Day: 12/09/2010

DNA not patentable

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In a spine-chilling announcement, the US Department of Justice in October said unmodified human DNA should not be eligible for patent. The department’s stance conflicts with the body of case law on the matter and a longstanding position held by the US Patent and Trademark Office, which has issued more than 10,000 of these patents. The Justice Department announced its position in response to a lawsuit involving patents on breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. A US district court in March declared the patents invalid, saying that the genes are products of nature rather than human-made inventions. Patent holders University of Utah and Myriad Genetics, based in Salt Lake City, appealed in June. In an amicus brief filed with the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals the Justice Department agreed that identifying and isolating DNA without further manipulation is not an invention, or patent eligible. How the agency’s declaration will influence justices and the patent office worries biotech companies. But the patent office isn’t easily swayed, says Thomas Kowalski, an attorney with Vedder Price in New York. “The patent office is not going to change what it’s doing in view of what the Department of Justice says,” he says. Besides, international agreements between the American, European and Japanese patent offices, known as Trilateral Co-operation, have concluded that unmodified DNA is patentable.

source: nature biotechnology

sezary syndrome

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Sézary syndrome (SS) has a poor prognosis and few guidelines for optimizing therapy. The US Cutaneous Lymphoma Consortium, to improve clinical care of patients with SS and encourage controlled clinical trials of promising treatments, undertook a review of the published literature on therapeutic options for SS. An overview of the immunopathogenesis and standardized review of potential current treatment options for SS including metabolism, mechanism of action, overall efficacy in mycosis fungoides and SS, and common or concerning adverse effects is first discussed. The specific efficacy of each treatment for SS, both as monotherapy and combination therapy, is then reported using standardized criteria for both SS and response to therapy with the type of study defined by a modification of the US Preventive Services guidelines for evidence-based medicine. Finally, guidelines for the treatment of SS and suggestions for adjuvant treatment are noted.

source: science direct

what is BPA?

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BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s.

In particular, BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles, and baby bottles and cups. They may also be used in toys and other consumer goods. Epoxy resins can be used to coat the inside of metal products, such as food cans, baby formula cans, bottle tops and water supply lines. Some dental sealants and composites also may contain BPA. And certain thermal paper products, such as cash register receipts, may contain BPA.

Some research has shown that BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers that are made with BPA or into your body when you handle products made with BPA. BPA remains controversial, and research studies are continuing. The American Chemistry Council, an association that represents plastics manufacturers, contends that BPA poses no risk to human health.

But the National Toxicology Program at the Department of Health and Human Services says it has “some concern” about the possible health effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. This level of concern is midway on its five-level scale, which ranges from serious to negligible. The Food and Drug Administration now shares this level of concern and is taking steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply by finding alternatives to BPA in food containers.

In the meantime, if you’re concerned about BPA, you can take steps to minimize your exposure by:

  • Seeking out BPA-free products. This may not always be easy to do, of course. Some manufacturers label their products as BPA-free. If a product isn’t labeled, keep in mind that most aluminum cans or bottles have linings that contain BPA, while steel bottles or cans don’t. Polycarbonate plastic is generally hard, clear, lightweight plastic. It often has the No. 7 recycling symbol on the bottom.
  • Microwave cautiously. The National Toxicology Program advises against microwaving polycarbonate plastics, although the American Chemistry Council says this is safe. The plastics can break down over time, possibly causing BPA to leach into food.
  • Wash safely. The National Toxicology Program advises against washing polycarbonate plastics in the dishwasher using harsh detergents, although the American Chemistry Council says this is safe.
  • Use alternatives. Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids instead of plastic containers.
  • Cut back on cans. Reduce your use of canned foods since many cans are lined with BPA-containing resin.

source: maya clininic housecall

Mycoplasmas in pregnancy

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The genital mycoplasmas have been implicated in a number of adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Spontaneous preterm labour and preterm birth is an important contributor to perinatal mortality and morbidity. If Mycoplasma hominis plays an integral part in this problem, it is likely to contribute through its involvement with bacterial vaginosis. Ureaplasmas induce cytokines and inflammation, making a casual association compelling. The role of Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma fermentans is less clear, but M. genitalium is potentially pathogenic and should be treated if detected. There is considerable evidence for the role of M. hominis in post-partum and post-abortal sepsis, and for ureaplasmas causing chronic lung disease or death in very low birthweight infants. The role of the genital mycoplasmas in adverse outcomes of pregnancy is complicated by the presence or absence of bacterial vaginosis, and this association requires further research.

source:BJOG