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5 Ways Medicine Is Getting Personal

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Genomics is the study of the human genome, genetic mapping and DNA sequencing. Sounds like the stuff of science fiction, or maybe a really boring party conversation, but either way, genomics is something you should care about. It's a science that's rapidly revolutionizing medical care.

Here are five ways genomics is changing the future of medicine and why it should be important to you.

Medicine Gets Personal Tweet Chat Today at 1 p.m., ET

The human genome is stunning for its sheer complexity. Each of us has 23 chromosomes for a total of about 3 billion DNA base pairs. You inherit a chromosome from each of your parents, so double that to 6 billion.

Between 3 million and 5 million of your base pairs differ from those of the person sitting next to you, said Dr. Eric Green, the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute. These genetic variations represent only a small corner of the human genome but reveal a lot of information about your health, both now and in the future, he said.

Technology has made genetic sequencing a relatively cheap and speedy process. The Human Genome Project, which was the first successful attempt to sequence the full human genome, cost more than a billion dollars and took more than a decade to complete. Now for less than $5,000, a full gene sequence can be decoded in five days or less, Green said. By the end of the year, he expects advances in technology will allow scientists to sequence an entire gene in less than 24 hours.

Genomics is already used in clinical settings to help diagnose and treat diseases from cradle to grave. In children, it helps diagnose developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and birth defects, to name a few. Early and accurate diagnosis allows physicians to target medical care and provide families with important information about genetic risks for siblings.

In adults, genomics help fight cancer. Angelina Jolie highlighted this fact when she tested positive for a BRCA gene mutation that is strongly associated with a risk of developing breast cancer. After factoring this information in with a strong family history of breast cancer, the actress chose to undergo a pre-emptive double mastectomy.

For those who already have cancer, Green said that it was now possible to sequence the genome of a tumor, identify the genetic variants that are the likely cause of the disease and personalize treatment.

We all respond differently to medications. Sometimes they work well, sometimes they don't work at all and sometimes they make one sicker. Green said that how a person metabolizes a drug is determined by genetic factors. Physicians can use this information to design highly individual drug regimens.

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5 Ways Medicine Is Getting Personal

National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month Kicks Off

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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

One in 20 teens abuses over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine to get high, and this month the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) are teaming up to spread awareness about this abuse among parents and communities in recognition of the annual National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month.

Every October, the organizations encourage communities to take part in helping to raise awareness about abuse of prescription medicine as well as OTC medicine containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan (DXM), which teens abuse in excessive amounts in pursuit of a high. CADCA is a partner of CHPAs Stop Medicine Abuse campaign, which works to inform parents of the behavior and encourages them to talk to their teens, safeguard their medicines, and spread the word in their communities.

As the nations leading substance abuse prevention organization, CADCA is deeply concerned about the misuse and abuse of medicines whether prescription or over-the-counter, said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA Chairman and CEO. Too many young people are seeking out these substances as a means to get high without realizing the devastating impact medicine abuse can have on their lives. National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month will help educate families across America about the dangers of abusing medicines and spur communities into action.

In preparation of the month, CADCA urges its membership to plan and promote an educational event such as a town hall meeting for parents, youth, and community advocates to educate them on the potential dangers associated with medicine abuse and to discuss prevention, intervention strategies, and treatment. Additional suggestions for how coalitions can take part are found on CADCAs website. During this month, the associations are also focused on increasing support for the passage of the Preventing Abuse of Cough Treatments (PACT) Act (S. 644) introduced by U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

We are grateful to CADCA coalitions for being the boots on the ground and fighting this abuse on the community level, where a difference can be made one teen at a time, CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville said. Thanks to the dedication of CADCA coalitions, communities across the country are reaching parents about OTC cough medicine abuse - a dangerous behavior that often flies under parents radar screens.

About CHPAs StopMedicineAbuse.org Campaign

CHPA is the 132-year-old trade association representing U.S. manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.

CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) is the national membership organization representing over 5,000 coalitions and affiliates working to make Americas communities safe, healthy and drug-free. CADCA's mission is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally.

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National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month Kicks Off

Aubrey de Grey – Google vs Death: an Anti Aging Initiative – Progress in Regenerative Medicine – Video

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Aubrey de Grey - Google vs Death: an Anti Aging Initiative - Progress in Regenerative Medicine
Aubrey de Grey of SENS Foundation on #39;Calico #39;, Google #39;s anti-aging initiative. http://sens.org/outreach/outreach-blog/time-feature-cso-aubrey-de-grey-googles...

By: Adam Ford

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Aubrey de Grey - Google vs Death: an Anti Aging Initiative - Progress in Regenerative Medicine - Video

Sports Medicine Australia warns of the dangers of peptides

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Topics: bundaberg, multisport, peptides, sport

SPORTS Medicine Australia, the peak organisation for professionals in sports medicine and science, has urged those considering taking unknown supplements to think again.

The recent news that Canberra Raiders player Sandor Earl could be facing a lengthy ban for using and trafficking banned substances, including the peptide CJC-1295, and the list of alleged supplements Essendon players may have been given, highlights the need for caution to be exercised when professional and amateur athletes are dealing with supplements.

Sports Medicine Australia spokesperson Geoff Sussman said that for any athlete, but especially amateur ones, purchasing supplements and peptides online was fraught with danger.

"The risks are that many of the peptides produced have little by the way of scientific studies to investigate their action or side effects," Mr Sussman said.

"The risk of purchasing these and many supplements on the web is that you do not know what you are buying. They may be promoted as safe and legal however an IOC study of 634 supplements found that 15 per cent contained ingredients that would lead to a positive test result."

"Peptides have known impacts on many actions of the body, however, they will also have an effect on other systems in the body, and as yet we have no idea what many of those effects may be," he said.

"SMA's advice is to think carefully before embarking on this method of supplementation as there are both known and unknown risks and dangers."

Whenever you are using any form of supplement it's important to first get advice from a trained professional, Sports Dietitians Australia, SMA, Exercise and Sports Science Australia or a sports physician can provide this advice.

For more on the dangers of performance enhancing drugs Sports Medicine Australia has developed the CleanEdge website which provides information on all aspects of enhancing sporting performance.

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Sports Medicine Australia warns of the dangers of peptides

Annual Give Kids A Smile Day Oct. 14 at SIUE School of Dental Medicine

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Southern Illinois Universitys School of Dental Medicine is holding Give Kids A Smile Day from 7:30 a.m. to noon, Monday, Oct. 14, at the Schools main clinic in building 263, 2800 College Ave. in Alton. The day is for qualified children between the ages of 3 and 13.

Free dental care, including examinations, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings and extractions, will be provided by SIU School of Dental Medicine faculty and students, members of the Madison and St. Clair district dental societies,, and Lewis and Clark Community College dental assisting and dental hygiene faculty and students. Professionals and volunteers from the community also will participate.

Children qualified to participate in the event are those eligible for free and reduced-priced meal programs.

Every measure is being taken to ensure that information about our event is available to all area families, so that all registered children receive treatment, said Poonam Jain, professor in the SIU School of Dental Medicine and director of Community Dentistry, in a press release from SIUE. Each child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to be treated. Waiting times are kept to a minimum

Give Kids A Smile Day is a national event sponsored by the American Dental Association to provide free dental treatment for underserved children. The event is organized to promote community awareness of the need for dental services among the underserved.

In Alton, the one-day event allows an average of more than 200 children to receive care from dental professionals each year. The volunteer dentists and staff offer an annual average of more than $50,000 in preventive, restorative and surgical treatment for the children who participate.

Fun activities for children will take place throughout the event.

Contact Sherie Gottlob from the School of Dental Medicine, (618) 474-7200, or sgottlo@siue.edu. While pre-registration is preferred, it is not required. Walk-ins are welcome between 7.30 a.m.-noon.

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Annual Give Kids A Smile Day Oct. 14 at SIUE School of Dental Medicine

BG Medicine Announces Preliminary Decision by CMS on Reconsideration of Reimbursement for BGM Galectin-3 Test

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WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 30, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD) announced today that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have made a preliminary decision to set the Medicare payment rate for the Company's BGM Galectin-3 test at the amount of a cross walked test whose 2013 national limitation amount is $30.24, subject to a final determination by CMS by year-end 2013. The new payment rate, if finalized, will replace the BGM Galectin-3 test's national limitation amount of $17.80 that was effective in 2013.

"We are very pleased that CMS agreed to reconsider the payment rate for our BGM Galectin-3 test," said Dr. Paul R. Sohmer, President and Chief Executive Officer of BG Medicine. "We believe that the revised payment rate more appropriately reflects the value of this important diagnostic test."

This preliminary determination by CMS comes in response to BG Medicine's request for reconsideration of the 2013 CMS determination. The BGM Galectin-3 test is a novel test, which is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an aid in assessing the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure.

"We believe that the BGM Galectin-3 test provides a critical tool for physicians and other healthcare providers who make decisions regarding the care of patients with chronic heart failure," Dr. Sohmer added. "The identification of chronic heart failure patients, who are at greater risk of near term adverse events, should enable hospitals and physicians to better direct their patient management strategies and resources to those who need them most."

The BGM Galectin-3 test has been studied in over 10,000 patients, across dozens of distinct clinical studies. Earlier in 2013, BG Medicine announced inclusion of Galectin-3 as biomarker of Myocardial Fibrosis in the 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for Management of Heart Failure.

The 2014 payment rate is subject to overall adjustments to the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule for 2014, including Consumer Price Index (CPI) and productivity adjustments, and a 1.75% reduction mandated under the Affordable Care Act. In addition, the payment is expected to be subject to a 2% sequestration applicable to Medicare services.

About BG Medicine, Inc.

BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD) is a commercial stage company that is focused on the development and delivery of diagnostic solutions to aid in the clinical management of heart failure and related disorders. For additional information about BG Medicine, heart failure and galectin-3 testing, please visit http://www.bg-medicine.com. The BG Medicine Inc. logo is available for download here

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this news release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release address our understanding that the CMS rate is a preliminary rate at this time; our belief that the preliminary rate will become effective on January 1, 2014; our belief that the preliminary 2014 CMS payment rate more appropriately reflects the value of the BGM Galectin-3 test; and our belief that the BGM Galectin-3 test provides a critical tool for physicians who make decisions regarding the care of patients with chronic heart failure. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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BG Medicine Announces Preliminary Decision by CMS on Reconsideration of Reimbursement for BGM Galectin-3 Test

‘Rationalists’ battle superstition and faith in guru medicine – #AsiaLive – Video

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#39;Rationalists #39; battle superstition and faith in guru medicine - #AsiaLive
On August 20th, prominent Indian rationalist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead in the Indian state of Maharashtra. His murder has highlighted the tensions tha...

By: FRANCE 24 English

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'Rationalists' battle superstition and faith in guru medicine - #AsiaLive - Video

Penn Medicine researcher unveils findings on 2 new weapons against thyroid cancer

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Public release date: 28-Sep-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Holly Auer holly.auer@uphs.upenn.edu 215-200-2313 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

AMSTERDAM -- For many years, patients with advanced thyroid cancer faced bleak prospects and no viable treatment options. But now, building on recent discoveries about the genetics and cell signaling pathways of thyroid tumors, researchers are developing exciting new weapons against the disease, using kinase inhibitors that target tumor cell division and blood vessels. Two recent clinical trials led by a researcher from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania showcase the great promise of these new approaches. The work will be presented at the European Cancer Congress (ECCO 17 - ESMO 38 - ESTRO 32) in Amsterdam today.

The first study provides additional data from the phase III DECISION trial of the drug sorafenib, a kinase inhibitor already approved for treatment of kidney and liver cancer, which was presented as a plenary during the 2013 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. In the newly released findings, lead author Marcia Brose, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of Otorhinolarlyngology: Head and Neck Surgery and the division of Hematology/Oncology in the Abramson Cancer Center, and her colleagues examined the effectiveness of sorafenib on thyroid cancers that harbor BRAF and RAS mutations. They previously reported that for patients who received sorafenib, progression free survival was 10.8 months vs. 5.8 months in the placebo arm. Of the 417 patients enrolled in the trial, 256 had tumors collected for genetic analysis. As they expected, the most common mutations were found in the BRAF and RAS genes. However, the analyses show that all groups, regardless of the presence of a BRAF and RAS mutation benefited from treatment with sorafenib.

"Our results are important because they show that regardless of the presence of these two common genetic changes, the group that was treated with sorafenib did better than the placebo," Brose says. "There was no subgroup that didn't appear to benefit from the intervention with the sorafenib." The use of sorafenib for the first line treatment for advanced differentiated thyroid cancer is now being evaluated for approval by the FDA, which would represent the first effective drug for advanced thyroid patients in more than 40 years.

The second study Brose will present during the European Cancer Congress focused on the subgroup of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), which is the most prevalent form of advanced thyroid cancer. About half of PTC patients harbor the BRAFV600E mutation, which is also present in melanomas that can be successfully treated with BRAF inhibitor drugs. "In this phase II study, we took the BRAFV600E inhibitor, vemurafenib, and studied it in BRAF-mutated papillary thyroid cancer patients to see if there's an effect," Brose explained. Approximately 50 PTC patients with the BRAFV600E mutation were enrolled in the study, all with progressive disease that had failed to respond to radioactive iodine treatment. The patients were divided into two groups: one that had not received sorafenib or other similar kinase inhibitor, and one that had.

The progression free survival of the treatment nave group was 15.6 months and had a response rate of 35 percent, while the progression free survival in the previously treated group was 6.3 months with a response rate of26 percent. "Our results show that we can effectively treat PTC patients that have progressive disease by targeting a common mutation, and produce clinically meaningful periods of progression free survival," Brose said.

Taken together, the two trials offer substantial new hope for patients with progressive thyroid cancer. "A few years ago there was nothing to offer these patients," Brose says. "By understanding similarities across different types of cancers, we have been able to show that therapies previously shown to be effective in other cancers, such as liver, kidney and bone, can be effectively used to treat a rare cancer, providing significant hope to these patients."

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Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.

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Penn Medicine researcher unveils findings on 2 new weapons against thyroid cancer

Tour for Diversity in Medicine stops at Georgetown to support students

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Kathyana Philippe knew she needed to apply to colleges this fall shes a senior from Fort Meade but wasnt sure where to begin, which schools might be a good fit or exactly how to go about learning to be a pharmacist.

So she was excited when she went to Georgetown University School of Medicine on Saturday with about 100 other minority high school students interested in medical careers. College applications are, like, right there, she said. I need to know if this is the right choice.

Georgetown was the latest stop on a bus trip by the Tour for Diversity in Medicine, a national nonprofit group started by two minority physicians who wanted to encourage, inform and inspire young people who are interested in health sciences but might not know how best to pursue their goals.

Its all but impossible to get into medical school without some support and guidance along the way, said Alden Landry, who works at Harvard Medical School and is an emergency physician at a hospital in Boston.

Landry, who started the group with his friend Kameron Matthews, a family physician and lawyer, said there are too many intricacies and intangibles such as knowing how much research experience, volunteer work and letters of recommendation can help vault an application, and preparing for the new medical college admissions test coming in 2015.

You need to have a hand up, someone helping pull you up, and a hand down, to help someone else, he said.

So one of the first things they asked the students on the tour to do was network: Meet strangers at the school and learn how to cultivate mentors. The basement hall buzzed as teenagers with sparkly sneakers chatted with a Georgetown neuroscientist, an Army surgeon, a pediatrician and other professionals, as well as medical students, college students and parents. Its a pipeline, Matthews said, which is why the tour decided to add a day aimed at high school students to their college events.

Philippes questions included: Are all the years of college worth it? Is it rewarding? How can you help people, exactly? How do you feel when you help people? Everyone was easy to talk to, she said, and theyll lead you in the right direction.

Landry, Matthews and the other volunteers told the students on the tour that African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans are about 30 percent of the population but less than 6percent of the medical workforce. They said that racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to go to work in underserved communities and that sometimes cultural differences can be barriers to good care.

The high school students also learned about different fields of medicine. Medical students told them how to apply for admission, financial aid and scholarships, and doctors talked to them about preventing disease through diet and exercise.

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Tour for Diversity in Medicine stops at Georgetown to support students

Health law boosts status of alternative medicine — at least on paper

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Complementary and alternative medicine a term that encompasses meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic care and homeopathic treatment, among other things has become increasingly popular. About four in 10 adults and one in nine children in the U.S. are using some form of alternative medicine, according to the National Institutes of Health.

And with the Affordable Care Act, the field could make even more headway in the mainstream health care system. That is, unless the fine print in state legislation and insurance plans falls short because of unclear wording and insufficient oversight.

One clause of the health law in particular Section 2706 is widely discussed among providers of alternative medicine because it requires that insurance companies shall not discriminate against any health provider with a state-recognized license.

That means a licensed chiropractor treating a patient for back pain, for instance, must be reimbursed the same as a medical doctor. In addition, nods to alternative medicine are threaded through other parts of the law in sections on wellness, prevention and research.

But because under the health care law each state defines its essential benefits plan what is covered by insurance somewhat differently, the wording concerning alternative medicine has to be very specific in terms of who gets paid and for what kinds of treatment, said Deborah Senn, the former insurance commissioner in Washington and an advocate for coverage of alternative medicine.

For example, naturopathic care would not fall under the nondiscriminatory list in Missouri because the state does not recognize it as a licensed practice.

And even if a practice is licensed, that doesnt mean it will receive coverage, said Afua Bromley, a licensed acupuncturist at the Acupuncture St. Louis and Wellness Center.

Some people have the misconception that the (Affordable Care Act) means that acupuncture coverage will be mandated, and thats not the case, she said.

Insurance companies can still decide not to include acupuncture in their plans, so Bromley cannot bill an agency for acupuncture care if coverage isnt provided.

However, because shes licensed, Bromley will be able to bill insurance companies for office visits, just like a medical doctor can bill separately for an office visit, nutritional counseling, exams and more.

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Health law boosts status of alternative medicine — at least on paper

Chinese medicine cancer care hope

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28 September 2013 Last updated at 03:52 ET

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Prof Jiang said they found the Chinese medicine has a significant effect on cancer cells

Combining traditional forms of Chinese and Western medicine could offer new hope for developing new treatments for some cancers, say experts from universities in Cardiff and Peking.

Prof Wen Jiang from Cardiff University said they have discovered how a formula of traditional Chinese medicine works to stop cancer spreading.

The universities have been collaborating for two years.

Prof Jiang described the breakthrough as "ancient medicine, modern thinking".

Experts from the Cardiff School of Medicine joined forces with Peking University in 2012 to test the health benefits of the Chinese herbal medicine called Yangzheng Xiaoji.

Although a few successes, most of the traditional remedies are short of scientific explanation which has inevitably led to scepticism - especially amongst traditionalists in the West

The formula, consisting of 14 herbs, has previously been shown to be beneficial to cancer patients but until this latest research, the way in which it works had remained unknown.

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Chinese medicine cancer care hope


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