Raging Coconuts!

Stem Cell Awareness Day

2009-09-23T22:09:00.001-04:00

Governor Paterson of NY State has proclaimed September 23rd "Stem Cell Awareness Day". There is a website with beautiful photos of stem cells from some of my colleagues from around the state. Enjoy!

http://stemcell.ny.gov/slideshow/

Great News on Stem Cells!

2009-03-09T20:41:00.004-04:00

It's something long overdue--- federal support for human embryonic stem cell research. We've discussed many of the arguments pro and con. But in the end, science has to progress without the restrictions of religious ideology. And everyone, even those who believe that a 100-cell embryo is equivalent to a human baby, will benefit from the medical knowledge gained.

I'm Baaaaack!

2008-11-28T22:12:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Heather for bringing me back from hiatus. Life is hectic with two jobs, located 70 miles apart. But at least the gas prices have come down a bit.

I'm hopeful with the new administration coming in 2009 that stem cell research will be supported at the federal level in short order.

Here is some recent good news on the use of stem cells to reconstruct a human trachea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpBZGPAEvUY

Long Time, No Blog!

2008-05-26T14:44:00.002-04:00

Greetings from Stem Cell Central!

I didn't realize how long it's been since my last post. The two jobs have been keeping me busy.

Here's the website for NYSTEM, the New York State stem cell initiative that was established in April 2007:
http://stemcell.ny.gov/

NYSTEM has recently put out a request for grant proposals for New York State stem cell researchers.
http://stemcell.ny.gov/news_releases.html

ALBANY, NY (May 8, 2008) Governor David A. Paterson today announced that nearly $109 million in new state funding is being made available to support stem cell research initiatives in New York. The nearly $109 million represents the second round of available funding from the state’s 11-year, $600 million stem cell research initiative that was approved as part of last year’s state budget.
Four Requests for Applications (RFAs) issued today invite proposals from in-state research institutions for stem cell research activities that encourage collaborations among scientists, facilitate the acquisition and development of specialized equipment, and support researcher-initiated and targeted stem cell research

It's great to see the New York State stem cell initiative come to fruition, thanks to the tireless efforts of so many advocates.

Academia in a Nutshell

2008-04-18T23:04:00.000-04:00

Oldies But Goodies

2008-04-01T20:25:00.003-04:00

Cornea transplants are routine, with the highest success rates (97-99%) of any transplant procedure. In general, corneas for transplant are obtained from eyebank donors, aged 2-70. A recent study suggests that corneas from older donors may work as well as corneas from younger donors.

Some kinds of cornea damage and prior LASIK surgery disqualify corneas from being used as transplant material. As more and more people decide to undergo LASIK kinds of procedures, fewer corneas will qualify as transplant material. By increasing the potential donor age, it will help address potential shortages.

"We now have scientific evidence showing that older donors can be used reliably in corneal transplantation," said Dr. Edward Holland of the University of Cincinnati and one of the study's lead researchers.

The cornea is the clear covering for the front of the eye, crucial for helping it focus light. More than 39,000 corneal transplants were performed last year, according to the Eye Bank Association of America.

The nation has had an adequate supply so far. But specialists say there are international shortages, and eye banks fear U.S. supplies will tighten as a result of tougher Food and Drug Administration donor-safety rules that began last summer, increasing interest in older donors.

http://tinyurl.com/32hem5

This is interesting in light of some of the research done in my own lab a few years ago, where we saw stem-like cells in corneas from 92-year old donors. It's amazing how the cornea is able to maintain its clarity and vitality throughout life....and even beyond.

Annual Marshmallow Peeps Post

2008-03-21T18:37:00.000-04:00

I discovered this silly website a couple of years ago. It's still hysterical and especially appropriate for Easter week-end. It seems that some scientists (apparently with some time to kill in the lab) are conducting laboratory experiments on marshmallow peeps. They have an entire website devoted to their studies.

One particularly cute experiment was "the effect of alcohol and smoking on marshmallow peeps."
http://www.peepresearch.org/smoking.html

First, the peep was exposed to alcohol and did exhibit some signs of inebriation, such as bumping into the walls of the swimming vessel:

Then, the peep was permitted to select a brand of cigarette and smoked without apparent ill effects:

However, when smoking and alcohol were combined, the effects were catastrophic:

Their conclusions: "The synergistic effect of smoking and alcohol in Peeps produces a rapidly exothermic oxidation reaction, leading to a chemical and morphological divergence from the wild-type Peep phenotypes."

The marshmallow peep appears to be an excellent experimental model for the synergistic effects of smoking and alcohol!

Great News!!

2008-03-05T19:52:00.004-05:00

Hey, guess what? I just found out that my research grant is going to be funded!! Yay! This is good news because I can finally hire some technical help for the stem cell lab and not be a volunteer anymore. It's time to celebrate!

The research project involves targeting "cancer stem cells" that seem to be the driving force behind tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy.

It's All Relative!

2008-02-07T19:05:00.000-05:00

How many of you out there have blue eyes? If so, we're related!

A Danish scientist, Dr. Hans Eiberg, has conducted a study of blue-eyed people and found that there is a single mutation responsible for blue eye color. This mutation is very specific and has been found in every single blue-eyed person that they've studied. This "founder" mutation for blue eyes goes back to a common ancestor thousands of years ago. In other words, if you have blue eyes, you are likely related to everyone else in the world who also has blue eyes.

http://tinyurl.com/22gxvo

I hope you're all inviting me to your next family reunion!

Vote for PlayPumps International!

2008-01-17T22:54:00.000-05:00

For the next three days, you can vote online and support PlayPumps International:

PlayPumps International’s mission is help improve the lives of children and their families by providing easy access to clean drinking water, enhancing public health, and offering play equipment to millions across Africa. We provide schools and communities throughout Africa with an innovative, uniquely sustainable, free supply of clean drinking water. We strive to bring joy and play into the lives of African children, better health for millions, and to achieve the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. We will carry out our mission by installing 4,000 PlayPump water systems in 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa by 2010, bringing the benefits of clean water to up to 10 million people. More than 950 PlayPump systems have already been installed in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, and Zambia.

VOTE4CAUSE | Donate Through Voting

PlayPumps International
http://www.vote4cause.org/cause.php?id=52

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Stem Cells....

2008-01-09T19:27:00.000-05:00

This is a long, but interesting presentation that explains stem cells.

Clone, Clone on the Range

2008-01-06T22:25:00.000-05:00

How do you feel about eating hamburgers from cloned cows?

Meat from cloned animals has been deemed no different than meat from non-cloned animals. Therefore, the FDA requires no special label for cloned meat.

So why clone animals?

The idea is to replicate the best livestock over and over again, to improve the quality of meat and milk products.

There are some who feel squeamish about cloning animals, worry about safety issues, and wonder whether cloned animals face increased danger from being wiped out by epidemics. Some want mandated labeling so that they will know whether or not their meat comes from cloned animals.

With the caveat of ensuring genetic diversity in animals to protect against epidemics, I am comfortable with cloned animals. On the grill, a steak from a cloned animal is indistinguishable from a steak from an uncloned animal. Twin cows are clones of one another. There is no inherent danger to humans in eating meat from twin cows, whether naturally-occurring or intentionally created.

Here is an interesting video from Wired Science that explains things in a bit more detail--

Bird Flu

2007-12-16T10:06:00.000-05:00

Eight suspected cases of bird flu have been reported in Pakistan, including five members of one family. One relative, who attended a funeral for one of the flu victims in Pakistan and returned to New York, developed flu-like symptoms and went into voluntary quarantine with his son. Tests for exposure to bird flu were negative for both father and son and they are no longer in quarantine. There is more detail on this story at Bloomberg.com

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 340 people in 13 countries have contracted bird flu since 2003. Sixty percent of the cases were fatal and most could be traced to direct contact with infected poultry. At this point, bird flu has not become a highly contagious, seasonal event. But we certainly need to keep tabs on it.

In April of this year, the Centers for Disease Control announced FDA approval for the first human bird flu vaccine against the H5N1 strain of the virus. According to the FDA:

The manufacturer, sanofi pasteur Inc., will not sell the vaccine commercially. Instead, the vaccine has been purchased by the federal government for inclusion within the National Stockpile for distribution by public health officials if needed.

"The threat of an influenza pandemic is, at present, one of the most significant public health issues our nation and world faces," said Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs. "The approval of this vaccine is an important step forward in our protection against a pandemic."

News On The Stem Cell Front

2007-11-21T19:43:00.001-05:00

I'll bet many of you have read the latest news stories about how skin cells have been coaxed to behave like embryonic stem cells. This is a fascinating study and one that bears follow-up in the months/years ahead.

However, contrary to President Bush's recent comments, these findings do not eliminate the need for human embryonic stem cell research, nor will it end the stem cell debate. In order to prove that these new skin-derived stem cells are as good as, or better than, human embryonic stem cells, direct comparisons must be made between them under a variety of conditions. In order to make direct comparisons, all stem cell types are needed, embryonic and otherwise. To limit further study on skin-derived stem cells alone, it would never allow us to answer the question of which cell type might work best for diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, spinal cord injury, etc.

In no way does this minimize the significance of findings regarding skin-derived stem cells or stem cells derived from other tissue types. But I do think that it's important to ensure that stem cell researchers have access to a wide variety of cell types for future study, including human embryonic stem cells. Let's keep this issue at the forefront and encourage federal funding for all stem cell research.

R.I.P Washoe

2007-11-02T22:20:00.000-04:00

Washoe the chimp died on Oct. 30th at the age of 42. She was the first non-human to learn American Sign Language (ASL). She was named for Washoe county, Nevada, where she was raised and trained in ASL. At the time of her death, she resided at Central Washington University.

There was controversy about the project and the claims that Washoe could use 250 ASL signs. Still, the project was groundbreaking in the field of animal communications. Washoe eventually passed on her knowledge of ASL to her adopted son Loulis.

R.I.P. Washoe.

Happy Birthday...Have a Nobel Prize!

2007-10-10T18:36:00.000-04:00

It was a great birthday for Gerhardt Ertl. He turned 71 today and was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. His award-winning research involved "surface chemistry", vital to the development of the catalytic converter, and our understanding of the vanishing ozone layer.

Professor Ertl spoke at a live press conference today, "It is the best birthday present that you can give somebody. I was really speechless."

Happy Birthday, Professor Ertl!

Breast Cancer Walk-- A Success!

2007-09-30T23:07:00.001-04:00

I participated in today's "Making Strides for Breast Cancer" walk to benefit the American Cancer Society. You can see from the photo that we had perfect weather for the event. I walked the 3 mile route with a group of about 14 team members, including a couple of toddlers in a stroller. Altogether, there were about 9,000 people who took part in our local walk.

Many thanks to all who sponsored me. I ended up raising over $700 for a very worthy cause.

Eye on Climate Change

2007-09-18T22:41:00.000-04:00

There is an excellent website with scientific information on global warming:
www.nature.com/reports/climatechange

You'll find a journal club, a blog and a free digital issue of "Nature Reports Climate Change".

Check it out!

What Will They Think Of Next?

2007-09-16T10:36:00.000-04:00

OK, it was cool in 1953.

In Memoriam: Elizabeth Olmsted

2007-09-10T18:31:00.000-04:00

From the Buffalo News Obituary:

March 5, 1915 — Sept. 6, 2007

Dr. Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted, a pioneer for women in medicine, died Thursday in Millard Fillmore Hospital. She was 92.

She graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine in 1939, becoming Western New York’s first female ophthalmologist.

Throughout her career, she also worked as a military consultant investigating the effects of radar exposure on the eye, invented the diffraction lens used in the treatment of crossed and lazy eyes, authored numerous articles and served as president and chairwoman of local and state professional societies.

Dr. Olmsted was one of the area’s first female pilots, serving as a lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol in the early 1940s. She was a member of the Ninety- Nines, the international organization of female pilots.

Her husband, Ira G. Ross, died in 1991.

A lifelong Buffalo resident and civic leader, she volunteered for several local organizations. Of all her accomplishments, she is perhaps best known for philanthropy.

Throughout the 1990s, Dr. Olmsted contributed millions of dollars to the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to establish a faculty chair in medical information services and to establish the Ira G. Ross Eye Institute. She also donated to the Blind Association of Western New York, renamed in her honor the Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted, M.D. Center for the Visually Impaired, to update its facility to state-of-the-art.

In recognition of her generosity, Dr. Olmsted in 2004 received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

She also received the National Conference for Community and Justice of Western New York Lifetime Achievement Award, the Athena Award, UB’s Distinguished Medical Alumna Award and many other honors. In 2003, she received an honorary doctorate in science from the State University of New York.

I had the great pleasure to know Dr. Olmsted. She once told me that when she started out as the first female Ophthalmology resident at the University of Rochester, the male residents refused to sit at the lunch table with her. Eventually, she won them over. She was truly a pioneer in the field.

Signs That Make You Go "Huh"?

2007-09-01T15:52:00.000-04:00

Breast Cancer Walk

2007-08-17T19:42:00.000-04:00

This year, I'll be participating in the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" event of the American Cancer Society. Our local walk will be at the end of September. I'm dedicating this walk to the memories of my cousin and my aunt who bravely fought breast cancer during their lives, and in honor of surviving relatives and friends who are an inspiration to us all.

For more information about participating in your area, here is a link to the event:
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org

If anyone would like to sponsor my walk, please send an e-mail to eyedoc333@hotmail.com and I'll send you the link to my donations page.

African Webcam

2007-08-11T21:28:00.001-04:00

There's a very interesting page on the National Geographic website called "Pete's Pond". It's a link to a live webcam of Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana, Africa. At various times of the day, you can see elephants, snakes, lizards, birds, and lions. The sounds of chirping insects and splashing water are very relaxing.

Edit: The tinyurl link isn't working. I'll put it in the comments section, if I can.

Hat tip to Jillan.

A Stem Cell Milestone in New York!

2007-07-26T20:40:00.001-04:00

This is a press release from Gov. Spitzer's website.

Yours truly will apply for funding as soon as the grants become available!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 26, 2007

GOVERNOR SPITZER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO EMPIRE STATE STEM CELL BOARD
Board to Oversee $600 Million in Funding for Stem Cell Research

Governor Eliot Spitzer today named 11 appointees to serve on the committees that form the Empire State Stem Cell Board. The Board was established to oversee and administer $600 million in funding for the Empire State Stem Cell Trust Fund to promote stem cell research and development.

“The Empire State Stem Cell Trust Fund propels New York State forward in the search for scientific knowledge and advancement, and will enable the world-class academic, research, medical and scientific institutions located here to reach their full potential,” said Governor Spitzer. “The individuals that we are nominating to the Empire Stem Cell Board will help bring thoughtful leadership, scientific expertise, and ethical considerations to the advancement of stem cell research.”

The 2007-2008 Enacted Budget includes an initial appropriation of $100 million and an additional $500 million is provided at $50 million per year for ten years beginning in April 2008. The Fund will make grants for basic, applied, translational and other research that advances scientific discoveries in fields related to stem cell biology. No grants are allowed for any research involving human reproductive cloning.

Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson said: “New York is responding to the urgent need for a state-sponsored, fully-funded stem cell research program. The appointed members of the Empire State Stem Cell Board represent the best leadership our State has to offer in the stem cell research field. This board will execute our stem cell research program with the highest moral, ethical, and scientific standards. It will play a key role in advancing medical science, bringing hope to people suffering a range of debilitating illnesses. I am proud that we are able to deliver our stem cell program to the people of this state, and I am personally committed to seeing its full, successful implementation. ”

Commissioner of Health Richard F. Daines, M.D. said: "Biomedical research holds great promise for the presentation and treatment of the most devastating diseases and health conditions. Governor Spitzer and Lieutenant Governor Paterson's support for this initiative will position New York as a leader in stem cell research, and will expand the number of New York scientists contributing to this promising field. The caliber of the Empire State Stem Cell Board members is outstanding, and we look forward to working with them.”

The Board includes two committees – the Funding Committee and Ethics Committee – each consisting of 13 members. The Stem Cell Board will be chaired by the Commissioner of Health, Richard F. Daines, M.D. who will also act as a member on each committee. Twelve members are appointed by the Governor with six of those members recommended by legislative leaders. The Funding Committee will make recommendations for the awarding of grants to the Commissioner of Health based upon the analysis and recommendations of an independent scientific peer review process. The Ethics Committee will make recommendations regarding scientific, medical and ethical standards.

Outrageous Politicizing of Science!

2007-07-25T18:27:00.000-04:00

Sadly, I must report on another outrageous government intrusion into scientific affairs. Yesterday, Executive Order 13422 went into effect that gives political appointees the final word on federal science regulations. This will promote and foster the continuing climate of political interference of scientists at federal agencies,

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is on the case, delivering letters to two Senate committee chairs calling for questions to be asked at the confirmation hearings for the nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget.

"We have a corps of highly trained scientists in federal agencies. Why would we want to undermine their expertise and authority?" said Francesca Grifo, director of UCS's Scientific Integrity Program. "This executive order greatly expands the power of the White House to weaken the ability of federal agencies to protect public health and safety..."

Popping in

2007-07-16T09:19:00.000-04:00

Hello, fellow bloggers and bloggettes! I've had a number of 12-14 hour days and no time to post a new thread lately. This is what we've been doing--

We're conducting a retinal imaging study to try to improve the diagnosis of a childhood neurodegenerative disease that causes blindness. Visual loss generally is the first sign of the disease, but it is often misdiagnosed for years until seizures begin. The kids are often subjected to many uncomfortable diagnostic tests until a diagnosis is made. Although there is no treatment for the disease, we are hoping that at least an early diagnosis will help families get the right kind of care at an earlier stage. Also, once new treatments are available, we may be able to use our non-invasive imaging as a convenient way to follow improvements during the course of treatment.

Over the past few days, our research team has attended a convention where many affected families are gathered. We rent a suite at the hotel, fly in the research team, borrow equipment from the imaging companies, and recruit study subjects to come up and have their pictures taken. There are no eyedrops and nothing touches the eye. It's been a very successful study, so far! I'm always impressed at how much families want to help us with this research, even though it doesn't directly help them. We couldn't do it without the families.

A Chip On Your Shoulder....

2007-07-08T21:39:00.000-04:00

Some folks in Australia have come up with "smart clothes" embedded with tiny electronic devices that can monitor your heart and respiratory functions.

The lead scientist of the study, Professor Bruce Thomas explains:

"The wardrobe has a touch screen on the outside and conductive metal bands spanning the hanging rail inside, with wires connecting it to a computer in the base of the wardrobe. When we place electronic hangers, each with their own ID and metal connection, on the rail, it detects the hangers and smart garments incorporating the conductive material and integrated electronics,"

You can imagine that these smart clothes could be refitted for other kinds of monitoring acitivities (Why does the Patriot Act come to mind?):

The smart wardrobe can also be adapted for other uses including the self diagnosis of faulty monitoring equipment; scheduling cleaning and dry-cleaning; a fashion butler to help people accessorise, colour match and select appropriate clothing for special occasions; and for preloading news, music and daily schedules into smart garments.

The full article is here:
http://tinyurl.com/2nqets

Ha! And you thought that underwire bra was just.....oh, nevermind.

This Sums It Up Well

2007-06-30T08:49:00.000-04:00

How Big Is A Blastocyst?

2007-06-28T11:40:00.000-04:00

Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Bill....Again.

2007-06-20T18:44:00.000-04:00

Wish Me Luck!

2007-06-17T07:58:00.001-04:00

It's that time of the season again, when academic researchers all over the country submit their grant proposals for review to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It's a crapshoot these days. The success rate for new proposals sent to NIH hovered around 10% last year. That means 90% of these proposals, translating into months of hard work and brainpower, were trashed. But the way I figure it, if you don't submit a proposal at all, you have a 0% chance of success. It's sort of like the motto of the New York State Lottery-- "You've gotta be in it to win it."

And so, I sent my proposal to NIH on Friday. They've already messed it up by creating a 50 page pdf document of my proposal, but leaving 3 blank pages where my letters of collaboration should be. But, we'll get that straightened out in the next day or two.

The review cycle at NIH is very long. My proposal, submitted June 15th, will receive a score from the review panel in Oct./Nov, and the funding decisions based on scores will be in January. The earliest start date for the project (when the NIH check would arrive) is April 1.

Stay tuned.

Sad commentary...

2007-06-08T19:45:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Linda for sending this video:

Stem Cell Bill Comes Up Again

2007-06-05T22:37:00.000-04:00

I received the following letter from the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR):

Dear Eyedoc333,

Attention Friends and Colleagues of Stem Cell Research:

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, S.5, this week. This bill passed the Senate in April 2007 as S.5 but differs slightly from H.R. 3, the version of the bill that passed in the House in January 2007. Because of these differences, the bill must return to the House for approval before being sent to the President. It is crucial that the bill pass with a strong majority. The ISSCR strongly supports S.5 and encourages scientists and health professionals in the United States to add their individual voice.

The ISSCR is encouraging you to contact your representatives to urge them to support this important legislation.

The ISSCR has already sent a letter to every member of the House and Senate on behalf of ISSCR leadership, but it is equally important that individual voices within the stem cell community are heard as well. The letter sent out by the ISSCR is found below the text of this e-mail and may be adapted and used to contact your representatives.

ISSCR's Letter to US Senators in preparation for their vote on S.5:

Honorable Senator / Congressperson
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

April 4, 2007

Dear Senator / Congressperson:

As representatives of the Board of Directors of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), we are writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to support passage of S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007.

Passage of S. 5 would ensure that scientists in the United States can use Federal grant funds to study the many valuable human embryonic stem cell lines that have been developed since August 9, 2001, the date that President Bush announced his stem cell research policy. Indeed, S. 5 is the surest means to accelerate research dedicated to finding better therapies for patients suffering from a wide variety of terrible diseases.

As the primary international organization of scientific, ethical, and clinical researchers in the field of stem cell biology, ISSCR speaks for our many members who study stem cells of all types. S. 5 is consistent with long-standing scientific and ethical positions of ISSCR.

Our scientific opinion is that research on stem cells of all types should be pursued with the goals of reducing human suffering and better understanding human physiology. S. 5 also includes safeguards to ensure that appropriate research practices are followed.

Our strong support of S. 5 is based on the newest research findings presented at our last annual international meeting in Toronto, Canada. New data presented at this meeting demonstrated that many of the human embryonic stem cell lines generated since August 9, 2001 have excellent characteristics, and appear to have substantial advantages for high quality and rigorous biomedical research.

You might hear during the debate about a list of 72 conditions that can supposedly be treated with adult stem cells. We urge you to question the validity of these claims. While adult stem cell therapies are powerful, they are not as wide-ranging as claimed. The range of diseases effectively treated with adult stem cells is still extremely restricted, largely limited to blood disorders and specific cancers. A vote for S. 5 will ensure that all avenues of stem cell research are adequately explored.

We are also concerned that S. 30, a bill introduced by Senators Coleman and Isakson, will siphon votes away from S. 5 and yet not adequately advance the cause of stem cell research. S. 30 will not allow the use of federal funds to study the majority of valuable human stem cell lines. If supported instead of S. 5, Senators Coleman and Isakson's bill would continue the inadequate American Federal policy that is delaying worldwide progress in this vital area of research.

In closing, we remind you that the welfare of millions of people worldwide depends on medical research that can help alleviate the suffering caused by injury and illness. Passage of S. 5 will help to meet this scientific and medical challenge and will also send a message of hope to the many American patients that could be helped by research with new stem cell lines.

Thank you for your attention to this pressing issue. We look forward to a change in American Federal policy so that the very best scientific and clinical research may proceed.

Health Alert: Tuberculosis

2007-05-30T18:29:00.001-04:00

There's a very nasty strain of tuberculosis that is resistant to many drugs (XDR-TB). It's not all that common (2 cases per year in the US). But unfortunately, an XDR-TB infected patient flew on some commercial airline flights, exposing a number of unsuspecting people to this dangerous disease. The risk of illness to others is low, but the search is on to find people who traveled on these flights with the XDR-TB patient.

This brings up serious questions of how to deal with patients who carry dangerous contagious diseases. Can they be confined against their will? Prevented from traveling? What is the fine line between protecting the public and personal freedom?

Immaculate Conception

2007-05-25T22:39:00.000-04:00

A female shark gave birth to two baby sharks the other day at a Detroit aquarium. The interesting part is that the mother shark had not been in the presence of a male shark in over six years! How did it happen?

http://tinyurl.com/1xfu

The births have raised questions among scientists as to whether sharks may be able to reproduce parthenogenetically, a mode of reproduction in which the egg is not fertilized....

"Parthenogenesis has been documented in many reptiles," said Sweet. "There are at least five or six species of snakes, and it's been known in salamanders, lizards, and even a breed of turkeys. But any way you look at it, this is strange."

There are possibilities other than parthenogenesis. The Belle Isle white spotted bamboo shark may have been fertilized by a male at a very young age. However, although there have been some random reports of shark species storing sperm for a couple of months or more, six years is a long time, and Sweet thinks in this case it's extremely unlikely.

"We received both of these bamboo sharks from hobbyists, who don't typically keep breeding groups; for one thing their tanks aren't big enough. Usually hobbyists can only buy one egg here and there, and the eggs are typically imported as fertilized eggs. Both the hobbyists who donated these sharks only had one individual. I'm almost dead sure we can rule out long-term sperm storage."

A third possibility is that the Belle Isle bamboo shark is a hermaphrodite, harboring both male and female sex organs, and capable of fertilizing its own eggs.

Be good to yourself

2007-05-16T19:47:00.000-04:00

A recent study from Duke and Wake Forest Universities shows that the ability to have compassion for oneself plays an important role in overcoming the challenging events in life:

“Life’s tough enough with little things that happen. Self-compassion helps to eliminate a lot of the anger, depression and pain we experience when things go badly for us,” said Mark R. Leary, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke and lead author of the paper, which includes five peer-reviewed studies.

“Rather than focusing on changing people’s self-evaluations, as many cognitive-behavioral approaches do, self-compassion changes people’s relationship to their self-evaluations,” Leary said. “Self-compassion helps people not to add a layer of self-recrimination on top of whatever bad things happen to them. If people learn only to feel better about themselves but continue to beat themselves up when they fail or make mistakes, they will be unable to cope nondefensively with their difficulties.”

Self-compassion involves three components. They are self-kindness (being kind and understanding toward oneself rather than self-critical); common humanity (viewing one’s negative experiences as a normal part of the human condition); and mindful acceptance (having mindful equanimity rather than over-identifying with painful thoughts and feelings).

So, the next time something bad happens, try not to blame yourself too much.

http://tinyurl.com/yttpeq

Greetings from Florida!

2007-05-08T13:47:00.000-04:00

I'm on the road this week, at a vision research conference in Florida.

Here's an open thread, just to let you know I'm still checking in!

Your Comments Needed!

2007-04-27T20:20:00.000-04:00

There's a blog posted at the Buffalo News in which some readers are debating the merits of human embryonic stem cell research. I've weighed in a few times, along with others.

http://tinyurl.com/286knh

Your comments are welcome.

Chemicals That Block Anthrax

2007-04-22T09:52:00.000-04:00

Anthrax survives for long periods of time as spores that can germinate to form new bacteria capable of releasing a potentially deadly toxin. A new research study describes seven chemicals that are able to block the germination of anthrax spores. One of the chemicals, called 6-thioguanosine, was able to prevent the germination of anthrax spores within mammalian cells, thereby blocking infection. The next step will be to test these chemicals for therapeutic potential on anthrax-infected mice. Research teams from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas recently published this report in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Atom Jokes

2007-04-15T16:48:00.000-04:00

Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar.
One turns to the other and says,
"I think I've lost my electron."
The other asks, "Are you sure?"
"Yes," the first says, "I'm positive."



A neutron walks into a bar.
He asks the bartender for a drink.  
When it's served, he asks how much it will be.
"For you," the bartender answers, "no charge."

From Lori's humor page:
http://tinyurl.com/3x92yt

Federal Stem Cell Bill is Back...

2007-04-09T17:38:00.000-04:00

From the Society for Neuroscience:

Dear Eyedoc,

Immediately upon their return from recess on April 10, the Senate will consider the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5). Please contact your Senators now and urge them to vote YES on S. 5.

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (H.R. 810) passed with strong bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate, but President Bush used his first and only veto when the bill reached his desk in July 2006. Similar legislation (H.R. 3) passed the House earlier this year; now the Senate must take up this vital bill.

On April 10, the Senate will debate S. 5 and another stem cell research bill, S. 30. No amendments will be allowed and each bill must receive 60 votes to pass. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act has been modified from the version passed earlier this year by the House of Representatives (H.R. 3) to include language that encourages the NIH to pursue all forms of stem cell research. S. 30 advocates support for adult stem cell research and attempts to define and protect embryos from use in stem cell research.

Therefore, SfN supports the passage of S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, the only bill under consideration that will advance federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Please contact your Senators immediately to ask that they vote yes on S. 5. Please visit CapWiz, an online legislative action center, provided to you by SfN: www.sfn.org/legalert

The Society for Neuroscience

Repost From Last Year Because It's Funny....

2007-04-07T22:33:00.000-04:00

Stem Cell Victory in New York!!

2007-04-01T19:38:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, March 31, Governor Spitzer, Lieutenant-Governor Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Bruno, and Assembly Speaker Silver signed off on a long-term package to fund stem-cell and regenerative medicine research in the State of New York, beginning with an appropriation of $100 million for the fiscal year that begins April 1, 2007. The package was voted in as part of the Executive Budget by the full Assembly and Senate this morning. The bill provides for creation within the State Department of Health of an Empire State Stem Cell Board, comprising a Funding Committee and an Ethics Committee, both of which will be chaired by the Commissioner. The Funding Committee will provide for an "independent scientific peer review committee" composed of expert scientists, set standards and scoring criteria, and solicit and accept proposals. More details are sure to follow.

A big thank you to all who devoted so much hard work to the stem cell effort!

Cutting Remarks

2007-03-31T13:19:00.000-04:00

Well, it wasn't the best way to start my new part-time job. The other day, I was learning to use a piece of equipment and it attacked my left hand. My new co-workers quickly helped wash and bandage my hand to stop the bleeding. Then, one of them accompanied me to the emergency room so that I had another hand to squeeze while I got stitched up.

After 24 years of working in labs without much more than a paper cut, now this.

You don't realize how much you need both hands until one of them is out of commission.

That's my report for now. Forgive me for the short post, but typing is not the easiest thing at the moment. I'll be OK again soon.

Update on New York State Stem Cell Bills

2007-03-25T15:30:00.000-04:00

The efforts to promote stem cell research in New York State continue. We need to try to get the undecided votes to swing our way. I'll be on the phone this week doing my best to promote the cause...

New York State Proposals:

Senate Bill 2104-B, known as the appropriation bill, has a $100 million allocation for stem cell research of all types for 2007.

An Assembly bill A.4308-B (3/10/07) New York State Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine Support Act defines stem cell research and sets up a new governing body to administer grants for funding stem cell research. A pool of $ 500 million would be established.

According to a Zogby poll, 69% of likely voters support New York State funding for embryonic stem-cell research.
http://www.nyamr.org/

To all of my New York State blogpals, and even you out-of-staters: Do everything you can and contact your representatives to voice your approval of stem cell research!

Got Croup?

2007-03-21T23:32:00.000-04:00

Croup, Typhoid Fever, and Diphtheria are diseases of the past. But check out heart disease and cancer. I wonder which diseases will top the list in 2090?

From:
http://www.nanomedicine.com/NMI/Tables/8.6.jpg

More Good News From the Union of Concerned Scientists

2007-03-17T18:10:00.000-04:00

Dear Eyedoc,
I have good news to share with you. On Wednesday, March 14, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act 331 to 94, with 229 Democrats and 102 Republicans voting in favor. This bill would protect the basic scientific freedoms of federal scientists and contractors by giving them the right to expose political interference in their research without retribution—a significant victory in our work to restore scientific integrity to federal policy making.

*snip*

This legislation is the first of its kind to recognize the need to protect government scientists from interference with their work. The legislation also gives scientists the right to present their research at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. The Union of Concerned Scientists worked with a coalition of organizations to educate members of Congress about the importance of including scientists under any new whistleblower legislation. We could not have made the case without you. Representatives Bruce Braley (D-IA) and Bart Stupak (D-MI) spoke on the House floor about the need for scientist whistleblower protection and you were standing behind them. The representatives referenced the UCS surveys of federal scientists, the examples of political interference you have helped highlight, and the scientist statement on scientific integrity you signed—which has now been endorsed by almost 12,000 scientists.

The action now moves to the Senate, which will soon consider similar legislation. UCS will monitor the legislation's progress and let you know when it is most appropriate to weigh in.

Sincerely,
The Union of Concerned Scientists

Organ Donation = Shorter Prison Sentence?

2007-03-11T23:01:00.000-04:00

There is a move afoot to offer convicts shorter prison sentences in return for a signed organ donor card. Now, I'm an enthusiastic supporter of (posthumous) organ donation. But there's something about the quid pro quo that doesn't sit well with me.

What do you think?

Am I just being lily-livered?

Sphere of Influence

2007-03-06T08:03:00.000-05:00

One of the hallmarks of stem cells is that single cells can form spheres under the right conditions: For example, from the breast, they are called "mammospheres".

Last night, I presented my work on cancer stem cells from the retina. One of the attendees came up to me, pointed at my photograph of spheres and said angrily, "Don't call those neurospheres!"

I asked, "Why not?"

Attendee: "Because it doesn't sound right! What does this have to do with the nervous system?!"

I answered, "The retina is part of the central nervous system. It's filled with neurons. I think it's OK to call them neurospheres."

Attendee: "Oh." And she walked away.

OK, you had to be there.

Word Of The Day: Phlyctenule

2007-02-27T17:24:00.000-05:00

A phlyctenule is a small whitish bump or blister found on eye. After all of my years working in the field of Ophthalmology, I had never heard of the word until today....

I went to the Ophthalmologist with a "foreign object sensation" in my eye. He found a "phlyctenule". Treatment will be a course of antibiotic drops, 3 times a day, for the next couple of weeks. I will be sans contact lenses until the problem resolves.

Here's looking at you, kid.

Private vs. Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research

2007-02-21T12:39:00.000-05:00

This post is for InternetJunkie and the roomie (see last thread).

Stem cell research, as well as other academic biomedical research, is primarily supported by federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Legal restrictions prohibit federal funds from being used to create new human embryonic stem cell lines. As a result of this federal ban, many US stem cell researchers are turning to private funding sources in order to carry out their research.

A research lab that receives both federal and private funds needs to build an entirely separate lab with private funding in order to carry out human embryonic stem cell research. They need two microscopes, one bought with federal money for non-stem cell research and the second microscope bought with private foundation money for stem cell work. Everything, incuding lab notebooks, computers, and pens have to be kept separate for human embryonic stem cell work. Consider this duplication of equipment for an entire lab and the cost becomes prohibitive for all but the most well-funded labs.

A lot of innovative research in our country occurs in publicly funded academic labs, where intellectual freedom is given free reign. My own research program has benefited from both federal and private funding. Private funds given to academic labs often mean the difference between survival and ruin. At the same time, private funds often have strings attached, such as how the money can be used (eg. no salary support for personnel, no equipment, etc.). That said, I think there is a place for both public and private funding for biomedical research. Each has its benefits and drawbacks. But I beg to differ with anyone who would suggest that private funding is enough to make up for the lack of public funds for biomedical research, and stem cell research specifically.

Biomedical research in the US has been hurt badly by inadequate funding. The success rate for federal research grants from the National Institute of Health is sinking to below 9% this year. My own NIH grant application scored within the top 14% and was not funded. These federal grants are critical for the success of this research. Are there strings attached to federal money? Sure. Namely, that you are expected to share your discoveries with other academic laboratories in a cooperative way, unlike private companies that can keep proprietary secrets for years, only releasing the product when it's a probable money-maker. Meanwhile, if the information had been shared publicly at an earlier state, so much more progress could have been made using that freely-available information.

As a result of the lack of federal research dollars, we see the following:

Labs are being shut down for lack of funds.

Many bright American scientists are leaving the US and moving to countries where they can accomplish their work without so many restrictions.

Other countries, such as Australia, UK, Israel, etc. are getting ahead of us in the stem cell field.

The delay in research, due to lack of adequate funding, leaves many people waiting all that much longer before potential treatments can be made available. How much longer do we keep them waiting?

First Round of Stem Cell Grants in California!

2007-02-19T19:17:00.000-05:00

The first CA state stem cell grants are awarded in California! At the site below, you can see Governor Schwarzenegger of CA, scientist Bob Klein and stem cell advocate Don C. Reed at a press conference on CA's recent $40 million to fund embryonic stem cell research, more than NIH provides for embryonic stem cell research for the entire country.

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=20865@kpix.dayport.com

It looks like New York is not far behind...

Albany Times Union
Feb. 18, 2007
OP/ED

Spitzer shows leadership in stem cell research

By SUSAN SOLOMON
First published: Sunday, February 18, 2007
Gov. Eliot Spitzer's proposed budget includes $100 million to o jump-start stem cell research and other cutting-edge science in New York. This represents a historic first step in what can and should be a concerted effort to make the state a critical center of stem-cell research. The key to this ambitious effort will be embracing an effective private-public partnership. The results could be stunning, both in their clinical implications and their economic impact.
Stem-cell science -- human embryonic stem cell research, in particular -- represents the most important and promising area of scientific endeavor in the effort to help the millions of Americans affected by the worst diseases of our time.

Equally promising is a cutting-edge technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer, in which the DNA of an unfertilized, unimplanted egg is replaced with the genetic material from a donor. The donor's DNA can be obtained, for example, from a simple skin biopsy. If the patient has a particular disease, such as diabetes or Parkinson's, this technique allows for the creation of disease-specific embryonic stem cell lines. These lines could allow scientists to "reverse engineer" diseases and greatly improve our understanding of how they develop and affect the body -- knowledge that is key to developing better treatments and cures.

State money will serve as a tremendous force in moving stem cell science forward far more rapidly, but it will not provide a total solution to the urgent need for funding. Private philanthropy will continue to play a critical role by creating cutting-edge research programs, helping to establish proof of concept and getting them off the ground.

Private funding can be nimble in a way that even the most enlightened government agency cannot. It can be the catalyst, starting programs that can then be scaled up with the benefit of an infusion of government funding. In addition, private funding sources are able to support research programs the government cannot or will not fund.

The combination of public and private dollars focused on the most advanced scientific research has the potential to be enormously powerful. We are poised to create a fertile environment in New York for the world's best scientists and, in the process, provide a significant economic boost to regions in dire need of new industry. Governor Spitzer has planted a flag in the name of scientific and fiscal progress. All New Yorkers affected by disease and disability must show their support for his bold plan.

Right now, there are scientists engaged in human embryonic stem cell research here in New York. They, like their colleagues in places like Boston and San Francisco, have their hands tied by a federal policy that has eliminated government funding for this work, with the exception of research using a few approved stem cell lines that were created using outdated techniques. We are losing a generation of scientists. Young men and women coming out of medical school and doctorate programs have no incentive to pursue stem cell research, despite the fact human embryonic cell research offers the greatest hope for medical advances in our time.

The initial funding proposed by Governor Spitzer -- envisioned as the first element of a larger $2.1 billion state effort to drive stem cell and other innovative research -- sends a clear message to young people here and around the world that advanced scientific research is vital, that we, as a society, believe in it, and that New York is a place where they can forge a career using scientific knowledge for the betterment of humankind.

Susan Solomon is the CEO and co-founder of the New York Stem Cell Research Foundation.

On A Silly Note...

2007-02-16T20:20:00.000-05:00

Gene Therapy Treats Autistic Disease in Mice

2007-02-12T20:52:00.000-05:00

There's good news coming out of a British laboratory that studies Rett Syndrome, a severe form of an autistic disease that affects mostly girls:

The study, reported on-line by Science Express today, suggests that the mutant gene, MECP2, can successfully be replaced. Healthy genes were administered to mice bred to be born with the Rett syndrome gene.

Researcher Professor Adrian Bird, of Edinburgh University, Scotland, said: "Like many other people, we expected that giving MeCP2 to mice that were already sick would not work. "The idea that you could put back an essential component after the damage to the brain is done and recover an apparently normal mouse seemed farfetched, as nerve cells that developed in the absence of a key component were assumed to be irrevocably damaged. "The results are gratifyingly clear, though, and must give hope to those who are affected by this distressing disorder."

The four week treatment eradicated tremors, restored breathing to normal and restored mobility and steady gait to the animals.
http://NL8287.celltherapynews.com

You Oughta Be In Pictures!

2007-02-07T20:06:00.000-05:00

Here's another idea from New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research:

Dear Eyedoc333,

Tell President Bush (and the rest of the world) how you feel about the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act! You can be a media star -- and we're going to tell you how, with a little help from our friends at YouTube. Now is your chance to create a short video asking President Bush not to veto the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

If you're a YouTube veteran, you already know how the system works, so go ahead and get started! Dig out your video camera or find a friend who can record you for a minute or two telling President Bush not to veto the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Here's a sample "script" of what you could say: "Congress -- please pass the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. And, this is a message for President Bush -- do the right thing and don't veto the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Nearly three-quarters of Americans support embryonic stem cell research, and you need to do the right thing. I'm an American voter and I'm asking you to sign this bill into law when it lands on your desk. Don't deny us the hope of better treatments and cures."

Here's an example of a video that has already been posted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anrJ5t2-7q4
Please feel free to personalize your video message, if you'd like, but you don't have to give your name or geographic location if that makes you uncomfortable. What's most important is that you say what you think and let your voice be heard.

If you're new to YouTube, go to http://www.youtube.com to get started. First, sign up for your free YouTube log-on name here: http://www.youtube.com/signup
Once you have an account, you can upload your video(s) simply by doing the following:
Click "Upload Videos" in the upper-right-hand corner of any YouTube page.
Enter as much information about your video as possible, including Title, Description, Tags, and Category. The more information you include, the easier it is for users to find your video. Please use the words "stem cells," "President Bush," and "politics" wherever you can, so that when people do searches on YouTube around these words, your videos will come up. You may also use your state name, and any other relevant words that will help your video come up when people search YouTube.
Click the "Go upload a file" button. In the next window, click the "Browse" button to locate the video file on your computer or camera plugged into your computer. Select the file you want to upload. When asked if you want your video set to Public or Private, choose Public. Click the "Upload Video" button.

YouTube Tech Support can be found here: http://www.google.com/support/youtube/ It's easy to do, and we hope that you will take advantage of this free resource to let your voice be heard! Please feel free to forward this email to your family, friends, and colleagues asking them to upload a video, too. The more videos we get telling our side of the story, the better -- we need to send a message to Washington to let them know why this bill is important.

Stem Cells in New York

2007-02-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

It looks like Governor Eliot Spitzer is going ahead with his campaign promise of encouraging stem cell research in New York State. This is significant in light of the anticipated second presidential veto of federal support for stem cell research. Here is the press release that I received from NYAMR (New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research), a group that advocates for stem cell research:

Statewide Coalition of Health Advocacy, Academic and Citizens’ Groups Lauds Spitzer-Paterson Administration on Proposed Funding of Stem-Cell Research

New York, January 31 – New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research (NYAMR) applauds Governor Eliot Spitzer and Lieutenant-Governor David Paterson on their proposal to include significant funding for regenerative medicine, including research involving stem cells, in the Executive Budget for the fiscal year that begins April 1.

“This proposal represents faithful and forthright delivery on an important campaign promise,” said Robin Elliott, Chair of NYAMR and Executive Director of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. “New Yorkers – all of us, but especially those of us who live with disabling diseases that may benefit from state-sponsored research on stem cells and related issues – are grateful for this, and we congratulate our new leaders.”

As a statewide coalition of 46 health-advocacy groups, academic research centers and citizens’ organizations, NYAMR is committed to ensuring that the Administration’s proposal succeeds in the Legislature and is passed into law, permitting funds to flow to support some of the best ideas in potentially life-saving scientific research.

Laugh of the Day

2007-01-27T09:31:00.000-05:00

Stem Cell Controversy at Buffalo Church

2007-01-25T19:54:00.000-05:00

It seems that the latest stem cell debate has crossed the line of civil decency in a church:

Political confrontation in Buffalo church for NY lawmaker

Newsday
January 24, 2007, 2:14 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Buffalo congressman Brian Higgins walked out of a Catholic church service Sunday after a deacon berated him during a sermon for the lawmaker's recent vote supporting stem cell research. The public tongue-lashing came during morning Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church, where deacon Tom McDonnell criticized the Democratic lawmaker. Higgins, who was baptized and married in that church, walked out with his wife and son.

"Leaving was the appropriate thing to do," the two-term lawmaker said Wednesday, adding that he apologized "to the good people of St. Thomas Aquinas for their having been subjected to this whole, unfortunate and avoidable mess... Those people deserved much better."

The pastor of the church, the Rev. Art Smith, offered an apology from the pulpit after the congressman left, the Buffalo News reported in Wednesday's editions. Higgins was criticized by McDonnell for voting earlier this month for a bill that would allow federal funding for research involving stem cell lines derived from surplus embryos created in fertility clinics.

www.newsday.com

Should the deacon publicly point out every "sinner" known to him in the sanctuary of the church? Could he have approached the Congressman privately, away from his family, to express his disappointment about the vote? And then we have this follow-up article from today's Buffalo News:

Anti-abortion group says cleric ‘did his job’

By MARK SOMMER

News Staff Reporter

1/25/2007

The Buffalo Regional Right to Life Committee on Wednesday hailed a deacon who criticized Rep. Brian Higgins during Sunday Mass in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Deacon Tom McDonnell’s rebuke of the Buffalo Democrat for voting for federal funding for embryonic stem cell research led Higgins to walk out of the church during his sermon.

“God bless the deacon a thousand times. He did his job. If every bishop, every clergy member of all faiths did their jobs, we wouldn’t have the shedding of innocent life in our country,” said Stacey Vogel of the Buffalo Regional Right to Life Committee. The anti-abortion group’s position was in stark contrast with the phone calls and e-mails at Higgins’ Buffalo and Washington offices, which were running in his favor by a nearly 4 to 1 ratio, according to a staff member.

Higgins said his relationship with St. Thomas Aquinas Church, where he was baptized and married, is “very deep, very meaningful and very long.” He apologized earlier for the congregation’s having to be subjected to criticism of him during the morning Mass. “The lesson here is that the Catholic Church has enough problems and should take greater care before allowing nonpriests to use the church as a forum to advance what clearly was a political agenda,” Higgins said. “I think the letters and e-mails speak for themselves and show the inconsistencies in what the church leaders have said,” he added. One of the callers to his office, Marie Fitzgerald, a 45-year member of St. Thomas Aquinas parish, told The Buffalo News she was appalled by what happened.

“I think it was terrible the way [the Mass] was done. It’s an embarrassment to Brian and to a lot of a parishioners who were there,” Fitzgerald said. She said she held the Rev. Art Smith, the church’s pastor, partly responsible. “I think he’s the boss, and I think he should have put a stop to it,” Fitzgerald said. She also said McDonnell owes the congregation an apology. “I think he should make a public apology to all of us and to Brian in particular,” Fitzgerald said. Vogel said she did not understand why anyone would be rallying to the congressman’s side. “You shouldn’t care so much about Brian’s feelings so much as Brian’s salvation,” Vogel said. She also said the clergy owed McDonnell an apology for any criticism of him for “doing his duty” and said her committee would be giving him an award at its fall dinner.

Polio Success Story

2007-01-20T16:18:00.000-05:00

A recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health looked at the economic impact of the first 50 years of polio immunization, from 1955 to 2005. They found that the US has benefited from the polio vaccine, with a net savings of over 180 billion dollars.

The researchers, Professor Thompson and Dr. Radboud Duintjer Tebbens, a research associate at HSPH, estimated the costs and the effectiveness of historical polio vaccination strategies. They found that the U.S. invested over $35 billion between 1955 and 2005 and will continue to invest billions into the future to pay for polio vaccination. They estimated that these historical and future investments translate into over 1.7 billion vaccinations that prevent approximately 1.1 million cases of paralytic polio and over 160,000 deaths, thus saving Americans hundreds of billions of dollars in treatment costs.

http://tinyurl.com/ynu3qt

One positive impact of this study is that it illustrates the huge economic savings that can come from such a successful public health initiative. Score one for biomedical research!

Soup's On!

2007-01-16T15:28:00.000-05:00

It's a cold winter's day here. Would anyone care for some soup?

Hat tip to the John Crerar Library exhibit on scientific humor:
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/crerar/exhibits/humor5.html

All Stem Cells, All The Time...

2007-01-11T19:22:00.000-05:00

The House passed H.R. 3 today, known as the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Unfortunately, it looks like there are not enough votes to override Bush's veto. Here is a report on today's news from the Houston Chronicle:

The House voted to expand government-financed embryonic stem cell research Thursday, but for the second time in two years lawmakers were unable to muster enough votes to overcome a promised presidential veto. Still, the 253-174 vote was a high watermark in the stem cell debate, drawing advocates closer to the two-thirds vote threshold needed to override President Bush's objections.
With stem cells offering hope for major health care cures, lawmakers on both sides of the issue punctuated the debate with poignant personal stories and clashed over the ethics of the science. Addressing "those who do not have the will to stand up against a presidential veto," freshman Rep. Zach Space, D-Ohio, described his 16-year-old son's battle against juvenile diabetes and wondered aloud what awaited him as an adult. "This research represents the only meaningful hope for a cure in my son's lifetime," Space said.

Embryonic stem cells hold the promise of medical breakthroughs because they have the ability to become any tissue in the body. But the research typically involves the destruction of frozen embryos created for in vitro fertilization, a step that stirs passions over the beginning of life.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., blind in one eye, said she would benefit from stem cell science to replace a detached retina. But she said the federal government should emphasize research into adult stem cells, not those derived from embryos. "Killing human life does not have to be accomplished to create efficacious treatment for people and diseases," she said.

The legislation would lift Bush's 2001 ban on the use of federal dollars spent on deriving new stem cells from fertilized embryos. Bush vetoed similar legislation last year and actor Michael J. Fox elevated the issue into prominence with political ads during last fall's congressional elections. Democrats credit that issue, among others, for helping them drive Republicans from power in Congress.

Update on the Stem Cell Bills

2007-01-07T18:35:00.000-05:00

I promised to keep you updated on the status of reintroduction of the stem cell bills. Here is the latest:

From the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) :

Dear Eyedoc333,

We wanted to give you an update on House and Senate activity on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in the 110th Congress. On January 5th both chambers convened for business and Members of Congress had an opportunity to introduce legislation for the first time this year. Among the bills introduced were HR 3 and S 5, the House and Senate versions of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. The House has scheduled HR 3 for floor consideration next Thursday 11 January. The Senate will likely take the bill up late this month. The Senate is planning a joint hearing with the Senate Labor-HHS-Ed Appropriations Subcommittee and Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee around the 3rd week in January. Details for that hearing are not yet available.

Given the prompt Congressional action on these bills, your immediate and continued efforts to reach all Members of Congress, especially the new Members, and urge their support for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, are critical.

You can find phone numbers and email addresses for elected officials on Congress.org :
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

Stem Cell Stocks Rising

2007-01-06T09:40:00.000-05:00

With the new stem cell bill coming up in Congress, I find this fascinating:

Shares of biotech companies working on stem cell-related therapies surged Thursday as Democrats in Congress prepared to promote once again legislation that would increase government-funded research in this area.
Link

Ask yourself this--Why is it that biotech stocks are rising despite the fact that the new bill promotes federal funding for stem cell research? Could it be that the new bill would benefit private companies as well? You bet! The National Institutes of Health have funding programs for both academic labs and small businesses. And on top of that, even the larger pharmaceutical companies rely on academic studies, funded by the feds, to assist them with their own research. This new bill is good for business. This is a bill that even corporate America can support.

Get Ready For The New Stem Cell Bill!

2006-12-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

From the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research:

December 21, 2006

Dear CAMR Members:

First, let me wish you and your family a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year. Now is the time to look back on the incredible progress that has been made and ready ourselves for important stem cell work in 2007. We all will need to roll up our sleeves in January and get right to work because we have a lot to accomplish in a very short timeframe next year.

In January, the 110th Congress will be sworn into office. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (what we knew as HR 810 for the past two years) will be reintroduced by our Congressional champions in January with identical language and a new bill number. Getting this bipartisan bill passed and enacted has been identified as a top priority by the new leadership in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. A vote on the bill is expected in both chambers in January. That means we need to reach out to everyone we can as soon as possible.

Now is the time for you to use your local contacts and reach out to your new Representatives and Senators before they are even sworn in. Before they come to Washington, DC they need to know that you expect them to vote in favor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. You will need to be creative, as these new Members might be difficult to locate before January. Perhaps they will be attending local events in your community or opening up a district office. Use every resource you can think of to track them down. You should also use this time to contact returning Representatives and Senators who may have voted no in the past to convince them now is the time to vote in favor of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

The message for all Members of Congress is this: "Now is the time to pass and enact meaningful stem cell legislation! The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act will be one of the first bills presented to you for a vote in the 110th Congress and I urge you to vote yes."

You will hear from us as soon as the bill is reintroduced and we will be asking for a huge push in early January to get the word out on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act before the votes.

Thank you, CAMR

An Oldie But A Goodie From Toles

2006-12-21T09:49:00.000-05:00

Bush's Science Policies: Bad For Our Health

2006-12-12T10:42:00.000-05:00

There's a very interesting article in the New Yorker that describes how Bush's regressive science policies, based on religious fundamentalism, have hurt Americans in a multitude of ways. It is a long article, so I'll post an excerpt here--

Vaccinations for contagious diseases like measles and mumps are required before a child can enter public school. That won't be the case with the HPV [cervical cancer] vaccine, however. The Bush Administration, its allies on Capitol Hill, and the religious base of the Republican Party are opposed to mandatory HPV vaccinations. They prefer to rely on education programs that promote abstinence from sexual activity, and see the HPV vaccine as a threat to that policy. For years, conservatives have regarded the human papillomavirus as a kind of index of promiscuity. Many abstinence supporters argue that eliminating the threat of infection would only encourage teen-agers to have sex. "I personally object to vaccinating children when they don't need vaccinations, particularly against a disease that is one hundred per cent preventable with proper sexual behavior,'' Leslee J. Unruh, the founder and president of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, said. "Premarital sex is dangerous, even deadly. Let's not encourage it by vaccinating ten-year-olds so they think they're safe.'' Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, a family physician and a prominent leader among those who believe that abortion should be illegal, has argued repeatedly in Congress that since condoms can fail, the nation should stop relying on them so heavily. In 2004, he made his position clear when he testified about his experience treating patients who have been infected with HPV: "Studies have indicated for years that promiscuity was associated with cervical cancer.''

You can view the entire article here: http://www.michaelspecter.com/ny/2006/2006_03_13_bush.html

Protect the Environmental Protection Agency!

2006-12-01T12:12:00.000-05:00

Dear Eyedoc333,

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun closing its nationwide network of scientific libraries, effectively preventing EPA scientists and the public from accessing vast amounts of data and information on issues from toxicology to pollution. Several libraries have already been dismantled, with their contents either destroyed or shipped to repositories where they are uncataloged and inaccessible.

The scientific information contained in the EPA libraries is essential to the agency's ability to make fully informed decisions that carry out its mission of protecting human health and the environment. Members of Congress have asked the EPA to cease and desist dismantling these libraries. Please call EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson at (202) 564-4700 either today or Monday and tell him how much scientists rely on data and literature. Urge him to immediately halt the dismantling of the library system until Congress approves the EPA budget and all materials are readily available online.

Sincerely,
Union of Concerned Scientists
Scientific Integrity Program

More Not-So-Correct Predictions

2006-11-25T19:18:00.000-05:00

"So many centuries after the Creation, it is unlikely that anyone could find hitherto unknown lands of any value."
Spanish Royal Commission, rejecting Christopher Columbus' proposal to sail west.

"You're planning to make a ship sail against wind and tide by lighting a fire below deck?? I don't have time to listen to that kind of nonsense!"
Napoleon, about Robert Fultons plans to make a Steamboat.

"I believe in the horse. The automobile is merely a passing phenomonon."
Emperor Wilhelm II

"Airplanes suffers from so many technical faults that it is only a matter of time before any reasonable man realizes that they are useless!"
Scientific American (1910)

"Everything that can be invented has been invented."
Attributed to Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

Hat tip to http://www.rudyh.org/index.htm

Family Planning?

2006-11-17T20:14:00.000-05:00

How can we have a new chief of "Family Planning" at the Department of Health and Human Services who doesn't believe in family planning? From the Washington Post:

The Bush administration has appointed a new chief of family-planning programs at the Department of Health and Human Services who worked at a Christian pregnancy-counseling organization that regards the distribution of contraceptives as "demeaning to women."

Eric Keroack, medical director for A Woman's Concern, a nonprofit group based in Dorchester, Mass., will become deputy assistant secretary for population affairs in the next two weeks, department spokeswoman Christina Pearson said yesterday.

Keroack, an obstetrician-gynecologist, will advise Secretary Mike Leavitt on matters such as reproductive health and adolescent pregnancy. He will oversee $283 million in annual family-planning grants that, according to HHS, are "designed to provide access to contraceptive supplies and information to all who want and need them with priority given to low-income persons."

The appointment, which does not require Senate confirmation, was the latest provocative personnel move by the White House since Democrats won control of Congress in this month's midterm elections. President Bush last week pushed the Senate to confirm John R. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations and this week renominated six candidates for appellate court judgeships who have previously been blocked by lawmakers. Democrats said the moves belie Bush's post-election promises of bipartisanship.

The Keroack appointment angered many family-planning advocates, who noted that A Woman's Concern supports sexual abstinence until marriage, opposes contraception and does not distribute information promoting birth control at its six centers in eastern Massachusetts.

"A Woman's Concern is persuaded that the crass commercialization and distribution of birth control is demeaning to women, degrading of human sexuality and adverse to human health and happiness," the group's Web site says.

A Great Day for Stem Cell Research in Missouri!

2006-11-08T16:03:00.000-05:00

In the aftermath of the Democratic wave yesterday, I wanted to make special mention of the great news from Missouri. Not only did Claire McCaskill (D) win a senate seat, but the citizens of Missouri have voted in favor of Amendment 2, which will strengthen and promote human embryonic stem cell research in the Show-Me state! Rock on Missouri!

I lift a glass of lemonade in celebration!

Interior Design

2006-11-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

I received this e-mail from the Union of Concerned Scientists. It looks like another case of Bush appointees at the Department of the Interior redesigning science to suit their needs.

Dear Eyedoc,

On Monday, the Washington Post reported that high-ranking political appointees within the Department of the Interior have rewritten numerous scientific documents to prevent the protection of several highly imperiled species under the Endangered Species Act....

This latest example of the abuse of science centers on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Julie MacDonald, a civil engineer with no biological training, personally changed scientific conclusions and ordered the agency to refrain from protecting several species under the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act requires the FWS to use the best available science when making decisions regarding what species should be protected under the Act. The documents showing MacDonald's edits and edicts were obtained by several conservation organizations through the Freedom of Information Act. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) brought the documents to the Washington Post in the context of the greater issue of political interference in science.

*snip*

Thanks, Vesti!

2006-11-01T12:29:00.000-05:00

I did a radio interview the other day on stem cell research, in response to the recent flap over Rush Limbaugh's shameful comments about Michael J. Fox's ads for political candidates who support stem cell research.

My cyberpal Vesti has posted a thread about this, so I refer you all to his website for your comments. Goodness knows he can use the traffic. [wink]

http://www.hetstence.com/blog/vestiblog/

If you're too lazy to click on the link, I'd be interested to hear your comments about the fallout here.

Berry Good For Your Brain

2006-10-21T18:43:00.000-04:00

The latest research from the Salk Institute shows that fisetin, a chemical found in strawberries and other fruits and vegetables, can stimulate long-term memory pathways in mice. This is interesting in terms of the potential for fisetin in memory enhancement in dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. From Science Daily:

Besides strawberries, fisetin is found in tomatoes, onions, oranges, apples, peaches, grapes, kiwifruit and persimmons. While eating strawberries sounds like an enjoyable alternative to popping a pill, Maher [the lead author] cautions that it would take about 10 pounds a day to achieve a beneficial effect, which might prove too much even for the most avid strawberry lovers.

Rules of the Lab

2006-10-14T19:48:00.000-04:00

1. When you don't know what you're doing, do it neatly.

2. Experiments must be reproducible, they should fail the same way each time.

3. First draw your curves, then plot your data.

4. Experience is directly proportional to equipment ruined.

5. A record of data is essential, it shows you were working.

6. To study a subject best, understand it thoroughly before you start.

7. To do a lab really well, have your report done well in advance.

8. If you can't get the answer in the usual manner, start at the answer and derive the question.

9. If that doesn't work, start at both ends and try to find a common middle.

10. In case of doubt, make it sound convincing.

11. Do not believe in miracles---rely on them.

12. Team work is essential. It allows you to blame someone else.

13. All unmarked beakers contain fast-acting, extremely toxic poisons.

14. Any delicate and expensive piece of glassware will break before any use can be made of it. (Law of Spontaneous Fission).

hat tip to http://chem.ch.huji.ac.il/~eugeniik/humor.htm

Modified Human Embryonic Stem Cells Can Preserve Visual Function

2006-10-04T14:30:00.000-04:00

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a blinding disease of the retina affecting 1.75 million Americans (1). Vision loss in AMD occurs due to the death of light-sensing cells in the central part of the retina, the area of highest visual sensitivity. In order to test new treatments before trying them in humans, an "RCS rat" was developed by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) that undergoes retinal cell death and visual loss that, in some ways, resembles retinal diseases seen in humans.

In a study led by Dr. Raymond Lund's group at the Moran Eye Center in Utah (2), human embryonic stem cells were modified to become specialized retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. These RPE cells were injected into the eyes of RCS rats at an early age, prior to the onset of disease, to see if they could prevent the death of retinal cells over time. For comparison, a control group of RCS rats received an injection of liquid that did not contain RPE cells.

Two weeks after the injections, all groups of animals were tested for their ability to react to light and generate the electrical signals that indicate processing of visual information. RCS rats receiving RPE injections were better able to detect and process light signals in the retina than were control RCS rats. The cellular structure of the rats' eyes was examined under a microscope. Animals that received RPE injections had fewer retinal cells die over the course of the experiment than control RCS rats. Further analysis showed that the injected human RPE cells partially prevented the death of the rats' own retinal cells. In summary, it appears that human embryonic stem cells may hold promise for new treatment strategies that target blinding retinal diseases such as macular degeneration.

1) http://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/pbd4.asp
2) http://www.liebertpub.com/publication.aspx?pub_id=9

We Interrupt This Blog...

2006-09-25T20:58:00.000-04:00

Q. What does DNA stand for?
A. National Dyslexics Association

Hat tip to http://www.jupiterscientific.org

Listeria Hysteria

2006-09-19T22:45:00.000-04:00

OK, you keep hearing the scary headline about how "viruses" are being used to treat foods in order to kill bacteria that can cause food-borne illness. I wish reporters would stop using the word "virus". Although technically correct, it's causing unnecessary concern.

Let's back up a bit. Listeria Monocytogenes can cause serious bacterial illness in humans, characterized by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Each year, there are about 2500 cases of "Listeriosis" in the US, resulting in about 500 deaths. A new approach is being taken as a means to reduce the incidence of Listeriosis. It involves a "bacteriophage", an organism that infects and kills bacteria. Technically, bacteriophages fall within the general category of "viruses", but are incapable of infecting humans.

Recently, a bacteriophage has been designed to infect Listeria through thread-like structures called "flagella" (see photo above). Humans have never had and never will have flagella that could be mistaken for Listeria's appendages. The bacteriophage is made specifically to target Listeria, so as not to harm the "good" bacteria that inhabit our digective tracts. I'm hoping that as the correct information comes to light, people will be less leery of this new approach to food safety.

Let's Get Outta This Joint!

2006-09-14T22:22:00.000-04:00

Scientists are exploring new stem cell treatments to promote cartilage repair in damaged knees. The cartilage-like meniscus, the knee's shock absorber, is commonly damaged through sports injuries and arthritic disease. Approximately 800,000 people per year in the US have surgery to remove all or part of the meniscus. Fifty-five of these patients are now enrolled in a two-year study at the University of Southern California to determine whether an injection of bone-marrow stem cells can stimulate repair of the meniscus.

Eligible patients, aged 18-60, were enrolled prior to knee surgery. One week after surgery, some patients received a single injection of Chondrogen (a commercial preparation of adult bone marrow stem cells), whereas others received a placebo injection that contained no stem cells. Knees with and without stem cell treatment were examined by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to check for meniscus regrowth over time.

This is a double-blind study, meaning that neither the patients nor their doctors will know which injections contained Chondrogen or a placebo until later in the study. The double-blind strategy encourages unbiased interpretation of the results. Early results of the study, funded by Osiris Therapeutics, are expected out in October 2006.

Immunity Challenge

2006-09-09T22:49:00.000-04:00

"[It] is a judgment of God, sent to punish and humble our sins; and what shall we so evade it, and think to turn it away from us?...God has predetermin'd and fixed the period of every ones life...so that if this time be come inoculation will not save the person's life."

"[It is] a judgment on the sins of the people...to avert it is but to provoke him more".

"[It is] an encroachment on the prerogatives of Jehovah", who has the right "to wound and smite".

Do these religious statements sound familiar? I thought so. It turns out that they were spoken by theologians almost 300 years ago in opposition to smallpox innoculation.

An intriguing method of preventing smallpox was being studied to see if material taken from cowpox sores or even smallpox lesions could be used prevent the deadly smallpox disease. Then, just as now, religious zealots tried to impose their own morality on disease; it was a punishment from G-d. To interfere with this punishment, would cause further anguish and death. It took a smallpox epidemic in Montreal to cause a shift in attitude:

In 1885 a smallpox epidemic broke out in Montreal, Canada. Almost everyone was vaccinated except the Catholic population there. When the authorities tried to force vaccination on their Catholic citizens, they were met with opposition that threatened to become violent. Rather than explaining to their parishioners the benefits of vaccination, the catholic clergy tolerated and in some cases even encouraged the behavior of the laity. A priest of St. James Church said in a sermon that, "if we are afflicted with smallpox, it is because we had a carnival last year, feasting with the flesh, which has offended the Lord;...it is to punish our pride that God has sent us smallpox." One religious newspaper even went further, telling the Montreal Catholics to take up arms rather than submit themselves to vaccination. Instead the catholic ecclesiastical authorities in the city called on their people to make certain devotional exercises, to hold a procession with an appeal to the Blessed Virgin and to use the rosary as specified. Needless to say the Catholic population in Montreal suffered many needless deaths from smallpox until the proper measure was finally enforced.

We see this same kind of opposition pattern today in the case of a human papilloma virus vaccine, designed to prevent cervical cancer. Vaccine opponents fear that innoculation will lead to sexual promiscuity. We hear others define AIDS as a punishment for sin. I long for the day when disease is seen by all as a bane of biology rather than measure of morality.

Vote for "Science Idol"

2006-09-06T22:32:00.000-04:00

The Union of Concerned Scientists has a cartoon contest. All 12 of the finalists will be featured in a 2007 calendar. Vote for your favorite cartoon here:

http://ucsaction.org/campaign/vote_now_for_science_idol

Fighting Terror at Home

2006-08-26T10:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Eyedoc333,

A terrorist group called the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) recently took credit for driving a UCLA scientist to leave behind his research employing non-human primates. Like many others in the biomedical research community, this scientist and his family were terrorized at their home for months.

Acts of violence, intimidation, and harassment against researchers have a chilling effect on animal research everywhere. As such, passage of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act is more critical now than ever. This legislation would allow federal authorities to help prevent, better investigate, and prosecute individuals who seek to halt biomedical research through acts of intimidation, harassment, and violence.

Visit CapWiz, an on-line legislative action center, provided to you by the Society for Neuroscience: http://capwiz.com/sfn/home/
(apologies--for some reason the link doesn't seem to work!)

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Stem Cells: Try, Try Again

2006-08-23T22:48:00.000-04:00

There's a new method for creating human embryonic stem cell lines that involves removal of one single cell from a human embryo. The hope was that this method would overcome the objections of the "life begins at conception" crowd by creating new stem cell lines without harming the embryo from which they were derived. Unfortunately, there are continued objections:

"It is widely believed that one cell of a very early embryo may separate and become a new embryo, an identical twin," said Richard Doerflinger of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

For this reason, the possibility of an identical twin being able to form from the single cell removed from the original embryo, the new method is still objectionable to the hard-liners. It is unclear whether the new method will be eligible for federal research funding. Don't hold your breath...

Filling In

2006-08-22T22:38:00.000-04:00

Above, you see an image of "cutting edge" dental work, accomplished without anaesthetic or even dental insurance! This is a 7-9,000 year old human tooth that shows signs of drilling with sharpened points of flint. In a village called Mehrhgarh, in present-day Pakistan, ancient villagers underwent these dental procedures in teeth that, half the time, had no apparent signs of decay (whereas some teeth did have cavities). It is unknown whether any sort of filling was used to protect sensitive areas. The drilling was not thought to be for decorative purposes, since none of the holes were located in visible locations at the front of the mouth.

Could it be....PULP fiction?

Not-so Accurate Predictions...

2006-08-15T19:43:00.000-04:00



"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
--Popular Mechanics, 1949

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
--Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible."
--Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895.

"Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction".
--Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872

"But what ... is it good for?
--Engineer at IBM, 1968
commenting on the microchip.

"640K ought to be enough for anybody."
--Bill Gates, 1981

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer
in their home."
--Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder
of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be
seriously considered as a means of communication.
The device is inherently of no value to us."
--Western Union internal memo, 1876.

"The wireless music box has no imaginable
commercial value. Who would pay for a message
sent to nobody in particular?"
--David Sarnoff's associates in response
to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.

"The concept is interesting and well-formed,
but in order to earn better than a 'C,'
the idea must be feasible."
 --A Yale University management professor
in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing
reliable overnight delivery service.
(Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)

"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?"
 --H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927.

Quit Bugging Me!

2006-08-09T19:40:00.000-04:00

Morgellon's Disease is described by patients as the appearance of multi-colored fibers on the skin, accompanied by the sensation of crawling bugs. There is a debate as to the nature of this disease. Some physicians feel that it is "delusional parasitosis", in which patients imagine that bugs are crawling on them. Biopsies of skin lesions do not show any known pathogens, yet 90% of these patients test positively for the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease. Antibiotic treatment and even the antipsychotic drug Risperidone have been used, with some measure of relief. Yet, the underlying cause of this disease remains unknown.

Super-Size Me!

2006-08-04T10:32:00.000-04:00

The amount of food you eat in a serving seems to be linked to the size of your eating utensils. A group of nutritionists received invitations to an ice cream social and were not told that they were to be part of an experiment on food serving size. They were given different sized spoons and bowls and then asked to serve themselves. The results were intriguing....

...Researchers believe their findings result from the human perceptual tendency to judge object sizes based on comparisons with neighboring items. Participants in the study, for example, served themselves 31 percent more ice cream when they were given a 34-ounce bowl instead of a 17-ounce bowl. Their servings increased by 14.5 percent when they were given a 3-ounce spoon instead of a 2-ounce utensil. When given both a large spoon and big bowl, they served themselves 56.8 percent more. Yet they were unaware of the greater ice cream quantities.

This study comes from the Georgia Institute of Technology and will appear in the September issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The Blink of an Eye

2006-07-30T18:33:00.000-04:00

Latest studies show that the retina can transmit signals to the brain as fast as an ethernet connection! It seems that the human retina can transmit visual data at approximately 10 million bits per second. In comparison, an ethernet connection can transmit information between computers at speeds of 10 to 100 million bits per second. Study co-authors are McLean and Freed from Penn and Segev and Berry from Princeton. This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

On A LIGHTer Note....

2006-07-25T17:52:00.000-04:00

"Photons have mass ?!? I didn't even know they were Catholic..."

From the Union of Concerned Scientists

2006-07-23T18:27:00.000-04:00

I received this e-mail from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

UCS distributed this survey to 5,918 FDA scientists to assess the state of science at the agency, and nearly 1,000 responded. The results paint a picture of a troubled agency: hundreds of scientists reported significant interference with the FDA's scientific work, compromising the agency's ability to fulfill its mission of protecting public health and safety. Among the more troubling findings:

Almost one in five (18 percent) responded, "I have been asked, for non-scientific reasons, to inappropriately exclude or alter technical information or my conclusions in an FDA scientific document."

More than three in five (61 percent) respondents know of cases where "Department of Health and Human Services or FDA political appointees have inappropriately injected themselves into FDA determinations or actions."

Less than half (47 percent) think that the "FDA routinely provides complete and accurate information to the public."

Two in five (40 percent) said they could not publicly express "concerns about public health without fear of retaliation." More than a third (36 percent) did not feel they could do so even in the confines of the agency.

Independent science is important for the workings of the FDA and other federal agencies. Without impartial science, the FDA is stymied in its job. The health and safety of everyone will suffer as a result of the Bush administration's heavy-handed control of regulatory decisions based on politics rather than hard science.

VETO

2006-07-19T22:05:00.000-04:00

So, Bush has finally vetoed his first bill, the stem cell research enhancement bill HR 810, passed by both the Republican House and Senate. In doing so, Bush turns his back on potentially life-saving research for diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, spinal cord injuries, and many other afflictions. It's maddening to live in a country with so many resources and opportunities, only to have legitimate science repressed and vilified with lies and deception. This has to be the most anti-science government in the history of our country. Let's use this setback as a springboard for our efforts in November to reclaim the House and Senate!

Call Your Senators to Support the Stem Cell Bill!

2006-07-17T20:35:00.000-04:00

Dear Eyedoc,
Senate Debates H.R. 810 TODAY Take Action!
Last chance to call your Senators

As you know, H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, is being considered on the Senate floor starting today, July 17 and will continue until the vote is held on Tuesday, July 18. Between now and the time of the vote, we need your help! Regardless of where you live and even if you have contacted your Senators previously, please call your senators and ask them to vote in favor of H.R. 810. Keep the Senate phones ringing with pro-patient messages and ask that your Senators vote YES on H.R. 810. We need the strongest Senate vote possible to send a clear message to the White House that the majority of Americans support medical research and this important legislation.

Already during the debate, several senators have stated that adult stem cells have cured Parkinson's disease. This is absolutely false. If there were a therapy to halt the progression of this unrelenting disease, the millions of Parkinson's patients, caregivers and their physicians would be pursuing that treatment right now. Sadly, the facts show that we have NOT found a cure, or adequate treatments for Parkinson's, using adult stem cells or otherwise.

H.R. 810 Debate Schedule:
Monday, July 17: The Senate debate will continue until 9 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Tuesday, July 18: Debate from 10 a.m. until 3:45 (with an hour break for lunch around noon.)

Immediately following debate, the Senate will vote on the 3 bills in the package individually, with the last vote being H.R. 810. H.R. 810 vote is expected at approximately 5:15 p.m. Call your senators and tell them that H.R. 810 is the ONLY pro-patient bill that offers hope to millions of Americans, including people fighting Parkinson's disease and their families.

Telekinesis: A Moving Story

2006-07-13T14:15:00.000-04:00

How would you like to move objects with just your own brainpower? Scientists at Cyberkinetics have developed a "neuromotor prosthesis", a computer chip that is implanted into the human brain that can translate thoughts into action. So far, one paralyzed patient has learned to draw simple shapes, play a video game, and adjust the channel/volume on a television, using only his thoughts. One can imagine great promise for this new technology that could bring greater independence and safety for paralyzed individuals, with possibility of controlling all kinds of electronic devices with just a thought.

Here's Lookin' at You, Kid

2006-07-08T19:34:00.000-04:00

Are you the sort of person who can "forget a face"? Prosopagnosia, or face blindess, is the inability to distinguish between different faces (except the most familiar ones). Those afflicted try to compensate for their confusion by focusing on details of voice, gait, clothing or hair color to identify people. A German research group, headed by Dr. Ingo Kennerknecht of the Institute for Human Genetics at the University of Muenster, has discovered that face blindness can run in families and appears to have a hereditary component.

Now, who did you say you were again?

Hawking Science

2006-07-06T22:45:00.000-04:00

"I didn't fancy the thought of being handed over to the Inquisition, like Galileo"
~Stephen Hawking joking about a comment by Pope John Paul II who stated that scientists should not study the origins of the universe, as it was "G-d's work".

Stem Cells Behaving Badly

2006-07-04T09:41:00.000-04:00

What do cancer cells and the developing embryo have in common? The answer is "a whole lotta genes"! My own work and those of my colleagues in the stem cell field show that there are a number of similarities between cancer and embryos. It seems that some cancers--leukemias, brain tumors, and eye tumors show subsets of stem cells that resemble cells from embryos. This is important because these "cancer stem cells" are the ones believed to be responsible for spreading tumors to distant sites and resisting chemotherapy drugs. It only takes one cancer stem cell behaving badly to propagate tumors that will not respond to chemo. By studying the behavior of these cancer stem cells, we can develop new treatments to kill tumors more effectively.

Food for thought: If there are stem cells in tumors that have the potential to develop into a human being, are the fundamentalists going to argue against surgical removal of malignant tumors in order to save the "potential human life" therein?

A Cross to Bear

2006-07-01T23:47:00.000-04:00

I'm back from the stem cell conference. The following New York Times article was brought to our attention today in the plenary session. There are now serious consequences for Catholic stem cell researchers:

Excommunication for Stem Cell Researchers

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL

Published: July 1, 2006

ROME, June 30 — Scientists who engage in stem cell research using human embryos should be subject to excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church, according to a senior Vatican official.

Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, who heads the group that proposes family-related policy for the church, said in an interview with the Catholic weekly Famiglia Cristiana published Thursday that stem cell researchers should be punished in the same way as women who have abortions and doctors who perform them.

"Destroying an embryo is equivalent to abortion," said the cardinal. "Excommunication is valid for the women, the doctors and researchers who destroy embryos."

It was unclear if the pope supported the position, and the Vatican did not return calls for comment. But such blunt remarks from a powerful cardinal just a week before the church convenes a meeting to discuss the topic could foreshadow a hardening of Vatican policy on the issue, experts said.

International Society for Stem Cell Research

2006-06-26T18:26:00.000-04:00

I'm off to Toronto on Wednesday for the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research. It's always an interesting few days of scientific exchange, networking and a bit of fun. On Wednesday evening, there's a public forum on stem cell research, which is always well-attended. The exhibitors will provide us with free tote bags, pens, mouse pads, and plush animals.

But I'm especially interested in our keynote speaker, Dr. John Polanyi. It should be interesting!:

Nobel Laureate John Polanyi is a faculty member in the chemistry department at the University of Toronto. His research is on molecular motions in chemical reactions in gases and surfaces. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1986.

Polanyi is a fellow of the Royal Societies of Canada (F.R.S.C.), of London (F.R.S.) and of Edinburgh (F.R.S.E.), and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Rome, and the Russian Academy of Sciences. He is a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada (P.C.) and a Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.).

He was a founding member of both the Committee on Scholarly Freedom of the Royal Society and the Canadian Committee for Scientists and Scholars, an international human rights organization of which he is president. Additionally he was the founding chair of the Canadian Pugwash Group in 1960, and has been active for 40 years in International Pugwash. He has written extensively on science policy, the control of armaments and peacekeeping. He is co-editor of a book, The Dangers of Nuclear War, and was a participant in the recent Canada 21 study of a 21st century defense posture for Canada. He was co-chair (with Sir Brian Urquhart) of the Department of Foreign Affairs International Consultative Committee on a Rapid Response Capability for the United Nations.

The Plagiarism Story-- A Happy Ending

2006-06-22T20:31:00.000-04:00

Back in March, I told you about a group in India that had plagiarized an entire article of mine and republished it in another journal. It was a cut-and-paste job of the worst kind. They not only copied my text, but the actual figures, as well.

After over two months, there is finally an update: The plagiarized article has been retracted. Three of the four plagiarists sent me an apology, stating that they were very surprised to find out that the fourth author had done such a terrible thing. When I asked about an apology from the fourth author, there was no further response. All four authors are banned from submitting articles to the journal until further notice. The case has been sent to the Indian Ophthalmological Society for further review.

Meanwhile, this story has been a great ice-breaker at the stem cell conferences!

Designer Genes

2006-06-19T19:11:00.000-04:00

What about a test that can screen an embryo for hundreds of potential genetic mutations? Some may consider this a scary development. I think it goes a long way toward preventing a number of devastating inherited diseases...

LONDON, June 19 (UPI) -- A revolutionary test developed by British scientists will allow human embryos to be screened for thousands of genetic mutations before implantation. Known as pre-implantation genetic haplotyping, the technique dramatically reduces the risk of passing on inherited diseases, according to a report Monday in The London Times. Current methods permit screening for about 200 inherited defects but the new procedure developed at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London will work for thousands of heritable conditions, most of which are too rare or complicated to be pinpointed by existing means. It will also help families at risk of diseases that usually afflict only boys, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and hemophilia. Professor Peter Braude, who supervised the research team, said the test would give thousands more couples that carry genetic illnesses the chance to have a healthy baby.
www.sciencedaily.com

Keeping Abreast...

2006-06-15T20:04:00.000-04:00

It's time for my annual mammogram tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Update: After much smooshing and prodding, I was sent away with a clean bill of health!