Public release date: 4-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Alex Lyda alex.lyda@utsouthwestern.edu 214-648-3404 UT Southwestern Medical Center DALLAS April 4, 2013 Physician-researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a vulnerability of certain lung-cancer cells a specific genetic weakness that can be exploited for new therapies. Although researchers have long known that mutant versions of the KRAS gene drive tumor formation and are key to cell survival in non-small cell lung cancer, the blocking of activated KRAS has proven difficult. For years, investigations have explored stopping lung cancer at this junction, which also would have an impact on many other cancers. KRAS mutations, for instance, account for as much as 50 percent of all colon cancers. "There is an urgent need to identify 'downstream' pathways that are required to sustain and grow non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)," said Dr. Pier Paolo Scaglioni, assistant professor of internal medicine and a member of the Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center. "As we focus on the right pathways, we stand a much better chance of chemically blocking them and stopping tumor growth." The team's findings are published in the April edition of Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer … Continue reading →

Public release date: 4-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Mary Beth O'Leary moleary@cell.com 617-397-2802 Cell Press People who have a buildup of certain proteins in the brain and spinal fluid have an increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease, but it's currently unclear who will develop these protein accumulations. Now researchers reporting online April 4th in the Cell Press journal Neuron have identified mutations in certain genetic regions that influence the levels of these protein accumulations. The findings may not only help identify people most at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease well before they show signs of cognitive decline, but also offer new information for the design of therapies that target the proteins involved. "Tau is an important biomarker of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, present as insoluble aggregates in the brain and as soluble protein in the cerebrospinal fluid," explains senior author Dr. Alison Goate, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "We have identified several genes that influence the levels of soluble tau in the cerebrospinal fluid, and we show that one of these genes also influences risk for Alzheimer's disease, rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease, and density of tangle pathology in the brain." … Continue reading →

Public release date: 4-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Jim Dryden jdryden@wustl.edu 314-286-0110 Washington University School of Medicine Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a new set of genetic markers for Alzheimer's that point to a second pathway through which the disease develops. Much of the genetic research on Alzheimer's centers on amyloid-beta, a key component of brain plaques that build up in the brains of people with the disease. In the new study, the scientists identified several genes linked to the tau protein, which is found in the tangles that develop in the brain as Alzheimer's progresses and patients develop dementia. The findings may help provide targets for a different class of drugs that could be used for treatment. The researchers report their findings online April 24 in the journal Neuron. "We measured the tau protein in the cerebrospinal fluid and identified several genes that are related to high levels of tau and also affect risk for Alzheimer's disease," says senior investigator Alison M. Goate, DPhil, the Samuel and Mae S. Ludwig Professor of Genetics in Psychiatry. "As far as we're aware, three of these genes have no effect on amyloid-beta, … Continue reading →

UB will honor some of Western New Yorks most inventive minds and companies at the annual UB Inventors and Entrepreneurs Reception, which will take place from 4-6 p.m. March 25 in UBs Clinical and Translational Research Center, 875 Ellicott St., Buffalo. Award recipients will include UB faculty inventors who created technologies like a skills trainer for robotic surgery, or who discovered and developed health care breakthroughs like a peptide from spider venom that could one day help children with muscular dystrophy live longer. Of particular note, former UB postdoctoral researcher Laurent Levy will receive the UB Entrepreneurship Award for founding Nanobiotix, a Paris, France-based nanomedicine company that licenses UB technology and raised more than $18 million in an initial public offering (IPO) last fall. In a separate event on March 26, Levy will speak to students in UBs Entrepreneurship Academy about the founding of Nanobiotix. See related story. The annual Inventors and Entrepreneurs Reception recognizes thinkers and entrepreneurs who are helping to build Western New Yorks high-tech economy. Click here for the program, including a list of honorees. Those recognized will include: Speaking at the reception will be President Satish K. Tripathi; Provost Charles F. Zukoski; Vice Provost Robert J. … Continue reading →

Dr. Lee is one of the first in Texas to use adipose stem cell treatment to care for patients. Plano, TX (PRWEB) April 03, 2013 Adipose tissue is fat inside the body. Fat is the richest source of adult stem cells in the human body. Stem cells help fight disease or injury by repairing or rejuvenating affected tissue in the body. Medical researchers believe that stem cell treatments have the potential to change the face of human disease. In the procedure performed by Dr. Lee, fat will be extracted from the body, purified and re-injected into specific areas that need stem cells. Dr. Lee uses an automated machine called the Adivive Lipokit to perform the fat transplantation. The Adivive Lipokit is an all-in-one, FDA-approved device that collects, filters and transfers fat for use in cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries. The Lipokit is able to keep transferred fat cells alive throughout the process. Procedures that will use adipose stem cell therapy include breast augmentation, facelift surgery, liposuction and fat transfer. Besides cosmetic purposes, Dr. Lee will also use the Lipokit stem cell therapy for rejuvenation to help relieve chronic pain, whether from aging or due to injuries. About the company Advanced Surgical … Continue reading →