Gene linked to worse outcomes for melanoma

Feb. 18, 2013 ? Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have identified a gene present in some melanoma which appears to make the tumour cells more resistant to treatment, according to research published February 19 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

The scientists discovered that the gene TP63 is unexpectedly expressed in some melanoma and correlates significantly with a worse prognosis. It is hoped this new understanding of what makes some melanoma cells so difficult to kill will help inform the development of new therapies.

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer which usually appears on the body as a new or changing mole. Almost 13,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with melanoma each year. While it is less common than other forms of skin cancer -- around five per cent of skin cancers are melanoma -- it results in around 75 per cent of skin cancer related deaths (more than 2000 deaths a year in the UK).

The number of cases of melanoma is rising faster than almost any other cancer and one of the main risk factors is ultraviolet light, which comes from the sun or sunbeds. While early-stage melanomas can often be removed by surgery, more advanced melanomas are much harder to treat.

Dr Daniele Bergamaschi, a senior lecturer in cutaneous research at Queen Mary said: "For most patients where the melanoma has spread beyond the skin, there are few effective treatments and overall survival rates for this disease have not changed much over the past 30 years.

"To develop better treatments we need to understand the basic biology underpinning why these cells are so resistant to being killed."

The researchers analysed 156 melanoma tissue samples from 129 individuals for expression of the protein p63 -- the protein encoded by the gene TP63. They found that p63 was expressed in more than 50 per cent of the samples (58% of primary metastatic samples, 53% of recurrent samples and 66% of metastatic samples) and correlated significantly with death from melanoma.

Dr Bergamaschi said: "We did not expect to find the TP63 gene expressed in melanoma. It is not usually found in the melanocytes (skin pigment cells), which are the cells from which melanomas develop. However, it appears in some cases this gene is turned on as the tumour forms, and when it does it is linked to a worse prognosis."

The researchers suggest that the TP63 gene, and the subsequent production of the protein p63 in some melanoma, is inhibiting the apoptotic function of the protein p53. One of the main activities mediated by p53 is apoptosis -- the process of programmed cell death and one of the main mechanisms by which cancer cells die.

Dr Bergamaschi said: "The apoptotic pathway is often not working in melanoma. However this is not explained by mutations in the TP53 gene, which encodes for the p53 protein, as evidence suggests this is mutated in less than 10 per cent of melanoma.

"This work suggests that in a significant number of cases it is actually the protein p63 which is inhibiting p53's apoptotic function, making some tumours more resistant to treatment. We therefore suggest that p63 should be considered when designing new treatments for melanoma which are focused on re-activating the apoptotic pathway in order to make the cancer cells easier to kill."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Queen Mary, University of London.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. R. N. Matin, A. Chikh, S. Law Pak Chong, D. Mesher, M. Graf, P. Sanza, V. Senatore, M. Scatolini, F. Moretti, I. M. Leigh, C. M. Proby, A. Costanzo, G. Chiorino, R. Cerio, C. A. Harwood, D. Bergamaschi. p63 is an alternative p53 repressor in melanoma that confers chemoresistance and a poor prognosis. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2013; DOI: 10.1084/jem.20121439

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/nu5z4Czu3KI/130219102443.htm

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How to get free seeds for your first garden - Mother Nature Network

Starting a garden from seed can be an expensive proposition if you're ordering online and buying from seed catalogs. A handful of harder-to-find heirloom seeds can cost as much as a frou-frou cup of coffee. Factor in shipping charges and you'll be wondering how starting a garden is supposed to save you money.

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Fortunately, experienced gardeners can be some of the most generous people ? especially where seeds are concerned ? and they are often willing to part with seeds to help a new gardener.

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Below are some tips on places you can go online and in real life to get your green thumbs on free garden seeds.

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Gardening forums

When I started my first real outdoor garden, I was lucky enough to have been part of an online forum filled with gardeners who where as generous with their knowledge as they were with the seeds from their gardens. The popularity of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest has depressed participation in online forums, but they're still the place to go to meet serious seed savers and swappers. There are many gardening websites with active communities and seed swapping forums that are worth checking out.

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Sometimes gardeners unload excess seeds on newbies for what is known as Self-Addressed Stamped Envelopes offers. A SASE seed offer means you will have to send the gardener an envelope with your name and address and stamps that cover the cost of postage of the seeds they are sending you. How many seeds you get will depend on the gardener, but they?re usually more seeds than you could buy for the cost of two postage stamps. GardenWeb is a good place to get started, but also search for some smaller forums where you won?t get lost in the crowd.

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Seed swaps

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Late winter and early spring is the time of year when gardeners get together and swap seeds saved from their garden the previous year. Gardeners bring in their own saved seeds, and sometimes extra seeds they've purchased, and exchange them at these swaps for seeds they are interested in growing. Usually, to participate in a seed swap you have to take seeds to exchange, but some seed swaps may be set up so that new gardeners who don?t have seeds can take some home with them too. Do a Google search for seed swaps in your community and attend as many as possible to get to know the gardeners in your area.

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Seed libraries

Seed libraries have been rising in popularity the past couple of years. They can be a standalone project, or they can be connected to the library in your municipality. They work on an honor system; you are allowed to take seeds for free with the understanding that you will return seeds at the end of the season. SeedLibraries.org is a recently formed social network of seed savers and seed librarians. There you?ll find seed libraries across the country and information about starting one in your community.

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Ask a gardener for free seeds

Maybe you're the kind of person who does not feel comfortable asking strangers for something free. But chances are that you already have a friend who is a gardener, someone you can ask for seeds. It might be a neighbor, family member or even a coworker, and they probably have a seed stash of their own that they will happily dip into to help a new gardener get started.

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Save your own seeds

Remember the saying "beggars can't be choosers" when you're asking for free seeds. Do not turn your nose up at any seed that is offered for free that you can actually put to use in your garden. Even if it isn?t something you particularly care for, think of seeds as a currency. Grow it in your garden, enjoy the blooms, or eat the fruit, and then save the seeds. By saving these ?unwanted? seeds you will build up your own seed bank. These seeds can be your entrance into a seed swap at the end of the season, they can be used to barter for seeds you do want, and you can use them to make deposits in the seed libraries and seed banks that provided you seeds when you had none. Visit the ?Engage & Grow? tab of the SeedMatters.org website for helpful information on seed saving.

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Ramon is the original urban garden blogging male espousing a DIY philosophy to gardening and garden projects. Better known online as MrBrownThumb, he?s been demystifying gardening secrets for average gardeners online since 2005. Besides writing the popular?MrBrownThumb?garden blog he?s co-founder of@SeedChat?on Twitter, the creative director of?One Seed Chicago, and founder of the?Chicago Seed Library.

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Source: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/how-to-get-free-seeds-for-your-first-garden

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IPFW goes pink for breast cancer survivors

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Indiana University ? Purdue University Fort Wayne hosted the sixth annual Pink Out luncheon on Saturday at noon to honor breast cancer survivors.

The event was open to the public. The proceeds go to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer . One dollar from each ticket sold to the IPFW women's basketball game Saturday at 2 p.m. will also go to the foundation. Breast cancer survivors will be honored at an on-court ceremony during halftime at the basketball game.

"This is an accomplishment," said Delores McKee, a 16-year-survivor. "This is a good blessing to survive this long...So many people don't make it this far. They don't even make the year survival, and the good Lord has left me here for 16 years."

Student athletes also volunteered to help throughout the day.

"About every person in our department has been affected by cancer one way or another, and we've actually had former student athletes that had grandparents and mothers that had been affected by it and are survivors and have fought the battle. So, they know right up front how important it is to get everybody involved and keeping awareness on the forefront," Tommy Bell, the Director of Athletics for IPFW, said.

IPFW has raised around $5000 for the cause. In addition to the tickets, the women's basketball team and cheerleaders competed to sell ribbons for the game and together raised around $1800.

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Source: http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/ipfw-goes-pink-for-breast-cancer-survivors

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Tourists, Romans seek piece of history at pope's Sunday prayer

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Foreign tourists and Romans packed into St. Peter's Square on Sunday for one of the last chances in history to see Pope Benedict, whose resignation caused more surprise than sadness.

"I was just excited that we were going to get to see him before he resigned, and thought it would be cool to be in Rome with something like that happening," said Shea Wild, an American student who had planned the trip before Benedict's shock decision to step down.

"If he thought he wasn't able to continue his duties as pope then, good for him for making the decision to resign," said the 21-year-old Catholic as the cobble-stoned square began filling up.

Not everyone was so understanding of the 85-year-old's decision that the effects of age meant he was unable to go on, and several compared Benedict unfavorably with his predecessor, John Paul II, who suffered a long, incapacitating illness before his death at 84 in 2005.

"It was a big disappointment because usually the pope is someone who carries out his role until the end," said Hugo Barone, 60, a retired engineer from central Italy.

"Maybe John Paul was made of tougher stuff, he saw it through to the end. Ratzinger can't do it and prefers a better life," he said, referring to Benedict by his family name.

"It's completely wrong to leave his mission," said Emanuele Vitali, a 22-year-old Sicilian studying economics in Rome who also said John Paul had done right in sticking to tradition and dying in office. "Right to the last he managed to do his work, and even did it very well.

"It's absolutely the wrong decision (to resign) because we are in a moment of social, ideological and cultural crisis and in a moment like that it is completely wrong for him to leave."

With speculation that the new pope might come from the developing world, rather than Europe as in the past, many people in the crowd wondered if the cardinals - the "princes" of the Church - might elect a pontiff from Africa.

"In the United States they never thought they could have a non-white president and now they have one. Who knows what the cardinals are thinking?" said Antonio Mingrone, 68, a former employee of the railways.

The Biazzi's, a family of Brazilians, who flew in from their holiday in Portugal after they heard of the pope's resignation, said they hoped Benedict's replacement would be from Brazil.

But with Italian politics and industry beset by scandal, and even the Vatican's own bank under investigation for money laundering, few Romans seemed keen on the next pope being Italian.

"An Italian might just personify the Italian situation," said Liborio Truncali, 50.

For Italians, Benedict's resignation has added to a sense of uncertainty as they face elections next week to replace an unelected 'technocrat' government appointed to stop the country spiraling into economic chaos.

"It's unsettling," said retiree Mingrone. "At a time when there are all these political scuffles and an economic crisis, it is one more thing weighing on our minds."

But even with the sudden uncertainty about who will lead a Church of 1.2 billion people, reeling from child sex abuse scandals and challenged by secularism and by other religions, Italians expressed more faith in the Vatican's ability to overcome its problems than in their country.

"Governments form and fall and then there's a battle between the parties. It's an on-going crisis," said Barone, convinced that the Church would survive the leadership question unscathed.

Most Romans seemed to agree, several quoting a common Roman saying that means 'things will turn out ok': "A pope dies, they make another one."

(editing by Philip Pullella)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tourists-romans-seek-piece-history-popes-sunday-prayer-152328236.html

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Significant temp rise after new ssd /windows re-install

I changed paste on cpu die and heatsink, seems to have done the trick, perhaps at some point the paste on die got dry, with my less than stellar cpu cooler i can't leave it on it's own for too long and don't do overnight cpu stressing.
All the same with less room in the case now that'll add to temps, also the new ssd is a lot faster than the other one and even writes twice as fast so i'm hoping it's just the cpu getting busy with the new hardware.
But yeah temps are pretty much back to normal it seems, within 5C or so. i tried just a heatsink job first but when i done a cinebench i seen one core was around 15C less than the others and that's what made me re-paste the die also.
With 3 SSds and 2 disc drives now i can see how you fellas go for the more sizeable cases.

Yep, seems fine again.
Edit: it's been benched and it's back to normal yay! (heatsink must have been displaced sometime between yesterday and today).

Source: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=375041&goto=newpost

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US official Blazer to leave FIFA executive seat

Associated Press Sports

updated 11:00 a.m. ET Feb. 16, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) - The American member of FIFA's executive committee who went public with bribery accusations against his boss two years ago said he won't seek re-election for a fifth term and will leave his position in May after 16 years.

Chuck Blazer is the most senior American official in world soccer but his departure was expected after his role in the scandal over presidential election candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

"It is time for new faces with new energy to take over the responsibility of FIFA's leadership," the 67-year-old Blazer said Saturday in a statement.

In 2011, he said that CONCACAF president Jack Warner and Asian confederation head Mohamed bin Hammam attempted to bribe Caribbean delegates $40,000 each to vote for Bin Hammam in the FIFA presidential election. Warner's acting successor then tried to fire Blazer, setting off more disciplinary proceedings.

Warner resigned and officials from half of its 40 member countries were investigated by FIFA. Blazer left his job as general secretary of the continental federation for North America, Central America and the Caribbean in the fallout.

A contest to replace him at FIFA is expected between American federation president Sunil Gulati and Mexican president Justino Compean. Both are members of the CONCACAF executive committee. The election is scheduled on April 19 at the confederation's congress in Panama City. The winner will be installed into the FIFA board on May 31 in Mauritius.

In Panama, CONCACAF is expected to publish results of a forensic audit of its accounts commissioned after the longstanding Warner-Blazer leadership era ended.

Blazer was the target of widespread anger last year when members were told about the New York-based body's financial affairs. Though the American was credited with increasing CONCACAF's revenues since the 1990s, officials objected to contract commissions he received which were agreed to by Warner.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Arsenal stunned out of FA Cup

PST: With their stars on the bench, Arsenal suffered a 1-0 home loss to Blackburn Saturday that knocked them out of the FA Cup.

Jamie Sabau / Getty Images

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50831587/ns/sports-soccer/

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Israel treats wounded Syrians along border

Israeli soldiers provided medical treatment to wounded Syrians who approached the countries? border and then transported them to a hospital in Israel for further treatment, the military said Saturday, in the first instance of Syrians finding shelter from their country?s civil in the Jewish state.