Precision Medicine Update

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With so many genetic illness’s out there, many wonder why some with the illness such as Alzheimer’s can survive up to twenty five years with the illness, while others die within five years from the same illness. President Obama and the National Cancer Institute are willing to spend $70 million in order to fulfill the total of $215 million needed to fund the research. Dr. Green explained, “Everyone with every disease wants to do this, is is the Type 2 diabetes that results in the loss of a limb the same disease as the one that is easily controlled with diet? Right now, we lump them together.” The New York Times have spoken how people with the illness and how they all agree funding needs to happen for this issue.

“The first, with breast cancer, would today have her tumor analyzed to determine which drugs would probably work against it. She might also have genetic tests to reveal whether she had a risky gene mutation. The second patient, not so lucky, would have Type 2 diabetes, “an imprecise category,” the report said. “No concrete molecular information is available to customize Patient 2’s therapy to reduce his risk for kidney failure,blindness or other diabetes-related complications. No tests are available to measure risk of diabetes for his siblings and children.” The Times spoke about how spending this money could potentially decrease the amount of disease we see in the country based solely on understanding why some illness’s work slowly on some individuals and run so rapidly on some individuals.

For more please visit: http://scottfiller.net

Potential Ebola Vaccine

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Dr. James Crowe of Vanderbilt University has been on an extensive search to find, and extract blood from patients who have overcome the Ebola virus.

Dr. Crowe plans to use this blood he extracts to break down the proteins and see exactly what goes into making the virus so deadly, and ways to use this information to potentially come up with a treatment. This fight against Ebola is a world wide fight, the virus has already claimed over 7,000 lives and infected countless others.portrait

The goal of this research is to successfully extract the antibodies from the blood. Dr. Crowe has had a difficult time the past two years finding an applicable sample since many people with the virus have passed away or are located in Africa and suffer from other virus’s and diseases disqualify them from the sample pool. Fortunately for the sake of the research, Dr. Crowe was able to find a participant, Dr. Sacra who was infected with the virus while helping out earlier this year. “They can take antibodies they find in my blood and map them out,” Sacra said in an interview. “They are looking for the ones that are most important in neutralizing the virus.”

Many scientists and doctors are behind and back the research of  Dr. Crowe, they believe this is a great step in helping get rid of Ebola. Although this is an uphill battle, fighting the virus with the virus seems like the best way to find the vaccine. According to Dr. Crowe, they are working day and night to analyze the blood from Dr. Sacra in hopes to come up with a vaccine as soon as possible.

Hopes are that clinical trials for the vaccine, when completed will begin early to mid 2015. This is a very promising and hopeful expected date for trials considering how recently Dr. Crowe received his sample from Dr. Sacra. According to Crowe, “The antibodies he is working on would be produced in both cell lines and tobacco plants. Vanderbilt will license the most promising drug candidates, and at least four commercial partners, including Mapp, are considering whether to license them.”

For more information regarding Dr. Crowe’s research, please visit CBCarticles for updates.

Tips to Flu Season

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With the seasons changing, comes the yearly Flu epidemic. This year is no different, Flu season is in full effect, and here are some ways to prevent the bug, or for the unlucky ones, recover as quick as possible.

1. Wash your hands

We always tell the children to wash their hands when we often forgot to. This simple task can and will keep you protected and is always a good habit to have in general! 

2. Vitamins, Vitamins, Vitamins

It is important to get your essential vitamins this season, and then some. It will be very easy to feel groggy and tired this winter due to the flu and cold weather. One of the best ways to get out of this rut is to take extra vitamins throughout the day to help boost your immune system and give you that extra kick to get you through the day. The essential vitamins you should try to get a little extra of as Vitamin A, C, D. These will help your body recover from any air-born virus you may catch and essentially be a key factor in not catching the flu virus.

3. Anti-viral herbs (home remedies)

You may not need a doctors note for one of these, but they can truly be a big help in your bodies fight against the flu this Winter. These remedies usually contain many nutrients which are essential to your body when recovering from any sort of illness or just remaining healthy. Which ever family remedy you have, taking it is not a bad idea.

4. Elderberry Syrup

The best way to recover from the flu or any virus is to never get it in the first place. The best kept secret for that is Elderberry syrup, which helps your body fight against viruses before they strike. It can also be taken if you feel a cough or cold coming, if caught early enough, the syrup could potentially stop the virus in its tracks.

5. Get the Flu Shot

The fifth and by far most important tip, get the flu shot. Many people believe they don’t need the shot, but everyone who has access to one, should get one. Many people may be squeamish and are afraid of needles and getting a shot, but the pinch of pain is worth not being sick in bed for weeks.

For a full list of tips, please visit: Chris Kresser 

Stem cells, cure for brain tumors?

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Stem cell research has always been a debate in the medical field for many years. This debate is based on ethic and moral dilemmas. Many doctors feel the use of stem cells can cure and help rejuvenate the body, while others believe it is wrong to use stem cells for medical reasons. This debate will undoubtably continue for many years to come, although the believers who say stem cell research and application is the way to go may have a step up in this debate as of recently.

Dr. Khalid Shah, a neuroscientist at Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, in Cambridge, MA, and also of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, MA, the scientists found the toxin-releasing stem cells eliminated cancer cells left behind in mouse brains following tumor removal.Scott Filler Medical Dr. Shahs recent study showed that filling stem cells with the herpes can kill cancerous brain tumor sells using a secrete toxin which does not kill the stem cell. These secrete toxins carry a cytotoxin which enters the body and stops other cells from producing proteins, which in turn stops the cells from growing, reproducing killing them. Until a recent medical breakthrough were deadly to all cells if these cytotoxins entered the system.

Although Dr. Shah understands that these stem cells can be used to prevent and fight different blood cancers, the likelihood of completely wiping out a solid cancerous tumor is an uphill battle. A state from Dr. Shah, “Cancer-killing toxins have been used with great success in a variety of blood cancers, but they don’t work as well in solid tumors because the cancers aren’t as accessible and the toxins have a short half-life.” After tedious research and experiments, Dr. Shah and his team were able to come to find a stem cell which started to attack the tumor without killing the other sells around it or the stem cells themselves.

With this discovery, Dr. Shah just needs the okay to start testing these cells from the federal government. He hopes and expects to start clinical trials in the next five years if all goes well.