Monthly Archives: January 2014

Genetic screening spreads to primary care at Sanford clinics

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Anne Roberts of Moorhead

Anne Roberts of Moorhead talks about her decision to have her breasts removed after being diagnosed with the gene that made her a high risk for developing breast cancer. David Samson / The Forum

Sanford medical lab scientist Tylise Graff looks at tumor tissue from a breast cancer sample which helps determine the course of treatment. David Samson / The Forum

Would you consider genetic testing?

FARGO Anne Roberts considers herself a breast cancer previvor.

After learning that she inherited a gene that placed her at very high risk and knowing her family history was riddled with cancer she opted for preventive surgery, a double mastectomy.

My surgeon explained to me it wasnt a matter of if, she said. I was going to get cancer. It was a question of when.

Roberts was 55 when she had the surgery four years ago the same age her older sister first developed breast cancer, and the age of her paternal grandmother when she died of cancer.

Genetic testing revealed the Moorhead woman had an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer. Preemptive surgery reduced her risk by 90 percent.

Now, the kind of genetic screening and counseling that has long been common in treating cancer and assessing prenatal or childhood risk of inheriting disease is spreading to primary care at Sanford Health clinics under a new $125 million initiative in genetic medicine.

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Genetic screening spreads to primary care at Sanford clinics

Best Candidate for Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Techniques? – Video

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Best Candidate for Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Techniques?
Dr Robert Wagner discusses the profile of the best candidate for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine techniques. To learn more, visit http://www.stemcellarts,com.

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Best Candidate for Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Techniques? - Video

Stem cell researchers heralding ‘major scientific discovery’

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January 29, 2014 - 17:55 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Stem cell researchers are heralding a "major scientific discovery", with the potential to start a new age of personalized medicine, BBC News reports.

Scientists in Japan showed stem cells can now be made quickly just by dipping blood cells into acid.

Stem cells can transform into any tissue and are already being trialled for healing the eye, heart and brain.

The latest development, published in the journal Nature, could make the technology cheaper, faster and safer, according to the BBC.

The human body is built of cells with a specific role - nerve cells, liver cells, muscle cells - and that role is fixed. However, stem cells can become any other type of cell, and they have become a major field of research in medicine for their potential to regenerate the body.

Embryos are one, ethically charged, source of stem cells. Nobel prize winning research also showed that skin cells could be "genetically reprogrammed" to become stem cells (termed induced pluripotent stem cells).

Now a study shows that shocking blood cells with acid could also trigger the transformation into stem cells - this time termed STAP (stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency) cells.

Dr Haruko Obokata, from the Riken Centre for Developmental Biology in Japan, said she was "really surprised" that cells could respond to their environment in this way.

She added: "It's exciting to think about the new possibilities these findings offer us, not only in regenerative medicine, but cancer as well."

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Stem cell researchers heralding ‘major scientific discovery’

Weekly Vlog #13 (Meals, Core FURY, NASM and Physiology of Exercise Classes, Sleep Over with Lindsey) – Video

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Weekly Vlog #13 (Meals, Core FURY, NASM and Physiology of Exercise Classes, Sleep Over with Lindsey)
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Weekly Vlog #13 (Meals, Core FURY, NASM and Physiology of Exercise Classes, Sleep Over with Lindsey) - Video

What about IVF?

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The news last week that Robert Edwards won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for his work on the in vitro fertilization of human eggs may have seemed a little surprising to some observers: IVF has become so mainstream that we hardly see it as an innovative technology anymore.

It has also stayed largely out of the headlines, with little of the moral controversy that surrounds other reproductive issues, such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Since its introduction, IVF has been widely embraced across the religious and political spectrum. This is particularly notable in the evangelical movement, whose leaders have kept abortion and stem cells on the political front burner, but have staked out a variety of compromise positions that allow them to accept this scientific form of family-building.

Behind IVF and embryonic stem cell research, however, lie the same sort of technology, the kind Edwards and his late colleague Dr. Patrick Steptoe developed. Both depend on embryos created in a lab by fertilizing an egg extracted from a woman. And both practices generally result in the destruction of embryos--in the case of stem cells, for research; in the case of IVF, as a common side effect of creating more embryos than a woman ultimately chooses to implant.

Should evangelical Christians accept IVF so easily? No, says Jennifer Lahl. The director of the Center for Bioethics and Culture Network in San Francisco, Lahl has become a lone voice for a message that many of her fellow evangelicals are uncomfortable hearing: If embryos are human lives, she argues, then it is time for Christians to be consistent about their moral objections and unite against IVF.

For Lahl, the regular destruction or freezing of human embryos that occurs during the course of most IVF cycles amounts to ending human lives. And she suggests that the whole process is undermining human dignity. The minute the egg comes out of body, it is graded, the sperm is graded, then the embryo is graded, she says. In addition to determining which sperm and which eggs are most likely to produce a viable embryo, doctors often use a procedure called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to sort out which embryos may have defects. I see the whole enterprise as being highly eugenic, says Lahl.

To make her case, Lahl travels the country, testifying in favor of legislation that would restrict IVF, or at least regulate it more heavily. She speaks to religious groups and secular ones. And now she has put a part of her message on film. This week, Eggsploitation, a movie that Lahl produced to describe the medical dangers of egg donation, will be shown at Harvard Law School and Tufts University.

In her campaign against IVF, Lahl has found herself with little company among evangelicals. Despite her efforts, most of her coreligionists view IVF as acceptable for couples in need of a doctors help to start a family, even as they may fight to stop abortion or embryonic stem cell research. But beneath that broad consensus lies a wide range of often conflicting positions on how science should and shouldnt be allowed to affect conception.

Where evangelicals stand on IVF, and how much Lahl can influence them, matters not only because evangelicals possess plenty of political power when they do agree, but also because it shows how difficult it can be for a religious community to reach consensus on such complex bioethical issues at all.

It was 32 years ago that the first infertile couple conceived a baby with an egg and sperm in a test tube. Lesley Brown had tried for years to have a baby with her husband, John. Edwards and Steptoe, pioneers at the time in the emerging field of infertility medicine, found her fallopian tubes were blocked. In other words, while she could make eggs, her husbands sperm could not get to them. The doctors took eggs from Lesleys ovaries and fertilized them in a dish with Johns sperm; today their baby, Louise, is healthy and married and has had a child of her own. (The first American test-tube baby, Elizabeth Carr, today works for Boston.com and also recently had a baby of her own.)

The technology brought immediate worries: Scientists were concerned about severe birth defects; others were concerned that IVF children would have to live with a social stigma. Neither came to pass, and by scientific and social standards, the technology has grown into a smashing success. As of 2006, 3 million babies had been born worldwide using this technology.

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What about IVF?

Monta Vista, Lynbrook seniors among finalists in Intel Science Talent Search

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(photo by Jacqueline Ramseyer/SVCN/January 27, 2014) The three Intel finalists from the Fremont Union High School District are, from left, Monta Vista senior Vishnu Shankar, Lynbrook senior Angela Kong, and Monta Vista senior Natalie Ng.

Three seniors from the Fremont Union High School District are headed to Washington, D.C. to showcase their scientific discoveries and possibly walk away with some serious cash.

Natalie Ng and Vishnu Shankar from Monta Vista High School and Angela Kong from Lynbrook High School are finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search. The annual pre-college science competition seeks to honor and find the most promising high school seniors in the realms of math and science.

The finalists are among a group of 40 seniors who will convene in the nation's capitol March 6-12 to compete for $630,000 in prizes, including a grand prize of $100,000.

Natalie's project is titled "Advancing Precision Medicine: MicroRNA Prognostic Signatures and Prediction Models for Distant Metastasis Free Survival in Breast Cancer." Vishnu's project is called "3D Structure of Human DP Prostaglandin G-protein Coupled Receptor Bound to Selective Antagonists from GEnSeMBLE Predictions," and Angela's project is "Transcription Factor Bcl11b Regulates Mammary Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Quiescence Partially Through Cell Cycle Progression Inhibitor CDKN1a/p21."

The Intel Science Talent Search encourages students to tackle scientific questions and develop skills to help solve some of the world's greatest challenges, according to contest officials. Students will undergo a rigorous judging process, interact with renowned scientists, display their research for the public at the National Geographic Society and meet with national leaders.

Numerous finalists have gone on to do big things after high school. Between them, talent search alumni have won eight Nobel Prizes, two Fields Medals, five National Medals of Science, 11 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and even an Academy Award for best actress, according to Intel.

Entrants are judged on the originality and creativity of their scientific research projects as well as their achievements and leadership both inside and outside the classroom.

The competition is put on in tandem with the Society for Science and the Public, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education. It has owned and administered the Science Talent Search since its inception in 1942.

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Monta Vista, Lynbrook seniors among finalists in Intel Science Talent Search

Shootout Unkind to Comets

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January 29, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets The Utica Comets forced their third straight game to overtime, but failed to extend their winning streak to five games as they dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Lake Erie Monsters.

Utica forward Benn Ferriero improved his scoring streak to nine games with a goal and an assist, while Patrick Mullen also lit the lamp for the Comets. AHL Player of the Week Joacim Eriksson turned aside 34 of 36 shots as he earned his team a point for the eighth time in his past nine starts.

The Comets got off on the right foot as they struck first for the nineteenth time this season. Mullen made his return to the lineup known in a big way, as he buried a Ferriero feed at the back post for a power-play goal at the 10:40 mark of the first. Cal O'Reilly also picked up a helper on the play. The assist extended Ferriero's point streak to nine games, still an active AHL high. Ferriero is four games shy of the league best this season, held by Syracuses' Vladislav Namestnikov.

Lake Erie answered exactly one minute later as Mark Olver scored his tenth goal of the season. With the marker, Olver extended his team high point total to 29 points to date. Forward Andrew Agozzino picked up the lone assist on the play, his 18th helper of the season.

The Comets regained the lead at the 14:44 mark of the period, as Ferriero redirected home a Peter Andersson shot from the point to make it 2-1. Ferriero's goal gives him six goals over his past six games, while Andersson now has points in four of his last five. Alex Biega picked up the secondary assist, his tenth point of the season.

Lake Erie collected the only goal of the second period as Guillaume Desbiens beat Eriksson just five seconds after a tripping minor to Benn Ferriero had expired. Colin Smith and Stefan Elliott each collected assists on the play and for the third time this season, the Comets and Monsters would head to the third period tied at two.

Despite an active third period that saw a total of 27 shots on net, neither team was able to score and the Comets would play more than the scheduled 60 minutes for the third game in a row. Ferriero was not able to create deja, deja vu for Utica as he was unable to find an overtime game winner for the third straight game.

After Lake Erie scored on each of their first two shots in the shootout, courtesy of Colin Smith and Joey Hishon, Cal O'Reilly rifled one off the crossbar that bounced straight downward but failed to cross the goalline. After a pair of Eriksson saves, Pelletier failed to extend the shootout as he hit the right post and the Comets fell to 1-3 in shootouts this season.

Utica remains undefeated in regulation when they lead after the first period, moving to 6-0-1-3 in those situations. Utica defenseman Peter Andersson remains hot as he extended his point streak to three games with an assist on Ferriero's goal. The Kvidinge, Sweden native amassed a positive rating for the fifth straight game and now leads the team at +7 on the season.

The Comets look to make it six straight games with a point as the Syracuse Crunch make the short trip down the Thruway for a Friday night encounter at The AUD. Friday is Pink The Rink night for the Comets and the team will be wearing specially themed jerseys in support of breast cancer. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.

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Shootout Unkind to Comets

Comets Corner with Kent Huskins

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January 28, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets Last week, we sat down with Cal O'Reilly, one of the more recent additions to the Comets roster, and someone who has made a noticeable impact since joining the team. Today, we'll transition from learning about a key forward to a key defenseman, Kent Huksins, who has stood his ground on the blue line this season, serving as a key facet of the Comets defensemen.

While Huskins may not be tallying goals and assists game after game, he has, without a doubt, made an impact since signing with the Comets on November 4th. Huskins brings a level of depth and experience to a relatively young group of Comets defensemen. A native of Almonte, Ontario, Huskins was a member of the 2007 Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks and has played over 300 games at the NHL level, recording 68 total points (13-55-68). "Being on the cup-winning Ducks team in 2007 was undoubtedly the highlight of my hockey career," Huskins said. "I'll always be extremely thankful to the Ducks organization for the opportunity to be a part of that team...the experience was truly surreal."

With rookies such as Henrik Tommernes and Frank Corrado serving as key forces of the Comets defense, it is without a doubt that Huskins serves as a role model for a lot of the younger guys on the team. "Frank's a great player and definitely has a very bright future in the NHL ahead of him," Huskins explained. "I've actually been really impressed with all of our defensemen. I wouldn't be surprised to see all of them in the NHL one day." When asked if the guys do see him as a role model, Huskins replied modestly, "I don't know about a role model. They definitely joke a lot about me being an "old man" though."

Even though the Comets are currently riding a four-game winning streak, the road hasn't always been easy. "I think the biggest challenge we faced in the first half of the season was frustration from working extremely hard and not seeing much in terms of immediate results," Huskins explained. "There were a lot of games where we felt like our levels of effort and execution were really high, but we kept coming up short on the losing end. Through all the tough losses though, the coaches have done a great job of teaching and the guys have stuck together and continued to work, so hopefully that continues to serve us well in the second half." Despite the ups and downs, Huskins has enjoyed his experience thus far in Utica, thanking the fans for always staying loyal, patient and supportive.

As the Comets enter the heart of the second half of the season, they will look to Huskins to stay solid on the blue line and continue to feed off of his experience and knowledge on the ice.

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Comets Corner with Kent Huskins

Comets’ Eriksson selected as AHL player of the week

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UTICA The American Hockey League announced Monday that Utica Comets goaltender Joacim Eriksson has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for his accolades last week.

In three starts, Eriksson went 3-0-0 with a 1.31 goals-against average, a .953 save percentage and one shutout to help the Comets extend their winning streak to a team-best four games.

After a two-week stint in the National Hockey League with the parent Vancouver Canucks franchise, Eriksson returned to the Utica lineup last Tuesday night and stopped 22 of 23 shots as the Comets edged visiting Chicago, 2-1. Utica then headed west for a two-game series in Abbotsford, and Eriksson was outstanding in Friday nights 1-0 overtime victory, stopping all 36 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season. He then made 23 saves on Saturday night as the Comets earned another overtime win, 4-3 over the Heat.

Eriksson has won seven of his last eight decisions (7-1-0, 1.72, .940) and is now 11-11-1 with a 2.63 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 24 appearances on the season. A 23-year-old native of Gavle, Sweden, Eriksson is in his first season of play in North America after winning a Swedish league championship with Skelleftea in 2013. Signed as a free agent by Vancouver on June 17, 2013, Eriksson made his NHL debut with the Canucks on Jan. 15.

In recognition of his achievement, Eriksson will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Comets home game.

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Comets’ Eriksson selected as AHL player of the week