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Key health care act benefit for women starts today

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Danzig

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Margot Kingston, a women's health nurse practitioner at Families First and Harbour Women's Health of Portsmouth is pleased about the Affordable Care Act's comprehensive coverage for women's preventative care, which goes into effect today.Rich Beauchesne/rbeauchesne@seacoastonline.com

Beginning today, comprehensive preventive care coverage for women goes into effect as part of the latest rollout of reforms under the Affordable Care Act. Under the law, almost all new or renewed private health care plans issued after Aug. 1 must cover comprehensive women's preventive services with no cost sharing, or co-payments.

One local health care practitioner believes the elimination of a co-pay requirement for preventive care is an important shift toward healthier outcomes that will decrease the number and cost of chronic illnesses.

"We have seen there are many women who don't come in for an appointment because of a $10 to $25 co-pay," said Margot Kingston, a women's health nurse practitioner who works at the Families First Health and Support Center in Portsmouth and at Harbour Women's Health. "More women need routine health care but they don't get it because they can't afford the co-payment. No woman should die of cervical cancer because they can't afford a checkup."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2011 an estimated 20.4 million American women with private health insurance gained expanded no-cost sharing preventive services, including mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, prenatal care, flu and pneumonia shots, and regular well-baby and well-child visits. DHHS estimates that more than 253,000 women in New Hampshire on private insurance plans are now covered by the expanded preventive care provisions. By 2014, all Americans with private insurance will have a wide range of no co-pay, preventive care services as part of their basic coverage.

This new expansion of preventive services with no cost-sharing will cover so-called well-woman visits, which include contraceptive services and screening for gestational diabetes, domestic violence and sexually transmitted infections.

"This is an important part of the work to improve access and will include all preventive care," said Lisa Kaplan Howe, policy director for the advocacy organization N.H. Voices for Health. "It's incredibly important for women to be able to maintain their health and monitor their health without increasing cost sharing. Frankly, it's also good for insurers because patients who stay on top of preventive health don't cost as much money as those who don't."

Kingston said contraceptive services coverage will also be important as the up-front costs can be prohibitive for many women. In a conference call with New Hampshire journalists, Jennifer Frizzell of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England said that reducing the co-payment cost of preventive services is a critical step in challenging economic times. "We see this every day. Whether to pay for birth control or pay for groceries these are very real choices for New Hampshire women," Frizzell said. "That burden will get easier."

While the new guidelines go into effect today, Kaplan Howe said it can be confusing because actual comprehensive coverage doesn't begin for many with existing policies until they are renewed, which usually happens in the fall and winter. The provisions are also not impacted by the declining number of "grandfathered" group plans that were in effect when the ACA became law in 2010 and are expected to lapse in the next couple of years.

Key health care act benefit for women starts today

Romney’s speeches in Poland address economic and religious freedom

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Danzig

The same week that President Obamas health regulations go into effect, forcing people of faith to violate their conscience or shut their doors, Mitt Romney was preaching the gospel of economic and religious freedom in Poland and Israel.

By that juxtaposition, the contrast in presidential candidates could not be starker.

Kathleen Parker

Parker writes a twice-weekly column on politics and culture.

International Criminal Court Examining Eugenics in NZ

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Danzig

International Criminal Court Examining Eugenics in New Zealand

Life itself is a basic human right that is deserving of all humanity. But sadly in our country eugenics is denying that right to a group of individuals based on their genetic difference. Mr Mike Sullivan, spokesperson for Saving Downs says The situation is so serious here that the International Criminal Court is now carrying out a preliminary examination into our genetic screening practices. These practices are discriminatory and eugenic in nature, as they prevent the births of children because of their biological differences.

The term eugenics was coined by Sir Francis Galton in 1883. Under Galtons vision of eugenics, negative eugenics includes decreasing the occurrence of so-called undesirable genes. Eugenics is one dynamic that influences the judgment of peoples abilities and the disabling consequences. In New Zealand genetic screening is decreasing the natural occurrence of people with conditions such as Down syndrome and reinforcing discrimination against our community.

To raise awareness around this issue, and as part of an ongoing social justice campaign, Saving Downs and Family Life International , are joining together to hold a one day seminar on Saturday 4 August in Ponsonby, Auckland. Loving Every Child: Defying Eugenics is being held to educate the public and discuss the ramifications of eugenics and what the International Criminal Court case means for the disabled. Topics include: a personal testimony of a young man with Down syndrome; by what right are they not human beings?; a history of eugenics; current practice and how it links with eugenics; advocating for Down syndrome in the room and in the womb; and a Spina Bifida perspective.

Mike Sullivan who laid the complaint with the International Criminal Court says, This seminar is vital for informing the public of a eugenic program which is being thrust upon the vulnerable in our community and our response to secure social justice for them.

Mrs Colleen Bayer, director of Family Life International says Genetic screening practices devalue the lives of people with disabilities and endangers them, as the history of the use of genetic selection shows . We encourage media participation in facilitating public debate around this issue. Our seminar presents an excellent opportunity to learn more about the case under examination by the International Criminal Court, and the eugenic nature of genetic screening programmes. Mr Sullivan says.

END

Scoop Media

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International Criminal Court Examining Eugenics in NZ

Beach mgr.: Extended lifeguard shifts making beaches safer

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Danzig

Longer hours also boost revenues at Long Branch beaches

BY KENNY WALTER

Staff Writer

Long Branch beaches have become safer and more profitable just one month after the City Councils decision to extend lifeguard hours from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the weekends, according to Dan George, Long Branch beach manager.

George said during the July 24 council workshop meeting that the extra revenues would cover all the expenses related to keeping the beach staffed with lifeguards and ticket takers for the extra two hours.

I think it is definitely going to cover the cost of what we would incur from keeping it open, he said. From a lifeguard standpoint, we have a natural resource that everyone flocks down to, especially with these heat waves.

The decision to extend lifeguard hours came after two drownings off local beaches. A 17-year-old swimming with family members drowned on May 27 at an unprotected Long Branch beach. His body was not recovered until June 2 in the ocean off Pier Village.

A second incident occurred off the coast of Bradley Beach, where a 24-year-old swimmer drowned while swimming after hours on May 29.

George explained the procedures for the extra two hours that the beach now remains open.

Basically we are keeping it open from Morris Avenue to Laird [Avenue] because that is where the concentration of lifeguards are, he said. We have lifeguards patrolling the north and the south just to keep an eye out.

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Beach mgr.: Extended lifeguard shifts making beaches safer

Shellfish harvesting shut down on some recreational beaches

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Danzig

Recreational beaches in a large area of Western Washington have been closed to shellfish harvesting because of dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), the State Department of Health announced Tuesday.

The area affected by the sometimes-fatal poison includes beaches in parts of King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap, Island and Jefferson counties, the department said in a news release.

The department said affected beaches have signs warning not to collect shellfish including clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and geoducks. Crabs are OK to harvest, but only the meat, not the "crab butter," is safe to eat. The poison cannot be cooked out.

PSP symptoms can appear within minutes or hours of eating contaminated fish and usually begins with tingling lips and tongue that moves to the hands and feet, according to the Health Department. Difficulty breathing and potential death can follow. Medical help should be called immediately for anyone affected.

The department also warns that people cannot know if PSP is present by looking at the water or shellfish and that the "red tide" some associate with PSP is not inaccurate indicator. Presence of the poison can only be determined through lab testing.

Shellfish collected from commercial beaches in the area should be safe to eat because of regular testing showing their waters are safe, the department said.

PSP is produced by algae that is more common during warm parts of the year, according to the department.

Those wishing to check for updated closures can call the department's Biotoxin Hotline at 800-562-5632, or check the department's interactive closure map (seati.ms/OlFk0t) or lists (seati.ms/NTc6EA) updated on its website.

Alexa Vaughn: 206-464-2515 or avaughn@seattletimes.com. On Twitter @AlexaVaughn.

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Shellfish harvesting shut down on some recreational beaches

Robots in Aerospace Applications

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Danzig

This featured article is filed under:

by Bennett Brumson , Contributing Editor Robotic Industries Association Posted 07/31/2012

The role of robotics in the manufacture of aerospace products is important although not as pervasive as in the automotive industry. While robotics play an important function in the fabrication of aircraft engines, aerospace companies are increasingly investing in robots to perform drilling, painting and other tasks on airframes. Robots ability to repeatedly position very large aerospace components with a high degree of precision ensures that flexible automation has potential market growth.

Traditional robots that have worked so well in Detroit for the last 30 years do not work well in Everett, begins Erik Nieves, Technology Director with the Motoman Robotics Division of Yaskawa America Inc. (Miamisburg, Ohio). Todays new robots have become more capable and accurate, bringing them within the performance levels required for aerospace applications

Drill, Robot, Drill Drilling holes into components is the largest use of robotics in the aerospace industry. Precision requirements of this application gives end-users an incentive to look at robotics as a means to quickly and consistently undertake this chore. A fuselage needs thousands of holes drilled and drilling them manually is not feasible, says Chris Blanchette, National Account Manager with FANUC Robotics America Corp. (Rochester Hills, Michigan). Vision systems allow the robot to accurately locate where on the airframe that robot will be drilling.

Drilling is not only the most common job robots are called on to do, but has the longest track record within the aerospace industry. Robots do a wide variety of jobs in the aerospace industry but drilling holes is far and away the number one application robots do. Robots drill, put fasteners into the holes and assemble the parts, says Curtis Richardson, Associate Technical Fellow at Spirit AeroSystems Inc. (Wichita, Kansas).

Richardson says Robots fill the middle void between manual labor and hard automation. Spirit AeroSystems approach is to use the right tool for the job. Robots drill holes very efficiently, precisely, repeatedly and to a very high degree of quality. Manual drilling is difficult to do by hand. Drilling manually takes a tremendous amount of skill and experience to get to the level of quality that a robot can.

Tooling costs are reduced using robotics for drilling. Manual drilling requires expensive tooling such as jigs and fixtures. Powerful drilling equipment can be costly and robots are often a good alternative, says Richardson.

Likewise, Robots have been used extensively for over 30 years to drill fastener holes. Drilling is the primary application Lockheed Martin uses robots for in our Fort Worth, Texas facility. Drilling fastener holes is an extremely redundant and difficult task, particularly when working on titanium parts, says David Siedal, a Technical Fellow with Lockheed Martin. When done manually, drilling requires multiple steps, such as drilling a pilot hole, drill to the final diameter, then reaming it.

While manual drilling may take up to four operations, robotic drilling can be accomplished in a single pass, says Siedal. Robots drill the hole to its full diameter and depth, including the countersink, in a single pass. Robots are a huge time-saver in a job impossible for people to do in one pass

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Robots in Aerospace Applications

PathGroup Unveils a New Look; Continues to Expand Footprint

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --PathGroup, a leading provider of anatomic, clinical and molecular pathology services, launched an updated website today, http://www.pathgroup.com.The new site comes after PathGroup unveiled, earlier this year, a new brand identity to include a revised logo and tagline; illustrating a contemporary identity and vision as the company adapts in an ever-changing healthcare environment. The redesigned site further demonstrates PathGroup's industry expertise, breadth of capabilities, and will serve as a resource for customers and patients.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120731/CL49477LOGO )

"Launching a refreshed identity as we expand into new markets will enable us to effectively communicate the central focus of PathGroup to exceed the expectations of our clients and their patients," said Richard Halstead, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for PathGroup. "Although this is a new look for PathGroup, the core foundation of the organization remains focused on providing industry leading anatomic, clinical and molecular pathology services."

As one of the largest, private providers of pathology services in the United States, PathGroup continues to expand its service offering through organic growth initiatives and strategic merger and acquisitions. With over 45 years of experience providing the highest quality services, PathGroup has over 700 employees and more than 70 pathologists representing every sub-specialty. The company's longevity can be attributed to consistently exceeding the expectations of clients and patients. Direct access to PathGroup's team of dedicated pathologists is a central focus of the organization, leading to better client relations and ultimately better patient outcomes. This new identity and user-friendly website are reflective of that open culture.

"This is an exciting time for PathGroup and the clients we provide service to," said Ben Davis, MD, PathGroup's Chairman, President and CEO."We will continue to provide high quality care and evolve our organization as the healthcare industry changes.Our goal is to meet the needs of those we provide services for, with a physician centered approach that is keenly focused on driving better patient outcomes. Staying at the forefront of advances in laboratory medicine is a critical component."

About PathGroup Founded in 1965, PathGroup has evolved into a premier provider of anatomic, clinical and molecular pathology services.Privately held and physician centric, PathGroup works seamlessly with customers to provide superior diagnostic services a vital link in the cycle of patient relationships. PathGroup uses the latest in proprietary and industry standard technology to deliver fast, accurate results.The company provides clients with the highest quality of services available, consistently exceeding the expectations of physicians, employees, payers and most importantly, patients. One Lab; Total Service.For more information, visit http://www.pathgroup.com

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PathGroup Unveils a New Look; Continues to Expand Footprint

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. Announces Fiscal 2012 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., (SHF), announced results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended May 31, 2012.

We are pleased with our fourth quarter performance as it reflects strong execution against our growth strategy, stated Tarang Amin, president and chief executive officer. Net sales grew 30%, driven by a 59% increase in our branded business. Our gross profit margin grew 1,100 basis points to 49.5%, reflecting our progress building premium brands, leading innovation, expanding the channel and geographic footprint of the company, pursuing acquisitions, and driving world-class operations. Our probiotics and Airborne acquisitions added to the strong contribution of our core brands MegaRed and Move Free."

Fiscal 2012 Fourth Quarter Results

For the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter ended May 31, 2012, net sales were $67.4 million, compared to $51.9 million for the same period in fiscal 2011. The 30% increase reflects growth in key brands, new product introductions and contribution from acquisitions. Branded sales of $59.9 million were partially offset by an expected decline in the private label business. The higher mix of branded sales resulted in gross profit margin of 49.5%, compared to 38.2% a year ago. Total operating expenses increased to $27.1 million from $14.9 million a year ago reflecting the anticipated increase in selling and marketing expenses and $3.4 million in acquisition related costs, $2.0 million of which was non-deductible for income tax purposes. Net income for the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter was $2.0 million, compared to net income of $3.1 million for the same period in fiscal 2011. Earnings per diluted share were $0.07 for the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, compared to $0.10 for the same period in fiscal 2011. Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined as income from operations before depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation and completed acquisition related costs, was $12.4 million for the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, compared to $7.5 million for the same period in fiscal 2011.

Fiscal 2012 Full Year Results

For the fiscal year 2012, net sales were $258.9 million, compared to $213.6 million for fiscal 2011. Selling and marketing expenses were $60.3 million, or 23% of revenue, compared to $34.7 million, or 16% of revenue. Gross margin for the fiscal year 2012 was 46.1%, compared to 38.0% for fiscal 2011. Net income for the fiscal year 2012 was $13.7 million, compared to net income of $12.6 million for fiscal 2011. Earnings per diluted share were $0.47 for the fiscal year 2012, compared to $0.43 for fiscal 2011. Adjusted EBITDA was $38.7 million for the fiscal year 2012, compared to $28.9 million for fiscal 2011.

We are positioning Schiff as a leader in the nutritional supplements category. Our fiscal year 2012 investments in brand building and innovation drove strong sales and gross margin growth. For fiscal 2013, we are committed to building upon this momentum, concluded Amin.

Company Outlook

Fiscal 2013 net sales are expected to grow 40.0% to 43.0% as compared to fiscal year 2012 net sales of $258.9 million. Expected sales growth includes contributions from new products, brand building and Airborne, which was acquired on March 30th. As previously announced, Airborne had net sales of approximately $72 million for the twelve months ended February 29, 2012. Gross profit percentage is expected to be in the range of 48.0% to 50.0%. Selling and marketing expenses, as a percentage of net sales, are estimated to be in the range of 25.0% to 27.0%. Other operating expenses are estimated at approximately $35.0 million to $37.0 million. The company anticipates its operating margin will be in the range of 12.5% to 14.0%.

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Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. Announces Fiscal 2012 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results

New influenza virus from seals highlights the risks of pandemic flu from animals

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 31-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology

A new strain of influenza virus found in harbor seals could represent a threat to wildlife and human health, according to the authors of a study appearing July 31 in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. It is crucial to monitor viruses like this one, which originated in birds and adapted to infect mammals, the authors say, so that scientists can better predict the emergence of new strains of influenza and prevent pandemics in the future.

"There is a concern that we have a new mammalian-transmissible virus to which humans haven't been exposed yet. It's a combination we haven't seen in disease before," says Anne Moscona of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, the editor of the report.

The authors, who hail from several different institutions, including Columbia University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Outbreaks, say transmissible and pathogenic flu viruses in mammals, like the one in this study, clearly pose a concern for human health. In 2009, for instance, the H1N1 "swine flu" virus that emerged in humans apparently originated from a reassortment of flu viruses found in birds, pigs, and humans. The H3N8 strain in New England harbor seals may come to represent the first sighting of a new group of influenza viruses with the potential to persist and move between species.

The mBio study analyzed the DNA of a virus associated with a die-off of 162 New England harbor seals in 2011. Autopsies of five of the seals revealed they apparently died from infection with a type of influenza called H3N8, which is closely related to a flu strain that has been circulating in North American birds since 2002. Unlike the strain in birds, this virus has adaptations to living in mammals and has mutations that are known to make flu viruses more transmissible and cause more severe disease. The virus also has the ability to target a receptor called SA-2,6, a protein found in the human respiratory tract.

Moscana says the study raises two concerns about flu. First, this strain is a novel virus that infects mammals and may well pass from animal to animal, a combination of traits that make it a potential threat to humans. Also, the possibility that a bird flu virus would infect seals hadn't been widely considered before, highlighting the fact that pandemic influenza can crop up in unexpected ways. She emphasizes the need for readiness.

"Flu could emerge from anywhere and our readiness has to be much better than we previously realized. We need to be very nimble in our ability to identify and understand the potential risks posed by new viruses emerging from unexpected sources," says Moscona. "It's important to realize that viruses can emerge through routes that we haven't considered. We need to be alert to those risks and ready to act on them."

###

mBio is an open access online journal published by the American Society for Microbiology to make microbiology research broadly accessible. The focus of the journal is on rapid publication of cutting-edge research spanning the entire spectrum of microbiology and related fields. It can be found online at http://mBio.asm.org.

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New influenza virus from seals highlights the risks of pandemic flu from animals

DNA links dog to site of Henderson man's death

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

Roxboro, N.C. Tests have matched DNA found at the scene of a Henderson man's death over Memorial Day weekend with a nearby pit bull, but Person County authorities are waiting for more test results before filing any criminal charges.

Deputies found the body of Eugene Cameron, 65, under a carport at 1189 Semora Road, west of Roxboro, on May 26. Family members said he was checking on the house while his friend was out of town.

Witnesses said that Cameron was found naked, with his clothes balled up beside him, and bloody dog paw prints surrounded him. He had a severe injury to his right arm that authorities said could have caused him to bleed out.

The injury was consistent with a dog bite, and animal control officers seized an 8-year-old pit bull named DMX from Antonio Ford, who lives next to the house where Cameron was found dead.

A California lab that is conducting specialized tests in the case determined that DNA from DMX was found in the blood at the scene, Person County Sheriff Dewey Jones said Tuesday. He said the lab is now checking to see if the dog's DNA is on Cameron's ripped clothing.

Ford could be charged with involuntary manslaughter if authorities determine that DMX is to blame for Cameron's death, Jones said. The charge might be upgraded to second-degree murder if investigators can establish that the dog was known to be violent, the sheriff said.

Ford maintains that DMX was caged up the night Cameron was killed and that he believes a person or a wild animal is responsible for the attack.

Residents have said that the dog sometimes roams the neighborhood and tries to attack their dogs.

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DNA links dog to site of Henderson man's death

DNA ‘nails’ 1986 slayer

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

He got away with a brutal, strangulation murder for 25 years.

But yesterday, violent Harlem con Steven Carter was finally sent to prison thanks to his victim's fingernails clippings, which languished in evidence storage for a quarter century before being tested last year as part of the Manhattan DA's ongoing cold case DNA efforts.

"I'm sure he assumed he was home free," assistant district attorney Melissa Mourges said of Carter at his sentencing in Manhattan Supreme Court.

It was Nov. 10, 1986 when victim Antoinette Bennett -- a drug-addicted prostitute -- was found sprawled face down among the children's climbing blocks in a playground at St. Nicolas Park.

A crack pipe was wedged under her body, and her face had been stabbed three times prior to her being strangled.

Carter "pushed that sharp knife through her cheek all the way into her mouth," Mourges told Justice Bonnie Wittner, in arguing for the 25-to-life sentence.

"The medical examiner used the words 'Torture and control' to explain the purpose of these wounds," the prosecutor said.

Carter left his DNA under a fingernail on Bennet's left hand so long ago, that testing couldn't have linked him then to the crime.

DNA tests were only done on the clippings last year by DA Cyrus Vance's Forensic Sciences/Cold Case Unit, as "Part of a systematic review of more than 3,000 unsolved case files dating back to the '70s," he explained in a post-sentence statement.

The fingernail DNA matched the now 50-year-old Carter, whose DNA had been databased as a result of his lengthy, 26-conviction record, including for weapons and sex crimes.

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DNA ‘nails’ 1986 slayer

Criminal DNA collection law stays in place

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

Chris Turner/CNN

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed a controversial state DNA testing law to remain in effect until the justices have time to consider the broader constitutional questions.

Maryland's DNA Collection Act permits police to collect genetic material from those who have been arrested, but not yet convicted.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued the three-page in-chambers opinion, putting a state court's ruling favoring a criminal defendant on hold.

"Collecting DNA from individuals arrested for violent felonies provides a valuable tool for investigating unsolved crimes and thereby helping to remove violent offenders from the general population," Roberts wrote. "Crimes for which DNA evidence is implicated tend to be serious, and serious crimes cause serious injuries. That Maryland may not employ a duly enacted statute to help prevent these injuries constitutes irreparable harm."

The chief justice said there is a "fair prospect" the Supreme Court would ultimately find in favor of the state on the search and seizure questions.

After more legal briefs are filed, the high court in coming weeks will decide whether to hear the case and issue a definitive, binding ruling. Oral arguments would likely not be held until early next year.

A 1994 federal law created a national database in which local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies can compare and share information on DNA matches from convicted felons, but courts have been at odds on just when such samples can be collected and the information distributed.

The current case involves a Maryland man convicted of a 2003 rape in Wicomico County in the state's eastern shore region. Alonzo King Jr. had been arrested three years ago on an unrelated assault charge, and a biological sample was automatically obtained at that time.

King moved to suppress the use of the DNA on Fourth Amendment grounds, but was ultimately convicted of the first-degree rape offense.

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Criminal DNA collection law stays in place

Personalized DNA test seeks FDA approval

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

Jolie Pearl and Neil Schwartzman found each other using 23andMe's online DNA mapping service.

Online DNA mapping helps siblings find each other

23andMe is part of a fledgling industry that allows consumers to peek into their genetic code for details about their ancestry and future health. The company's saliva-based kits have attracted scrutiny for claiming to help users detect whether they are likely to develop illnesses like breast cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's.

The biology of how DNA variations actually lead to certain diseases is still poorly understood, and many geneticists say such tests are built on flimsy evidence.

For years, the Silicon Valley company has resisted government regulation, arguing that it simply provides consumers with information, not a medical service. But now company executives say they are seeking government approval - and the scientific credibility that comes with it.

"It's the next step for us to work with the FDA and actually say, 'this is clinically relevant information and consumers should work with their physicians on what to do with it,'" said CEO and co-founder Anne Wojcicki, who is married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Google and Brin have invested millions in the privately held company, which is based in Mountain View, Calif.

Wojcicki says the shift in strategy reflects the growing scope of the company's test kit, which now measures the risks of developing more than 115 different diseases.

23andMe said Monday it submitted an initial batch of seven health-related tests to the FDA for review. The company plans to submit 100 additional tests in separate installments before the end of the year. Tests involving family history and nonmedical traits will not be reviewed, since they don't fall under FDA oversight.

Even some of the harshest critics of the genetic testing industry say 23andMe is taking the right approach.

Dr. James Evans of University of North Carolina said he considers much of the information reported by 23andMe, "relatively useless," and "in the realm of entertainment." He believes patients benefit more from pursuing a healthy lifestyle than parsing the potential risks of developing various diseases.

DNA hints at African cousin to humans

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

Gene profiles suggest people interbred with a now-extinct species on the continent not that long ago

Web edition : 3:45 pm

Expeditions to Africa may have brought back evidence of a hitherto unknown branch in the human family tree. But this time the evidence wasnt unearthed by digging in the dirt. It was found in the DNA of hunter-gatherer people living in Cameroon and Tanzania.

Buried in the genetic blueprints of 15 people, researchers found the genetic signature of a sister species that branched off the human family tree at about the same time that Neandertals did. This lineage probably remained isolated from the one that produced modern humans for a long time, but its DNA jumped into the Homo sapiens gene pool through interbreeding with modern humans during the same era that other modern humans and Neandertals were mixing in the Middle East, researchers report in the August 3 Cell.

The evidence for ancient interbreeding is surprisingly convincing, says Richard Ed Green, a genome biologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz. There is a signal that demands explanation, and archaic admixture seems to be the most reasonable one at this point, he says.

Scientists have discovered that some people with ancestry outside Africa have DNA inherited from Neandertals or Denisovans, a mysterious group known only through DNA derived from a fossil finger bone found in a Siberian cave (SN: 6/5/10, p. 5; SN: 1/15/11, p.10).

But those researchers had DNA from fossils to guide their research. This time, researchers led by Sarah Tishkoff at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia didnt have fossil DNA, or even fossils.

Tishkoffs group took DNA donated by 15 African hunter-gatherers five Pygmies from Cameroon and five Hadza and five Sandawe from Tanzania and compiled complete genetic blueprints for each person. Population geneticist Joshua Akey of the University of Washington and his colleagues helped analyze the data. Using a statistical analysis, the team determined that about 2 percent of the DNA from the hunter-gatherers came from an unknown species of hominid that split from modern human ancestors about 1.1 million years ago. These long-lost human cousins must have then interbred with modern humans sometime before the common ancestral lineage of the three hunter-gatherer groups separated about 30,000 to 70,000 years ago, Akey says.

A separate study posted online July 23 on arXiv.org examined patterns of single DNA unit changes, known as SNPs, in 22 African groups. That study, by Joseph Pickrell of Harvard Medical School and colleagues, also presents evidence that some African groups, including the Hadza, may harbor DNA from unknown extinct hominids.

Other researchers arent convinced that the DNA remnants identified are the genetic remains of a new species of human cousin. The DNA could have come from a genetically distinct group of modern humans that has since died out due to changes in their environment, diseases or confrontations with rival groups of humans, says Jean-Jacques Hublin, a paleoanthropologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.

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DNA hints at African cousin to humans

IL-10 from donor skin cells helps the body incorporate skin grafts

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 31-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

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

Scientists have found that the anti-inflammatory molecule, IL-10, may improve success rates of skin autografts (skin moved from one site of the body to another). This information provides a valuable drug target that may benefit burn and accident victims. Specifically, researchers from Portugal and Brazil show that IL-10 plays an important role in whether or not an isogenic skin graft (skin from one individual grafted into another genetically identical) is successful and that the cells responsible for this effect are from the donor skin and not from any tissue of the recipient. This finding appears in the August 2012 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology (http://www.jleukbio.org).

"Much work is needed to advance from mouse experiments to finding in humans," said Luciana Vieira de Moraes, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Disease Genetics Lab at Instituto Gulbenkian de Cincia in Oeiras, Portugal. "However, monitoring IL-10 levels in the graft tissue may improve therapeutic success."

To make this discovery, scientists conducted experiments using different groups of mice, some of which were genetically modified to not produce IL-10. The first group, which produced IL-10, received a tail skin graft from mice that lacked IL-10. These grafts were not accepted by the recipient. The second group that did not produce IL-10 received tail skin from donors that had IL-10. In this case grafts were accepted. These findings suggest that IL-10 is important immediately after transplantation.

"This study shows that donor skin is not a passive player in the grafting process. Indeed, immune cells in the skin play an active role in whether or not the graft is accepted or rejected by the body. While considerable work remains, these findings open the door to exploit the IL-10 pathway to aid in skin grafting procedures in a variety of clinical settings," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.

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The Journal of Leukocyte Biology (http://www.jleukbio.org) publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts on original investigations 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: Tatiana Takiishi, Carlos Eduardo Tadokoro, Luiz Vicente Rizzo, and Luciana Vieira de Moraes. Early IL-10 production is essential for syngeneic graft acceptance. J Leukoc Biol. August 2012; doi:10.1189/jlb.1111569; http://www.jleukbio.org/content/92/2/259.abstract

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IL-10 from donor skin cells helps the body incorporate skin grafts

University of Utah biology professor wants people to notice the sacred role of trees

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

Our take: Nalini Nadkarni, a University of Utah biology professor, is highlighting the role that nature and trees play in faiths of every kind. Seen by many religions as manifestations of divine knowledge, trees have played an unassuming, yet vital role in every aspect of faith from the design of church grounds to being viewed as spiritual objects connecting the heavens to the earth. Hoping to use this information to help teach people about tree and nature conservation Nadkarni is traveling and speaking at churches to share her research findings noting that there are 328 references to trees and forests in the Bible alone.

Whether churchgoers realize it or not, the trees in their churchyards have religious roots.

Those tall, thin-branched trees on the corner of this city's Episcopal Church Center of Utah, Purple Robe Black Locusts, were probably named after a biblical reference to John the Baptist eating locusts and honey.

Nearby, the crab apple tree just outside the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Mark produces a small, sour fruit used by 15th-century monks to treat diarrhea, dysentery and gallstones.

And the flowers of a nearby dogwood tend to bloom around Easter.

My hope," said University of Utah biology professor Nalini Nadkarni, "is (worshippers) will realize that nature and trees are as much a part of their sacred ground and worthy of reverence as what goes on inside a cathedral or church."

Read more about The sacredness of trees on The Huffington Post.

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University of Utah biology professor wants people to notice the sacred role of trees

Research and Markets: Mass Spectrometry in Structural Biology and Biophysics. Architecture, Dynamics, and Interaction …

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vw2425/mass_spectrometry) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Mass Spectrometry in Structural Biology and Biophysics. Architecture, Dynamics, and Interaction of Biomolecules" to their offering. The definitive guide to mass spectrometry techniques in biology and biophysics.

The use of mass spectrometry (MS) to study the architecture and dynamics of proteins is increasingly common within the biophysical community, and Mass Spectrometry in Structural Biology and Biophysics: Architecture, Dynamics, and Interaction of Biomolecules, Second Edition provides readers with detailed, systematic coverage of the current state of the art.

Offering an unrivalled overview of modern MS-based armamentarium that can be used to solve the most challenging problems in biophysics, structural biology, and biopharmaceuticals, the book is a practical guide to understanding the role of MS techniques in biophysical research. Designed to meet the needs of both academic and industrial researchers, it makes mass spectrometry accessible to professionals in a range of fields, including biopharmaceuticals.

This new edition has been significantly expanded and updated to include the most recent experimental methodologies and techniques, MS applications in biophysics and structural biology, methods for studying higher order structure and dynamics of proteins, an examination of other biopolymers and synthetic polymers, such as nucleic acids and oligosaccharides, and much more.

Featuring high-quality illustrations that illuminate the concepts described in the text, as well as extensive references that enable the reader to pursue further study, Mass Spectrometry in Structural Biology and Biophysics is an indispensable resource for researchers and graduate students working in biophysics, structural biology, protein chemistry, and related fields.

Key Topics Covered:

1 General Overview of Basic Concepts in Molecular Biophysics

2 Overview of Traditional Experimental Arsenal to Study Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics

3 Overview of Biological Mass Spectrometry

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Research and Markets: Mass Spectrometry in Structural Biology and Biophysics. Architecture, Dynamics, and Interaction ...

Cancer Research May Benefit From Recent Protein Discovery

Posted on July 31, 2012 by ev1

Editor's Choice Main Category: Cancer / Oncology Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry Article Date: 31 Jul 2012 - 12:00 PDT

Current ratings for: Cancer Research May Benefit From Recent Protein Discovery

4 (1 votes)

Esther Verheyen, an SFU professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, and her Master's of Science student Joanna Chen managed to reveal how Hipk, a protein kinase, can be manipulated to stop Yorkie, a protein that leads to overgrowth of cell tissue in eyes, legs and wings of flies, from causing tissue overgrowth in flies.

Hipk is an enzyme which deposits a phosphate residue on other proteins to control their activity, whilst the Yorkie protein, also known as 'Yap' in humans, causes overgrowth of cell tissue in the eyes, legs and wings of flies. Human tumors often contain high levels of Yap.

During experiments on Drosophila (fruit flies), the team discovered that Hipk was able to cause overgrowths, which were comparable with those found on tissue with too much Yorkie. The team then genetically modified the flies so that their normal organ and limb tissue contained a higher concentration of Yorkie and a lower concentration of Hipk.

Chen comments: "When we did that. Yorkie could not cause overgrowths anymore. We were able to show this need for Hipk to be present in a number of different fly tissues, such as the eyes, legs and wings."

Verheyen continued:

Next we tested a mutant form of Hipk that had lost its ability to add phosphates to Yorkie. This form of Hipk could no longer prompt Yorkie to trigger cell proliferation or do anything to regulate cell growth. Hipk is the first discovery of a protein kinase that regulates Yorkie by stimulating its cell proliferation ability. All other known protein kinases either directly inhibit or block Yorkie from working."

According to Verheyen and Chen, the discovery is causing great excitement in the molecular biology science community. Chen who graduated in June, and who will be working as a research assistant at the Vancouver Prostate Centre in August, explains:

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Cancer Research May Benefit From Recent Protein Discovery

Space-bound Fish

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Danzig

Japanese astronauts deliver an aquarium to the International Space Station to study the effects of microgravity on marine life.

By Jef Akst | July 31, 2012

Earlier this month (July 2), the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) sent an aquarium of Medaka fish, called the Aquatic Habitat (AQH), to the International Space Station, where scientists will collect data on how the low gravity, high radiation environment of space affects the small, transparent fish.

LED lights simulate day and night cycles in the the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) where the AQH will be stationed. Among the effects to be examined are bone degradation, muscle atrophy, and developmental biologyqualities of Medaka fish that are easier to study thanks to their transparency. We think studies on bone degradation mechanisms and muscle atrophy mechanisms are applicable to human health problems, especially for the aging society, Nobuyoshi Fujimoto, associate senior engineer at JAXAs Space Environment Unitization Center, told NASA. The fish have also had their genome fully sequenced, making them appropriate study subjects for examining genetic changes, such as mutations that result from the suns unfiltered radiation.

An additional benefit of the Medaka is that they breed rather quickly, and thanks to a high quality water circulation system, which includes bacteria to filter waste products out of the water, the fish will remain in space for up to 90 days, Fujimoto told Wired Science. This capability will make it possible for egg-to-egg breeding aboard station, which means up to three generations may be born in orbit, he said. This would be a first for fish in space.

By Cristina Luiggi

The body is a fascinating machine, says Sandra Shefelbine, a biomechanics expert at Imperial College, London, in this 3-minute educational

By Cristina Luiggi

Orbiting ultrasound machines are being used to diagnose and treat astronauts kidney stones.

Russian cargo ship leaves space station

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Danzig

A robotic Russian cargo ship made its final departure from the International Space Station Monday after spending several months attached to the orbiting outpost.

The unmanned Russian Progress 47 cargo ship undocked from the space station on Monday at 5:19 p.m. EDT, as both spacecraft flew over Kazakhstan, according to NASA officials. After backing a safe distance away from the complex, the cargo freighter will conduct several weeks of unrelated engineering tests, before it is deliberately sent to burn up in Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.

Russia's disposable Progress vehicles are used to ferry clothing, food and other supplies to the International Space Station. The cargo ships remain parked at the outpost for several months, and after the astronauts aboard the station unpack the cargo, the spacecraft are typically filled with trash and other unwanted items.

At the end of their mission, the Progress vehicles are undocked from the station and purposefully sent to a fiery demise as they fly back down through Earth's atmosphere. [ Infographic: How Russia's Progress Spaceships Work ]

Space news from NBCNews.com

Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Students create a high-altitude balloon experiment that's as notable for the way it fell as for the images and scientific data it captured during its rise.

Before leaving the space station, the Progress 47 spacecraft conducted a test of an upgraded docking system that Russia intends to use on future unmanned Progress and manned Soyuz vehicles. The Progress 47 successfully completed the docking test on its second try, after a first attempt on July 23 was prematurely aborted due to a technical glitch.

To conduct the test, the Progress 47 initially undocked from the space station on July 22. The cargo ship was expected to automatically park itself at the Pirs docking compartment on the Russian segment of the space station the following day, but the attempt failed and the maneuver was aborted.

Russian engineers traced the glitch to lower-than-expected temperatures on the docking system. After adjustments were made, the spacecraft successfully redocked to the space station on Saturday.

The successful test of the Kurs-NA docking system was a demonstration of an updated version of the Kurs system that has been integrated into Russian spacecraft for years. Several upgrades were made to the newer version, including better electronics that are expected to use less power and improve safety.