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U.S. Navy Advances Dengue DNA Vaccine Using Vical's Vaxfectin(R) Adjuvant

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

SAN DIEGO, March 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL - News) today announced that the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) has initiated a Phase 1 human clinical trial of a tetravalent dengue DNA vaccine formulated with the company's Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant. The trial is based on exciting efficacy data from a nonhuman primate study recently published in the journal Vaccine1. Vical manufactured the vaccine and the adjuvant for both the preclinical and clinical studies, and is providing regulatory and clinical expertise to NMRC for the dengue program.

Vical completed three prior Phase 1 trials, with no safety issues and no dose-limiting toxicity, of Vaxfectin(R)-formulated DNA vaccines against H5N1 and H1N1 pandemic influenza.

Under a prior Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Vical, NMRC developed a tetravalent DNA vaccine (TVDV) containing genes encoding the pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins for all four serotypes of dengue virus, and formulated with Vical's Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant. Both Vaxfectin(R)-formulated and unformulated vaccines are now being evaluated in Phase 1 human testing. A total of 40 subjects will be assigned to three dose groups: a low dose TVDV without adjuvant, a low dose TVDV with Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant, or a high dose TVDV with Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant. Vaccines will be administered by intramuscular injections on days 0, 30 and 90, with follow-up through approximately one year. Key endpoints in the trial will be safety and immunogenicity.

The recently published preclinical TVDV immunogenicity and challenge data indicated that Vaxfectin(R) significantly improved neutralizing antibody responses and significantly enhanced protection against challenge. Nonhuman primates received the tetravalent DNA vaccine, formulated with or without the Vaxfectin(R) adjuvant, or a blank DNA control, on days 0, 28, and 84. All four (100%) rhesus macaques receiving the Vaxfectin(R)-formulated vaccine developed neutralizing antibodies to all four serotypes of dengue by one month after the second injection, compared with none of the four (0%) macaques receiving the unformulated vaccine and none of the three (0%) unvaccinated control animals. By one month after the third injection, all (100%) macaques in both vaccine groups (Vaxfectin(R)-formulated and unformulated) developed neutralizing antibodies to all four serotypes of dengue, compared with none (0%) of the unvaccinated control animals.

Macaques receiving the Vaxfectin(R)-formulated vaccine were highly protected against challenge with DEN-2, exhibiting very limited viremia (group mean 0.75 days). Macaques receiving unformulated vaccine were only partially protected against challenge (group mean 2.00 days). Unvaccinated control macaques were unprotected against challenge, exhibiting typical viremia (group mean 3.33 days).

About Dengue

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 2.5 billion people across the world are at risk for dengue infections. Dengue virus infects up to 100 million and results in over 500,000 hospitalizations and 12,500 deaths each year. Its impact is magnified by the lack of effective antiviral drugs and vaccines.

Dengue fever can be caused by any one of four serotypes of dengue virus: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. These viruses are part of the Flavivirus family, which includes West Nile virus and yellow fever virus. Dengue virus is spread by mosquitoes, and is most common during the rainy seasons throughout the world's tropical and subtropical regions. Dengue does not spread directly from person to person. An individual infected by one serotype of dengue virus develops lifelong immunity against that serotype, but not against other serotypes.

Symptoms of classic dengue fever include high fever, severe headache and/or pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. A few days after fever onset, a rash often develops over most of the body and lasts for one to two days. The rash can reappear several days later. These symptoms typically begin within a week after infection, and usually resolve without treatment.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more serious form of disease which can include all of the symptoms of classic dengue fever plus leakage of blood plasma into tissues caused by noticeable damage to blood vessels and lymph vessels, bleeding from the nose and gums, and conspicuous bruising under the skin. Dengue hemorrhagic fever can lead to death. The most severe form of dengue disease is dengue shock syndrome, which includes all of the symptoms of classic dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, plus massive leaking of blood plasma outside of blood vessels, extensive bleeding, and shock caused by extremely low blood pressure. Dengue shock syndrome most often occurs in children infected for a second time (with a different serotype of dengue), and can be fatal.

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U.S. Navy Advances Dengue DNA Vaccine Using Vical's Vaxfectin(R) Adjuvant

Next-generation DNA sequencing to improve diagnosis for muscular dystrophy

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 5-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Emma Thorne emma.thorne@nottingham.ac.uk 44-115-951-5793 University of Nottingham

Scientists at The University of Nottingham have used a revolutionary new DNA-reading technology for a research project that could lead to correct genetic diagnosis for muscle-wasting diseases.

The technique could be used to offer people with muscular dystrophy, or a related neuromuscular condition, a more accurate prognosis, which would enable them to make more informed choices on life decisions, including family planning.

The researchers used a next-generation DNA sequencing machine to investigate the condition of a patient who had previously been misdiagnosed with the wrong type of muscular dystrophy.

The research, led by Professor Jane Hewitt in the University's School of Biology, was funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign through a PhD studentship for Andreas Leidenroth.

Andreas said: "Our case study demonstrates how genetic diagnostics will be done in the future. New DNA sequencing machines will be cheap to run, easy to use, fit on a desk and decode an entire human genome in minutes. High-throughout DNA sequencing in the NHS is no longer a question of 'if', but of 'when'. The biggest challenge will be to develop standardised filtering guidelines so that we can easily extract medically relevant information from these large DNA datasets."

The study, published in the European Journal of Human Genetics, focused on a person who had previously been diagnosed with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) a type of muscular dystrophy that predominantly affects muscles of the face, shoulder and upper arm. However, when the researchers studied her DNA more closely they found several inconsistencies and realised that she was highly unlikely to have FSHD.

To gain a genetic diagnosis for this, traditionally genes known to be involved in muscular dystrophies would have to be tested one by one, which can be a laborious and time consuming process. This would also have limited the search to a small number of genes and risked missing the mutation.

Instead, the Nottingham team used whole genome sequencing which, rather than reading the code of a single gene at a time, can simultaneously decipher the more than 25,000 genes of the human genome. This had the advantage of almost guaranteeing to examine the mutated gene but also poses a serious challenge: human DNA can vary from one person to the next so how could they tell which was a harmful genetic mutation rather than a harmless 'spelling difference' unique to that person?

DNA expert: Slocum DNA on victim's phone

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

FORT EDWARD -- A State Police forensic scientist testified Monday that DNA from Matthew Slocum was on a cellphone that prosecutors have said was owned by murder victim Joshua O'Brien.

The scientist, Daniel Myers, also testified that blood from murder victim Lisa Harrington was found on a pair of black shorts submitted for testimony.

However, Harrington's DNA was also found on a tank top shirt that was worn that day by Slocum's girlfriend, Loretta Colegrove, who the defense has blamed for the killings.

Washington County prosecutors have said those shorts were worn by Slocum the day of the triple homicide.

Myers also testified about DNA found on the shotgun that was believed to have been used to kill the three victims belonged to Lisa Harrington, but that an unknown donor's DNA was also found on parts of the gun.

A portion of that DNA profile matched Slocum's profile, Myers said.

But he said separating Slocum's DNA from Lisa Harrington's DNA was "very difficult" because they share DNA in light of the fact Harrington was Slocum's mother.

"Half of his alleles (DNA markers) will be there," Myers testified of the samples where Lisa Harrington's blood was found.

Myers is to be cross-examined after lunch.

The prosecution's first witness of the day was a blood spatter expert, who testified about blood stains.

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DNA expert: Slocum DNA on victim's phone

Sawfishes sure can wield a saw (w/ video)

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

"I was surprised to see how skilled sawfish are with their saw," said Barbara Wueringer of the University of Queensland. "They use their saw to impale prey on the rostral teeth by producing several lateral swipes per second."

Unlike sawfishes in the wild, the animals she and her team caught on hidden cameras were fed on dead fish, "but their strikes were sometimes strong enough to split those fish in half." The animals then proceeded to swipe their meals onto the floor and dig in.

This video is not supported by your browser at this time.

Sawfishes wouldnt be sawfishes if they didnt come equipped with long toothy snouts -- their saws. Now, researchers reporting in the March 6 issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, have figured out what they use those saws for, and it turns out the answer is quite impressive. It might even help save the critically endangered and incredibly elusive sawfishes. Credit: Current Biology, Dr. Barbara Wueringer

Wueringer's team earlier found that the saws of freshwater sawfishes are covered in thousands of electroreceptors. Those tiny sensors enable sawfishes to detect the electric fields of other animals in their midst. Tiny canals in the skin covering the saw also allow them to detect water movements. The two senses together give them an edge as hunters in the dark and murky waters in which they live.

In the new study, the researchers observed recently captured sawfishes in action. They watched as those sawfishes tore into already dead fish and responded to weak electrical fields that mimicked live, hidden prey.

"Now we know that sawfish are not sluggish bottom dwellers as previously believed, but agile hunters that hunt in the three-dimensional space of the water," Wueringer said.

What the researchers observed is contrary to what you might read in any textbook, she added. The sawfishes' saw had been considered more like a rake, used by the fish to sift through sand in search of something to eat.

Wueringer said this new view might even lead to changes in the fishing practices that are allowed in prime sawfish territory, noting that the saw is partly to blame for sawfishes' global decline: their saws are easily entangled in fishing gear.

Provided by Cell Press (news : web)

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Sawfishes sure can wield a saw (w/ video)

ODIN, LTD. Is Awarded 2011 Contractor of the Year

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

MeadWestvaco recently selected ODIN, LTD. Industrial Demolition and Asset Recovery, LLC as "Contractor of the Year" for 2011 for ODINs stellar safety program.

We are pleased to receive this award, said Terry Pattarozzi, health and safety manager at ODIN, LTD. A commitment to safety extends from the owners of the company to the managers and field supervisors.

This special recognition was accomplished by meeting MeadWestvaco's continued effort for safety excellence. MeadWestvacos safety criterion involves operating and working safely, focusing constantly on accident prevention. The contractor should exhibit a belief that taking steps to safeguard the work environment can prevent all injuries and occupational illnesses. Throughout the MeadWestvaco Asset Recovery Project ODIN, LTD., employees dedicated themselves to working safely.

ODIN believes that all injuries and occupational illnesses can be prevented, said Pattarozzi. All employees are responsible for their safety and the safety of those working around them. Every person on an ODIN project has the duty and authority to stop working if they believe a safety hazard exists.

ODIN, LTD., practices a behavioral-based safety program, using behavioral science to prevent and solve safety issues. All field employees are required to submit multiple weekly observations to management. ODINs safety program requires a buy-in from all employees. This not only prevents safety, but empowers each member of the ODIN team to keep their working environment safe. Each submission is taken very seriously and management makes changes to prevent an accident before one occurs. ODIN is extremely proud that it has not had a fatality or lawsuit in its 40 years of operation.

ABOUT ODIN, LTD.

We specialize in heavy industrial demolition using the latest techniques and technology for safe and economical results. Whether the plan is to shut down an entire plant or just a process line, a definitive plan must be in place. Let our demolition experts help you determine the scope, complexity and the best, most economical and safe way forward. Our approach to demolition is to minimize the amount of materials going into landfill by channeling as much material and equipment as possible for reuse or recycling. We assign a safety manager to each project to ensure all safety rules and regulations are regarded.

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ODIN, LTD. Is Awarded 2011 Contractor of the Year

'Grey's Anatomy': Patrick Dempsey And Ellen Pompeo's Future In Question

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Danzig

"Grey's Anatomy" stars Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo's contracts are up at the end of Season 8. Though the two have spoken out about returning, series creator Shonda Rhimes said their future with the show is still in question. "I have my fingers crossed," Rhimes told TV Guide when asked if the two were returning. "What I think is really lovely is that everybody wants to come back."

After making some seemingly final comments regarding his future with the show, Dempsey hedged and said he'd be open to discussing signing a new contract.

"I have a family to support, and why not have a discussion about continuing?" he said. "The question is will I do a full season, a half season or come back at all?"

Meanwhile, Pompeo said she'd "never turn up my nose at 'Grey's.'"

"If I hear from the fans that they want us to keep going, then I would continue because we owe them everything," Pompeo told TV Guide in October.

Rhimes said she has a plan in place for the finale that will work regardless of who signs on for Season 9. "Our goal is to have Derek and Meredith move in to the completed dream house," she told TV Guide. "And our residents will be interviewing for jobs all around the country."

Pomepo and Dempsey aren't the only "Grey's" actors making headlines about their future with the show. While promoting her movie, former series star Katherine Heigl told multiple members of the press that she wants to return to "Grey's Anatomy" to check in on her character, Dr. Izzie Stevens.

"I just want to know what happened to her and where she went and what she's doing now," Heigl told E! Online. The "One For the Money" actress said she's even reached out to the show. "I've told them I want to," she said.

However, Pompeo told Chelsea Handler that having Heigl return to the ABC medical drama was unlikely. "I don't think that's happening," Pompeo said during an appearance on "Chelsea Lately."

As for Rhimes, the creator said it was nice to hear Heigl show some appreciation for the show, but "Grey's" is on a long-planned path and "the idea of changing that track is not something we are interested in right now."

Is It the End for Grey's Anatomy's Owen and Cristina?

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Danzig

Sandra Oh

Uh oh! It looks like bad news for fans who hope that Grey's Anatomy docs Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) can still save their marriage.

"It's just sad and hard right now," Oh told TV Guide Magazine at Sunday's L.A. benefit for Mariska Hargitay's Joyful Heart Foundation which supports survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. "If there's [hope], I can't see it right now."

In the episode that aired Feb. 23, Cristina started to suspect that Owen was having an affair, and those suspicions will continue in the March 15 episode, "One Step Too Far."

"What I really am happy with, is that a dissolution of a relationship if it is a dissolution takes a long time and is painful. We're spending time with them, seeing it happen," says Oh. "And not quickly, but painfully, day by day."

"It's real, it's messy and it's also why we root for them so much," adds costar Kim Raver. Though Raver's character, Teddy, has currently written off her friendship with Owen, there seems to be a glimmer of hope that the former best friends may reconcile. "In terms of Teddy and Owen, the rift is so dramatic that maybe that walk back home hopefully will be an interesting journey," Raver says. "That's what's interesting to me about the relationship now."

Oh also says that the subject of sexual assault will come up in an future episode, and the entire cast will be involved. "We're dealing with a very dramatic side of this issue," she says. "I really admire Mariska and her work, not only on her show and the influence and the impact that she has on the show for this work, but it translates also in our work on Grey's Anatomy."

"It touches all of us, even if we don't know that it does," adds Raver. "I think the fact that we're discussing it is the first step to aiding it."

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Is It the End for Grey's Anatomy's Owen and Cristina?

Keck's Exclusives: Grey's Anatomy Boss on Who'll Be Back – and Who Won't!

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Danzig

Shonda Rhimes

Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice creator Shonda Rhimes has plenty to sing about. Her new ABC series, Scandal, debuts April 5; she's got several pilots in the works; and most of the Grey's cast is taking part in the March 18 musical charity event (held at UCLA): "Grey's Anatomy: The Songs Beneath the Show," benefiting The Actors Fund. Even more exciting, she's confident all our favorites (yes, that includes Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo) want to return for Season 9.

TV Guide Magazine: How did "Grey's Anatomy: The Songs Beneath the Show" come about? Rhimes: When we did the musical episode last season, we discovered we had way more singing talent than we ever imagined. The entire cast with the exception of Patrick and Ellen and Jesse Williams, who has a prior commitment is on board and pretty excited.

TV Guide Magazine: Why no Patrick and Ellen? Rhimes: I'm not sure. I threw it out there "If you're free and available, this is what we're going to do." Sara Ramirez, Kevin McKidd, Justin Chambers, Chyler Leigh and Jessica Capshaw are all going to sing. Sandra Oh has stated she's not a singer, so she'll do a couple special things. [Eric Dane, Sarah Drew, James Pickens Jr., Kim Raver and Chandra Wilson will also take the stage.]

TV Guide Magazine: You must know by now if Patrick and Ellen will be back next season. Rhimes: I have no idea. I have my fingers crossed. What I think is really lovely is that everybody wants to come back. There's [money] stuff happening. I am [confident], but I have a plan in place for the finale that can occur regardless of who is staying. Our goal is to have Derek and Meredith move in to the completed dream house. [A real L.A. home will be used.] And our residents will be interviewing for jobs all around the country.

TV Guide Magazine: Katherine Heigl recently said she wants to come back to "see where Izzie is." Is she welcome? Rhimes: I think it was really nice to hear her appreciating the show. We are on a track we have been planning, and the idea of changing that track is not something we are interested in right now.

TV Guide Magazine: Switching gears to Private Practice, tell me you're going to finally give Addison a baby? Rhimes: That journey is going to be completed by the time the season is over, and I think fans will be very satisfied.

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Keck's Exclusives: Grey's Anatomy Boss on Who'll Be Back – and Who Won't!

Protein in urine — a sign of kidney damage

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

Posted on March 5, 2012, Monday

KUALA LUMPUR: According to human physiology, kidneys function to remove toxins and excess water from the blood, apart from helping to maintain blood pressure, produce red blood cells and keep the bones healthy.

However, kidneys can be damaged by diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), infection and inflammation, as well as stones and cysts in the organs.

Other causes of damage have been attributed to prolonged use of pain killers and consumption of alcohol.

If kidney damage becomes too severe, the organ will lose its ability to function normally. This is known as end-stage kidney (renal) disease (ESRD), or simply kidney failure.

Nephrologists have identified diabetes and hypertension as the leading causes of ESRD, accounting for more than 60 per cent of new cases of dialysis patients in Malaysia.

According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), there are three types of kidney failure acute, chronic and end-stage. Acute kidney failure is usually temporary and is reversible.

However, sometimes this type of kidney failure may not respond to treatment and may progress to chronic kidney failure or end-stage kidney failure, says a nephrologist.

When the loss of kidney functions is gradual and progressive, it is known as chronic kidney failure.

Eventually, the kidneys are unable to remove wastes or maintain the bodys salt and fluid balance, resulting in the need to receive dialysis treatment.

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Protein in urine — a sign of kidney damage

Global Genetic Engineering Industry

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

NEW YORK, March 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Global Genetic Engineering Industry

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0152432/Global-Genetic-Engineering-Industry.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Genetical

The global outlook series on Genetic Engineering provides a collection of market briefs and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers an aerial view of the industry, highlights latest developments, and discusses demand drivers, issues and concerns, and regulatory environment. Discussion on the industry's most noteworthy regional market, the US, is amply detailed with unbiased research commentary to provide the reader a rudimentary understanding of the prevailing market climate. Market discussions in the report are punctuated with fact-rich market data tables. Regional markets elaborated upon include United States, Canada, India, China, and South Africa among others. Also included is an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of 153 companies active in the market.

1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW 1Genetic Engineering: A Prelude 1Genetic Engineering: Not the Same As Biotechnology 1The Evolution and Progress of GM Crops 2M Crops Gain Global Acceptance 2GM Cultivation Gains Prominence in Developing Nations 2Rising Prices, Food Shortage Make Biotech Grains Attractive 2Socio-Economic Impacts of Biotech Crops 3Impact of GM Crops on Biodiversity 3Challenges to GM Crops Adoption 3Biotech Regulatory Measures Hinder Crop Domestication 4Genetic Modification of Forest Trees and Associated Issues 4Biosafety: a Key Criterion Associated 4Governments Not to Give Up on GM Hope 4US - The Largest Producer of GM Crops 5Leading Countries by Biotech Crop Area (2009) 5Table 1: Current and Future Analysis of the Global BiotechCrops Market By Geographic Region for the US, Canada,Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World IndependentlyAnalyzed with Annual Sales Figures in US$ Million for 2010through 2015 6Major Market Participants 7

2. MARKET DYNAMICS 8

Global Food Demand to Drive Need for GM Crops 8

Developing Countries: Major Share Holders for Biotech Crop

Production 8

Status of Biotech Rice in the World 8

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Global Genetic Engineering Industry

MCAT to add new test sections in 2015 | News

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

As if getting in medical school wasnt hard enough. The Medical College Admissions Test is extending the five and a half hour test to seven hours, creating the largest revision to the test since 1991. The changes, which will take effect in 2015, will create additions to the behavioral social sciences and advanced science concepts in biochemistry and critical thinking sections on the test. In addition to the changes, the writing section of the test is being removed. Kaplan Test Preps director of pre-heath programs, Dr. Jeff Koetje, said changes to the test were implemented in order to align the test material with the current state of medical education and ultimately better prepare students for med school. A lot has changed in medicine and the sciences in the last 20 years, Koetje said. In basic sciences and especially in molecular biology there have been a lot of advances in the in-treatment programs and the way it applies directly to patients. Koetje explains that in addition to these advances, the relationship between doctors and patients has shifted, causing doctors to adopt a more holistic approach in patient care. Theres been a shift in culture of medicine in holistic approach to patient care, Koetje said. In the past, doctors have been criticized. Theres a real commitment on the part of physicians in cultural values and people who have language issues and different social economic backgrounds. Koetje said doctors are often faced with critical decisions on continuing medical treatment with patients who cannot afford care or do not have health insurance. Since the addition to the behavioral science portion will test students on this new holistic approach in medicine, Koetje said pre-med students should expect to take more social science classes to be better prepared for the test. Its not something you necessarily gain overnight, Koetje said. It has to be trained. In a survey conducted by Kaplan in January, about 95 percent of students described their current pre-med education as intense. Koetje said students might find it difficult to fit in the extra course work needed to prepare for the new MCAT, but taking the right classes is vital. Alex Galvin, senior in chemistry, has already taken the test, and she said students should talk to their advisers to prepare for the test changes. I would say just talk to the professional advisers and do your research before you take the exam, Galvin said. Make sure you do really well in your classes before you start and really focus on the big knowledge before taking the exam. Galvin plans to retake the MCAT in late March and is studying four to six hours a week. She said the hardest aspect of the MCAT is not the test-taking itself, but rather the anxiety of the impact the results have on a students future. I think the hardest part is kind of getting over the impact that it has on your chances on getting into school, Galvin said. Really its one of the biggest things to consider. You really have to get past that to even think about what is on the exam. According to Kaplan research, 43 percent of students who applied were accepted into med school across the country. Koetje said that despite the tedious changes in the test, he doesnt expect pre-med students to change their academic courses. Pre-med students are a tenacious bunch, especially the ones who wanted to be doctors since they were five, Koetje said. This is not going to deter someone who has had the goal for a long time. Its going to make it more important to manage the undergrad experience and really take full advantage of study opportunities. For information about MCAT changes, including updates and study tips, students can visit Kaplans website http://www.kaptest.com/mcat.

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MCAT to add new test sections in 2015 | News

Carmel freshman wins top science fair prize

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

Click photo to enlarge

Salinas High student Audrey Mu os, 14, speaks with Frank Martin, a plant pathologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, during the Monterey County Science and Engineering Fair.

A Carmel High School freshman won the grand prize at the annual Monterey County Science Fair Sunday at CSU Monterey Bay.

Ailis Dooner, student of science teacher Jason Maas-Baldwin took the prize and first place for her project in the pharmacology/toxicology senior division, titled "The Effects of Ambient Nitrate and Phosphate on Intracellular Zooxanthellae of Aggregating Anemone."

First runner-up for grand prize was Jimmy Lin, senior at Robert Louis Stevenson Upper School, first place in biochemistry/molecular biology, for "Investigating the Inhibitory Effect of Resveratrol on Ovarian Cancer Cells." Second runner-up was Aradhana Sinha, a junior at Salinas High School, first place in plant biology for her project,

"Triforine Sensitivity in Lettuce: Year Two."

Prizes were awarded in 22 junior and 14 senior categories, with 24 top projects becoming eligible to participate in the California State Science Fair. The top three senior division projects may be eligible to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., in May.

The students entered 375 projects in the fair, said fair director Ginny Brown of the county Office of Education.

Other first-place winners at the fair were: Austin Aldrich and Ari Freedman, eighth grade, Carmel Middle School,, applied mechanics and structures; Trevor Bianchi and Andrew Grogin, eighth grade, All Saints Episcopal Day School, materials science; Michael Bigley and

Victoria Kvitek, eighth grade, Santa Catalina Lower School behavioral and social sciences; Sarah Levi and Amanda Radner, eighth grade, All Saints Episcopal Day, product science - biological; Mary Liu, eighth grade, Buena Vista Middle School, environmental science; Jenna Mazza, eighth grade, Santa Catalina Lower School, applied mechanics and structures.

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Carmel freshman wins top science fair prize

It’s not pulp fiction

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

Stem cell therapy is poised to become the next big thing in the treatment of major diseases. Even those extracted from dental pulp can be preserved for future use

Watching his five-year-old pull at his loose tooth, dad Shekar remembered something he had read in a dental clinic. Stem cells from teeth, called dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) could be preserved and retrieved to treat his son if he had a major ailment in future. Stemade, a private company, would arrange to collect DPSCs through its Smile Clinics and store them in state-of-the-art labs in several cities across the country. His thought: Stem cell technology is the next big step in medical treatment. Banking SCs is medical bio-insurance for his kid.

Stem cell therapy didn't jump out of a box yesterday. We've heard of it being used in treating leukaemia. Patients with spinal cord injury have spent huge sums on it hoping to get up and walk. Some ask: If a house lizard can grow back its tail, why can't we get our systems to re-start with a million multiplying stem cells?

Kinds of cells

The best cells for banking are embryonic cells which are programmed to develop and grow. But harvesting these is banned. Ethical issues, you know. Adult SCs beyond the embryonic stage are classified as haematopoietic (from umbilical cord blood and bone marrow) and mesenchymal (tissues and organs). While haematopoietic cells are used in the treatment of blood-related diseases such as haemophilia, blood cancer and skin troubles, tissue cells are tried on all problems other than these. HSCs are collected only from the umbilical cord and bone marrow. Tissue cells are taken from many body sources such as bone marrow, placenta, menstrual blood, cornea, outer layer of the heart, liposuction waste and teeth pulp.

Among these DPSCs are perhaps the best option, says Shailesh Gadre, MD, Stemade Biotech. We all lose our milk teeth and cell extraction here is almost painless. As for the permanent teeth, we can harvest the pulp when people have to lose them for orthodontic (cosmetic) reasons, as when braces are fixed or teeth are extracted because of poor positioning. Of course, they need to be free of caries and other dental infections.

But as we age, our cells age too, so DPSCs are best extracted and preserved when we're very young, when the cells are virile and robust. DPSCs have extraordinary doubling properties that give them a huge advantage over other stem cells, says Dr. Julian Deepak, Medical Advisor, Stemade. They are derived from the same source as nerve cells, with the same capacity as neuron cells, making them a better option for treating Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and muscular dystrophy. Work is on to see their effectiveness in curing diabetes.

Back to the kid's tooth. After the dad's call, a dentist from Stemade will check if Milan's tooth is free of disease. At a Smile Clinic he will extract it and take a blood sample. The dentist will then place the tooth in a specially-designed vial of antibiotic solution. The vial will be packed in ice-gel to keep the temperature low during transport. At their lab (which I visited) in suburban Chennai, a visual inspection is done, the tooth is flooded with anti-bacterial solution and broken open. The pulp is extracted, divided into parts for quality control and sterility (aerobic/anaerobic) tests. The processing is done in zero-contamination conditions and the cells are put in 5 different vials and placed in the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen for cryo-preservation. It is complete, patented technology. The cells are stored in raw format and can be retrieved when needed. Shekar gets a certificate and a CR Management number which will be part of his son's medical records.

These are your own (autologous) cells and will need no matching should you need them for treatment of tissue-and-organ-related diseases such as spinal cord/bone/liver/cartilage regeneration, diabetes, eye-care, etc., says Shailesh. Adds Dr. Julian, Now for most diseases we just do maintenance therapy. With their regenerative property, stem cells will cure diseases in the future.

Fine, but for a few details. One, is the banking fee? Yes, you have to pay for the banking facility, but we can help you with EMIs, says Shailesh. Subsidies are given to the poor as part of CSR. We want to reach as many households as possible. Others are the right to will it and fool-proof identification of the cells. We may store DPSCs at six and may need them at sixty.

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It's not pulp fiction

Museum of Engineered Organisms Opens In Pittsburgh

Posted on March 5, 2012 by ev1

Join Log In Submit Story Jobs Newsletter Library 29990019 story Posted by samzenpus on Sunday March 04, @01:15PM from the it's-alive-alive dept. qeorqe writes "The Center for PostNatural History is a museum and research library about organisms that have been created either by genetic engineering or selective breeding. Included in the collection are Sea Monkeys and GloFish. From the article: 'One of the cool things about natural history museums is that they show you how nature has changed over time, adapting to volatile conditions and extreme challenges. And nothing is more volatile, extreme, or challenging than the human race, so it makes sense that there would be a museum to chronicle just how much weve messed with plants, animals, the climate, and in general the world around us. The Center for PostNatural History, opening this week in Pittsburgh, is that museum.'" Related Links Post

As Gen. de Gaulle occassionally acknowledges America to be the daughter of Europe, so I am pleased to come to Yale, the daughter of Harvard. -- J.F. Kennedy

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Museum of Engineered Organisms Opens In Pittsburgh

The newest innovation in … laundry? Anatomy of a new product, from idea to store shelves

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Danzig

NEW YORK, N.Y. - It took eight years, 450 product sketches, 6,000 consumer tests and hundreds of millions of dollars for Procter & Gamble to create something that it hopes will be destroyed in the wash.

Tide Pods are palm-size, liquid detergent-filled tablets that are designed to be tossed in the washer to take the measuring cups and messiness out of laundry. P&G says the product, which hit store shelves last month, is its biggest innovation in laundry in about a quarter of a century.

Tide Pods aren't the sexiest of inventions, but they illustrate how mature companies that are looking for growth often have to tweak things as mundane as soap and detergent. The story behind Tide Pods provides a window into the time, money and brainpower that goes into doing that.

P&G, the maker of everything from Pampers diapers to Pantene shampoo, has built its 175-year history on creating things people need and then improving them. (Think: Ivory soap in 1879; Swiffer Sweeper in 1999.) Each year, the maker of everything from Pampers diapers to Pantene shampoo spends $2 billion on research and development. The company also rolls out 27 products annually, or more than two a month, worldwide.

The focus on innovation has paid off. P&G says 98 per cent of American households have at least one of its products in cupboards, broom closets or bathrooms.

And while about 15 to 20 per cent of all new products succeed, P&G has claimed a 50 per cent success rate. Four of the top 10 new consumer products in 2010 were made by P&G, according to research firm SymphonyIRI.

"What they've gotten very good at is being able to understand consumer expectations," says Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys Inc., a New York customer research firm.

But improving things like window cleaner and toilet paper can take years. It also can cost hundreds of millions of dollars or up to 100 per cent of first-year sales to develop, make and market them. And even then, new products are a tough sell to consumers.

"You have to develop a product that is meaningfully better than the ones out there, which is tough because generally speaking consumer products work pretty well," says Ali Dibadj, an analyst at Bernstein Research who follows P&G. "You then have to convince the consumer to try the product ... and then get that consumer to break their old habit to make a new one."

FIRST LOAD: A PRODUCT IS BORN

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The newest innovation in ... laundry? Anatomy of a new product, from idea to store shelves

Anatomy of an Apology: Rush Limbaugh's Shameless Week

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Danzig

Money talks, apparently, to Rush Limbaugh, as the conservative radio trollhas issued an apology to Sandra Fluke in a last-ditch effort to stanch the flow of advertisers abandoning the show in droves. The comments began on Wednesday, after Fluke, a Georgetown law student and activist, was barred by Republicans to speak before an all-male Congressional panel contraception. Fluke insteadtestified before Democratic members of the House of Representatives, which earned this commentary from Limbaugh:

"What does it say about the college co-ed Susan Fluke [sic] who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sexwhat does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex. She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex."

The next day, after the Senate had already voted down the GOP measure attempting to block women's access to contraception coverage, and amid growing controversy over his incendiary and nonsensical comments, Limbaugh chose to doubled-down on his attacks on Fluke.

"So, Ms. Fluke and the rest of you feminazis, here's the deal: If we are going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it. And I'll tell you what it is. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch."

He also remarked in that broadcast,"I think this is hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. The Left has been thrown into an outright conniption fit!" Except so had the Right: Rick Santorum called the claims "absurd," a spokesoman for John Boenher said they were "inappropriate, as is trying to raise money off the situation." Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown said via his own spokesperson that "as the father of two daughters, [he] found the remarks offensive and reprehensible and believes Limbaugh should apologize." As a Twitter and Reddit boycott campaign mobilized on Friday, HuffPost tech blogger Catharine Smith writes, news had broken that President Obama had called Fluke to offer words of encouragement. That brought more mockery and shaming from Limbaugh.

RELATED: Advertisers Distancing Themselves Over Limbaugh 'Slut' Rant

Meanwhile,advertisers were pulling out in droves: First Sleep Number, then The Sleep Train, Quicken Loans, Legal Zoom, and Citrix all pulled their spots from his show.

RELATED: As Advertisers Drop Him, Limbaugh Mocks Obama's Call to Sandra Fluke

Which brings us to his apology, posted to his website on Saturday:

For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.

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Anatomy of an Apology: Rush Limbaugh's Shameless Week

Heart-Pacing Devices Hold Promise for Heart Failure

Posted on March 4, 2012 by ev1

(HealthDay News) -- New research provides more evidence that a new type of pacemaker/defibrillator technology may be a good option for patients with mild forms of heart failure.

An international team of researchers reports that the kind of heart "pacing" provided by new defibrillators and pacemakers can help these patients. But the research still needs to be confirmed before doctors begin embracing its findings, said a cardiologist familiar with the research.

The technology in question "is expensive, resource-intensive, and associated with increased risk of complications compared with less complex devices," explained Dr. Jeptha Curtis, an assistant professor of medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine.

Heart failure occurs when the heart fails to pump blood properly, often as a result of heart attacks, and affects an estimated 5.7 million Americans. "Patients often feel fatigue, as well as shortness of breath from fluid building up in the lungs and swelling of the legs from fluid building up there as well," said Dr. Kevin Heist, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Read more...

AyurGold for Healthy Blood

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Closing The Medical Data Gap: Using IT To Close The Gap Between Health Information Systems And External Documents

Posted on March 4, 2012 by ev1

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Healthcare creates a wealth of data. Every patient encounter, even a routine checkup, generates a significant volume of information ranging from personal identification data such as Social Security number, age, and address, to clinician notes and impressions, patient data like blood pressure, temperature, pulse, as well as complexlaboratory information.

The trend is toward digital medical information, automated data entry, and the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR), Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and Health Information Exchanges (HIE), among many other health IT tools. Healthcare reform and various government-led stimulus packages have further pushed the digital revolution onto healthcare. Nonetheless, there is a significant gap between reality and full adoption of digital medical information. A great deal of information is still produced on paper. Integrating it into an EHR for digital archiving, search, retrieval and analysis is a difficult, expensive and time-consuming task.

The Dark Report is happy to offer our readers a chance to download our recently published FREE White Paper “Closing The Medical Data Gap: Using IT To Close The Gap Between Health Information Systems And External Documents” at absolutely no charge. This free download will provide readers with a detailed explanation of how to improve Health Information Systems and IT in the laboratory environment.

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Structured Data Versus Unstructured Data
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For more about closing the medical data gap in your lab, please CLICK HERE.

Table of Contents

Introduction — Page 3

Chapter 1. Structured Data Versus Unstructured Data — Page 5

Chapter 2. The Push For Digital Medical Data — Page 7

Chapter 3. The Laboratory Environment — Page 8

Chapter 4. Data Approaches — Page 10

Chapter 5. Data Gap Solutions – Extract Systems — Page 14

Chapter 6. Data Gap Filled — Page 16

References — Page 18

Appendices

A-1 About Mark Terry — Page 20

A-2 About Extract Systems — Page 21

A-3 About DARK Daily — Page 22

A-4 About The Dark Intelligence Group, Inc., and THE DARK REPORT — Page 23

A-5 About the Executive War College on Laboratory and Pathology Management — Page 24

A-6 About David Rasmussen — Page 26

Terms of Use — Page 28

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HistoRx achieves dominant IP position with digital pathology instrumentation

Posted on March 4, 2012 by ev1

BRANFORD, Conn., Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — HistoRx, the leader in quantitative immunohistochemistry, has earned two additional patents covering AQUA technology and critical elements of digital microscopy standardization. Combined with patents earned previously, these issuances by the US Patent & Trademark Office advance the Company’s proprietary position in standardization of quantitative digital pathology to a dominant role in the industry.

Challenges associated with the generation of reproducible digital microscopy images and image data at the appropriate stringency for quantitative analysis are addressed by these newly issued patents. Digital pathology initially evolved to capture images of clinical samples interrogated through the microscope for telepathology, archival and research use. Today, however, in the research and clinical settings, digital microscopy images support image analysis as well. The image is the primary source of data used for the assessment of a variety of features of the clinical sample, from morphological characteristics to measurement of biomarker expression. Robust quantitative data can only be achieved from analysis of reproducible images, generated from standardized digital microscopy instruments. Digital pathology companies interested in making the leap from merely qualitative to truly quantitative analysis can ensure an effective transition to clinic-ready results through collaboration with HistoRx.

US Patent 8,121,794 “Systems and methods for automated analysis of cells and tissues,” issued February 21, 2012, and is the third US patent protecting methods and now, microscopy systems, that localize and quantitate a biomarker in subcellular compartments in a tissue sample, the hallmark of AQUA technology.
US Patent 8,120,768, “Method and system for standardizing microscope instruments,” also issued February 21, 2012, and is the third US patent protecting methods, software, and standardized microscopy systems that provide for the generation of reproducible digital microscopy images and image data at the appropriate stringency for quantitative analysis.

“Our patent position has evolved beyond AQUA technology to methods necessary for advancing digital microscopy images from images that are visually appealing to images that are suitable for quantitative analysis with the accuracy required for clinical results,” commented Wendy Davis, VP of Intellectual Property and Portfolio Management at HistoRx. “What can be measured can be managed. It was through the use of AQUA technology that the need to standardize microscopy systems and the images they generate was revealed. Therefore the 8,120,768 patent is broadly applicable to digital microscopy bringing its utility from generating images to generating quantitative clinical diagnostic results.”

AQUA technology is an automated, quantitative IHC testing method that enables measurement of protein biomarkers in tissue as an aid to a pathologist’s diagnosis. Such precise determination of first, the location within the tumor cell and second, the amount in each location is not possible with conventional testing methods, such as standard immunohistochemistry (IHC). AQUA analysis is used in cancer research by more than twenty leading academic centers worldwide, is part of the clinical development plans for more than ten drug candidates from major pharma companies, and has been cited in more than 120 peer-reviewed publications. AQUA technology is currently available on the ScanScope FL™ from Aperio and the Vectra™ 2 system from Caliper Life Sciences, a PerkinElmer company.

About HistoRx, Inc.

HistoRx, Inc. is the leader in quantitative immunohistochemistry and a leading developer of tissue-based diagnostic solutions to advance individualized patient care. The company’s products and services are based on proprietary analysis of tissue biomarkers using AQUA technology. HistoRx is commercializing a pipeline of proprietary diagnostic products targeting improved treatment decision-making and patient outcomes in cancer care. For more information, please visit http://www.historx.com.

SOURCE HistoRx, Inc.