StemCell Therapy

Gestational diabetes is a birth complication affecting millions of women worldwide. New research examines the link between air temperature and the risk of developing this condition.

Gestational diabetes (GD) is a temporary form of diabetes that affects some women during pregnancy. These future mothers often have no history of diabetes prior to getting pregnant, but their blood sugar increases by the time they are halfway through their pregnancy.

In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in the United States, as many as 9.2 percent of pregnant women may be affected by GD. Worldwide, around 1 in 7 births are affected by this complication.

GD occurs when the hormones in the placenta trigger insulin resistance, meaning that healthy blood sugar levels cannot be maintained.

Sensitivity to insulin is known to be improved by exposure to cold temperatures, during which the body produces more heat to keep itself warm. However, could it be that outside air temperatures have a larger impact on the risk of developing GD?

Researchers from St. Michael's Hospital, the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Mount Sinai Hospital, and the University of Toronto - all in Ontario, in Canada - set out to explore the connection between outdoor air temperature and the risk of GD.

The findings were published in CMAJ.

The study examined 555,911 births from 396,828 women over a period of 12 years, from 2002 to 2014.

The women were 31 years old on average, and lived in the Greater Toronto Area. Approximately half of the mothers were not born in Canada.

Extremely cold outdoor temperatures were defined as an average of 10C or less, and hot temperatures as 24C on average.

The women were exposed to these different temperatures for 30 days before being screened for GD.

GD occurred in 4.6 percent of the women that had been exposed to extremely cold temperatures, but this number jumped to 7.7 percent for the women who had been exposed to hot temperatures.

Furthermore, each 10C increase in temperature correlated with a 1.06 times higher risk of GD. A similar trend was found when the temperature increased between two pregnancies in the same mother.

"By further limiting our analysis to pregnancies within the same woman, we controlled for a whole number of factors," says co-lead author Dr. Joel Ray, a researcher at St. Michael's and ICES. "Doing so allowed us to eliminate factors like ethnicity, income, activity, and eating habits that would differ between two different women."

Lead author Dr. Gillian Booth, a researcher at St. Michael's and ICES, reports on the findings:

"We observed a direct relation between outdoor temperature and the risk of gestational diabetes among nearly 400,000 women residing in a single urban area in Canada.

After adjusting for influential risk factors, each 10C increase in [...] temperature was associated with a 6-9 percent relative increase in the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus."

Although the study was observational and cannot provide causality, Dr. Booth offers a potential explanation for the seemingly counterintuitive results:

"Many would think that in warmer temperatures, women are outside and more active, which would help limit the weight gain in pregnancy that predisposes a woman to gestational diabetes. However, it fits a pattern we expected from new studies showing that cold exposure can improve your sensitivity to insulin, by turning on a protective type of fat called brown adipose tissue."

"Although we studied a single geographical region, our findings are likely to be generalizable to other regions in North America and worldwide," say the authors.

They also warn that, if their findings are correct, this could potentially mean that the worldwide number of GD cases might continue to increase as a consequence of global warming.

"Although changes in temperature of this size may lead to a small relative increase in the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, the absolute number of women affected in Canada and elsewhere may be substantial," the authors conclude.

Learn how the link between depression and GD can work two ways.

Originally posted here:
Can outdoor temperatures influence gestational diabetes? - Medical News Today

In Brief A year after receiving a new type of islet cell transplant to treat her severe diabetes, a patient continues to do well and no longer needs insulin injections to manage her disease. A Happy Anniversary

Even the most exciting breakthrough medical treatment can be rendered obsolete by a particularly insurmountable obstacle: time. If a treatment only works temporarily, it has little chance of making a significant difference in the lives of patients, which is why the latest news from the University of Miamis Diabetes Research Institute is so exciting.

A year after transplanting insulin-producing islet cells into the omentum of a woman with a particularly unwieldy form of type 1 diabetes, the cells continue to operate as hoped. She no longer needs to receive insulin via injections or an insulin pump and is in good health.

By using the omentum, a fatty membrane in the belly, as the transplant site, the researchers were able to avoid complications associated with the traditionally used site, the liver. The longterm goal of the research is to identify a suitable location for a pancreas-mimicking mini-organ called the BioHub. Based on this patients response, the omentum is looking like it just may be the ideal spot.

Prior to this transplant, the patients entire life revolved around her diabetes. Her quality of life was severely impacted. She had to move in with her parents. And, if she traveled, she had to travel with her father, the studys lead author, Dr. David Baidal, told HealthDay.

Unfortunately, shes not alone in having diabetes control her life. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 9.3 percent of the United States population has diabetes, and 28.7 percent of those people have to inject insulin to manage their disease. If improperly treated, diabetes can lead to a range of ailments, from blindness and high blood pressure to nerve damage or even death.

This patients positive reaction to her islet cells transplant could be the first step to helping those millions of people live normal, healthy lives free from the burden of constantly managing their disease. Were exploring a way to optimize islet cell therapy to a larger population, said Baidal. This study gives us hope for a different transplant approach.

See the article here:
A Patient With Diabetes No Longer Needs Insulin After Receiving A Bioengineered Pancreas - Futurism

KJZZ

Diabetes Patients And Tech Companies See Value In Continuous Glucose Monitoring KJZZ Yehuda Friedman is a hockey fanatic. When the 11-year-old isn't on the ice, he's zooming around his house in Phoenix on rollerblades, taking shots on the net in the living room. But two years ago Yehuda started feeling lethargic and lost a bunch of weight.

Excerpt from:
Diabetes Patients And Tech Companies See Value In Continuous Glucose Monitoring - KJZZ

A "brave, strong and kind" mum who gave birth while battling an aggressive cancer has died.

Louise Winstanley died in the early hours of Sunday morning after a tragic sequence of events, leaving a family devastated and five-month-old daughter Harlow and son Jaxon, two, missing their mum.

In December, the 29-year-old was eight months pregnant and after going to her GP for a routine blood test was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia.

Louises fianc Peter Doran and their family, who live in Allerton , then had to make a decision whether to induce the baby Louise was carrying or allow her to undergo treatment for the cancer.

It was decided to start her off with a course of chemotherapy but she reacted badly to the treatment and within 48 hours had suffered a heart attack and a stroke.

Because of the complications, Louise was then moved to the Manchester Royal Infirmary where all the treatment she needed was under one roof.

Her brother, Gavin Winstanley, has spoken to the ECHO about the devastating events that followed.

The 34-year-old said: When we got to Manchester in January, doctors were monitoring Louises heart and made a decision to stop the treatment and induce the baby by c-section.

Harlow was born prematurely on January 4 and taken straight into intensive care but she pulled through and is with us now, just missing her mum.

The c-section meant Louise then had to wait around three weeks for the wound to heal before any treatment could start again.

Medical professionals from London consulted with doctors and the family and a course of treatment was developed for Louise to reduce the amount of damage being done to her body.

Gavin added: She had doses of a superdrug and thankfully went into remission. We had achieved the first step and everyone was over the moon.

Louise was then able to leave hospital and spend time with baby Harlow.

A further two weeks passed and the family were told that for Louise to beat the cancer once and for all she would need a stem-cell transplant.

Her three older brothers were all tested for a match to be the donor and it turned out Gavin was.

At the end of April he gave his younger sister his stem cells in a bid to remove the cancer from her body for good.

He said: There was a two-week window for my cells to build up in Louise. It was a dangerous time because she couldnt fight any form of infection.

Gavin said two days later things started to go wrong as Louise contracted an infection which shut down her kidneys and liver.

Then, because of the damage to her heart and brain she started to bleed internally and the bleed could not be stopped. Gavin said she was overcome just before 4am on Sunday, May 14.

Her death left a void in the heart of her young family, but Gavin says they are now trying to bring something good out of a very dark time.

A gofundme link has been set up and Gavin added: We have asked people not to send flowers but to donate money and we will set up a trust fund for the kids.

We are a proud family but this was a conscious decision for the kids, we are only doing something for them to help their future.

The page reads: Louise will forever be in our hearts throughout the rest of our lives.

We will see her always in her children everyday as they grow up and make her so proud. We want her memory to live on and it will through her children.

To view the fundraising page click here.

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Liverpool mum who gave birth while battling aggressive cancer has died aged just 29 - Liverpool Echo

Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, recently issued Ministerial decree No. 550 of 2017 on the declaration of death.

The decree covers three main provisions, namely death resulting from cardiac-respiratory arrest; death resulting from complete loss of brain functions; and pediatric brain death guidelines.

Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Ministrys Public Health Policy and Licensing sector, emphasized that the UAE is keeping abreast of the latest developments in global health legislations and international health standards and is modernizing the state health legislative initiatives to improve local services according to global standards.

This is in line with the UAE Vision 2021 that aims at enhancing the local health system through enactment of health policies in adherence with the highest international standards. Sustainable health solution

Dr. Al Amiri said that the recently issued ministerial decree complements the national program for organ transplantation as embodied in Federal Law No. 5 of 2016, that excludes stem cells, blood cells and bone marrow transplants.

It is a sustainable health solution, especially for individuals suffering from cancer, heart disease, pulmonary failure, hepatic fibrosis, and kidney failure. He reiterated the UAEs commitment to criminalize illegal organ transplant procedures, saying these violate human dignity. Clinical death

After studying similar regional and global cases, a national committee composed of all local health authorities prepared the latest resolution in consultation with the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

The decree was made in response to the urgent need to enact legislation on the declaration of death in a bid to protect hospitals and enable doctors to stop the suffering of brain-dead patients.

The question of clinical death is a medical and legal problem, while the issue of organ transplants has raised vital ethical issues such as the clear definition of death and the timing and manner of authorizing the transplant procedures. Patient protection from regional and global non-accredited facilities

He said a number of patients diagnosed with kidney and liver failures, among others, will go abroad to seek organ transplants. Out of desperation, however, they fall prey on false promises of non-specialized centers, especially those located in some Asian countries. Worse, they might become infected with AIDS and viral hepatitis as a result of the fraudulent procedure.

The ministerial resolution, he said, will protect UAE patients from becoming victims. Moreover, the resolution aims to help contribute to the enhancement of the countrys medical tourism.

Significant investments are expected to pour into the country with the opening of new international centers specializing in organ transplants. It also allows the establishment of a national organ bank and a database to record all individuals who signify their wish to donate their organs upon their deaths. Our role is to spread this culture and the importance of social and educational awareness within this context. We also hope to establish an environment where people will be motivated to donate their organs to help thousands of patients in need of transplants, reduce the burden on hospitals, lessen the costs on the state and society, and urge insurance companies to cover organ transplants, he said. An organ donor can save 5 to 8 lives

Dr. Al Amiri explained that organ transplant will take place only in accredited public and private hospitals with Ministry-approved standards and prior approval of competent authorities to ensure patient safety and implementation of correct procedures. According to him, one donor can save 5 to 8 lives. Organs that have been successful transplanted include the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, and intestines, while tissues include bone, tendons, cornea, skin, heart valves, nerves, and veins.

Worldwide, kidney transplantation is the most common, followed by liver then heart. He pointed out the importance of keeping the identity of the donor and his family confidential as well as the name of the beneficiary. Cardiac arrest and loss of brain functions

Dr Al Amiri also noted that the resolution differentiates between the declaration of death resulting from cardio-respiratory arrest and death resulting from complete loss of brain functions.

This serves as a guide to hospitals, especially for those with intensive care units. Brain death is defined as an irreversible cessation of all functions of all parts of the brain.

The decree also explained the conditions and exceptions for the declaration of brain death, including proper diagnosis through clinical preliminary examination, then the brain reflexes test with the visual response to light.

It also covers the observation period, or intervals between clinical tests, and protocols. The results of these tests should be duly recorded along with the electrical brain layout.

The time interval between the tests varies according to the age groups, from 48 hours for infants to 6 hours for adults.

48 hours

Infants (7 days - 60 days)

24 Hours

Infants (<60 days - 1 year)

12 hours

Children (

6 hours

Adults

Lastly, confirmation tests should be done either through electroencephalogram (EEG), cerebral vascular imaging, or apnea test with explanation of how it is performed and general considerations. The apnea test is positive if there is no respiratory activity during the separation of the patient from the ventilator. Pediatric brain death

For pediatric brain death, the decree mandates 48- hour observation period for infants aged 7 days to two months; 24 hours for infants aged two months to 1 year; with 2 electroencephalograms separated by a period of 24 hours and both showing the absolute lack of effectiveness of brain or one ECG showing brain inactivity and lack of blood flow to the brain confirmed through CT scan or radioisotope, and children aged 1 year and until puberty, the same adult protocol is followed except the observation period which must be at least 12 hours. After puberty, he same protocol for adults is followed. Sustainable organ transplant program

Dr. Ali Abdul Kareem Al Obaidli, Chair of the National Organ Transplant Committee, praised the completion of procedures allowing the expenditure of the national organ transplant program, including organ donation upon death.

He said that the efforts of the countrys wise leadership and the Ministry of Health and Prevention will lead to the establishment of a sustainable program for organ transplants given that the UAE enjoys modern health infrastructure and the willingness of the citizens and residents to donate their organs as per the results of various surveys and studies in support of the National Organ Transplantation Program. Dr. Al Obaidli pointed out the importance of providing services related to organ transplant in parallel with the intensive efforts preventing kidney and liver failures and other diseases, while highlighting the role of individuals and families in these initiatives. He emphasized the states keenness to provide high-quality health care, taking into account safety procedures and ethical standards.

The decree aims to ease the burden on patients suffering from organ failure and protect them from undergoing operations in non-specialized centers abroad that may cause numerous complications. As for the future expansion of the national transplant program, he noted the planned full coordination and periodic meetings among local centers such as SKMC, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and Mohammed bin Rashid University for Medical Sciences, and Al Madina Hospital in the coming weeks. Clear criteria to establish credibility in declaration of death process

Dr. Marwan Al Mulla, Director of the Department of Health Regulation of Dubai Health Authority, this Ministerial decree No. 550 of 2017, which set the standards in the declaration of death according to the Federal Law on Medical Liability No. (4) of 2016.

It will lead to the rearrangement of priorities for hospital-based healthcare programs to prevent patients in critical conditions to be moved to less efficient healthcare centers. It also seeks to increase the hospitals capacity and capability to receive more emergency cases that require intensive and continuous care.

The decree aims to provide financial support to patients, their families, and healthcare providers, in addition to establishing clear criteria that will lend credibility to the process of death declaration. Lastly, it strives to promote organ donations to help critical patients according to relevant legislations. Enhancing the health system

Dr. Amer Sharif, Vice Chancellor of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) and CEO of Dubai Healthcare City Authority's Education Sector, commanded the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the national committee for organ transplantation in establishing these standards and he indicated that this development will definitely facilitate organ donation as well as increase awareness of organ transplants in the UAE. Dr. Amer Sharif explained that Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine launched last year an organ transplantation program that aims at relieving the suffering of patients with renal impairment and implemented 2 successful renal transplantation surgeries in collaboration with Mediclinic City Hospital and the support of the Saudi Center for organ transplant, which is considered as a reference in the GCC.

Dr. Sharif expressed his trust in the role of this decree in enhancing the healthcare systems and ensuring highest quality of healthcare services to the residents and citizens of the United Arab Emirates.

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MoH issues decree on 'declaration of death', supports organ ... - Emirates 24|7

Eye docs believethe treatment could help over 60,000 Brits who suffer from wet age-related macular degeneration

EXPERTS have developed a potential cure for one of the UKs leading causes of sight loss.

The therapy safely and effectively treated wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in trials.

Getty Images

Wet AMD which affects 60,000 Brits is a painless condition that causes loss of central vision.

It develops when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid into the macula, found at the back of the eye.

This makes things look blurry and reading, driving and recognising faces becomes difficult.

Getty Images

Patients currently require monthly injections into the eye that help to temporarily clear up the fluid.

But many find the process cumbersome, so give up, and eventually lose their sight.

Now scientists believe they have found a way of curing the condition with just one jab.

Getty Images

Abnormal blood vessels form because patients produce too much of the growth factor VEGF.

Current injections contain a protein that binds to VEGF and inactivates it.

But this leaks from the eye over the course of a month and needs to be topped-up.

The new jab contains a modified virus like the common cold that penetrates cells in the eye and deposits a therapeutic gene.

This instructs the cells to produce a constant supply of the anti-VEGF protein, meaning it no longer needs to be injected.

Study leader Peter Campochiaro, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, in Maryland, US, said: This preliminary study is a small but promising step towards a new approach.

It will not only reduce doctor visits and the anxiety and discomfort associated with repeated injections in the eye, but may improve long-term outcomes.

Prolonged suppression of VEGF is needed to preserve vision, and that is difficult to achieve with repeated injections because life often gets in the way.

Even at the highest dose, the treatment was quite safe. We found there were almost no adverse reactions in our patients.

The phase one clinical trial involved 19 men and women, aged 50 years or older.

For safety and ethical reasons, the study group was composed of people for whom standard approved treatments were highly unlikely to be successful.

It meant that only 11 of the 19 had the potential for fluid reduction.

Of those eleven patients, four showed dramatic improvements, with the amount of fluid in their eyes dropping from severe to almost nothing.

Two other participants showed a partial reduction in the amount of fluid in their eyes and five showed no reduction in fluid levels.

All of the patients who failed to improve were found to be immune to the virus, meaning their body probably destroyed it before it had a chance to insert the gene.

Researchers warn this is likely to limit the therapys use because 60 per cent of the population is believed to be immune. They are continuing to investigate its constraints.

The findings are published in the Lancet medical journal.

More:
Scientists have developed a potential cure for blindness and it only takes a single injection - The Sun

Daily Mail

New eye drops to treat age-related blindness developed The Hindu Scientists have developed a revolutionary new eye drop to treat an age-related eye disorder, spelling the end for painful injections used to combat one of the leading causes of blindness. The eye disorder known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD ... Eye drops for blindness could stop need for injectionsDaily Mail Scientists develop eye drops to cure age-related blindnessNews Nation Soon, Eye Drops to Replace Painful Injections in Vision-Loss TreatmentNDTV ReliaWire all 9 news articles »

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New eye drops to treat age-related blindness developed - The Hindu

A Sydney grandmother has been accused of scamming taxpayers of more than $200,000 by pretending to be blind for 21 years.

Channel 9s A Current Affair reported last night that Rebecca Assie hadreceiveda disability pension for the past 21 years after claiming that she was unable to work due to blindness, despite also passing the sight tests required to obtain a drivers licence.

ACA, which videoed Assie walking about her neighbourhoodand going about activities without assistance or apparent vision impairment, said thatthe 60-year-old shopped around for an ophthalmologist that was willing to attest to her blindness, after one told the Department of Human Services that he could not understand why the patient is applying for a pension.

She has normal corrected vision for distance and near, the sceptical ophthalmologist wrote. After Assie found an ophthalmologist willing to certify that she was blind, Centrelink granted her a disability pension.

She also, however, maintained an drivers licence, apparently passing the vision tests required to do so, ACA reported.

But it appeared from the program (below)the DHS had caught up with Assie. ACA also interviewedHuman Services Minister Alan Tudge, who called her case one of the most extraordinary hed come across.

ACA reported that the DHS was now working with the Sydney woman to retrieve the $209,000 in payments she had wrongfully claimed.

Read more here:
Grandmother 'scammed' $200K from taxpayers by faking blindness - Starts at 60

Things looked great for Xianzhong Lau a month ago. The 30-year-old Singaporean had completed a PhD in translational biology and snared a job as a project leader with a company founded by one of Australia's top life sciences entrepreneurs, Darren Kelly.

All he needed was the 457 visa that he had already applied for to come through, and he could look forward to some exciting work with Melbourne-based OccuRx as it worked on plans to bring a drug aimed at curing retinal blindness to clinical trials next year.

Days later Lau's plans lay in ruins after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's shock "Australia first" decision to abolish 457 visas. With his existing 485 visa which lets post-graduates stay 18 months due to expire Lau had to quit his job at OccuRx and return to Singapore within two weeks.

He told the Singapore Straits Times it was "devastating" to have to uproot his life in Melbourne, where he had lived for nine years, in a fortnight. Now he is trying to be positive, Australia's loss could be another country's gain.

"I'll be looking locally [for a new job] and probably elsewhere in Europe and Canada or somewhere like that, just to keep my options open," Lau tells The Australian Financial Review from his home in Singapore.

"The global climate right now is protectionist, so everyone understands that Australia wants to protect local jobs."

If he lands a job in Singapore, he will pay less tax rate than in Australia, where the top rate cutting in at $180,000 could rise to 49.5 per cent if Labor has its way. Singaporeans pay no more than 18 per cent on income up to $S200,000 ($192,000).

For Darren Kelly, it means spending three to six months finding another project leader who can match Lau's rare combination of entrepreneurial and life sciences skills, just as OccuRx should be pedal to metal on its research and raising more capital next year for clinical trials.

"This will leave us seriously short staffed in the middle of a key project," Kelly says.

"To make such a major change with no industry consultation is short-sighted and is damaging to the National Innovation & Science Agenda.

"It's frustrating because we run biotech companies quite lean financially and human resources are a critical part of keeping our program moving." It's also vital to keep research moving as a company moves closer to clinical trials of a new drug.

Kelly is one of the Aussie life sciences industry's pin-up boys after selling Fibrotech, the drug developer he spun out of Melbourne University, to Irish drug group Shire Pharmaceuticals for up to $500 million in 2014. OccuRx has raised $10 million to find a cure for retinal disease, a common cause of blindness, and Melbourne has made him associate dean of innovation and commercialisation.

Not even those credentials could insulate him from the sudden policy reversal. Lau's combination of skills is so rare in Australia that the Turnbull government made it the focus of innovation policy and seeded a $500 million Biomedical Translation Fund, only to get cold feet after voters decided that innovation was more threatening than exciting.

"We have a skills shortage of people with a science and business background and the 457 visa allows us to bridge that gap," Kelly says.

"Until we educate our local workforce, we need to have the ability to bring in skills from overseas."

OccuRx has one other affected worker apart from Lau. The company is just one example among many of the 457 visa changes causing chaos at life sciences companies and university research teams.

Blood products giant CSL said last week it had about 40 staff on 457 visas, including top managers at its manufacturing plant in Broadmeadows who are transferring skills and knowhow from a model plant in Switzerland, but was confident it would get some relief when immigration officials produce a revised list by July 1. Tech firms such as Atlassian and universities have also complained the new rules will make life harder for them.

Even the heads of federal agencies such as NBN chief executive Bill Morrow and Australian Energy Market Operator Audrey Zibelman are potentially snared by the sweeping changes.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has agreed to review the list in response to complaints but lives are being turned upside down in the meantime.

Lau faces a challenge matching his unusual skill set to a job opening. "Even though all of us are researchers we are very diverse in the skill sets that we have. From the background of our studies we each find our own niche, so it's a tricky issue."

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457 visa crackdown derails drug to cure blindness - The Australian Financial Review

(KMSP) - Drivers can be blinded by distraction even when their eyes are on the road.

The Fox 9 Investigators saw how this happens after testing six drivers at the Dakota County Technical College and asking them to drive on the closed driving track while they talked on their phones, which is legal to do in Minnesota.

Professor Dan Simons is an awareness researcher from the University of Illinois.

"You can look right at something, stare directly at it and simply not see it because your mind is otherwise occupied," he said.

Researchers have a name for the strange trick our brains can play and its called inattentional blindness."

In 2015, 74 deaths and 5,387 injuries were linked to inattentive driving in Minnesota.

Last year, state insurance premiums had their biggest increase in nearly a decade.

The average 2017 car insurance premium is now $772.

"You can't hold a good conversation when you're driving, and you can't drive effectively while you're holding a conversation. Those two things are mutually interfering with each other," said Simons.

DISTRACTED DRIVERS ON THE COURSE

The volunteer drivers were asked to drive the course and count the number of cones covered with white bags.

At the same time, they were talking with Aaron Machtemes by phone.

At the time, they didnt know he is a police officer from Eagan and was watching them from a squad car on a hill overlooking the track.

We placed some eye-catching items right next to the cones, including a tire, a toy car, a school bus with its stop arm extended, a Santa Claus decoration and a second stroller.

Trying to count cones while talking to the officer was challenging for all the drivers.

"You're more likely to be using up those attention resources, which makes you less likely to notice something unexpected," said Simons.

At the end of each run, Machtemes pulled right behind the test car with his emergency lights on.

Four drivers saw the squad and pulled over.

But two were so engaged in conversation with him, they didnt notice he was following them, so he was forced to put on his siren to get their visual attention.

THERE WAS A SCHOOL BUS ON THE TRACK

One of the drivers didnt even remember passing by the school bus with its stop arm extended.

A second driver said he saw the bus, but not the stop arm or the flashing red lights.

Every one of the volunteers could not recall seeing some of the items that were right next to the cones they were counting.

The point is: a persons attention has limits, especially while driving.

"What we don't realize is having that conversation is really cognitively demanding as is driving. And they interfere with each other. It's a lot like we know we can't whistle and chew gum at the same time," said Simons.

He added that using a hands-free device doesn't make a difference.

Just talking uses up attention resources, which means drivers are less likely to notice something unexpected.

Excerpt from:
Do you suffer from inattentional blindness on the road? - KMSP-TV

May 16, 2017

Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland have discovered a likely cause for visual impairment and eventual loss of vision in the Finnish variant of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL). Visual impairment associated with the Finnish variant of NCL may be caused by impaired retinal waste management system, including autophagy, leading primarily to the death of photoreceptor cells that are of essential for vision.

The NCLs are the most common neurodegenerative disease group among children. NCL diseases constitute part of the Finnish disease heritage and they are more common in Finland than anywhere else in the world. Childhood NCL diseases lead to loss of vision and to premature death. No drug therapy to stop the disease is approved by the drug regulatory agencies, and the disease mechanisms remain poorly understood.

A new study carried out at the University of Eastern Finland analysed the causes behind loss of vision and detrimental retinal changes in CLN5 disease, i.e. the Finnish variant of NCL. The researchers used genetically modified mice in which the gene encoding the CLN5 protein had been made defective. In humans, malfunction of the gene leads to CLN5 disease.

The researchers found that CLN5 deficient mice developed retinal degeneration long before reaching sexual maturity. Retinal function, especially associated with rod photoreceptors and the retinal pigmented epithelium cells, was reduced in young mice, and a similar phenomenon has been observed in several dog and sheep breeds with NCL. Scientific evidence on humans is inconclusive, but researchers believe that photoreceptor degeneration precedes the degeneration of other parts of the retina in humans as well.

Retinal protein analyses revealed that compared to age-matched controls, CLN5 deficient mice had abnormal levels of several autophagy related proteins in the retina. Earlier studies have observed similar changes and impaired lysosomal degradation in several distinct tissues from mice expressing other forms of NCL, including brain tissue. Lysosomal degradation is the final phase of autophagy, preventing the accumulation of detrimental waste materials in cells.

Normal visual function requires constant renewal of photoreceptors through lysosomal degradation. In CLN5 deficient mice, this degradation mechanism seems impaired, and this is why photoreceptors may die as the disease progresses, although detrimental pigment accumulation typical of NCL diseases can be observed in the entire retina. Similar retinal changes have also been observed in mice, dogs and sheep with several other forms of NCL, suggesting that the findings could apply to several forms of NCL. According to the researchers, the role of impaired lysosomal degradation in NCL-associated detrimental changes in the brain remains unknown.

"Non-invasive retinal examinations could possibly be used as biomarkers of central nervous system diseases", says Henri Leinonen, Ph.D., the first author of the article. In the future, retinal examinations may prove useful in studying treatment responses and disease progression in neurological diseases. Compared to brain examinations, retinal examinations have the advantage of being relatively cost-effective and safe. In NCL diseases, retinal examinations are used to study disease mechanisms in animals, and nowadays retinal examinations can also be used to support diagnosis in humans.

Explore further: Brain diseases manifest in the retina of the eye

More information: Henri Leinonen et al, Retinal Degeneration In A Mouse Model Of CLN5 Disease Is Associated With Compromised Autophagy, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01716-1

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Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, most often is diagnosed during a routine eye exam. Over time, elevated pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. Unfortunately, there's no way ...

The tip of our optic nerve is typically the first place injured by glaucoma.

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Photoreceptor cell death leads to blindness in CLN5 form of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis - Medical Xpress

Dr Rose Gidado

Biotechnology is a modern science tool used by most countries to improve agricultural productivity, thereby eliminating hunger and ensuring food security for their populace.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is one of the components of biotechnology which is a science tool used to engineer the genes of plants to make them behave in the manner of which they were engineered for.

GMOs have become a topical issue in Nigeria since the country have had problem of providing enough food for the populace. Recently, famine was reported to have reached some parts of the northern Nigeria.

In the quest to ensure food security in the country, some experts have called on the Nigerian government to adopt the new technology of GMOs to increase productivity.

In Nigeria, GMOs have received some criticisms from some groups, arguing the safety of the crops which the genes have been engineered.

Meanwhile, some scientists have said that the GM seeds are like other conventional seeds and does not contain any harmful or toxic contents.

Recently, the Open Forum of Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) gathered professionals to brainstorm on how best to convey the message of science to Nigerians.

In Nigeria, farmers who will be the users of this technology if it is adopted in the country are yet to know about the technology, most of them have not heard of the technology.

The Country Coordinator of OFAB, Dr Rose Gidado during the Agricultural Biotechnology and Biosafety Workshop for Professional Bodies Cadre, said the Forum had carried the biotechnology campaign to farmers.

She said the workshop is expected to expand the scope of OFAB and build the capacity of the participants, so that they can understand what the biotechnology is all about.

According to her the objective of the workshop is that we are trying to expand our scope, we are trying to build the capacity of the participants because science is multi faceted, so they need to understand better what we are doing so that they can join in the campaign for GMOs in Nigeria.

Gidado also said that other professional bodies are needed in the campaign, having in mind the huge benefits of this technology to Nigerian populace and the economy.

We need other professional bodies to join us in this campaign because it is all about science. This technology is all about science, it is evidence based, it is important, it can contribute to the socio-economic of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council, Dr Philip Ojo said before the introduction of any Genetically Modified seeds, the local capacity needs to be built.

In this light, the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), had recently trained about 20 staff of the National Agricultural Seed Council on how to identify or detect GMOs.

The Director General of NABDA, Professor Lucy Ogbadu said Nigeria cannot afford to ignore the technology, adding that another technology which may be more acceptable to Nigerians have been discovered.

She said the new technology which is called gene editing allows the scientist to work within the confines of one genetic material instead of transferring genes from one organism to another.

We cannot afford to ignore this technology, in fact, so much advances have gone beyond where we started on genetic modification, they developed what is called gene editing and we hope that gene editing will be more acceptable to Nigeria.

Explaining what gene editing is, Professor Ogbadu said we are working within the confines of the genetic materials of one organism; we are not bringing in anything from outside into the organism, so we hope that this will be more acceptable to our people.

On the acceptability of the technology, Dr Gidado said the acceptance level in Nigeria is encouraging, more people are talking for the technology, people are beginning to see why we need it.

She further said that they are carrying the farmers along in their campaign, adding that in 2 or 3 years time, the commercialisation of BT cotton and BT cowpea will commence.

One of the environmental advantage of this technology is that less chemicals and pesticides will be used in the farm, leading to less pollution of the environment with fertilizers and chemicals.

Professor Ogbadu in her presentation a the workshop said the technology has increased environmental protection through the reduced use of pesticides and toxic chemicals.

She also said GMOs improves nutrition for people, increase quality of yields, increase farm profitability through reduced cost and new product opportunity.

Much have been said about this technology, some countries have adopted this technology and used it to advance their food production. It is important that the Nigerian government look for other means to upscale our food production.

GMOs among other biotechnology is a scientific method to improve food production in Nigeria, increase yield and practice agriculture as a business, which will in turn put money in the bags of farmers and contribute the nations GDP.

Link:
When OFAB gathered professionals for biotechnology - NIGERIAN TRIBUNE (press release) (blog)

"Forge is a very exciting, emerging life science company its novel platform and programs, its highly efficient business model, and its creative capitalization all attracted me to join the Board at such a pivotal time in the company's evolution," said John Schmid. "I look forward to providing strategic, operational and financial guidance to the management team in the coming years."

Dr. Worland added, "Multi-drug resistant bacteria 'superbugs' pose a very serious threat to human health and Forge's novel antibiotic program provides a promising solution to this global problem. I am honored to join the Forge Board and excited to work with its talented management team, advisors, and alliance and government partners as the company and technology platforms mature."

About the Forge Board of Directors

Forge's Board of Directors is a well-balanced composition of San Diego biotechnology industry veterans, global drug development experts and corporate finance leaders.

About Forge Therapeutics

Forge Therapeutics is a privately-held biopharmaceutical companydeveloping novel antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant bacteria, or 'superbugs,' that have ignited a global health epidemic. With its proprietary chemistry approach, Forge develops small molecule inhibitors targeting metalloenzymes. Forge's lead effort is focused on LpxC, a zinc metalloenzyme found only in Gram-negative bacteria and which is essential for bacteria to grow. Forge has discovered novel small molecule inhibitors of LpxC that are potentin vitro, efficaciousin vivo, and effective against drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria 'superbugs.' To complement its innovative approach to drug discovery, Forge hasa capital efficient business model that utilizes a mix of non-dilutive and traditional funding sources to advance itsprograms, including LpxC. Forge has formed a strategic alliance with leading drug discovery alliance and development partnership company Evotec AG and has been awarded multiple government awards to address the global 'superbug' epidemic. In addition, Forge has amassed a rich intellectual property estate on metalloprotein inhibitors to protect its technology and pipeline. For further information, please visit the company's websitewww.ForgeTherapeutics.com and follow us on Twitter @ForgeThera.

Forge Company Contact:Info@ForgeTherapeutics.com

Forge Media Contact:Amy Conrad Juniper Point amy@juniper-point.com 858-366-3243

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/forge-therapeutics-attracts-biotechnology-leaders-to-join-expanded-board-of-directors-300458043.html

SOURCE Forge Therapeutics, Inc.

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Forge Therapeutics Attracts Biotechnology Leaders To Join Expanded Board Of Directors - PR Newswire (press release)

GETTY

The most common form of arthritis in the knee is osteoarthritis, a degenerative wear and tear type that tends to affect those over 50.

According to Arthritis Research UK, there are 4.11 million people in England with osteoarthritis of the knee.

However, a new study by the University of Aberdeen may have found a way to repair affected knee joints using stem cells.

The researchers have identified how they can be used to reform and repair cartilage.

GETTY

In the research published in the journal Nature Communications, they discovered a protein - called Yap - that appears to regulate the key stem cells which can help repair cartilage.

Cartilage is a structural component of the body which acts as rubber-like padding to protect the ends of bones.

To keep the cartilage lubricated in order to reduce friction, the membrane releases the synovial fluid.

However, conditions such as arthritis cause the normally thin membranes to become inflamed and thicken, creating more fluid, triggering pain and swelling and leading to catalogue damage.

In the research published in the journal Nature Communications, they discovered a protein - called Yap - that appears to regulate the key stem cells which can help repair cartilage.

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1 of 12

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They found that when a joint is injured, and the synovial membrane enlarged, theres a high presence of Yap in the stem cells.

When Yap was removed from stem cells, the synovial membrane in an injured joint did not expand, and additionally, cells without Yap had a reduced ability to contribute to cartilage repair.

Interestingly, the particular stem cells they looked at derived from the same cells which produce our original knee joints when we are embryos.

Professor Cosimo De Bari, director of the University of Aberdeens Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, said: This is important research as we have identified the particular type of stem cells which appear to be important for repairing joints. We have also identified a key protein that regulates these stem cells.

GETTY

By identifying and understanding these stem cells more fully, it puts us in a better position down the line to be able to target them with drugs or other treatments.

Ideally we want to be able to get to a stage where we can give ageing cells that are losing their function a boost.

Early diagnosis can reduce symptoms and make arthritis easier to treat.

De Bari added: We want to prevent joint damage and arthritis or treat arthritis at an early stage.

Once the damage is done, it is difficult to do anything the challenge is to see if we can support the stem cells present in the joint to make sure they maintain their functionality.

See the article here:
Arthritis cure? New procedure could REPAIR knee joints - Express.co.uk

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 83-year-old man in reasonably good health. About six months ago, I started hearing a cracking noise when I turned my head sideways or up and down. Sometimes it would happen every 15 seconds. No one can hear it but me, which is why I haven't gone to my family doctor. I also have had some light headaches. R.P.

Dear R.P.: The cracking noise could be coming from one of the joints in your neck. Most people at age 83 have some degree of arthritis in the neck, and I think that's the most likely cause.

Sometimes there can be a snapping noise or sensation as tendons move over a bony prominence. Other times, there can be a cracking noise, such as cracking knuckles, for the same reason, with nitrogen bubbles forming in the joint with pressure changes. But a crunching or cracking noise most often comes from the joint itself, and often represents some degree of arthritis. If it's not bothering you, nothing need be done. A set of X-rays could confirm and determine the severity of arthritis.

The headaches may have nothing to do with the sound, but there are headaches that can be triggered from neck arthritis.

DEAR DR. ROACH: If a person has lower than optimally functioning kidneys, and protein is hard for kidneys to process, is it easier for kidneys to process plant protein or animal protein? S.H.

Dear S.H.: Plant protein definitely is better for the kidneys. Switching from a meat-based diet to a plant-based diet has been shown to slow the progression of kidney disease from many different causes. A plant-based diet has probable benefits in terms of heart disease as well, compared with a diet high in animal protein, especially red meat.

Reducing animal protein is only part of what needs to be done for kidney disease. Depending on how advanced the kidney disease is, some people need to reduce the amount of potassium they take in. It also may be appropriate to look carefully at medication doses, which often need adjusting in people with kidney disease.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 85-year-old man who has been bothered with trigger finger for a number of years. My doctor says I'm in good health for my age. Several years ago, a doctor said he could give a cortisone injection but would not guarantee it to work over a long period. I had three, and they did not work. What are my options now? B.K.

Dear B.K.: A trigger finger is a condition where a finger (or the thumb, which is considered a finger) gets stuck in the bent position, requiring it to be pulled back into place again. It is caused by one of the tendons getting caught in a pulley system inside the finger. Treatment usually includes modification of activity, short-term splinting and anti-inflammatory drugs, or cortisone injection if that doesn't work. Only people who have failed to get relief from injections should be considered for surgery. That's the choice you have to make now. The surgery is very effective (about 94 percent success rate), and most people are back to near-normal activities in a week or two.

Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

Go here to see the original:
Creaks and cracks in neck may be due to arthritis - News - Sarasota ... - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The question now is whether Cosentyx can continue this momentum once new IL-17's such as Lilly's Taltz receive marketing authorization. More than one-third of rheumatologists claim to have clinical experience with Taltz in PsA (similar to Cosentyx pre-approval exposure) and a fair percentage of the audited patients are identified by their rheumatologist as Taltz candidates. With the introduction of new IL-17's, watching the evolving dermatology referral patterns for PsA patients will be critical. 72% of the rheumatologists state that they wish dermatologists would refer PsA patients earlier than they typically do; furthermore, when patients currently treated with a biologic or Otezla are referred, the majority are switched by rheumatologists within three months.

Although Celgene recently reported a revenue miss in Q1 2017 for Otezla, the audit revealed a solid position for the brand. While the switch-from rates did increase from the prior wave, Otezla also gained, particularly in the first-switch scenario where safety concerns associated with a biologic and patient preference for an oral agent drove the switch. Should Pfizer's Xeljanz gain approval for PsA, Otezla will have a new battle to fight with regard to patient demand for an oral. Indeed, rheumatologists indicated that 31% of the patients currently on Otezla would be considered candidates for Xeljanz if approved.

RealWorld Dynamix is an independent report derived from a robust patient audit focused on the switch patient segment. Unlike claims data, the analysis includes physician assessment, rationale for treatment decisions and future intent related to biologic/Otezla selection. In addition, key variables such as patient engagement level, the influence of the payer, socioeconomic and QOL metrics, co-morbidities, concomitant medications and test results are also included to provide a comprehensive analysis of the patient journey. In total, the combined analysis includes over 1,000 patient records. The full report will be available at the end of May.

Spherix Global Insights is a business intelligence and market research company, specializing in renal, autoimmune, neurologic and rare disease markets. Our aim is to apply our commercial experience and unique relationships within core specialty markets to translate data into insight, enabling our clients to make smarter business decisions.

For more information contact: Lynn Price, Immunology Franchise Head Email: info@spherixglobalinsights.com http://www.spherixglobalinsights.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novartis-cosentyx-takes-the-wind-out-of-stelaras-sails-in-psoriatic-arthritis-market-300458754.html

SOURCE Spherix Global Insights

Spherix Global Insights

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Novartis' Cosentyx Takes the Wind Out of Stelara's Sails in Psoriatic Arthritis Market - PR Newswire (press release)

LEXINGTON, Ky (LEX 18) A retired canine with the Lexington Police Department is still a big goofy dog that acts like a puppy, thanks to stem cell transplants, Garik can continue to do so with less pain.

The City of Lexington featured the dog's story on their website.

Officer Brian Burnette said that he is living the dream by getting to be an officer in the canine unit. He told the City of Lexington that after a couple of years of not connecting with one dog, he was switched to Garik the German Shepherd.

As soon as I got him, we could hit the street together. His drive, we just matched perfectly together, he said.

He described the now seven-year-old dog as a big goofy dog that acts like a puppy and enjoys sniffing for little sticks or twigs in the grass.

While Garik is an active, playful dog, in 2016, Burnette began to notice that something was different. Garik was in a lot of pain. His legs would shake while they were out and he would trip. The department thought that Garik might have hip dysplasia, but Garik had developed a degenerative bone spur on his spine, causing him much pain.

Garik retired and Burnette took him home to live a relaxed life, but Burnette was still concerned about the dog's pain.

That's when a Nicholasville-based company came to the rescue.

Dr. Jeff Baker, President and COO of MediVet Biologics offered a free stem cell kit for Garik.

My mom's a cancer survivor. And she's had stem cell transplants. But I had no idea they even did this for dogs, Burnette told the City of Lexington.

During the treatment, stem cells are extracted from Garik's fat tissue and then re-injected into his body. The procedure is done at Woodford Animal Hospital.

Garik has received two stem cell injections so far.

While the therapy won't cure Garik's condition, they say it will relieve his pain significantly.

This isn't the first time MediVet has helped service dogs, they also donated stem cell therapy kits to the dogs that searched Ground Zero and the Pentagon after 9/11.

Read more:
Retired Lexington Police Department Canine Undergoes Stem Cell Treatment - LEX18 Lexington KY News

The environment ministry in India will make the final call after the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee recently gave a positive recommendation for the commercial cultivation of GM mustard. Whether the crop is commercially cultivated could depend on the Supreme Court, which is hearing a case seeking a moratorium on its commercial release. The government has stated it will abide by the courts decision (although that remains to be seen and some question the courts impartiality). The final hearing will probably take place in July. The casebefore the Supreme Court was brought by Aruna Rodrigues who accuses various officials and the regulatory authorities of unremitting fraud and regulatory delinquency.

The importance of GM mustard should not be underestimated. It is central to the whole debate about the future of agriculture in India and the wider development paradigm. GM mustard is a Trojan horse that would help pave the way for ripping up the economic and social fabric of India and recast for the benefit of powerful Western corporations, not least Bayer-Monsanto (seeGM Mustard in Indiato read my numerous articles on this issue).

GM mustard is being promoted on the basis of the lie that it will increase yield. However, the government itself admits theres no evidence that it will do so.In aletterto Anil Dave, Indias environment minister, presented below, advocate Prashant Bhushan says that conclusions were drawn and disseminated to mean that GM Mustard DMH 11 is a superior hybrid-making technology that will out-yield Indias best non-GMO hybrids and varieties. But he adds that non-GMO hybrids and varieties out-yield HT DMH 11 hands down.

Bhushan reminds the Indian government that it has admitted that there is no evidence that GM mustard out-yields non-GM. In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, the government stated,

No such claim has been made in any of the submitted documents that DMH 11 out-performs Non-GMO hybrids.

ANNEX

Resi. Office. Chamber

B-16,Sector-14,Noida C-67, Sector-14, Noida 301, New Lawyers Chamber

Dist. Gautam BudhNagar Dist. Gautam BudhNagar SupremeCourt Of India

(U.P.) 201 301 (U.P.) 201 301, fax: 0120-4512694 New Delhi

Ph : 0120-2512632, 2512693 Ph: 0120-2512523, 2512695 Ph: 011- 23070301,23070645.

Dated: May 13, 2017

Shri Anil DaveThe Honble Minister of MoEF and Climate Change Paryavaran Bhavan Lodhi Road New Delhi

COMMERCIAL APPROVAL BY THE GEAC OF HT MUSTARD HYBRID DMH 11ON 11 MAY 2017

Dear Shri Dave

I express a deep disquiet and anxiety at the opaque and unscientific regulatory oversight of this GM mustard, which is also an herbicide tolerant (GM) crop. It has resulted yesterday, in its undoubtedly flawed approval for Commercialisation by the GEAC. I write to request you to please withhold your approval of such a move on three grounds.

The firstis that the CJ, based on the assurance given by the AG Mukul Rohatgi that the Union of India will not release DMH 11without the prior approval of the Supreme Court,accordingly, gave a verbal Order of an interim injunction till the case is heard comprehensively and the issue of HT mustard in substance. This was widely reported in the newspapers, two examples of which are referenced ().

The secondis the grave matter of the independence, surety and rigourof the oversight of the biosafety of HT Mustard DMH 11, which is critical for Indias agriculture in mustard, its food safety (both as a vegetable and seed oil), and furthermore, and of outstanding importance, the certain contamination that will occur of Indias mustard germplasm. These matters are of course, of central concern to your Ministrys regulating function and mandate for India.

The thirdis the requirement and my personal plea to you, to take note of the lessons of history of GMO regulation in India, embedded as it is in the most serious conflicts of interest and lack of expertise, where regulation has become farcical. For this reason,self-assessed safety dossiersby crop developers are kept secret by our Regulators and governing Ministries. Four official reports attest to the prevailing, utterly dismal state of regulation.

May any government treat its citizens with such willful disregard, despite Constitutional provisions?

The Bt brinjal Biosafety-Dossier remained unpublished for 16 months despite a SC order, but eventually, the Regulators had to comply with its full publication (with the raw data), which then revealed its fraudulence when examined and appraised by independent scientists of international stature. Studies said to be done were not done, as many as 36 of 37 environmental studies, leaving aside other risk assessment protocols. The moratorium which followed was also in large part influenced by the fact thatIndia is the worlds Centre of brinjal diversitywith 2500 varieties and wild species, which would certainly be contaminated. This is what the 37thPSC of 2012 (on GMOs) had to say on Bt brinjal and regulation. I quote very briefly. I would urge you to read the full recommendations of just 3 pages:

-Convinced that these developments are not merely slippages due to oversight or human error but indicative of collusion of a worst kind,they have recommended a THOROUGH PROBE INTO THE BT. BRINJALmatter from the beginning up to the imposing of moratorium on its commercialization by the then Minister of Environment and Forests (I/C) on 9 February, 2010 by a team of independent scientists and environmentalists.(Recommendation Para No. 2.79).

The Committee after critically analyzingthe evidence the gross inadequacy of the regulatory mechanism, the absence of chronic toxicology studies and long term environment impact assessment of transgenic agricultural crops; the virtual non-existent nature of the oversight bodies like National Biodiversity Authority, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Authority, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, etc., recommended that till all the concerns voiced in their Report are fully addressed -, to put in place all regulatory, monitoring, oversight, surveillance and other structures,further research and development on transgenics in agricultural crops should only be done in strict containment and FIELD TRIALS UNDER ANY GARB SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED FORTHWITH.(Recommendation Para Nos. 8.116, 8.121 & 8.125)

Noting with concern the grossly inadequate and antiquated regulatory mechanism for assessment and approval of transgenics in food crops; the serious conflict of interest of various stakeholders involved in the regulatory mechanism; the total lack of post commercialization, monitoring and surveillance, the Committee have felt thatin such a situation what the Country needs is not a bio-technology regulatory legislationbut anall-encompassing umbrella legislation on bio-safety-The Committee have also cautioned the Government that in their tearing hurry to open the economy to private prospectors, they should NOT MAKE THE SAME FATE BEFALL ON THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR, as has happened to the communications, pharma, mineral wealth and several other sectors in which the Governmentsfacilitative benevolence preceded setting up of sufficient checks and balances and regulatory mechanisms,thereby, leading to colossal, unfettered loot and plunder of national wealth in some form or the other, incalculable damage to environment, bio-diversity, flora and fauna and unimaginable suffering to the common man.(Recommendation Para No. 3.47 & 3.48)

But till date, the GM mustard dossier remains unpublished in willful Contempt of Court. Prof Pental is the Chair of the DBTs Agricultural Biotechnology Task Force. SR Rao, Member GEAC is over-all in-charge of the DBTs Agri Biotech programmes.The DBT also funds Pentals GM mustard.

Does anything more need to be said to underscore the implications of thiscosyarrangement of partnership in the Regulatory oversight of HT mustard DMH 11 and GMOs in general?

Data that has leaked around the edges demonstrate that we have ample reason to be greatly concerned of gross cover-up and misconduct. Furthermore, this HT mustard DMH 11 and its two HT variants are doubly barred by the unanimous 5-member TEC recommendations: ie this is an HT crop and a crop in a Centre of genetic diversity.

The further contents of this letter below, make clear in the simplest possible way, from, and it has to be said, curious admissions of your Apex Regulator and the Union of India in their Reply Affidavit submitted to the SC, which effectively demolish wholesale, any sound basis for the release of HT DMH 11 for commercial cultivation. I make 3 short points, to alert you to the veracity of this statement, as you will not be briefed correctly on these matters by your Regulators and indeed by the Ministries of S & T and Agriculture, both of which promote HT DMH 11 and even fund it (DBT) as stated above:

(a) HT hybrid mustard DMH 11 has failed the first criteria of a test risk protocol of a GM crop:Is the GM Crop required in the first place?The answer inNobased on the admission of the Union of India itself in their Reply Affidavit in the SC.They said:

No such claim has been made in any of the submitted documents that DMH 11 out-performs Non-GMO hybrids. The comparison has only been made between hybrid DMH 11, NC (national Check) Varuna and the appropriate ZC (zonal checks) MSY of 2670 Kg/ha has been recorded over three years of BRL trials which is 28% and 37% more than the NC & ZC respectively (At 88, pg.56).

Unfortunately, the whole truth uncovered, is that no valid comparators were used and the field trials themselves stand voided on the basis of serious anomalies and violations in field testing, inconclusive results and even statistical fraud.Yet, conclusions were drawn and disseminated to mean that DMH 11 is a superiorhybrid-making technologythat will out-yield Indias best Non-GMO hybrids and varieties. The fact is, Non-GMO hybrids and varieties out-yield HT DMH 11 hands down.

(b) We know, based on the AGs assertion in Court that the Union of India holds that this GM mustard will displace imported edible oil-seeds in a significant way (reduce our oilseeds bill). However, such an assertion in the light of the above submission is to say the least ludicrous, entirely lacking any semblance of logic. Moreover, the nearest equivalent to Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) is rape-seed oil (Canola), imported from Canada (which is essentially GMO) and represents just 2% of Indias edible oil imports! Rs 68,000 Cr is the total import oil-seeds bill,not Canolaalone, as the AG mistakenly stated in Court. Can this be the basis for the Commercialisation of HT mustard DMH 11?

It gets murkier still when the U of I also admits that:

Heterosis is due to the careful selection of parents and not due to the three transgenes The developers have nowhere claimed that the yield increase is due to the three transgenes(At 65, page 45)

This is exactly the issue that there is no trait for yield in HT DMH 11. It is good indeed that on this point we are all in agreement. Yet, somehow, the opposite story prevails, the story to the media, and the PMO. The stand of the Niti Aayog is particularly curious in that their National Agri policy requires GMOs in agriculture to meet Indias food security as they are better yielding! Where in this statement is the basic science governing the trait for yield in GMOs and Mustard in particular? It is very troubling that the Niti Aayog has failed to do some basichomework.

(c) Therefore, we draw the conclusion that the stated regulatory intent is toderegulate HT DMH 11 as a policy agenda based on no science,and to convert Indias mustard agriculture, in a massive and dangerous experiment, to (GM) HThybridmustard, (variants of DMH 11). Imagine our consternation when your Regulator admitted to precisely this:

Once the GE mustard events Varuna bn 3.6 and EH2 modbs 2.99 are approved and deregulated, these would be immediately used by the National net-work programme Once a robust pollination control mechanism is in place,yield of hybrids can be further improved by breeding betterparental lines(at 63, pg. 43).

The statement is pure spin, dissimulation. Unless deconstructed, it conveys that HT Hybrid DMH11 is a superior hybrid-making technology (which it is not); that will (alone) provide 25 to 30% higher yield and even better, (not true, as admitted), because on the contrary, Indias best Non-GMO hybrids and varieties are already significantly outperforming HT DMH 11. Unfortunately and regrettably, the plain truth is that decades of good work already being done by our agri institutions and the DRMRin Non-GM hybrid technology and superior-yielding varieties will be laid waste in this dangerous plan for the country via HT Hybrid DMH 11 and its variants.

AND OUR GERMPLASM WILL BE THOROUGHLY CONTAMINATED AND IN A CENTRE OF MUSTARD DIVERSITY.

India is a centre of diversity in mustard with9720 Accessionsin our gene banks(The NBPGR). With a commercialised GM crop, contamination of non-GMO is certain. That is the evidence.

In closing, Id like to emphasise that GMO contamination is neither remediable nor reversible and is the outstanding concern. The genes in HT hybrid DMH 11 are toxic genes: being an HT crop also means that DMH 11 is a pesticidal crop. Its nationality doesnt change the science. It stays this way whether foreign or Indian! How do we get carried away on such a band-wagon?

The issue also is that with GMO contamination, our mustard will be changed at the molecular level. Any toxicity that there is will remain in perpetuity. Are we prepared to be the agents for such monumental risk and put India and its people in jeopardy without any recourse and remedy?

For these reasons among others, and there are decidedly others, I would urge you on behalf of our Nation not to endorse this outrageous and anti-national approval, but reject it in the public interest. You will be doing India a noble service in posterity.

Thank you, Yours sincerely,

Signed/

Prashant Bhushan

* * *

Notes

LiveLaw News Network: No GM Mustard Without SC Approval October 24, 2016;

http://www.dnaindia.comreport-will-not-release-gm-mustard-crop-commercially-without-supreme-court-s-permission-centre-

Directorate of Rape-Seed Mustard

Continued here:
India: Genetic Engineering, the Commercialization of GM Mustard and the Future of Agriculture - Center for Research on Globalization

Diamondback moths. (Credit: Oxitec)

Though genetically modified crops may steal the spotlight, similarly reprogrammed insects may have just as big an effect on the agricultural industry.

Biotechnology company Oxitec is moving forward withplans to develop genetically engineered diamondback moths in an attempt to reduce populations of the invasive crop pest. Their plan is to release males that will pass on a gene preventing female offspring from reaching maturity and reproducing, which they say will eventually eradicate the moths in North America. Tests have so far been positive, although there are still worries about the prospect of releasing genetically modified organisms into the wild.

Currently, pesticides are used to control the moths, which are responsible for an estimated $5 billion worth of damage every year in the U.S. An invasive species, the diamondback moth originated in Europe, but has proved difficult to control since appearing the U.S. due to short gestation times and the large numbers of eggs females lay at once. Oxitec says that their technique is preferable to pesticides, as the moths have proven capable of evolving resistance to the compounds in the past, and most carry some risk to the environment and human health.

Oxitec cites a USDAanalysis that found no risk of significant impact in an earlier test of the GM moths as evidence that their technique is safe, but the prospect of GM insects raisesfears that the moths may proliferate beyond targeted areasand cause impacts on the broader ecology. Similar techniques have been applied before, reaching as far back as the 1950s when sterile screwworm flies were released in Florida, effectively eliminating the parasitic species there. Impotent mosquitos, also manufactured by Oxitec, have been used to combat Zika in South America, andplans to implement the same procedure in Florida are underway.

The successful screwworm campaign relied on blasts of radiation to sterilize the males. Oxitecs technique uses gene editing engineering to implant males with modified DNA that ensures female caterpillars dont survive to adulthood. In the case of the moths, males need not be targeted because it is only the female caterpillars who are responsible for damaging the crops.

They say that tests of the moths, including feeding them to various animals and releasing them in greenhouses, have revealed no ill effects as a result of the genetic modification. Along with the caterpillar-killing gene, the moths are also implanted with a gene that causes them to fluoresce red under UV light, the better to identify them in the wild.

The FDA found no issues preventing the company from moving forward, but because the moths are an agricultural pest, the USDA must weigh in as well.Oxitec is currently waiting on USDA approval to conduct expanded tests at a site in New York in conjunction with Cornell University. They hope to release the moths in a contained cabbage field to see how effective their modifications are.

Most opposition to genetically modified insects is based on the prospect of altered organisms spreading beyond the areas they are released. In the case of the diamondback moth, Oxitec says that the nature of the modification, which precludes breeding, should serve to limit the spread of the GM moths, and pesticides and freezing winter conditions should take care of the rest. While there is a precedent for this kind of technique in screwworms, those insects were uniquely suited to sterilization-based population control because of their life-cycles. Moths may present additional challenges.

Kevin Esvelt, a professor at MIT and leader of the Sculpting Evolution Lab agrees that the general concept is sound: The wholepoint is to harm the next generation of organisms. And since they carry the relevant genetic construct, its necessarily going to decrease, he says. It will not persistin the environment over time as long as the genetic construct is doing what its supposed to do.

This marks a crucial difference from a gene drive, a technique often associated with genetically modifying populations. The hallmark of a gene drive is tweaking genes to increase the chances that a particular trait will be passed on to offspring. The odds are normally 50/50, but a gene drive can tilt them in favor of a particular set of genes,causing a trait to spread through a population. This is helpful when a trait is detrimental to an organisms survival and would normally be weeded out by natural selection. Gene drives havent yet been applied in the wild, though, and likely wont be for many years.

Oxitecs moths possess nosuch scale-tipping modifications that could cause the modified genes to spread across the globe, they merely pass on genetic material in the normal way. Part of this genetic material, however, has been changed to ensure that female caterpillars with the gene dont survive.

From a technical perspective its a perfectly sound approach, it probably offers fewer risks than current approaches using pesticides. In general I am a fan of usingbiology to solve ecological problems as opposed to chemistry, Esvelt says.

Still, he says that field trials are an important step in testing the efficacy and safety of any genetically modified organism. Along with careful tests, Esvelt advocates for more community involvement in the decision making process, as well attempts to reach out and communicate with critics. Although both the FDA and USDA have a period in place during which the public can comment, Esvelt says more communication should be done earlier.

Excerpt from:
After Mosquitos, Moths Are the Next Target For Genetic Engineering - Discover Magazine (blog)

Across channels like PBS Idea Channel, Blank On Blank, and Its Okay To Be Smart, PBS Digital Studios has produced engaging videos about science, philosophy, pop culture, and many other topics in between. Most of those videos run between two and 15 minutes, but now, for the first time, PBSDS is releasing a project that is well outside that range. Its BrainCraft channel is home to Mutant Menu, a 37-minute short film that discusses advancements in genetic engineering.

On BrainCraft, which has more than 350,000 subscribers and over 18 million total views, creator Vanessa Hill leads viewers on an exploration of topics like psychology, neuroscience and why we act the way we do. In Mutant Menu, Hills particular focus is on CRISPR, a tool that allows humans to modify their own genes. The film examines the pros and cons of the technology at its center while also considering the ethical questions CRISPR raises.

Genetic engineering and CRISPR have the potential to save lives and cure disease, but it also comes with risk, said Hill in a press release. My goal with Mutant Menu was to explore all sides of the issue and let viewers come to their own conclusions about this technology.

Mutant Menu was made possible thanks to the support of Google and Screen Australia, who teamed up to fund the film (and Hill, its Aussie creator, in particular) through a joint venture called Skip Ahead. Other channels that have received assistance through that program include The Racka Racka and How To Cook That.

With Mutant Menu out in the open, BrainCraft will return to its regularly scheduled programming. Hill posts new videos to the channel each Thursday.

Read the rest here:
PBS Digital Studios Explores Genetic Engineering In Its First-Ever ... - Tubefilter