The next plenary meeting of IVTIP will be held on:
April 22-23, in Amboise, France
The meeting will be hosted by Pfizer. The programme features in vitro alternatives in the cosmetics field, in vitro neurotoxicology and Immunotoxicology/pulmonary models. You will all soon receive the invitation and agenda to the meeting.
Cefic's Long-range Research Initiative (LRI), in conjunction with the Federation of European Toxicologist & European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX), is offering a _100,000 award to support promising new research in the field of toxicology.
The award will be presented to an early career scientist with a concept for creative interdisciplinary research. This could include alternative risk assessment methods using fewer resources, innovative tools to identify hazards in a shorter time, or new means of securing exposure data. The winner will be selected on the basis of innovation, interdisciplinary approach and relevance to the LRI programme.
The competition covers the broad field of toxicology, including but not limited to:
• Alternatives to animal testing
• Susceptible populations (children, elderly, pregnant women)
• Toxicogenetics; -omics; Bioinformatics
• Epidemiology related to chemical exposure
• QSARs
• Risk Perception and Communication
• Bioremediation.
"This award represents an exciting challenge for scientists to push forward the frontiers in the field of toxicology research, while promoting the advance and recognition of toxicology in Europe," says Prof. Herman Autrup President-elect of EUROTOX. "We are very pleased to be supporting it."
The deadline for applications is March 1st 2004. The award will be presented at the International Congress of Toxicology in Tampere, Finland on July 14, 2004.
More details are available at www.cefic-lri.org/ or by email at lri@cefic.be
One solution towards achieving fewer costly and time consuming animal experiments in safety assessments of chemicals is to further utilize structure-activity relationships and close analogy extrapolation to assess the toxicity of chemicals. Easier access to existing toxicological information is therefore becoming essential. To be useful, biological data must be in electronic form, associated with searchable chemical structures, sufficiently detailed, and with fields to support searching according to user-defined quality criteria.
Public data needs to be brought together in a standardized, useful form. Individual organizations hold unpublished private data of high scientific value. In many cases, toxicological information is unpublished because of its intrinsic commercial value, or because there has been no reason to publish it.
Pursuing the goal of setting up a useful structure-activity database, a pilot project was recently set up to demonstrate feasibility of creating a useful database. The project was run by the Health and Environment Sciences Institute (HESI), part of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI). The software was developed by Lhasa ltd. The pilot project produced a small demonstration database which contains gold carcinogenicity, NTP Salmonella and ECB data.
As a follow up, a full scale project has been launched with the objective of bringing together public data and some proprietary or semi-proprietary data relating to toxicity, to support structure-activity relationship studies, close-analogue extrapolations and other forms of data mining. This database will be called VITIC.
Lhasa invites companies to co-operatively make available toxicological data for inclusion in VITIC. The company will provide a service to members who donate data to the project so that their effort is minimized. Donations of data for sharing are treated as payments in kind and set against sponsorship fees.
If you would like to join the project, please email: info@lhasalimited.org
See also: www.lhasalimited.org or tel + 44 113 343 6531
Source: Heuristica, the Newsletter of Lhasa Linmited, October 2003
In a recent speech, knowledge and innovation were highlighted by Commission President Romano Prodi as the Union's 'key priorities'. Mr Prodi called for a more proactive approach to the issue by Member State governments, saying that "The Commission will make its proposals and the Council will take its decisions. However, nothing will actually happen until these decisions become policies at national level."
Mr Prodi deplored the fact that there are 400,000 'top EU researchers' currently working in the US, and stressed that Europe must create research centres of excellence that are the best in the world. "They must become the vital symbol of our belief in the future, and that here in Europe we are capable of planning for the future and making it happen," he said. Echoing previous calls for a 'new European Renaissance', the president called for Europe to "become what it was for centuries: the point of reference for young researchers throughout the world."
Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, he claimed that investment in education and research is not an "abstract problem", but an issue to be addressed now, as international competitors are already overtaking Europe. He concluded his address with a few words about Europe's researchers of the future, and their significance for European competitiveness. "Our young people must be able to find in Europe the opportunities to study, work and be successful that are their right. I must stress that I am not speaking only in their interests; this is the key to our very survival," he said.
Source: CORDIS News, Jan 19, 2004
There is a war without guns between North America, the Far East (China and Japan) and the EU. According to E. Vizi, president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, this War refers to the war in science, and he thinks the EU should do more to promote advances in crucial areas of research such as genetic engineering and nanotechnology. He also thinks that the 'EU should create a knowledge based society and a knowledge-based economy' if it wants to keep up. While the EU has made these pledges before, the transatlantic brain drain is still continuing. Vizi said EU governments were finally beginning to take science as seriously as they should, given that intellectual property rights account for 80% of an average product's value, while only 100 years ago it was the other way around, with labor costs and material costs taking up the lion's share. Goverdhan Mehta, president elect of the International Council of Science, said that the 'growth of knowledge' had doubled from the years AD1 to 1750, between 1750 and 1900 and again between 1900 and 1950. Today, however, knowledge is doubling every 3-4 years. Or: more information has been generated in the last 30 years than in the previous 5000. All these wise quotes were heard during the World Science Forum, hosted by Hungary on November 8-10 last year.
Source: European Voice, Nov 13, 2003
With the aim of sparking off a debate on how to promote basic research in Europe, the Commission on 15 January 2004 published a Communication on "Europe and fundamental research". Commissioner Busquin said that the paper was designed to act as a "wake-up call" for Europe to realize that it is quickly losing ground in the area compared to the US and Japan. Fundamental research, he said, is key to growth, competitiveness and better quality of life, and must not be neglected.
'Basic research' is driven by a researcher's interest in a scientific question with no immediate or obvious commercial value. Nonetheless, results of basic research have often led to ground-breaking scientific discoveries such as the DNA and X-rays and inventions like the Internet. Basic research also plays a crucial rule in the training of scientists.
High marks on publications, lower on citations. In terms of publications, Europe is in the lead with 41.3% of the world total compared with 31.4% for the USA. In terms of number of references, regarded as the best indicator of the quality of research, Europe is behind in most disciplines: US researchers account for about one-third more references. Europe achieved very good results during the early 20th century Nobel awards, but performances have been falling ever since.
The fragmentation of Europe's research systems due to structural differences within Member States of the European Union has had an impact on several aspects: lack of co-operation and co-ordination, lack of critical mass, but also more importantly, lack of competition at the European level.
While the EU held a leading position in basic research in the early 20th century, this has been overshadowed by other fields which are seen to be more profitable, such as applied, market-orientated research.
The Commission's initiative comes at the time when public research organizations have showed their dismay at governments' failures to increase research budgets despite their pledge to achieve the three percent target as set out by the 2002 Barcelona Council. In France, more than 5,500 leading researchers have signed an internet petition threatening to resign from their positions if their demands for boosting national research
Source: CORDIS News, January 16, 2004
See also: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/press.cfm
The Commission has recently adopted a proposal on the creation of a 'Europass', designed to improve the transparency and EU-wide recognition of EU citizens' skills and qualifications as part of the Union's commitment to lifelong learning. This booklet (which will be available online) brings together five existing documents covering the following skills and qualifications:
The Commission does not rule out adding further documents to the 'Europass' in the future in order to address specific sectors or skills in more detail.
The draft decision is expected to be adopted by the Parliament and Council by the end of 2004. The official launch of the new Europass should take place during a conference on vocational education and training to be held in Maastricht in December 2004.
Source: Commission: Europass : a new instrument for better recognition of qualifications and skills in the enlarged Europe [FR] [DE]
The European Commission recently published a report on prospects for commercial and research activities in the field of human tissue engineering (regeneration of tissues). The European Commission is currently seeking to prepare legislation which will harmonizes the authorization procedures for marketing products/processes from human tissue engineering.
The Commission report, elaborated by its Institute for Prospective Technological Studies at the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Seville, represents the first comprehensive map of the emerging industry of human tissue engineering in Europe. The paper makes clear that the lack of an EU-wide authorization process is hampering the growth of a nascent knowledge-based industry.
The European tissue-engineering sector is characterized by young, small, research-based and technology-oriented companies. A total of 113 European companies are now active in tissue engineering in Europe (EU25), with 54 companies engaging in in vitro production of tissues. The European structure is similar to that of the USA, regarding the number and size of companies.
The size of the tissue engineering market development and the commercial range of applications is still in its infant phase. Many of the tissue-engineered products are still in early stages of development. The small biotech companies involved do not have the resources for large, long-term clinical trials to provide information on the cost-effectiveness of the treatment compared to conventional alternatives. Lack of cost-effectiveness data is the main reason for which insurance companies are reluctant to reimburse treatment with tissue-engineered products.
The present regulatory framework applied differs from Member State to Member State, which presents an obstacle to free movement of tissue-engineered products and hampers market growth in the EU. Some measures at European level are already on the way. A Directive on standards for quality and safety of human tissues and cells is now being examined by European institutions. Measures on marketing of products and consumer safety are currently under preparation. This new legislation should cover the marketing of tissue-engineered products to safeguard consumer and user protection and enable an effective common market for these products.
The JRC report "Human tissue-engineered products. Today's markets and future prospects" may be downloaded at: www.jrc.es/home/toolbar/whats_new.html
Source: CORDIS News, January 22 2004
On Dec 16, 2003, MEPs adopted the human cells and tissues directive (503 for, 42 against). The directive sets minimum standards for the donation, procurement, storage and processing of human tissues and cells. The directive holds that donors can be paid for cells and tissues &endash; but only for loss of earning or expenses. This compromise was reached to avoid fears that payment would encourage a trade in body parts. However, within the directive, human embryos for stem cell research are not covered, leaving controversial ethical questions surrounding EU funding for this type of research in a grey zone of legal uncertainty. Approval procedures for the least controversial projects will be started on a case by case basis after January 1.
Source: European Voice, Dec 18, 2003
A request for nominations and submissions of alternative test methods for evaluation by ICCVAM was announced in the Federal Register on November 14, 2003, as was the availability of the updated ICCVAM guidelines on nomination and submission. A copy of this FR notice can be found at: http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/docs/FR/6864636.pdf in PDF or http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/docs/FR/6864636.htm in HTML.
Nov 18
Instructions for making nominations and submissions can be found in the document, "ICCVAM Guidelines for Nomination and Submission of New, Revised, and Alternative Test Methods," (September 2003, NIH Publication No. 03-4508), which is available on-line at http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/docs/guidelines/subguide.htm.
Nov 18
The In Vitro Cytotoxicity Validation Study, a joint effort of NICEATM and ECVAM, was designed to generate in vitro toxicity data using neutral red uptake assays with rodent (mouse fibroblast 3T3) and human (normal human keratinocyte) cells with an ultimate goal of developing in vitro predictive models for human acute toxicity.
A web page on this study has been placed making the most current information (timeline, protocols and other documents) available. Visit the following URL to access this page: http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/ivcytoval.htm
A copy of the last issue of the ECVAM Newsletter of December 2003 can be downloaded from the ECVAM website http://ecvam.jrc.it/mailbot/Redirect.cfm?MessageID=192&ListID=53&Link=ecvam.jrc.it/ in the section News and Events, as well as directly from the Homepage.
If you are interested in being updated on ECVAM, you should be registered on the ECVAM's news mailing list.
For this purpose, please connect to the ECVAM website http://ecvam.jrc.it/, sector: NEWS, EVENTS AND MEETINGS, and select Register on ECVAM's news mailing list. After filling in the form and submitting it to ECVAM, you will be included in the ECVAM mailing list and regularly updated.
ECVAM has launched an Open Call for Tender. The subject is: Data collection for the database sector on non-animal reproductive toxicity testing for the ECVAM Scientific Information Service(SIS) .
Document number and source: 2004/S 19-015703 (Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union)
Deadline for obtaining documents: 10th February 2004
Contact Address: Further information including the relevant tender documents can be obtained from: Silvia.Bottini@cec.eu.int
The electronic version of NCA Newsletter 15 (October 2003) is now available on http://www.nca-nl.org/English/Newsletters/Nb15/nl15index.html
The newsletter can also be downloaded as pdf-file (in two parts of 4.3 Mb each) from http://www.nca-nl.org/English/Newsletters/Nb15/newsletter_15.htm
Cefic President Eggert Voscherau has urged the European Commission to carry out further studies before the European Parliament and the Council deal with REACH in order to ascertain its real impact right across EU industry.
Eggert Voscherau was speaking at the European Chemicals Policy Conference on REACH, held in Brussels from 3-4 December and organised by ECN (European Chemical News). He warned of the danger of not considering Europe as an open economy, saying the loss of production had to be evaluated for each market segment. He also drew attention to the change in world trade &endash; the east is exporting more and more to the west - and to the fact that new technologies were sorely needed if the EU was indeed to become the world's foremost knowledge-driven economy. Voscherau also refloated the idea of a special Advisory Committee on Chemicals.
Responding to questions, Catherine Day, Director General of DG Environment said she saw no need for any further overall impact assessment or any delay in the REACH adoption procedure as the system was already workable in the Commission's view. She did however say that further analysis of REACH benefits was needed, and that further dialogue with stakeholders would be useful.
Michael Warhurst of the WWF concurred with industry that the current system was ineffective. He believed REACH provided a good framework for a new system that had to be improved - especially to ensure the worst chemicals are phased out if safer alternatives are available. He was convinced a strong REACH would bring substantial benefits by providing incentives and markets for the development of safer products, reducing the impacts of chemicals on the environment and human health. He said a rational debate was needed to improve REACH.
In her presentation, Uta Jensen-Korte, Cefic Director for Regulatory Affairs emphasized both the need for an efficient REACH and the sheer enormity of the task facing industry: "Under the existing chemicals legislation approx. 7, 000 substances have been classified in 30 years; 3, 700 have been notified in 20 years; and approximately 80 risk assessments have been carried out under the Existing Substances Regulation in the past 10 years. So there is a huge gap to fill considering the ambition of REACH to deal with 30, 000 or more substances."
Source: CEFIC News, January 2004
Chemicals used for the manufacturing of common consumer products are contaminating wildlife and humans, says a new report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The report points to a "collection of recent scientific evidence" that many chemicals still on the market and used for in the production plastics bottles, cans, or food packaging are becoming increasingly clear. The report also points to continuing evidence of contamination of wildlife and humans by chemicals that are now banned or restricted, showing how persistent these are and "why it is important to prevent newer-generation chemicals from accumulating in the environment and leaving a similar legacy".
The release of the report marks a new episode in the battle opposing environmental NGOs to the chemicals industry over the EU's REACH proposal. NGOs such as WWF would like to see REACH quickly adopted in the way it is currently formulated in the Commission's proposal. CEFIC, the European Chemicals Industry Council, says it approves the political objectives set out in the draft REACH legislation but contends it would create a "bureaucratic, costly and inefficient system which would endanger the competitiveness of the European chemical industry".
Source: CORDIS, January 30, 2004
Mrs Caroline Jackson (EPP/UK), Chairman of the EP Environment Committee, has declared her opposition to the 1st reading of the REACH proposal being debated in the current Parliament. Mrs Jackson favours tackling the issue in the autumn in the new Parliament.
Although Mr Sacconi (Rapporteur on the dossier in the Environment Committee) has not yet been officially appointed as Rapporteur, he has presented his draft report on the REACH proposal. In the report, he highlights and reinforces the role of the Central Agency, but at the same time advocates the substitution principle and strengthening the authorisation process.
It is questionable whether this report will even be discussed in the Environment Committee, given Chairman Jackson's opposition to a 1st reading in this Parliament.
Preparation of Cefic's amendments is under way. Cefic is ready to use them, when the 1st reading officially starts.
Furthermore, the EPP is planning to organise hearings in the Industry and Legal Affairs Committees. Cefic's input will be requested.
At the Council level, the ad-hoc Working Group on chemicals, established under the leadership of the Competitiveness Council and the industry representatives of the Environment Council, started its work on 12 January. In the meantime, national consultation processes between ministries and stakeholders will take place. At the end of the Irish Presidency, some conclusions for orientation will be drawn at the Competitiveness Council of 17 May and the Environment Council of 28-29 June.
Source: CEFIC News 19, February 2004
Last year, the University of Cambridge in the UK received planning permission to build a world-class primate neuroscience centre. The decision was welcomed by scientists and patient organizations. The state-of-the-art centre is thought to be essential for the UK to keep its world class scientists and stay at the forefront of research into diseases such as Alzheimer's, stroke and Parkinson's. However, the cost of the project has escalated to 32 m British Pounds, and the university needs extra funds before it can go ahead.
Source: EBRA Bulletin, Winter 2003
Researchers have identified heart cells that meet most of the criteria for stem cells: rat cardiac cells that are self renewing and multipotent, with the ability to differentiate in vivo into myocytes, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells.
Source: Cell 114, 763-776, 2003
Research at the Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Histology at the University of Utrecht aims at characterizing the mechanisms regulating spermatogonial stem cell development. In 1996 the department obtained a grant for a project to obtain immortalised cell lines from rat gonocytes and adult spermatogonial cells. The group working on this project succeeded in selecting two spermatogonial stem cell lines from adult stem cells that had been transfected with SV40, and three from the foetal testis co-infected with SV40 and tsp53. These cell lines possess morphological and molecular properties very similar to the spermatogonial stem cells of the rat testis. With these cell lines, various aspects of stem cell development are currently being investigated.
For more information, contact F.M.F. van Dissel at: f.m.f.vandissel@vet.uu.nl
Source: NCA Newsletter 15, October 2003
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has pledged 100 million _ in support of entrepreneurs in Hungary, Slovenia and Romania. The funds will be allocated to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), along with public and private agencies active in the diffusion of innovation, research and development, and information and communications networks.
Funds will also be made available to other sectors, including health and education, social housing, energy, environmental protection and general infrastructure. Philippe Maystadt, President of the European Investment Bank, spoke of the importance of developing small and medium-sized enterprises "in countries where the SME sector is not yet a deeply-rooted part of the economic scene."
"Global loan facility will provide an advantageous source of finance for the development of this sector that encourages entrepreneurship and represents an important source of job creation," Mr Maystadt added. Additional information about the European Investment Bank can be found at http://www.eib.org.
Recently, the FDA issued the 'Draft guidance for industry: pharmacogenomics data submission. This document encourages drug and biologics developers to perform pharmacogenomics testing during drug development and clarifies how the FDA will evaluate the resulting data. The guidance also provides specific criteria and recommendations on submitting pharmacogenomics data for investigational new drug applications (INDs), new drug applications (NDAs) and biological license application (BLAs). This includes information on what data are needed and how FDA will use or not use such data in regulatory decisions. The draft guidance is available at: www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/5900dft.pdf
Source: IVD technology, February 2004
Peter Heinrich, president of Emerging Biopharmaceutical Enterprises (EBE) (representing sSMEs within EFPIA), applauded EU leaders for pledging to increase research funding for medical biotechnology. However, he said, it is like trying to run a bath with the plug out. You cannot on the one hand commit to increasing innovation if, with the other hand, you are not supporting the fruits of that innovation. With the last remark he refers to Germany's biopharmaceutical policy (notably health care reform plans, reference pricing and mandatory 16% rebates), which have already prompted several firm to shut down or move their R&D activities elsewhere.
Source: European Voice, December 17, 2003
The German government has published three measures to boost its biotechnology industry. The centerpiece is 500 m_ for Germany's venture capital sector to spend over 5 years to support the formation of funds that invest in early, developmental and mid-stage technology companies. This measure is expected to leverage another 1.2 billion _ in private sector finance.
The second measure is competitive programs to encourage collaboration between academia and industry. Two schemes have been announced: BioChancePLUS (to fund collaborative research projects between academic groups, biotechnology firms and medium-size pharmaceutical companies; budget 100 m_ over 5 years) and BioFuture (1.5 million _ in total funding to 7 academic groups engaged in basic biotechnological research.
Essential is that in the past projects were focused on bringing back researchers to Germany; the new approach focuses on funding of teams that are defining new strategic research directions.
Despite all these measures, analysts say a serious flaw still exists: no tax incentives for R&D intensive young firms, and no exit routes for investors.
Source: Nature Biotechnology, Vol 21, nr 12, Dec 2003, pp 1414
Genzyme Corporation has announced that it will open a research facility in Cambridge, UK. The new facility will bring Genzyme into proximity with renowned academic institutions, a cluster of nearly 200 biotechnology companies, and a large pool of world-class scientific talent. The facility is scheduled to open early in 2004 and to focus initially on antibody technology and its applications in oncology, renal disease and immune-mediated diseases. Genzyme's research activities in Cambridge will be led by Bruce Roberts, general manager of Genzyme Science Europe.
In a recent survey commissioned by the journal Science and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Genzyme was ranked among the top ten most highly regarded employers for scientists in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Source: Pressi, Jan 19, 2004
RNA interference (RNAi) is being harnessed for target identification and validation and developed as a powerful new therapeutic class. A lengthy but complete review of the technology and the key players is given in the December issue of Nature Biotechnology. It also lists the following useful websites offering RNAi selection tools:
Ambion's siRNA Target Finder:
www.ambion.com/techlib/misc/siRNA_design.html
Cold Spring Harbor's RNAi
OligoRetrivere:
http://katahdin.cshl.org:9331/RNAi/
Dharmacon's siDesign Center
www.dharmacon.com
Qiagen's siRNA Target Sequence
Design:
www.qiagen.com/jp/siRNA/sirna_design.asp
Sirna's Emboss:
www.biobase.de/embossdocs/sirna.html
Tuschl Laboratory siRNA User
Guide:
www.rockefeller.edu/labheads/tuschl/sirna.html
The Whitehead RNAi Selection
program:
http://jura.wi.mit/edu/pubint
Source: Nature Biotechnology, vol 21, nr 12, December 2003, pp 1441-1446
According to IVTIP's chairman, Joan-Albert Vericat, the following course is very good (he tried it). He also said it might be necessary to install a free software (REAL PLAYER) by clicking in a link in the bottom of the presentation.
CAAT's new course, "Enhancing Humane Science/Improving Animal Research," is now available online. The course is designed to provide researchers with the tools they need to practice the most humane science possible, and to demonstrate that humane science is the best science. To register please visit the CAAT web site at http://caat.jhsph.edu.
Looking for funding for alternatives-related research? CAAT and ARDF both have issued calls for proposals. Preproposals for CAAT grants are due by April 9. The ARDF deadline is July 15.
Register for the IACUC-Advanced workshop nearest you: March 5 in Baltimore, April 15 in New York, or September 7 in Denver. The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) offers these one-day workshops at various locations each year.
The latest issues of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) "Animal Research News & Analysis" and the HSUS "Pain and Distress Report" are available online. TheWinter issue of the European Resource Centre for Alternatives in Higher Education (EURCA) newsletter is available as well.
For more information on these stories and more, please check the "News Headlines" at http://altweb.jhsph.edu.
Source: 3ERRES, February 9, 2004
The VUB in Brussels is organising an intensive training course on alternatives in cosmetics safety assessment for the 4th time in Brussels, April 4-9. The course is totally independent from Colipa but supported in principle by the association.
Key questions to be tackled will be:
* Current challenges in safety assessment of cosmetics
* What are validated and valid alternative methods?
* Is human testing an alternative to animal testing?
* Which role plays systemic toxicity testing
* How to make a technical dossier
* What is the content of the 7th amendment
For more information, please contact: validated and >
Orla Fenlon, Assistant, Science
& Research Colipa
Tel: 32 2 227 66 25; Fax:32 2 227 66 27
Toxicology is an expanding field with good career prospects. The MSc course covers all major aspects of toxicology with a particular emphasis on the integration of molecular biology. It comprises five specific modules and a research project which may be completed in academia or industry. Some projects are available abroad. Students based in industry may take the modules separately. Teaching is by members of various university departments, hospitals, industrial and government research institutes.
Enquiries:,Postgraduate Taught
Course Secretary, School of Biosciences, The University of
Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT
Tel: 0121-414-3386, Email: L.C.Ford@bham.ac.uk
http://www.biosciences.bham.ac.uk
Please find below the titles of 6 new publications on the use of SkinEthic human tissue models. Upon request, Bart de Wever of SkinEthics can send you an electronic version (pfd) of each of them. E-mail: bdewever@skinethic.com
Dynamic monitoring of gluthathione redox status in UV-B irradiated reconstructed epidermis: effect of anti-oxydant activity on skin homeostatis. M. Meloni and JF. Nicolay. Tox. In Vitro, 17, 609-613, 2003.
Vitamin D3 24-hydroxylase mRNA expression in the skin of calcipotriol-treated psoriatic patients correlates with clinical efficacy. S. Chibout, A. de Brugerolle de Fraissinette, N. Hartmann, V.Picarles, O. Grenet, A. Cordier, S. Molley, J. Medina. Arch. Dermatol. Res. 295, 269-271, 2003.
LAV694, a new antiproliferative agent showing improved skin tolerability vs. clinical standards for the treatment of actinic keratosis. J. Medina, V. Picarles, B. Greiner, C. Elsaesser, M. Kolopp, A. Mahl, D. Roman., B. Vogel, P. Nussbaumer, A. Winiski, J. Meingassner, A. de Brugerolle de Fraissinette. Biochem. Pharmacology, 66, 1885-1895, 2003.
Percutaneous absportion and metabolization of chemically modified dipeptides. J-F. Nicolay, Y. Courbebaisse. Presented at APGI Symposium 'Skin & Formulation, 2003.
Transcriptional profiling of epidermal keratinocytes: comparison of genes expressed in skin, cultured keratinocytes and artificial skin equivalents, using larg DNA microarrays. A. Gasel, P. Ramphal, B. De Wever, C. Tornier, N. Hosein, B. Lee, M. Tomic-Canic and M. Blumenberg, J. Investigative Dermatology, 121(6):1459-68, 2003.
Toxicity and antimicrobial activity of a hydrocolloid dressing containing silver particles in an ex vivo model of cutaneous infection due to C. albicans and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus. M. Schaller, J. Laude, H. Bodewaldt, G. Hamm and H.C. Korting. Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 17, 31-36, 2004.
The male Y-chromosome is doomed to disappear: per million years, 3-6 genes disappear from the Y-chromosome. It has been sequenced (Nature, June 2003) and currently contains not more than 78 active genes, sufficient to produce 27 proteins. The reasons of this doom and gloom are a lack of recombination and surprisingly few variations: some Y-chromosomes occur frequently, others are rare. In a nicely written article, two examples of the world's most successful Y-chromosomes are given.
Probably the world's most successful Y-chromosome is the one allegedly from the Mongolian leader Genghis Kahn, ruler of an area encompassing Asia from the Pacific Ocean until the Caspian Sea. Exactly along the borders a particular Y-chromosome is found frequently: it is most likely of Genghis Kahn and his four sons and one grandson. The reason: when victorious, looting was strictly regulated. All men were killed and cities destroyed. Each warrior was free to do as he pleased with one exception: all pretty women were sent to Genghis Kahn. Currently, there are 16 million people with the alleged Kahn Y-chromosome. This particular Y-chromosome is not found outside the old Mongolian borders. Thus, this Y-chromosome succeeded to multiply from one copy to 16 million in only 30 generations!
An example closer to home is that of the Scottish leader Somerled of Argyll (1100), who is the founding father of three Scottish clans, the MacDonalds, the MacDougallls and the MacAllisters. At present, there are close to half a million copies of Somerled's Y-chromosome; after all, he was rich, powerful, had a lot of land and attractive sons who became the later leaders of the three clans.
Source: Bionieuws Jan 16, 2004, and Nature, June 19, 2003
Information: info@biovalleybasel.com
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Information: IVTIP Secretariat
Information: lisac@healthtech.com
Information: www.vet.uu.nl/site/viavet_english/
Information: www.embo.org
Information: colipa@colipa.be
Organization: blhata@uta.fi or www.uta.fi/fst
Information: www.esof2004.org