A Breakdown in Breathing

The Complexities of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited illness that ravages the lungs and many other organs in the body. Fifty years ago, children with CF generally died by about age 10. But wide-ranging research has led to dramatic improvements in treatment. Today, the life expectancy for CF patients in the U.S. has risen to about 37 years. Some with CF live into their 40s, 50s or even older.

CF affects 30,000 people in the U.S. and 70,000 worldwide. A main symptom is thick mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to repeated infections, scarring (fibrosis) and gradual deterioration.

“When we breathe, mucus is there to keep us protected, trapping particles and bacteria and moving these away from the lungs,” says Dr. William B. Guggino, a researcher with the Johns Hopkins Cystic Fibrosis Center. But in CF, “the mucus gets sticky, and bacteria grow on sticky mucus.”

Because CF also affects other organs, such as the pancreas, it interferes with the body’s ability to digest food. This is a special concern for children and youths. Breathing, growth and development are all affected by the disease.

CF is caused by abnormal changes in a gene called CFTR. More than 10 million people in the U.S. carry an abnormal version of the gene, but most probably don’t realize it because they have no symptoms. To have CF, a person must inherit 2 defective copies of the gene—one from each parent.

Yet it’s not that simple. Some people have a relatively mild form of the disease, while others have a more severe form. NIH-funded researchers are studying what causes these differences.

One team of researchers is looking at identical twins with CF. In general, twin studies can tease apart certain factors, such as how variations in genes and environment affect survival. If both twins have CF and one fares better than the other, are certain genes affecting the way the disease is activated? If these twins live separately, do different environments affect their lungs?

Although CF has no cure, research has yielded new and effective medications. These help thin the mucus, open the airways, fight infection and aid digestion.

A daily routine of good self-care is also essential. This often includes repeated rounds of chest physical therapy, also called chest clapping or percussion. Patients must sit or lie in a position to help drain the mucus from their lungs. Then a therapist, family member or friend claps them rhythmically on the back to help loosen mucus so it can be coughed up. A mechanical vest can also be used to vibrate the chest and clear the airways.

Couples with a family history of CF should speak with their health care provider about newborn screening when planning or expecting a baby. “Even in infants only a few months old, the disease is often silent, and the disease quickly progresses,” says Dr. Susan Banks-Schlegel, who oversees a CF research program at NIH. “Newborn screening is very important so we can intervene early.” Early diagnosis and treatment can help raise the life expectancy for people living with CF.

Source: NIH

Hyperthermia: too hot for your health

 

NIH provides heat-related illness advice for older people

Hot summer weather can pose special health risks to older adults. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid heat-related illnesses, known as hyperthermia.

Hyperthermia is an abnormally high body temperature caused by a failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body to deal with the heat coming from the environment. Heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after prolonged exposure to the heat), heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are commonly known forms of hyperthermia. Risk for these conditions can increase with the combination of outside temperature, general health and individual lifestyle.

Lifestyle factors can include not drinking enough fluids, living in housing without air conditioning, lack of mobility and access to transportation, overdressing, visiting overcrowded places and not understanding how to respond to hot weather conditions. Older people, particularly those with chronic medical conditions, should stay indoors on hot and humid days, especially when an air pollution alert is in effect. People without air conditioners should go to places that do have air conditioning, such as senior centers, shopping malls, movie theaters and libraries. Cooling centers, which may be set up by local public health agencies, religious groups and social service organizations in many communities, are another option.

Health-related factors, some especially common among older people, that may increase risk of hyperthermia include:

• Being dehydrated.
• Age-related changes to the skin such as impaired blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands.
• Heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever.
• High blood pressure or other conditions that require changes in diet. For example, people on salt-restricted diets may be at increased risk. However, salt pills should not be used without first consulting a doctor.
• Reduced sweating, caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and certain heart and blood pressure drugs.
• Taking several drugs for various conditions. It is important, however, to continue to take prescribed medication and discuss possible problems with a physician.
• Being substantially overweight or underweight.
• Drinking alcoholic beverages.

Heat stroke is a life-threatening form of hyperthermia. It occurs when the body is overwhelmed by heat and unable to control its temperature. Heat stroke occurs when someone’s body temperature increases significantly (generally above 104 degrees Fahrenheit) and has symptoms such as mental status changes (like confusion or combativeness), strong rapid pulse, lack of sweating, dry flushed skin, faintness, staggering, or coma. Seek immediate emergency medical attention for a person with any of these symptoms, especially an older adult.

If you suspect that someone is suffering from a heat-related illness:

• Get the person out of the heat and into a shady, air-conditioned or other cool place. Urge them to lie down.
• If you suspect heat stroke, call 911.
• Encourage the individual to shower, bathe or sponge off with cool water.
• Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin. These are places where blood passes close to the surface of the skin, and the cold cloths can help cool the blood.
• If the person can swallow safely, offer fluids such as water, fruit and vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol and caffeine.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) within the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services helps eligible households pay for home cooling and heating costs. People interested in applying for assistance should contact their local or state LIHEAP agency.

Source: NIH

Cystic Fibrosis Therapy Tested in Young Children

 

A treatment that benefits adults and older children with cystic fibrosis may not help infants and young children with the disease, a new study reports. The finding could slow the adoption of this therapy in younger children.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that results in a buildup of thick and sticky mucus in the lungs, airway and other organs. Excess mucus in the lungs can lead to coughing, breathing problems, scarring (fibrosis) and an increased risk of lung infections. The disorder affects about 30,000 people in the U.S. and 70,000 worldwide. There is no cure, but treatments can improve both the length and quality of life for people with the disease.

Previous studies have found that inhaling a concentrated salt water (hypertonic saline) mist provides some benefits to adults and older children with cystic fibrosis. The mist appears to loosen the thick mucus that builds up in the lungs, which may help reduce recurrent infections known as pulmonary exacerbations. The infections are thought to contribute to the lung damage and respiratory failure associated with cystic fibrosis.

Because of these earlier findings, the use of hypertonic saline in younger children has been rising. The therapy is now used by about 1 in 5 children under 6 years old with cystic fibrosis. But there isn't clear evidence that the therapy is effective for these young children.

To test whether inhaling hypertonic saline helps young children with cystic fibrosis, a research team led by Dr. Margaret Rosenfeld at Seattle Children's Hospital and Dr. Felix Ratjen at the University of Toronto enrolled 321 participants, ages 4 months to 60 months, at 30 cystic fibrosis care centers across the United States and Canada. Twice daily for 48 weeks, the children inhaled either 7% hypertonic saline or a 0.9% saline mist as a control. The study was sponsored by NIH's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc.

The scientists reported in the Journal of the American Medical Associationon June 6, 2012, that hypertonic saline was well-tolerated and caused few side effects. However, there was no difference between the 2 saline groups in the rate of acute lung problems that required treatment with antibiotics (an average of 2.3 cases per participant per year). The treatment also didn't improve other clinical measurements such as coughing, respiratory rate, height or weight (the disorder can stunt children's growth).

“Even reasonably simple and non-toxic therapies can be burdensome, especially for families of small children with a chronic disease such as cystic fibrosis,” says NHLBI Acting Director Dr. Susan Shurin. “This is one more study that illustrates the importance of conducting clinical research in children because medicine is not one size fits all—therapies that benefit adults or even teenagers do not always benefit younger children in the same way.”

The researchers note that hypertonic saline treatment might still help younger patients. Early lung damage associated with cystic fibrosis often shows no clinical symptoms. Whether this treatment might slow the progression of airway damage in infants and toddlers, resulting in better lung function later, isn't yet known and will require further study.

Source: NIH

The Healthy Human Microbiome

 

Researchers have mapped the normal bacteria that live in and on the healthy human body. The accomplishment sets the stage for better understanding how bacterial communities affect human health and disease.

The human body is host to trillions of microbes. These microbes outnumber the body’s cells by 10 to 1. Most of the time they are beneficial to human health, but sometimes they can cause illness. Scientists are using new genomic techniques to study these microbial communities and their genes, which collectively are known as the microbiome.

The Human Microbiome Project (HMP) was launched by NIH in 2007 to characterize the microbes found in different regions of the body, including the nose, mouth, skin, digestive tract and vagina. Researchers from almost 80 universities and scientific institutions described 5 years of research in a series of coordinated reports published online on June 13, 2012, in Nature and several journals in the Public Library of Science.

The scientists studied the microbes of 242 healthy adult volunteers by collecting tissue from 15 body sites in men and 18 in women. The sites included the nose, mouth, skin, stool from the lower intestine, and 3 vaginal sites in women. Bacteria were identified by extracting DNA from each sample and then analyzing a bacteria-specific gene called the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The researchers also did more complete sequencing for about 800 reference strains.

The scientists found that more than 10,000 microbial species occupy the human body. They estimated that the microbiome provides more genes that contribute to human survival than the human genome itself provides (8 million vs. 22,000). Humans need bacterial genes to aid in basic processes such as digestion.

A surprising finding involved microbial metabolism. “It appears that bacteria can pinch hit for each other,” says Dr. Curtis Huttenhower of Harvard School of Public Health and lead co-author for one of the papers inNature. “It matters whether the metabolic function is present, not which microbial species provides it.”

Several clinical studies using project data have been completed. Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine, for example, compared changes in the vaginal microbiome of 24 pregnant women with 60 women who weren't pregnant. They found less species diversity in the pregnant women. This suggests that the vaginal microbiome may have evolved to make a healthier passage for the newborn.

In another study, researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine explored the human virome, the viral component of the human microbiome. They analyzed viruses in the blood and nasal swabs of children with unexplained fevers, a common problem in children under 3. Feverish children had nasal samples with up to 5 times more viral DNA than children without fever. This suggests that a quick test for viral load may help children avoid potentially harmful antibiotic treatment for a fever caused by viruses. 

“Enabling disease-specific studies is the whole point of the Human Microbiome Project,” says Dr. Barbara Methé of the J. Craig Venter Institute, lead co-author for one of the Nature papers. “Now that we understand what the normal human microbiome looks like, we should be able to understand how changes in the microbiome are associated with, or even cause, illnesses.”

Source: NIH

Patient-derived stem cells could improve drug research for Parkinson's

 

NIH-funded study shows cells from different patients have unique drug responses

Researchers have taken a step toward personalized medicine for Parkinson's disease, by investigating signs of the disease in patient-derived cells and testing how the cells respond to drug treatments. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The researchers collected skin cells from patients with genetically inherited forms of Parkinson’s and reprogrammed those cells into neurons. They found that neurons derived from individuals with distinct types of Parkinson's showed common signs of distress and vulnerability — in particular, abnormalities in the cellular energy factories known as mitochondria. At the same time, the cells' responses to different treatments depended on the type of Parkinson's each patient had.

The results were published in Science Translational Medicine.

"These findings suggest new opportunities for clinical trials of Parkinson’s disease, in which cell reprogramming technology could be used to identify the patients most likely to respond to a particular intervention," said Margaret Sutherland, Ph.D., a program director at NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

A consortium of researchers conducted the study with primary funding from NINDS. The consortium is led by Ole Isacson, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of neurology at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

The NINDS consortium's first goal was to transform the patients' skin cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which are adult cells that have been reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells. The consortium researchers then used a combination of growth conditions and growth-stimulating molecules to coax these iPS cells into becoming neurons, including the type that die in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease affects a number of brain regions, including a motor control area of the brain called the substantia nigra. There, it destroys neurons that produce the chemical dopamine. Loss of these neurons leads to involuntary shaking, slowed movements, muscle stiffness and other symptoms. Medications can help manage the symptoms, but there is no treatment to slow or stop the disease.

Most cases of Parkinson's are sporadic, meaning that the cause is unknown. However, genetics plays a strong role. There are 17 regions of the genome with common variations that affect the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Researchers have also identified nine genes that, when mutated, can cause the disease.

Dr. Isacson and his collaborators derived iPS cells from five people with genetic forms of Parkinson's disease. By focusing on genetic cases, rather than sporadic cases, they hoped they would have a better chance of seeing patterns in the disease process and in treatment responses. Three of the individuals had mutations in a gene called LRRK2, and two others were siblings who had mutations in the gene PINK1. The researchers also derived iPS cells from two of the siblings' family members who did not have Parkinson's or any known mutations linked to it.

Because prior studies have suggested that Parkinson's disease involves a breakdown of mitochondrial function, the researchers looked for signs of impaired mitochondria in patient-derived neurons. Mitochondria turn oxygen and glucose into cellular energy. The researchers found that oxygen consumption rates were lower in patient cells with LRRK2 mutations, and higher in cells with the PINK1 mutation. In PINK1 mutant cells, the researchers also found increased vulnerability to oxidative stress, a damaging process that in theory can be counteracted with antioxidants.

Next, the researchers tested if neurons derived from patients and healthy volunteers were vulnerable to a variety of toxins, including some that target mitochondria. Compared to neurons from healthy individuals, patient-derived neurons were more likely to become damaged or die after exposure to mitochondrial toxins. Patient-derived neurons also suffered more damage from the toxins than did patient-derived skin cells.

Next, the researchers attempted to rescue the toxin-exposed cells with various drug treatments that have shown promise in animal models of Parkinson's, including the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 and the immunosuppressant rapamycin. All patient-derived neurons — whether they carried LRRK2 or PINK1 mutations — had beneficial responses to coenzyme Q10. However, the patient-derived neurons differed in their response to rapamycin; the drug helped prevent damage to neurons with LRRK2 mutations, but it did not protect the neurons with PINK1 mutations.

This cluster of human iPS cells has been induced to express neural proteins, which have been tagged with fluorescent antibodies. Courtesy of Dr. Ole Isacson, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

These results hint that iPS cell technology could be used to help define subgroups of patients for clinical trials. To date, interventional trials for Parkinson's disease have not focused on specific groups of patients or forms of the disease, because there have been few clues to point investigators toward individualized treatments. Although the current study focused on genetic forms of Parkinson's, iPS cell technology could be used to define disease mechanisms and the most promising treatments for sporadic Parkinson's as well.

The NINDS Parkinson's Disease iPS Cell Research Consortium is one ofthree such consortia funded by NINDS. One of the consortia is focused on developing iPS cells for the study of Huntington's disease, and another focuses on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia.

The Huntington's disease consortium recently reported successful derivation of iPS cells and iPS-generated neurons from patients. Cells from patients with both early and later onset disease showed severe defects in physiology, metabolism, and cell viability, compared to cells from healthy volunteers. These results were reported in the June 28th issue of Cell Stem Cell. The consortium is led by led by Leslie Thompson, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the University of California, Irvine.

Skin cell and iPS cell lines developed by the consortia are available to both academic and industry researchers through the NINDS human cell line repository at the Coriell Institute. To date the NINDS repository has distributed more than 200 cell lines worldwide.

The Parkinson's Disease iPS Cell Research Consortium is funded primarily by grants and contracts from NINDS (NS070276, NS078338). The three disease consortia were started in 2009 with more than $11 million in NINDS grants, made possible by the Recovery Act. Funding for the consortia was recently renewed through 2013 via a public-private partnership. Future goals include increasing the number of iPS cell lines and the variety of mutations represented, and giving some lines biological tags that will enable researchers to see when the cells have transformed into specific neuronal types. NINDS is funding this next phase in collaboration with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, the ALS Association, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, the CHDI Foundation, the Huntington's Disease Society of America, the Hereditary Disease Foundation, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

For more information about Parkinson's disease, visit http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/parkinsons_disease.htm.

Source: NIH

Million Hearts™: Scaling and Spreading Innovation - Strategies to Improve Cardiovascular Health

On April 19, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and American Heart Association brought together experts in scaling and spreading health care innovations to focus on strategies to improve cardiovascular health and blood pressure control.

Source: CDCStreamingHealth

A Call to Action: Ending preventable child deaths

The Child Survival Call to Action is mobilizing the world toward one ambitious but simple goal -- ending preventable child deaths.
For more information, please visit: http://www.unicef.org

Source: unicef

International Conference and Exhibition on Rheumatology and Therapeutics

 

OMICS Group invites all the participants across the globe to attend the International Conference and Exhibition on Orthopedics & Rheumatology which is to be held on Aug 13-15, 2012 at Hilton Chicago/Northbrook, Chicago, USA
Rheumatology-2012 is a remarkable event which brings together a unique and International mix of large and medium pharmaceutical, biotech, and diagnostics companies, leading universities and research institutions making the conference a perfect platform to share experience, foster collaborations across industry and academia, and evaluate emerging technologies across the globe.

International conference and Exhibition on Orthopedics & Rheumatologywill schedule and coordinate all meetings with our Editorial Board Members and other experts in the Rheumatology field across the World. The scientific program paves a way to gather visionaries through the research talks and presentations and put forward many thought provoking strategies in Orthopedics & Rheumatology

. Auto Immune Rheumatic Diseases and Treatment

. Osteoarthritis and Treatment

. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Current Research

. Other Rheumatic Disorders

. Paediatric Rheumatology

. Drug Therapy for Rheumatic Diseases

. New Treatment Aspects for Rheumatology

. Rheumatic Pain and Soft Tissue Pain

. Genetics of Rheumatic Diseases

. Orthopaedic and Muscular System

. Novel Techniques and Applications in Rheumatology

Avail the few left speaker oppurtunities...!

Special Issues

All accepted abstracts will be published in respective OMICS Group Journals
Each Abstract will be provided with Digital Object Identifier by

To share your views and research, please click here to register for the conference.

To Collaborate Scientific Professionals around the World

Dates of the Conference

Aug 13-15, 2012

Venue of the Conference

Hilton Chicago/Northbrook, USA

Theme

New Insights & Therapeutic approaches in the field of Rhuematology

Sponsors

Click here for Sponsorship Opportunities

Speaker Opportunity

Day 1 :Available

Day 2: Available

Poster Opportunity: Available

More Info: CLICK HERE

Source: OMICS Group

Vacancy for Clinical Research Associate 1

 

Schedule

: Full-time

Shift

: Day

Hourly Rate

: $18.58 + Depending on Experience

Job Category

: Research

Location

: Oregon-Portland

Providence is calling a full-time Clinical Research Associate 1 for a day shift position at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, OR.

In this position, you will:

• Function under the supervision of the Cancer Research Clinical Trials manager, coordinating and maintaining diverse activities related to clinical cancer research. This includes, but is not limited to: patient eligibility, registration, data compilation and submission, study evaluation, quality control as well as direct patient follow-up by phone.
• Interact closely with institutional investigators. Industry sponsors and the cooperative group operations office.
• Collaborate with the Clinical Research Nurses throughout study completion.
• Uphold the standards of confidentiality, attendance and punctuality.

Required qualifications for this position include:

• Baccalaureate degree or equivalent experience required with courses in public health, community program development, psychology/sociology, and research.
• Advanced level proficiency in Microsoft Access, Microsoft Word, Internet, and e-mail are required.

Preferred qualifications for this position include:

• Registration: Clinical Trials Management Certification preferred.
• Two years research or data entry/registry experience required; experience with medical terminology, tumor registries, or clinical research preferred.
• Understanding of GCP and ICH regulations, clinical trial monitoring, and regulatory compliance preferred.
• Experience with medical terminology preferred.

About Providence in Oregon

As the largest health care system and largest private employer in Oregon, Providence offers exceptional work environments and unparalleled career opportunities.

The Providence Experience begins each time our patients or their families have an encounter with a Providence team member and continues throughout their visit or stay. Whether you provide direct or indirect patient care, we want our patients to feel that they are in a welcoming place where they can be comfortable and free from anxiety. Our employees create the Providence Experience through simple, caring behaviors such as acknowledging and welcoming each visitor, introducing ourselves and Providence, addressingpeople by name, providing the duration of estimated wait times and updating frequently if timelines change, explaining situations in a way that puts patients at ease, carefully listening to their concerns, and always thanking people for trusting Providence for their health care needs. At Providence, our quality vision is simple,

"Providence will provide the best care and service to every person, every time."

Providence is consistently ranked among the top 100 companies to work for in Oregon. It is also home to two of our award-winning Magnet medical centers. Providence hospitals and clinics are located in numerous areas, ranging from the Columbia Gorge to the wine country to sunny southern Oregon to charming coastal communities to the urban setting of Portland. If you want a vibrant lifestyle while working with a team highly committed to the art of healing, choose from our many options in Oregon.

We offer a full comprehensive range of benefits — see our website for details —

http://www.providenceiscalling.jobs/rewards-benefits/index.html

Answer the call to fulfill the Mission

As people of Providence, we reveal God's love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through our compassionate service.

About Providence Health & Services

Providence Health & Services is a not-for-profit organization extending across a five-state area – from Alaska through Washington, Montana, Oregon, and into Southern California. Providence employs more than 51,000 employees, and operates 27 acute care hospitals, and more than 35 non-acute health care facilities, as well as physician clinics, health plans, and numerous other health and education services. Providence Health & Services is an equal opportunity employer who provides competitive benefits, a drug-free workplace and supports work/life balance.

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VACANCY FOR POST OF CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Buckinghamshire

 

Job Type

Permanent

Pay

Excellent

Reference

1589500

Closing date

28 Sep 2012

• Applyfor Clinical Research Associate

 

My client a Global top 10 CRO are currently recruiting for CRA positions to join their expanding Clinical Operations team.
Working within a highly qualified team you will identify, select, initiate and close-out investigational sites for clinical studies in phases II – IV ensuring that applicable regulations and principles of ICG-GCP are adhered to
In addition, your tasks will include
Working independently and proactively to coordinate all necessary activities required to set up and monitor a study, completing accurate study status reports and maintaining study documentation
Submission of protocol, consent documents for ethics/IRB approval and assist in preparing regulatory submissions as requested
Participate in preparing and reviewing study documentation and feasibility studies for new proposals as required
Managing sponsor generated queries efficiently and responsible for study cost effectiveness
Dependent on level of experience you may assist in training and mentoring less experienced CRA’s and/or manage CRA’s working on international projects
Experience and Qualification
With a University degree in medicine, science or equivalent, you will have previous monitoring experience in medium sized studies or international studies to undertake the relevant tasks of this role and knowledge of ICH GCP guidelines (for all roles above entry level).
Fluent in the local language and English
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Computer literate with Microsoft Office
Ability to produce accurate work to tight deadlines within a pressurised environment
Excellent interpersonal skills will be essential to enable you to deal with any queries in a timely manner
You must be available to travel international and domestic at least 60% fly and drive and should possess a valid driving license
You will have the opportunity to progress your career and may wish to move into Project Management or into other related areas where you can further develop your skill set.

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