Higher intake of beta-carotene could help those with a higher genetic predisposition for type 2 diabetes to lower their risk, while high intake of gamma-tocopherol may increase risk, suggest researchers. People with a genetic alteration that means they are at higher risk for the development of type 2 diabetes could benefit from supplementation with beta-carotene, according to new data published in Human Genetics. Led by, Dr Atul Butte from the Stanford University School of Medicine, USA, the research team found that both beta-carotene and gamma-tocopherol interact with a gene known as SLC30A4 to influence diabetes risk, albeit in opposite directions. "Type-2 diabetes affects about 15% of the world's population, and the numbers are increasing," said Butte. "This vitamin [beta-carotene] was already known as being 'good' with respect to type-2 diabetes, so it was no surprise that we saw it, too," Butte added. "But it was reassuring, as it suggested we were doing things right, and interesting to find it paired with SLC30A4." The findings point the way to further experiments that could establish whether beta-carotene and gamma-tocopherol are, respectively, protective and harmful themselves, or merely markers whose blood levels dovetail the presence or absence of some other substance, process or … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vkkh7b/personalized) has announced the addition of Jain PharmaBiotech's new report "Personalized Medicine - Scientific and Commercial Aspects" to their offering. The aim of personalized medicine or individualized treatment is to match the right drug to the right patient and, in some cases, even to design the appropriate treatment for a patient according to his/her genotype. This report describes the latest concepts of development of personalized medicine based on pharmacogenomics, pharmacogenetics,pharmacoproteomics, and metabolomics. Basic technologies of molecular diagnostics play an important role, particularly those for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Diagnosis is integrated with therapy for selection of the treatment as well for monitoring the results. Biochip/microarray technologies are also important and finally bioinformatics is needed to analyze the immense amount of data generated by various technologies. Pharmacogenetics, the study of influence of genetic factors on drug action and metabolism, is used for predicting adverse reactions of drugs. Several enzymes are involved in drug metabolism of which the most important ones are those belonging to the family of cytochrome P450. The knowledge of the effects of polymorphisms of genes for the enzymes is applied in drug discovery and development as well as in clinical use of … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --The Salk Institute for Biological Studies has received a $42 million giftthe largest in the Institute's historyto establish the Helmsley Center for Genomic Medicine (HCGM), a research center dedicated to decoding the common genetic factors underlying many complex chronic human diseases. The award, from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, will support interdisciplinary research that paves the way to new therapies for chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. "This remarkable gift reflects the strong partnership between Salk and the Helmsley Charitable Trust and their commitment that the Institute stay at the forefront of biomedical research," said William R. Brody, Salk president. "By working together, Salk and the Trust have successfully sculpted this unprecedented grant. It will provide vital funding to enable our scientists to pursue the kinds of transformative scientific discoveries and advancements that will have worldwide impact on people's health for generations to come. With its scale and unique focus on supporting vitally important basic scientific research, the Helmsley Charitable Trust stands among philanthropy's vanguard in promoting innovative cross-disciplinary initiatives such as this one." John Codey, a trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust, said that the Trust … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Asia-Pacific In Vitro Diagnostics Market Outlook to 2018- Clinical Chemistry Genetic Testing, Haematology, Histology and Cytology, Immuno Chemistry, Infectious Immunology and Microbiology Culture http://www.reportlinker.com/p0750271/Asia-Pacific-In-Vitro-Diagnostics-Market-Outlook-to-2018--Clinical-Chemistry-Genetic-Testing-Haematology-Histology-and-Cytology-Immuno-Chemistry-Infectious-Immunology-and-Microbiology-Culture.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=In_Vitro_Diagnostic Asia-Pacific In Vitro Diagnostics Market Outlook to 2018- Clinical Chemistry Genetic Testing, Haematology, Histology and Cytology, Immuno Chemistry, Infectious Immunology and Microbiology Culture Summary GlobalData's new report, "Asia-Pacific In Vitro Diagnostics Market Outlook to 2018- Clinical Chemistry Genetic Testing, Haematology, Histology and Cytology, Immuno Chemistry, Infectious Immunology and Microbiology Culture" provides key market data on the Asia-Pacific In Vitro Diagnostics market Australia, China, India and Japan. The report provides value (USD million) data for all the market categories Clinical Chemistry, Genetic Testing, Haematology, Histology And Cytology, Immuno Chemistry, Infectious Immunology and Microbiology Culture. The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for each of the aforementioned market categories. The report is supplemented with global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants. This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalData's team of industry experts. Scope - Countries covered include Australia, China, India … Continue reading →

Public release date: 22-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Bruce Goldman goldmanb@stanford.edu 650-725-2106 Stanford University Medical Center STANFORD, Calif. Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have found that for people harboring a genetic predisposition that is prevalent among Americans, beta carotene, which the body converts to a close cousin of vitamin A, may lower the risk for the most common form of diabetes, while gamma tocopherol, the major form of vitamin E in the American diet, may increase risk for the disease. The scientists used a "big data" approach to hunt down interactions between gene variants previously associated with increased risk for type-2 diabetes and blood levels of substances previously implicated in type-2 diabetes risk. In people carrying a double dose of one such predisposing gene variant, the researchers pinpointed a highly statistically significant inverse association of beta carotene blood levels with type-2 diabetes risk, along with a suspiciously high positive association of gamma tocopherol with risk for the disease. "Type-2 diabetes affects about 15 percent of the world's population, and the numbers are increasing," said Atul Butte, MD, PhD, associate professor of systems medicine in pediatrics. "Government health authorities estimate that one-third of all children born in … Continue reading →

Abbott Animal Hospital - Rehoboth, MA - First Stem Cell Procedure Performed in Region Bubba, a 2 1/2 year old English Bulldog was born with hip dysplasia and has been suffering with this disease since birth. His owner Bob Cook of Taunton has been seeking out alternative treatment options for his condition. Abbott Animal Hospital is the first veterinary hospital which offers FDA approved stem cell therapy for any osteoarthritis patients, both cats and dogs. Mr. Cook contacted Dr. Ashraf Gomaa and elected to pursue this new advanced therapy. Check out abbottanimalhospital.com for more details! By: Ashraf Gomaa … Continue reading →

NEWARK, Calif., Jan. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (STEM) announced today that Ann Tsukamoto, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development, will make a presentation on the Company's clinical development programs at the Phacilitate Cell & Gene Therapy Forum to be held January 28-30, in Washington, DC. Dr. Tsukamoto is scheduled to speak at 12:25 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 30, as part of the session on "Clinical development updates from leading cell and gene therapy product candidates in the clinic for CNS indications." The Phacilitate Cell & Gene Therapy Forum is a preeminent industry-led meeting designed to help advance regulatory, manufacturing, R&D and commercial strategies and drive cell and gene therapy products forward. The Forum enables executives from global cell therapy, gene therapy and tissue engineering companies, representatives of big pharma and big biotech, regulators and regulatory experts, and public and private investors to meet and share information on the leading edge of the regenerative medicine sector. About StemCells, Inc. StemCells, Inc. is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of cell-based therapeutics and tools for use in stem cell-based research and drug discovery. The Company's lead therapeutic product candidate, HuCNS-SC(R) cells (purified human neural stem cells), … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2rg7fn/nanobiotechnology) has announced the addition of Jain PharmaBiotech's new report "Nanobiotechnology Applications, Markets and Companies" to their offering. Nanotechnology is the creation and utilization of materials, devices, and systems through the control of matter on the nanometer-length scale (a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Nanobiotechnology, an integration of physical sciences, molecular engineering, biology, chemistry and biotechnology holds considerable promise of advances in pharmaceuticals and healthcare. The report starts with an introduction to various techniques and materials that are relevant to nanobiotechnology. It includes some of the physical forms of energy such as nanolasers. Some of the technologies are scaling down such as microfluidics to nanofluidic biochips and others are constructions from bottom up. Application in life sciences research, particularly at the cell level sets the stage for role of nanobiotechnology in healthcare in subsequent chapters. Some of the earliest applications are in molecular diagnostics. Nanoparticles, particularly quantum dots, are playing important roles. In vitro diagnostics, does not have any of the safety concerns associated with the fate of nanoparticles introduced into the human body. Numerous nanodevices and nanosystems for sequencing single molecules of DNA are feasible. Various nanodiagnostics that have been reviewed will … Continue reading →