The researchers show how the interaction between nutrition, metabolism, immunity involved in the aging process

The researchers show how the interaction between nutrition, metabolism, immunity involved in the aging process -

UCL researchers (University College London) have shown how an interaction between nutrition, metabolism and immunity is involved in the aging process.

two new studies, supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), could help to improve our immunity to disease through dietary intervention and help make the existing system more immune therapies effective.

As we age our immune systems decline. Older people suffer from an increased incidence and severity of infections and cancer. In addition, the vaccination becomes less effective with increasing age.

In previous work funded BBSRC, the group of Professor Arne Akbar at UCL has shown that aging in cells of the immune system called "T cells" was controlled by a molecule called 'p38 MAPK' which acts as a brake to prevent certain cellular functions.

They found that this braking action could be reversed by using an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, suggesting the possibility of rejuvenating old T cells using drug treatment.

in a new study published today in Nature Immunology group showed that p38 MAPK is activated by low levels of nutrients, coupled with signals associated with aging, or senescence in the cell.

He was suspected for a long time that nutrition, metabolism and immunity are related and this document provides a mechanism prototype of how nutrients and senescence signals converge to regulate the function of lymphocytes T.

the study also suggests that the old T cell function could be restored by blocking one of several molecules involved in the process. The research was conducted at UCL alongside colleagues Hospitalario Complejo de Navarra, Pamplona, ​​Spain.

The second paper, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, showed that blocking p38 MAPK stimulated the ability of cells that had shown signs of aging; improving the function of mitochondria (cell batteries) and to strengthen their ability to divide.

extra energy to fracture the cell was generated by the recycling of intracellular molecules, a process known as autophagy name. This highlights the existence of a common signaling channel in the old cell / T senescent that control immune function and metabolism, which further underlines the close association between aging and metabolism of T lymphocytes

This study was conducted by researchers from UCL, Cancer Research UK, Oxford University and the University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

Professor Arne Akbar said :. "Our life expectancy at birth is now twice as long as 150 years ago and our lives are on the rise. the health care costs of aging are huge and there will be increasing numbers of older people in our population which will have a reduced quality of life due in part to declining immune. It is therefore essential to understand the reasons why the immunity decreases and it is possible to counteract some of these changes.

"An important question is whether this knowledge can be used to enhance immunity in aging. Many pharmaceutical companies have already developed p38 inhibitors in attempts to treat inflammatory diseases. A new possibility for their use is that these compounds could be used to enhance immunity in the elderly. another possibility is that the power supply instead of the drug action could be used to improve immunity since metabolism and senescence are two sides of the same coin. "

New article discusses about changes to breast cancer screening recommendations

New article discusses about changes to breast cancer screening recommendations -

A new article discusses the support of evidence for recent changes by American cancer Society in its recommendations for breast cancer screening. In addition to changing the ages suggestions for annual and half mammography, the new recommendations also focus on patient preferences in decision making.

The authors discuss the subtle but very important difference between sensitivity and false-positive rate for mammography. In asymptomatic women, although about 84% of breast cancers are detected by mammography, about 95% of all positive mammograms are false positives. The authors note that the emphasis on patient participation in making health decisions could be problematic because of the difficulty of patients may have in understanding this technical distinction.

"Our goal was to warn asymptomatic women that positive mammograms are far more likely to be false positives than real evidence of cancer," said Dr. William Skorupski, co-author of the Service article. "for most women, a false positive mammogram is about 19 times more likely than a true positive," added co-author Dr. Howard Wainer.

Asterias receives approval from the FDA to initiate Phase 1 / 2a clinical trial of AST-OPC1

Asterias receives approval from the FDA to initiate Phase 1 / 2a clinical trial of AST-OPC1 -

Asterias Biotherapeutics Inc. (OTCBB: ASTY) has received approval of the US Food and Drug administration (FDA) to initiate a Phase 1 / 2a clinical trial of its product, AST-OPC1, in patients with a complete lesion of the cervical spinal cord. The trial was approved following the success of the Phase 1 clinical study of the product, and is designed to evaluate the safety and activity of AST-growing OPC1 doses in patients complete lesions of the cervical spinal cord the first targeted indication for AST-OPC1 and the first of future clinical trials of product registration.

"we thank the scientists, clinical researchers and FDA to work with us to develop AST-OPC1," said Pedro Lichtinger, President and CEO of Asterias. "We are excited to work with our new partner, CIRM, in the execution of this clinical trial. The FDA approval provides Asterias with an imminent access to the $ 14.3 million grant from CIRM previously announced, which provides non-dilutive funding to support both clinical trial and other product development activities for AST-OPC1. "

AST-OPC1 is a population of human embryonic stem cell-derived cells (hESCs) that contains oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). OPCs and oligodendrocytes perform support functions to nerve cells in the nervous system central. the basis for this newly cleared clinical phase 1 / 2a comes from the results of the clinical trial phase 1 AST-OPC1, which reached its primary endpoints of safety and feasibility when administered five patients with neurologically complete lesion of the spinal cord, vertebral rib. These five patients received a low dose of two million AST-OPC1 cells and were followed to date for 2 to 3 years. No serious adverse events been observed associated with delivery of the cells, the cells themselves, or short-term immunosuppression regimen used. There was no evidence of the expansion of the masses, expanding cysts, infections, leaks cerebrospinal fluid, increased inflammation, neural tissue damage or immune responses targeting AST-OPC1 in these patients. In four of the five subjects, MRI series conducted throughout the 2 to 3 years follow-up period indicate that reducing cavitation of the spinal cord may occur and that AST-OPC1 may have had positive effects in the reduction of the spine deterioration of the marrow tissue.

The new clinical study phase 1 / 2a is an open label, single-arm testing three escalating doses of AST-OPC1 13 patients with subacute, C5-C7, a complete neurological injury marrow cervical spinal. These individuals have essentially lost feeling and movement below their site of injury with severe paralysis of upper and lower limbs. AST-OPC1 will be administered 14 to 30 days after injury. Patients will be followed by neurological tests to assess the safety and potency. Selection of clinical trial sites is ongoing and the Company expects to begin patient enrollment in the first quarter of 2015.

The new clinical trial differs from the original clinical study that doses ranging up to 10 times higher will be tested. In addition, the trial will focus on patients with neurologically complete injuries of the cervical spinal cord. Because of the anatomy of the spinal cord and the existence of results more sensitive measures to assess the movement of the arms and hands, it is presently believed that the detection efficiency is much more likely to occur in patients suffering from cervical lesions. It is this population that Asterias anticipates will be the target for the first clinical trials for registration of AST-OPC1. The results of the clinical phase 1 / 2a should provide support for a Phase 2b extension study to be conducted to demonstrate further the safety and efficacy of the product.

A new study analyzes the evolution of epigenetic mechanisms of bacteria to human

A new study analyzes the evolution of epigenetic mechanisms of bacteria to human -

After the emergence of single-celled organisms, there are a few billion years, nature began experimenting with how to diversify the function of genes without changing the DNA sequence, so that the blue print is retained, but allows gene products have different functions. As multicellular organisms evolved, the maintenance process and function were provided by mechanisms that are called "epigenetic". Epigenetics allow genes function differently by adding chemical "tags" of DNA or proteins that surround DNA. Recent studies suggest that in more developed eukaryotes, changes in the protein that helps regulate the DNA again how "tag" chemical will be attached to DNA and vice versa.

A new study published by the School of Medicine researchers at Boston University in the Journal of Genetics and epigenetics , provides a comparative analysis of the evolution of epigenetic mechanisms prokaryotes (bacteria) to simple eukaryotes (multi-cellular) to more complex eukaryotic (human). Bacteria have evolved for billions of years, and even at this early stage, nature has begun the process to enable the bacterial DNA to perform various functions without changing the order by which DNA is organized. This was achieved by adding a "tag" to a chemical sub-units of DNA. The group of atoms which joins may vary depending on the organism. This simple change is important for the survival of bacteria and allows bacteria to fight against infections. It is striking that although the "tag" binding site moved to a different subunit of DNA as developed eukaryotes. Viruses have also learned to use this process "marking" to their advantage. HIV virus which causes AIDS, Cache immune system of the individual by removing a "tag" particularly proteins that fold DNA.

According to corresponding author Sibaji Sarkar, PhD, professor of medicine at BUSM, it is interesting to see how nature has moved the site of 'tag' addition of bacteria to mammals. "The addition of 'marking' proteins that are involved in DNA folding in eukaryotic provided another dimension," says.

He added, "If we observe closely the process of regeneration in some eukaryotes, including zebrafish, when a part is cut, it is clear that the pool of genes present in the DNA provides the healing process necessary to regenerate the body section. We can save a lot of knowledge to understand how stem cells can become many types of organs by studying this process. "It seems that epigenetic mechanisms regulate this process. The most striking event that describes this type of multiple training facets of organs and tissues of a cell (fertilized egg) is embryogenesis.

When mammals reproduce, the DNA sequences that are inherited can not be changed, but from the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg, each step takes place according to a set of rules until the tissues and organs are differentiated. Different sets of genes are used for each stage of development. for example, "tags" in egg after fertilization are erased, then rewritten. proteins that rewrite this process are governed by the same proteins that fold DNA into the egg of the mother. It is therefore reasonable to believe that the characteristics of proteins mom folding may dictate what type of "tag" will take place in its DNA offspring. It is known that epigenetic alterations of "marking" are governed by the environmental effects. The authors suggest that environmental factors and lifestyle of the mother will therefore affect the "marking" of the offspring of the DNA, which will dictate how genes descendants will be used. Interestingly, epigenetic changes are also held throughout life depending on the lifestyle of the person.

This article includes a description of the changed epigenetic changes that can lead to many types of diseases, including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, aging and cancer .

The authors proposed another hypothesis that could explain how cancer cells increase the number of copies of genes for tumor and reduce or eliminate tumor gene inhibitor. Sarkar added: "Cancer cells may hijack a mechanism device in normal cells that provides the way how the methyl labeled DNA will be untagged by cutting the DNA at the label site and repair. It's an interesting idea to be tested. "

The epigenetic process of" marking "used by bacteria living in human bodies is a gold mine for understanding the normal functions of cells and determine where, when, and how those steps deviate from normal behavior to cause disease conditions, a process that is still not well understood.

Physically active people are at lower risk of nocturia

Physically active people are at lower risk of nocturia -

Men who are physically active at lower risk of nocturia (waking at night to urinate), according to a a study by Loyola University Chicago Stritch school of Medicine researcher.

studying Kate Wolin, ScD, and colleagues is published online ahead of print in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise , the official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine .

Nocturia is the most common and bothersome symptom of lower urinary tract in men. It may be due to an enlarged prostate called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - the prostate enlarges, it can squeeze down on the urethra. Other causes include an overproduction of urine, the ability of low bladder and sleep disorders. Nocturia increases with age and is estimated to occur in over 50 percent of men 45 and older.

Wolin and colleagues analyzed data from a clinical trial, being called screening for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer Trial (PLCO). Men aged 55 to 74 were eligible for the trial. The survey included questions about the results of BPH, including enlarged prostate, high PSA levels and nocturia. PLCO has also asked the men about physical activity and other lifestyle factors.

Wolin's analysis included 28.404 men in the PLCO trial that the results of BPH prior to enrollment in the study (prevalent group) and 4,710 men who had recently developed BPH (group events) .

Among men of the incident group, those who were physically active one or more hours per week were 13 percent less likely to report nocturia and 34 percent less likely to report severe nocturia then men who said no physical activity. (Nocturia was defined as waking up two or more times during the night to urinate ;. severe Nocturia was defined as waking up three or more times to void)

"Combined with other strategies management, physical activity can provide a strategy for the management of the results of BPH, particularly nocturia, "Wolin and colleagues wrote.

There are several possible mechanisms by which physical activity may protect against nocturia, including reducing the size of the body, improved sleep, decreased activity of the sympathetic nervous system and lowering the levels of systemic inflammation.

future studies should explore physical activity as a potential symptom management strategy ", with particular attention to the dose of physical activity required and the mechanisms that might underlie the association," Wolin and colleagues wrote.

Wolin is an epidemiologist whose research focuses on the role of lifestyle in reducing the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as improved results. it is Associate Professor in the departments of surgery and public health sciences at the University of Chicago Stritch Loyola School of Medicine.

New subcutaneous treatment reduces pain, increases the chances of survival of patients with breast cancer

New subcutaneous treatment reduces pain, increases the chances of survival of patients with breast cancer -

breast cancer treatments are usually painful, time and aggressive, which leads to prolonged a long hospitalization, medical personnel and the high economic costs.

to fight against this problem, it is a new subcutaneous treatment option for HER2 cancer, which are tumors that produce excess HER2 protein and represent 20 percent of cases.

This new line subcutaneous trastuzumab reduces pain and increases the chances of patient survival, even women who are metastatic phase, which means that the cancer has moved to other areas.

traditional use of trastuzumab treatment an intravenous line and requires the doctor to determine a dose based on the patient's weight, which sometimes causes the waste of medicines because the amount administered is less than that that exists in the bottles, producing an economic loss for both the healthcare facility and the patient.

further, the administration time is three to four hours, a situation that is solved with the subcutaneous treatment with fixed dose that requires only five minutes from placement.

This new method eliminates the pain and investment it requires less medical personnel for administration, reducing the economic costs.

Dr. Laura Torrecillas, medical oncologist assigned to oncology services Centro Médico Nacional 20 de noviembre de ISSSTE, said that "a patient being treated with therapy, the advantages of quality and expectancy add life to less time in administration and less aggression, is a patient who will focus more on treatment. "

Since April this year, trastuzumab subcutaneous is on the list of essential medicines and the health system catalog entries.

in Mexico, according to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI), during 2014, 29 new cases were diagnosed by all 100 thousand women over 20 with breast cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death in women in our country.

has this, Dr. Juan Pablo Benítez, medical Director of oncology Roche said that for 15 years, trastuzumab had been the standard drug treatment for HER2 breast cancer because of its effectiveness, but this new option offers more benefits.

He explained that in 2012 the results of the HannaH clinical study were published in which it was demonstrated the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab subcutaneously in the treatment of cancer HER2-positive breast.

"based on the results of this study, the Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS) granted health registration trastuzumab subcutaneously in 2015".

The researchers show porous silicon nanoparticles could be harmless to diagnose and treat cancer

The researchers show porous silicon nanoparticles could be harmless to diagnose and treat cancer -

Researchers from the State University Lomonosov Moscow, together with their German colleagues were able to demonstrate that silicon nanoparticles can be applied to diagnose and treat cancer. For the first time particle's ability to penetrate the diseased cells efficiently and completely dissolve after drug administration was shown. Details of the research are presented in the article published in the latest issue of Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine . http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2016.04.004

Scientific management team is called theranostics. This term means a "therapy" and combined "diagnosis", referring to the process of detection and treatment of concurrent illness. One of its applications is a range of spotting oncological diseases, with the help of filled nanoparticles of drugs for their targeted delivery in a cancer cell. Today, many of these nanoparticles does not meet the requirement of biocompatibility. According to researchers, Liubov Osminkina (Senior Researcher, Physics Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University), some nanoparticles can act quickly, accurately deliver the drug, cure a number of diseases, but months later, a patient may suffer from liver, kidney, lung pain, or even headaches.

"The reason is that gold, silver, titanium oxide, cadmium selenide and many other nanoparticles are excreted almost no, 'says Liubov Osminkina. "When the nanoparticles into the bloodstream, they can jam in the internal organs and after a while they begin to harm the body due to prolonged toxic effects.

Search not only biocompatible, but also biodegradable transportation to a delivery scientists targeted drugs noted porous silicon. Its nano-particles certainly would not hurt, can help the body instead, following their dissolution is silica, vital for bones and connective tissues.

These nanoparticles have been the main concern of Liubov Osminkina when she received the DAAD-MSU "Vladimir Vernadsky" grant in 2013 (a joint research program with Moscow State University and the exchange DAAD German academic service) to synthesize nanoparticles of photoluminescence of porous silicon nanowires to Theragnostics. She went to Jena, the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology one of the main scientific directions of what is Biophotonics - the use of optical techniques for the study of living systems. The special attention of a young employee of the Moscow State University has focused on the micro-Raman spectroscopy.

Raman spectroscopy is based on the ability of the molecules to a so-called inelastic scattering of monochromatic light which is accompanied by a change in its internal state and changes in the frequency response of the emitted photons. This type of spectroscopy distinguishes the relative simplicity and abundance of information obtained - enough to illuminate a material with a laser and analyzing the radiation spectrum. micro-Raman spectroscopy has been used at the Institute of Photonic Technology, among many other optical methods. With his help, the scientists analyzed the contents of a living cell and comparing the spectra obtained lined up a picture of what and where is located inside the cell.

'That's when I came up with an idea to conduct a nanoparticle biodegradation study using micro-Raman spectroscopy, "explains the scientist. "This technique allows not only to locate the nanoparticles in the cell (the signals from the silicon and cell components have different frequencies), but also to monitor the process of their disintegration. This was possible because, as we know, the Raman spectrum of silicon nanoparticles depends on their size - the smaller they are, the more spectrum becomes, the move to lower frequencies

In after the study of the grant, Osminkina won another MSU-DAAD grant was for the implementation of its new ideas - and she went to Jena again. The essence of the new study Osminkina and colleagues came from the fact that breast cancer cells were incubated with 100 nm in size silicon nanoparticles, and in particular with the micro-Raman spectrometer, the scientists have observed what happens in the cells during different periods of time from 5 hours to 13 days. Given the Raman spectrum and the reconstructed images of the particles and the cells that they have seen how, during the first 5-9 hours nanoparticles are localized on the cell membrane and enter the cell during the next day, and then begin to biodegrade, as evidenced by a decrease in the amplitude of the signal, the spectral broadening and the appearance of the peak of the amorphous silicon phase. It has been shown that the 13th day the nanoparticles dissolve completely and the signal disappears.

"Thus, for the first time we have shown that porous silicon nanoparticles could be completely Theragnostics harmless agents for many types of cancer. They do not only penetrate easily into the diseased cell, but when filled with the drug, may be issued for their dissolution. I believe the results of our work are of great importance in the long term as the basis for creating drugs based on biocompatible and biodegradable silicon nanoparticles, says Lubov Osminkina.

The researchers are investigating hereditary breast cancer to find new approaches to treatment

The researchers are investigating hereditary breast cancer to find new approaches to treatment -

Deborah Kelly and Sheng Zhi, assistant professors at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, recently received a grant from the Commonwealth Health Research Board to investigate hereditary breast cancer, an effort that could lead to new treatment approaches.

Research on the pension fund for the benefit of residents of Virginia.

The grant will fund a two-year project to study the underlying mechanisms of hereditary breast cancer linked to BRCA1. This type of cancer often has a poor outcome, especially Virginians compared to the national average.

"BRCA1-related tumors are generally triple negative, which means that they lack estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptor, which are effective drug target for the treatment of other forms of breast cancer," Mr. Kelly. "exist targeted treatments for tumors not linked to BRCA1, which tend to be more aggressive and difficult to manage with conventional therapies. They are also more likely to recur. "

Kelly recently received a Young Investigator Award from the Concern Foundation, which will provide funding to investigate the molecular mechanisms of oxidative damage that can increase risk of cancer breast, especially when combined with a BRCA1 mutation.

in her condition, BRCA1 acts as a tumor suppressor. the BRCA1 protein, a gene product, helps coordinate repair of damaged DNA in cells before they divide.

"tumor suppressor genes exist in all cells, but if it is mutated, the vital DNA protection is lost, "said Sheng.

If the BRCA1 gene is mutated, it does not adequately protect the DNA and can eventually lead to the transformation of cells in cancerous state.

about 12 percent of women in the general population will develop breast cancer sometime during their life, according to the National cancer Institute, but 55 percent to 65 percent of women who inherit a harmful BRCA1 mutation will develop by age 70. breast cancer

"problems arise when the BRCA1 protein is mutated and can not function properly with other protein complexes," said Sheng. "But until now we did not have the technology to display the structures directly, so we were not able to see exactly what went wrong."

With improved imaging techniques that Kelly's research team developed and Kelly Sheng can now see directly complex of nuclear proteins interacting with BRCA1.

"These new structural biology tools can help reveal the interactions between proteins in a new way," said Sheng, who has studied cancer biology without ever directly observe his subjects research at this level detail. "Honestly, it's just cool."

Kelly and Sheng will trace the structure of interactions related to BRCA1 healthy and mutated versions of the protein and determine exactly how each works at the molecular level.

"It's exciting," said Sheng. "This therapies design strategy based on the structure of the molecular processes targeting is fairly new. Instead of simply screening of possible treatments, we try to create a solution to a problem that is scientifically limited and well defined."

This approach could be used for other cancers too. Once Kelly and Sheng have a better insight into the molecular basis of BRCA1, the researchers may have information to develop new treatments for specific hereditary cancers associated with BRCA1.

"By identifying new molecular targets for BRCA1-related cancers," Kelly said, "we strive to improve the lives of women with these mutations and improve their long-term treatment options . "

Research: tumor suppressing protein associated with CHARGE syndrome

Research: tumor suppressing protein associated with CHARGE syndrome -

CHARGE, which affects babies 1 to 10,000, is an acronym whose letters show up at some of the most common symptoms of the condition :. coloboma of the eye, heart defects, choanal atresia, retarded growth and / or development, genital and / or urinary abnormalities, and abnormalities of the ear and deafness

to originally, the researchers examined the tumor -suppressive properties of the protein, called p53, not to investigate developmental disorders. But when a mouse model developed a strange set of shortcomings, researchers followed a trail of clues that led them to bind p53 with CHARGE syndrome.

"It was a surprise and very intriguing," said Jeanine Van Nostrand, PhD, lead author of a paper describing the research and a former graduate student at Stanford, now at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies . "P53 has never been shown before to have a role in CHARGE."

The document will be published online Aug. 3 in Nature . The lead author is Laura Attardi, PhD, professor of radiation oncology and of genetics.

cellular quality control regulator

Researchers originally created a mouse model that expressed a mutated form of the protein, known as p53, p53 to investigate behavior in tumor suppression. Mice expressing only the mutated protein survived. But to their surprise, the heterozygous mice, or those with one copy of the mutated p53 and one normal copy, developed symptoms of LOAD and death in utero.

p53 is a cellular quality control regulator. When he sees a sick cell, it activates other proteins to kill the cell or stop its division. In a human being in development or mouse, other p53 proteins therefore extinguish it does not kill inadvertently important cells. The mutated form of p53 was created by researchers off off-switch, but it also may not communicate with other proteins to trigger cell death. Therefore, a mouse containing only mutated p53 survived to adulthood.

However, when the mice had a copy of a mutated p53 gene and one normal copy, hybrids formed resulting proteins. These hybrid proteins p53 could not be extinguished, but they retained the ability to trigger cell death. Interestingly, these proteins affected certain types of cells, causing symptoms of LOAD. The results suggest that p53 may play a role in other developmental disorders, Attardi said.

"It really reiterates how carefully p53 must be set," said Attardi. "It must be switched on at the right time and place. If it does not, it can cause damage."

CHARGE linked to a mutation of the gene

CHARGE mechanisms remain a mystery, although it has been linked to a mutation in a gene called CHD7. Attardi team examined the link between p53 and CHD7. They found that the CHD7 protein can keep p53 turned off.

In p53 binding with CHARGE, this study provides insight into the molecular pathways that could be used to develop therapies CHARGE, said co-author Donna Martin, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics and human genetics at the University of Michigan Medical School and an expert on CHARGE.

Scientists discover gene that plays a vital role in the formation of blood vessels

Scientists discover gene that plays a vital role in the formation of blood vessels -

Scientists from Leeds University have discovered a gene that plays a vital role in the formation of blood vessels, research that adds to our knowledge of how early life develops.

discovery could also lead to a better understanding of how to treat cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Professor David Beech, Medical School of the University of Leeds, who led the research, said: "blood vessels of the networks are not already pre-built, but rather emerge as a river system ships do not develop until the blood is already flowing and they are created in response to the amount of flow .. this gene, PIEZO1, provides instructions for sensors that tell the body that blood circulates properly and gives the signal to form new ship structures.

"gene provides instructions for a protein that forms channels that open in response to mechanical stress in blood flow, allowing tiny electrical charges to enter cells and trigger the necessary changes to new ships to build. "

The research team plans to study the effects of gene manipulation on cancers that need a blood supply to grow, as well as heart disease such as atherosclerosis, where plaques form in the blood vessels of the parties with the disturbed blood flow

Professor Beech added: "This work provides a fundamental understanding of the complexity of life begins and opens new possibilities for processing. health problems such as diseases and cardiovascular cancer, where changes in blood flow are common and often undesirable.

"We need to do more research on how this gene can be manipulated to treat these diseases. We are in the early stages of this research, but these results are promising "

Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which partly funded the research, said:". Blood flow has a major effect on the health of arteries, it passes through. Arteries are more likely to become ill in areas where the flow is disrupted, for example. Indeed, endothelial cells lining the arteries are extremely sensitive to this feed and their response to changes can lead to disease, where the artery narrows and may eventually cause a heart attack.

"Until now, very little was known about the process by which blood flow affects endothelial cells. This exciting discovery in mice, says a protein in these cells could be critical in the detection and response to changes in blood flow.

"with further research, using this knowledge, we hope to see if a treatment can be developed that target this process to prevent the development of disease in healthy arteries. "

Scientist develops a new method for identifying proteins to build new biological products

Scientist develops a new method for identifying proteins to build new biological products -

A scientist from University of Toronto has developed a new method to identify the raw materials needed the construction "biologics", a powerful class of drugs that revolutionized the treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers.

Biologics are a type of drug that results from handling high technology of our own proteins, to more traditional medications opposed constructed from synthetic chemicals. Because of their success to date, scientists are racing to develop new organic products - and now the University of Toronto researcher has developed a way to make this process more powerful

Philip M . Kim, Associate Professor U. Donnelly T cellular and biomolecular research Centre, the simulation of high technology handsets and computer broadband laboratory experiments to create what he hopes is the most effective way to discover proteins that are essential for new biologics. His research was published online in the journal Science Advances on 20 July, 2016.

"Much of the new therapies these days involve modified proteins that lock onto a drug target eg on a cancer cell, "said Kim, also of molecular genetics and computer science departments. "Finding a protein that binds efficiently to a target can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack Our method should open new opportunities to find these key proteins - .. And have a major impact on development new biological products "

under the traditional approach to the development of a biological product, researchers identify a protein of interest, then test billions of variants, either randomly generated or from a natural source, in the hope of finding an effective binder But these methods very little control over where and how the protein performs this crucial function on its target -.. an important factor in its effectiveness

Kim and his team took a different approach. They used a computer to simulate the binding process and designed proteins that function to the target. This type of theoretical approach has been in development for several decades, but is still not effective enough. Kim then combined the best of both methods. Instead of randomly create massive libraries of variants, as with the traditional approach, he used computer modeling to generate a smaller repertoire, but cleverly designed variants. Each variant design allows tight control of all its properties, unlike conventional approaches.

"We have shown that this method you binders that are a little stronger than what you get with the conventional approach gives," said Kim. "The much smaller library also solves many technical problems and we can detect new, previously unscreenable, targets. It is a very exciting time for cancer research, and for organic products. "

For Kim, the next step is to produce proteins that are important for certain types of cancer, but have not been filtered before because of the difficulty of producing them.

The majority of adults need to double the consumption of fruits and vegetables for the crucial nutrition, health benefits

The majority of adults need to double the consumption of fruits and vegetables for the crucial nutrition, health benefits -

New research published in the September issue of the British Journal of Nutrition and presented in world Phytonutrient report just published shows a significant deficit in fruit and vegetable consumption in the diets of people around the world. Commissioned by the Nutrilite Health Institute of Amway, the search finds the majority of adults in the world would be at least double their consumption of fruits and vegetables to meet the minimum recommendation of the World Health Organization five servings (400 grams) per day. In addition, the vast majority of the world's adults - 60-87 percent in 13 geographic regions diet -. Fall short of this recommendation and missing on nutrition and health crucial advantages

The gap between the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables and what adults actually eat also indicates that most adults in the world do not receive the amount or variety of phytonutrients - organic compounds found in fruits and vegetables - potentially needed to support their health and wellbeing. Although specific recommendations for phytonutrient consumption levels has not been established uniformly throughout the world, a growing number of research suggests that eating foods rich in phytonutrients can provide a range of health benefits, promoting eye, bone and heart health, support immune function and brain. Many phytonutrients are powerful antioxidants that can help fight against the damage to the cells in our bodies over time.

"Insights research highlights a global need for better awareness of the relationship between consumption of fruits and vegetables, and phytonutrient intakes," said Keith Randolph, Ph.D., strategist nutrition technology at the Institute for the Nutrilite Health and co-author of the study published in the British Journal of nutrition.

the effect of the low consumption of fruit and vegetables and availability phytonutrient intake
research has examined the impact of the low consumption of fruits and vegetables on phytonutrient consumption in each of the 13 areas studied. This review revealed adults consume at least five servings daily of fruits and vegetables were two to six times the average consumption of phytonutrients adults consume less than five servings per day.

in addition, the research examines the variety and availability of fruit and vegetables in each region. It shows that the phytonutrient intake estimates vary considerably certain areas, a reflection of limited availability of certain fruit and vegetables

The main results include :.
• European Regions:
When compared to other regions, adults in European regions, particularly in northern Europe, probably have high intakes of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene , partly due to the high relative availability of carrots. These phytonutrients are known to support the growth and healthy development
• Asian Regions :.
adults in Asia (A), which includes China and India, probably relatively low intakes ellagic acid because of the limited availability of berries. Ellagic acid has proven vital to the health of cells
• South / Central America: Adults in South / Central America have probably relatively low intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin - phytonutrients thought to be crucial for healthy vision - by compared to adults in Asia. . or North
Europe • All regions: fruiting vegetables (eg, tomatoes and corn), and the tropical and subtropical fruits (eg, plantains and bananas) are among the vegetables and most fruits commonly available in most areas. Given this, adults worldwide consumption of fruit and vegetables will be eligible to receive a certain level of lycopene, which promotes heart health and alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lutein / zeaxanthin.

"Both the quantity and variety of fruits and vegetables in the diet of a person are important," said Mary Murphy, MS, RD, senior scientist at Exponent general, Inc. and co-author of the study. "to consume a variety of phytonutrients people should aim to meet recommended intakes of fruits and vegetables and eat a fruit and vegetable assortment."

Factors contributing to low phytonutrient intake
Dr. Randolph acknowledged that busy lives, cost, geographic and seasonal availability, as well as the perception of the value of fruit and vegetables as a food source, may adversely affect the consumption of fruits and vegetables people, and ultimately , phytonutrients.

"No matter where they live, many adults today lead busy, active lives and / or may have limited access to certain fruits and vegetables," said Randolph. "That's why it is important that adults eat whole foods, including fruits and vegetables whenever possible. But when availability is limited or diet is not enough, dietary supplementation may be an option for people looking to increase their phytonutrient consumption, "said Randolph.

Study finds positive changes in their personal vision of patient quality of life after diagnosis of dementia

Study finds positive changes in their personal vision of patient quality of life after diagnosis of dementia -

The results of a study of patients with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia praecox indicates that their outlook is not as bleak as expected.

a group of scientists from the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging asked 48 men and women suffering from early dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) a series of questions. their quality of life and personal perspectives post-diagnosis

called the Silver Lining Questionnaire (SLQ), the instrument measures the extent to which people believe that their disease has had a positive impact in areas such as : improved relationships, greater life satisfaction, positive influence on others, personal inner strength and changes in the philosophy of life. The SLQ was administered to patients previously diagnosed cancer, but has not been given to patients MCI / dementia, according to Gregory Jicha, MD, PhD, professor at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and lead author of the study.

"The general assumption is that this diagnosis would have a uniformly negative impact on the prospects of a patient on life, but we were surprised to find that nearly half of respondents reported positive scores "said Jicha.

positive responses were even higher on some scores, such as:

• appreciation and acceptance of life
• less concerned about the failure
• auto -Reflection, tolerance of others and the courage to face problems in life
• strengthen relationships and opportunities to meet people.

"The common stereotype for this type of diagnosis is depression, denial, and despair," said Jicha. "However, this -During small study - suggests that positive changes in attitude are as common as negative effects."

The next step, according Jicha, is to explore the variables that affect the outlook in these patients with an eye toward interventions that could help the other half find their "silver lining."

CTC groups cause

CTC groups cause - metastases

circulating tumor cells (CTC) clusters - cluster of cells from 2 to 50 tumor that detach from a primary tumor and is transported by blood flow - appear to be much more likely to cause metastases that are simple CTCs, according to a study from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center. Their report in the August 28th issue cell also suggests that CTC clusters linking together of cell adhesion proteins is a potential therapeutic target.

"Although CTC are considered metastases precursors, the importance of clusters of the CTC, which are easily detected using devices developed here at MGH, has remained elusive," said Shyamala Maheswaran, PhD , of the MGH Cancer Center, co-lead author of the Cell paper. "Our findings that the presence of CTC clusters in the blood of cancer patients is associated with a poor prognosis may identify a novel and potentially targeted step in the spread by blood cancer."

In their experiments, the team used two versions of a microfluidic device called the CTC-Chip - both developed at MGH medical engineering center - which capture CTCs from blood samples so as to make the cells accessible to the scientific tests. One version - the ^HB CTC-Chip - can effectively capture extremely rare CTCs in a blood sample. Another version, the CLC-iChip quickly isolated CTCs in a manner that does not rely on pre-identified tumor antigens, allowing the capture cells with the gene expression profiles that may be missed by the antibodies used in the ^HB CTC. chip

A series of experiments on animal models of breast cancer revealed that:

• CTC clusters are made up of cells that were probably adjacent to each other in the primary tumor, not the cells that proliferated after entering the bloodstream.

• Although CTC clusters represent only 2 to 5 percent of all CTC, they contributed to nearly half of lung metastases resulting from implanted breast tumors, indicating metastatic potential 23-50 times higher than single CTCs.

• CTC clusters injected into mice survived in greater numbers than single CTCs, and clusters of developing metastases led to a significant reduction in survival.

• CTC clusters disappear animal blood faster than single CTCs, probably because they become lodged in the capillaries where they give rise to metastases.

Blood sample analysis taken at several time points from a group of patients with various forms of advanced metastatic breast cancer found clusters of CTCs in the blood 35 percent of patients and the survival of people with several clusters in the blood was significantly reduced. A similar analysis of samples from a group of prostate cancer patients also found an association between the presence of clusters of CTC and survival greatly reduced.

RNA sequencing of two single CTCs and group of patients with breast cancer identified several genes expressed high levels of CTC clusters which - a protein called plakoglobin - also overexpressed in primary tumors of patients with reduced survival. Analysis of samples of blood and tissues of a patient revealed that plakoglobin was expressed in clusters of CTC CTC but not as simple and was expressed in parts of both the primary tumor and metastasis. Plakoglobin is a component of two important structures involved in cell-cell adhesion, and the researchers found that the suppression of expression caused CTC clusters to disintegrate, reducing their metastatic potential, and also disrupted Contact cell to cell between the breast cancer cells but not normal breast tissue.

"It is possible that therapeutic targeting plakoglobin or pathways involved in cell-cell adhesion in cancer cells could be clinically useful, particularly in patients who are clusters CTC" says Nicola Aceto, PhD, of the MGH Cancer Center and senior author of the paper Cell. "We need to study this possibility and determine if further characterization of the two groups and the CTC CTC only provide further information differences in their biology, the reactivity of drugs and their contribution to the process of metastasis. "

Umbilical CBT more effective than MUD bone marrow transplants for patients with leukemia

Umbilical CBT more effective than MUD bone marrow transplants for patients with leukemia -

results A study by the University of Colorado Cancer Center compared the leukemia patients receiving bone marrow transplants from 09-2014, found that three years after the transplant, the incidence of severe chronic graft against the host was 44 percent among patients receiving matched transplants, donors not Related (MUD) and 8 percent in patients who received umbilical cord blood transplants (CBT). Patients who received CBT were also more likely not to need immunosuppression and less likely to experience infections and late hospitalizations. There was no difference in overall survival between the two techniques. The results are published in the journal Bone Marrow Transplant

"When you make an allogeneic transplant. - When someone else is the donor. - The new blood system has the potential to attack the patient this is the graft against the host, which can be debilitating and even fatal. Our results show that, in the long term, a cord blood transplant is less likely to receive a transplant of an independent, compatible donor to lead against the host graft disease, "says Jonathan Gutman, MD, a researcher at the CU Cancer Center and clinical Director of allogeneic stem cell transplantation at the University of Colorado Hospital.

a common treatment for blood cancers is to clear the leukemic blood system of a patient and then push a new blood system using blood stem cells from the donor There are four possible sources of donor cells. a matched related donor (usually a close family member), a match, unrelated donor (from a database of 25 million people who have agreed to donate), the umbilical cord blood (from a bank of stored samples) and haploidentical transplant (a promising technique requiring only a half-game with a related donor). More the match between the donor cells and the blood system of a patient, the less chance the new blood system will attack the patient's tissues, namely the less chance of the disease graft against the host.

A matched, related donor is the first choice accepted. Genetics dictate that siblings have a chance of matching 25 percent. Those without a matched related donor have a 70 percent chance for Caucasians or only a 10 percent chance of other races or mixed to find a match, unrelated donor in the database of people who agreed to give, if necessary. Cord blood is immature and therefore does not need to be as closely matched to be acceptable as a donor source. (Registry Haploidenical is beyond the scope of this article.)

"Historically, physicians have booked the cord blood for the match without patients," Gutman said.

However, the flow preferably is increasingly questioned as data, including the study show that cord blood can be equal or greater than transplanting a matched, unrelated donor .

"he got a large number of centers dedicated cord blood transplants for their worst, and so an early reputation for being less successful it also costs a little more -. It takes blood cells cord a bit longer to get there and that patients should be cared for a little longer, however, when we look beyond the first 100 days. - a point at which many centers stop collecting data -. it is clear that the cord blood surpasses the matched cells, unrelated donors, "says Gutman

Gutman also points out that bone marrow transplants require the art and science centers. including University of Colorado Hospital who are particularly experienced with cord blood transplants have evolved systems to better support patients and optimize all transplantation-related issues, which may lead to better results than less experienced centers using treatment similar.

The current study, in particular, against 51 consecutive patients receiving CBT with 57 consecutive patients receiving MUD. At 3 years after transplantation in addition it above difference severe chronic graft against the host (cGVHD), overall rates of cGVHD was 68 percent after MUD and 32 percent after CBT. Again 3 years, patients receiving CBT had been out immunosuppression from a median of 268 days after transplantation; patients receiving immunosuppression MUD had stopped at a level that allowed the researchers to determine the median.

"Consequently, we have chosen to use the cord blood as our first choice in cases where a correspondence, related donor is unavailable," says Gutman.

Research shows long noncoding RNAs regulate circadian clocks

Research shows long noncoding RNAs regulate circadian clocks -

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found a new way that the internal clocks of the body are controlled by a type of molecule known as the long non-coding RNA.

internal clocks of the body, called circadian clocks regulate the "rhythms" many daily bodily functions, the waking and sleep at body temperature and hunger. They are largely "tuned" to a 24 hour cycle which is influenced by external signals such as light and temperature.

"Although we know that long noncoding RNAs are abundant in many organizations, what they do in the body, and how they do it, has not been clear until now" , said Dr. Yi Liu, professor of physiology. "Our work establishes a role for long non-coding RNAs in" tuning "the circadian clock but also shows how they control the expression of genes."

how circadian clocks work is essential to the understanding of several human diseases, including sleep disorders and depression in which the malfunctioning of the clock. the influence of a functional clock is evident in the reduction of the performance of shift workers and jet lag felt by long-distance travelers.

Dr. Liu and his team were able to learn more about circadian rhythms by studying model systems involving loaf, Neurospora crassa. the researchers found that the expression of a gene called clock Frequency ( frq ) is controlled by a long noncoding RNAs named QRF ( FRQ back). - An RNA molecule that is complementary or anti-sense, to FRQ unlike normal RNA molecules, QRF does not encode a protein, but it can not and check whether the amount of protein produced FRQ.

more specifically, QRF RNA is produced in response to light, and can then interfere with the production of the FRQ protein. This way QRF can "re-set" the circadian clock in a manner dependent on the light. This regulation works in both directions: frq can also block the production of QRF . This ensures that the mutual inhibition FRQ and QRF The RNA molecules are present in "phases" opposite the clock and allows each RNA oscillate strongly. Without QRF , normal circadian rhythms are not supported, indicating that long noncoding RNAs is necessary for clock functions.

The results are published online in the journal Nature.

"We expect a similar mode of action can work in other organizations because similar RNAs were found for clock genes in mice. Furthermore, these RNAs may also work in other biological processes because of their wide presence in genomes, "said Dr. Liu, who is Louise W. Kahn Scholar in biomedical research.

UT Southwestern researchers are leaders in unravel the networks of genes underlying circadian clocks and found that most of the body organs such as the pancreas and liver, have their own internal clocks, and virtually every cell in the human body contains a clock. It now it seems that clocks and related genes horloge-- about 20 such genes have been identified. - Affects almost all metabolic pathways of cells, regulating blood sugar cholesterol production

UT Southwestern researchers involved in the latest results include Dr. Zhihong Xue Ye Qiaohong Dr Juchen Yang and Dr. Guanghua Xiao. Support for this research included grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Welch Foundation, the Institute for Cancer Prevention Texas, and Biotechnology and Research Council in biological sciences.

"This study adds to a large body of work has demonstrated the omnipresence of a circadian clock across species, including humans, and its role in the regulation of metabolism in the cells, bodies and organizations, "said Dr. Michael Sesma, program director in the Division of genetics and developmental biology at the National Institutes of health National Institute of General medical sciences, which partially funded the research. "These new findings of Dr. Liu and colleagues also extend beyond the understanding of the function of an antisense RNA in the late daily rhythm setting of a cell, they provide an example of the ways in which anti- meaning regulates transcription probably another key molecular and physiological processes in cells and organisms ".

Researchers find genetic changes in the MSH3 gene in patients with hereditary colon cancer

Researchers find genetic changes in the MSH3 gene in patients with hereditary colon cancer -

The formation of a large number of polyps in the colon a high probability of developing colon cancer if left untreated. The emergence of large-scale polyps is often due to a hereditary cause; in this case, the disease can occur in multiple members of the family. Under the direction of human geneticists from the Bonn University Hospital, a team of researchers has discovered genetic changes in gene MSH3 patients and identified a new rare form of hereditary colon cancer. The results were published in "The American Journal of Human Genetics".

Colon polyps formed as mushroom-shaped protrusions of the mucosa and of several millimeters to several centimeters in size. They are mild and usually cause no symptoms - however, they can turn into malignant tumors (colon cancer). Doctors refer to the development of a large number of polyps in the colon as "polyps". Scientists have discovered several genes associated with polyposis. "However, about a third of families affected by the disease do not have abnormalities in these genes," says Prof. Dr. Stefan Aretz, Head of the working group at the Institute of Human Genetics at the University Hospital of Bonn . therefore, it could still take more genes involved in the formation of polyps in the colon.

Together with the pathologists of the university hospital of Bonn, scientists from Yale university School of Medicine in New Haven (USA) and the university hospital in Frankfurt, the team working with Professor Aretz investigated the genetic material (DNA) of more than 100 patients with polyposis using blood samples. in each patient, the all genes of about 20,000 coding for known proteins were examined simultaneously. in this process, scientists filtered rare genetic changes, possibly relevant to the huge amount of data, like a needle in a haystack. In two patients, the genetic changes (mutations) were found in the MSH3 gene on chromosome 5.

The evidence of the causes is like a trial based on circumstantial evidence

"The challenge proves the causal link between mutations in this gene and the disease, "says Professor Aretz. The process is similar to that of a trial based on circumstantial evidence. Family members also play a role here: The brothers and sisters with the disease should have these same mutations MSH3 the patient was first examined, but not healthy parents. This was the case. In addition, scientists have studied the consequences for patients due to loss of function of the gene MSH3. "This involves a gene to repair the genetic material," says Dr. Ronja Adam, one of the two main authors of the Professor Aretz team. "The mutations cause protein MSH3 not be formed." Given that the protein is not present in the cell nucleus of the patient's tissue, there is an accumulation of genetic defects. the mutations are not repaired then predispose to more frequent occurrence of polyps in the colon.

the type newly discovered polyposis, unlike many other forms of hereditary colon cancer, hereditary non-dominant, but recessive. "This means that the siblings have a chance of developing the disease 25 percent, but parents and children affected people only have a very low risk of developing the disease, "says Dr. Isabel Spier of the Institute of human genetics, which was also very involved in the study.

Opportunities for better diagnostics and new drugs

annual colonoscopy is the most effective cancer screening method for patients with polyposis. Therefore, the development of colon cancer can be effectively prevented. By studying the gene MSH3, a clear diagnosis can be made prospectively in some others cases of polyposis previously unexplained. Then the healthy people at risk in the family can be tested for mutations. "Only proven Carriers should take part in the intensive monitoring program," says human geneticist. In addition, science gain new perspectives on development and biological foundations of tumors through the identification of mutations in the gene MSH3. Prof . Aretz ". The knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that lead to cancer is also a prerequisite for the development of new targeted drugs "

Scientists are studying the rare type of skin cancer, melanoma acral

Scientists are studying the rare type of skin cancer, melanoma acral -

Acral melanoma, a rare type of skin cancer that caused the death of musician Bob Marley, are genetically distinct from other types of. Skin cancer

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that melanoma acral - a rare type of skin cancer that caused the death of reggae musician Bob Marley - are genetically distinct from other more common types of skin cancer, according to a study published in the journal Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research.

Acral melanoma most commonly affects the palms, soles, nail beds and other parts of the hairless skin. Unlike other common types of melanoma, it is not caused by UV sun damage.

The team, Research UK Manchester Institute of Cancer at the University of Manchester, block tumor five patients with acral melanoma and combined this with data from three patients . They then compared the genetic defects of these eight pattern found in tumors with that of the most common types of skin cancer.

This study found that the type of DNA damage found in the acral melanoma is very different from other types of skin cancer. For example in melanoma acral, it was much more common to find large pieces of DNA that had broken and reattached elsewhere, as opposed to smaller DNA changes most commonly typically found in the types of cancer the skin.

Study leader Professor Richard Marais, director of research in the UK Manchester Cancer Institute, the University of Manchester, said: "Too much UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds can lead to accumulation of DNA damage that increases skin cancer risk, but acral. Skin cancer is different because the genetic defects that drive are not caused by UV damage. Identifying these defects is an important step toward understanding what causes this unique form of cancer, and how it can be better treated. "

Nell Barrie, senior director of science information at Cancer Research UK, said:" We hope that understanding the defects that lead the acral melanoma will unlock better ways to treat this type still rare and skin cancer aggressively Our scientists seek to improve the survival of all. cancer patients, including those with rarer forms of the disease.

"And that is why the skin cancer will be a key element of research for the Center for Research on the Manchester cancer."

Triple-patch combination therapy reduces tumors, prevents recurrence in colon cancer mice model

Triple-patch combination therapy reduces tumors, prevents recurrence in colon cancer mice model -

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a patch of hydrogel which can adhere to tumors in a preclinical colon cancer model, delivery, a local combination therapy that the elastic gel is broken down over time. The new technique may one day enable clinicians use diagnostic colonoscopy equipment to provide treatment immediately without the need for open surgery at a later date. The team results are published in the July issue 25 Nature Materials

The researchers were able to offer three therapeutic strategies in their mouse model of colon cancer :. gene therapy, chemotherapy, or thermal ablation, or a combination of the three. The team used gold nanoparticles to deliver a gene therapy treatment that target Kras, a known cancer gene and used in the near infrared radiation to release a chemotherapeutic agent and cause damage to heat cancer cells. The local triple combination therapy not only shrank tumors but also had a lasting effect further, the prevention of recurrence of the tumor and significantly extend survival of mice.

The researchers examined the effects of therapy both with and without resection (surgical removal of the tumor), which is the current standard treatment for humans colon cancer. In cases where the rights of resection is not possible, neoadjuvant treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, is often used to shrink tumors prior clinicians try to remove them. Natalie Artzi, PhD lead author of the study and senior researcher at BWH, and colleagues expect their hydrogel patch could one day be used to shrink tumors prior to resection and could eliminate the need for completely resected. They plan to test the equipment in the largest preclinical models and delve deeper into the genetic changes resulting from treatment to identify the genes that are most critical to target

"Our preclinical results are remarkable - . at the local aid, combined treatment, we obtained a complete remission of the tumor when the patch was applied to non resected tumor recurrence and tumor removal when applied after tumor resection, "he Artzi said. "Then we would use equipment colonoscopy to locally apply the patch for tumors in the major preclinical models. By using minimally invasive techniques to apply the patch triple therapy and assess its efficiency has the potential to improve clinical procedures and treatment outcomes. "

Novel support system "man and machine" decision for the diagnosis of malaria infection

Novel support system "man and machine" decision for the diagnosis of malaria infection -

A Finnish-Swedish research group at the Institute of Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, has developed a new system of "man and machine" decision support for diagnosis of malaria infection. This innovative diagnostic aid was described in PLoS One journal today August 21 the method is based on computer vision algorithms similar to those used in facial recognition systems combined with visualization of only the most relevant areas for diagnosis. Tablet computers can be used in the visualization of images.

in this new method, a thin layer of blood spread on a microscope slide is first scanned. the algorithm analyzes more than 50,000 red blood sample and the class based on the probability of infection. Then, the program creates a panel containing images of more than one hundred very probably infected cells and presents this panel to the user. The final diagnosis is made by a health care professional based on the displayed images.

Using a set of samples already existing diagnosed, the researchers were able to show that the precision of this method is comparable to the quality criteria defined by the World Health Organization. In the test frame, more than 0% of infected samples were accurately diagnosed based on the panel. The few problematic samples were of poor quality and in true diagnostic framework would have led to further analysis.

"We are not saying that the process of diagnosis of the whole malaria could or should be automated. Rather, our goal is to develop methods that are much less work than the traditional and have a potential significantly increase the flow in the diagnosis of malaria, "said the research director Johan Lundin (MD, PhD) of the Institute for molecular medicine Finland FIMM.

"the equipment necessary for the sample scan is a challenge in developed countries. In the next phase of our project, we will test the system in combination with mobile devices microscopy cheap as our group has also developed, "said first author shared section Nina Linder (MD, PhD) of FIMM.

support system developed can be applied in various other fields of medicine. In addition to other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, the research group plans to test the system comes the diagnosis of cancer in tissue samples.

"There is also a strong need for rapid and accurate methods to measure the load of the malaria parasite in a sample. Different malaria drug testing programs are underway and parasite load in large numbers samples must be quantified to determine the efficacy of potential drugs. We also develop computer algorithms used in this study to address this need, as well, "Dr. Linder continued.

There are over 0 million new cases of malaria each year. the high quality microscopy is still the most accurate method for the detection of malaria infection. However, microscopy requires a well-trained and can take time when it is run as recommended highly. in 2012, less than half of suspected malaria in sub-Saharan Africa received a diagnostic test. the workload of health personnel is excessive thus contributing to demonstrate a low accuracy microscopy.

"The new imaging and analytical method can revolutionize the point of care diagnostics not only malaria, but also several diseases where the diagnosis depends on the microscopy. Action can lead to" market disruption "in the diagnosis of the disease," says Professor Vinod Diwan of Karolinska Institutet.

New research opens the door to influence the immune system

New research opens the door to influence the immune system -

A new international collaboration involving scientists at the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) opens a door to influence the system immune, which would be useful to enhance the effectiveness of vaccines to fight against autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

research, published on August 1, 2016, in The Journal of Experimental Medicine , focused on a molecule called microRNA-155 (miR-155), a key player in the production of immune system antibodies that fight disease.

"It is very exciting to see exactly how this molecule works in the body," said TSRI Associate Professor Changchun Xiao, who co-led the study with Professor Wen-Hsien Liu University Xiamen in the province of Fuijan, China.

An immune tango system

Our cells rely on molecules called microRNA (miRNA) as a kind of "dimmer" to carefully regulate the levels of protein and fight disease.

"people know miRNAs are involved in the immune response, but they do not know what miRNA and how exactly," said IRST Research Associate Zhe Huang, co-first author research with Liu and Seung Goo Kang TSRI and Kangwon national University.

in the new study, the researchers focused on the role of miRNAs during the critical period when the immune system first detects "invaders" such as viruses or bacteria. At this time, the cells called follicular helper T proliferate and migrate to another area of ​​the lymphatic organs to interact with B cells

"They are a kind of tango" has said Xiao.

this interaction induces B cells to mature and produce effective antibodies, possibly offering a long-term protection against infection.

"the next time you encounter this virus for example, the body can react quickly, "said Xiao.

identification of a dancer

using a technique called deep sequencing, the team identified miR-155 as a potential part of this process. Studies in mouse models suggested that miR-155 works by suppressing a protein called Peli1. This leaves a molecule called c-Rel free to skip and promote proliferation of normal T cells.

The discovery could help scientists improve existing vaccines. Although vaccines are life saving, some vaccines wear off after a decade or cover only about 80 percent of those vaccinated.

"If you can increase T cell proliferation using a molecule that mimics miR-155, perhaps you might stimulate that 0 to 95 percent," said Xiao. He also sees potential for the use of miR-155 to help create more sustainable vaccines.

The search can also request the treatment of autoimmune diseases, which occur when antibodies mistakenly attack their own body tissues. Xiao and his colleagues think an inhibitor of the mRNA could reconstruct the response of miR-155 in the T cell proliferation and antibody production is in overdrive.

The next step of this research, Xiao plans to collaborate with scientists on the Florida campus of TSRI to test potential miRNA inhibitors against autoimmune disease.

Researchers develop a new integrated approach to locate "drivers" of genetic cancer

Researchers develop a new integrated approach to locate "drivers" of genetic cancer -

researchers UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a new integrated approach to identify the "drivers" genetic cancer, uncovering eight genes that may be viable for the treatment of breast cancer target.

The study, published online August 24 in Nature Genetics , was written by Michael Gatza, PhD, lead author and post doctoral research associate; With Silva, graduate student; Joel Parker, Ph.D., director of bioinformatics, UNC Lineberger; Cheng Fan, research associate; and lead author Chuck Perou, PhD, professor of genetics and pathology.

These researchers studied a variety of cancer causing routes, genetic alterations step by step in which normal cells transition in cancer cells, including the way that regulates cancer cell growth. A high growth rate of cells, also known as cell proliferation, is known to be associated with poor prognosis for patients with breast cancer.

Analysis of multiple types of genomic data, researchers UNC Lineberger have identified eight genes that were amplified in the genomic DNA, and necessary for the proliferation of breast cancer cells luminal, which is the subtype most common breast cancer.

"With this new approach to computing, we were able to leverage the rich data resources that exist and identify a number of new potential drug targets for a specific subset of patients breast cancer. This is an important step on the road towards a more personalized medicine, "said Peru.

In fact, one of the identified genes - CPT1A - is already a target for drug development in lymphoma and could be tested for patients with breast cancer. CPT1A targeting drugs have been shown to inhibit the growth of human cancer cell line in vitro and in mouse models of lymphoma.

This analytical approach used to better understand the factors cancers includes a comprehensive and integrated analysis of multiple data types, including gene expression data, somatic mutations, number of DNA copies, and a set of functional genomic data.

although the study focused on identifying the genetic drivers for breast cancer, the approach could easily be applied to other types of tumors as well. Lead author Mike Gatza added: "While we were able to identify drivers for breast cancer, this approach can and will be applied to other types of tumors in the future"

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Valley Fever New testing technology developed by TGen and NAU receives US patent

Valley Fever New testing technology developed by TGen and NAU receives US patent -

valley fever, a potentially fatal disease dust of fungal origin, should be more easy to diagnose and treat through testing technology developed by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Northern Arizona University (NAU), and now protected by a patent issued today by the US patent and Trademark office .

TGen and NAU have an exclusive license to this technology for DxNA LLC, a company based in St. George, Utah, which plans to make this Test Valley fever commercially available in hospitals and clinics at the end of FDA clinical trials and FDA 510 (k) subsequent submission for consideration and approval later this year.

valley fever is endemic in Phoenix and Tucson, but also spreads in arid regions of North and South America. It is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides , a pathogen that lives in desert soils and enters the body through the lungs usually. An estimated 150,000 Americans are infected each year with valley fever, and as many as 500 die each year.

"Currently, there is no definitive test for valley fever. Our new, fast 1 hour, based genetic test will provide doctors and patients with accurate diagnosis, which allows a Quick treatment and prevention of this disease becomes more severe, "said Dr. Paul Keim, Director of TGen Pathogen Genomics Division, or TGen North, based in Flagstaff.

"for the past decade, TGen worked to develop better tools and technology to meet valley fever, and we believe it is essential to be able to apply our knowledge of vanguard to problems in our own backyard, "said Dr. Keim, who is also the Endowed Chair Cowden Microbiology at NAU, and director of NAU Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics (MGGen).

Fever of the valley most often causes a progressive lung infection, but can also spread to other parts of the body, including the skin, bones, brain and the rest of the nervous system

Nearly 60 percent of people infected with valley fever -. including other vertebrates, and especially dogs. - develop any significant symptoms However, some patients develop symptoms very disabling, such as cough, fever and fatigue. These symptoms are similar to other respiratory diseases caused by bacteria or viruses, and often lead to delayed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment. severe fever Valley may require lifelong treatment with antifungal drugs, and even death

This new genetic test can accurately identify based both fever strains the valley :. Posadasii Coccidioides, found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and much of Latin America, and Coccidioides immitus, located in California, Washington and Baja Mexico.

Most infections occur in the central and southern Arizona. Each year, on average, there are an estimated 150,000 cases in Arizona, resulting in over 1,700 hospitalizations at a cost of more than $ 86 million.

"These costs are driven to a significant degree by the high level of misdiagnosis, resulting in an average time of diagnosis from 5 months from when a patient first seeks care," said David Taus, CEO of DxNA LLC. "Our test gives final results in 60 minutes, significantly improving the diagnosis of the disease on the current methodologies, both in terms of time and precision."

The intellectual property used in Test Valley Fever DxNA is exclusive to DxNA LLC, and covers both human and veterinary applications, Taus said.

New research suggests that diet rich in tomatoes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer

New research suggests that diet rich in tomatoes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer -

Men who consume more than 10 servings a week of tomatoes have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer by 18 percent, new research suggests.

With 35,000 new cases each year in the UK, and around 10,000 deaths, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide.

rates are higher in developed countries, which some experts believe is related to a westernized diet and lifestyle.

to assess whether the following dietary recommendations and lifestyle reduces the risk of prostate cancer, researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge and Oxford have studied the diets and 1.806 lifestyle men aged between 50 and 69 with prostate cancer and compared to 12.005 men without cancer.

The NIHR-funded study published in the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention , is the first such study to develop prostate cancer food index "that consists of food components - selenium, calcium and foods rich in lycopene -. which have been linked to prostate cancer

men who had the optimal intake of these three food components had a lower risk of prostate cancer

tomatoes and products -. such as tomato juice and baked beans - have proven to be most beneficial, with an 18 percent risk for men eating more than 10 portions a week.

This is thought to be due to lycopene, an antioxidant that fights toxins that can cause DNA and cell damage. Vanessa Er, of the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol and Bristol BRU Nutrition, led the research

She said .. "Our results suggest that tomatoes can be important in prostate cancer prevention However, other studies are needed to confirm our findings, including through human trials. men should still eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight and stay active . "

the researchers also examined the recommendations on physical activity, diet and body weight for cancer prevention published by the World Wide Fund for cancer research (WCRF) and the American Institute for cancer Research (AICR)

Only the recommendation on plant foods -. high consumption of fruits, vegetables and fiber - was found to be associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Since these recommendations are not targeted at the prevention of prostate cancer, the researchers concluded that adherence to these recommendations is not enough and that additional dietary recommendations should be developed.

status higher socioeconomic linked to lower risk of ovarian cancer among African American women

status higher socioeconomic linked to lower risk of ovarian cancer among African American women -

status higher socioeconomic (SES) is associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer among African-American women, according to results of a study conducted by researchers from the medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and elsewhere reported online 3 August via American Journal of Epidemiology . It showed that the risk of ovarian cancer was 29 percent lower among women with college degree or more compared to those who had a high school education or less. Similarly, the risk of ovarian cancer was 26 percent lower among women with a family income of $ 75,000 or more compared with household incomes of $ 10,000 or less. The study was led by Anthony J. Alberg, PhD, MPH, acting director of the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences.

The case-control study based on the population place in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas . The study participants, all self-identified as African American, included 513 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and a control group of 721 women without cancer. The inverse association with SES was true even after controlling for factors known to be associated with risk of ovarian cancer, such as body mass index and family history of ovarian or breast cancer.

"In most types of cancer, people with lower SES are more at risk," said Alberg. "However, the reverse is true for breast cancer, another type of cancer linked hormone which shares many common risk factors with ovarian cancer. The evidence to date for ovarian cancer is limited and did not give clear results. This study represents an important step to help shed light on the relationship between SES and ovarian cancer, with results clearly showing in the direction of higher risk of disease among women of low SES -. the opposite of what we see for breast cancer "

None of the previous studies on this issue focuses on women of African descent. By establishing an association between low SES and risk higher disease among African American women, the study by Alberg raises questions about SES and risk of ovarian cancer in other populations who will respond in future studies. "Important next steps include whether that association is true for women of other races and ethnicities, "said Alberg. "Then we will need to identify the root causes of this relationship between socioeconomic status and ovarian cancer so that we can learn whether this may lead to new clues about prevention."

Colorectal cancer therapies market remains constant at $ 7.7 billion by 2023

Colorectal cancer therapies market remains constant at $ 7.7 billion by 2023 -

Decision Resources Group believes that the market for colorectal cancer (CRC) remains therapies constant at about 7.7 billion $ 2023 in the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Japan. The biosimilar erosion of Avastin and Roche / Genentech / Chugai Bristol-Myers Squibb / Eli Lilly / Erbitux from Merck KGaA will be offset by the launch of Cyramza Eli Lilly, Lonsurf Taiho Pharmaceutical, HA-Irinotecan and vargatef Boehringer Ingelheim of Alchemia and increased absorption of Zaltrap Sanofi / Regeneron and Vectibix from Amgen / Takeda

Other key findings of the report entitled Pharmacor colorectal cancer :.

• impact of RAS trials of EGFR inhibitors: [1945009 RAS [] extended test [1945005limiteralapopulationglobaledespatientsadmissiblesàrecevoirlerécepteurdufacteur(EGFR)lesinhibiteursdecroissanceépidermiqueCependantonprévoitquel'inhibiteurdel'EGFRdepremièrelignedeprescriptionpouraugmenterenraisondesdonnéesdesCALGB80405FIRE-3etPEAKessaismontrantunbénéficedesurviepourlesinhibiteursdel'EGFRdansdetypesauvage RAS patients.
• Increased competition between angiogenesis inhibitors in the second line on: Prescribing of Zaltrap in the second-line setting was negatively impacted by the extension of the Avastin label allowing its use beyond progression frontline. With the expected launch of Cyramza under second line, competition is expected to increase in this context
• treatment options increased in subsequent adjustments line :. The recent launch of Stivarga Bayer HealthCare gave patients an additional option of further processing line. Patients will have a wider range of treatment options with planned launches Lonsurf and vargatef.

Comments Decision Resources Group analyst Dan Roberts, Ph.D.:

• "Although the introduction of RAS test extended will decrease eligible population who ultimately receive these drugs, there will be a slight increase in the number of patients receiving the inhibition of EGFR as a first-line treatment. "
• "colorectal cancer market already has five approved targeted agents, with more being launched during the forecast period. With so many choices, doctors will struggle to determine what sequence of therapies is best for their patients. "

BV therapeutic study reports can be curative in some patients with Hodgkin lymphoma

BV therapeutic study reports can be curative in some patients with Hodgkin lymphoma -

survival data to five years published online today Blood , the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) suggest that brentuximab vedotin targeted therapy may have cured Hodgkin lymphoma patients whose disease has persisted despite receiving previous therapies.

This multinational phase II study examines brentuximab vedotin (BV) in patients with relapsed Hodgkin after a stem cell transplant. The study reports that 13 of 34 (38%) patients achieved complete remission remained disease-free for more than five years and can be cured. Of these, nine were only one agent BV.

BV is an immunotherapy that targets CD30, a protein on the surface of some Hodgkin's lymphoma cells, and delivers an effective dose of chemotherapy to destroy the cell. The therapy is approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma treatment and is generally prescribed to patients whose disease has progressed after autologous stem cell transplantation, a procedure that replenishes bone marrow with its own healthy stem cells patient after therapy. While BV is standard care, this is the first study to observe the long-term success in these patients who have exhausted other treatment options.

"In a patient population that typically sees an overall survival of one to two years after relapse autologous stem cell transplant, the fact that we can report such lasting results after five is incredible" ., said lead author Robert Chen, MD, City of Hope Cancer Research Center in Duarte, Calif Referencing the 15 patients still in remission at the end of this longitudinal study, Dr. Chen said: "Every day that these people continue to spend with their families is a testimony to the progress of our community makes to understanding and fighting treatment-resistant lymphoma. "

in this study, 102 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma CD30-positive have one dose (1.8 mg / kg) of BV ambulatory intravenous infusion every three weeks for up to 16 cycles. Before starting the trial, these patients had failed to achieve remission for a median of 3.5 therapies, including stem cell transplantation, which prior BV, was the only potentially curative treatment for those who have failed standard chemotherapy . The researchers followed the patients for their initial response (either complete or partial tumor reduction) until disease progression or death and further study for about five years after the final treatment.

At five years, 34 of 102 patients had achieved a complete response (disappearance of their cancer for a period of time), with about 64 percent of patients who survive with or without disease (median overall survival five years was 40.5 months) and it is estimated that 52 percent survived without disease progression. Of these 34 patients, 13 (38%) remained in remission for five years, and an additional two patients whose disease has not progressed after BV continued to achieve remission after receiving an allogeneic stem cell transplant ( in which healthy stem cells are taken from a donor and administered to the patient). Both patients also remain in remission five years later.

"It is essential to note that nine of the complete response patients were in remission for more than five years after receiving only brentuximab vedotin," said Dr. Chen, "The fact that these patients are so well even in five years, provides a new perspective for the prognosis. "

Dr. Chen has continued to stress that although 56 patients treated in the study experienced a slight peripheral neuropathy (adverse events characterized by tingling in the extremities, frequently reported in patients treated with BV), 88 percent reported that the symptoms diminished over time.

Currently, BV is the subject of several clinical trials. Among these are the use of BV prior autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, to process additional CD30-positive lymphomas, and in patients with lymphoma in relapse or refractory to treatment not -hodgkinien.

Doctors remind parents about the importance of vaccinating children

Doctors remind parents about the importance of vaccinating children -

Doctors Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati Children want to remind parents of the importance of vaccinating their children when preparing to send children to school.

Robert W. Frenck, Jr., MD, director of clinical medicine and vaccine researcher at Cincinnati Children, said vaccines are essential to ensure the child stays healthy throughout the year school. According to Dr. Frenck, the most important thing a parent can do to protect the health of their children is to ensure that the child is immunized.
Just because many deadly diseases such as polio are no longer common, people should not stop vaccinated, he said. Still protecting children with vaccines is critical because outbreaks of diseases preventable by vaccination were held both in the US and abroad when children are not vaccinated.

"If the child's immunizations are not up to date, it is possible to catch up," he explains. "A parent just needs to talk to their child's pediatrician and ask them how to do this."

Dr. Frenck with the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics would like to highlight some important vaccination information.

"Cocooning"
The babies in the first 6 months of life, despite being immunized are still at risk of contracting pertussis (whooping cough). The Academy of Pediatrics is a supporter of "cocooning". This means that everyone around the baby - parents, siblings, grandparents, friends and caregivers - is immune. vaccinated children and adults are less likely to spread pertussis to children, especially important in the first months when babies are not yet fully protected.

vaccine against influenza for everyone over 6 months
Not only vaccine against influenza to protect your child, childhood vaccination can significantly reduce flu in adults because children are the ones who bring home. The vaccine is available in nasal spray (well for most healthy children older than 2 years) or by injection.

Children older than 4
For children 4-6 years old, they should get DTaP, MMR and chickenpox shots. In about 11 years, they should receive Tdap, MCV4 (meningococcal) and HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine.

HPV for girls and boys
Girls and boys should receive the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine from 11 years or vaccine against HPV 12. protects against cervical cancer in girls and rectum and penile and other cancers in males. It is part of a "platform teenagers' vaccine that the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend. Other vaccines are in the trio Tdap to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, and MCV4, to guard against a type of bacterial meningitis.

A new study provides hypothesis why obese patients are less successful during the treatment of cancer

A new study provides hypothesis why obese patients are less successful during the treatment of cancer -

Through many types of cancer, obese patients are less successful than most patients lean. Now, a study by the University of Colorado Cancer Center published in the journal Cell Stem offers a compelling case why: the researchers found that the stem cells of leukemia "hide" in the fatty tissue, even transform this fabric so support their survival when challenged with chemotherapy. It is as if the leukemia stem cells use not only fatty tissue that den of thieves hiding therapy, but actively adapt this cave to their liking.

"It has been increasingly appreciated that cancer can originate from stem cells that do not kill the cancer stem cells can lead to a relapse the researchers also learned to appreciate the importance of tissue surrounding. - the "niche" or tumor microenvironment. - supporting the cancer stem cells in leukemia, the obvious niche is the bone marrow, but little attention was paid to other sites in the body. this study is one of the first to evaluate adipose tissue, fat, as a niche tumor support possible, "said Craig Jordan, Ph.D., a researcher at the CU Cancer Center and Carroll Nancy Allen Professor of hematology department CU of Medicine.

Jordan describes how the line "very original and insightful" the lead author of reasoning Haobin Ye, Ph.D., was essential for the study. First, patients with obese leukemia have worse outcomes. Second, the stem cells stimulate growth, resist the therapy and can create a relapse in leukemia. Third, the tumor microenvironment is important for cancer stem cells. At the intersection of obesity, stem cells and tumor microenvironment is adipose tissue - might stem cells in adipose tissue due to poor prognosis in obese patients

The group began by examining cancer cells found in adipose tissue of a mouse model of leukemia. Rather than wait for the mixture of normal cancer cells with cancer stem cells, the group found that adipose tissue was enriched for cancer stem cells. No sneaky thieves were humble them - it is the master thieves of cancer stem cells that have exploited the cave adipose tissue thieves. Not only was there an abnormally high ratio of stem cells in adipose tissue, but these stem cells used another energy source that cells in the microenvironment of bone marrow stem - suitably, these stem cells in the adipose tissue energized their survival and growth with fatty acids, energy production by the method of the oxidation of fatty acids. In fact, these stem cells from adipose tissue actively signal the fat to undergo a process called lipolysis, which releases fatty acids into the microenvironment

"The basic biology was fascinating: the tumor adapted to the local environment to satisfy. " Jordan said.

Finally, when the group challenged these cells with chemotherapy, they discovered that the stem cells in fat tissue that had changed their energy source for the fatty acids were more resistant than the cells outside this tissue stem. When Ye, Jordan and colleagues examined samples of human leukemia, they found similar characteristics in mice models -. specialized cells to use fatty acids for energy were more resistant to chemotherapy

"Maybe in the context of chemotherapy treatment, these stem cells in adipose tissue might be more difficult to kill the cells in the bone marrow stem, "Ye said.

If further work is on this assumption, it could help explain why poorer outcomes in obese patients. the group plans to pursue studies with mouse models of obesity variable, which could shed light on whether more fat provides more power or a larger cave "thieves for cancer stem cells bypass treatment .

Study finds new drug combinations of mutation genes that can kill cancer cells

Study finds new drug combinations of mutation genes that can kill cancer cells -

In an effort to increase the number of genetic mutations of cancer that can be specifically targeted with personalized therapies, researchers at the University of California at San Diego School of medicine and Moores Cancer Center looked for combinations of mutated genes and drugs that kill all the cancer cells. Such combinations are expected to kill cancer cells that have mutations, but not on healthy cells, which do not. The study, published July 21 in Molecular Cell discovered 172 new combinations that could form the basis for future therapies against cancer.

"oncologists here at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health and elsewhere can often personalize cancer treatment based on unique cancerous mutations in each patient," said lead author Trey Ideker, PhD , professor of genetics at UC San Diego School of Medicine "But the vast majority of mutations are not an action. -. That is, knowing that a patient has a particular mutation does not mean that there is a treatment available that targets it The aim of this study was to increase the number of mutations that we can match with an accuracy of therapy "

most cancers have genetic mutations that do one of two things. - promote cell growth or prevent cell death the first type is the subject of many therapies that inhibit the growth of cells. . But it is much harder to develop therapies that restore malfunctioning genes that should trigger cell death in abnormal cells, called tumor suppressor genes.

Rather than targeting a tumor suppressor gene directly, Ideker and the team took the approach to identify genetic interactions between a tumor suppressor gene and another gene, such that the simultaneous disruption of both genes selectively kill cancer cells.

Researchers first used to screen a yeast cheaply and quickly 169.000 interactions between the different yeast versions of a human tumor suppressor genes and genes that can be inhibited by drugs, sometimes called " druggable targets. " To do this, they suppressed each gene one at a time, in combination with another mutation. These whittled the best combinations experiences - those lethal to the yeast cells -. A few thousand

Next the team prioritized 21 drugs for which the yeast druggable targets were involved in the largest number of lethal cellular interactions. They have tested these medicines one at a time to the fatal interaction with 112 different mutations in the tumor suppressor gene in human cancer cells growing in the laboratory.

The researchers were left with 172 combinations of gene mutation that killed drug successfully in both yeast and human cancer cells. Among these combinations, 158 was not discovered earlier

This is an example of how this information could be useful for doctors and patients. Irinotecan is a medicament indicated only by the FDA for use in colon cancer. But this study suggests that this class of drugs should be evaluated for efficacy in all tumor with a mutation that inhibits RAD17 , a tumor suppressor gene that normally helps cells fix damaged DNA.

The next steps are to test these combinations in most types of human cancer cells and possibly in mouse models. 172 combinations but is much more than a single laboratory test can, say the researchers. They hope other research teams will also take their list and also test each combination in a variety of conditions. To help disseminate this information to scientists around the world, all the data of this study was made available on Ndex, a new network data sharing resource developed by Ideker and UC San Diego School of Medicine Dexter Pratt science.

"We created a major translational research resource for other scientists and oncologists," said co-first author John Paul Shen, MD, clinical instructor and postdoctoral fellow at UC San Diego School of medicine and Moores cancer Center. "and since most cancer killing of interactions we found involve drugs already approved by the FDA, it may mean they could quickly reach the clinical translation. If these results are validated in subsequent tests, an oncologist in the future will have many more options for precise treatment of cancer. "