Health Research: Traditional dating abuse increases chances of cyber dating abuse ♦ Diaphragms grown from stem cells offer hope of a cure for common birth defect,

New diaphragms grown from stem cells offer hope of a cure for common birth defect, possibly future repairs of the heart New diaphragm tissue in rats has been successfully created in the lab using a mixture of stem cells and a 3D scaffold. When transplanted, it has regrown with the same complex mechanical properties of diaphragm muscle. The study offers hope of a cure for a common birth defect and possible future heart muscle repairs.

Involvement in traditional dating abuse increases chances of cyber dating abuse in teens Teens who are involved in dating abuse -- as either the perpetrator or the victim -- are more likely to also be involved in cyber dating abuse, research concludes. Further, teens who commit cyber dating violence against their partners are more likely to later be victimized by it and cyberviolence victims are more likely to later perpetrate this act

Oxytocin has different effects on stress in male and female mice Clinical trials are testing whether oxytocin, sometimes called the 'love hormone' for its role in intimacy and social bonding, has potential as a treatment for anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. New research by behavioral neuroscientists suggests oxytocin may have different effects in men and women -- and in certain circumstances the hormone may actually trigger anxiety

Mitochondria affect stress responses Mitochondria, the tiny structures inside our cells that generate energy, may also play a previously unrecognized role in mind-body interactions. This insight may have broad implications for human psychology and for the biology of psychiatric and neurological diseases

Brain Research Bacterial protein can help convert stem cells into neurons ♦ Yin and yang of serotonin neurons in mood regulation ♦ Nanocarriers may carry new hope for brain cancer therapy

Nanocarriers may carry new hope for brain cancer therapy A new family of nanocarriers, called '3HM,' has been developed and meets all the size and stability requirements for effectively delivering therapeutic drugs to the brain for the treatment of a deadly form of cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme.

Yin and yang of serotonin neurons in mood regulation Low levels of serotonin in the brain are known to play a role in depression and anxiety, and it is customary to treat these disorders with medications that increase the amount of this neurotransmitter. It appears that neighboring serotonin-producing brainstem regions exert different and sometimes opposing effects on behavior.

Bacterial protein can help convert stem cells into neurons As the recipe book for turning stem cells into other types of cells keeps growing larger, the search for the perfect, therapeutically relevant blend of differentiation factors is revealing some interesting biology. A protein in E. coli bacteria combined with small molecules can act synergistically to push pluripotent cells into functional neurons.

How exercise may energize brain cell function: As we age or develop neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, our brain cells may not produce sufficient energy to remain fully functional. Researchers have discovered that an enzyme called SIRT3 that is located in mitochondria — the cell's powerhouse — may protect mice brains against the kinds of stresses believed to contribute to energy loss. Furthermore, mice that ran on a wheel increased their levels of this protective enzyme.

Health News: Poisonous candies tested positive for 12 germs that cause food poisoning ♦ Stem cells move one step closer to cure for genetic diseases

Poisonous candies tested positive for 12 germs that cause food poisoning In most cases of food poisoning, a microbe in something you ate (or a pathogen that goes from your hand to your mouth) irritates your stomach and intestines—and the consequences aren't pretty, with symptoms that range from a mildly upset tummy to vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Even though the United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world, one in six people

Clinical pathway uncovers obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients A multidisciplinary group of researchers and physicians has created a clinical pathway to identify obstructive sleep apnea in higher-risk, hospitalized patients.

Stem cells move one step closer to cure for genetic diseases Scientists have created mutation-free lines of stem cells from human patients with mitochondrial diseases.

Hydraulic fracturing linked to increases in hospitalization rates in the Marcellus Shale Hospitalizations for heart conditions, neurological illness, and other conditions were higher among people who live near unconventional gas and oil drilling (hydraulic fracturing), according to new research. Over the past ten years in the United States, hydraulic fracturing has experienced a meteoric increase. Due to substantial increases in well drilling, potential for air and water pollution posing a health threat has been a concern for nearby residents.

Vision-restoring gene therapy also strengthens visual processing pathways in brain Since 2007, clinical trials using gene therapy have resulted in often-dramatic sight restoration for dozens of children and adults who were otherwise doomed to blindness. Now, researchers have found evidence that this sight restoration leads to strengthening of visual pathways in the brain.

Health Research: Stem cells provide lasting pain relief in mice ♦ New compounds may treat depression rapidly with few side effects ♦ Skin cancer marker plays critical role in tumor growth

Elective surgery is associated with lower risk of death than drugs for ulcerative colitis treatment

Patients over 50 with ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic disease of the colon, who undergo surgery to treat their condition live longer than those who are treated with medications.

Stem cells provide lasting pain relief in mice

Researchers have identified a promising stem cell based-therapy to address the chronic pain that affects more than one-third of the US adult population. In mice, bone marrow stromal cells were found to provide lasting relief for chronic pain caused by nerve damage. The findings also may advance cell-based therapies in chronic pain conditions, lower back pain and spinal cord injuries.

New compounds may treat depression rapidly with few side effects

A new study has identified promising compounds that could successfully treat depression in less than 24 hours with few side effects. The compounds could offer significant advantages over current antidepressant medications.

Skin cancer marker plays critical role in tumor growth

The protein keratin 17 -- the presence of which is used in the lab to detect and stage various types of cancers -- is not just a biomarker for the disease, but may play a critical role in tumor growth, scientists suggest.

New surgical technique preserves kidney function following tumor removal

Renal cell carcinomas are one of the most common types of cancer. In order to preserve its wide range of functions, every effort is made not to remove the entire kidney, but rather just a portion of it. A surgical method that preserves long-term renal function has now been carried out successfully.

Pulmonary Research:So what exactly is in the air that we breathe? ♦ Stem cells might heal damaged lungs ♦ How the lung repairs its wounds

New program using CT technology helping doctors better detect lung cancer Long-time smokers and past smokers now have a more accurate way of detecting whether or not they have lung cancer thanks to a comprehensive lung cancer screening program that uses CT scan technology

So what exactly is in the air that we breathe? We can’t see them, but the air that we breathe contains a wealth of biological particles which could damage our health. Scientists have embarked on a three-year project to find new ways of analyzing air samples more quickly and accurately than ever before. The methods developed from the research will offer guidance for addressing public health or major infection outbreaks.

Stem cells might heal damaged lungs Collectively, such diseases of the airways as emphysema, bronchitis, asthma and cystic fibrosis are the second leading cause of death worldwide. More than 35 million Americans alone suffer from chronic respiratory disease. Scientists have now proposed a new direction that could, in the future, lead to the development of a method for alleviating some of their suffering. The study's findings show how it might be possible to use embryonic stem cells to repair damaged lung tissue.

How the lung repairs its wounds Our lungs are permanently exposed to harmful environmental factors that can damage or even destroy their cells. In a specific regenerative process these injured cells must be replaced as soon as possible. Scientists have now, for the first time, gained detailed insights into the dynamic remodeling of the tissue during lung repair.

Health News:Implantable 'artificial pancreas' ♦ Heart transplant using experimental artificial heart ♦ Electrical nerve stimulation can reverse spinal cord injury

Implantable 'artificial pancreas' could help diabetes patients control their blood sugar Living with Type 1 diabetes requires constant monitoring of blood sugar levels and injecting insulin daily. The development of an implantable "artificial pancreas" that continuously measures a person's blood sugar, or glucose, level and can automatically release insulin as needed.

Successful heart transplant after using experimental artificial heart A 44-year-old woman has received a successful heart transplant, thanks to an experimental Total Artificial Heart designed for smaller patients. The patient is the first person in California to receive the smaller Total Artificial Heart, and the first patient in the world with the device to be bridged to a successful heart transplant.

Regenerative medicine biologists discover a cellular structure that explains fate of stem cells Researchers have found a previously unidentified mechanism that helps explain why stem cells undergo self-renewing divisions but their offspring do not.

Humans evolved to be taller and faster-thinking People have evolved to be smarter and taller than their predecessors, a study of populations around the world suggests.

Electrical nerve stimulation can reverse spinal cord injury nerve damage in patients Researchers find that nerve stimulation can improve the function of peripheral nerves damaged by spinal cord injury (SCI). This technique may be a new approach to preventing long-term changes in nerve and muscle function after SCI and improving SCI rehabilitation outcomes.

Health Research: Medication may stop drug, alcohol addiction ♦ Got acne? Lay off the B 12 ♦ Diabetic blindness: Best source of stem cells to block vision loss

Medication may stop drug, alcohol addiction Researchers have successfully stopped cocaine and alcohol addiction in experiments using a drug already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat high blood pressure.

Nearly half of Hispanics unaware they have high cholesterol; less than a third treated About half of Hispanics were not aware that they had high cholesterol, a study has shown. Of those who were aware, less than a third were treated. Younger adults, women, the uninsured, those with lower income, and more recent immigrants were less likely to have their high cholesterol controlled.

Got acne? Lay off the B12 Vitamin B12 tweaks how genes behave in the facial bacteria of some people who normally enjoy clear skin, leading to pimples.

Diabetic blindness: Best source of stem cells to block vision loss Stem cells taken from donors are more likely to be more effective at battling diabetic retinopathy than cells taken from patients' own bodies. The work is a critical step toward the goal of injecting stem cells into patients' eyes to stop or even reverse the vision loss.

Future physicians more inclined to embrace genomic medicine than practicing physicians Medical students showed a greater acceptance of using approaches in genomic medicine, a key element in the practice of precision medicine, to treat patients as compared to physicians currently in practice.

Health Research:High risk of sleep apnea in young veterans with PTSD ♦ Stem cells may improve bone healing in diabetics ♦ Printing 3D graphene structures for tissue engineering

Human stem cells may improve bone healing in diabetics Adding stem cells from human bone marrow to a broken diabetic bone enhances the repair process, increasing the strength of the newly formed bone. The work could potentially lead to more effective treatments for broken bones.

High risk of sleep apnea in young veterans with PTSD The probability of having a high risk of obstructive sleep apnea increased with increasing severity of PTSD, a new study of young US veterans shows. The study involved 195 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who visited a Veterans' Affairs outpatient PTSD clinic for evaluation. Results show that 69.2 % had a high risk for sleep apnea, and this risk increased with PTSD symptom

How will astronauts keep in shape for extended periods? Run far or run fast? That is one of the questions NASA is trying to answer with one of its latest studies -- and the answers may help keep us in shape on Earth, as well as in space. Even with regular exercise, astronauts who spend an extended period of time in space experience muscle weakening, bone loss, and decreased cardiovascular conditioning.

Printing 3D graphene structures for tissue engineering . With its high electrical conductivity, ability to store energy, and ultra-strong and lightweight structure, graphene has potential for many applications in medicine. Now a new ink formulation has been created that allows for the 3-D printing of large, robust graphene structures with unique mechanical and biological properties

Research boosts evidence for a new class of treatments to help preserve vision A substantial percentage of patients with diabetic macular edema do not have high levels of the VEGF protein in the fluid inside their eyes but do have high levels of a protein called PKal (plasma kallikrein) and associated molecules that are key players in an inflammatory molecular pathway involved in the disease, research concludes. This finding could lead to a new class of treatments to help preserve vision.

Health News: Trading away our food safety ♦ Bacteria the newest tool in detecting environmental damage ♦ Cause of regression in individuals with down syndrome identified Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal disorder in America, can be complicated b

Trading away our food safety Although there is heated debate about the fate of fast track—or Trade Promotion Authority—and the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a little-discussed aspect is how trade pacts affect the food we eat, and the food we feed our children. That’s why many concerned citizens and government leaders such as Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) are calling for more transparency

Scientists regenerate bone tissue using only proteins secreted by stem cells Scientists have discovered a way to regrow bone tissue using the protein signals produced by stem cells. This technology could help treat victims who have experienced major trauma to a limb, like soldiers wounded in combat or casualties of a natural disaster. The new method improves on older therapies by providing a sustainable source for fresh tissue and reducing the risk of tumor formation that can arise with stem cell transplants.

New device provides chikungunya test results in an hour Health workers now have a quick way to detect the presence of the chikungunya (CHIKV) virus within an hour, rather than waiting for results of laboratory tests that take days, or even weeks, scientists report.

Bacteria the newest tool in detecting environmental damage A method of using bacteria to help test for the presence of a wide array of pollutants has been developed. The scientists say that their method may potentially be used for everything from well water testing to seaside construction purposes

Cause of regression in individuals with down syndrome identified Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal disorder in America, can be complicated by significant deterioration in movement, speech and functioning in some adolescents and young adults. Physicians previously attributed this regression to depression or early-onset Alzheimer's, and it has not responded to treatments. Now, a researcher has found that Catatonia may cause regression in patients with Down syndrome. Individuals with regressive Down syndrome who were treated for Catatonia showed improvement

Drugs that activate brain stem cells may reverse multiple sclerosis

Two drugs already on the market — an antifungal and a steroid — may potentially take on new roles as treatments for multiple sclerosis. According to a study published in Nature today, researchers discovered that these drugs may activate stem cells in the brain to stimulate myelin producing cells and repair white matter, which is damaged in multiple sclerosis.

An artist’s representation of the study. Scientists found that certain drugs were able to promote remyelination in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Image courtesy of Case Western Reserve University; Illustrator: Megan Kern

Specialized cells called oligodendrocytes lay down multiple layers of a fatty white substance known as myelin around axons, the long “wires” that connect brain cells. Myelin acts as an insulator and enables fast communication between brain cells. In multiple sclerosis there is breakdown of myelin and this deterioration leads to muscle weakness, numbness and problems with vision, coordination and balance.

“To replace damaged cells, the scientific field has focused on direct transplantation of stem cell-derived tissues for regenerative medicine, and that approach is likely to provide enormous benefit down the road. We asked if we could find a faster and less invasive approach by using drugs to activate native nervous system stem cells and direct them to form new myelin. Our ultimate goal was to enhance the body’s ability to repair itself,” said Paul J. Tesar, Ph.D., associate professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, and senior author of the study.

It is unknown how myelin-producing cells are damaged, but research suggests they may be targeted by malfunctioning immune cells and that multiple sclerosis may start as an autoimmune disorder. Current therapies for multiple sclerosis include anti-inflammatory drugs, which help prevent the episodic relapses common in multiple sclerosis, but are less effective at preventing long-term disability. Scientists believe that therapies that promote myelin repair might improve neurologic disability in people with multiple sclerosis.    

Adult brains contain oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), which are stem cells that generate myelin-producing cells. OPCs are found to multiply in the brains of multiple sclerosis patients as if to respond to myelin damage, but for unknown reasons they are not effective in restoring white matter. In the current study, Dr. Tesar wanted to see if drugs already approved for other uses were able to stimulate OPCs to increase myelination.   

OPCs have been difficult to isolate and study, but Dr. Tesar and his colleagues, in collaboration with Robert Miller, Ph.D., professor at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., developed a novel method to investigate these cells in a petri dish. Using this technique, they were able to quickly test the effects of hundreds of drugs on the stem cells.

The compounds screened in this study were obtained from a drug library maintained by NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). All are approved for use in humans. NCATS and Dr. Tesar have an ongoing collaboration and plan to expand the library of drugs screened against OPCs in the near future to identify other promising compounds.

Dr. Tesar’s team found that two compounds in particular, miconazole (an antifungal) and clobetasol (a steroid), stimulated mouse and human OPCs into generating myelin-producing cells.

Next, they examined whether the drugs, when injected into a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, could improve re-myelination. They found that both drugs were effective in activating OPCs to enhance myelination and reverse paralysis. As a result, almost all of the animals regained the use of their hind limbs. They also found that the drugs acted through two very different molecular mechanisms.

“The ability to activate white matter cells in the brain, as shown in this study, opens up an exciting new avenue of therapy development for myelin disorders such as multiple sclerosis,” said Ursula Utz, Ph.D., program director at the NINDS.

Dr. Tesar and his colleagues caution that more research is needed before miconazole and clobetasol can be tested in multiple sclerosis clinical trials. They are currently approved for use as creams or powders on the surfaces of the body but their safety administered in other forms, such as injections, in humans is unknown.

“Off-label use of the current forms of these drugs is more likely to increase other health concerns than alleviate multiple sclerosis symptoms. We are working tirelessly to ready a safe and effective drug for clinical use,” Dr. Tesar

Health News: Why did Gov’t OK notorious Monsanto pesticide ♦ Critics call White House antibiotic resistance inadequate ♦ Nearly 100 people sickened after banquet

Why did Gov’t give big thumbs up to notorious Monsanto pesticide  The World Health Organization, the U.N.'s public health agency, said on Friday that glyphosate, an herbicide widely used on genetically modified crops such as corn and soybeans, The report presents the findings of 17 biochemists, 

Arrowhead, Kauffman stadiums’ food service fires manager who complained about dirty conditions  A food safety manager at Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums in Kansas City says he was fired after complaining about dirty conditions.

Critics call White House Antibiotic resistance action plan a missed opportunity The White House released its National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria on Friday, but some critics say it doesn’t do enough to tackle antibiotic use on farms. Antibiotic resistance causes tens of thousands of deaths and millions of illnesses every year

Nearly 100 people sickened after attending Philadelphia banquet  Dozens of lawyers and law students fell ill after attending a Feb. 27 banquet in Philadelphia, and the incident is now a suspected foodborne illness outbreak, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The restaurant, Joy Tsin Lau, a dim-sum hotspot, reportedly has..

Stem cells may improve tendon healing, reduce retear risk in rotator cuff surgery An injection of a patient's bone marrow stem cells during rotator cuff surgery significantly improved healing and tendon durability, according to a new study

2/14/15 Health News: Superbug challenges health care system--Antibiotics give rise to harmful bacteria--Vitamin D deficiency linked diabetes--Interventions lower diabetes risk in women

Superbug presents challenge to health care systems. The Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte reported a total of 18 cases of the carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) bacteria in 2015, which included one death from the superbug. Health officials have stated that the bacteria, which is spread through contaminated equipment and human contact, is now in 42 States in the U.S. Source: Continue Reading

Antibiotics give rise to new communities of harmful bacteria  Most people have taken an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection. Now researchers reveal that the way we often think about antibiotics -- as straightforward killing machines -- needs to be revised. Continue Reading

Wisdom teeth stem cells can transform into cells that could treat corneal scarring Stem Cells from the dental pulp of wisdom teeth can be coaxed to become cells of the eye's cornea and could one day be used to repair corneal scarring due to infection or injur. The findings indicate they also could become a new source of corneal transplant tissue made from the patient's own cells Continue Reading

Vitamin D deficiency linked more closely to diabetes than obesity  People who have low levels of vitamin D are more likely to have diabetes, regardless of how much they weigh, according to a new study. The skin naturally produces this vitamin after exposure to sunlight. People also absorb smaller amounts of the vitamin through foods, such as milk fortified with vitamin D. More than 1 billion people worldwide are estimated to have deficient levels of vitamin D due to limited sunshine exposure Continue Reading

Interventions lower diabetes risk in women who had gestational diabetes  Women with a history of gestational diabetes face a heightened risk of developing Type 2 diabetes for years after giving birth, but intensive lifestyle intervention or a medication regimen can have a protective effect in this population, according to a new study Continue Reading

Unexpected role for stem cells in the brain

NIH scientists find that restocking new cells in the brain’s center for smell maintains crucial circuitry

For decades, scientists thought that neurons in the brain were born only during the early development period and could not be replenished.  More recently, however, they discovered cells with the ability to divide and turn into new neurons in specific brain regions. The function of these neural progenitor cells remains an intense area of research. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that newly formed brain cells in the mouse olfactory system — the area that processes smells — play a critical role in maintaining proper connections. The results were published in the October 8 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

“This is a surprising new role for brain stem cells and changes the way we view them,” said Leonardo Belluscio, Ph.D., a scientist at NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and lead author of the study.

The olfactory bulb is located in the front of the brain and receives information directly from the nose about odors in the environment. Neurons in the olfactory bulb sort that information and relay the signals to the rest of the brain, at which point we become aware of the smells we are experiencing. Olfactory loss is often an early symptom in a variety of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

In a process known as neurogenesis, adult-born neural progenitor cells are generated in the subventricular zone deep in the brain and migrate to the olfactory bulb where they assume their final positions. Once in place, they form connections with existing cells and are incorporated into the circuitry.

Dr. Belluscio, who studies the olfactory system, teamed up with Heather Cameron, Ph.D., a neurogenesis researcher at the NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health, to better understand how the continuous addition of new neurons influences the circuit organization of the olfactory bulb. Using two types of specially engineered mice, they were able to specifically target and eliminate the stem cells that give rise to these new neurons in adults, while leaving other olfactory bulb cells intact. This level of specificity had not been achieved previously.    

In the first set of mouse experiments, Dr. Belluscio’s team first disrupted the organization of olfactory bulb circuits by temporarily plugging a nostril in the animals, to block olfactory sensory information from entering the brain. His lab previously showed that this form of sensory deprivation causes certain projections within the olfactory bulb to dramatically spread out and lose the precise pattern of connections that show under normal conditions. These studies also showed that this widespread disrupted circuitry could re-organize itself and restore its original precision once the sensory deprivation was reversed.

However, in the current study, Dr. Belluscio’s lab reveals that once the nose is unblocked, if new neurons are prevented from forming and entering the olfactory bulb, the circuits remain in disarray. “We found that without the introduction of the new neurons, the system could not recover from its disrupted state,” said Dr. Belluscio.

To further explore this idea, his team also eliminated the formation of adult-born neurons in mice that did not experience sensory deprivation. They found that the olfactory bulb organization began to break down, resembling the pattern seen in animals blocked from receiving sensory information from the nose. And they observed a relationship between the extent of stem cell loss and amount of circuitry disruption, indicating that a greater loss of stem cells led to a larger degree of disorganization in the olfactory bulb.

According to Dr. Belluscio, it is generally assumed that the circuits of the adult brain are quite stable and that introducing new neurons alters the existing circuitry, causing it to re-organize. “However, in this case, the circuitry appears to be inherently unstable requiring a constant supply of new neurons not only to recover its organization following disruption but also to maintain or stabilize its mature structure. It’s actually quite amazing that despite the continuous replacement of cells within this olfactory bulb circuit, under normal circumstances its organization does not change,” he said.

Dr. Belluscio and his colleagues speculate that new neurons in the olfactory bulb may be important to maintain or accommodate the activity-dependent changes in the system, which could help animals adapt to a constantly varying environment.

“It’s very exciting to find that new neurons affect the precise connections between neurons in the olfactory bulb. Because new neurons throughout the brain share many features, it seems likely that neurogenesis in other regions, such as the hippocampus, which is involved in memory, also produce similar changes in connectivity,” said Dr. Cameron.

The underlying basis of the connection between neurological disease and changes in the olfactory system is also unknown but may come from a better understanding of how the sense of smell works. “This is an exciting area of science,” said Dr. Belluscio, “I believe the olfactory system is very sensitive to changes in neural activity and given its connection to other brain regions, it could lend insight into the relationship between olfactory loss and many brain disorders.”

Laser Therapy Prompts Regeneration in Teeth

A small dose of low-power laser light activated dental stem cells in rat molars to generate dentin, one of the major components of teeth. The finding may lead to new approaches to develop low-cost, non-invasive therapies for treating dental disease and tooth damage.

Twelve weeks after the low-power laser treatment, more newly formed dentin, marked by yellow hashtags (#), can be seen in the laser-treated teeth (bottom) than in the controls (top). Credit: Harvard's Wyss Institute and SEAS.

Dentists currently use inert materials to repair damaged teeth. Tissue regeneration would be an attractive alternative, because inert materials can fail with time and don’t provide the full function of the tissue. Stimulating regeneration of teeth, however, is a major challenge. Teeth are composed of several parts, including the pulp at the core, dentin in the middle, and enamel on the surface.

Stem cells, found throughout the body, can give rise to specialized cells. Researchers have been able to coax stem cells to transform (differentiate) into many types of cells in the laboratory before infusing them into the body. But these techniques are time consuming and can bring unwanted side effects.

Low-power laser (LPL) therapy has been used to treat inflammation and pain, and to stimulate wound healing, skin rejuvenation, and hair growth. LPL treatment has been noted to promote regeneration in cardiac, lung, and nerve tissues. These regenerative effects may be mediated through stem cells, but a direct link between laser treatment and stem cell biology hadn’t been clearly demonstrated.

A research team led by Dr. Praveen Arany of NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and Dr. David Mooney at Harvard University set out to investigate whether LPL can induce stem cells to regenerate components in teeth. The work was funded in part by NIDCR and other NIH components. Results appeared on May 28, 2014, in Science Translational Medicine.

The scientists first studied rats that had cavities in 2 molars, each with exposed tooth pulp (the soft inner part of the tooth). One tooth was treated with LPL, and the other wasn’t. Both damaged sites were then filled. The researchers found that dentin was induced in the LPL-treated molar after 12 weeks.

The team used laboratory cell lines to investigate how LPL induced dentin. They found that LPL treatment generated a type of molecule known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS stimulated dentin production by activating transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), a signaling protein that can promote dental stem cell differentiation.

The researchers also showed that LPL induced adult human dental stem cells to form dentin in the laboratory. Taken together, these results suggest that LPL might be used to direct stem cells in human teeth to regenerate dentin. Effective surgical techniques and optical focusing approaches would first need to be developed for the use of this treatment in people, however.

“Our treatment modality does not introduce anything new to the body, and lasers are routinely used in medicine and dentistry, so the barriers to clinical translation are low,” Mooney says. “It would be a substantial advance in the field if we can regenerate teeth rather than replace them.”

A small dose of low-power laser light activated dental stem cells in rat molars to generate dentin, one of the major components of teeth. The finding may lead to new approaches to develop low-cost, non-invasive therapies for treating dental disease and tooth damage.

Twelve weeks after the low-power laser treatment, more newly formed dentin, marked by yellow hashtags (#), can be seen in the laser-treated teeth (bottom) than in the controls (top). Credit: Harvard's Wyss Institute and SEAS.

Dentists currently use inert materials to repair damaged teeth. Tissue regeneration would be an attractive alternative, because inert materials can fail with time and don’t provide the full function of the tissue. Stimulating regeneration of teeth, however, is a major challenge. Teeth are composed of several parts, including the pulp at the core, dentin in the middle, and enamel on the surface.

Stem cells, found throughout the body, can give rise to specialized cells. Researchers have been able to coax stem cells to transform (differentiate) into many types of cells in the laboratory before infusing them into the body. But these techniques are time consuming and can bring unwanted side effects.

Low-power laser (LPL) therapy has been used to treat inflammation and pain, and to stimulate wound healing, skin rejuvenation, and hair growth. LPL treatment has been noted to promote regeneration in cardiac, lung, and nerve tissues. These regenerative effects may be mediated through stem cells, but a direct link between laser treatment and stem cell biology hadn’t been clearly demonstrated.

A research team led by Dr. Praveen Arany of NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and Dr. David Mooney at Harvard University set out to investigate whether LPL can induce stem cells to regenerate components in teeth. The work was funded in part by NIDCR and other NIH components. Results appeared on May 28, 2014, in Science Translational Medicine.

The scientists first studied rats that had cavities in 2 molars, each with exposed tooth pulp (the soft inner part of the tooth). One tooth was treated with LPL, and the other wasn’t. Both damaged sites were then filled. The researchers found that dentin was induced in the LPL-treated molar after 12 weeks.

The team used laboratory cell lines to investigate how LPL induced dentin. They found that LPL treatment generated a type of molecule known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS stimulated dentin production by activating transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), a signaling protein that can promote dental stem cell differentiation.

The researchers also showed that LPL induced adult human dental stem cells to form dentin in the laboratory. Taken together, these results suggest that LPL might be used to direct stem cells in human teeth to regenerate dentin. Effective surgical techniques and optical focusing approaches would first need to be developed for the use of this treatment in people, however.

“Our treatment modality does not introduce anything new to the body, and lasers are routinely used in medicine and dentistry, so the barriers to clinical translation are low,” Mooney says. “It would be a substantial advance in the field if we can regenerate teeth rather than replace them.”

4/14/2014 Health News: Fed Up with Our Dysfunctional Food System ♦ Lethal Virus Spreads ♦ Cancer and Heart Disease Associated With Vitamin D ♦ Running 'May Preserve Thinking Skills

Fed Up with Our Dysfunctional Food System

Americans consume more processed and packaged food than just about anyone else in the world. Processed foods, many of which contain added sugar, preservatives, and chemical additives, are hard-wired into our food system, and make up the majority of the American diet. In her upcoming documentary, Fed Up, co-producer Laurie David explores the roots and consequences of this diet, and how our industrialized food system could be a major contributor to the national obesity epidemic.Continue Reading

Lethal Virus Spreads in Middle East

Saudi Arabia on Sunday confirmed a surge of cases of a deadly virus in the kingdom over the past two weeks, even as it tried to counter criticism that it wasn't doing enough to contain the outbreak. The United Arab Emirates over the weekend separately announced six confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, among paramedics there, one of whom died of the illness. The high number of cases among medical workers raised questions about how effective Arab Gulf governments have been in controlling the 1½-year-old outbreak.Continue Reading

Two Major Studies Associate Cancer and Heart Disease With Vitamin D Deficiency

The two studies, both of which appeared in the journal BMJ, are meta-analyses, including data on more than a million people. They include observational findings as well as evidence from randomized controlled trials.One study, conducted by Harvard and Oxford University researchers, along with members of other institutions, finds that adults with lower levels of vitamin D have a 35% greater chance of dying of heart disease and a 14% higher risk of dying of cancer. Source: Continue Reading

How Running 'May Preserve Thinking Skills'

Aerobic exercise in your 20s may protect the brain in middle age, according to a US study. Activities that maintain cardio fitness - such as running, swimming and cycling - led to better thinking skills and memory 20 years on. Scientists say the research, reported in Neurology, adds to evidence the brain benefits from good heart health. Cardio fitness is a measure of how well the body absorbs oxygen during exercise and transports it to the muscles. Continue Reading