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Convict's story prompted Virginia budget amendment on DNA

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A Virginia budget amendment lifting some of the secrecy surrounding the state's post-conviction DNA project was prompted by the tale of a cancer victim who was recently cleared of a 34-year-old rape.

Articles in the Richmond Times-Dispatch this year outlined the case of Bennett S. Barbour, convicted of a 1978 assault in Williamsburg. Testing failed to find his DNA in old evidence and instead implicated a convicted rapist in the crime.

Police and prosecutors had the test results since June 2010, but Barbour, 56, who lives in James City County near Williamsburg, did not find out until this January, when a volunteer lawyer contacted him. That delay prompted concern among some legislators.

"I asked for the budget amendment totally based on (The Times-Dispatch's) article about Barbour and what happened," said state Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, vice chairman of the Virginia State Crime Commission.

State Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, also read about Barbour's case. "If there was any reasonable way to either eliminate or at least minimize miscarriages of justice, then I was prepared to be an advocate for it," he said.

"I appreciate the balancing and the concerns of forensic scientists and prosecutors about certain identifying information," he said. But Norment, who helped craft the amendment, said the scales tipped heavily toward more disclosure.

It isn't the first time legislators, concerned with the now-7-year-old effort to clear people wrongly convicted decades ago with DNA testing, have used a budget amendment to order changes in the Department of Forensic Science post-conviction project.

The project began in 2005 after DNA testing of old biological evidence in 31 sample cases cleared two men of rapes. The evidence, primarily blood and semen, was taped inside the case files of forensic serologists from 1973 to 1988.

Since then, testing in hundreds of cases resulted in 78 in which the convicted person's DNA was not found. In the cases of Barbour and at least four others whose DNA was excluded, the results demonstrated innocence.

Initially, the state Board of Forensic Science, which oversees the department, said only prosecutors and police were to learn the test results and that it would be up to authorities to decide the significance of the testing and to take any action.

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Convict's story prompted Virginia budget amendment on DNA

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DNA links skull fragment to Utah Boy Scout missing since 1961 flood; teen's body never found

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HOLLADAY, Utah Doralee Freebairn remembers the day well. It was September 1961. Her older brother was on a Boy Scouts trip, hiking in the canyons of Zion National Park.

She was in the yard at home in Salt Lake City watering plants when news crackled over the radio. There had been a massive flash flood in the Narrows.

"I thought, 'Oh, that's where Alvin is,'" Freebairn recalled Friday. "Then it just turned into a nightmare."

Five people were swept away and presumed dead, but searchers never found the bodies of Freebairn's then 17-year-old older brother, Alvin Nelson, or his best friend, Frank Johnson.

This week, some 51 years later, Freebairn finally got the news she had been waiting for.

Authorities matched DNA to a skull fragment found by a man swimming in the Virgin River in 2006. It was Alvin.

"It's kind of a nice birthday present," said Freebairn, who turned 66 last month. "But after so many years, it really doesn't bring closure. It's been a long time."

She sat in her home outside Salt Lake City on Friday flipping through old newspaper clippings about the search for bodies back then. She smiled and told stories about Alvin as she looked at graying photos from an album she pulled from a box in the closet.

"I'll tell you, not finding a body was rough," Freebairn said.

Her father left the family when they were young. It was just her mother and Alvin, the man of the house.

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DNA links skull fragment to Utah Boy Scout missing since 1961 flood; teen's body never found

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Enzyme corrects more than 1 million faults in DNA replication

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Public release date: 10-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Hannah Isom press.office@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk 44-207-395-2345 University of Edinburgh

Scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM) at the University of Edinburgh have discovered an enzyme that corrects the most common mistake in mammalian DNA.

The mistake is the inclusion of individual bits of RNA within the DNA sequence, which the researchers found occurs more than a million times in each cell as it divides. The findings, published in Cell, suggest the RNase H2 enzyme is central to an important DNA repair mechanism necessary to protect the human genome.

Each time a cell divides it must first make an identical copy of its entire genetic material, known as the genome. During this process, which is called DNA replication, the integrity of the genetic code is safeguarded by cellular 'proofreading' and error checking mechanisms.

But sometimes mistakes creep into the genetic code, which if not corrected could lead to genetic disease or cancer. Accidental incorporation of RNA is one such mistake. The individual building blocks of RNA (ribonucleotides) are very similar to those that make up DNA, however, they are much less stable and if they remain incorporated in DNA they cause harmful breaks in the double helix. Such breaks are common in cancer cells.

The researchers made the discovery while working on a rare childhood auto-immune disease known as Aicardi-Goutires syndrome, which is caused by mutations in the RNase H2 genes. It leads to inflammation of the brain soon after birth and can be fatal within the first few years of life.

To study this condition in more detail, the scientists knocked out one of the RNase H2 genes in mice. They found that without the enzyme, the developing mouse embryos accumulated more than 1,000,000 single embedded bits of RNA in the genome of every cell, resulting in instability of their DNA.

Dr Andrew Jackson from the MRC IGMM at the University of Edinburgh, who led the research, said:

"The most amazing thing is that by working to understand a rare genetic disease, we've uncovered the most common fault in DNA replication by far, which we didn't even start out looking for! More surprising still is that a single enzyme is so crucial to repairing over a million faults in the DNA of each cell, to protect the integrity of our entire genetic code.

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Enzyme corrects more than 1 million faults in DNA replication

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DNA tug of war

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A mathematical model created by Aalto University (Finland) researcher Timo Ikonen explains for the first time how the DNA chains in our genome are translocated through nanopores that are only a couple of nanometres thick.

A research paper soon to be published in Physical Review E explains the basic physics related to the phenomenon referred to as polymer translocation. Exploring this phenomenon could help to create third generation genome sequencing technologies.

With the help of these technologies, sequencing a patient's genome could become a routine health care procedure.

Full genome sequencing is one of the major accomplishments of humankind. The method for sequencing the millions of base pairs that make up the human DNA molecule chain was revealed in the 1970s, but the entire human genome was not sequenced until 2001.

Sequencing the first human genome cost almost 3 billion dollars. The analysis is still extremely laborious: sequencing the genome of one person costs over 10,000 dollars.

The translocation phenomenon examined by Ikonen enables researchers to use a much simpler method for determining the base sequence of genes. As early as in the 1990s, researchers discovered that when a DNA chain is forced through a small nanopore with the help of an electric current, different types of bases can be identified by monitoring the changes occurring in the current.

Experimental physicists hurried to find out whether the phenomenon could be applied to determining the base sequence of a genome. A small number of theorists began exploring what happened during the actual translocation process. The first translocation theory was presented by Professor Sung's group in 1996. Sung is now Ikonen's research partner.

The first DNA sequencer based on translocation will soon be on the market, but the theory itself has been controversial. Tests have revealed that when an electric current is used to drive a DNA chain through a pore that is only a couple of nanometres thick, the first monomers of the chain go through the pore very rapidly. Then the process slows down, but later on it speeds up again.

"The million dollar question has been why this happens," researcher Timo Ikonen says.

In his article, Ikonen presents a mathematical model that explains the events of the translocation process. The researcher compares the DNA chain to a garden hose curled up on the ground.

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DNA tug of war

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Applied DNA Sciences Launches digitalDNA, Converging Bio and IT Technologies

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STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire -05/10/12)- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTC.BB: APDN) announces that it has launched a new, DNA-secured form of the QR ("quick read") code. digitalDNA is a new security tool that utilizes the flexibility of mobile communications, the instant accessibility of secure, cloud-based data, and the absolute certainty of DNA to make item tracking and authentication fast, easy and definitive, while providing the opportunity to create a new and exciting customer interface.

The product uses forensic authentication of a botanical DNA marker, sequence-encrypted within a secure QR code, and physically included within the ink used to digitally print the code. The resulting pattern or "rune" can be scanned via an Apple-approved app with an iPhone to assure originality. These mobile scans can be performed anywhere along the supply chain without limit.

The scan checks in wirelessly with a secure database in a "private, secure cloud," and displays the resulting analysis back on the iPhone screen. Tracking information is fed into "tunable algorithms" that use pattern recognition to automatically identify supply-chain risks, for counterfeits or product diversion. Rapid-reading reporters, associated with the DNA marker, are also embedded in the ink, and prevent the secure code from being digitally copied. The uncopyable, botanically-derived DNA markers included in all digitalDNA codes serve as a forensic backstop in legal cases where absolute proof of originality is required. Forensic authentication of the DNA in the ink, must match the sequences and length polymorphism found in the decrypted digitalDNA code.

The technology avoids the risks of phishing scams to which non-secure QR codes are notoriously vulnerable, while providing authentication, geolocation and time-stamping throughout the supply chain. The ubiquity of the iPhone platform allows the consumer to participate in the authentication scheme, quickly and easily. In addition, end-users could confirm freshness and expiration, connect to real-time or video technical support, identify local resources, easily place reorders, and participate in peer-to-peer selling.

The digitalDNA platform is designed to meet compliance specifications defined by the PCI (Payment Card Industry) Security Standards Council, the new and strict standards developed for handling credit card transactions, and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), the stringent requirements for protecting personal health information.

The technology evolved from a partnership agreement signed with secure cloud-computing specialist DivineRune, Inc, on January 25th of this year. The partnership will enhance and extend APDN's core anti-counterfeiting, anti-diversion, and security systems into the digital track-and-trace sphere. The companies jointly described the agreement as "taking APDN's best-in-class anti-counterfeiting and authentication systems and marrying them to the best in secure mobile applications and advanced cloud computing."

Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of APDN, commented that he sees "a terrific synergy" in the partnership with DivineRune, whose name derives from a reference to symbology typified by the rise in applications of QR codes. "Our products today uniquely offer our customers proven, uncopyable authentication of virtually any product or asset," he said. "We are now ready to leverage the expertise of DivineRune to offer enhanced authentication systems which are faster, even more accessible and innovative. I believe that you will see some truly imaginative technology emerging from this partnership."

The DivineRune management team specializes in highly secured IT systems for companies looking to send and store information in "private clouds." They boast a track record of success in building computing systems that operate in the most challenging environments. "These are areas which are in need of the highest security available, including advanced encryption of data in transit and at rest," explained John Paul Pennisi, Product Manager at DivineRune. "Without doubt, this partnership will reap the benefits of our core competencies in cloud computing, mobile devices, and logistics," he said.

digitalDNA can be used to track individually packaged items, such as drugs or luxury goods, when the space on the item is available to print the digitalDNA matrix. On items too small for the matrix, such as microchips, digitalDNA can be used on lot shipments.

The combined DNA-IT platform will also aim to satisfy requirements of the California E-Pedigree Law (SB 1307 (Ridley-Thomas, Chapter 713, Statutes of 2008), which requires an electronic record of every sale of prescription drugs in the state. The pedigree must thoroughly document the drug, including its source, identification, and other data. Some features of the law require compliance as early as 2015. The California law is said by many to have wide repercussions for the pharmaceutical industry globally.

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Applied DNA Sciences Launches digitalDNA, Converging Bio and IT Technologies

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Is it worth fighting about what's taught in high school biology class?

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It is probably no surprise to my regular readers that I get a little exercised about the science wars that play out across the U.S. in various school boards and court actions. Its probably unavoidable, given that I think about science for a living when youve got a horse in the race, you end up spending a lot of time at the track.

From time to time, though, thoughtful people ask whether some of these battles are distractions from more important issues and, specifically, whether the question of what a community decides to include in, or omit from, its high school biology curriculum ought to command so much of our energy and emotional investment.

About seven years ago, the focus was on Dover, Pennsylvania, whose school board required that the biology curriculum must include the idea of an intelligent designer (not necessarily God, but well, not necessarily not-God) as the origin of life on Earth. Parents sued, and U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III ruled that the requirement was unconstitutional. If you missed it as it was happening, theres a very good NOVA documentary on the court case.

As much as the outcome of this trial felt like a victory to supporters of science, some expressed concerns that the battle over the Dover biology curriculum was focusing on one kind of problem but missing many bigger problems in the process for example, this dispatch from Dover, PA by Eyal Press, printed in The Nation in November 2005.

Press describes the Dover area as it unfolded for him in a drive-along with former Dover school board member Casey Brown:

We drove out past some cornfields, a sheep farm, a meadow and a couple of barns, along the back roads of York County, a region where between 1970 and 2000, 11 percent of the manufacturing jobs disappeared, and where in the more rural areas one in five children grows up in a low-income family (in the city of York the figure is one in three). Dover isnt dirt poor, but neither is it wealthy. Its the kind of place where people work hard and save what they can. Looking out at the soy, wheat and dairy farms while Brown explained that lots of older people in the area cant afford to keep up with their mortgages and end up walking away from their homes, I was struck by the thought that this was a part of the country where, a century ago, the populist movement might have made inroads by organizing small farmers against the monopolies and trusts. These days, of course, a different sort of populism prevails, infused by religion and defining itself against outside forces like the ACLU.

Press also went to see what the students in Dover thought of the controversy:

What do the intended beneficiaries of the Dover school boards actions make of the intelligent design debate? A few days before meeting Casey Brown, I drove out to Dover high school to find out. It was late in the afternoon and a couple of kids were milling about outside, waiting for rides. When I asked them what they thought of the controversy, they looked at me with blank stares that suggested I could not have posed a question of less relevance to their lives. I think you should leave us alone, one of them said. Everyone just sleeps through that class anyway, said another. I approached a third kid, who was standing alone. Nobody he knew ever talked about the issue, he told me; it was no big deal.

Press suggests that this is not just a matter of teen ennui. The schools in the area may not be up to the challenge of addressing the real needs of their students:

For the most part, though, kids in Dover seem perplexed that so much attention is being paid to what happens in a single class. It is a sentiment shared by Pat Jennings, an African-American woman who runs the Lighthouse Youth Center, an organization that offers after-school programs, recreational services and parenting and Bible study classes to kids throughout York County. The center, which is privately funded, is located in a brown-brick building in downtown York, next to a church. A deeply religious woman who describes her faith as very important to her, Jennings nonetheless confessed that she hasnt paid much attention to the evolution controversy, since shes too busy thinking about other problems the children she serves facedrugs, gangs, lack of access to opportunity, racism. When we are in this building there are no Latinos, blacks, Caucasian childrenjust children, she explained after giving me a tour of the center. But when I go out thereshe pointed to the streetIm reminded that Im different.

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Is it worth fighting about what's taught in high school biology class?

2 Grand Challenges Explorations grants for global health

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Public release date: 11-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Megan Fellman fellman@northwestern.edu 847-491-3115 Northwestern University

The innovative research of three Northwestern University professors who are making a big difference in the highly promising area of synthetic biology has been recognized with two early-stage discovery awards from Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The global health projects will focus on creating new compounds to combat malaria and on producing biosensors for low-cost, in-home diagnoses.

The prestigious awards are two of 107 Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) grants announced this week. The funding supports scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs worldwide who are testing unconventional ideas that show great promise to improve the health of people in the developing world.

Northwestern now has received a total of three GCE grants as part of the Gates Foundation's call to "Apply Synthetic Biology to Global Health Challenges." (Synthetic biology is the design and construction of new types of biological systems.) To date, only 30 synthetic biology grants have been awarded as part of this initiative, acknowledging Northwestern as being at the forefront of its use to address global health issues.

"The Gates Foundation support allows us to pursue high-risk, high-reward projects that are utilizing cutting-edge techniques to engineer biological systems," said Keith Tyo, an investigator on all three grants. "Success on any one of these projects could result in a dramatic improvement in quality of life for millions of suffering people."

Tyo is an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Andreas Matouschek, professor of molecular biosciences in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and Tyo will develop synthetic compounds that target essential proteins in the Plasmodium parasite for destruction by its own protein degradation mechanisms. This strategy could lead to new treatment modalities as well as small molecule drug development efforts to combat malaria.

In the other project, Tyo and Joshua Leonard, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, will work to engineer yeast-based biosensors that identify protein biomarkers in samples like blood and urine. An array of yeast strains could serve as a low-cost, in-home device providing patients with a panel of diagnostics to improve treatment and diagnosis in resource-poor settings.

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2 Grand Challenges Explorations grants for global health

Autism Speaks Selects Prometheus Research to Develop Integrated Data Management System

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NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometheus Research, a leading provider of data management services for behavioral and biomedical research, announced today that it has been selected by Autism Speaks to develop an integrated data management system which will enable autism researchers to securely manage and share their data.The newly organized Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) Data Coordinating Center (DCC) centralizes clinical, environmental, and biospecimen data from several Autism Speaks-funded programs and initiatives to better serve the research community.

Using their Research Exchange Database (RexDB) platform and best-of-breed electronic data capture system, ROADS, Prometheus empowers researchers to effectively manage and exchange interdisciplinary data while maintaining the flexibility to incorporate new significant results such as genetic, EEG, imaging data and additional studies.

"We're very excited to begin working with Autism Speaks, a premier autism research and advocacy organization.This project will enable wider integration of Autism Speaks' valuable research data and enable them to re-use the data in ways not possible before," said Dr. Leon Rozenblit, President and CEO of Prometheus Research.

Prometheus Research's domain expertise in autism and related disorders makes it an ideal partner for Autism Speaks.Prometheus has supported or collaborated on some of the largest and most ambitious autism research endeavors in the world, including the National Database for Autism Research (NDAR). The tools and processes they've helped develop in the areas of study governance, data collection, data curation, data distribution, and data persistence are now considered best practices for collaborative research, and are already in use at places like the Yale Child Study Center and the Marcus Autism Center.

"AGRE's dedication to collaboration and data sharing has accelerated the pace of autism research significantly over the last decade," said Autism Speaks Vice President of Clinical Programs Clara Lajonchere, Ph.D. "We strive to utilize technology that will meet the emerging needs of science and feel that the team at Prometheus Research has developed the tools that will help us achieve our goals."

About Autism SpeaksAutism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed over $180 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 95 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit http://www.autismspeaks.org.

About Prometheus ResearchPrometheus Research provides data management services and web-native data-management software to biomedical researchers investigating autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Its team specializes in designing and building systems capable of accelerating complex interdisciplinary research and of multiplying the value of hard-won research data. Prometheus staff are consummate innovators, and Prometheus technology powers some of the most ambitious and important research endeavors in autism, including the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). Many of these innovations also are made available to the open source software community, most notably HTSQL, an instant Web interface for databases, and the Research Exchange Database, RexDB. To learn more about Prometheus Research, please visit http://www.prometheusresearch.com.

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Autism Speaks Selects Prometheus Research to Develop Integrated Data Management System

Does Social Media Help Salespeople Sell?

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DALLAS, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Social media technologies have re-shaped how we interact. But do they help salespeople sell?

Not according to the results of two surveys presented at the 2012 annual convention of the Southwestern Psychological Association in Oklahoma, City. The surveys, reported by behavioral scientists, Trelitha R. Bryant and George W. Dudley at Behavioral Sciences Research Press in Dallas, Texas, were presented April 13, 2012. Bryant and Dudley asked 4,768 salespeople (67% men, 33% women, average age 40) in more than 1,000 U.S. companies which form of client communication is most helpful for generating new sales. The salespeople were surveyed as part of a standard assessment protocol for sales professionals which included the Sales Preference Questionnaire (SPQ*GOLD), a psychological test used worldwide to detect emotional discomfort associated with prospecting for new business. Almost 70% (+/-1%) said established forms of communication (face-to-face and telephone contact) were most helpful generating new sales. Only 10% (+/-.14%) claimed email was most effective and less than 10% said other forms of computer-mediated communication were most effective. Results were not age-related.

"Further analyses uncovered another relationship," Dudley said. "Salespeople claiming social media is most effective might be struggling with sales call reluctance, an emotional impediment to production characterized by apprehension, conflict, hesitation or avoidance specifically associated with sales prospecting. They had elevated prospecting distress scores on eleven of the twelve forms of sales call reluctance measured by the test."

To confirm their results, the research team conducted a follow-up study of 1,512 additional salespeople (64%male; 36% female, average age 40). The outcome was essentially the same (68% said conventional, 2.8% computer-mediated). "The second study confirmed what we learned in the first," Bryant said, "including the link with sales call reluctance.Computer-mediated social media may help find a date, keep tabs on old friends or support a political campaign. But most salespeople don't think it's as helpful as conventional person-to-person contact for generating new sales."

About Behavioral Sciences Research Press Behavioral Sciences Research Press (BSRP) has been advancing the science of selecting salespeople since 1979. The Dallas, Texas based organization is known worldwide for applications based on rigorous scientific development and field-tested effectiveness. BSRP's pioneering research on how fear influences the behavior of sales and sales management personnel is considered "the definitive work on the subject". http://www.bsrpmediaroom.org

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Does Social Media Help Salespeople Sell?

Erasing Painful Memories: Drug and Behavioral Therapies Will Help Us Forget Toxic Thoughts (preview)

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Feature Articles | Mind & Brain See Inside

The caustic imprint of a traumatic memory may fade or vanish with new drug and behavioral therapies

By Jerry Adler | May 10, 2012|

Image: Fredrik Broden

The rat is on a carousel with clear plastic sides, rotating slowly in a small room. As it looks out through the plastic, it sees markings on the walls of the room from which it can determine its position. At a certain location it receives a foot shockor, in experimenters jargon, a negative reinforcement. When that happens, the rat turns sharply around and walks tirelessly in the opposite direction, so it never reaches that same place in the room again. It will do this to the point of exhaustion.

Question: How do you get the rat to stop walking? Note that just turning off the shock will not suffice, because the rat will not allow itself to enter the danger zone. The rat needs an intervention that helps it forget its fear or that overrides its response with a competing signal of safety.

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Erasing Painful Memories: Drug and Behavioral Therapies Will Help Us Forget Toxic Thoughts (preview)

4you Beauty Board tests Anti-aging Face Creams

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Published: May 12, 2012

If you're never quite sure whether the ads for popular beauty products can be believed, relax. Our 4you Beauty Board is made up of veteran testers ready to try the latest when it comes to all things beauty. We'll share what worked and what bombed with the hope of making life a little easier for you.

Check out our online database of reviews at TBO.com, search: Health.

Minus 417 Miracle Immediate Wrinkle Filler

Available at http://www.minus417.com; $139 for 1.02 ounces

"Instant filling action with continuous age and expression wrinkle reduction."

Rating: C-

Michelle says: When I'm not testing products for the Beauty Board, I cover faith and values as a beat. So I'm quite familiar with miracles. I was pretty excited about my Minus 417 filler, because it promises divine intervention. A company wouldn't actually lie about this, would it? The first time I applied this smooth cream infused with essential oils, (the jar includes a little application spatula), I was blown away. It really works! All those fine lines around my mouth, forehead and upper lip area gone! I was plotting ways to quit my job so I could become a full-time distributor and then I looked in the mirror 20 minutes later. Those little buggers were back. For a quick fix, and I mean quick, this wrinkle filler truly does the job. But after using it for a month, I still don't see the overall younger skin I was promised. For this very hefty price, I'd rather save the money and put it toward Botox.

MichelleBearden, 56, covers faith and values for Tampa Tribune, WFLA-TV and TBO.com

Philosophy Booster Caps (retinol capsules)

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4you Beauty Board tests Anti-aging Face Creams

ABC renews 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Revenge,' 'Once …" and more

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ABC has renewed seven of its series: "Grey's Anatomy," "Revenge," "Once Upon a Time," "Suburgatory," "The Middle," "Modern Family" and "Castle."

Quite a mouthful, eh?

"Modern Family," though experiencing a dip in viewers, will come back for Season 4, and "Grey's Anatomy" will enter its ninth. "Castle" has been a steady performer in its Monday slot; its renewal will take the crime dramedy into its fifth season, helping it reach the 100-episode benchmark.

"The Middle" has held its own on the network in the Wednesday comedy block -- helping to pass the viewer baton as a lead-in for freshman series "Suburgatory."

"Suburgatory" has some fellow rookies with which to revel in the renewal elation: The fairy-tale drama "Once Upon a Time" had an impressive debut last fall, with 13 million viewers and a 4.0 in the 18-49 demo, and it has continued to perform well for the network, helping the show to land a spot next season. The devilishly soapy "Revenge" also will get a sophomore season.

The renewals come on the heels of news that "Cougar Town" is moving from ABC to TBS.

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ABC renews 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Revenge,' 'Once ..." and more

Neuralstem Updates ALS Stem Cell Trial Progress

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ROCKVILLE, Md., May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Neuralstem, Inc. (CUR) announced that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the return of three patients from earlier cohorts in its ongoing Phase I safety trial to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) with its spinal cord stem cells (HSSC's). These patients will be permitted to return to the trial for second treatments as the next cohort of patients, provided they meet inclusion requirements at the scheduled time. They will be the first to receive stem cell transplantation along the length of the spinal cord.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061221/DCTH007LOGO )

The first twelve patients in the trial, which is taking place at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, received stem cell transplants in the lumbar (lower back) region of the spinal cord only. Thelast cohort of three, completed in April, received transplants in the cervical (upper back) region of the spinal cord, where stem cell transplantation could help support breathing, a key function that is lost as ALS progresses. The next cohort of three patients is designed to receive 10 HSSC injections in the lumbar region and 5 in the cervical, for a total of 15 injections along the length of the spinal cord. In the case of the returning patients, who have already received 10 lumbar injections, they will receive five cervical injections. These patients are between 15-17 months out from their first dosing and appear to have tolerated the first procedure well.

Additionally, Neuralstem has submitted a trial amendment to the FDA to increase both the number of patients treated as well as the dose in future cohorts. The amendment would also expand the trial to include certain efficacy endpoints. The trial was initially designed as a safety trial to treat 18 patients.

"The return of these patients to the trial for second treatments is a continuing validation of the trial's safety. Typically, Phase I trials do not bring study subjects back, as that could increase their exposure to potentially harmful treatments," said Karl Johe, PhD, Neuralstem Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer. "Treating these patients who have already received injections in one part of their spine allows us to both increase the overall dosage for each patient as well as transplant them in regions of the spine where they have not been treated," Dr. Johe continued. "Thisnext cohort of patients will be the first in the world to receive stem cell transplants in both cervical and lumbar regions of their spinal cord. With cervical injections of the lumbar patients, for example, we could also potentially support their breathing function, which is vital for preserving quality of life."

"Patients 10-12, who might return to the trial, were among those studied in a paper examining the first safety data from the trial, published online in STEM CELLS last month," said Eva Feldman, MD, PhD, Director of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute and Director of Research of the ALS Clinic at the University of Michigan Health System. "As the paper showed, we believe that the cells and the route of administration are safe. It is a further validation of the safety profile to be able to bring patients back for additional dosing several months past the period which was reported on in the journal." Dr. Feldman is also principal investigator (PI) of the ALS trial and an unpaid Neuralstem consultant.

The FDA-approved amendment to the protocol requires approval of the Emory Institutional Review Board before it can be implemented.

About the Study

The ongoing Phase I study is designed to assess the safety of Neuralstem's spinal cord stem cells (HSSC's) and transplantation technique in up to 18 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease).

The first twelve patients were all transplanted in the lumbar (lower back) region of the spine. Of these, the initial six (Cohort A) were all non-ambulatory with permanent paralysis. The first patient was treated on January 20, 2010. Successive surgeries have followed at the rate of one every one-to-two months. The first three patients (Cohort A1) were each treated with five unilateral HSSC injections in L2-L4 lumbar segments, while the next three patients (Cohort A2) received ten bilateral injections (5 on each side) in the same region. The next six patients (Cohort B and C) were all ambulatory. Of these, the first three (Cohort B) received five unilateral injections in the L2-L4 region. The last three patients (Cohort C) in this study group received ten bilateral injections in the same region.

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Neuralstem Updates ALS Stem Cell Trial Progress

TiGenix : presenting at Key Conferences – Spring 2012

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Regulated information May 8, 2012

TiGenix to Present at Key Conferences Spring 2012

Leuven (BELGIUM) - May 8, 2012 - TiGenix (TIG.BR), a leader in the field of cell therapy, announced today that during the months of May and June the company will present at a number of key events in Europe and the U.S. geared at investor, industry, and academic audiences to highlight the commercial potential of ChondroCelect, the only approved cell therapy in Europe, and of the company`s innovative proprietary allogeneic stem cell platform with programs in Phase I, II, and III for a range of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

May 15-16 BioEquity, Marriott Hotel, Frankfurt, Germany Presenter: Eduardo Bravo, CEO Date & time: Tuesday, May 15, 16:00-16:25 Room: Level 1, Room Gold 1

May 21-23 World Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Congress, Victoria Park Plaza, London, UK Presenter: Eduardo Bravo, CEO Date & time: Monday, May 21, 15:25 -15:50 Title: Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine - Progressing into phase III with an orphan indication

May 24 Knowledge for Growth, ICC Ghent, Belgium Presenter: Eduardo Bravo, CEO Time: 11:30 Keynote speech - Advanced therapies: this time it is for real

June 5-8 18th International Stem Cell Therapy Sociey Annual Meeting, Sheraton Seattle, WA, U.S. Presenter: Eduardo Bravo, CEO Date & time: June 7, 13:45-15:15 Title: Plenary Session 4 - Regenerative Medicine and Positioning for Commercial Success - Lessons from the commercial roll out of ChondroCelect in Europe

June 18-21 BIO International Convention, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, MA, U.S. Presenter: Eduardo Bravo, CEO Date & time: June 20, 15:00-15:45 Title: Stem Cell Therapies...Fact or Fiction?

June 23 VFB Biotech Congres, Leuven, Belgium Location: Imec, Kapeldreef 75, Leuven Presenter: Gil Beyen, Chief Business Officer Time: 11am

June 23 Dag van de Biotechnologie, Leuven, Belgium Location: TiGenix headquarters, Leuven Event: Open day event throughout Flanders for all biotech companies & academic labs Time: 10am-5pm

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TiGenix : presenting at Key Conferences - Spring 2012

Researchers Find Unique Physiology Is Key to Diagnosing and Treating Diabetes in Asian Populations

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Newswise Boston May 7, 2012 As the diabetes epidemic spreads worldwide, there is growing concern for Asian American populations, who are nearly twice as likely to develop diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Compounding the problem, many of the standard ways to detect diabetes fail in people of Asian descent.

The medical profession needs to be aware of and address the unique characteristics of this population, said George L. King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Without this understanding, diabetes could be misdiagnosed or missed altogether.

Dr. King was lead author of nine diabetes specialists nationwide who collaboratively wrote an article published in the May 2012 edition of Diabetes Care highlighting a comprehensive range of research findings presented at an international symposium held in Honolulu in September 2011.

The authors compiled extensive data on various groups that comprise the Asian American population, encompassing immigrants from numerous East Asian countries and those born in the United States. They also studied diabetes incidence in Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Although there are large differences in immigration patterns and lifestyle adaptations to U.S. culture among these groups, common threads and new insights are emerging. Researchers are finding significant differences in how diabetes affects the bodys chemistry, how to view body weight, and why commonly used laboratory tests may not be reliable in Asian populations.

Type 1 diabetes can be difficult to clinically differentiate from type 2 diabetes in Asians, said Dr. William C. Hsu, M.D., who with Dr. King co-directs the Asian American Diabetes Initiative at Joslin. Dr. Hsu, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at HMS, was lead author of a team of 12 experts who wrote a second article published in the same edition of Diabetes Care. These authors focused on the pathophysiology, or the disease process, of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is relatively rare in Asians, with incidence five to 10 times lower than in people of European descent. But diagnosing the disease is more difficult because genetic markers and blood factors generally associated with type 1 diabetes are present in only 30 percent of patients of Asian descent. In other words, simply relying on conventional tests would lead to misdiagnosis of a large percentage of Asians who have type 1 diabetes. More research is needed to learn what other biological factors in Asians patients lead to the destruction of insulin-making beta cells, resulting in type 1 diabetes. Lab tests then could be developed to detect these specific factors.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in Asian Americans, with prevalence of diagnosed cases in recent years jumping from approximately 1 or 2 percent to 10 percent today, compared with 6 percent in the general population. Many others are undiagnosed or at risk, falling into the "pre-diabetes" category. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin but not enough, or the bodys cells resist its effect. A risk factor commonly associated with type 2 diabetes is excess weight, often measured by calculating the body mass index (BMI).

But for Asian Americans with type 2 diabetes, the average BMI is between 24 and 25, well within the normal BMI range (1925) for the general population.

The BMI in Asian patients can be misleading. They can look quite skinny, Dr. Hsu said. Instead, were learning that a better indicator of type 2 diabetes risk in Asians is fat deposits at the waistline. More research is needed to understand how visceral fat contributes to the onset of type 2 diabetes. If detected in the pre-diabetes stage, the disease often can be prevented.

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Researchers Find Unique Physiology Is Key to Diagnosing and Treating Diabetes in Asian Populations

Unique physiology key to diagnosing and treating diabetes in Asian populations

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Public release date: 8-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jeffrey Bright jeffrey.bright@joslin.harvard.edu 617-309-1957 Joslin Diabetes Center

Boston May 7, 2012 As the diabetes epidemic spreads worldwide, there is growing concern for Asian American populations, who are nearly twice as likely to develop diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Compounding the problem, many of the standard ways to detect diabetes fail in people of Asian descent.

"The medical profession needs to be aware of and address the unique characteristics of this population," said George L. King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS). "Without this understanding, diabetes could be misdiagnosed or missed altogether."

Dr. King was lead author of nine diabetes specialists nationwide who collaboratively wrote an article published in the May 2012 edition of Diabetes Care highlighting a comprehensive range of research findings presented at an international symposium held in Honolulu in September 2011.

The authors compiled extensive data on various groups that comprise the Asian American population, encompassing immigrants from numerous East Asian countries and those born in the United States. They also studied diabetes incidence in Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Although there are large differences in immigration patterns and lifestyle adaptations to U.S. culture among these groups, common threads and new insights are emerging. Researchers are finding significant differences in how diabetes affects the body's chemistry, how to view body weight, and why commonly used laboratory tests may not be reliable in Asian populations.

"Type 1 diabetes can be difficult to clinically differentiate from type 2 diabetes in Asians," said Dr. William C. Hsu, M.D., who with Dr. King co-directs the Asian American Diabetes Initiative at Joslin. Dr. Hsu, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at HMS, was lead author of a team of 12 experts who wrote a second article published in the same edition of Diabetes Care. These authors focused on the pathophysiology, or the disease process, of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is relatively rare in Asians, with incidence five to 10 times lower than in people of European descent. But diagnosing the disease is more difficult because genetic markers and blood factors generally associated with type 1 diabetes are present in only 30 percent of patients of Asian descent. In other words, simply relying on conventional tests would lead to misdiagnosis of a large percentage of Asians who have type 1 diabetes. More research is needed to learn what other biological factors in Asians patients lead to the destruction of insulin-making beta cells, resulting in type 1 diabetes. Lab tests then could be developed to detect these specific factors.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in Asian Americans, with prevalence of diagnosed cases in recent years jumping from approximately 1 or 2 percent to 10 percent today, compared with 6 percent in the general population. Many others are undiagnosed or at risk, falling into the "pre-diabetes" category. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin but not enough, or the body's cells resist its effect. A risk factor commonly associated with type 2 diabetes is excess weight, often measured by calculating the body mass index (BMI).

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Unique physiology key to diagnosing and treating diabetes in Asian populations

PLUS Diagnostics Opens Houston Laboratory to Serve Southwest Medical Communities

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UNION, N.J., May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PLUS Diagnostics, a leading anatomic pathology company, opens a new laboratory in Houston, Texas this week, as part of the company's continued national expansion. The new facility offers customized diagnostic testing and consultative services to the gastroenterology and urology specialties, with plans to expand into dermatology and women's health. It will serve physicians and medical specialists across the Southwest region.

The grand opening will be held May 10-11 at the new facility, located at 9150 S. Main Street - Suite C, Houston, TX. Dr. Adnan Savera, chief medical officer for PLUS Diagnostics and a nationally recognized pathologist, will open the new facility, along with the company's employees.

"We are honored to join the Houston business community, and to extend our services to physicians and specialists throughout the Southwest region.We have designed this facility to provide our customers with state-of-the-art, high quality diagnostic services and technologies.We will continue to invest in expanding this lab and our other facilities to offer innovative services that are tailored to meet our customers' unique needs," said David P. Pauluzzi, chief executive officer and president, PLUS Diagnostics.

One of the newest services that PLUS Diagnostics will offer to physicians and surgery centers, is an exclusive molecular diagnostic assay from MDx Health, called Confirm MDx. This new assay is designed to address false-negative biopsy concerns of men undergoing prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.

PLUS Diagnostics' Houston laboratory is the third facility the company has built in the past three years to support rising demand for its services. In 2009, the company opened a facility in Union, New Jersey and its first West Coast lab in Irvine, California, tripling its overall laboratory capacity. Since partnering with Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic private equity firm focused exclusively on the health care industry, PLUS Diagnostics has grown its customer base and increased its net revenues more than 500 percent.

About PLUS Diagnostics

PLUS Diagnostics is a leading national pathology company that provides a full range of multi-specialty services, including extensive diagnostic procedures and specialist consultations. Accredited by the College of American Pathologists, PLUS Diagnostics has long been recognized for exceptional service and quality. The company currently focuses on a broad base of specialty pathology services, including urology, gastroenterology and hematology/oncology. PLUS Diagnostics is a company of Water Street Healthcare Partners. For more information, visit, http://www.plusdx.com.

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PLUS Diagnostics Opens Houston Laboratory to Serve Southwest Medical Communities

Utah’s Schiff Nutrition makes changes to financing for Airborne buy

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Schiff Nutrition International Inc., a maker of nutritional supplements, changed the mix on $200 million of loans the company is seeking to support its acquisition of Airborne Inc.

A $150 million term loan was cut to $140 million and will now pay interest at 4.75 percentage points more than the London interbank offered rate, compared with a range of 4.5 percentage points to 4.75 percentage points. Libor, a rate banks say they can borrow in dollars from each other, will have a 1.25 percent floor.

The loan will be due in six years compared with the seven- year maturity originally offered. Schiff is now proposing to sell the debt at 98.5 cents on the dollar, compared with 99 cents earlier proposed. The discount lowers proceeds for the company and boosts the yield to investors.

The Salt Lake City-based company also increased the size of a five-year revolving line of credit to $60 million from $50 million. The revolver pays interest at 4.75 percentage points more than Libor and will be sold to investors at 99 cents.

Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Montreal are arranging the financing and lenders must submit commitments by 5 p.m. today in New York. The debt is expected to be distributed to investors this week.

Schiff acquired 100 percent of Airbornes stock from GF Capital Private Equity Fund LP for $150 million, according to an April 2 company statement distributed by Business Wire.

Becky Herrick, a spokeswoman for Schiff Nutrition, didnt immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

In a revolving credit facility, money can be borrowed again once its repaid; in a term loan it cant.

Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Utah’s Schiff Nutrition makes changes to financing for Airborne buy

Nutrition’s Heavy Hitters Speak to Magic Valley Dietitians

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SUN VALLEY Youd never guess what came out on top of all the energy drinks, energy bars and other products that weekend warriors and professional athletes reach for to refuel after a workout.

Plain old chocolate milk.

Chocolate milk provides both carbohydrates and protein, whereas Gatorade does not, said Nancy Clark, a sports dietitian whose clients include Olympic athletes as well as members of the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics.

In one study those who drank chocolate milk after one bout of exercise where able to perform an additional 32 minutes to exhaustion versus 23 minutes for those drinking Gatorade, she said.

I had no idea chocolate milk was so good for you, said Tasha Bradshaw, who teaches Pilates at the new Mind Your Body in Twin Falls.

The virtues of chocolate milk were one of the surprising revelations that Clark listed as she addressed 160 dietitians and others attending the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics meeting last week at Sun Valley Resort. The meeting, organized by Magic Valley dietitians, featured some heavy hitters in Clark and Evelyn Tribole, author of Intuitive Eating.

Clark is the word in sports nutrition she walks the walk, said Dr. RoseAnna Holliday, adjunct professor at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. And the eating disorder and weight loss clinics are beginning to base a lot of their work on what Evelyn Tribole has to say.

Shes had 29 years of helping people create healthy relationships with food, said Becky McCarver, a registered dietitian with St. Lukes. Her book completely changed my career.

Tribole said shes having trouble getting on board with the idea that food or sugar can be addictive an idea thats making the rounds at shows like The Dr. Oz Show.

Animals had to be starved to induce the sugar addiction in one of the few studies thats been done on the subject, she said.

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Nutrition’s Heavy Hitters Speak to Magic Valley Dietitians

Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. Strategic Developments

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ORLANDO, Fla., May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. (Pink Sheets:FITX), is pleased to inform its shareholders that in the last 60 days we have made significant improvements to our corporate structure, business and marketing plans. We are current in our financial information on the OTC markets, completed a name and ticker symbol change.

We are in the process of developing a strategic corporate website to show all of our product lines, distribution channels, manufacturing certifications, strategic business partners and retail vendors which will be linked to Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-In. These business development strategies are being led by the capable leadership of Bill Chaaban, President and Chief Executive Officer, who has developed several multi-million dollar nutritional supplement companies. Additionally, we have been recognized by vendor certification (Vendor Number) from the world's largest nutrition retailer, which has position us for the rolling out and deployment of additional products, sales and retail outlets.

Cenergy will continue to provide timely news updates regarding our strategic business development and marketing plans and will continue our commitment to increase market share, provide shareholder value and measurable results to our partners, distributors, and shareholders. Visit us http://www.CenergyNutrition.com and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Creative-Edge-Nutrition-Inc/115224738609211

About Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc.

Creative Edge Nutrition is a Nutritional Supplement Company focused on developing innovative, high quality supplements. The company offers a broad spectrum of capsules, tablets, and powders, as well as science based products in the principal categories of weight management, nutrition challenges, energy and fitness. The Company manufactures under strict GMP guidelines at GMP Certified and/or FDA registered facilities. http://www.CenergyNutrition.com and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Creative-Edge-Nutrition-Inc/115224738609211

Safe Harbor Notice This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future development activities, and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business and finances in general, including the ability to continue and manage its growth, competition, global economic conditions and other factors discussed in detail in the Company's periodic filings with the Security and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contact: Melissa J. Diaz, South Street Media, Inc Phone: (917) 937-8968 Email: Info@southstreetmedia.com

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Creative Edge Nutrition, Inc. Strategic Developments