Excellent news received about a book written to help children understand cancer - second story on this page (read the first story as well - apoptosis is what we are all striving for daily) -
http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=279262
"Explaining Cancer to Kids"
A young woman in Israel, Sivan Rosen Geta, was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma, then went on to become a mother. Not finding suitable resources available, she wrote and illustrated a book to help her own daughter understand about her momma's cancer. Her book has now been translated into English: "Cancer, and not the Zodiac Crab".
Her site for the book (in Hebrew): http://www.sivanrg.com . You can order the English or Hebrew version of the book on this page of her site: http://www.sivanrg.com/Order.aspx . The drop-down choice at the bottom center of the page - click on it, choose "english" if that is the version you are ordering, and the yellow button will take you to PayPal to complete your order.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Another news story about adenoid cancer cell mixup in research
From the public television KQED's QUEST website:
The Great Cancer Cell Mix Up
http://science.kqed.org/quest/audio/the-great-cancer-cell-mix-up/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-great-cancer-cell-mix-up
A story about the mix up experienced by California scientists working on adenoid cystic carcinoma cell lines, only to find out that they had been working with cervical cancer cells and non-human cells.
I wrote about the lost research due to mis-identified cell lines earlier on the Cheeky Librarian blog:
http://cheekylibrarian.blogspot.com/2012/04/adenoid-cystic-carcinoma-in-news_30.html
The NIH Catalyst has this article from 2008 on mis-identification of cell lines: http://www.nih.gov/catalyst/2008/08.03.01/page2.html
and here is a link to a citation in PubMed:
Cell line misidentification - the beginning of the end
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=20448633
I am pretty sure that the scientific community can start to follow the standards set by the thoroughbred racing community, and begin creating, recording, and asking for documented facts on the source of the cell lines they are culturing and/or purchasing. Some records would be better than no records, especially if it means they will be comparing apples to apples in their future research. Since I am on the outside of the scientific world, but wear the cancer they are studying, I have a horse in this particular race, and it is one I hope that my horse won't win before their correct research helps me put the hobbles on him. I am hereby offering my cells for culture - I can prove the dam, sire, and breeding site and conditions, folks. Just contact me in the comments, and we can work up a deal that will keep the mice and cervical cancer cells out of your lab.
The Great Cancer Cell Mix Up
http://science.kqed.org/quest/audio/the-great-cancer-cell-mix-up/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-great-cancer-cell-mix-up
A story about the mix up experienced by California scientists working on adenoid cystic carcinoma cell lines, only to find out that they had been working with cervical cancer cells and non-human cells.
I wrote about the lost research due to mis-identified cell lines earlier on the Cheeky Librarian blog:
http://cheekylibrarian.blogspot.com/2012/04/adenoid-cystic-carcinoma-in-news_30.html
The NIH Catalyst has this article from 2008 on mis-identification of cell lines: http://www.nih.gov/catalyst/2008/08.03.01/page2.html
and here is a link to a citation in PubMed:
Cell line misidentification - the beginning of the end
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=20448633
I am pretty sure that the scientific community can start to follow the standards set by the thoroughbred racing community, and begin creating, recording, and asking for documented facts on the source of the cell lines they are culturing and/or purchasing. Some records would be better than no records, especially if it means they will be comparing apples to apples in their future research. Since I am on the outside of the scientific world, but wear the cancer they are studying, I have a horse in this particular race, and it is one I hope that my horse won't win before their correct research helps me put the hobbles on him. I am hereby offering my cells for culture - I can prove the dam, sire, and breeding site and conditions, folks. Just contact me in the comments, and we can work up a deal that will keep the mice and cervical cancer cells out of your lab.
Monday, July 09, 2012
FDA Safety and Innovation Act
I saw this mentioned on the BIOtechNOW site today - an op-ed piece by the President and CEO of NORD, Peter L. Saltonstall:
http://www.biotech-now.org/health/2012/07/fda-safety-and-innovation-act-a-monumental-step-forward-for-patients-with-rare-diseases
I am not sure how this will take action at the individual level - after all, no one has ever asked me for my Rare Disease card, so I am not sure how they are qualifying the population that is supposed to be included in treatment. However, if the work of NORD resulted in the FDA making funding available for rare disease research, they have my vote of thanks. Now, if that FDA support transfers to the actual drug and medical device manufacturers, then I will be cheering us all on. Maybe I can apply to be a trainer for the "enhanced staff training for FDA reviewers with regard to orphan product reviews", or become a virtual librarian as a member of the "increased staffing and expansion of the Rare Disease Program in CDER and CBER".
Other news covering this passed act:
FDA safety and innovation act is passed in Deleware: http://www.communitypub.com/news/x537695762/FDA-safety-and-innovation-act-is-passed-in-Delaware
FDA safety and innovation act signed (NORD press release)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fda-safety-and-innovation-act-signed-a-monumental-step-toward-the-development-of-safe-and-effective-treatments-for-millions-of-americans-with-rare-diseases-2012-07-09
San Diego-based West Wireless Health Institute, BIOCOM, and CONNECT applaud President Obama signing FDA User Fee Bill into law http://www.marketwatch.com/story/san-diego-based-west-wireless-health-institute-biocom-and-connect-applaud-president-obama-signing-fda-user-fee-bill-into-law-2012-07-09
Pew Commends US Congress for Passing FDA User Fee Legislation (press release predates today's presidential signing) http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pew-commends-us-congress-for-passing-fda-user-fee-legislation-2012-06-26
FDA gets device, but not drug tracking
http://www.fiercepharmamanufacturing.com/story/fda-gets-device-not-drug-tracking/2012-07-05
http://www.biotech-now.org/health/2012/07/fda-safety-and-innovation-act-a-monumental-step-forward-for-patients-with-rare-diseases
I am not sure how this will take action at the individual level - after all, no one has ever asked me for my Rare Disease card, so I am not sure how they are qualifying the population that is supposed to be included in treatment. However, if the work of NORD resulted in the FDA making funding available for rare disease research, they have my vote of thanks. Now, if that FDA support transfers to the actual drug and medical device manufacturers, then I will be cheering us all on. Maybe I can apply to be a trainer for the "enhanced staff training for FDA reviewers with regard to orphan product reviews", or become a virtual librarian as a member of the "increased staffing and expansion of the Rare Disease Program in CDER and CBER".
Other news covering this passed act:
FDA safety and innovation act is passed in Deleware: http://www.communitypub.com/news/x537695762/FDA-safety-and-innovation-act-is-passed-in-Delaware
FDA safety and innovation act signed (NORD press release)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fda-safety-and-innovation-act-signed-a-monumental-step-toward-the-development-of-safe-and-effective-treatments-for-millions-of-americans-with-rare-diseases-2012-07-09
San Diego-based West Wireless Health Institute, BIOCOM, and CONNECT applaud President Obama signing FDA User Fee Bill into law http://www.marketwatch.com/story/san-diego-based-west-wireless-health-institute-biocom-and-connect-applaud-president-obama-signing-fda-user-fee-bill-into-law-2012-07-09
Pew Commends US Congress for Passing FDA User Fee Legislation (press release predates today's presidential signing) http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pew-commends-us-congress-for-passing-fda-user-fee-legislation-2012-06-26
FDA gets device, but not drug tracking
http://www.fiercepharmamanufacturing.com/story/fda-gets-device-not-drug-tracking/2012-07-05
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