Mar. 27, 2013 ? Scientists at Harvard may have new hope for anyone who's tried to fight the battle of the bulge.
New research, conducted in collaboration with researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, has found that the gut microbes of mice undergo drastic changes following gastric bypass surgery. Transfer of these microbes into sterile mice resulted in rapid weight loss. The study is described in a March 27 paper in Science Translational Medicine.
"Simply by colonizing mice with the altered microbial community, the mice were able to maintain a lower body fat, and lose weight -- about 20% as much as they would if they underwent surgery," said Peter Turnbaugh, a Bauer Fellow at Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Center for Systems Biology, and one of two senior authors of the paper.
But as striking as those results were, they weren't as dramatic as they might have been.
"In some ways we were biasing the results against weight loss," Turnbaugh said, explaining that the mice used in the study hadn't been given a high-fat, high-sugar diet to increase their weight beforehand. "The question is whether we might have seen a stronger effect if they were on a different diet."
"Our study suggests that the specific effects of gastric bypass on the microbiota contribute to its ability to cause weight loss and that finding ways to manipulate microbial populations to mimic those effects could become a valuable new tool to address obesity," said Lee Kaplan, director of the Obesity, Metabolism and Nutrition Institute at MGH and the other senior author of the paper.
"We need to learn a good deal more about the mechanisms by which a microbial population changed by gastric bypass exert its effects, and then we need to learn if we can produce these effects -- either the microbial changes or the associated metabolic changes -- without surgery," Kaplan, an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, added. "The ability to achieve even some of these effects without surgery would give us an entirely new way to treat the critical problem of obesity, one that could help patients unable or unwilling to have surgery."
While the results were exciting, Turnbaugh warned that it may be years before they could be replicated in humans, and that such microbial changes shouldn't be viewed as a way to lose those stubborn last 10 pounds without going to the gym. Rather, the technique may one day offer hope to dangerously obese people who want to lose weight without going through the trauma of surgery.
"It may not be that we will have a magic pill that will work for everyone who's slightly overweight," he said. "But if we can, at a minimum, provide some alternative to gastric bypass surgery that produces similar effects, it would be a major advance."
While there had been hints that the microbes in the gut might change after bypass surgery, the speed and extent of the change came as a surprise to the research team.
In earlier experiments, researchers had shown that the guts of both lean and obese mice are populated by varying amounts of two types of bacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. When mice undergo gastric bypass surgery, however, it "resets the whole picture," Turnbaugh said.
"The post-bypass community was dominated by Proteobacteria and Proteobacteria, and had relatively low levels of Firmicutes," he said. What's more, Turnbaugh said, those changes occurred within a week of the surgery, and weren't short-lived -- the altered gut microbial community remained stable for months afterward.
While the results may hold out the hope for weight loss without surgery, both Turnbaugh and Kaplan warned that future studies are needed to understand exactly what is behind the weight loss seen in mice.
"A major gap in our knowledge is the underlying mechanism linking microbes to weight loss," Turnbaugh said. "There were certain microbes that we found at higher abundance after surgery, so we think those are good targets for beginning to understand what's taking place."
In fact, Turnbaugh said, the answer may not be the specific types of microbes, but a by-product they excrete.
In addition to changes in the microbes found in the gut, researchers found changes in the concentration of certain short-chain fatty acids. Other studies, Turnbaugh said, have suggested that those molecules may be critical in signaling to the host to speed up metabolism, or not to store excess calories as fat.
Going forward, Turnbaugh and Kaplan hope to continue to explore those questions.
"We think such studies will allow us to understand how host/microbial interactions in general can influence the outcome of a given diet," Kaplan said. "To some degree, what we're learning is a comfort for people who have an issue with their weight, because more and more we're learning that the story is more complicated than just how much you exercise and how much you eat."
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Harvard University, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
A. P. Liou, M. Paziuk, J.-M. Luevano, S. Machineni, P. J. Turnbaugh, L. M. Kaplan. Conserved Shifts in the Gut Microbiota Due to Gastric Bypass Reduce Host Weight and Adiposity. Science Translational Medicine, 2013; 5 (178): 178ra41 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3005687
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Scientists are getting closer to a Chagas disease vaccine, something many believed impossible only 10 years ago. Research from the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has resulted in a safe vaccine candidate that is simple to produce and shows a greater than 90 percent protection rate against chronic infection in mice.
In a paper published online in PLOS ONE, the researchers describe how they identified and tested potential Trypanosoma cruzi (also known as T. cruzi or Chagas disease) antigen candidates and delivery models to establish the safety and efficacy of a vaccine formulation known asTcVac3. This potential vaccine could halt the irreversible heart and organ damage that afflicts approximately 30 percent of those infected with Chagas.
"This signals a scientific breakthrough ? unprecedented vaccine efficacy for a common parasitic disease with no cure for chronic sufferers," said lead author Nisha Garg, PhD, professor of microbiology, immunology and pathology at UTMB. "If this vaccine proves practical, it could be approved in as few as five years for use in canines, which are reservoir hosts of the disease. As many as 20 percent of dogs may be infected in Texas alone, developing the same heart conditions as humans but mistaken by vets for heartworm."
The study also provides further evidence that a human Chagas vaccine is possible, a topic of debate among some who still believe that Chagas heart disease is the result of an autoimmune disorder, she added.
T. cruzi, transmitted by the triatomine insect, or "kissing bug," is prevalent in almost all Latin American countries and is becoming more common in the U.S. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 10 million people ? mostly children ? are infected worldwide. Approximately 13,000 die each year from the complications of Chagas-induced heart disease ? a result of the chronic infection Garg and her team aim to vaccinate against. It is estimated that the global economic burden of Chagas is about $7 billion a year.
TcVac3: The Path of Discovery
TcVac3 is the result of rigorous computational/bioinformatics analysis and screening of the T. cruzi genome for potential candidate antigens over several years by Garg and her team. These analyses led the researchers to three potential antigens (TcG1, TcG2 and TcG4) for further investigation.
Next, they began testing these antigens and potential vaccine delivery models ? how the components are arranged in the actual vaccine ? to determine the best approaches.
Early experiments proved that delivery of the candidate antigens by a DNA-prime/protein boost approach, along with co-delivery of IL-12 and GM-CSF cytokine adjuvants meant to enhance the immune response, was effective in generating antibody and T cell responses capable of providing more than 90 percent control of acute infection and parasite burden in infected mice.
Recognizing, however, that this vaccine delivery model was quite complex, the scientists sought to simplify the vaccine using a DNA-prime/Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-boost approach ? a delivery model that offers many advantages: it can accommodate multiple foreign genes in its genome; may be administered by a variety of routes; has an excellent safety record; and has been shown to generate immune responses to a variety of foreign antigens. MVA itself can act as an adjuvant since it provides a signal to the innate immune system and can boost T cells.
Based on preliminarystudies by the researchers that showed this delivery model to be potent, the scientists next tested the protective efficacy of TcVac3, constituted of just the TcG2 and TcG4 candidates and lacking the adjuvants, delivered by the DNA/MVA approach.
With two doses of the vaccine, the mice with TcVac3-induced antibodies exhibited 92 to 96 percent protection against chronic infection. They found that the DNA/MVA approach increased the vaccine efficacy enough to omit one of the antigens and the adjuvants, making it a much simpler but still highly effective vaccine.
"Because Chagas is most prevalent in developing countries, it is essential that a potential vaccine be inexpensive to develop and easy to deliver," said Garg. "TcVac3 accomplishes this goal, making it not just an effective candidate, but an ideal one."
Future research will determine if the vaccine composition can be simplified even further. In addition, the scientists are already conducting related trials in canines. Garg and her team are also working on pre-clinical trials of human patient samples, testing for immune response in patients that are already infected but not showing signs of chronic disease. Results of both studies are anticipated later this year.
###
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston: http://www.utmb.edu
Thanks to University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston for this article.
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It takes some luck to prevail inside the intimidating cauldron that is Estadio Azteca, and the United States did find its share of good fortune in Tuesday?s 0-0 draw with suddenly beleaguered El Tri.
Two penalty appeals were denied and Javier ?Chicharito? Hernandez missed twice from in close ? the kind of chances ?Chicharito? generally finishes with ruthless efficiency, which is why he went to Manchester United at such a young age.
To be sure, the young United States back line (well, three inexperienced defenders plus converted midfielder DaMarcus Beasley) were generally in the right spots and almost always accurate in the challenges. Michael Bradley did good two-way work, identifying the vital passing central lanes to screen out much of the danger and then assisting the United States in possession.
The Americans never moved enough men forward to bother or test Mexico?s back line, but those useful moments of possession were critical in taking just enough pressure off the back line and pushing the Mexicans back.
For the second consecutive contest, goalkeeper Brad Guzan did everything he needed to do. Surely U.S. fans who fretted last week about a U.S. goal unguarded by trusty Tim Howard are feeling better after seeing Guzan calmly go about his chores over two memorable nights.
Still, Klinsmann?s men needed a break here or there to draw a point out of Azteca, a place where Mexico has traditionally been so stingy with them.
(MORE: United States fights to a scoreless draw)
In the first half, Bradley raised two hands and pushed Chicharito in the back as the Mexican markman streaked into the 18, looking for a ball off Giovani dos Santos? foot along the right. The nearby referee?s assistant raised his flag to indicate a foul but Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez ignored the waving yellow flag.
But the refereeing choice? that will surely drive Mexican fans even more nutso ? when they aren?t debating the job status of increasingly embattled Jos? Manuel ?Chepo? de la Torre ? was a 76th minute penalty kick appeal unheard by Lopez. Edu bundled aggressively into Javier Aquino from behind as the Mexican attacker prepared to shoot.
The visitors from up north definitely got away with something there.
(MORE: Mexico?s turn to defuse crisis)
As for the missed shots:
In the 28th minute, Chicharito went high with a header from inside the six ? but the sequence perfectly illustrated how so much of the night would go. ?Mexico?s Jorge Torres Nilo was able to scoot free along the U.S. right side; there was quite a bit of that Tuesday, especially early. But U.S. center back Matt Besler got just enough of a body on Chicharito as they both sprinted toward goal, so the Mexican striker didn?t have anything uncontested.
Later, Chicharito missed from even closer; that one was something that looked like genuine serendipity.
Of course, the United States made some of its own luck. Prime example, Graham Zusi?s tremendous tracking in the 72nd minute, a 30-yard dash to heroically head away a ball and prevent a point blank header from Angel Reyna.
Besler and Omar Gonzalez were ball-clearing beasts ? which was absolutely no luck at all. That was on Klinsmann, whose choice to start the LA Galaxy center back to begin the final round looks like the right one now.
LONDON (AP) - The World Anti-Doping Agency has defended its test for human growth hormone and accused the NFL players union of being "extremist" for questioning its validity.
WADA director general David Howman tells The Associated Press the test for HGH was endorsed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in its ruling Tuesday in the case of an Estonian cross-country skier.
The court lifted the three-year suspension imposed by the International Ski Federation on two-time Olympic cross-country champion Andrus Veerpalu for use of HGH, citing "procedural flaws." But CAS said it believed Veerpalu did take HGH and backed the testing method.
Howman says "there is no question as to the validity of the test."
The NFL players union said the CAS ruling "validates the players' demands for scientific validity, full due process rights, and a transparent system."
Howman says "I would expect the players association to take a stance which is extremist which is the way they've operated the last few years."
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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It can be scary mustering developer support for a brand-new app platform -- just ask BlackBerry. Microsoft may feel slightly relaxed, then, if MetroStore Scanner's unofficial estimates are on the ball. It sees over 50,380 active Windows Store apps as of this writing, which isn't bad for a shop that reportedly had less than half this amount back in November. Whether or not you consider it progress compared to the rest of the market is another matter: the tally is a big leap over the estimated 14,000 apps in the Mac App Store, but it won't make either Apple or Google break out in a cold sweat when compared against the six-digitapp counts of their mobile app stores. Microsoft currently declines to confirm the numbers, although the company tells us that the app count may vary from country to country. For now, it's safe to presume that a fair number of app writers are onside with Microsoft's tile- and touch-driven vision of the future.
New lung cancer study takes page from Google's playbookPublic release date: 25-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Robert Perkins perkinsr@usc.edu 213-740-9226 University of Southern California
Research uses mathematical probability model to predict how lung cancer spreads
SAN DIEGO - The same sort of mathematical model used to predict which websites people are most apt to visit is now showing promise in helping map how lung cancer spreads in the human body, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer Research.
A team of researchers used an algorithm similar to the Google PageRank and to the Viterbi Algorithm for digital communication to analyze the spread patterns of lung cancer. The team includes experts from the University of Southern California (USC), Scripps Clinic, The Scripps Research Institute, University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York.
"This research demonstrates how similar the Internet is to a living organism," said USC Viterbi School of Engineering Professor Paul Newton, Ph.D., the lead and corresponding author of the study. "The same types of tools that help us understand the spread of information through the web can help us understand the spread of cancer through the human body."
Employing a sophisticated system of mathematical equations known as a Markov chain model, the research team guided by USC applied mathematicians found that metastatic lung cancer does not progress in a single direction from primary tumor site to distant locations, which has been the traditional medical view. Instead, they found that cancer cell movement around the body likely occurs in more than one direction at a time.
Researchers also learned that the first site to which the cells spread plays a key role in the progression of the disease. The study showed that some parts of the body serve as "sponges" that are relatively unlikely to further spread lung cancer cells to other areas of the body. The study identified other areas as "spreaders" for lung cancer cells.
The study revealed that for lung cancer, the main spreaders are the adrenal gland and kidney, whereas the main sponges are the regional lymph nodes, liver and bone.
The study applied the advanced math model to data from human autopsy reports of 163 lung cancer patients in the New England area, from 1914 to 1943. This time period was targeted because it predates the use of radiation and chemotherapy, providing researchers a clear view of how cancer progresses if left untreated. Among the 163 patients, researchers charted the advancement patterns of 619 different metastases to 27 distinct body sites.
The study's findings could potentially impact clinical care by helping guide physicians to targeted treatment options, designed to curtail the spread of lung cancer. For example, if the cancer is found to have moved to a known spreader location, imaging tests and interventions can be quickly considered for focused treatment before the cells may be more widely dispersed. Further study is needed in this area.
Keeping tabs on cancer's movement in the body is vital to patient care. While a primary cancer tumor (confined to a single location) is often not fatal, a patient's prognosis can worsen if the cancer metastasizes that is, flakes off and travels to other parts of the body to form new tumors.
The study is part of a relatively new movement to involve physical sciences in oncology research. Mathematics probability models that interpret data from specific patient populations offer a new alternative to the established approach of relying on broader clinical trends to predict where, and how fast, cancer will spread.
###
In addition to Newton, senior contributing authors include Jeremy Mason of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering; Kelly Bethel, M.D., of Scripps Clinic; Lyudmila Bazhenova, M.D., of the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center; Jorge Nieva, M.D., of Billings Clinic; Larry Norton, M.D., of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; and Peter Kuhn, Ph.D., of The Scripps Research Institute.
The study was conducted at the Scripps Physics Oncology Center (http://4db.us) and was funded by a grant U54CA143906 to Kuhn from the National Cancer Institute and the Gates Millennium Fellowship Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Scripps Health provides comprehensive care at its five hospital campuses and its various outpatient facilities. With more than 300 affiliated physicians, Scripps Cancer Care seeks to provide the best possible treatment and cutting-edge research trials for patients by coordinating medical expertise in the areas of clinical cancer care, community outreach and clinical, translational and basic research.
ABOUT SCRIPPS HEALTH
Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a $2.6 billion nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps Health treats a half-million patients annually through the dedication of 2,600 affiliated physicians and 13,500 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, home health care services, and an ambulatory care network of physician offices and 24 outpatient centers and clinics.
Recognized as a leader in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, Scripps Health is also at the forefront of clinical research, genomic medicine, wireless health care and graduate medical education. With three highly respected graduate medical education programs, Scripps Health is a longstanding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges and is recognized by Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) for having one of the top teaching hospitals in the nation. Scripps Health is also the region's only cardiovascular program recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country. Scripps Health has been consistently recognized by Fortune, Working Mother magazine and AARP as one of the best places in the nation to work. More information can be found at http://www.scripps.org.
ABOUT THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) is one of the world's largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. Over the past decades, TSRI has developed a lengthy track record of major contributions to science and health, including laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. The institute employs about 3,000 people on its campuses in La Jolla, CA, and Jupiter, FL, where its renowned scientistsincluding three Nobel laureateswork toward their next discoveries. The institute's graduate program, which awards PhD degrees in biology and chemistry, ranks among the top ten of its kind in the nation. For more information, see http://www.scripps.edu.
ABOUT THE USC VITERBI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Engineering Studies began at the University of Southern California in 1905. Nearly a century later, the Viterbi School of Engineering received a naming gift in 2004 from alumnus Andrew J. Viterbi, inventor of the Viterbi algorithm now key to cell phone technology and numerous data applications. Consistently ranked among the top graduate programs in the world, the school enrolls more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, taught by 177 tenured and tenure-track faculty, with 60 endowed chairs and professorships. http://viterbi.usc.edu
ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO MOORES CANCER CENTER
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center is home to nearly 350 medical and radiation oncologists, cancer surgeons, and researchers. It is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country, a rare honor distinguishing exceptionally high achievement in research, clinical care, education and community outreach and partnerships. For more information, visit http://www.cancer.ucsd.edu.
Contact: Steve Carpowich
858-678-7183
carpowich.stephen@scrippshealth.org
Contact: Mika Ono
858-784-2052
mikaono@scripps.edu
Contact: Scott LaFee
619-543-6163
slafee@ucsd.edu
Contact: Megan Hazle
213-821-1555
hazle@usc.edu
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
New lung cancer study takes page from Google's playbookPublic release date: 25-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Robert Perkins perkinsr@usc.edu 213-740-9226 University of Southern California
Research uses mathematical probability model to predict how lung cancer spreads
SAN DIEGO - The same sort of mathematical model used to predict which websites people are most apt to visit is now showing promise in helping map how lung cancer spreads in the human body, according to a new study published in the journal Cancer Research.
A team of researchers used an algorithm similar to the Google PageRank and to the Viterbi Algorithm for digital communication to analyze the spread patterns of lung cancer. The team includes experts from the University of Southern California (USC), Scripps Clinic, The Scripps Research Institute, University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York.
"This research demonstrates how similar the Internet is to a living organism," said USC Viterbi School of Engineering Professor Paul Newton, Ph.D., the lead and corresponding author of the study. "The same types of tools that help us understand the spread of information through the web can help us understand the spread of cancer through the human body."
Employing a sophisticated system of mathematical equations known as a Markov chain model, the research team guided by USC applied mathematicians found that metastatic lung cancer does not progress in a single direction from primary tumor site to distant locations, which has been the traditional medical view. Instead, they found that cancer cell movement around the body likely occurs in more than one direction at a time.
Researchers also learned that the first site to which the cells spread plays a key role in the progression of the disease. The study showed that some parts of the body serve as "sponges" that are relatively unlikely to further spread lung cancer cells to other areas of the body. The study identified other areas as "spreaders" for lung cancer cells.
The study revealed that for lung cancer, the main spreaders are the adrenal gland and kidney, whereas the main sponges are the regional lymph nodes, liver and bone.
The study applied the advanced math model to data from human autopsy reports of 163 lung cancer patients in the New England area, from 1914 to 1943. This time period was targeted because it predates the use of radiation and chemotherapy, providing researchers a clear view of how cancer progresses if left untreated. Among the 163 patients, researchers charted the advancement patterns of 619 different metastases to 27 distinct body sites.
The study's findings could potentially impact clinical care by helping guide physicians to targeted treatment options, designed to curtail the spread of lung cancer. For example, if the cancer is found to have moved to a known spreader location, imaging tests and interventions can be quickly considered for focused treatment before the cells may be more widely dispersed. Further study is needed in this area.
Keeping tabs on cancer's movement in the body is vital to patient care. While a primary cancer tumor (confined to a single location) is often not fatal, a patient's prognosis can worsen if the cancer metastasizes that is, flakes off and travels to other parts of the body to form new tumors.
The study is part of a relatively new movement to involve physical sciences in oncology research. Mathematics probability models that interpret data from specific patient populations offer a new alternative to the established approach of relying on broader clinical trends to predict where, and how fast, cancer will spread.
###
In addition to Newton, senior contributing authors include Jeremy Mason of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering; Kelly Bethel, M.D., of Scripps Clinic; Lyudmila Bazhenova, M.D., of the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center; Jorge Nieva, M.D., of Billings Clinic; Larry Norton, M.D., of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; and Peter Kuhn, Ph.D., of The Scripps Research Institute.
The study was conducted at the Scripps Physics Oncology Center (http://4db.us) and was funded by a grant U54CA143906 to Kuhn from the National Cancer Institute and the Gates Millennium Fellowship Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Scripps Health provides comprehensive care at its five hospital campuses and its various outpatient facilities. With more than 300 affiliated physicians, Scripps Cancer Care seeks to provide the best possible treatment and cutting-edge research trials for patients by coordinating medical expertise in the areas of clinical cancer care, community outreach and clinical, translational and basic research.
ABOUT SCRIPPS HEALTH
Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a $2.6 billion nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps Health treats a half-million patients annually through the dedication of 2,600 affiliated physicians and 13,500 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, home health care services, and an ambulatory care network of physician offices and 24 outpatient centers and clinics.
Recognized as a leader in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, Scripps Health is also at the forefront of clinical research, genomic medicine, wireless health care and graduate medical education. With three highly respected graduate medical education programs, Scripps Health is a longstanding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges and is recognized by Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) for having one of the top teaching hospitals in the nation. Scripps Health is also the region's only cardiovascular program recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country. Scripps Health has been consistently recognized by Fortune, Working Mother magazine and AARP as one of the best places in the nation to work. More information can be found at http://www.scripps.org.
ABOUT THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) is one of the world's largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. Over the past decades, TSRI has developed a lengthy track record of major contributions to science and health, including laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. The institute employs about 3,000 people on its campuses in La Jolla, CA, and Jupiter, FL, where its renowned scientistsincluding three Nobel laureateswork toward their next discoveries. The institute's graduate program, which awards PhD degrees in biology and chemistry, ranks among the top ten of its kind in the nation. For more information, see http://www.scripps.edu.
ABOUT THE USC VITERBI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Engineering Studies began at the University of Southern California in 1905. Nearly a century later, the Viterbi School of Engineering received a naming gift in 2004 from alumnus Andrew J. Viterbi, inventor of the Viterbi algorithm now key to cell phone technology and numerous data applications. Consistently ranked among the top graduate programs in the world, the school enrolls more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, taught by 177 tenured and tenure-track faculty, with 60 endowed chairs and professorships. http://viterbi.usc.edu
ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO MOORES CANCER CENTER
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center is home to nearly 350 medical and radiation oncologists, cancer surgeons, and researchers. It is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country, a rare honor distinguishing exceptionally high achievement in research, clinical care, education and community outreach and partnerships. For more information, visit http://www.cancer.ucsd.edu.
Contact: Steve Carpowich
858-678-7183
carpowich.stephen@scrippshealth.org
Contact: Mika Ono
858-784-2052
mikaono@scripps.edu
Contact: Scott LaFee
619-543-6163
slafee@ucsd.edu
Contact: Megan Hazle
213-821-1555
hazle@usc.edu
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
East Texas has no shortage of fun, entertaining, and even educational things to do. When you have your weekend days off,? you can find something great? to do locally to save your gas money and support local business!
Tyler - March 22 at Liberty Theater? at 7:30pm. From LibertyTyler.com: The 39 Steps" is the two-time Tony Award-winning hit show in its THIRD YEAR IN NEW YORK, which continues to be an audience-pleaser. The amazingly brilliant cast of 4 plays over 140 characters in this fast-paced romp that's great fun for ages 9 to 90. The New York Times calls it "Absurdly Enjoyable." What you will see?is an incredibly fast-paced romp through the story of Hitchcock?s film.? It is a pastiche, an affectionate and very funny transposition of the film on to the stage. The film contains set pieces that are iconic: the train top chase, the Forth Bridge escape, Mr Memory at the Palladium. Much of the joy in the show is in seeing these moments recreated through the physicality and vocal talent of the 4 performers.
It is also an evocative tribute to a 1930s Britain of cold mists, steam engines and a clearly demarcated social system where people know their place. And at its center, juxtaposed with the comedy, is a love story.
Ben Wheeler: Clay Thrash band playing at Moore's Store Friday, March 22. All music 8-11 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 903-833-5100. Country/Southern Rock/Texas Country - $5
Ben Wheeler:? Moore's Store, see BlackTop Gypsy on Saturday night at 8pm.? Americana/Country - $8 advanced tickets at www.outhousetickets.com or $10 at the door (via BenWheelerTX.com)
?Ben Wheeler- The Forge -? Friday night, see Michael O'Connor play his acoustic music at 7pm. No cover. 1610 FM 279. Playing The Forge on Saturday night, T & C Miller (acoustic/country/folk)? at 7:00 p.m.
Ben Wheeler - Library Easter Egg Hunt: Sat, March 23, 11am ? 12pm. Come hunt for eggs filled with delicious treats and see the Easter Bunny!
Edom: Saturday, March 23rd @ 7pm Movie night! (Doors open 6:30)This week's movie is "Now, Forager" with introduction and Q&A by Chale Nafus, Dir. of Programming, Austin Film Society. This film is playing at the Angelika in Dallas in March, and it appears that advance tickets are already sold out! ?So...see it here in Edom! Also note that this film has no MPAA rating, and does include a few uses of profanity. Click here for more details
Tyler: The City of Tyler and Discovery Science Place are working with Make Magazine to host the Tyler Maker Faire on March 23, 2013. The Maker Faire, to be held at Discovery Science Place at 308 N. Broadway, will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. where guests can enjoy hands on demonstrations from approximately 25 exhibitors. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children and includes admission to the museum.
The big question for most people is ?What is a maker??? A maker is anyone who makes stuff; inventors, scientists, engineers, artists and anyone who enjoys using ingenuity and creativity to bring their ideas to life.
Longview: From the Belcher Center website: Rave On! re-invents the ordinary tribute show with an electrifying, high-energy, rock n? roll extravaganza featuring America?s premiere Buddy Holly interpreter, Billy McGuigan, who is a dead-ringer for the legendary rocker. Backed by the rockin? Rave On Band, their incredible musicianship helps ignite the stage and breathe new life into the music of Buddy Holly. 7:30pm Saturday, March 23. 903-233-3080
Tyler - March 22 - 23: 32nd annual Quilt Show - Harvey Convention Center? 10am-5-m Sponsored by the?Quilters Guild of East Texas. For more information call?Jan Glover at?903-581-6176 or email?gypsyturtl@gmail.com.
Tyler:? Southwest Regional Orchid Show & Sale - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM @ Holiday Inn South Broadway. Saturday, March 23.
Tyler: Tyler Maker Faire - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM @ Discovery Science Museum; downtown on Broadway.
Tyler: Azalea Arts and Crafts Fair - 9am to 6pm in Bergfeld Park on Broadway. The annual event is hosted by?Tyler Parks and Recreation?and will feature more than 90 vendors on hand offering up thier hand made, hand crafted creations. Visitors will find pottery, paintings, jewelry, clothing, photography, candles, plants, quilts and a ton more from vendors from around the state.
Tyler: Vince DiMartino, a former lead and solo trumpet with such jazz greats as Lionel Hampton and Chuck Mangione, will be the clinician and guest artist for Tyler Junior College?s annual Jazz Festival set Thursday and Friday, March 21 and 22.? Performances are set 7:30 pm. Thursday and Friday, March 21 and 22, in Wise Auditorium on the TJC main campus.
Longview: Francesca Battistelli and The Afters: First Baptist Church, 209 E. South Street. 6-9 pm. Special guests Love & the Outcome and Kyle Sherman. Admission is free.
Longview: 53rd Annual Student Invitational.? Opening Reception with Music and Hors D'Oeuvres. 7 - 9 p.m. ?Exhibit runs through May 15. Longview Museum of Fine Arts. 215 E. Tyler.See site for more details:? www.lmfa.org.
Nacogdoches Azalea Trail: The Azalea Trail lasts for the entire month of March in Nacogdoches, and features 25 miles of driving routes through beautiful residential areas with gorgeous, camera-worthy landscaping. Visit azaleas.visitnacogdoches.org for more details on events.
Rusk: March 22 at First Baptist Church of Rusk: Dallas Holm in concert. 7pm-8:30pm. For more information contact Jeff Carroll at?jeff@ruskfbc.com. ?Admission is free.
Upshur County: Trade days; booths will include arts and crafts, antiques, collectibles, clothing, jewelry , gift items, and garage sale items. (903)843-2413 for more info. Held in City (Yamboree) Park.
Ore City Texas Heritage Spring Fling: March 23 from 9am to 9pm. Ore City Community Center. For more information contact Diana at?craftylady4526@hotmail.com?or?903-424-9957.
Kilgore: Celebrate the TRUE meaning of Easter. An-80 minute dramatic performance of the Gospel of Luke? (the New International Version with selections from the King James Version) by two professional actors from the Texas Shakespeare Festival: Meaghan Sullivan (Taming of the Shrew, 2011) and Matthew Simpson (Hamlet, 2011). Performed from memory with minimal staging and without an intermission.? A return engagement by popular request.? Tickets:? $25??? /??? Group of 25:? $20 Reservations (903) 983-8119? The event is a? fundraiser for the Texas Shakespeare Festival.? Your donation to the TSF Foundation is appreciated if you are unable to attend.? From the Gospel of Luke? - March 24*, 27*, 28, 28*, 29, 30*, 30. ??
Winnsboro: Murder Mystery Dinner- "Murder at Rattlesnake Gultch" Tickets on sale now $30 for single; $50 for couple. Located at Double C Steakhouse. 206 Market St. Winnsboro, TX.? 903-342-3111
Submit events to be added to WhereYouLive@kltv.com.
JERUSALEM: Two Israeli rights groups demanded on Sunday that Israel lift fishing restrictions imposed on Gaza after militants fired two rockets across the border, slamming them as "collective punishment."
Israel on Thursday halved the area in which Palestinian fishermen are permitted to work, closed the Kerem Shalom goods terminal and imposed restrictions on people wanting to leave the territory after two rockets hit southern Israel, causing damage but no casualties.
The move, which saw the fishing zone cut from six nautical miles to three, was condemned by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem as well as by Gisha, which campaigns for Palestinian freedom of movement.
"The decision to once again reduce the fishing range in response to missile fire by armed groups constitutes collective punishment imposed on fishermen for the actions of others," said a statement from B'Tselem.
It said Israel's duty to protect its citizens "cannot justify the harsh damage to fishermen who have done nothing wrong".
"B'Tselem calls on the military to rescind its latest decision and the restrictions imposed on fishermen in the Gaza Strip in the past years, and to permit fishing in the 20 (nautical) miles range, as was set under the Oslo agreements."
In a letter to Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, Gisha director Sari Bashi said it was "the second time in less than a month" Israel had blocked civilian travel and goods transfer in response to rocket fire and urged him to lift the restrictions.
"In the last month, there appears to be a new policy toward the Gaza Strip, in which Israel is openly restricting civilian movement to and from Gaza, not because of a concrete security necessity, but rather as a punitive step taken against the civilian population in direct response to fire by combatants," she wrote.
The group condemned the rocket fire as "a blatant violation" of international law, but also noted Israel's obligation to avoid harming civilians, saying the recent steps were "entirely unacceptable."
Israel on Friday resumed full diplomatic ties with Turkey after apologising for a deadly 2010 raid on a Gaza aid flotilla which left nine Turkish activists dead.
As part of the deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged "to work on improving the humanitarian situation" in the Palestinian territories in a phonecall with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan brokered by US President Barack Obama on a landmark visit.
If you've ever wondered what's lurking inside Sony's thin and rather stylish Xperia Tablet Z, then company's ready to satisfy your morbid curiosity with an official teardown video. In it, a Sony-certified tablet gutter cracks into the Tablet Z to reveal an assortment of tablet parts, including tiny PCBs and a rather large battery pack. There's also the rather surprising revelation that the back of the waterproof slate is held on with little more than glue and tape.
Those interested in seeing what goes into making an Android tablet can check out the video above. The Sony Xperia Tablet Z is due for release in the West starting in May.
LONDON (Reuters) - 888 could launch an online gaming offering in Nevada, home to gambling center Las Vegas, as soon as May, a source said after the group won the first ever U.S. license to be awarded to an internet betting firm.
The license to operate in Nevada granted to London-listed 888 Holdings Plc is the first time an internet gambling company has been licensed in the United States, which banned online gambling in 2006.
Following receipt of the license, 888's launch of online poker in Nevada could come as early as mid-second quarter, a source close to the situation said on Friday.
Revenue from Nevada alone is likely to be limited, but the license is a key step for 888 in its development in the wider regulated U.S. online gaming market.
"This is an historic moment for 888. This is the first time a company uniquely providing online gaming has been licensed by any U.S. jurisdiction," Chief Executive Brian Mattingley said.
The decision, announced on Thursday, had been expected after the Nevada state gaming control board voted to recommend approval earlier this month.
888 has already signed a deal with Las Vegas operator Treasure Island to launch online poker under its own brand in Nevada.
It has also a signed a non-exclusive deal with Las Vegas casino brand Caesars to power the web spin-off of Caesars' World Series of Poker tournament, and has agreed a deal with slot machine operator WMS to give it an online presence.
888 has said that, while U.S. income could eventually be considerable, it will likely not have a significant bottom-line impact until 2015.
LEGAL POSITION
Internet betting was barred by Congress in 2006, dealing a blow to online gaming companies including 888 who had set up there and driving them elsewhere in their quest for growth.
But the legal position in the United States is changing and national legislation is set to be introduced in the spring as the federal government looks to overtake tax revenue-hungry states racing to follow Nevada in legalization.
Last month, New Jersey - home to the casinos of Atlantic City - legalized internet gambling in the state.
Analysts say companies like 888 and larger rival bwin.party are well placed to take advantage of the move towards a regulated market, having the experience and infrastructure from years of operating in Europe.
"Management teams will need to successfully juggle maintaining growth in the core business whilst preparing for U.S. re-entry," said analysts at brokerage Panmure Gordon.
"The highest visibility on U.S. re-entry lies with 888 and bwin.party, but Playtech is reported to be in advanced discussions and Betfair's provisional betting exchange license in California remains a source of key upside should it graduate to a full license."
Bwin, the world's largest-listed internet betting firm, said earlier this month it was throwing more resources at the U.S. and other soon-to-be regulated markets and backing out of smaller, unregulated ones.
888, like other online gambling firms, suffered a plummeting share price in 2006 at the time of the U.S. clampdown. Yet the stock hit a seven-year-high earlier this month on hopes of a return to the United States.
If interest-only loans were issued too freely before the foreclosure crisis, their availability now is restricted to a privileged few.
A staple of the jumbo market, interest-only loans continue to be used by affluent borrowers to help them manage irregular cash flow, reap a tax benefit, or free up cash for investment elsewhere.
In particular, people in the financial services industry who derive most of their compensation from yearly bonuses commonly rely on interest-only loans to keep their mortgage payments manageable the rest of the year. "Then they take some of that bonus and pay down their mortgage each year," said David Adamo, the chief executive of Luxury Mortgage in Stamford, Conn. "And their monthly payment then also goes down."
Thus, interest-only loans have evolved into a financial tool, and no longer a means to affordability.
Freddie Mac stopped backing the loans in 2010 after suffering big losses; as a result, fewer lenders offer them. Those that do have strict qualifying standards. Lenders generally require that the borrower have at least 30 percent equity in a property, and a minimum FICO score of 720. Determination of ability to pay back the loan is based on the fully amortized payment, not the interest-only payment.
Additionally, "a lot of lenders will want to see assets to cover as many as 24 months' worth of principal, taxes and insurance payments," said Richard Pisnoy, a principal of Silver Fin Capital, a brokerage in Great Neck, N.Y.
Interest-only loans are primarily adjustable-rate products with an initial fixed period when only interest is due. Available in 5-, 7- or 10-year terms, they "are generally done for 10 years so there's no payment shock in the near term," said Tom Wind, the executive vice president for residential and consumer lending at EverBank, a national lender based in Jacksonville, Fla.
Interest rates are usually an eighth- to a half-percentage point higher than on fully amortized jumbo loans. After the fixed term is up, the mortgage re-amortizes, and both principal and interest are due.
On a $700,000 loan with a fixed rate of 3.875 for the first 10 years, the monthly payment would be $2,260, as calculated by Mr. Pisnoy. After 10 years, based on the same rate, the payment would rise to $4,195. If over time the rate adjusted upward by as much as five percentage points (the usual cap), the payment could reach $6,700.
To avoid such a scenario, however, borrowers generally put money toward their principal balance ahead of time, or refinance out of the loan before a full payment is due.
Two lenders ? Community National Bank and National Cooperative Bank ? offer interest-only loans for co-ops in the New York market. Demand is weak, however, because so many co-ops take a dim view of such financing, said Jordan Roth, a senior branch manager of GFI Mortgage Bankers in Manhattan.
"We're finding a number of co-ops that are becoming more conservative when it comes to the mortgage products they will allow their prospective buyers to use," Mr. Roth said. "Very rarely do you find one that allows an interest-only mortgage in the current market."
More lenders may yet decide to get out of the interest-only segment. Under rules issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, beginning next January, lenders will face greater legal exposure on interest-only loans that go into foreclosure.
But mortgage executives played down that risk, citing the high qualifying ratios for these loans. "These are very strong loans," Mr. Wind said, "and that's creating availability among smaller lenders as well as larger banks."
Mar. 22, 2013 ? A study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) challenges a widely held belief that long nerve grafts do poorly in adults with an axillary nerve injury. Investigators found that the outcomes of long nerve grafts were comparable to those of modern nerve transfers. Both procedures restored function. The axillary nerve supplies the deltoid muscle of the shoulder and an important rotator cuff muscle. It's part of the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that runs down from the neck and across the shoulder.
"Conventional wisdom is that grafts longer than seven centimeters (about three inches) don't work well. We set out to test this theory and found that long nerve grafts did work well. Our study concludes that this type of graft should not be overlooked as an effective treatment for an axillary nerve injury," said Dr. Scott W. Wolfe, lead author and director of the Center for Brachial Plexus and Traumatic Nerve Injury at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
The study, titled, "Comparison between Long Nerve Grafts and Nerve Transfers for Axillary Nerve Injuries," will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons on March 22 in Chicago.
Injury to the brachial plexus can be devastating, leaving people unable to use their arms or hands. The most common cause is a motor vehicle accident or sports injury. The Center for Brachial Plexus and Traumatic Nerve Injury at Hospital for Special Surgery offers advanced diagnostic and treatment options, including complex nerve reconstruction surgery.
Nerve reconstruction is considered when nerves are so severely damaged they cannot recover on their own. These complex operations can take up to 12 hours. Surgeons reconstruct nerves either by bridging a nerve defect with a nerve graft or by performing a nerve transfer from a nearby healthy nerve to share its function. In the study, researchers compared these two different techniques to reactivate the deltoid muscle and enable patients to regain the use of their arm.
"A nerve transfer takes a working nerve from one muscle and transfers all or part of that nerve to a non-working nerve or another muscle, so that the two muscles can share the nerve and regain function," Dr. Wolfe explained. "A nerve graft involves taking a nerve from another part of the body. The nerve is removed from a location where its function is less important, usually the leg, and moved to the damaged area. It is used to bridge the defective gap between two ends of a nerve to restore function."
Only 150 to 200 highly specialized surgeons worldwide perform these complex brachial plexus surgeries, and Dr. Wolfe and his colleagues aim to raise awareness that the procedures can restore function in people severely debilitated by a nerve injury. It is important for patients to be treated in a timely manner.
Traditionally, nerve grafts longer than seven centimeters have demonstrated worse outcomes than short grafts and poorer functional outcome when compared to nerve transfer surgery. The purpose of the HSS study was to take another look at longer grafts and directly compare the outcomes to nerve transfers. The results were measured by the patients' recovery and by a test called electromyography, or EMG. This sophisticated test is used to objectively measure muscle and nerve function.
In the study, 11 patients treated with long nerve grafts (> 7cm, range 9cm to 15cm) were compared with 14 patients treated by a nerve transfer over a 10-year period. The average length of the nerve graft was 13cm (5.2 inches). Data was collected at regular intervals, beginning pre-operatively and continuing for up to 11 years.
Prior to surgery, all patients had EMG tests that showed complete absence of deltoid muscle function. After surgery, deltoid recovery, range of motion and EMG evidence of restored function were compared.
The study found no statistically significant differences in shoulder strength, range of motion or electromyographic recovery between nerve graft and nerve transfer patients. All adults in the long nerve graft group regained at least enough strength to be able to move their arm against gravity, but there were two failures in the nerve transfer group. "Going from no function with a limp and numb arm to gaining enough strength to be able to lift a glass to one's lips is a major gain for these patients," said Dr. Wolfe, who is also chief emeritus of the Hand and Upper Extremity Service at HSS. .
"Improvements in the patients receiving a nerve graft were identical to improvements in the nerve transfer group," he added, "so now surgeons can say with confidence that 'a long graft has a good chance of working,' instead of abandoning the procedure when a nerve transfer is not an option."
Unfortunately, some patients suffer long-term impairment from nerve injuries that could have been repaired because many physicians are unaware that nerve reconstructive surgery works, according to Dr. Steve K. Lee, director of research at the Center for Brachial Plexus and Traumatic Nerve Injury. "When a nerve that controls a muscle loses function, it needs to be reactivated within about 12 months, before the muscle atrophies. Studies have shown that if nerve reconstruction surgery is done within six months after a nerve is damaged, patients do much better."
Dr. Joseph Feinberg, who is co-medical director of the Center and performs diagnostic testing to evaluate nerve injuries, says studies such as the one conducted at HSS are important to raise awareness. "In general, many people feel that these types of nerve injuries are permanent and not many treatments are effective. We want people to be aware that they do have options. Procedures can be done to restore function, even when a patient has completely lost the ability to use certain muscle groups," said Dr. Feinberg, who is physiatrist-in-chief at Hospital for Special Surgery.
Dr. Wolfe says the next step will be to conduct a rigorous multi-center study to better define the role of nerve grafts versus nerve transfers and how best to use the two techniques.
Other contributing authors from Hospital for Special Surgery are Parker Johnsen, B.S., who is the presenting author, and Adele Mirbey, B.A.
Paper: Comparison between Long Nerve Grafts and Nerve Transfers for Axillary Nerve Injuries, (Paper 801) Friday, March 22, 2013.
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Public release date: 25-Mar-2013
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