Researchers studying a genetic mutation, which causes sudden cardiac death, may have discovered a genetic link between German, Danish and Newfoundland families. Dr. Hendrick Milting, a genetics researcher at the Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, has been doing work with a gene mutation for arrhythmogenic right ventricular, or ARVC, a form of heart disease that usually appears in early adulthood and causes sudden cardiac death. It has affected many members of a German family. That mutation is the same one that genetic researchers at Memorial University identified in 2008 as affecting 24 Newfoundland families adding up to 1,200 people over several generations. Not only did Milting discover the Newfoundland research, he also found a similar mutation in a Danish family. "By chance at the same time, a group in Copenhagen found a similar family in Denmark. We decided to make a genetic fingerprint of these families and we found that all these families are connected," said Milting. "So they have a common root." Milting has come to Memorial University to work with genetic researchers Dr. Kathy Hodgkinson, Dr. Terry Lynn Young, and Dr. Sean Connors at the Faculty of Medicine. He has also planned to … Continue reading →

Downstream WHITE PAPER: Identifying Options For Stem-Cell-Based Therapy Scale-Up By Matthieu Egloff, Product Manager, and Jose Castillo, Global Cell Culture Director, ATMI LifeSciences Cell-based therapies are gearing up to have extensive impact on the healthcare field in coming years. With a promise for treating various diseases, as well as long-term conditions like heart disease and metabolic disorders, stem cell therapies are gaining valid appreciation as a viable alternative to traditional methods. In fact, the overall U.S. market for stem cell products is predicted to reach as much as $6 billion by 2020, according to research from Robin Young Consulting. Quality/Regulatory WHITE PAPER: Flexible Measuring And Control In Reverse Osmosis Systems By Christof Kundel, Segment Manager Water Treatment, Brkert Fluid Control Systems Reverse osmosis systems play a central part in water treatment. In industrial applications, for example, reverse osmosis is used for purifying process water, producing drinking water and desalinizing seawater, or for producing ultra pure or pharmaceutical water. In addition to these processes, which aim at reducing the concentration of the substances dissolved in the water, the beverage industry also uses reverse osmosis systems for increasing concentrations, e.g. in the manufacture of fruit juice concentrates or for concentrating the must … Continue reading →

ALLENDALE, N.J., April 29, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE MKT:NBS) and its subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC ("PCT"), announced today the execution of a Services Agreement with Sentien Biotechnologies, Inc. ("Sentien") under which PCT will provide services to support Sentien's development of its cell therapy product, including technology transfer, staff training, and manufacturing. Sentien is developing an allogeneic cell therapy product consisting of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells seeded onto a medical device for critical care indications. Sentien has engaged PCT for manufacture of the final formulation of its cell therapy product and intends to transfer and implement Sentien's master cell bank, product working cell bank and product manufacturing processes to PCT. These cell banks will be prepared according to Good Manufacturing Practices ("GMP") guidelines and implemented by PCT to create a cell therapy product for Sentien's Investigational New Drug ("IND") submission to the FDA. Upon obtaining an IND, Sentien intends to have PCT manufacture GMP compliant grade materials to support Sentien's Phase I clinical trial. "We are excited to enter into this agreement with Sentien, an innovator for acute organ failure," said Robert A. Preti, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer of PCT. PCT is an … Continue reading →

Boston, MA (PRWEB) April 29, 2013 Doctors Health Press, a division of Lombardi Publishing Corporation and publisher of various natural health newsletters, books, and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, is reporting on a new study finding nanomedicine to be three times more effective than conventional medications in the treatment of eye infections. As Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin (http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/general-health-2/health-news/this-could-be-the-new-frontier-in-eye-health) notes, many people dont have perfect eyesight due to injury, age-related wear and tear, and disease. For those who dont have good eyesight, they might find it difficult to read from afar, or may feel like everything is constantly blurry. For some people, this may be a temporary state, but for many unfortunate others, poor eyesight is a permanent fact of life. As the article This Could Be the New Frontier in Eye Health reports, one of the main triggers for poor eyesight is the presence of a corneal infection. Many times, people find that, somehow, bacteria are able to invade the cornea after surgeryand thats when an infection can set in. These infections can be serious, causing irritation, ruptures, and inflammation. If left untreated, blurry vision, and even blindness, can result. In addition, this type of infection … Continue reading →