A small, portable device used for the home diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea has been deemed very reliable, according to new research presented at the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, in Chicago, IL.

According to the study, authored by researchers with the New York Otolaryngology group, 120 patients over a four-month period used Holter oximeters for home sleep testing, registering a 97 percent data recovery rate during that period. Furthermore, patients reported an average comfort score of 2 (on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the most comfortable). As a result, the authors have determined that Holter oximetry represents a new, easy to use, and reliable device for the home diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, useful in measuring outcomes for the surgical and non-surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adults and children.

Sleep apnea, which affects over 10 million Americans, with an estimated additional 10 million undiagnosed, is characterized by loud snoring interrupted by frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing (obstructive sleep apnea). Serious episodes last more than ten seconds each and occur more than seven times per hour. Apnea patients may experience 30 to 300 such events per night. These episodes can reduce blood oxygen levels, causing the heart to pump harder.

Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) changed their national coverage determination to include Type II, III, and IV devices for home sleep testing for sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnea.

###

Title: Reliability of Holter Oximetry for Home Sleep Apnea Testing
Presenters: Jordan C. Stern, MD (presenter); Conor Heneghan, PhD; Redmond Shouldice, BE, PhD
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2008

About the AAO-HNS

The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (entnet/), one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents more than 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization’s vision: “Empowering otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to deliver the best patient care.”

Source: Matt Daigle

American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery

After a transplant surgery,
anti-rejection drugs for the organ recipient are a must, but with prolonged
use can have serious side effects, including infections, heart disease and
cancer. A team led by Joshua Miller, MD, a researcher at Northwestern
University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, is working with Northwestern
Memorial Hospital’s department of organ transplantation to enroll
qualifying subjects in a new research study that seeks to transplant stem
cells from a kidney donor’s bone marrow into the recipient, with the hope
of gradually eliminating the need for anti-rejection drugs. If research
proves successful, it would mean a dramatic change in the post-transplant
quality of life for the transplant recipient.

Northwestern is the only center in Chicago and one of four centers
nationally looking at this topic. The Feinberg School of Medicine has
received a four-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of
Health to enroll 20 patients in the study, which is called “Donor Stem
Cells, Campath, T/B Cell Regulation In HLA-Identical Renal Transplants.”

The first subjects to participate in the study underwent kidney
transplant surgery on Thursday, Jan. 10. Sharon Flood of Pingree Grove,
Ill. donated her kidney to her brother Steven Yelk of Gurnee, Ill., who
suffers from polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which causes cysts filled
with fluid to form throughout the kidneys. Eventually, these cysts take
over the healthy kidney tissue and the kidneys fail. “Our family is very
close and there are seven brothers and sisters. I was thrilled to learn
that I was a match and would be able to help Steven,” Sharon commented
before the surgery.

Joseph Leventhal, MD, PhD, transplant surgeon, associate professor of
surgery and director of the Living Donor Renal Transplant Program at
Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, preformed the kidney
donor’s surgery and Michael Abecassis, MD, MBA, chief of the division of
transplantation, and dean of clinical affairs for Northwestern University’s
Feinberg School of Medicine, performed the recipient’s surgery.

“The surgery was successful, everything went according to plan and the
new kidney is functioning well,” said Dr. Abecassis. From here, the kidney
recipient will begin the experimental portion of the study.

This study is open to HLA-identical sibling kidney donor and recipient
pairs. HLA, or human leukocyte antigen, is one of a group of proteins found
on the surface of white blood cells and other cells that play an important
part in the body’s immune response to foreign substances. These antigens
vary from person to person, and an HLA compatibility test is performed
before organ transplantation to find out if tissues match between a donor
and a recipient.

The study is limited to only HLA-identical sibling pairs because these
siblings genetically have a more similar set of immunologic markers than a
non-related HLA-identical pair. Because this population has the closest
genetic relationship, they have the best chance for success with the study.
Overall, HLA-identical siblings have very low rejection rates for kidney
transplants but until now have still required immunosuppressive drugs to be
taken for life.

How does it work?

Stem cells are formed at the marrow and are common blood cells from
which other specialized blood cells, like immune cells, develop. These stem
cells are considered important to help prevent rejection of the kidney
transplant. By transplanting these cells from the kidney donor into the
recipient, the study seeks to prove that the stem cells will mature in the
recipient’s body and will allow his immune system to accept the new organ
as his own.

For the kidney donor, the laparoscopic surgery occurs in the standard
manner. After the kidney is removed, bone marrow is drawn from the donor’s
hip bone. About three months following the surgery, the donor undergoes two
procedures called leukopheresis, happening one day apart, where stem cells
mobilized from the marrow are collected so that they can be given to the
kidney recipient to help his body acclimate to the transplant.

Approximately one month before the transplant surgery, the recipient
undergoes leukopheresis to draw white blood cells which are stored in a lab
for later testing. After transplant surgery, the recipient receives four
separate inf

The stem cells are infused into the transplant recipient via an IV in a
procedure that lasts about 15 minutes. The first infusion is five days
after surgery, the next is about three months after surgery, then six
months and finally nine months after the transplant. During this time the
recipient is treated with Campath-1H, a potent antibody used extensively at
Northwestern to prevent rejection, in addition to the other standard
anti-rejection medications. About a year after the surgery, the subject is
weaned off of one anti-rejection drug, then another. There are also ongoing
tests to ensure the recipient is tolerating the kidney.

“This is an exciting area of research which holds a great deal of
promise if successful,” says Dr. Abecassis. “We are excited to be the only
center in the region offering this to qualifying patients.”

About Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of the country’s premier academic
medical centers and is the primary teaching hospital of the Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine. Northwestern Memorial and its
Prentice Women’s Hospital and Stone Institute of Psychiatry have 897 beds
along with 1,424 affiliated physicians and 6,464 employees. Northwestern
Memorial is recognized for providing state-of-the-art patient care and
exemplary clinical and surgical advancements in the areas of cardiothoracic
and vascular care, gastroenterology, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology,
organ and bone marrow transplantation, and women’s health.

Northwestern Memorial received the prestigious 2005 National Quality
Health Care Award and is listed in eight specialties in U.S. News & World
Report’s 2007 rankings for “America’s Best Hospitals.” For seven years
running, Northwestern Memorial has been rated among the nation’s “100 Best
Companies for Working Mothers” by Working Mother magazine and has been
chosen by Chicagoans for more than a decade as their “most preferred
hospital” according to the National Research Corporation’s annual survey.
Northwestern Memorial carries the Magnet status designation in nursing, the
highest recognition possible for patient care and nursing excellence.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
nmh

View drug information on Campath.

Phase I results revealed very good tolerance in healthy volunteers as well as an excellent security profile for GFT14, one of the medical candidates that GENFIT is developing to tackle cardiometabolic risk.

Lille (France), Cambridge (Massachusetts), 2 May 2006 – GENFIT, the biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of medical candidates in the areas of cardiovascular, inflammatory and metabolic diseases, today announced the entry into Phase II clinical trials of GFT14, destined for the treatment of cardiometabolic risk.

The decision to commence Phase II was taken in light of the excellent results obtained during the Phase I. Initiated in March 2005, this test was carried out on over one hundred healthy volunteers who ingested GFT14 either in a single dose (50 – 500mg) or in a repeated dose over fourteen days (50 – 300 mg/day).

The results demonstrated that GFT14 attained all of its principal objectives; namely, that no significant adverse effect was registered during the course of the trials; that any reported adverse effect was weak, (and without the implication of the treatment being proven); that GFT14 is very well absorbed with pharmacokinetic parameters being perfectly compatible with a single daily dose. The trials in a healthy volunteer therefore concluded that GFT14 is very well tolerated.

“This first phase of clinical trials proved that the innovative formulation of GFT14 developed by GENFIT produced a very good margin of security”, commented Professeur Fruchart, who continued : ” Fresh from these promising results, an initial Phase II study targeting the effectiveness of GFT14 in patients with dyslipidemia has just been undertaken. The first patient should begin tests later this month, with results expected at the beginning of 2007″.

GFT14, a proprietary compound from GENFIT, is destined to improve the condition of patients at risk from cardiovascular disease by a simultaneous and favorable action on the plasmatic lipids (rise of HDL- cholesterol et lowering of triglycerides) and on other risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes. Orally absorbed GFT14 has absolutely no structural link with current treatments for dyslipidemia (statin or fibrate based). The risks of medical interaction are weak and GFT14 may be easily combined with statins or other antidiabetic molecules (glitazones).

Dyslipidemic patients are defined as having a high level of “bad” cholesterol (LDL-C) and/or triglycerides and/or a low level of good cholesterol (HDL-C). They have, therefore, an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis, the clinical complications of which pose serious health problems, especially in cases of coronary implication.

Jean-Franзois MOUNEY, Chairman and CEO of GENFIT declared:

” These highly promising results confirm the hypothesis that GFT14 constitutes, thanks to its novel pharmacological approach, a significant advance in the treatment of metabolic disorders. The results announced today illustrate our capacity to deliver innovative therapeutic solutions with huge potential and further reinforce the value of our product portfolio, currently comprising seventeen research programmes of which nine molecules are in development. Genfit is engaged in challenging the soaring global cardiometabolic pandemic characterized by obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular illness which are affecting an increasingly younger population.”

About GENFIT
genfit

The emerging biopharmaceutical company, GENFIT (www.genfit) studies gene deregulation, which is at the origin of some of the most wide-spread diseases. The GENFIT group identifies new therapeutic targets and develops drug candidates. Its most advanced programs, conducted internally or in partnership with industry leaders such as SANOFI – AVENTIS, PIERRE FABRE, SOLVAY – FOURNIER, MERCK AG, UCB, KOWA, SERVIER, concentrate on the treatment of key metabolic and inflammatory disorders. GENFIT’s initial proprietary medicines will concentrate on global cardiovascular risk by treating several pathologies, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and obesity, simultaneously with a single molecule. Founded and managed by Professeur Jean-Charles FRUCHART and Mr. Jean-Franзois MOUNEY, the company is headquartered in Lille with facilities in Cambridge (USA). The company currently employs over 110 people.

genfit

Renovis,
Inc. (Nasdaq: RNVS) announced that data published today in the New England
Journal of Medicine from the international phase III SAINT I trial (Stroke
Acute Ischemic NXY-059 Treatment) conducted by its exclusive licensee,
AstraZeneca AB, report the effect of NXY-059 (previously called Cerovive(R))
intended for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The data showed a
statistically significant reduction with NXY-059 versus placebo on the primary
outcome of stroke-related disability, as assessed on the Modified Rankin Scale
(mRS) (p=0.038 at 90 days). Additional analysis of the data showed a
reduction in the disability of patients at both ends of the scale, with 4.4%
more patients treated with NXY-059 becoming free of symptoms
(mRS 0 vs. mRS > 0; p=0.003) and 3.7% more patients able to walk without help
and being less dependent on others for bodily needs (mRS less than or equal to
3 vs. mRS >3; p=0.02), compared to placebo.

SAINT I was a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study, in which
patients were randomized to receive NXY-059 or placebo within six hours of
acute ischemic stroke. The study involved 1,722 patients in 158 centers from
24 countries. The clinical benefit of treatment with NXY-059 was evident at
the earliest time-point assessed (7 days) and persisted through the end of the
study (90 days). The treatment effects were not affected by the time to
treatment, the severity of stroke, or use of thrombolysis.

NXY-059 did not significantly improve neurological function as measured in
the pre-specified analysis of SAINT I data on the NIH stroke scale (NIHSS).
Mortality was unaffected by treatment with NXY-059 compared with placebo. The
most common adverse events for NXY-059 in the study were fever (19.0% vs.
19.2% for NXY-059 and placebo, respectively), constipation (9.8% vs. 11.7%),
headache (9.6% vs. 9.7%), urinary tract infection (8.9% vs. 6.8%), stroke in
evolution (6.5% vs. 8.1%), and hypokalemia (6.4% vs. 4.4%).

The incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients
treated with NXY-059 and alteplase, a tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was
lower than in patients treated with placebo and rt-PA (2.5% vs. 6.4%; p=0.036;
post-hoc analysis).

“Renovis congratulates the SAINT I Steering Committee for the publication
announced today,” stated Corey Goodman, PhD, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Renovis. “The SAINT I data show clear and clinically important
reductions in disability among patients treated with NXY-059 versus placebo.
If these data are supported by the SAINT II results, we believe that NXY-059
could become a broadly useful treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients.”

Dr. Tomas Odergren, Global Product Director for NXY-059 at AstraZeneca
added, “The results of SAINT I suggest that disruption of the ischemic cascade
through neuroprotection, the proposed mechanism of action for NXY-059, could
have clinical application for a broad range of patients suffering an acute
ischemic stroke. The second phase III study, SAINT II, which will involve
3,200 patients at approximately 350 centers around the world, is well
underway.”

The SAINT trials for NXY-059 are being conducted worldwide in
approximately 400 centers across 40 countries to evaluate the effect of the
compound in acute ischemic stroke patients. These countries and regions
include: Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United States,
Canada and Latin America. Based on enrollment trends to date, SAINT II is due
to report top line data in the first half of 2007.

Additionally, as announced in October, the CHANT (Cerebral Hemorrhagic and
NXY-059 Treatment) trial has completed enrollment and results are expected in
the first quarter of 2006. CHANT is a double-blind, randomized,
placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multi-center, Phase IIb study to assess
the safety and tolerability of 72 hours intravenous infusion of NXY-059 in
adult patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage. The trial involves 130
centers in 21 countries.

NXY-059 was previously referred to as Cerovive. A new brand name will be
communicated after AstraZeneca has reached agreement with all applicable
regulatory agencies. Subsequent to the outcomes of both the SAINT II and
CHANT trials, AstraZeneca plans to file regulatory submissions for NXY-059 in
the US and Europe in the first half of 2007.

About Renovis

Renovis is a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs to treat
neurological diseases and disorders. Our most advanced product candidate,
NXY-059, is in Phase III clinical trials for acute ischemic stroke with our
exclusive licensee, AstraZeneca AB. NXY-059, an investigational drug under
development by AstraZeneca and licensed from Renovis, has a proposed mechanism
of action of free radical trapping. It is being studied as a neuroprotectant
in clinical trials based on effects seen in experimental models of acute
ischemic stroke. Our research and development programs focus on major medical
needs in the areas of neuroprotection and pain. We have a worldwide
collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer to research, develop and
commercialize small molecule VR1 antagonists, and a research and development
collaboration with Genentech to discover and develop anti-angiogenesis drugs
and drugs that promote nerve re-growth following nervous system injury.

For additional information about the company, please visit
renovis.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve
substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of
historical facts, included in this press release regarding our strategy,
future operations, future financial position, plans and objectives of
management are forward-looking statements. We may not actually achieve these
plans, intentions or expectations and Renovis cautions investors not to place
undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events
could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed
in the forward-looking statements we make. Various important factors, which
could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-
looking statements that we make, are described in greater detail in the “Risk
Factors” section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which was filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2005. We do not assume
any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Renovis, Inc.
renovis

Michael J Fox says he supports all Congressional candidates who are in favor of stem cell research. Michael Fox, 45, who has been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease since his diagnosis in 1991, has appeared in campaign adverts which show him rocking uncontrollably as he addresses the camera. He has become a powerful weapon for Democrat election candidates.

In one TV advert for candidate Claire McCaskill, Fox says “What you do in Missouri matters to millions of Americans. Americans like me.” He plans to appear at events for other candidates.

President George Bush, as well as several religious leaders, are against embryonic stem cell research. On the other hand, polls suggest the majority of Americans are in favor of it.

Most scientists say stem cell research could go a long way towards finding an effective treatment for Parkinson’s Disease, as well as countless other illnesses. Michael Fox, a celebrity, with Parkinson’s Disease, and comparatively young, is expected to have an enormous impact on voters.

See Advert (McCaskill for Missouri TV ad – youtube)

Comment by Editor of blog

I can’t understand why the ads focus on stem cell research generally. Isn’t the issue in the USA just with Embryonic Stem Cell Research, not Adult Stem Cell Research?

AARP today sent a letter to Congressional leaders and all House and Senate offices encouraging lawmakers to enact moratoria on all seven of the proposed regulations. Here is the letter:

Dear Leaders:

On behalf of AARP’s nearly 40 million members, we urge you to act quickly to enact a moratorium on all seven regulations proposed by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) which would severely cut federal Medicaid funding.

We support sound policies to address fraud, waste and abuse in this vital safety net program that one in six Americans rely on for health and long-term care. However, the regulations go far beyond reasonable program integrity goals and instead would shift costs for many legitimate and necessary services to states and individuals.

While the Administration says that these cuts total $15 billion over 5 years, state Medicaid directors estimate the impact to be nearly $50 billion over the same time period. Many states will be unable to cover this cost shift and may have little choice but to deny needed care to the most vulnerable among us.

Particularly troubling to AARP is the interim final case management rule that will impede efforts to move people out of institutions and into home and community-based services that most of us prefer and that are often more cost effective. Together, all seven of the proposed regulations pose an unconscionable threat to people who cannot afford the health and long-term care that they need.

Both the House and Senate have voted with bipartisan, veto-proof majorities in favor of a moratorium on all seven regulations. We therefore urge you to act now, despite veto threats, to delay implementation of these regulations and allow time to revise them to avoid harmful cost shifting to states and our most vulnerable citizens.

Sincerely,

David P. Sloane
Senior Vice President
Government Relations and Advocacy
www.aarp

If you’re over 55 and have spent more than a few sleepless nights, you’re not alone — insomnia affects about half of all people over 55 — but you may also be at increased risk for physical and mental ailments.

Many older adults don’t get enough restorative sleep, leading to serious health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, memory problems and increased rates of depression. Unfortunately, current sleeping pills are associated with memory problems, a risk for falls, dependency, withdrawal symptoms and disturbed sleeping patterns.

Circadin, a new drug developed at Tel Aviv University by Prof. Nava Zisapel, a chemist and neurobiologist from TAU’s George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, may help America’s aging baby boomers get the much-needed sleep they need. Recent results from Prof. Zisapel’s research with Circadin appear in the Journal of Sleep Research and are reviewed in Aging Health.

How the Body Tells Time

Prof. Zisapel’s research centers on the hormone melatonin, which affects the way our biological functions differentiate between day and night. “As we age, the melatonin hormone signal weakens,” says Prof. Zisapel. “As a result, our bodies and brains feel less difference between day and night.”

Exacerbating the effect of low melatonin levels, aging people tend to sleep in a less organized fashion than younger people, Prof. Zisapel explains. “People are sleeping in front of the TV, or nodding off during conversations, and taking long afternoon naps. This leads to less sleep at night. In a way, their sleep habits become more like babies’, and less like those of healthy adults who sleep in consolidated periods during the night.”

Mimicking the profile of nighttime melatonin found in our bodies, Circadin replenishes the much-needed hormone, which declines steadily with age. Clinical trials in the United States and Europe found that Circadin improves sleep quality and morning alertness, and helps those 55 and over get a better night’s sleep.

Her new drug therapy “improves sleep and daytime vigilance, helping to re-organize the circadian system, the body’s internal clock,” Prof. Zisapel says. Added benefits include more normalized blood pressure and blood sugar levels at night. The formulation also has a profound effect on the blind, whose biological clock is disturbed because they can’t see light, a trigger for synchronizing with the external day/night cycle.

Advice for Sound Sleep Hygiene

Until Circadin is available in the United States, there are some simple steps seniors can take to get a good night’s sleep, Prof. Zisapel says. Spending a couple of hours outdoors every day can help. Sipping lattes on a cafe patio (away from direct sunlight) can be pleasurable, and increases the exposure to natural light from the blue-green spectrum. Experiencing a full spectrum of light during the day could also be beneficial, as is routine exercise and avoiding daytime naps and sleeping in front of the TV.

###

Prof. Zisapel is the past director of the Adams Brain Research Center at Tel Aviv University and is the Chief Scientific Officer of Neurim Pharmaceuticals, a company commercializing the technology and licensing it from Ramot, the technology transfer arm of Tel Aviv University. The new drug is currently available in Europe, and is expected to be in the United States by next year.

American Friends of Tel Aviv University (aftau/) supports Israel’s largest and most comprehensive center of higher learning. It is ranked among the world’s top 100 universities in science, biomedical studies, and social science, and rated one of the world’s top 200 universities overall. Internationally recognized for the scope and groundbreaking nature of its research programs, Tel Aviv University consistently produces work with profound implications for the future.

Source: George Hunka

American Friends of Tel Aviv University

Riders across the country will take to the streets on Friday, May 15 in celebration of National Bike to Work Day. In support of their efforts and enthusiasm, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) offers tips for reducing the risk of bicycle-related injury through proper bike fit.

APTA member Erik Moen, PT, CSCS, a Seattle-based “Elite Level” coach through the United States Cycling Federation, says, “The first thing I ask of any patient complaining of bicycling-related pain is to bring the bicycle in to check for a proper fit. In most instances, a poor bike fit is the root of their problem.”

Moen, who races on the road in cyclocross and in a cycling arena called a velodrome, says that the most common bike fit errors include saddle heights that are either too high or too low, handlebar reach that is either too long or too short, and misalignments of the pedal and shoe. He recommends cyclists do the following to ensure proper bike fit:

Seat/Saddle. Be sure the seat, or saddle, is level. If you are sliding too far forward from a forward-tilting saddle then too much weight is being placed on your hands, arms, and lower back. If the seat is tilted backwards then you may place undue strain on your lower back and possibly experience saddle-related pain. A physical therapist can measure proper saddle height by measuring knee angle at the most extended position of the knee in common pedaling.

The saddle should also be a comfortable distance from the handlebars. If it is too close then extra weight will be placed on the mid-back and arms; too far away and extra strain will be placed on the lower back and neck.

Handlebars. Handlebar position will affect hand, shoulder, neck, and back comfort. The higher the handlebars, the more weight will be placed on the saddle. Generally, taller riders should have lower handlebars in relation to the height of the saddle. According to Moen, “Proper handlebar position allows for shoulders to roughly make a 90 degree angle between the humerus and trunk.” Trunk angle for the road bike cyclist is 25-35 degrees and for comfort/recreational riding is 35-90 degrees. Moen notes that riders should re-examine their bicycle fit after bad falls or crashes, due to possible re-orientation of handlebars, brakehoods, cleats, or the saddle.

Knee to Pedal. A physical therapist can also measure the angle of the knee to the pedal. The closer the angle is to 35 degrees, the better function the cyclist will have and with less stress on the knee. For the road cyclist, the angle should be 30-35 degrees. The recreational cyclist should have a 35-45 degree angle.

Foot to Pedal. The ball of the foot should be positioned over the pedal spindle for the best leverage, comfort, and efficiency, Moen notes. A stiff-soled shoe is best for comfort and performance.

“Pedaling is a skilled activity that requires aerobic conditioning,” Moen says. “You should make it your goal to work toward pedaling at 80-90 revolutions per minute (advanced at 90-105 rpm). Pedaling at this rate will lessen your chance of injury.”

Physical Condition

“Good flexibility of the hamstrings, quadriceps, and gluteal muscles is crucial because these muscles generate the majority of the pedaling force and must ideally move through the pedal-stroke at 80-90 revolutions per minute.” He adds, “Proper stretching, balance, and flexibility exercises help with coordination of cycling-related skills such as breaking and cornering.” Moen also cautions that changes in riders’ strength and flexibility affect the ability to attain certain positions on the bicycle and also may require them to re-examine their bike fit.

Moen points to bicycle accessories on the market-such as softer handlebar tape, shock absorbers for the seat post and front fork, cut-out saddles, and wider tires-that help to bring comfort to the sport. “Cycling should be about enjoyment, not pain,” concludes Moen. “Proper bicycle fit will minimize discomfort and possible overuse injury, maximize economy, and ensure safe bicycle operation. Proper bicycle fit will make your ride a lot more pleasurable.”

Tips for avoiding bike-related injuries follow this press release. APTA’s online brochure, “Bike Right, Bike Fit” can be found in the “consumer tips” section of APTA’s consumer Web site, moveforwardpt.

APTA’s Tips For Avoiding Bike Fit Related Injuries

Postural Tips

- Change hand position on the handlebars frequently for upper body comfort.
- Keep a controlled but relaxed grip of the handlebars.
- When pedaling, your knee should be slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Avoid rocking your hips while pedaling.

Common Bicycling Pains

- Anterior (Front) Knee Pain. Possible causes are having a saddle that is too low, pedaling at a low cadence (speed), using your quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals, and muscle imbalance in your legs (strong quadriceps and weak hamstrings).

- Neck Pain. Possible causes include poor handlebar or saddle position. A poorly placed handlebar might be too low, at too great a reach, or at too short a reach. A saddle with excessive downward tilt can be a source of neck pain.

- Lower Back Pain. Possible causes include inflexible hamstrings, low cadence,using your quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, poor back strength, and too long or too-low handlebars.

- Hamstring Tendinitis. Possible causes are inflexible hamstrings, high saddle, misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals, and poor hamstring strength.

- Hand Numbness or Pain. Possible causes are short-reach handlebars, poorly placed brake levers, and a downward tilt of the saddle.

- Foot Numbness or Pain. Possible causes are using quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, low cadence, faulty foot mechanics, and misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals.

- Ilio-Tibial Band Tendinitis. Possible causes are too-high saddle, leg length difference, and misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals.

Physical therapists are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility – in many cases without expensive surgery or the side effects of prescription medications. APTA represents more than 72,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy nationwide. Its purpose is to improve the health and quality of life of individuals through the advancement of physical therapist practice, education, and research. In most states, patients can make an appointment directly with a physical therapist, without a physician referral. Learn more about conditions physical therapists can treat and find a physical therapist in your area at moveforwardpt

Source
American Physical Therapy Association

The University of Utah Genetic Science Learning Center Web sites that have brought millions of viewers fascinating animations of the size and scale of cells, drug-addicted mice, and other captivating lessons in genetics, have been honored by the journal Science with the first Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE) Award.

The Web sites, one for students and others to learn about genetics (learn.genetics.utah.edu/) and another for science teachers (teach.genetics.utah.edu), provide information about everything from DNA to stem cells to the genetics of drug addiction in a way that is understandable, relevant, and entertaining. The Web sites were nominated for the SPORE Award by high school science teachers from various areas of the country. After two rounds of judging against other Web sites, the Genetic Science Learning Center’s sites were chosen as the winners.

Louisa A. Stark, Ph.D., director of the Genetic Science Learning Center, said receiving the first SPORE Award is a special honor, made even more so because the Web sites were nominated by teachers. “They are the gatekeepers to the classroom, so we’re very honored when they say our Web sites are worthy of this award.”

In an essay published Jan. 22 in Science, Stark and the center’s associate director Kevin Pompei, say the explosion in genetic knowledge has led to advancements in personalized medicine, stem cell treatments, and genetic testing. But these advancements mean the public must be prepared to make informed decisions regarding genomic-related health care, research, and even genetically modified foods. “Our goal in developing these Web sites has been to make genetics and genomics easy for everyone to understand,” they write.

Stark and Pompei were asked to pen the essay to describe the vision and philosophy that drive the Web sites’ content.

Science is published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which was founded in 1848 and is the world’s largest general scientific society. Monica Bradford, executive editor of Science, said the journal was “thrilled with the quality of educational resources” developed by the Genetic Science Learning Center staff.

The Genetic Science Learning Center Web sites have been honored before. In 2003 and 2004 Scientific American named the center’s main Web site, learn.genetics.utah.edu, one of the top 50 Internet sites.

This past fall, an interactive animation on the center’s Web sites, “Cell Size and Scale,” went viral on the Internet, generating 270 hits a second and becoming linked to more than 20,000 other Web sites. The animation features a zoom function that allows viewers to see the relative size of things ranging from a coffee bean to the flu virus to a carbon atom. At one point, the animation was receiving more hits than the Facebook homepage.

Another feature of the Web sites, “Using Family History to Improve Health,” was featured in the Gene Screen movie festival sponsored by the Genetic Alliance, an international advocacy group committed to transforming health through genetics, according to the groups’ Web site.

The Genetic Science Learning Center is part of the U of U’s Department of Human Genetics. Department chair Lynn B. Jorde, Ph.D., lauded Stark and her staff for bringing credit to the University and the center. “It’s very important that we educate the general public about human genetics and about science in general,” Jorde said. “Louisa Stark and the Genetic Science Learning Center staff are internationally recognized leaders in this effort. This award is very well deserved.”

The center has a staff of 12, who have a unique combination of science degrees, elementary- and secondary-level teaching experience, and technology expertise. All of the Web sites’ features are produced in-house. In designing the sites, the center draws on science teachers from inner city, rural, and urban areas nationwide.

Currently, more than 1 million visitors a month are visiting the Web sites’ 500 pages, according to Stark. This translates to more than 50,000 visitors per day and 250,000 page views on peak days.

Source:
Phil Sahm
University of Utah Health Sciences

Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson has launched a dual private and public blood bank of umbilical cord blood as a source
of stem cells to help treat donors or their families and other people who might need it.

Sir Richard said in a BBC radio interview earlier today that he got the idea for the project a number of years ago when he was visited by a senior director
of the National Blood Centre asking for his support in a charitable role because children were dying through lack of umbilical cord blood.

Initially Sir Richard offered 3 million pounds to the National Health Service to help them increase their storage capacity for umbilical cord blood, but this
was not something the NHS was comfortable with, accepting funds from private sources. So Sir Richard decided to set up a company to do the job.

On the BBC Radio 4 programme Sir Richard outlined his plan to set up a commercial enterprise within the Virgin group of companies to store and sell cord
blood. He said that the profits of the company would go to a charity to be set up to help groups, particularly ethnic minorities, who have difficulty
sourcing cord blood because there are not enough samples that match them.

Other companies are already offering cord blood storage on a commercial basis, and thousands of UK couples have used them. The cost of storing a batch of
cord blood is in the range of 1,500 pounds.

The Virgin scheme however would be unique because “we will take an individual’s cord blood and we will divide it in two,” said Sir Richard, and added that
“part of it will go into a national blood centre that anybody can get access to. And the other half will be put aside for the child.”

Cord blood, which is “harvested” just after the baby is born, is a rich source of stem cells which can be used to treat serious and life threatening diseases
such as leukaemia.

Some experts are predicting that storage of stem cells in this way could one day help treat the donor, or close matched patients, for degenerative diseases that they
might suffer from much later in their lives such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Some people are saying that while the idea of collecting cord blood is a worthwhile one and no-one wants to deny a person, especially a child, the
opportunity for life saving treatment, one also needs to take into account the practicalities of how to collect cord blood without interfering unduly with
the process of labour and giving birth.

Cord blood is collected in two ways. One way is while the placenta is still in the uterus just after the baby has been delivered (in-utero)
and the other way is just after the placenta has been delivered (ex-utero) where it is placed in a special cradle with the umbilical cord hanging down to
make it easy to withdraw the 75 centilitres or so of blood that is necessary for a viable sample.

The National Health Service currently takes about 2,000 donations a year from mothers who want to donate cord blood to help others.

Once treated as a waste product of birth, cord blood is now considered an important resource, and numbers of private and and public sector cord blood banks
have been increasing since the late 1990s, both in the UK and the US.

Cord blood transplants have successfully treated a number of blood and immune system diseases, for instance leukaemia and Fanconi’s anaemia, a rare genetic
disease associated with a range of bone growth disorders including short stature, tumours and bone marrow failure.

Virgin Health Bank

More information on Stem Cells (NIH, US)

American Association of Blood Banks

: Catharine Paddock
Writer: blog