PPD Opens Vaccine Clinical Research Center in Taizhou, China – MarketWatch (press release)
By Dr. Matthew Watson
RTT News | PPD Opens Vaccine Clinical Research Center in Taizhou, China MarketWatch (press release) The China Medical City has become a national hub for international and domestic pharmaceutical, biomedical and biotechnology companies and is part of a ... Pharmaceutical Product 1Q Profit Down 61% On Lower SalesWall Street Journal |
Lethal fungus strain moving from Canada to US: study – AFP
By Dr. Matthew Watson
MedIndia (press release) | Lethal fungus strain moving from Canada to US: study AFP ... healthy people," said study co-author Edmond Byrnes, a graduate student at the Duke University Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. ... New strain of virulent airborne fungi, unique to Oregon, is set to spreadPhysOrg.com Fungal Disease Spreads Through Pacific NorthwestNPR Potentially Lethal Airborne Fungus Spreading In USMedical News Today BusinessWeek -TIME -Tech Jackal all 188 news articles » |
New strain of virulent airborne fungi, unique to Oregon, is set to spread – PhysOrg.com
By Dr. Matthew Watson
ABC News | New strain of virulent airborne fungi, unique to Oregon, is set to spread PhysOrg.com Byrnes and other Duke co-authors work in the laboratory of senior author Joseph Heitman, MD, Ph.D., and chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics and ... Potentially Lethal Airborne Fungus May Spread to CaliforniaU.S. News & World Report Killer fungus seen in Pacific NorthwestCNN 'Highly Virulent' Strain of Killer Fungus Found in Ore.AOL News LiveScience.com all 66 news articles » |
High Red Meat Consumption Linked to Colon Cancer
By Dr. Matthew Watson
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Long-term high consumption of red and processed meat may increase the risk of cancer in the colon and rectum, a new study shows.
Dr. Michael J. Thun, with the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, and colleagues followed 148,610 adults, average age 63 years, who completed questionnaires in 1982 and again between 1992 and 1993 regarding their diet, exercise, medical history and other lifestyle habits.
By 2001, there were 1667 new cases of colorectal cancer, according to a report in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.
The participants who consistently ate the most red meat and processed meats had a 50 percent higher rate colorectal cancer than those who ate the least red or processed meat.
Prolonged high consumption of poultry and fish was marginally associated with about a 25 percent lower risk of colon cancer, but not rectal cancer. Read more...
Rare flowers and common herbal supplements get unmasked with plant DNA barcoding
By Dr. Matthew Watson
NEW YORK--Will exotic orchids soon be subjected to the same genetic scrutiny as some luxury caviars? That is just one of the coding conundrums that scientists convened at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx to discuss on a cloudy mid-April afternoon. [More]
CSC news links 2010-04-18
By Dr. Matthew Watson
For links to recent news items, visit these [Twitter] or [FriendFeed] pages. Examples of a few news items that have received attention:
- Split ends in CML: divergent roles of Hes1 by Catriona Jamieson, Blood 2010(Apr 8); 115(14): 2726-7 [FriendFeed entry][Connotea bookmark][PubMed citation][Full text PDF]. A comment on: Hes1 immortalizes committed progenitors and plays a role in blast crisis transition in chronic myelogenous leukemia by Fumio Nakahara and 13 co-authors, Blood 2010(Apr 8); 115(14): 2872-81. [Epub 2009(Oct 27)][PubMed citation].
- Metabolism and the leukemic stem cell by Omar Abdel-Wahab and Ross L Levine, J Exp Med 2010(Apr 12); 207(4): 677-80 [Epub 2010(Apr 5)][FriendFeed entry][ResearchGATE entry][CiteULike entry][Connotea bookmark][PubMed citation][Full text].
- A hypoxic niche regulates glioblastoma stem cells through hypoxia inducible factor 2alpha by Sascha Seidel and 13 co-authors, including Till Acker, Brain 2010(Apr); 133(Pt 4): 983-95 [FriendFeed entry][ResearchGATE entry][Connotea bookmark][PubMed citation].
Stimulating Biotechnology: Maryland has embarrassment of riches and challenges – WTOP
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Frederick News Post (subscription) | Stimulating Biotechnology: Maryland has embarrassment of riches and challenges WTOP When it comes to biotechnology, Maryland is perhaps the most gifted underprivileged state in the country. And the federal economic stimulus package may be ... Stimulating biotechnology: Signs of recovery apparent in challenging environmentFrederick News Post (subscription) |
Sen. Robert Menendez named Legislator of the Year by bio-technology organization – The Jersey Journal – NJ.com
By Dr. Matthew Watson
The Jersey Journal - NJ.com | Sen. Robert Menendez named Legislator of the Year by bio-technology organization The Jersey Journal - NJ.com Robert Menendez, D-Hoboken, was named yesterday as Legislator of the Year by BIO, an umbrella organization " representing 1200 biotechnology companies, ... Senator Menendez Honored As BIO Legislator Of The YearMedical News Today (press release) Representative Eshoo Honored as BIO Legislator of the YearSYS-CON Media (press release) |
One Embryo Plus Three Parents Equals Ethical Dilemma – Care2.com (blog)
By Dr. Matthew Watson
ABC Online | One Embryo Plus Three Parents Equals Ethical Dilemma Care2.com (blog) It is a form of genetic engineering, a subject long on controversy and rife with ethical dilemma. Scientists at Newcastle University have developed a ... 3-Parent Embryos Could Prevent Disease, But Raise Ethical IssuesWired News British Scientists Create Three-Parent EmbryosChristianityToday.com (blog) UK Scientists Clone 3-Parent EmbryosFamily Research Council (blog) FOXNews all 239 news articles » |
MicroRNA therapy could be a powerful tool to correct the CSC dysregulation?
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Medical Hypothesis: No small matter: microRNAs - key regulators of cancer stem cells by Qing Ji, David Karnak, Ping Hao, Rongquan Wang and Liang Xu, Int J Clin Exp Med 2010(Mar 12); 3(1): 84-7 [FriendFeed entry][Full text via PMC]. PubMed Abstract:
Emerging evidence demonstrates that both tumor suppressor and oncogenic miRNAs play an essential role in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation by negatively regulating the expression of certain key genes in stem cells. It seems logical that they may also be critical players in cancer stem cells. Though small in size, miRNAs play a key role in the epigenetic regulation of cancer stem cells. Specifically, the imbalance of oncogenic vs. tumor suppressor miRNAs may lead to dysregulation of cancer stem cells, thus causing excessive self-renewal and survival of cancer stem cells, and resistance to chemo/radiotherapy. We postulate that restoring the balance of miRNAs will correct this dysregulation via the direct and simultaneous modulation of downstream stem cell pathways involved in cancer stem cell self-renewal and/or differentiation. The resultant restoration of key regulatory pathways could improve therapeutic response. Restoring tumor suppressor miRNAs and/or inhibiting oncogenic miRNAs may provide a novel molecular therapy for human cancers, potentially via modulating cancer stem cells.
Venture Capital Investing Climbs to $4.73 Billion (Correct) – BusinessWeek
By Dr. Matthew Watson
TopNews United States | Venture Capital Investing Climbs to $4.73 Billion (Correct) BusinessWeek The biggest declines came in software and biotechnology, the association said. The number of software deals was the lowest in any quarter since 1995, ... Dallas-area venture capital investments slip in quarterDallas Morning News MoneyTree: Venture investing remains weak in Phila. area and nationPhiladelphia Business Journal Bucking US decline, region's start-ups lure more moneyBoston Globe Austin American-Statesman -Earthtimes (press release) -CBS 5 all 246 news articles » |
Biotechnology’s benefits for US farmers – Western Farm Press
By Dr. Matthew Watson
FinFacts Ireland | Biotechnology's benefits for US farmers Western Farm Press "Decades of documented evidence demonstrate that agricultural biotechnology is a safe and beneficial technology that contributes to both environmental and ... Mounting Evidence Shows Positive Impact of Biotech CropsWisconsin Ag Connection |
Whitworth elected to Genzyme’s board – Boston Globe
By Dr. Matthew Watson
The Money Times | Whitworth elected to Genzyme's board Boston Globe Genzyme Corp., the large Cambridge biotechnology company, said that that Ralph Whitworth, principal and co-founder of Relational Investors LLC, ... Genzyme moves to strengthen defenses against IcahnReuters Genzyme adds Whitworth to block IcahnPharma Times Ralph Whitworth Elected to Genzyme's Board of DirectorsMarketWatch (press release) Boston Herald -Boston Business Journal -Xconomy all 61 news articles » |
MSU student receives Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship – MSU State News
By Dr. Matthew Watson
MSU State News | MSU student receives Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship MSU State News When Tasneem Pierce sat down with an assistant professor about a possible major change, the genomics and molecular genetics junior quickly decided what ... |
Bucking US decline, region’s start-ups lure more money – Boston Globe
By Dr. Matthew Watson
VentureBeat | Bucking US decline, region's start-ups lure more money Boston Globe Still, 2010 is off to a better start than 2009, as biotechnology and medical devices continued to lead other industries in both number of deals and money ... Venture funding rebounds for Austin startupsAustin American-Statesman Summary Box: Venture-Cap Investments Rise In 1QCBS 5 Venture-cap investments rise in 1Q, as optimism upThe Associated Press Bizjournals.com -techrockies.com all 127 news articles » |
Weak Kidneys Cause Weak Bones
By Dr. Matthew Watson
by Jean-Claude Alix, Naturopath
No single area of the body stands alone, everything is linked up. This is why medical specialisation is one of the greatest mistakes that was ever
made.
Viewed from this angle, hardly any two areas are so closely and deeply intertwined as the renal metabolism and the bone metabolism. Thus, it is understandable that weakness in the kidneys must necessarily result in weakness in the bones. The discussion of these interrelations is the
theme of this treatise.
Significance of the kidney as the centre of bone formation:
- The kidney as regulator of the
electrolytes
- The kidney as regulator of the
acid-alkaline balance
- The kidney as the base of anxiety Read more...
3-Parent Embryos Could Prevent Disease, But Raise Ethical Issues – Wired News
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Reuters | 3-Parent Embryos Could Prevent Disease, But Raise Ethical Issues Wired News The technique is a subtle form of genetic engineering, which many people consider taboo, and raises other ethical dilemmas. It could also allow parents ... Three-Parent Babies Due Soon, Thanks to ScienceFOXNews |
CORRECTED: Are regulators dropping the ball on biocrops? – Reuters
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Reuters | CORRECTED: Are regulators dropping the ball on biocrops? Reuters "One of the things that we think is important to do is to have regular reviews and updates of our strategies for regulating products of biotechnology," said ... Are US regulators dropping the ball when it comes to biocrops?BusinessWorld Online SPECIAL REPORT-Are US regulators dropping the ball on biocrops?Forexyard |
F.D.A. Says Millions Got Unapproved Drugs, Should the new bioequivalence and bioanalytical guidelines for 2010, be made more stringent
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Plans by FDA to Adopt stricter standards for Bioequivalence, Bioavailability for generic drugs could sound trouble for Indian Generic Manufactures. Already most of the smaller companies are finding it difficult to get FDA approval letters. QSR Draft Guidance An industry working group has urged the FDA to consider adopting its guidance to outline quality system requirements (QSR) for bioequivalence and bioavailability testing during drug clinical trials.
There was a recent report in NY times that mentioned about several thousand patients receiving nitroglycerin tablets that were not approved by FDA http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/27/business/27nitro.html
FDA recently evaluated 2070 human studies conducted between 1996 and 2007. These studies compared the absorption of brand name and generic drugs into a person’s body. These studies were submitted to FDA to support approval of generics. The average difference in absorption into the body between the generic and the brand name was only 2.3%. Some generics were absorbed slightly more, some slightly less. This amount of difference would be expected and acceptable, whether for one batch of brand name drug tested against another batch of the same brand, or for a generic tested against a brand name. In fact, there have been studies in which branded drugs were compared with themselves, as well as with a generic. As a rule, the difference for the generic-to-brand comparison was about the same as the brandto- brand comparison” (www.fda.gov/ Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/Under standingGenericDrugs/ucm167991. htm)
Fore more updates attend the event below
East Africa: South Africa Leads in GM Crops as EA Lags Behind – AllAfrica.com
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Reuters | East Africa: South Africa Leads in GM Crops as EA Lags Behind AllAfrica.com With reduced requirements for farm inputs and increased yields per unit area, genetic engineering, a modern form of biotechnology, could transform the ... Green thumbsTruth about Trade & Technology Weeds improve resistance to RoundupSt. Louis Post-Dispatch Some weeds, bugs grew resistant to genetically engineered cropsUSA Today Environment News Service -Treehugger -DesMoinesRegister.com all 59 news articles » |