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Dr. Frank Basile Joins Miraca Life Sciences as President and Chief Executive Officer

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DALLAS, May 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Miraca Life Sciences, Inc. ("MLS"), a specialist in the development and commercialization of the highest quality anatomic pathology services, today announced that Dr. Frank Basile will join the company as President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Basile brings more than 15 years of highly successful senior executive leadership experience in the healthcare and medical industry.

Most recently, Dr. Basile served as President and CEO of JDC Healthcare Management, a dental management company based in Dallas, Texas. While there, he was responsible for expanding the Company's business footprint and entering new markets, resulting in significant growth. Related executive experience includes serving as CEO and President of Diabetes America, an early stage company that operated first-ever health centers built expressly to fulfill the needs of diabetes patients.

"We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Basile to Miraca Life Sciences, our new group company, at this time," said Dr. Hiromasa Suzuki, President and CEO of Miraca Holdings, Inc. "Since MLS became a group company of Miraca Holdings in November 2011, we have formulated a new growth strategy and are confident that Dr. Basile's leadership and intimate knowledge and understanding of the business environment will enable MLS to achieve its strategic objectives."

In addition to his executive leadership experience, Dr. Basile previously worked at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, where he led extensive strategy, marketing and operations improvement projects for healthcare and biotechnology companies.

Dr. Basile is originally from Australia and received his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, MB, BS (MD equivalent) from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Melbourne. He also graduated with distinction with a Master of Business Administration degree from the Melbourne Graduate School of Management, also at the University of Melbourne.

About Miraca Life Sciences

Miraca Life Sciences specializes in the development and commercialization of the highest quality anatomic pathology services, primarily in the fields of dermatopathology, hematopathology, gastrointestinal pathology and urologic pathology. The company's core team of more than 70 world-leading, academic-caliber specialists utilize state of the art pathology laboratories currently headquartered in Irving, TX and throughout the United States to serve more than 3,000 patients every day. Through rigorous quality assurance, daily and monthly conferences, and close relationships with clinical partners, Miraca Life Sciences continuously improves diagnostic precision.

About Miraca Holdings

With group net sales of JPY165.7 billion (FYE 3/2011), Miraca Holdings, a Japan-based holding company in the healthcare sector listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is engaged in the business consisting of three segments: (i) development, manufacture, and commercialization of in vitro diagnostics, (ii) clinical laboratory testing, and (iii) other healthcare related businesses, which are conducted by its subsidiaries and affiliates including Fujirebio, Inc., a leading supplier of in vitro diagnostics in Japan, and SRL, Inc. ("SRL"), Japan's largest commercial laboratory. SRL offers comprehensive clinical laboratory testing services to medical institutes throughout the nation, ranging from general testing to esoteric testing, including gene-based tests.

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Dr. Frank Basile Joins Miraca Life Sciences as President and Chief Executive Officer

Anlit to Present New Dietary Supplements for Children at Vitafoods Europe 2012

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GENEVA, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Anlit Advanced Nutrition Supplements, an innovative developer of quality consumer vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements for children, will present new and innovative products at Vitafoods Europe 2012, which will take place May 22-24, 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Anlit will showcase new and existing products at the FPE Finished Products Expo at Stand 3500. The company will present, among others, two new products aimed at improving children's well being:

Anlit will also present its other leading products, including Omega 3 (fish oil) and probiotic and prebiotic fibers, as well as a complete line of products to meet the following condition-specific categories: immune system supporters, brain and cognitive development, healthy bones, general well being, and anemia.

"Vitafoods Europe presents an excellent opportunity for Anlit to present its innovative products to European distributors who wish to sell unique products under their own brand name," said Shai Karlinski, VP marketing at Anlit.

"Drug store chains, drug and dietary supplements manufacturers and distributors are invited to get a first-hand impression of our condition-specific tasty dietary supplements which can be specifically tailored to their local needs," he added.

Anlit's products can also be tasted at the FPE tasting bar, at which the company's "Sweet Dreams" dairy-based supplement with lactium last year won the award for best-tasting finished product.

About Anlit advanced nutrition supplements

Anlit is an innovative developer and producer of quality consumer vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements for children. Since 1990, Anlit has been dedicated to developing, manufacturing and marketing high-quality products to ensure the health and nutrition of children worldwide.

Anlit manufactures to the highest international standards, including GMP, ISO and HACCP, and are kosher and halal certified.

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Anlit to Present New Dietary Supplements for Children at Vitafoods Europe 2012

Health office launches 'Nutrition on Wheels'

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Sunday, April 29, 2012

THE Zamboanga City Health Office (CHO) has launched Nutrition on Wheels, an outreach program intended to empower communities through proper nutrition.

The program is another innovation adopted by the CHO headed by Dr. Rodel Agbulos to advance its vision of Un Ciudad sin Enfermedad (A city without sickness).

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Mayor Celso Lobregat, together with Agbulos and his staff of the Nutrition Division, spearheaded the launching of the program on Thursday highlighted by a feeding program for young children at the CHO compound in Pettit Barracks.

They were joined by Councilors Benjamin Guingona III, Rodolfo Lim and Myra Paz Abubakar.

Agbulos said his offices mobile van will be used to visit rural areas to conduct feeding programs and information campaigns on good nutrition for people of all ages.

Agbulos said he program is primarily aimed to eliminate malnutrition in the city.

At least 10 villages have been identified as top 10 in malnutrition problem with the village of Pasobolong as number one in the list.

The Nutrition Division of the CHO will conduct feeding programs, information drives and check on the nutrition problem in each of the citys barangays through the use of the mobile van, Agbulos said.

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Health office launches 'Nutrition on Wheels'

Bruin Run/Walk cause inspires avid Bruin runner to participate in 5K event

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As the sun rose over Janss Steps early Sunday, Jeffrey Lin ran past the line framed by two Finish flags in Wilson Plaza and, in the process, crossed an item off his UCLA bucket list.

While Lin did not come in first place at the 13th annual Bruin Run/Walk, the number 1 pinned across his UCLA Quidditch shirt showed his enthusiasm for the event he was the first of more than 900 participants to sign up for the 5K benefiting the Chase Child Life Program at UCLAs Mattel Childrens Hospital.

One of the few runs held at UCLA throughout the year, the Run/Walk has always been on his list of things to do during his time at college, said Lin, a third-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student.

This year, he found the time to take part. His girlfriend, Tiffany Chow, is the participants coordinator for the event, which also encouraged him to run in the race.

Given the choice, he would rather run or bike anywhere, Chow, a third-year biochemistry and microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student, said with a laugh.

After registering, Lin encouraged his Quidditch teammates to form a team, said Alex Browne, Lins friend, teammate and a third-year mechnical engineering student.

At times, (Lin) can be a pretty calm guy, but when you see him stepping up and getting a lot of people to join with him on this cause, you cant help but get excited too, Browne said.

Coming in 45 seconds off his personal record of 18 minutes and 20 seconds for a 5K race, a sweaty Lin said he was a little disappointed in his time, but was glad he participated because he likes running to support a cause.

As a group of kids participating in the Kids Race ran by, Lin broke off the conversation and looked toward the children.

So cute, he said, gazing at them with a fond smile. Theyre all so sweet.

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Bruin Run/Walk cause inspires avid Bruin runner to participate in 5K event

The Dart: Starting early on living longer

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STAMFORD -- At the Longevity LLC gym on Research Drive last week, Christian Tapia held up boxing mitts and let 9-year-old Daniel Sweeney swing away.

Tapia, a certified personal trainer, corrected Daniel for dropping his arms between punches, which reduces healthy cardiopulmonary exertion.

"There you go," Tapia said. "Your big brothers will have to watch out."

The workout alternated periods of cardiopulmonary exercises such as boxing, which are more strenuous, with less taxing exercise using nylon traps to build upper body strength.

"I feel stronger," Daniel said.

After spending a little more than a decade building a client base for his personal training and massage therapy services, Tapia reached his long-held goal last year of opening his own office and workout facility at 100 Research Drive along a strip of road dominated by home improvement and other service businesses.

"This has always been the light at the end of the tunnel," Tapia said. "I still visit clients in their homes but I've always wanted to have my own location."

Tapia said his clients start with all levels of fitness and include all ages, but a significant group of customers are adolescents.

Tapia said that better performance and resistance to injury for all athletes is strongly linked to proper strength and flexibility among the correct muscle groups.

"I see a lot of student-athletes who are multi-sport athletes who come to me and are not training their muscle groups in the right way," Tapia said. "There is a proper way to train from sport to sport."

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The Dart: Starting early on living longer

More evidence for longevity pathway

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Public release date: 1-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Valerie Wencis valerie_wencis@hms.harvard.edu 617-432-8024 Harvard Medical School

New research reinforces the claim that resveratrola compound found in plants and food groups, notably red wineprolongs lifespan and health-span by boosting the activity of mitochondria, the cell's energy supplier.

"The results were surprisingly clear," said David Sinclair, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and the study's senior author. "Without the mitochondria-boosting gene SIRT1, resveratrol does not work."

The findings are to be published May 1 in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Over the last decade, Sinclair and colleagues including Leonard Guarente at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have published a body of research describing how resveratrol improves energy production and overall health in cells by activating a class of genes called sirtuins that are integral to mitochondrial function. The cell's power supplier, mitochondria are essential not just for longevity but for overall health.

Sinclair and colleagues had studied sirtuins in a variety of model organisms: yeast, worms, flies and mice. For the first three organisms they were able to thoroughly knock out SIRT1 and show that cells lacking the gene don't respond to resveratrol. But no one had been able to demonstrate the effect in mice, which die at birth without the SIRT1 gene.

In order to solve this obstacle, Nathan Price and Ana Gomes, graduate students in the Sinclair lab, spent three years engineering a new mouse model. These mice, seemingly normal in every way, were designed so that SIRT1 would systemically switch off when the mice were given the drug Tamoxifen.

"This is a drug inducible, whole body deletion of a gene," said Sinclair. "This is something that's rarely been done so efficiently. Moving forward, this mouse model will be valuable to many different labs for other areas of research."

The results were plain: when mice were given low doses of resveratrol after SIRT1 was disabled, the researchers found no discernable improvement in mitochondrial function. In contrast, the mice with normal SIRT1 function given resveratrol showed dramatic increases in energy.

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More evidence for longevity pathway

U.S. Dept. of Justice may sue city

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May 1, 2012

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PLYMOUTH The United States Department of Justice may sue the city of Plymouth on behalf of a military reserve officer and city employees claims for longevity pay. A news release from City Attorney Sean Surrisi Monday states that there is a question as to whether a city ordinance in effect since 1989 differs from a federal law enacted in 1994 protecting civilian job rights and benefits for veterans and reserve troops who may be absent from their jobs during military service. The employee, who was not named by Surrisi, did receive prorated longevity pay from the city for time actually worked. However, the employee also claims entitlement to longevity pay for the entire year of 2010-11 under terms of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). This Act applies to both governmental and private employers, and supersedes any conflicting local law that reduces, limits, or eliminates any rights or benefits of a service member. The release from the city stated that The U.S. Department of Labor has its own rules and regulations interpreting USERRA, which provide, in part, that an employee who is absent from a position of employment by reason of service is not entitled to greater benefits than would be generally provided to a similarly situated employee on non-military furlough or leave of absence. Surrisi said Monday that the city had been in discussion with the branch of reserves that the employee serves under and also with the U.S. Department of Labor over the past year about the issue. The city maintains that its ordinance does not conflict with USERRA and that the employee in question was treated no better or no worse than any non-military employee on a leave of absence. The city complies with all federal, state, and local laws when figuring payroll, said Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer Toni Hutchings. Our ordinance states that the proration of longevity pay is in the interest of fiscal responsibility and fairness. City officials also brought up Indianas Ghost Employment statute. This statute prohibits a governmental entity from paying an employee for work that has not been performed. Officials question whether making the employees requested longevity payment would violate that statute. Plymouth mayor Mark Senter said that he is proud of Plymouth employees who serve in the military, but that he must support city ordinances. As mayor, the people of Plymouth have given me a trust to enforce their ordinances and my administration must prove faithful in serving as well, said Senter. Surrisi further stated in the news release that the USERRA allows for enforcement actions to be brought on the service members behalf by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Department of Justice has been in contact with the city for some time and may file suit in the near future. In this case, a court will determine whether the longevity pay is due in light of differing local, state, and federal laws.

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The Key To Longevity: Eat Mediterranean-Style

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It all started circa 1960 in several areas of the Mediterranean region, specifically the Greek island of Crete, other areas of Greece and southern Italy. Researchers were drawn to these areas because the adults living there had very low rates of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, as well as very long life expectancy. For examples, the natives of Greece had a rate of heart disease that was 90 percent lower than that of Americans at the time. (Mind you, heart disease and cancer are still currently two of the top killers of Americans.)

In addition to a physically active lifestyle, these Mediterranean natives consumed a diet that was rich in grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. In fact, more than 60 percent of the calories in their diets in the 1960s were supplied by these high-fiber, nutritionally-dense plant foods. The majority of the fat in the diet was provided by olives and olive oil, and fish and seafood was enjoyed at least twice a week. (Note: the latest recommendation from the USDA is to consume at least two fish meals, especially fatty fish such as salmon, weekly to increase longevity.)

Following this traditional 1960s Mediterranean Diet, foods from animal sources were limited as well as sweets. Water was abundantly consumed throughout the day and low to moderate amounts of wine were enjoyed, typically only with meals. Equally important, meals were enjoyed with friends and family.

Fast forward to the present, ongoing research continues to support the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. In fact, one would be hard pressed to find a study that found that this type of eating style was unhealthy.

With the warmer weather and budding of plants around us, May is the perfect month to start enjoying more of a plant-based, Mediterranean diet and lifestyle. Here's some tips:

Cheers!

Follow Joan on Twitter at: joansalgeblake

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The Key To Longevity: Eat Mediterranean-Style

How will the US biotechnology industry benefit from new patent laws?

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Public release date: 1-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, May 1, 2012Passage of the America Invents Act into law led to the most dramatic changes in the U.S. patent system in 60 years. These reforms will have a significant impact on technology innovators such as biotechnology-based businesses, as detailed in two articles in Industrial Biotechnology, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The articles are available free online on the Industrial Biotechnology website.

"Industrial biotechnology companies rely heavily on their patents to attract investment to fund the research and development necessary to bring innovative products to consumers. Strong intellectual property protection is critical for these companies," says Brent Erickson, Consulting Editor of Industrial Biotechnology and Executive Vice President, Industrial & Environmental Section, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Washington, DC. "The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act will strengthen America's patent system and drive job growth throughout our economy. The improvements made by the bill will benefit all sectors of the national economy by enhancing patent quality and the efficiency, objectivity, predictability and transparency of the U.S. patent system. Companies will benefit from the improvements to our nation's patent system made by this legislation."

One of the most critical and far-reaching features of the America Invents Act (AIA) that will affect all U.S. patent applications filed on or after March 16, 2013 is the change from a "first-to-invent" to a "first-inventor-to-file" system. Technology specialists Tiffany Reiter, PhD and Erin Baker, PhD, and principal patent attorney J. Peter Fasse, Fish & Richardson (Boston, MA), provide a comprehensive review of the new system, describing its implications and exceptions. The authors clearly illustrate how pending and future patent applications will be affected by the new law in the article "The America Invents Act and Its Importance to Patent Prosecution in the Biotech Sector."

Sandra Thompson, JD, PhD, a specialist in intellectual property law at Buchalter Nemer (Irvine, CA), clarifies some common misunderstandings related to the new first-to-file system as well as other aspects of the AIA. In the article "The America Invents Act and Your Biotech-Based Business," Dr. Thompson explains which aspects of the AIA went into effect immediately and which will be put into practice gradually over an 18-month period, and why this knowledge is crucial for companies developing novel products and technologies.

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About the Journal

Industrial Biotechnology, led by Co-Editors-in-Chief Larry Walker, PhD, and Glenn Nedwin, PhD, MBA, is an authoritative journal focused on biobased industrial and environmental products and processes, published bimonthly in print and online. The Journal reports on the science, business, and policy developments of the emerging global bioeconomy, including biobased production of energy and fuels, chemicals, materials, and consumer goods. The articles published include critically reviewed original research in all related sciences (biology, biochemistry, chemical and process engineering, agriculture), in addition to expert commentary on current policy, funding, markets, business, legal issues, and science trends. Industrial Biotechnology offers the premier forum bridging basic research and R&D with later-stage commercialization for sustainable biobased industrial and environmental applications.

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How will the US biotechnology industry benefit from new patent laws?

Risks of mixing drugs and herbal supplements: What doctors and patients need to know

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Public release date: 1-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, May 1, 2012Herbal, dietary, and energy or nutritional supplements may offer specific health benefits, but they can also have harmful and even life-threatening effects when combined with commonly used medications. Clinicians need to be aware of and educate their patients about the potential risks of mixing supplements and therapeutic agents, since their interaction can diminish or increase drug levels. This timely topic is explored in a provocative article in Alternative and Complementary Therapies, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The article is available free on the Alternative and Complementary Therapies website at http://www.liebertpub.com/act.

"'Natural' does not equal 'safe,'" and the effects and interactions of herbal or dietary supplements and functional foods such as energy drinks or nutritional bars can be difficult to predict, says Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD, co-founder of Natural Standard Research Collaboration and Senior Attending Pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA). "If something has a therapeutic action in a human body, this substance can also cause a reaction or an interaction."

The risk for interactions is greatest in younger and older people and in individuals with multiple health conditions or who take multiple medications, explains Dr. Ulbricht in the article "What Every Clinician Should Know About HerbSupplementDrug Interactions." She describes in detail some of the most common side effects that result from interactions between herbal supplements and therapeutic drugs, and provides guidance to clinicians on how to decrease the risk of harmful interactions in their patients and what resources are available for obtaining accurate information and reporting patient reactions.

Common examples include an increased risk of significant bleeding associated with garlic, ginkgo, ginger, and saw palmetto supplements; decreased blood sugar as a result of chromium, cinnamon, whey protein, and others; hormonal effects of dong quai, black cohosh, kudzu, and saw palmetto; and elevated blood pressure caused by bloodroot, green tea, hawthorn, and mat.

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About the Journal

Alternative and Complementary Therapies is a bimonthly journal that publishes original articles, reviews, and commentaries evaluating alternative therapies and how they can be integrated into clinical practice. Topics include botanical medicine, vitamins and supplements, nutrition and diet, mind-body medicine, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, ayurveda, indigenous medicine systems, homeopathy, naturopathy, yoga and meditation, manual therapies, energy medicine, and spirituality and health. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Alternative and Complementary Therapies website at http://www.liebertpub.com/act.

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Risks of mixing drugs and herbal supplements: What doctors and patients need to know

DNA: Man freed after 16 years in rape case

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., April 30 (UPI) -- A Colorado man wrongly convicted of a 1994 murder walked free after almost 16 years in prison because of new DNA evidence police say points to a new suspect.

Judge Brian Flynn signed a motion Monday, filed jointly by the Mesa County District Attorney's Office and attorney Danyel Joffee, to vacate the 1996 conviction of Joffee's client, Robert Dewey.

"He was unjustly imprisoned for a hideous crime he did not commit. I believe he has the courage and the stamina to put these dark days behind him and get on with his life. He was always optimistic that he was going to be released," Joffe said.

Dewey, 55, was found guilty in 1996 of the rape and murder of 19-year-old Jacie Taylor. He was released Monday after DNA found at the crime scene, not available in Mesa County when Dewey was convicted, determined Dewey was innocent -- and led police to a suspect who already was in custody.

Douglas Thames -- who has been charged with first degree sexual assault and first degree murder -- is serving a life sentence for a 1989 murder in Ft. Collins, KUSA-TV, Denver, reported.

During Dewey's trial, forensics experts testified Dewey's shirt showed a stain containing both his blood and Taylor's DNA. Dewey's defense argued the combination could have come from many sources, and tried to convince the jury investigators didn't do a good job and had overlooked other suspects, KUSA said.

The case was reviewed in 2010 by the DNA Justice Review Project, which operates under the auspices of the Denver District Attorney Colorado Attorney General's office through a grant of more than $1.2 million.

Asked about his plans, Dewey said he would "take it a day at a time and a step at a time," KKCO-TV, Grand Junction, Colo., reported.

"I'm not going to Disneyland ... Gonna get a bite to eat; get some real food a steak or something."

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DNA: Man freed after 16 years in rape case

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DNA evidence clears Robert Dewey, who has served 18 years for murder

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Robert Dewey listens to Rich Tuttle, the original prosecutor during Dewey's trial in the mid-1990s in Grand Junction, Colo., Monday, April 30, 2012. (William Woody, Special to The Denver Post)

GRAND JUNCTIONRobert Dewey, imprisoned for nearly 18 years for a crime he did not commit, has been ordered released, cleared by DNA evidence that points the finger at a new suspect in the rape and murder of a Palisade woman in 1994.

"I find that Mr. Dewey is factually innocent of the crimes of which he was accused of in this case," the judge said, noting Dewey had spent more the 6,000 days behind bars. "Mr. Dewey is now again a free man."

Seated at a table in a blue shirt, his hair in long braids, Dewey declined to speak during the crowded hearing.

"It takes real character to stand up and say we made a mistake 17 years ago," Dewey's post-conviction lawyer Danyel Joffe said as she asked a Mesa County

Robert Dewey mug shot (Colorado Dept. of Corrections)

Prosecutors re-examined evidence found in 19-year-old Jacie Taylor's apartment after her death and with new technology, lifted a full DNA profile from semen found on a blanket.

They believe it matches that of Douglas Thames, who is currently serving life for the high-profile 1989 rape and strangulation of Susan Doll in Fort Collins.

Dewey, who has served nearly 18 years of a life sentence in state prison, is expected to walk free today after a 3:30 p.m. court hearing.

Defense attorney Steve Laiche described Dewey as "serene and insightful."

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DNA evidence clears Robert Dewey, who has served 18 years for murder

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New DNA evidence clears Dewey in 1994 Grand Junction murder

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GRAND JUNCTIONThe sweet smell of burning sage from a smudge stick wafted around Robert Dewey outside the Mesa County District Courthouse on Monday afternoon as he performed a Native American cleansing ceremony.

Behind him: nearly 18 years in a tiny prison cell and a wrongful conviction on a 1994 rape and murder.

What lies ahead of him is less clear.

A judge granted a joint motion to exonerate Dewey after a re-examination of DNA evidence pointed to a new suspect: Douglas Thames, who is already incarcerated for a similar crime in Fort Collins.

Dewey, 51, now faces the challenge of finding work with a prison record and fixing a back problem that worsened in prison. Then, he joked, there's the

"Coming out of a shoebox into this," Dewey said after his court hearing, "there's a lot for me to catch up on."

Freeing Dewey after more than 6,000 days behind bars was a historic occasion, said District Judge Brian Flynn.

"It's really a pretty humbling day for a lot of people involved in the criminal-justice system," Flynn said.

Dewey's post-conviction attorney, Danyel Joffe, credited Mesa County prosecutor Rich Tuttle, the attorney general's office and law enforcement for re-investigating her client's case after all these years.

"It takes real character to stand up and say we made a mistake 17 years ago," Joffe said as she asked for her client's exoneration in court.

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New DNA evidence clears Dewey in 1994 Grand Junction murder

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Gansler asks Maryland high court to overturn or suspend DNA swab ruling

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Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler asked the states highest court to overturn or at least suspend last weeks ruling that prohibits DNA collection from suspects charged but not yet convicted in violent crimes, saying he plans to challenge the decision with the U.S. Supreme Court if the state judges do not reverse themselves.

On Tuesday, Gansler (D) filed a motion asking the Court of Appeals to reconsider its Alonzo Jay King Jr. v. State of Maryland decision, which found that swabbing criminal suspects for DNA samples after they are charged is a violation of their constitutional rights. That means the same judges who said investigators violated Kings Fourth Amendment rights in taking his genetic material and comparing it with old crime scene samples must decide whether to change their minds.

We live in the 21st century. We have DNA evidence, Gansler said in an interview. Practically every other court thats looked at this has upheld it as not violative of the Fourth Amendment.

King was arrested in Wicomico County in April 2009 on assault charges. Prosecutors used a DNA swab stemming from that case to connect him to a 2003 rape. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the rape.

In a 5 to 2 ruling, the Maryland Court of Appeals sent Kings rape case back to the circuit court and threw out the DNA evidence.

Police chiefs and prosecutors criticized the ruling, saying it would hamper their ability to solve cold cases and could jeopardize the convictions of 34 robbers, burglars and rapists whose genetic samples were taken after they were charged in separate cases.

Stephen Mercer, the chief attorney for the Office of the Maryland Public Defenders Forensics Division, said those criticisms overstate the usefulness of the database of DNA samples from charged criminals, which has produced dozens of convictions based on thousands of samples.

Law enforcement officials across the state said they planned to stop collecting DNA from charged suspects while they awaited further court action, and they would evaluate cases that stemmed from DNA in the charged offender database.

In his motion, Gansler argues that the Court of Appeals decision runs counter to what other courts nationwide have held. The motion urges judges not to forget that DNA helped win a conviction against King in a heinous crime against a real, life-and-blood victim.

Mercer said the emotional plea ignores that investigators are placing presumably innocent people under genetic surveillance and using their DNA to investigate them for past and future crimes without evidence linking them to those crimes.

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Gansler asks Maryland high court to overturn or suspend DNA swab ruling

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Maryland AG appeals DNA ruling

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Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler has asked the states highest court to overturn or at least temporarily suspend last weeks ruling that prohibits DNA collection from suspects charged but not yet convicted in violent crimes, saying he plans to challenge the decision with the U.S. Supreme Court if the state judges do not reverse themselves.

Gansler on Tuesday filed a motion asking the Court of Appeals to stay and reconsider its Alonzo Jay King Jr. v. State of Maryland decision, which found that swabbing criminal suspects for DNA samples after they are charged is a violation of the suspects constitutional rights. That means the same judges who said investigators violated Kings Fourth Amendment rights in taking his genetic material and comparing it with old crime scene samples must now decide whether to change their minds, or at least put their decision on hold while Gansler prepares to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

We live in the 21st century. We have DNA evidence, Gansler said in an interview. Practically every other court thats looked at this has upheld it as not violative of the Fourth Amendment.

King was arrested in Wicomico County in April 2009 on first- and second-degree assault charges. Prosecutors used a DNA swab stemming from that case to connect him to a 2003 rape. He was eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the rape.

But in a 5 to 2 ruling, the Maryland Court of Appeals sent Kings case back to the Wicomico County Circuit Court and threw out the DNA evidence against him, saying investigators violated his Fourth Amendment rights.

Solving cold cases is a legitimate government interest, a warrantless, suspicionless search can not be upheld by a generalized interest in solving crimes, the court found.

Police chiefs and prosecutors had widely criticized the ruling when it was issued last week, saying it would hamper detectives ability to solve cold cases, and it could jeopardize the convictions of 34 robbers, burglars and rapists whose genetic samples were taken after they were charged in separate cases. State authorities and officials in Prince Georges, Montgomery and Baltimore counties said they planned to stop collecting DNA from charged suspects while they awaited further court action, and they would evaluate individually cases that stemmed from DNA in the so-called charged offender database.

Gansler said he has advised police chiefs to continue abiding by the Court of Appeals decision unless a stay is issued. He said the motion to reconsider at the state level is largely a procedural step because he cannot challenge the case with the Supreme Court until he has done so at the lower level.

If the state judges stay their decision, though, Gansler said that police could collect DNA while he prepares a Supreme Court challenge. And if the judges decline to do so, Gansler said that he will ask the Supreme Court to stay the decision while he fights to have it overturned.

Gansler said he has 90 days to file a writ with the Supreme Court challenging the decision. He said that he thinks the Court of Appeals will make a decision by mid-May.

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Vitamin D supplements may protect against viral infections during the winter

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Public release date: 30-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Cody Mooneyhan cmooneyhan@faseb.org 301-634-7104 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Vitamin D may be known as the sunshine vitamin, but a new research report appearing in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows that it is more than that. According to the report, insufficient levels of vitamin D are related to a deficiency in our innate immune defenses that protect us from infections, neoplasias or autoimmune diseases. Since vitamin D levels decrease during autumn and winter when days are shorter and sunlight is relatively weak, this may explain why people are more prone to viral infection during these times. It also suggests that vitamin D supplementation, especially in older populations, could strengthen people's innate immunity against viral infections.

"There are numerous studies showing the benefits of maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels. As more and more research into Vitamin D is conducted, we are learning that it is extremely important for human health. Our study is no different, and vitamin D supplements should be considered one of many tools that might help when conventional therapies are not enough," said Victor Manuel Martinez-Taboada, M.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Division of Rheumatology at the Hospital Universitario "Marque's de Valdecilla," Facultad de Medicina at the Unversidad de Cantabria, in Santander, Spain.

To make this discovery, the researchers compared the changes in the blood levels of vitamin D among three groups of healthy subjects: young (age range: 20-30), middle (age range: 31-59), and elderly (age range: 60-86). They found decreased levels of vitamin D with aging, prompting researchers to compare whether such changes kept any relationship with toll-like receptor (TLR) expression measured on lymphocytes and monocytes and function after in vitro stimulation with specific ligands for each of the nine human TLRs and measurement of effector molecules, such as proinflammatory cytokines. Specifically, they found that the TRL most affected by a vitamin D insufficiency is TLR7, which regulates the immune response against viruses. Finally, scientists studied whether there was any difference in the three age groups depending on the season of the year since it is well known that a limited sun exposure during darker winter months is related with vitamin D deficiency.

"Any school teacher will tell you that people tend to be sicker during the winter than any other time of the year," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. "There have been numerous studies showing several environmental factors during winter months may allow viruses to spread easier. This study shows that sunlight, or more precisely the lack of vitamin D, could have a role in the seasonally higher rates of infection. More extensive studies must be conducted for this link to be conclusive, but since vitamin D supplements are inexpensive and generally safe, this is a really exciting discovery."

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The Journal of Leukocyte Biology publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts on original investigatins focusing on the cellular and molecular biology of leukocytes and on the origins, the developmental biology, biochemistry and functions of granulocytes, lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes and other cells involved in host defense and inflammation. The Journal of Leukocyte Biology is published by the Society for Leukocyte Biology.

Details: Lorena Alvarez-Rodriguez, Marcos Lopez-Hoyos, Maite Garcia-Unzueta, Jose Antonio Amado, Pedro Muoz Cacho, and Victor Manuel Martinez-Taboada. Age and low levels of circulating vitamin D are associated with impaired innate immune function. J Leukoc Biol May 2012 91:829-838; doi:10.1189/jlb.1011523 ; http://www.jleukbio.org/content/91/5/829.abstract

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Vitamin D supplements may protect against viral infections during the winter

Protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer

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Public release date: 30-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Leanne Yohemas lmyohema@ucalgary.ca 403-220-7722 University of Calgary

Hans Vogel, a professor in the biological sciences department, is the guest editor of a special issue of the journal Biochemistry and Cell Biology that focuses on lactoferrin, an important iron-binding protein with many health benefits.

"Some people describe this protein as the 'Swiss army knife' of the human host defense system," says Vogel. "We now know that lactoferrin has many functions in innate immunity and that it plays a role in protecting us from bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections. It can even protect us from some forms of cancer."

Lactoferrinwhich is secreted into human milk, blood and other biofluidshas attracted a lot of interest from academics and industry. Furthermore, Vogel says it's likely the only protein that garners its own regular scientific conference. Researchers are starting to use lactoferrin as a potential therapeutic protein, one that can be taken orally instead of injected like other proteins.

"Lactoferrin is quite an unusual protein that has many effects on health," Vogel says. "It is also used as a general health-promoting substance, and in Japan it is added to infant formula."

The June issue of the journal includes 27 peer reviewed papers from leading international researchers on topics including the role of lactoferrin on small intestinal growth and development during early life, use of bovine lactoferrin to inhibit influenza and how the protein may prevent some preterm deliveries.

The protein may also have an important role in wound healing, says Vogel. "We've been working in this area for about 15 years and it's cool to see how the whole field slowly progresses, and you start to see more and more interesting applications. It is particularly exiting to see that clinical trials are now going on in the infectious disease area and in cancer."

Vogel says being a guest editor was a lot of work and a lot of fun. He also wrote an introductory article for the special issue that provides an overview of the current status of research into the protein. Read the open access article: http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full/10.1139/o2012-016

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Protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer

Potent protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer

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Public release date: 30-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dr. Hans Vogel vogel@ucalgary.ca Canadian Science Publishing (NRC Research Press)

Ottawa, Ontario (April 30, 2012)Lactoferrin is an important iron-binding protein with many health benefits. The major form of this powerful protein, is secreted into human biofluids (e.g. milk, blood, tears, saliva), and is responsible for most of the host-defense properties. Because of the many beneficial activities associated with it, researchers are starting to use lactoferrin as a potential therapeutic protein. And, in contrast to many other therapeutic proteins, which need to be injected into patients, lactoferrin can be orally active. Lactoferrin is the subject of the upcoming June issue of the journal Biochemistry and Cell Biology.

"We now know that lactoferrin is a protein that has many functions in innate immunity and that it plays a role in protecting us from bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections. It can even protect us from some forms of cancer," says special issue guest editor Dr. Hans Vogel, a professor at the University of Calgary. "Some people describe this protein as the 'Swiss army knife' of the human host defense system. In part it does all this by binding iron, but many other properties of the protein contribute to its function."

This special issue comprises 27 articles and review papers contributed by leading international researchers. The role of lactoferrin on skin wound healing; impacts of lactoferrin on small intestinal growth and development during early life; and use of bovine lactoferrin on the inhibition of influenza and in the prevention of preterm delivery associated with sterile inflammation are among the studies presented.

One important contribution, already published online, is from a Chinese research group led by Professor Ning Li in Beijing. It shows that consumption of milk containing increased levels of the lactoferrin protein modulates the composition of the gut microflora, which in turn promotes health. This research relies on extensive biochemistry and molecular biology to produce the protein and to analyze the changes in the composition of the gut flora. While the article describes an animal model study, the results can probably be extended to humans. The research article titled Transgenic milk containing recombinant human lactoferrin modulates the intestinal flora in piglets is now available open access on the NRC Research Press website.

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The Lactoferrin special issue (coming soon) in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Vol. 90, Issue 3, published by the NRC Research Press at http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/journal/bcb

The introduction to the special issue by Dr. Hans Vogel is available open access at http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full/10.1139/o2012-016

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Potent protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer

Biochemistry complex blends old with new

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Contrasting modern and historic architecture details are pictured in this view of the newly constructed Biochemical Sciences Building, at left, and the renovated Biochemistry Buildings brick exterior. Photo: Jeff Miller

The Biochemistry complex located next to Henry Mall looks a lot different than decades ago. But you wouldnt necessarily know that at first glance.

While the outside of the buildings looks similar to when they were first constructed, the interiors have been given state-of-the-art makeovers.

Theyve done a beautiful job in restoring the older parts and integrating the newer parts. I really think its remarkable, says Betty Craig, Biochemistry chair.

Planning started long ago on the $112 million project, and it had once been discussed that some of the old historical buildings would become history, torn down to make way for new structures.

A glass panel, at right, reflects a mirror view of a man descending a sunlight-filled staircase at the Biochemical Sciences Building. The graphic design featured on the exterior glass of the foyer, created by artist Norie Sato as part of Wisconsins Percent for Art program, incorporates a pattern abstracted from biochemical language that describes parts of DNA structure.

Photo: Jeff Miller

That didnt happen.

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Biochemistry complex blends old with new

Editor-in-Chief on the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science – Video

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30-04-2012 05:08 Editor-in-Chief, Joseph Ciarrochi, University of Western Sydney, talks about the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. More information about this journal can be found at You may also be interested in watching the video from Steve Hayes, Nevada Foundation Professor at the Department of Psychology, University of Nevada - see

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Editor-in-Chief on the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science - Video