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Saturday, March 16, 2013

Japanese P2 study shows potential of combined vaccine and steroid drug in castration-resistant PCa

Public release date: 15-Mar-2013
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Contact: Ivanka Moerkerken
i.moerkerken@uroweb.org
31-026-389-0680
European Association of Urology

Arnhem, 11 March 2013- Multi-peptide vaccination therapy combined with the low-dose steroid drug dexamethasone shows promise in treating chemotherapy-naive castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients.

The study, which won the third prize for best abstract in oncology at the 28th European Association of Urology Congress held in Milan, Italy from 15 to 19 March, showed the promising benefit of this combination therapy in patients who are chemotherapy-naive or those not yet exposed to specific antigens.

"Results of our randomized prospective study suggest that multi-peptide vaccination therapy in combination with low dose dexamethasone has the therapeutic potential as a safe and efficient option for chemotherapy-nave CRPC patients," said lead study author Dr. Takahiro Kimura, of the Jikei University School of Medicine, Dept. of Urology, Tokyo, Japan.

Since immunotherapy does not have a strong ability to decrease tumour burden, it is considerably difficult to evaluate the full extent of a significant therapeutic effect with peptide vaccines, explained Kimura. "Taking this into consideration, the present evidence is promising," he said.

The researchers have previously developed MHC class-I restricted peptide vaccines for prostate cancer and carried out a phase 1 trial to assess safety and immunological evaluation. In the present study, Kimura and his colleagues conducted a randomized phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy of peptide vaccine therapy for chemotherapy nave CRPC patients.

Early stage CRPC (PSA
Kimura said that although percentage PSA decline is the same in both vaccination/dexamethasone and dexamethasone alone group, PSA-PFS was significantly longer (p
"This means that the anti-tumour immune response may play an important role in suppressing disease progression. This therapeutic strategy using peptide vaccines is likely to be comparable as that from currently developed anti-androgenic agents such as abiraterone acetate, MDV3100," Kimura noted.

Castration resistant prostate cancer is a difficult patient group to manage since although a number of therapeutic modalities have been developed, none have lived up to the full expectations and treatment options remain limited.

Kimura added that although the concept of immunotherapy for cancer is not new, recent technological advances have opened new avenues to explore and optimize peptide-based immunotherapy.

"Since the anti-tumour effects of peptide vaccination are driven by different mechanisms as those from ADT and chemotherapy, we may circumvent many of the pitfalls experienced with the current therapies. We believe that this treatment approach will be key in order to achieve a breakthrough as a new therapeutic option for CRPC," he said.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Japanese P2 study shows potential of combined vaccine and steroid drug in castration-resistant PCa Public release date: 15-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Ivanka Moerkerken
i.moerkerken@uroweb.org
31-026-389-0680
European Association of Urology

Arnhem, 11 March 2013- Multi-peptide vaccination therapy combined with the low-dose steroid drug dexamethasone shows promise in treating chemotherapy-naive castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients.

The study, which won the third prize for best abstract in oncology at the 28th European Association of Urology Congress held in Milan, Italy from 15 to 19 March, showed the promising benefit of this combination therapy in patients who are chemotherapy-naive or those not yet exposed to specific antigens.

"Results of our randomized prospective study suggest that multi-peptide vaccination therapy in combination with low dose dexamethasone has the therapeutic potential as a safe and efficient option for chemotherapy-nave CRPC patients," said lead study author Dr. Takahiro Kimura, of the Jikei University School of Medicine, Dept. of Urology, Tokyo, Japan.

Since immunotherapy does not have a strong ability to decrease tumour burden, it is considerably difficult to evaluate the full extent of a significant therapeutic effect with peptide vaccines, explained Kimura. "Taking this into consideration, the present evidence is promising," he said.

The researchers have previously developed MHC class-I restricted peptide vaccines for prostate cancer and carried out a phase 1 trial to assess safety and immunological evaluation. In the present study, Kimura and his colleagues conducted a randomized phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy of peptide vaccine therapy for chemotherapy nave CRPC patients.

Early stage CRPC (PSA
Kimura said that although percentage PSA decline is the same in both vaccination/dexamethasone and dexamethasone alone group, PSA-PFS was significantly longer (p
"This means that the anti-tumour immune response may play an important role in suppressing disease progression. This therapeutic strategy using peptide vaccines is likely to be comparable as that from currently developed anti-androgenic agents such as abiraterone acetate, MDV3100," Kimura noted.

Castration resistant prostate cancer is a difficult patient group to manage since although a number of therapeutic modalities have been developed, none have lived up to the full expectations and treatment options remain limited.

Kimura added that although the concept of immunotherapy for cancer is not new, recent technological advances have opened new avenues to explore and optimize peptide-based immunotherapy.

"Since the anti-tumour effects of peptide vaccination are driven by different mechanisms as those from ADT and chemotherapy, we may circumvent many of the pitfalls experienced with the current therapies. We believe that this treatment approach will be key in order to achieve a breakthrough as a new therapeutic option for CRPC," he said.

###

[ | E-mail | Share ]
?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/eaou-jps031113.php
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'Metasurfaces' to usher in new optical technologies

Mar. 14, 2013 ? New optical technologies using "metasurfaces" capable of the ultra-efficient control of light are nearing commercialization, with potential applications including advanced solar cells, computers, telecommunications, sensors and microscopes.

The metasurfaces could make possible "planar photonics" devices and optical switches small enough to be integrated into computer chips for information processing and telecommunications, said Alexander Kildishev, associate research professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University.

"I think we know enough at this point that we can realistically start to develop prototypes of devices for some applications," he said.

The promise of metasurfaces is described in an article appearing March 15 in the journal Science. The article was co-authored by Kildishev; Alexandra Boltasseva, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Vladimir M. Shalaev, scientific director of nanophotonics at Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center and a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering.

The metasurfaces are extremely thin films of "metamaterials," assemblies that contain features, patterns or elements such as tiny antennas or alternating layers of oxides that enable an unprecedented control of light. Under development for about 15 years, the metamaterials owe their unusual potential to precision design on the scale of nanometers.

Optical nanophotonic circuits might harness clouds of electrons called "surface plasmons" to manipulate and control the routing of light in devices too tiny for conventional lasers.

The metasurfaces are typically created using electron-beam lithography or focused ion beam milling and may also be made of materials that are compatible with existing semiconductor manufacturing and industrial processes.

"That is one of the attractive features of metasurfaces," Kildishev said. "If we use certain types of plasmonic material, they can be integrated into existing semiconductor processes, which makes them practical for commercialization."

Plasmonic metamaterials are promising for various advances, including a possible "hyperlens" that could make optical microscopes 10 times more powerful; advanced chemical sensors; new types of light-harvesting systems for more efficient solar cells; computers and consumer electronics that use light instead of electronic signals to process information; and a cloak of invisibility.

The metasurfaces can be combined with thin sheets of carbon called graphene.

"If you apply voltage the optical properties of graphene change, and if you couple a graphene layer with a metasurface, these properties then change dramatically," Kildishev said.

Metasurfaces could make it possible to use single photons -- the tiny particles that make up light -- for switching and routing in future computers. While using photons would dramatically speed up computers and telecommunications, conventional photonic devices cannot be miniaturized because the wavelength of light is too large to fit in tiny components needed for integrated circuits.

Nanostructured metamaterials, however, could make it possible to reduce the size of photons and the wavelength of light, allowing the creation of new types of nanophotonic devices, Shalaev said.

Some of the new materials may have applications involving near-infrared light, the range of the spectrum critical for telecommunications and fiberoptics. Other materials also might work for light in the spectrum's visible range.

Unlike natural materials, metamaterials may possess an index of refraction less than one or less than zero. Refraction occurs as electromagnetic waves, including light, bend when passing from one material into another. It causes the bent-stick-in-water effect, which occurs when a stick placed in a glass of water appears crooked when viewed from the outside.Being able to create materials with an index of refraction that's negative or between one and zero promises a range of potential breakthroughs in a new field called transformation optics.

Development of new technologies using metamaterials has been hindered by two major limitations: too much light is "lost," or absorbed by metals such as silver and gold contained in the metamaterials, and the materials need to be more precisely tuned so that they possess the proper index of refraction. Ultrathin metasurfaces made of novel low-loss plasmonic material components is a promising way to address this challenge.

Researchers are working to replace silver and gold in materials that are created either by making semiconductors more metallic by adding metal impurities to them; or adding non-metallic elements to metals, in effect making them less metallic. Examples of these materials include transparent conducting oxides and titanium nitride, Boltasseva said.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Purdue University. The original article was written by Emil Venere.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

A. V. Kildishev, A. Boltasseva, V. M. Shalaev. Planar Photonics with Metasurfaces. Science, 2013; 339 (6125): 1232009 DOI: 10.1126/science.1232009

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/klOizXFWIno/130314180309.htm

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A Must Read If You Are Planning On Traveling Abroad | Content for ...

Author: Edna D. Kudeta | Total views: 117 Comments: 0
Word Count: 691 Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2013 7:18 PM

Sometimes, you may want to take a break from the same vacation to the beach that you take every year. This year, why not try a haunted vacation. There are many travel destinations that cater to the supernatural. This article will give you tips for finding the best spooky travel destinations.

Check the alarm in your hotel room when you arrive. Whether by simple accident or obnoxious prank, many a traveler has been awakened early in the morning or worse, in the middle of the night, by the alarm clock at their bedside. If you want to ensure a relaxing start to your vacation, make sure the alarm is off, or at least, set to when you would like to awaken.

If you are staying at a hotel while traveling, be sure to figure out where all of the emergency exits are located. You never know when there might be a fire drill or even a fire. Your map reading skills aren't going to be at their best when you are woken by the alarm at 4 AM, so it's better to know in advance.

A great travel tip is to wear headphones if you want to be left alone when you're traveling. When people see you wearing headphones, they'll be less apt to talk to you because they'll think you're busy listening to music. This can be a great way to keep your personal space.

If you enjoy traveling a fun tip is to make a traveling wish list. Make a list of the top ten places you want to visit when you go, and make it a challenge to go see them all. This makes sure you get the most out of your trip, and gives it a little extra pizazz.

Do some research ahead of time and look for dining credits and coupons for your destination. You can also save a lot of money by getting advice about where to eat before you depart. This is better than asking for recommendations when you are already hungry and in a strange place.

Don't be so tight with your time on a road trip, especially if someone needs you to pull over so that they can go to the restroom. An extra 10 minutes will not destroy your trip or completely ruin your plans. This will also help you avoid grumpy or whiny travelers on the trip.

Use a good quality suitcase or bag when traveling. Cheap suitcases or bags can be flimsy, easily damaged and difficult to maneuver. When you are traveling on public transportation, the last thing you want is for your suitcase or bag to split open and have all your personal belongings fly everywhere.

As a general rule, never take anything with you on a journey that you would be devastated to lose. Items in this category could include jewelry, family photographs and documents. Under normal circumstances, you will not need to carry things like your social security card and extra credit cards. Leave these at home to avoid having to replace them in case of loss or theft.

When packing for a long trip, limit yourself to about two colors of clothing. This will help to ensure that everything you bring to wear on your trip will match with everything else. It will also limit the number of shoes and accessories you need to match with your outfits.

Pack some plastic bags when going on a longer trip. Plastic bags always come in handy when you spill something, for toiletries or if you have some dirty laundry. Meanwhile, some places have laundry opportunities, so it is always useful to carry a plastic bag with you to keep your dirty laundry in.

No matter where you are going or how you plan to get there, the information in this article will offer a fresh perspective to consider as you make your travel plans. Keep these tips in mind as you plan your next recreational trip, and you are sure to discover something new.

To learn more about last minute hotel deals Toronto and Toronto hotel deals, visit Edna D. kudeta's site today for complete information.n

1: Turn This Year's Renter Into An Annual Vacation Rental Guest

In the business world, success depends on repeat customers and their referrals - the vacation home rental business is no exception. Which is why it is startling to note that repeat renters in this business account for only 10% of all bookings.

2: Top Ten Sights To Visit In Munich

First-time travellers to Munich will marvel at the amazing sights and places of this beautiful city As Munich is very compact and small with a good and reliable transport system, it is an easy city to travel around

3: Nights Out In Exeter ?an Exeter Guide To Pubs And Clubs

Exeter is a busy and vibrant city with nightlife to match The majority of the Nightclubs are located down on the old Exeter Quay and this provides a pleasant backdrop to some of Exeter?s Nightclubs

4: 5 Top Snow Boarding Destinations

Now let me tell you about some of the greatest places that there are to snow board in the world. I really mean I am going to tell you about the places, that if you are a snow boarder you simply must visit if you want to have experienced the greatest snow boarding that is out there.

5: Booking Your Hotel Through a Travel Site? Wait Until You Read This

Travel sites offer an extremely convenient way to check fares and reviews of hotels. You just enter your location and you are presented with a list of hotels in that area with user reviews and the lowest fares. What can get better than this, isn't it? That's what I felt when I booked my hotel through MakeMyTrip.com, a popular travel site. What awaited me was something I never expected in my wildest dreams...

Source: http://www.content4reprint.com/recreation-and-leisure/travel/a-must-read-if-you-are-planning-on-traveling-abroad.htm

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Smallest vibration sensor in the quantum world

Mar. 15, 2013 ? Carbon nanotubes and magnetic molecules are considered building blocks of future nanoelectronic systems. Their electric and mechanical properties play an important role. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and French colleagues from Grenoble and Strasbourg have now found a way to combine both components on the atomic level and to build a quantum mechanical system with novel properties.

The study has been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

In their experiment the researchers used a carbon nanotube that was mounted between two metal electrodes, spanned a distance of about 1 ?m, and could vibrate mechanically. Then, they applied an organic molecule with a magnetic spin due to an incorporated metal atom. This spin was oriented in an external magnetic field.

?In this setup, we demonstrated that the vibrations of the tube are influenced directly when the spin flips parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field,? explains Mario Ruben, head of the working group at KIT. When the spin changes, the resulting recoil is transferred to the carbon nanotube and the latter starts to vibrate. Vibration changes the atomic distances of the tube and, hence, its conductance that is used as a measure of motion.

The strong interaction between a magnetic spin and mechanical vibration opens up interesting applications apart from determining the states of motion of the carbon nanotube. It is proposed to determine the masses of individual molecules and to measure magnetic forces within the nano-regime. Use as a quantum bit in a quantum computer might also be feasible.?

According to the supplementary information published in the same issue of nature nanotechnology such interactions are of high importance in the quantum world, i.e. in the range of discrete energies and tunnel effects, for the future use of nanoscopic effects in macroscopic applications. Combination of spin, vibration, and rotation on the nanoscale in particular may result in entirely new applications and technologies.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Marc Ganzhorn, Svetlana Klyatskaya, Mario Ruben, Wolfgang Wernsdorfer. Strong spin?phonon coupling between a single-molecule magnet and a carbon nanotube nanoelectromechanical system. Nature Nanotechnology, 2013; 8 (3): 165 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2012.258

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/u9hITJ-ld-0/130315095919.htm

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Monday, March 11, 2013

Protection of Sharks and Rays Threatens to Divide CITES (Voice Of America)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/290404975?client_source=feed&format=rss

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People Who Inspire The World's Most Innovative ... - Business Insider

Elon Musk is arguably the most innovative man in technology, or even the world. He's the founder of electric car company Tesla Motors, he's chairman of Solar City, and he created NASA rival SpaceX.

Who inspires the man who inspires everyone else?

Today at a big tech conference, South by Southwest, Elon Musk told thousands of listeners that he has great admiration for Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos.

"I've been inspired by a lot of historical figures," Musk said. "One of my favorite guys is Ben Franklin. He just thought about what are the problems that need to get solved and worked on those. He seemed like a good guy all around. I like historical figures in science and literature."

Next, Musk was asked for the best advice he's ever received.

Musk says it didn't come from a person. It came from studying physics.

"The physics training is very good training," he said. "It's a good framework for reasoning. You break things down to the most fundamental truths, and break them down to try and figure out what reality is. You have got have a framework for getting there. Quantum Mechanics is incredibly counter-intuitive, but it's true. It's a lot of advice, and it's the right framework."

Overall, Musk is a fan of critical thinking.

"Just in general, critical thinking is good," he said. "Does the logic connect? What are the range of probably outcomes? You want to figure out what those probabilities are and ideally be the House. It's fine to gamble, as long as you're the House. Also, listen to critical feedback, particularly from friends. Generally they will be thinking it but they won't tell you."

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/people-who-inspire-the-worlds-most-innovative-billionaire-2013-3

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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Video Game Analyst Michael Pachter Announces His Next ...

Michael Pachter, renowned video game analyst, held a presentation at South by Southwest (SXSW), where he shared his predictions about the upcoming generation of video game consoles.

Images of Pachter's presentation come care of Geoff Keighley on Twitter. Among his many predictions, Pachter said that this will be the last generation of home consoles, games will cost an extra $10 than the previous generation, and he shared his lifetime sales predictions for the Wii U, PlayStation 4, and whatever Microsoft's next console will be.

Pachter believes that the Wii U will under-perform, and sell about half as many units as the Wii. For the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's next console, he is predicting that both consoles will outsell their predecessors by about 20 million units.

What do you think about Pachter's latest batch of predictions?

Source: http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/03/09/video-game-analyst-michael-pachter-announces-his-next-generation-predictions-at-sxsw.aspx

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