Low incidence of venous insufficiency in multiple sclerosis

Mar. 7, 2013 ? Results of a study using several imaging methods showed that CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) occurs at a low rate in both people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and non-MS volunteers, contrary to some previous studies.

The research by an interdisciplinary team at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) was published in a recent early online edition of the Annals of Neurology.

"Our results in this phase of the study suggest that findings in the major veins that drain the brain consistent with CCSVI are uncommon in individuals with MS and quite similar to those found in our non-MS volunteers," said Jerry Wolinsky, M.D., principal investigator and the Bartels Family and Opal C. Rankin Professor of Neurology at The UTHealth Medical School. "This makes it very unlikely that CCSVI could be the cause of MS, or contribute in an important manner to how the disease can worsen over time." Wolinsky is also a member of the faculty of The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston and director of the UTHealth MS Research Group.

CCSVI has been described by Italian neurosurgeon Paolo Zamboni, M.D., as a new disorder in which veins draining the central nervous system are abnormal. Zamboni's published research linked CCSVI to MS. Not all researchers have been able to duplicate his results.

UTHealth was one of three institutions in the United States to receive an initial grant to study CCSVI in multiple sclerosis (MS). The grant was part of a $2.3 million joint commitment from the National MS Society and the MS Society of Canada.

The UTHealth team tested several imaging methods including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging with an intravenous contrast agent, and direct radiologic investigation of the major veins by direct injection of veins with radio-opaque contrast. The goal was to validate a consistent, reliable diagnostic approach for CCSVI, determine whether CCSVI was specific to MS and if CCSVI contributed to disease activity.

The team was blinded to the participant's diagnosis throughout the study. Doppler ultrasound was used to investigate venous drainage in 276 people with and without MS. Using the criteria described by Zamboni for the diagnosis of CCVSI, UTHealth researchers found less prevalence of CCVSI than in some previous studies and no statistical difference between those with MS and those without MS. Detailed experience with the other imaging approaches are being readied for publication.

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupting the flow of information within the brain and from the brain to the body. It affects more than 400,000 people in the United States and 2.1 million in the world.

Co-investigators from the UTHealth Medical School and Mischer Neuroscience Institute include Alan M. Cohen, M.D., professor and chief of Vascular Interventional Radiology; Andrew Barreto, M.D, assistant professor of neurology and director of the neurosonography laboratory; Larry Kramer, M.D., professor of diagnostic and interventional imaging and chief of Cardiovascular MRI; Ponnada Narayana, Ph.D., professor of diagnostic and interventional imaging and director of the MR Research Group; Staley A. Brod, M.D., professor of neurology; John W. Lindsey, professor of neurology; and Flavia Nelson, associate professor of neurology.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

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Journal Reference:

1. Andrew D. Barreto, Staley A. Brod, Thanh-Tung Bui, James R. Jemelka, Larry A. Kramer, Kelly Ton, Alan M. Cohen, John W. Lindsey, Flavia Nelson, Ponnada A. Narayana, Jerry S. Wolinsky. Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. Annals of Neurology, 2013; DOI: 10.1002/ana.23839

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OKtDRQhL00Y/130307190639.htm

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Scientists eradicate lung tumors in a pre-clinical mouse model

Mar. 5, 2013 ? Scientists at the Vall d?Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) in Barcelona, Spain, report that they have eradicated lung tumours in a pre-clinical mouse model.

Previous studies had already shown that Myc was a key protein in tumour development and had established how to inhibit Myc through gene therapy. This protein is involved in the development of diverse tumours and so Myc-targeted therapy could make a positive contribution to the therapeutic options for different types of cancer.

The study, led by the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), demonstrated the elimination of mouse lung tumours by inhibiting Myc, a protein that plays a key role in the development of many different tumours. The results, published in the journal Genes & Development, confirm that repeated, long-term treatment does not cause side effects. Even more importantly, no resistance to treatment has been encountered, which is one of the biggest concerns with anticancer therapies. These results show that anticancer therapies based on Myc inhibition are a safe, effective therapeutic option in new drug development.

Myc is a protein that plays a big role in regulating gene transcription and it is involved in cell processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis (programmed cell death -- an essential part of regenerating tissues and eliminating damaged cells). It acts as a regulator gene that controls the expression of some 15% of human genes. However, imbalances in this protein bring about uncontrolled cell growth which in turn can lead to the onset of cancer in different tissues. In fact, deregulated Myc is found in most tumours, including cervical, breast, colon, lung and stomach cancer.

From protein to therapy: a long haul

The work conducted by the Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy group at the VHIO, led by Dr Laura Soucek, shows that Myc can be controlled and inhibited through a mutant called Omomyc that hijacks Myc and prevents it from acting. "Even if we clearly identify a mechanism behind tumour development, it is still extremely complex to pinpoint how to intervene in cells' internal machinery or modify genetic processes," explained Dr Soucek. "We have found a way to inhibit Myc through Omomyc," she continued. "We induced Omomyc expression in mice through gene therapy and managed to activate and deactivate it by administering an antibiotic to the mice in their drinking water."

In the study, multiple lung tumours were induced in the mouse (up to 200 tumours in each individual) and Myc inhibition episodes were achieved by activating Omomyc expression for 4-weeks, followed by 4-week rest periods. This therapy -- known as metronomic therapy -- was maintained for more than a year, regularly checking tumour progress in each mouse. All mice became tumour free after the first inhibition period, but 63% of cases then relapsed. After the second Myc inhibition period, only 11% of the initial tumours reappeared. According to Dr Soucek, "the most important finding was that there were no signs of resistance to treatment. This is one of the biggest disadvantages of many anticancer therapies: the disease develops resistance and can return even more aggressively."

Finally, only two remaining tumours were found after more than one year of treatment among the mice that received eight inhibition and rest cycles. Dr Soucek found that Omomyc expression had been suppressed in these tumours, and this was the only adaptive mechanism that mice developed to treatment. "These results are hugely positive for us, because one year of life in a mouse is equivalent to almost 40 human years. The fact that the results are maintained over time, that there is no tumour relapse and no resistance, suggests that Myc-targeted therapy may offer an unprecedented way forward."

A study full of surprises

Previous studies conducted by Dr Soucek had already shown that Myc inhibition could halt tumour processes, making it an interesting therapeutic target for new drug development. However, in view of the protein's major role as a regulator gene, there was concern that long-term treatment could cause significant and uncontrollable side effects, such as epithelial tissue or bone marrow atrophy.

The potential for resistance was also questioned, since this occurs in many other similar treatments. The results of this latest study confirm that after multiple and periodic applications of Omomyc (the Myc inhibitor), tumours do not develop any resistance, side effects are mild and completely reversible, and almost all initial tumours are eradicated, even in advanced disease. "To make sure resistance was really non-existent, we applied the worst case scenario," said Dr Soucek, "which was to assess the effect of Myc inhibition while suppressing p53 (a cell cycle regulator protein), because without p53, a tumour can accumulate a large number of mutations. If there were any chance of a mutation appearing and managing to resist Myc inhibition, this would have happened in the absence of p53. So we have now demonstrated that long-term Myc inhibition not only stops lung tumour growth indefinitely, but also progressively eradicates tumour growth, without side effects or resistance. These results confirm that Myc is a firm target for new cancer drugs," she asserted.

These encouraging results provide sufficient scientific evidence to consider taking the next step: inhibiting Myc in patients. "Now our challenge for the future is to make Myc inhibition feasible from a pharmacological point of view, so that it can be administered, and done so safely. This will be the last step before designing clinical trials with Myc inhibitors," explained Dr Soucek. "We're so excited about reaching this turning point and I am quite certain that it will change the course of cancer therapy, despite there being a long road ahead."

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/TiUw-akCh3Q/130307190542.htm

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Teixeira out 8 to 10 weeks with wrist injury

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) ? Mark Teixeira will to be out at least until early May with a strained right wrist tendon, the latest major injury setback for the New York Yankees.

New York general manager Brian Cashman gave the news Wednesday after the Yankees' were beat 8-2 by the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team on Wednesday.

"It's a tough loss," Cashman said.

Teixeira was hurt swinging a bat Tuesday in an indoor cage during pregame warmups with the U.S. WBC team. Initially, Teixeira was expected to be out eight to 10 days, but he was examined by Yankees doctors in New York on Wednesday and a prognosis of eight to 10 weeks was given.

Cashman, who broke his leg and dislocated his ankle in a skydiving accident Monday, says Teixeira will rest for four weeks before beginning rehabilitation. Teixeira will remain in New York, and not rejoin the team in Florida, to start his recovery program.

Cashman does not seem inclined to move Kevin Youkilis from third to first. Youkilis was signed in December to fill in for third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who will be out until at least the All-Star break after left hip surgery in January.

"Third base is very difficult," Cashman said. "First is always easier to fill than third."

Internal options at first include Dan Johnson. Cashman ruled out having designated hitter Travis Hafner playing in the field.

"We've got three or more weeks to go with what we have here, as well as evaluating what's elsewhere," Cashman said. "So, we'll just wait and see."

Cashman noted that this is normally not the time of year that big trades are made.

It's the second major injury for the Yankees during spring training this year. Outfielder Curtis Granderson broke his right forearm when he was hit by a pitch Feb. 24. He will also be sidelined until early May.

"People get hurt ... get hurt on our team, people get hurt on other teams," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "The good teams find ways to get it done, and that's what you're going to have to do."

Jeter is making progress toward playing in his first game since offseason ankle surgery. Although he has not run the bases full speed yet, Jeter went through an intensive defensive session Wednesday.

"I'm getting close," Jeter said. "I'm headed in the right direction. My ankle feels good. I'll be in there as soon as I can play. Whenever I'm able to do it, I'll do it."

Jeter expects to be ready for the regular-season opener April 1 against Boston.

"I'm not worried about Derek Jeter at all," Cashman said. "He'll be ready when it counts. He's the least of our concerns."

Granderson has been cleared to increase his workouts and is set to start riding a stationary bike. Granderson said the team medical staff was happy with follow-up X-rays taken on Tuesday.

Right-hander Phil Hughes made 25 throws at both 60 and 90 feet during his third level ground throwing session after being sidelined two weeks by an upper back bulging disk. He is scheduled to make 10 pitches in his first mound session Saturday, and have a 25-pitch bullpen outing Sunday or Monday.

Hughes' status for opening day remains undetermined.

Reliever David Robertson, scratched from his outing Tuesday night due to an achy shoulder, will not make a two-day road trip Thursday and Friday. Left-hander Boone Logan, slowed by a tender elbow, expects to pay catch Thursday and throw off a mound this weekend.

CC Sabathia, the expected opening-day starter, and closer Mariano Rivera, have both been taking part in simulated games.

Sabathia, who had offseason left elbow bone spur surgery, is scheduled for another sim game Sunday. Rivera, coming back from knee surgery, could pitch in his first game Saturday.

Cashman said Rivera has returned home for a personal matter, and will rejoin the team Saturday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/teixeira-8-10-weeks-wrist-injury-221231353--mlb.html

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Bedouin kidnap and quickly release Egypt Exxon boss

CAIRO (Reuters) - Bedouin gunmen in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula seized and briefly held the country boss of U.S. oil major ExxonMobil and his wife on Thursday, in an attack that highlights increasing risks oil firms face across North Africa and the Middle East.

Exxon said Andy Wills, chairman and managing director of its Egypt and Cyprus operations, and his wife were both unhurt.

The British couple were seized when they stopped to change money in Ras es-Sidr, 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Cairo, while driving to a Sinai beach resort, Egyptian security sources said. The couple were held for several hours before being handed over to the army after negotiations with tribal elders.

"ExxonMobil confirms that the chairman and managing director of ExxonMobil Egypt and Cyprus and his wife are safe and unharmed after being held briefly earlier today," Exxon spokesman Alan Jeffers said.

Security has become a top concern for oil companies as they face soaring bills to strengthen defenses against militants following a siege at an Algerian gas plant in January in which dozens of foreign workers were killed.

Since that siege, security incidents have hit a field in Iraq operated by Russian oil firm Lukoil, where local residents descended on facilities to demand jobs, and a gas plant in Libya jointly owned by Italy's ENI, where clashes between rival militias halted work.

Oil firms say they have strengthened security in North Africa following the Algerian hostage drama, including in Egypt.

Security has deteriorated in Egypt's isolated Sinai desert region since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising two years ago.

Thursday's gunmen demanded the release of four prisoners held in Alexandria on charges of arms smuggling, the Egyptian security sources said. It was not immediately clear whether they were aware of the identity of their captives.

South Sinai's Red Sea coast is a major tourism area for Egypt. Other tourists have been held briefly by tribesmen in recent months and released unharmed, often after just a few hours of negotiations with authorities.

Bedouin have attacked police stations, blocked access to towns and taken hostages to show their discontent with what they see as their poor treatment by Cairo and to press for the release of jailed kinsmen.

Two American women were kidnapped in Sinai in February last year but Egyptian authorities negotiated their release a few hours later.

Two other U.S. tourists were kidnapped in late May that year, and two more U.S. tourists in July. The captives were released within days in both incidents.

Exxon has more than 350 petrol stations in Egypt and says it exports lubricants and products from Egypt to more than 25 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Far East.

(Reporting by Yusri Mohamed in Egypt, Anna Driver in Houston and Dmitry Zhdannikov in London; Writing by Alexander Dziadosz and Sylvia Westall; Editing by Peter Graff)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bedouin-release-two-britons-seized-egypts-sinai-172217267.html

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S.Africa's Sanlam FY profit growth lags consensus

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's biggest life insurer, Sanlam Ltd, reported a smaller-than-expected 15 percent rise in full-year profit on Thursday as consumers refrained from taking up new policies.

But shares in Sanlam rose about 1 percent after the Cape Town-based company declared a forecast-beating dividend and a special dividend.

Sanlam said diluted headline earnings per share totalled 287 cents in the year to end-December, from 250 cents a year earlier.

That was well below the 298 cents in a Thomson Reuters StarMine estimate, which gives more weight to top-ranked analysts.

Headline EPS, the benchmark profit measure in South Africa, excludes certain one-time items.

South African insurers are struggling to write new policies as unemployment, high personal debt levels and a tentative economic growth eat into consumers' deposable income.

But a rally in domestic equity and bond markets over the last year, which boosts fees earned on assets under their management, has helped them maintain some growth.

Sanlam, which owns a controlling stake in domestic short term insurer Santam, lifted its annual dividend by 27 percent to 165 cents per share and said it would pay an additional 50 cents in a special dividend.

StarMine had predicted a dividend payout of 16 cents per share.

The company's stock picked up 0.7 percent to 48.04 rand by 0916 GMT, largely in line with the JSE Top-40 index.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/africas-sanlam-fy-profit-growth-lags-consensus-095742703--sector.html

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Politicians pay tribute to Hugo Chavez ? Shropshire Star

Foreign Secretary William Hague has paid tribute to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who he said left a "lasting impression" on the country.

The fiery populist who declared a socialist revolution in Venezuela and crusaded against US influence, died yesterday after a two-year battle with cancer, ending his 14 year rule.

The 58-year-old had won a new six-year term as recently as October.

Mr Hague offered his condolences shortly after Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced his colleague's death in a national television broadcast.

Mr Hague said: "I was saddened to learn of the death of President Hugo Chavez.

"As President of Venezuela for 14 years he has left a lasting impression on the country and more widely.

"I would like to offer my condolences to his family and to the Venezuelan people at this time."

Irish President Michael D Higgins has said his thoughts are with the people of Venezuela.

Mr Higgins said: "I was very sorry to hear of the death, after a long illness, of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

"President Chavez achieved a great deal during his term in office, particularly in the area of social development and poverty reduction.

"I extend my sincere condolences to the family of President Chavez on their great loss.

"My thoughts and best wishes are also with the people of Venezuela as they come to terms with this sad news."

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams also remembered Mr Chavez, who he said had worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Venezuelan citizens.

"He dedicated himself to building a new and radical society in Venezuela," said Mr Adams.

"His progressive social and economic changes took millions out of poverty.

"He extended free health care and education for all citizens and his re-election last year with a huge majority was testimony to his vision."

Mr Adams said Mr Chavez was also a hugely influential figure in South America and in world politics.

"He was an energetic and enthusiastic leader and when it was discovered that he had cancer he confronted his illness with the same courage and determination that marked his political life," he added.

Source: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/03/06/politicians-pay-tribute-to-hugo-chavez/

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Report: TV star Valerie Harper has brain cancer

NEW YORK (AP) ? Valerie Harper, who played Rhoda Morgenstern on television's "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and its spinoff, "Rhoda," has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

People magazine reported on its website Wednesday that the 73-year-old actress received the news on Jan. 15. Tests revealed she has leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare condition that occurs when cancer cells spread into the fluid-filled membrane surrounding the brain. The report says Harper's doctors have said she has as little as three months to live.

"I don't think of dying," Harper told the magazine in a cover interview. "I think of being here now."

Harper's character, Rhoda, was one of television's most beloved characters during the 1970s, and the tart-tongued, self-deprecating Rhoda made Harper a star. She won three consecutive Emmys (1971-73) as supporting actress on "Mary" plus another for outstanding lead actress for "Rhoda," which ran from 1974-78.

Harper began show business as a dancer in several Broadway musicals, and worked in summer stock and with the Second City improv group.

"I was a dancer but I was always a little overweight," she once told The Associated Press. "I'd say, 'Hello, I'm Valerie Harper and I'm overweight.' I'd say it quickly before they could. ... I always got called chubby, my nose was too wide, my hair was too kinky."

Accordingly, she played Rhoda at first as a plump, wisecracking contrast to slender, winsome Mary Richards. But as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" evolved, Rhoda trimmed down and her own brand of beauty was acknowledged.

The character was wildly popular and soon inspired her own CBS sitcom, which saw Rhoda moving back home to New York City and even getting married.

After her success on TV, she returned to theater. Several TV movie and feature films followed, including "Chapter Two" and "Blame It on Rio."

In 2000, she reunited with Moore in a TV film, "Mary and Rhoda."

"Rhoda Morgenstern gave a wonderful impetus and propulsion to my career," she told the AP in 2001.

At the time, she had stepped into the role originated by former "Alice" star Linda Lavin in the Broadway comedy "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife."

Harper played what she described as "an angst-ridden Woman of a Certain Age," and she likened that character to Rhoda, whose shared creed, she said, is "Get into life, and enjoy it. Just stop with the white knuckles and relax. Be OK with yourself."

In recent years, Harper had guest roles on several TV series, and in 2010 was back on Broadway playing Tallulah Bankhead, a flamboyant star from Hollywood's Golden Age.

AP Drama Critic Michael Kuchwara wrote that "Harper submerges the iconic Rhoda Morgenstern" and "has a ferocious sense of comic timing."

In January, Harper published a new memoir, "I, Rhoda."

___

Online:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20679402,00.html

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-tv-star-valerie-harper-brain-cancer-131838945.html

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