GBP Health / Biotech News 09-02-2009

Since August, 2005, this news digest has been a complimentary service of GBP Capital, a private equity firm investing in early to mid-stage life science companies. See www.gbpcap.com. The digest is published two to four days a week. If you have colleagues who would be interested in receiving this digest by email, they can be added to the list at: http://www.gbpcap.com/ . Also, the complete history of the entire content of all news articles in our digests since August, 2005 is searchable with Google's enterprise search engine at the same site.


Source - EurekAlert – Biology:

Public Release: 2-Sep-2009
Toxicology Letters
Diesel exhaust is linked to cancer development via new blood vessel growth
Scientists here have demonstrated that the link between diesel fume exposure and cancer lies in how diesel exhaust induces the growth of new blood vessels that supply solid tumors. The researchers found that in both healthy and diseased animals, more new blood vessels sprouted in mice exposed to diesel exhaust than did in mice exposed to clean, filtered air. This suggests that previous illness isn't required to make humans susceptible to the damaging effects of the diesel exhaust.
Health Effects Institute, National Institutes of Health
Contact: Qinghua Sun
sun.224@osu.edu
614-247-1560
Ohio State University

Public Release: 2-Sep-2009
ACS Chemical Biology
Powerful new 'molecular GPS' helps probe aging and disease processes
Scientists in Michigan are reporting the development of a powerful new probe for identifying proteins affected by a key chemical process important in aging and disease. The probe works like a GPS or navigation system for finding these proteins in cells. It could lead to new insights into disease processes and identify new targets for disease treatments, the researchers say. Their study is scheduled for the Sept. 18 issue of ACS Chemical Biology, a monthly journal.
Contact: Michael Woods
m_woods@acs.org
202-872-6293
American Chemical Society

Public Release: 2-Sep-2009
Cell Metabolism
DNA mutations linked to diabetes
Genes that regulate the energy consumption of cells have a different structure and expression in type 2 diabetics than they do in healthy people, according to a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet published in Cell Metabolism. The researchers believe that these "epigenetic mutations" might have a key part to play in the development of the disease.
Contact: KI Press Office
pressinfo@ki.se
46-852-486-077
Karolinska Institutet

Public Release: 1-Sep-2009
PLoS Currents
H1N1 pandemic virus does not mutate into 'superbug' in UMd lab study
In the first study to examine how the H1N1 pandemic virus interacts with other flu strains, laboratory research by the University of Maryland found no evidence of "reassortment" to form a more virulent "superbug," but did demonstrate the heightened communicability of the pandemic form responsible for the so-called swine flu. The pandemic virus prevailed over and out-competed the other strains in ferrets, reproducing, on average, twice as much.
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Contact: Neil Tickner
ntickner@umd.edu
301-405-4622
University of Maryland

Public Release: 1-Sep-2009
Molecular Cancer Research
Scientists identify gene that predicts post-surgical survival from brain metastasis of breast cancer patients
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have identified a gene that may play a role in breast cancer metastasis to the brain, according to a report in Molecular Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Contact: Jeremy Moore
jeremy.moore@aacr.org
267-646-0557
American Association for Cancer Research

Public Release: 1-Sep-2009
Cell Metabolism
From fat to chronic inflammation
Researchers may have found a key ingredient in the recipe that leads from obesity to chronic low-grade inflammation, according to a report in the September issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication.
Contact: Cathleen Genova
cgenova@cell.com
617-397-2802
Cell Press

Public Release: 1-Sep-2009
Cancer Research
Computational process zeroes in on top genetic cancer suspects
Johns Hopkins engineers have devised innovative computer software that can sift through hundreds of genetic mutations and highlight the DNA changes that are most likely to promote cancer.
Susan G. Komen Foundation, Virginia and D. K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health
Contact: Phil Sneiderman
prs@jhu.edu
443-287-9960
Johns Hopkins University

Public Release: 1-Sep-2009
ACS Nano
Promise of nanodiamonds for safer gene therapy
A team of Northwestern University researchers has introduced the power of nanodiamonds as a novel gene delivery technology that combines key properties in one approach: enhanced delivery efficiency along with outstanding biocompatibility. The researchers engineered surface-modified nanodiamond particles that successfully and efficiently delivered DNA into mammalian cells. The delivery efficiency was 70 times greater than that of a conventional standard for gene delivery. The new hybrid material could impact many facets of nanomedicine.
National Science Foundation, Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, V Foundation for Cancer Research
Contact: Megan Fellman
fellman@northwestern.edu
847-491-3115
Northwestern University

Public Release: 31-Aug-2009
FASEB Journal
Finding the ZIP-code for gene therapy: Scientists imitate viruses to deliver therapeutic genes
A research report featured on the cover of the September 2009 print issue of the FASEB Journal describes how Australian scientists developed a new gene therapy vector that uses the same machinery that viruses use to transport their cargo into our cells. As a result, therapeutic DNA can be transferred to a cell's nucleus more efficiently than in the past, raising hopes for more effective treatment of genetic disorders and some types of cancers.
Contact: Cody Mooneyhan
cmooneyhan@faseb.org
301-634-7104
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology


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.

Weight Gain In Adulthood Associated With Prostate Cancer Risk; Patterns Differ By Ethnicity
September 2, 2009 — Body mass in younger and older adulthood, and weight gain between these periods of life, may influence a man's risk for prostate cancer. This risk varies among different ethnic populations, according ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901132802.htm

Why Don't Brain Tumors Respond To Medication?
September 2, 2009 — Malignant brain tumors often fail to respond to promising new medication. Researchers in Germany have discovered a mechanism and a tumor marker for the development of this resistance. A "death ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901104850.htm

Protein–telomere Interactions Could Be Key In Treating Cancer
September 2, 2009 — Researchers have shown that a large noncoding RNA in mammals and yeast plays a central role in helping maintain telomeres, the tips of chromosomes that contain important genetic information and help ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831213216.htm

Fine-tuning An Anti-cancer Drug
September 2, 2009 — Biochemists have illuminated a reaction pathway that blocks the action of proteasomes, vital intracellular waste-processing plants. They report insights that could potentially lead to development of ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818130433.htm

Cardiac Surgeons Implant World's First New DeBakey Heart Assist Device
September 2, 2009 — At the end of July 2009, a team of cardiac surgeons in Germany was the first in the world to implant the HeartAssist 5 ventricular assist device, the modern version of the DeBakey VAD. The device ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090817142741.htm

How Much Omega-3 Fatty Acid Do We Need To Prevent Cardiovascular Disease?
September 1, 2009 — Scientists found the dose of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that is "just right" for preventing cardiovascular disease in healthy men. In a new study, they show that 200 mg of DHA per day is enough to ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831130751.htm

Study Reveals How A Common Virus Eludes The Immune System
September 1, 2009 — Viruses have numerous tricks for dodging the immune system. New research reveals a key detail in one of these stratagems, identifying a protein that enables cytomegalovirus to shut down an antiviral ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831130049.htm

New Hope For Deadly Childhood Bone Cancer: Surprising Discovery Made By Studying 'Junk DNA'
September 1, 2009 — Researchers have shed new light on Ewing's sarcoma, an often deadly bone cancer that typically afflicts children and young adults. Their research shows that patients with poor outcomes have tumors ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831080955.htm

New Genetic Culprit In Deadly Skin Cancer Revealed
September 1, 2009 — Drawing on the power of DNA sequencing, researchers have identified a new group of genetic mutations involved in the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. This discovery is particularly ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831212427.htm

Surprising Rate Of Recurring Heart Attacks, Strokes Globally
September 1, 2009 — Despite medicines for patients with vascular disease, a large international study shows these patients have a surprisingly high rate of recurring strokes, heart attacks and hospitalizations as well ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831130051.htm

Circulating Tumor Cells A Must Watch
September 1, 2009 — The presence of tumor cells circulating in the blood is associated with shortened survival. Now, researchers in Japan have developed a simple imaging system to detect circulating tumor cells, which ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901172828.htm

Promising New Target Emerges For Autoimmune Diseases
September 1, 2009 — Scientists have uncovered an important way that aggressive immune cells normally are held in check so they don't attack the body's own cells. The findings open a new avenue of research for future ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901122641.htm

Cardiac Arrest Casualties Form Valuable Source Of Donor Kidneys
August 31, 2009 — A pilot study of a system for harvesting kidneys from non-heart-beating donors where attempts of resuscitation after a witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have failed (uncontrolled NHBDs) ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090827192326.htm

Human Breast Cancer Hit For Six: Key Role For Six1 In Tumor Development And Metastasis
August 31, 2009 — Researchers have provided new insight into breast cancer development using mouse models and analysis of human cells, implicating the protein Six1 as central to this ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090825084948.htm

Project Zero Delay Accelerates Drug's Path To Clinical Trial
August 31, 2009 — A phase I clinical trial enrolled its first patient only two days after US Food and Drug Administration clearance of the experimental drug for a first-in-human cancer trial, a milestone that normally ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803173243.htm

Rheumatism Video Discloses Center Of Inflammation At An Early Stage
August 29, 2009 — It can strike anyone: rheumatism occurs just as often as diabetes, arteriosclerosis and cancer combined. Approximately one percent of the population is stricken with the rheumatoid arthritis. Now ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824205742.htm


Source - Health Day:

Health Highlights: Sept. 1, 2009

• 2-in-1 Heart Device Cuts Heart Failure
• Communities Can Do More to Stop Childhood Obesity: Report
• Tobacco Makers Sue Over FDA Oversight
• Docs to Watch for Guillain-Barré After H1N1 Vaccine
• Workouts Trump Angioplasty for Heart Woes, Experts Say
  

Keep Your Flu Shots Straight This Fall
What you need to know about vaccinations for swine flu, regular flu.

New Technique Offers Hope for Kids With Immune Deficiency
Stem-cell transplant without chemo can help avoid treatment toxicity, research shows.

Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 2, 2009

• Iron Deficiency Anemia
• Osteoarthritis
• Atrial Fibrillation
  

Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 1, 2009

• Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (DPN)
• Gout
• Restless Legs Syndrome
  

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 31, 2009

• Heart Disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
  

Source - Yahoo Biotech News:


Interim Phase II Data Presented at XIV World Congress of Neurological Surgery Supports Potential of Peregrine's Cotara(R) for Treatment of Brain Cancer - PR Newswire - Wed 7:30 am ET

Life Technologies to Sell Mass Spectrometry Business to Danaher for $450 Million in Cash - Business Wire - Wed 7:07 am ET
CARLSBAD, Calif.----Life Technologies Corporation today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its ownership stake in its mass spectrometry business, operated as a joint venture, to Danaher Corporation for $450 million in cash.


Source - Google Health News:


The H1N1 Virus - Varied Local Responses to a Global Spread
Global Arab Network - English News
Due to the high fatality rate of H5N1 – once considered the most likely candidate for the next flu pandemic, the WHO pandemic alert system focuses on the ...


Canada's flu strategy flawed: CMAJ
Globe and Mail
... reasons Canada went with an adjuvant strategy is because non-adjuvant vaccine didn't work as well in the clinical trials for the H5N1 avian flu strain. ...


New approach to the flu
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Park said the Food and Drug Administration had put out word that the upcoming vaccine would be "a simple strain change from the regular formula. ...

Common Antibiotic Can Act As An 'Off Switch' For Parkinson's Therapy
MedIndia
Taken together, the findings have indicated that gene therapy to enable the brain to retain its ability to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that falls ...


H1N1 (Swine) Flu Jumps to Turkeys
About - News & Issues
The fear is that the H1N1 virus may recombine with the avian H5N1 virus, an influenza virus of birds. The H5N1 virus more lethal, but not as contagious to ...

Scientists Develop Gene Therapy Method to Prevent Some Inherited ...
MedIndia
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University's Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) believe they have developed one of the first forms of ...


Source - Medical News Today:


ASCO Calls On Medicare To Abandon Proposed Cuts To Cancer Care
In formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) , the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) called on CMS to abandon proposed cuts to reimbursement for physicians who provide cancer care to millions of Medicare patients. The cuts would jeopardize access to care for patients nationwide - more than 80 percent of Americans with cancer receive care from local, community-based oncology practices. "The proposed cuts would put the American cancer care system into crisis, at a time when the need for access to cancer care is growing fast," said ASCO President Douglas W. Blayney, MD. "Cancer incidence is projected to rise quickly among Medicare-aged patients in the coming years, and the supply of oncologists is already failing to keep pace with growing demand. ASCO is calling on CMS to abandon these cuts and preserve seniors' access to care."
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162680.php

Detecting Circulating Tumor Cells
As the presence of tumor cells circulating in the blood is associated with shortened survival, a method to detect circulating tumor cells could help clinicians hoping to predict a patient's chances of survival and/or monitor a patient's response to treatment. Now, Toshiyoshi Fujiwara and colleagues, at Okayama University Hospital, Japan, have developed a simple imaging system able to do just that. Specifically, they developed an approach to visualize live tumor cells circulating in the peripheral blood of humans and found that the number of live circulating tumor cells reflected the tumor burden, as they decreased in number upon complete surgical removal of primary tumors. The authors therefore hope that their technology will prove to be of immense clinical benefit.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162668.php

Stent For Life Initiative
Primary angioplasty (with stent implantation) is the most effective therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but it is not available to many patients, even though most European countries have sufficient resources (ie, catheterisation laboratories) for its wider use. The Stents 4 Life initiative was a study aiming to analyze the use of primary angioplasty in the treatment of AMI in 27 European countries. Data were collected from national infarction or angioplasty registries, on AMI epidemiology and treatment and on angioplasty centres and procedures
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162585.php

Heart Failure: More Or Less Malignant Than Cancer?
A recently completed analysis of over one million hospital cases in Sweden during the period 1988 to 2004 has revealed that heart failure , relative to most common forms of cancer specific to men and women, represents a major health burden in respect to the risk of being hospitalised for the first time, poor overall survival and the number of premature life-years lost. Heart failure is a debilitating and deadly syndrome that commonly occurs in those who have suffered high blood pressure over a long period of time and/or suffered a heart attack . As the term suggests, heart failure means that the heart is permanently damaged leading those who are affected to experience debilitating symptoms and remain at high risk of being hospitalised and/or suffer a premature death.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162555.php

Chemotherapy Resistance: Checkpoint Protein Provides Armor Against Cancer Drugs
Cell cycle checkpoints act like molecular tripwires for damaged cells, forcing them to pause and take stock. Leave the tripwire in place for too long, though, and cancer cells will press on regardless, making them resistant to the lethal effects of certain types of chemotherapy, according to researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Their findings, published in the Aug. 28 issue of Molecular Cell, help explain how the checkpoint exit is delayed in some cancer cells, helping them to recover and resume dividing after treatment with DNA-damaging cancer drugs.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162555.php


Source - MIT's Technology Review:


A More Sensitive Cancer Breathalyzer
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23331/

Modeling Diabetes with Stem Cells
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23335/

A Simulator for Brain Surgeons
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23337/

GBP Health / Biotech News 08-28-2009

Since August, 2005, this news digest has been a complimentary service of GBP Capital, a private equity firm investing in early to mid-stage life science companies. See www.gbpcap.com. The digest is published two to four days a week. If you have colleagues who would be interested in receiving this digest by email, they can be added to the list at: http://www.gbpcap.com/ . Also, the complete history of the entire content of all news articles in our digests since August, 2005 is searchable with Google's enterprise search engine at the same site.


Source - EurekAlert – Biology:

Public Release: 28-Aug-2009
Molecular Therapy
UF scientists construct 'off switch' for Parkinson therapy
Addressing safety concerns related to potential gene therapies for Parkinson's disease, researchers at the University of Florida's McKnight Brain Institute have constructed a gene transfer therapy that can be inhibited with a common antibiotic. Experiments in rats show that the gene therapy product can be completely shut off, indicating for the first time that genes that have been irrevocably delivered to the brain to treat Parkinson's can be regulated.
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Contact: John Pastor
jdpastor@ufl.edu
352-273-5815
University of Florida

Public Release: 27-Aug-2009
Nature Biotechnology
U-Iowa improves delivery of cancer-fighting molecules
University of Iowa researchers have modified siRNA, a type of genetic material that can block potentially harmful activity in cells, so that it can be injected into the bloodstream and impact targeted cells while producing fewer side effects. The findings could make it easier to create large amounts of targeted therapeutic siRNAs for treating cancer and other diseases.
American Cancer Society, University of Iowa
Contact: Becky Soglin
becky-soglin@uiowa.edu
319-356-7127
University of Iowa

Public Release: 27-Aug-2009
Journal of American College of Cardiology
Beta-blockers and stroke -- new insights into their use for older people
Research conducted at Leicester reveals effects of blood pressure drugs on cardiovascular disease.
Contact: Bryan Williams
bw17@le.ac.uk
44-116-252-3182
University of Leicester

Public Release: 27-Aug-2009
Journal of Experimental Medicine
Immune defect is key to skin aging
Scientists have discovered why older people may be so vulnerable to cancer and infections in the skin. The team has shown in human volunteers that defective immunity in the skin is caused by an inability to mobilize essential defenses that would otherwise recognize threats and clear them before irreparable damage is done. This discovery could be important for preventing, managing or treating many age-related skin health problems.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Contact: Nancy Mendoza
press.office@bbsrc.ac.uk
44-179-341-3355
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Public Release: 27-Aug-2009
Molecular Cell
Chemotherapy resistance: Checkpoint protein provides armor against cancer drugs
Cell cycle checkpoints act like molecular tripwires for damaged cells, forcing them to pause and take stock. Leave the tripwire in place for too long, though, and cancer cells will press on regardless, making them resistant to the lethal effects of certain types of chemotherapy, according to researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Contact: Mauricio Minotta
minottta@salk.edu
858-453-410-01371
Salk Institute

Public Release: 27-Aug-2009
'Fatostatin' is a turnoff for fat genes
A small molecule earlier found to have both anti-fat and anti-cancer abilities works as a literal turnoff for fat-making genes, according to a new report in the Aug. 28 issue of the journal Chemistry and Biology, a Cell Press journal.
Contact: Cathleen Genova
cgenova@cell.com
617-397-2802
Cell Press


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.

Washing Away Painful Wounds
August 28, 2009 — A new device uses a solution to wash away necrotic tissue, bathing a chronic wound while keeping bacteria ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826152601.htm

How Safe Or Unsafe Are Medical Imaging Procedures?
August 28, 2009 — In a new study of nearly one million adults between the ages of 18 and 64, nearly 70 percent of participants underwent at least one medical imaging procedure between July 2005 and December 2007, ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826191837.htm

Predicting Cancer Prognosis
August 28, 2009 — Researchers have developed a novel methodology to extract microRNAs from cancer tissues. They optimized a new protocol for extracting miRNAs from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090827123216.htm

The Path To New Antibiotics
August 28, 2009 — Researchers have demonstrated that an enzyme that is essential to many bacteria can be targeted to kill dangerous pathogens. In addition, investigators discovered chemical compounds that can inhibit ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090827131830.htm

Finnish Scientists Discover Nerve Growth Factor With Therapeutic Potential In Parkinson's Disease
August 28, 2009 — Scientists Finland have reported promising new results with potential implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. They have been studying the impacts of nerve growth factors in the ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090828103924.htm

Tool To Rank Death Rates Developed
August 27, 2009 — Have you ever wondered what the chances are that you may die in the next year? Would it be from illness or an accident? Is it something you can control? Or is it completely out of your hands? A new ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826164907.htm

'Hedgehog' Pathway May Hold Key To Anti-cancer Therapy
August 27, 2009 — Scientists in Switzerland have discovered a way to block the growth of human colon cancer cells, preventing the disease from reaching advanced ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826191839.htm

Newly Discovered Mechanism In Cell Division Has Implications For Chromosome's Role In Cancer
August 27, 2009 — Errors in cell division can cause mutations that lead to cancer, and a new study could shed light on the role of chromosome abnormalities in uncontrolled cell replication. Researchers uncovered the ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090817143608.htm

Researchers Identify New, Cancer-causing Role For Protein
August 27, 2009 — The mainstay immune system protein TRAF6 plays an unexpected, key role activating a cell signaling molecule that in mutant form is associated with cancer growth, researchers report in ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090827141356.htm

Chemotherapy Resistance: Checkpoint Protein Provides Armor Against Cancer Drugs
August 27, 2009 — Cell cycle checkpoints act like molecular tripwires for damaged cells, forcing them to pause and take stock. Leave the tripwire in place for too long, though, and cancer cells will press on ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090827123208.htm



Source - Health Day:

Health Highlights: Aug. 28, 2009

• Gulf Coast Births Fell Post-Katrina
• UN Wary of Swine Flu in Birds
• Pregnant Women, New Parents Urged to Get Swine Flu Vaccine
• U.S. Issues New Guidelines for Treating Children With HIV
  

Dementia More Likely With One Subtype of HIV
Most untreated Ugandans infected with type D were affected, study found

Ankle Circulation Could Warn of Future Strokes
Quick test may detect peripheral artery disease, research shows

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 28, 2009

• Gout
• Depression
• Triglycerides
  

Steady Improvements Seen for Young Blood Cancer Patients
Survival has significantly increased, research shows

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 27, 2009

• Flu Vaccine
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Osteoarthritis
  

Source - Yahoo Biotech News:


FDA Advisory Committee to Discuss Genzyme's Clolar for Adult AML on September 1 - Business Wire - Fri 12:22 pm ET
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.----Genzyme Corporation announced today that its supplemental New Drug Application for Clolar® will be discussed Tuesday, September 1 at a public meeting of the FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Sinovac wins flu vaccine contract in China - AP - Fri 10:13 am ET
Sinovac Biotech Ltd. said Friday it won a contract through the Beijing Public Health Bureau to supply the seasonal flu vaccine Anflu in Beijing.


Source - Google Health News:

The global swine flu pandemic 1: exploring the background to ...
Nursing Times
Although mainly only infecting birds, the current genotype of HPAI H5N1 can infect humans and, as of May 2009, 431 confirmed human cases of avian influenza ...

Hundreds affected by H1N1 virus
Technique
Pandemic flu preparations have been in place at Tech since 2006 during the avian flu (H5N1) outbreaks. In addition, CDC officials have trained Tech health ...

Health, Fitness and Drugs : Avian Flu: Do You Want the Good News ...
SkyNewswire.com
In other words, the virus came from birds - it is believed - and a virus similar to this one -called the "H5N1" (a form of avian flu virus). Its origins? ...

Nanotechnology-based gene therapy technique could fight late-stage ...
Nanowerk LLC - ‎5 hours ago‎
In preclinical studies, the investigators found that the gene therapy treatment was equally as effective and in some cases more effective than the ...



Source - Medical News Today:


Cumulative Radiation Exposure From Imaging Scans Should Be Weighed Against The Benefits Say Researchers
US researchers found that repeated exposure to ionizing radiation from medical imaging such as x-rays, fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine scans can accumulate over time to substantial cancer-causing doses, and recommend that doctors and patients always weigh up the benefits of imaging against the risks. The study was the work of lead author Dr Reza Fazel and colleagues and appears in the 27 August issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM. Fazel, a cardiologist in the Department of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, told the media that:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162170.php

Ochsner Replaces Heart Valve Without Open Heart Surgery
On Tuesday, August 11, 2009, an 82-year old New Orleans resident with severe aortic stenosis successfully had a heart valve replaced at Ochsner Medical Center using the same technique as angioplasty, a far cry from the traditional open heart procedure. Patients who are considered high-risk or non-operable for conventional open heart valve surgery now have a potential new research option available regionally only through The John Ochsner Heart & Vascular Institute. Ochsner Medical Center is the only hospital in the Gulf South selected to participate as an FDA investigative site in the PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic traNscathetER valves) clinical trial, evaluating the Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter aortic heart valve in patients who are at high risk for open heart surgery and surgical valve repair.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162148.php

Many Hospitals Are Not Ready For H1N1: Nurse Survey Shows Deficiencies In Hospital Swine Flu Readiness
A patient health and safety survey of 190 American hospitals from coast to coast compiled by registered nurses in nine different states finds that a disturbing number of our nation's healthcare facilities are not prepared for the coming H1N1/swine flu pandemic, according to results released today by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee. The data reflects a survey conducted over the past four weeks by RNs in hospitals in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Texas. And it comes just a day after release of a report from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology predicting nearly 2 million Americans could be hospitalized due to swine flu infections this winter, and as many as 90,000 could die, nearly triple the deaths that occur in a normal flu season.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162032.php

Scientists Discover Cause Of Breast Cancer Spread
Scientists in London have identified a molecule that could be helping breast cancer to spread, according to research published recently. Dr Amanda Harvey, based at London's Brunel University, has previously established that a molecule called Brk, found in 60 per cent of breast tumours, plays an important role in making breast cancer cells grow quicker. According to her latest research findings, published in the American Journal of Pathology, Brk has also been shown to be involved in helping breast cancer cells to spread (metastasis).
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162077.php

Source - MIT's Technology Review:

A Beacon to Guide Cancer Surgery
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23311/

GBP Health / Biotech News 08-26-2009

Since August, 2005, this news digest has been a complimentary service of GBP Capital, a private equity firm investing in early to mid-stage life science companies. See www.gbpcap.com. The digest is published two to four days a week. If you have colleagues who would be interested in receiving this digest by email, they can be added to the list at: http://www.gbpcap.com/ . Also, the complete history of the entire content of all news articles in our digests since August, 2005 is searchable with Google's enterprise search engine at the same site.

Source - EurekAlert – Biology:

Public Release: 26-Aug-2009
Diabetes
Pitt study finds molecular link between insulin resistance and inflammation
An exploration of the molecular links between insulin resistance and inflammation may have revealed a novel target for diabetes treatment, say scientists at the John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Their findings were published earlier this month in the online version of Diabetes, one of the journals of the American Diabetes Association.
National Institutes of Health, American Diabetes Association
Contact: Anita Srikameswaran
SrikamAV@upmc.edu
412-647-3555
University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences

Public Release: 26-Aug-2009
Journal of the American Chemical Society
A better test to detect DNA for diagnosing disease, investigating crimes
Researchers in Singapore are reporting development of a new electronic sensor that shows promise as a faster, less expensive, and more practical alternative than tests now used to detect DNA. Such tests are done for criminal investigation, disease diagnosis, and other purposes. The new lab-on-a-chip test could lead to wider, more convenient use of DNA testing, the researchers say. Their study is scheduled for the Sept. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, a weekly publication.
Contact: Michael Woods
m_woods@acs.org
202-872-6293
American Chemical Society

Public Release: 26-Aug-2009
American Journal of Pathology
Bird flu leaves the nest -- adapting to a new host
Current research suggests that viral polymerase may provide a new therapeutic target for host-adapted avian influenza. The related report by Gabriel et al., "Spread of Infection and Lymphocyte Depletion in Mice Depends on Polymerase of Influenza Virus" appears in the September 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology.
Contact: Angela Colmone
acolmone@asip.org
301-634-7953
American Journal of Pathology

Public Release: 26-Aug-2009
Journal of Biological Chemistry
UCF discovery could open door to obesity, diabetes treatments
A UCF research team has identified a new genetic mechanism that controls the body's fat-building process. The discovery could open the door to new treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes, and it has the potential to help hundreds of millions of people and dramatically cut health care costs.
Contact: Barb Abney
babney@mail.ucf.edu
407-823-5139
University of Central Florida

Public Release: 26-Aug-2009
Nature
OHSU Primate Center scientists develop gene therapy method to prevent some inherited diseases
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University believe they have developed one of the first forms of genetic therapy which would combat inherited diseases passed on from mothers to their children through mutated DNA in cell mitochondria.
National Institutes of Health
Contact: Jim Newman
newmanj@ohsu.edu
503-494-8231
Oregon Health & Science University

Public Release: 25-Aug-2009
Clinical Cancer Research
Blood-flow metabolism mismatch predicts pancreatic tumor aggressiveness
Researchers from Turku, Finland, have identified a blood-flow glucose consumption mismatch that predicted pancreatic tumor aggressiveness, according to results of a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Contact: Tara Yates
tara.yates@aacr.org
267-646-0558
American Association for Cancer Research

Public Release: 25-Aug-2009
New technology helps Parkinson's patients speak louder
Researchers have developed a new technology that helps Parkinson's patients overcome the tendency to speak too quietly by playing a recording of ambient sound, which resembles the noisy chatter of a restaurant full of patrons.
National Institutes of Health
Contact: Emil Venere
venere@purdue.edu
765-494-4709
Purdue University

Public Release: 24-Aug-2009
UCSB scientists discover potential drug delivery system
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have discovered a potential new drug delivery system. The finding is a biological mechanism for delivery of nanoparticles into tissue. The results are published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Contact: Gail Gallessich
gail.g@ia.ucsb.edu
805-893-7220
University of California - Santa Barbara

Public Release: 19-Aug-2009
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Novel polymer could improve protein-based drugs
A new method for attaching a large protective polymer molecule to a protein appears to improve protein drugs significantly.
Contact: Richard Merritt
Richard.merritt@duke.edu
919-660-8414
Duke University

Public Release: 19-Aug-2009
Nature
Study reveals new metabolic safeguards against tumor cells
Researchers have found a new mechanism by which the body kills potential tumor cells. When cells separate from their normal environment -- a common event during tumor formation -- they develop certain metabolic disabilities that prevent them from becoming cancerous. While some tumor genes can help these cells escape such defects, the researchers also found that antioxidant treatment can restore normal metabolic activity in these detached, homeless cells, giving them a second chance to survive and potentially become cancerous.
NIH/National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
Contact: David Cameron
david_cameron@hms.harvard.edu
617-432-0441
Harvard Medical School


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.

Unlocking The Body's Defenses Against Cancer
August 26, 2009 — Scientists have discovered a way of allowing healthy cells to take charge of cancerous cells and stop them developing into tumors in what could provide a new approach to treating early-stage ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090825100649.htm

Blood-flow Metabolism Mismatch Predicts Pancreatic Tumor Aggressiveness
August 26, 2009 — Researchers from Finland have identified a blood-flow glucose consumption mismatch that predicted pancreatic tumor aggressiveness, according to results of a new ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090825150952.htm

The Ends Of MRNAs May Prevent The Beginnings Of Cancer
August 26, 2009 — The tail end of a cell's protein templates may contain important cues that control protein creation. When this section is lopped off of a template, a cell can make too many copies of that protein and ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090820123935.htm

Two Million Expected To Die Each Year From Tobacco-induced Cancers By 2015
August 26, 2009 — The Tobacco Atlas, 3rd Edition, published by the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation, estimates that tobacco use kills some six million people each year -- more than a third of whom ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090825151011.htm

Some Brain Tumors May Be Mediated By Tiny Filament On Cells
August 26, 2009 — Scientists have discovered that a tiny filament extending from cells, until recently regarded as a remnant of evolution, may play a role in the most common malignant brain tumor in ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090823184359.htm

Evaluating More Lymph Nodes May Not Improve Identification Of Late-stage Colorectal Cancer
August 26, 2009 — Surgically removing and evaluating an increasing number of lymph nodes does not appear to identify a greater number of patients with stage III colorectal cancer, according to a new ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090720163546.htm

Low-carb Diets Linked To Atherosclerosis And Impaired Blood Vessel Growth
August 25, 2009 — Even as low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets have proven successful at helping individuals to rapidly lose weight, little is known about the diets' long-term effects on vascular health. Now, a study ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824151300.htm

Retina Cells Created From Skin-derived Stem Cells
August 25, 2009 — Scientists have successfully grown multiple types of retina cells from two types of stem cells -- suggesting a future in which damaged retinas could be repaired by cells grown from the patient's own ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824151258.htm

Parkinson's Disease: When Cells Run Out Of Fuel
August 25, 2009 — Insights into the function of Parkinson's genes can help to understand the causes of this neurodegenerative disease -- and to develop new therapies. Researchers have now discovered that two ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824115756.htm

Some Skin Cancer May Be Mediated By Primary Cilia Activity
August 25, 2009 — Tiny, solitary spikes that stick out of nearly every cell in the body play a central role in a type of skin cancer, new research has found. The discovery in mice shows that the microscopic structures ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090823184401.htm

Device For On-The-Spot Blood Analysis
August 25, 2009 — A hand-held device could offer point-of-care blood cell analysis in doctors' surgeries. The chip within the device uses microfluidics -- a set of technologies that control the flow of minute amounts ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090825103225.htm

New Treatment Option For Ruptured Brain Aneurysms
August 25, 2009 — Researchers in Finland have identified an effective new treatment option using stent-assisted coil embolization on patients who have suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, a potentially life-threatening ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090825081119.htm

Disrupting A Destructive Duo: Researchers Inhibit Cancer Proteins
August 24, 2009 — Researchers have developed a new way to split up a dangerous pair of cancer proteins, a finding that could ultimately lead to chemotherapy that is more effective and has fewer side ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090820124127.htm

Early, Aggressive Treatment Recommended For Critically Ill Patients With Hematological Malignancy
August 24, 2009 — A study of 7,689 admissions from 178 adult intensive care units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has revealed the factors associated with a higher mortality rate in hematological malignancy. ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824204116.htm

Melanosome Dynamics And Sensitivity Of Melanoma Cells To Chemotherapy
August 24, 2009 — Manipulating the functions of melanosomes -- the organelles in pigment-producing cells -- may enhance the activity of anticancer drugs used against melanoma, according to a new ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824182433.htm

Little Known Type Of Cholesterol -- Oxycholesterol -- May Pose The Greatest Heart Disease Risk
August 23, 2009 — Researchers are reporting that a little known type of cholesterol, oxycholesterol, may be a bigger heart disease threat than other forms of cholesterol. The study could lead to new targets and ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090820123923.htm

'Glow-in-the-dark' Red Blood Cells Made From Human Stem Cells
August 23, 2009 — Victorian stem cell scientists have modified a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line to glow red when the stem cells become red blood cells. The modified hESC line, ErythRED, represents a major step ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824115915.htm

Neural Networks Mapped In Dementia Patients
August 21, 2009 — Different types of dementia show dissimilar changes in brain activity. A network mapping technique has been applied to EEG data obtained from patients with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090820204454.htm

Hello Wearable Kidney, Goodbye Dialysis Machine
August 21, 2009 — Researchers are developing a Wearable Artificial Kidney for dialysis ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090820175853.htm

Painless 'Microneedle' Patch May Take Sting Out Of Shots
August 21, 2009 — Scientists report the design of a painless patch that may someday render hypodermic needles -- as well as annual flu shots -- a thing of the past. Lined with tiny "microneedles," these patches could ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819110010.htm

Watching Stem Cells Repair The Human Brain
August 21, 2009 — Researchers have been able to track mesenchymal stem cells through the human brain using in-vivo MRI, which gives new information on the viability of these cells and their benefits to damaged ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819153931.htm

Detecting Bias In The Reporting Of Clinical Trials
August 20, 2009 — Researchers in the United Kingdom are developing new methods for detecting distorted medical ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090819110014.htm

New Light-emitting Biomaterial Could Improve Tumor Imaging, Study Shows
August 20, 2009 — A new material -- an oxygen nanosensor that couples a light-emitting dye with a biopolymer -- simplifies the imaging of oxygen-deficient regions of tumors. Such tumors are associated with increased ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810162107.htm


Source - Health Day:

Health Highlights: Aug. 26, 2009

• U.S. Issues New Guidelines for Treating Children With HIV
• FDA Approves Swine Flu Test for Troops
• Spending on Health Care for Seniors Still Rising: Report
• Extreme Obesity Takes Years Off Life: Report
• Circumcision Won't Shield Gay Men From HIV: Study
  

'Electronic Nose' Could Spot Kidney Disease
Rat study suggests potential for noninvasive, early diagnostic test

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 26, 2009

• Bipolar Disorder
• Swine Flu Vaccine
• Migraine
  

More Women Surviving After Early Breast Cancer
Still too little is known about these 'in situ' malignancies, experts say

Tobacco Use Kills 6 Million People Annually: Report
And costs the global economy $500 billion each year

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 25, 2009

• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Alzheimer's Disease
  

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 24, 2009

• Parkinson's Disease
• Chronic Low Back Pain
• Anxiety
  

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 21, 2009

• Acute Migraines
• Constipation-IBS
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
  

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 20, 2009

• Sleep Apnea
• Osteoarthritis of the Hip
• Female Low Libido
  

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 19, 2009

• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
• Schizophrenia
• Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
  

Source - Yahoo Biotech News:


Cell Therapeutics submits cancer drug to FDA - AP - Mon Aug 24
Cell Therapeutics Inc. said Monday its application for an experimental cancer treatment has been accepted for review by the Food and Drug Administration.

All Eyes on the Stem Cell Index Ahead of Study Results - Indie Research - Mon Aug 24
After last week's news from Geron weighed on the sector, stem cell stocks were ahead to start the week.

J&J consolidating management, eliminating biz unit - AP - 1 hour, 45 minutes ago
Health care giant Johnson & Johnson is consolidating management, starting by eliminating the smallest of its four business groups, with news of more changes expected over the next several weeks.


Source - Google Health News:


H1N1 Flu: Be A Little Afraid — But Not Of An Unproven Vaccine
TIME
26, 2009 Bridget Roberts of Columbia, Maryland, receives an experimental vaccine designed to prevent her from contracting the H1N1 swine flu virus at the ...

There Could be Serious Social Disruption from H1N1 this Winter ...
HSToday
It's why there's been so much concern in recent years about the consequences of an outbreak of a pandemic level influenza strain like the H5N1 bird flu, ...

Swine Flu Vaccine: Will It Catch On?
WebMD
The authors say “no significant changes in the level of intention to accept pre-pandemic H5N1 vaccine were observed,” despite the escalation to phase 5 of ...

No Side Effects So Far in Trial of Swine Flu Shot
New York Times
The H5N1 bird flu, by contrast, is lethal to poultry, and infected flocks are usually culled. Although the possibility exists that the mild pandemic flu ...

Deafness gene found
UI The Daily Iowan
The study was partially funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and supported by the UI Carver College of Medicine in the UI Gene Therapy ...

Case Western Reserve University researcher demonstrates that ...
EurekAlert (press release)
This has huge impact on cellular protein levels and perhaps this understanding would lead to new advances in gene therapy and viral vaccinations. ...

OHSU Researchers Hope New Therapy Will Prevent Diseases In Children
OPB News
... genes donated by a healthy egg donor.” Mitalipov believes that if clinical trails in humans are successful, the new gene therapy could be ready in 5 years.


Life Extending Gene Therapy Progress and Rundown of Life Extension ...
Next Big Future
By using this specific gene therapy vector, the virus, to introduce the longevity gene, Duan and Li opened the possibility of human treatment. ...

New nanoparticle formulation for gene delivery to treat cancers
ecancermedicalscience
The success of cancer gene therapy relies on effective delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the specific genes that cause disease, ...

Gene therapy for hepatitis
China Daily
Scientists say they've found a big reason why treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection works better for white patients than for African-Americans. ...

Looking at the Longevity Gene
KOMU-TV
COLUMBIA - A new MU study explores a gene that could give you more energy and a longer life, and one researcher hopes the gene therapy could lead to much ...

Gene Therapy To Counter Aging
Oneindia
It seems that getting old and infirm would soon be a thing of the past, as researchers claim that they have found a gene therapy to counter aging and ...


Source - Medical News Today:

New Route To Potential Breast Cancer Cure Discovered
UK scientists have discovered a new route to a potential cure for breast cancer , one that focuses on how the cancer manipulates genetic pathways to spread through the body, rather than on how tumors develop in the first place. They are already working on a new drug to switch off the cancer's effect on the pathways and say it could be ready in a couple of years, but experts suggest this could be rather optimistic. The landmark study was the work Dr Justin Stebbing of Imperial College London (ICL) and other colleagues from ICL and also from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, USA. They have written a paper on it in the 24 August online before print issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PNAS.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161861.php

Obese People Are At Greater Risk For Developing Alzheimer's
Obesity is on a rampage, with the World Health Organization pegging the numbers at more than 300 million worldwide, with a billion more overweight. With obesity comes the increased risk for cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes , and hypertension . Now comes more discouraging news. In the current online edition of the journal Human Brain Mapping, Paul Thompson, senior author and a UCLA professor of neurology, and lead author Cyrus A. Raji, a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and colleagues compared the brains of people who were obese, overweight, and of normal weight, to see if they had differences in brain structure; that is, did their brains look equally healthy.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161933.php

Unlocking The Body's Defenses Against Cancer
Scientists have discovered a way of allowing healthy cells to take charge of cancerous cells and stop them developing into tumours in what could provide a new approach to treating early-stage cancers . University of Manchester researchers found that a special type of the chemicals known as 'kinase inhibitors' opened up communication channels on the surface of cells that enabled healthy cells to 'talk' to the cancer
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161923.php

Report That Premiums To Rise 94% By 2020 A Reminder Why Medicare For All Would Best Control Costs, Say RNs
Alarming new numbers released Thursday by the Commonwealth Fund on expected insurance premium increases in the coming decade are yet another reminder that genuine healthcare reform, in particular Medicare for all, is the most effective way to rein in costs said the nation's largest organization of nurses. Private insurance premiums for employer-sponsored coverage will rise by 94 percent by 2020, on top of the 119 percent increase since 1999, according to the Commonwealth Fund report. The increases in premiums from 1999 to 2008 were four times greater than the rise in family incomes, even prior to the current recession.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161608.php


Source - MIT's Technology Review:


Changing the Biological Battery
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23314/

Creating a Heart Patch
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23303/

Biotech Bacteria Could Help Diabetics
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23302/

A Step Forward for Microbial Machines
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23297/

Reprogrammed Human Cells Shed Light on Rare Disease
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23288/

Fighting Stomach Flu with Tobacco
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23283/

Decoding the Profit Gene
http://www.technologyreview.com/business/23282/