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Iron, Vitamins Could Affect Physical Fitness in Adolescents

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Article is published in the Journal of Applied Physiology

Newswise Bethesda, Md. (Aug. 8, 2012)Adolescence is an important time not only for growing but for acquiring healthy habits that will last a lifetime, such as choosing foods rich in vitamins and minerals, and adopting a regular exercise regimen. Unfortunately, several studies have shown that adolescents intake of important nutrients, as well as their performance on standard physical fitness tests, has fallen in recent years. Because nutrition and fitness are intertwinedfor example, iron forms part of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to muscles, and antioxidants such as vitamin C aid in rebuilding damage after intense trainingthese two findings could be related. In a new study, researchers have found that adolescents blood levels of various micronutrients are correlated with how well they performed in certain physical fitness tests. Though these results dont prove causality, they suggest a new relationship between different measures of adolescent health.

The article is entitled Iron and Vitamin Status Biomarkers and its Association with Physical Fitness in Adolescents. The HELENA Study. and is online at http://bit.ly/Q2j6lJ. It appears in the online edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology, a publication of the American Physiological Society.

Methodology Researcher Luis Gracia-Marco of the University of Zaragoza, Spain and his colleagues relied on data from a larger, long-term research project known as the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescents Cross-Sectional Study, or HELENA-CSS. Part of this study, which involved thousands of volunteers between the ages of 12.5 and 17.5 in cities scattered across Europe, gathered nutrition and physical fitness data. Blood samples taken in one third of the volunteers (n=1089) were tested for a variety of micronutrients, including hemoglobin, indicative of iron intake, soluble transferrin receptor, serum ferritin, retinol, vitamin C, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin B6, cobalamin, holo-transcobalamin, plasma folate, RCB folate and vitamin D. The volunteers physical fitness was also assessed through a standing long jump test, which assesses lower-body muscular strength, and a 20 meter shuttle run test, which assesses cardiovascular fitness through maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). When looking for correlations between the micronutrient levels and physical fitness, they took into account the adolescents age, time of year, latitude of the city they lived in, body mass index, age of menarche in females, and amount of regular physical activity (using accelerometers).

Results The researchers found that blood levels of certain micronutrients were intimately connected with the volunteers performance on the physical fitness tests. For cardiorespiratory fitness, concentrations of hemoglobin, retinol, and vitamin C in males and beta-carotene and vitamin D in females was associated with VO2max. For muscular fitness, concentrations of hemoglobin, beta-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol in males and beta-carotene and vitamin D in females was associated with performing better on the standing long jump test.

Importance of the Findings The authors suggest that studies connecting micronutrients, such as the ones they measured, with physical fitness in any population has been controversial and limited. This is especially true for adolescents, a group thats often difficult to gather information on. This new study, they say, is one of the first to find connections between micronutrients and physical fitness in this age group, with the strength of controlling the results for a complete set of relevant confounders. Yet, they note that more research still needs to be done.

The associations between physical fitness and iron or vitamin status observed in this cross-sectional study in adolescents should be followed up by a study specifically designed to evaluate causal relationships, the authors write.

Research Team In addition to Luis Gracia-Marco, the study team also includes Faustino R. Perez-Lopez, German Vicente-Rodriguez, and Luis A. Moreno, University of Zaragoza, Spain; Jara Valtuena and Marcela Gonzalez-Gross, Technical University of Madrid, Spain; Francisco B. Ortega, Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Christina Breidenassel and Peter Stehle, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universitat, Germany; Marika Ferrari and Giuseppe Maiani, National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition, Italy; Denes Molnar, University of Pecs, Hungary; Kurt Widhalm, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Stefaan de Henauw, Ghent University, Belgium; Anthony Kafatos, University of Crete, Greece; Ligia E. Diaz, CSIC Madrid, Spain; Frederic Gottrand, University of Lille 2, France; and Manuel Castillo, University of Granada, Spain.

Funding Primary funding for the study was received from the Spanish Ministry of Health, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation. Support for the HELENA Study was received through grants from the European Community Sixth TRD Framework Programme.

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Iron, Vitamins Could Affect Physical Fitness in Adolescents

Star Nutrition Hires Pin Group to Increase Distribution to Home Shopping Channels and Major Retailers

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CHICO, CA--(Marketwire -08/08/12)- Star Nutrition, Inc. (STAU), a California-based diversified health and wellness industry firm, has signed a contract with the Pin Group to increase product distribution to home-shopping channels and "big box" stores. Pin Group will utilize its affiliations with major retailers to help Incrediwear products become available to more consumers nationwide under the brand Bambosa, which uses Incrediwear technology.

"The consumer demand for our products has never been higher. And while our comprehensive network of distributors have done a great job getting our products to market, we really feel like Pin Group can help take us to that next level," says Star Nutrition CEO Jackson Corley. "We're really excited to get started on this business relationship and see Star Nutrition grow to new heights."

The new relationship will now include television, radio, print, direct mail, retail and home-shopping channels. The two-minute and 30-minute television segments were shot in May, while radio and print ads were finished last month. An infomercial will begin immediately in print and radio, and there will be a beta test of the television version.

"We always have to be mindful that we are working high-end, superior products as we have an excellent reputation to maintain," said Michael Xirinachs, CEO of Pin Group. "And the Incrediwear line matches up with our philosophy brilliantly. Their products are used and loved by some of the most amazing athletes worldwide, and that says a lot to us. We can't wait to work with them and build a Direct Response channel, as well as leverage our affiliations with major retailers."

Incrediwear products, such as the Incredisocks and Incredibrace lines, couple proven health benefits with extreme comfort. Because of their anion technology, the products increase circulation, regulate temperature, are antimicrobial and wick away moisture.

About Star Nutrition, Inc. California-based Star Nutrition is a publicly traded company (STAU) that prides itself on providing innovative, over-the-counter health care products. Its mission is to focus on producing products that will enhance the lives and wellness of its customers.

For more information visit Incrediwear.com or BuyIncrediwear.com.

Join the Incrediwear community at Facebook.com/Incrediwear and @Incrediwear.

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Star Nutrition Hires Pin Group to Increase Distribution to Home Shopping Channels and Major Retailers

Longevity: Make It For Better, Not Worse

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Older Americans are paying attention to the steady stream of research findings and stories about impressive gains in longevity.

In particular, we have a pretty accurate view of the increases achieved in average life spans, according to the sixth biennial study of longevity sponsored by the Society of Actuaries (SOA).

Ask Americans age 65 and older how much longer they expect to live, and you're likely to get a fairly accurate response, the SOA reports. "By age 65, U.S. males in average health have a 40 percent chance of living to age 85 and females more than a 50 percent chance," the report says, and "the survivor of a 65-year-old couple is more than 70 percent likely to reach 85."

There also are encouraging signs that this recognition is leading to changes in financial planning and preparation for a longer retirement. In particular, greater attention is being paid to the age at which people begin to collect Social Security.

The program's early-retirement benefits can begin at age 62, but rise by about 8 percent a year for each year benefits are delayed until age 70. As people have become more confident that they will live to older ages, the appeal of delaying Social Security is on the rise.

But if we "get it" about longevity, the SOA warns, we still have a very sketchy understanding of longevity risks, a catch-all term that encompasses concerns about amassing enough money for retirement and then producing sufficient annual income payments so that we do not outlive our assets. "Many fail to understand the potential consequences of living beyond their own planned life expectancy," the report says. "Many people are not focused on risk management, and making assets last for the rest of their lives is not their highest priority."

In thinking about the implications of longevity, three strong themes emerge from the SOA's research and public polling:

1. Beware of the averages. By definition, our collective life spans represent an accurate figure on average longevity. But individual life spans differ greatly from these averages. "When people are told they will live to an age such as 80 or 85, they don't realize this means there is a 50 percent chance they could live longer than that age," the report says. People with lots of education and financial resources are likely to live much longer than average.

Likewise, Americans with little money or schooling are likely to live shorter lives, a fact that is often overlooked in proposals to increase the Social Security retirement age. The nation's longevity gap is distressingly large, the SOA report notes. "In the poorest part of the United States, life expectancy at birth is as low as in countries like Panama or Pakistan, a full 15 years behind the wealthiest and healthiest regions of the nation, where it rivals that of world leaders, Switzerland and Japan."

2. Understand your health risks. Lifestyle choices dominate longevity gains until we reach old age, the SOA says, at which point genetics is the greatest driver of remaining life spans. Beyond influencing how long we live, the ways we take care of ourselves can also determine the quality of our lives as we age as well as the financial burden of older-age health expenses.

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Longevity: Make It For Better, Not Worse

SaneVax Announces Medical Surprise: Gardasil® HPV DNA Discovered in Post-Mortem Blood and Spleen Tissue

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TROY, Montana--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

According to Norma Erickson, President of SaneVax Inc., testimony provided for a coroners inquest into the death of Jasmine Renata in New Zealand by Dr. Sin Hang Lee, a pathologist on the medical staff at Connecticuts Milford Hospital, revealed the discovery of HPV DNA fragments in post-mortem samples 6 months after Gardasil vaccination.

Dr. Lees testimony stated:

The finding of these foreign DNA fragments in the post-mortem samples six months after vaccination indicates that some of the residual DNA fragments from the viral gene or plasmid injected with Gardasil have been protected from degradation in the form of DNA-aluminum complexes in the macrophages; or via integration into the human genome.

Undegraded viral and plasmid DNA fragments are known to activate macrophages, causing them to release tumor necrosis factor, a myocardial depressant which can induce lethal shock in animals and humans.

Dr. Lee testified, The naked DNA in the vaccine was probably stabilized through a chemical binding between the mineral aluminum and the phosphate backbone of the double-stranded DNA.

Dr. Lee did not claim the HPV-16 L1 gene DNA he discovered in the post-mortem blood and spleen samples was the cause of the sudden and unexplained death of the New Zealand teenager in her sleep. He noted that the full autopsy analysis had ruled out all known causes of death, and stated that his discovery presented a plausible mechanism of action that needed further investigation in all cases of unexplained deaths following Gardasil vaccinations.

Dr. Lees testimony was provided via an international video link before Coroner Ian Smith in Wellington NZ at the request of the parents of the deceased girl on August 9.

Dr. Lee tested a total of 16 Gardasil samples from around the world under contract with the non-profit organization SaneVax Inc. Five of the Gardasil samples were distributed in New Zealand, each with a different lot number. Dr. Lee found HPV-16 L1 gene DNA fragments admixed with HPV-18 and/or HPV 11 L1 gene DNA in all samples. These HPV DNA fragments were firmly bound to the amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate (AAHS) particles used as an adjuvant in the vaccine formulation.

Dr. Lee is known for using the nested PCR/DNA sequencing technology for reliable detection and genotyping of HPV in clinical specimens. He is the author of the chapter, Guidelines for the Use of Molecular Tests for the Detection and Genotyping of Human Papillomavirus from Clinical Specimens in a Methods in Molecular Biology volume published by Humana Press in July 2012.

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SaneVax Announces Medical Surprise: Gardasil® HPV DNA Discovered in Post-Mortem Blood and Spleen Tissue

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Oh, my stars and hexagons! DNA code shapes gold nanoparticles

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ScienceDaily (Aug. 8, 2012) DNA holds the genetic code for all sorts of biological molecules and traits. But University of Illinois researchers have found that DNA's code can similarly shape metallic structures.

The team found that DNA segments can direct the shape of gold nanoparticles -- tiny gold crystals that have many applications in medicine, electronics and catalysis. Led by Yi Lu, the Schenck Professor of Chemistry at the U. of I., the team published its surprising findings in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

"DNA-encoded nanoparticle synthesis can provide us a facile but novel way to produce nanoparticles with predictable shape and properties," Lu said. "Such a discovery has potential impacts in bio-nanotechnology and applications in our everyday lives such as catalysis, sensing, imaging and medicine."

Gold nanoparticles have wide applications in both biology and materials science thanks to their unique physicochemical properties. Properties of a gold nanoparticle are largely determined by its shape and size, so it is critical to be able to tailor the properties of a nanoparticle for a specific application.

"We wondered whether different combinations of DNA sequences could constitute 'genetic codes' to direct the nanomaterial synthesis in a way similar to their direction of protein synthesis," said Zidong Wang, a recent graduate of Lu's group and the first author of the paper.

Gold nanoparticles are made by sewing tiny gold seeds in a solution of gold salt. Particles grow as gold in the salt solution deposits onto the seeds. Lu's group incubated the gold seeds with short segments of DNA before adding the salt solution, causing the particles to grow into various shapes determined by the genetic code of the DNA.

The DNA alphabet comprises four letters: A, T, G and C. The term genetic code refers to the sequence of these letters, called bases. The four bases and their combinations can bind differently with facets of gold nanoseeds and direct the nanoseeds' growth pathways, resulting in different shapes.

In their experiments, the researchers found that strands of repeating A's produced rough, round gold particles; T's, stars; C's, round, flat discs; G's, hexagons. Then the group tested DNA strands that were a combination of two bases, for example, 10 T's and 20 A's. They found that many of the bases compete with each other resulting in intermediate shapes, although A dominates over T.

Next, the researchers plan to investigate exactly how DNA codes direct nanoparticle growth. They also plan to apply their method to synthesize other types of nanomaterials with novel applications.

The National Science Foundation supported this work.

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Oh, my stars and hexagons! DNA code shapes gold nanoparticles

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Custom DNA Art Installation

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When a Texas based entrepreneur and art aficionado contacted DNA Art US about providing DNA art for all his family we were, naturally, very interested. Ideas were discussed and over time these ideas developed into a unique series of artworks that would be the centerpiece of his art collection.

Each of the four pieces is a whopping 99 inches long and 16 inches wide. The incredible color reproduction of the Orange Aid color scheme ideally compliments the natural stone and the surrounding decor.

The floor to ceiling windows created a lot of glare on our regular acrylic product; the solution was museum quality non glare acrylic. This exotic material reduces reflections to less than 15% while maintaining over 98% light transmission. All that plus it is only half the weight of glass. In common with all our range of acrylic and metal DNA art products the wall mountings are hidden giving the impression of the artworks floating in space.

President of DNA Art US LLC, Ric Harrison, says, We enjoyed the challenge of producing totally unique custom DNA artworks for our customer. Since beginning that project we have had other requests for custom pieces and we see this as a growing market for people who want to express their personalities in different, eye-catching ways

Ordering and information about the process is available on the website, http://www.dna-art-us.com. The standard range of artworks can depict the DNA of one, two, or four people but any number can be included in a wide range of custom styles and sizes.

DNA Art US offers the DNA Vision and DNA Vision Zoom ranges in collaboration with DNA Art UK. This partnership provides the best of British design coupled with innovative American production processes. DNA Art US are the only company providing the highest quality materials, processes and genuine craftsmen to produce handmade printed artworks on acrylic, canvas and metal worthy of the name masterpiece.

Obtaining the DNA sample is very easy. Customers receive a DNA Collection kit through the mail and, using the enclosed sterile swab; simply rub the inside of the cheek with it. Cells from the inner cheek membrane are absorbed within the cotton. Place the swab back in the protective case and return it to DNA Art US and they take care of the rest.

It starts in the laboratory where the DNA is processed over a number of days to draw out and highlight each unique DNA pattern. At the optimum moment, the DNA pattern is photographed using a special camera. The image is then provided to one of the designers.

Each DNA sample is assigned a unique reference and that is used to track the sample all the way through the laboratory, design and production processes guaranteeing authenticity of the artwork. No need to be concerned about privacy either because all samples are destroyed after the photograph is taken. A certificate of authenticity is provided with the DNA masterpiece.

There are 25 standard designs to choose from and two display options, Original and Zoom. Thats 50 different ways to display your unique DNA. In addition to that, every customer has the opportunity to add their own signature, to the finished image after all, every great artist signs their work!

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Custom DNA Art Installation

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Molecular economics: New computer models calculate systems-wide costs of gene expression

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Project Scientist Daniel Hyduke and Ph.D. candidate Joshua Lerman, in the Palsson Systems Biology Research Group, Department of Bioengineering, discuss how their model enables detailed calculations of the total cost of synthesizing many different chemicals, including biofuels. Photo Credit: UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering

(Phys.org) -- Bioengineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a method of modeling, simultaneously, an organisms metabolism and its underlying gene expression. In the emerging field of systems biology, scientists model cellular behavior in order to understand how processes such as metabolism and gene expression relate to one another and bring about certain characteristics in the larger organism.

In addition to serving as a platform for investigating fundamental biological questions, this technology enables far more detailed calculations of the total cost of synthesizing many different chemicals, including biofuels. Their method accounts, in molecular detail, for the material and energy required to keep a cell growing, the research team reported in the journal Nature Communications.

This is a major advance in genome-scale analysis that accounts for the fundamental biological process of gene expression and notably expands the number of cellular phenotypes that we can compute, said Bernhard Palsson, Galetti Professor of Bioengineering, at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

With this new method, it is now possible to perform computer simulations of systems-level molecular biology to formulate questions about fundamental life processes, the cellular impacts of genetic manipulation or to quantitatively analyze gene expression data, said Joshua Lerman, a Ph.D. candidate in Palssons Systems Biology Research Group.

The teams method can be compared to understanding both the chemical reactions and the machinery that are required to refine crude oil into petrol in a large, industrial factory. Modeling metabolism tells you what biochemical reactions need to take place. Modeling the organisms gene expression tells you what kind of machinery you need. The teams method specifically accounts for the expression of enzymes, which are the molecular machines responsible for the biochemical processes of life. With this knowledge, it is possible to explore how an organism distributes its resources to promote growth and how genetic manipulation of these organisms alters this distribution.

What you could hypothetically do with our model is simulate the total cost of producing a value-added product, such as a biofuel. That includes all the operating and maintenance costs, said Daniel Hyduke, a project scientist in Palssons lab. Hyduke said the method has the potential to help streamline industrial metabolic engineering efforts by providing a near complete accounting of the minimal material and energy costs associated with novel strain designs for biofuel, commodity chemicals, and recombinant protein production.

Hyduke and Lerman prototyped the method on the minimal, yet metabolically versatile, hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima. Because T. maritima is not currently ready for use in industrial applications, Hyduke and Lerman are working as part of a larger team to produce similar models for industrially relevant microorganisms, such as E. coli.

Weve built a virtual reality simulator of metabolism and gene expression for Thermotoga maritima, and shown that it much better approximates phenotypes of cells than modeling metabolism in isolation, said Lerman.

Journal reference: Nature Communications

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Molecular economics: New computer models calculate systems-wide costs of gene expression

Hanna team wins Biology Bowl at Clemson

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The T.L. Hanna High School Biology Bowl Team recently won the annual Bobby G. Wixon Biology Bowl at Clemson University.

More than 900 students took the biology merit exam, and the T.L. Hanna team came out on top in Division III.

Here are the different rankings that student can achieve: Placing in first, second or third means that a student is in the top one percent; an "honorable mention" places a student in the top three percent; a "second honorable mention" places a student in the top 10 percent.

Congratulations to the team and Richard Morand for their efforts. Here are the results for T.L. Hanna participants:

Michael Baker, first place (tie); Nicholas Royals, first place (tie); Jeanette Rodriguez, first place; Adam Schnell, second place (Biology Bowl); and Adam Schnell, third place (Biology Merit Exam).

Also, Nathan Henk, Timothy Moss, Alex Stoll, Victoria Murphree, Molly Bedenbaugh, Daniel Lippiat and Kayli Henk achieved honorable mention and Alex Rubin achieved second honorable mention.

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Hanna team wins Biology Bowl at Clemson

Research and Markets: Comprehensive Chiroptical Spectroscopy. Applications in Stereochemical Analysis of Synthetic …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bpl7ss/comprehensive_chir) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Comprehensive Chiroptical Spectroscopy. Applications in Stereochemical Analysis of Synthetic Compounds, Natural Products, and Biomolecules" to their offering.

This book provides an introduction to the important methods of chiroptical spectroscopy in general, and circular dichroism (CD) in particular, which are increasingly important in all areas of chemistry, biochemistry, and structural biology. The book can be used as a text for undergraduate and graduate students and as a reference for researchers in academia and industry.

Experimental methods and instrumentation are described with topics ranging from the most widely used methods (electronic and vibrational CD) to frontier areas such as nonlinear spectroscopy and photoelectron CD, as well as the theory of chiroptical methods and techniques for simulating chiroptical properties. Applications of chiroptical spectroscopy to problems in organic stereochemistry, inorganic stereochemistry, and biochemistry and structural biology are also discussed, and each chapter is written by one or more leading authorities with extensive experience in the field.

Key Topics Covered:

PART I A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

PART II ORGANIC STEREOCHEMISTRY

PART III INORGANIC STEREOCHEMISTRY

PART IV BIOMOLECULES

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bpl7ss/comprehensive_chir

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New substances 15,000 times more effective in destroying chemical warfare agents

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In an advance that could be used in masks to protect against nerve gas, scientists are reporting development of proteins that are up to 15,000 times more effective than their natural counterpart in destroying chemical warfare agents. Their report appears in ACS' journal Biochemistry.

Frank Raushel, David Barondeau and colleagues explain that a soil bacterium makes a protein called phosphotriesterase (PTE), which is an enzyme that detoxifies some pesticides and chemical warfare agents like sarin and tabun. PTE thus has potential uses in protecting soldiers and others. Natural PTE, however, works against only one of the two molecular forms of these chemical warfare agents, and it happens to be the less toxic form. The scientists thus set out to develop new versions of PTE that were more effective against the most toxic form.

To improve the enzyme's activity, Raushel and colleagues used an approach called "directed evolution." This technique imitates the way natural selection leads to improved forms of the biochemical substances in living things. In using directed evolution, the team made small random changes to the natural enzyme's chemical architecture and then tested resulting mutant enzymes for their ability to break down nerve agents. They isolated several mutants that fit the bill, including one that proved to be 15,000 times more effective than the natural enzyme.

More information: Enzymes for the Homeland Defense: Optimizing Phosphotriesterase for the Hydrolysis of Organophosphate Nerve Agents Biochemistry, Article ASAP. DOI: 10.1021/bi300811t

Abstract Phosphotriesterase (PTE) from soil bacteria is known for its ability to catalyze the detoxification of organophosphate pesticides and chemical warfare agents. Most of the organophosphate chemical warfare agents are a mixture of two stereoisomers at the phosphorus center, and the SP-enantiomers are significantly more toxic than the RP-enantiomers. In previous investigations, PTE variants were created through the manipulation of the substrate binding pockets and these mutants were shown to have greater catalytic activities for the detoxification of the more toxic SP-enantiomers of nerve agent analogues for GB, GD, GF, VX, and VR than the less toxic RP-enantiomers. In this investigation, alternate strategies were employed to discover additional PTE variants with significant improvements in catalytic activities relative to that of the wild-type enzyme. Screening and selection techniques were utilized to isolate PTE variants from randomized libraries and site specific modifications. The catalytic activities of these newly identified PTE variants toward the SP-enantiomers of chromophoric analogues of GB, GD, GF, VX, and VR have been improved up to 15000-fold relative to that of the wild-type enzyme. The X-ray crystal structures of the best PTE variants were determined. Characterization of these mutants with the authentic G-type nerve agents has confirmed the expected improvements in catalytic activity against the most toxic enantiomers of GB, GD, and GF. The values of kcat/Km for the H257Y/L303T (YT) mutant for the hydrolysis of GB, GD, and GF were determined to be 2 106, 5 105, and 8 105 M1 s1, respectively. The YT mutant is the most proficient enzyme reported thus far for the detoxification of G-type nerve agents. These results support a combinatorial strategy of rational design and directed evolution as a powerful tool for the discovery of more efficient enzymes for the detoxification of organophosphate nerve agents.

Journal reference: Biochemistry

Provided by American Chemical Society

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New substances 15,000 times more effective in destroying chemical warfare agents

MARKED™ Performance Nutrition Line Developed by Mark Wahlberg Now Available at GNC

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PITTSBURGH, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --GNC Holdings, Inc. (GNC), the nation's largest specialty retailer of health, wellness and sports nutrition products, today announced the nationwide availability of MARKED, a new comprehensive line of performance nutrition products developed by leading GNC scientists and wellness experts in partnership with Mark Wahlberg. The MARKED line consisting of seven sports and active nutrition products provides the ultimate performance nutrition for anyone who wants to achieve their health and fitness goals.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57554-gnc-marked-performance-nutrition-line-developed-by-mark-wahlberg

(Logo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120807/MM52198LOGO) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110302/NE57701LOGO)

"Much of my success can be attributed to my dedication and hard work. I push myself to be the best that I can, from acting to staying in peak physical shape. I'm committed to living a healthy and productive life and helping the people around me do the same," said Mark Wahlberg. "That's why I teamed up with GNC, a brand I trust for quality and integrity, to develop MARKED and, I'm proud the line will contribute to my foundation that supports inner city youth."

MARKED is now available in GNC stores and GNC.com, and is expected to be widely available through other leading retailers in the U.S. and abroad this year. A portion of all sales of MARKED products will benefit the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for inner city youth.

"GNC and Mark share a strong mutual passion for helping people improve their quality of life through proper exercise, diet and supplementation. I have seen Mark repetitively reinforce this message in his everyday life and could not be more pleased that we are undertaking this initiative together," said Joe Fortunato, President and CEO.

Every MARKED product has been rigorously tested for banned substances by HFL Sports Science, a world-class sports anti-doping lab, and based on cutting edge nutritional science using only the highest quality ingredients. Each product also features Mark Wahlberg's exclusive Supplementation and Nutrition Plan for improving strength, lean mass and workout performance to maximize muscle size and definition. The products can be taken individually or stacked and are designed to deliver optimal results:

"We are very proud of our partnership with Mark and look forward to growing this brand to help others who aspire to live a healthy lifestyle," said Tom Dowd, EVP, Chief Merchandising Officer and General Manager. "In celebration of the launch of MARKED, GNC is deploying street teams in New York City to present exclusive product offers and help inspire consumers to 'Get MARKED' today."

Wahlberg will serve as the leading brand ambassador and will drive the marketing approach for the MARKED product line. As part of this role, on September 20th Wahlberg will participate in a live webcast to discuss the MARKED line and answer questions. Details about how to join will be available at http://www.MarkedNutrition.com in September. For more information about the MARKED line, including additional training tips, visit http://www.MarkedNutrition.com, or GNC.com. Connect with MARKED on Facebook: Facebook.com/MarkedNutrition and follow MARKED on Twitter: @MarkedNutrition

About the Mark Wahlberg Youth FoundationMark Wahlberg and his family established the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation on the belief that no child should be prevented from living up to his or her potential due to financial hardship. The Foundation works to improve the quality of life for teens living in urban communities and distributes funds to support local youth service and enrichment programs nationwide. A life-long member and advocate of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Mark comes from a family of nine children with limited means and spent most of his afternoons and evenings at his local club. He credits a large part of his success to the fact that he was fortunate to spend his free time in a positive and nurturing environment. Visit http://www.markwahlbergyouthfoundation.com.

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MARKED™ Performance Nutrition Line Developed by Mark Wahlberg Now Available at GNC

LabCorp Completes and Publishes a Clinical Study for the Development and Validation of a PCR Assay for the Diagnosis …

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BURLINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp) (LH) announced today the publication in the July 2012 Journal of Clinical Microbiology of a clinical study that supports validation of a new clinical diagnostic test for bacterial vaginosis. These studies were completed under IRB approval in collaboration with the Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, and the article was co-authored by physicians and scientists from both organizations.

During the study, quantitative PCR assays were developed for 4 organisms reported previously to be useful positive indicators for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a single organism that had been implicated as a negative indicator for BV. A total of 402 women were enrolled in the study between April and October 2011.

The new test, which is called Bacterial Vaginosis, is currently available as part of the NuSwabsm series of tests. In 2011, LabCorp introduced NuSwab as a single collection device that improves the convenience and efficacy of sample collection for clinically validated test profiles for targeted womens health clinical conditions. The tests are configured to be cost-effective for payers and patients, while providing high quality results to guide diagnosis & treatment.

Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition, but physicians have limited tools to diagnose it properly, said Dr. Mark Brecher, LabCorps Chief Medical Officer. This test will help physicians diagnose BV with more specificityand provide better care. Patients are seeing demonstrable benefits from the NuSwab tests, and we will continue to enhance our NuSwab offerings to support better patient care.

This enhancement to LabCorps test menu is an adjunct to its broad womens health test options, including tests that focus on both screening and diagnosis of disease. In addition to its womens health services, LabCorp offers a comprehensive menu of individual tests and test combinations to address specific patient needs.

About LabCorp

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, an S&P 500 company, is a pioneer in commercializing new diagnostic technologies and the first in its industry to embrace genomic testing. With annual revenues of $5.5 billion in 2011, over 31,000 employees worldwide, and more than 220,000 clients, LabCorp offers more than 4,000 tests ranging from routine blood analyses to reproductive genetics to companion diagnostics. LabCorp furthers its scientific expertise and innovative clinical testing technology through its LabCorp Specialty Testing Group: The Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Genetics Institute, ViroMed Laboratories, Inc., The Center for Esoteric Testing, Litholink Corporation, Integrated Genetics, Integrated Oncology, DIANON Systems, Inc., Monogram Biosciences, Inc., Colorado Coagulation, and Endocrine Sciences. LabCorp conducts clinical trials testing through its LabCorp Clinical Trials division. LabCorp clients include physicians, government agencies, managed care organizations, hospitals, clinical labs, and pharmaceutical companies. To learn more about our organization, visit our Web site at: http://www.labcorp.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change based on various important factors, including without limitation, competitive actions in the marketplace and adverse actions of governmental and other third-party payors. Actual results could differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. Further information on potential factors that could affect LabCorps financial results is included in the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and subsequent SEC filings.

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LabCorp Completes and Publishes a Clinical Study for the Development and Validation of a PCR Assay for the Diagnosis ...

New non-toxic disinfectant could tackle hospital infections

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Public release date: 7-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk 44-011-898-81843 Society for General Microbiology

A new disinfectant, Akwaton, that works at extremely low concentrations could be used in healthcare settings to help control persistent hospital-acquired infections such as Clostridium difficile. The study is reported online in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

Researchers from the Universit de Saint-Boniface in Winnipeg, Canada tested the new compound, Akwaton, against bacterial spores that attach to surfaces and are difficult to destroy. Previous work by the group has shown Akwaton is also effective at low concentrations against strains of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Spore-forming bacteria include C. difficile - a common bacterium found in healthcare settings whose spores can survive on surfaces for long periods of time. Spores are heat-tolerant and can survive a number of years in a dehydrated state before they are reactivated. Most chemical disinfectants control or prevent spore growth rather than irreversibly destroying them.

The present study showed that Akwaton was able to destroy Bacillus subtilis bacterial spores, suspended in water and attached to stainless steel or glass surfaces, at concentrations well below 1% after just 90 seconds' treatment. It was equally as effective at more dilute concentrations (below 0.1%) if left to act for longer periods.

Lead researcher Dr Mathias Oul, explained the advantages over other chemical compounds currently used against bacterial spores. "Most disinfectants have to be applied at much higher concentrations typically between 4-10% - to properly get rid of bacterial spores. Unfortunately such high levels of these compounds may also be harmful to humans and other animals. Akwaton is non-corrosive, non-irritable, odourless and is effective at very low concentrations," he said.

"Bacterial spores demonstrate a remarkable resistance to physical and chemical agents as well as ordinary antiseptics. On top of this micro-organisms are becoming increasingly resistant to disinfectants as well as antibiotics. Our latest study shows Akwaton is effective at destroying these spores as well as bacteria that are known problems in healthcare environments"

Akwaton is fast-acting and non-toxic for humans at low concentrations. Other studies have shown that the compound is also environmentally safe. "All these properties make it an ideal disinfectant for hospitals and laboratories. It may also have great value in the food industry to tackle spore-forming food pathogens such as Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens," explained Dr Oul.

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New non-toxic disinfectant could tackle hospital infections

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News unveils ‘Biotech Boulevard’

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Public release date: 7-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: John Sterling jsterling@genengnews.com 914-740-2196 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, August 6, 2012Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (http://www.genengnews.com) (GEN) has launched a unique microsite called Biotech Boulevard (http://www.genengnews.com/biotechblvr). Biotech Boulevard features entrepreneurial biotechnology firms that are already making their mark on the global bioindustry. Many of these promising young companies are engaged in the discovery of novel therapeutics; others are developing new tools and technologies to support biotech activities ranging from early-stage R&D to biomanufacturing.

Each Biotech Boulevard listing includes a company name, website, logo, and short description of the company's field of focus. "Biotech Boulevard allows our website visitors to discover, invest, and collaborate," said John Sterling, Editor-in-Chief, GEN. "Company listings will be updated regularly."

"Biotech Boulevard is another GEN innovation that enables business growth in biotech," added Mary Ann Liebert, GEN publisher and president and CEO of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. "And we are the best at that."

If you would like your company to be considered for possible inclusion in Biotech Boulevard, please email your company name and website to jsterling@genengnews.com

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Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (http://www.genengnews.com), which is published 21 times a year by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com), is the most widely read biotechnology news magazine worldwide. It includes articles on Drug Discovery, Bioprocessing, OMICS, Biobusiness, and Translational Medicine.

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

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Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News unveils 'Biotech Boulevard'

geneME® teams with America's Health Coach, MD®, Dr. Asa Andrew, on one of the world's first and only customized DNA …

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- geneME (www.geneme.me), the leading provider of whole food based personalized health, beauty and wellness products customized to your individual DNA, announced today that it has partnered with America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa Andrew on the launch of one of the world's first and only customized DNA nutritional supplements. Dr. Asa, a national best-selling author, host of the nationally-syndicated primetime radio program, "Dr. Asa On Call", and founder of Diagnosis HOPE, a non-profit dedicated to health education and supporting the uninsured, will endorse geneME and its mission of serving the public with the highest standards in natural products and groundbreaking new research in the field of DNA and genetics.

geneME is the culmination of almost 20 years of research by a group of top physicians, scientists, and researchers who have harnessed the incredible breakthroughs in DNA research to create one of the first, and only, line of supplement products that are truly customized to the requirements of each individual's DNA.

"We are pleased to have someone of Dr. Asa's caliber on board the geneME team," said Dany Sfeir, Chief Marketing Officer with geneME. "Dr. Asa firmly believes, as we do, that the solution to the growing healthcare dilemma is not a one-size-fits-all solution but rather products and services that are truly customized to the requirements and needs of each individual's DNA. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa, by educating and sharing with the public the exciting breakthroughs in DNA research and testing."

"geneME is truly at the cutting-edge in terms of developing whole food based supplements tailored exclusively for a consumer's unique genetic makeup," said Dr. Asa Andrew. "I'm a firm believer in the vision and research of geneME and their mission to enable consumers to live longer, healthier, happier lives through personalized healthcare. This research is the future of nutrition and prevention."

America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa, is a national best-selling author, lifestyle transformation expert, host of one of the fastest growing nationally-syndicated radio and television programsin America, "Dr. Asa On Call", and is a much-in-demand health contributor to FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, and other media outlets. With his national best-selling book, newly-launching educational curriculum, upcoming television projects, still serving as CEO of his rapidly growing media companies, and dedicating considerable time to his non-profit organization, Diagnosis Hope, Dr. Asa is on a nationwide crusade to see people transform their lives to get well, stay well, and live well. Having moved away from clinical practice to focus on educational media, Dr. Asa is an active member of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American College of Preventative Medicine, The National Strength and Conditioning Association, and has served as an honorary chair to the American Diabetes Association.

About geneME

geneME (www.geneme.me) is the culmination of almost 20 years of research by a group of physicians, scientists, and researchers who have harnessed the incredible breakthroughs in DNA research to create the first, and only, line of products that are truly customized. geneME actually manufactures one-of-a-kind formulations to the requirements of each individual's DNA. For more information on geneME, visit http://www.geneme.me.

About America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa Andrew

America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa is a national best-selling author,host of one of the fastest growing nationally syndicated radio and television programsin America, "Dr. Asa On Call", and is a healthcontributor to FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, and other media outlets. For more information on Dr. Asa Andrew, visit http://www.DrAsa.com or Twitter @DrAsa.

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geneME® teams with America's Health Coach, MD®, Dr. Asa Andrew, on one of the world's first and only customized DNA ...

Posted in DNA

DNA test denied for man convicted in fatal beating

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A man convicted of killing his roommate with a ball bat requested that more of the DNA on the weapon be tested in hopes of exonerating himself, but a judge has denied him.

Kenneth Eugene Carter, 51, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ron Fortner, 51, and the malicious wounding of another Buehring Avenue roommate, Brady Dunlap, 61.

His first trial in March ended in a hung jury, but a second jury in May found him guilty.

He is serving a life sentence without a chance for parole.

On Tuesday, Kanawha Circuit Judge James Stucky denied Carter's motion to have 20 swabs taken by police from the ball bat tested for DNA. Prosecutors objected and said any information from further testing would be "confusing and not relevant."

Charles Hamilton, Carter's court-appointed public defense attorney, has appealed his murder conviction to the state Supreme Court. He claims the state was negligent when a lab tested only six of those 26 swabs.

Hamilton said, "We have this evidence that is sitting there at the State Police lab. I think it is

pretty obvious and significant that there could be another person's DNA and he's entitled to another testing."

Hamilton said he and co-counsel David Dawson originally believed that only six of the 26 samples were tested because the rest weren't viable. He said they discovered more recently that wasn't true.

"The idea of the perpetrator of the crime was a significant issue in this case," Hamilton said. "Who wielded that bat? Kenny Carter has maintained his innocence from day one."

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DNA test denied for man convicted in fatal beating

Posted in DNA

DNA traces historic Jewish migrations

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Published: Aug. 7, 2012 at 5:36 PM

NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- North African Jews are more closely related to Jews from other parts of the world than to their non-Jewish neighbors in North Africa, a DNA study has found.

The study strengthens other research suggesting Jewish people from Europe and the Middle East share more DNA with one another than they do with outside groups, study author Harry Ostrer, a medical geneticist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, said.

"Jews tend to be more related to one another than they are to non-Jews, including non-Jews living nearby -- it's true in every region," he told the Los Angeles Times.

DNA carries a record of Jewish migrations over the centuries, the study researchers said.

Some DNA traces back to the Middle Eastern peoples thought to have migrated to North Africa more than 2,000 years ago, while other DNA proves connections to Spanish and Portuguese Jews who fled to North Africa after their expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula in the late 15th century.

Ostrer and his colleagues analyzed DNA samples from 145 people of North African Jewish origin from Morocco, Algeria,Tunisia, Djerba (an island off the Tunisian coast) and Libya.

North African Jewish populations clearly had genetic patterns more similar to European and Middle Eastern Jews than non-Jewish people currently living in the region, the researchers said, suggesting that once established in their communities Jews in the region did not often intermarry with non-Jewish neighbors.

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DNA traces historic Jewish migrations

Posted in DNA

Applied DNA Sciences Expands Plant and Personnel

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STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire -08/07/12)- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (APDN) (Twitter: @APDN), a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication solutions, announced today that it has significantly expanded its office, production, and laboratory space and increased its personnel. The expansion reflects the company's continued worldwide growth in production capacity, technology advancement, and global customer support. Those factors are also seen in a steady rise in shipments of its DNA products, the core technology around which the company's authentication services are built.

The company's brick-and-mortar footprint has increased by well over 50% over the last year. The company has added nine positions in that time.

Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of APDN, pointed out that the expansion has been driven in part by product shipments. "By the end of December, 2011, we recorded a substantial increase in our monthly shipments of DNA; as a result, our last two previously announced quarters were each record-setters. Incremental demand should be sustained as new opportunities are addressed."

Dr. Hayward concluded: "In addition to the current growth we are experiencing across the firm, our LMI-managed microchip project is leading the DOD's Defense Logistics Agency to seriously consider mandating SigNature DNA for microcircuits. We are confident we can support a DOD mandate and continue to source additional candidates as this effort might expand.

"In addition, the initial responses to our new product lines, smartDNA and digitalDNA, have been encouraging. Our management team felt it appropriate to grow our resources at this time."

About Applied DNA Sciences

APDN is a provider of botanical-DNA based security and authentication solutions that can help protect products, brands and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. SigNature DNA and smartDNA, our principal anti-counterfeiting and product authentication solutions that essentially cannot be copied, provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators.

The statements made by APDN may be forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking statements describe APDN's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to our short operating history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, market competition and various other factors detailed from time to time in APDN's SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on December 8, 2011 and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. APDN undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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Applied DNA Sciences Expands Plant and Personnel

Posted in DNA

Study reveals impact of historical domestic cattle hybridization with American bison

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Plains bison are an iconic symbol of America on everything from coins to state flags. Now scientists writing in Conservation Biology are exploring how the cross-breeding of bison with domestic cattle in the late 1800s may still have unwanted effects on modern populations of the species.

"The plains bison are an iconic symbol of rugged individualism and the will to survive," said Professor James Derr from Texas A&M University. "The population crash and the spectacular recovery over the last 125 years is a classic example of the resilience of this species and the success of science based wildlife conservation."

Plains bison (Bison bison bison) once numbered in the tens of millions, but they were driven to the brink of extinction in the late 1880's during America's westward expansion. A small population of wild bison survived in Yellowstone National Park, while 5 herds remained in the hands of private ranchers. It is estimated that less than 100 surviving bison became the common ancestors of today's herds.

In some of these privately held herds, bison were crossed with domesticated cattle in an attempt to introduce the hardy bison traits into beef producing animals. While this effort failed to produce new and improved beef breeds, some hybrids were created, and with the use of molecular technologies, these scientists have discovered there remains a legacy of small amount of cattle genetic contamination in most bison herds in North America.

"Looking at the long-term recovery of the bison it is important to find out if this small amount of cattle genetics in an otherwise normal bison can really have a biological effect," said Derr. "We brought together researchers from Arizona, California, Montana and Texas to find out."

The team recorded size measurements for over 900 bison from a nutritionally harsh environment for bison on Santa Catalina Island in California and a nutritionally rich environment on a ranch in Montana.

The results revealed that bison with a particular domestic cattle genetic trait, mitochondrial DNA, were consistently smaller and lighter than animals with true bison mitochondrial DNA in both environments.

"We have found that this cattle ancestry affects phenotypic traits and most likely fitness of bison in herds which are maintained for both production and species conservation," concluded Derr. "Long term management efforts with bison, and possibly other species with a history of hybridization, must carefully consider the importance of genome integrity in order to preserve what is the foundation and essence of these species, their genomes."

More information: Derr. J, Hendrick. P, Halbert. N, Plough. L, Dobson. L, King, J , Calvin. D, Hunter. D, Cohen. N, Hedgecock. D, Phenotypic Effects of Cattle Mitochondrial DNA in American Bison, Conservation Biology, 2012, DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01905.x

Journal reference: Conservation Biology

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Study reveals impact of historical domestic cattle hybridization with American bison

Mixed vitamin E may support blood vessel health in healthy adults

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Short-term supplementation with vitamin E may support the function of cells lining blood cells from potential damage during the increase in blood sugar levels after eating, says a new study.

Five days of supplementation with a gamma-tocopherol-rich mixture of tocopherols maintained vascular endothelial function the function of the cells lining blood vessels, according to findings published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry .

The vitamin E supplement was also associated with supporting blood flow in the arteries and a reduction in increases of malondialdehyde (MDA - a reactive carbonyl compound and a well-established marker of oxidative stress).

This study demonstrates that short-term gamma-tocopherol-rich mixture of tocopherols supplementation in healthy men maintains vascular endothelial function that is otherwise impaired by postprandial hyperglycemia likely by decreasing lipid peroxidation [] without affecting inflammatory responses, report researchers from the University of Connecticut (USA) and Changwon National University (South Korea).

There are eight forms of vitamin E: four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Alpha-tocopherol is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, while gamma-tocopherol is the most common form in the American diet.

Study details

Led by Richard Bruno, the researchers recruited 15 health men with an average age of 22 to participate in their randomized, crossover study. The men were randomly assigned to receive the vitamin E supplement or no supplement for five days prior to fasting and then receiving 75 grams of glucose.

The vitamin E supplement provided 500 milligrams of gamma-tocopherol, 60 mg of alpha-tocopherol, 170 mg of delta-tocopherol, and 9 mg of beta-tocopherol (Archer Daniels Midland, USA).

Results showed that the glucose test produced significant increases in MDA levels, and decreases of 30-44% in blood flow, as measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). However, vitamin E supplementation prevented such changes, said the researchers.

The researchers also report for the first time that vascular endothelial function was maintained in the men after consuming the vitamin E supplement.

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Mixed vitamin E may support blood vessel health in healthy adults