Caffeine consumption can aggravate hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women

Caffeine consumption can aggravate hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women -

A new study from the Mayo Clinic, published online today by the journal menopause, found an association between caffeine consumption and more bothersome hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women. The study also showed an association between caffeine consumption and fewer problems with mood, memory and concentration among perimenopausal women, possibly because caffeine is known to improve the excitement of mood and attention. The results of the largest study to date on caffeine and menopause symptoms are published on Menopause website and will also be printed in an upcoming issue of the journal.

For the study, the researchers conducted a survey using the questionnaire on menopause health, a comprehensive assessment of health information related to menopause that includes personal habits and presence notes menopausal symptoms and severity. Questionnaires were completed by 2507 consecutive women who had menopausal problems in women's health clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester between July 25 05 and July 25, 2011. The data from 1806 women meeting all criteria inclusion were analyzed. Assessments menopausal symptoms were compared between users of caffeine and not.

About 85 percent of the US population uses some form of drink containing caffeine per day. Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) are the symptoms most commonly reported menopause, occurring in 79 percent of perimenopausal women and 65 percent of menopausal women. Although it has long believed that caffeine worsens vasomotor symptoms of menopause, research has challenged that assumption, that caffeine was both positively and negatively related to hot flashes.

"Although these results are preliminary, our study suggests that limiting caffeine intake may be helpful for postmenopausal women with bothersome hot flashes and night sweats," says Stephanie Faubion, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic at women's health Clinic in Rochester. "the symptoms of menopause can be difficult, but there are many management strategies to try."

Other strategies recommended Dr. Faubion including :.
• Be aware of triggers such as spicy foods and hot drinks
• in addition to caffeine, limit alcohol and tobacco.
• Dress in layers so you can remove a layer when you are hot.
• Consider products to stay cool at night as wick leaves and sleepwear, fans, and cooling pillows.
• Try stress management strategies such as meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, acupuncture and massage.
• Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and stay active.
• Talk to your provider about hormone therapy and nonhormonal prescription medications to relieve symptoms.

Scientists identify UTHealth inhibitor switch to prevent peripheral vascular disease

Scientists identify UTHealth inhibitor switch to prevent peripheral vascular disease -

Millions of people in the US have a circulatory problem of the legs called peripheral vascular disease. It can be painful and may even require surgery in severe cases. This disease can lead to severe skeletal muscle atrophy and, in turn, the amputation of limbs.

At The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School, scientists have tested a non-surgical preventive treatment in a mouse model of the disease and has been associated with increased traffic blood. Their proof of concept study appears in the journal cell reports .

Unlike previous studies in which other investigators used individual stimulating factors for developing blood vessels, Vihang narkar, Ph.D., lead author and assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology UTHealth medical school, identified and extinguished a genetic switch that stifles the development of blood vessels.

"We found an inhibitor switch that degrades blood vessels," said narkar, whose laboratory is in the UTHealth Centre for metabolic and degenerative diseases at the Institute of the Brown Foundation for Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of human diseases. "We were able to genetically deactivate to prevent peripheral vascular disease in a preclinical study."

Added narkar, "Our next step will be to test this targeted therapy in models of other conditions that significantly reduce the circulation, such as diabetes and atherosclerosis."

narkar said means individual growth factors to stimulate blood vessel growth often leads to the formation of leaky blood vessels and non-functional. "by turning a genetic switch that acts as a barrier to the growth of blood vessels outside, we were able to initiate and accelerate the natural process of regeneration of blood vessels that involves a battery of growth factors, "he said.

the switch is called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 beta (PGC1beta) and could be a key to future treatments for additional conditions such as cardiac myopathies, cancer and retinopathy.

Web search trends increase during Awareness Month to autism

Web search trends increase during Awareness Month to autism -

Autism Awareness Month each April brings blue lights and puzzle shapes to shine in many communities - but is it really lead to a rise in autism awareness? According to a new analysis of research trends on the Web by researchers at Drexel University, it does not conduct a Google search for increased autism -. By a third party during searches in March in recent years

Brian K. Lee, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Public Health of Drexel University and researcher of the AJ Drexel Autism Institute , is the lead author of the study of public health doctoral student Elizabeth DeVilbiss, published early online this month in the Journal of Autism and developmental disorders .

Using the tool Google Trends (google.com/trends), they analyzed the Web search queries for the terms "autism" and "Asperger" from January 04 to April 2014 to States -United. They also compared these trends with searches for "ADHD" to assess the possible influence of broader trends in the public interest on issues of particular interest to the younger population mental health.

Each April, 04 to 2014 (except 05), the interest of the web search in enriched autism - by an average of 26 percent between March and April, followed by a decrease average of 24 percent between April and May. Even sharper peaks in April took place from 07 to 2014, with the average increase from March to April to 33 percent in those years.

A smaller secondary increase in searches "autism" was held each fall. Spring and autumn Similar oscillations occurred in searches for "ADHD" but without the high peak seen in April for "autism." Spring and autumn oscillations may reflect a rebound in Web searches in general, which tend to fall in summer and winter, Lee said.

The overall research interest in "autism" was supported, but not more in the ten -Year span the researchers analyzed. In contrast, "Asperger" research had a long-term increasing trend, with the popularity of the term generally 255 percent higher in January 2014 compared to January 04.

Lee and DeVelbiss highlighted some tips additional research into the trends that can match the coverage of high-impact autism and Asperger syndrome out awareness campaigns in April. The Google Trends tool allows users to overlay news headlines related to search terms along the dashboard. Lee warned that the findings on the correlation of news headlines in search of trends should be considered with caution because many could be simply accidental correlations. However, three points were not April noted in particular:

• In September 07, the largest monthly increase (80 percent) in searches for "autism" during the period 04- 2014 took place. In this month, The Oprah Winfrey Show aired a high-level segment on September 18 with Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete discuss their son with autism.
• In February 05, another spike in searches "autism" was held, the correlation with a series of 10 parts autism on The Today Show, February 21-25, 05.
• in December 2012, the research "Asperger" increased by 122 percent over November 2012. this increase corresponds to the heavy advertising regarding the projected elimination of Asperger syndrome as a standalone diagnosis in the DSM V.

Autism is not the only condition for which awareness month were related to increased research activity. A 2011 study in Cancer BMC said the research for breast cancer increased every October during Breast Awareness Month cancer between 04 and 09, but much lower research activity occurred for cancers of the prostate and lung during their respective months of sensitization. research activity is as far from the whole picture awareness of autism and other conditions. Whether useful and accessible information is available as a result of this research is important.

"That increased awareness is significant is another question," said Lee. "When a parent does a search on the Web, is it leads to recognition of autism in their child? Is led to the search of tests and clinical services? "Search trends can not answer these questions, but can provide an overview of the public interest in a subject.

the international medical graduates face difficulties in obtaining residency positions in the United States, Canada

the international medical graduates face difficulties in obtaining residency positions in the United States, Canada -

A study also reveals "brain waste" common

doctors trained abroad estimate that there are not enough residency positions for them in countries such as Canada and the United States and this information was not communicated before they emigrate a new study has found.

researchers at St. Michael's Hospital International Medical Graduates interviewed to better understand the concepts of 'brain drain', the migration of health workers in low-income countries and middle income the high-income countries, and "brain waste", where their skills are underused or not used in their new country. Many were older physicians who had spent a considerable amount of time and money to get a medical residency position.

Residency is a mandatory step in the graduate medical education in which a person who received a medical degree education works in a hospital for two to five year apprenticeship senior doctors.

Dr. Aisha Lofters, a family physician and researcher in the Hospital Centre for Research on Inner City Health, said that 55 percent of international medical graduates, or IMGs living in Canada currently working as doctors. In 2011, 1,800 candidates competing for 191 seats in residence designated for doctors trained in Ontario, the largest province in Canada. The success rate this year was about 20 percent for Canadians who went abroad for their medical education compared to six percent for DIM immigrants.

The figures are similar in the US, where nearly half of IMGs fail in their first attempt to get a residency position. In 2013, 47.6 percent of candidates from non-US citizens obtained a residency position compared with 53.1 percent of US citizens trained in international schools. IMG originating from the United States finally have an 91 percent success rate, while only 73 percent of IMG born outside the United States are ultimately successful.

In an article published in the Journal of risk management and health care policy , Dr. Lofters said these statistics for IMGs in Canada and the United States are not specific to immigrants from countries with low income and middle income, so it is possible their numbers could be even lower.

Among the 462 people whose survey results were studied, Dr. Lofters said that the top five reasons for choosing to emigrate were: socio-economic or political situations in their home countries , better education for their children, concerns about where to raise children, the quality of facilities and equipment and lack of career advancement opportunities. These responses were the top five reasons for choosing to immigrate to Canada.

"When asked if they had any other comments they would like to share about their experiences of migration, a significant number of respondents felt they were poorly informed about their actual chances of obtaining a residency position in Canada, "said Dr. Lofters." Because they were skilled workers allowed to immigrate to Canada, many said assuming they would easily be able to find a job in medicine and expressed anger that their hypothesis was incorrect. "

She said a lot about the shame they felt to take what they saw as" survival jobs, "engage pizzas or driving a taxi instead of practicing medicine. Many said they regretted their decision to move to Canada.

"Our findings suggest that the brain waste is everywhere for physicians migrating in Ontario and both brain drain and brain waste not easy quick fixes," said Dr. Lofters. "Restrict the emigration and immigration for health care workers would be very difficult ethically and morally."

She said that when countries can middle-income, low and should put implementing incentives to encourage their doctors and other health care services for the workers to stay in their countries of origin, such as improved working conditions, financial incentives to work in rural or underserved areas. at the same time, she said, countries like Canada must ensure that the immigration process clearly describes the relatively low probability of getting a career in medicine after immigration, the low number of postgraduate training positions available for IMGs and non-Canadian average time and financial commitment required.

EMA accepts pembrolizumab to the Merck MAA review for the treatment of advanced melanoma

EMA accepts pembrolizumab to the Merck MAA review for the treatment of advanced melanoma -

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced the European medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review a marketing authorization application (MAA) for pembrolizumab (MK-3475), an experimental anti-PD-1 antibody of the company, for the treatment of advanced melanoma. If approved by the European Commission (EC), pembrolizumab has the potential to be the first anti-PD-1 therapy in Europe. Additional regulatory filings in other countries outside Europe are planned by the end of 2014.

"With the rate of five-year survival for patients with advanced melanoma less 20 percent, there is a need to offer patients additional options, "said Dr. Roy Baynes, vice president, clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. "We are pleased to have regulatory applications to study in the US and Europe, we are working to pembrolizumab to patients around the world."

NCCN Policy Summit to address the impact of the reform of health care on the practice of oncology academic

NCCN Policy Summit to address the impact of the reform of health care on the practice of oncology academic -

On July 10, 2014, the Comprehensive Cancer Network® national (NCCN®) will host the Summit of the NCCN policy :. impact of reform on health care Academic Oncology Practice , at The Westin Arlington Gateway in Arlington, Virginia, as part of the political program of NCCN Oncology

Sunshine Act physician payments, adopted under the Law affordable care patient protection and is designed to ensure transparency of financial relations between doctors, teaching hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry. In part, this summit will examine the impact of the Sunshine Act on academic physicians, as well as provide a forum for stakeholders to discuss the reform of health care, as currently designed and implemented, and examine its effect on academic cancer centers, including topics such as change in the care site, affiliate models, and the cost and quality of care in academic cancer centers.

"to date, much of the discussion on the reform of health care and the delivery of cancer care has focused on the impact on the practice of community oncology with much less attention to how academic oncology centers are affected, "said Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. academic cancer centers "With evidence that some cancer patients have better results in the centers of struggle against cancer, NCCN seeks to provide a forum for discussion on the reform of the effect of health care is to have or will have on the practice of oncology university, access to care, and the patients they serve "

researchers at City of Hope, a National cancer Institute (NCI). - designated cancer center in Duarte, California, has recently completed a study of 53.618 patients with breast, cervical, colorectal, gastric, hepatobiliary, lung, mouth, or pancreatic cancers, found that patients treated in the control centers against NCI-designated cancer have higher overall survival compared to those treated in community cancer centers, even taking into account factors such as socioeconomic status, age and sex.

"findings of population-level show that for certain types of cancer, there is a survival benefit for treatment in a specialized cancer center that was designated by the NCI as a" Comprehensive cancer Center, "said Julie Anne Wolfson, MD, MSHS, City of Hope, the lead author of the study." However, there are a number of factors associated with a lower likelihood of receiving treatment for such specialized oncology center, including having public insurance or no health, lower socioeconomic status, being an African-American or Hispanic community, or live more than nine miles from the nearest cancer center. "

Summit on NCCN political will feature two panels, each beginning with a speech. Participation in the first session are speakers, Anita Griner, MBA, PMP, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS) and Marc F. Stewart, MD, Seattle cancer Care Alliance, followed by a round table, including Matt Farber, MA, Association of Community cancer centers; Ms. Griner; Deidre Meehan, JD, Johnson & Johnson ; Jon Retzlaff, MBA, MPA, American Association for Cancer Research; Samuel Silver, MD, PhD, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and American Society of Hematology, Dr. Stewart, and Andrew Zelenetz, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

second session of the summit will include a speech by Kavita Patel, MD, the Brookings Institution and Tim Ferris, MD, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, followed by a round table with the following panelists:. Christian Downs , JD, MHA, Association of Community cancer centers; Dr. Ferris; Louis Jacques, MD, ADVI; Terry Langbaum, MAS, The Center Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer at Johns Hopkins; Donald Liss, MD, Independence Blue Cross; Dr. Patel; Caroline Pearson, Avalere Health; Brian Rosen, JD, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; and Dr. Wolfson.

Inflammasomes research lays the foundation for the development of new treatments for RA

Inflammasomes research lays the foundation for the development of new treatments for RA -

Patients with forms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) more or less severe may the same painful symptoms, but does that mean that the cause of the disease is the same? And so they should all be treated the same? VIB scientists and the Ghent University have demonstrated their research inflammasomes that RA should be considered as a syndrome rather than a single disease

Mohamed Lamkanfi (VIB / Ghent University) :. "Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be very painful and it is not always easy to find the most appropriate medication. Until recently, RA was regarded as a single disease, but our research suggests that it is more likely be a syndrome of a single disease. This knowledge could lead to a more personalized approach to treatment, with the most appropriate medications chosen based on the patient's profile. "

rheumatoid arthritis and inflammasomes
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the joints and without treatment, it evolves into a debilitating and painful disease that can seriously affect the patient's quality of life . It is estimated that 1-2% of the world population suffers from RA; which is equivalent to about 5 million people in Europe.

inflammasomes are complex proteins that are part of our immune system. Scientists have suspected for some time that inflammasomes play a role in the development and progression of RA. Lieselotte Vande Walle and Mohamed Lamkanfi were able to demonstrate the role of inflammasomes in RA using a specific mouse model with RA developed by VIB colleagues Geert van Loo and Rudi Beyaert
in Ghent.

They were able to fight against the development of RA by blocking inflammasomes. One method recognized by inflammasomes is the production of interleukin-1, a protein that plays an important role in inflammatory reactions. Stop the effects of interleukin-1 resulted in a cure for mice. In this way, Vande Walle and Lamkanfi demonstrated that the mouse model is suitable for studying the correlation between RA and inflammasomes.

A new therapeutic target
This first mouse model that puts the focus on genetic inflammasomes also lays the foundation for the development of new treatments. Previous research has already shown that other proteins in the immune system - such as TNF and IL-17 - could eventually play a role in RA. The drugs have since been developed against these proteins and thus cure RA. The results of this research show that an additional treatment option might be blocking the Inflammasome (or the result of the IL-1).

medicine to control
Research by the VIB scientists also shows that rheumatoid arthritis is a syndrome rather than a single disease, meaning that similar symptoms may have several different causes. If we know the cause, we can offer a highly targeted treatment. In the case of genetic forms of breast cancer, skin and lung cancer, it is already possible to predict with great accuracy - through genetic testing - if a treatment works or not. We could move towards a more personalized approach to RA as well. People with RA may all have the same symptoms, but the underlying genetic causes may differ. And future treatment options also differ. A new challenge for many scientists!

A new study to explore the reasons why women freeze their eggs

A new study to explore the reasons why women freeze their eggs -

A new study will explore the reasons why women freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons.

researchers at the Jean Hailes Research Unit at Monash University, Melbourne IVF and the University of Melbourne, hope to fathom the women who have frozen their eggs in Melbourne IVF over the past 15 years.

The study will gather views on women's experiences of care and information they received and whether they continued to have children.

It is hoped that by understanding why some women have initiated the procedure, the information could help inform others considering storing eggs.

Professor Jane Fisher, director of the Jean Hailes Research Unit, and one of the principal investigators of the study, said that although it is increasingly common to freeze eggs for use later, little is known about women's experiences and expectations of the practice in Australia.

"anonymous-completed survey will explore the situation of women at the time of freezing and what happened to them and their equipment stored since.

" participants will be asked whether they had children, including the stored material, stored their plans for their eggs, and their views about the information and care they received before, during and after the egg retrieval procedure.

"the results will improve our understanding of women's needs for services related to fertility and clinical care related to egg freezing," said Professor Fisher.

researchers ask women who have frozen their eggs in Melbourne IVF over the past 15 years for non-medical reasons to share experiences anonymously.

recent scientific advances mean that, on average, 80󈟆 percent of the eggs survive the process of freezing and thawing for potential fertilization IVF. for every 10 frozen eggs, patients can expect about three to four good quality, embryos can be used to successfully create.

the process is commonly used by women who want to preserve their fertility before cancer treatment. But increasingly, the procedure, which costs about $ 10,000, is also used for non-medical reasons, especially single women concerned, they can not meet a partner later in life.

The issue is also attracting international attention with discussions under the European Society of Human Reproduction in Germany this week.

FDA grants revolutionary therapy CTL019 Novartis for the treatment / refractory ALL

FDA grants revolutionary therapy CTL019 Novartis for the treatment / refractory ALL -

Breakthrough Therapy Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a status relapse CTL019, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) investigational therapy for the treatment of pediatric and adult patients with relapsed / refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r / r ALL). The filing of the revolutionary therapy was presented by the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School in Medicine (Penn), which entered into an exclusive worldwide agreement with Novartis for the research, development and commercialization of personalized CAR T cell therapies for cancer treatment.

This is the fifth breakthrough therapy designation for Novartis, continuing the trajectory of the company as a leader in the development of innovative therapies to help treat diseases in which there is significant non-medical needs satisfied. Novartis Zykadia ⁽ ™ ⁾ (ceritinib, previously known as LDK378), for the treatment of anaplastic lymphoma positive kinase (ALK +) non-small cancer metastatic lung (NSCLC) is one of the first drug to receive FDA approval earlier after receiving the designation of the breakthrough therapy by the FDA.

"This designation revolutionary therapy highlights the potential of CTL019 as salvage therapy for patients with relapsed / refractory ALL, who are in desperate need of new treatment options," said David Epstein, Head division, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "Novartis welcomes enhanced dialogue with the FDA and a potentially accelerated review in order to streamline the development CTL019 and we hope to bring this promising therapy to patients as quickly as possible."

According FDA designation of Breakthrough therapy is intended to accelerate the development and review of new drugs that treat serious or life-threatening conditions if the therapy has demonstrated a substantial improvement over an available therapy on at least one parameter clinically significant. the designation includes all the features of the fast track program and more intensive FDA guidelines. There is a separate status to both the approval and priority of parole review, which may also be granted to the same drug if the relevant criteria are met.

"This is an important step that we are now a step further by helping address the unmet needs of this patient population," said H. Carl June, MD, Professor Richard W. immunotherapy Wave in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at the Perelman school of medicine and Director of translational research at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. "We are thrilled to force the first positive data observed in pediatric and adult patients with relapsed / refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia and look forward to building on these results as we continue advancing the clinical program CTL019 in Phase II trials. "

Novartis recently created cell and Gene therapies Unit led by Usman Azam, global head, to bring an intense focus on the advancement of therapies based on innovative cells, including the development of the CARs. Novartis owns the worldwide rights of RAC developed through collaboration with Penn for all cancer indications, including the main program, CTL019.

Doctors offer new minimally invasive system to treat patients with stenosis in aortic heart failure

Doctors offer new minimally invasive system to treat patients with stenosis in aortic heart failure -

Doctors at Orlando Health Heart Institute offers a new mini system -invasive to treat patients with stricture, failing aortic heart valves who are considered at high risk for surgery. Orlando Health is the only hospital in Orlando currently offers the Medtronic CoreValve® system.

"means the system of patients with disease of the aortic valve that are considered high-risk for surgery, now have a new option," said Deepak Vivek, MD, interventional cardiologist and Director , cardiovascular Institute Orlando Valve Center. "Patients no longer have to live with chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and other symptoms of aortic stenosis or treatment options that can not provide lasting results. Patients have more to live without hope of improvement. We are excited to bring advanced technology to improve outcomes for our patients. "

The CoreValve system was originally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2014 to treat patients who are too sick or weak to undergo surgery. With this latest approval, the Orlando health heart Institute now offers the CoreValve system for patients who are considered high risk for surgical cardiac procedures, serving a wide range of American patients than any other transcatheter aortic valve.

FDA approved the CoreValve system to treat patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at high risk for surgery based on advanced research showing the transcatheter heart valve had higher survival rate at one year compared to to heart surgery open, the current gold standard aortic valve replacement. the CoreValve system has also demonstrated rates of procedural complications, including stroke, one of the most concerning valve replacement complications because can affect the survival and quality of low life.

The CoreValve system replaces a diseased aortic heart valve through a minimally invasive procedure, without open heart surgery and without surgical removal of the diseased valve. The device is usually inserted through an artery in the leg or chest and then guided through the arteries in the heart. Once in place, the CoreValve system develops and supports the function of the original valve to allow oxygen-rich blood to circulate efficiently on the heart.

The advanced design of the CoreValve system is suitable for patients with native valves of almost any size, and it comes with the smallest delivery system available to treat patients with vascular systems that are small or difficult to navigate. In addition, part of the self-expansion of the valve allows physicians to provide the device in a controlled manner, allowing precise positioning.

Aortic stenosis is a common heart problem caused by a narrowing of the aortic valve of the heart due to excessive calcium deposited on the valve leaflets. When the valve narrows, it does not open or close properly, which makes the work of the heart muscle to pump blood throughout the body. Eventually, this causes the heart to weaken and malfunction, which can lead to heart failure and increased risk of sudden cardiac death.

Lung cancer and melanoma donors are the first research collaboration

Lung cancer and melanoma donors are the first research collaboration -

LUNGevity Foundation today announced a partnership with the Lung Cancer Alliance Foundation research and melanoma research to co-finance innovative new research on PD-1 options for the treatment of cancer inhibitor of both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic melanoma (MM) patients with brain metastases. The winner is Lucia Jilăveanu, MD, Ph.D., of Yale University, for his project Response to PD-1 inhibitors in melanoma and lung cancer patients with brain metastases.

Although responses to new systematic immune therapies have been encouraging, patients with brain metastases were generally excluded from clinical trials, leaving them with limited therapeutic options. Among those diagnosed with NSCLC and MM, about 50 000 patients each year develop brain metastases.

This first collaborative research between lung cancer and melanoma donors reflects the urgency divided on this issue. People with cancer non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have the highest incidence of brain metastases among all cancers, and melanoma has the highest probability to metastasize to the brain once the disease is prevalent.

"LUNGevity Foundation is delighted to collaborate with Melanoma Research Alliance and the Research Foundation of lung cancer in the fight against a serious problem that affects both of our communities," said LUNGevity Foundation President Andrea Stern Ferris. "Immunotherapy is one of the most promising areas of medical science. To develop this progress for lung cancer patients with brain metastases could open a world of treatment of 50,000 people each year who have not yet been able to access this vital treatment. "

NCRI: The wider age limits may allow more adolescent patients to participate in trials of cancer

NCRI: The wider age limits may allow more adolescent patients to participate in trials of cancer -

The age limits on clinical trials must be more flexible to enable more cancer patients teen the chance to access to new treatments, according to a report from the National cancer research Institute (NCRI), published in the Lancet Oncology .

The study, funded by the National Research Institute and adolescents Health Cancer Trust, found that the tests designed with wider age limits have resulted in more adolescents and young adults undergoing clinical trials.

The study showed that recommendation led to a 13 percent increase in cancer patients aged 15-19 taking part in clinical trials between 05 and 2010 (from 24 to 37 percent), and increase of five percent in the 20-24 age group (13 to 18 percent). Children under 14 participating in trials increased by six percent (from 52 to 58 percent) *.

This increase was due to the increased availability and access to testing for young people, increased awareness of health professionals, patients and the public about research and especially the opening test with wider age limits that allow older teenagers and young adults to the testing phase.

study leader Dr Lorna Fern, who coordinates research for the teenager NCRI and Young Adult Clinical Studies Group and is funded by Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "We know that patients are often better on tests because of the specialized care they receive, but now too many of our young patients are unnecessarily falling through the gap between pediatric and. trials of adult cancer.

"by encouraging doctors to consider the entire age range of patients with different types of cancer, we have shown that it is possible to design tests that include cancer patients adolescents and especially that better the underlying biology of the disease and those affected. "

in the light of this study, Cancer Research UK is one of the first major donor fund cancer in the UK to start asking researchers to justify age restrictions on new studies in an effort to recruit more teenage cancer patients on its testing

Kate law, director of cancer Research UK clinical trials, said :. "Old or young, it is essential that treatments effective are developed for the fight against cancer in all age groups. We now only accept age limits on our clinical trials if they are supported by objective evidence, which will hopefully mean more young cancer patients have the opportunity to contribute to research and have the latest experimental treatments. "

Simon Fuller, Director of Services for Teenage Cancer Trust comments:" Too many young people miss out on clinical trials and have been working with patients, politicians, the NCRI and other organizations to increase awareness of this lack of access. change is essential to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for young people with cancer from 13 to 24. We need everyone involved in setting service and regulation of clinical trials to work together across the UK, Europe and the world to help save young lives. the next week we will start our own working paper at the international Conference 8 teenage cancer Trust on adolescent medicine and young adult cancer "

Dr. Karen Kennedy, director of the NCRI, said:" These results show that we 're gradually break down the barriers to enable more young patients. young adults to take part in cancer trials. If other donors to cancer research funds adopt those recommendations and then we have a great opportunity to help ensure more patients, young and old, have access to treatments that could be useful to them. "

NeoGenomics Launches Cancer Profiles neotype based NGS 23

NeoGenomics Launches Cancer Profiles neotype based NGS 23 -

NeoGenomics, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEO) , a provider cancer genetics focused leadership and service molecular tests, announced today that it has launched 23 new and innovative ™ cancer Profiles neotype based on next-generation sequencing (NGS). These new advanced cancer profiling tools provide oncologists and pathologists more targeted and comprehensive ability to tailor cancer screening needs of each patient that has never been available before.

next generation sequencing is an advanced molecular test approach that is used to more accurately detect a variety of mutations using small amounts of tissue. Accordingly, NeoGenomics accept sucked fine needle and other minute samples for testing.

In March, NeoGenomics announced that he was the first to offer plasma-based next-generation tests for hematological neoplasms. This test can allow patients to avoid bone marrow biopsy, and allow clinicians to monitor tumor load and detect emerging sub-clones. Neotype ™ plasma-based test using NGS is now available for AML Prognostic, CLL Prognostic, JMML, lymphoma, MDS / CSA, MPN, and a comprehensive, 54-gene profile myeloid disorders.

Similarly, the neotype solid tumors ™ tests are designed to provide accurate and comprehensive coverage of molecular abnormalities "action" specifically found in the tumor tested. screening for cancer solid tumor neotype ™ is available to the brain, breast, cervical, colorectal, endometrial, esophageal, gastrointestinal stromal (GIST), lung, melanoma, ovarian cancer, soft tissue , thyroid, and other solid tumors.

Douglas VanOort, the company's president and CEO, said: "profiling of the tumor is the key to precision medicine, and we look forward to next generation sequencing tools in the hands of our customers physicians. We have worked hard to develop an innovative and unique approach, using multiple technologies, plasma testing, expert interpretation and reporting results, and other tools for effective cancer screening for our health care system and information for doctors and patients. our company is a privilege to provide the most advanced tools available for very personalized cancer treatment a patient. "

Dr. Maher Albitar, Chief Medical Officer and Director of Research and Development of the Company, commented: "These new profiles are designed to provide information that clinicians can use to manage their patients. They provide information on the clinical behavior, prognosis and potential response to drugs and experimental therapies being currently approved clinical trials. Although each profile covers, on average, less than 20 molecular defects in action different, doctors can customize each profile and add additional genes from a list of validated genes. We believe these small targeted gene profiles of the pilot are the most clinically appropriate cancer screening approach given medicines targeted currently available. "

A * STAR partner Roche to identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer

A * STAR partner Roche to identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer -

Partnership with Roche Pharma Research and Early Development takes advantage of a unique find by the bioprocess a * STAR Technology Institute to develop new approaches for the detection and treatment of cancer

a * bioprocessing Technology Institute STAR (BTI) has reached an agreement with one of the largest pharmaceutical company in the world, Roche, to identify new drug candidates for the detection and treatment of cancer. The partnership brings together the BTI capabilities in the discovery of new antibodies and Roche's expertise in the development of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) therapy, opening the possibility of better treatment for cancer, a major cause of death world.

The collaboration makes use of the BTI discovery of a new mechanism in which antibodies can directly target and destroy cancer cells, has the potential for a whole new class of cancer treatment. Cancer cells can be distinguished from normal cells by high sugar levels on the cell surface. MAb and discoveries generated by BTI are able to recognize these sugar targets and enable more precise identification of cancer cells compared to traditional antibodies that target proteins. mAbs generated by BTI are also unique in having a new mechanism of action; they cause pores to form on the surface of cancer cells, leading to cell damage and eventual death of those diseased cells

Dr. Andre Choo, a principal investigator at the BTI and principal investigator for the project, declared:.

It is exciting to be able to generate a new class of mAbs that can specifically recognize sugars and lead to rapid death of diseased cells. This opens up new strategies to target and kill cancer cells.

Based on this discovery, BTI scientists have developed a mAb pipeline for major cancers found in Singapore. The partnership with Roche will new diagnostic tests and cancer treatments to grow faster and be early for patient care. These treatments could complement and enhance the drugs against cancer and the existing results in more effective and safer treatments for cancer patients

Prof Lam Kong Peng, executive director of BTI, said :.

This collaboration highlights the effectiveness of the search for BTI antibody and allows us to leverage the expertise of Roche to develop new antibody-based therapies. We are convinced that this is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership that will not only beneficial to human health, but also the organic industry.

Dr. Juan Carlos Lopez, head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development of academic relations and collaborations, said:

access external innovation by through partnerships with public sector research institutes is essential to identify the first class opportunities or best-in-class. Gather the expertise of BTI and expertise Roche increases the chances of success in the development of new antibody-based therapies targeting cancer and cancer stem cells that have the potential to revolutionize the way we treat cancer .

Research reveals why HIV remains a long-term infection

Research reveals why HIV remains a long-term infection -

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has the ability to integrate into the human genome, which makes it extremely difficult to cure the infection. A new study by scientists at the Research Institute of Seattle Children, University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found that when HIV integrates into the genes involved in cancer, these cells tend to breed a greater extent than other cells infected with HIV. The study "Global Centre for Infectious Disease Research," was published on July 10, 2014 online edition of the journal Science .

"Our findings suggest that HIV can change the function of some infected cells, and increased proliferation of these cells allows them to survive despite effective treatment, "said Thor A. Wagner, MD, of the Center for research on infectious diseases at global 'children's research Institute in Seattle and co-lead author of the study. Wagner is also assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington.

"Using a test we developed to analyze both the sequence of HIV and where it fits into the chromosome, we found that when HIV inserts into cancer genes cells containing the virus proliferate more than other cells infected with HIV, "said Sherry McLaughlin, Ph.D., senior researcher at the research Centre on global infectious diseases at the children's research Institute in Seattle, researcher in microbiology at the University of Washington and co -Lead author of the study. "This proliferation can keep the virus in the body, so that if treatment is stopped, the virus can become active again."

Since 1995, patients with HIV were able to prevent the disease from progressing by taking a combination of three antiviral drugs to suppress virus replication to undetectable levels. in 1996, measurements decline in cells infected with the virus in people taking medications predicts that the total elimination of the virus for three years would cure the infection. More recently, it became clear that the cells despite effective treatment against HIV-infected decreased much more slowly. This new research suggests that the infection persists partly because the virus is integrated into certain human genes that promote survival.

According to Dr. Wagner, "This research brings us closer to understanding why HIV is a long-term infection and can lead us to new ways to cure HIV."
for the study of several years, a total of 534 proviral integration sites were sequenced from three participants at three time points each. mainstreaming HIV in the same chromosomal site was found in multiple cells within each participant to follow throughout high, then no identical integration sites were shared by the various participants, which suggests that cells infected with HIV proliferate.

Three approaches have been used to explore whether the observed distribution of the HIV integration sites was random or shaped by selective forces. Specifically, the researchers examined the distribution of HIV integrations and found them to be in the genes associated with cancer, regulation of cell proliferation or cell survival by more than expected.

Lilly, Immunocore enter into co-discovery and co-development collaboration to develop cancer therapies

Lilly, Immunocore enter into co-discovery and co-development collaboration to develop cancer therapies -

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Immunocore Limited announced today they have entered into a co-discovery collaboration and co-development research and potentially develop cell-based cancer therapies novel T.

immune Using monoclonal Mobilize against T-cell Receptor cancer (ImmTAC) Immunocore technology, companies will seek to use the power of the body's own immune system to attack cancer cells. ImmTACs have shown potential to direct the patient's T cells to specifically target cancer cells, avoiding damage to healthy cells.

Under the terms of the agreement, Immunocore receive an upfront payment of $ 15 million program for the discovery of new ImmTACs jointly against selected cancer targets to generate packets of pre-clinical candidates. If Lilly accepts a preclinical candidate packet to develop and potentially commercialize Immunocore receive a right to opt-in of $ 10 million and will have an option to continue joint development with Lilly on a cost-sharing basis and benefit sharing . If Immunocore exercises its option, it will be entitled to potential future payments of stage and significant royalties.

"We are very pleased to have entered into this strategic partnership with Lilly, and we look forward to working together in an integrated manner," said Eva-Lotta Allan, Chief Business Officer, Immunocore. She added ". Lilly is a leading oncology player and we are delighted to advance therapies based on novel T cells in the clinic in collaboration with them"

"the primary objective and challenge of cancer immunotherapy is to direct the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer. We believe the platform ImmTAC Immunocore has the potential to do just that, "said Jan Lundberg, Ph.D., executive vice president, Science and Technology and president, Lilly Research Laboratories." We are delighted to work closely with Immunocore to develop potential new therapies for cancer patients. "

Lipoic acid appears to reset and synchronize circadian rhythms

Lipoic acid appears to reset and synchronize circadian rhythms -

The researchers found a possible explanation for the surprisingly wide range of biological effects that are related to a micronutrient called lipoic acid: It appears to reset and synchronize circadian rhythms, or the "biological clock" in most life forms.

capacity of lipoic acid to help restore a more normal circadian rhythm for aging animals may explain its apparent value in so many important biological functions, ranging from resistance to stress in heart function , hormonal balance, muscle performance, glucose metabolism and the aging process.

the findings were made by biochemists of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, and published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications , a professional journal. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, through the National Alternative and Complementary Medicine Center.

Lipoic acid has been the subject in recent years of research increasingly by scientists around the world who continue to find previously unknown effects of this micronutrient. As an antioxidant and essential compound for aerobic metabolism, it is located in higher levels in organ meats and leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli.

"This could be a breakthrough in our understanding of why lipoic acid is so important and how it works," said Tory Hagen, Professor Helen P. Rumbel health for Aging Research at the Linus Pauling Institute, and professor of biochemistry and biophysics at OSU college of science.

"circadian rhythms are -NIGHT day cycles that affect the daily ebb and flow of critical biological processes" Hagen said. "the more we improve our understanding of them, the more we find ourselves involved in many aspects of life."

Nearly a third of all genes are influenced by circadian rhythms, and when out of balance they can play a role in cancer, heart disease, inflammation, imbalance hormone and many other areas, OSU researchers said.

Of particular importance is the dysfunction of circadian rhythms with age.

"In older animals, including elderly humans, it is well known that circadian rhythms break down and some enzymes do not function as effectively or as well as they should," said Dove Keith, associate researcher at the Linus Pauling Institute and lead author of the study.

"This is very important, and probably deserves much more study it becomes," said Keith. "If lipoic acid provides a way to help synchronize and restore circadian rhythms, it could be very important. "

in this case, the scientists studied the" circadian clock "of the liver. the metabolism of lipids by the liver is relevant to the normal use of energy, metabolism and when dysfunctional may help contribute to the "metabolic syndrome" that puts millions of people at higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

the fed researchers in laboratory animals more levels high levels of lipoic acid that could be achieved in a normal diet, while monitoring protein known to be affected by the disruption of the circadian clock in aged animals.

They found that the lipoic acid helped clean up a portion of liver dysfunction that is often common in old age, and significantly improved the function of their circadian rhythms.

in previous research, scientists have found that the amount of lipoic acid could help normal liver function and lipid was equivalent to about 0 milligrams per day for a human 150 books, more than this could typically be obtained through the diet.

A primary objective of the research at the Linus Pauling Institute and the OSU Center for Research Healthy Aging is to promote what scientists call "healthspan" - not only the opportunity to live a long life, but to have relatively healthy and normal activities in almost all of his life. Research lipoic acid, at OSU and elsewhere suggests that it has value to achieve this.

New material can extract atoms of rare or dangerous elements of air

New material can extract atoms of rare or dangerous elements of air -

Scientists at Liverpool University have successfully tested a material that can extract atoms of rare or dangerous elements such as radon from the air

gases such as radon, xenon and krypton all occur naturally in the air, but in trace amounts. - Generally less than one part per million. Consequently, they are expensive to extract for use in industries such as lighting or medicine and, in the case of radon gas can accumulate in buildings. In the US alone, radon accounts for about 21,000 deaths from lung cancer per year.

Previous methods for the extraction of these elements involved cryogenic technology, which is energy intensive and expensive. But now chemists from the University of Liverpool alongside colleagues from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA used a "molecule organic cage" called CC3 to separate krypton, radon and xenon air at concentrations as low as a few parts per million.

Chemist, Professor Andy Cooper, led the study. He said: "If you imagine the sort of ball then you see the problem with sorting the atoms They are round in shape and of a similar size, not to mention that only one in every million marble is the one you search .. "

CP3 which was developed in Liverpool is a molecule that is composed of cavities, or cages, wherein the gas molecules such as xenon and radon correspond very precisely. By an adsorption process - where molecules or atoms stick to the surface -. Molecules right gas are held in place, while others such as water or nitrogen are released

Tests results using packed columns crystals CC3 produced far superior to the best current materials, raising the possibility that CC3 could be used for commercial processes, for example in cleaning nuclear waste or the adsorption and detection of radon gas in homes.

Further studies show that CC3 also has potential in the pharmaceutical industry, which uses molecules as raw materials in the production of medicines, and where these molecular loads must be separated from other closely related molecules

Professor Cooper concluded: "This material could resolve trade problems related to the extraction of rare gases or other molecules from highly diluted mixtures the key is to design exactly the right match between the.. cavity and the molecule you want to capture. "

Epigenetic Test eliminates unnecessary repeat prostate biopsies

Epigenetic Test eliminates unnecessary repeat prostate biopsies -

Over one million prostate biopsies are performed annually in the US alone, there including many repeat biopsies for fear of missed cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to develop diagnostic tests that will help avoid unnecessary repeat biopsies. Two independent tests have validated the performance of an epigenetic test could give doctors a better tool to help eliminate unnecessary repeat prostate biopsy, investigators report in The Journal of Urology- .

In independent MATLOC previously (methylation analysis to locate the Occult cancer) test, an epigenetic multiplex assay (ConfirmMDx for prostate cancer) APC profile, the GSTP1 gene and RASSF1 demonstrated value 0% negative predictive. GSTP1 methylation is a specific biomarker (prostate), cancer and the gene is methylated in 0% of cases of prostate cancer. Furthermore, APC and RASSF1 are important field effect markers and increase the diagnostic sensitivity of the test.

A second multicenter, DOCUMENT (Cancer Detection Using events methylated in the negative tissue), validated the performance of epigenetics test used in MATLOC test as an independent predictor of cancer risk prostate to guide decision making for repeat biopsy. Patients in the study of materials with a negative biopsy were evaluated to identify people at low risk of harboring the cancer missed due to biopsy sampling error, which could give an unnecessary biopsy repetition. The validation study yielded a negative predictive value of 88%.

"This epigenetic test is an important, independent predictor and has been shown to be a most valuable diagnostic aid for all risk factors assessed in two independent trials," commented Alan W. Partin, MD, PhD , James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, the school of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. "the negative results of this test could be used to reduce concerns about the unsampled cancer effectively and avoid unnecessary repeat biopsies . "

A total of 350 patients were enrolled in the document process from five medical centers geographically dispersed: Cleveland Clinic, school Eastern Virginia medical Lahey Hospital & medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of California at Los Angeles. patients were grouped into those with two consecutive negative biopsies (controls) and those with a negative biopsy followed by a positive biopsy within 24 months. Initial archived negative for cancer, prostate biopsy tissue samples were evaluated. All men underwent repeat biopsy on average one year after the initial biopsy.

Only biopsies with a minimum of eight cores per biopsy, gathered early 07, were included in the study, while initial biopsies with atypical cells suspicious for cancer, namely small acinar proliferation atypical by pathologists sites were excluded, as this would have triggered a repeat biopsy based on single histopathology.

After adjusting for age, prostate specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination, histopathological characteristics of the first biopsy, and race, this epigenetic test proved to be the most important independent predictor and the strongest of patient outcomes with an odds ratio of 2.69 and a diagnostic aid the most precious of all risk factors evaluated. The slight decrease in sensitivity of the test DOCUMENT compared to MATLOC test is most likely associated with a higher prevalence of PSA screening in the cohort DOCUMENT.

Understanding how certain cells in the brain and nervous system become cancerous

Understanding how certain cells in the brain and nervous system become cancerous -

Scientists from the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research in New York with the help of University of Plymouth Peninsula medical school and dentistry conducted research which, for the first time brings us closer to understanding how certain cells in the brain and nervous system become cancerous.

the results of their study are published in the prestigious journal Cancer cell .

The research team led by Sloan-Kettering researchers studied a tumor suppressor called Merlin.

The results of the study have identified a new mechanism by which Merlin suppresses tumors, and that the mechanism works in the nucleus. The research team discovered that tumor cells undeleted increase through a basic signaling system, track hippopotamus, and identified the road and the method by which this signaling occurs.

By identifying the signaling system and understand how, when present, Merlin removes it, the way is open for research on drug therapies that can suppress signaling in a manner similar to Merlin.

tumor suppressor exist in the cells to prevent the abnormal cell division in the body. Merlin loss leads to tumors in many cell types in the nervous system. There are two copies of a tumor suppressor gene, one on each chromosome we inherit from our parents. Merlin loss may be caused by the random loss of both copies in a single cell, causing sporadic tumors, or inheriting an abnormal copy and losing the second copy throughout our lives as we see in the inherited disorder neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).

No effective treatment exists for these tumors, other than the repeated invasive surgery to a single tumor at a time and is unlikely to eradicate the entire extent of the tumor or radiation.

Professor Oliver Hanemann, director of the Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine of the University of Plymouth Peninsula Medical School and Dentistry, and who led the Plymouth side of the study, said: "We have known for some time that loss of the tumor suppressor Merlin led the development of tumors of the nervous system, and we came awfully close to understand how this happens. Our joint study with colleagues from the Institute Sloan Kettering Cancer Research shows first how this works Understanding the mechanism, we can use this knowledge to develop effective drug therapies. - in some cases, the adaptation of existing drugs. - to treat patients for whom treatment current is limited and potentially devastating "

Researchers at George Mason University using dyes to paint a new picture of disease

Researchers at George Mason University using dyes to paint a new picture of disease -

Using bright colors dyes, researchers from George Mason University has discovered a innovative way to reveal where proteins are touching, possibly leading to new treatments for cancer, arthritis, heart disease and even lung disease.

George Mason researchers unraveled the mystery of deciphering the contact points where proteins are touching. "A protein interlocks with another protein such as adjacent pieces in a puzzle, and this sends a signal over the line to the next protein," says Lance Liotta, co-director of the Center based in Mason for Applied Proteomics and Medicine molecular.

the mystery is in the "hot spots" where interlock proteins. researchers know which proteins connect but could not determine where it happens. So far, thanks to the new approach published Mason.

Dyes standard used in machinery and textiles common copy are mixed with proteins. the painted dye proteins everywhere except where proteins are connected to each other. Then, proteins are disconnected, but the stain remains, excluding the white spot where the proteins were "kissing."

Find ways to break proteins lock could be used to find new drug targets, said Virginia " Ginny "Espina, a professor at the center. Pharmaceutical companies could use the Mason-developed process to create drugs that break the protein to protein or stop connection from occurring altogether, she said.

The team addressed a complex interaction of three proteins known as interleukin signaling, which leads to a painful inflammatory arthritis and other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. They created two-inhibitory peptide and antibody that has broken the connection protein in a test tube. "Both inhibitors have these proteins fall apart and they could not send a signal for inflammation," says Liotta.

Until the Mason-led progress, researchers struggle to understand where proteins come into contact. "It seems very easy, but in reality it is not," said Alessandra Luchini, a professor in proteomics facility that created the experimental method.

protein

computer modeling Researchers used and crystallized, but could not show in real time the handshake proteins, she said. "With this tool, we can now study the protein exactly as it is in nature," said Luchini.

And it turns out, the printer dyes not only paint a pretty picture, but they are the perfect size to color proteins and they stick. the Mason team is using blue dye, red, purple and orange.

Discovery could lead to new drugs to fight against melanoma

Discovery could lead to new drugs to fight against melanoma -

The cancerous skin cells work together to spread further and faster, according to a new study published in Cell Reports. This discovery could lead to new drugs against melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Cancer Research UK scientists at the University of Manchester found that some melanoma cells are particularly fast growing, but not very good to invade surrounding tissue, while others are melanoma cells to opposite -. very invasive but slow growth

In a tumor, piggyback "faster growing cells, as well as more invasive cells, so that together they can be more effective in establishing a new tumor, once they reached different parts of the body.

scientists have conducted research using see-through zebrafish so they could see how moved and expanded cancer cells from the original tumor.

Dr. Claudia Wellbrock, author of the study and Cancer Research UK researcher at the University of Manchester and a member of the Centre for Research on the Manchester Cancer, said: "We used to think that cancer cells spread by first specializing is invading other parts of the body, then change to grow rapidly. But this research shows that melanoma can spread through "cooperative invasion."

" different types of cancer cells with different strengths and weaknesses are both present in the tumor at the same time and can work together to spread faster and more efficiently. it has profound implications on how we find cures for this terrible disease. "

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, with around 13,300 people diagnosed in the UK each year.

worryingly, malignant melanoma incidence rate increased more than fivefold increased since the mid 1970s

Professor Richard Marais, director of Manchester Institute cancer Research UK, said: "malignant melanoma is the most deadly form of cancer skin, precisely because it spreads rapidly and aggressively. such research is essential to determine how this horrible disease spreads around the body and how we might be able to stop it.

"and to find more effective treatments for advanced melanoma, we must also emphasize the importance of early diagnosis, tumor detection before they have a chance to spread."

New 3D mammography helps diagnose breast cancer faster than ever before

New 3D mammography helps diagnose breast cancer faster than ever before -

The screening and breast cancer diagnosis is faster and more accurate than ever thanks to the new three-dimensional (3D) mammography used in Herman and Walter Samuelson Care Center northwest.

3D mammography, also called tomosynthesis is a new type of mammogram FDA approved. It is one of the biggest breakthroughs in early detection of breast cancer because it helps to find cancer when it is small and easier to treat.

The technology uses powerful computers to create a stack of very thin high-resolution pictures of the chest instead of the traditional image. These clear and detailed images allow radiologists to differentiate abnormal areas and normal breast tissue because the location, size and shape of abnormal areas are seen more clearly.

The mammography offered to Samuelson Breast Care Center now includes both the new 3D mammography with the traditional two-dimensional (2D) digital mammography. This combined mammography takes only a few seconds longer than digital mammography alone 2D X-ray arm moves over the chest for additional information. X Very low-energy rays are used so that the exposure is well below the limits of the FDA.

"With tomosynthesis, doctors are able to see, even small changes in the breast that often remain hidden with two digital three-dimensional views so that the diagnosis can be made in a timely manner" said Dawn Leonard, MD, medical director of the Samuelson Care Center in northwest. "on the other side of the equation, in many cases, such images can also help us to conclude that a spot is non-cancerous without having to do other procedures. "

three-dimensional mammograms reduce the need to call women back for a second mammogram to get a better look of concern, and they also cut back on the need for biopsies. they can be used in conjunction with the customary digital mammograms or by themselves.

the 3D mammography is particularly beneficial for women at high risk of cancer among those who have a strong family history of the disease and those who have dense tissue of the beast.

The Samuelson Breast Care Center offers these 3D mammograms to all women. Although health insurance companies currently do not cover this service, the Northwest Hospital offers no additional charge during regular digital mammography.

"In Samuelson Care Center, we believe that this new technology enables our patients an edge in the fight against breast cancer, so we offer this service free of charge at this time to remove barriers financial, "said Preeti Gupta, MD, medical director of breast imaging.

Study offers a detailed insight into the homeless patients addicted to alcohol

Study offers a detailed insight into the homeless patients addicted to alcohol -

A phenomenological study offers a detailed insight into the homeless patients, dependent on the 'alcohol often stigmatized by the public and policy makers that the drains on the health care system, showing the constellation of reasons why they are unable to escape social circumstances which perpetuate and aggravate their problems. The study, published online yesterday in Annals of Emergency Medicine , was conducted at Bellevue Hospital in New York, which has a long history of service to the indigent population of the city.

"One hundred percent of the patients enrolled in the study began to drink alcohol that children become addicted to alcohol soon after," said author of the study Ryan McCormack, MD from New York University School of Medicine in New York, NY "for people who have homes and jobs, it is difficult to imagine the level of desperation of these people live from day to day, or the development of all consumers on getting the next drink that replaces the instinct even the most basic of human survival. most do not come to my ER voluntarily but end there because of public drunkenness. the majority patients in this study still left the hospital before the end of medical care. "

Dr. McCormack and his team interviewed 20 homeless patients with alcohol dependence who had four or more annual visits emergency department of Bellevue hospital for two consecutive years. It all started drinking in childhood or adolescence, and 13 reported having alcoholic parents. Thirteen patients reported abuse in their childhood home. Nineteen were either forced or chose to leave home by 18. One was married. None of the subjects was used. The three who were military veterans said that the military boosted their alcohol consumption.

Alcoholism has been cited as the main reason for living in the street. Eleven patients had definitive psychiatric diagnosis in psychosis, mood or anxiety spectra. All 20 reported having concluded detoxification programs at some point in the past. In one year, to be interviewed for this study, a quarter of the patients had died directly of their liver or alcoholism result of lung cancer, trauma vehicles, assault or hypothermia.

"As their ability to envision a future decrease, they lose more and more motivation for personal recovery," said Dr. McCormack. "An alcoholic is first a human being. We assume that low barrier, more accessible interventions, patient-centered that support the reduction of harm from alcohol and quality of life improvement can be reflected in the emergency department and this population. "

Conventional fertility hormones do not increase the risk of breast cancer, gynecological cancers

Conventional fertility hormones do not increase the risk of breast cancer, gynecological cancers -

"Generally reassuring" the results of an extensive 30-year follow-up study of women treated for infertility

There is "little evidence" that the use of conventional fertility hormones used for ovarian stimulation in the treatment of infertility increases the long-term risk of cancer breast and gynecological, according to the results of a major next 30 years up study. However, prolonged use of clomiphene citrate was associated with a higher risk of breast cancer among women who had used fertility drug for 12 cycles or more. Gonadotropin, commonly used for ovarian stimulation today, were generally not associated with increased risk, except in a subgroup of women who remained childless after treatment.

the results of the study, which was partly funded by the National Institutes of Health in the US, are being presented today at the annual meeting of ESHRE by Dr Humberto Scoccia University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. Dr. Louise Brinton of the National Institute of US cancer was the principal investigator.

The study was a retrospective survey of 12.193 women treated for infertility between 1965 and 1988 in five US sites. Followed lasted until 2010, with an evaluation based on questionnaire and link with death registers and the US cancer. A total of 9892 women were followed for successful outcomes of cancer.

As background to the study, Dr. Scoccia explained that fertility drugs are known to increase the levels of the main female hormones estradiol and progesterone, both of which have been involved in pathogenesis of breast, ovary and uterus. Drugs to stimulate the ovaries to ovulation induction and in vitro fertilization and included clomiphene fertility hormones derived from human subjects - human gonadotropins of menopause, hMG and follicle stimulating hormone, FSH. Both FSH and hMG are not introduced into widespread use until the early 1980s -. And previously clomiphene was the agent most commonly used

"Despite the biological plausibility, the results of studies fertility drugs and breast and gynecological present a mixed picture, some showing increased risk of further declines, and others show no significant association, "said Dr. Scoccia. "However, most of these studies have been a small number of relatively short follow-up periods, and were unable to control other cancer predictors. - Including the indications for the use of drugs, such as anovulation or endometriosis, which could independently affect the risk of cancer many questions remain unanswered. "

in the 30 years of monitoring 749 breast, 119 endometrial (uterus) and 85 ovarian cancers were identified in the 9892 subjects. The "never use" clomiphene - which included about 40% of the cohort - was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, except when the subjects had used the drug in 12 or more treatment cycles. In this case the use of clomiphene has been associated with a significant risk ratio of invasive breast cancer of 1.69 (95% CI 1.16 to 2.45). This risk was relatively unchanged after adjustment for causes of infertility and multiple predictors of breast cancer. use of clomiphene was not significantly associated with either of the endometrium (HR 1.41, 95% CI 0.98 to 2.04) or ovarian cancer (HR 1.34, IC 95% from 0.86 to 2.07) cancers, even when several cycles of exposure were involved.

Only 10% of the cohort was treated with gonadotropins (hMG and FSH) - usually in combination with clomiphene - and there was no association with the risk of cancer identified, except those remained childless (HR 1.98; 95% CI, 1.04𔃁.60). "Given that the majority of our women who received gonadotrophin also received clomiphene," said Dr. Scoccia, "it is likely that the increased risk among nulliparous women reflects an effect on their risk of infertility rather than of drug use. "

by further comments, he said that the study results do not support" a strong relationship "between use of fertility drugs (mainly of clomiphene citrate) and breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. He described the results as "reassuring in general," noting that this study had a much more statistical power than previous efforts. despite the long-term follow-up study, he urged continued monitoring due to the 'relatively young age of our study population and the subsequent peak incidence of most of these cancers. " It is also likely that the proportion of patients using gonadotropins for ovarian stimulation - especially in IVF. - A significantly increased after the mid-1980s

Researchers identify a new protein as a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer

Researchers identify a new protein as a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer -

IMIM researchers (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute) have identified a new protein, galectin-1 as a therapeutic target may for pancreatic cancer. For the first time, they have demonstrated the effects of inhibition of this protein in mice suffering from this type of cancer and the results showed an increase in survival of 20%. The work also suggests that this could be a therapeutic target without side effects.

Until now, strategies for the treatment of this tumor were to attack tumor cells and had little success. The latest studies indicate that try to destroy what surrounds the tumor may be a better strategy. "Our contribution is directed to this, as reducing galectin-1 primarily affects the immune system and the cells and the structure surrounding the tumor cells, which is called the stroma. Therefore, galectin-1 as a therapeutic target has great potential, "says Dr. Pilar Navarro, coordinator of the research group on the molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis IMIM and director of research.

is knew that galectin-1 was not found in the normal pancreas despite being highly expressed in pancreatic tumors. in addition, some functions have been clearly known that show the relationship between galectin-1 and tumor progression in other contexts. in fact, some clinical studies for other diseases using molecule inhibitors and antibodies against this protein. "We aim to its possible use in pancreatic cancer," says Dr. Neus Mart-nez, a researcher of the group on the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis and the IMIM and first author of this article. "We also observed that the elimination of galectin-1 in mice has no adverse consequences, indicating that it could be a safe therapeutic target, without adverse effects, "she added.

In collaboration with the Hospital del Mar Anatomic Pathology Service, which analyzed samples, tumors of the pancreas were studied in mice with high levels of galectin-1, and after exhaustion. They observed that tumors although this protein showed less proliferation, fewer blood vessels, less inflammation and an increase in the immune response. All these changes are associated with less aggressive tumors.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the tumors with the worst prognosis, with a survival rate below 2%, 5 years after diagnosis. Although it is not a very common tumor, it is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in developed countries. This is due, firstly, to the fact that it is often diagnosed too late, when the tumor has already metastasized, and, secondly, to the ineffectiveness of current treatments. In Spain, 4,000 cases are diagnosed each year. Although it is a tumor that is known at the molecular level, diagnosis and treatment are always a step behind. In fact, it is one of the tumors with the least treatment advances in recent years.

The results are very encouraging, but we must be careful because there are many factors to consider. The researchers now want to spend results in preclinical studies, where they will treat mice with pancreatic cancer with chemical inhibitors or antibodies against galectin-1 (the same treatment that would be used for a cancer patient) to to verify the therapeutic usefulness of this objective. In case they get positive results and manage to stop the tumor, the next step would be to propose its use on patients. Obviously we are talking about long-term goals, like the transfer of animal studies to humans is usually a slow process.

Genentech Pharmaceuticals Agrees to Acquire Seragon

Genentech Pharmaceuticals Agrees to Acquire Seragon -

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Seragon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Seragon), a private biotechnology company based in San Diego, California. With this acquisition, Genentech obtains rights to all of the next generation of experimental degraders Seragon portfolio by selective oral estrogen receptor (SERDs) for the potential treatment of breast cancer in hormone receptor positive.

"This year, breast cancer will claim the lives of nearly 40,000 women in the United States, and up to half of these women have a disease that is caused by the estrogen receptor" said Richard Scheller, Ph.D., vice president and general manager of Genentech Research and Early Development. "We believe that these experimental oral SERDs could eventually redefine the standard of care for breast cancer hormone receptor positive."

under the terms of the agreement, Genentech will make an upfront cash payment of $ 725 million plus additional contingent payments of up to $ 1 billion based on the achievement of certain predetermined steps. the closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval under antitrust law Hart-Scott-Rodino. the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014. once the transaction is completed, the Seragon portfolio will be integrated into Genentech Research and early Development.

Beleodaq gets FDA approval for the treatment of patients with T-cell lymphoma peripheral

Beleodaq gets FDA approval for the treatment of patients with T-cell lymphoma peripheral -

The Food and Drug Administration of the United States today approved Beleodaq ( belinostat) for the treatment of patients with peripheral T -cell lymphoma (PTCL), a type fast growth and rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The action was taken under the accelerated approval program of the agency.

PTCL comprises a diverse group of rare diseases in which the lymph nodes become cancerous. In 2014, the National Cancer Institute estimates that 70,800 Americans will be diagnosed with NHL and 18,90 will die. PTCL is about 10 to 15 percent of the NHL in North America.

Beleodaq works by stopping enzymes that contribute to T cells, a type of immune cell becoming cancerous. It is intended for patients whose disease recurrence after treatment (relapsed) or did not respond to previous treatment (refractory).

"This is the third drug that has been approved since 09 for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma cells," said Richard Pazdur, MD, director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the Center the FDA for evaluation and research on drugs. "today's approval expands the number of treatment options available for patients with serious illnesses and life-threatening."

the FDA granted accelerated approval of FOLOTYN (pralatrexate) in 09 for use in patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL and ISTODAX (romidepsin) in 2011 for the treatment of PTCL patients who received at least one prior therapy.

safety and effectiveness of Beleodaq was evaluated in a clinical study of 129 participants with relapsed or refractory PTCL. All participants were treated with Beleodaq until their disease progressed or side effects becomes unacceptable. The results showed 25.8 percent of participants had their cancer disappear (complete response) or shrinkage (partial response) after treatment.

The most common side effects in participants treated Beleodaq were nausea, fatigue, fever (pyrexia), low red blood cell count (anemia), and vomiting.

accelerated approval program allows the FDA approval of a drug based on surrogate endpoints or intermediate reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit for patients with serious illnesses with medical needs not satisfied. Drugs that receive accelerated approval are subject to confirmation tests verifying clinical benefit. Beleodaq also received orphan product designation by the FDA because it is intended to treat a rare disease or condition.

Beleodaq and FOLOTYN are marketed by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Henderson, Nevada. ISTODAX is marketed by Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey.