Monthly Archives: March 2012

Autism Is Jim Calhoun's Biggest Opponent

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Jim Calhoun, like many coaches, is superstitious. He might have a lucky tie or piece of jewelry he must wear to end a losing streak, or keep a winning streak going.

But one item that remains in good times and bad is the blue puzzle piece he wears on the lapel of his suit jacket. The symbol for Autism Speaks, like the cause itself, remains close to his heart at all times.

"He has never taken it off," Jeff Calhoun said. "I can't tell you how many people who have mentioned it to me parents, families touched by autism, who tell me how much it means to them. He is very passionate about it. Just by lending his name and reaching out to people, he has done more than we could ever ask."

Said Amy Calhoun: "When I see that blue pin on his lapel, it sometimes brings tears to my eyes. He is taking this on for Reese."

The cause is a personal one for the Calhoun family. Jeff and Amy's daughter, Reese, now 8, was diagnosed at 2, and her grandfather's involvement with the advocacy group Autism Speaks is very deep.

But because he is scheduled to undergo back surgery on Monday in New York, Calhoun will not be able to participate in an event he has helped launch "CardioRaiser: Workout for Autism Speaks" at Cardio Express in Manchester and Southington from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Farmington Bank is the presenting sponsor.

"It's just so important to raise awareness," Jeff Calhoun said, "because autism, anything that involves the brain, is something we don't talk about much as a society. We want to share our story, and hope it lets people know they are not alone."

Hundreds are expected to participate, and the event is expected to raise at least $100,000 for the Connecticut chapter of Autism Speaks. Participants may choose from a variety of exercise activities to help in the cause. Although Jim Calhoun cannot be there, some of his assistants are expected to stop by the morning after UConn plays Syracuse (Saturday night at 9 p.m.). Panera Bread will provide breakfast for participants.

The event will become an annual one, Jeff Calhoun said.

"I am deeply committed to the cause of helping families confronting the many challenges of autism," Jim Calhoun said in January, when the event was scheduled. "It is my hope that this event will bring Connecticut families together to raise dollars so important to all those facing this complex neurobiological disorder."

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Autism Is Jim Calhoun's Biggest Opponent

Redefining Autism: Proposal Worries Many Parents

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When Caleb Geary was diagnosed with autism at age 3, he had never spoken or eaten solid food.

Now 6, the boy speaks and tests at his first-grade level progress that his parents attribute to insurance-based services at home and intensive behavioral intervention at the boy's school in Hamden.

But they worry what will happen to Caleb's diagnosis and the services that have come with it if the American Psychiatry Association's proposal to change the definition of autism is adopted.

Lori Geary said she has already fought to get her son the help he needs. Tom Zwicker, Caleb's father and the director of an autism center for the Easter Seals of Coastal Fairfield County, said he believes insurance companies will start requesting annual diagnostic evaluations if the definition is revised. As a result, his son and many other children will lose out on services to treat their conditions.

"You have an entire group receiving services that would be left out in the cold," said Zwicker, who lives in Branford. "We're going to lose a whole generation of children."

The autism community has been embroiled in a heated debate for the past few weeks over the proposal to dramatically change the criteria for autism diagnosis in the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The DSM-5, scheduled to be published in 2013, is the first revision since 1994.

The revision would create an umbrella category known as "autism spectrum disorder" that would include traditional autism, as well as Asperger's Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) which currently are considered separate disorders. A new category, social communication disorder, would also be created.

"What became very apparent is that there aren't clear boundaries, and that they really are all on a spectrum," said Darrell Regier, director of research for the APA. The current criteria, he said, is "fuzzy" and as a result some people have been mislabeled as autistic, while others who need treatment can't get it because their symptoms don't match the current criteria.

"The thing that we tried to do is be a little more clear about the different deficits that these people have," Regier said.

But some experts worry that the revision's main effect will be to drastically reduce the number of people who are diagnosed with autism and who now qualify for services to treat it.

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Redefining Autism: Proposal Worries Many Parents

Autism groups to merge

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The local nonprofit groups Life Skills for adults with developmental disabilities and TouchPoint Autism Services will merge their organizations as of July 1 to support a growing number of adults with autism.

The new organization will be known as Life Skills, and TouchPoint (formerly the Judevine Center for Autism) will still be used to refer to autism services.

"As these children who are diagnosed with autism are aging, we really wanted to be prepared to meet that need," said Wendy Sullivan, CEO of the new organization.

Parents can be "confident you can stay with this organization through the child's lifetime," Sullivan said.

Life Skills provides 24-hour assistance including in-home care, job training and placement to teenagers and adults with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other developmental disabilities. TouchPoint Autism Services offers early intervention services, behavior therapy, parent training and employment services through seven offices in Missouri. Both groups, which have offices in west St. Louis County, are United Way member agencies.

The organization will have a combined 1,200 employees. There are no immediate plans for layoffs or eliminating positions, Sullivan said.

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Autism groups to merge

‘Parent Training’ May Help Kids With Autism Behave Better

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THURSDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Children with autism often display challenging behaviors, but new research suggests that parents can learn to better handle tantrums and aggression, which may improve their child's overall functioning.

"Parent training is one of the best, evidence-supported treatment interventions in child psychiatry for other conditions, such as for children with ADHD or children with oppositional defiant disorder," said senior study author Lawrence Scahill, a professor at Yale University School of Nursing and Child Study Center in New Haven, Conn. "But strangely enough, it had never really been tried with children with autism or with developmental disabilities, so we had to make our own manual."

The study involved 124 children aged 4 to 13 with an autism spectrum disorder and serious behavioral issues, including daily, prolonged tantrums, aggression or self-injurious behavior. The children were prescribed risperidone (Risperdal), an antipsychotic drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating severe behavioral problems in children with autism.

Half the children and their parents were also assigned to a six-month, structured "parent training" program. Parents were asked to identify the most difficult, disruptive behaviors and to think about what preceded the incidents and why the child might do it. They then worked with counselors to devise strategies to avoid the triggers and help the child respond better to the everyday stressors.

Parents who underwent training reported a greater decrease in problem behaviors than the parents of children on medication alone, researchers found. By the end of the study, the average dose of risperidone was lower for kids in the parent-training group.

"On the tantrums, the aggression and the self-injury, the combination of medications and parent training was better," said Scahill. "How much better? Not a huge amount, but it was an incremental improvement over an already effective improvement."

Parents who received training also reported improvements on a test known as the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, which measures how well a child does everyday activities, such as communicating, socializing, dressing, eating at the table and going to school.

By diminishing serious problem behaviors, such as tantrums and aggression, children's skills in other areas improved, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, restricted interests and behaviors, repetitive behaviors and sometimes intellectual disability.

The study is published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

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'Parent Training' May Help Kids With Autism Behave Better

'Parent Training' May Help Kids With Autism Behave Better

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THURSDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Children with autism often display challenging behaviors, but new research suggests that parents can learn to better handle tantrums and aggression, which may improve their child's overall functioning.

"Parent training is one of the best, evidence-supported treatment interventions in child psychiatry for other conditions, such as for children with ADHD or children with oppositional defiant disorder," said senior study author Lawrence Scahill, a professor at Yale University School of Nursing and Child Study Center in New Haven, Conn. "But strangely enough, it had never really been tried with children with autism or with developmental disabilities, so we had to make our own manual."

The study involved 124 children aged 4 to 13 with an autism spectrum disorder and serious behavioral issues, including daily, prolonged tantrums, aggression or self-injurious behavior. The children were prescribed risperidone (Risperdal), an antipsychotic drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating severe behavioral problems in children with autism.

Half the children and their parents were also assigned to a six-month, structured "parent training" program. Parents were asked to identify the most difficult, disruptive behaviors and to think about what preceded the incidents and why the child might do it. They then worked with counselors to devise strategies to avoid the triggers and help the child respond better to the everyday stressors.

Parents who underwent training reported a greater decrease in problem behaviors than the parents of children on medication alone, researchers found. By the end of the study, the average dose of risperidone was lower for kids in the parent-training group.

"On the tantrums, the aggression and the self-injury, the combination of medications and parent training was better," said Scahill. "How much better? Not a huge amount, but it was an incremental improvement over an already effective improvement."

Parents who received training also reported improvements on a test known as the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, which measures how well a child does everyday activities, such as communicating, socializing, dressing, eating at the table and going to school.

By diminishing serious problem behaviors, such as tantrums and aggression, children's skills in other areas improved, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, restricted interests and behaviors, repetitive behaviors and sometimes intellectual disability.

The study is published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

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'Parent Training' May Help Kids With Autism Behave Better

:: 01, Mar 2012 :: A*STAR SCIENTISTS MAKE GROUNDBREAKING DISCOVERY ON STEM CELL REGULATION

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MEDIA RELEASE

A*STAR Scientists Make Groundbreaking Discovery on Stem Cell Regulation

New link between polyamine levels and embryonic stem cell state deepens our understanding of embryonic stem cell regulation which is a key step in bringing cellular therapies from the laboratory to the clinic.

1. A*STAR scientists have for the first time, identified that precise regulation of polyamine[1] levels is critical for embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal the ability of ESCs to divide indefinitely and directed differentiation. This paper is crucial for better understanding of ESC regulation and was published in the journal Genes & Development on 1st March by the team of scientists from the Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), a research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

2. Embryonic stem cells hold great potential for the development of cellular therapies, where stem cells are used to repair tissue damaged by disease or trauma. This is due to their unique ability to renew themselves and differentiate into any specific types of cell in the body. One of the challenges with cellular therapies is ensuring that ESCs are fully and efficiently differentiated into the correct cell type. This study sheds light on understanding how ESCs are regulated, which is essential to overcome these challenges and turn the vision of cell therapies into reality.

3. Using a mouse model, the team of scientists from IMB showed that high levels of Amd1[2], a key enzyme in the polyamine synthesis pathway, is essential for maintenance of the ESC state and self renewal of ESCs. To further demonstrate the critical role of Amd1 in ESC self-renewal, the scientists showed that increasing Amd1 levels led to delayed ESC differentiation. The research also revealed that downregulation of Amd1 was necessary for differentiation of ESCs into neural precursor cells and that Amd1 is translationally regulated by a micro-RNA (miRNA), the first ever demonstration of miRNA-mediated regulation of the polyamine pathway.

4. While the polyamine pathway is well established and polyamines are known to be important in cancer and cell proliferation, their role in ESC regulation until now was unknown. This novel discovery, linking polyamine regulation to ESC biology, came about when the team set up a genome-wide screen to look for mRNAs under translational control in order to identify new regulators of ESC differentiation to neural precursor cells.

6. Dr Leah Vardy, Principle Investigator at the IMB and lead author of the paper, said, The polyamines that Amd1 regulate have the potential to regulate many different aspects of self renewal and differentiation. The next step is to understand in more detail the molecular targets of these polyamines both in embryonic stem cells and cells differentiating to different cellular lineages. It is possible that manipulation of polyamine levels in embryonic stem cells through inhibitors or activators of the pathway could help direct the differentiation of embryonic stem cells to more clinically useful cell types.

7. Prof. Birgitte Lane, Executive Director of IMB, said, This is a fine piece of fundamental research that will have breakthrough consequences in many areas and can bring about far-reaching applications. Developing cellular therapies is just one long-term clinical benefit of understanding ESC biology, which can also help develop stem cell systems for disease modeling, developing new drugs as well as a tool for researchers to answer other biological questions.

Notes for editor:

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:: 01, Mar 2012 :: A*STAR SCIENTISTS MAKE GROUNDBREAKING DISCOVERY ON STEM CELL REGULATION

A*STAR Scientists Make Groundbreaking Discovery on Stem Cell Regulation

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Embryonic stem cells hold great potential for the development of cellular therapies, where stem cells are used to repair tissue damaged by disease or trauma. This is due to their unique ability to renew themselves and differentiate into any specific types of cell in the body. One of the challenges with cellular therapies is ensuring that ESCs are fully and efficiently differentiated into the correct cell type. This study sheds light on understanding how ESCs are regulated, which is essential to overcome these challenges and turn the vision of cell therapies into reality.

Using a mouse model, the team of scientists from IMB showed that high levels of Amd1 , a key enzyme in the polyamine synthesis pathway, is essential for maintenance of the ESC state and self renewal of ESCs. To further demonstrate the critical role of Amd1 in ESC self-renewal, the scientists showed that increasing Amd1 levels led to delayed ESC differentiation. The research also revealed that downregulation of Amd1 was necessary for differentiation of ESCs into neural precursor cells and that Amd1 is translationally regulated by a micro-RNA (miRNA), the first ever demonstration of miRNA-mediated regulation of the polyamine pathway.

While the polyamine pathway is well established and polyamines are known to be important in cancer and cell proliferation, their role in ESC regulation until now was unknown. This novel discovery, linking polyamine regulation to ESC biology, came about when the team set up a genome-wide screen to look for mRNAs under translational control in order to identify new regulators of ESC differentiation to neural precursor cells.

Dr Leah Vardy, Principle Investigator at the IMB and lead author of the paper, said, "The polyamines that Amd1 regulate have the potential to regulate many different aspects of self renewal and differentiation. The next step is to understand in more detail the molecular targets of these polyamines both in embryonic stem cells and cells differentiating to different cellular lineages. It is possible that manipulation of polyamine levels in embryonic stem cells through inhibitors or activators of the pathway could help direct the differentiation of embryonic stem cells to more clinically useful cell types."

Prof. Birgitte Lane, Executive Director of IMB, said, "This is a fine piece of fundamental research that will have breakthrough consequences in many areas and can bring about far-reaching applications. Developing cellular therapies is just one long-term clinical benefit of understanding ESC biology, which can also help develop stem cell systems for disease modeling, developing new drugs as well as a tool for researchers to answer other biological questions."

Notes for editors: The research findings can be found in the 1st March issue of Genes and Development under the title, "AMD1 is essential for ESC self-renewal and is translationally down-regulated on differentiation to neural precursor cells" by Dawei Zhang (1,4), Tianyun Zhao (1,4), Haw Siang Ang (2), Peini Chong (1), Ryotaro Saiki (3), Kazuei Igarashi (3), Henry Yang (2), and Leah A. Vardy (1,5).

1. Institute of Medical Biology, A*STAR, Singapore 2. Cancer Science Institute, National University of Singapore 3. Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Japan 4. These authors contributed equally to this work 5. Corresponding author

About the Institute of Medical Biology (IMB)

IMB is one of the Biomedical Sciences Institutes of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It was formed in 2007, the 7th and youngest of the BMRC Research Institutes, with a mission to study mechanisms of human disease in order to discover new and effective therapeutic strategies for improved quality of life.

IMB hosts 20 research teams of international excellence in stem cells, genetic diseases, cancer and skin and epithelial biology, and works closely with clinical collaborators to target the challenging interface between basic science and clinical medicine. Its growing portfolio of strategic research topics is targeted at translational research on the mechanisms of human diseases, with a cell-to-tissue emphasis that can help identify new therapeutic strategies for disease amelioration, cure and eradication.

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A*STAR Scientists Make Groundbreaking Discovery on Stem Cell Regulation

Stem cell study ‘should aim at innovation in treatment’

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By Bonnie James Deputy News Editor The stem cell and regenerative therapy programme, constituting a major part of research at Qatar Cardiovascular Research Centre (QCRC), has important clinical and scientific implications, co-chairman Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub has said. He was giving a keynote presentation at the Qatar International Conference on Stem Cell Science and Policy 2012, which concluded on Thursday at Qatar National Convention Centre. Myocardium (the muscular tissue of the heart) regeneration and tissue engineering and valves tissue engineering are among the focal areas at QCRC, which aims to establish in Qatar an internationally competitive centre of excellence for cardio-vascular research. QCRC, which has a heart muscle lab and a tissue engineering, regeneration lab, works with a mission to maintain a translational focus, relevant to the development of health policy and practice, and provide opportunities for capacity building, professional development and research collaborations in Qatar. It is also meant to provide opportunities for biotechnology development in Qatar and contribute to cardio-vascular health in the developing world through improved knowledge base, capacity building and development of appropriate tools and strategies focused on poorer countries. Cardio-vascular diseases (CVDs) kill 17mn people per year globally and there is particularly high incidence in the Middle East and Gulf region, Prof Yacoub pointed out. The incidence of CVDs is three times more in the region than in the UK, the US or Europe. Smoking, one of the main reasons for CVDs, is also increasing in the eastern Mediterranean region compared to the Americas. There is a significant lack of clinical, epidemiological and genetic data from this region and an overwhelming need exists to better understand epidemiology and disease mechanisms of CVDs. Research should then be linked to development of appropriate tools and strategies to strengthen prevention, diagnosis and treatment, he said. Pointing out that heart transplant options for those suffering from severe heart failure are becoming increasingly rare, Prof Yacoub observed that the number of donor hearts is going down globally. While we used to do up to 130 heart transplants a year at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in the UK in the late 80s, now we would be lucky to do 20, he said while emphasising the need to focus more on the reversibility of heart failure. Few recent drug trials have shown evidence of minor reverse remodelling and there have been near-complete reversal of almost every change in myocardium in some patients. There are unprecedented opportunities to unravel the secrets of heart failure at cellular and molecular levels, he stressed.

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Stem cell study ‘should aim at innovation in treatment’

Research and Markets: Artificial cells, Cell Engineering and Therapy

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ad83a7/artificial_cells) has announced the addition of Woodhead Publishing Ltd's new book "Artificial cells, cell engineering and therapy" to their offering.

Artificial cells, cell engineering and therapy are emerging technologies which will make a significant impact on the future of medicine and healthcare. However, research within the field is vast. This unique book provides a comprehensive study of the most recent advances in the field and its practical applications.

The first part of the book offers the reader an introduction to the basics of artificial cell technology with chapters on its origins, design and current status within medicine and future prospects. Part 2 covers apoptosis, the use of bone marrow stromal cells in myocardial regeneration together with signalling and tissue engineering. Part 3 discusses artificial cells for therapy, procedures for various clinical conditions and the current status of the discipline within the field. The book concludes with a final section on the role of artificial cells in medicine with particular focus on the use of artificial cells as blood substitutes and their potential use in myocardial regeneration, drug delivery and in treating kidney and bowel diseases, diabetes and cancer.

Key Topics Covered:

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ad83a7/artificial_cells

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Research and Markets: Artificial cells, Cell Engineering and Therapy

Stem cell study ‘should aim at innovation in treatment’

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By Bonnie James Deputy News Editor The stem cell and regenerative therapy programme, constituting a major part of research at Qatar Cardiovascular Research Centre (QCRC), has important clinical and scientific implications, co-chairman Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub has said. He was giving a keynote presentation at the Qatar International Conference on Stem Cell Science and Policy 2012, which concluded on Thursday at Qatar National Convention Centre. Myocardium (the muscular tissue of the heart) regeneration and tissue engineering and valves tissue engineering are among the focal areas at QCRC, which aims to establish in Qatar an internationally competitive centre of excellence for cardio-vascular research. QCRC, which has a heart muscle lab and a tissue engineering, regeneration lab, works with a mission to maintain a translational focus, relevant to the development of health policy and practice, and provide opportunities for capacity building, professional development and research collaborations in Qatar. It is also meant to provide opportunities for biotechnology development in Qatar and contribute to cardio-vascular health in the developing world through improved knowledge base, capacity building and development of appropriate tools and strategies focused on poorer countries. Cardio-vascular diseases (CVDs) kill 17mn people per year globally and there is particularly high incidence in the Middle East and Gulf region, Prof Yacoub pointed out. The incidence of CVDs is three times more in the region than in the UK, the US or Europe. Smoking, one of the main reasons for CVDs, is also increasing in the eastern Mediterranean region compared to the Americas. There is a significant lack of clinical, epidemiological and genetic data from this region and an overwhelming need exists to better understand epidemiology and disease mechanisms of CVDs. Research should then be linked to development of appropriate tools and strategies to strengthen prevention, diagnosis and treatment, he said. Pointing out that heart transplant options for those suffering from severe heart failure are becoming increasingly rare, Prof Yacoub observed that the number of donor hearts is going down globally. While we used to do up to 130 heart transplants a year at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in the UK in the late 80s, now we would be lucky to do 20, he said while emphasising the need to focus more on the reversibility of heart failure. Few recent drug trials have shown evidence of minor reverse remodelling and there have been near-complete reversal of almost every change in myocardium in some patients. There are unprecedented opportunities to unravel the secrets of heart failure at cellular and molecular levels, he stressed.

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Stem cell study ‘should aim at innovation in treatment’

APS Issues Policy Requiring Identification of Sex or Gender in Reporting of Scientific Research

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New policy to apply to all articles submitted for publication in societys 13 peer-reviewed journals

Newswise BETHESDA, Md. (March 1, 2012)The American Physiology Society (APS) has announced a new policy requiring the reporting of the sex of experimental animals and the sex or gender of humans used in studies submitted for publication in any of the organizations 13 peer-reviewed journals. This notable requirement for all research study authors has been approved by the APS leadership and will be presented in an editorial, In Pursuit of Scientific Excellence Sex Matters (http://bit.ly/Arm0FL) written by Virginia Miller, Ph.D., Professor, Surgery and Physiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. The announcement was made by Hershel Raff, Ph.D., Chair of the societys Publications Committee. He added that the editorial will appear in the journals beginning this month.

At first glance this change in author guidelines appears to align to the overall acceptance by the scientific community that sex or gender issues must be addressed in the conduct and reporting of physiological and scientific research. Unfortunately, what has been accepted in theory by the research community has not been universally reflected in the current content of scientific journal articles, said Dr. Miller in an interview. With the acceptance that sex does matter, it would follow that scientific journal research articles would report sex or gender of the experimental material in the Methodology section of the submitted content but this has not been the case, she said.

Why Sex and Gender Matter

Dr. Miller points to the 2001 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences report, "Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter?" which offered the first significant assessment of sex and gender differences in biomedical research and determined that sex does matter. The IOM report, supported by the Society for Women's Health Research, found that sex differences important to health and human disease occur at conception and throughout the life span, affecting behavior, perception, and health. However, a recent published review of basic science journals, including studies of cells in culture from high impact cardiovascular journals, and of basic and clinical scientific literature, suggests that sex of experimental material is not consistently reported.

The literature review found that less than 40 percent of studies using experimental animals and only about 25 percent of studies using cells in culture identified the sex of the experimental material. This percentage is low given the growing knowledge base indicating that physiology and pathophysiology differ between male and female animals and humans beyond reproductive function to include all physiological systems, according to the editorial.

The article offers future authors guidance on how the sex of experimental material should be reported. Proposed IOM definitions state that sex is a biological construct dictated by the presence of sex chromosome and in animals and humans the presence of functional reproductive organs. On the other hand, gender is a cultural concept referring to behaviors which might be directed by specific stimuli (visual, olfactory) or by psychosocial expectations that result from assigned or perceived sex and therefore can influence biological outcomes. The new editorial policy for all APS journals requires the reporting of sex for cells, tissues and experimental animals and humans (i.e. male and female) or gender where appropriate and suitable for the experimental design of the research effort. In the era of physiological genomics and individualized medicine, the presence of an XX or XY chromosomal complement is fundamental to the genome of an individual person, animal, tissue or cell, writes the author.

Publication and Clinical Medicine

Dr. Miller, who is a past member of the APS governing Council and who has held leadership positions for six scientific journals and provides peer review for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other health-related research organization, closes the editorial with a call for other scientific journals to adopt similar policies. She advocates that in our pursuit of scientific excellence, sex matters, and promotes that adoption of this policy by all journal reviewers; associate editors and editors will improve communication of scientific results and perhaps assist in more rapid translation of information from basic science to clinical medicine.

According to Raff, The APS believes that our society must be a leader in instituting and enforcing a policy for reporting sex and gender in experimental studies. The reporting strengthens our understanding of physiology, which is the basis of translational medicine. The policy is currently in effect for all APS journals.

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APS Issues Policy Requiring Identification of Sex or Gender in Reporting of Scientific Research

APS issues new policy requiring identification of sex or gender in reporting scientific research

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Public release date: 1-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Donna Krupa dkrupa@the-aps.org 301-634-7209 American Physiological Society

BETHESDA, Md. (March 1, 2012)The American Physiology Society (APS) has announced a new policy requiring the reporting of the sex of experimental animals and the sex or gender of humans used in studies submitted for publication in any of the organization's 13 peer-reviewed journals. This notable requirement for all research study authors has been approved by the APS leadership and will be presented in an editorial, "In Pursuit of Scientific Excellence Sex Matters," written by Virginia Miller, Ph.D., Professor, Surgery and Physiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. The announcement was made by Hershel Raff, Ph.D., Chair of the society's Publications Committee. He added that the editorial will appear in the journals beginning this month.

At first glance this change in author guidelines appears to align to the overall acceptance by the scientific community that sex or gender issues must be addressed in the conduct and reporting of physiological and scientific research. "Unfortunately, what has been accepted in theory by the research community has not been universally reflected in the current content of scientific journal articles," said Dr. Miller in an interview. "With the acceptance that 'sex does matter', it would follow that scientific journal research articles would report sex or gender of the experimental material in the Methodology section of the submitted content but this has not been the case," she said.

Why Sex and Gender Matter

Dr. Miller points to the 2001 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences report, "Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter?" which offered the first significant assessment of sex and gender differences in biomedical research and determined that sex does matter. The IOM report, supported by the Society for Women's Health Research, found that sex differences important to health and human disease occur at conception and throughout the life span, affecting behavior, perception, and health. However, a recent published review of basic science journals, including studies of cells in culture from high impact cardiovascular journals, and of basic and clinical scientific literature, suggests that sex of experimental material is not consistently reported.

"The literature review found that less than 40 percent of studies using experimental animals and only about 25 percent of studies using cells in culture identified the sex of the experimental material. This percentage is low given the growing knowledge base indicating that physiology and pathophysiology differ between male and female animals and humans beyond reproductive function to include all physiological systems," according to the editorial.

The article offers future authors guidance on how the sex of experimental material should be reported. Proposed IOM definitions state that "sex" is a biological construct dictated by the presence of sex chromosome and in animals and humans the presence of functional reproductive organs. On the other hand, "gender" is a cultural concept referring to behaviors which might be directed by specific stimuli (visual, olfactory) or by psychosocial expectations that result from assigned or perceived sex and therefore can influence biological outcomes. The new editorial policy for all APS journals requires the reporting of sex for cells, tissues and experimental animals and humans (i.e. male and female) or gender where appropriate and suitable for the experimental design of the research effort. "In the era of physiological genomics and individualized medicine, the presence of an XX or XY chromosomal complement is fundamental to the genome of an individual person, animal, tissue or cell," writes the author.

Publication and Clinical Medicine

Dr. Miller, who is a past member of the APS governing Council and who has held leadership positions for six scientific journals and provides peer review for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other health-related research organization, closes the editorial with a call for other scientific journals to adopt similar policies. She advocates that in our pursuit of scientific excellence, sex matters, and promotes that adoption of this policy by all journal reviewers; associate editors and editors will improve communication of scientific results and perhaps assist in more rapid translation of information from basic science to clinical medicine.

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APS issues new policy requiring identification of sex or gender in reporting scientific research

Jessica Hart 'realistic about longevity of modelling career'

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Jessica Hart has revealed that she is realistic about her modelling career.

The 25-year-old supermodel, who is best known as one of the faces of Australian department store Myer, said that she is prepared for her career to end early because her work is based on what she looks like.

Hart told the Herald Sun: "You get to an age in this industry [and] you start to think you're over the hill. There's only so long you will keep getting a certain type of work."

She did, however, reveal her relief that casting agents are changing their ways, saying: "What's good at the moment is that they're going back to that older, more interesting-looking person, rather than just young girls."

Hart has previously said that she likes to keep herself "busy" with work, but admitted that she sometimes needs to force herself to take a break.

Earlier this week, Hart appeared on the catwalk at Myer's Autumn/Winter launch alongside Jennifer Hawkins.

> Jessica Hart, Jennifer Hawkins battle "intense" weather on Myer shoot > Jessica Hart dating Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend Stavros Niarchos?

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Jessica Hart 'realistic about longevity of modelling career'

Travel: Pritikin Longevity Center has it shome at Florida golf resort

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MIAMI There I was, scooting awkwardly across the floor of the warmed pool, lifting my water weights high in the air, palm trees swaying in the background, when a woman next to me leaned in and whispered, This place is a miracle. Its changed my life.

Caroline Pinkus, 53, of London, wasnt kidding. Nearing the end of her monthlong stay at the Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa, she was losing weight and feeling better and more importantly had gone from taking five blood pressure pills a day to half a pill.

Id gone through life burying my head in the sand. I thought if I dressed nice and fixed my hair and my nails, I still looked good, but I was carrying this weight and I wasnt healthy, she said. This place has reformed me.

Pritikin has been changing lives for nearly 40 years. In the 1970s, Nathan Pritikin was among the first to assert that diet and exercise, not drugs and surgery, should be the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease.

He brought that philosophy to the first Pritikin Longevity Center, which opened in 1975 in California. Today, the Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa calls Miami home. About two years ago, it moved into the spa portion of the Doral Golf Resort. The resort itself includes a large spa, suites, meeting rooms, several pools, a fitness centre, dining and golf.

For most of us, part of enjoying a new city or country involves sampling local fare. Often, we sample lots of it. But what if you actually lost weight on vacation? Pinkus did. And in my own three-day stay at Pritikin I lost three pounds and my husband lost five (yes, much of it was water weight, but I didnt feel bloated and disgusting on the airplane home as I normally do after a vacation).

Most of the people I talked with at Pritikin were on a return trip or an extended stay, and many said the reason for their trip was to become more healthy. Some were taking a week out of their busy schedules running companies; others brought their retired parents, hoping that the experience would inspire them to live healthier.

The environment, made safe by doctors, trainers, nutritionists and spa workers around every corner, is what draws many of them.

I feel safe and not scared to do new things, Pinkus told me.

Other health vacations might have the spa, the food and the exercise, but Pritikin prides itself on the educational component. We give you the tools you need to be successful after youve left here, says Hubert Wewer, the general manager.

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Travel: Pritikin Longevity Center has it shome at Florida golf resort

OCO Presents Longevity Awards

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Eileen Brophy, president of Brophy Services Inc., Central New Yorks largest locally owned and operated commercial janitorial and office cleaning service contractor, was selected recently as one of the Women of Distinction being honored at the 100thAnniversary Gala sponsored by Continue reading

Oswego High School senior Drake Becksted shattered the New York State Public High School Athletic Association record in the prelims of the 100 freestyle as he advances to the NYSPHAA championship finals on Saturday. OHS swimmer Reeve Callen is among the top 16 in the 100 free and will advance in competition and also turned in a lifetime best of 1:45.39 in the 200 free

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Read Across America Day was celebrated in Oswego schools on Friday as the birthday of Dr. Seuss was in the spotlight. Oswego High National Honor Society members traveled across the district reading to elementary school age students.

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Rhonda Marr of Closer to Home Acupuncture, announced the opening of her new office location at The Spa on the River in Baldwinsville. Marr has been in practice for five years serving the Cortland area and will now also see patients two days a week at the award-winning Spa on the River, located at 2372 W. Genesee Road.

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The Titanic 100 Years Later will be the focus of the March 17 meeting of the Oswego Town Historical Society. The meeting will be at the Oswego Town Hall on County Route 7 at 10 a.m.

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OCO Presents Longevity Awards

Yonder Launches Neon DNA Art Collection

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Contemporary Art x Your DNA / Yonder is a group of scientists, artists, and all-around creative people.

Carlsbad, California (PRWEB) March 02, 2012

Yonders Niteo DNA art collection is a must-have for anyone wanting a significant, personalized work of art, said Andy Bass, one of Yonders founders. The abstract DNA patterns represent the deeper insight of who we are as individuals. The incorporation of neon gives the art an alluring presence in a room.

See the Niteo Collection at http://www.yonderbiology.com/DNA_art/niteo

The DNA code is unique to each individual. Yonder's scientists interpret the DNA code and the groups artists use the interpretation to create original works of art. Yonder has developed techniques to utilize any person's DNA from a simple cotton cheek swab. The DNA samples are processed in Yonders California laboratory, and original works of art are presented based on each individual's DNA code. Yonder provides a dedicated consultant for every project. Each customer receives a DNA Art Guide that describes the scientific meaning behind their individual art pieces.

About Yonder

Yonder biology is a DNA art company based in San Diego, California. We are scientists, artists, and all-around creative people. Yonder has developed a process to take any person's DNA via a cheek swab, process the DNA sample in our laboratory, and give an original art piece back that the person can hang on the wall, point to and say "That's Me!"

Everyone's DNA is entirely unique and holds the basic code of who we are as individuals. We understand the beauty in this genetic code and want to provide an artistic window for people to share their individuality with others.

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/yonderart

Follow us on Twitter: @yonderbiology

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Yonder Launches Neon DNA Art Collection

Posted in DNA

DNA testing could combat dog mess

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DOGS in the Castletown area could be DNA tested as a way of combating the problem of fouling in public places.

Landward Caithness Highland councillor Robert Coghill told Castletown and District Community Council on Thursday night that an organisation called Green Paws carries out such tests and may be interested in undertaking a pilot project in the Far North.

The London-based company has developed technology to identify dog waste through the animal's DNA and has carried out testing in parts of Europe.

Mr Coghill, who had originally suggested the idea at a community council meeting at the end of last year, pointed out that DNA testing is carried out in countries such as Italy, Germany and the USA. He felt such an initiative could work in Castletown and other areas of the county where there are difficulties with dog mess.

Mr Coghill, a former NFU area president, said farm animals, including cattle and horses, have passports while sheep are double tagged to help with traceability. He suggested doing something similar with dogs to try and tackle the fouling problem.

Mr Coghill said all dogs could have the DNA test, which is not expensive. Such a move, he argued, would help trace offenders.

He stressed that not only is dog dirt unsightly on public paths and pavements but can be a health hazard to young children.

He acknowledged the majority of dog owners are responsible and it is a minority who cause the difficulty.

Community councillors, who have regularly complained about dog mess in public places, backed such a scheme and said it may help to solve what is an ongoing problem.

They said it could be the only way to deal with dog owners who do not clean up after their pets.

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DNA testing could combat dog mess

Posted in DNA

Editorial: Expanding DNA database isn't enough; access must grow, too

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Gov. Andrew Cuomos proposal to vastly expand the states DNA database to include samples from all convicts would mark the logical evolution of a tool that has helped solve crimes in New York and beyond even decades after their occurrence. It would be a wasted opportunity, however, to stop with that reform and not make other common-sense fixes to bolster the delivery of justice in our courts.

After aligning himself with a parade of prosecutors supporting his DNA legislation, the governor hinted at some compromise Wednesday, saying he was open to critics call for more DNA-related protections.

Democrats in the Assembly and civil rights groups have been pressing for more safeguards to ensure against wrongful convictions, and to ease access to the DNA database for those seeking to press their innocence.

Discussion of these added protections most certainly should be included in the debate over the Cuomo measure and be touted by the governor and state prosecutors as well; their obligation runs not only to crime victims, but also to ensuring that our criminal justice system is infused with fairness.

No less authority than the chief judge of New York, Jonathan Lippman, has identified related areas where that is not the case.

In his State of the Judiciary address last month, Lippman said preventing wrongful convictions had to be a part of any plan to expand the DNA database. At present, DNA samples are taken from those convicted of felonies and some misdemeanors, meaning about 48 percent of criminals give samples. Cuomos measure, while requiring samples from all convicts, would only deal with part of the justice equation.

Lippmans fixes would include giving convicted people greater access to DNA testing and clarifying the role of judges to order testing, rather than leaving prosecutors with so much discretion to order such testing. He also called for extending access to DNA testing to convicts who pleaded guilty to major crimes they later claim they did not commit a nod to the problem of false confessions. He also called for mandatory videotaping of interrogations and reforms related to the identification of defendants by eyewitnesses both areas subject to damning errors.

(Page 2 of 2)

The case of Jeffrey Deskovic, who served more than 15 years for a murder he did not commit, explains some of the Lippman reforms. Deskovic, who had confessed to the 1989 killing of Peekskill High classmate Angela Correa, was exonerated by DNA evidence in 2006, after spending more than 15 years behind bars. When he was released, Deskovic recounted how his plea for such testing had been summarily rejected by former Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Her successor, Janet DiFiore, later ordered the DNA testing. It identified someone else as Correas killer, a man already behind bars for a subsequent homicide.

We must tackle the source of wrongful convictions innocent people convicted of crimes they did not commit, said Judge Lippman, quoted in a New York Law Journal. He formed a permanent task force to address the problem of wrongful convictions a recommendation itself derived from an independent inquiry into the Deskovic case. When an innocent person is convicted of a crime, the individuals liberty is irretrievably and unjustly taken while the real perpetrator remains free to continue to prey on the public. Cuomo, the Senate, which has already passed the expanded DNA bill, and the Assembly have ample opportunity here to ensure more justice in New York.

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Editorial: Expanding DNA database isn't enough; access must grow, too

Posted in DNA

DNA to Be Sequenced for Patients with Rare Diseases

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Newswise Rare genetic diseases, long overlooked because they affect relatively few people, are getting new attention. Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are reaching out to patient advocacy groups and offering to decode the DNA of 99 patients with rare diseases to help find the genetic alterations responsible for their illnesses.

The patients DNA will be sequenced at the universitys Genomics and Pathology Services (GPS) at no cost to patients or the advocacy groups. The new effort is known as the Rare99X Clinical Exome Challenge.

The genomics revolution provides many of the tools that may unlock the secrets of rare diseases, says Jimmy Lin, PhD, research instructor in pathology and immunology. We are excited to form partnerships with patient advocacy groups to apply these technologies to advance clinical understanding of these diseases.

Collectively, an estimated 7,000 rare diseases affect some 25 million Americans. They range from Huntingtons disease, a neurodegenerative disorder diagnosed in adulthood, to Neimann-Pick, a metabolic disorder which can occur in infancy.

In recent years, advances in technology have made DNA sequencing cheaper, faster and more accurate. For patients with rare diseases, scientists now can use that technology to find the genetic error or errors that most likely caused their illness.

Many rare diseases are thought to be caused by genetic variations in the small portion of the DNA that codes for proteins, collectively known as the exome. This is the part of the DNA that will be sequenced.

By early last year, exome sequencing had already helped researchers identify the genetic causes for 39 rare diseases. Scientists think this is only the beginning.

Identifying and validating gene alterations linked to disease is now enabled by the advent of new sequencing methods that allow for highly sensitive analysis of the patients genetic makeup, says Karen Seibert, PhD, director of GPS and research professor of pathology and immunology.

GPS began accepting proposals for exome sequencing from patient advocacy groups on Feb. 29, which was designated as Rare Disease Day. Final selection of the projects will occur this summer. A panel of genetics experts will review the proposals to help GPS leaders choose the projects most likely to improve care of patients with rare diseases.

Lin is the founder of the Rare Genomics Institute, a nonprofit that designs personalized research studies for rare disease patients, connects them with the latest technology and top researchers and helps secure funding with an online platform. The institutes mission is to make gene sequencing and other advanced techniques accessible to patients with rare diseases. The institute is preparing online training sessions and other activities to help advocacy organizations create their proposals for the Rare99X Clinical Exome Challenge.

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DNA to Be Sequenced for Patients with Rare Diseases

Posted in DNA

Baker to head biology dept. Discusses department goals and passion for science

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Baker to head biology dept. Discusses department goals and passion for science

NEWS EDITOR

March 2, 2012

E.C. Whitehead Professor, Biology Graduate Program Co-Director, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator Tania A. Baker has been named as the next head of the department of biology. She will assume the position on April 1, succeeding Chris A. Kaiser PhD 88, who was selected to run the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) in October. Baker was the associate department head for biology from 1999 to 2004.

Professor Baker, like her predecessor Chris Kaiser, is a former MacVicar Faculty Fellow who will, I am sure, maintain the departments standing as a premier educator of biologists, and as a world-leading department in biological research, said School of Science Dean Marc A. Kastner in a statement through the News Office. I am thrilled that she has agreed to take on the leadership of the department at a time when biology plays a bigger role than ever at the Institute.

The Tech caught up with Baker in her office to talk about her goals for the biology department and her career.

The Tech: How do you feel about becoming the new biology department head?

Tania Baker: I am honored to have the confidence of my colleagues and the dean, and I feel very fortunate that my career has been supported by some great department heads in the past. Ive been here almost 20 years, and over that time, Ive really been helped by the great environment created by previous department heads; I hope I can give back some effort to the department that will help the careers of others.

TT: What are some of your goals as department head?

TB: The department is strong and vibrant, so I think we want to continue to be a cutting edge institution for biological research, as well as a great place for teaching and learning at the undergraduate and graduate level.

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Baker to head biology dept. Discusses department goals and passion for science