Monthly Archives: February 2012

Monkeys' Parkinson's woes eased via stem cells

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 KYOTO — Researchers have succeeded in improving the treatment of Parkinson's disease by using human embryonic stem cells to create nerve cells that produce dopamine and then transplanting the cells into monkeys' brains. Four monkeys with Parkinson's disease — and previously unable to walk due to their symptoms — improved substantially after the human nerve cells were transplanted into their brains, reducing the shaking in their limbs and leading to some regaining the ability to walk, the research team, including Kyoto University professor Jun Takahashi, said Tuesday. It is the first time pluripotent human embryonic stem cells have been successfully transplanted to improve symptoms of Parkinson's disease in monkeys, according to the team. Parkinson's disease is linked to drops in the production of dopamine — a neurotransmitter in the brain. While there are drugs to treat the progressive neurological illness, there is currently no treatment to stop dopamine levels from falling. In the study, the researchers transplanted nerve cells derived from the human stem cells into the four monkeys' brains. About three months later, all of them began to show improvements in their symptoms and tests conducted a year after the operation confirmed the nerve cells … Continue reading →

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Traumatic Brain Injury – Clazosentan May Block Harmful Effects

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

Editor's Choice Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 22 Feb 2012 - 5:00 PST email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions   Current Article Ratings: Patient / Public: Healthcare Prof: A study in rats has found that a new medication called clazosentan, may be effective in blocking the harmful effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012. Michael Kaufman, study author, a second year medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, and member of the American Academy of Neurology, explained: "There are currently no primary treatments for TBI, so this research provides hope that effective treatments can be developed." Christian Kreipke, MD, also with Wayne State University School of Medicine, is lead researcher on the study. TBI results in restricted blood flow in the cerebrum of the brain, which can ultimately cause permanent cell dysfunction and death. As early as four hours following a brain injury, a receptor in the brain called endothelin receptor A (ETrA) contributes to decreasing blood flow. Scientists believe that the new drug clazosentan specifically blocks ETrA. Through … Continue reading →

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A new link between traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

Public release date: 22-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Rhiannon Bugno Biol.Psych@utsouthwestern.edu 214-648-0880 Elsevier Philadelphia, PA, February 22, 2012 ? Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are cardinal injuries associated with combat stress, and TBI increases the risk of PTSD development. The reasons for this correlation have been unknown, in part because physical traumas often occur in highly emotional situations. However, scientists at University of California at Los Angeles provide new evidence from an animal model of a mechanistic link underlying the association between TBI and PTSD-like conditions. Using procedures to separate the physical and emotional traumas, Dr. Maxine Reger and colleagues trained rats using fear conditioning techniques two days after the rats had a concussive brain trauma. This ensured the brain injury and experience of fear occurred on different days. Dr. Michael Fanselow explained their findings: "We found that the rats with the earlier TBI acquired more fear than control rats (those without TBI). Something about the brain injury rendered them more susceptible to acquiring an inappropriately strong fear. It was as if the injury primed the brain for learning to be afraid." To further understand why this happened, the researchers analyzed a … Continue reading →

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MS centre moves into new facility

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

Report by Samantha Pope Wednesday, February 22, 2012 1:00 PM A MULTIPLE Sclerosis charity which started in Nailsea more than 25 years ago has moved to a new facility in Bradley Stoke. To send a link to this page to a friend, simply enter their email address below. The message will include the name and email address you gave us when you signed up. Email address   Send link To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in. Today (Wed) will be the day when staff at The West of England MS Therapy Centre are handed the keys to a state-of-the-art, £1.3million treatment centre. Construction of the facility began in the summer following years of fundraising and planning by the charity, which has grown significantly since it was founded in 1985. It was set up by Jackie Brightwell - a woman who cared for her husband, Roy, after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He underwent a trial of oxygen therapy and following its success, Jackie set about creating a facility in Southfield Road, Nailsea, to make the same treatment available to others. The range of therapies available eventually grew to include physiotherapy, aromatherapy, … Continue reading →

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Repligen Reports Preliminary Financial Results for the Quarter and Nine-Month Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2011

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Repligen Corporation (NASDAQ:RGEN - News) today reported preliminary financial results for the quarter and nine-month fiscal period ended December 31, 2011. These results reflect significant accomplishments of the Company during the period, highlighted by the completion of our acquisition of Novozymes Biopharma Sweden AB on December 20, 2011 and the successful filing of the Company’s first new drug application (NDA) for SecreFlo™ on December 21, 2011. These preliminary results include estimates of the results of operations from December 21- December 31, 2011 for our new subsidiary Repligen Sweden AB (previously Novozymes Biopharma Sweden AB), but exclude any purchase accounting adjustments associated with the acquisition. The Company was able to acquire the net assets of Novozymes Biopharma Sweden AB at a purchase price significantly below the fair market value of the acquired net assets, thus the Company anticipates recording a gain on bargain purchase once purchase accounting is completed. Total revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 is expected to be approximately $7.2 million compared to total revenue of $7.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. Bioprocessing product revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 is anticipated to be $3.1 million, the same as … Continue reading →

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Panasonic Announces Relationship With AAG Health & Wellness Featuring the CardioHealth® Station

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

SECAUCUS, N.J. and MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Healthcare Group and CardioNexus Corporation announced today that they will outfit AAG Health & Wellness practices with the Panasonic CardioHealth Station. A leading Age Management and Hormone Replacement Therapy Center in the United States, AAG Health & Wellness will utilize the Panasonic CardioHealth Station, one of the latest ultrasound medical technologies, in their locations across the nation to support early heart disease detection and enhance their age management medicine programs. The Panasonic CardioHealth Station is designed to assist medical professionals in making a quick and valuable assessment of cardiovascular health and has been cleared by the FDA for use in the automated acquisition of carotid artery intima-media thickness to help ascertain cardiovascular risk. The Panasonic CardioHealth Station continues to gain the attention of preventive medical professionals, like AAG Health, who recognize that the best ways to reduce long-term healthcare costs is to apply cutting-edge technology to detect signs of disease at an early stage.  "AAG Health is proud to announce the acquisition of Panasonic's newest offering which provides our patients with the latest in diagnostic testing. AAG Health's Age Management, Healthy Aging and Hormone Treatment programs will incorporate the Panasonic CardioHealth Station as … Continue reading →

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Cancer Stem Cell Research Drives Growth in RBCC’s Target Market

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

NOKOMIS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research into Cancer Stem Cells (CSC) is on the rise, fueling industry growth that Rainbow Coral Corp. (OTCBB: RBCC.OB - News) expects to translate into demand for n3D cell growth technologies. RBCC is finalizing an equity funding agreement with n3D Biosciences, the maker of a revolutionary new system that allows scientists to grow three-dimensional cell cultures more easily than ever before. The device, called the Bio-Assembler, could have an extraordinary impact on cell research worldwide, and RBCC expects to find a strong market for the device once its funding agreement with n3D is finalized. Many cancers, including breast, prostate, pancreatic, colon, brain, and lung cancers, contain a subset of stem-like cells understood to play a critical role in the development and progression of the disease. Research suggests that these cells, called Cancer Stem Cells, are able to “seed” new tumor formation and drive metastasis. Because these cells are believed to be at the root of the development and spread of cancer, they’re quickly becoming the center of cancer diagnostics and biomarkers. CSCs are resistant to a number of chemotherapy drugs and radiotherapy, and approximately 20 different strategies are currently being pursued in the hope of selectively targeting … Continue reading →

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Uncovered: Genetic cause of complex disease seen in Irish Traveller community

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

Public release date: 22-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Karen Honey press_releases@the-jci.org 734-546-5242 Journal of Clinical Investigation Two independent groups of researchers ? one led by Adrian Clark, at Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom; and the other led by Jean-Laurent Casanova, at The Rockefeller University, New York ? have now identified the disease-causing gene in patients with a complex inherited syndrome most commonly observed in the Irish Traveller community. As noted by Jordan Orange, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, in an accompanying commentary, the new data provide deep mechanistic insight into a complex human condition and expand our understanding of the human immune and endocrine systems, both of which are disrupted in patients. Within the Irish Traveller community, several families have been found to suffer from an inherited condition characterized by failure of the adrenal glands to produce adequate amounts of steroid hormones, abnormal development (in particular, retarded growth), and a deficiency in immune cells known as NK cells. Both groups of researchers found that mutations in the MCM4 gene are responsible for this complex inherited condition. The MCM4 gene is responsible for templating a protein that is required for DNA to … Continue reading →

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better medical marijuana – Video

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

21-02-2012 17:22 THIS VIDEO BELONGS TO THOSE THAT PRODUCED IT. IT IS NOT MINE AT ALL. I AM HONORED TO BE ALLOWED TO COPY AND PROMOTE IT. The latest and greatest information on getting everything from your medical marijuana this info will separate the patients from the pot heads, or those that claim to need pot when they are really just looking for a reason and excuse to get high, which is fine but I think they are slowing the real patients down from getting access and being seen as serious with their underlying greed. the big shock is that the dreaded male plant leaves have near the same medicinal qualities as the female. the female bud does have higher concentrations and I wont deny that fact. However the bottom line.... juicing the leaves in a good quality juicer is what this is really all about. The key to this is juicing fresh leaf and not allowing it to dry. this applies to the bud or flower as well. you can eat fresh bug and not get high, which is a shock, but it is true. To the two people that shared this information with me and took time to … Continue reading →

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Scary Side Effects for Popular Prescription Medications

Posted: Published on February 22nd, 2012

Attorney (866) 735-1102 Ext 336 Posted by Ed NormandFebruary 22, 2012 9:04 AM Most people accept the fact that there are side effects for almost all prescription medications. Often, these side effects are minor or only effect a small percentage of the population. But doctors and pharmaceutical companies still have a responsibility to the public to protect them from dangerous or defective drugs. Here are some popular prescription medications that can come with some serious side effects, courtesy of Men’s Health: Ambien. This popular prescription medication is a sleep aid, although it is becoming well known for its serious side effects. Some of the effects include “sleep eating,” memory loss and other odd behavior in general. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the company add this label to Ambien’s Medication Guide: “After taking AMBIEN, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night.” Yikes. Chantix. This one is supposed to help patients who are trying to stop smoking. Chantix is used to help curb cravings for cigarettes. According to one … Continue reading →

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