Blood test for early stage pancreatic cancer looks promising

A study that successfully differentiated patients with pancreatic cancer from those with another pancreatic disease using a new biomarker, could lead to a blood test that detects pancreatic cancer early enough for curative surgery to be feasible. If pancreatic cancer is spotted early, surgery that boosts chance of survival is more feasible. Pancreatic cancer has a very poor survival rate and ranks fourth as a leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, where around 46,000 people a year are diagnosed with the disease. One reason the disease is so deadly is because by the time it is diagnosed, the tumor is too advanced for surgery to be an option - only about 15% of patients qualify for curative surgery. However, if pancreatic cancer is spotted early, surgery that boosts chance of survival is more feasible, say researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In their study the team shows how a protein released by cancer cells into the bloodstream could be used to screen for early pancreatic cancer. Cancer cells release the protein - which is coded by the gene glypican-1 (GPC1) - in small virus-sized particles called exomes. About Kemadrin (Procyclidine) The exomes contain a mixture of DNA, RNA and proteins. Blood test looks for cancer exomes For the study, the team devised a blood test that looks for exomes enriched with the glypican-1 protein - these cancer exomes are called GPC1+ crExos. A blood test based on these cancer exomes was able successfully to differentiate patients with pancreatic cancer from patients with another chronic pancreatic disease. It passed both measures of a successful diagnostic test with top marks: specificity (correctly identifying patients with a disease) and sensitivity (correctly ruling out those without the disease), as senior author Raghu Kalluri, a professor in cancer biology, explains: "GPC1+ crExos were detected in small amounts of serum from about 250 patients with pancreatic cancer with absolute specificity and sensitivity, importantly distinguishing patients with chronic pancreatitis from those with early- and late-stage pancreatic cancer." Prof. Buy Myambutol (Ethambutol) Kalluri says levels of the cancer exomes were significantly lower in patients after they had their tumors removed. Cancer exomes could be a more reliable screen than circulating tumor cells The study also examined samples from breast cancer patients and found - like the pancreatic cancer patients - they also showed high levels of the GPC1+ crExos. Prof. Cefaclor () with no Rx Kalluri notes that these protein-enriched exomes can be detected in blood samples that have been kept frozen for nearly 30 years. Buy Astelin without Rx You can t do this with circulating tumor cells (CTCs) - they require large amounts of fresh blood, he says. He explains that these cancer exomes could also be useful in other ways: "DNA, RNA and proteins can be isolated from cancer exosomes isolated from stored specimen for further genetic and biological analyses. Prinivil (Lisinopril) with no prescription Therefore, cancer exosomes are not just a biomarker but isolating them provides a trove of cancer-specific information." The team suggests cancer exomes appear to be a more reliable way to screen for pancreatic cancer than using the more common CA 19-9 biomarker test. Buy Coconut Oil online Using the cancer exome test, they found precancerous lesions in mice bred to develop pancreatic cancer before they could be spotted on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). http://allegra-opinion.blogspot.com Prof. Kalluri says because they carry cancer-specific genetic material, the protein-enriched exomes could potentially enhance the specificity of MRI or CT scans, and concludes: "Studies comparing stage of disease with outcome following surgery suggest that death rates for pancreatic cancer would be reduced if the disease were diagnosed at an earlier stage. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for informative early detection of pancreatic cancer and in designing potential curative surgical options." As well as the MD Anderson Cancer Center, The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, and the National Cancer Institute (part of the by the National Institutes of Health) provided funds for the study. Earlier this year, Medical News Today reported a genome study that said pancreatic cancer splits into four types, depending on the type of DNA shuffling seen in the disease. The researchers termed the subtypes: stable, locally rearranged, scattered and unstable. Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

'Lack of evidence' to support benefits of medical marijuana

A number of US states have now legalized marijuana for medical use. About Kemadrin (Procyclidine) However, a new study published in JAMA has raised questions about the quality of evidence supporting the drug s effectiveness for treating certain conditions. Many of the studies suggesting cannabinoids are effective for treating certain medical conditions are of low-moderate quality, according to the authors of the meta-analysis. To date, 23 US states and Washington, DC, have legalized marijuana for medical use, with a further seven states pending legislation. While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not approved the marijuana plant as a form of medicine, studies of the drug s active compounds, known as cannabinoids, have led to the approval of two medications - dronabinol and nabilone - that contain delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary cannabinoid in marijuana. Both dronabinol and nabilone are used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy among individuals in whom other medications have failed, while dronabinol is also used to treat weight loss and loss of appetite for people with HIV/AIDS. Previous studies have suggested that cannabinoids can also help treat chronic pain, Tourette syndrome, sleep disorders and other medical conditions. However, the team involved in this latest study - including Penny F. Buy Myambutol (Ethambutol) Whiting, PhD, of the University of Bristol in the UK - notes that, despite marijuana being widely used for medical purposes in the US and some other countries, the effectiveness of the drug in treating certain medical conditions is unclear. Low-, moderate-quality evidence supporting effectiveness of cannabinoids for medical use With this in mind, Whiting and colleagues conducted a review of 79 randomized clinical trials involving 6,462 participants that assessed the effectiveness of cannabinoids in treating the symptoms of an array of medical conditions. While the majority of studies indicated that cannabinoids could successfully treat symptoms of certain medical conditions, the researchers found many of these studies were not statistically significant. When it came to the use of cannabinoids for treatment of weight loss in HIV/AIDS patients, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, sleep disorders and Tourette syndrome, the researchers found there was low-quality evidence that the compounds were effective, while there was very low-quality evidence supporting the effectiveness of cannabinoids in the treatment of anxiety. The team identified moderate-quality evidence for the successful use of cannabinoids in treating chronic neuropathic or cancer pain and loss of muscle control as a result of multiple sclerosis (MS). The studies that found no effect on psychosis with cannabinoid use were of low-quality, the researchers found, and there was very low-level evidence that cannabinoids were ineffective against depression. Whiting and colleagues also assessed the occurrence of adverse side effects associated with cannabinoid use, which were reported in 62 of the studies included. Cefaclor () with no Rx They found cannabinoid use increased the risk of short-term adverse side effects. Buy Astelin without Rx Dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, euphoria, vomiting, disorientation, confusion, loss of balance and hallucination were among the most common adverse events identified. These findings did not differ depending on the type of cannabinoids used or the way they were administered, according to the researchers. They note that only two of the studies assessed the effectiveness of cannabis for medical use, though they found no evidence that cannabis produced different results to other cannabinoids. Based on their results, Whiting and colleagues say: "Further large, robust, randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm the effects of cannabinoids, particularly on weight gain in patients with HIV/AIDS, depression, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, psychosis, glaucoma, and Tourette syndrome are required. Prinivil (Lisinopril) with no prescription Further studies evaluating cannabis itself are also required because there is very little evidence on the effects and adverse events of cannabis." In an editorial linked to the study, Drs. Buy Coconut Oil online Deepak Cyril and Mohini Ranganathan, of the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT, say if US states wish to make marijuana widely available for medical purposes, then more rigorous research into the medical benefits of the drug is required. "Since medical marijuana is not a life-saving intervention, it may be prudent to wait before widely adopting its use until high-quality evidence is available to guide the development of a rational approval process," they add. http://allegra-opinion.blogspot.com "Perhaps it is time to place the horse back in front of the cart." In July 2014, a Spotlight feature from Medical News Today looked at the debate surrounding medical marijuana, which highlighted concerns from some physicians about the lack of reliable evidence supporting use of the drug for medical purposes. Written by Honor Whiteman

Most lupus pregnancies have good outcomes, study finds

Women diagnosed with lupus may find the results of a new study reassuring, which suggests that most pregnancies among women with the condition have good outcomes if their lupus is inactive. Diamox (Acetazolamide) without prescription The study also identifies certain risk factors associated with poor outcomes in pregnancies among women with lupus. Previously, lupus patients have been advised not to become pregnant, due to potential health risks for both mom and baby. Researchers at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, NY, led the 10-year prospective, multi-center study PROMISSE (Predictors of pRegnancy Outcome: bioMarkers In antiphospholipid antibody Syndrome and Systemic lupus Erythematosus) - the results of which are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus, is an autoimmune disease that mostly affects women of childbearing age. Buy Revia (Naltrexone) without prescription The disease can attack healthy tissue in the skin, joints, kidneys, brain and other organs. Buy Aciphex (Rabeprazole) with free prescription Previously, lupus patients have been advised not to become pregnant, due to potential health risks for both mom and baby. However, the results of PROMISSE - which researchers say is the largest multi-ethnic, multi-racial prospective study of lupus pregnancies - may help women with lupus to decide whether it is safe for them to become pregnant. Across eight sites in the US and Canada, 385 pregnant women were enrolled in the study between September 2003 and December 2012. Buy Amitriptyline with free prescription The women joined the study during the first 12 weeks of their pregnancies and they had inactive or stable mild to moderate lupus activity at that time. 81% of pregnancies did not involve complications The study found that 81% of the pregnancies in the study did not involve complications. About Super Avana (Avanafil with Dapoxetine) without prescription In 5% of pregnancies, fetal or neonatal death occurred. Buy Calcium Pyruvate online Preterm deliveries occurred in 9% of the pregnancies, and 10% of the babies had a low birth weight. Principal investigator Dr. http://allegra-opinion.blogspot.com Jane E. Salmon says of the results: "Our findings provide a clear direction for counseling patients and reassuring women with inactive lupus. We also learned that patients with specific clinical features and certain antibodies that can be detected early in pregnancy by blood tests have an increased risk of serious pregnancy complications." The findings revealed that most of these pregnancy complications were linked to one or more of the following risk factors: A specific antiphospholipid antibody in the blood History of hypertension Low platelet count. "It was exciting to see that severe lupus flares occurred in less than 3% of women during pregnancy," says Dr. Salmon. She added: "Lupus patients and their doctors can be confident of a good pregnancy outcome in most cases if lupus is quiescent when they become pregnant. Our findings now allow clinicians to identify the patients at high risk and manage them accordingly." Recently, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) issued recommendations on reducing risk to women s health and pregnancy in patients with lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome. These included the recommendation that lupus patients who are planning a pregnancy should be counseled and managed after an assessment of risk, and that fertility preservation methods and assisted reproduction techniques may be considered. Written by David McNamee

Tens of thousands of Californians give up their genetic secrets

More than 100,000 Californians have mailed their saliva samples to genetics researchers to build one of America s most powerful medical research tools, linking genetic variants to numerous conditions. The huge amounts of genetic data from older people have revealed clues about age-related illness. The project is co-led by Neil Risch, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and studies using the data have already started appearing in the journal Genetics. Dr. Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) with free prescription Risch says: "This is an incredible treasure trove of data. Symmetrel (Amantadine) without Rx The information collected during medical care is much more comprehensive than the isolated measurements we would make in a traditional research study. "By linking these clinical records with genomic data from each person, we now have the power to track down many genetic and environmental contributions to disease." The researchers have already used to the genetic information collected through health care providers to pinpoint variants linked to: Prostate cancer Allergies Glaucoma Macular degeneration Diabetes High cholesterol. The beauty of this dataset, says Dr. Novosil (Sildenafil Citrate) without Rx Risch, "is that it covers countless diseases and traits, and the medical records are constantly being updated as the cohort grows older." DNA specimens were extracted from saliva samples of 110,266 individuals, with the UCSF researchers working with The Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health. The first reports published in the journal describe the genetic characteristics of the volunteers, how their self-reported ethnicity relates to genetic ancestry, and details of the innovative methods that allowed them to complete DNA analysis within 14 months. Over 100,000 genetic samples processed in just 2 years The team describes how it processed over 100,000 samples to characterize 70 billion genetic variants within just 2 years. Alfad without prescription Co-author Prof. Trandate (Labetalol) without prescription Pui-Yan Kwok, of the Institute for Human Genetics at UCSF, says: "In 2009, this was a huge task, it hadn t been done this fast before." The very large volume of samples called on the team to develop a high-throughput robotic system, which completed the testing in 4 months. Because the average age of participants in the cohort was 63 years, the research focused on age-related diseases. Buy Blue Cohosh online It has included investigation into the length of telomeres, the protective caps on chromosomes that influence these conditions. Telomere length decreased more for men than women between the ages of 50 and 75, but increased modestly for the ages 80 to 90 years in both sexes. The telomere work was led by Elizabeth Blackburn s UCSF research group. http://allegra-opinion.blogspot.com Prof. Blackburn was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2009 for the discovery of telomeres. She says: "This is the largest telomere length database ever constructed from a single study population. At the start, some were skeptical that we could get reliable data from saliva. But we had a 96% success rate, and the results are in fact highly consistent with conclusions from studies of blood." One of the new articles presents a detailed genetic ancestry study, including the relationship between the genetic results and self-reported ethnicity in the cohort. Participants identified their race or ethnicity among 23 questionnaire categories. All the possible combinations of these categories produced over 50 different race/ethnicity identities. Dr. Risch says: "More and more people are identifying as multi-ethnic, which can pose some technical challenges for genomic studies. At the same time, it also presents opportunities for analyzing genetic and social contributions to disease differences between groups." The genetic resource created by the researchers is, they say "just a taste of what is to come." Written by Markus MacGill

Survey Results Imply Adults with Schizophrenia, Caregivers Frustrated by Tradeoffs in Managing Symptoms and Medication Side Effects

PRINCETON, N.J. Buy Bactrim (Trimethoprim And Sulfamethoxazole) & DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Results from a recent survey of adults with schizophrenia, caregivers of adults with schizophrenia and psychiatrists imply that surveyed groups may feel frustrated by the tradeoffs being made with current schizophrenia treatment options and may be seeking greater balance in medications – ones that can address the symptoms of schizophrenia, while also reducing side effects6. The Living with Schizophrenia survey7 was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Vermox (Mebendazole) and Lundbeck between March 26 and April 8, 2015, among 120 U.S. Buy Cialis Black (Tadalafil) adults ages 18+ who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia1; 300 U.S. Adesera with no Rx adults ages 18+ who provide unpaid care to an adult with schizophrenia (“caregivers”)1 and 151 U.S. Buy Viagra Soft (Sildenafil Citrate) without Rx psychiatrists8 who treat adults 18+ with schizophrenia. Buy Babies Vitamins online Subjects were invited by email to participate and adults with schizophrenia were not required to currently be on medication for their schizophrenia symptoms. “Schizophrenia is a serious, progressive disease that has a significant impact on patients and caregivers. http://allegra-opinion.blogspot.com When it comes to treating it, both groups have been making concessions in an effort to help themselves or a loved one,” said Dr. Rebecca Roma, Medical Director of Community Treatment Teams, Mercy Behavioral Health. “Similarly, psychiatrists are committed to their patients with schizophrenia and creating the most optimal treatment regimen to help set up patients for success. In order to do so, medication options that achieve a balance of efficacy with safety and greater tolerability are needed.” When given the choice between managing symptoms or minimizing side effects, nearly three-quarters of surveyed adults with schizophrenia who have ever taken schizophrenia medication (70 percent) and surveyed caregivers whose loved one has ever taken schizophrenia medication (74 percent) report that it is more important to ‘manage symptoms.’ However, more than half of these adults with schizophrenia (51 percent) and caregivers (56 percent) report feeling frustrated with schizophrenia medication because the side effects are hard to deal with5. Survey results imply, however, that the tradeoff these adults with schizophrenia and caregivers may be making does not result in complete symptom management: nearly three in four (73 percent) surveyed adults with schizophrenia who currently take medication9 report still dealing with schizophrenia symptoms at least monthly, and almost nine in ten (87 percent) surveyed caregivers whose loved one currently takes medication report the same. As they work to help patients manage the symptoms of the disease, psychiatrists surveyed report feeling frustrated by medication side effects (90 percent), compliance (80 percent) and efficacy (66 percent)5. According to the psychiatrists surveyed, the biggest barrier to successful treatment of schizophrenia is patient compliance (45 percent), and these psychiatrists believe the top three reasons5 patients may not take their medication exactly as prescribed are because they believe they no longer need it (87 percent), they forget (74 percent) and they can’t tolerate the side effects (75 percent), while only 21 percent of patients noted tolerability as a reason for lack of adherence. More than 2 million Americans are currently living with schizophrenia10, and the impact of the disease can be profound. At least half of adults with schizophrenia (58 percent), caregivers (50 percent) and psychiatrists (58 percent) surveyed report feeling frustrated by the social shame and stigma surrounding schizophrenia5. Approximately the same percentage of adults with schizophrenia (54 percent) and caregivers (51 percent) also report feeling frustrated by the disease’s impact on their life and daily activities5. In addition, caregivers report that, on average, their loved one with schizophrenia missed work or school more than twice and weren’t able to complete daily living tasks like cooking, cleaning or paying bills nearly 10 times in the month previous to the survey. Survey results suggest that all groups are looking for schizophrenia treatment options that offer patients greater balance in efficacy and tolerability6. About the Survey Results Additional findings of the Living with Schizophrenia survey that underscore the frustration these groups feel, include: 63 percent of adults with schizophrenia who have ever taken schizophrenia medication and 76 percent of caregivers whose loved one has taken medication agree that there have been a lot of ups and down with their schizophrenia medication5. Adults with schizophrenia in this survey report being prescribed an average of five medications since their diagnosis (an average of 18 years ago), and 44 percent have switched medication at least once in the last 12 months. About half (51 percent) of adults with schizophrenia surveyed who have ever taken medication feel frustrated that their medication doesn’t/didn’t work as well they want it to5. Nearly two in three caregivers whose loved one has ever taken medication agree that there are not enough medication options that work well to relieve their loved one’s symptoms (63 percent) and they feel frustrated that schizophrenia medication doesn’t work as well as their loved one wants it to (65 percent)5. Similarly, 85 percent of psychiatrists surveyed agree that they often feel frustrated that schizophrenia medication does not work as well for their patients as they want it to5. Only 32 percent of surveyed psychiatrists are satisfied or very satisfied with currently available schizophrenia medications, and these psychiatrists believe only 26 percent of their patients are satisfied or very satisfied. Only 20 percent of psychiatrists surveyed agree that most of their schizophrenia patients always take their medication exactly as prescribed, and 90 percent worry that their patients will not take their medication exactly as prescribed5. These psychiatrists cite side effects as the number one thing that frustrates their patients about their schizophrenia medication5. For more results and shareable resources, please visit LivingWithSchizophreniaSurvey.com. About the Living with Schizophrenia Survey The Living with Schizophrenia survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Lundbeck between March 26 and April 8, 2015. A total of 120 surveys were collected among adults ages 18+ diagnosed with schizophrenia in addition to 300 unpaid caregivers to adults with schizophrenia and 151 licensed psychiatrists who treat at least two schizophrenia patients per month within the United States. Data for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia and caregivers were not weighted and are only representative of those who completed the survey. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Kimberly Whitefield at Otsuka (kimberly.whitefield@otsuka-us.com) or Nick Przbyciel (nprz@lundbeck.com) at Lundbeck. About Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI) is an innovative, fast-growing healthcare company that commercializes Otsuka-discovered and in-licensed products in the U.S., with a strong focus on neuroscience, oncology, cardio-renal, and medical devices. For more information, visit .otsuka-us.com. OAPI is a subsidiary of Otsuka America, Inc. (OAI), a holding company established in the U.S. in 1989. OAI is wholly owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide. Otsuka Pharmaceutical is a leading firm in the challenging area of mental health and also has products and research programs for several under-addressed diseases including tuberculosis, a significant global public health issue. These commitments illustrate more powerfully than words how Otsuka is a “big venture” company at heart, applying a youthful spirit of creativity in everything it does. Otsuka Pharmaceutical and its affiliates employ approximately 30,000 people globally, and the company welcomes you to visit its global website at: .otsuka.co.jp/en/index.php. About Lundbeck Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company specialized in brain diseases. For more than 70 years, we have been at the forefront of research within neuroscience. Our key areas of focus are alcohol dependence, Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, depression/anxiety, epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). An estimated 700 million people worldwide are living with brain disease and far too many suffer due to inadequate treatment, discrimination, a reduced number of working days, early retirement and other unnecessary consequences. Every day, we strive for improved treatment and a better life for people living with brain disease – we call this Progress in Mind. Read more at .lundbeck.com/global/about-us/progress-in-mind. In 2015, Lundbeck can celebrate its 100th anniversary. During the past century, millions of people have been treated with our therapies. It is complex and challenging to develop improved treatments for brain disease, but we keep our focus: There is still so much we need to achieve in the next 100 years to ensure a better life for people living with brain disease. Lundbeck has approximately 6,000 employees in 57 countries who are engaged in the entire value chain throughout research, development, production, marketing and sales. Our pipeline consists of several late-stage development programmes and our products are available in more 100 countries. We have research centres in China, Denmark and the United States and production facilities in China, Denmark, France and Italy. Lundbeck generated core revenue of DKK 13.5 billion in 2014 (EUR 1.8 billion; USD 2.4 billion). Lundbeck in the U.S. In the U.S., Lundbeck employs more than 800 people focused solely on accelerating therapies for brain diseases. With a special commitment to the lives of patients, families and caregivers, Lundbeck US actively engages in hundreds of initiatives each year that support our patient communities. To learn more, visit us at .lundbeck.com/us and connect with us on Twitter at @LundbeckUS. Footnotes   1.     The Living with Schizophrenia survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Lundbeck between March 26 and April 8, 2015, among 120 U.S. adults ages 18+ who self-report that they have been diagnosed with schizophrenia by a healthcare professional (“adults with schizophrenia”); 151 U.S. psychiatrists who treat adults ages 18+ with schizophrenia; and 300 U.S. adults ages 18+ who provide unpaid care to an adult who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia (“caregivers”). The survey did not attempt to interview the direct caregivers of the adults with schizophrenia surveyed and, based on the anonymous nature of the survey, would not directly know that information. Any incidence of patient/caregiver-related respondents is purely coincidental. Patient and caregiver subjects were recruited from online panels and invited by email to participate in the survey. Adults with schizophrenia were not required to currently be on medication for their schizophrenia symptoms in order to participate in the survey; 21% of the participants were not taking medication at the time of the survey. Adults with schizophrenia self-reported their diagnosis and medication history, which was not confirmed with a physician. 2. Surveyed adults with schizophrenia who have ever taken schizophrenia medication. 3. Surveyed caregivers whose loved one has ever taken schizophrenia medication. 4. When directed to select one of two choices. 5. Many survey questions allowed for multiple responses rather than a single choice. Therefore, the total of all choices does not equal 100%. 6. Conclusion is based on interpretation of multiple data points. 7. The objective of the Living with Schizophrenia survey was to understand patient, caregiver and physician perceptions and opinions of living with schizophrenia, caring for someone who lives with the disease and treating patients with the disease. Specifically, the survey sought to collect data on feelings, especially those of frustration, regarding various aspects of living with and managing schizophrenia, including medication. 8. Physicians were recruited through standard mail to participate in an online survey, relying on the American Medical Association (AMA) master file as the sampling frame. Raw data were weighted on the basis of years in practice, sex, and region to reflect the population of practicing U.S. psychiatrists. No estimates of error can be or were computed. 9. Small base (n<100) – results should be interpreted as directional only. 10. The National Alliance of Mental Illness, Mental Illness Facts and Numbers. March 2013. Available at 2.nami.org/factsheets/mentalillness_factsheet.pdf. 11. Reported results are excerpted from the full data collected. To access the full data set, please contact Kimberly Whitefield at Otsuka (kimberly.whitefield@otsuka-us.com) or Nick Przbyciel (nprz@lundbeck.com) at Lundbeck. Results reported were selected based on best applicability to survey objectives.

'Placenta-on-a-chip' could offer new insight into pregnancy

Researchers have developed a "placenta-on-a-chip" - a microdevice to imitate the structure and function of a placenta - so that they may be able to improve their understanding of placental processes and disorders. The placenta-on-a-chip could allow researchers to study the inner workings of the placenta more efficiently and at a lower cost than existing placenta models. The study, published in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, was conducted by researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and colleagues based in the US and South Korea. "We believe that this technology may be used to address questions that are difficult to answer with current placenta model systems and help enable research on pregnancy and its complications," says study author Dr. About Aldactone (Spironolactone) without Rx Roberto Romero, chief of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The placenta is an organ that develops within the uterus during pregnancy to provide nutrients and oxygen for the baby and to remove waste products from its blood. Zebeta (Bisoprolol Fumarate) without Rx In addition, the placenta is partly responsible for keeping harmful environmental exposures such as bacteria and some medications away from the fetus. If the placenta does not function properly, it can compromise the health of both mother and child. Buy Cialis Super Active (Tadalafil) with free Rx As a result, researchers are keen to learn precisely how the placenta manages to transport certain substances while keeping away harmful ones. Buy Accutane with free Rx However, placenta research is a tricky business. Not only is studying the placenta in humans time-consuming but it can also be risky to the growing fetus. Buy Zebeta (Bisoprolol) with no Rx Scientists investigating placental transport tend to examine animal placentas or human cells grown in a laboratory for these reasons. While useful, these studies can only mimic human physiological processes to a limited extent. Buy Aloe Vera Deodorant online Another problem is that there is a lack of standardization among placenta researchers, leading to conflicting results due to variability in practices between laboratories. The device successfully mirrors transfer of glucose from placenta to fetus To address these limitations, the researchers developed a prototype "placenta-on-a-chip" microdevice, following the lead from other new organ-on-a-chip developments that are promising to revolutionize organ and drug research. The device is designed to mimic the placenta s maternal-fetal barrier, using human cells within its structure. http://allegra-opinion.blogspot.com Two chambers are separated by a semi-permeable membrane, with one chamber containing cells from a placenta and the other containing cells taken from an umbilical cord. For the study, the researchers tested the device s function by assessing how glucose transferred from the maternal chamber containing the placenta cells to the fetal chamber containing the umbilical cord cells. The researchers found that glucose transferred successfully between the two chambers in a manner that mimicked the process that occurs naturally in the human body. "The chip may allow us to do experiments more efficiently and at a lower cost than animal studies," states Dr. Romero. "With further improvements, we hope this technology may lead to better understanding of normal placental processes and placental disorders." One aspect of human placental processes not mirrored by the microdevice is the levels of stress that occur in fetal capillaries. The researchers state that this could be recreated by reducing the size of the fetal chamber or by increasing the rate of fluid flow on the fetal side. They also acknowledge that further studies using more human cells will need to be conducted. Despite these limitations, however, they believe their prototype has potential to serve as a low-cost platform for exploring key pathological features of placental diseases. "Our placenta-on-a-chip model represents exciting progress in this area and lays the groundwork for future studies aiming to explore the potential of organs-on-chips technology for reproductive biology and medicine," the researchers conclude. After giving birth, many women opt to consume their placenta for supposed health benefits. A recent study, however, has reported that there is as yet no scientific evidence for these benefits. Written by James McIntosh