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'Grey's Anatomy' recap: Flirting with Trouble

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Danzig

Image credit: Vivian Zink/ABC

SAYING GOODBYECristina and nurse Emily helped guest star James Avery make an important decision regarding his husband

First order of business: Your regular recapper extraordinaire, Tanner Stranksy, is out. So you're stuck with me for the duration of this recap. But I implore you to not pull the plug (pun intended) just yet. In last night's "One Step Too Far" several of the doctors caught the flirting bug. There's always a steady amount of flirting and sexploits -- it is Seattle Grace, the land of the dreamy doctors, after all -- but some pushed the boundaries. And as Meredith pointed out in her voiceover, "our intentions are always pure, but we also have the drive to push boundaries. So we're in danger of taking things too far." So let's dive right in...

Picking up where she left off a few weeks ago, Cristina was growing ever suspicious of Owen. And as a viewer, I still couldn't decide where I thought this was going. I hoped that Owen wasn't cheating, but the end of the last new episode, it really seemed as thought Cristina might be right. Matters were only made worse by the presence of hot nurse Emily (Summer Glau). Her public flirting with Owen only made Cristina's paranoia grow.Cristina remained tense the entire episode, until she couldn't hold in her suspicious any longer: "Can you stop screwing my husband?" she yelled at Emily. Only, it turns out Emily was just flirting to get through her day. She has a boyfriend, and was never involved with Hunt. Both Cristina and I let out a sigh of relief.

But instead of easing our fears, the Grey's writers decided to drop a huge bomb in the last few seconds of the episode. And instead of burying it on the last page of the recap, we're going to talk about it now: Owen did cheat on Cristina, just not with Emily. Cristina finally worked up the nerve to tell Owen how she'd been feeling, but he didn't want to have the argument with her. She confessed she'd accused Emily of some extracurricular activity, but was relieved to hear that he "loves [her] so much that it hurts." At first, I was moved by his seemingly romantic gesture. Then, he reworded it: "It hurts to love you."

Owen admitted his transgressions. Fade to black. And we're all left in the lurch until a new Grey's -- at least two weeks away -- wondering what's going to happen next. Obviously, the biggest question is whom did he cheat with? My gut reaction is Teddy. They have history. But she's been so mad at him following Henry's death, it doesn't seem as likely. So unless it's a newbie, I'm fresh out of guesses. Share you thoughts on the mystery mistress in the comments.

NEXT: James Avery guest stars, and Debbie Allen returns...

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'Grey's Anatomy' recap: Flirting with Trouble

Canadian researchers receive grant to test stem-cell therapy for septic shock

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

OTTAWA A team of Canadian researchers has been awarded $442,000 to test the world's first experimental stem-cell therapy aimed at patients who suffer from septic shock, a runaway infection of the bloodstream that's notoriously difficult to treat.

The federal grant will allow researchers from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute to use mesenchymal stem cells, found in the bone marrow of healthy adults, to treat as many as 15 patients with septic shock.

The deadly infection occurs when toxic bacteria spreads rapidly throughout the body and over-activates the immune system, leading to multiple organ failure and death in up to 40 per cent of cases.

One in five patients admitted to intensive-care units suffers from septic shock, making it the most common illness among a hospital's sickest of the sick.

Existing treatments focus on early diagnosis and intervention before organs start to fail. Patients with septic shock require aggressive resuscitation measures, large doses of intravenous antibiotics and, often, ventilators to help them breathe.

Yet because the infection can creep up on patients rapidly and cause unpredictable complications, death from septic shock remains relatively common.

The experimental therapy aims to use donor stem cells, grown and purified at the Ottawa laboratory, to dial down the body's hyperactive immune response and reduce the cascade of inflammation that leads to organ failure.

Early results from animal studies even raise the possibility that mesenchymal cells could eliminate the bacteria that causes septic shock, although the impact on humans is not yet known.

"It's a unique feature of the stem cells," said Dr. Lauralyn McIntyre, the intensive-care physician who is leading the trial. "Certainly no other therapy in the past, other than antibiotics, has impacted the bacterial load in the system."

As with other stem cells, mesenchymal cells can turn into a variety of more specialized cells and tissues that help repair and regenerate damaged organs. And because mesenchymal cells are derived from adults, they sidestep the ethical issues arising from the destruction of human embryos needed to make embryonic stem cells.

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Canadian researchers receive grant to test stem-cell therapy for septic shock

Schumi launches women’s scholarship

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

Diversity ... Michael Schumacher wants to see more women racing in Formula 1. Source: Rob Griffith / AP

Michael Schumacher has helped launch a CAMS-funded Women of Australian Motorsport scholarship aimed at improving the odds for women competing in racing during a luncheon in Melbourne.

And the former Formula 1 champion says women have no physical barriers to competing at the top level.

"There is no reason why women should not be competitive in any of those fields that we have available in motor sport because physical limits - even in F1 - they're not so high that women couldn't do it," Schumacher said.

"I mean if you look at the athletics I'm pretty sure there are a few women who are fitter than I am.

"The main issue, why we don't see so many, is in the early days when you start to prepare to become a racing driver, it's a very small percentage of women doing it.

"That's why in the end, developing to the final stage, there is a left over chance of very little and I think this is the principal issue."

The recipient of the scholarship will be selected by a committee consisting of Steven Richards, and Women of Australian Motor Sport committee members Leanne Tander and Sue Evans.

Tander is the wife of V8 Supercars driver Garth Tander and a successful racer in her own right. She is also Australia's delegate to the FIA's Women and Motor Sport Commission.

Catch all the Formula 1 action with out weekend-long LIVE BLOG of the Australian Grand Prix.

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Schumi launches women's scholarship

Update on our Contest! [Life Lines]

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

Thanks to all those who have been sending their ideas about why they like comparative physiology. Two non-science students sent me a list this week with the reasons they think comparative physiology is interesting. Do they deserve a Dolittle t-shirt? At least for "originality"?

Let me know what you think. Will post the update next week.

To try your chance at a FREE "What's new in comparative physiology" t-shirt just in time for Experimental Biology 2012, send Dr. Dolittle your reasons for enjoying comparative physiology. Be sure to also tell Dr. Dolittle what you are most looking forward to at the meeting. A new winner will be chosen every week prior to EB! If you are caught wearing Dr. Dolittle promotional items (official or homemade) at the meeting, you just may win a $10 Starbucks gift card! Just remember, the item MUST say either: "Dr. Dolittle", "Life Lines", or "comparative physiology".

To enter, send your reasons to Dr. Dolittle at drdlttl01@gmail.com

Good luck everyone! I look forward to hearing your ideas about why you like comparative physiology.

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Update on our Contest! [Life Lines]

It's a Family Affair: BeSmartBeWell.com Recognizes National Nutrition Month With Tips to Help Families Eat Healthier

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

CHICAGO, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With about one out of every three children in this country obese or overweight, it's more important than ever to focus on healthy choices and changes that families can make together. Throughout March, which is National Nutrition Month, BeSmartBeWell.com shares stories of real families like Cindy and her children, who got healthier by cutting out junk food and exercising more.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please visit: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childhoodobesity/50831/

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120315/MM69985LOGO)

"We lost over 200 pounds together as a family," says Cindy in a video on Be Smart. Be Well. "After going back through and looking at pictures of where we were to where we've come, it's just absolutely amazing!"

Making changes for the betterParents don't have to do it all on their own. There are many resources available, including MyPlate by the USDA. In 2011, the USDA shed the traditional food pyramid for the new MyPlate, which illustrates the proper mix of fruit, vegetables, dairy, grains and protein you should eat to maintain a healthy diet. For example, it shows that a meal plate should be at least half filled with fruits and vegetables. Parents can use MyPlate to teach their kids what to put on their plate to make a healthy meal.

At BeSmartBeWell.com, Cindy demonstrates how she uses MyPlate in her own kitchen for her family's meals. "The only thing that goes on the table with us is vegetables. If they've had their portion of meat, bread or potato and they're still hungry, I say, 'there's still a whole bowl of vegetables there, eat them up,'" she says.

Cindy's son, Austin, says the changes the family made were big ones, but not difficult. Once his mom explained the dangerous path their diets had put them on, Austin made it his goal to eat right and get healthy. As he shed pounds, he also gained energy and confidence

"I want to live to be like 100 and do a ton of things. I want to travel to Paris! I want to go to Italy!" he says in a video on the site.

What can I do about it?BeSmartBeWell.com/Childhood-Obesity provides practical information to help families adopt healthy eating and exercise habits. Produced by the country's largest customer-owned health insurer, in collaboration with medical experts and national health organizations, BeSmartBeWell.com features:

At the site, visitors can also register for the monthly Spotlight Newsletter and News Alerts for in-depth articles and breaking news on nutrition, childhood obesity and other important health topics.

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It's a Family Affair: BeSmartBeWell.com Recognizes National Nutrition Month With Tips to Help Families Eat Healthier

Gallery: Addressing four common nutrition myths

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

Myth: You have to drink eight cups of water per day

You hear it so often that eight cups of water a day is necessary for everything from weight control to cleansing the body that it seems it must be truth, but the reality is there is no good evidence to support this claim. In fact, this age-old myth is believed to have originally stemmed from a 1970s textbook that made the statement that the human body needs a bit more than two litres (8 cups) of fluid per day from all sources, including coffee, tea, milk, juice, pop and, yes, even alcohol. While we have sadly learned since then that alcohol is not good for hydration, we do know that virtually all fluids do hydrate us, including caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee, so long as you are habituated to them. When it comes to weight, remember some drinks, such as pop and juice, contain quite a few calories, so sticking to water is usually best. Some individuals, including athletes, those at risk for kidney stones, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, might require extra fluids, but for everyone else, it's all about finding the right amount of fluids for you.

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Gallery: Addressing four common nutrition myths

Palestinians ask Israeli court to halt DNA tests

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

The Palestinian Authority has asked Israel's highest court to halt the taking of DNA samples from Palestinian prisoners against their will, a PA minister said on Thursday.

"We petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court yesterday against the humiliating treatment of our prisoners," prisoner affairs minister Issa Qaraqaa told a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

He said that at Shita prison in northern Israel, which holds mainly Palestinian security prisoners, inmates were forcibly restrained while samples of hair were taken and their mouths swabbed.

"These actions are illegal and contrary to all international standards, including medical ethics, and violate the privacy of prisoners," he said. "We have asked the World Health Organisation to issue a statement condemning these actions."

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said a campaign was underway to collect samples from all convicted prisoners in Israeli jails, both Jews and Arabs, regardless of the nature of their offences.

"In order to expand the database of DNA and forensics at the Israeli national police headquarters, at the moment we're in the process of taking DNA from prisoners, people who have already been convicted of crimes and who are serving time in jail," he told AFP.

"It's a new policy which is being implemented throughout the year 2012. It's beginning to be implemented now," he said. "It applies to all people who have been convicted."

"The process is taking place among all the different prisoners no matter what they've been convicted for."

He said that among those from whom a sample would be taken was Israel's former president Moshe Katsav, serving a seven-year prison sentence for rape, who has refused to give a sample voluntarily.

Local media said that in such cases, a court order could be sought to force compliance.

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Palestinians ask Israeli court to halt DNA tests

DNA database: Authorities hope it will discourage crimes

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

Now that something as simple as shoplifting can get your DNA put in a statewide database forever, local authorities hope this will discourage people from committing crimes in the first place.

State legislators early Thursday morning passed a bill that doubles the state's DNA databank to now include genetic information from anyone convicted of any felonies and nearly any penal law misdemeanors. Previously, DNA was collected only from 48 percent of offenders convicted of penal law crimes.

One reason this expanded database will be a key tool for police is the reality that people who commit crimes in the past tend to commit more crimes in the future, officials said.

By broadening the number of crimes that can result in a person's DNA being put on file, that increases the odds of finding a match if that person leaves behind the slightest genetic evidence while committing another crime, especially burglaries and sex crimes.

We've already solved a lot of cases this way, and this absolutely opens the range of people who will be in the database, Utica police Chief Mark Williams said. So, it's more likely we'll be able to solve crimes more quickly.

This DNA databank also might help investigators quickly determine whether they have the right or wrong suspect, lessening the odds of a wrongful conviction. But authorities also hope this will make criminals think twice about breaking the law again.

Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara said, There's part of me that hopes this will make our communities safer because it will have a deterrent effect on people committing crimes by making them say, 'Hey, they have my DNA on file, and if I leave any DNA behind now they're going to be able to find out who I am.'

This legislation also will give defendants more access to DNA testing before trial to demonstrate their innocence, or give them limited access to certain evidence after trial based on credible allegations.

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DNA database: Authorities hope it will discourage crimes

N.Y. Passes DNA Requirement For Convicted Criminals

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

Enlarge Mike Groll/AP

A forensic scientist processes DNA samples at the New York State Police lab in Albany.

Early on Thursday, lawmakers in New York approved a bill that will make the state the first to require DNA samples from almost all convicted criminals and make its DNA database one of the largest in the nation.

Most states, including New York, already collect DNA samples from felons, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. What's remarkable about the New York bill is that it would expand the state's database to include DNA from people convicted of almost any crime, even misdemeanors as minor as jumping over a subway turnstile.

Donna Lieberman, director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, is concerned the strain of all that additional DNA will overwhelm the state crime labs that handle it.

"Instead of helping us solve crimes, this may result in the conviction of innocent New Yorkers," she says. "What we've seen in other jurisdictions is that when you engage in the massive expansion of the database like that, there are shortcuts that are taken and there's negligence, there's fraud, there's contamination. And it's really an enormous hurdle for defendants."

The bill's authors did exempt minor marijuana convictions from the DNA reporting requirement. But its backers, including Richard Aborn at the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, say there's a good argument for including even the most minor offenses in the database.

"We know from lots of studies and lots of data now that violent criminals very often begin their careers as nonviolent criminals," Aborn says. "And the earlier you can get a nonviolent criminal's DNA in the data bank, the higher your chances are of apprehending the right person."

That may be why the bill has enjoyed the support of district attorneys all across the state. Aborn says the bill's authors did a good job of making sure that defense lawyers will have access to the database, too. And he points out that DNA can be used to prove innocence, as well as guilt.

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N.Y. Passes DNA Requirement For Convicted Criminals

This is Carolina Biology

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

Yes thats right, the famous segment often shown in the Dean Dome has taken on a new form the biology department has created its own version of the I am a Tar Heel video.

Kelly Hogan, a senior lecturer in the biology department, is the mastermind behind the video. She said she got the idea one day when she saw the original video in the Dean Dome with her husband, Brian Hogan, who is also a member of the faculty at UNC.

Its a powerful video, and the students especially love it. We envisioned a silly scenario of students going wild if professors were on the big screen at the game, Kelly Hogan said.

Kelly Hogans purpose with the video was to provide a sense of community, and show the students that the professors can have a bit of fun.

She intends to show the video at the departmental graduation ceremony in May.

She said that while the students might not go crazy when they see their professors on the board, it will give the students a little something to remember.

With the NCAA Tournament going on, students tend to pull a few sick days to watch basketball, but professors are just as excited about March Madness as we are.

Gregory Copenhaver, an associate professor in the biology department, said that the department has so much school spirit that they have to mop it off the floors.

Im pretty sure that our devotion to college basketball is so passionate that if we tried we would be eligible for tax-free status as a religion, Copenhaver said.

Jean Desaix, another senior lecturer in the biology department, reiterated the same sentiment.

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This is Carolina Biology

Ex-head of behavioral science at MeritCare in Fargo gets 120 days for window peeping

Posted on March 16, 2012 by ev1

CLOQUET, Minn. The former head of behavioral health at Fargos MeritCare was sentenced to 120 days in jail on Wednesday after he was caught peeping here at the window of the juvenile daughter of his neighbor last summer.

Richard Allen Paul, 57, of Cloquet, had pleaded guilty in December to a felony interference with privacy charge and was sentenced Wednesday in Carlton County District Court in front of his victims, other neighbors and his own family. The charge is a felony because the person whose privacy was violated was a minor.

Paul, who was director of behavior services for Essentia Health System in Duluth before he was arrested and held a similar position at the predecessor to Sanford Health in Fargo from 1999 to 2002, apologized in the courtroom.

Not a day goes by that I dont regret my actions, Paul said. Not a day goes by that I dont pray for (the vicitms family) that God gives them relief from the pain I gave to them.

B.J. Berg discovered Paul outside Bergs home at 11:30 p.m. on June 14, 2011, wearing a black ski mask, tan shirt and jeans while peering into a bedroom window. When Berg confronted him, Paul said something about trying to find his dogs.

Berg told him, Not at my daughters window, youre not, and told him to get off his property.

Berg followed Paul to his home and called the police, who searched Pauls home and found night vision goggles, a ski mask, clothing and a loaded handgun. Paul admitted to police he had a firearm on his hip while outside Bergs home.

In his statement in court, Berg talked about the close-knit nature of their rural Cloquet neighborhood 20 miles west of Duluth and how Paul built trust with his neighbors and their children over 12 years.

This whole ordeal has been a sad lesson for our kids and family to learn that you may not be able to trust the people you have grown to respect, and that your home may not be the safe haven you thought it was, Berg told the court, adding that his children havent ventured down the road on their bikes to visit friends since then. Some of their childhood innocence has been lost and their perception of safety in our home has been diminished.

Paul sat with his head down during most of Bergs statement.

Anatomy Of A Dunk Clip: Gerald Green

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Danzig

Photo by Crossett Library Bennington College on Flickr

I cant stop watching this Gerald Green dunk from five days ago in a game against the Houston Rockets:

Theres simply no question that its a great dunk, just as impressive as Blake Griffins shoryukenof Kendrick Perkins, but different. In fact, these two dunks expose the dual nature of the dunk itself: on one hand, it can be a tremendously physical, assaultive act and on the other hand it can be fluid and quasi-balletic. In much the way that some running backs crush linemen to get yardage while others juke and spin their way up the field, so some dunkers smash and others soar.

But what keeps me coming back to this particular dunk again and again is not precisely the dunk itself, but rather the totality of the clip. The above clip illustrates why a great in-game dunk clip is the gift that keeps on giving. Let me take you back, as I often seem to do, to Greek tragedy. A huge part of the way the plays of Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus work is through the tension between the audiences understanding of the play and the characters inability to understand the play from within it. For example, we as the audience know that Oedipus has killed his father and married his mother but he does not, and so our enjoyment of the play comes from Oedipus understanding gradually reaching the same level as our own.

In the flow of the game, Greens dunk is barely comprehensible. It happens so fast that were left only with the understanding that something kind of incredible just happened. As we watch the replay, or watch the clip again and again on YouTube, we can now see it and know whats going to happen and so we get to enjoy the blossoming understanding of those who are just reacting to the moment. As you watch it again, take a look at the setup as the break evolves with MarShon Brooks leading it:

This is a pretty typical two-on-one fast break. Brooks sees Green coming up the other side of the floor and makes the smart play by throwing it up for him. At this point, were already expecting a dunktheres a clear path to the basket and Green is a terrific leaperbut most of the time this results in a straightforward two-handed dunk or, more likely, a basic one-handed jam.

But instead, Green jumps higher than really seems possible and delivers the windmill, turning this picayune fast break into something incredible. Take a moment to appreciate these two stills, which are separated by only a frame:

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Anatomy Of A Dunk Clip: Gerald Green

Grey's Anatomy Recap: "One Step Too Far"

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Danzig

The doctors of Seattle Grace have the most dysfunctional relationships.

Case in point, in this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy we learned that Owen did, in fact, cheat, Derek and Meredith truly can't work together and Catherine Avery is as seductive as a cougar, except she goes after older men like the Chief. Here are the five most dysfunctional relationships from Thursday's episode: (We'd normally call this top moments, but Owen cheating on Cristina could never be labeled that.)

1. Cristina and Owen: Cristina freaks out when hubby Owen doesn't come home one night, calling the hospital to see if he's there, then eventually heading down there herself. When she does finally find him, she uses the old excuse that she brought him coffee except she doesn't actually have any on her. She spends the rest of the hour snipping at Emily (Summer Glau), which culminates in her telling the nurse not to sleep with her husband. Guess what? Owen didn't sleep with Emily, but he did cheat on Cristina, which he admits in the closing moments of the episode.

2. Alex and Morgan: It's Jane Doe 2.0. Alex and Morgan are spending far too much time together, with the heart patient/intern/new mom slowly but surely turning into Rebecca (Elizabeth Reaser). Meredith even worries Morgan will fall for him, go crazy and then pee on Mer's couch.

3. Meredith and Derek: As if they didn't learn this lesson when Meredith tampered with the clinical trial, Derek enlists Meredith to work on his service again. However, when he leaves the OR during surgery, Meredith suggests to Lexie that they remove the patient's tumor, which renders her unable to form words once she wakes up from the anesthesia. Good job, Grey sisters!

4. Catherine Avery and the Chief: She knows the Chief is married, yet she still shamelessly flirts with him, and he joins in on the fun and even says yes to her invitation to a fancy function. Feeling guilty, he decides not to join her so he can spend time with Adele.

5. Jackson and Catherine's spy: So self involved, Jackson doesn't even realize that the visiting Dr. Hotness, as Mark calls her, is actually Catherine's spy to dig up dirt on her son. They actually do begin to hit it off and eventually hook up, but let's be real: he's just using her. He totally still loves Lexie, right?

What did you think of this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy? Hit the comments with your thoughts.

The doctors of Seattle Grace have the most dysfunctional relationships.

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Grey's Anatomy Recap: "One Step Too Far"

Ottawa researchers to lead world-first clinical trial of stem cell therapy for septic shock

Posted on March 15, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 15-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jennifer Ganton jganton@ohri.ca 613-798-5555 x73325 Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

A team of researchers from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) and the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) has been awarded $367,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and $75,000 from the Stem Cell Network to lead the first clinical trial in the world of a stem cell therapy for septic shock. This deadly condition occurs when an infection spreads throughout the body and over-activates the immune system, resulting in severe organ damage and death in 30 to 40 per cent of cases. Septic shock accounts for 20 per cent of all Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions in Canada and costs $4 billion annually. Under the leadership of Dr. Lauralyn McIntyre, this new "Phase I" trial will test the experimental therapy in up to 15 patients with septic shock at The Ottawa Hospital's ICU.

The treatment involves mesenchymal stem cells, also called mesenchymal stromal cells or MSCs. Like other stem cells, they can give rise to a variety of more specialized cells and tissues and can help repair and regenerate damaged organs. They also have a unique ability to modify the body's immune response and enhance the clearance of infectious organisms. They can be found in adult bone marrow and other tissues, as well as umbilical cord blood, and they seem to be easily transplantable between people, because they are more able to avoid immune rejection.

There has been a great deal of interest in using MSCs to treat disease, with most research so far focused on heart disease, stroke, inflammatory bowel disease and blood cancers. Hundreds of patients with these diseases have already been treated with MSCs through clinical trials, with results suggesting that these cells are safe in these patients, and have promising signs of effectiveness. MSCs are still considered experimental however, and have not been approved by Health Canada as a standard therapy for any disease.

In recent years, a number of animal studies have suggested that MSCs may also be able to help treat septic shock. For example, a recent study by Dr. Duncan Stewart, CEO and Scientific Director of OHRI (and also a co-investigator on the new clinical trial) showed that treatment with these cells can triple survival in a mouse model of this condition.

"Mesenchymal stem cell therapy appears promising in animal studies, but it will require many years of clinical trials involving hundreds of patients to know if it is safe and effective," said Dr. Lauralyn McIntyre, a Scientist at the OHRI, ICU Physician at The Ottawa Hospital, Assistant Professor of Medicine at uOttawa and a New Investigator with CIHR and Canadian Blood Services. "This trial is a first step, but it is a very exciting first step."

As with all "Phase I" trials, the main goal of this study is to evaluate the safety of the therapy and determine the best dose for future studies. The 15 patients in the treatment group will receive standard treatments (such as fluids, antibiotics and blood pressure control), plus a planned intravenous dose of 0.3 to 3 million MSCs per kg of body weight. The MSCs will be obtained from the bone marrow of healthy donors and purified in the OHRI's Good Manufacturing Practice Laboratory in the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research. The researchers also plan to evaluate 24 similar septic shock patients who will receive standard treatments only (no MSCs). All patients will be rigorously monitored for side effects, and blood samples will be taken at specific time points to monitor the cells and their activity. This trial will not be randomized or blinded and it will not include enough patients to reliably determine if the therapy is effective. It will be conducted under the supervision of Health Canada and the Ottawa Hospital Research Ethics Board, and will have to be approved by both of these organizations before commencing.

"The OHRI is rapidly becoming known as a leader in conducting world-first clinical trials with innovative therapies such as stem cells," said Dr. Duncan Stewart, CEO and Scientific Director of OHRI, Vice-President of Research at The Ottawa Hospital and Professor of Medicine at uOttawa. "This research is truly pushing the boundaries of medical science forward, and is providing the citizens of Ottawa with access to promising new therapies."

"The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is very pleased to support this clinical trial," said Dr. Jean Rouleau, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health. "The work of Dr. McIntyre and her colleagues will not only add to our growing knowledge of the benefits of stem-cell therapies, but will hopefully lead to treatments that can help save the lives of patients where currently, our treatment options are less than optimal."

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Ottawa researchers to lead world-first clinical trial of stem cell therapy for septic shock

Bioheart and Ageless Partner to Advance Stem Cell Field With Laboratory Training Programs

Posted on March 15, 2012 by ev1

SUNRISE, Fla., March 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bioheart, Inc. (BHRT.OB) announced today that it has successfully conducted a laboratory training course in partnership with the Ageless Regenerative Institute, an organization dedicated to the standardization of cell regenerative medicine. The attendees participated in hands on, in depth training in laboratory practices in stem cell science.

"We had students from all over the world attend this first course including physicians, laboratory technicians and students," said Mike Tomas, Bioheart's President and CEO. "Bioheart is pleased to be able to share our 13 years of experience in stem cell research and help expand this growing life science field."

The course included cell culture techniques and quality control testing such as flow cytometry and gram stain. In addition, participants learned how to work in a cleanroom operating according to FDA cGMP standards, regulations used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, food and medical devices. Aseptic techniques were also taught as well as cleanroom gowning, environmental monitoring and maintenance.

Future courses are open to physicians, laboratory technicians and students. After graduating the course, attendees are prepared to pursue research and careers in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine. For more information about the course, contact info@agelessregen.com.

About Bioheart, Inc.

Bioheart is committed to maintaining its leading position within the cardiovascular sector of the cell technology industry delivering cell therapies and biologics that help address congestive heart failure, lower limb ischemia, chronic heart ischemia, acute myocardial infarctions and other issues. Bioheart's goals are to cause damaged tissue to be regenerated, when possible, and to improve a patient's quality of life and reduce health care costs and hospitalizations.

Specific to biotechnology, Bioheart is focused on the discovery, development and, subject to regulatory approval, commercialization of autologous cell therapies for the treatment of chronic and acute heart damage and peripheral vascular disease. Its leading product, MyoCell, is a clinical muscle-derived cell therapy designed to populate regions of scar tissue within a patient's heart with new living cells for the purpose of improving cardiac function in chronic heart failure patients. For more information on Bioheart, visit http://www.bioheartinc.com.

About Ageless Regenerative Institute, LLC

The Ageless Regenerative Institute (ARI) is an organization dedicated to the standardization of cell regenerative medicine. The Institute promotes the development of evidence-based standards of excellence in the therapeutic use of adipose-derived stem cells through education, advocacy, and research. ARI has a highly experienced management team with experience in setting up full scale cGMP stem cell manufacturing facilities, stem cell product development & enhancement, developing point-of-care cell production systems, developing culture expanded stem cell production systems, FDA compliance, directing clinical & preclinical studies with multiple cell types for multiple indications, and more. ARI has successfully treated hundreds of patients utilizing these cellular therapies demonstrating both safety and efficacy. For more information about regenerative medicine please visit http://www.agelessregen.com.

Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical matters contained herein, statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "to," "plan," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," or "continue" or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Washington Center for Pain Management Begins Enrollment in United States Stem Cell Therapy Study in Subjects With …

Posted on March 15, 2012 by ev1

EDMONDS, Wash., March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Washington Center for Pain Management is participating in a nationwide FDA-cleared adult stem cell study testing novel treatment for chronic low back pain and has enrolled its first patient. The study will test the use of Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs) adult stem cells derived from bone marrow that will be directly injected into the lumbar disc. The minimally invasive procedure may offer an alternative to back surgery for eligible patients with chronic pain from degenerative discs.

An estimated 30 million people in the United States suffer from back pain. Degenerative disc disease is the most common cause of low-back pain, which develops with the gradual loss of a material called proteoglycan, which cushions the bones of the spine and enables normal motion.

Most patients with low-back pain respond to physical therapy and medications, but in advanced cases, artificial disc replacement or spinal fusion -- removal of the degenerated discs and the fusion of the bones of the spine -- is necessary. However, these surgeries often are not entirely effective.

"Millions of Americans are debilitated by chronic low back pain," says Dr Hyun Joong Hong MD, the lead investigator at The Washington Center for Pain Management. "This promising therapy is at the cutting edge of medical science and has the potential to create a paradigm shift in our approach to minimally invasive solutions to this disease."

Researchers will enroll approximately 100 study participants. About fifteen participants will be enrolled at The Washington Center for Pain Management and the rest at 11 other medical centers throughout the United States. The trial is scheduled to last for three years.

Washington Center for Pain Management is enrolling study participants suffering from moderate low-back pain for a minimum of six months and whose condition has not responded to other, conventional treatments.

Once enrolled, patients are randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups:

Patients will receive a single injection of their assigned test agent directly into the center of the target discs within their spine and will be monitored for safety. Patients will also be monitored using imaging to identify any changes in their disease condition or disease progression. Use of pain medications, self-reports of pain, subsequent surgical interventions and assessments of disability, quality of life, productivity and activity will be evaluated. Repair of the disc and reduction of chronic back pain will be assessed in each patient.

Promising results have been observed in prior research using animal models when stem cells were investigated for the repair of damaged spine discs. The cells were well tolerated in these study animals.

This study is sponsored by Mesoblast Limited, a world leader in the development of biologic products for the broad field of regenerative medicine. Mesoblast has the worldwide exclusive rights to a series of patents and technologies developed over more than 10 years relating to the identification, extraction, culture and uses of adult Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs). The MPCs are derived from young adult donors' bone marrow and are immune tolerant.

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Washington Center for Pain Management Begins Enrollment in United States Stem Cell Therapy Study in Subjects With ...

Ottawa researchers receive grant to test stem-cell therapy for septic shock

Posted on March 15, 2012 by ev1

OTTAWA A team of Ottawa researchers has been awarded $442,000 to test the worlds first experimental stem-cell therapy aimed at patients who suffer from septic shock, a runaway infection of the bloodstream thats notoriously difficult to treat.

The deadly infection occurs when toxic bacteria spreads rapidly throughout the body and over-activates the immune system, leading to multiple organ failure and death in up to 40 per cent of cases.

One in five patients admitted to intensive-care units suffers from septic shock, making it the most common illness among a hospitals sickest of the sick.

Yet because the infection can creep up on patients rapidly and cause unpredictable complications, death from septic shock remains relatively common.

The experimental therapy aims to use donor stem cells, grown and purified at the Ottawa laboratory, to dial down the bodys hyperactive immune response and reduce the cascade of inflammation that leads to organ failure.

Early results from animal studies even raise the possibility that mesenchymal cells could eliminate the bacteria that causes septic shock, although the impact on humans is not yet known.

Its a unique feature of the stem cells, said Dr. Lauralyn McIntyre, the intensive-care physician who is leading the trial. Certainly no other therapy in the past, other than antibiotics, has impacted the bacterial load in the system.

Like other stem cells, mesenchymal cells can turn into a variety of more specialized cells and tissues that help repair and regenerate damaged organs. And because mesenchymal cells are derived from adults, they sidestep the ethical issues arising from the destruction of human embryos needed to make embryonic stem cells.

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Ottawa researchers receive grant to test stem-cell therapy for septic shock

Amedisys Scores 19% Above National Average on Treatment Goals Met at Home

Posted on March 15, 2012 by ev1

BATON ROUGE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED - News) today announced it has proven clinical excellence with its Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program, according to the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) report for 2011.

Developed to illustrate the value of speech-language pathology services provided to people with swallowing disorders, cognitive and memory impairments, and communication disorders, NOMS is a data collection system, recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The key to NOMS is the use of ASHAs Functional Communication Measures (FCMs). FCMs are a series of disorder-specific seven-point rating scales, designed to describe the change in an individuals functional communication, swallowing, or cognitive/memory abilities over the course of treatment.

According to the 2011 NOMS data, Amedisys Speech-Language Pathology outcomes for treatment goals met in the home exceeded the national home care industry average by 19%. The national average for 2011 was 51.78% of treatment goals met in the home, while Amedisys met 70.87% of treatment goals.

We are extremely proud of our Speech-Language Pathology team here at Amedisys for achieving this level of high-quality care for our patients, said Jim Robinson, executive vice president of home health and hospice care for Amedisys. Our team of 600 speech-language pathologists, based in more than 300 Amedisys care centers across the country, work with thousands of patients each year to improve their communication skills and help with memory deficits. This specialized care often reduces the need for feeding tubes and helps patients recover the ability to swallow.

Swallowing disorders (also known as dysphagia) are diagnosed in approximately 10 million Americans each year. Nearly all dementia patients develop dysphagia, and swallowing disorders also are associated with stroke, respiratory conditions, brain and spinal cord injury, as well as progressive neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, ALS and Parkinsons. People who suffer from swallowing disorders often experience weight loss, poor nutrition, dehydration, social isolation, choking and pneumonia.

In the last 10 years, the number of elderly Medicare beneficiaries who were admitted to the hospital for aspiration pneumonia increased by 93.8%, said David Hutchings, CCC-SLP.D., managing director of Rehab Services at Amedisys. Through our Speech Language Pathology program, our multidisciplinary care team takes a comprehensive approach in addressing dysphagia to help decrease the risk of aspiration pneumonia and hospitalizations for this condition.

To help those with swallowing disorders avoid health complications like pneumonia, Dr. Hutchings urges seniors and their loved ones to watch for, and talk to a health care professional about, the following symptoms:

By proactively treating swallowing disorders and using specialized feeding techniques that maintain nutritional needs, enhance safe food intake and maintain dignity for those on our home health and hospice service, we can help to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, and improve peoples overall quality of life, Dr. Hutchings said.

For more information about NOMS, please visit: http://www.asha.org/members/research/noms/.

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Amedisys Scores 19% Above National Average on Treatment Goals Met at Home

This Week in Clinical Pathology

Posted on March 15, 2012 by ev1

Bristol researchers report their clinicopathological and molecular assessment of 12 penile melanoma cases in the Journal of Clinical Pathology. The researchers examined the paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tumor tissue for KIT and BRAF mutations, which are common in other melanomas, but found no such mutations. As for the clinicopathological features, the researchers say that two-year and five-year survival was, respectively, 61 percent and 20 percent, which is a similar prognosis as other melanomas. "Penile melanomas are extremely rare and have a similar prognosis to melanomas elsewhere, but they often present late, leading to a poor outcome. The mutations seen in melanomas from other sites appear to be rarely present in these tumors," the Bristol team concludes.

Also in the Journal of Clinical Pathology, German researchers look at p53, p21, and cyclin D1 expression in 110 penile cancer cases. From this, the researchers found that p53 expression in the primary tumor is associated with a poor outcome, while p21 expression had a minor impact on survival and cyclin D1 had no association. "The possible prognostic implications of p21 seem to be complex and warrant further investigation," the team says.

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This Week in Clinical Pathology

Q&A with Littleton nutrition educator Luann Colombo

Posted on March 15, 2012 by ev1

For nearly two decades, nutrition expert Luann Colombo of Littleton has been finding new ways to translate her knowledge of science and health into hands-on education. In addition to having authored a myriad of books and childrens games, Colombo has produced curriculums that were featured on the television show Bill Nye: The Science Guy.

Colombo also instructs workshops on maintaining good health, including Every Human Body Needs a Bit of Fat. The workshop, directed at teens and young adults, is about understanding the importance of maintaining healthy levels of fat. It is meant not only to increase knowledge and awareness of overall bodily health, but also to empower teens by dispelling negative myths about body fat. The workshop, most recently held in February at Lowell General Hospital, is planned for an April date to be determined.

Colombo spoke to the Independent about her work educating teens, and society at large, about nutrition and wellness.

Tell me about the work youve done to further education in science and wellness.

I write science books for kids; I have 42 published books. I managed the outreach program at Seattles Pacific Science Center, doing science education with teachers and students throughout Washington state. I now do nutrition education with individuals and in small and large venues on topics such as family nutrition, weight management, sport nutrition and, of course, on fat.

What do you love about it?

I subscribe to the interactive, hands-on approach to education. I love the ah-ha! moment of scientific discovery. The more senses people use in learning, the deeper and longer-lasting the learning. I also love empowering people to make healthy decisions about what, when and how much they eat.

Tell me specifically about the class Every Human Body for teens.

Fat has a bad rap. Its over-consumed, over-avoided and over-substituted. The invitation to the workshop says it all: This super-interactive and occasionally hilarious free workshop explores common myths about diet and disease, explains the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and offers tips on healthy eating. A smidge of label-reading math reveals just how much sugar, salt and fat a typical teenager consumes in everyday foods, what types of foods are best, why colors matter and why every human body needs a bit of fat the right kind.

What are your goals with the class?

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Q&A with Littleton nutrition educator Luann Colombo

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