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JAMA review praises Georgetown professor's online anatomy dissector

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Danzig

Public release date: 14-Feb-2012
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Contact: Karen Mallet
km463@georgetown.edu
Georgetown University Medical Center

WASHINGTON ? A Georgetown University School of Medicine professor's online anatomy dissector designed to assist medical students in learning gross anatomy is described as a "superb learning tool" in a review published in the February 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The Online Guided Gross Anatomy Dissector (published by Sinauer Associates, Inc.) was developed by Carlos Su?rez-Quian, Ph.D., professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology at Georgetown. He created the dissector to help students master the fundamentals of human dissection and gross anatomy, the course that Su?rez-Quian teaches at the medical school.

Writing in the "Books and Media Reviews" section of JAMA, Russell J. Nauta, M.D., of Harvard Medical School, underscores the importance of gross anatomy knowledge throughout one's medical career. "?Clinicians in virtually all specialties, especially surgical disciplines, perform invasive procedures or at least make diagnoses grounded in knowledge of gross anatomy," he says. Nauta describes the dissector as "an easily accessible, well-indexed, user-friendly guide to gross anatomy applicable to a wide range of potential uses, from first-year medical student to specialty clinician."

The dissector can be accessed on any electronic device with web functions, including student favorites such as the iPad and iPhone. It includes more than six hours of short cadaver dissection videos and interactive step-by-step instructions of actual cadaveric dissection images. With each set of dissection instructions, users click through the sequence of images that show exactly what they should reveal in their own dissection, gradually progressing until every region of the body is thoroughly dissected. Users can then test themselves and reinforce their knowledge with more than 300 interactive flash cards .

"The beauty of the Online Guided Gross Anatomy Dissector is in its indexing and presentation of Information," says Nauta in his review. "The online dissector makes it less likely that the medical student will damage key anatomical features during cadaveric dissection, but if key structures are affected, the online tool provides 'rescue' in the form of a compelling visual alternative," he explains.

As a guided tutorial that enables the user to progress from novice to mastery of human anatomy, it is also suitable for undergraduates and students preparing to enter medical school who do not have access to a laboratory.

"Little had changed since I was a graduate student in the seventies, lugging around a textbook, atlas, and a 200-page dissection manual," Su?rez-Quian recalls. After seeing his own students struggle with the amount of material and its traditional presentation, he set out to harness the power of digital technology and the internet to make learning more student-friendly, without compromising knowledge or proficiency.

"There is no getting around the fact that gross anatomy requires mastering a large new vocabulary, thousands of images, interdependencies and processes, but it doesn't need to be a bewildering or inflexible experience," says Su?rez-Quian.

Georgetown University provides on campus and remote access enabling students to review before, during, and after their lab dissections. "The dissector won't replace what students learn in the laboratory, but serves as a lab tutorial, allowing students to reinforce their dissection experience through self-directed learning," Su?rez-Quian explains.

Nauta concludes his review declaring, "? there is no reason to use only a printed guide when a convenient and well-presented online source such as this is available."

###

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization (BGRO), which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical Translation and Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. In fiscal year 2010-11, GUMC accounted for 85 percent of the university's sponsored research funding.

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JAMA review praises Georgetown professor's online anatomy dissector

Therapy targets leukemia stem cells

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a cancer of the white blood cells for which tyrosine kinase inhibitors are currently the first line of therapy. These drugs prolong survival, but disease recurrence is often seen after drug treatment is stopped. "Tyrosine kinase inhibitors do not eliminate leukemia stem cells, which remain a potential source of cancer recurrence," explains senior coauthor Dr. Ravi Bhatia from the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California. "CML patients need to take tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment indefinitely, which carries a significant risk of toxicity, lack of compliance, drug resistance, relapse, and associated expense."

Strategies targeting leukemia stem cells are necessary to achieve a cure. Previous work has implicated the enzyme sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in protecting stem cells from stress and in playing a role in leukemia, as well as other types of cancer. In the current study, Dr. Bhatia, coauthor Dr. WenYong Chen, first author Ling Li, and their colleagues investigated whether SIRT1 was involved in the survival and growth of CML stem cells. The researchers discovered that SIRT1 was overexpressed in CML stem cells and that inhibition of SIRT1selectively reduced the survival and growth of CML stem cells. Importantly, SIRT1 inhibition was associated with activation of the p53 tumor suppressor.

Taken together, the results reveal a specific mechanism that supports the survival of leukemia stem cells. "Our findings are important because they show that SIRT1-mediated inactivation of p53 contributes to CML leukemia stem cell survival and resistance to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors," concludes Dr. Chen. "We suggest that SIRT1 inhibition is an attractive approach to selectively target leukemia stem cells that resist elimination by current treatments."

Provided by Cell Press (news : web)

Original post:
Therapy targets leukemia stem cells

Stem cell treatments change girl’s life

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

PIEDMONT, Okla. -- Stem cell research is one of the newest and most exciting areas of study. Experts believe these tiny unwritten cells hold the keys to curing a number of diseases and debilitating injuries. But here in the U.S., stem cell research isn't moving fast enough for a growing number of families.

This is the story of an Oklahoma family that traveled to China for cutting-edge stem cell treatment not offered in the US.

Cora Beth Taylor walks a different road than most will ever travel.

Her journey is filled with obstacles, heartbreak and triumph.

Cora, William and Tate Taylor are triplets born premature.

The brothers have never shown any signs of prematurity.

But Cora, at about a year old, started falling behind developmentally.

By 18 months she had been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

Cora has never had any cognitive delays.

She's a super-smart little gal but her muscles haven't developed properly.

It's devastating; they just won't cooperate.

Cora's parents, Kevin and Beth Taylor, have tried everything for their little girl; that is, everything available in the U.S.

Last year, Piedmont Schools raised the money to help the Taylors take Cora to China for treatment, close to $50,000.

Research hospitals in China are using stem cells from donor umbilical cord blood to treat children with Cerebral Palsy.

Beth Taylor says, "That was a difficult decision to make to take your child to a foreign country for medical treatments. Living in the US you feel like this is the best there is."

The Taylors spent 37 days in China.

Cora Beth had eight stem cell transfusions.

Through a spinal tap, doctors put the cells into her spinal column where they penetrate the blood-brain barrier and get to work.

Critics are quick to point out this area of regenerative medicine has largely unverified effectiveness. Results are often anecdotal and the FDA is a long way from approving this type of experimental treatment for America.

Though the Taylors are convinced and here's why.

Beth Taylor said, "Within the first couple of weeks we could see changes. We could see definite improvements in strength and balance."

Cora had never been able to do a sit-up in her life ever; she did her first in China.

Nine-year-old Cora remembers, "The thing that I was most happy about accomplishing was a sit up. Because I'd tried to do a sit up before going to China but I just couldn't do it."

Now, Cora Beth can do 20.

The most notable change has been Cora's walk.

This third-grader had never gone to school without her walker.

Today she walks the halls without it; she hasn't used it in months.

She recently competed in a beauty pageant in her hometown of Piedmont, without the help of her walker as well.

Cora says, "So, I'm really excited. I don't think there's anything that I couldn't accomplish."

Doctors say Cora’s stem cells will continue to mature over the next few years.

For her, there are many milestones ahead.

In the US, Duke University is studying stem cell treatments for children with Cerebral Palsy.

Right now they don't have FDA clearance to use donor stem-cells.

Experts say treatment similar to Cora Beth's Chinese therapy is years away in the U.S.

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Stem cell treatments change girl's life

New Research Reveals Zaggora Hotpants™ Help Women Lose 4 Times More Weight in 30 Minutes

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

LONDON, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zaggora has announced the results of a study performed by the physiology department of a leading UK university. The university was commissioned to conduct a series of tests to research the thermal and metabolic changes that occur when exercising in Hotpants compared to a standard pair of gym shorts.

Tested on nine females with an average BMI of 23.3, researchers found that compared to a standard garment in 30 minutes of exercise:

Weight loss was around four times greater in Hotpants Hotpants increased the energy expenditure during exercise by 6% Hotpants increased energy expenditure in the resting stage after exercise by 16% The core temperature in Hotpants increased by an average of 18% compared to the control Thermal sensation was significantly greater but still safe in Hotpants

Zaggora launched Hotpants with huge success in July 2011, selling a pair every minute in their first 10 weeks, and over 275,000 pairs within the first five months. Thriving on social proof from over 130,000 women on Facebook, Zaggora's first technology-enhanced product flew off the shelves after women experienced significant weight loss and smoother legs.

The Zaggora Hotpants concept is focused on using a special Celu-Lite fabric technology to increase the user's natural body temperature during exercise. In turn, the body starts working harder, resulting in increased metabolism and greater calorie burn. Zaggora Hotpants were made to fit into every woman's lifestyle no matter how busy they are, and can be worn under clothes at work, whilst at the gym, or at home.

Last month, Zaggora announced the launch of three new products, expanding its range of technology advanced active wear. The new products follow the same concept as Hotpants, and are designed to give workouts more power in 2012. The new range includes 'Flares,' leggings that target thighs, calves and bums; 'Capri Flares,' three quarter length leggings; and 'Nude Hotpants' which can be worn under garments.

In 2012, Zaggora will be commissioning additional scientific research to further explore the long term effects of their technology enabled active wear.

*Tests were conducted in December 2011 and January 2012 in controlled conditions in British Association of Sport and Exercise Science Accredited Laboratories at the University of Brighton, Chelsea School of Sport.

Available from http://www.zaggora.com prices start from pounds Sterling 44.99.

About ZAGGORA

Inspired by real women, Zaggora was founded by Dessi Bell after she struggled to find an effective solution to lose weight in time for her wedding. Zaggora is an iconic brand specialising in developing technology enabled clothing helping women to look and feel good. The company is committed to delivering a natural and efficient way for women to achieve more out of their workouts and feel good about themselves.

Read what real women have to say about Zaggora products: http://www.facebook.com/myhotpants

Press: Lucy Page | Head of Marketing & PR | lucy.page@zaggora.com

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New Research Reveals Zaggora Hotpants™ Help Women Lose 4 Times More Weight in 30 Minutes

Oxygen-Deprived Baby Rats Fare Worse If Kept Warm

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Article is published in the American Journal of Physiology—
Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology

Newswise — Bethesda, Md. (Feb. 13, 2012)—Premature infants’ immature lungs and frequent dips in blood pressure make them especially vulnerable to a condition called hypoxia in which their tissues don’t receive enough oxygen, sometimes leading to permanent brain damage. New animal research suggests that a common practice in caring for these babies might in fact exacerbate this condition, increasing the chances for long-term neurological deficits. A new study shows that rat pups exposed to low oxygen for up to three hours, but kept warm, have changes in insulin and glucose regulation that lead to hypoglycemia. Those allowed to spontaneously cool, a natural response to decreased oxygen in the blood, kept their glucose and insulin values more stable over time. The findings suggest that cooling premature infants who have undergone oxygen deprivation, rather than placing them in incubators or under warmers, could help stave off brain damage associated with this condition.

The article is entitled “Effects of Body Temperature Maintenance of Glucose, Insulin, and Corticosterone Responses to Acute Hypoxia in the Neonatal Rat.” It appears in the American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology, published by the American Physiological Society.

Methodology

The researchers worked with rats that were either two days old or eight days old. Since rats are born at an earlier developmental stage than humans, these ages were chosen to be analogous to critical periods of human neurological development when premature infants might be especially vulnerable to oxygen deprivation. Litters of pups of either age were separated into three groups: One breathed room air with normal levels of oxygen and was kept warm at normal body temperature with a heating pad; one was exposed to air with about a third of typical oxygen levels and allowed to spontaneously cool; and a third was exposed to low-oxygen air, but kept warm at normal body temperature. Over the course of a three-hour period, the researchers monitored the pups for levels of glucose, insulin, and other proteins and hormones in the bloodstream.

Results

The researchers found that the younger pups exposed to hypoxia and heat had dramatic spikes and dips in insulin over the three-hour period, with insulin quadrupling over the first hour, then falling dramatically by the third. In the older animals, glucose rose over the first hour, then fell significantly below baseline by the third. Though hypoxia alone caused significant changes in glucose and insulin concentrations in both younger and older animals, these effects weren’t as pronounced.

Importance of the Findings

These findings suggest that keeping the animals warm may encourage swings in blood sugar that increase metabolic and physiologic demands and decrease the amount of glucose available to tissues. In rats, and perhaps in premature babies as well, this effect could lead to a variety of problems, including neurological damage. The authors note that, to their knowledge, there are no specific guidelines that address body temperature management for human premature babies with hypoxia. “We hope that our studies in the neonatal rat will translate to appropriate studies and guidelines for the control of body temperature in the hypoxic newborn,” the authors say.

Study Team

The study was conducted by Hershel Raff, Eric D. Bruder, and Mitchell A. Guenther of Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis.

###

NOTE TO EDITORS: The study is available online at http://bit.ly/ykfZu5. To request an interview with a member of the research team, please contact Donna Krupa at dkrupa@the-aps.org, @Phyziochick, or 301.634.7209.

***
Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create health or disease. The American Physiological Society (APS; http://www.the-APS.org/press) has been an integral part of the discovery process for 125 years. To keep up with the science, follow @Phyziochick on Twitter.

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Oxygen-Deprived Baby Rats Fare Worse If Kept Warm

Trim Nutrition Joins the Battalion

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

February 13, 2012 - United Indoor Football League (UIFL) Lakeland Raiders LAKELAND,FL- The Lakeland Raiders are feeling great about the upcoming season. After a very successful Fan Fest, the Raiders are back to work getting ready for the 2012 season. "The staff is doing a great job and training camp is next" commented Raiders Head Coach Michael Mink. The Raiders will open their Inaugural game against the Rome Rampage on March 10th.

The Lakeland Raiders are proud to announce another great partner to join the Raider Battalion for the 2012 season and beyond. Trim Nutrition is the official nutritional product of the Lakeland Raiders. Trim Nutrition, a leader in wellness supplements and sustained energy products, is also a partner of the INDYCAR family and is the official nutrition partner for the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights. Trim Nutrition will foster better health and fitness habits for the Lakeland Raiders players and staff. "The growth and advances that the Raiders are achieving mirrors our progressive and innovative products," said Trim Nutrition CEO Brent Agin, MD. "'Making Bodies Better' is our motto. As the Raiders prepare for the future with a new body style for 2012, it is logical that it would look to tune-up the team and its fans with a reinvigorated commitment to health and fitness." Trim Nutrition's goals are to introduce the benefits of Intra-Muscular and Intra-Venous Nutritional Therapies for athletic performance enhancement and general nutritional support. "Since Trim Nutrition's inception, we have been committed to developing products that help people in a multitude of ways. We are proud to have helped thousands of people and continue to help more every day. Whether the goal is to become more fit, lose weight, aid in the reduction of disease symptoms or just simply feel the best possible -we have successfully fulfilled our commitment. Trim Nutrition has evolved as an industry leader in the development and delivery of innovative nutritional supplementation. Our efforts target cutting edge therapies to target superior outcomes in athletic performance and wellness medicine," said Trim Nutrition CEO Brent Agin, MD.

"I am thrilled to have a great partner on our side and this gives our players a great help in knowing the importance of health on the field and off the field. I personally have lost over 70lbs over the last year to become healthier and with Trim Nutrition, I plan to lose more weight and feel healthier," commented Owner Michael Mink. The Raiders, Trim Nutrition and Total Body Conditioning plan to have the players in top shape and healthy enough to win a championship in the teams Inaugural season.

For more information about the Lakeland Raiders visit the team website at http://www.lakelandraiders.com or call 863-834-7511. The Raiders will be playing home games at The Lakeland Center. The Lakeland Center offers a full variety of sporting events, concerts and shows. The Lakeland Center is a short drive from anywhere in Central Florida. Regular box office hours are Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm and can be reached at 863-834-8111.

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Trim Nutrition Joins the Battalion

Nutrition Expert Launches Nationwide Campaign to Inspire Children to Eat Right

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

North Kingstown, RI (PRWEB) February 13, 2012

In conjunction with National Nutrition Month this March, nutritional consultant Joy Feldman is launching a nationwide crusade to inspire children to eat right. An award-winning author, Feldman will celebrate the release of her new children's book, Is Your Hair Made of Donuts on March 1.

For years, nutritional consultant Joy Feldman focused on helping an international clientele, primarily made up of adults, achieve better health through nutrition. But Feldman says she’ll never forget the day a few years ago when she was struck with the inspiration to shift her focus to helping children learn to eat right—and the idea for how to accomplish that.

According to Feldman, “While walking through the airport for a very early morning departure, I was surprised when I saw young people buying and eating candy, sugary treats, donuts, drinking sodas and neon-colored liquids and consuming all sorts of unhealthy things. Bear in mind, it was extremely early in the morning and I was shocked to see what these children were eating for breakfast. Not fifteen minutes later, I saw those same children in various stages of meltdowns, tantrums, misbehavior, and general chaos. It was at that point I knew that I wanted—and needed—to help teach children make healthier food choices.”

Feldman, a mother of two and award-winning author, said that the airport incident gave her the idea for a book just for young children. In conjunction with National Nutrition Month this March, Feldman will celebrate the nationwide release of her newest book, Is Your Hair Made of Donuts? A children’s picture book designed to teach and inspire children to make healthy food choices, Is Your Hair Made of Donuts? explains why the phrase “you are what you eat” may be truer than children think.

But simply writing the book, at least in Feldman’s mind, wasn’t enough. Passionate about helping children not just learn the basics of good nutrition, but also making children want to make healthy food choices, Feldman is launching an extensive nationwide tour of schools to share the message. Feldman, who dons a whimsical, colorful, custom-made donut hat, which has earned her the moniker The Divine Duchess of Donuts, will appear in front of school children and youth groups across the country. In addition to reading from Is Your Hair Made of Donuts, Feldman invites children to take part in healthy food taste challenges, juices fresh fruits and vegetables, and gets children involved through her interactive learning program. Over the coming months, Feldman will share her message about the importance of good nutrition with thousands and thousands of children as she travels across the country. See this interview with Joy Feldman about the mission and the inspiration behind it.

Feldman says that the silly whimsical hat and funny story is just the vehicle for delivering a serious message: “Today’s children are bombarded with unhealthy food choices. According to statistics, the average child sees approximately 20,000 advertisements a year for foods that can be classified as junk food. Reports of skyrocketing childhood obesity and health problems only underscore the seriousness of the message. Feeding children well is an important step towards creating good health, inspiring these children to have healthy lifestyles and reducing the nation’s exploding healthcare costs from diseases associated with modifiable behaviors. The truth is that when we eat better, we feel better. And when our children eat better, they feel better. It is crucial that something be done to teach children the importance of good nutrition. My sense was that presenting that information to them in a fun and lighthearted way was the way to make an impact.”

For more information, visit: http://www.isyourhairmadeofdonuts.com Joy Feldman received her undergraduate and graduate training from the University of Pennsylvania, pursued her law degree from the University of Miami, and later went on to receive her certificate in biochemical nutritional balancing science. A nutrition expert and author of the award-winning Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health, Feldman is passionate about inspiring and teaching persons both young and old the value of healthy foods. Joy Feldman lives in Rhode Island.

Members of the news media wishing to request additional information about Is Your Hair Made of Donuts? or author Joy Feldman are asked to contact Maryglenn McCombs by phone – (615) 297-9875, or by email – maryglenn(at)maryglenn(dot)com.

# # #

Health, nutrition become priorities at Davos

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

Dr. Klaus Kraemer is Director of Sight and Life, a not-for-profit nutrition think tank of DSM, which cares about the world’s most vulnerable populations, and exists to help improve their nutritional status. Dr. Kraemer has over 25 years of experience in research and advocacy in the field of health and safety of vitamins, minerals and carotenoids.

While the headlines out of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meetings in Davos primarily focus on getting (or keeping) the global economy on track, it’s a welcome development when nutrition and health information also rise to the top of the priorities list, reminding world leaders of the inextricable link between nutrition, health and well-being of the people on our planet and that of our global economy.

This year in Davos, several events came together in a “day of nutrition and food security,” highlighting the potential impact that improved nutrition for mothers and children could have on a family’s future, and on the future of nations. The 1,000 days from a mother’s pregnancy until her child turns two years old offer a unique window of opportunity to establish a strong foundation for a healthy and productive future. Children that are well-nourished achieve more in school and are better equipped to overcome conditions such as pneumonia or diarrheal disease, which are far too commonly fatal in developing nations. The effects of early nutrition are lasting, reaching far beyond childhood. Children who are well-nourished are able to grow to their full potential, both physically and mentally. As adults, they earn more, are healthier and for women, are more likely to have healthy pregnancies and births.

Health is inextricably linked to economic development. By improving maternal and child nutrition, we have an opportunity to create sustainable change in the lives of millions of people by bolstering efforts to advance both health and development. And, the best part is – we know how to do this.

Research, including the landmark 2008 Lancet Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition, shows that by focusing on the 1,000 day window of opportunity and investing in three key areas of action, we can significantly improve the nutrition—and the lives—of many of the world’s most vulnerable. We can do this by promoting good feeding and caring practices, such as breastfeeding or using nutrient-dense complementary food to prevent malnutrition; increasing the intake of vitamins and minerals by pregnant women, nursing mothers and their children; and treating severe cases of acute malnutrition with ready-to-use therapeutic food. Three areas of focus; millions of lives saved.

In just the past 18 months, we have seen a global movement to catalyze support to turn these research findings into action on an unprecedented scale. Led by 26 developing countries that have committed to improving nutrition, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement is an effort backed by more than 100 entities, including civil society organizations, businesses, governments, UN agencies and academia dedicated to improving maternal and child nutrition. SUN is committed to aligning resources, expertise and investment to support the nutrition priorities established by the 26 lead countries.

This is a cross-sector effort built on the skills and experience of the many organizations supporting the movement. Whether it is in direct nutrition action, such as ensuring access to micronutrients, or in changing the factors that impact nutrition, such as providing training on farming practices that can increase crop yield or supporting strong nutrition policies, all stakeholders have a role to play.

Improving nutrition has been my life’s work; particularly, finding ways to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies of the world’s poor that result from a lack of the vitamins and minerals we all need.

When many of us think of micronutrients, we think of the multi-vitamin we take to supplement our diets. But in the developing world, the right micronutrients aren’t just an insurance, but mean the difference between going blind or having a clear view of the future (vitamin A); between brittle bones or having a solid foundation (vitamin D), between a lack of energy or strong mental and physical performance (iron).

The word ‘vitamin’ stems from the Latin word ‘vita,’ meaning ‘life’. Whether we get them from the foods we eat, from a fortified product, or from a tablet, these tiny building blocks are what healthy lives are made of. At Sight and Life, we are working with the SUN movement and many global partners to ensure that all mothers and children have the vitamins needed to nourish healthy, productive futures. During the WEF I had the pleasure and honor to present the inaugural Sight and Life Nutrition Leadership Award to Dr. David Nabarro, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Food Security and Nutrition, and the SUN movement in acknowledgement of their great leadership to catalyze a sustainable improvement in nutrition.

At Davos, we were challenged to think innovatively of how to “Shape New Models” to help strengthen the economy. We can create stable, productive economies—but we have to start with healthy, nourished people who can drive this progress.

The humble vitamin turns 100 years old this year, as 2012 marks the centennial of the discovery of these mighty compounds. As we celebrate the great impact vitamins and minerals have had on our lives (you don’t hear about too many scurvy cases due to vitamin C deficiency these days), we should also look ahead at new ways micronutrients can strengthen families, the developing world and our global community. I look forward to continuing to fight to reduce micronutrient deficiencies through our work with the SUN Movement, and I encourage you to join me in the fight.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/health-nutrition-priorities-at-davos-0

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Health, nutrition become priorities at Davos

Indiana University scientist works to detach protein that HIV uses as protective shield

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 13-Feb-2012
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Contact: Eric Schoch
eric.schoch@iu.edu
317-274-7722
Indiana University School of Medicine

One of the frustrations for scientists working on HIV/AIDS treatments has been the human immunodeficiency virus' ability to evade the body's immune system. Now an Indiana University researcher has discovered a compound that could help put the immune system back in the hunt.

It's not that the human immune system doesn't recognize HIV. Indeed, an infection causes the body to unleash antibodies that attack the virus, and initially some HIV is destroyed.

But HIV is able to quickly defend itself by co-opting a part of the innate human immune system ? the immune system people are born with, called the complement. The complement includes a vital mechanism that prevents immune system cells from attacking the body's own cells. HIV is able to incorporate a key protein in that self-protection mechanism, CD59, and by doing so makes itself appear to be one of the body's normal cells, not an infective agent.

In laboratories at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Andy Qigui Yu, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, is testing a promising compound that may counteract HIV's ability to hijack the immune system's protection mechanism.

"HIV is very clever. As it replicates inside cells, it takes on the CD59. The virus is covered with CD59, so the immune system treats the virus like your own normal cells," Dr. Yu said.

In November, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced it had awarded nine new Grand Challenges Explorations Phase II grants, one of them to Dr. Yu. The Phase II grants were awarded to researchers who had received initial $100,000 awards and had shown promising results.

The new grant will support not only Dr. Yu's research into compounds that may block the ability of HIV to hide behind the CD59 "cloak," but also his work to identify the mechanism the virus uses to incorporate CD59.

"If we find that mechanism, then we can develop something to block that incorporation, and HIV may lose that protection from the immune system," Dr. Yu said.

Researchers have been able in the past to generate antibodies that successfully attacked HIV in the laboratory. But these antibodies have failed in human testing because the virus in the body escapes from immune system attacks, Dr. Yu said.

In an attempt to disrupt HIV's hijacking of CD59, Yu and colleagues at IU and Harvard University crafted a molecule from a bacterial toxin that is known to bind to the CD59 protein. In laboratory tests, they administered the molecule to blood samples taken from patients with HIV. The bacteria toxin molecule latched on to the CD59 proteins, revealing the viral particles to be invaders and enabling the antibodies to attack the virus.

Reporting their findings in the Journal of Immunology in December 2010, the researchers suggested that the molecule could potentially be developed into a new therapy to fight HIV/AIDS.

More recent experiments have indicated that the administration of the molecule enabled the antibody-complement to attack infected cells and not just the virus particles found in the blood samples. The next steps will include more extensive testing of the molecule in a broader range of patient samples, Dr. Yu said.

###

Grand Challenges Explorations is a $100 million initiative funded by the Gates Foundation to help researchers worldwide explore innovative ideas in how to solve persistent global health and development challenges. Initial grants of $100,000 are awarded two times a year. Successful projects have an opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of up to $1 million.

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Indiana University scientist works to detach protein that HIV uses as protective shield

Games and interactive media are powerful tools for health promotion and childhood obesity prevention

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

Public release date: 13-Feb-2012
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Contact: Cathia Falvey
cfalvey@liebertpub.com
914-740-2100
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY -- Children are naturally drawn toward gaming and other types of technology, creating an ideal opportunity to design interactive media tools to encourage physical activity and promote healthy eating habits, according to an article in a special issue of the journal Childhood Obesity celebrating the second anniversary of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative. The issue includes a special Foreword by Mrs. Obama and is available free online at http://www.liebertpub.com/chi.

"Let's Get Technical! Gaming and Technology for Weight Control and Health Promotion in Children," an article by Tom Baranowski, PhD and Leslie Frankel, PhD, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, describes the ongoing research effort to identify and develop the most effective approaches for using gaming and interactive media to deliver health promotion messages to children of all ages.

This special Let's Move! issue has a wide range of contributions from leaders in the fight against childhood obesity including Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, NFL quarterback Drew Brees, Stephen Daniels, MD, PhD, Sandra Hassink, MD, Margo Wootan, DSc, and Editor-in-Chief David Katz, MD, MPH.

The issue covers a broad range of topics including creating environments that support routine physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, after-school obesity prevention programs, nutrition standards for school meals, faith-based advocacy efforts to end childhood obesity, gaming and technology for weight control, parent training programs for 2-4 year old Latino children, the role of sleep in childhood obesity, a roundtable discussion about what we don't know about childhood obesity, industry efforts to help children make healthy food choices, and success stories from the Let's Move! initiative.

"We know that 'screen time' is a contributor to childhood obesity. But we also know it's not going away. Thought leaders like Dr. Baranowski are showing how to convert parts of the problem into parts of the solution," says David L. Katz, MD, MPH, Editor-in-Chief of Childhood Obesity and Director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. "We are honored to feature such pragmatic expertise on the pages of the Journal."

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Childhood Obesity is partly funded by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to ensure that the Journal is accessible as widely as possible, and to provide a framework that addresses the social and environmental conditions that influence opportunities for children to have access to healthy, affordable food and safe places to play and be physically active.

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

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative medical and biomedical peer-reviewed journals, including Games for Health Journal, Telemedicine and e-Health, Population Health Management, Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, newsmagazines, and books is available on our website at http://www.liebertpub.com.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215
Phone: 914-740-2100
800) M-LIEBERT
Fax: 914-740-2101
http://www.liebertpub.com

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

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Games and interactive media are powerful tools for health promotion and childhood obesity prevention

Press Passes Available for Experimental Biology 2012 in San Diego

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Passes Available for Experimental Biology 2012 in San Diego

Newswise — Bethesda, Md. (Feb. 13, 2012)—The American Physiological Society (APS) is one of six scientific societies who will hold their joint scientific sessions and annual meetings, known as Experimental Biology (EB), from April 21-25, 2012 at the San Diego Convention Center. The other participating societies are the American Association of Anatomists (AAA), American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP), American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET).

In past years, Experimental Biology has attracted more than 14,000 attendees, the vast majority of whom were scientists. Individual topics addressed each day are as diverse as the communication of science, drug development, adult stem cells, sustainable food systems, translational physiology, and investigative pathology.

For EB 2012, more than 2,100 abstracts have been programmed for the APS meeting. In addition to the abstract presentations there will be a variety of symposium covering topics such as:

• Hypertension and chronic kidney diseases
• Nuclear receptors in liver disease
• Novel advances in cystic fibrosis research and drug discovery
• Neurovascular mechanisms and targets in stroke, and
• Regulation of water and electrolyte balance in diabetic nephropathy.

Registration
Free registration is available to credentialed representatives of the press, and an onsite newsroom will be available. Detailed instructions for individuals who wish to request press passes are available on the website at http://bit.ly/vZ2dEh or by emailing Media@FASEB.org.

The press room will be open Saturday, April 21, through Wednesday, April 25. Pre-registration for press passes is strongly encouraged and will be accepted through April 16. A press kit with highlights of scientific research will be available on an embargoed basis prior to the meeting. Members of the media will have easy access to six society meetings in one location, more than 60 concurrent scientific sessions spanning the disciplines of the sponsoring societies, attendees from all over the world, and more than 400 company exhibit booths.

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Press Passes Available for Experimental Biology 2012 in San Diego

DNA Results Are In: Canned Sardines Are Kosher

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

Just so you know: Canned sardines are kosher.

This judgment would appear to be definitive, based on DNA evidence. Genetic testing by a parasitologist at the American Museum of Natural History has confirmed that the recent discovery of small worms in canned sardines does not render them treyf, or unkosher. It may render them unappetizing, but that judgment is up to the consumer (more on that later).

The museum got involved last March when rabbis from the Orthodox Union, which certifies as kosher hundreds of thousands of products across the world, sought scientific help in resolving a question that arose when they began finding the worms, or nematodes, in cans of sardines.

Talmudic debates can turn on fine distinctions, but this was relatively straightforward. The presence of worms could have been a sign that, during the preparation of the canned sardines, muscle from the fish had been improperly handled and allowed to mix with intestinal contents of the sardines, rendering them unkosher.

The issue was important because it “could have led to sardines losing certification as kosher,” said Dr. Mark Siddall, a curator and professor in the invertebrate department of the museum, who conducted the testing. Many consumers, including non-Jews, look for the certification label as a sign of quality assurance in food preparation.

The rabbis brought their samples of sardina pilchardus — the Mediterranean sardine — to the museum, where Dr. Siddall conducted so-called “DNA bar-coding” to analyze the species of the worms. Their DNA was isolated and two variants of the cytochrome oxidase gene — which is different for every animal species, as unique as a fingerprint, Dr. Siddall said — revealed that the type of worms in the samples reside only in the flesh of sardines. “This meant that there was no evidence that the intestines and the flesh had been commingled,” Dr. Siddall said.

The Orthodox Union also discovered evidence of worms in cans of orange capelin roe, and Dr. Siddall’s testing confirmed that the worms, as well, were not intestine-dwellers. The analysis of Dr. Siddall and his colleagues has been published in The Journal of Parasitology, and the union has formally ruled that both the sardines, and the capelin roe, are kosher. (The entire paper can be read below.)

In 2004, a similar Talmudic tempest involved a tiny crustacean known as a copepod, which was discovered swimming in New York City’s tap water, spurring debate among the observant about whether it rendered city water unkosher. Many contended that the crustacean was a distant relative of shrimp and lobster, shellfish that cannot be consumed because they lack fins and scales. The Orthodox Union recommended that city water be filtered before using it for drinking and cooking. That prompted restaurants to install filters, some costing more than $1,000, to remove the interlopers.

As for worms in sardines or in any fish, Article 81 of the New York City Department of Health Code has long required that “aquatic animals, fish or molluscan shellfish” be cooked, rendering such parasites harmless — unless customers assume some risk by asking for raw fish, as in sushi. The best sushi masters constantly examine the fish for evidence of parasites.

“The notion that there are worms in fish flesh is not new,” Dr. Siddall said. “As long as they’re cooked, or frozen first, they’re perfectly safe.”

Yes, but if the sardines are both safe and kosher, are the worms themselves — which are barely visible and look like thin whitish threads — disgusting?
“It is up to the individual’s aesthetic as to whether that is ‘yucky,’ ” Dr. Siddall said. “I’ve eaten worse. Curdled goose blood. Rhino beetle larvae. Both yummy. But that’s another story.”

Journal of Parasitology paper

American Council on Exercise Adds Three Senior Fitness Consultants

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fitness industry experts Natalie Digate Muth, MD, MPH, RD; Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., and Chris McGrath, MS, CPT, LWMC, join the team of fitness experts at the American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's leading authority on fitness and the world's largest nonprofit fitness and personal trainer certification, continuing education and training organization. The addition of Mantell, Muth and McGrath as senior consultants to ACE is part of the organization's ongoing efforts to inspire, motivate and encourage people to make physical activity an integral part of their everyday lives with an end goal of reversing the obesity epidemic affecting millions of Americans.

"At ACE, we are collaborating with the top experts in the industry to improve fitness literacy for professionals and fitness seekers alike," said ACE CEO Scott Goudeseune. "Muth, Mantell and McGrath bring more than 50 years of combined industry experience and a wealth of knowledge on topics from nutrition and wellness to training and injury prevention, and everything in between."

Muth joins ACE as a Senior Fitness Consultant focusing on nutrition and weight management. She will contribute to ACE's vast continuing education and certification programs, and provide nutrition and weight management content for ACE's educational materials. An ACE-certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor, Muth is a pediatrics resident at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, a registered dietitian and Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD).

Mantell, an internationally recognized thought leader in the fitness industry, joins ACE as Senior Fitness Consultant on Behavioral Sciences. In this position, he'll provide counsel on the latest findings in health behavioral psychology to optimize overall wellbeing. Since earning his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania, Mantell has coached world-class athletes and fitness enthusiasts for performance enhancement and consults with major fitness companies and organizations throughout the country. He is a two-time best-selling author appearing regularly on radio and television.

McGrath, founder and operator of Movement First, a New York City-based fitness education, consulting, and training organization, brings more than 20 years of fitness experience to ACE in his position as Senior Fitness Consultant. He specializes in a variety of training and coaching modalities, including sports performance, injury prevention, post-rehabilitation and lifestyle/wellness coaching. McGrath will assist ACE in the education of personal trainers, group fitness instructors, and other fitness professionals on the proper movement patterns for safe and effective training so that they may pass this knowledge on to their clients. He is an international lecturer, educator, and consultant for some of the most successful fitness organizations in the world including Functional Movement Systems, TRX, Reebok, Star Trac, EA Sports Active and numerous others. He holds a Master of Science in exercise science from California University in Pennsylvania, a Bachelor of Science in health education from Western Connecticut State University and has numerous training and coaching certifications.

"As the fitness continuum continues to evolve to include overall health and wellness, ACE is also expanding with new thought leadership to help meet the growing needs for enhanced professional education as well as greater public education and access to fitness services," said American Council on Exercise's Chief Science Officer, Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D. "The depth and diversity of experience that all our fitness experts possess is a powerful asset in helping us have a meaningful impact on the physical activity, nutrition, and lifestyle habits of Americans."

For more information on the various educational resources that ACE provides to more than 50,000 dedicated fitness professionals, visit http://www.acefitness.org/getcertified.

About ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's premier fitness and personal trainer certification, continuing education, and training organization, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting Americans against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. ACE sponsors university-based fitness and exercise science research studies and is the world's largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or visit the ACE website at http://www.acefitness.org.  AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE, ACE and the ACE logos are Registered Trademarks of the American Council on Exercise.

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American Council on Exercise Adds Three Senior Fitness Consultants

Plastic surgery reported up in sagging economy

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

Anti-aging procedures that don’t involve going under the knife drove the growth of cosmetic medicine in 2011, a new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons says.
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The plastic surgery market saw ”signicant” growth for the second year in a row, the group says, with cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery each up 5%.

“While the rate of economic recovery in the U.S. is still uncertain, 2011 proved to be a good year for plastic surgery,” ASPS President Dr. Malcolm Z. Roth said.

Some local plastic surgeons in Orange County, one of the cosmetic medicine capitals, see things somewhat differently.

“Even though these statistics are derived from surveying our membership, I find them not totally credible,” said Dr. Edward Jonas Domanskis of Newport Beach. “In my experience, the total number of cosmetic surgery procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, has either decreased from the past year or stayed the same.”

Dr. John Di Saia of San Clemente and Orange took the report in stride.

“Things are looking up in the cosmetic surgery market but only slightly. 5% is not a major increase,” he said. “The larger procedures are still slow to return in large numbers. It is a sign of the economy.”

Another plastic surgeon said he thinks the statistics are spot on.

“The recent figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons on procedures performed in 2011 are consistent with the trends in my practice,” said Dr. Donald Altman of Irvine, adding, “… Despite the modest increase in procedures performed in 2011, consumers seeking cosmetic surgery continue to be very price sensitive.”

The ASPS says 13.8 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures — both surgical and minimally-invasive such as Botox or filler injections – were performed in the United States in 2011.

Also, 5.5 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed last year, up 5%, as well.

Cosmetic surgery went up 2%, with nearly 1.6 million procedures in 2011, the ASPS said.

The top five surgical procedures were:

Breast augmentation (307,000 procedures, up 4%) Nose reshaping (244,000 procedures, down 3%) Liposuction (205,000 procedures, up 1%) Eyelid surgery (196,000 procedures, down 6%) Facelift (119,000 procedures, up 5%)

Facelifts were listed among the top five cosmetic surgical procedures for the first time since 2004, replacing tummy tucks.

“We are seeing notable increases in surgical procedures, such as facelifts, that reflect the demands of an aging boomer population,” Roth said. ”However, the overall growth in cosmetic procedures is being primarily driven by a substantial rise in minimally-invasive procedures.”

Cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures increased 6%, with nearly 12.2 million procedures in 2011, according to the ASPS.

The top five minimally-invasive procedures were:

Botulinum toxin type A — mostly Botox (5.7 million procedures, up 5%) Soft tissue fillers (1.9 million procedures, up 7%) Chemical peel (1.1 million procedures, down 3%) Laser hair removal (1.1 million procedures, up 15%) Microdermabrasion (900,000 procedures, up 9%)

Soft tissue fillers like hyaluronic acid (such as Restylane and Juvederm Ultra), calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse), and fat injections had some of the largest growth in the minimally-invasive market last year.

The ASPS said more than 1.3 million hylauronic acid procedures were performed in 2011, up 9%; 286,000 calcium hydroxylapatite procedures, up 36%; and 68,000 fat injections, up 19%.

Lip augmentation practically exploded – up 49%, with more than 25,000 procedures performed, according to the ASPS.

Procedures by gender will be released in upcoming weeks. But chin augmentation, a procedure the ASPS says is popular with men, nearly doubled in 2011, with 21,000 procedures performed, up 71%, according to the organization.

Here’s some more from local plastic surgeons:

Dr. Terry Dubrow of Newport Beach:

“I think these numbers reflect that things have pretty much stabilized. No great increases or decreases in the demand or utilization of plastic surgery. The fact that most procedures seem to be up in single digit percentage point gains reflect in my mind nothing more than statistical variation. I have a rather established practice and I appear frequently on television and despite that some months last year were slower than I would expect if things were really improving.”

Dr. Edward Jonas Domanskis of Newport Beach:

“Definitely, the surgical cosmetic procedures continue at least in my practice and Orange County, to be significantly impacted by the economy with less expendable and spendable income. I feel that this is also because consumers confidence levels are still low.”

Dr. Donald Altman of Irvine:

“Breast augmentation continues to be the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure followed by rhinoplasty. There has been a dramatic increase in breast reconstruction this past year. Patients seem to be better informed in their decisions regarding cosmetic surgery, probably reflecting their increased ability to access information online. Email and text messaging has improved my ability to communicate with patients exponentially.”

Israeli embassy car blast: Anatomy of a sticky bomb

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Danzig

The Arabs call it Obwah Lasica, while the rest of the world terms it as a sticky bomb. This is a name that is doing the rounds ever since an attack took place in Delhi [ Images ] on Monday, in which an Israeli Diplomat and three others were injured.

The sticky bomb is probably one of the most convenient bombs that could be used and it has been found that it has often been used used in nIran and Iraq, although its origins can be traced back to World War II.

The bomb is usually the size of a person's fist and is either attached to a magnet or an adhesive. It is usually used by terrorists who carry out a quick operation and want to slip out without being noticed. The size of this bomb makes it very easy to use, so much so, that the person carrying it in his hand often goes unnoticed.

The bomb is usually stuck on to a car, and because of its small size, goes unnoticed. There have been many instances when the sticky bomb has been attached with the help of an adhesive to bumper of a car or on the number plate.

The other method used is to attach the bomb to a magnet, and throw it on to a moving vehicle, while following it. There is no danger whatsoever for the person operating a sticky bomb, since it explodes only with the help of a detonator, and can be done so at a safe distance of up to 100 metres.

Also, the area of the impact is also very less. When attached to the vehicle, the impact is magnified because of the fuel tank of the vehicle, making it more lethal to the person(s) sitting in it.

In the recent past, it has been extensively used by those fighting the American forces in Iraq. There are many instances to show that groups such as Hamas [ Images ] have used this device. Its is used largely to cause fear panic and also an impact.

Most of such bombs have been found to be homemade. A mixture of C4 is combined with an accelerant and then packed with shrapnel. The bomb is always triggered by a detonator; ion most cases, a cell phone.

This is relatively a new concept for India-based groups. If Monday's attack has even a trace of Indian origin in it, then it could well be the beginning of the sticky bomb on Indian soil. The sheer magnitude of the panic would be sufficient to destabilise normal life.

Indian Intelligence agencies say that there is a good chance of some of the Indian modules adapting themselves to use this kind of a bomb, and this only increases the need to be more watchful.

Originally posted here:
Israeli embassy car blast: Anatomy of a sticky bomb

The Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture Concludes Enrollment for the Phase III Study of StemEx®, a Cord Blood Stem Cell …

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

JERUSALEM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Gamida Cell announced today that the Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture (JV), equally held by Gamida Cell and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, has enrolled the last of 100 patients in the international, multi-center, pivotal registration, Phase III clinical trial of StemEx, a cell therapy product in development as an alternative therapeutic treatment for adolescents and adults, with blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, who cannot find a family related, matched bone marrow donor.

StemEx is a graft of an expanded population of stem/progenitor cells, derived from part of a single unit of umbilical cord blood and transplanted by IV administration along with the remaining, non-manipulated cells from the same unit.

Dr. Yael Margolin, president and chief executive officer of Gamida Cell, said, "The JV is planning to announce the safety and efficacy results of the Phase III StemEx trial in 2012 and to launch the product into the market in 2013. It is our hope that StemEx will provide the answer for the thousands of leukemia and lymphoma patients unable to find a matched, related bone marrow donor.”

Dr. Margolin continued, “StemEx may be the first allogeneic cell therapy to be brought to market. This is a source of pride for Gamida Cell, as it further confirms the company’s leadership as a pioneer in cell therapy. In addition to StemEx, Gamida Cell is developing a diverse pipeline of products for the treatment of cancer, hematological diseases such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, as well as autoimmune and metabolic diseases and conditions helped by regenerative medicine.”

About Gamida Cell

Gamida Cell is a world leader in stem cell population expansion technologies and stem cell therapy products for transplantation and regenerative medicine. The company’s pipeline of stem cell therapy products are in development to treat a wide range of conditions including blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, solid tumors, non-malignant hematological diseases such as hemoglobinopathies, acute radiation syndrome, autoimmune diseases and metabolic diseases as well as conditions that can be helped by regenerative medicine. Gamida Cell’s therapeutic candidates contain populations of adult stem cells, selected from non-controversial sources such as umbilical cord blood, which are expanded in culture. Gamida Cell was successful in translating these proprietary expansion technologies into robust and validated manufacturing processes under GMP. Gamida Cell’s current shareholders include: Elbit Imaging, Clal Biotechnology Industries, Israel Healthcare Venture, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Amgen, Denali Ventures and Auriga Ventures. For more information, please visit: http://www.gamida-cell.com.

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The Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture Concludes Enrollment for the Phase III Study of StemEx®, a Cord Blood Stem Cell ...

Group slams Arizona science standards

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

by Kerry Fehr-Snyder - Feb. 12, 2012 09:38 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com

High-school standards covering chemistry and physiology are "distressingly inadequate.''

Evolution gets short shrift.

And guidelines to help students grasp modern biology are "skimpy.''

For those and other reasons, Arizona has earned a "D" for its school science standards from the non-profit Thomas B. Fordham Institute, based in Washington, D.C., and Dayton, Ohio.

"Arizona's science standards are generally weak on content and are plagued by disorganization and a frustrating lack of cohesion,'' the institute reported in January. The group describes itself as committed to the renewal and reform of primary and secondary education in the United States.

Other states received even harsher criticism. Ten received an "F" for their standards, including Wyoming, Wisconsin and Montana. Only California and the District of Columbia received an "A."

The grades were based on an examination of the current K-12 science standards for every state and District of Columbia.

In issuing the report, the institute said high science standards are necessary if America is to remain "prosperous, scientifically-advanced and economically competitive.''

Arizona is among several states beginning to establish a common set of science standards that will be internationally benchmarked. The framework is known as the next-generation science standards.

"One of the issues has been and will be that states set their own standards," said Darcy Renfro, vice president and director of science, technology, engineering and math initiatives at Science Foundation Arizona. "There is a great mismatch of science standards."

Unlike math and English, there is no common core standard for science adopted by all states.

Arizona's grade on science standards mirrors those given in 2005 when the last review of national science standards was conducted. The study comes as businesses and schools are trying to boost education in STEM to compete in the global economy and for national security.

"It's incredibly important to American competitiveness and our national security," said Kathleen Porter-Magee, senior director of high-quality standards for the institute.

Researchers criticized Arizona for "spotty and unsystematic" science standards in high school.

They also faulted Arizona for:

Employing disorganized standards.

Poorly conceiving concepts under which standards are grouped.

Innovative Imaging Concepts is Excited to Announce the Distribution of Collibio, the Next Generation of Digital …

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

Pathology departments are very familiar with the age old problems of dealing with the costs and inflexibilities of trying to manage large archives of glass slides. In addition trying to collaborate with colleagues in different locations using glass slides is a major challenge. Slide trays have to be sent to/from laboratories in different locations incurring significant costs, tying up logistical manpower, causing ongoing delays in diagnoses, and with the danger of slides

getting lost or damaged. Alternatively pathologists have to travel to meet their colleagues for team meetings, to review important cases, thereby incurring additional costs and the loss of important work days. Collibio is solving these problems.

Oxford, Massachusetts (PRWEB) February 13, 2012

The Ireland based pathology imaging software company Pixcelldata announces the availability of Collibio in USA with the authorized distributor Innovative Imaging Concepts.

Collibio helps the users of proprietary digital scanner systems and their images now to collaborate immediately.

Collibio’s ease of use allows pathologists to quickly connect to existing virtual slide repositories. New scans are automatically linked into Collibio and in conjunction with a LIS relevant case information is displayed alongside slides. Virtual slides can be shared with other lab users and also securely with consultants outside of the pathologist’s organization providng rapid turnaround time for external review. Conferences can be initiated between any number of collaborators allowing simultaneous review of slides between colleagues. Collibio will reduce the administration overhead of a digital pathology laboratory, and allow pathologist to access their slides regardless of where they or their slides are.

Pixcelldata released Collibio as a web application in October 2010 and expanded their software offering by creating a desktop version. The Collibio desktop application provides a multi-monitor “pathologist’s cockpit,” allowing users to increase their productivity and effectively manage their digital pathology projects.

“We were keen to provide our clients with the tools they need to enhance their user experience and efficiently manage large quantities of data generated through using digital slides,” explained Alex Johnson, Pixcelldata's CTO. “One screen can be used to view images, and another to display auxiliary information. The application installs in seconds on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X, and all data is immediately saved on a central server.”

Alan Hanley, Pixcelldata’s CEO commented, “We want to help our clients maximize the use of their time and resources. The Collibio desktop application is the perfect tool to use while at your office workstation and the rich internet application software provides immediate access to your data with the same functionality when on the move. We will continue to focus on new product development throughout 2011 and will release an innovative tablet PC version of Collibio later this year.”

Company Profile

Innovative Imaging Concepts

340 Main Street

Oxford, MA 01540

Phone 508 581 0251

Fax 508 987 7310

The company includes interactive digital slide imaging system and several emerging product innovations created and commercialized for advanced pathology digital microscopy imaging in the fields of tissue analysis, ophthalmology diagnosis and surgery, skin cancer detection and general optical microscopy imaging. The corporate mission is to position Innovative Imaging Concepts as a new product development company, generating imaging hardware applications and the imaging software technology for integrating medical imaging, storage, retrieval, and sharing of hospital, clinical pathology, research and patient diagnostic imaging between local medical services and research departments and through internet connection to a broader and concurrent viewing audience.

Company Profile

Pixcelldata Ltd.

51/52, Fitzwilliam Square,

Dublin 2,

Ireland.

T +353 (1) 6650449

F +353 (1) 6650480

Pixcelldata is a software company committed to providing innovative software solutions for the digital pathology domain.

Our products are built with perfection, usability and enterprise level features in mind.

We work hard to understand how our customers operate and deliver applications that fit seamlessly into their every day workflows. __title__ Collibio, innovative software solutions for the digital pathology domain]

###

Ludwig Eckl
ludwig.eckl@gmail.com
413 262 5940
Email Information

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Innovative Imaging Concepts is Excited to Announce the Distribution of Collibio, the Next Generation of Digital ...

Nutrition Study: Matthew Vettese Says Afternoon Stress Eating is Dietary Disaster, Suggests Healthy Alternatives

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

A new report from CNN confirms that stress-induced “binge eating” during the afternoon or early evening is a major cause of dietary problems and significant weight gain, but nutritionist Matthew Vettese offers ways for avoiding carbohydrate overload.

New York, New York (PRWEB) February 13, 2012

Eating the wrong kinds of foods and later feeling sick because of it is an experience most of us know well, but a new CNN study suggests that the opposite can also hold true—that certain foods can make us feel better, at least temporarily. The nutrition study notes that junk foods, such as potato chips and ice cream, offer a “fast-track to happiness,” but also that a “carb overload” can ultimately “wreak havoc” on the body. CNN speculates that afternoon snacking and easy access to junk food are the causes of many dietary and weight gain problems, but nutrition expert Matthew Vettese says there are practical efforts that can be taken to ward off the problem.

Matthew Vettese confirms that the CNN study offers important insight that many consumers may benefit from hearing. “It is certainly true that eating certain foods can have a soothing or comforting effect, which is why so many of us reach for chips or for that extra cup of coffee in the afternoon,” says the diet expert. “Just because something makes one feel good does not mean it is actually good for the body, however, and the things we do to feel better may really be making us feel worse.”

Nutrition expert Matthew Vettese points to the CNN study’s insight into what makes afternoon snacking and stress-induced “binge eating” so counterproductive. In particular, the study shows that overloading on unhealthy foods can actually suppress the immune system, a finding Matthew Vettese says is radical. “A lot of times we flood our bodies with junk when we start to feel ill, but that can actually make things much worse,” he cautions.

The best path to avoiding these unhealthy dietary effects, according to Matthew Vettese, is to recognize the problem and end the pattern. “These foods not only taste good, but prove to be addictive over time,” he comments. “Once we start eating donuts or potato chips as an afternoon snack, our bodies start to crave them, and it becomes hard to end the cycle, even though it makes the body feel worse and worse.”

The nutritionist endorses a suggestion from the CNN report, which is to substitute a different kind of stress-relieving afternoon habit. Rather than relieve midday stress or cope from a hard day by binge eating, Matthew Vettese recommends making it a habit to go for a short walk, a healthier alternative that has the same stress-reducing effects. He also adds another suggestion of his own, which is simply to take junk out of the equation. “If you know you are prone to afternoon snacking, keep less carb-heavy snacks, like fruits or veggies, close at hand, and avoid the allure of the sweet and salty stuff.”

ABOUT:

Matthew Vettese is a nutrition expert and dietary consultant whose passion is for helping his client find safe and natural ways to lose weight and stay trim. He is also a strong proponent of organic gardening, and offers his clients home gardening tips.

###

Michael McGarety
PR Authority
800-475-2390
Email Information

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Nutrition Study: Matthew Vettese Says Afternoon Stress Eating is Dietary Disaster, Suggests Healthy Alternatives

Metagenics’ Chief Science Officer, Dr. Jeffrey Bland, Is Awarded Nutrition Business Journal’s 2011 Education Award

Posted on February 13, 2012 by ev1

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Jeffrey Bland, PhD, chief science officer for Metagenics, Inc., a nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine company dedicated to reducing chronic illness and improving health, has been awarded the 2011 Nutrition Business Journal’s (NBJ) Education award for his expertise and contributions to international nutritional medicine education. The NBJ awards give recognition to the industry’s influential leaders who have made a significant impact in the fields of health, wellness and nutrition.

“I am honored to receive the Nutrition Business Journal’s Education award,” said Dr. Bland. “Educating healthcare practitioners in the science of nutrigenomics is the key to reversing the tide of chronic illness that is currently overwhelming our healthcare system worldwide. As more and more practitioners and patients discover the power of lifestyle medicine to achieve life-long health, we are at the tipping point of shifting our focus from treating disease to creating health.”

For more than 25 years, Dr. Bland has been an internationally recognized leader in the nutritional medicine field. A nutritional biochemist, he is a prominent researcher and educator for the science of nutrigenomics, the study of how nutritive substances and phytochemicals affect genetic expression within human cells.

Dr. Bland currently serves as the chief science officer for Metagenics and is the president of Metagenics’ wholly-owned subsidiary, MetaProteomics Nutrigenomics Research Center. His scientific team has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and been awarded more than 50 international or domestic patents. Their research is the foundation for Metagenics’ industry-leading products and programs that reduce chronic illness and improve health.

In addition to lecturing and teaching on nutrigenomics around the world, Dr. Bland leads and shapes hundreds of educational programs offered through Metagenics University, including the certification programs for First Line Therapy (FLT), a personalized lifestyle program centered on therapeutic lifestyle change.

Dr. Bland’s leadership in nutrigenomics education also includes achievements such as:

Professor of biochemistry at the University of Puget Sound. Director of nutritional research at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine. First member of the board of trustees of Bastyr University, the first federally accredited university in the United States offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in natural medicine. Dr. Bland contributed significantly to its founding and accreditation. Establishment of the Institute of Functional Medicine to educate clinicians about functional medicine. President at the Northwest Academy of Preventive Medicine Author of the textbook, The Medical Applications of Clinical Nutrition, that has been used in numerous medical and graduate school curriculums

Dr. Bland will be publicly honored for his outstanding achievements in nutrition medicine education at the 15th annual NBJ Summit in Dana Point, California, on July 24-27.

About Metagenics, Inc.

Metagenics, Inc. (www.metagenics.com) is a nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine company focused on reversing chronic illness and improving health. Founded in 1983, Metagenics serves more than 75,000 healthcare providers worldwide through premium quality, science-based medical foods, nutritional formulas, and lifestyle therapy programs to help their patients achieve a lifetime of good health. Metagenics’ scientific staff—among the largest in the nutrigenomics industry—has published more than 80 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has been awarded more than 50 international or domestic patents. The company’s educational arm, Metagenics University, collaborates with renowned medical experts to annually deliver more than 200 events designed to help healthcare professionals stay on the leading edge of lifestyle medicine and incorporate nutrition into their clinical practice.

Metagenics maintains its corporate headquarters in San Clemente, CA; R&D headquarters in Gig Harbor, WA; and operating subsidiaries in Brussels, Belgium, and Brisbane, Australia.

Originally posted here:
Metagenics’ Chief Science Officer, Dr. Jeffrey Bland, Is Awarded Nutrition Business Journal’s 2011 Education Award

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