Monthly Archives: June 2012

Medistem Achieves Important ERC Stem Cell Clinical Trial Milestone

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SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire -06/04/12)- Medistem Inc. (MEDS) announced today positive safety data from the first 5 patients enrolled in the Non-Revascularizable IschEmic Cardiomyopathy treated with Retrograde COronary Sinus Venous DElivery of Cell TheRapy (RECOVER-ERC) trial. The clinical trial uses the company's "Universal Donor" Endometrial Regenerative Cells (ERC) to treat Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).

According to the study design, after 5 patients enter the trial, they must be observed for a two month time period before additional patients are allowed to enter the study. Patient data was analyzed by the study's independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), which concluded that based on lack of adverse effects, the study be allowed to continue recruitment.

"Medistem is developing a treatment for CHF that uses a 30-minute catheter-based procedure to administer the ERC stem cell into the patients' hearts. The achievement of 2 month patient follow-up with no adverse events is a strong signal for us that our new approach to this terrible condition is feasible," said Thomas Ichim, CEO of Medistem.

The RECOVER-ERC trial will treat a total of 60 patients with end-stage heart failure with three concentrations of ERC stem cells or placebo. The clinical trial is being conducted by Dr. Leo Bockeria, Chairman of the Backulev Centre for Cardiovascular Surgery, in collaboration with Dr. Amit Patel, Director of Clinical Regenerative Medicine at University of Utah.

"As a professional drug developer, I am very optimistic of a stem cell product that can be used as a drug. The ERC stem cell can be stored frozen indefinitely, does not need matching with donors, and can be injected in a simple 30-minute procedure into the heart," said Dr. Sergey Sablin, Vice President of Medistem and co-founder of the multi-billion dollar NASDAQ company Medivation.

Currently patients with end-stage heart failure, such as the ones enrolled in the RECOVER-ERC study, have no option except for heart transplantation, which is limited by side effects and lack of donors. In contrast to other stem cells, ERC can be manufactured inexpensively, do not require tissue matching, and can be administered in a minimally-invasive manner. Animal experiments suggest ERC are more potent than other stem cell sources at restoring heart function. The FDA has approved a clinical trial of ERC in treatment of critical limb ischemia in the USA.

About Medistem Inc. Medistem Inc. is a biotechnology company developing technologies related to adult stem cell extraction, manipulation, and use for treating inflammatory and degenerative diseases. The company's lead product, the endometrial regenerative cell (ERC), is a "universal donor" stem cell being developed for critical limb ischemia and heart failure. A publication describing the support for use of ERC for this condition may be found at http://www.translational-medicine.com/content/pdf/1479-5876-6-45.pdf.

Cautionary Statement This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of our securities. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking information. Factors which may cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements are discussed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Medistem Achieves Important ERC Stem Cell Clinical Trial Milestone

Novel Crosses Culture and Class, Island and Mainland

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Gita Audhya offers her readers a love story stretching from Hawaii to Texas, poor to rich.BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (PRWEB) June 04, 2012 Gita Audhya’s novel “In Pursuit of Love, Spirituality and Happiness” (published by iUniverse) captures the essence of true love between two people, their conflicts, astonishing and amazing romances and the relentless pull of day-to-day problem living in a corrupt ...

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Novel Crosses Culture and Class, Island and Mainland

MTV Movie Awards Style Report: Shorts, Gowns Unite

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From a fash-nerd perspective, the MTV Movie Awards rule. You have no idea how dressy everyone will take it, and stylists seem to stunt on each other in terms of new designers and obscure labels. Plus, where else in the world can you get a red carpet that features shorts (a la Leighton Meester's Christian Cota) as well as a black floor-length draped evening gown with a plunging neckline and a sky-high slit like the Maria Lucia Hohan number on special MTV Style correspondent Kat Graham? See? It's totally magical.

See photos of the hottest fashion from the MTV Movie Awards!

So it'll come as no surprise that our favorite looks of the night ran the sartorial gamut something crazy. We went ballistic when "Twilight" actress Julia Jones cleaned way up from her usual werewolf threads to glow in a bright, neon yellow laser-cut Joy Cioci dress. Not only did Kat flip for the color, Julia mentioned that even Paris Hilton leaned over to ask her who she was wearing. You know some covert calls were made to stylists right from our pre-show.

We also adored how the ladylike peplum trend is making its way from the runway to the red carpet. Charlize Theron wore a beautiful red Lanvin version, and Emma Stone wore a black and grey iteration. Julianne Hough and her enviably hard-body torso also featured a structured version in a long-sleeved cutout dress from Lady Gaga fave Sally LaPointe.

And, well, we couldn't quite figure out if the apron-like tie-front side panel on Emma Watson's marbled blue, grey and black Brood dress quite counts as a peplum, but who cares? Honestly, the "Perks of Being a Wallflower" star looked exquisite, despite confessing to pre-show jitters via Twitter. Check out the "Perks of Being a Wallflower" trailer to get a tease of this phenomenal movie.

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If Hailee Steinfeld's Louis Vuitton sequined-lapel tux was the curveball on the pantsuit last year, this year, Shailene Woodley takes the title in her gorgeous Stella McCartney. Black halter-neck with a deep V, Shailene takes what could've been a sad-face menswear risk and transforms it to a sleek, dramatic and elegant option. The devil is definitely in the details, and this was all about the impeccable fit.

Speaking of dramatic, we can't overlook Christina Ricci's bonkers black Christian Siriano for Timex dress. Yes, you read that right. The strapless bodice had a grip of actual watch faces embroidered into the fabric. It was masterfully executed. We're talking nary a stray lump nor a single iota of added bulk onto the starlet's whippet-thin frame.

And, finally, Kristen Stewart took a fashion risk in a silver, yellow and purple Guishem by Guillermo Jop dress. It was short, sweet and revealed her willowy stems. Plus, in predictably awesome form, minutes after she left the press line, K.Stew discreetly hopped out of heels to step into comfy sneakers.

Jaw-dropping, heart-pounding, gut-busting moments galore. See what just happened at the 21st annual MTV Movie Awards!

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MTV Movie Awards Style Report: Shorts, Gowns Unite

KAK turns heads for Red Undies Week

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Stripping for a cause ... Kerri-Anne Kennerley with dancing partner Carmelo Pizzino and model Tyler Atkins in a shoot for Red Undies Week in support of kidney disease. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Kerri Anne Kennerley will dance her way to Channel 7's Dancing With The Stars along with Johnny Ruffo and model Vogue Williams. Vision Craig Greenhill

Kerri-Anne Kennerley survives a tumble on Dancing With The Stars and wins praise from judge Todd McKenney.

Turning heads ... Kerri-Anne dons a pair of sequined hot pants in support of kidney disease. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

KERRI-Anne Kennerley sure is making the most of her post Dancing With The Stars bod - and is not too keen to hang up her dancing shoes just yet, either.

The TV veteran has stripped off - kind of - for a campaign for Red Undies Week, which raises awareness for kidney disease.

Some 1.3 million Australians are walking around with the "silent killer" and don't know it, so make sure you get checked.

Kerri-Anne frank about photoshopped cover

KAK in quick step over to rival seven

Kruger: Why I'll be funnier than KAK

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KAK turns heads for Red Undies Week

All-American Red Heads, the first women's basketball team to make the Hall of Fame

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For four glorious seasons in the late 1960s and early '70s, Pat "Watusie" Deroche Hymel of Gramercy was part of a traveling women's professional basketball team called the All-American Red Heads. In September, the 61-year-old grandmother will rejoin some of her teammates as the franchise is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside the likes of Reggie Miller and Ralph Samson.

The Red Heads will become the first women's basketball team to be so enshrined.

"The Hall of Fame is just, that's it. The ultimate," Hymel said recently. "You want to shoot for the stars and grab it. When we were nominated, we were excited just to be nominated. But there are a few people who didn't know about the Red Heads."

As a young girl growing up in Gramercy, Hymel loved to play basketball. That love manifested itself in a stellar high school career as a Lutcher Lady Bulldog.

When she graduated from high school in 1969, that might have been the end of her playing days. Grants and scholarships were virtually unheard of then, and her family had no money for college. But Hymel had a dream, and a father who wanted to see her live it.

It was Hymel's father, Bobby Deroche, who heard about the All American Red Heads, a professional barnstorming basketball team made up of young, red-haired women from around the U.S. who would travel across the country to play pick-up games against local men's teams. It was Bobby Deroche who made the call and got his daughter a try-out. But it was Hymel who, at the tender age of 17, wowed the coaches enough to earn herself a spot on the traveling team.

Hymel used her basketball skills as "Watusie" Deroche, also known as "The Cajun Queen," to impress the crowd with her famous off-the-elbow shot, her off-the-back shot and her thick Cajun accent as the team's designated comedian.

The team was formed in 1936 by C.M. "Ole" Olson, and allegedly was named by his wife, who owned a string of hair salons. The All-American Red Heads was one of the first professional basketball teams for women. For 50 years, the team would crisscross the country and take on men's teams in whichever community they happened to land. Then, at halftime, to impress the crowd, they would put on shows that included comedy routines and exhibitions of trick shots.

"You had to have some sort of personality," Hymel said. "It wasn't just about the basketball."

Longtime Lutcher football coach Tim Detillier remembers Hymel as a player, even though he was in elementary school during her heyday. His sister was one of Hymel's high school teammates.

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All-American Red Heads, the first women's basketball team to make the Hall of Fame

Tiny satellites will use Kinect to dock with one another

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Little satellites grow up to be big satellites. At least, that’s what will happen if Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) gets its way. Working in conjunction with the University of Surrey, the UK-based company plans to launch a pair of nano-satellites into orbit equipped with Kinect motion-control sensors that will allow the minisats to seek each other out and dock to form a new, larger ...

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Tiny satellites will use Kinect to dock with one another

FaZe PryZee’s "Opacity" Episode 22 | Funnies And Fails – Video

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03-06-2012 07:32 Thumbs up & Favorite for FaZe PryZee! (Open Description for Info!) FaZe PryZee: "Some funny moments! 40K editing contest results will be uploaded the 6th-7th. Enjoy guys!" FaZe PryZee's Channel: FaZe PryZee's Second Channel: FaZe PryZee's Twitter: Note: Please keep in Mind that this is NOT MY Video, i got the Permission to Upload this. If you're the owner of this Video, and don't want it uploaded anymore, contact me and I'll remove it as soon as Possible. Thanks. Follow us on Twitter:

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2012 Post Hunt: Did you survive?

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Enormous bowling pins. A kayak and a pile of poop. Bob Segers Night Moves on an endless loop. How else would you want to spend a Sunday afternoon?

The Hunt: Now with a bigger pile of poop (JUANA ARIAS - FOR THE WASHINGTON POST) At the fifth annual Post Hunt, a bizarre game in which brainy Washington Post Magazine readers fanned out across downtown D.C. to solve a series of mind-bending puzzles for a $2,000 prize, the cast of characters was nearly as eclectic as the Hunt itself. Solving the puzzles requires a certain quirky sense of humor; they were, after all, devised by Dave Barry, Gene Weingarten and Tom Shroder.

Team Nogganawhin came to the contest with low expectations. After all, their team name (sounds like not gonna win) was a bit defeatist. Named the team too soon, it seems: the group took home the grand prize. We really had no illusions about our chances," said John Mackedon, who served as the team's leader. "We didn't expect to win, ever, so it's such an amazing turn of events for us ... I'm literally shaking a little bit."

Members of the winning team rejoice. (JUANA ARIAS - FOR THE WASHINGTON POST) The team included a dozen members, some Hunt veterans, some rookies. Mackedon attributed the group's success to a diversity of perspectives. "Between us, we had a lot of a-has, and played off each other's strengths," he said. And when they completed the last challenge, they had triathlete Damon Taaffe, 35, of Arlington, sprint to the stage at Franklin Square Park to ensure the victory.

As for what they will do with the $2,000: "We're going to subsidize a local watering hole. That's going to be our first expenditure," he said.

Shroder (former editor of The Washington Post Magazine), estimated that about 12,000 people participated.

View Photo Gallery:Thousands of people flooded downtown Washington on June 3 to play the fifth annual Post Hunt, a game of brainteasing puzzles designed by Dave Barry, Tom Shroder and Gene Weingarten.

"It's just a nice, nerdy way to have fun," said 25-year-old Emma Roach, a budget analyst from Bethesda and member of "Team Sunny" (a nod to the TV show Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia.)

On its face, the challenge is simple: Correctly analyze puzzles set up across downtown Washington. The answer to each one is a number. Match those numbers to clues in the magazine. Use those clues as you embark on the so-called End Game.

In practice, it is somewhat more complicated.

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2012 Post Hunt: Did you survive?

21-year-old finishes U of C medical school

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June 3, 2012 (CHICAGO) -- The University of Chicago is about to graduate the youngest medical student in school history.

The Chicago Tribune reports that 21-year-old Sho Yano graduates this week from the Pritzker School of Medicine.

Yano began reading at age 2, writing by 3 and composing music by 5. He graduated from Loyola University in three years and entered medical school at age 12.

The median age for entering medical school is 23.

The Tribune reports that medical schools were reluctant to admit Yano because of his young age. Even professors had worried that medical school would stunt his adolescence.

However, family members and professors say Yano has thrived.

He'll be starting residency in pediatric neurology. He's also an accomplished pianist and has a black belt in tae kwan do.

Information from: Chicago Tribune

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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21-year-old finishes U of C medical school

Humble genius earns medical degree at 21

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June 3, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- He was an accomplished pianist at age 9. Now at 21, Sho Yano is the youngest medical school graduate in the history of the University of Chicago.

Sho earned his degree from the Pritzker School of Medicine and is about to enter a residency in pediatric neurology.

"It feels like a nice little accomplishment," Sho said. "I want to go on and do something bigger. I don't want to act like there is some particular reason I should make a great discovery versus any of my classmates so far."

Sho is a genius who's I.Q. is beyond what an I.Q. test can measure. He was reading at 2, composing music at 5 and as a very focused 9-year-old, entered Loyola University.

"I came to college to study, not to hang out or date," he said in 2000 when he entered Loyola.

Studying is exactly what he did. Sho said academics were easy; dealing with discrimination was the real learning experience.

"I ran into things like people shouting 'go back to elementary school' on campus," Sho said.

Being socially accepted at such a young age was easier while getting his PhD and medical degree at the University of Chicago

Sho has always been a role model for his younger sister Sayuri. She is 15 years old, an accomplished violinist and attends John Hopkins University.

The Yano siblings say the pressure to do great things comes from within.

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Humble genius earns medical degree at 21

Medical school journey tests ACU grad's faith

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Eric J. Shelton/Reporter-News Abilene Christian University graduate Kate Huggins was recently accepted into the University of Tennessee's medical school.

Throughout her year-plus odyssey to enroll in medical school, Kate Huggins' faith was challenged continually.

After the 2011 Abilene Christian University graduate received the news she had been accepted into Texas A&M her first medical school of choice she learned the university had overfilled its class by 80 students.

To soften the blow, Texas A&M officials offered incentives to students who were open to deferring for a year, including a "significant tuition scholarship." Since Huggins graduated from ACU when she was 21, she was open to waiting a year.

"I decided to take this option and move to Tennessee to explore my relationship with my boyfriend, who is attending medical school at University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tenn.," said Huggins, who took her GED to graduate a year early from Abilene Christian Schools.

"I moved to Memphis and after a few months of living there, had decided that I would like to stay if I could. I spoke with the dean of admissions at the University of Tennessee and he encouraged me to sort out the issue with the dean of admissions at A&M."

Huggins, now 22, spoke with the dean at A&M and he agreed to let her apply to Tennessee without losing her spot at A&M within a set time frame. Besides the fact that Tennessee's medical school had 20 fewer spots than A&M's 200-student school, Huggins took a leap of faith by applying on the final day applications were being taken.

"Against huge odds including being told there was 'absolutely no way' by an adviser that Tennessee would accept an out of state med student she applied on the last possible day," said Huggins' father, Dan.

Kate Huggins added: "I had come so far, I was under so much stress that I thought there was at least a very slim chance."

But the allotted two-month time frame came and went without Huggins' hearing from Tennessee. She would now forced to give up her A&M acceptance and "waited in faith" to be accepted at Tennessee.

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Liberty 87, Fever 72

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UpdatedJun 3, 2012 9:56 PM ET

The New York Liberty were fired up after a 23-point loss at Indiana the previous night gave them the longest winless start in franchise history.

Cappie Pondexter scored 25 points to lead the Liberty to an 87-72 victory over the Fever on Sunday night. Essence Carson had 16 points, Plenette Pierson added 14, Leilani Mitchell 13 and Kia Vaughn 10 for New York (1-5).

''We were extra motivated, everybody was angry,'' Pondexter said. ''We finally got a win under our belt. ... We're happy about it. Winning changes everything.''

The Liberty, who shot 44 percent (31 for 70), led by double digits from late in the second quarter until the Fever made a run down the stretch in the fourth.

After Vaughn's jumper with 6:20 to go put the Liberty ahead 75-58, matching its largest lead of the game, the Fever used a 12-2 run to pull within seven with 3:20 to go.

However, Pondexter scored nine points as the Liberty outscored the Fever 12-6 the rest of the way to seal the victory.

''I knew we weren't going to lose,'' Pondexter said. ''We made a lot of mistakes in our previous five games, where we knew we had the game and then lost it down the stretch. ... But today we stuck together. I think that's a real positive. ... I think any (opposing) team would have lost tonight.''

New York was 9 for 19 (47 percent) from beyond the arc and finished with 20 assists and 12 steals. After getting outscored by an average of 17.4 points in their first five games, the Liberty finished with their highest total of the season.

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Liberty 87, Fever 72

Pondexter leads Liberty past Fever for 1st win

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) The New York Liberty were fired up after a 23-point loss at Indiana the previous night gave them the longest winless start in franchise history.

Cappie Pondexter scored 25 points to lead the Liberty to an 87-72 victory over the Fever on Sunday night. Essence Carson had 16 points, Plenette Pierson added 14, Leilani Mitchell 13 and Kia Vaughn 10 for New York (1-5).

''We were extra motivated, everybody was angry,'' Pondexter said. ''We finally got a win under our belt. ... We're happy about it. Winning changes everything.''

The Liberty, who shot 44 percent (31 for 70), led by double digits from late in the second quarter until the Fever made a run down the stretch in the fourth.

After Vaughn's jumper with 6:20 to go put the Liberty ahead 75-58, matching its largest lead of the game, the Fever used a 12-2 run to pull within seven with 3:20 to go.

However, Pondexter scored nine points as the Liberty outscored the Fever 12-6 the rest of the way to seal the victory.

''I knew we weren't going to lose,'' Pondexter said. ''We made a lot of mistakes in our previous five games, where we knew we had the game and then lost it down the stretch. ... But today we stuck together. I think that's a real positive. ... I think any (opposing) team would have lost tonight.''

New York was 9 for 19 (47 percent) from beyond the arc and finished with 20 assists and 12 steals. After getting outscored by an average of 17.4 points in their first five games, the Liberty finished with their highest total of the season.

''We got back to what gives us a chance to compete with anybody in the league, and that is our defense,'' New York coach John Whisenant said. ''Everyone learned from last night. ... We had even distribution of our scoring. When we play defense harder, our offense is better.''

Tamika Catchings scored 19 points and Katie Douglas had 15 for the Fever (4-1). Briann January added 12 points and Shavonte Zellous 10.

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Pondexter leads Liberty past Fever for 1st win

Nonaggression key to the true libertarian ideals

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In this years presidential election, we have the choice between a republican and a democrat. Most people identify with one of these two parties and will vote for the candidate of their respective party. Many other parties exist that have a few supporters, but one party in particular has gained tons of notoriety starting in the 2008 election and continuing today.

The party that has risen from the bottom is the Libertarian Party. Ron Paul, although a republican candidate, carries the values of a libertarian. The best way to describe his, and true libertarian values and ideas, is one word: nonaggression.

Nonaggressive acts by the government in every aspect describe true libertarian beliefs. This idea of nonaggression means that libertarians agree with conservatives on some issues and with liberals on others.

When it comes to taxes and spending, libertarians dont want the government doing any of it. If the government tries to act, that is aggressive and against libertarian ideas. Libertarians want people to do for themselves.

When it comes to gay marriage and the legalization of drugs, libertarians side with the liberals. They want people to do whatever they want.

Libertarians believe in the people to do well, the rights of the people and protection of those rights. Libertarians believe each individual knows what is best for them; they believe in the freedom to do as they please.

Libertarians dont need the overseeing government to advise them what they should or can do.

If they wish to ingest a drug, they should be able to. The act of consuming a drug is nonaggressive to others, so it follows libertarian values.

If someone desires to gamble his or her own money away, the government should not stop him or her from doing so. Stopping people from gambling with their own money proves an aggressive act on the part of the government.

When it comes to business, any regulation on a business is a form of aggression. Forcing business to apply certain practices, wages, etc. goes against the nonaggression principle. If a business wants to pay employees one penny an hour, let that business try. No one will work there because competing businesses will offer better wages and attract labor.

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Nonaggression key to the true libertarian ideals