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Individuals Genetically At Risk Of Developing Psychological Disorders Also Benefit The Most From Positive Environments
Certain individuals have long been regarded as particularly susceptible to developing behavioural and emotional problems when they experience negative environmental conditions, due to the fact that they carry so-called "vulnerability genes". Existing research suggests, for instance, that such "genetically vulnerable" individuals are most likely to become impulsive and hyperactive if their mothers smoked while pregnant, to behave anti-socially if subjected to child abuse, and to become depressed if exposed to many negative life events (e.g., divorce, unemployment). But a new evaluation of existing gene-by-environment interaction (GXE) research highlighting such genetic vulnerability to adversity challenges this traditional interpretation of existing evidence. Research published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that those carrying "vulnerability genes" are not only more likely than others to be adversely affected by negative experiences but to also benefit more than others from positive environments, making them more malleable or plastic, not just vulnerable. This novel interpretation of old and new findings suggests that "vulnerability genes" might be better conceptualised as "plasticity or malleability genes" because carriers are more affected, for better and for worse, by positive and negative environmental conditions.

The White House Announces H1N1 Flu Preparedness Summit
The White House announced that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan will host an all-day H1N1 Flu Preparedness Summit with states to further prepare this nation for the possibility of a more severe outbreak of H1N1 flu. The Summit will be held on July 9, 2009 at the Natcher Conference Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
News of the day
Two New Studies On Circadian Rhythms
Dartmouth Medical School geneticists have made new inroads into understanding the regulatory circuitry of the biological clock that synchronizes the ebb and flow of daily activities, according to two studies published May 15.
Mental Health

Mesoblast Limited's First Patients In Bone Marrow Transplant Trial Show Earlier Engraftment

Australian regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Limited has announced successful results from the first five patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation with haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells expanded by the patented allogeneic, or "off-the-shelf", Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs). The Phase I/II trial in up to 30 patients is being conducted by Mesoblast"s US-based associated company Angioblast Systems Inc. at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. The trial is funded through a grant awarded by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH). Successful bone marrow reconstitution and engraftment was achieved in all five patients with haematologic malignancies who received MP! C-expanded haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from cord ! blood, w ith no cell-related adverse events. The median time to engraftment was 15 days, approximately two weeks faster than expected without MPC expansion. The MPC product used in this trial is being developed under a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) orphan drug designation recently granted to Angioblast Systems Inc. for expanding haematopoietic stem and progenitor cell numbers in patients with haematologic malignancies. Executive Director Professor Silviu Itescu said these initial results achieved with the Angioblast allogeneic MPCs were extremely encouraging. "By significantly reducing the time to engraftment and increasing the overall success rate of an allogeneic bone marrow transplant, this technology has the potential to lower the risk of infections, bleeding, and death in critically ill patients with haematologic malignancies following chemotherapy," he said. In view of the important nature of the unmet medical need,! the Company will seek to obtain US FDA clearance to commence an accelerated Phase 3 program if subsequent patients in the trial continue to show enhanced bone marrow engraftment potential. "This would represent a significantly shortened timetable to product commercialisation", added Professor Itescu. About Orphan Drug Designation Orphan drug designation is reserved for therapies which are being developed for conditions affecting up to 200,000 patients annually in the US, and allows for an accelerated review process by the FDA, seven-year market exclusivity in the US upon obtaining marketing authorisation, tax benefits, and exemption from user fees. Mesoblast Limited


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