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Stem cell study aids quest for motor neuron disease therapies

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

ScienceDaily (Mar. 26, 2012) A breakthrough using cutting-edge stem cell research could speed up the discovery of new treatments for motor neuron disease (MND). The international research team has created motor neurons using skin cells from a patient with an inherited form of MND. Role of protein Using patient stem cells to model MND in a dish offers untold possibilities for how we study the cause of this terrible disease as well as accelerating drug discovery by providing a cost-effective way to test many thousands of potential treatments said Professor Siddharthan Chandran, Director of the University's Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research. The study discovered that abnormalities of a protein called TDP-43, implicated in more than 90 per cent of cases of MND, resulted in the death of motor neuron cells. This is the first time that scientists have been able to see the direct effect of abnormal TDP-43 on human motor neurons. The study, led by the University of Edinburgh's Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, was carried out in partnership with King's College London, Columbia University, New York and the University of San Francisco. Motor neuron disease MND is a devastating, untreatable and ultimately fatal condition … Continue reading →

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New Data Highlighting Foundation Medicine’s Next-Generation Sequencing Approach in Clinical Oncology to be Presented …

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

Foundation Medicine, Inc., a molecular information company that brings comprehensive cancer genomic analysis to routine clinical care, today announced that new data highlighting the companys next-generation sequencing approach in clinical oncology will be presented at the 103rd American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2012 being held March 31 through April 4 in Chicago. The presentations will highlight the technical feasibility and clinical relevance of the companys next-generation sequencing platform for oncology, which offers a fully informative genomic profile of the relevant alterations present in about 200 genes known to be somatically altered in human cancers. In these studies, the profile demonstrated concordance with existing commercial offerings and identified all classes of genomic alterations. In one study being presented, approximately 70 percent of cases were found to carry one or more actionable alterations, meaning the alteration could plausibly confer sensitivity or resistance to approved or experimental targeted therapies. The studies also identified more classes of alterations, including base pair mutations, insertions and deletions, copy number alterations and select gene fusions and rearrangements, than other commercially available molecular diagnostic tests. The data presented at AACR show that thebreadth and relevanceof Foundation Medicines genomic profile may offer important information for cancer … Continue reading →

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Stem cell therapy for 13-year-old dog helps with its arthritis

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A few weeks ago, we told you the story of Maggie, the 13-year-old Boykin Spaniel who was suffering from arthritis. Maggie is enjoying life once again thanks to a new type of surgery. The dog received stem cell therapy surgery six weeks ago. Doctors were able to use adult stem cells from Maggie's blood and fat samples to collect repair cells. They then took the cells and repaired the dog's arthritic spine. Maggie's owner, Beth Phibbs, says she could tell the dog had been in pain. "You could tell she didn't feel well, but yet now she is like she's 5 and she's 13. She just runs out and she plays. I think she knows. She can feel the difference," Phibbs said. The surgery costs about $2,000, but Medi-vet America says this costs about half as much as the older treatments. Previous Story: Copyright 2012 WIS. All rights reserved. Read more: Stem cell therapy for 13-year-old dog helps with its arthritis … Continue reading →

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New gene therapy approach developed for red blood cell disorders

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

ScienceDaily (Mar. 27, 2012) A team of researchers led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College has designed what appears to be a powerful gene therapy strategy that can treat both beta-thalassemia disease and sickle cell anemia. They have also developed a test to predict patient response before treatment. This study's findings, published in PLoS ONE, represents a new approach to treating these related, and serious, red blood cells disorders, say the investigators. "This gene therapy technique has the potential to cure many patients, especially if we prescreen them to predict their response using just a few of their cells in a test tube," says the study's lead investigator, Dr. Stefano Rivella, Ph.D., an associate professor of genetic medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. He led a team of 17 researchers in three countries. Dr. Rivella says this is the first time investigators have been able to correlate the outcome of transferring a healthy beta-globin gene into diseased cells with increased production of normal hemoglobin -- which has long been a barrier to effective treatment of these disease. So far, only one patient in France has been treated with gene therapy for beta thalassemia, and Dr. Rivella and his colleagues … Continue reading →

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Glance: Grocery stores and 'pink slime' beef

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

Fresh & Easy said it will let shoppers swap ground beef bought at other retailers with its own ground beef following a furor over an ammonia-treated beef additive known as "pink slime" on Wednesday. Federal regulators say the product, which has been used for years and is known in the industry as "lean, finely textured beef," meets food safety standards. But critics call the product an unappetizing example of industrialized food production. Most grocery stores have said they will stop selling or never sold ground beef with the filler. Here's a look at grocery stores that have said they will stop selling, or never sold, beef with the additive: A&P BJ's Wholesale Corp. Costco Wholsale Corp. BI-LO Holding's BI-LO and Winn-Dixie chains Delhaize America's Bottom Dollar Food, Food Lion, Hannaford and Sweetbay chains Kroger Co., which operates Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's Royal Ahold NV's Stop & Shop, Giant Food Stores and Martin Food Markets Read more: Glance: Grocery stores and 'pink slime' beef … Continue reading →

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Welfare Drug Testing Bill Moves Forward

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

ATLANTA Georgia lawmakers have passed a bill that would require welfare recipients to take a drug test before receiving benefits. GOP supporters of the measure say it would save taxpayers money but opponents say its unconstitutional and uncharitable. The bill would target what supporters call abuse of a government benefit, namely the federal welfare program. Its similar to a Florida law a federal judge has blocked because it violates the Fourth Amendments protection from unlawful search. Sen. Jason Carter, an Atlanta Democrat, says the state must have a reason to single out one group. If you search someone, require a drug test, intrude into their private lives for no reason, with no reason to believe they have been using illegal drugs, not only is it wrong, its unconstitutional, and we will be litigating it and litigating it and litigating it, Carter said during Senate floor debate. The General Assemblys own legislative counsel also says the bill may not be constitutional. Atlanta attorney Shelley Sennerfitt says theres no proof welfare recipients are likelier to take illegal drugs, and the courts have struck down other laws where there was no evidence. "One of the things the courts have said is, if youre … Continue reading →

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Middle Smithfield residents wary of treatment center

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

Buy This Photo Chris McDermott, an engineer from Riley Associates in Stroudsburg speaks to the crowd using this plan of the proposed drug treatment facility at the former Hillside Inn location at the Middle Smithfield Township municipal building during their meeting on Tuesday night, March 27, 2012.Melissa Evanko/Pocono Record March 28, 2012 Some residents expressed fears Tuesday night about neighborhood security if a proposed voluntary drug and alcohol treatment program opens at the Hillside Inn resort property. Others said a drug treatment facility such as that proposed by Pyramid Healthcare is badly needed. Pyramid, based in Altoona, proposes a 60-bed facility at Hillside, off Frutchey Road. The facility might eventually expand to 110 beds. Assurances by Jason Hendricks, Pyramid's vice president of operations, that nearly all patients are driven to and from the facility and must give 48-hours notice before signing themselves out, drew skepticism. "A lot of them end up having to go back into treatment again and again and again," Paul Giblin of Prairie Lane said. "If patients walk away, towards nearby Route 209, they will likely say, 'Gee, what can I get over there? I'm looking for drugs.'" Patricia Griffin of Turkey Ridge Road said there is … Continue reading →

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Paramedics Face Potentially Deadly Shortage Of Drugs

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

BOSTON (CBS) Many of the drugs paramedics need in life and death situations are in short supply. WBZ has learned some local EMTs are asking permission to use expired drugs because they feel they are better than nothing. We are seeing a rapid rise of shortages of life saving and emergency medications as we have never seen before, said Jonathan Epstein of Northeast Emergency Medical Services. Its getting worse. Epstein oversees emergency medical services in about four dozen facilities north of Boston. He says calls about drug shortages that used to come every couple of months now come daily. One local ambulance company called because they were running out of their third substitute for a drug used to treat seizures. Scenarios like that scare Cathy Rapsas. Her daughter Mary has been transported to the hospital many times due to daily seizures. She would die, says Rapsas. Marys already gone into cardiac arrest once and I just dont want to think about it. Drugs for cardiac emergencies, severe pain, even EpiPens for kids are also in short supply. Sometimes the drugs might be available, but only in different doses, concentrations, or packaging. When a paramedic has to act quickly, those changes … Continue reading →

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Synthetic drugs seized from Jerseyville wholesaler

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

JERSEYVILLE Illinois authorities' efforts to stem the flow of illegal synthetic drugs continued on Friday with the seizure of 2,700 packets worth an estimated $110,000 from a wholesale company and one of its employees. It was the latest of several rounds of seizures around the state coordinated by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in a program called "Operation Smoked Out." Friday's seizures amounted to a major step forward, she said. The seizures in Jerseyville were the firstfroma distributor.Previousseizures were from retail stores. "Cutting off the supply of these extremely dangerous substances at the source is a huge victory," Madigan said in a news release. Acting on an informant's tip, investigators from Madigan's office, Jerseyville police, the Jersey County Sheriff's Department and the South Central Illinois Drug Task Force seized drugs at William F. Brockman Wholesale Tobacco & Candy and at the home of a Brockman employee. Authorities said the company is a supplier to retailers across a large area of central and Southern Illinois. Madigan said the same investigation had resulted in earlier seizures of 177 packages of synthetic drugs from two retailers in Litchfield. No one was arrested in Friday's sweep or previous ones but Madigan spokeswoman Natalie Bauer … Continue reading →

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Fitch: U.S. Pharmacy Benefit Managers Strive to Moderate Spending in Changing Market

Posted: Published on March 28th, 2012

U.S. pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) should be able to generate significant reimbursement to remain financially viable, as long as companies demonstrate value by moderating the growth of payor drug spending, according to a Fitch Ratings report. The PBM industry has increased transparency regarding pricing and rebates to payors, although pressure to further improve transparency persists which could pressure margins by limiting the industry's negotiating levers. Normal tensions between PBMs and retail chains will persist, potentially leading to lower volume and margins for the PBMs. Persistently high employment has reduced the rolls of the insured. Patients without health insurance generally use fewer healthcare services and products, and the currently soft prescription utilization trends highlight this issue. Fitch expects the dynamic of weak employment and resulting soft utilization will continue during the intermediate term. The long-term trend of increased generic utilization will continue for at least the next three years. This trend should support PBM margins given the higher margins that generic drugs offer PBMs relative to their branded counterparts. Going forward, Fitch expects PBMs will further increase their presence in the specialty drug segment, as it offers significant revenue and margin opportunities. The anticipated near-term entry of biosimilars into the U.S. … Continue reading →

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