leap year moratorium dwts season 14 cast leap day michigan primary results olympia snowe davey jones dead
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
New way to kill lymphoma without chemotherapy
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
How do you annihilate lymphoma without using any drugs?
Starve it to death by depriving it of what appears to be a favorite food: HDL cholesterol.
Northwestern Medicine? researchers discovered this with a new nanoparticle that acts like a secret double agent. It appears to the cancerous lymphoma cell like a preferred meal -- natural HDL. But when the particle engages the cell, it actually plugs it up and blocks cholesterol from entering. Deprived of an essential nutrient, the cell eventually dies.
A new study by C. Shad Thaxton, M.D., and Leo I. Gordon, M.D. shows that synthetic HDL nanoparticles killed B-cell lymphoma, the most common form of the disease, in cultured human cells, and inhibited human B-cell lymphoma tumor growth in mice.
The paper will be published Jan. 21 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"This has the potential to eventually become a nontoxic treatment for B-cell lymphoma which does not involve chemotherapy," said Gordon, a co-corresponding author with Thaxton on the paper. "It's an exciting preliminary finding."
Gordon is a professor of medicine in hematology/oncology and Thaxton is an assistant professor of urology, both at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Gordon also is co-director of the hematologic malignancy program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Thaxton is also a member of the Lurie Cancer Center.
Lymphoma Gobbles HDL Cholesterol
Recent studies have shown that B-cell lymphoma is dependent on the uptake of natural HDL -- short for high-density lipoprotein -- from which it derives fat content, such as cholesterol.
The nanoparticle -- originally developed by Thaxton as a possible therapy for heart disease -- closely mimics the size, shape and surface chemistry of natural HDL particles. But it has one key difference: a five nanometer gold particle at its core. Thus, when the nanoparticle is incubated with human B-cell lymphoma cells or used to treat a mouse with the human tumor, it socks lymphoma with a double whammy. After it attaches to the lymphoma cell, the gold particle's spongy surface sucks out its cholesterol while the gold core prevents the cell from absorbing more cholesterol typically carried in the core of natural HDL particles.
The lymphoma research showed Thaxton that the HDL nanoparticle had more than one trick up its golden sleeve.
"At first I was heavily focused on developing nanoparticles that could remove cholesterol from cells, especially those involved in heart disease," Thaxton said. "The lymphoma work has broadened this focus to how the HDL nanoparticles impact both the removal and uptake of cholesterol by cells. We discovered the particles are multi-taskers."
The Northwestern study also showed that natural HDL did not kill the cells or inhibit tumor growth. The nanoparticle was essential to starve the lymphoma cell.
Detour From Heart Disease to Cancer Killer
After developing the HDL nanoparticle, Thaxton gave a lecture in 2010 to Feinberg faculty. Gordon was in the audience. He knew that patients with advanced forms of B-cell lymphoma sometimes have dropping levels of cholesterol. A long-time lymphoma researcher and oncologist, Gordon was looking for new methods to deliver drugs to patients. He contacted Thaxton and they began to collaborate.
They tested the HDL nanoparticle alone and the HDL nanoparticle transporting cancer drugs. Surprisingly, the nanoparticle without drugs was just as effective at killing the B-cell lymphoma cells.
"We thought, 'That's odd. Why don't we need the drug?'" Gordon recalled.
That's when the scientists began delving into the mechanism by which the HDL nanoparticles were sticking to the HDL receptors on the lymphoma cell and manipulating cholesterol transport. In addition, patient samples analyzed by collaborators at Duke University for the study showed that lymphoma cells in patients had an overproduction of these HDL receptors compared to normal lymphocytes.
B-cell Lymphoma Most Common Lymphoma
The National Cancer Institutes reports that in 2012 there were about 70,000 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the U.S. with nearly 19,000 deaths. About 90 percent of those new cases were B-cell lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body's immune system.
Why a Heart of Gold?
"Gold has a good track record of being compatible with biologic systems," Thaxton said.
Thaxton and Gordon are encouraged by their early data showing that the HDL nanoparticles do not appear toxic to other human cells normally targeted by HDLs, normal human lymphocytes or to mice. Also, because gold nanoparticles can be made in a discreet size and shape, they are excellent scaffolds for creating synthetic HDLs that closely mimic those found in nature.
"Like every new drug candidate, the HDL nanoparticle will need to undergo further testing," Thaxton noted.
###
Northwestern University: http://www.northwestern.edu
Thanks to Northwestern University for this article.
This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.
This press release has been viewed 26 time(s).
Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126383/New_way_to_kill_lymphoma_without_chemotherapy
game of thrones season 2 dierks bentley kenny chesney academy of country music awards brad paisley zac brown band aubrey
Clinton: 'very promising leads' on Benghazi attack (The Arizona Republic)
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Insurance premium rises likely to ease up | Stuff.co.nz
Households and businesses can look forward to some relief from rocketing insurance premiums in 2013 as the costs of reinsurance levels off.
That's because 2012 was relatively catastrophe-free for the global re-insurance industry, according to industry players.
The past 12 months have been a mild one in terms global risk for reinsurers, with Hurricane Sandy, which slammed into the east coast of the United States, the only major catastrophe to hit the already beleaguered industry.
Even then reinsurers got off lightly.
An analysis by Insurance Insider shows the sector bore only US$3 billion (NZ$3.5b) of the US$20b to US$25b in damages from the storm, with insurers absorbing the rest.
Risk consultant John Sloan said there had also been resistance from the market against rising insurance costs, especially from small and medium-sized businesses, which have had to wear the spike in reinsurance premiums over the past two years.
"The absence of a major earthquake in 2012 does not mean insurers or re-insurers will suddenly reduce their premiums, but there are early indications of some alleviation in the market," Sloan said.
Those alleviations are likely to see prices stabilise in 2013, but a return to pre-2010 levels is still nowhere in sight.
That is partly because reinsurers do not have any room on their books to cut rates.
The slow pace of global economic growth has depressed investment earnings from bonds, with central banks keeping interest rates near zero - a level that's likely to remain in place for at the next two years.
New Zealand insurance companies are also facing rising domestic cost pressures.
A Vero spokesperson said it expected premium increases to slow in the year ahead as reinsurance costs came off the boil, but it was still dealing with a spike in claims from the Canterbury earth-quakes and some of those costs would flow through to customers.
Gary Young, head of the Insurance Brokers Association, said insurers also had to bear the cost of regulatory changes which would force firms to bolster their balance sheets.
For example, under the current rules firms have to have sufficient financial resources to withstand claims equivalent to a 1-in-250 year event.
The Reserve Bank is looking to lift that to a 1-in-1000 year event (equivalent to the February 2010 earthquake) to prevent insurers from collapsing.
- ? Fairfax NZ News
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/8210092/Insurance-premium-rises-likely-to-ease-up
constitution day constitution day dolly parton stephen colbert running for president richard threlkeld moonrise kingdom coachella lineup
British film director Michael Winner dies aged 77
LONDON (Reuters) - Flamboyant British film director Michael Winner, best known for the hit "Death Wish" series in the 1970s and 80s, died at his London home on Monday. He was 77.
In a statement released to the media, his wife Geraldine said: "A light has gone out in my life."
Winner, who reinvented himself in recent years as an outspoken restaurant critic in the Sunday Times, had been ill for some time, and revealed last summer that specialists had given him 18 months to live due to heart and liver problems.
He said in a later interview that he had considered going to the Dignitas assisted-dying clinic in Switzerland.
Winner's movie career spanned more than 40 years and included more than 30 feature films, including the successful Death Wish series starring Charles Bronson as a vigilante out to avenge family murders.
His big screen success was overshadowed by a divisive image in Britain as a bon viveur who did nothing to hide his wealth.
In a film career which spanned more than 50 years, he worked with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, including Marlon Brando, Robert Mitchum and Faye Dunaway.
He later reinvented himself as a restaurant critic, writing about food in his typically flamboyant style in his Winner's Dinners column for the Sunday Times.
Winner, whose appearance in adverts for motor insurance coined the catchphrase "Calm down dear, it's only a commercial", also founded and funded the Police Memorial Trust following the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in London in 1984.
More than 50 officers have been honored by the trust at sites across the country.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/british-film-director-michael-winner-dies-aged-77-144116062.html
Jerry Nelson Foo Canoodle Isaac path Tropical Storm Isaac path Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Isaac Path
Maloofs agree to sell NBA's Kings to Seattle group
The only thing stopping the Sacramento Kings from a sale and move to Seattle is approval by NBA owners.
The Maloof family has agreed to sell the Kings to a Seattle group led by investor Chris Hansen, the league confirmed in a statement Monday morning. The deal is still pending a vote by the NBA Board of Governors.
A person familiar with the decision said that Hansen's group will buy 65 percent of the franchise, which is valued at a total price of $525 million, and move the team to Seattle and restore the SuperSonics name. The deal will cost the Hansen group a little more than $340 million. The Maloofs will have no stake in the team.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was waiting approval.
The sale figure works off a total valuation of the franchise, which includes relocation fees. Hansen's group also is hoping to buy out other minority investors.
The Maloofs will get a $30 million non-refundable down payment by Feb. 1, according to the deal, the person said. They will still be allowed to receive other offers until the league approves the sale.
The plan by Hansen's group is to have the team play at least the next two seasons in KeyArena before moving into a new facility in downtown Seattle. The deadline for teams to apply for a move for next season is March 1.
"We have always appreciated and treasured our ownership of the Kings and have had a great admiration for the fans and our team members. We would also like to thank Chris Hansen for his professionalism during our negotiation. Chris will be a great steward for the franchise," Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said in a statement on behalf of the family.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said last week he had received permission from NBA Commissioner David Stern to present a counteroffer to league owners from buyers who would keep the Kings in Sacramento.
Johnson, himself a former All-Star point guard in the NBA, said in a statement that the city remained undeterred.
"Sacramento has proven that it is a strong NBA market with a fan base that year in and year out has demonstrated a commitment to the Kings by selling out 19 of 27 seasons in a top 20 market and owning two of the longest sellout streaks in NBA history," Johnson said.
"When it comes to keeping the team in our community, Sacramento is playing to win. In particular, we have been focused like a laser on identifying an ownership group that will both have the financial resources desired by the NBA and the vision to make the Kings the NBA equivalent of what the Green Bay Packers have been in the NFL."
The Kings were in New Orleans preparing for a matinee game against the Hornets when news came down of the agreement.
"It's just a little weird (but) at the same time I love Sacramento. I love everything about it. Love the fans; the organization just brought me in with open arms. That's all I really know in this league is Sacramento," said Kings guard Isaiah Thomas, a Tacoma, Wash., native. "But then I am from that area back home. It's just kind of a different situation. Whatever I say about Seattle, Sacramento fans might be mad at me, and whatever I say about Sacramento, Seattle fans might be mad at me. I just love both cities."
Added Kings coach Keith Smart, "For us, I'm going to get on the floor and coach the game and players are going to get out there and make shots, take shots, make mistakes, make great plays. And then we'll deal with it as we do off the floor."
In a saga that has dragged on for nearly three years, Johnson and Sacramento appear to be facing their most daunting challenge yet.
Hansen, a Seattle native and San Francisco-based investor, reached agreement with local governments in Seattle last October on plans to build a $490 million arena near the city's other stadiums, CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field.
As part of the agreement, no construction will begin until all environmental reviews are completed and a team has been secured. The arena also faces a pair of lawsuits, including one from a longshore workers union because the arena is being built close to port and industrial operations.
Hansen's group is expected to pitch in $290 million in private investment toward the arena, along with helping to pay for transportation improvements in the area around the stadiums.
The plans also call for the arena to be able to handle a future NHL franchise.
The remaining $200 million in public financing would be paid back with rent money and admissions taxes from the arena, and if that money falls short, Hansen would be responsible for making up the rest.
Other investors in the proposed arena include Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and two members of the Nordstrom department store family.
Hansen's goal has been to return the SuperSonics to the Puget Sound after they were moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008.
The Kings' sale price would top the NBA-record $450 million the Golden State Warriors sold for in July 2010.
"While we are not at liberty to discuss the terms of the transaction or our plans for the franchise given the confidential nature of the agreement and NBA regulations regarding public comments during a pending transaction, we would just like to extend our sincerest compliments and gratitude toward the Maloof family," Hansen said in a statement. "Our negotiations with the family were handled with the utmost honor and professionalism and we hope to continue their legacy and be great stewards of this NBA franchise in the coming years and decades."
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said: "While there is more work ahead, this is a major step toward bringing the Sonics home."
Brothers Joe, Gavin and George Maloof bought controlling interests in the franchise from Los Angeles-based developer Jim Thomas in 1999. The Maloofs, who have long waited for an upgrade to the team's outdated arena, backed out of a tentative $391 million deal for a new downtown venue with Sacramento last year, reigniting fears the franchise could relocate.
Johnson and the Kings broke off all negotiations in the summer, with the team's owners saying the deal didn't make financial sense for the franchise.
In 2011, the Kings appeared determined to move to Anaheim before Johnson convinced the NBA to give the city one last chance to help finance an arena.
At one point, Johnson seemed so certain the team was gone he called the process a "slow death" and compared the city's efforts to keep the Kings a "Hail Mary."
Johnson made a pitch to the NBA Board of Governors in April 2011, promising league owners the city would find a way to help finance a new arena to replace the team's current suburban facility. That pitch bought the Kings time, before the brokered deal between the city and the Maloofs fell apart last year.
___
AP Sports Writer Bernie Wilson contributed to this story.
___
Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/maloofs-agree-sell-nbas-kings-seattle-group-155011318--spt.html
own stacy francis tournament brackets 2012 ncaa basketball tournament walt what time is it current time
Monday, January 21, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)