Earlier diagnosis, treatment of mental illness? Genetic computer network inference model

Posted on by

A computer science and engineering associate professor and her doctoral student graduate are using a genetic computer network inference model that eventually could predict whether a person will suffer from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or another mental illness.

The findings are detailed in the paper "Inference of SNP-Gene Regulatory Networks by Integrating Gene Expressions and Genetic Perturbations," which was published in the June edition of Biomed Research International. The principal investigators were Jean Gao, an associate professor of computer science and engineering, and Dong-Chul Kim, who recently earned his doctorate in computer science and engineering from UT Arlington.

"We looked for the differences between our genetic computer network and the brain patterns of 130 patients from the University of Illinois," Gao said. "This work could lead to earlier diagnosis in the future and treatment for those patients suffering from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Early diagnosis allows doctors to provide timely treatments that may speed up aid to help affected patients."

The UT Arlington researchers teamed with Jiao Wang of the Beijing Genomics Institute at Wuhan, China; and Chunyu Liu, visiting associate professor at the University of Illinois Department of Psychiatry, on the project.

Gao said the findings also could lead to more individualized drug therapies for those patients in the early stages of mental illnesses.

"Our work will allow doctors to analyze a patient's genetic pattern and apply the appropriate levels of personalized therapy based on patient-specific data," Gao said.

One key to the research is designing single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP networks, researchers said.

"SNPs are regulators of genes," said Kim, who joins the University of Texas-Pan American this fall as an assistant professor. "Those SNPs visualize how individual genes will act. It gives us more of a complete picture."

The paper is a culmination of four years of work.

Khosrow Behbehani, dean of the College of Engineering, said the research merges the power of computer science and engineering, psychology and genetics.

See the original post here:
Earlier diagnosis, treatment of mental illness? Genetic computer network inference model

Are patients being discharged from hospice care to save money?

Posted on by

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

13-Aug-2014

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

New Rochelle, NY, August 13, 2014About 1 in 5 Medicare patients is discharged from hospice care alive, whether due to patients' informed choice, a change in their condition, or inappropriate actions by the hospice to save on hospitalization costs related to terminal illness. How live discharge rates differ between hospice programs and geographic regions, and when those rates should raise red flags are among the issues explored in the article "A National Study of Live Discharges from Hospice" , published in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers/. The article is available free on the Journal of Palliative Medicine website until September 13, 2014.

Joan M. Teno, MD, Pedro Gozalo, PhD, and Vincent Mor, PhD, Brown University School of Public Health (Providence, RI), and Michael Plotzke, PhD, Abt Associates (Cambridge, MA), examined all of the Medicare hospice discharges in the U.S. between January 1 to December 31, 2010. For the patients discharged alive, they gathered data on survival for up to 6 months, subsequent hospitalizations, and Medicare payments during the 30 days after live hospice discharge. The authors provide details on the substantial variation they found in the rates of live discharges across states and between individual hospices, in particular comparing not-for-profit to for-profit hospice programs and more mature programs versus those that had been in operation for 5 years or less.

"The phenomenon of hospice patients 'graduating' because they get better with hospice care is well known. But, all patients discharged days to weeks before death is very strange," says Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Palliative Medicine and Vice President, Medical Affairs, Hospice and Palliative Medicine for OhioHealth (Columbus, OH).

###

Journal of Palliative Medicine is the official journal of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) and an official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.

About the Journal

Journal of Palliative Medicine, published monthly in print and online, is an interdisciplinary journal that reports on the clinical, educational, legal, and ethical aspects of care for seriously ill and dying patients. The Journal includes coverage of the latest developments in drug and non-drug treatments for patients with life-threatening diseases including cancer, AIDS, cardiac disease; pulmonary, neurological, and respiratory conditions; and other diseases. The journal reports on the development of palliative care programs around the United States and the world, and on innovations in palliative care education. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Journal of Palliative Medicine website.

Read more:
Are patients being discharged from hospice care to save money?

Tampa dermatologist says SPF a top anti-aging agent

Posted on by

Tampa dermatologist Dr. Seth Forman agrees with the findings in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine that consistent use of SPF (sun-protection factor) can keep your skin looking younger, longer.

In this study conducted by Australian researchers, adults ranging from 25 to 55 had 24 percent less skin aging when using SPF more frequently than men and women who used it on occasion.

The key is protection from ultraviolet rays and sun damage, says Dr. Forman. Not only will SPF help you sustain a youthful look, but it greatly reduces the risks that come from sun exposure.

The study was performed over a 4.5 year span on healthy adults up to age 55 in Australia. Half of the 900 participants were instructed to apply a SPF of 15 or greater to their head, neck, arms and hands, whereas the other half was told to apply sunscreen whenever they wanted to.

According to the Huffington Post, researchers graded the hands of the studys participants on a six-point scale, then re-graded at the end of 4.5 years.

While other factors can come in to play, such as genetics, diet and overall sun exposure, SPF remains a top anti-aging agent, professes the board-certified Tampa dermatologist. I recommend to all of my patients the daily use of a broad-spectrum, SPF 30 sunscreen.

Dr. Forman also suggests using clothing to cover up exposed skin and avoiding the sun when its rays are most powerful, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., to slow down the aging process.

Dr. Forman is the founder of Forman Dermatology and Skin institute, located in Tampa, Fla. and has appeared on TV shows across the country, including the nationally syndicated show The Doctors to provide sun-protection tips and to demonstrate his breakthrough skin cancer treatments.

For more on Dr. Seth Forman, Tampa dermatology or Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, please visit http://www.FormanDerm.com.

About Dr. Seth Forman:Dr. Forman is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Tampa, Florida. He was voted the Best Dermatologist in Carrollwood the past three years by the Carrollwood News and Tribune. In December 2011, he opened his newTampa dermatologyoffice, Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, where he gives psoriasis sufferers access to the latest treatment options, including topical and oral medications, as well as biological and phototherapy. Dr. Forman is one of the few Tampa dermatologists to offer narrowband light therapy, which uses pharmaceutical grade light to suppress psoriasis. Hes also one of the few board-certified dermatologists in the U.S. to use the SRT-100 radiotherapy to treat basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.

View post:
Tampa dermatologist says SPF a top anti-aging agent

Googles Anti-Aging Company Calico Gets A Website

Posted on by

As you may recall, Google announced the formation of a new company called Calico lat fall, aimed at studying aging and its effects on health and well-being (or as some us put it, keeping us from dying).

SFGate discovered (via Business Insider) that Calico now has a website up at CalicoLabs.com.

Heres what it says:

Were tackling aging, one of lifes greatest mysteries.

Calico is a research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies to increase our understanding of the biology that controls lifespan. We will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Executing on this mission will require an unprecedented level of interdisciplinary effort and a long-term focus for which funding is already in place.

It goes on to say that Calico is made up of scientists from the fields of medicine, drug development, molecular biology, and genetics, and shows off the team:

It also says, it will post career opportunities as they become available, and that its ability to handle press inquiries will be limited, but does include an email address for such inquiries.

Image via Calico

Read this article:
Googles Anti-Aging Company Calico Gets A Website

More intensive interventions needed to combat severe obesity in teens

Posted on by

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

11-Aug-2014

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

New Rochelle, NY, August 11, 2014 -- Nearly 6% of all children and teens in the U.S. are severely obese, and the prevalence of severe obesity is increasing faster than that of moderate obesity or overweight. This is an alarming trend as about 90% of these youths will grow up to be obese adults. The serious health problems associated with severe obesity and the poor long-term prognosis and quality of life projected for these children and teens demand more serious consideration of safe and effective treatment options that go beyond diet and lifestyle modifications, as proposed in an Editorial published in Childhood Obesity, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Childhood Obesity website at http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/chi.2014.1041 until September 12, 2014.

In "Pediatric Severe Obesity: Time to Establish Serious Treatments for a Serious Disease," Stephen R. Daniels, MD, PhD, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado (Aurora), and Aaron S. Kelly, PhD, University of Minnesota Medical School and Children's Hospital (Minneapolis), note that while healthy lifestyle changes made during childhood may be quite helpful in weight reduction, these less intensive types of approaches tend to be less effective in treating severely obese teenagers. According to the authors, better access to specialty medical weight management programs, pharmacotherapy, and weight loss surgery are all important components of a more comprehensive strategy to combat severe obesity among teens.

"Drs. Daniels and Kelly are performing a vital service by directing our attention to this serious and increasingly prevalent problem," says David L. Katz, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief of Childhood Obesity and Director, Yale University Prevention Research Center. "We need commensurately serious solutions which I believe can include lifestyle interventions, but only of adequate scope and intensity. Just as lifestyle has been proven a worthy alternative to coronary bypass surgery, our sons and daughters deserve alternatives to bariatric surgery in combating this problem that our culture has handed them."

###

About the Journal

Childhood Obesity is a bimonthly journal, published in print and online, and the journal of record for all aspects of communication on the broad spectrum of issues and strategies related to weight management and obesity prevention in children and adolescents. The Journal includes peer-reviewed articles documenting cutting-edge research and clinical studies, opinion pieces and roundtable discussions, profiles of successful programs and interventions, and updates on task force recommendations, global initiatives, and policy platforms. It reports on news and developments in science and medicine, features programs and initiatives developed in the public and private sector, and includes a Literature Watch. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Childhood Obesity website at http://www.liebertpub.com/chi.

About the Publisher

Read more from the original source:
More intensive interventions needed to combat severe obesity in teens

Jeffrey Smith’s ‘challenge’ to Neil deGrasse Tyson EVISCERATED (part 2) – Video

Posted on by


Jeffrey Smith #39;s #39;challenge #39; to Neil deGrasse Tyson EVISCERATED (part 2)
On August 5th, Jeffrey Smith, the creator of the #39;Institute for Responsible Technology #39; issued a challenge to Neil deGrasse Tyson. In it, he displays a TITANIC lack of knowledge on the topic...

By: Jeff Holiday

See the article here:
Jeffrey Smith's 'challenge' to Neil deGrasse Tyson EVISCERATED (part 2) - Video

Pushpa Bhargava questions DBT guidelines on transgenic crops

Posted on by

Even as the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) decided to constitute a sub-committee to review the toxicology data generated by two applicants for genetically modified brinjal, biologist and Padma Bhushan award winner Dr. Pushpa M. Bhargava has questioned the guidelines of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) on transgenic crops.

Dr. Bhargava and others had asked for the raw data on toxicity studies on rats using transgenic brinjal which were carried out by Dr. Sesikeran, former Director of National Institute of Nutrition at Hyderabad. He found statistically quite significant differences between rats fed on Bt Brinjal and those fed on a normal meal in respect of several important parameters, said Dr. Bhargava.

However, Dr. Sesikeran had said that as all the values (both of the control and of the experimental animals) fell within the normal range of variation, the differences were not significant, and that there was no need to repeat the experiment.

Our point was that if on repetition the same differences are found again, they are bound to be significant, Dr. Bhargava pointed out. Further, he used only 20 animals (10 female and 10 male) in both experimental and the control groups which is the minimum number for such tests. Dr. Sesikeran must explain why only a minimum number was used, he said.

In a letter to Dr. Ranjini Warrier, member secretary, GEAC, on July 23, Dr. Bhargava, who was responding to the two e-mails of July 20 from Dr. Sesikeran to all the members of GEAC, said, According to Dr. Sesikeran, DBT guidelines of 2008 say the following in regard to Interpretation of results of safety studies: The design and analysis of the study should be kept as simple as possible, avoiding unnecessarily complex, sophisticated statistical techniques. If the design is simple, the statistics are likely to give straightforward results. Non-statistical knowledge must be applied in study design and proper interpretation of the biological significance of the results. Just because two treatments are statistically significantly different does not mean that the difference is large enough to have any biological importance or any practical significance.

Dr. Bhargava said he would like to know which international body endorsed this, as scientifically it does not make any sense. He said he didnt understand what that meant and sought a clarification. The GEAC meets next in August.

Read this article:
Pushpa Bhargava questions DBT guidelines on transgenic crops

Americans Spent $12 Billion on Anti-Aging Procedures in 2013; Skinspirations Advises on Safer Cosmetic Non-Surgical …

Posted on by

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) August 11, 2014

In 2013, Americans had more than 11 million cosmetic procedures performed, and spent nearly $12 billion on skin rejuvenation. However, reports show that non-surgical procedures are picking up in popularity, for reasons related to affordability and shorter table time. (1) Skinspirations, a center for cosmetic enhancement that is devoted to non-surgical aesthetics, spoke on the ULTIMATE SKINCARE & BEAUTE REPORT weblog on the simplicity of non-surgical procedures as compared to surgical.

Over the past decade, surgical procedures such as breast augmentation, nose reshaping and eyelid surgery have been popular among Americans. However, nonsurgical cosmetic procedures are rising in popularity, due in particular to decreased recovery time. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that Americans spent nearly $5 billion on nonsurgical cosmetic procedures just last year. (2)

Americans are starting to understand that many of their requested skincare procedures do not require surgery, commented Dr. Cynthia Elliott of Skinspirations. A combination of skincare products, services and devicessuch as lasers and fillersleads to effective treatment for the patient, and often results in no downtime.

Nonsurgical procedures can include the use of lasers, which can treat brown spots or broken capillaries. Dr. Elliott maintains that chemical peels can also be used for brown spots, in conjunction with dermal fillers to help fill in the lines. Elliott says that these procedures can often take at least 5 years off of the appearance of ones skinand in just one session. She points out that giving the client a more even skin tone is the crux of anti-aging treatments.

These procedures are also rather simple to administer. For example, dermal fillers require nothing more than injections, which are commonly referred to as a lunchtime procedure. Dermal fillers typically take no longer than an hour, and clients can see results immediately, while experiencing only minimal swelling.

Dermal fillers help to diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face. Dermal fillers can also be used to plump up thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases and wrinkles, and improve the appearance of recessed scars.

The Skinspirations staff has had extensive training in aesthetics across the board, including in the use of Botox, injectable fillers, laser treatments, and injection lipolysis.

Elliott says that patients can do certain actions to prep the face or skin before non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as:

Stopping all aspirin and anti-inflammatories is ideal; and

Go here to read the rest:
Americans Spent $12 Billion on Anti-Aging Procedures in 2013; Skinspirations Advises on Safer Cosmetic Non-Surgical ...

Bye XP, hello Windows 7: Yeah, the change made me nervous

Posted on by

My dual monitors display Windows XP for the last time. Amanda Kooser/CNET

I knew this day was coming. The portents were all there. Microsoft swore back in 2011 it would no longer offer support, patches, or fixes for Windows XP come this April. The company snarkily told customers they should move to a "modern operating system." A plague of locusts descended on my home office.

On a cloudy day last week, at 11:43 in the morning, I turned off my Windows XP-loaded Dell for the last time. It made a little whining, sighing noise as it powered down. All my important files were offloaded to an external hard drive and a brand-new custom-made Windows 7 desktop sat nearby, gloating about its ascendance with its shiny black case and complete lack of cat hair sucked into the fan.

I bought my Dell XP desktop so long ago, I can't even figure out what year it went into service. It had a hard drive replaced a few years back, but kept trucking along, rarely crashing. It was never a superstar, but it also never truly failed me. I feared what Windows 7 would bring. I wondered if it would feel like crash-landing on an alien world where I didn't speak the language.

A little background about my computing tendencies. I enjoy dwelling in the Switzerland-like realm of operating-system agnosticism. I use an Android phone, an iOS tablet, a MacBook for a laptop, and Windows for my desktop. I had already decided that Windows 8 would be too much to deal with, considering the glitch history and weirdness of Metro. I chose Windows 7 instead.

I'm glad I did. Instead of feeling like a stranger in a strange operating system, I feel like I'm dating XP's fraternal twin brother. Sure, it looks a little different. There are some behavioral quirks that are unexpected (like fuzzing out my screen sometimes when my mouse wanders down to the bottom of the display), but it's not that much different.

What I like about 7 is that the OS feels zippy (partly due to my shiny new hardware powering it); the search function is so much more capable; and it quickly wakes from sleep, a process that felt interminable on XP. I'm also kind of in love with the translucent Aero interface showing the background behind the windows. I'm a sucker for subtly flashy features.

If Microsoft hadn't forced my hand by dropping security updates for XP after a 12-year life cycle, I might still be listening to that tinkly, synthy startup sound every morning. Now, I'm greeted by the whistly, synthy "hello" of 7.

I'll admit it. The thought of having to adjust to a new interface made my palms a little sweaty. Yes, yes, I can hear it now: "Wow, Amanda, you're such a wimp. It's just an OS upgrade." There's some truth to that. I was totally wimping out on upgrading, but we're all creatures of habit and it's hard to say farewell to something that's been a part of my daily work life for more than a decade.

Mostly, I feared downtime while I fumbled around learning how to use the revamped taskbar and the new "libraries" system for organizing files (as a journalist, I live on deadline; the last thing I want is for my computer to make me late and stress me out). After all my self-inflicted concerns about upgrading to a new OS, however, I find I'm now thoroughly chill about the change.

View original post here:
Bye XP, hello Windows 7: Yeah, the change made me nervous

DGAP-News: MagForce AG: Successful final closing of a growth financing round for MagForce USA, Inc. under the lead of …

Posted on by

DGAP-News: MagForce AG / Key word(s): Private Equity MagForce AG: Successful final closing of a growth financing round for MagForce USA, Inc. under the lead of Mithril Capital Management

08.08.2014 / 14:00

---------------------------------------------------------------------

MagForce AG: Successful final closing of a growth financing round for MagForce USA, Inc. under the lead of Mithril Capital Management

Berlin, Germany, August 8th, 2014 - MagForce AG (Frankfurt, Entry Standard, XETRA: MF6, ISIN: DE000A0HGQF5), a leading medical device company in the field of nanomedicine focused on oncology, today announced that its subsidiary MagForce USA, Inc. has successfully closed its growth financing round. Mithril Capital Management, a growth-stage technology fund founded by Ajay Royan and Peter Thiel, led a group of strategic investors including the management in financing MagForce USA's growth round with proceeds of USD 15 million, with an option to increase the size of the round to USD 30 million. MagForce AG owns 77% of MagForce USA as of this closing. The strategic investors presently hold 23% of MagForce USA and may increase their ownership in future by exercising the warrants held by them. After all warrants are exercised, MagForce AG will continue to retain a majority ownership position in MagForce USA.

MagForce USA, Inc., has been granted a license by MagForce AG for the development and commercialization of NanoTherm(TM) Therapy for the treatment of brain and prostate cancers and will be responsible for developing the North American market (US, Mexico and Canada) for MagForce's technology and products. Under the prostate cancer license, MagForce USA will also receive royalties for the sale of NanoTherm(TM) particles for the treatment of prostate cancer outside North America.

Ben J. Lipps, Chairman and CEO of MagForce AG and also of MagForce USA, Inc., commented: "I am very optimistic about the US market, which has the largest potential especially for prostate cancer treatment. MagForce USA aims at developing its technology to offer a new focal treatment for Intermediate Stage Prostate Cancer with precise ablation of the cancer lesion while sparing normal tissue. In Mithril, we have found the right collaborator to support our expansion plans. Ajay Royan and Peter Thiel have proven themselves numerous times to be valuable partners in helping companies unlock long-term growth."

Ajay Royan, co-founder and managing general partner of Mithril, said: "Conventional treatments for prostate cancer have significant side effects and other limitations, while patients with glioblastoma currently have few good options at all. That's why MagForce's innovative approach to solid tumors is very promising and potientially important."

About MagForce AG and MagForce USA, Inc. MagForce AG, listed in the entry standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (MF6, ISIN: DE000A0HGQF5), together with its subsidiary MagForce USA, Inc. is a leading medical device company in the field of nanomedicine focused on oncology. The Group's proprietary NanoTherm(TM) therapy enables the targeted treatment of solid tumors through the intratumoral generation of heat via activation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles. NanoTherm(TM), NanoPlan(R), and NanoActivator(R) are components of the therapy and have received EU-wide regulatory approval as medical devices for the treatment of brain tumors. MagForce, NanoTherm, NanoPlan, and NanoActivator are trademarks of MagForce AG in selected countries. For more information, please visit: http://www.magforce.com. Please learn more: video (You Tube)

About Mithril Capital Management Mithril is a global investment firm that provides capital to leading growth companies by partnering with teams who use technology to build transformative and durable businesses, often in industries long overdue for change. Each of these businesses is unique, but all face common challenges to unlocking long-term growth. Mithril helps navigate these critical inflection points by investing in size and with conviction. For more information, please visit: http://www.mithril.com

View original post here:
DGAP-News: MagForce AG: Successful final closing of a growth financing round for MagForce USA, Inc. under the lead of ...

Jeffrey Smith’s ‘challenge’ to Neil deGrasse Tyson EVISCERATED (part 1) – Video

Posted on by


Jeffrey Smith #39;s #39;challenge #39; to Neil deGrasse Tyson EVISCERATED (part 1)
On August 5th, Jeffrey Smith, the creator of the #39;Institute for Responsible Technology #39; issued a challenge to Neil deGrasse Tyson. In it, he displays a TITANIC lack of knowledge on the topic...

By: Jeff Holiday

Visit link:
Jeffrey Smith's 'challenge' to Neil deGrasse Tyson EVISCERATED (part 1) - Video

Researchers to track effects of revolutionary new medicines

Posted on by

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

4-Aug-2014

Contact: Jamie Brown jamie.brown@liverpool.ac.uk 44-151-794-2248 University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool has been awarded 2 million to become a leading centre in the UK for tracking the fate in the body of materials used in breakthrough medicines.

Researchers will be using radioactive labelling to find out where key materials used in nanomedicines go once the medicines have entered the body.

Nanomedicines are a relatively new class of therapy which can deliver small quantities of a drug in a targeted way to the affected part of the body. Unlike traditional therapies, nanomedicines are formulated to use lower quantities, with the potential for cost savings, fewer side-effects and more rapid treatment of disease.

Part of nanomedicine formulations involve the use of polymers or other materials which help the drug reach its target, but until now there has been little research into where the carrier materials accumulate, despite them often making up over half of the mass of the medicine.

The Liverpool Radiomaterials Chemistry Laboratory at the University will 'tag' parts of the medicines by making some of them harmlessly radioactive and then monitor how they move around the body once drugs are administered. The process of making the polymers radioactive won't alter their chemical composition, so the nanomedicines can be studied pre-clinically without changing how they work.

Chemist, Professor Steve Rannard, said: "Nanomedicines have been used widely in cancer treatment where side-effects are often weighed against the short time span of treatment and the urgency of the condition.

"However they are now being increasingly studied for chronic conditions where treatment can go on for decades. This raises questions about where materials go and how they leave the body during long-term exposure."

Go here to read the rest:
Researchers to track effects of revolutionary new medicines

Genetically modified crops: Ignoring genetic engineering at our own peril

Posted on by

Some British newspapers have been reporting the imminent harvest of a variety of nutrition-enriched genetically modified (GM) crop in the UK. It is a crop called camelina, also called false flax, a plant that usually grows in the Mediterranean. An institute called Rothamsted Research has tweaked the plant's genes and produced a variety that is full of omega-3 fatty acids, normally found only in oily fish.

Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids is supposed to be beneficial in a number of ways, and so this crop would provide the first real chance for vegetarians to get the vital nutrient through their normal diet. This would be great news for many people, but what is equally important is the fact that GM crops are set to finally break the resistance in Europe.

Despite considerable opposition from various pressure groups, GM crops are slowly advancing in Europe, with regulators relenting in several countries. Two months ago, almost all the environment ministers in Europe - only two countries resisted - decided to let individual countries follow their own course: whether to allow or not allow the cultivation of GM crops.

This will let the pro-GM countries go ahead with their plans, which will probably force the rest to consider GM crop trials and commercial launches. For some time now, Europe is cited as a model - often wrongly - to those around the world to resist commercial cultivation and even research in GM crops.

If Europe cultivates GM crops on a large scale, resistance will slowly reduce in China and African countries, and later in India as well. All these countries have so far seen some resistance against GM crops. China, despite funding GM crop research, has been reluctant to commercialise these widely.

Africa has been uneven in its acceptance, with countries like South Africa being adopters and other countries like Tanzania and Kenya holding out. India commercialised Bt cotton more than a decade ago, but progress of GM crops in the country has been slow since then.

From a scientific viewpoint, genetic engineering is like atomic energy; it depends on how you use it. So while it is difficult to say that all GM crops are bad, there could be situations where they would do some damage, depending on the genes that one chooses to introduce.

Most of the genes being tried now are known to be safe. It is highly unlikely that they will cause damage to our agricultural system, but it is impossible to prove it the other way.

The only option is to put them through trials, and then proceed with caution if they seem to be safe. One shouldn't judge the merit of a gene based on where it came from. We all have bacterial genes in our bodies. Not conducting field trials, as is often advocated in India and some other countries, will backfire at some point.

Sometime in the future, countries that resist GM crops will begin to see their benefits elsewhere, and then face a situation where they have to adopt when faced with an agricultural disaster. It is almost certain that humanity will find it difficult to feed everybody by mid-century without some serious technological advances.

View post:
Genetically modified crops: Ignoring genetic engineering at our own peril

Is the gut microbiome a potential cause and therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis?

Posted on by

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

7-Aug-2014

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

Numerous risk factors are believed to contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, and new research is focusing on the role that bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract as well as other cell stress-related chemical signals could have in stimulating inflammation in the central nervous system and activating immunostimulatory cytokines. Two comprehensive Review articles are part of a focus on "Cytokines in Neuroinflammation and Immunity" in a special issue of Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research (JICR), a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The articles are available free on the JICR website.

Kiel Telesford and Lloyd Kasper, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University (Lebanon, NH) and Javier Ochoa-Repraz, University of California-Santa Barbara, describe three key characteristics of the gut microbiome related to immune cell activity and cytokine production that may be relevant to susceptibility to and treatment of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. In the article "Gut Commensalism, Cytokines, and Central Nervous System Demyelination," the authors note that our understanding of the biology of the gut microbiome and the immunoregulatory potential of bacteria and parasites in the gut is still in its infancy.

In the Review article "Interferons, Signal Transduction Pathways, and the Central Nervous System," Shreeram Nallar and Dhan Kalvakolanu, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, explore in detail the latest research pointing to the role of cytokines, and in particular interferons, in contributing to the development of diseases affecting the central nervous system. The authors discuss the potential effects of either an excess or lack of interferons, the inflammatory effects of cytokines, and new therapeutic research strategies.

"The communications between the microbial community in the gut and the host immune system is turning out to be remarkably complex and is likely to impact on many aspects of both health and disease," says Editor-in-Chief Thomas A. Hamilton, PhD, Chairman, Department of Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio.

###

About the Journal

Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research (JICR), led by Editors-in-Chief Ganes C. Sen, PhD, Chairman, Department of Molecular Genetics, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, and Thomas A. Hamilton, PhD, is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with Open Access options and in print that covers all aspects of interferons and cytokines from basic science to clinical applications. JICR, celebrating 35 years of publication in 2015, is an official journal of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the JICR website.

Link:
Is the gut microbiome a potential cause and therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis?

Expert insights on in vitro alternatives for drug and chemical toxicity testing

Posted on by

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

7-Aug-2014

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

New Rochelle, NY, August 7, 2014In vitro toxicity testing is rapidly being adopted in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and cosmetics industries, for example, as an alternative to animal studies to predict adverse health effects of drugs and personal care products and the health consequences of environmental exposures. An insightful Roundtable Discussion focused on how to apply these novel toxicology models to everyday hazard prediction, risk assessment, and decision making in industry is published in the preview issue of the new journal Applied In Vitro Toxicology, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Applied In Vitro Toxicology website.

In the Roundtable Discussion "Comments on How to Make the New Vision of Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century a Reality," Moderator Jim McKim, Editor-in-Chief of Applied In Vitro Toxicology and Founder and CEO, IONTOX, LLC, challenges the panelists to present a realistic view of how far the field has advanced in implementing the strategy put forth in a National Academy of Sciences report to improve toxicity testing.

Panelists Alan Goldberg, Consulting Editor of the Journal, Nicole Kleinstreuer, ILS/National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (Research Triangle Park, NC), Francois Busquet, Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (Konstanz, Germany), and Melvin Andersen, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences (RTP, NC) participate in an interactive discussion on the use of human cell models combined with high-throughput screening methods to test for toxicity, and the complexity of applying adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). The conversation covers topics ranging from policy issues, challenges related to data interpretation and understanding the information gained from in vitro models, the emergence of three-dimensional tissue culture models that integrate cells from multiple human organs, and the different approaches being used to assess risk from high-dose, short-term exposures compared to exposure to lower concentrations of a chemical over longer periods of time.

"Improved analytical technologies and improvements in human tissue models will allow us to change the animal safety testing paradigm," says Jim McKim.

###

About the Journal

Applied In Vitro Toxicology is a new peer-reviewed journal providing the latest research on the application of alternative in vitro testing methods for predicting adverse effects in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and personal care industries. Led by Editor-in-Chief James M. McKim, PhD, DABT, IONTOX, LLC, the Journal addresses important issues facing these diverse industries, including regulatory requirements; the reduction, refinement, and replacement of animal testing; new screening methods; evaluation of new cell and tissue models; and the most appropriate methods for assessing safety and satisfying regulatory demands. The Journal is published quarterly online with Open Access options and in print. A sample issue may be viewed on the Applied In Vitro Toxicology website (http://www.liebertpub.com/aivt).

Read more:
Expert insights on in vitro alternatives for drug and chemical toxicity testing

Insights from the Behavioral Science Guy: Here's one of the most powerful ways to improve the moral character of our …

Posted on by

Joseph Grenny asks: If lying is the natural order of things, how can people behave unnaturally and tell the truth?

Shutterstock

A few years ago, my colleagues and I did an experiment to test what induces people to lie or tell the truth. Click here (registration required) to see the full experiment.

One of our subjects was 15-year-old Jake, a high school basketball star. We invited Jake to toss beanbags through holes of various sizes in a plywood target. He scored six out of a possible 15 points (not too good for a basketball phenom). As Jake approached our table to report his score, we wondered would he embrace his shame and tell the truth? Or would he lie to get the extra $1 per point we promised him?

We all lie. And if you dont believe that, youre probably lying to yourself. Studies have shown that lying is actually the natural order of things. From the time we are small, we learn there are powerful incentives to modify how we appear and to control the information we share with others.

So, given the importance of trust to healthy relationships, families and communities, how can we help people do the unnatural? How can we, in spite of all the immediate incentives to do the opposite, influence people to tell the truth?

Turns out, simply changing the way we communicate can be a powerful way to influence greater honesty.

Psychologist Bella DePaulo from UC Santa Barbara estimates that the average person tells three lies every 10 minutes. We lie about how we feel. We strategically edit our opinions to fit the group were chatting with. We select which parts of ourselves to reveal or suppress in order to create particular impressions. We overstate (or, if were trying to avoid an assignment, understate) our competence. We frequently feign powerlessness in order to exit conversations Sorry, Ive got to go! (A. Are you really sorry? And B. What is forcing you to go? Someone holding your cat hostage, perhaps?)

Our proclivity to lie begins early. Once we did an experiment in which we randomly assigned 3-year-olds to drink either a small cup of sweet, delicious orange juice or a similar cup tainted with salt. The salt was so strong that the tykes puckered involuntarily. Immediately after they drunk the juice, we asked the child to look into the camera and say, as convincingly as they could, Yum! This is great juice! You should try some. We videotaped the performances and then showed them to adults asking them to guess which tots were fibbing. Few could spot the liars. At age 3, the kids had learned the basics of lying. They knew enough to look sincerely into the camera, smile and in other ways fake emotion they didnt really feel.

Now back to the beanbag toss. In the first round of our experiment, we asked teenagers to report their own scores (which we verified using a hidden camera), and we paid them $1 for each point. Eighty percent of the subjects lied. Some of them lied by more than 200 percent. And ironically, many of these kids had just finished a Bible study class.

View post:
Insights from the Behavioral Science Guy: Here's one of the most powerful ways to improve the moral character of our ...

New Glycan Creams, Micronutrient Creams Hold Promise for Reducing the Signs of Aging Skin

Posted on by

Contact Information

Available for logged-in reporters only

Newswise For decades, dermatologists have been researching the genetic cause of aging skin so that the perfect antidote could be developed. When examining genes and proteins, a difference between younger and older looking skin has not been found. Now, dermatologists have a new theory the secret to aging skin may lie in the glycans, which are sugars on the surface of cells.

Board-certified dermatologist Zoe Draelos, MD, FAAD, consulting professor at Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., addresses the latest developments in anti-aging, including glycan creams and micronutrient creams.

What is the theory behind glycans and anti-aging, and how do glycan creams work? Dr. Draelos said a persons glycan levels change during their lifetime. For example, one of the bodys most common glycans is glucose, and Dr. Draelos said glucose levels fall by about 50 percent from age 30 to age 60. In addition, existing glycans may not work as well as they once did.

The theory is that glycan change and loss that occur with aging lead skin cells to not recognize or communicate with each other with the same vigor they did in their youth, said Dr. Draelos. This may be why aging skin doesnt heal as well or make collagen as readily as it once did, said Dr. Draelos.

Dr. Draelos said the goal of glycan creams is to provide sugars or transform existing sugars to allow older cells to behave like younger cells. In theory, this would allow the skin to produce more collagen and heal better after injuries, including burns and cuts. Dr. Draelos notes one added benefit of glycan creams is that they are considered safe to apply to the skin because sugars are the bodys fuel.

However, Dr. Draelos notes current research has not shown if glycan creams can impact the skin to the extent that skin cell glycans begin to act more youthful. The theory behind glycans impact on anti-aging is very much in its infancy, said Dr. Draelos. Currently there are other more proven treatments on the market, such as retinoids, but new research will provide additional targets for anti-aging strategies.

Are there broader implications of this research? Weve known for a long time that sugars are important to the body as they are used to distinguish normal cells, which should be preserved, from infected cells, cancer cells, or any cell that is not quite right and should be destroyed, said Dr. Draelos.

Dr. Draelos said glycans might hold the secret not just to aging of the skin, but to other changes that occur within the body. Every cell in the body has sugars on it, so Dr. Draelos said glycan therapies could have a role in preventing and treating cancer and infections as well as skin conditions.

Read the rest here:
New Glycan Creams, Micronutrient Creams Hold Promise for Reducing the Signs of Aging Skin