Slight regulation in the length of primary cilia -- small hair-like projections found on most cells -- can prevent the production of fat cells from human stem cells taken from an adult bone marrow, reveals new research. "This is the first time that it has been shown that subtle changes in primary cilia structure can influence the differentiation of stem cell into fat. "Since primary cilia length can be influenced by various factors including pharmaceuticals, inflammation and even mechanical forces, this study provides new insight into the regulation of fat cell formation and obesity," said co-author Melis Dalbay of Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). Part of the process by which calories are turned into fat involves Adipogenesis, the differentiation of stem cells into fat cells. The researchers showed that during this process of Adipogenesis, the length of primary cilia increases associated with movement of specific proteins onto the cilia. Furthermore, by genetically restricting this cilia elongation in stem cells the researchers were able to stop the formation of new fat cells. Recent research has found that many conditions including kidney disease, blindness, problems with bones and obesity can be caused by defects in primary cilia. "This research points towards … Continue reading →

Hatfield, England (ots/PRNewswire) - PRESS RELEASE FOR EU MEDIA ONLY: NOT FOR SWISS/U.S. JOURNALISTS On the 9 February, the Transparency Commission of the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published its advice on Zonegran(R) (zonisamide) in its new indication for the treatment of partial seizures in adolescents and children from 6 years of age.[1] Zonisamide, a novel anti-epileptic drug (AED) with a multimodal mechanism of action and a chemical structure unrelated to any other AED, was already indicated in Europe as monotherapy in the treatment of partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation, in adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy; and as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation, in adults. Now, adolescents and children from 6 years of age will be able to benefit from this treatment as an adjunctive therapy. Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder in childhood and has long-term implications for health and well-being.[2] Around 450,000 people in France live with the condition, with over 100 new cases diagnosed each day.[3] Although epilepsy is common in paediatrics, seizure control is only achieved in two thirds of patients and many will require additional AEDs to decrease the seizure frequency.[4] "New therapeutic options … Continue reading →

A new clinical study led in part by doctors from Gates Vascular Institute will revolutionize stroke treatment across the world, creating a dramatic impact on survival rates and patient recovery, those researchers said today. The $50 million international clinical trial studied patients who suffered ischemic strokes, which account for 87 percent of all stroke cases. This trial establishes a whole new standard of care for treating ischemic strokes, said Dr. Elad I. Levy, co-director of the Gates Stroke Center at Kaleida Health. It restores blood flow to the brain far faster and provides the patient the absolute best chance for a positive outcome. Researchers say that the trial clearly showed that the use of an intravenous clot-busting protein, when combined with the insertion of a wire-mesh stent device, improved a patients chance for surviving and returning to a normal life. This was a ground-breaking study that will have an immense impact on the lives of patients whove experienced an acute ischemic stroke, stated Dr. Adnan Siddiqui, professor and vice chairman of neurosurgery at the University at Buffalo. The findings were definitive. The trial followed 196 patients in 36 neuroscience programs across the United States and Europe. Levy served as the … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise BOSTON President Barack Obama is requesting an increase of $215 million in the 2016 federal budget to launch the Precision Medicine Initiative. This boost in funding for research will give genetic causes of cancer a national focus specifically around precision or personalized treatments for cancer in the future. Here are some facts about precision medicine: 1) What is precision or personalized medicine? Physicians have long recognized that the same disease can behave differently from one patient to another, and that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Precision medicine makes diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases more accurate, using the specific genetic makeup of patients (and, in cancer, of their tumors) to select the safest and most effective treatments for them. In cancer, precision medicine involves testing DNA from patients tumors to identify the mutations or other changes that drive their cancer. Then a treatment for a particular patients cancer that best matches, or targets, the culprit mutations in the tumor DNA is used. While such therapies are not widespread yet, many cancer specialists believe precision treatments will be central to the future of cancer care. 2) Do all patients receive precision … Continue reading →

DUBLIN, Feb .17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/sqhzfm/personalized) has announced the addition of the "Personalized Medicine, Targeted Therapeutics and Companion Diagnostic Market 2015: Strategic Analysis of Industry Trends, Technologies, Participants, and Environment" report to their offering. Personalized Medicine, Targeted Therapeutics and Companion Diagnostic Market 2015 - Strategic Analysis of Industry Trends, Technologies, Participants, and Environment is a cutting-edge comprehensive report on the personalized medicine industry and its impact on the health system. This report tackles the growing market interest in pharmacogenomics, companion diagnostics and the associated market environment. Individualized, targeted or personalized medicine aims to increase the efficacy of therapeutics via genetic testing and companion diagnostics. Personalized therapeutics and associated companion diagnostics will be more specific and effective thereby giving pharma/biotech companies a significant advantage to recuperate R&D costs. Personalized medicine will reduce the frequency of adverse drug reactions and therefore have a dramatic impact on health economics. Developmental and diagnostic companies will benefit from lower discovery and commercialization costs and more specific market subtypes. This report describes the current technologies that are propelling the personalized medicine and companion diagnostic market. It examines the current genetic diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic assays that are in use by the medical … Continue reading →