Just weeks after invalidating a groundbreaking paper describing a simple technique for generating pluripotent stem cells, professor Kenneth Ka Ho Lee now believes he has identified the correct approach. Lee, chief of stem cell research at the Chinese University of Hong, spoke to Wired.co.uk in March about his tentative excitement when he read the Nature study in question, published at the start of the year. The proposed Stap cells (stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency) in it were a revelation, because they suggested there was a simple way to generate embryonic-like stem cells that could potentially be used in the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's. The method involved reprogramming a donor's own adult blood and skin cells (in this case, mice) by exposing them to extreme trauma, such as an acid bath. Lee could see its potential, but like the rest of the community he had his doubts. While reports circulated that the images published in the Nature study also featured in older papers penned by lead researcher Haruko Obokata of Japan's Riken Centre, Lee set about trying to replicate the experiment himself. It didn't work. Since then the Riken Centre has launched an investigation into the legitimacy of the trial, … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 31-Mar-2014 Contact: Robin Dutcher robin.Dutcher@hitchcock.org 603-653-9056 The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth While patients diagnosed with bladder cancer usually face a favorable prognosis, many experience recurrence after treatment. Because frequent, painful screenings are needed to identify recurrences, the ablility to identify patients at high risk of recurrent cancer could help to improve quality of life for all bladder cancer patients. A new study published in BJU International, "Genetic polymorphisms modify bladder cancer recurrence and survival in a U.S. population-based prognostic study," suggests that certain inherited DNA sequences may affect a bladder cancer patient's prognosis. These findings may help physicians identify sub-groups of high risk bladder cancer patients who should receive more frequent screenings and agressive treatment and monitoring. "The genetic markers that we found could potentially be useful for individually tailoring surveillance and treatment of bladder cancer patients," said principal investigator Angeline S. Andrew, PhD, Assistant Professor of Community and Family Medicine and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and a member of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Andrew and her colleagues analyzed the genes of 563 patients to identify genetic variants that modified time to bladder cancer recurrence and patient survival. The investigators isolated … Continue reading →

IRVINE, CA and FULTON, MD (PRWEB) March 31, 2014 Proove Biosciences, the leading personalized pain medicine laboratory, is proud to announce its membership in the Personalized Medicine Coalition, a unique organization created to advance personalized medicine as a viable solution to the challenges of healthcare safety, efficiency, and cost. Proove Biosciences leads the industry in scientifically driven genetic pain medicine research, and has presented findings on how genetic analysis can help physicians make more informed and efficient decisions on pain treatments. Over the last three years the companys genetic testing services have helped physicians analyze patients risk profile for developing prescription narcotic dependencies, as well as which medications will be most effective in treating their pain. We are tremendously excited to be a member of the Personalized Medicine Coalition, and contribute towards the advancement of realizing personal medicines life-changing potential, stated Proove Biosciences founder and CEO, Brian Meshkin. As a member of PMC, we are looking forward to collaborating and working along side industry leaders to shape, promote, and foster new mediums that will strengthen personalized medicines market viability through policy initiatives and public support. Proove Founder and CEO Brian Meshkin has also been appointed to both the Science Policy … Continue reading →

Heart valve defects are a common cause of death in newborns. Scientists at the University of Bonn and the caesar research center have discovered "Creld1" is a key gene for the development of heart valves in mice. The researchers were able to show that a similar Creld1 gene found in humans functions via the same signaling pathway as in the mouse. This discovery is an important step forward in the molecular understanding of the pathogenesis of heart valve defects. The findings have been published in the journal "Developmental Cell." Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a congenital heart defect in which the heart valves and cardiac septum are malformed. Children with Down's syndrome are particularly affected. Without surgical interventions, mortality in the first months of life is high. "Even in adults, unidentified valve defects occur in about six percent of patients with heart disease," says Prof. Dr. Michael Hoch, Executive Director of the Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute of the University of Bonn. For years, there have been indications that changes in the so-called Creld1 gene (Cysteine-Rich with EGF-Like Domains 1) increase the pathogenic risk of AVSD. However, the exact molecular connection between the gene and the disease was previously … Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines The alternative medicine doctor who took in former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2012 for possible stem cell therapy is not licensed to practice in the Philippines. On Tuesday, April 1, Antonia Park of the Green & Young Health & Wellness Center admitted to Rappler in a phone interview she is not a registered physician in the Philippines because "I'm not from here." She is instead a registered medical practitioner in London and Korea. "Thats why its a wellness center. If dito ako [registered], maglalagay na lang ako ng medical center," she said, referring to her center located in Tagaytay City. (That's why it's a wellness center. If I am registered here, I might as well put up a medical center.) A document from the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) dated Aug 12, 2013 showed Park is not in the database of physicians which contains the names of those duly authorized to practice medicine in the Philippines. Certification Antonia Carandang Park Park and some of her clinic staff are facing charges of estafa and reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. The charges were filed last year by businessman Bernard Tan with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after his 23-year-old daughter … Continue reading →