Monday, May 10, 2010
medical news article: Versatility Of Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells
Versatility Of Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells
Main Category: Stem Cell ResearchAlso Included In: Diabetes; Urology / Nephrology; Genetics
Article Date: 25 Nov 2009
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that stem cells found in amniotic fluid meet an important test of potential to become specialized cell types, which suggests they may be useful for treating a wider array of diseases and conditions than scientists originally thought.
Reporting in Oncogene, a publication of Nature Publishing Group, the research teams of Anthony Atala, M.D., director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and Markus Hengstchläger, Ph.D., from the Medical University of Vienna, have shown that these amnion stem cells can form three-dimensional aggregates of cells known as embryoid bodies (EBs). It is believed that cells at this stage of development can be directed to become virtually any cell in the human body.
"This finding suggests that the amnion cells have greater potential than we originally thought and may be able to form many cell types," said Atala. "This could expand the number for diseases and conditions that they may be helpful for."
Atala's team is currently evaluating the cells for their potential to treat diabetes and kidney disease. They were the first to report success (Nature Biotechnology, Jan. 2007) in isolating stem cells from placenta and amniotic fluid, which surrounds the developing fetus. The current research is one of several projects designed to determine the potential of this new type of stem cell.
For the study, scientists generated two additional lines of stem cells from amniotic fluid using the same protocol developed by Atala's lab. They then investigated the incidence of EB formation in all three lines.
"Performing many independent experiments using different approaches, we demonstrate in the report that human amnion stem cells … can indeed form embryoid bodies," write the researchers in Oncogene. "Amnion cells are on the way to become an important source for both basic science and regenerative medicine."
In addition to the finding about EBs, the scientists identified a protein found inside cells (mTOR) as the regulator of EB formation. Hengstshläger, whose team was the first to provide evidence for the existence of stem cells in amniotic fluid, said that this finding may allow for new insights into the molecular mechanism of EB formation.
He said the cells may be a useful source for generating disease-specific stem cell lines for studying the differentiation process to determine what goes wrong in genetic diseases.
"These stem cells allow for studying the effects of mutations causing human genetic diseases on specific cell differentiation processes," he said.
Other potential advantages of the cells are that they can be grown in large quantities and are readily available during gestation and at the time of birth. "Whether these cells are as versatile as embryonic stem cells remains to be determined," said Atala, "but the current finding is certainly encouraging."
Atala stopped short of calling the cells pluripotent, which means the ability to form many cell types. He said while the cells meet some of the characteristics of pluripotency, such as versatility, they do not form tumors when implanted in animals, which is also considered a characteristic. The fact that the amnion cells are less likely to form tumors may be one advantage that they have over embryonic stem cells in their potential for clinical use.
Co-researchers were Alessandro Valli, Ph.D., Margit Rosner, student, Christiane Fuchs, MSc., Nicol Siegel, MSc., and Helmut Dolznig, Ph.D., from the Medical University of Vienna, Colin E. Bishop, Ph.D., from Wake Forest, and Ulrike Mädel, student, and Wilfried Feichtinger, M.D., from Wunschbaby Zentrum, in Vienna, Austria.
Source: Karen Richardson
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
full access: PLoS ONE: Ovarian Cyst Fluid of Serous Ovarian Tumors Contains Large Quantities of the Brain Amino Acid N-acetylaspartate
Background
"In
humans, N-acetyl L-aspartate (NAA) has not been detected in other
tissues than the brain. The physiological function of NAA is yet
undefined. Recently, it has been suggested that NAA may function as a
molecular water pump, responsible for the removal of large amounts of
water from the human brain. Ovarian tumors typically present as large
cystic masses with considerable fluid accumulation....."
Arrayit Corporation Reports Strong Surge in Customer Demand for the Company's Leading Edge Life Sciences Microarray Instruments - financial news
Note: in prior new/press releases the Arrayit testing is still seeking FDA (U.S.) approval, this is not the same test as OVA1 which is the test for determining suspicion of ovarian cancer malignancy (search blog for further information on both)
"Arrayit microarrays and instruments offer richer content and greater sensitivity than competing platforms, and these attributes have allowed us to discover the world's only definitive pre-symptomatic biomarkers for ovarian cancer and Parkinson's Disease, as well as a new pharmaceutically important pathway in human biology that will be the subject of future announcements."
Cancer Diagnostics - Onko-Sure
Cancer Diagnostics
Our Onko-Sure™ in vitro diagnostic test enables physicians and their patients to effectively monitor and/or detect solid tumor cancers by measuring the accumulation of specific breakdown products in the blood called Fibrin and Fibrinogen Degradation Products (FDP). Onko-Sure™ is a simple, non‐invasive blood test used for the detection and/or monitoring of 14 different types of cancer including: lung (Oncologystat.com), breast, stomach, liver, colon, rectal, ovarian, esophageal, cervical, trophoblastic, thyroid, malignant lymphoma, and pancreatic. Onko-Sure™ can be a valuable diagnostic tool in the worldwide battle against cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide. Onko-Sure™ serves the IVD cancer/oncology market which, according to Bio-Medicine.org is growing at an 11% compouned annual growth rate.
Onko-Sure™ is sold as a blood test for cancer in Europe (CE Mark certified), India, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and in Chile (research use); approved in the U.S. for the monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC); approved in Canada (by Health Canada) for lung cancer detection and lung cancer treatment monitoring; and in many key markets, has the significant potential to be used as a general cancer screening test.
MOHLTC - Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics
Call for Applications – Wave 3
In announcing the Wave 3 Call for Applications, the Ministry is now accepting submissions to award the remaining 14 Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics. The Ministry will receive applications until Friday, June 25, 2010. All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2010. Late applications will not be considered...."
The role of cytoreductive surgery for non-genital tract metastatic tumors to the ovaries.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate prognostic factors of patients with metastases to the ovaries from non-genital organs.
STUDY DESIGN: From September 1994 to December 2006, 158 patients with pathologically confirmed metastatic tumors to the ovaries at Samsung Medical Center (SMC) were included in this study. The data were obtained from the patients' medical records and pathology reports.
RESULTS: The primary tumor origin was mostly stomach (73 cases) and colon (61 cases). Krukenberg tumor (pathologically proven signet ring cell carcinoma) was found in 34 cases: stomach (25), colon (2), appendix (1), and unknown (6). ....However, age, bilateral tumors, chronology of diagnosis and mass size did not affect survival.
CONCLUSION: Cytoreductive surgery and post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy had a beneficial effect on survival in selected patients.
amednews: Specialty societies set new policy on drug company influence :: May 10, 2010
Note: these policies address only drug company influences
Medical News: Cancer Costs Double in Less than 20 Years - in Public Health & Policy, General Professional Issues
Note: over the past many years, the cost factors (no matter the country/politics) have formed a large part of cancer research, the one part which is always missing is what if it's me....IMHO obviously
full free access: (breast cancer)Tailored targeted therapy for all: a realistic and worthwhile objective against
"Targeted therapy for breast cancer was actually used, albeit unwittingly, as early as the late 1800s. Beatson first surgically removed the ovaries of women to treat metastatic breast cancer in 1896......"
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