Dog's epigenome gives clues to human cancer

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The bond between humans and dogs is strong and ancient. From being the protector of the first herds in a faithful pet, dogs and people share many aspects of life. The relationship between the two species has been studied by psychologists, anthropologists, ethnologists and also by genetic and molecular biologists. In this sense, dogs are a great model for understanding the causes of human diseases, especially cancer.

Unlike other mammals used in research, dogs develop cancer spontaneously as humans do and cancer is the most common cause of death in this species. The dog genome has been obtained in recent years, but we still don't know how is controlled and regulated, what we call the epigenome.

This week the team led by Manel Esteller, director of the Program for Epigenetics and Cancer Biology (PEBC) at Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona and ICREA researcher, has characterized the dog's epigenome and transferred the results to human cancer to understand the changes in appearance of tumors. The finding is published this week in the journal Cancer Research.

"We have characterized the epigenome level of each nucleotide of DNA of cells from the cocker species spaniel. In these canine cells we induced a morphological change similar to what happens in cancer progression and we have seen displayed significant alterations in the modulation of genes, called epigenetic lesions "says Manel Esteller.

"The interesting thing is that when we looked the same dog genes in human breast cancer, epigenetic aberrations occur in the same regions of DNA. Data suggests the existence of common epigenetic mechanisms in both species that have been evolutionarily conserved to change the shape and consistency of our cells and tissues, "concludes the researcher.

Study results suggest that act pharmacological action on these epigenetic alterations may be helpful in slowing disease progression.

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The above story is based on materials provided by IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Dog's epigenome gives clues to human cancer

Next steps in health & medicine — where can technology take us? | Daniel Kraft | TEDxBerlin – Video

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Next steps in health medicine -- where can technology take us? | Daniel Kraft | TEDxBerlin
This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Daniel Kraft shows us where technology can take us in health and medicine. He pulls out countless gadgets...

By: TEDx Talks

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Next steps in health & medicine -- where can technology take us? | Daniel Kraft | TEDxBerlin - Video

Ali Parsa: using mobile technology to simplify access to health care – Video

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Ali Parsa: using mobile technology to simplify access to health care
Dr Ali Parsa, Founder and Chief Executive of Babylon, explains why he is optimistic about the future of health care, including technological advances in diagnostics, the increasing availability...

By: The King #39;s Fund

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Ali Parsa: using mobile technology to simplify access to health care - Video

Stanford Health Care Offers Tomosynthesis Screening for Breast Cancer Diagnosis – KGOTV – Video

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Stanford Health Care Offers Tomosynthesis Screening for Breast Cancer Diagnosis - KGOTV
ABC 7 News (KGO) explains new technology at Stanford Health Care that allows better diagnostics for breast cancer detection with 3D imaging mammography. Mammography screening is recommended...

By: Stanford Health Care

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Stanford Health Care Offers Tomosynthesis Screening for Breast Cancer Diagnosis - KGOTV - Video

Facebook plots first steps into health care

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Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg may step up his personal involvement in health. Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, a pediatric resident at University of California San Francisco, recently donated $5 million to the Ravenswood Health Center in East Palo Alto.

Any advertising built around the health initiatives would not be as targeted as it could be on television or other media. Pharmaceutical companies, for instance, are prohibited from using Facebook to promote the sale of prescription drugs, in part because of concerns surrounding disclosures.

Privacy concerns

Privacy, an area where the company has faced considerable criticism over the years, will likely prove a challenge. This week, the company apologized to users for manipulating news feeds for the purposes of research.

But Facebook may already have a few ideas to alleviate privacy concerns around its health initiatives. The company is considering rolling out its first health application quietly and under a different name, a source said. Market research commissioned by Facebook found that many of its users were unaware that photo-service Instagram is Facebook-owned, the source said.

Read MoreFacebook launches new tools to grow advertising

Facebook's recent softening of its policy requiring users to go by their real names may also bolster the company's health plans. People with chronic conditions may prefer to use an alias when sharing their health experiences.

"I could see Facebook doing well with applications for lifestyle and wellness, but really sick patients with conditions like cancer aren't fooling around," said Frank Williams, chief executive of Evolent Health, a company that provides software and services to doctors and health systems.

People would need anonymity and an assurance that their data and comments wouldn't be shared with their online contacts, advertisers, or pharmaceutical companies, Williams said.

It remains unclear whether Facebook will moderate or curate the content shared in the support communities, or bring in outside medical experts to provide context.

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Facebook plots first steps into health care

Link between past sexual violence and distress on pelvic exam

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

2-Oct-2014

Contact: Kathryn Ryan kryan@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News @LiebertOnline

New Rochelle, NY, October 2, 2014Women who have a history of violent sexual abuse may suffer emotional distress during a routine pelvic examination. Healthcare providers would benefit from greater awareness of symptoms predictive of examination-related distress in this patient population, according to a study published in Violence and Gender, a new peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Violence and Gender website at http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/vio.2014.0016 until November 2, 2014.

In the article "A New Perspective on Distress During the Pelvic Examination: The Role of Traumatic Hyperarousal in Women with Histories of Sexual Violence", coauthors Christina Khan, MD, PhD, Carolyn Greene, PhD, Jennifer Strauss, PhD, David Spiegel, MD, and Julie Weitlauf, PhD, Stanford University School of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, and Stanford Cancer Institute (Palo Alto, CA), and Duke University School of Medicine (Durham, NC), identified physiologic symptoms of trauma (hyperarousal and hypervigilance) that were associated with distress among a group of female veterans with a history of sexual violence who underwent routine pelvic examination.

"This unique article provides us with a research-based perspective of the association between sexual violence and reactivity to the pelvic examination," says Violence and Gender Editor-in-Chief Mary Ellen O'Toole, PhD, Forensic Behavioral Consultant and Senior FBI Profiler/Criminal Investigative Analyst (ret.). "These early findings indicate that the physiologic symptoms of PTSD brought on by the assault may be associated with a greater likelihood of marked distress during the exam. This finding may be particularly meaningful to medical professionals to help them better understand the extent and long-term effects of sexual victimization, and the need for ongoing sensitivity for these patients."

###

About the Journal

Violence and Gender is the only peer-reviewed journal focusing on the understanding, prediction, and prevention of acts of violence. Through research papers, roundtable discussions, case studies, and other original content, the Journal critically examines biological, genetic, behavioral, psychological, racial, ethnic, and cultural factors as they relate to the gender of perpetrators of violence. Led by Editor-in-Chief Mary Ellen O'Toole, PhD, Forensic Behavioral Consultant and Senior FBI Profiler/Criminal Investigative Analyst (ret.), Violence and Gender explores the difficult issues that are vital to threat assessment and prevention of the epidemic of violence. Violence and Gender is published quarterly online with Open Access options and in print, and is the official journal of The Avielle Foundation. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Violence and Gender website at http://www.liebertpub.com/vio.

About the Publisher

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Link between past sexual violence and distress on pelvic exam

Gawker Media Sites, Ranked: A Reader-Submitted Ranking

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From time to time, Gawker's Rankings section is pleased to present rankings submitted by its readers and fans. Today, we bring you "Gawker Media Sites, Ranked," by one Joe Mayes. Ed.

Gawker Media: come for the Deadspin, stay for the Jezebelian man-hate

The internet is big. Huge. Gargantuan. There is no way to fathom its vastness, let along begin to digest even the tiniest fraction of its information it contains.

As a result, it is nigh impossible to whittle down the number of websites to read during fucking-off-from-work-time during the day.

So in order to help you choose, I provide you a breakdown of the top nine Gawker Media sites.

Of course there are criteria. Any list worth its salt has criteria. This list is no different. In that it has criteria, not in that it's worth its salt.

So, criteria:

9. Kataku: Seriouslywhat the hell is this? Sounds like Robert Blake's bird. Did someone at a Gawker production meeting really think the internet didn't have enough websites for gaming dorks?

8. Jalopnik: I meanit's cars. For car geeks. Great for capturing the coveted 16-18-year-old-boy-in-1971 demographic.

7. Gizmodo: Cool tech shit. Like Lifehacker, but for moneyed Gawkeranians. In other words, has twelve regular readers (including writers and editors).

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Gawker Media Sites, Ranked: A Reader-Submitted Ranking

Gary Johnson, Pt. 2: Militarization of the Government Damages our Freedom – Video

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Gary Johnson, Pt. 2: Militarization of the Government Damages our Freedom
The BLM #39;s taking our lands, the NSA #39;s spying on us, and there #39;s an all-out militarization of our cops. Check out Part 2 with Libertarian Pres. Candidate Gary Johnson.

By: PJ Media

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Gary Johnson, Pt. 2: Militarization of the Government Damages our Freedom - Video