GBP Health/Biotech 06-04-2010

GBP Health / Biotech News 06-04-2010:

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EurekAlert - Biology:

Public Release: 3-Jun-2010
Cell Transplantation
Cell Transplantation reports consistent and successful islet isolations offer diabetes hope
Inconsistent islet isolation is an important issue in islet transplantation. Now, a team of American and Japanese researchers has found a way to more consistently isolate pancreatic islet cells from brain dead donors using ductal injection, a process that immediately cools donor islet cells at the injection site. A study utilizing the more successful islet isolation process resulted in three type 1-diabetes patients who received islet cell transplants becoming insulin independent.
All Saints Health Foundation, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Inc.

Contact: David Eve
celltransplantation@gmail.com
Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair

Public Release: 3-Jun-2010
Cell Stem Cell
Study finds epigenetic similarities between Wilms tumor cells and normal kidney stem cells
A detailed analysis of the epigenetics -- factors controlling when and in what tissues genes are expressed -- of Wilms tumor reveals striking similarities to stem cells normally found in fetal kidneys. These findings by Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center researchers have revealed new cellular pathways that are critical for Wilms tumor development and may also apply to other pediatric cancers.
NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH/National Cancer Institute, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Contact: Sue McGreevey
smcgreevey@partners.org
617-724-2764
Massachusetts General Hospital

Public Release: 3-Jun-2010
Science
Caltech biologists provide molecular explanation for the evolution of Tamiflu resistance
Biologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have pinpointed molecular changes that helped allow the global spread of resistance to the antiviral medication Tamiflu (oseltamivir) among strains of the seasonal H1N1 flu virus.
Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship, Irvington Institute Fellowship Program of the Cancer Research Institute

Contact: Kathy Svitil
ksvitil@caltech.edu
626-395-8022
California Institute of Technology

Public Release: 2-Jun-2010
Nature Biotechnology
New culture dish could advance human embryonic stem cell research
A new synthetic Petri dish coating could overcome a major challenge to the advancement of human embryonic stem cell research, say University of Michigan researchers.
National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health

Contact: Nicole Casal Moore
ncmoore@umich.edu
734-647-7087
University of Michigan

Source - Science Daily:

Please note : Due to the format restrictions of Science Daily articles, you must click on the URL (web address) below the article summary , rather than the article title.

Lifestyle and Genes Pose Separate Risks for Breast Cancer

June 4, 2010 — The increased risk of breast cancer associated with a range of common genes is not affected by lifestyle factors -- including use of hormone replacement therapy, age at birth of first child, obesity, ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100603160619.htm

First Paper 'Dipstick' Test for Determining Blood Type

June 3, 2010 — Scientists are reporting development of the first "dipstick" test for instantly determining a person's blood type at a cost of just a few pennies. The test involves placing a drop of blood on a ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602121200.htm

Treating Heart Attack Past Recommended Time May Significantly Increase Risk of Death

June 3, 2010 — An examination of the treatment received by patients with myocardial infarction at 80 hospitals in Quebec indicates that those who received either primary percutaneous coronary intervention or ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100601162242.htm

New Gene Therapy Proves Effective in Treating Severe Heart Failure

June 3, 2010 — Researchers have developed a new gene therapy that is safe and effective in reversing advanced heart failure. SERCA2a is a gene therapy designed to stimulate production of an enzyme that enables the ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100603172211.htm

Nanosponge Drug Delivery System More Effective Than Direct Injection

June 3, 2010 — When loaded with an anticancer drug, a delivery system based on a novel material called nanosponge is three to five times more effective at reducing tumor growth than direct ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602121109.htm

Bone Drug Suppresses Wandering Tumor Cells in Breast Cancer Patients; May Reduce Metastatic Disease

June 3, 2010 — The bone-strengthening drug zoledronic acid (Zometa) can help fight metastatic breast cancer when given before surgery, new research suggests. When the drug was given along with chemotherapy for ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602152418.htm

Sun-Induced Skin Cancer: Discovery Permits Doctors to Assess Genetic Risk

June 3, 2010 — As people head to the beach this summer, very few if any, really know how likely they are to develop skin cancer from their outdoor fun. That's about to change, thanks to a new discovery that makes ...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602193329.htm

Source - Health Day:

Health Highlights: June 4, 2010

• McDonald's Recalls Shrek Glasses
• WHO Flu Advisers Had Ties to Drug Makers: Report
• Kellogg Hit for Rice Krispies Health Claims
• New Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Standard Will Save Lives: EPA

Glucose 'Tattoo' Could Track Blood Sugar Levels for Diabetics
Device includes 'carbon nanotubes' injected under skin, say researchers.

Clinical Trials Update: June 4, 2010

• Investigational Birth Control Patch
• Iron Deficiency Anemia
• Menstrual Migraine

Source - Yahoo Biotech News:

Amgen drug meets goal in pancreatic cancer study- AP - Fri 11:08 am ET
Biotechnology company Amgen Inc. said Friday a potential pancreatic cancer treatment improved patient survival rates in a midstage study.

FDA Votes Against RSV Drug- Zacks.com - Thu 5:21 pm ET
AZN said the FDA voted against the approval of motavizumab for the prevention of serious respiratory syncytial virus disease in high-risk infants.

Source - Google Health News:

New gene therapy to effectively treat severe heart failure
Sify
The CUPID (Calcium Up-regulation by Percutaneous administration of gene therapy In cardiac Disease) trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled ...

Source - Medical News Today :

Johnson & Johnson Highlights Growth Strategies For Its World-Leading Medical Devices & Diagnostics Segment

Johnson & Johnson will be reviewing the growth strategies for its Medical Devices & Diagnostics (MD&D) segment at a meeting with the investment community today. Senior leaders will be highlighting the new products, robust pipelines, expanding geographic presence, and other strategies that will sustain the long-term growth of the company's largest business segment in a $350 billion, worldwide medical device and diagnostics market. "Thanks to the hard work of thousands of talented associates, we are the largest and strongest medical device company in the world today, and poised to continue advancing patient care in the future," said Alex Gorsky, worldwide chairman of Johnson & Johnson's Medical Devices & Diagnostics segment.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/190935.php

Universal Treatment For All Strains Of Influenza Within Reach

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered a novel component of the influenza virus that may be the key to disabling the virus's ability to replicate itself and to developing a universal anti-viral treatment. The findings were published June 1 online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The influenza A virus is encoded by eight individual single-stranded segments of RNA. Each segment must serve as the material for both making protein and new segments, processes called transcription and replication. As each strand must perform both functions, it is imperative that the virus prioritize these processes, starting with transcription and then switching to replication.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/190917.php

Source - MIT's Technology Review :

Generating Power from a Heart

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25473/?a=f

Detecting Single Cancer Molecules

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25462/

Retina Transplants from Stem Cells

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25461/