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Research and Markets: Artificial cells, Cell Engineering and Therapy

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ad83a7/artificial_cells) has announced the addition of Woodhead Publishing Ltd's new book "Artificial cells, cell engineering and therapy" to their offering.

Artificial cells, cell engineering and therapy are emerging technologies which will make a significant impact on the future of medicine and healthcare. However, research within the field is vast. This unique book provides a comprehensive study of the most recent advances in the field and its practical applications.

The first part of the book offers the reader an introduction to the basics of artificial cell technology with chapters on its origins, design and current status within medicine and future prospects. Part 2 covers apoptosis, the use of bone marrow stromal cells in myocardial regeneration together with signalling and tissue engineering. Part 3 discusses artificial cells for therapy, procedures for various clinical conditions and the current status of the discipline within the field. The book concludes with a final section on the role of artificial cells in medicine with particular focus on the use of artificial cells as blood substitutes and their potential use in myocardial regeneration, drug delivery and in treating kidney and bowel diseases, diabetes and cancer.

Key Topics Covered:

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ad83a7/artificial_cells

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Research and Markets: Artificial cells, Cell Engineering and Therapy

Stem cell study ‘should aim at innovation in treatment’

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

By Bonnie James Deputy News Editor The stem cell and regenerative therapy programme, constituting a major part of research at Qatar Cardiovascular Research Centre (QCRC), has important clinical and scientific implications, co-chairman Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub has said. He was giving a keynote presentation at the Qatar International Conference on Stem Cell Science and Policy 2012, which concluded on Thursday at Qatar National Convention Centre. Myocardium (the muscular tissue of the heart) regeneration and tissue engineering and valves tissue engineering are among the focal areas at QCRC, which aims to establish in Qatar an internationally competitive centre of excellence for cardio-vascular research. QCRC, which has a heart muscle lab and a tissue engineering, regeneration lab, works with a mission to maintain a translational focus, relevant to the development of health policy and practice, and provide opportunities for capacity building, professional development and research collaborations in Qatar. It is also meant to provide opportunities for biotechnology development in Qatar and contribute to cardio-vascular health in the developing world through improved knowledge base, capacity building and development of appropriate tools and strategies focused on poorer countries. Cardio-vascular diseases (CVDs) kill 17mn people per year globally and there is particularly high incidence in the Middle East and Gulf region, Prof Yacoub pointed out. The incidence of CVDs is three times more in the region than in the UK, the US or Europe. Smoking, one of the main reasons for CVDs, is also increasing in the eastern Mediterranean region compared to the Americas. There is a significant lack of clinical, epidemiological and genetic data from this region and an overwhelming need exists to better understand epidemiology and disease mechanisms of CVDs. Research should then be linked to development of appropriate tools and strategies to strengthen prevention, diagnosis and treatment, he said. Pointing out that heart transplant options for those suffering from severe heart failure are becoming increasingly rare, Prof Yacoub observed that the number of donor hearts is going down globally. While we used to do up to 130 heart transplants a year at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in the UK in the late 80s, now we would be lucky to do 20, he said while emphasising the need to focus more on the reversibility of heart failure. Few recent drug trials have shown evidence of minor reverse remodelling and there have been near-complete reversal of almost every change in myocardium in some patients. There are unprecedented opportunities to unravel the secrets of heart failure at cellular and molecular levels, he stressed.

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Stem cell study ‘should aim at innovation in treatment’

APS Issues Policy Requiring Identification of Sex or Gender in Reporting of Scientific Research

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

New policy to apply to all articles submitted for publication in societys 13 peer-reviewed journals

Newswise BETHESDA, Md. (March 1, 2012)The American Physiology Society (APS) has announced a new policy requiring the reporting of the sex of experimental animals and the sex or gender of humans used in studies submitted for publication in any of the organizations 13 peer-reviewed journals. This notable requirement for all research study authors has been approved by the APS leadership and will be presented in an editorial, In Pursuit of Scientific Excellence Sex Matters (http://bit.ly/Arm0FL) written by Virginia Miller, Ph.D., Professor, Surgery and Physiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. The announcement was made by Hershel Raff, Ph.D., Chair of the societys Publications Committee. He added that the editorial will appear in the journals beginning this month.

At first glance this change in author guidelines appears to align to the overall acceptance by the scientific community that sex or gender issues must be addressed in the conduct and reporting of physiological and scientific research. Unfortunately, what has been accepted in theory by the research community has not been universally reflected in the current content of scientific journal articles, said Dr. Miller in an interview. With the acceptance that sex does matter, it would follow that scientific journal research articles would report sex or gender of the experimental material in the Methodology section of the submitted content but this has not been the case, she said.

Why Sex and Gender Matter

Dr. Miller points to the 2001 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences report, "Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter?" which offered the first significant assessment of sex and gender differences in biomedical research and determined that sex does matter. The IOM report, supported by the Society for Women's Health Research, found that sex differences important to health and human disease occur at conception and throughout the life span, affecting behavior, perception, and health. However, a recent published review of basic science journals, including studies of cells in culture from high impact cardiovascular journals, and of basic and clinical scientific literature, suggests that sex of experimental material is not consistently reported.

The literature review found that less than 40 percent of studies using experimental animals and only about 25 percent of studies using cells in culture identified the sex of the experimental material. This percentage is low given the growing knowledge base indicating that physiology and pathophysiology differ between male and female animals and humans beyond reproductive function to include all physiological systems, according to the editorial.

The article offers future authors guidance on how the sex of experimental material should be reported. Proposed IOM definitions state that sex is a biological construct dictated by the presence of sex chromosome and in animals and humans the presence of functional reproductive organs. On the other hand, gender is a cultural concept referring to behaviors which might be directed by specific stimuli (visual, olfactory) or by psychosocial expectations that result from assigned or perceived sex and therefore can influence biological outcomes. The new editorial policy for all APS journals requires the reporting of sex for cells, tissues and experimental animals and humans (i.e. male and female) or gender where appropriate and suitable for the experimental design of the research effort. In the era of physiological genomics and individualized medicine, the presence of an XX or XY chromosomal complement is fundamental to the genome of an individual person, animal, tissue or cell, writes the author.

Publication and Clinical Medicine

Dr. Miller, who is a past member of the APS governing Council and who has held leadership positions for six scientific journals and provides peer review for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other health-related research organization, closes the editorial with a call for other scientific journals to adopt similar policies. She advocates that in our pursuit of scientific excellence, sex matters, and promotes that adoption of this policy by all journal reviewers; associate editors and editors will improve communication of scientific results and perhaps assist in more rapid translation of information from basic science to clinical medicine.

According to Raff, The APS believes that our society must be a leader in instituting and enforcing a policy for reporting sex and gender in experimental studies. The reporting strengthens our understanding of physiology, which is the basis of translational medicine. The policy is currently in effect for all APS journals.

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APS Issues Policy Requiring Identification of Sex or Gender in Reporting of Scientific Research

APS issues new policy requiring identification of sex or gender in reporting scientific research

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 1-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Donna Krupa dkrupa@the-aps.org 301-634-7209 American Physiological Society

BETHESDA, Md. (March 1, 2012)The American Physiology Society (APS) has announced a new policy requiring the reporting of the sex of experimental animals and the sex or gender of humans used in studies submitted for publication in any of the organization's 13 peer-reviewed journals. This notable requirement for all research study authors has been approved by the APS leadership and will be presented in an editorial, "In Pursuit of Scientific Excellence Sex Matters," written by Virginia Miller, Ph.D., Professor, Surgery and Physiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. The announcement was made by Hershel Raff, Ph.D., Chair of the society's Publications Committee. He added that the editorial will appear in the journals beginning this month.

At first glance this change in author guidelines appears to align to the overall acceptance by the scientific community that sex or gender issues must be addressed in the conduct and reporting of physiological and scientific research. "Unfortunately, what has been accepted in theory by the research community has not been universally reflected in the current content of scientific journal articles," said Dr. Miller in an interview. "With the acceptance that 'sex does matter', it would follow that scientific journal research articles would report sex or gender of the experimental material in the Methodology section of the submitted content but this has not been the case," she said.

Why Sex and Gender Matter

"The literature review found that less than 40 percent of studies using experimental animals and only about 25 percent of studies using cells in culture identified the sex of the experimental material. This percentage is low given the growing knowledge base indicating that physiology and pathophysiology differ between male and female animals and humans beyond reproductive function to include all physiological systems," according to the editorial.

The article offers future authors guidance on how the sex of experimental material should be reported. Proposed IOM definitions state that "sex" is a biological construct dictated by the presence of sex chromosome and in animals and humans the presence of functional reproductive organs. On the other hand, "gender" is a cultural concept referring to behaviors which might be directed by specific stimuli (visual, olfactory) or by psychosocial expectations that result from assigned or perceived sex and therefore can influence biological outcomes. The new editorial policy for all APS journals requires the reporting of sex for cells, tissues and experimental animals and humans (i.e. male and female) or gender where appropriate and suitable for the experimental design of the research effort. "In the era of physiological genomics and individualized medicine, the presence of an XX or XY chromosomal complement is fundamental to the genome of an individual person, animal, tissue or cell," writes the author.

Publication and Clinical Medicine

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APS issues new policy requiring identification of sex or gender in reporting scientific research

Jessica Hart 'realistic about longevity of modelling career'

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

Jessica Hart has revealed that she is realistic about her modelling career.

The 25-year-old supermodel, who is best known as one of the faces of Australian department store Myer, said that she is prepared for her career to end early because her work is based on what she looks like.

Hart told the Herald Sun: "You get to an age in this industry [and] you start to think you're over the hill. There's only so long you will keep getting a certain type of work."

She did, however, reveal her relief that casting agents are changing their ways, saying: "What's good at the moment is that they're going back to that older, more interesting-looking person, rather than just young girls."

Hart has previously said that she likes to keep herself "busy" with work, but admitted that she sometimes needs to force herself to take a break.

Earlier this week, Hart appeared on the catwalk at Myer's Autumn/Winter launch alongside Jennifer Hawkins.

> Jessica Hart, Jennifer Hawkins battle "intense" weather on Myer shoot > Jessica Hart dating Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend Stavros Niarchos?

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Jessica Hart 'realistic about longevity of modelling career'

Travel: Pritikin Longevity Center has it shome at Florida golf resort

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

MIAMI There I was, scooting awkwardly across the floor of the warmed pool, lifting my water weights high in the air, palm trees swaying in the background, when a woman next to me leaned in and whispered, This place is a miracle. Its changed my life.

Caroline Pinkus, 53, of London, wasnt kidding. Nearing the end of her monthlong stay at the Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa, she was losing weight and feeling better and more importantly had gone from taking five blood pressure pills a day to half a pill.

Id gone through life burying my head in the sand. I thought if I dressed nice and fixed my hair and my nails, I still looked good, but I was carrying this weight and I wasnt healthy, she said. This place has reformed me.

Pritikin has been changing lives for nearly 40 years. In the 1970s, Nathan Pritikin was among the first to assert that diet and exercise, not drugs and surgery, should be the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease.

He brought that philosophy to the first Pritikin Longevity Center, which opened in 1975 in California. Today, the Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa calls Miami home. About two years ago, it moved into the spa portion of the Doral Golf Resort. The resort itself includes a large spa, suites, meeting rooms, several pools, a fitness centre, dining and golf.

For most of us, part of enjoying a new city or country involves sampling local fare. Often, we sample lots of it. But what if you actually lost weight on vacation? Pinkus did. And in my own three-day stay at Pritikin I lost three pounds and my husband lost five (yes, much of it was water weight, but I didnt feel bloated and disgusting on the airplane home as I normally do after a vacation).

Most of the people I talked with at Pritikin were on a return trip or an extended stay, and many said the reason for their trip was to become more healthy. Some were taking a week out of their busy schedules running companies; others brought their retired parents, hoping that the experience would inspire them to live healthier.

The environment, made safe by doctors, trainers, nutritionists and spa workers around every corner, is what draws many of them.

I feel safe and not scared to do new things, Pinkus told me.

Other health vacations might have the spa, the food and the exercise, but Pritikin prides itself on the educational component. We give you the tools you need to be successful after youve left here, says Hubert Wewer, the general manager.

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Travel: Pritikin Longevity Center has it shome at Florida golf resort

OCO Presents Longevity Awards

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

Eileen Brophy, president of Brophy Services Inc., Central New Yorks largest locally owned and operated commercial janitorial and office cleaning service contractor, was selected recently as one of the Women of Distinction being honored at the 100thAnniversary Gala sponsored by Continue reading

Oswego High School senior Drake Becksted shattered the New York State Public High School Athletic Association record in the prelims of the 100 freestyle as he advances to the NYSPHAA championship finals on Saturday. OHS swimmer Reeve Callen is among the top 16 in the 100 free and will advance in competition and also turned in a lifetime best of 1:45.39 in the 200 free

Read Across America Day was celebrated in Oswego schools on Friday as the birthday of Dr. Seuss was in the spotlight. Oswego High National Honor Society members traveled across the district reading to elementary school age students.

Rhonda Marr of Closer to Home Acupuncture, announced the opening of her new office location at The Spa on the River in Baldwinsville. Marr has been in practice for five years serving the Cortland area and will now also see patients two days a week at the award-winning Spa on the River, located at 2372 W. Genesee Road.

The Titanic 100 Years Later will be the focus of the March 17 meeting of the Oswego Town Historical Society. The meeting will be at the Oswego Town Hall on County Route 7 at 10 a.m.

Yonder Launches Neon DNA Art Collection

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

Contemporary Art x Your DNA / Yonder is a group of scientists, artists, and all-around creative people.

Carlsbad, California (PRWEB) March 02, 2012

Yonders Niteo DNA art collection is a must-have for anyone wanting a significant, personalized work of art, said Andy Bass, one of Yonders founders. The abstract DNA patterns represent the deeper insight of who we are as individuals. The incorporation of neon gives the art an alluring presence in a room.

See the Niteo Collection at http://www.yonderbiology.com/DNA_art/niteo

The DNA code is unique to each individual. Yonder's scientists interpret the DNA code and the groups artists use the interpretation to create original works of art. Yonder has developed techniques to utilize any person's DNA from a simple cotton cheek swab. The DNA samples are processed in Yonders California laboratory, and original works of art are presented based on each individual's DNA code. Yonder provides a dedicated consultant for every project. Each customer receives a DNA Art Guide that describes the scientific meaning behind their individual art pieces.

About Yonder

Yonder biology is a DNA art company based in San Diego, California. We are scientists, artists, and all-around creative people. Yonder has developed a process to take any person's DNA via a cheek swab, process the DNA sample in our laboratory, and give an original art piece back that the person can hang on the wall, point to and say "That's Me!"

Everyone's DNA is entirely unique and holds the basic code of who we are as individuals. We understand the beauty in this genetic code and want to provide an artistic window for people to share their individuality with others.

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/yonderart

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Yonder Launches Neon DNA Art Collection

DNA testing could combat dog mess

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

DOGS in the Castletown area could be DNA tested as a way of combating the problem of fouling in public places.

Landward Caithness Highland councillor Robert Coghill told Castletown and District Community Council on Thursday night that an organisation called Green Paws carries out such tests and may be interested in undertaking a pilot project in the Far North.

The London-based company has developed technology to identify dog waste through the animal's DNA and has carried out testing in parts of Europe.

Mr Coghill, who had originally suggested the idea at a community council meeting at the end of last year, pointed out that DNA testing is carried out in countries such as Italy, Germany and the USA. He felt such an initiative could work in Castletown and other areas of the county where there are difficulties with dog mess.

Mr Coghill, a former NFU area president, said farm animals, including cattle and horses, have passports while sheep are double tagged to help with traceability. He suggested doing something similar with dogs to try and tackle the fouling problem.

Mr Coghill said all dogs could have the DNA test, which is not expensive. Such a move, he argued, would help trace offenders.

He stressed that not only is dog dirt unsightly on public paths and pavements but can be a health hazard to young children.

He acknowledged the majority of dog owners are responsible and it is a minority who cause the difficulty.

Community councillors, who have regularly complained about dog mess in public places, backed such a scheme and said it may help to solve what is an ongoing problem.

They said it could be the only way to deal with dog owners who do not clean up after their pets.

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DNA testing could combat dog mess

Editorial: Expanding DNA database isn't enough; access must grow, too

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

Gov. Andrew Cuomos proposal to vastly expand the states DNA database to include samples from all convicts would mark the logical evolution of a tool that has helped solve crimes in New York and beyond even decades after their occurrence. It would be a wasted opportunity, however, to stop with that reform and not make other common-sense fixes to bolster the delivery of justice in our courts.

After aligning himself with a parade of prosecutors supporting his DNA legislation, the governor hinted at some compromise Wednesday, saying he was open to critics call for more DNA-related protections.

Democrats in the Assembly and civil rights groups have been pressing for more safeguards to ensure against wrongful convictions, and to ease access to the DNA database for those seeking to press their innocence.

Discussion of these added protections most certainly should be included in the debate over the Cuomo measure and be touted by the governor and state prosecutors as well; their obligation runs not only to crime victims, but also to ensuring that our criminal justice system is infused with fairness.

No less authority than the chief judge of New York, Jonathan Lippman, has identified related areas where that is not the case.

In his State of the Judiciary address last month, Lippman said preventing wrongful convictions had to be a part of any plan to expand the DNA database. At present, DNA samples are taken from those convicted of felonies and some misdemeanors, meaning about 48 percent of criminals give samples. Cuomos measure, while requiring samples from all convicts, would only deal with part of the justice equation.

Lippmans fixes would include giving convicted people greater access to DNA testing and clarifying the role of judges to order testing, rather than leaving prosecutors with so much discretion to order such testing. He also called for extending access to DNA testing to convicts who pleaded guilty to major crimes they later claim they did not commit a nod to the problem of false confessions. He also called for mandatory videotaping of interrogations and reforms related to the identification of defendants by eyewitnesses both areas subject to damning errors.

(Page 2 of 2)

The case of Jeffrey Deskovic, who served more than 15 years for a murder he did not commit, explains some of the Lippman reforms. Deskovic, who had confessed to the 1989 killing of Peekskill High classmate Angela Correa, was exonerated by DNA evidence in 2006, after spending more than 15 years behind bars. When he was released, Deskovic recounted how his plea for such testing had been summarily rejected by former Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Her successor, Janet DiFiore, later ordered the DNA testing. It identified someone else as Correas killer, a man already behind bars for a subsequent homicide.

We must tackle the source of wrongful convictions innocent people convicted of crimes they did not commit, said Judge Lippman, quoted in a New York Law Journal. He formed a permanent task force to address the problem of wrongful convictions a recommendation itself derived from an independent inquiry into the Deskovic case. When an innocent person is convicted of a crime, the individuals liberty is irretrievably and unjustly taken while the real perpetrator remains free to continue to prey on the public. Cuomo, the Senate, which has already passed the expanded DNA bill, and the Assembly have ample opportunity here to ensure more justice in New York.

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Editorial: Expanding DNA database isn't enough; access must grow, too

DNA to Be Sequenced for Patients with Rare Diseases

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

Newswise Rare genetic diseases, long overlooked because they affect relatively few people, are getting new attention. Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are reaching out to patient advocacy groups and offering to decode the DNA of 99 patients with rare diseases to help find the genetic alterations responsible for their illnesses.

The patients DNA will be sequenced at the universitys Genomics and Pathology Services (GPS) at no cost to patients or the advocacy groups. The new effort is known as the Rare99X Clinical Exome Challenge.

The genomics revolution provides many of the tools that may unlock the secrets of rare diseases, says Jimmy Lin, PhD, research instructor in pathology and immunology. We are excited to form partnerships with patient advocacy groups to apply these technologies to advance clinical understanding of these diseases.

Collectively, an estimated 7,000 rare diseases affect some 25 million Americans. They range from Huntingtons disease, a neurodegenerative disorder diagnosed in adulthood, to Neimann-Pick, a metabolic disorder which can occur in infancy.

In recent years, advances in technology have made DNA sequencing cheaper, faster and more accurate. For patients with rare diseases, scientists now can use that technology to find the genetic error or errors that most likely caused their illness.

Many rare diseases are thought to be caused by genetic variations in the small portion of the DNA that codes for proteins, collectively known as the exome. This is the part of the DNA that will be sequenced.

By early last year, exome sequencing had already helped researchers identify the genetic causes for 39 rare diseases. Scientists think this is only the beginning.

Identifying and validating gene alterations linked to disease is now enabled by the advent of new sequencing methods that allow for highly sensitive analysis of the patients genetic makeup, says Karen Seibert, PhD, director of GPS and research professor of pathology and immunology.

GPS began accepting proposals for exome sequencing from patient advocacy groups on Feb. 29, which was designated as Rare Disease Day. Final selection of the projects will occur this summer. A panel of genetics experts will review the proposals to help GPS leaders choose the projects most likely to improve care of patients with rare diseases.

Lin is the founder of the Rare Genomics Institute, a nonprofit that designs personalized research studies for rare disease patients, connects them with the latest technology and top researchers and helps secure funding with an online platform. The institutes mission is to make gene sequencing and other advanced techniques accessible to patients with rare diseases. The institute is preparing online training sessions and other activities to help advocacy organizations create their proposals for the Rare99X Clinical Exome Challenge.

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DNA to Be Sequenced for Patients with Rare Diseases

Biology students using 3D technology in the classroom

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

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The shades are on during this biology class at Broadalbin-Perth High School. The reason...3D technology.

Biology teach Brian Henry said, "It's been nothing short of spectacular in regards to teaching certain elements of biology and allowing students to view it in a completely different world."

Students viewed three dimensional models and instructional videos featuring, for example, the pumping of a human heart or photosynthesis.

Henry said, "The images pop out at them. They can almost reach out and touch them, and they are completely engaged from the minute they put their glasses on to the time the bell rings, and from an education standpoint you can't ask for anything more than that."

And that seems to be the case here. Upon first look, it's obviously different than a traditional learning tool we all know - the textbook.

Student Cody Husek said, "Being handed a diagram on a piece of paper and you're expected to look at it hard and look at the ventricles, I think it's a lot easier to get something out of it when you can see it on three dimension with something like this."

Henry said, "When you throw a 3D projection out there and the animations come to life, all of a sudden those kids that weren't engaged at one point are the first ones raising their hands, what's this all about, can we do this, etc."

Along with the visuals, this program also speaks for itself.

Each unit is on "loan" for participating schools across the state , and then they are returned to the district's regional information center. For a school to own one, they run about $16,000 each. But as advanced as this is, it's also the world we live in.

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Biology students using 3D technology in the classroom

Baker to head biology dept. Discusses department goals and passion for science

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

Baker to head biology dept. Discusses department goals and passion for science

NEWS EDITOR

March 2, 2012

E.C. Whitehead Professor, Biology Graduate Program Co-Director, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator Tania A. Baker has been named as the next head of the department of biology. She will assume the position on April 1, succeeding Chris A. Kaiser PhD 88, who was selected to run the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) in October. Baker was the associate department head for biology from 1999 to 2004.

Professor Baker, like her predecessor Chris Kaiser, is a former MacVicar Faculty Fellow who will, I am sure, maintain the departments standing as a premier educator of biologists, and as a world-leading department in biological research, said School of Science Dean Marc A. Kastner in a statement through the News Office. I am thrilled that she has agreed to take on the leadership of the department at a time when biology plays a bigger role than ever at the Institute.

The Tech caught up with Baker in her office to talk about her goals for the biology department and her career.

The Tech: How do you feel about becoming the new biology department head?

Tania Baker: I am honored to have the confidence of my colleagues and the dean, and I feel very fortunate that my career has been supported by some great department heads in the past. Ive been here almost 20 years, and over that time, Ive really been helped by the great environment created by previous department heads; I hope I can give back some effort to the department that will help the careers of others.

TT: What are some of your goals as department head?

TB: The department is strong and vibrant, so I think we want to continue to be a cutting edge institution for biological research, as well as a great place for teaching and learning at the undergraduate and graduate level.

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Baker to head biology dept. Discusses department goals and passion for science

Nobel Laureate Explores Proteins, Surgery

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Roger Tsien discussed current research on fluorescent proteins, or proteins that emit bright colors when exposed to ultraviolet blue light, and their uses in surgery at Emory on Thursday.

The Department of Biochemistry held the lecture, titled Breeding and Building molecules to Spy on Cells and Disease Processes, at the Woodruff Health Sciences building as part of the Department of Biochemistrys annual Donald B. McCormick Lecture. The annual lecture honors McCormick, who served as the chair of the department from 1979 to 1994 and is currently professor emeritus at Emorys School of Medicine.

McCormick is recognized for his many achievements including the publication of more than 500 papers, leading expertise in nutritional biochemistry, and membership in notable committees such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In 2008, Tsien received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) with his colleagues Osamu Shimomura and Martin Chalfie. He is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and professor at the University of California-San Diego.

He focused on proteins called miniSOGs, which are single oxygen-generating miniproteins and genetic tags used in electron microscopy (EM). He said electrons are beamed at an object to produce a highly magnified image. These miniSOGs are sequences of amino acids that can be attached to proteins, Tsien noted. When miniSOGs are exposed to blue light, they produce a type of molecular oxygen that is visible in EM. The use of EM creates an amplified image under the microscope which is of a greater resolution than the image produced by light microscopy.

It is really amazing how many different applications there are for the tag, James Roed, post doctorate fellow at the School of Medicine noted. The design is simple yet so complex and is really going to revolutionize cancer treatment but has potential in being used to tether probes to drugs as well.

Tsien explained the clinical applications of fluorescent dyes in cancer research and treatment. This is a very nonselective process. Tsien explained. When you try to do this with a fluorescent tag IV injection into a mouse, you get a fluorescent tail, because it sticks to the epithelia, which is the skin of the animal, at the site of the injection.

It then travels to different regions of the body but practically never reaches the tumor that you care about, Tsien said.

We decided in our lab that what was necessary was a way of making this process selective, not just indiscriminate, he said.

He then showed images of tumors in mice and explained the difficulty the human eye experiences in differentiating a tumor from the surrounding flesh. When the tissue was exposed via fluorescent illumination, the boundaries of the tumor became easily distinguishable as the fluorescent light blue mass stood out.

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Nobel Laureate Explores Proteins, Surgery

Nick Denis trades in laboratory for the octagon

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

darren yourk From Friday's Globe and Mail Published Thursday, Mar. 01, 2012 8:23PM EST Last updated Friday, Mar. 02, 2012 8:42AM EST

Nick Denis can tell you what it feels like to knock a man out cold while thousands of fans roar their approval. He can also talk at length about proteomics the study of proteins and what it takes to finish a master degree in biochemistry.

Not a lot attention is paid to what goes on between the cauliflower ears of mixed martial arts fighters, but Denis, who walked away from the research lab one year short of getting his PhD from the University of Ottawa to focus on the octagon, is proof theres a lot more to the sport than power and toughness.

To be able to out-think an opponent is a huge advantage in a fight, Denis said. You have to understand how to react to situations and be analytical. It looks like just brute force in there, but theres actually technique and skill.

The Ottawa native roared into the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in January, knocking out Joseph Sandoval with a series of elbow strikes just 22 seconds into the first round of his debut bout in Nashville an effort that earned him a $45,000 bonus cheque for knockout of the night. Hes now aiming to cement his status as an emerging talent when he returns to the octagon to face Johnny Bedford May 5 in East Rutherford, N.J.

After studying karate and tae kwon do in his youth, it was boredom with weightlifting workouts that got Denis started down the path to the UFC. He enrolled in a jiu-jitsu class with a friend as a new way to stay in shape and was hooked immediately. It wasnt long before he decided to train toward competing as an MMA fighter.

At the same time, Denis enrolled at the University of Ottawa, balancing a busy academic schedule in the world of analytical biochemistry with morning and evening training sessions.

Jeffrey Smith, a professor in the chemistry department at Carleton University who shared an office with Denis for almost three years at the University of Ottawa, calls him a gifted scientist.

He is really good with his hands, which is a big skill in the lab, Smith said. A lot of people have book smarts, but at the end of the day you have to have the manual dexterity to use the equipment and do things accurately. He was good at it, but Im not sure he enjoyed it all that much. MMA is really what hes passionate about.

While Denis showed up to the lab some days with a lumpy face and black eyes from training, Smith said it was his big personality that really made him stand out.

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Nick Denis trades in laboratory for the octagon

Cannabis Science Issues Potential Revenues And Market Data for the New Cannabis Science Brand OTC Products

Posted on March 2, 2012 by ev1

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTCBB:CBIS.OB - News) a pioneering U.S. biotech company developing pharmaceutical cannabis and hemp products, issues market data for the four Cannabis Science brand products for the newest over-the-counter line to be released.

The Global Anti-Aging Products Market to reach $291.9 Billion by 2015, and the U. S. Market for Anti-Aging Products for Appearance Enhancement is expected to be more than US$5.0 billion by 2015. The global cosmeceuticals market is US$ 27.2 Billionin 2010 according to a new report by Global Industry Analysts. The US market for skin irritation creams and sunscreen is $6.5 billion. US demand for cosmeceutical products is expected to increase 5.8 percent annually through 2015. The Global Lip Care Products Market is expected to reach $1.7 Billion by 2015. (reportlinker.com NEW YORK,Jan. 11, 2012/PRNewswire)

Cannabis Science is among the leading experts specializing in developing all natural organic bio healing hemp health, beauty and cosmetics products. Our philosophy is to bring the best products possible to the entire world, to help improve and promote a healthier natural way of life. Superior products are born from scientific data and research and we have come to a new understanding in the keys to our product development.

Dr. Moe Afaneh, Cannabis Science COO, explained, We believe our sunscreen and protectant is far superior to others, because we have invested time into understanding what occurs in the body and on the skin, and targeting the cascade of events that occurs when people get sunburned. We have meticulously targeted key components that lead to the sunburn and have created our elite formulation so that one instantly feels the skin begin to cool, the pain begins to dissipate and the healing process has begun. We have created our own cascade of healing properties using the finest natural ingredients to mimic our bodys natural pathway when responding to a skin burn.

Dr Afaneh added, Another of our topical skin care products helps provide relief to various skin conditions such as eczema and other recurring skin irritations. We have studied various populations and age groups that suffer from acute and chronic skin irritations. These symptoms varied from raised dry patches of skin, red blotches, hardened patches, mostly appearing in areas of the arms and legs, as well as areas of the body that tended to constantly rub against clothing or other surfaces. Our specialized formulation was designed based on understanding the patients expectations from over-the-counter skin care products. By understanding patients needs, we created our all natural unique formulation to help improve their quality of life on daily basis. It is designed to help stop the itching and pain, first and foremost, and then begins to lock moisture in and around the area, and then our natural blend of ingredients begins to help the body heal the skin and reduce the irritation.

Dr. Afaneh concludes with, Our anti-aging skin serum, specifically formulated for women, helps rejuvenate and soften the skin. The Cannabis Science serum uses only natural ingredients, including hemp oil extract and many other natural oils and ingredients. Our serum leaves the skin looking radiant, energized, softer, healthier, and full of life. Our all-natural lip balm that contains hemp oil extract and our unique blend of ingredients and is unique in that it has natural ingredients that help protect against bacteria and fungus. It also has SPF to protect against the harmful effects of the sun, and is infused with antioxidants and many other natural extracts to soften the lips and lock the moisture in.

About Cannabis Science, Inc.

Cannabis Science, Inc. is at the forefront of pharmaceutical grade medical marijuana research and development. The formulations will address the needs of patients choosing to use concentrated cannabis extracts to treat their ailments. Eventually, all Americans will have access to a safe and effective FDA approved medicine regardless of which state they live in. To maintain that marijuana is a dangerous, addictive drug with no medical value is scientifically absurd. Cannabis medicines, with no effective lethal dose, are far safer than aspirin, acetaminophen, and most other OTC drugs that kill thousands of Americans every year.

The Company works with world authorities on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to scientific methodologies to develop, produce and commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products. In sum, we are dedicated to the creation of cannabis-based medicines, both with and without psychoactive properties, to treat disease and the symptoms of disease, as well as for general health maintenance.

Forward Looking Statements

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Cannabis Science Issues Potential Revenues And Market Data for the New Cannabis Science Brand OTC Products

Anatomy of a Winnipeg Jets Blowout: Fan's Take

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Danzig

A close game was expected between the Winnipeg Jets and the Southeast division-leading Florida Panthers on Thursday, March 1 at the MTS Centre. Let's just say the game didn't go according to plan, as the Jets routed the Panthers, 7-0. Here's a timeline of the evening's stunning events.

Fans cheer the Jets at the MTS Centre. Wikimedia Commons

7:32 p.m. Winnipeg comes into the game four points behind the Panthers in the Southeast and one point out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The home crowd senses the importance of the game, as the Jets take the ice to a vociferous, standing ovation. It'll get louder before the game is over.

7:43 p.m. Evander Kane steals the puck in Florida's zone, skates in alone and beats Panthers goaltender Jose Theodore at 4:01 of the first period for the first goal of the game. In the process, Kane extends his career-high point streak to eight games.

7:46 p.m. Jim Slater buries a rebound at 6:03 of the first to make it 2-0. Mark Stuart and Chris Thorburn draw assists on Slater's ninth goal of the season and first in 19 games. So much for the Panthers taking the crowd out of the game. Only a few minutes into the action, the MTS Centre is rocking.

8:13 p.m. End of the first period. Winnipeg leads the Panthers in both shots and hits at 13-7 and 15-7, respectively. The Jets are showing no ill effects from Monday's 5-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in which they allowed four unanswered goals in the third period.

9:01 p.m. End of the second period. The Jets still lead 2-0, but Florida controlled play for much of the middle frame, outshooting Winnipeg, 17-8. The Jets record this season when leading after three periods is 23-3-1. Conversely, Florida is 3-17-2 when trailing after three.

9:21 p.m. Kyle Wellwood tips home Stuart's blast from the top of the circle at 1:49 of the third period to make it 3-0. Kane draws the secondary assist for his second point of the game.

9:25 p.m. The Panthers turn over the puck in Winnipeg's zone, sparking an unheard of 5-on-1 rush the other way. Blake Wheeler ultimately feeds Bryan Little, who fires into an empty net for his 19th goal of the season to make it 4-0. Scott Clemmensen replaces Theodore to the delight of the MTSC crowd.

9:33 p.m. Nik Antropov bangs home a loose puck in front of the cage on the power play for his 10th goal of the seasonthe Jets lead, 5-0. Winnipeg entered the game with the top-ranked home power play in the National Hockey League. The Jets went 1-for-3 on the man advantage.

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Anatomy of a Winnipeg Jets Blowout: Fan's Take

There’s no sense in revising the psychiatrist’s bible

Posted on March 1, 2012 by ev1

Forget the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders we need a new system based on brain physiology, says psychiatrist Nick Craddock

You don't believe we should update the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) used to classify mental illness. Why not? There are many reasons we should pause. The DSM checklist of symptoms is not fit for purpose: its categories don't map onto the emerging science of emotion and cognition, yet the DSM-5 rewriters plan to pull in more areas in the new categories and over-medicalise the situation further. Obviously the people rewriting DSM are not stupid, but the project is the wrong thing now. There are lots of great findings coming out of biology, neuroscience and psychology. We will need a new diagnostic system based on these.

How do you see a non-DSM system of classifying mental illness? It should be based on brain physiology, and make sense in biological and psychological terms. People think mental health is very different from physical health but I think our understanding of it is similar to where we were 100 years ago with illnesses such as diabetes. Take schizophrenia - people vary so much, but the DSM definition doesn't capture that. In 20 years' time the condition will have a biological and psychological typology. Right now our approach is like a blunderbuss.

What changes in DSM-5 worry you? Suppose you suffer from severe low mood, lack of energy and lack of self-esteem for two weeks continuously. As things stand, if this happens up to six months after a bereavement, it would be considered normal. For most of us that fits with common sense. DSM-5 drops that exclusion and classifies such an episode as depression. This seems unhelpful, to say the least.

What about the "temper tantrum" category? DSM-5 plans to bring in "Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder" which refers to an onset of temper outbursts before age 10. The thinking is this may be a prelude to later bipolar disorder. However, I believe we need much more firm evidence for the benefits of doing this before labelling children with such a diagnosis.

Do you have any other concerns? There's likely to be a move to include people with mild delusions, hallucinations or disorganised speech into the psychosis category as "an attenuated form with intact reality testing". This underlines the overwhelming criticism of DSM - we need more research to distinguish correctly between normal and abnormal states before it is clinically justified to add a new diagnosis like this.

DSM is American. Does it apply in Europe? In Europe we look more to the World Health Organization's International Classification of Disease in our clinical work, but DSM does guide research here.

How strong is the opposition to DSM-5? There is widespread scepticism globally because of the issues I have mentioned and the DSM's poor ability to translate outside the context of the US healthcare system. Over 11,000 people working in or concerned with mental health care have signed a petition calling for a rethink.

Nick Craddock is professor of psychiatry at the Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University School of Medicine, and is the director of the Welsh National Centre for Mental Health

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There's no sense in revising the psychiatrist's bible

Nutrition Labels on Meat Now a Must

Posted on March 1, 2012 by ev1

Following years of planning and several extensions, nutrition labels are now required on ground meat and poultry packages, and on or near major cuts sold in supermarkets, effective March 1.

This nutrition information will confirm for consumers what the latest U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recently said, that lean meat and poultry products are an important part of a healthy balanced diet, declared J. Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat Institute. This final rule has been in progress for more than a decade, and the meat and poultry industry is pleased to provide nutrient content information to consumers about our fresh products.

Nutrition labels have been required on processed meat and poultry products for many years, and many fresh single-ingredient meat and poultry products like steak, tenderloins and ground beef also have carried labels voluntarily. Now, this valuable information will be offered more widely and will provide a pleasant nutrition surprise to many meat and poultry consumers, Boyle said.

Meat and poultry products, Boyle noted, are nutrient dense and rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. Consumers should note that 29 cuts of beef, pork and lamb are considered lean. A 3-ounce serving of meat or poultry contains between 160 and 200 calories and contains all nine essential amino acids, he said. That is why meat is considered a complete protein.

Boyle said recent research has shown that lean meat and poultry provide a sense of satisfaction that help control hunger and aid in weight control. More than 40 cuts of meat and poultry qualify for the definition of lean.

AMI has produced a video to educate retailers and consumers about lean cuts of meat and poultry.

The Washington, D.C.-based American Meat Institute is a national trade association that represents companies that process 95 percent of red meat and 70 percent of turkey in the United States and their suppliers throughout the country.

Nutrition Information for Fresh Meat and Poultry Products Will Showcase High Nutrient Value in Meat & Poultry Products

Posted on March 1, 2012 by ev1

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --"On March 1, nutrition labels will be required on ground meat and poultry packages and on or near major cuts of meat and poultry sold in supermarkets. This nutrition information will confirm for consumers what the latest U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recently said: that lean meat and poultry products are an important part of a healthy balanced diet. This final rule has been in progress for more than a decade, and the meat and poultry industry is pleased to provide nutrient content information to consumers about our fresh products.

"Nutrition labels have been required on processed meat and poultry products like bacon, ham and marinated pork loins for many years. Many fresh single ingredient meat and poultry products like steak, tenderloins and ground beef, also have carried labels voluntarily. Now, this valuable information will be offered more widely and will provide a pleasant nutrition surprise to many meat and poultry consumers.

"Meat and poultry products are nutrient dense and rich in protein, vitamins are minerals. Consumers should note that 29 cuts of beef, pork and lamb are considered lean. A three ounce serving of meat or poultry contains between 160 and 200 calories and contains all nine essential amino acids. That is why meat is considered a 'complete protein.'

"Recent research has shown that lean meat and poultry provide a sense of satisfaction that help control hunger and aid in weight control. More than 40 cuts of meat and poultry qualify for the definition of lean."

To view a helpful video about lean cuts of meat and poultry, click here: http://bit.ly/zg9R71

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Nutrition Information for Fresh Meat and Poultry Products Will Showcase High Nutrient Value in Meat & Poultry Products

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