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Regulating genes to treat illness, grow food, and understand the brain

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

For his contribution to the understanding of gene regulation and its potential ability to change agriculture and the treatment of disease and mental health, Professor Ryan Lister has been awarded the 2014 Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year. Genes are not enough to explain the difference between a skin cell and a stem cell, a leaf cell and a root cell, or the complexity of the human brain. Genes dont explain the subtle ways in which your parents environment before you were conceived might affect your offspring. Another layer of complexitythe epigenomeis at work determining when and where genes are turned on and off. Ryan Lister is unravelling this complexity. Hes created ways of mapping the millions of molecular markers of where genes have been switched on or off, has made the first maps of these markers in plants and humans, and revealed key differences between the markers in cells with different fates. Hes created maps of the epigenome in plants, which could enable plant breeders to modify crops to increase yields without changing the underlying DNA. Hes explained a challenge for stem cell medicineshowing how, when we persuade, for example, skin cells to turn into stem … Continue reading →

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BEST BABY ECZEMA PRODUCTS – Video

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

BEST BABY ECZEMA PRODUCTS Cerave Vs. Aveeno Vs. Hydrocortisone cream 0.5% Visit my mommy blog http://www.mykindamomblog.com for Weekly Coupons, product reviews much more! By: My kinda mom blog … Continue reading →

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Mom Tips: Relief for Baby Eczema – Video

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

Mom Tips: Relief for Baby Eczema Help is on the way for babies who suffer from eczema and severely dry skin. The cold weather can be especially hard on babies. We've teamed up with AVEENO t... By: momtrends … Continue reading →

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Adult eczema may be unrecognized risk factor for fracture, other injuries

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 29-Oct-2014 Contact: Erin Elizabeth White ewhite@northwestern.edu 847-491-4888 The JAMA Network Journals @JAMA_current Adults with eczema had a higher prevalence of fracture and bone or joint injury (FBJI), as well as other types of injury-causing limitations, in a nationally representative sample of patients with a history of the chronic inflammatory disorder that can cause skin itching and result in sleep disturbance, according to a study published online by JAMA Dermatology. Patients with eczema have multiple risk factors for injury that can include sleep impairment, the use of sedating antihistamines and coexisting psychological illnesses. However, the risk of fracture and other injury-causing limitations in adults with eczema has been largely unexplored. Fractures are a public health issue and that burden is expected to increase in the coming decades as the population ages, according to background information in the study. Nitin Garg, M.D., and Jonathan I. Silverberg, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., of Northwestern University, Chicago, examined the association of eczema with increased risk of injury in a nationally representative sample of 34,500 adults (ages 18 to 85 years) with a history of eczema over the past 12 months. The prevalence of eczema was 7.2 percent and the prevalence of any injury-causing … Continue reading →

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Eczema linked to bone fractures, injuries in new Northwestern study

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Between seven and 10 percent of adults in the US have atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema. And many of them have a moderate to severe form of the skin disorder. "The chronic itch, similar to patients that have chronic pain, interferes with every aspect of their life," said Dr. Jonathan Silverberg, a Northwestern Medicine dermatologist. Silverberg says when moisturizers and emollients don't soothe the skin, more aggressive treatment is prescribed, like topical or oral steroids, or sedating antihistamines. "Many patients report this phenomenon that they're distracted because of their itch or because they're sleep deprived," Silverberg said. But Silverberg says he's noticed a troubling trend and set out a year ago to study it more closely. He says adults with eczema are at a greater risk of accidental injury, and it could be directly related to the side effects of their medications. Silverberg says sedatives cause fatigue, and steroids can lead to bone density problems. "More and more as we see these patterns, I'm almost never using sedating antihistamines anymore," Silverberg said. Silverberg says until better options are developed to treat eczema and itch, doctors need to advise patients to think about strategies to minimize … Continue reading →

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How SELFIES can help cure skin conditions

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

Sending selfies to a dermatologist may be as good as visiting them in person Study compared people who sent selfies to their doctor with face-to-face care Little difference in the percentage of people whose problem cleared over a year Experts said an online system for treating skin problems may work just as well By Madlen Davies for MailOnline Published: 08:35 EST, 29 October 2014 | Updated: 09:19 EST, 29 October 2014 114 shares 14 View comments Sending doctors a 'skin selfie' may help treat eczema just as well as going to a clinic in person Selfies are often associated with self-obsessed celebrities and people who are just a little bit vain. But they could help cure eczema and save visiting the clinic, according to new research. Sending a doctor a 'skin selfie' may help clear the problem just as well as going in person, the study found. Original post: How SELFIES can help cure skin conditions … Continue reading →

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New clinical trial data: Multiple sclerosis drug candidate also shows promise for ulcerative colitis

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

Positive new clinical data were released today on a drug candidate for ulcerative colitis that was first discovered and synthesized at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI). According to results released today from a Phase 2 study of 199 patients with active, moderate to severe disease, the drug candidate RPC1063 has potential to significantly improve the treatment paradigm for ulcerative colitis patients. The latest results show that, after eight weeks of treatment with a 1 mg dose of RPC1063, 16.4 percent of patents were in clinical remission, as compared to 6.2 percent of patients on placebo. "We are delighted that RPC1063 is showing promise for ulcerative colitis patients in addition to its already significant efficacy and safety data in multiple sclerosis," said TSRI Professor Hugh Rosen, who together with Professor Ed Roberts led the team that discovered RPC-1063. "Research carried out at TSRI since 2002 has led to the discovery of fundamental mechanisms that can be modulated for potential treatments of a variety of autoimmune diseases including ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis, and the unique multidisciplinary environment in chemistry and biology at TSRI allowed this progression to clinical trials." The clinical trial, sponsored by Receptos, Inc., the San Diego biotechnology company … Continue reading →

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Gene Therapy Increases Function in Becker Muscular Dystrophy Patients

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

CLEVELAND and COLUMBUS, Ohio >> Data published today in the journal Molecular Therapy demonstrates initial clinical proof of principle of a gene therapy to increase muscle strength and function in Becker muscular dystrophy patients. The paper, titled "A Phase I/IIa Follistatin Gene Therapy Trial for Becker Muscular Dystrophy" describes results of the dose ascending trial to assess safety and efficacy in six patients with Becker muscular dystrophy. All six of the patients were followed at least six months and three of the patients were followed for one year with no drug-related adverse events reported. On average, the patients showed statistically significant improvement in six minute walk distance and in stair climbing tests. Additionally, muscle biopsy histology demonstrated reductions in muscle fibrosis and central nucleation, and improved muscle fiber regeneration. Muscle satellite cells were not reduced. Jerry Mendell, M.D., Professor at Nationwide Children's Hospital and lead author on the trial and manuscript stated, "This is the first gene therapy clinical trial to demonstrate functional improvement in any form of muscular dystrophy, and a major advance for those suffering with muscle disease." Brian Kaspar, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Nationwide Children's Hospital, author and compensated advisor and scientific founder of Milo said, "Upon … Continue reading →

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Moms, Regulators, Biotech Startups Battle Over a Potentially Life-Saving Drug

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

Photograph by Ryan PflugerLeffler's son Aidan was diagnosed with Duchenne in 2006 The 2014 World Cup elevated soccer to the top of Aidan Lefflers roster of obsessions, rivaled only by endangered big catsespecially jaguars, the coolestand Star Wars spaceships. In recognition of his new interest, hes set up a miniature soccer field with 4-foot-wide goals in his backyard in suburban Bellevue, Wash. Watch this! he shouts, preparing to fire a penaltykick. Small for his age, Aidan, 11, moves awkwardly, shoulders high and hunched. He uses a lightweight plastic beach ball, not a regulation leather soccer ball. He begins his approach, pulls back his right foot, andcollapses to the grass. Mitch Leffler, the sole spectator, moves toward his son. Im OK, Aidan says. I can do it. He struggles onto his hands and knees, raises his butt, places his hands one at a time on his thighs, and slowly pushes himself into an upright position. My leg just wasnt there, he says matter-of-factly. His father nods, and the game resumes. Aidan has Duchenne, the deadliest strain of muscular dystrophy. Its inherited maternally on the X chromosome and mostly afflicts boys. Parents typically sense something is wrong when their sons at 3 … Continue reading →

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The genetics of epilepsy: bringing hope to families

Posted: Published on October 30th, 2014

For their contribution to the study of epilepsy, its diagnosis, management and treatment, Professor Sam Berkovic and Professor Ingrid Scheffer have been awarded the 2014 Prime Ministers Prize for Science. Sam Berkovic and Ingrid Scheffer have changed the way the world thinks about epilepsy, the debilitating condition that affects about 50 million people. Twenty years ago doctors tended to regard most forms of epilepsy as acquired rather than inherited. In other words, they believed epilepsy was mostly due to injury: the result of things like a crack on the head in a car accident, a bad fall in the playground, a tumour, or something having gone wrong in labour. Parents felt responsible, and the resulting guilt was enormous. The two clinician-researchers from the University of Melbourne have led the way in finding a genetic basis for many epilepsies, building on their discovery of the first ever link between a specific gene and a form of epilepsy. Finding that answer has been of profound importance for families. Along the way, Sam and Ingrid discovered that a particularly severe form of epilepsy, thought to result from vaccination, was actually caused by a gene mutation. This finding dispelled significant concerns about immunisation. Their … Continue reading →

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