Penrose offers genetic counseling via telemedicine

Posted on by

By Bryan Grossman

Thanks to modern technology, genetic counselors in Colorado Springs now can meet with patients in Durango by two-way live audio/video conferencing. Patients in Durango who seek genetic counseling can schedule appointments with Penrose Cancer Center genetic counselors and meet with them virtually. Penrose is in partnership with Mercy Regional Medical Center.

Appointments physically take place at Mercy Family Medicines Three Springs and Horse Gulch locations in Durango, where a medical assistant sits down with the patient in the clinic room, initiates the video counseling session and introduces the patient. In Colorado Springs, a Penrose Cancer Center genetic counselor logs on simultaneously and meets with the patient as if it were an in-person appointment.

Prior to the start of this program, patients at MRMC didnt have access to local genetic counseling services, saidElena Strait, certified genetic counselor. This telemedicine program allows us to meet a need in a way that makes sense for MRMC patients. They are thrilled to receive this service without leaving home, and Durango medical providers appreciate having us as a resource for their patients.

Genetic counseling services include recording a detailed family history and using family history information to estimate the risk of developing cancer, estimate the risk of an inherited cancer, review the pros and cons of genetic testing and help patients decide if testing is appropriate, coordinate genetic testing, consider ways to screen for and prevent cancer based on risks and explore implications with family members

Genetic counseling is a program that Penrose Cancer Centers parent company, Centura Health, is excited to grow, according to a news release sent by Penrose. The goal is ultimately to involve genetic counselors at other hospitals in the network to reach additional outlying communities throughout Colorado and western Kansas. Centura isalso servicing other rural affiliate hospitals with telemedicine services for pulmonology, outpatient gastrointestinal clinic needs and tumor board consultations.

What is Telemedicine?

Formally defined, it is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patients clinical health status. It includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, email, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications.

Beginning40years ago with demonstrations of hospitals extending care to patients in remote areas, the use of telemedicine has spread rapidly and is now becoming integrated into the ongoing operations of hospitals, specialty departments, home health agencies, private physician offices as well as consumers homes and workplaces.

Continue reading here:

Penrose offers genetic counseling via telemedicine

'Genome editing' could correct genetic mutations for future generations

Posted on by

Scientists at Indiana University and colleagues at Stanford and the University of Texas have demonstrated a technique for "editing" the genome in sperm-producing adult stem cells, a result with powerful potential for basic research and for gene therapy.

The researchers completed a "proof of concept" experiment in which they created a break in the DNA strands of a mutant gene in mouse cells, then repaired the DNA through a process called homologous recombination, replacing flawed segments with correct ones.

The study involved spermatogonial stem cells, which are the foundation for the production of sperm and are the only adult stem cells that contribute genetic information to the next generation. Repairing flaws in the cells could thus prevent mutations from being passed to future generations.

"We showed a way to introduce genetic material into spermatogonial stem cells that was greatly improved from what had been previously demonstrated," said Christina Dann, associate scientist in the Department of Chemistry at IU Bloomington and a co-author of the study. "This technique corrects the mutation, theoretically leaving no other mark on the genome."

The paper, "Genome Editing in Mouse Spermatogonial Stem/Progenitor Cells Using Engineered Nucleases," was published in the online science journal PLOS-ONE.

The lead author, Danielle Fanslow, carried out the research as an IU research associate and is now a doctoral student at Northwestern University. Additional co-authors are from the Stanford School of Medicine and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

A challenge to the research was the fact that spermatogonial stem cells, like many types of adult stem cells, are notoriously difficult to isolate, culture and work with. It took years of intensive effort by multiple laboratories before conditions were created a decade ago to maintain and propagate the cells.

For the IU research, a primary hurdle was to find a way to make specific, targeted modifications to the mutant mouse gene without the risk of disease caused by random introduction of genetic material. The researchers used specially designed enzymes, called zinc finger nucleases and transcription activator-like effector nucleases, to create a double strand break in the DNA and bring about the repair of the gene.

Stem cells that had been modified in the lab were then transplanted into the testes of sterile mice. The transplanted cells grew or colonized within the mouse testes, indicating the stem cells were viable. However, attempts to breed the mice were not successful.

"Whether the failure to produce sperm was a result of abnormalities in the transplanted cells or the recipient testes was unclear," the researchers write.

Originally posted here:

'Genome editing' could correct genetic mutations for future generations

VAs Magnuson Award to Gene Therapy Pioneer in Ann Arbor

Posted on by

ANN ARBOR (PRWEB) December 15, 2014

Gene therapy pioneer and longtime Veterans Affairs researcher Dr. David Fink received the 2014 Paul B. Magnuson Award from VA in a ceremony at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System on Dec. 15, 2014.

Dr. Fink is a staff neurologist and an investigator with the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center at the Ann Arbor VA. He is also the Robert Brear Professor and Chair of Neurology at the University of Michigan. He has been with VA since 1982.

A Harvard Medical School graduate, Fink has pioneered methods to introduce genes into the body to treat chronic pain and other nervous-system diseases. His team led the first human clinical trial of gene therapy for pain. The phase 1 trial, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2011, involved 10 cancer patients with severe pain who had failed to respond even to high doses of morphine or other pain drugs. Finks group gave them skin injections of an inactive form of the herpes simplex virus as a means to deliver a gene known as PENK. The gene helps the body produce an opioid-like molecule called proenkephalin.

The gene treatment, based on years of research, is safe in humans and led to pain reduction. A larger phase 2 clinical trial of the approach is now being planned.

Besides cancer pain, Finks work focuses on Veterans and others with nerve-related conditions such as spinal cord injury and diabetic neuropathy. The team is developing non-replicating viral vectors, similar to the one used in the 2011 human trial, to ferry genes into the nervous system that code for the production of the bodys own pain relievers. A related approach, now being funded by VA, is to use the vectors to bring about the continuous release of proteins that protect nerve cells from dying. This could help prevent neuropathy and the sharp chronic pain it entails.

Dr. Finks work holds tremendous potential for treating Veterans with chronic neurological disease, said Robert McDivitt, an Army Veteran and director of the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

Fink was presented the award by Dr. Carolyn Clancy, VAs Interim Undersecretary for Health. Also attending the ceremony was Dr. Patricia Dorn, director of VA Rehabilitation Research and Development, which each year presents the Magnuson Award as the highest honor for VA rehabilitation investigators.

The award is named for Paul B. Magnuson, a bone and joint surgeon who was a key figure in the expansion of the VA research program after World War II. He was known for his dedication to finding new treatments and devices to help Veterans cope with their disabilities, and, as he put it, to restoring each patient to his family, his job, and his life. Established in 1998, the Magnuson Award consists of a plaque, a one-time award of $5,000, and $50,000 per year for up to three years to supplement ongoing peer-reviewed research.

About the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Since 1953, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System which includes the VA Ann Arbor Medical Center, the VA Toledo Community Based Outpatient Clinic [CBOC], the VA Flint CBOC, and the VA Jackson CBOC, as well as the VA Center for Clinical Management Research, an HSR&D Center of Innovation, has provided state-of-the-art healthcare services to the men and women who have proudly served our nation. More than 65,000 Veterans living in a 15-county area of Michigan and Northwest Ohio utilized VAAAHS in fiscal year 2014. The Ann Arbor Medical Center also serves as a referral center for specialty care.

View original post here:

VAs Magnuson Award to Gene Therapy Pioneer in Ann Arbor

Grey Goo: An Unclean RTS (in a Good Way)

Posted on by

Share.

Dropping into a skirmish in Petroglyphs Grey Goo for the first time felt like opening the door to my apartment on an otherwise normal day... and finding a swimming pool. Its a base-building RTS in the vein of Command & Conquer and all of its ilk. You gather resources and make little dudes to kill the opponents dudes and blow up their buildings. I figured I knew what to expect. And yet, I was taken by surprise by the very goo that lends its name to the title.

This particular interstellar war is set in a sci-fi future where humanity and a scrappy alien race known as the Beta are threatened by grey goo. It may sound like an unpalatable-but-not-life-threatening European sandwich spread. But the term actually refers to a hypothesis in science fiction and futurism which speculates that advanced, self-replicating nanobots could theoretically get out of control and begin converting all matter in the universe into more nanobotswhich may appear, to human eyes, as a sort of grey goo. Humans, Beta, and the Goo are all playable in the 15-mission campaign as well as AI skirmish and multiplayer. While the anthropoid factions build, expand, and fight just about how a veteran RTS player would expect, the goo the proverbial swimming pool in the room is a totally different animal.

As the goo, you have no buildings. Rather, you begin with a large, mobile blob called the Mother Goo that serves all the functions of a well-stocked base of operations. This maternal pustule of destruction parks itself over any of the resource nodes scattered around the map and begins to gain mass. Once a certain amount is acquired, it can split off a part of itself, reducing its health and size, to create either another Mother Goo (to slither off and found an expansion base), or an amorphous lump called a Protean that can morph into a variety of military units.

While most RTSes these days make an effort to introduce asymmetrical factions with unique resource-gathering and base management mechanics, the goo are probably the most mold-breaking army Ive ever gotten my hands on. Regardless, its the first time Ive been able to switch my faction and almost feel like I was playing a totally different game. No part of your army or economy is ever fixed to one spot, and it takes some mental gymnastics to get into the rhythm of what you should be doing at any given point in a match especially if your mind is pre-wired for more traditional RTS gameplay.

Apart from the oozing originality of the goo, there are some other, cool innovations stuck to the formula. Maps feature obscuring brush not unlike that in Dota and League of Legends, which blocks vision of units within to any player who doesnt have a spotter unit inside the brush themselves. It also serves as a twist on the traditional air-vs-ground struggle, as air units flying over brush are unable to get a read on whats inside without ground support. Many can cut loose blindly on anything that looks like a tree with the hopes of decimating whatevers lurking below, but a clever opponent can bait your aerial fire into an empty grove while the real army marches around to your back door.

The goo are probably the most mold-breaking army Ive ever gotten my hands on.

The three campaign missions available in the preview told the tale of the alien Beta having their homeworld invaded by technologically superior humans. Said humans were, presumably, fleeing from the Grey Goo, the origins of which were not revealed. But Im pretty sure it was the humans fault. Campaign maps and objectives were not particularly outstanding, but the story presentation is just about as polished as anything else in the genre. Full CGI cutscenes introduce key narrative points, and the principal characters are well-acted and animated. The Beta, portrayed by a talented cast of South African voice actors, were particularly endearing.

Well all be able to see the rest of the story of Grey Goo unfold on January 23. The remaining campaign missions will launch alongside ELO-based matchmaking for 1v1 and 2v2, as well as custom games and a map editor. I, for one, am looking forward to it. But Ill probably try to wear gloves next time.

More:

Grey Goo: An Unclean RTS (in a Good Way)

Gameplay Commentary

Posted on by

Share.

Dropping into a skirmish in Petroglyphs Grey Goo for the first time felt like opening the door to my apartment on an otherwise normal day... and finding a swimming pool. Its a base-building RTS in the vein of Command & Conquer and all of its ilk. You gather resources and make little dudes to kill the opponents dudes and blow up their buildings. I figured I knew what to expect. And yet, I was taken by surprise by the very goo that lends its name to the title.

This particular interstellar war is set in a sci-fi future where humanity and a scrappy alien race known as the Beta are threatened by grey goo. It may sound like an unpalatable-but-not-life-threatening European sandwich spread. But the term actually refers to a hypothesis in science fiction and futurism which speculates that advanced, self-replicating nanobots could theoretically get out of control and begin converting all matter in the universe into more nanobotswhich may appear, to human eyes, as a sort of grey goo. Humans, Beta, and the Goo are all playable in the 15-mission campaign as well as AI skirmish and multiplayer. While the anthropoid factions build, expand, and fight just about how a veteran RTS player would expect, the goo the proverbial swimming pool in the room is a totally different animal.

As the goo, you have no buildings. Rather, you begin with a large, mobile blob called the Mother Goo that serves all the functions of a well-stocked base of operations. This maternal pustule of destruction parks itself over any of the resource nodes scattered around the map and begins to gain mass. Once a certain amount is acquired, it can split off a part of itself, reducing its health and size, to create either another Mother Goo (to slither off and found an expansion base), or an amorphous lump called a Protean that can morph into a variety of military units.

While most RTSes these days make an effort to introduce asymmetrical factions with unique resource-gathering and base management mechanics, the goo are probably the most mold-breaking army Ive ever gotten my hands on. Regardless, its the first time Ive been able to switch my faction and almost feel like I was playing a totally different game. No part of your army or economy is ever fixed to one spot, and it takes some mental gymnastics to get into the rhythm of what you should be doing at any given point in a match especially if your mind is pre-wired for more traditional RTS gameplay.

Apart from the oozing originality of the goo, there are some other, cool innovations stuck to the formula. Maps feature obscuring brush not unlike that in Dota and League of Legends, which blocks vision of units within to any player who doesnt have a spotter unit inside the brush themselves. It also serves as a twist on the traditional air-vs-ground struggle, as air units flying over brush are unable to get a read on whats inside without ground support. Many can cut loose blindly on anything that looks like a tree with the hopes of decimating whatevers lurking below, but a clever opponent can bait your aerial fire into an empty grove while the real army marches around to your back door.

The goo are probably the most mold-breaking army Ive ever gotten my hands on.

The three campaign missions available in the preview told the tale of the alien Beta having their homeworld invaded by technologically superior humans. Said humans were, presumably, fleeing from the Grey Goo, the origins of which were not revealed. But Im pretty sure it was the humans fault. Campaign maps and objectives were not particularly outstanding, but the story presentation is just about as polished as anything else in the genre. Full CGI cutscenes introduce key narrative points, and the principal characters are well-acted and animated. The Beta, portrayed by a talented cast of South African voice actors, were particularly endearing.

Well all be able to see the rest of the story of Grey Goo unfold on January 23. The remaining campaign missions will launch alongside ELO-based matchmaking for 1v1 and 2v2, as well as custom games and a map editor. I, for one, am looking forward to it. But Ill probably try to wear gloves next time.

See the article here:

Gameplay Commentary

Own Grave Dead – Toward Heaven of Freedom (Live at B’nice Club Metalheads Bar) – Video

Posted on by


Own Grave Dead - Toward Heaven of Freedom (Live at B #39;nice Club Metalheads Bar)
Own Grave Dead Live Performance at Metalheads Bar B #39;nice Cafe Luxury Palembang. Song Download at http://www.Reverbnation.com/OwnGraveDead Like Us on facebook ...

By: OwnGraveDead

Read the original:

Own Grave Dead - Toward Heaven of Freedom (Live at B'nice Club Metalheads Bar) - Video

Using GMO Food to Reduce World’s Population by 90% by David Schnittger – Video

Posted on by


Using GMO Food to Reduce World #39;s Population by 90% by David Schnittger
Hawaiians Win Community GMO Victory Over Monsanto http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/11/05/hawaiians-win-community-gmo-victory-over-monsanto However, eugenics as a modern ...

By: Dave Flang

Read the original here:

Using GMO Food to Reduce World's Population by 90% by David Schnittger - Video

Powersoft's Revolutionary Deva Messaging System Makes its U.S. Debut at RiverRink, One of Philadelphia's Most Famous …

Posted on by

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) December 15, 2014

Each year at the end of November, thousands of tourists and Philadelphians flock to RiverRink at Penn's Landing to celebrate the onset of winter and the holiday season. For over 20 years, the Olympic Size skating rink has been a focal point one of the City's most enduring holiday traditions. This year, RiverRink is the centerpiece of a 'pop up' winter garden that features a magical winter landscape complete with Christmas trees, cozy fire pits and spectacular views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Delaware River. RiverRink is also the site of the very first U.S. installation of Powersoft's Deva a revolutionary new messaging system that is helping cities like Philadelphia embrace 'smart city' applications.

For the thousands of skaters that attend RiverRink each day, the Powersoft Deva system delivers up to 115 dBs of pristine audio while consuming a diminutive physical footprint and remaining completely energy independent. Two of the Deva units are programmed to take photos of skaters at regular intervals, enhancing the overall entertainment experience. After the rink closes, the system which is controlled over a wireless LAN is able to provide intelligent surveillance and active monitoring of the premises.

Williamsport, MD-based Live Sound Co., which handled design and integration of the Deva system, was given a preview of the Deva system over a year ago by Claudio Lastrucci, Research & Development Director at Powersoft. "Our first installation of Deva is the culmination of our efforts with Powersoft, and their incredible engineering vision," commented Jeremiah Leiter, President of Live Sound Co. "When we turned the units on and they were working exactly as we hoped they would, it was such a feeling of pride. We don't just want to sell products to our clients, we want to help them solve problems. This is exactly what the Powersoft's Deva enables us to do."

A Small Revolution in a Smart City The Philadelphia RiverRink installation is comprised of four Deva units mounted on two steel poles on opposite sides of the skating rink. A fifth Deva unit is mounted on a pole and pointed towards the entrance of the rink. Each unit which measures approximately 12" x 18" and weighs just under 22 lbs. comprises an active loudspeaker, an interactive messaging system, high powered LED lighting, an FM tuner, built in GPS, presence sensors, Wi-Fi and many other intelligent features.

In all his years of doing systems integration work, Live Sound Co. Chief Operating Officer Nik Mondo has never seen such a revolutionary product. "As far as I know, there is no other product on the market that combines such a compelling feature set," he says. "The icing on the cake is that they can be solar powered and have a built-in battery, so they don't require external power sources. This means that you don't have to worry about the typical power restrictions that might be faced in other scenarios with other competing products on the marketplace.

While the RiverRink installation was initially set up as a 'proof of concept' to demonstrate Deva's features and functionality, Nik Mondo, who hails from the City of Brotherly Love, is confident that the council will soon find other 'smart city' applications for the unit: "I would like to see Deva installed alongside the trails along the Delaware River, all the way to South Philadelphia," he says. "Such a system could provide messaging and an added measure of assurance and security for pedestrians, especially in areas where there is not a lot of lighting or public infrastructure."

"Security is such an important consideration for just about any metro area," Mondo continues. "On this product, there is a light, a camera, an FM tuner, a motion sensor and a speaker all in one. So if somebody walks in front of the unit, it can trigger a predefined message or it can photograph surroundings at predefined intervals. All of this activity can be monitored from any location via the network."

Design Intelligence, Ease of Integration Deva's intelligent product design carries through to its unmatched ease of installation: "We can install each unit in about seven minutes," says Mondo. "The mounting and set up is very simple and exactly what you would expect from Powersoft." The power is supplied via solar panels, which are positioned and clamped directly to the truss above each unit." As engineers, designers, installers and integrators, we are used to dealing with complex levels of components, software and other considerations to make things work right," says Leiter. "Deva is a joy for us because it is so easy to get it up and running all the functionality you could ask for is at the ready for the end user."

Once the system was up and running at RiverRink, the audio quality did not disappoint. "When we first fired it up and played music in the rink, all the audio engineers and staff had smiles on their faces. The audio was crisp, clear and articulate," Mondo says. Initially, he was concerned that the four Deva units would not cover the 98' x 200' rink space, due to their modest yet sleek physical presence. "I was extremely worried that four units may not cover all that space," he recalls "To my surprise and excitement, they audio covered the entire rink with ease and even bled out into other areas beyond the rink when we needed it to."

See the original post here:

Powersoft's Revolutionary Deva Messaging System Makes its U.S. Debut at RiverRink, One of Philadelphia's Most Famous ...

Cris Cyborg gives up on the idea of fighting at bantamweight

Posted on by

Guilherme Cruz, MMA Fighting

Cris Cyborg will not cut down to 135 pounds after all.

Two and a half months after announcing her decision to drop to the bantamweight division for a bout at Invicta FC 10, the first and only Strikeforce and Invicta FC featherweight champion confirmed she wont try cutting the extra 10 pounds anymore.

"I cant. From now on, I will only fight at my weight or in a catchweight," Cyborg told Tatame on Monday. "I havent fought in a long time and thats why I want to go back to my division."

Speaking to MMAFighting.com on Dec. 3, the Brazilian brawler said she had postponed the drop to bantamweight, but turns out that the lack of commitment from both UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and the UFC president Dana White on making the anticipated super fight forced Cyborg to change her mind.

"I realized Im the only one making an effort for this fight to happen," she said. "I believe both should make an effort."

Cyborg, who attended Saturdays UFC on FOX 13 in Phoenix, expects to put her Invicta FC 145-pound title on the line in February.

Read the rest here:

Cris Cyborg gives up on the idea of fighting at bantamweight

7 – Best BAHAMAS BEACHES – WAVES DVD Relaxation Nature Videos relaxing ocean sounds – relax – Video

Posted on by


7 - Best BAHAMAS BEACHES - WAVES DVD Relaxation Nature Videos relaxing ocean sounds - relax
7 - Best BAHAMAS BEACHES - WAVES DVD Relaxation Nature Videos relaxing ocean sounds - relax on Sale! NOTE - http://www.amazon.com/gp/node/index.html?ie=UTF8 ...

By: WavesDVDcom: Relax Music Waves Videos

Originally posted here:

7 - Best BAHAMAS BEACHES - WAVES DVD Relaxation Nature Videos relaxing ocean sounds - relax - Video