Science News-New Gene Therapy for Vision Loss Proven Safe in Humans

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Medical News New Gene Therapy for Vision Loss Proven Safe in Humans In a small and preliminary clinical trial, Johns Hopkins researchers and their collaborators have shown that an experimental gene therapy that uses viruses to introduce a therapeutic gene into the eye is safe and that it may be effective in preservin... – Johns Hopkins Medicine The Lancet Embargo expired on 16-May-2017 at 18:30 ET Study Links Physician Age to Patient Mortality Risk At a glance: Hospitalized patients have a slightly higher risk of dying when treated by older hospitalists—internal medicine specialists who oversee the care of acutely ill hospitalized patients. Physician age made no difference in patient m... – Harvard Medical School Embargo expired on 16-May-2017 at 18:30 ET Patient’s cells used to replicate dire developmental condition A team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles have used the cells of AHDS patients to recreate not only the disease, but a mimic of the patient’s blood-brain barrier in the laboratory dish using induc... – University of Wisconsin-Madison Cell Stem Cell May 16, 2017 Embargo expired on 16-May-2017 at 12:00 ET Research Highlights Common Sunscreen Mistakes Sunscreen can be a valuable tool for skin cancer prevention — but only if it’s used correctly. When applying sunscreen, many people make mistakes that could compromise their protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which may increas... – American Academy of Dermatology Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Embargo expired on 16-May-2017 at 12:00 ET includes video Media Briefing: Blood Test Device Improves Sepsis Detection and Antimicrobial Stewardship In a virtual media briefing next Tuesday, May 16, at 11:30 a.m. EDT, noted infectious disease expert Mark Rupp, M.D. will detail the results of a forthcoming journal publication on a new device. – Dowling & Dennis Public Relations Embargo expired on 17-May-2017 at 00:00 ET Virtual Press Briefing: Novel Device Reduces Blood Sample Contamination, Could Save Billions in Health Care Costs Newswise hosts a virtual live press briefing on upcoming journal study with research results concerning a new blood collection technique that reduces contamination of blood samples and improves treatment outcomes. – Newswise Clinical Infectious Diseases, May 17, 2017; Newswise Live Virtual Press Briefing includes video Study Shows Novel Device Significantly Reduces Blood Draw Contamination, Reduces Risks to Patients A study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) found that a novel device can significantly reduce contamination of blood cultures, potentially reducing risky overtreatment and unnecessary use of antibiotics for many patients. This approa... – University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Clinical Infectious Diseases includes video Three Little Letters That Could Make You A Big Hero At the Beach This Summer: CPR New study shows that bystander CPR is associated with favorable neurological survival for drowning victims in cardiac arrest – Keck Medicine of USC Resuscitation Body Donations, A-Fib Scores, Prostate Cancer Screenings, and More in the Healthcare News Source The latest research, features and announcements in healthcare in the Healthcare News Source – Newswise Researchers Test How to Accurately Assess Use of New Psychoactive Drugs such as “Bath Salts” Researchers surveyed individuals entering NYC EDM parties about their drug usage, with almost one out of ten participants who reported no “bath salt” use as per the gate question then reported use of one or more drugs in this class, such as methy... – New York University The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse; K01DA038800 Complications From Thyroid Cancer Surgery More Common Than Believed, Study Finds As thyroid cancer rates rise, more people are having surgery to remove all or part of their thyroid. A new study suggests complications from these procedures are more common than previously believed. – Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism; AG049684; CA201198; HS024512 NIBIB-Funded Researchers Develop Optical Biopsy Tool to Identify Early Pancreatic Cancer Researchers have developed a new tool for detecting early pancreatic cancer. The tool bounces light off targeted tissue to detect structural changes in the tissue, a method called light-scattering spectroscopy. The researchers performed a series of p... – National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering CA205431; EB003473; CA205431 Researchers Find Link Between Donor, Bacterial Infection in Heart, Lung Transplant Recipients Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified a possible cause for a rare infection in heart and lung transplant recipients: the donor. The way in which heart and lung transplant recipients acquired a specific species of bacteria, Mycoplasma hominis, ha... – Mayo Clinic EBioMedicine New Zika Virus Inhibitor Identified Compound could serve as basis for drugs to prevent neurological complications of Zika – Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute Antiviral Research, May-2017; NIH R21NS10047 New Clinical Trial Framework Tests ‘Natural’ Cures for Cancer A University of Colorado Cancer Center clinical trial is now recruiting prostate cancer patients who would otherwise be on a watch-and-wait protocol to test the ability of grape seed extract to slow the rise of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a comm... – University of Colorado Cancer Center Carcinogenesis; Molecular Carcinogenesis; Current Cancer Drug Targets Inflammatory Signature of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease A team of investigators led by Rohit Kohli, MBBS, MS, of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, has identified key inflammatory cells involved in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. – Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Journal of Hepatology Communications Diagnostic Biomarkers in Saliva Show Promise in Recognizing Early Alzheimer’s Disease Beaumont Research Institute investigators are hopeful that their study involving small molecules in saliva will help identify those at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. – Beaumont Health Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 58(2); PubMed abstract Basis of ‘Leaky’ Brain Blood Vessels in Huntington’s Disease Identified ... – University of California, Irvine Cell Reports, May-2016 Sick Kids Live Longer, but Brain Function May Suffer Hundreds of thousands of children with chronic illnesses who used to die are now surviving their disease and treatment—which is amazing. But their brains are being damaged in the process of keeping them alive. This first ever research quantifies th... – Vanderbilt University American Psychologist includes video Investing in Drug Safety Monitoring Could Avoid Complications—and Save Medical Costs Increased investment in "pharmacovigilance surveillance"—systems to proactively monitor safety problems with new medications—has the potential to avoid harmful drug effects while lowering healthcare costs, according to a study in the June issue o... – Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Medical Care Scientists Show How Defects in Blood-Brain Barrier Could Cause Neurological Disorder Scientists for the first time have assembled a "disease in a dish" model that pinpoints how a defect in the blood-brain barrier can produce an incurable psychomotor disorder, Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome. 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Expert Available – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences The Academy for Eating Disorders Applauds France’s New Law to Protect the Health and Safety of Fashion Models, Address Eating Disorders The Academy for Eating Disorders applauds the stance taken by France to rein in fashion industry pressures on professional models to be extremely thin as a condition of employment. – Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) ATS Rally to Highlight Recent Proposals That Would Significantly Impact Research Funding and Public Health Priorities On Tuesday, May 23, 2017, the American Thoracic Society will lead ATS members, pulmonary clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates in the ATS Rally on Capitol Hill: Lab Coats for Lungs. 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Russia Increasing Fuel Exports to North Korea

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 Deutsche Welle 

Russia steps up North Korea support to constrain US

In spite of international sanctions on North Korea's communist regime, Russia has been increasing fuel exports to Pyongyang and filling in the supply gap created by China halting trade. Julian Ryall reports.

Despite efforts by the United Nations to impose isolating sanctions on North Korea in response to the country's continued development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, trade between Russia and North Korea soared more than 85 percent in the first four months of the year.

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Citing Russian customs data, the Voice of America broadcaster has reported that bilateral trade climbed to $31.83 million (29 million euros) in the January-March quarter, with the vast majority being energy products going over the border into the North.

This included $22 million worth of coal, lignite with a value of around $4.7 million, and oil estimated at $1.2 million. In return, North Korean exports to Russia were estimated to be worth $420,000. The most significant exports were chemicals and - curiously - wind instruments.

China trade falls

In contrast, North Korea's trade with China, traditionally its most important economic partner, has plummeted. Pyongyang's exports of coal to China in March came to 6,342 tons, a fraction of the 1.44 million tons sent to China in January, with an estimated value of $126.39 million. Similarly, Beijing has stopped supplying critically-needed fuel oil to the North, a clear demonstration of China's displeasure at North Korea's ongoing weapons tests.

The release of the figures detailing Russia's increased trade with North Korea coincide with President Vladimir Putin statement on Monday that Pyongyang's latest missile launch was "dangerous" - but, he added, "We must stop intimidating North Korea and find a peaceful solution to this problem."

Read more: North Korea claims successful test of new rocket able to carry nuclear warhead

James Brown, an associate professor of international relations at Tokyo campus of Temple University, believes some of the cross-border trade may be "economic opportunism" but the motivation for the vast majority of it is geopolitical.

"Russia is very worried about the isolation of North Korea and believes that makes the situation dangerous as the US is taking a confrontational approach," he told DW.

"Moscow's position is that pressure on the North has not worked and has in fact caused Pyongyang to react because it feels threatened," he said. "So instead of isolation, which is not working, Russia is proposing engagement."

The UN condemned North Korea's missile test and vowed new sanctions

New ferry route

The most recent example of this support for Pyongyang is the plan to open a ferry route between North Korea and the Russian Far East port of Vladivostok, although the proposal has been delayed by strong protests from Japan.

Read more: North Korea builds closer ties with fellow outcast Russia

In 2014, Russia announced that it was canceling $10 billion of North Korea's $11 billion in Soviet-era debt and that the remaining $1 billion would be invested back into the country. Russian investors also agreed to sink $25 billion into the North's dilapidated railway system, while more would go into basic infrastructure. The two governments also announced that Russia would rebuild the North's power grid, while the two countries would develop the ice-free port of Rason for exports of Russian coal.

In total, Russia planned to increase bilateral trade almost ten-fold to $1 billion by 2020, and that does not appear to have been hampered by more recent UN sanctions.

But Putin is also motivated by security concerns in Russia's Far East, Brown said.

"Moscow has always been worried that the defensive missile systems that the US is deploying in the region - the THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea and now Japan is discussing having Aegis Ashore - are more directed at its interests than North Korea," he said.

Daniel Pinkston, a professor of international relations at the Seoul campus of Troy University, believes that Putin - who is at odds with the international community over the Ukraine conflict and has been accused of meddling in a number of elections, including those in the US and France - may be forging closer ties with Pyongyang to sow further disarray among his perceived enemies.

Watch video00:33

North Korea launches ballistic missile

'Slash-and-burn approach'

"Putin seems to have adopted a slash-and-burn approach to the liberal international order, so anything that serves to undermine institutions such as NATO, the European Union or democracy in general is fair game," Pinkston said. "He is intent on creating instability in a way that serves Russian interests and this sort of multi-front, hybrid war serves to undermine the US and its allies."

"North Korea fits neatly into that agenda because it causes problems for Washington, keeps the US tied down, drains its resources and causes friction with allies in the region."

Pinkston points out that playing neighboring nations off one other for their respective favors is not a new North Korean tactic. It has manipulated China and Russia for its own ends in the past.

"That sort of back-and-forth was easier to pull off in the Cold War, but they seem to be trying to capitalize on their relations with Russia now that China has become more distant," the expert underlined. "And I think it is clear that North Korea will take whatever it can get in terms of political, diplomatic or military support, as well as resources."

ENERGY NEWS--Egypt looks to the future with renewable energy plan

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Trump letter accounts for more than $100 million in Russian income since 2008

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WASHINGTON 

President Donald Trump collected at least $100 million from Russian people or organizations between 2008 and this March, according to a personal letter from his tax counsels that he released Friday in response to a senator’s unofficial query.

The amount could be higher. The letter notes that money from sales of condominiums or other products would “not have been separately identified as ‘Russian’ in your books.” The letter goes on to state that regarding such income, “the amounts are immaterial.”

Also Friday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s office confirmed that he “will come to brief the full Senate next week,” according to Matt House, a spokesman for Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who made the request this week. “The time and date are still being worked out.”

WE DON’T RELY ON AMERICAN BANKS. WE HAVE ALL THE FUNDING WE NEED OUT OF RUSSIA.

Golf writer James Dodson recalling what Eric Trump told him in 2014

Trump released the letter, saying it had been sent to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who had asked former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper in a recent Senate hearing if he had ever seen “a situation where a Trump business interest in Russia caused him concern.” Clapper’s answer appeared to be less than a wholesale no – he said he’d seen nothing to concern him in the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election but that he couldn’t answer beyond that because it could interfere with an investigation.

That answer left Graham raising the matter in interviews after the hearing. But, his staff confirmed, he had not yet made an official request for an explanation from Trump.

The letter that Trump released was signed by Sheri Dillon and William Nelson and dated March 8, 2017. In it, the authors explain that they have served as tax counsel for Trump and The Trump Organization since 2005. It offers no explanation for why they were writing Trump. At the time, Trump’s possible business ties to Russia had been the subject of numerous news stories.

The letter states: “With a few exceptions . . . your tax returns do not reflect . . . any income of any type from Russian sources.”

It then goes on to define those exceptions. The first was “in 2013, the Miss Universe pageant was held in Moscow and of the $12.2 million of foreign income that it earned that year, a substantial portion of it was attributable to the Moscow event.”

The second exception stated that “in 2008, Trump Properties LLC sold an estate in Florida, that it had acquired in 2005 for approximately $41 million, to a Russian billionaire for $95 million.”

And the third explained “over the years, it is likely that TTO or third-party entities engaged in ordinary course sales of goods or services to Russians or Russian entities, such as sales, rental, fees for condominiums, hotel rooms, rounds of golf, books or Trump-licensed products (e.g. ties, mattresses, wine, etc.) that could have produced income attributable to Russian sources (such income would not have been separately identified as ‘Russian’ in your books and records and therefore not separately reflected on your tax returns). With respect to this last exception, the amounts are immaterial.”

The third exception appears to leave the question of Russia-related income unanswered. In 2008, Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. claimed at a real estate conference that “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets,” when talking about who was buying property, such as condominiums. “We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.”

The letter also is at odds with a recent Boston public radio station report in which golf writer James Dodson talked about a conversation he allegedly had with another Trump son, Eric. Eric Trump has denied that the conversation took place.

Dodson said that in 2014 he and Eric Trump were talking about how Donald Trump had secured a $100 million investment in golf courses, when Eric Trump told him, “We don’t rely on American banks. We have all the funding we need out of Russia.”

Later, he said, Trump added, “Oh, yeah. We’ve got some guys that really, really love golf, and they’re really invested in our programs. We just go there all the time.”

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The web connecting the Trump administration to Russia

The letter states that Trump holds interest in or owns more than 500 “separate entities.” The letter also notes that because of the structure of his organization, his personal income tax returns would reflect the income of these “separate entities.”

Outside of the exceptions, the letter states, “your tax returns do not reflect . . . any income of any type from Russian sources . . . any debt owed by you or TTO to Russian lenders or any interest paid by you to or TTO by Russian lenders . . . any equity investments by Russian persons or entities in entities controlled by you or TTO or . . . any equity of debt investments by you or TTO in Russian entities.”

Matthew Schofield: 202-383-6066, @mattschodcnews

The web connecting the Trump administration to Russia 4:33

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From Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to former campaign director Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's allies have business and personal connections to Russia. As Congress and the FBI look into Russia's involvement with the 2016 election, those connections are increasingly under a microscope. Natalie Fertig and Patrick Gleason McClatchy

Trump lawyers claim he has no Russian ties, income

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