That painful sunburn is actually a complex volley of genetically encoded counterattacks buried deep under your skin. The sun is scorching your RNA, says a study published in Nature Medicine. In some ways, it was a surprise. said Dr. Richard Gallo, chief of the dermatology division at the University of California San Diego. We know a sunburn will damage DNA. What we didnt suspect is that it is also damaging the RNA. DNA stores genetic code; RNA transmits it. The study found that ultraviolet UVB rays from the sun bore through the skin to fracture and tangle a specific type of RNA that does not make proteins. Sunburned cells release that noncoding micro-RNA, setting off an alarm in healthy surrounding cells that something weird and dangerous is going on. That alarm turns into inflammation, which turns into sunburn. We were interested in how the injury is recognized by our body, Gallo said. Those cells that are injured are dead. How can their neighbours detect that? In fact, the inflammation is the skin trying to heal itself, releasing a cocktail of antibodies and anti-inflammatories that could be beneficial. It may help us remove cells that might otherwise turn into skin cancer. … Continue reading →

Public release date: 12-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Cathia Falvey cfalvey@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News New Rochelle, NY, July 12, 2012 Although acetazolamide is widely prescribed to prevent and treat acute mountain sickness (AMS), the appropriate dose at which it is effective and safe has not been clearly defined. A comprehensive review and meta-analysis of 24 studies comparing the efficacy and risks associated with increasing doses of acetazolamide is published in High Altitude Medicine & Biology, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com). The article is available free online at the High Altitude Medicine & Biology (http://www.liebertpub.com/ham) website. Bengt Kayser and colleagues, University of Geneva, Switzerland, reviewed the data compiled on more than 1,000 subjects and describe the relationship between efficacy in preventing and treating AMS, risk of side effects, and increasing drug dosages. They discuss their findings in the article "Reappraisal of Acetazolamide for the Prevention of Acute Mountain Sickness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/ham.2011.1084)." Unless the baseline risk of AMS is high, as with rapid transport to high altitude (as opposed to a slow ascent), acetazolamide has limited effectiveness. Some side effects occur with even the lowest doses … Continue reading →

Some drugs in development target what scientists have thought is the root cause of Alzheimer's - the buildup in the brain of amyloid protein. Newly published research supports such treatments. Researchers have discovered for the first time a genetic mutation that may protect people against the degenerative brain disease that affects almost 30 million people worldwide. Results from key Alzheimer's studies could decide future of treatment Watch: An Alzheimer's researcher who is also a patient In the U.S. there's about 5.4 million people with the disease, but barring a medical breakthrough, researchers estimate by 2050 that the number of people with Alzheimer's will grow to 16 million. For the new research, published in the July 11 issue of Nature, a team of scientists from Iceland took a closer look at what's called amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP). APP was discovered about 25 years ago in patients with rare inherited forms of Alzheimer's that is developed in middle age, reports Nature News. According to the researchers, APP breaks down into amyloid-beta, which shows up as plaques in the brain that are a telltale marker of the disease. Scientists have debated whether the plaque buildup contributes to causing the disease or is caused … Continue reading →

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage company developing novel therapeutics that target cancer stem cells (CSCs), or tumor-initiating cells, today announced that patient dosing has begun in a Phase I clinical trial of OMP-54F28 in patients with advanced solid tumor cancers. OMP-54F28 is OncoMeds fourth drug to enter clinical development. OMP-54F28 is a proprietary fusion protein based on a truncated form of the Frizzled8 receptor, or Fzd8, and is the companys second Wnt pathway modulator to enter the clinic as part of the collaboration between OncoMed and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. OncoMeds first Wnt pathway targeting drug in the clinic is OMP-18R5, a monoclonal antibody targeting the Frizzled receptors. OMP-18R5 continues to advance in the clinic. The Phase I clinical trial of OMP-54F28 is an open-label dose escalation study in patients with advanced solid tumors for which there is no remaining standard curative therapy. These patients are assessed for safety, immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, biomarkers, and initial signals of efficacy. The trial is being conducted at Pinnacle Oncology Hematology in Scottsdale, Arizona, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the University of Colorado Cancer Center under the direction of Principal Investigators Dr. Michael S. Gordon, Dr. … Continue reading →

Top Stories Surgeon uses adult stem cell therapy in spinal fusion clinical trial The Argonaut Interview: Dr. Hyun Bae By Gary Walker Stem cell research remains a controversial topic throughout much of the nation, for religious as well as ethical reasons. Embryonic stem cells, which can differentiate into extraembryonic tissues and are derived from human embryos, are a particularly hot-button topic. Scientists and researchers around the globe have been exploring the potential that adult regenerative stem cells could have on patients suffering from a variety of ailments, including spinal cord injuries, heart conditions and diabetes. While stem cell research - especially clinic studies involving human embryos - remains highly politicized, Californians have shown their support for the controversial therapy. Voters approved a 2004 initiative that allocated $3 million toward human embryonic stem cell research. Proposition 71 made California the largest state-funded scientific research initiative in the United States. Three years ago, President Barack Obama signed an executive order that reversed President George W. Bushs earlier policy of prohibiting the use of federal tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research. Unlike embryonic cells, the use of adult stem cells in research and therapy is much less controversial. Dr. Hyun Bae, a … Continue reading →

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading developer of innovative products that rapidly and effectively penetrate the mucosal barrier to treat a wide range of debilitating diseases, announced today the appointment of Guillaume Pfefer, PhD as the companys President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors. Dr. Pfefer brings to Kala more than 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry leading commercial, strategic, R&D, and industrial operations. Kala is advancing its proprietary platform to create new therapies that are uniquely capable of penetrating mucosal barriers, and we are delighted that Guillaume is joining the company at such an exciting time, said Robert Tepper, MD, a Partner with Third Rock Ventures and a member of the Kala board of directors. Guillaume is a proven industry leader with an impressive track record for managing high-performance teams and building significant company value. Under his leadership and with the expertise of the existing Kala team, the company has the people, technology, and strategy to aggressively advance its therapeutic development programs. Prior to joining Kala, Dr. Pfefer held a number of ascending leadership positions over a nine-year career at Sanofi Pasteur. He most recently served as General Manager … Continue reading →

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage company developing novel therapeutics that target cancer stem cells (CSCs), or tumor-initiating cells, today announced that patient dosing has begun in a Phase I clinical trial of OMP-54F28 in patients with advanced solid tumor cancers. OMP-54F28 is OncoMeds fourth drug to enter clinical development. OMP-54F28 is a proprietary fusion protein based on a truncated form of the Frizzled8 receptor, or Fzd8, and is the companys second Wnt pathway modulator to enter the clinic as part of the collaboration between OncoMed and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. OncoMeds first Wnt pathway targeting drug in the clinic is OMP-18R5, a monoclonal antibody targeting the Frizzled receptors. OMP-18R5 continues to advance in the clinic. The Phase I clinical trial of OMP-54F28 is an open-label dose escalation study in patients with advanced solid tumors for which there is no remaining standard curative therapy. These patients are assessed for safety, immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, biomarkers, and initial signals of efficacy. The trial is being conducted at Pinnacle Oncology Hematology in Scottsdale, Arizona, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the University of Colorado Cancer Center under the direction of Principal Investigators Dr. Michael S. Gordon, Dr. … Continue reading →