Monthly Archives: April 2012

Funding aids search for cancer killer

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WINDSOR, Ont. -- Windsor scientists whove recently confirmed that dandelion root extract inhibits the growth of tumours in mice have landed a $157,500 grant to help advance their research toward proving it kills cancer in humans.

University of Windsor biochemist Siyaram Pandey said Thursday the grant from the B.C.-based Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation is an exciting development. However, he added, hell be more excited should his team get approval for Phase I clinical trials from Health Canada, hopefully by the fall.

I think we managed to convince them with our published work, No. 1. No. 2, with our logic and going for a natural way of treating this, and No. 3, the fact that, if approved, people can take it safely at home.

Pandey emphasized the role played by local funders who believed in his work when the larger funding agencies in the country considered it a snake oil idea. First came the Knights of Columbuss council in St. Clair Beach, which gave $6,000 to help with initial research based on observations by Pandeys co-applicant Dr. Caroline Hamm.

Hamm, a Windsor Cancer Centre oncologist, noticed a number of patients whose conditions improved at least initially after they started to drink dandelion root tea as an alternative when traditional chemotherapy didnt work.

Their initial findings were enough to justify a $60,000 grant from Seeds4Hope, which provides seed money for local cancer research, in hope that promising results will receive further funding from the big national agencies. Pandey and his students got their initial samples of extract by digging the weeds out of local lawns.

This just matches exactly what we were hoping would happen when Seeds4Hope was established four years ago, said program administrator Michael Dufresne. This is the first example of local research receiving major funding as a result of a one-time infusion from Seeds4Hope.

He said the dandelion root extract results pose a brilliant possibility.

I say possibility because a lot still has to be done, but the potential is there.

The Windsor researchers have shown in the lab that the extract causes cancer cells to commit suicide, while not harming healthy cells, something that usually happens when toxic chemotherapy drugs are used.

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Funding aids search for cancer killer

WAC Lighting Invitational Science Fair to Be Held at Commack High School on Sunday, April 22nd

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GARDEN CITY, NY--(Marketwire -04/19/12)- Over 400 high school students from across Long Island, New York will compete in The WAC Lighting Annual Invitational Science Fair, which will be held on Sunday, April 22nd from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, at Commack High School.

The Science Fair features projects in eight major categories with winners selected in Senior (grade 12) and Junior Divisions (grades 9-11). Awards and scholarships will be presented to winners of First, Second and Third Places, as well as honorable mentions. Categories include Environmental Science, Prototype Engineering; Biochemistry; General Biology; Behavioral Science; Chemistry; Physical Science; and Computer Science.

For 14 years, students have presented their research experience to esteemed judges from universities, hospitals, private practices and industries from the New York Metropolitan area. Participating students have spent months or even years in their high school or local university labs exploring the nature of cancer or inexpensive methods to produce alternative fuels. Everything is open for exploration; from astronomy to biotechnology, to basic research and theoretical studies, to projects focused on the practical.

Organized by The Research Association, the fair is a consortium of 13 Long Island, NY high schools represented by teachers dedicated to the importance of science education that understand that future leaders in science, technology and business begin focusing their skills in today's classrooms. The 13 high schools include: Commack, Great Neck North, Great Neck South, Herricks, Jericho, Locust Valley, Manhasset, North Shore Hebrew Academy, Paul D. Schreiber, Roslyn, South Side, Syosset, and The Wheatley School.

Participating students have gone on to pursue advanced studies at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), SUNY at Stony Brook, Harvard, Yale University, Brown, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Rochester University and others. Many have become medical doctors and other highly respected professionals.

Judges include over 120 academicians and professionals affiliated with Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Columbia University, Long Island University, New York University, North Shore University Hospital-LIJ Medical Center, Wiell Cornell Medical College, Hofstra University, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and other prestigious institutions.

The Science Fair is sponsored by WAC Lighting, a Garden City, New York-based global manufacturer of task and decorative lighting.

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WAC Lighting Invitational Science Fair to Be Held at Commack High School on Sunday, April 22nd

SeabuckWonders™, Leading Producer of USDA Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil, Earns Coveted 'Ashley Koff Approved' Seal of …

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CHICAGO, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --SeabuckWonders is pleased to announce its recent honor for two of its products: Ashley Koff Approved - the stamp of quality nutrition for optimal health.

SeabuckWonders Omega-7 Complete and SeabuckWonders USDA Certified Organic Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil were awarded the honors.

SeabuckWonders' berries are wild-crafted in the pristine Himalayan Mountains of Tibet. The annual harvest features over 190 bioactive nutrients as well as Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9 and are rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as carotenes, flavonoids and minerals such as sulfur, selenium, zinc and copper. The oil provides a wide spectrum of support for optimal health, and is an ideal supplement for people looking to transform their unhealthy lifestyles.

The climate in the Tibetan Plateau has equipped the fruit with extraordinary bio-defense mechanisms that provide many wholesome nutrients and health benefits. The Tibetan terrain holds 90 percent of the world's wild sea buckthorn forests. This area provides a higher concentration of Omega 7 than any other region due to high altitude, strong ultraviolet radiation, severe cold, scorching heat, and barren soil. SeabuckWonders' brand sea buckthorn oil guarantees a minimum of 30-35% Omega 7 content - the highest than that of any sea buckthorn product on the market today.

"The AKA stamp confirms that a product has been evaluated and approved by me, as a better quality and healthy choice," Koff stated. "More specifically, it means that the product does not contain any nutrition no-no's."

Ashley Koff is named among the Top 10 Registered Dietitians in the U.S. by Today's Dietitian Magazine. Koff appears regularly on national media outlets, including Dr. Oz, The Doctors, Good Morning America, CNN, AOL and E! Koff is also the dietitian for ESPN, the featured dietitian on the CW's "Shedding for the Wedding" and Lifetime's "Love Handles."

SeabuckWonders Omega -7 Complete combines berry and seed oil and offers the highest Omega-7 content in the industry with a concentration of 30%-35%. SeabuckWonders berries are wild-crafted in the pristine Himalayan Mountains of Tibet. The berries cultivated from the annual harvest feature over 190 bioactive nutrients as well as Omega 3, 6, and 9 and are rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as carotenes, flavonoids and minerals such as sulfur, selenium, zinc and copper. Sea buckthorn oil stands out in many Asian medical traditions in which it is described as "God Sent Medicine" or "liquid gold": http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2012-Seabuckthorn-Omega-7.jpg

SeabuckWonders Berry Oil is USDA Certified Organic and offers the highest Omega-7 content in the industry with a concentration of 30%-35%. Omega-7 is hailed as a special nutrient that protects, replenishes, moisturizes, and restores the skin and mucus membranes that line the digestive and urogenital tracts. It has strong pro-natural healing properties including infection and inflammation response. Sea buckthorn oil stands out in many Asian medical traditions in which it is described as "God Sent Medicine" or "liquid gold": http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2012-Seabuckthorn-Berry-Oil.jpg

About SeabuckWonders' Sea buckthorn

SeabuckWonders product line contains the highest Omega 7 content of all the products on the market today. It is the only full line of USDA Certified Sea Buckthorn Products. Sea buckthorn is widely used to heal wounds, clear up acne and eczema, stimulate collagen and fortify hair and nails. It has been referred to by dermatologists, ophthalmologists and dentists as the "miracle berry." Clinical studies have shown beneficial effects of sea buckthorn on mucus membranes, promoting tissue regeneration and improving brain, cardiovascular, oral and liver health. It is also practical in the treatment of inflammation and is used for anti-aging. Please visit: http://www.SeabuckWonders.com

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SeabuckWonders™, Leading Producer of USDA Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil, Earns Coveted 'Ashley Koff Approved' Seal of ...

Key genes that switch off with aging highlighted as potential targets for anti-aging therapies

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Public release date: 19-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Emma Reynolds emma.reynolds@kcl.ac.uk 44-207-848-4334 King's College London

Researchers at King's College London, in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, have identified a group of 'ageing' genes that are switched on and off by natural mechanisms called epigenetic factors, influencing the rate of healthy ageing and potential longevity.

The study also suggests these epigenetic processes that can be caused by external factors such as diet, lifestyle and environment are likely to be initiated from an early age and continue through a person's life. The researchers say that the epigenetic changes they have identified could be used as potential 'markers' of biological ageing and in the future could be possible targets for anti-ageing therapies.

Published today in PLoS Genetics, the study looked at 172 twins aged 32 to 80 from the TwinsUK cohort based at King's College London and St Thomas' Hospital, as part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.

The researchers looked for epigenetic changes in the twins' DNA, and performed epigenome-wide association scans to analyse these changes in relation to chronological age. They identified 490 age related epigenetic changes. They also analysed DNA modifications in age related traits and found that epigenetic changes in four genes relate to cholesterol, lung function and maternal longevity.

To try to identify when these epigenetic changes may be triggered, the researchers replicated the study in 44 younger twins, aged 22 to 61, and found that many of the 490 age related epigenetic changes were also present in this younger group. The researchers say these results suggest that while many age related epigenetic changes happen naturally with age throughout a person's life, a proportion of these changes may be initiated early in life.

Dr Jordana Bell from King's College London, who co-led the study said: 'We found that epigenetic changes associate with age related traits that have previously been used to define biological age.

'We identified many age-related epigenetic changes, but four seemed to impact the rate of healthy ageing and potential longevity and we can use these findings as potential markers of ageing. These results can help understand the biological mechanisms underlying healthy ageing and age-related disease, and future work will explore how environmental effects can affect these epigenetic changes.'

Dr Panos Deloukas, co-leader of the study from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: 'Our study interrogated only a fraction of sites in the genome that carry such epigenetic changes; these initial findings support the need for a more comprehensive scan of epigenetic variation.'

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Key genes that switch off with aging highlighted as potential targets for anti-aging therapies

LME copper, the anatomy of a squeeze: Andy Home

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By Andy Home

LONDON (Reuters) - Supply, or rather the lack of it, has once again dominated the agenda of the annual CESCO Week gathering of the copper industry in Chile.

As the industry faces an uncertain short-term demand outlook, the CESCO narrative has reverted to the certainty of copper's problematic supply-side dynamic.

And the lack of supply has been the main theme in London copper trading this week as well.

The London Metal Exchange (LME) contract has witnessed the most acute squeeze on availability in over three years.

The benchmark cash-to-three-months period was valued Tuesday at $114 per tonne backwardation. The last time it was anything like that on a closing basis was October 2008.

As ever it has been those shorts caught drinking in the last-chance saloon - that is the LME's "tom-next" spread - who have paid the highest price. It traded as wide as $40 per tonne backwardation at one stage on Tuesday morning.

BIOMECHANICS

The mechanics of what happened this week, which included the prime "third Wednesday" April prompt date, are easily enough explained thanks to the exchange's daily positioning reports.

They showed that as of the Monday close, one player held cash and "tom-next" positions representing somewhere between 50 and 80 percent of available stocks.

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LME copper, the anatomy of a squeeze: Andy Home

Grey's Anatomy Recap: "Support System"

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This week's Grey's Anatomy was a gut-wrenching hour. While the residents were worrying about the upcoming medical boards get the scoop here and Mark was acting as Chief, Cristina was forcing Owen to recall every torturous detail of the night he cheated on her.

Let's check out the heartbreaking and sometimes heartwarming top moments from the hour:

Flashbacks! The episode began with flashbacks to the small, but equally momentous moments in Cristina and Owen's past, from the icicle in her gut to the bowl of cereal she threw in his face. The one flashback we didn't want to see? The night Owen cheated on Cristina at the bar which Owen recalls in detail to Cris throughout the episode. (The couple lies to the hospital and says they've come down with the flu.) It turns out, Owen cheated on her the day after they quit therapy. The woman in question was a friend of his patient. After drinking far too much, the lady convinces him to hook up with her much to Cristina's disappointment as she bawls her eyes out. The silver lining? After Owen leaves, Meredith is there to be her person, sharing a sweet moment on the phone where the twisted sisters sit in near silence, with only the sound of Cristina's muffled sobs in the background.

Outside the hospital! It's not often that we see outside of Seattle Grace, besides the docs' apartments, so it was fun when Callie and Meredith ventured to a park so Callie could quiz her mentee for the upcoming medical boards. Meredith is officially ready, but are the other doctors?

No! The rest of the new Fab Five (Alex, Jackson and April) stress over their upcoming tests and even enlist Lexipedia to use her photographic memory to memorize old cases they can use to study. Meredith decides to take the Torres method and turn it into the Grey method by helping the group study, including, eventually, the distraught Cristina, who worries that her preoccupation with a "boy" will make her fail her boards.

Chief Mark Sloan! Since Owen is dealing with his personal problems, Mark acts as chief in his absence. Everyone is unhappy about it, but can we just say that Sloan looks good in a suit? Mark does butt heads with Derek and also goes toe-to-toe with Richard after the former Chief tries to go over his head. Sloan turns out to be pretty adept in the position could this be a hint? Still, Owen reveals that he never contracted Sloan to help, but rather wanted Webber or Derek to fill in.

Ladies night! Since Teddy has been mourning Henry, she decides to get the girls (Callie, Arizona and Bailey) together for a ladies night. But when each of the ladies realizes they'd rather be having sex with their significant others, they all decide to bail. Realizing they're leaving Teddy out in the cold, they do the ladies night anyways. Who's up for some Beaches?

Sexual telepathy! Wasn't sure it was possible, but apparently Ben has special powers. With Tuck staying over at his dad's, Ben wants to treat Bailey to a special night, but doesn't want to say the torrid details at the hospital. Instead, with one look, he sends Bailey running off to get out of ladies night. Seriously, that man has powers.

What did you think of this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy? Should Cristina forgive Owen? Sound off in the comments.

Wondering what could happen in the Grey's Anatomy finale should some of the docs say farewell? Check out our theories

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Grey's Anatomy Recap: "Support System"

Grey's Anatomy Recap: "The Girl With No Name"

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Aww, the residents are all grown up!

In this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, the docs are heading all over the country to interview for positions at different hospitals. For some, like Cristina, it's easy. For others, like Alex, it's a nightmare. Meanwhile, Seattle Grace becomes ground zero for all media when the victim of a highly publicized kidnapping case ends up there. Let's take a look at the top moments:

New jobs: Cristina is the Queen of the Residents, being wooed by the best hospitals across the country. Meredith is disappointed because she would like the new Fab Five to stick around Seattle Grace and even goes so far as to try to weasel out of one of her interviews in Boston. While April is an overachiever during her interviews, Alex is having trouble getting any hospital to see him in the first place. Turns out, Arizona has been tainting his recommendations in hopes he'll stay at Seattle Grace. As for Avery, he turns down a shot at UCLA because they only love him for his lineage. When Mer does finally make it to Boston, however, she reveals to the interviewer that she is very serious about moving there since their program is her top choice. Twist!

Jane Doe: When an unidentified young girl is rushed to the hospital, the doctors rally to treat her, discovering that she has been abused and tortured for a while. Once they realize she is Holly, a girl at the center of a kidnapping case that hit national headlines similar to the cases of Jaycee Dugard or Elizabeth Smart the hospital becomes the focus of her recovery. Meredith is enlisted to watch after Holly, helping her to cope with the transition back into the real world, which is made especially difficult since she also suffers from Stockholm Syndrome, a psychological phenomenon in which a hostage has positive feelings towards his/her captor. (Switched at Birth's Vanessa Marano was amazing as Holly in this episode.)

Bailey's freak-out: As a parent, Bailey struggles with the Holly case, which is showcased when Tuck goes missing from the daycare center. In a moment of panic, she screams for everyone to find her son. Turns out, Tuck had a nosebleed and was taken to the nurse. When Holly is going to get discharged, Bailey is overwhelmed once again with (Emmy-worthy) emotion.

Poor Webber: While Adele has been living at Rose Ridge, she has fallen in love all over again... but not with her husband. She met another man who also has Alzheimer's. Richard has Adele moved to another wing, much to her disappointment. In the end, Richard concedes and lets Adele be with who makes her happy. (Also, the Academy should just hand the Emmy to Loretta Devine again.)

CO on the mend: While the beginning of the hour continues to be rocky for the pair, with Cristina avoiding Owen at the hospital, the two begin to slowly talk again. Cristina offers for Owen to stay at the firehouse, while she camps out at Meredith's house to study. They also briefly discuss job opportunities, including the possibility of moving to Maryland (which is across the country. Eh? Eh?). She even claps for him with the rest of the docs when the hospital is able to close the book on Holly's case.

Should Owen and Cristina get back together? Anyone else cheer when Owen finally put a distraught Teddy in her place? Which docs do you think will leave Seattle Grace? Hit the comments with your thoughts.

Aww, the residents are all grown up!

In this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, the docs are heading all over the country to interview for positions at different hospitals. For some, like Cristina, it's easy. For others, like Alex, it's a nightmare. Meanwhile, Seattle Grace becomes ground zero for all media when the victim of a highly publicized kidnapping case ends up there. Let's take a look at the top moments: read more

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Grey's Anatomy Recap: "The Girl With No Name"

'Grey's Anatomy' recap: Days of Change

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Like all those kids over on Fox's increasingly sagging dramedy Glee, the future of the residents at Seattle Grace-Mercy West is currently in limbo. Why? Lets let voice-over master Meredith Grey explain -- simply because she does it so well -- as she did in last nights new episode, The Girl With No Name.

When youre a kid you always want things to stay the samethe same teacher, the same house, the same friends, the ever-wise narrator told us at the outset of the hour. Being a surgeon is no different. You get used to the same attendings, the same scrub nurses, the same hospital. Of course, that all changes the minute fifth year comes around. And you have to find a new job.

Thats right! The Seattle Grace kids are looking for new jobs. We knew this was coming. Of course, we dont know the future of any of the characters on the show just yet, but all of residents -- Grey, Yang, Karev, Kepner, and Avery -- spent last night going through the motions of trying to figure out where they might land next season, by prepping resumes, asking their attendings to score them interviews, and flying around the country to complete said interviews.

Cristina, as you might just imagine, was the most in-demand, with a running gag during the episode being that every cardio-minded hospital in the country sending over-sized fruit baskets to her at Seattle Grace. And also, as you might imagine, Cristina wasnt showing her cards at all, displaying a certain ambivalence to all the overtures coming at her, including a representative from Columbia who flew to Seattle (apparently, thats sort of unheard of in this kind of situation) to convince her to come to come to New York City.

Cristinas attending, Altman, however, wasnt going to let her go that easily. As far as teachers, Im a catch, she told Yang. And Im groveling. Teddy -- who hasnt been on speaking terms with Yangs estranged husband since her husband Henry died -- even appealed to Chief Hunt, to help her try and keep Cristina in Seattle. But he balked. If she wants to go, he told her, its her decision. (Not shocking, considering the situation between he and his wife.) Her response: Just fix it, and make her stay. To which he heatedly replied: Im Chief, not your friend -- youve made that very clear. Despite her not saying where she wanted to go, Cristina did make it clear -- to her person, Meredith, at least -- that she intends to leave Seattle Grace. (Although, we'll just see about that.) Weve been preparing for this for the past five years, she told Meredith, as she waltzed off to catch a flight to New York City and Columbia for another round of interviews with them, of course I want to leave. You should, too.

Yang added that last comment, of course, because Meredith seemed to be having second thoughts about stepping out of the Seattle Grace womb. And, honestly, rightly so -- she's got both a baby and a husband to consider in her equation. (Yang just has a husband, but even that doesnt seem to be factoring in, although its unclear whether it would, even if they were getting along.) Derek, however, scolded Meredith for canceling her interview with Brigham Young in Boston, and Meredith -- at the very end of the episode -- was shown interviewing there. And, surprisingly, telling the lady from the hospital that she was very serious about the program and that it was her top choice. Interesting? Interesting. I certainly didn't see that one coming. I thought she might botch the interview just so she could stick around Seattle.

NEXT: More fifth-year decisions!

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'Grey's Anatomy' recap: Days of Change

Lifesaving stem cell treatments must be offered in Ireland, says expert

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Lifesaving stem cell treatments must be offered in Ireland, says expert

By Sen McCrthaigh

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Ireland is seriously lagging behind most other countries in offering live-saving treatments provided by the use of adult stem cells, a leading international medical expert has warned.

Colin McGuckin called on the Government and health authorities to facilitate the wider collection and storage of stem cells from umbilical cord blood in Ireland.

Prof McGuckin who is advisor to the Vatican on stem cells and a director of the Cell Therapy Research Institute in Lyon, France is director of the Adult Stem Cell Foundation of Ireland, which was formally launched yesterday.

"Treatments which are available in other countries must come to Ireland," said Mr McGuckin. He also expressed fears the lack of stem cell therapies here could force people to seek unregulated care abroad.

Presently, none of Irelands three main maternity hospitals allow for the collection of adult stem cells from umbilical cords except in high-risk cases.

The only facility which allows the practice is Mount Carmel Hospital in Dublin. All adult stem cells collected are sent abroad for storage.

Mr McGuckin said adult stem cells could be used in the treatment of over 70 diseases including leukaemia and heart disease. Advances are also being made in their use for neurological diseases such as Alzheimers.

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Lifesaving stem cell treatments must be offered in Ireland, says expert

Baldness Cure: Japanese Study Finds Stem Cells Induce Hair Regrowth for Bald Heads on Mouse [PHOTO & VIDEO]

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From Rogaine to hair plugs, there have been many strides made to induce hair regrowth for bald or balding heads, but a new Japanese study found a possible cure to baldness by using stem cells.

Using stem cell therapy, scientists at the Tokyo University of Science in Japan led by Takashi Tsuki gave a hairless mouse a Mohawk by regenerating hair follicles.

Researchers used follicles from a normal mouse, namely adult epithelial stem cells and dermal papilla cell found in the skin, to create a "seed" of a hair follicle. Then, they implanted the newly-created "seed" using intracutaneous transplantation into the hairless mouse and -- Voila! -- hair.

According to the research published in Nature Communications, functional hair follicles grew on the hairless mouse properly on the skin in the epidermis, arrector pili muscle and nerve fibers. The newly regrown hair also went through a standard hair cycle of shedding and regrowth.

"Our current study thus demonstrates the potential for not only hair regeneration therapy but also the realisation of bioengineered organ replacement using adult somatic stem cells," the report said.

The baldness cure that worked on the hairless mice, however, has not yet been tested on humans, but the researchers hope to introduce the idea soon.

"We would like to start clinical research within three to five years, so that an actual treatment to general patients can start within a decade," researcher Koh-ei Toyoshima said in a statement.

However, even if it does work on people, the issue is raised about the cost, as stem cell therapy practices can be quite costly.

View the video of the hairless mouse with hair regrowth below.

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Baldness Cure: Japanese Study Finds Stem Cells Induce Hair Regrowth for Bald Heads on Mouse [PHOTO & VIDEO]

State: Grekos extracted tissue from stem cell patient who died, damaged patient’s abdomen

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Photo by Allie Garza

Dr. Zannos Grekos, a cardiologist whose practice is in Bonita Springs, speaks with a seminar attendant after one of his educational seminars about stem cell treatment, using one's own stem cells, for treating heart disease and other medical conditions, on Monday, March 14, 2011, at the Collier County Library. Allie Garza/Staff

K.K.Yankopolus

In a case involving a criminal investigation into the recent death of a 77-year-old man after stem cell treatment, state health authorities say Dr. Zannos Grekos extracted tissue from the patient while a second doctor later injected the patient with his own concentrated stem cells.

But when Grekos, a Bonita Springs cardiologist, initially harvested fatty tissue from Richard Poling's stomach on March 2, he unknowingly damaged the patient's abdomen which led to bleeding, according to a state Department of Health complaint.

New documents obtained by the Daily News shed more light on the case of Grekos and Dr. Konstantine Yankopolus, a Fort Myers obstetrician who assisted Grekos. They face potential disciplinary action from the state Board of Medicine for doing a stem cell treatment that the state says was experimental and dangerous.

The state issued separate administrative complaints against them in late March and early April, a few weeks after Poling died the same day of the treatment. He suffered a cardiac arrest in Grekos' practice on Bonita Beach Road and was pronounced dead at NCH North Naples Hospital.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office launched a criminal investigation in early March and it is ongoing, agency spokesman Larry King said.

Grekos also faces potential discipline when the state restricted his license in February, 2011 in connection to the death of a 69-year-old woman who went to him in 2010 for stem cell therapy.

She sought a remedy for neurological damage after chemotherapy for breast cancer. She fell in her home after the treatment, suffered a brain injury and later was taken off life support.

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State: Grekos extracted tissue from stem cell patient who died, damaged patient's abdomen

Stemlogix Selects Butler Schein Animal Health to Distribute Versatile In-Clinic Stem Cell Therapy System to …

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WESTON, Fla., April 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stemlogix, a regenerative medicine company offering premier in-clinic stem cell therapy solutions to veterinarians, announced today that it has selected Butler Schein Animal Health(TM) to distribute its regenerative medicine system, stem cell therapy kits and other biological therapies. Butler Schein Animal Health(TM) - a Henry Schein Company - is the largest companion animal health distribution company in the U.S.

Based in the U.S., Stemlogix is an innovative leader in the rapidly emerging field of veterinary regenerative medicine. The Company develops and manufactures stem cell therapy kits and platelet rich plasma kits domestically according to FDA cGMP regulations. Stemlogix offers scientifically validated technologies and protocols that will enable veterinarians to provide their patients with affordable, versatile regenerative medicine solutions including adipose (fat) and bone marrow derived stem cells, platelet rich plasma (PRP) and cytokine therapies at the point-of-care, all in less than 90 minutes. The Company also offers stem cell banking and stem cell expansion services to veterinarians around the country.

Butler Schein Animal Health(TM) will now offer the Stemlogix regenerative medicine system to its network of over 26,000 veterinary clinics in the U.S., helping Stemlogix to expand its market presence across North America. "We are excited to be working with Butler Schein to offer the Stemlogix in-clinic regenerative medicine system to their vast network of veterinarians," said Kristin Comella, CEO of Stemlogix. "This partnership will enable Stemlogix to help standardize and advance the field of regenerative medicine."

Clinical research has shown that regenerative stem cell therapies have been safely and effectively used to treat degenerative diseases and acute tissue injuries including arthritis, laminitis, tendon injuries and ligament injuries. Stemlogix has developed an array of convenient, affordable, same-day regenerative therapies designed to achieve reproducible and superior clinical outcomes. Stemlogix also has developed an innovative technique to remove stem cell rich fat tissue from horses in a minimally invasive, scar-free method, called Equine VetLipo(TM).

About Stemlogix, LLC

Stemlogix is an innovative veterinary regenerative medicine company committed to providing veterinarians with the ability to deliver the best possible stem cell therapy to dogs, cats and horses at the point-of-care. Stemlogix provides veterinarians the ability to produce PRP and isolate regenerative stem cells from a patient's own fat tissue or bone marrow in their own clinic. Stemlogix is the first company to provide veterinarians with the ability to produce multiple cellular therapies using the same system and the company offers the most versatile regenerative medicine system available. Stemlogix has a full scale cGMP stem cell manufacturing facility and a scientific team with expertise in developing stem cell products, FDA compliance and clinical research. For more information about veterinary regenerative medicine please visit http://www.stemlogix.com.

About Butler Schein Animal Health(TM)

Butler Schein Animal Health (Butler Schein) -- the veterinary division of Henry Schein (Nasdaq: HSIC - News) is the leading companion animal health distribution company in the United States headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. Butler Schein employs approximately 900 team members including 300 field sales representatives and 200 telesales and customer support representatives. With 15 strategically positioned, state-of-the-art distribution facilities and 10 inside sales centers nationwide, we maintain 98%+ order-fill ratio, accomplishing our mission of providing the right product at the right place and at the right time.

Partnering with over 400 leading animal health manufacturers in the world, Butler Schein is positioned to bring the broadest selection of veterinary products and strategic solutions to veterinary professionals nationwide, including:

1.

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Stemlogix Selects Butler Schein Animal Health to Distribute Versatile In-Clinic Stem Cell Therapy System to ...

Clock Evolution

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This post, originally published on January 16, 2005, was modified from one of my written prelims questions from early 2000.

EVOLUTIONARY PHYSIOLOGY OF BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS

Circadian clocks allow organisms to predict, instead of merely react to, cyclic (predictable) changes in the environment. A sentence similar to this one is the opening phrase of many a paper in the field of chronobiology. Besides becoming a truth by virtue of frequent repetition, such a statement appeals to common sense. It is difficult to imagine a universe in which it was not true. Yet, the data supporting the above statement are few and far-between. Believe it or not, the data are not always supporting it either.

This post will attempt to briefly review the literature on evolutionary and adaptive aspects of biological rhythmicity. Also, using the perspectives and the methodology of evolutionary physiology, I will try to suggest some ways to test the hypothesis stated in the first sentence above.

REASONING BEHIND THE ARGUMENT FROM COMMON SENSE

For outside observers of the field of chronobiology and its recent successes in molecular, neural and medical aspects of biological rhythmicity, it may come as a surprise that the field was founded by ecologists, ethologists and evolutionary biologists. When the statements about adaptive function of clocks were initially made, the authors were much more careful than is usually seen today. It was meant as a hypothesis to be tested, and elaborate reasoning was often offered to persuade the reader why it might be true (Daan 1981, Pittendrigh 1967,1993, Enright 1970).

One of the most common arguments that a clock must be adaptive (for one reason or another) was its ubiquity all plants, fungi, protista, invertebrates and vertebrates (more recently cyanobacteria, too) tested by the pioneers in the field showed circadian rhythmicity. The way those rhythms behaved in the laboratory in various experimental treatments was surprisingly similar over all species. Thus, the reasoning goes, if a physiological mechanism is found in every living thing, and it seems to work in the same way in all of them, then it must have originated early due to natural selection and was preserved over eons due to natural selection.

Some of the earliest experimental work was designed to test the genetic basis of biological rhythmicity. Many generations of laboratory organisms were raised and spent all their lives in aperiodic environments, yet the rhythms persist (Sheeba et al. 1999). Period of the rhythm was species -specific, highly heritable, and very amenable to artificial selection. So, if it is in the genes, the clock must have evolved due to some kind of selective pressure.

When reviewing evolutionary literature on biological rhythms, it is often difficult to distinguish between hypotheses of current utility from hypotheses of origin. It was often assumed that same selective pressures which keep the clocks ticking all over biosphere today, are the pressures responsible for the initial discovery of timing mechanisms by early forms of life.

The current adaptive functions of biological rhythms are often divided into two, mutually not exclusive categories. The Internal Synchronization hypothesis stresses the need for temporal separation of incompatible biochemical and physiological processes within a body (or cell), and for temporal synchronization of processes which need to coincide. An example of the former would be temporal separation of photosynthesis from nitrogen fixation. For the latter, surge of a hormone and availability of its receptor need to be synchronized for the generation of the endocrine effect. Evolution of such timing control mechanisms would presumably alleviate energetic costs of constant production of enzymes and their substrates.

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Clock Evolution

UPDATE: Five college students hospitalized after science experiment

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STORM LAKE, Iowa (KTIV) -

Officials say five students from a Buena Vista University physiology class ingested caffeine as part of a student-led experiment. That experiment, however, went terribly wrong. Officials say the students ended up in the hospital after an overdose of caffeine.

BVU's Dean of Students, says students are a priority, and she's very concerned about their safety. That's why they are taking the precautions that they are.

"We don't want to interrupt the student's learning and educational experience. We just want to ensure that we are taking the proper steps to let them go forward and complete their semester," said McKeon.

Randy Hummel was in that physiology class. He says the students had separated into groups to do their experiments. He wasn't in the same group as the students who overdosed. Hummel says the objective was to see how the body reacts to different levels of substances.

"When we first heard about it, we didn't think it was that big of a deal, but then we heard about the dosage and it was extreme and we don't know how it got there," said Hummel.

Officials say students took high levels of caffeine orally, mixed with a liquid. While moderate levels of caffeine are okay, high doses can make you sick.

"School officials say the students' symptoms included nausea, dizziness, and jitters. Those are all consistent with the effects of caffeine.

"We're very grateful that the students are all healthy and appear to be doing well and that the situation will be corrected," said McKeon.

Those students will be in the hospital through Wednesday. McKeon says their fellow students are sticking together.

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UPDATE: Five college students hospitalized after science experiment

Final Winner of the “What’s New in Comparative Physiology” t-shirt contest! [Life Lines]

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Congratulations to Patricia Villalta, a graduate student at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, our final winner of the "What's New in Comparative Physiology?" t-shirt contest! Here are her reasons for being excited about going to this year's Experimental Biology meeting:

"Dear Dr. Dolittle,

Every year, I get excited about the Experimental Biology meeting because unexpected opportunities are bound to happen. For example, this past year, I attended for the first time the Science Policy Committee's Symposium "How to Become An Advocate: A Workshop for Scientists", where I discovered that there were many opportunities for people of all levels of science to get involved in science advocacy. I now advocate for science every chance I get and write to my senators and representatives on a consistent basis. In addition to being exposed to a new interest, I was also able to meet and interact with the Chair of the APS Public Affairs Committee, and we have maintained correspondence after the EB meeting. Also, I took full advantage of my time with members of the APS Respiration Section throughout the meeting and offered help at the different society functions. This allowed me to network with everyone from the APS President to corporate sponsors. I was asked by the incoming Chair of the Respiration Section to become Chair of the Trainee Subcommittee. I also attended "Meet the Editors" of the APS journals, volunteered to serve as a guide for high school students and teachers attending EB, and visited the NIH for a campus tour and seminars. By the end of the meeting, I had seized every unexpected opportunity, and for a fledgling like me, that makes EB a whirlwind experience.

Similarly, the EB experience allows me the chance to talk about comparative physiology with the greats in the field. I like to spark conversations about my favorite topic- how comparative physiology is making a comeback in the field after years of thinking that other routes, such as DNA and signaling pathways, were the key to solving the unknowns in the basic medical sciences. It is exciting to be part of the next generation of scientists who are being trained to think about the physiology of a problem and to be able to paint a clear, overview picture of what may have gone wrong. For example, my work focuses on mechanisms of edema formation in the lung. Our understanding of edema progression in the lung, as put forth by Dr. Nathan Staub, was that fluid accumulation started in the interstitium around larger vessels, and once the lymphatic removal of this fluid was overwhelmed, alveolar flooding ensued. We now appreciate that activation of certain calcium channels can cause direct alveolar flooding without any evidence of peribrochovascular interstitial edema. Our understanding of the physiology has been turned on its head, and its now up to us future scientists to truly understand how this may occur, and that in itself is tremendously exciting.

I hope I get to meet you this year at Experimental Biology!

Respectfully yours,

Patricia Villalta"

Thank you Patricia for your letter. Don't forget to wear your t-shirt at the meeting for a chance to win free coffee!

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Final Winner of the "What's New in Comparative Physiology" t-shirt contest! [Life Lines]

Intraoperative Histological Evaluation of Tissue Could Prevent Poor Surgical Outcome

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Pediatric and Developmental Pathology

Newswise Hirschsprung disease occurs when nerve cells in the colon do not develop normally before birth and the bowel is unable to move its contents along. Severe bowel obstruction and even perforation can then occur. The condition is usually diagnosed within the first months of life, but can be found in older children as well.

Hirschsprung disease affects most frequently the distal bowel propulsive function, and it occurs in about 1 in 5,000 live births. The condition is treated surgically, and poor outcomes can sometimes require further surgery. A new study recommends an intraoperative histological evaluation that could offer a better assessment of the bowel nervous system, leading to more successful procedures.

Bowel function is restored by surgically removing the nonfunctioning segment of the bowel, then using a pull-through procedure that repairs the colon by telescoping functional bowel down into the anus. Normally innervated bowel tissue is needed for a successful outcome. A common reason for a poor postoperative outcome is the use of bowel for the pull-through that has abnormal innervation. A transition zone, consisting of a segment of bowel between the normal and abnormal sections of the bowel that can give the appearance of normal functioning, must also be removed.

The current issue of the journal Pediatric and Developmental Pathology reports on a study of 30 patients at the Colorectal Center for Children at the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center. These patients underwent reoperation and removal of the bowel segment used unsuccessfully during the initial surgery. Researchers examined records and slides from the primary operations and fresh tissues from the secondary surgeries.

To determine the suitability of bowel to be used, the authors of this study recommend histological confirmation of the presence of both ganglion cells and normal-caliber nerves circumferentially. This research found 16 cases in which abnormalities were found microscopically; in these cases, the patients improved following reoperations. The use of intraoperative consultation during the primary procedure should include frozen section evaluation of the entire circumference of the bowel at the point to be used to connect the pulled-through bowel down to the anus.

Full text of the article, Reoperation for Hirschsprung Disease: Pathology of the Resected Problematic Distal Pull-Through, Pediatric and Developmental Pathology, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2012, is available at http://www.pedpath.org/toc/pdpa/15/1.

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Intraoperative Histological Evaluation of Tissue Could Prevent Poor Surgical Outcome

XIFIN to Present at 17th Annual Executive War College on Laboratory and Pathology Management

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SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

XIFIN Inc., the company revolutionizing revenue cycle management for diagnostic service providers, today announced that Rina Wolf, VP of Commercialization Strategies, Consulting and Industry Affairs, has been selected to speak at the 17th annual Executive War College on Laboratory and Pathology Management, May 1-2, 2012 in New Orleans, LA.

The Executive War College is the premier conference of its kind, providing access to more than 80 laboratory and pathology experts presenting sessions on laboratory innovations, strategy and profitability.

Rina Wolf will be presenting the extended program, Evaluating Opportunities for Investment in Genetic Testing: Turning Good Science into Good Business, on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 from 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM. The session will highlight the best opportunities for new molecular diagnostic tests, barriers to commercialization and reimbursement, and how to ensure commercialization success.

One big challenge for any laboratory or company developing a molecular or genetic test is to obtain favorable coverage decisions and adequate reimbursement from Medicare and private health insurers, stated Robert L. Michel, Editor-In-Chief of The Dark Report and founder of the Executive War College. Rina Wolf is one of just a handful of experts in the lab testing industry with a demonstrated track record in successfully launching new molecular and genetic assays. Her presentation will be highly useful for anyone preparing to bring proprietary lab tests to the clinical marketplace, particularly since Rina will not only identify the essential steps that need to be taken, but will also share some of the overlooked pitfalls. Her presentation will be chock-full of practical knowledge.

Rina will also be participating as a panelist in the post-conference workshop, Getting Paid for Molecular and Genetic Tests: Latest Changes in How Government and Private Payers Want to Reimburse Labs, on Thursday, May 3. The panel will provide insights on the many changes taking place in how government and private payers want to develop coverage guidelines and establish reimbursement for molecular diagnostic assays and genetic tests. Attendees can expect some interesting predictions about future payer revisions to coverage and reimbursement guidelines.

XIFIN delivers SaaS revenue cycle management systems that enable labs to improve cash collections and gain efficiencies that substantially improve profitability. More than 50 percent of the industrys largest labs currently use XIFINs automated, end-to-end interoperable platform to capture revenue faster and better manage claims processing for maximum productivity and profitability.

XIFIN processes more than 100 million claims per year across a wide variety of healthcare segments including clinical, hospital outreach, anatomic pathology, molecular diagnostics, toxicology, radiology and more. Customers see a 50-100% improvement in profitability by using the XIFIN system, and have realized cumulative gains of $1 billion in net cash collection, adjusted for growth.

For additional information about the Executive War College, or to register, visit http://www.executivewarcollege.com.

About XIFIN

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XIFIN to Present at 17th Annual Executive War College on Laboratory and Pathology Management

USC Department of Pathology Selects PathCentral’s Web-Based Anatomic Pathology Laboratory Information System

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IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

PathCentral, Inc. (www.pathcentral.net), the first and only company focused exclusively on the success of the community pathologist, announced today it has entered into an agreement to provide its web-based anatomic pathology laboratory information system (APLIS) to the Keck School of Medicine of USCs Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

USCs Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is one of the largest and most prestigious in the country, with several nationally and internationally renowned physicians on its staff, including several who have been named to the list of Americas Top Doctors.

PathCentrals web-based APLIS represents a fully integrated end-to-end workflow solution for our pathology laboratory, said Michael Selsted, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the Keck School of Medicine of USCs Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The systems connectivity features enable us to interface electronically with our clients EMR systems, key instrumentation within our laboratory, and, ultimately, with other facilities using digital imaging technology to access USCs professional consultation services.

As with most healthcare providers today, pathologists are under continuous pressure to become more productive while improving the quality of patient care, and IT automation is seen by many in the field as a key to achieving these goals.

PathCentral is honored that our web-based APLIS has been chosen by such a prestigious institution as its core laboratory workflow solution, said Matt Watson, PathCentrals CEO. The Keck Schools Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is world renowned for its medical and scientific expertise and quality of patient care, and were excited to be able to assist them in optimizing their laboratory testing processes.

About the USC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine

With 92 full-time primary faculty, 30 dual-appointment faculty, 75 voluntary faculty and 41 residents and fellows in training, the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Keck School is one of the largest pathology departments in the United States. The faculty of the Department provide diagnostic laboratory services for the LAC+USC Medical Center, the Keck Medical Center of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, and the Doheny Eye Institute.

About PathCentral

Irvine, Calif.-based PathCentral, Inc. provides a range of technology-based solutions and services specifically focused on meeting the needs of community pathologists. PathCentrals solutions assist pathologists in building their practices while improving efficiencies and increasing revenue. At the core of PathCentrals services is a proprietary web-based Anatomic Pathology Laboratory Information System (APLIS), an integrated CLIA-certified esoteric diagnostics laboratory, a full-service outreach assistance program, and a range of complementary ancillary services. Please visit http://www.pathcentral.net for more information.

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USC Department of Pathology Selects PathCentral’s Web-Based Anatomic Pathology Laboratory Information System

NMSU Extension teaches nutrition program to entire school

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An elementary school student looks at the USDA dietary guideline MyPyramid while NMSU Extension nutrition educators talk about the foods in each category and the importance of healthy eating habits.

ALBUQUERQUE Every student at Chaparral Elementary School in Albuquerque proudly received a certificate from the kIdsCAN program this year. They are among the 2,000 students in Albuquerque and 15,200 students across the state this year who have completed the nutrition program from New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service nutrition educators.

"Usually only one or two teachers in a school will invite us to teach the Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition (ICAN) program in their classrooms," said Donna Sauter, NMSU Extension home economist and Bernalillo County ICAN coordinator. "It was a real treat for the teachers and administration at Chaparral Elementary to see the value of teaching this program to all of the 731 students."

The school's principal was pleased with the program and has invited the nutrition educators back next school year to again teach the program to the entire student body.

The kIdsCAN program is the youth component of the ICAN program, which provides hands-on, needs-based education in the areas of healthy food choices, food preparation, food safety and food resource management to people with limited-incomes and resources. The youth curriculum is designed to meet educational benchmarks set by the New Mexico Public Education Department.

During four one-hour classes, the children learn about the USDA dietary guidelines MyPyramid and Choose MyPlate, the importance of hand-washing, how to read the nutritional fact chart on food

"The classes are taught primarily by paraprofessional educators, who are hired from the communities served by the program," Sauter said of the 11 nutrition educators working in Bernalillo County. "These educators have similar backgrounds to program participants and thus serve as peer role models."

Being able to work with the community is the driving force for the nutrition educator.

"I was a single mother for quite a few years," said Geraldine Herrera, one of the nutrition educators working with the Chaparral Elementary students. "I didn't know about any of these programs that I work with now that I'm with the Cooperative Extension Service. People with limited means and resources don't know of all these resources and beneficial programs that are out there, and are free."

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NMSU Extension teaches nutrition program to entire school