-called "silent" mosaic mutations were enriched in the affected children, contributing risk to approximately 2 percent of the individuals with autism in this cohort. These types of mutations are generally believed to be neutral, as they don't alter the genetic coding of proteins. However, the team found evidence that these mutations might actually be altering how genetic messages are stitched together.

The study also found preliminary evidence that mosaic mutations that alter the protein code of genes essential for development, or genes that resist mutations, are also enriched in individuals with autism. This contributes risk to an additional 1 to 2 percent of individuals with autism. Many of the PMMs occurred in some of the most highly validated autism risk genes identified to date, further suggesting that these mutations are contributing to autism genetic risk. Due to this, the research team believes that overall, mosaic mutations may contribute to autism risk in 3 to 4 percent of this cohort.

Understanding the timeline and location of mosaic mutations

Determining exactly when and where these mutations are occurring during development is challenging. The PMMs identified were present in 10 to 75 percent of the cells examined from the children's blood, suggesting that they likely occurred early in development. However, the exact timeline was not known.

By leveraging the unique family design of the Simons Simplex Collection cohort, O'Roak's team analyzed the parents' genomes and discovered that 6.8 percent of the supposedly "new" mutations present in children at conception could actually be traced back to a PMM that occurred early in the development of their parent. These mutations were generally present in 20 to 75 percent of the parents' blood cells, providing indirect evidence that many of the PMMs occurring in children did in fact happen very early during development and that they likely contribute mosaicism across the body, including in the brain.

"In addition to a need for broader research focused on the role that mosaicism plays in autism and related disorders, our data argue that physicians should be requiring more sensitive testing of both children and parents, when a new disorder-related genetic mutation is identified," O'Roak said. "These mutation can go from being in a few percent of the cells of a parent to 100 percent of the cells of a child. If present, at even low levels in the parents, the risk of additional children receiving this mutation is dramatically increased."

"Exonic mosaic mutations contribute risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder" published today in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

Explore further: Late-breaking mutations may play an important role in autism

More information: Deidre R. Krupp et al. Exonic Mosaic Mutations Contribute Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.07.016

See more here:
Study identifies new genetic risk factor for developing autism ... - Medical Xpress

Posted Aug. 30, 2017

The AVMA House of Delegates passed a new policy July 21 on "Therapeutic Use of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine."

According to the policy: "Regenerative medicine is defined as the use of biological therapies including platelet rich-plasma, pluripotent stem cells, and multipotent stem cells to effect therapeutic benefit in disease states. While regenerative medicine holds promise of improvements in the treatment of a variety of diseases, many of which lack adequately effective treatments, questions remain. The AVMA supports the continued scientific development of these modalities while at the same time encouraging its members to employ caution with respect to their use.

"While data continue to accumulate suggesting therapeutic benefit from regenerative medicine, published peer-reviewed studies definitively documenting benefit are still lacking for many diseases. Nor has a scientific consensus for stem cell type, stem cell origin, dosage, transfer media, or method of administration been developed for each disease being treated. Despite these scientific insufficiencies, the adoption of regenerative medicine in the veterinary profession has grown rapidly. Unfortunately, some therapies being propounded and the processes and equipment being sold have outpaced the science which supports them. Veterinarians have few guidelines and limited resources for differentiating valid and effective therapies from ones which have insufficient data supporting the processes and/or therapies. Therefore, it is incumbent upon veterinarians engaged in regenerative therapies to be well versed in the emerging science of the field in order to successfully select the specific therapeutic protocols, processes, equipment, and vendors most likely to result in clinical benefit for their patients."

The policy lists nine considerations for use of regenerative medicine by veterinarians.

AVMA to deliberate on assistance animals, stem cells (June 1, 2017)

FDA finalizes guidance on cell-based products in animals (July 15, 2015)

Stem cells in theory & practice (Feb. 15, 2011)

Go here to read the rest:
Policy addresses therapeutic use of stem cells, regenerative medicine - American Veterinary Medical Association

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Developments in Regenerative Medicine: FDA Announces Plans to ... - JD Supra (press release)

Valeria Canto-Soler at work in the lab at the Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine.

When Valeria Canto-Soler, Ph.D., was a biology student in Argentina, she dreamed of a career studying elephants and other African wildlife in their natural habitat.

But life took her on a different journey. In July, Canto-Soler joined the Department of Ophthalmology and the Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine as the Doni Solich Family Endowed Chair in Ocular Stem Cell Research.

I like to joke about it, she says. Instead of spending my life studying animals in the wilds of Africa, Im in a dark room sitting in front of a microscope.

After an international search, Canto-Soler also was named director of CellSight, the Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, in partnership with the Gates Center and the Department of Ophthalmology. She also will be an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine.

This $10 million ocular stem cell and regeneration program initiative began with a $5 million grant from the Gates Frontiers Fund to research the potential for stem cells to treat age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people ages 50 and older.

I dreamed of launching a stem cell research program like this for years, she says. The leadership at both the Gates Center and the Department of Ophthalmology has the same vision that I have. Working together, we can make it happen.

Canto-Soler grew up in Mendoza, Argentina, a city on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains. Similar to Denver in that its nestled in the foothills, Mendozas close proximity to the mountains gave her the opportunity to hike, explore and marvel at the natural wildlife she encountered.

But when it came to a career choice, it was more difficult for her to decide how to direct her love of nature and biology. In contrast to the U.S., students in Argentina have to decide on a career early.

Its a very important decision and there are very few chances for you to change your mind after that, she says.

As a young biology student, Canto-Soler found herself drawn to the study of the human nervous system and how the sense organs work.

Year by year, I felt more and more fascinated by the biology of the human body, she says. In the last two years of biology school, I started to work in a lab studying the nervous system. That defined my future.

Canto-Soler earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Cordoba School of Natural Sciences, Cordoba, Argentina in 1996. In 2002, she completed a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at the Austral University School of Medicine in Buenos Aires.

After she earned her Ph.D., Canto-Soler had the opportunity to explore new vistas. She was accepted as a Fellow with the Retinal Degenerations Research Center in the Department of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. She worked with renowned scientist Ruben Adler, MD, at the Wilmer Eye Institute.

I was so excited the focus of his research was the development of the eye, Canto-Soler says. It was perfect for me.

She thought her fellowship would provide her the knowledge and experience she could take back to Argentina, but she found new challenges to keep her in the U.S. When her mentor, Dr. Adler, died in 2007, she took over his role at Wilmer to continue their work.

In 2014, Canto-Soler and her team created a miniature human retina in a petri dish, using human stem cells. The mini retinas had functioning photoreceptor cells capable of sensing light. This cutting-edge research opened up the potential to take cells from a patient who suffers from a particular retinal disease, such as macular degeneration, and use them to generate mini retinas that would recapitulate the disease of the patient; this allows studying the disease on a human context directly, rather than depending on animal models.

This research could lead to personalized medicine and drug treatments for specific patient needs. At CellSight, Canto-Soler will work with clinicians and members of the Gates Center to create patient registries and cell banking. She hopes her research will someday result in cell-based treatments; retinal patches, for example, which could be transplanted into a patients eye, possibly curing blindness.

Once you transplant a retinal patch, the cells have to establish all the right connections with the patients own retinal cells in order to process the information and produce a visual image, she says. No one really knows how to do that yet.

But shes confident the clinicians from the Department of Ophthalmology, and the researchers at CellSight and the Gates Center, will work together to make the dream a reality.

Im definitely a dreamer, Canto-Soler says. I never imagined we could generate human mini retinas in a petri dish. And to see that happen made me a believer. I believe our scientific dreams can come true if we pursue them in the right way.

The letters and emails she receives from those who have family members or friends suffering from sight problems or blindness inspire her. Theyre also looking for answers.

Its what gets me motivated to come to work every day, she says. Im excited to think about how we could help people and the impact that would make in their lives.

Continue reading here:
Canto-Soler joins team at Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine to develop cell-based treatments - CU Anschutz Today (press release)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) intendsto investigate the use of unproven stem cell therapies being offered in the country'sclinics.

Tighter enforcement from the FDA comes as an inspection at StemImmune Inc based in San Diego, California, revealed the use of potentially dangerous treatments administered to vulnerable cancer patients.

Only a small number of stem cell treatments are currentlyFDA approved, including use of bone marrow transplants in cancer patients and cord blood for specific blood-related disorders.However stem cell treatments using only the patient's own cells are not subject to the same level of regulation as drugs if the cells are only 'minimally manipulated'.

FDA commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb said in a statement:'The FDA will not allow deceitful actors to take advantage of vulnerable patients by purporting to have treatments or cures for serious diseases without any proof that they actually work. I especially wont allow cases such as this one to go unchallenged, where we have good medical reasons to believe these purported treatments can actually harm patients and make their conditions worse.'

Five vials,each containing 100 doses of the live Vaccinia Virus Vaccine, were seized from StemImmune Incby US marshals on25August 2017.

The vaccine, which is usedagainst smallpox, and is not commercially available was combined with stem cells derived from body fat to create an unapprovedtherapy. The concoction was injected directly into tumours of cancer patients at California Stem Cell Treatment Centres in Rancho Mirage and Beverly Hills.

The effects of the vaccine in immunocompromised cancer patients have the possibility to cause severe complications such as inflammation and swelling of the heart and surrounding tissues.

In a separate case, awarning letter was also sent to chief scientific officerKristin Comellaat US Stem Cell Clinic in Sunrise, Florida, after three patients with macular degeneration were blinded following the use of unapproved stem cell injections into their eyes, in a sponsored study (see BioNews 893). The letter lists a number of non-compliance to procedures and 'significant deviations' to current good manufacturing practice and good tissue practice.

'Our actions today should also be a warning to others who may be doing similar harm, we will take action to ensure Americans are not put at unnecessary risk,' Dr Gottlieb commented. 'I also urge health care providers, patients and consumers to report these kinds of activities or any adverse events associated with these unproven treatments to the agency through MedWatch a safety reporting programme.'

Professionals in the field blame the past lack of FDA attention for the widespread problem and are calling for stringent regulation. ProfessorLeigh Turner, fromthe Centre for Bioethics at the University of Minnesota, told CNN: 'This is a space where the FDA could have taken action four or five years ago as far as making this a policy priority.'

Read more from the original source:
FDA crackdown on unproven stem cell therapies - BioNews

President and Scientific Director, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and Director, P3G (Public Population Project in Genomics)President and Scientific Director, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Scientific Director, P3GDr. Thomas J. Hudson is president and scientific director of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. He is implementing the institutes strategic plan, working with cancer research institutions across Ontario to leverage existing strengths. The plan focuses on prevention, early diagnosis, cancer targets and new therapeutics. Its innovation platforms include imaging and interventions, bio-repositories and pathology, genomics and high-throughput screening, and informatics and biocomputing. Dr. Hudson is recruiting more than 50 internationally recognized principal investigators.Dr. Hudson was the founder and Director of the McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre and Assistant-Director of the Whitehead/MIT Center for Genome Research. Dr. Hudson is internationally renowned for his work in genomics. At the Whitehead Institute, Dr. Hudson led the effort to generate dense physical and gene maps of the human and mouse genomes. He is a leader in the development and applications of robotic systems and DNA-chip based methodologies for genome research. In June 1996, he founded the Montreal Genome Centre based at the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute. In 2003, this group expanded to become the McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre. Dr. Hudson and his team were founding members of the International Haplotype Map Consortium. Dr. Hudsons interests in human genetic diseases focus on the dissection of complex genetic diseases. Disease projects in Dr. Hudsons laboratory included the search for genes predisposing to lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, coronary artery disease, asthma, diabetes and colon cancer. The laboratory also used the DNA-chip technology to characterize breast and ovarian cancer.

In 2007, Dr. Hudson was appointed to the rank of professor (status-only) in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. He taught in the departments of Human Genetics and Medicine at McGill University and practiced medicine at the McGill University Health Centre Montreal General Hospital.

Dr. Hudson is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He was one of the co-founding members of P3G and is currently serving as its scientific director. He is editor-in-chief of the journal Human Genetics.

The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Hudson has received the 2005 Achievement of the Year in Healthcare from Macleans magazine, the 2005 Award for Research in Immunology by the Canadian Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the Andr-Dupont 2002 Young Investigator Award given by Quebecs Clinical Research Club, an Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, a Burroughs-Wellcome Clinician-Scientist Award, The 2002 Prix de la Sant from the Armand-Frappier Foundation, the 2001 Young Scientist Award by the Genetics Society of Canada, the 2000 Scientist of the Year by Radio-Canada, and the 1999 Canadas Top 40 Under 40.

http://oicr.on.ca/person/oicr-investigator/tom-hudson

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HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

Your May 17 article about genetic engineering [Facts, Fears and the Future of Food] is so chock-full of glib falsehoods that I hardly know where to begin. I would have far more respect for the science behind biotechnology if it didnt depend so heavily on half-truths, double standards, unwarranted assumptions, blurred distinctions and conflicts of interest.

Jack Britt says that the same microorganisms move genes between species both in nature and in genetic engineering, and therefore the methods are the same. This is half true. In the latter, various techniques are employed to either bypass or weaken the natural immunity of the organism being manipulated, often literally forcing the DNA into the cells in ways that would never occur in nature. Stating that many organisms are naturally GMO, and therefore implying that we have carte blanche to do whatever we wish, isnt just a stretch, its a whopper.

Britt and Leah McGrath emphasize the precision of these techniques. Again, this is a perversion of the truth. In fact, this is merely a precision of abstractions, because the living organism is then going to move these genes around in ways that cant possibly be controlled or predicted. The only way to even begin to achieve complete control or precision would be to kill the organism, which would obviously be counterproductive. A technology that treats living organisms as though they were dead has extremely questionable scientific validity, not to mention morality.

Both the tone and title of the article perpetuate the same old scientific myths about biotechnology: The facts are with the scientists, the fears (beliefs) are with the uninformed public, and the future of food requires the widespread adoption of these techniques. The public is misinformed, largely because news media like the Xpress have allowed themselves to be used as soapboxes by academic cheerleaders for corporate interests.

As long as we continue to assume that:1. The deterministic gene weve been taught in school and through the media is real.2. The kind of science we now have (which is mostly technology rather than science proper) is the only science possible. And3. Everything a scientist says is scientific by definition,

we will continue to make catastrophic mistakes.

Substantive criticisms of biotechnology do exist, but for some reason, they almost never find their way into the mass media. The opposition only seems weak because its strongest arguments are ignored.

Andy Shaw Easton, Md.

Editors note: Freelance writer Nick Wilson responds in part:I thank you for your passionate response. I appreciate criticism and view it as an opportunity to learn through grappling with different perspectives. Ultimately, Im more than happy to admit my past errors if I come to a new understanding that falls more in line with what I believe to be true. If it comes to my awareness that I have put forth falsehoods, Id absolutely like to remedy that. This is to say that my perspectives are evolving, not fixed. Its important to me to keep learning and growing in the pursuit of truth.

Link:
Letter: Perpetuating 'scientific' myths about biotechnology - Mountain Xpress

As Boulders biotech community continues to thrive and grow, theJennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Buildingdebuted its state-of-the-art E-Wing on Monday.

The 56,340-square-foot E-Wingwill feature next-generation active learning spaces where students learn by doing rather than by being lectured, as well as laboratory space wherecurrent and future faculty in the BioFrontiers Instituteand the Department of Chemicaland Biological Engineering will be able tocontinue their groundbreaking research.

Mondays ribbon-cutting event honored Colorado-based philanthropists John and Anna Sie, whose generous $2 million gift will allow for the creation of an industry co-location space on the E-Wings second floor. The space will be leased to industry partners, allowing local and national biotech companies to bring scientists and resources on-site in order to work side-by-side with university students and researchers.

CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano and Tom Cech, Nobel Laureate and director of the BioFrontiers Institute, were on hand to officially open the Yuan Yung-Foo Interdisciplinary Bioscience Research Neighborhood and thanked the Sies for their continued support of BioFrontiers and the universitys research mission.

The Sies, whose philanthropic generosity is well known in the state of Colorado and around the world, have provided stalwart support for the BioFrontiers Institute for many years and in many ways, said Cech, a Distinguished Professor of chemistry and biochemistry at CU Boulder. We are truly grateful for their most recent commitment to providing much-needed research facilities where our talented researchers, students and industry partners work together to unravel the complexities of biology with an ultimate goal of enhancing human health and welfare.

Anna and John are among CUs most generous donorstheir gifts are always transformational, DiStefano said. "With their support, we are achieving our vision to become a leader in addressing the humanitarian, social and technological challenges of the 21st century."

Construction on the $32 million E-wing broke ground in March 2016, aided by $15 million in funding from the state of Colorado.

For more information on the E-Wing, visit the BioFrontiers Institutes website.

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Biotechnology building debuts state-of-the-art E-Wing - CU Boulder Today

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (Nasdaq: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, announced the release of two abstracts on its drug neratinib that will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress, which will be held September 8 12 in Madrid, Spain. Abstracts are available to the public online on the ESMO website: http://www.esmo.org.

Abstract #1490: Neratinib after trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy in early stage HER2-positive breast cancer:5-year analysis of the Phase III ExteNET trial.The abstract will be presented as a proffered paper oral session on Friday, September 8.

Abstract #177P:Effects of neratinib on health-related quality of life in early stage HER2-positive breast cancer.The abstract will be displayed as a poster on Monday, September 11.

The ExteNET trial is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III trial of neratinib versus placebo after adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab (Herceptin) in women with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer.

U.S. Approval of Neratinib (NERLYNX)

Neratinib was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July 2017 for the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early stage HER2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer, following adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy, and is marketed in the United States as NERLYNX (neratinib) tablets.

About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Approximately 20% to 25% of breast cancer tumors over-express the HER2 protein. HER2-positive breast cancer is often more aggressive than other types of breast cancer, increasing the risk of disease progression and death. Although research has shown that trastuzumab can reduce the risk of early stage HER2-positive breast cancer returning after surgery, up to 25% of patients treated with trastuzumab experience recurrence.

Indication

NERLYNX is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor indicated for the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early stage HER2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer, to follow adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy.

To help ensure patients have access to NERLYNX, Puma has implemented the Puma Patient Lynx support program to assist patients and healthcare providers with reimbursement support and referrals to resources that can help with financial assistance.More information on the Puma Patient Lynx program can be found at http://www.NERLYNX.com or 1-855-816-5421.

The full prescribing information for NERLYNX is available at http://www.NERLYNX.com. The recommended dose of NERLYNX is 240 mg (six 40 mg tablets) given orally once daily with food, continuously for one year. Antidiarrheal prophylaxis should be initiated with the first dose of NERLYNX and continued during the first 2 months (56 days) of treatment and as needed thereafter.

Important Safety Information

There are possible side effects of NERLYNX. Patients must contact their doctor right away if they experience any of these symptoms. NERLYNX treatment may be stopped or the dose may be lowered if the patient experiences any of these side effects.

Diarrhea

Diarrheais a common side effect ofNERLYNX. The diarrhea may be severe, and you may get dehydrated. Your healthcare provider should prescribe the medicine loperamide for you during your first 2 cycles (56 days) of NERLYNX and then as needed. To help prevent or reduce diarrhea:

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have severe diarrhea or if you have diarrhea along with weakness, dizziness or fever.

Liver Problems

Changes in liver function tests are common with NERLYNX. The patients doctor will do tests before starting treatment, monthly during the first 3 months, and then every 3 months as needed during treatment with NERLYNX. NERLYNX treatment may be stopped or the dose may be lowered if your liver tests show severe problems. Symptoms of liver problems may include tiredness, nausea, vomiting, pain in the right upper stomach area (abdomen), fever, rash, itching or yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes.

Pregnancy

Patients should tell their doctor if they are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, plan to breastfeed, or are breastfeeding. NERLYNX can harm your unborn baby. Birth control should be used while a patient is receiving NERLYNX and for at least 1 month after the last dose. If patients are exposed to NERLYNX during pregnancy, they must contact their healthcare provider right away.

Common side effects in patients treated with NERLYNX

In clinical studies, the most common side effects seen in patients taking NERLYNX were diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, vomiting, rash, stomatitis (dry or inflamed mouth, or mouth sores), decreased appetite, muscle spasms, dyspepsia, changes in liver blood test results, nail problems, dry skin, abdominal distention, weight loss and urinary tract infection.

Patients should tell their doctor right away if they are experiencing any side effects. Report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 orhttp://www.FDA.gov/medwatch. Patients and caregivers may also report side effects to Puma Biotechnology at 1-844-NERLYNX (1-844-637-5969).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, available at http://www.NERLYNX.com.

About Puma Biotechnology

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a focus on the development and commercialization of innovative products to enhance cancer care. The Company in-licenses the global development and commercialization rights to three drug candidates PB272 (neratinib (oral)), PB272 (neratinib (intravenous)) and PB357. NERLYNX (neratinib) is approved for commercial use by prescription in the United States as extended adjuvant therapy for early stage HER2-positive breast cancer following adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy and is marketed as NERLYNX. Neratinib is a potent irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks signal transduction through the epidermal growth factor receptors, HER1, HER2 and HER4. Currently, the Company is primarily focused on the commercialization of NERLYNX and the continued development of its other advanced drug candidates directed at the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. The Company believes that NERLYNX has clinical application in the potential treatment of several other cancers that over-express or have a mutation in HER2.

Further information about Puma Biotechnology can be found at http://www.pumabiotechnology.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the benefits of NERLYNX and neratinib, the Companys clinical trials and the announcement of data relative to those trials. All forward-looking statements included in this press release involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and actual outcomes and results could differ materially from these statements due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, the fact that the Company has only recently commenced commercialization and shipment of its only FDA approved product; the Companys dependence upon the commercial success of NERLYNX (neratinib); the Companys history of operating losses and its expectation that it will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future; risks and uncertainties related to the Companys ability to achieve or sustain profitability; the Companys ability to predict its future prospects and forecast its financial performance and growth; failure to obtain sufficient capital to fund the Companys operations; the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts; the Companys ability to obtain FDA approval or other regulatory approvals in the United States or elsewhere for other indications for neratinib or other product candidates; the challenges associated with conducting and enrolling clinical trials; the risk that the results of clinical trials may not support the Companys drug candidate claims; even if approved, the risk that physicians and patients may not accept or use the Companys products; the Companys reliance on third parties to conduct its clinical trials and to formulate and manufacture its drug candidates; risks pertaining to securities class action, derivative and defamation lawsuits; the Companys dependence on licensed intellectual property; and the other risk factors disclosed in the periodic and current reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170830006310/en/

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Puma Biotechnology Announces Publication of Abstracts for ESMO 2017 - Markets Insider

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Shares last traded at $93.95 barely above $87.37, the 50 day moving average and which is well above the 200 day moving average of $61.78. The 50 day moving average went up by +7.53% whereas the 200 day average was up by +52.06%. 820K shares changed hands by the end of trading on Friday. Overall, volume was down 80.71% under the stocks normal daily volume.

Traders are more bullish on Puma Biotechnology Inc of late looking at the fall in short interest. The firm had a fall in short interest between July 31, 2017 and August 15, 2017 of -0.12%. Short interest decreased 7,361 over that timeframe. The days to cover decreased to 6.0 and the percentage of shorted shares was 0.17% on August 15.

Here is the rundown on market activity for Puma Biotechnology Inc (NASDAQ:PBYI). Richard Paul Bryce, SR VP, CLINICAL RESEARCH & DEV sold $435,500 worth of shares at an average price of $87.10 on July 3rd. Bryce now owns $2,546,543 of stock as recorded in a recent Form 4 SEC filing.

Here are a few other firms who have also updated their positions. Janus Capital Management LLC divested its stake by shedding 2,714 shares a decrease of 0.1% from 12/31/2016 to 03/31/2017. Janus Capital Management LLC currently owns 2,209,599 shares worth $82,195,000. The total value of its holdings increased 21.0%. Rock Springs Capital Management Lp expanded its investment by buying 91,500 shares an increase of 96.8% as of 06/30/2017. Rock Springs Capital Management Lp claims 186,000 shares valued at $16,256,000. The value of the position overall is up by 362.5%.

Ghost Tree Capital, LLC reduced its holdings by selling 75,000 shares a decrease of 33.3% in the quarter. Ghost Tree Capital, LLC now holds 150,000 shares with a value of $13,110,000. The value of the position overall is up by 56.6%. As of the end of the quarter Graticule Asia Macro Advisors LLC had sold 6,200 shares trimming its holdings by 13.4%. The value of the investment in (PBYI) went from $1,726,000 to $3,514,000 a change of 103.6% quarter over quarter.

July 18 investment analysts at Credit Suisse maintained a stock rating of Outperform and raised the price target to $118.00 from $111.00.

In the market the company is trading up by 1.57% since yesterdays close of $92.5. In the last earnings report the EPS was $-8.14 and is expected to be $-8.68 for the current year with 37,205,000 shares outstanding. Analysts expect next quarters EPS to be $-2.09 and the next full year EPS is projected to be $-4.71.

Puma Biotechnology, Inc., launched on September 15, 2010, is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of products for the treatment of cancer. The Company focuses on in-licensing the global development and commercialization rights to the three drug candidates, including PB272 (neratinib (oral)), PB272 (neratinib (intravenous)) and PB357. Its neratinib has clinical application in the treatment of several other cancers as well, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and other tumor types that over-express or have a mutation in HER2..

Originally posted here:
Puma Biotechnology Inc (NASDAQ:PBYI) Stock Closed 7.5% Above Its 50 Day Average - Modern Readers

Virtually all cells in the human body contain genes, making them potential targets for gene therapy. However, these cells can be divided into two major categories: somatic cells (most cells of the body) or cells of the germline (eggs or sperm). In theory it is possible to transform either somatic cells or germ cells.

Gene therapy using germ line cells results in permanent changes that are passed down to subsequent generations. If done early in embryologic development, such as during preimplantation diagnosis and in vitro fertilization, the gene transfer could also occur in all cells of the developing embryo. The appeal of germ line gene therapy is its potential for offering a permanent therapeutic effect for all who inherit the target gene. Successful germ line therapies introduce the possibility of eliminating some diseases from a particular family, and ultimately from the population, forever. However, this also raises controversy. Some people view this type of therapy as unnatural, and liken it to "playing God." Others have concerns about the technical aspects. They worry that the genetic change propagated by germ line gene therapy may actually be deleterious and harmful, with the potential for unforeseen negative effects on future generations.

Somatic cells are nonreproductive. Somatic cell therapy is viewed as a more conservative, safer approach because it affects only the targeted cells in the patient, and is not passed on to future generations. In other words, the therapeutic effect ends with the individual who receives the therapy. However, this type of therapy presents unique problems of its own. Often the effects of somatic cell therapy are short-lived. Because the cells of most tissues ultimately die and are replaced by new cells, repeated treatments over the course of the individual's life span are required to maintain the therapeutic effect. Transporting the gene to the target cells or tissue is also problematic. Regardless of these difficulties, however, somatic cell gene therapy is appropriate and acceptable for many disorders, including cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, cancer, and certain infectious diseases. Clinicians can even perform this therapy in utero, potentially correcting or treating a life-threatening disorder that may significantly impair a baby's health or development if not treated before birth.

In summary, the distinction is that the results of any somatic gene therapy are restricted to the actual patient and are not passed on to his or her children. All gene therapy to date on humans has been directed at somatic cells, whereas germline engineering in humans remains controversial and prohibited in for instance the European Union.

Somatic gene therapy can be broadly split into two categories:

Originally posted here:
Overview of Gene Therapy Methods and Types of Gene Therapy

In BriefResearchers healed bone fractures by attracting stem cells to the area and injecting a mix of microbubbles and DNA encoding a bone protein at the break. This method could replace bone grafting for nonhealing fractures.

Fixing broken limb bones after serious injuries can challenge even the most skilled orthopedic surgeons. Too much bone loss makes regrowth impossible, and even smaller fractures make bone growth problematic if the patient is in poor health or at an advanced age.

When physicians encounter these kinds of nonhealing fractures, autologous bone grafts are the gold standard for treatment. These bone grafts involve harvesting a segment of healthy bone, typically from the pelvis of the patient, which is then used to bridge the portion of the break that isnt growing new bone adequately. However, bone grafts are not always possible, depending on the patients health and the extent of the damage from the break.

Some doctors in recent years have started to try something new: incorporating bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) into bone implants to enhance healing. This isnt a sure thing, though. Through their traditional administration, BMPs come with significant side effects including bone formation in soft tissues and bone resorption.

These side effects might haveoccurred because BMPs wereadministered in large doses, so researchers came up with a new strategy: use gene therapy to deliver not the protein itself, but the underlying gene instead. This way the cells will get BMP at physiological levels solely at the site of the injury.

However, gettinggene therapiesinto the right cells isnt always easy. The genes are typically delivered using viral vectors, and these come with their own safety concerns. The researchers in this case used a relatively new delivery mechanism instead: sonoporation.

In sonoporation, an ultrasound is used to cause gas-filled microbubbles with lipid shells to oscillate and create tiny, easily repaired holes in cells. These tiny holes allow DNA for gene therapy to enter into the right place without affecting other areas. The next step was ensuring that the gene therapy targeted the correctcells. The team targeteda special form of stem cells that can become bone cells and produce BMPs proficiently.

The researchers trialled their new strategy in broken pig shinbones and found that the technique healed fractures after a single dose. They first inserted collagen scaffolds, because they attract the stem cells, and then waited for two weeks to allow the scaffolds to recruit sufficient numbers of stem cells.

Next, they injected a mix of microbubbles and BMP-encoding DNA at the fracture site, and applied an ultrasound pulse. The team then waited for eight weeks after the single instance of the gene therapy. The experimental fractures were healed, while the control animals fractures were not.

This innovative therapy could improve the recovery of millions of people around the world. While human trials must be conducted before we know whether hospitals should adopt the procedure,many of its components have shown enough promise for scientists to utilize them insimilar bone-healing experiments: One fracture-fixing strategy incorporates a specific form of BPM, and another therapy uses stem cells to revitalize bone growth.

View post:
Soon, Broken Bones Could be Fixed Using Gene Therapy and Microbubbles - Futurism

Boston Business Journal

Lexington biotech plots $86M IPO as key gene therapy trial nears Boston Business Journal A Lexington biotech developing gene therapy treatments for rare eye diseases has announced plans to raise up to $86 million in an initial public offering. Nightstar Therapeutics, a 23-employee company with a 3,300 square foot office in Lexington and a ... Nightstar files for $86M IPO to fund gene therapy trialsFierceBiotech all 14 news articles »

Original post:
Lexington biotech plots $86M IPO as key gene therapy trial nears - Boston Business Journal

If you listen closely to gut bacteria and host cells, you learn that they speak the same language. You might then pick up the language yourself, giving you the ability to join the microbiomehost conversation, which is known to have implications for human health. And if you ever had trouble being heard, you could try putting words in the mouths of all those jabbering bacteria, steering the microbiomehost conversation toward healthy conclusions.

When bacteria and host cells talk, they do so via signaling molecules, such as the ligands that interact with membrane-bound G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). To keep an ear out for such ligands, scientists based at Rockefeller University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai used the tools of bioinformatics and synthetic biology. These scientists, led by Sean Brady, Ph.D., director of Rockefeller University's Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, were particularly attuned to N-acyl amides, which interact with GPCR receptors.

Dr. Brady and colleagues, including co-investigator Louis Cohen, Ph.D., found that gut bacteria and human cells may not speak in the same dialect, but they can understand each other. Building on this observation, the scientists developed a method to genetically engineer the bacteria to produce molecules that have the potential to treat certain disorders by altering human metabolism. In a test of their system on mice, the introduction of modified gut bacteria led to reduced blood glucose levels and other metabolic changes in the animals.

Details of this work appeared August 30 in the journal Nature, in an article entitled Commensal Bacteria Make GPCR Ligands That Mimic Human Signalling Molecules. The article describes newly discovered commonalities in bacteria and host signaling, and it explains how these commonalities suggest ways gut flora could be engineered to have therapeutically beneficial effects on disease.

We found that N-acyl amide synthase genes are enriched in gastrointestinal bacteria and the lipids that they encode interact with GPCRs that regulate gastrointestinal tract physiology, wrote the articles authors. Mouse and cell-based models demonstrate that commensal GPR119 agonists regulate metabolic hormones and glucose homeostasis as efficiently as human ligands, although future studies are needed to define their potential physiological role in humans.

The language shared by bacteria and host cells involves the lock-and-key relationship of ligands, which bind to receptors on the membranes of human cells to produce specific biological effects. In this case, the bacteria-derived molecules are mimicking human ligands that bind to GPCRs. Many of the GPCRs are implicated in metabolic diseases, Dr. Brady noted, and are the most common targets of drug therapy. And they're conveniently present in the gastrointestinal tract, where the gut bacteria are also found.

"If you're going to talk to bacteria," explained Dr. Brady, "you're going to talk to them right there." (Gut bacteria are part of the microbiome, the larger community of microbes that exist in and on the human body.)

In its work, the team led by Drs. Cohen and Brady engineered gut bacteria to produce N-acyl amides that bind with a specific human receptor, GPR 119, which is known to be involved in the regulation of glucose and appetite and has previously been a therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The bacterial ligands they created turned out to be almost identical structurally to the human ligands, said Dr. Cohen, an assistant professor of gastroenterology in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai.

Among the advantages of working with bacteria, continued Dr. Cohen, who spent five years in Dr. Brady's lab as part of Rockefeller's Clinical Scholars Program, is that their genes are easier to manipulate than human genes and much is already known about them. "All the genes for all the bacteria inside of us have been sequenced at some point," he pointed out.

Although the ligands are the product of nonhuman microorganisms, Dr. Brady says it's a mistake to think of the bacterial ligands they create in the lab as foreign. "The biggest change in thought in this field over the last 20 years is that our relationship with these bacteria isn't antagonistic," he commented. "They are a part of our physiology. What we're doing is tapping into the native system and manipulating it to our advantage."

"This is a first step in what we hope is a larger-scale, functional interrogation of what the molecules derived from microbes can do," Dr. Brady said. His plan is to systematically expand and define the chemistry that is being used by the bacteria in our guts to interact with us.

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Gene Therapy for the Bacteria of Our Microbiome Could Improve Our Health - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Twenty-five per cent of Australian adults are estimated to be clinically obese. The common view is that obesity is a self-inflicted condition. But one Melbourne clinic is challenging that perception.

Austin Health Obesity Physician, Professor Joe Proietto says he treats obesity as a chronic genetic disease.

"The view that obesity is genetic is controversial, however the evidence is very strong that there is a genetic predisposition to obesity," said Professor Proietto.

In a new SBS documentary Obesity Myth, doctors are trying to treat patients through a combination of diet, medication and surgery, tailored specifically for their genetic make-up.

Professor Proietto believes the environment has far less bearing on weight than genetics.

But Sydney University Obesity Research Director, Dr Nick Fuller says blaming genetics is only going to make the obesity crisis worse.

"We are finding more and more genes that contribute to obesity but genetics are not the reason for the increase in prevalence of obesity," said Dr Fuller.

Dr Fuller believes dieting is not the most effective solution.He believes weight loss should happen slowly, to trick the body into believing it is at a new set weight point.

"They need to lose a small amount of weight before the usual response to weight loss kicks in and maintain that weight so they can reprogram their set weight before going on to lose weight," said Dr Fuller.

Helene Jagdon has been trying to lose weight for 30 years. She has tried every fad diet and training regime in the book.

Only in the last few years under Dr Fuller's strategy has she been able to lose 14 kilograms and keep it off.

"He didn't make us feel like we were on a diet, he was just guiding us to what foods we can eat and not really saying what foods we can't eat.

"He was just saying if you feel like having a laksa, have a laksa, but maybe limit it to one takeaway treat in a week," said Ms Jagdon.

Now sitting at a comfortable 68 kilograms, Helene has maintained her passion for cooking and is inspiring people half her age to lose weight without dramatically changing their lives.

Preview: The Obesity Myth

The three-part documentary series The Obesity Myth starts September 4 on SBS at 7.30pm.

Link:
Could genetics be the reason behind obesity? - SBS

Its a beautiful, sunny, fall-esque day here on Long Island, and I have something personal to share with you. After a nuclear stress test taken earlier in the week, my dads cardiologist recommended he check himself into the hospital on Thursday to have an angiogram. My dads had a couple of heart attacks in the past, and while his doctor didnt think it was anything too too serious, he wanted to make sure.

The angiogram showed a 99% blockage in one of his arteries. Because of this, three stents were put in to open it up. An additional stent is being put in as we speak, and if all goes well, he should be out by tomorrow. My dad is in good spirits and looks pretty good, so Im very optimistic that this will be the last we hear of this for a while.

That being said, something I heard his doctor tell him disturbed me quite a bit. Somehow, the topic of genetics came up in the conversation. My father was essentially told that this was all genetic, there was nothing he could do to improve his condition, and that once he gets out and he rests for about a week, he can resume all regular life activities.

The cardiac wing of the hospital was also feeding him garbage for his heart, like bread (derived from grains, which are inflammatory) and margarine (a trans fat, which is bad for the heart) but we wont even get into that today

While I know genetics can play a role in the acquisition of several diseases, theres a new study called EPIGENETICS. The premise behind this field of study is that based upon your chosen environment and your personal lifestyle habits, you can manipulate your genetic code, and either keep a negative genetic trait like heart disease dormant, or you can completely REVERSE that genes expression, and thus, never develop a hereditary disease in the first place!

Ive heard plenty of would-be clients over the years use genetics as an excuse for their being overweight. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were all fat, so this is just something I have to deal with!

Often, when somebody is overweight, its due to poor diet. Plain and simple. Theres a small percentage of the population that has hormonal imbalances, and thus, theres a bit more to it than that. That being said, most hormone issues can be regulated (and even corrected!) by certain dietary strategies that will get those levels back to normal, and then enable them to both function and lose weight normally.

When the folks who blame genetics review their nutrition with me, Ill tell you one thing: It aint just geneticsIf its even genetics, at all! Their diets tend to be comprised of excessive amounts of sugar, grains and processed foods, which, when ingested in large quantities as they were in these instances, are ALL linked to an increased risk of obesity, Type-2 Diabetes, heart disease, various forms of cancer, and even neurological diseases like Parkinsons and Alzheimers!!

Whether youre dealing with weight issues, whether youre diabetic, or whether youre even suffering from a heart condition like my dad is, youre rarely too far gone!!! There are healthy dietary changes you can make that will not only help you in regulating these conditions, but also help in the REVERSAL of many of these conditions.

Moral of the Story: I was highly DISTURBED to hear this explanation given to my dad. Its never too late to change and improve the quality of your life. The question is: Whatre you going to do to change your circumstances?

pete@weightlossbypete.com

P.S. If you feel you need more help on the nutritional side, then youre definitely going to want to invest in my Food Guide and Healthy Recipe Book!

The Food Guide lays out the three phases of nutrition I use with my Permanent Weight Loss clients. Phase 1 gets you in the habit of making healthier choices, while Phase 2 really cleans up the frequency with which you eat healthier. Phase 3 is a strict macronutrient breakdown that will help expedite the process of weight loss, all while improving your health and making your body a well-oiled machine!

My Healthy Recipe Book includes 72 recipes spanning breakfast,lunch, dinner, snacks, appetizers and desserts. Im constantly adding to it, but these recipes are easy to make, simple and enable you to have your cake and eat it, too!

Normally, I sell each of these books for $10 a piece, but because Im feeling generous today, you can get BOTH for just $13.99!:-)

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Weight Loss Tip: It Ain't Just About Genetics! - HuffPost

Scientists from the Duke University School of Medicine say they have found a set of genes and regulatory elements in the intestinal lining that has stayed the same from fish to humans. They note that a good number of these genes are linked to human diseases, including inflammatory bowel disorders, diabetes, and obesity.

The research ("Genomic Dissection of Conserved Transcriptional Regulation in Intestinal Epithelial Cells"),which appears in PLOS Biology, marks fish as a model organism for studying how this old genetic information (covering over 420 million years of evolution) controls the development and dysfunction of the intestine.

"The intestinal epithelium serves critical physiologic functions that are shared among all vertebrates. However, it is unknown how the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying these functions have changed over the course of vertebrate evolution. We generated genome-wide mRNA and accessible chromatin data from adult intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in zebrafish, stickleback, mouse, and human species to determine if conserved IEC functions are achieved through common transcriptional regulation. We found evidence for substantial common regulation and conservation of gene expression regionally along the length of the intestine from fish to mammals and identified a core set of genes comprising a vertebrate IEC signature," write the investigators.

"We define an IEC transcriptional regulatory network that is shared between fish and mammals and establish an experimental platform for studying how evolutionarily distilled regulatory information commonly controls IEC development and physiology."

"Our research has uncovered aspects of intestinal biology that have been well conserved during vertebrate evolution, suggesting they are of central importance to intestinal health," said John F. Rawls, Ph.D., senior author of the study and associate professor of molecular genetics and microbiology. "By doing so, we have built a foundation for mechanistic studies of intestinal biology in nonhuman model systems like fish and mice that would be impossible to perform in humans alone."

According to Dr. Rawls, researchers for years have used animal models to collect information on intestinal epithelial cells that could help combat human diseases. But no one knew how alike these cells were across multiple species. Heand colleagues took a comparative biology approach to address this issue.

Research associate Colin R. Lickwar, Ph.D., and the team obtained genome-wide data from intestinal epithelial cells in four species: zebrafish, stickleback fish, mouse, and human. Dr. Lickwar then created maps for each of the species that showed both the activity level of all of the genes and the location of specific regulatory elements that turned the genes on and off.

The group found a surprising amount of similarity between the different vertebrate species. Dr. Lickwar identified a common set of geneslabeled an intestinal epithelial cell signaturesome of which had shared patterns of activity in specific regions along the length of the intestine. Many of these genes had previously been implicated in a variety of human diseases, and Drs. Lickwar and Rawls wanted to know if this conserved genetic signature was controlled by regulatory elements that might also be shared between species.

They took regulatory elements from fish, mice, and humans and put them into the zebrafish, which are transparent organisms. The scientists then looked under the microscope for color patterns to tell whether a green fluorescent protein or red fluorescent protein, which they had inserted along with the regulatory element, had been turned on in the intestine. They found that this was the case, indicating a very high level of conservation.

"Our findings suggest that intestinal epithelial cells use an ancient core program to do their job in the body of most vertebrates," said Dr. Lickwar, who is lead author of the study. "Now that we have identified this core program, we can more easily translate results back and forth between humans and zebrafish."

Go here to read the rest:
Ancient Gut Genetic Core Program Finding May Lead to New ... - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

GABRIELLA FIORINO

We trust our doctors with our lives. However, what is the reaction when some medical professionals allow unsanitary measures and diseases to break out into the population? Four institutions in the U.S. came under fire recently by the FDA for improperly handling microbiological organisms and exposing the public to smallpox after conducting unapproved techniques, endangering hundreds of lives.

The FDA identified four medical centers in California and Florida as utilizing unapproved stem cell therapies for those with cancer and other serious illnesses. One of the institutes, California Stem Cell Treatment Centers, applied a method developed by StemImmune Inc., which consisted of injecting clients with a mixture of the smallpox vaccine and stem cells. Dr. Mark Berman, co-founder of the California center, described their methods as cutting edge therapy for stage-4 cancer patients, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The consequences of such methods are worrisome; as the FDA claims exposure to the smallpox vaccine significantly increases the risk of life-threatening complications, including heart inflammation. Perhaps even more troubling is the fact that individuals in contact with those receiving the vaccine may develop similar symptoms, possibly infecting hundreds of others. The FDA is currently investigating how StemImmune Inc. received shipments of the vaccine, as the product is unavailable on the market.

The Stem Cell Clinic of Sunrise, Florida is another facility under investigation by the FDA for taking improper sanitary measures to prevent contamination during their therapies. According to the agency, the clinic refused to permit entry of an FDA inspector without an appointment, which is a violation of federal law. This refusal would not be the first time the Florida institution came under fire. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, three clients suffering from macular degeneration sustained blindness following treatment at the facility.

A variety of sources derive stem cells, including bone marrow, blood, umbilical cords, and controversially, human embryos. These products aid in the development and restoration of healthy human tissue, and help battle cancer, heart disease, and Parkinsons disease, as noted by the University of Utah. These products are also employed for spinal cord injuries, indicating critical applications, as the central nervous system does not naturally permit neuro-regeneration following damage. Excitingly, organs growth for those requiring life-saving transplants is another possible advancement.

These innovations are not without consequences, however. According to the Mayo Clinic, some may develop graft-versus-host disease, a condition in which a donors stem cells attack the patients tissues and organs, possibly leading to death. Risks of brain tumor development are also an increased possibility for those receiving injections in the spinal cord, as abnormal tissue growth may result.

As the FDA investigates unsound practices by the four institutes endangering the lives of hundreds, Americans should not be misled regarding stem cell therapies. Through proper sanitary measures, their uses are a huge medical development, comprising a myriad of medical advantages. Liberty Nation will keep readers up to date regarding the actions of the FDA against the four clinics.

Gabi is a Biomedical Sciences major and manages a Cognitive Neuroscience Research Lab at the University of Central Florida. A Libertarian, Gabi says shes surrounded on by whiny, wannabe anti-capitalists, posting about their victimhood on Facebook.Although leftists often confuse her with privileged white girls, Gabi is Puerto Rican and Italian.Make sense of that, liberals!

See the rest here:
Stem Cells and Mishandling Smallpox - Liberty Nation (registration) (blog)