Estrogen Activates Critical Lung Genes To Improve Lung Function Following Preterm Birth

Estrogen may be a new postnatal therapy to improve lung function and other outcomes in preterm infants, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in an animal study.



"Ironically, a hormone that has received great attention as a potential means to optimize the health of older women may be a beneficial treatment for humans during the earliest stages of life," said Dr. Philip Shaul, professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern and the study's senior author.



The study, conducted in preterm primates, appears in the March issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The study was performed at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research Primate Center in San Antonio as part of a National Institutes of Health-funded consortium investigating causes and treatments for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a devastating primary complication of premature birth that develops in the preterm lung following ventilation and oxygen support.



Sufficient production of nitric oxide in fetal and newborn lungs is necessary for the lungs to develop and function properly. During the latter part of pregnancy the placenta produces large amounts of estrogen that enters the fetal circulation. Another spike of estrogen occurs during labor. In prior studies in cultured cells the investigators found that estrogen activates the genes in lung cells encoding nitric oxide synthases, enzymes that produce nitric oxide. That research suggested treatment with the hormone may achieve the same results in the intact lung. Premature infants - nearly 50,000 are born in the U.S. each year - miss out on this exposure to estrogen in the womb and, as a consequence, may experience respiratory problems because they lack nitric oxide.



Dr. Shaul and his colleagues found that administering estrogen to premature primates accomplished several things.



First, the treated animals had greater abundance of nitric oxide synthases in their lungs, resulting in markedly enhanced lung function and a significantly reduced need for ventilation support. This represents an important step in lessening the lung injury that causes BPD in humans, Dr. Shaul said. It also prevented low blood pressure, which is a common problem in preterm infants.



Estrogen also caused the closure of the ductus arteriosus, a shunt that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta during the primates' fetal development to allow blood flow to bypass the fetus' fluid-filled lungs. In the case of full-term infants, the ductus arteriosus normally closes at the time of birth once breathing is established. In premature infants, however, it frequently fails to close resulting in further impairment in lung and heart function.



"With just one therapeutic intervention multiple benefits occurred in the lungs and the circulation," Dr. Shaul said. "Estrogen-based therapies to prevent BPD and other complications of prematurity should be further developed, and it is our hope to begin clinical trials in the near future."



Dr. Shaul said that future studies also would need to evaluate other potential targets of estrogen in the lung in addition to nitric oxide synthases and possible effects of postnatal estrogen treatment on nonpulmonary development, including those related to the later reproductive health of the child.



Notes:



Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study were the lead author Dr. Donald McCurnin, professor of pediatrics and medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit at Children's Medical Center Dallas; Dr. Brigham Willis, a former assistant professor of pediatrics; and Ivan Yuhanna, senior research associate in pediatrics.



Also participating were researchers from UT Health Science Center at San Antonio; the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research; Washington University School of Medicine; National Jewish Medical and Research Center, the University of Utah School of Medicine, the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine; SRI International, the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry; and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.



Visit utsouthwestern/pediatrics to learn more about UT Southwestern's clinical services in pediatrics.



Dr. Philip Shaul -- utsouthwestern.edu/findfac/professional/0,2356,16558,00.html



Source: Erin Prather Stafford


UT Southwestern Medical Center

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What Decides Neural Stem Cell Fate?

Early in embryonic development, the neural crest - a transient group of stem cells - gives rise to parts of the nervous system and several other tissues. But little is known about what determines which cells become neurons and which become other cell types. A team led by Dr. Alexey Terskikh at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) recently found that expression of a gene called SOX2 maintains the potential for neural crest stem cells to become neurons in the peripheral nervous system, where they interface with muscles and other organs. Their results, published online May 5 by the journal Cell Stem Cell, could help better inform therapies aimed at neurocristopathies, diseases caused by defects in the neural crest or neurons, which include microphthamia and CHARGE syndrome.



The SOX2 gene encodes a transcription factor, a type of protein that switches other genes on or off. SOX2 is one of two key genes researchers use to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are capable of differentiating into all cell types for research and potential therapeutic applications.



"In this study, we looked at SOX2's role in cells of the peripheral nervous system and discovered that it's required to sustain multipotency - the ability to differentiate into several cell types in the peripheral nervous system, including neurons and glia," explained Dr. Terskikh, assistant professor in Sanford-Burnham's Del E. Webb Neuroscience, Aging and Stem Cell Research Center.



Using an embryonic stem cell model, Dr. Terskikh and colleagues showed that stem cells in the developing nervous system start out with SOX2, but lose it at the stage when they are considered migratory neural crest cells. Later, as neural crest stem cells aggregate at a subsequent point in development, SOX2 is regained only by those cells fated to become neurons. Neural crest stem cells that remain SOX2-free differentiate into other cell types, but never become neurons.



To determine how SOX2 controls this stage in nervous system development, the researchers looked at the genes it acts upon. They found that SOX2 switches on neurogenin-1 and Mash-1, two genes that support neuronal survival in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.



"If we prevent neural crest stem cells from re-expressing SOX2, we don't get neurons. If we try to push these SOX2-deficient cells to become neurons, they die, but they can readily give rise to glia or smooth muscle cells," Dr. Terskikh said. "We think that one function of SOX2 is to keep cells multipotent or pluripotent for one reason - if they need to become a neuron later in development. We hope this finding will be useful to researchers studying neural crest development and stem cell differentiation."


Notes:


Dr. Terskikh is supported by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Co-authors of this study include Flavio Cimadamore, Elena Giusto, Ksenia Gnedeva, Giulio Cattarossi, Amber Miller and Laurence M. Brill at Sanford-Burnham, Katherine Fishwick and Marianne Bronner-Fraser at the California Institute of Technology and Stefano Pluchino from the Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS, in Italy.



Original paper:


Cimadamore F, Fishwick K, Giusto, Gnedeva K, Cattarossi G, Miller A, Pluchino S, Brill LM, Bronner-Fraser M, Terskikh AV. Human ESC-Derived Neural Crest Model Reveals A Key Role For SOX2 In Sensory Neurogenesis. Cell Stem Cell. May 5, 2011.



Source:

Heather Buschman, Ph.D.

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute

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Eiken Chemical to Release New Avian Flu Virus Detection Reagent Kit

Tokyo (JCNN) - Eiken Chemical (TSE:4549) announced December 21 that it will begin marketing Loopamp Primer Set for Avian
Flu H5, a reagent kit to identify the A/H5 avian flu virus (Flu A/H5) designed for academic research, on December 24.



In combination with its proprietary kit Loopamp RNA Amplification Kit (RT-LAMP), the new product detects the amplification or
presence of Flu A/H5 through either a real-time turbidimeter or fluorescent visualization.


The product will be available through WebSERVE/e Genome Order (genome.e-mp.jp/), an online shop run by Fujitsu System
Solutions.


View Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd. company profile
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japancorp/Article.Asp?Art_ID=9061

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How Ion Channels Are Organized To Control Nerve Cell Communication

The messages passed in a neuronal network can target something like 100 billion nerve cells in the brain alone. These, in turn communicate with millions of other cells and organs in the body. How, then, do whole cascades of events trigger responses that are highly specific, quick and precisely timed? A team at the Weizmann Institute of Science has now shed light on this mysterious mechanism. Their discovery could have important implications for the future development of drugs for epilepsy and other nervous system diseases. These findings were recently published in the journal Neuron.



The secret is in the control over electrical signals generated by cells. These signals depend on ion channels - membrane proteins found in excitable cells, such as nerve cells - that allow them to generate electrical signals, depending on whether the channels are opened or closed. Prof. Eitan Reuveny, together with Ph.D. students Inbal Riven and Shachar Iwanir of the Weizmann Institute's Biological Chemistry Department, studied channels that work on potassium ions and are coupled to a protein called the G protein, which when activated, causes the channel to open. Opening the channel inhibits the conductance of electrical signals, a fact that might be relevant, for example, in the control of seizures.



The G protein itself is activated by another protein, a receptor, which gets its cue to carry out its task from chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters. But neurotransmitters are general messengers - they can inhibit as well as excite, and the receptors can respond to either message. How, the scientists wanted to know, is the G protein targeted so quickly and precisely to activate the channel?



Reuveny and his team found that the receptor and G protein are physically bound together in a complex, allowing the process to be finely tuned. When the receptor receives a chemical message from the neurotransmitter, it is already hooked up to the correct G protein. After being activated by the receptor, the G protein changes shape, opening the ion channel. The evidence for this complex structure came from special technique called FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) that can measure the distance between two molecules. The scientists observed that even without stimulation, there is a lot of energy transfer between the G protein and the potassium channel, suggesting that they are very close together.



Mutations in ion channels are likely to be involved in epilepsy, chronic pain, neurodegenerative diseases and muscular diseases, and ion channels are the target of many drugs. Understanding the basic biological phenomena behind the way proteins organize themselves and orchestrate biological processes may allow scientists to design better or more efficient drugs.







Prof. Eitan Reuveny's research is supported by the Y. Leon Benoziyo Institute for Molecular Medicine; the Clore Center for Biological Physics; and the Dr. Josef Cohn Minerva Center for Biomembrane Research.



The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the world's top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions. Noted for its wide-ranging exploration of the natural and exact sciences, the Institute is home to 2,500 scientists, students, technicians and supporting staff. Institute research efforts include the search for new ways of fighting disease and hunger, examining leading questions in mathematics and computer science, probing the physics of matter and the universe, creating novel materials and developing new strategies for protecting the environment.



Contact: Jennifer Manning


American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science

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Sciele Pharma And Plethora Solutions Announce That PSD502 Demonstrates Substantial Benefit In The Treatment Of Premature Ejaculation

Sciele Pharma, Inc. a Shiongi Company, and Plethora Solutions Holdings PLC ("Plethora" - AME:PLE) today presented highly encouraging results from a European Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of PSD502 for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). In this study, men treated with PSD502 five minutes before intercourse were able to delay ejaculation up to six times longer than those who used a placebo. Additionally, patients and their partners reported significant improvements in overall sexual satisfaction scores when using PSD502. The results were presented today at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting.


"Premature ejaculation is a very distressing condition that can have a devastating impact on the intimate relationship between men and their partners," said Professor Wallace Dinsmore, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK, and lead study investigator. "The data suggest that PSD502 is effective in delaying ejaculation for several minutes, significantly improving the overall sexual experience. Equally important is the fact that in this trial PSD502 was shown to be well tolerated and well accepted by patients."


The European Phase III study, one of two major international trials, was designed to determine whether PSD502, a metered-dose aerosol formulation of lidocaine and prilocaine, would result in longer intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) in men who suffer from PE. The study also assessed the safety and tolerability of the therapy.


"Premature ejaculation is experienced by up to 30 percent of the adult male population at some time in their lives, yet there is no FDA-approved prescription product to treat this sexual dysfunction," said Ira D. Sharlip, M.D., clinical professor of urology, University of California, San Francisco. "The significant improvement in ejaculatory control and overall sexual satisfaction reported by men using PSD502 in this study is very encouraging news for physicians who treat these patients."


"PSD502 may represent a promising new therapy in the management of premature ejaculation, meeting an unmet medical need in a condition that affects millions of men," said Ed Schutter, President and Chief Operating Officer of Sciele Pharma. "We look forward to completing the North American Phase III study in the second half of this year, with an anticipated filing with the FDA in the first half of 2010."


European Phase III Study


The European study was conducted with 300 randomized patients across 32 investigational centers in four countries across Europe. Of these, 268 patients have now been entered into the optional nine-month open-label study.


Final analyses confirmed that PSD502 produced a highly clinically and statistically significant increase from baseline in all three co-primary study endpoints, and also in all secondary endpoints. The IELT for PSD502 was four minutes compared with one minute in placebo (p

Of patients who received PSD502, 91% achieved an IELT of greater than one minute and 75% achieved an IELT of greater than two minutes following treatment. This compared with only 54% and 22% of placebo patients, respectively. Both endpoints were highly clinically and statistically significant (p

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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Ruling That Colorado Right To Life Exempted From State Campaign Finance Amendment

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling that the Colorado Right to Life Committee is exempted from a state constitutional amendment that requires some advocacy groups to file financial disclosure papers, the AP/Frisco Summit Daily News reports (AP/Frisco Summit Daily News, 8/21). Amendment 27, which was approved by Colorado voters in November 2002, bans direct corporate campaign contributions, limits contributions from political action committees to candidates and political parties, and restricts how much an individual or company can contribute to a candidate.

CRLC and the Colorado Citizens for Responsible Government in August 2003 filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the amendment. The groups claimed that the amendment is unconstitutional because it regulates issue advocacy (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/4/03). Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman (R) argued that CRLC had to register as a political action committee and was subject to financial disclosure requirements.

The appellate court in its ruling said that CRLC qualified as an exception because it was not formed for business activities, did not have shareholders and received less than 1% of its annual gross income from business corporations. The court added that CRLC did not qualify because its main purpose is not to promote the defeat or election of candidates but rather to promote respect for human life. A spokesperson for Coffman said the secretary could not comment because he had not seen the ruling (AP/Frisco Summit Daily News, 8/21).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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Key Protein In Energy Regulation Identified By Gladstone Scientists

With obesity and obesity-related diseases epidemic in the developed world, a clear understanding of how metabolism is regulated is crucial. One of the key metabolic pathways involves the oxidation of fat. In the current edition of the journal Nature, scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology report on a new mechanism that governs this pathway and in the process identified a novel potential therapeutic target for controlling fat metabolism. The target is a protein from the mitochondria, or the "power plants" of every cell that are responsible for processing oxygen and converting substances from the foods we eat into energy for essential cell functions.



"Many mitochondrial proteins undergo a small chemical modification known as acetylation, which varies during feeding and fasting conditions," said Eric Verdin, MD, senior investigator and senior author of the study. "From our previous studies, we knew that the enzyme SIRT3 is involved in removing these modifications, and we speculated that SIRT3 might have a role in regulating metabolism and looked for how it might do this."



To study the enzyme's role in mice, the researchers used mice in which both copies of the gene had been deleted. Interestingly, mice that lost both copies of the SIRT3 gene appeared to be completely normal. However, the investigators then tested the mice under fasting conditions. During fasting, expression of SIRT3 was increased in the liver, an organ that helps maintain the body's energy balance. The livers of mice without SIRT3 had higher levels of fat and triglycerides than normal mice, because the mice could not burn fat.



To determine how SIRT3 controls fat burning, the researchers looked at the mitochondrial proteins. They found that the enzyme called LCAD was "hyperacetylated" and contained even more acetyl groups than usual and the enzyme had reduced activity.



The mice that lacked SIRT3 also had many of the key markers of fat oxidation disorders, low energy levels and low tolerance to cold. Further investigation showed that higher levels of SIRT3 expression and activity increase the activity of this key enzyme in fat oxidation. However, a number of other proteins are acetylated in the mitochondria, an observation which suggests that other proteins may be involved.



"We conclude that acetylation is a new mechanism for regulating fatty acid oxidation in mitochondria and that SIRT3 mediates the acetylation state," said Matthew Hirschey, postdoctoral fellow and lead author of the study. "The implication is that SIRT3 may have a pathologic role in some metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or fatty liver disease. We are excited about exploring these possibilities."



Additional contributors to the research include C. Ron Kahn of the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard Medical School, Robert V. Farese, Jr. of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, and Chris Newgard of Duke University Medical Center. The work was supported in part by a Senior Scholarship in Aging from the Ellison Medical Foundation and by institutional support from The J. David Gladstone Institutes.



Dr. Verdin's primary affiliation is with the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology where he is associate director and where his laboratory is located and his research is conducted. He is also professor of medicine at UCSF.



Source:

Valerie Tucker

Gladstone Institutes

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We are not bird flu source, says China

China has rejected a report by a British scientific magazine that it is the source of the deadly bird flu sweeping Asia.


The respected British weekly New Scientist cites unidentified health experts saying the outbreak 'probably' began in southern China in early 2003, after a poultry vaccination scheme went wrong.


The report says that had since been covered up.


Speaking through a translator, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue angrily denied the claim


'We believe that such an allegation is totally inaccurate, groundless and also absolutely not respecting science and irresponsible,' she said.


'We believe that this highly contagious disease is a headache for the world.'

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News From The American Society Of Plastic Surgeons, June 2008

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® is the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the most widely read plastic surgery journal in the world. It provides information on the latest techniques and developments in all areas of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, focusing on innovative surgical advances and new clinical findings.



Divorced, Young Women Most Likely to Have Plastic Surgery After Massive Weight Loss



After major weight loss, many patients want to further hone their body by having body contouring plastic surgery. This study looked at demographic factors that influence patients' desires for plastic surgery following massive weight loss. According to the study, the majority of post-bariatric surgery patients want body contouring. In addition, younger, divorced women who had minimally-invasive gastric bypass surgery had the strongest interest. Almost 67,000 body contouring procedures after massive weight loss were performed in 2007, according to the ASPS.



(Study title: Temporal and Demographic Factors Influencing the Desire for Plastic Surgery after Gastric Bypass Surgery)



Does Obesity Affect Patient Satisfaction with Breast Reconstruction?



Breast reconstruction in overweight patients can be a difficult challenge for plastic surgeons. A higher body mass index can be associated with greater post-operative complications and poor cosmetic results. This study found that obese women were as likely to be generally satisfied with their breast reconstruction as normal weight patients. For those who had reconstruction using their own skin (TRAM flap), as opposed to a breast implant, body mass index had no effect on satisfaction. The study concluded that for overweight patients, the quality-of-life benefits from breast reconstruction outweighed the surgical risks. More than 57,000 breast reconstructions were performed in 2007, according to the ASPS.



(Study title: The Impact of Obesity on Patient Satisfaction with Breast Reconstruction)







Source: ASPS Public Relations


American Society of Plastic Surgeons

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Swine Flu And Meningitis: A Serious Threat To Hajj Pilgrims- Health Experts Warn, UK

Health experts from Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) a National Hajj specific organisation in UK has warned over 25,000 prospective British Hajj pilgrims that they must safeguard their health against the risk of communicable diseases such as swine flu, meningitis and hepatitis due to over crowding at ceremonies, accommodation sites and public transports during Hajj pilgrimage.



"The communicable diseases can be transmitted through direct person-to-person contact with droplets of nasal or throat secretions of infected individuals. Close and prolonged contact (e.g. sneezing and coughing on someone, etc.) facilitates the spread of infection. The most common symptoms for swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu, including unusual tiredness, headache, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or cough, loss of appetite, aching muscles and diarrhea or vomiting. People aged older than 65, pregnant women, people suffering from chronic diseases i.e. lungs, heart, kidney, lever etc and children under 12 years old are more at the risk of catching swine flu." said the Health Experts from ABH.



The Saudi Government has advised that pilgrims planning to perform Hajj pilgrimage must be vaccinated against seasonal flu or the swine flu at least two weeks before applying for a visa depending on the availability of swine flu vaccine.



The Health experts from Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK also reminded the prospective British hajj pilgrims that they should take meningitis threat seriously as well. Over 20 British Hajj returnees have lost their lives due to the meningitis outbreak in the recent past. The most common symptoms specifically for meningitis are stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting. Therefore, it is vital that all prospective pilgrims must get 'quadrivalent meningococcal' vaccine (ACWY) before leaving for Saudi Arabia. A valid certificate of meningitis vaccine from your doctor is compulsory to obtain a visa from the Saudi Embassy.



Some barbers around the Holy places pose a risk of spreading diseases, such as Hepatitis and other blood-borne pathogens by using the same razors repeatedly. The Doctors also warned pilgrims to be aware of the risk of using the services provided by these barbers and they must insist that the barbers use disposable razors to shave.



"Protect yourself and your family; don't ruin your journey with illnesses. Make the most out of this lifetime experience," said the Health experts from Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK.



Source
Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims)

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Toward A Less Expensive, More Convenient Treatment Of Gaucher's Disease

Prospects for eventual development of a less costly and more convenient treatment for Gaucher's disease have brightened with new research findings reported in the May issue of ACS Chemical Biology.


The existing treatment costs up to $750,000 annually for a single patient, continues for life, and must be given intravenously rather than by mouth. An oral treatment based on the new research could cut those costs by 100-fold.


Gaucher's (go-SHAYZ) disease is rare, but ranks as the most common lysosomal storage disorder and genetic disorder affecting Jewish people of Eastern European ancestry. Individuals with Gaucher's disease, which can be fatal, produce a defective form of GC, a critical enzyme that breaks down a fatty substance called glucosylceramide.


In the new report, scientists have confirmed experiments they reported initially in 2002 that "chemical chaperones" can partially correct the genetic defect responsible for most cases of Gaucher's disease. Like aspirin, penicillin and most other existing drugs, chemical chaperones are small molecules -- natural and synthetic substances with a low molecular weight.


Using patient-derived cell lines, researchers have extended those earlier studies to provide new insights into the defect and how chaperones correct it. The defect involves protein misfolding and prevents a key enzyme, glucocerebrosidase (GC), from reaching the location in cells where it normally functions. Jeffrey W. Kelly, Ph.D., of the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in La Jolla, Calif., headed the research team.


"Gaucher's disease patients can now be treated with enzyme replacement therapy," Kelly explained. "The hope is that this current strategy could be replaced with a small molecule chemical chaperone therapy wherein the cost would be reduced by at least 100-fold." Although enzyme replacement therapy is highly effective in treating Gaucher's disease, treatment often costs $100,000-$750,000 annually for each patient. With abnormal glucosylceramide, Gaucher's patients accumulate GC in the spleen, liver, lungs and bone marrow. As those cells become engorged with the enzyme, patients experience a range of health problems including anemia, bone fractures and sometimes lung and brain disorders. Kelly said researchers are now trying to identify an optimal small molecule that could be suitable for use as a chemical chaperone in clinical trials.


The research team included Anu R. Sawkar, Ph.D., and William E. Balch, Ph.D., of TSRI; Martina Schmitz, Ph.D., and Klaus-Peter Zimmer, Ph.D., of Westf?lische Wilhelms-Universit?t in M?nster, Germany; and David Reczek, Ph.D., and Tim Edmunds, Ph.D., of Genzyme in Cambridge, Massachusetts.


The American Chemical Society -- the world's largest scientific society -- is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.


Michael Bernstein

m_bernsteinacs

American Chemical Society

acs/

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Brene Brown's Offering Studies Women And Shame

It has the power to oppress, silence and shape the way we live, love, work and parent. It's shame, and while it may be debilitating and isolating, one University of Houston professor and researcher contends in her new book, "I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame," the time is right to bring it out into the open.



"Shame is a social epidemic," said Bren?© Brown, a shame and empathy researcher at the UH Graduate College of Social Work. "We are shamed into thinking we are too fat, bad moms, not sexual enough. In our culture, the fear of not belonging and not being acceptable is so insidious that it changes our relationships, families and communities without us even knowing."



Brown, a qualitative researcher, discovered that shame manifests itself in many ways including addiction, perfectionism, fear and blame. She spent six years interviewing approximately 400 women about their most personal moments of shame - from the woman who was criticized by the gas station clerk when her credit card was declined (she later raged at her unsuspecting toddler as part of the vicious shame cycle), to the high school teacher who was labeled as a rabble-rouser when she spoke out at a faculty meeting (she later quit teaching).



"Shame lurks in all of the familiar places like body image, motherhood, family, parenting, money and work, mental and physical health, addiction, sex, aging and religion," Brown said. "When we are feeling shame, the camera is zoomed in tight, and all we see is our flawed selves, alone and struggling. We think to ourselves, 'I'm the only one. Something is wrong with me. I am alone.' The less we understand shame and how it affects our feelings, thoughts and behaviors, the more power it exerts over our lives."



While Brown explains that we cannot be completely resistant to shame, we can develop the resilience we need to recognize shame, move through it constructively and grow from the experiences. Across the interviews, women with high levels of shame resilience shared four things in common, which Brown refers to as "The Four Elements of Shame Resilience."



"These include the ability to recognize shame and understand what triggers it and developing critical awareness about the messages and expectations that drive shame," Brown said. "In addition, those with high levels of shame resilience can reach out and share their stories. They have connection networks and are able to 'speak shame.' They can use the word. They can be honest about their feelings and ask for what they need, rather than acting out or shutting down."



One of Brown's goals with this research is to create a national dialogue on the issue of shame, so the feelings of pain and isolation can be transformed into compassion and connection.



"My greatest hope is that we will reach out across our differences and through our shame to share our stories and to connect with those who need to hear, 'You are not alone,'" Brown said.
















Brown currently is conducting research on men and shame and how shame is used in parenting and education.



She holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in social work, and is a licensed social worker. She teaches graduate courses on women's issues, shame and empathy, advocacy-based research and global justice. She also is a founding working board member of the Nobel Women's Initiative.






For more information on the UH Graduate College of Social Work


For more information on Bren?© Brown



About the University of Houston



The University of Houston, Texas' premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.



About the UH Graduate College of Social Work



The mission of the Graduate College of Social Work is to promote social, economic and political justice and to advance knowledge for competent, ethical practice and leadership with diverse populations. Established by the Texas State Legislature in 1967, the College includes 24 full-time faculty, including a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The College offers a Master of Social Work, and Ph.D. with emphasis on political social work, children and families, gerontological social work, health care and mental health.



For more information about UH the university's 'Newsroom'



Contact: Marisa Ramirez


University of Houston

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Academies Of Science Call For Amendments To Impracticable Genetic Diagnostics Act

Many aspects of the German Genetic Diagnostics Act (Gendiagnostikgesetz) are out of touch with the latest technology, almost impossible to implement in clinical practice, or even detrimental to the success of recognised screening tests, such as newborn screening. The Act, which came into force in February 2010, is in desperate need of amendment. This was the conclusion reached by the Academy Workgroup "Predictive genetic diagnostics as an instrument of disease prevention" of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (for the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities), and the acatech - German Academy of Science and Engineering. The paper discusses all aspects of genetic testing of healthy individuals to prevent disease, including the medical, ethical, economic and legal dimensions of the issue.



"We are entering the age of genetic medicine," said the Workgroup's spokesperson, Professor Peter Propping, before going on to explain that an objective, factual discussion of the subject was important for the public and for government. Predictive genetic diagnostics involves analysing human genes to identify future disease risks. This type of test is becoming increasingly relevant because science is identifying more and more genetic variations that are linked to predispositions for specific diseases. These include a number of forms of hereditary cancers.



Scientists in the Workgroup agreed that predictive genetic testing should only be conducted at the request and in the interests of an individual. "Respect for the patients' freedom to make their own choices is essential," said Propping. The team categorically rejected eugenic ideas that aim to eliminate specific genes from the genome of an entire population or even go so far as to envision systematically "improving" the human gene pool.



The report also addressed the weaknesses and gaps in Germany's Genetic Diagnostics Act. Propping summed up the findings of the Workgroup by saying, "The Act should protect individuals. But to do so, it must offer adequate responses to questions of clinical practice." He explained that the Act must be amended to deal with the following situations:



Example 1: Newborn screening



The Act defines newborn screening, which has proven successful for decades, as universal genetic screening. This means that parents must be advised on the test prior to the blood sample being taken from their child's heel. However, nurses and midwives are not authorised to give this advice - only doctors are. There is increasing evidence that in the case of home births blood samples are frequently not taken and screenings not conducted, even though this is not actually in line with the parents' wishes. As a result it is not always possible to offer sick children proper treatment, even when it is urgently required. Therefore the Act must be amended to allow nurses and midwives to advise parents on the test.
















Example 2: The family dimension



The Act places higher value on patient-doctor confidentiality than it does on a doctor's duty to provide care. For example, if tests show that an individual has a treatable, autosomal dominant hereditary disease for which a causative mutation has been identified, he or she is instructed to inform relatives that they may also risk developing the disease. After all, early diagnosis makes it easier to treat many illnesses, such as hereditary forms of breast cancer and intestinal cancer. However, doctors have no powers to check whether this information is passed on within the family or whether it is, perhaps even purposefully, withheld. With this in mind, the Act should not, as a rule, accord lower priority to a doctor's duty to provide care. Doctors should be in a position to assess individual cases and decide whether to inform family members in an appropriate manner of the risks of disease when there is a definite medical benefit in doing so.



Example 3: Data storage



The Act stipulates that as a general rule, doctors must store the results of genetic tests for ten years, after which time the information must be destroyed. This rule applies unless patients request that their information be destroyed sooner or stored for longer, and data must be retained if its destruction would infringe on patient interests worthy of protection. In everyday clinical practice, these regulations are impracticable and inappropriate. It is not always possible to establish within a decade what impact the - in contrast to other tests - irreversible genetic findings may have at a later date. Furthermore, the realities of clinical practice make it impossible for doctors to reassess each case before the ten-year limit expires and to reach a decision on whether to keep the data or destroy it. Thus, the Act should remove limitations on how long results can be stored.



The Workgroup comprised 17 renowned scientists from a variety of disciplines, including human genetics, medical ethics, law and health economics. Led by member of the Leopoldina Presidium Professor Peter Propping (human genetics, Bonn), the team worked intensively for 18 months on the report, which is now complete. The editorial group comprised Professor Propping, Professor Claus Bartram (human genetics, Heidelberg), Professor J?¶rg Schmidtke (human genetics, Hanover), Professor Jochen Taupitz (medical law, Mannheim) and Professor Urban Wiesing, (medical ethics, T??bingen).



Source:

Dr. Kathrin Happe


Leopoldina

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Abbott Laboratories Expands Axsym Diagnostic Testing Menu

Abbott Laboratories announced today expanded test menus in the United States for its AxSYM® Automated Immunoassay Instrument System. Two thyroid tests, thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (Anti-TPO) and thyroglobulin autoantibodies (Anti-Tg), enhance AxSYM's thyroid test offering. With the addition of Cortisol, the endocrinology test menu is complete. The Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg tests measure the antibodies that are characteristic of autoimmune thyroid disease. Cortisol, a hormone, is used in diagnosing adrenal gland disorders including Addison's disease and Cushing's syndrome. All three tests received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).


"Our popular AxSYM system continues to support the busy needs of medium-sized laboratories. These three assays add value to this system and demonstrate our commitment to further expanding AxSYM's diagnostic menu in the U.S.," said Michael J. Collins, vice president, U.S. Diagnostic Commercial Operations, Abbott Laboratories.


"Endocrine disorders often go undiagnosed. Patients and their doctors may attribute symptoms such as fatigue or weight fluctuation to lifestyle or aging factors. This is particularly the case with thyroid disorders, which are estimated to affect 27 million Americans. Among those with an over- or under-active thyroid, more than half still remain undiagnosed," said Paul W. Ladenson, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Director of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Johns Hopkins.


"With our AxSYM system, a laboratory can process a variety of immunodiagnostic tests simultaneously," said William Brown, Ph.D., vice president, Diagnostic Assays and Systems Development, Abbott Laboratories. "Within the endocrinology menu, the Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg assays are sensitive, precise and results are ready within 19 minutes. Our Cortisol assay is also sensitive, features good precision across the range, and provides results within 12 minutes."


The AxSYM immunoassay system can process up to 80 to 120 tests per hour. Besides endocrinology, other test menus include assays for abused drugs, cancer, cardiac, fertility, hepatitis, infectious disease, metabolic/renal, therapeutic drug monitoring and toxicology.


About Abbott Laboratories


Abbott Laboratories is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 55,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.


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A New Theory Of MHC Evolution: Beyond Selection On The Immune Genes

I propose a new theory that can explain the evolution and population genetics of vertebrate immune genes, the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC).


The theory is called Associative Balancing Complex evolution (ABC evolution), and it can explain the origin of the large number of genetic disorders associated with the MHC genes in humans, as well as several other remarkable features of these genes.


ABC evolution is inspired by theoretical studies of self-incompatibility loci (S-loci) of plants, and it incorporates the effects of evolutionary forces (mutation, selection, genetic drift and recombination) that act on the genes linked to the MHC.


Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences


Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.


Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

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New Web Site Offers Educational Resources for Couples Coping With Infertility

Couples embarking on the journey of starting a family are often disappointed when they don't conceive right away.
Infertility is normally diagnosed if a couple is not able to get pregnant after one year of unprotected, well-timed
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Infertility is a medical condition that results when one or both individuals have physical problems that interfere with
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One of the most crucial steps when trying to conceive is understanding the process and knowing what to expect along the way.
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U.S. Women Significantly Increase Use Of Contraceptive Services

Using nationally representative survey data, researchers examined the patterns and trends in the use of sexual and reproductive health care services in U.S. women aged 15 to 44 between 1995 and 2002. The results conclude that the receipt of contraceptive services (a birth control method or a prescription) among American women rose significantly during the time of this study (1995-2002) from 36 percent to 41 percent; however the overall receipt of sexual and reproductive health care services remained constant, with 74 percent of U.S. women reporting receipt of such services.


"Possible explanations for this trend include both increased demand for contraceptive services (e.g., because of changing contraceptive use patterns) and improved financial accessibility of contraceptive care within the private sector (e.g., because of better insurance coverage of contraceptive services)," the study's author inferred.


From: "Trends in U.S. Women's Use of Sexual Reproductive Health Care Services, 1995-2002"


The American Journal of Public Health is the monthly Journal of the American Public Health Association (APHA), the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. APHA is a leading publisher of books and periodicals promoting sound scientific standards, action programs and public policy to enhance health.

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Mickelson Announcement Prompts Expedited Filing Of Psoriasis Research Plan With FDA By Energex Systems, Inc.

A research plan that is designed to determine the degree of effectiveness of an experimental non-drug therapy known as ImmunoModulation for the treatment of psoriasis as a primary indication and psoriatic arthritis as a secondary indication, will be filed with the Federal Food and Drug Administration in an expedited manner.


In a letter that was delivered to the FDA today, medical technology developer Energex Systems, Inc. requested a Pre - Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) meeting to (i) review the safety and efficacy data that was submitted to the agency as a result of the company's ongoing research, (ii) discuss the hypothesis of the mechanism-of-action that it will rely on to support an IDE for the primary and secondary indication, and (iii) understand the agency's requirements for such an application. In its letter, the company pointed to the fact that the agency has previously awarded the company with (1) approval to conduct preliminary human research on HIV and (2) approvals for preliminary human research on Hepatitis C. "It was during our Hepatitis C research that our investigators observed a marked improvement in skin condition, physical discomfort and quality-of-life of those that also suffered from moderate to severe psoriasis," said Thomas R. Petrie, the Director of Engineering and Research at Energex.


Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that results in patches of thick, red skin covered in silvery scales, often on the elbows, knees and scalp, which can be itchy and excruciatingly painful. Psoriatic Arthritis is a disorder that causes the body's immune system to overreact and misfire against its own joints and tendons, causing inflammation and pain. In other words the body attacks its own cells. It often strikes between the ages of 30 and 55. At present there is no cure for either disorder.


"The effects of the therapy produced by our ImmunoModulator technology have a unique ability to stimulate an up and/or down immune response as needed. In our Hepatitis C and HIV research we witnessed consistent viral load reductions that were the result of a stimulated immune response. Conversely, in our animal research consisting of mice infected with H1N1 that typically succumb to inflamed lungs caused by an over reactive immune response, we witnessed a down regulation of the response and significantly less lung inflammation in the treated mice when compared to their sham-treated counterparts," continued Petrie.


"As a company that develops therapies and processes for unmet medical needs, we were saddened by Phil Mickelson's announcement that he has been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. I believe the attention that he has brought to this debilitating disease will be one of his greatest contributions to society. It is that attention that has caused us to expedite our research in an effort to provide a safer more effective treatment for those that suffer from it and other autoimmune disorders," said Thomas J. Fagan, CEO and President of Energex Systems.


Source:

Energex Systems, Inc.

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British Company Expected To Launch Hormone Test To Determine Number of 'Viable' Eggs in Ovaries

The British company Biofusion in January is expected to begin selling a test in the United Kingdom that measures the levels of three hormones to predict how many "viable" eggs a woman has left, BBC News reports. The test -- which will be available in the United Kingdom to doctors and pharmacists and also might be offered by mail -- measures the levels of two hormones found in the ovaries that drop as menopause nears and a hormone found in the brain that increases as menopause nears. By analyzing the three hormone levels over time, it might be possible to determine how close a woman is to menopause, according to BBC News (BBC News, 10/13). Lifestyle Choices, which is owned by Biofusion, developed the test based on research by Bill Ledger, a fertility expert and professor at the University of Sheffield (Johnston, London's Times, 10/13). The test will give women more control over their fertility by showing where they are in the "cycle of fertility," Biofusion CEO David Baynes said, adding, "There is a huge amount of public interest ... around the decisions women make about when to have a family." Clare Brown, CEO of Infertility Network UK, said that while the test is a good tool to help give "an indication of [a woman's] current fertility in terms of how many viable eggs" she has, it is important to remember that "ovarian reserve is not the only aspect of a woman's fertility which may have an effect on whether or not she is able to conceive" (Gray, Scotsman, 10/13). The cost of the test has not been announced, London's Times reports (Times, 10/13).


"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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Cell Phone Usage Linked To Lower Sperm Count

The more a man uses his cell phone the lower his sperm count is likely to be, said researchers from Cleveland, New Orleans and Mumbai, at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The researchers found that every aspect of a man's sperm profile can be affected by many hours on his cell phone.


The researchers looked at the sperm count, motility and normal forms of the sperm of 364 men. They found that:


-- among men with a normal sperm count who never used a mobile phone, average sperm counts were 86 million per milliliter, 68% motility and 40% normal sperms


-- among men with a normal sperm count who used their mobiles more than four hours per day, average sperm counts were 66 million sperm per milliliter, 46% motility and 21% normal forms


The researchers believe the effect on sperm profiles may be caused by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the devices, or their heat. They added that further studies are needed to find out exactly what the mechanisms are that undermine sperm quality.


"Relationship between cell phone use and human fertility: an observational study"

P-398 A. Agarwal, S. A. Prabakaran, G. Ranga, A. T. Sundaram, R. K. Sharma, S. C. Sikka

HIGHLIGHTS from the 62nd ANNUAL MEETING AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE

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Federal Judge To Hear Arguments Concerning Constitutionality Of Missouri Law That Would Require Abortion Clinics To Upgrade Facilities

U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith on Monday is scheduled to hear arguments in a case concerning the constitutionality of a new Missouri law (SB 370) that would upgrade facilities in the state that perform some abortions, the Kansas City Star reports (Kansas City Star, 9/10).

The law designates facilities performing second- or third-trimester abortions or more than five first-trimester abortions each month as "ambulatory surgical centers," which are subject to increased regulation from the state Department of Health and Senior Services. It also requires that hallways at the facilities be at least six feet wide and doors at least 44 inches wide. The clinics must also have separate male and female changing rooms for staff and a recovery room with space for a minimum of four beds with three feet of clearance around each bed. The health department has said the law requires that three clinics in the state be licensed.

Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri last month filed a lawsuit that asks a federal court to block enforcement of the law. The suit alleges that the new regulations are unnecessary and are not meant to improve safety, but rather to interfere with a woman's constitutional right to abortion. PPKM in the suit also is asking that its Columbia and Kansas City clinics be exempt from the law because they were open before the law was passed. Smith last month issued a temporary restraining order blocking implementation of the law, which was scheduled to take effect Aug. 28. Smith last week ruled that physician Allen Palmer -- who operates the Women's Care Gynecology clinic in Bridgeton, Mo. -- can join the lawsuit (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/5). According to the City Star, Monday's hearing could lead to a preliminary injunction against the law (Kansas City Star, 9/10).

Comments
Planned Parenthood argues that the law is burdensome because standards required under it would drive abortion providers out of business and make abortions less accessible to women in the state, the Los Angeles Times reports. The law is "ludicrous," PPKM President and CEO Peter Brownlie said, adding, "There's a desperate quality to it." Michelle Trupiano, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood, asked, "How is expanding the doorway size [in the clinics] going to improve women's health?"

Supporters of the law argue that women seeking abortions should receive treatment in modern facilities with doors wide enough to accommodate gurneys and paramedics in case of emergencies. "We're applying the same standards of health care to abortion clinics as we are to other medical facilities," Pam Fichter, development director of Missouri Right to Life, said.

Although Smith is "bound" by a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibits states from putting an "undue burden" on women seeking abortions during the first trimester, there is "a lot of room for judicial interpretation," according to the Times. Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said, "What may be an undue burden for one judge may not be for another," adding, "It's a very flexible standard" (Simon, Los Angeles Times, 9/10).

Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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Medtronic Joins With Patient Advocacy Groups To Launch Educational Campaign During Bladder Health Awareness Month

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced the kick-off of an educational campaign aimed at raising awareness among women of overactive bladder (OAB), a serious condition that can severely impact patients' lives. This new campaign, conducted in partnership with leading patient advocacy groups focused on women's health will help to raise awareness of the prevalence of bladder control problems and encourage patients to find effective treatment options - including and beyond medications.


More than 33 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder, but too many people with OAB do not recognize that they have a treatable condition and struggle for years before finding the right treatment option. A recent survey conducted by the National Association for Continence (NAFC) with support from Medtronic, compared women ages 40 to 65 who have experienced symptoms of OAB to women without symptoms in the same age group. Overall, 80 percent of women who had treated their OAB said that years of frustration of living with the debilitating symptoms finally led them to seek treatment. Unfortunately, nearly three out of four women said that they waited longer than they should have to seek help. The campaign, launching during November's Bladder Health Awareness Month, will encourage people who are suffering with OAB to recognize the moments they struggle with their condition and to find resources for support or information about treatment options.


"Overactive bladder can have a significant impact on the lives of women living with the debilitating symptoms, seriously compromising their well-being," said Cindy Kent, vice president in Urology/Gastroenterology Therapies, part of the Neuromodulation business at Medtronic. "Through this comprehensive awareness campaign, we will help as many women as possible better understand their condition and what they can do to overcome it."


The campaign focuses on the personal stories of women suffering from OAB - their everyday struggles, how they coped with the condition and the moment they knew it was time to seek further treatment. Personal stories include those from women who are currently using InterStim® Therapy - a long-term option for patients who have not had success with or could not tolerate other forms of treatments such as oral medications.


Julie Rady, from Wisconsin, is an InterStim patient who suffered from overactive bladder for years. One year ago, Julie received InterStim Therapy, which she says has changed her life. Julie was selected to participate in the campaign because she wants to share her story with women across America who suffer from OAB. Julie will join forces with Dr. Donnica Moore, a leading women's health expert and advocate, to help women understand that there is hope and that they can have freedom from OAB.















"Overactive bladder can affect all aspects of a woman's life - from personal relationships to their career to completing everyday tasks. It can affect a woman's self-esteem and her sexual experiences, and it causes sleep deprivation," said Dr. Donnica Moore, Founder and President of DrDonnica and Sapphire Women's Health Group LLC. "Many women are hesitant to discuss this condition even with their physicians to avoid further embarrassment, but the campaign is all about letting women know they're not alone and that there is hope to take back their lives."


Also as a part of the campaign, Medtronic has launched a Web site facingourmoments, a collection of educational resources for patients who are experiencing OAB symptoms.


Important Safety Information About InterStim Therapy


InterStim Therapy for Urinary Control treats urinary retention (inability to completely empty the bladder) and the symptoms of overactive bladder, including urinary urge incontinence (leakage) and significant symptoms of urgency-frequency. It should be used after those affected with these symptoms have tried other treatments such as medications and behavioral therapy and they have not worked, or could not be tolerated.


Individuals with overactive bladder should have a successful trial assessment before receiving InterStim Therapy. They cannot have diathermy (deep heat treatment from electromagnetic energy) if they have an InterStim device.


InterStim Therapy is not intended for patients with a urinary blockage. Safety and effectiveness have not been established for pregnancy and delivery; patients under the age of 16; or for patients with neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
In addition to risks related to surgery, complications can include pain at the implant sites, new pain, infection, lead (thin wire) movement/migration, device problems, interactions with certain other devices or diagnostic equipment, undesirable changes in urinary or bowel function, and uncomfortable stimulation (sometimes described as a jolting or shocking feeling).


Patients should consult with their doctors to decide whether InterStim Therapy is right for them. InterStim is a prescription device. For further information, please call Medtronic at 1-800-328-0810 and/or consult Medtronic's website at medtronic.

Source
Medtronic


View drug information on Interstim Continence Control Therapy.

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For Women, Being Attractive Can Adversely Affect Their Careers

While many see no downside to being beautiful, a professor at the University of Colorado Denver Business School says attractive women face discrimination when it comes to landing certain kinds of jobs.



In a study released in a recent Journal of Social Psychology, Stefanie Johnson, assistant professor of management at UC Denver Business School, found that beauty has an ugly side, at least for women.



Attractive women were discriminated against when applying for jobs considered "masculine" and for which appearance was not seen as important to the job. Such positions included job titles like manager of research and development, director of finance, mechanical engineer and construction supervisor.



"In these professions being attractive was highly detrimental to women," said Johnson. "In every other kind of job, attractive women were preferred. This wasn't the case with men which shows that there is still a double standard when it comes to gender."



The study, co-authored by Robert Dipboye, professor of psychology at the University of Central Florida, Kenneth Podratz, an organizational development manager at UPS and Ellie Gibbons, research assistant at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, found that attractive men suffered no similar discrimination and were always at an advantage.



According to Johnson, beautiful people still enjoy a significant edge. They tend to get higher salaries, better performance evaluations, higher levels of admission to college, better voter ratings when running for public office and more favorable judgments in trials.



A recent Newsweek survey of 202 hiring managers and 964 members of the public concluded that looks matter in every aspect of the workplace and they mattered more for women. When asked to rate nine character attributes on a scale of one to 10 with 10 being the most important, looks ranked third, above education and sense of humor, the magazine reported.



But in one narrow aspect of life, beauty can be a hindrance, something researchers have called the "beauty is beastly" effect.



"In two studies, we found that attractiveness is beneficial for men and women applying for most jobs, in terms of ratings of employment suitability," according to the study. "However, attractiveness was more beneficial for women applying for feminine sex-typed jobs than masculine sex-typed jobs."



In one experiment, participants were given a list of jobs and photos of applicants and told to sort them according to their suitability for the job. They had a stack of 55 male and 55 female photos.



In job categories like director of security, hardware salesperson, prison guard and tow truck driver, attractive women were overlooked. In each of these jobs appearance was perceived to be unimportant. Attractive women tended to be sorted into positions like receptionist or secretary.



"One could argue that, under certain conditions, physical appearance may be a legitimate basis for hiring," Johnson said. "In jobs involving face-to-face client contact, such as sales, more physically attractive applicants could conceivably perform better than those who are less attractive. However it is important that if physical attractiveness is weighed equally for men and women to avoid discrimination against women."



The study chided those who let stereotypes influence hiring decisions. Given the importance of hiring and the consequences of making a wrong choice, the authors said, managers need to rely more on information from the individual rather than on stereotypes about physical appearance.



Source:

David Kelly

University of Colorado Denver

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Immune Cell Function Can Be Suppressed By Leading Pathogen In Newborns

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacterial pathogen that causes sepsis and meningitis in newborn infants, is able to shut down immune cell function in order to promote its own survival, according to researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Their study, published online July 13 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, offers insight into GBS infection - information that may lead to new medical therapies for invasive infectious diseases that affect nearly 3,500 newborns in the United States each year.



The UC San Diego researchers describe how GBS fools the immune system into reducing production of antibiotic molecules. "We have discovered that the bacteria have evolved to use a trick we call 'molecular mimicry,'" said Victor Nizet, MD, UC San Diego professor of pediatrics and pharmacy. "Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, GBS can enter our body without activating the immune cells that are normally programmed to kill foreign invaders."



The findings represent a collaborative effort between the laboratories of senior authors Nizet and Ajit Varki, MD, distinguished professor of medicine and cellular and molecular medicine. Varki is also co-director of the UCSD Glycobiology Research and Training Center, where the investigators have been exploring the interaction of bacterial pathogens with the innate immune system. Their most recent focus has been on the special role of Siglecs (short for sialic acid binding Ig-like lectins), members of the immunoglobulin family of antibodies.



Siglecs sense a chemical structure known as sialic acid - a sugar molecule that is abundant on the surface of all human cells - and send signals that control the gene expression and function of immune cells. Many specialized Siglecs receptors send negative signals, recognizing sialic acids as "self." These signals help keep the immune cells turned off under baseline conditions, avoiding unnecessary inflammation in the absence of infection or injury. Earlier this year, in a manuscript published in the journal Blood, the same UC San Diego team demonstrated that GBS decorates its own surface with sialic acid, closely resembling human molecules, and is thus able to bind Siglecs on immune cells, shutting down the cells' normal functions.



In the new study, the researchers discovered that GBS can also bind a human Siglecs receptor through a particular protein expressed on the bacterial surface. This is the first time a protein has been reported to functionally interact with Siglecs, and presents the possibility that additional pathogenic microbes may have evolved similar ways to manipulate the human immune system.



According to the study's lead author, Aaron Carlin, MD, PhD, when GBS proteins bind to Siglecs, it profoundly affects immune-cell function by decreasing its ability to engulf the bacteria, a process known as phagocytosis.
















"The immune cells reduce their production of antibiotic molecules, allowing the GBS bacteria to survive the encounter and proliferate," said Carlin, who recently completed his doctoral studies in UC San Diego's Medical Scientist Training Program.



Knowledge of the mechanisms by which crafty pathogens engage Siglec receptors to fool the immune system may reveal new targets for medical therapy. "Blocking engagement of the Siglec could help boost the immune system and aid in clearing GBS infection in the critically ill newborn," said Nizet. "Alternatively, perhaps the bacterial molecule could be exploited as a novel treatment for human diseases involving abnormal inflammation, for example, rheumatoid arthritis."



Siglecs are among the most rapidly evolving parts of the human genome. This suggests that strong natural selection pressures are present to modify their expression, according to Varki, with pathogenic microbes likely playing a critical role.



"There are important variations in Siglec expression and function between humans and other species, among human populations, and across the age spectrum. Evidence is accumulating that Siglecs may profoundly affect susceptibility or resistance to several important infectious diseases," said Varki.



According to the UC San Diego researchers, the new study likely has broad implications for understanding the propensity of certain bacterial pathogens to produce human disease. It also explains why some individuals or groups may be more predisposed to suffer more severe outcomes than others.



Approximately 20 to 25 percent of women of childbearing age are asymptomatic carriers of GBS on their vaginal mucosal surface. Newborns can become infected with GBS that invade through the placenta to initiate infection in the womb, or during delivery by exposure to contaminated vaginal fluids. Screening of pregnant women for GBS and antibiotic prophylaxis during labor is used to reduce the risk of newborn transmission, yet it estimated that approximately 3,500 newborns still develop invasive GBS infections annually in the United States. In addition to neonatal disease, GBS is increasingly associated with serious infections in adult populations such as pregnant women, diabetics, and the elderly.



This study was financed by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Co-authors contributing to the study were Yung-Chi Chang, PhD and Charles King, PhD, of the UCSD Department of Pediatrics; Nancy Hurtado-Ziola, PhD of the UCSD Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and Thomas Areschoug, PhD, and Gunnar Lindahl, PhD, of Lund University in Sweden.



Source:
Debra Kain


University of California - San Diego

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Research Proves 'Gender-Bending' Chemicals Affect Reproduction

New research has provided the first evidence that 'gender bending' chemicals which find their way from human products into rivers and oceans can have a significant impact on the ability of fish to breed in UK Rivers.



The findings from the four year study, led by the universities of Exeter and Brunel, has important implications for understanding the impacts of these chemicals on ecosystem health and possibly on humans.



Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) disrupt the ways that hormones work in the bodies of vertebrates (animals with backbones), including humans.



They can be found in everything from female contraceptive drugs and hormone replacement therapy pills, to washing up liquid, with the most well studied EDCs being those that mimic oestrogen (female hormone).



EDCs have been seeping into rivers through the sewage system for decades and have an observed effect on fish, altering male biology to make them more female - hence the 'gender bending' reputation of these chemicals.



Until now, there has been no solid evidence to show the long-term impact of this effect on fish in the wild - but the new research focusing on wild roach in two UK rivers (Bourne and Arun) has provided new evidence.



Two large-scale breeding studies assessed the ability of fish to breed by using a genetic technique (DNA microsatellites) to match offspring produced to their parents.



It was found that intersex fish - those that had their sexuality compromised by EDCs and which contain both male (sperm) and female (eggs) sex cells - had their reproductive performance reduced by up to 76%.



Charles Tyler, from the University of Exeter's Biosciences department, jointly led the research alongside Professor John Sumpter, from the Institute of Environment at Brunel University.



Prof Tyler said: "This is the first time we've seen firm evidence that the intersex fish, males that have been feminised by EDCs, have a reduced ability to breed.



"Clearly this raises concerns about the implications on the future for wild fish populations living in UK rivers, but there's also much wider issues raised by these findings. Some of the effects seen in fish could occur in other animals too as hormone systems are quite similar across all vertebrates.



"EDCs have been tentatively linked with human health impacts too, including, falling sperm counts and cardio-vascular disease. These findings remain more controversial," Prof Tyler added. "In contrast, we have shown, unequivocally that environmental oestrogens alter sexual development in fish and now, through this study, that this can impact on their ability to breed".



Fish are seen as a key indicator of the impacts of chemicals such as EDCs because they soak them up in far larger quantities than humans ever would, concentrating any potential side-effects.



Their biology also means they are particularly prone to the feminising effects of EDCs because their sex is not decided until after birth - meaning they are more susceptible to outside influence.



Prof Tyler concluded: "Fish still share many biological links with humans and the fact that their reproduction has the potential to be affected by EDCs is certainly a cause for concern. From a risk assessment point of view, these results are very significant."



The study was funded by Defra and the Environment Agency. The full paper, called Consequences of Femininisation in Breeding Groups of Wild Fish, is published in Environmental Health Perspectives online and can be viewed here: bit.ly/bPB7Yg



Source:

Daniel Williams

University of Exeter

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American Academy Of Ophthalmology Joint Meeting Marked By Academy Firsts And Strong Turnout

Academy firsts and strong turnout marked the largest and most comprehensive ophthalmic educational meeting in the world. The American Academy of Ophthalmology's (Academy) 2010 Joint Meeting in conjunction with the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO), held in Chicago October 16 to October 19, was the Academy's first Joint Meeting with MEACO and it was the first time that an Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Subspecialty Day was held at the meeting.


Preliminary figures for attendance at the meeting were more than 23,000. Among the offerings featured at the meeting were more than 500 instruction courses, 93 skills transfer courses, 165 breakfast with the experts roundtables, 43 free symposia and Spotlight Sessions and more than 2000 scientific presentations. Preliminary figures for attendance at the Subspecialty Day events October 15 and 16 were strong, totaling more than 8,000.


"The meeting provides a tremendous opportunity for members from all over the world to gather and learn about the latest advances in ophthalmology," said David W. Parke, II, MD, CEO of the Academy. "The turnout was exceptional and the energy generated from the sessions was outstanding."


The opening session for this year's meeting, which took place on October 17, was addressed by Abdulaziz I. Alrajhi, MD, President of MEACO. Douglas A. Jabs, MD, MBA, a leading expert in inflammatory eye disease delivered the prestigious Jackson Memorial Lecture. In his talk titled, "Cytomegalovirus Retinitis and AIDS: Bench to Bedside," Dr. Jabs discussed the complex interaction between CMV retinitis and HIV, in which CMV affects the course of HIV infection, and how HIV treatment affected the course of CMV retinitis. "The two in a culture will produce more virus than either one alone," Dr. Jabs said. That knowledge led to the prediction that CMV infection would accelerate AIDS and death. The discovery of the synergy between CMV and HIV led to the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) that has saved people from blindness and early death.


The opening session also included the presentation of the 2010 Laureate Recognition Award, the Academy's highest honor, to Bradley R. Straatsma, MD., acclaimed as a pioneer in the study of peripheral retinal disease, investigations of tumors and research on ophthalmic conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and cataract.


Scientific Program Highlights

The scientific sessions provided a chance to hear directly from ophthalmic researchers on a wide range of leading-edge investigations. Presentations of particular note included:


Genetic Medicine and Individualized AMD Treatment. The Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine studied whether specific genetic AMD risk factors and/or smoking influenced patients' responses to anti-VEGF treatment.















Genetic Screening Could Improve Glaucoma Care. Janey L Wiggs, MD, PhD, of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, said genetic testing is currently able to indicate the presence of or risk for several types of glaucoma; heredity plays a significant role in the disease.


The Blood Pressure-Glaucoma Connection in People with Migraine. Yury S Astakhov, MD, PhD, of Pavlov Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, studied how day- and night-time blood pressure levels may be related to the development of glaucoma in people with migraine.


Proven Arthritis Drug Shows Promise versus Dry AMD. A research group led by Jason S. Slakter, MD, New York University School of Medicine, reports on a phase-two clinical trial of fenretinide, a synthetic derivative of vitamin A. Risk of developing wet AMD decreased almost two-fold in dry AMD patients who took the medication.


Clues to Retinopathy from Survivors of 50+ Years of Diabetes. Doctors assume that the longer a person has diabetes, the more likely he or she is to develop serious eye disease and, if untreated, become blind; but a new study of patients who have had type 1 diabetes for at least 50 years tells a different story. Jennifer Sun, MD, of Beetham Eye Institute at Joslin Diabetes Center, a Harvard School of Medicine affiliate found that many of these patients appear to be protected against proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and the majority of them escape vision loss despite extremely long-duration diabetes.


Source:

American Academy of Ophthalmology

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Combined Impact Of Genetics, Social Factors On Delinquency

In one of the first studies to link molecular genetic variants to adolescent delinquency, sociological research published in the August issue of the American Sociological Review identifies three genetic predictors - of serious and violent delinquency - that gain predictive precision when considered together with social influences, such as family, friends and school processes.



Sociologists from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill explored the interaction of genetics and social influences and identified three genetic polymorphisms that - when examined in the context of modulating social controls - are significant predictors of delinquency. These findings about gene-environment interactions suggest that certain genotypes and specific social control influences (e.g., family characteristics and processes; popularity and friendship characteristics; and school attendance factors) are mutually dependent on delinquency.



While many behavioral studies of gene-environment interactions typically examine the relationship of a single factor (e.g., child abuse, stress) to genes, the present research is unique in that it systematically examines layers of social context simultaneously (i.e., family dynamics, peer relations, and school-related variables). The study uses regression analysis to reveal non-intuitive and complex relations among the researched variables.



"While genetics appear to influence delinquency, social influences such as family, friends and school seem to impact the expression of certain genetic variants," said Guang Guo, the study's lead author and a professor of sociology and faculty fellow at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's Carolina Population Center and Carolina Center for Genomic Sciences. "Positive social influences appear to reduce the delinquency-increasing effect of a genetic variant, whereas the effect of these genetic variants is amplified in the absence of social controls."



"Our research confirms that genetic effects are not deterministic," Guo said. "Gene expression may depend heavily on the environment."



The three genetic polymorphisms that predict delinquency include: (1) the 30-base pair (bp) promoter-region with a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene, (2) the 40-bp VNTR in the dopamine transporter 1 (DAT1) gene and (3) the Taq1 polymorphism in the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene. MAOA regulates several brain neurotransmitters important in behavioral motivation, aggression, emotion and cognition (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine).



Among the findings, the research suggests a conditional interaction between repeating a school grade and the MAOA*2 repeat (2R) allele in adolescent boys. For those who did not have the 2R allele, repeating a grade was significantly correlated with serious delinquency, but for those who had this 2R allele and who repeated a grade, the propensity for serious delinquency increased dramatically.
















The study also indicates a link between the DRD2 gene and having daily family meals. Daily meals with one or two parents are a powerful moderator for the effect of the DRD2 gene.



"Most delinquent and violent behaviors are considered complex," Guo said. "Understanding these behaviors requires understanding both their socioeconomic-cultural components and their genetic components."



The correlation of social and genetic effects on delinquency suggests the need for the social sciences to incorporate genetic evidence in this area of study, according to Guo. The implications of these findings also raise important questions for public policy.







For this study, the researchers examined a sample of approximately 1,100 males in grades 7 through 12 whose DNA and social-control measures were available through the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Guo co-authored the research with Michael E. Roettger and Tianji Cai, both doctoral candidates at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The research was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.



Guo's work on genetics and delinquency has also been published in Human Genetics and has been accepted for publication in the European Journal of Human Genetics.



About the American Sociological Association



The American Sociological Association (asanet/), founded in 1905, is a non-profit membership association dedicated to serving sociologists in their work, advancing sociology as a science and profession, and promoting the contributions to and use of sociology by society.



Source: Jackie Cooper


American Sociological Association

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A New Molecular Mechanism For Colorectal Cancer: A New Target For Cancer Therapies

Scientists in Portugal just found a new molecular mechanism behind colorectal cancer in which a mutated and a normal, but over-expressed, gene cooperate and are both needed to create the disease. The research, published in the journal Gastroenterology1, also reveals how a technique called RNA interference can - by inactivating both genes - kill, in just 48 hours, as much as 80% of cancer cells. These are extremely promising results if transferred into new therapies for humans against a disease that still is one of the most common cancers in the western world.


Colorectal cancer affects the colon, rectum and appendix and is not only the third most common form of cancer, but also the second cancer-related cause of death in the Western world, according to the World Health Organization. The disease kills about 655,000 people per year worldwide, with 16,000 only in the UK, even if it has a high cure rate if early detected and treated.


It is known that about 30 to 40 percent of colorectal cancer cases result from a mutated KRAS gene, which affects cell division. When this gene is mutated it becomes hyper-activated, leading to uncontrolled cell multiplication, which, together with resistance to death, are the hallmarks of all cancerous cells. And in fact, the capabilities of KRAS mutations to induce cancer depend on another molecule - Rac1 - that complements its effect on cell division by inhibiting cell death and further stimulating cell division. Together they create immortal and abnormally growing cells, the exact definition of cancer cells.


More recently, among colorectal cancers negative for the KRAS mutation, a related abnormality has been identified, this time on a gene called BRAF, which, like KRAS, is also involved in cell growth and division. When studied in laboratory, however, BRAF mutations were not enough by themselves to produce cancer, suggesting that a second event was necessary for malignant transformation. The fact that therapies targeting BRAF have a low success rate in these tumours , further supported the existence of a second event and highlighted the urgency to further investigate the mechanism behind BRAF-mutated cancers, which, after all, comprise as much as 10% of all colorectal cancers cases.


Paulo Matos, Raquel Seruca, Peter Jordan and colleagues at the Centre of Human Genetics in the National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge in Lisbon and the Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal have previously found abnormally high quantities of a variant of Rac1 - called Rac1b - among some colorectal cancers. This - together with the fact that Rac1 is crucial for K-Ras-induced tumours - led the researchers to hypothesise that maybe Rac1b was the (mysterious) partner of B-Raf V600 in colorectal tumours.















To test this possibility Matos, Seruca , Jordan and colleagues analysed cells from 61 different colorectal cancer patients, together with normal mucosa cells from 13 patients. Confirming their hypothesis a strong association between the most common Raf mutation - B-Raf V600 - and Rac1b was found, with 82% of B-Raf V600 positive tumours showing Rac1b over-expression. In contrast, K-Ras mutated tumours and normal mucosal tissue had almost no Rac1b.


The next question to Matos, Seruca , Jordan and colleagues was to see if the two molecules did in fact cooperate in the formation of the tumour, since B-Raf V600 was known to be incapable, by itself, of producing cancer. For this, the researchers inhibited the gene for B-Raf V600 or the one for Rac1b, or both at the same time, and analysed the resulting tumour cells.


Gene inhibition was done using a method called RNA interference (or RNAi). The first step during gene expression is to pass the information, contained in the gene (the piece of DNA) to be expressed, into a molecule of RNA called messenger RNA. The RNAi method consists in introducing into the cells a small double molecule of RNA with the same sequence of the messenger RNA corresponding to the gene we want to inactivate. Because double RNA molecules do not occur naturally the cell will destroy it, triggering too the destruction of the messenger RNA with the same sequence and effectively silencing the gene, as its expression is interrupted. The big advantage of this method is its specificity, since, contrary to other cancer treatments like radio- or even chemo-therapy, it will only result in the death of the target cells.


Matos, Seruca, Jordan and colleagues' RNAi experiment revealed that when the genes for B-Raf V600 or Rac1b were inactivated there was a reduction or in cell viability and/or division but, most striking, was the result of their combined inactivation. In fact, combined "inhibition" of the two genes resulted in 80% of the colorectal cancer cells dying in the period of 48 hours. This confirmed that the two molecules functionally cooperate in the development of some K-Ras negative colorectal tumours and explains why B-Raf mutations alone are not sufficient to achieve cancer, while also suggesting a promising specific molecular target for therapy against this type of cancer. Supporting the specific importance of Rac1b in BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer, its inactivation on KRAS-mutated colorectal cancers had no effect on cells' survival or division.


Matos, Seruca, Jordan and colleagues' results are extremely promising as they reveal that the relatively simple and very specific (so with less secondary effects for the patient) technique of RNAi can, when targeting both B-Raf V600 and Rac1b, kill almost all the colorectal tumour. This, if translated into a therapy for humans could be the difference between patients' life or death and, as such, prompts the urgent need for further clinic-oriented investigation. But, as Peter Jordan one of the leaders of the project emphasizes "It is important to remember though, that despite these novel findings, it is still most crucial to move forwards with cancer prevention through changes in diet and life style"


The discovery of a new molecule involved in the pathogenesis of this cancer also raises the question of its suitability as a marker in order to identify and follow closely those individuals with propensity for the disease since the disease has such a high cure rate if detected early. In fact, although screening is already done, at the moment this is only done in individuals from families with the hereditary form of colorectal cancer.


Finally, high quantities of Rac1b have already been detected in some breast cancers what, with the new results, raise the possibility that the molecule can have a role in this (and others?) epithelial cancer and, as such, also needs to be further investigated.


Piece researched and Catarina Amorim

Catarina.Amorim at linacre.ox.ac


1 Gastroenteroloy (2008) advanced only edition DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2008.05.052

"B-RafV600E cooperates with alternative spliced Rac1b to sustain colorectal cancer cell survival"

Paulo Matos, Peter Jordan, Raquel Seruca

www.gastrojournal/home

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