Imlygic approved for treatment of melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec), the first FDA-approved oncolytic virus therapy, for the treatment of melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes.

"Melanoma is a serious disease that can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes difficult to treat," said Karen Midthun, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "This approval provides patients and health care providers with a novel treatment for melanoma."

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Melanoma, one type of skin cancer, is the leading cause of skin cancer related deaths, and is most often caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. According to the National Cancer Institute approximately 74,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma and nearly 10,000 will die from the disease in 2015.

Imlygic approved for treatment of melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes

Scientists identify main component of brain repair after stroke

Looking at brain tissue from mice, monkeys and humans, scientists have found that a molecule known as growth and differentiation factor 10 (GDF10) is a key player in repair mechanisms following stroke. The findings suggest that GDF10 may be a potential therapy for recovery after stroke. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Sprouting connections in the brain: Adding GDF10 to neurons in a dish results in the formation of new connections between brain cells. This process may lead to recovery after stroke. Image courtesy of S. Thomas Carmichael, M.D., Ph.D., David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles.

“These findings help to elucidate the mechanisms of repair following stroke. Identifying this key protein further advances our knowledge of how the brain heals itself from the devastating effects of stroke, and may help to develop new therapeutic strategies to promote recovery,” said Francesca Bosetti, Ph.D., stroke program director at NINDS.

Scientists identify main component of brain repair after stroke

Scientists identify main component of brain repair after stroke

Looking at brain tissue from mice, monkeys and humans, scientists have found that a molecule known as growth and differentiation factor 10 (GDF10) is a key player in repair mechanisms following stroke. The findings suggest that GDF10 may be a potential therapy for recovery after stroke. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Sprouting connections in the brain: Adding GDF10 to neurons in a dish results in the formation of new connections between brain cells. This process may lead to recovery after stroke. Image courtesy of S. Thomas Carmichael, M.D., Ph.D., David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles.

“These findings help to elucidate the mechanisms of repair following stroke. Identifying this key protein further advances our knowledge of how the brain heals itself from the devastating effects of stroke, and may help to develop new therapeutic strategies to promote recovery,” said Francesca Bosetti, Ph.D., stroke program director at NINDS.

Scientists identify main component of brain repair after stroke

Leptin gene therapy aids weight loss without significant side effect of bone loss

Delivering the hormone leptin directly to the brain through gene therapy aids weight loss without the significant side effect of bone loss, according to new collaborative research from Oregon State University and University of Florida.

Rapid or significant weight loss through dieting can trigger bone loss. Loss of bone density, in turn, can lead to increased susceptibility to bone fractures in older adults, which can have a debilitating effect on quality of life.

The bone loss is most concerning in people whose weight fluctuates due to "yo-yo" dieting, or repeated cycles of weight gain and loss, because bone lost during weight loss is not typically regained when the person gains weight again, said Urszula Iwaniec, an associate professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU.

"Weight loss is generally good for you if you are seriously overweight, but bone loss can cause significant problems later in life," said Iwaniec, whose research focuses on metabolic bone disease and bone health. "What we are trying to determine is whether there is a way to lose excessive weight while preserving bone density."

In the study, rats who received leptin had a weight reduction of about 20 percent, but they did not have any bone loss. The rats that lost weight were able to maintain that weight loss. They also had large reductions of abdominal fat, also known as "bad" fat, which is known to contribute to weight-related health problems.

Leptin gene therapy aids weight loss without significant side effect of bone loss

Yoga exercise as effective as traditional pulmonary rehab in improving pulmonary function in COPD patients

Researchers from the Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, studied the effects of yoga as a form of pulmonary rehabilitation on markers of inflammation in the body. Results from this study showed yoga exercises provide improvements that are just as effective as traditional pulmonary rehabilitation methods in improving pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and indices of systemic inflammation.

Sixty patients with COPD were randomly divided into two groups, one of which was taught yoga exercises while the other underwent a structured pulmonary rehabilitation program. These groups were tested on shortness of breath, serum inflammation, and lung function tests. Each group participated in 1 hour of training twice a week for the first 4 weeks, then training every 2 weeks for 8 weeks, and the remaining weeks were at home. Results showed that yoga and pulmonary rehabilitation exercises resulted in similar improvements in pulmonary function, 6-minute walk distance, Borg scale, severity of dyspnea, quality of life, and levels of C-reactive protein after 12 weeks of training.

"This study suggests yoga may be a cost-effective form of rehabilitation that is more convenient for patients," said Mark J. Rosen, MD, Master FCCP, CHEST Medical Director. "The authors recommended adoption of yoga programs as an option as part of long-term management of COPD. These findings should be confirmed in new studies and the potential mechanisms explored."

Yoga exercise as effective as traditional pulmonary rehab in improving pulmonary function in COPD patients

Cabozantinib, nivolumab ‘bring hope’ for advanced RCC patients

Cabozantinib, nivolumab ‘bring hope’ for advanced RCC patients

High levels of satiety hormone leptin contribute to cardiovascular disease in obese individuals

High levels of satiety hormone leptin contribute to cardiovascular disease in obese individuals

Antibiotic resistance potentially threatens the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures and immunosuppression therapies

Antibiotic resistance potentially threatens the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures and immunosuppression therapies

Antibiotic resistance potentially threatens the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures and immunosuppression therapies

Antibiotic resistance potentially threatens the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures and immunosuppression therapies

Antibiotic resistance potentially threatens the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures and immunosuppression therapies

Antibiotic resistance potentially threatens the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures and immunosuppression therapies

Genocea announces positive data in Phase 2 trial evaluating GEN-003 for the treatment of genital herpes

Genocea announces positive data in Phase 2 trial evaluating GEN-003 for the treatment of genital herpes

Tresiba and Ryzodeg approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with diabetes mellitus

Tresiba and Ryzodeg approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with diabetes mellitus

Brodalumab therapy achieves 100% reduction in psoriasis symptoms

Brodalumab therapy achieves 100% reduction in psoriasis symptoms

Calcitonin-gene related peptide antibody inhibition shows migraine prevention promise

Calcitonin-gene related peptide antibody inhibition shows migraine prevention promise