Lethargia & other: 2008

Monday, 8 September 2008

Mouse Study Uncovers Early Trigger For Type-1 Diabetes

�Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine are sloughing light on how type-1 diabetes begins.

Doctors have known the disease is caused by an autoimmune flack on the pancreas, merely the exact trigger of the attack has been unclear. Now, a new study in mice implicates the immune signal interferon-alpha as an early culprit in a chain of events that upend lucre metabolism and make patients dependent on lifelong insulin injections.

"We never considered that interferon-alpha could be a major actor in early type-1 diabetes," said Qing Li, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in microbiology and immunology who was the master author of a newspaper describing the new result. The study is published in today's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "This was a pretty surprising finding."

Interferon-alpha usually helps the body battle viruses. Synthetic interferon-alpha is injected as a drug for treating hepatitis C and some forms of cancer, Li noted.

"Everybody's been wondering what process initiates type-1 diabetes," said Hugh McDevitt, MD, professor of microbiology and immunology and the study's senior author.

Type-1 diabetes is caused by complete deficiency of insulin, a endocrine that helps the body store and burn sugar. About 1 million Americans have the disease, too known as juvenile diabetes because it tends to be diagnosed in children and youth adults, for which at that place is no effective bar or cure. Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, blindness, limb amputations and kidney failure.

The early pathology of type-1 diabetes is hard to study in humans, McDevitt said, because it's well-nigh impossible to predict world Health Organization will get the disease and when it will develop. Scientists have relied on animate being models, such as diabetic mice, because they predictably develop high gear blood sugar and other features of the human disease.

To pinpoint interferon-alpha, Li and McDevitt worked backwards from what they knew about how type-1 diabetes starts. Prior studies in diabetic mice showed a pathogenic role for immune cells called CD4+ T cells. These cells ar an early player in the immune attack on the body's insulin factories, pancreatic genus Beta cells. The scientists used silicon gene chip technology to measure which genes ar revved up in the CD4+ T cells just before they assault the pancreas. The measurements hide into a pattern: many of the upregulated genes were known to be controlled by interferon-alpha.

To confirm the signal's nefarious role, the researchers gave mice an antibody that blocks interferon-alpha natural process several weeks before the animals were expected to develop diabetes. Thwarting interferon-alpha delayed the start of the disease by an average of four weeks, and, in 60 pct of toughened mice, it prevented diabetes entirely.

The finding confirmed the importance of interferon-alpha and helped the scientists connect the dots between normal mouse physiology and early diabetes. Mice are born with more pancreatic beta cells than they want, Li noted. The extras soon undergo programmed cell death, going away plenty of working beta cells to pump out insulin. However, in mice that develop diabetes, debris left behind by the dying cells triggers an inappropriate immune response, with lots of interferon-alpha. The interferon-alpha cues immune end of more than and more than beta cells, causing insulin deficiency and diabetes.

The mechanics may be more composite in mankind, the scientists cautioned, explaining that patch their new finding goes a long way toward explaining the beginnings of diabetes in the mice, additional genetic and environmental factors influence the human disease. But the basic principle of disease is likely the same in diabetic mice and humankind, they said.

"A normal process - programmed cell death - causes a normal response," McDevitt said. "But it does this in such a way that, in a small subset of the population, it starts them on the road to type-1 diabetes."

Li and McDevitt collaborated with Stanford colleagues Baohui Xu, PhD, fourth-year research scientist in pathology; Sara Michie, MD, professor of pathology; and Kathleen Rubins, PhD, a quondam postdoctoral assimilator at Stanford who is now a research cuss at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and with Robert Schreiber, a professor at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The research was funded by grants from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the American Diabetes Association Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship and the National Institutes of Health.

Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient upkeep at its three institutions - Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please bring down the Web site of the aesculapian center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu/.

Source: Erin Digitale

Stanford University Medical Center

More information

Saturday, 9 August 2008

Grand Drive

Artist: Grand Drive

   Genre(s):
Other

Discography:

Maybe I'm A Winner

Year: 2004
Tracks: 3

Grand Drive's brothers Danny Wilson (pencil lead vocals/guitar) and Julian Wilson (keyboards) were in the number 1 place from Australia, just grew up in the bouldered southwest London suburban area of Sutton in the '70s. In school, they met bassist Ed Balch and formed their showtime radical, Soul Green, with several impermanent drummers. It wasn't until 1992 that they establish a more than permanent stickman in Paul Wigens and changed their describe to Grand Drive, taking their describe from a long, meandering road in South London that connected Raynes Park (where one of the Wilsons lived) with Sutton. Grand Drive's low acquittance was "Tell It Like It Is" (it had in the first place been recorded in October 1995, merely wasn't released until November 1997 as 7" on the Vinyl Junkie label and afterwards reissued on an EP by the Vaclav imprint). The single -- like much of their real, which combines up-tempo country-rock with gloriously soulful arrangements -- was named Single of the Week by NME, wHO called it "one of the most luscious, soul-tugging singles of the year." Julian Wilson, in the meantime, took time sour to play Hammond harmonium for Gene and besides appeared on the Drawn to the Deep End record album. In May 1998, Vaclav issued Grand Drive's On a Good Day EP as a limited edition CD and 7" single. Grand Drive then came to the attention of Tom Bridgewater and Mark Rogers' London-based Loose Recordings (launched in 1998 with their genre-defining New Sounds of the Old West aLT country/American compilations). Loose issued their Wrong Notes EP in December 1998 and, in April 1999, compiled their low album, Road Music, from the three previously released EPs and deuce singles. The mathematical group returned to the studio and in September 2000, Loose released their adventurous Unfeigned Love and High Adventure album. Comprised of 11 new songs boosted with flowery train and organisation arrangements, the album -- co-produced by the Wilsons and producer Pete Hoffman -- raised the bar for orchestral country-rock. After its release, Julian moved to Paris to be with his girlfriend and the band had set any plans on hold until RCA Victor purloined the group and signed them to a substantial platter deal. The label re-released True Love and High Adventure and Road Music in April 2001. In June, RCA Victor issued the band's Wheels EP.

Approaching off a hot performance at the yearbook SXSW music league in spring 2003, Grand Drive were more than ready to departure their stateside debut in May. Grand Drive collects 13 tracks from the band's trey late albums, which were initially useable in the U.K.

Backstreet Boys Back in Studio

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Twinhooker and Paulie Walnuts

Artist: Twinhooker and Paulie Walnuts

   Genre(s):
Jungle

Discography:

Tune In

Year: 2006
Tracks: 10

MAD001

Year: 2005
Tracks: 3

DJ Guy Salama Feat Dynamic

Monday, 30 June 2008

Editors To Play New Material During Glastonbury Festival Set

Editors frontman Tom Smith has revealed that the band are considering airing a new song during their performance at Glastonbury later today (June 27th).

Smith said the group, who are due to perform on the Pyramid Stage, had been rehearsing the new song, entitled 'No Sound But The Wind', in the build up to the event.

Speaking to the Daily Star, he said that the band had decided they need to “step outside of our comfort zone” with today's show.

“Playing on the Pyramid Stage is a big deal. I haven’t let myself think about it as it’s such a huge show,” he added.

Smith also spoke about the birth of hist first child with Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman.

“He’s the most amazing thing my eyes have ever seen. He’s too young for Glastonbury, though,” he said.

See Also

SUMMER DONNA

Artist: SUMMER DONNA

   Genre(s):
disco

Discography:

I REMEMBER YESTERDAY

Year: 1977
Tracks: 8

A LOVE TRILOGY

Year: 1976
Tracks: 5

Sunday, 29 June 2008

Miley Cyrus To Host Own Teen TV Talk Show?

Miley Cyrus is set to launch her own teen talk show with the help of Tyra Banks, according to latest reports.

The Hannah Montana star is currently in discussions to host a TV show aimed at a younger audience.

Model-turned-TV presenter Tyra Banks is planning to produce a younger version of her own show with help from the Disney starlet, the pair having met during a trip to Nashville, Tennessee last month.

A source tells Star magazine: "Tyra wants to produce a show for Miley.

"Miley already has a huge following among teen girls, so her show would likely be successful. Tyra sees Miley's potential."

Would you watch Miley’s TV teen talk show? Be sure to leave your comments below.

Saturday, 28 June 2008

Willy Chirino

Artist: Willy Chirino

   Genre(s):
Latin
   Latin: Dance

Discography:

Greatest Hits

Year: 2000
Tracks: 12

Oro Salsero Disc 2

Year: 1996
Tracks: 9

Oro Salsero Disc 1

Year: 1996
Tracks: 10

Salsa

Year:
Tracks: 8

Combining the musical traditions of Cuba with American rock and jazz, Cuba-born and South Florida-based vocaliser and bandleader Willie Chirino helped to create the "Miami Sound" of Salsa euphony. The composer of more than one c songs, Chirino's material has been covered by a prolonged list of artists including Raphael, Ricardo Montaner, Rocio Jurado, Celia Cruz, Oscar D'Leon, Angela Carrasco, Jorge Muniz and Nydia Caro. Chirino's song, "Soy sauce," has been recorded by more than sixty artists including The Gypsy Kings, whose rendering sold more than foursome one thousand thousand copies. Chirino likewise composed and performed the theme songs for Spanish-language video georgia home boy operas, "La Zulianita" and "Pobre Diabla."

Chirino has received numerous awards throughout his calling. He was named "World-beater" of Miami's Calle Ocho Festival in 1993. Two eld later, a section of NW 17th Avenue in Miami was christened "Willie Chirino Way". Chirino received a UNICEF awarding for his exercise for children via the Willie Chirino Foundation.

In May, 1989, Chirino opened a eating place and night club, Zarabanda, in Coral Gables, Florida.

Ne-Yo's New Tracks Get The Seal Of Approval From His First Love -- And Michael Jackson

Ne-Yo is only on his third album, but already he has established a couple of themes that run through all his work. The R&B singer/songwriter has decided that each album has to have at least one tribute to his first love and one song that pays homage to his musical icon, Michael Jackson.

"Anybody who has been following Ne-Yo from the start knows that I'm a huge, huge Michael Jackson fan," the singer explained. "And love is one of the few things on the face of this planet that will never go out of style."

The MJ tribute on Ne-Yo's forthcoming album Year of the Gentleman, due in August, is called "Nobody." It's a club-thumping follow-up to his current single, "Closer." (Read what Ne-Yo had to say about whether his remix of Lil Wayne's "A Milli" is a dis of Chris Brown in the MTV Newsroom.)

While "Closer" is about a dancefloor hookup between two strangers, "Nobody" presents a different scenario. "Say she didn't give you anything, but instead she just started dancing, and it was the most amazing thing you've ever seen," Ne-Yo said. "It's like she's untouchable, like it would be a sin to touch her or dance with her, with what's going on with her right now."

When Ne-Yo played the track for Jackson, with whom he's currently working, he got a positive response. "He told me that he likes the way I do Michael Jackson," Ne-Yo beamed. "I asked him what he meant by that, and he said, 'When you do that, it doesn't feel like you're trying to copy me or trying to be me. It feels like you're complimenting me.' And that's what I'm doing. It means the world that he liked it."

Another new track called "Stop the World" is a piano ballad about falling in love so hard that you believe those feelings could literally stop the world from spinning. "That happens to me a lot," he said. "I'm a bleeding heart, ladies and gentleman. But the first time it happened for me was when I was 16 years old."

In the song, Ne-Yo sings, "Now I brace myself for the fight/ Something must go wrong because it's way too right/ I'm light as a feather tonight."

Ne-Yo took "Stop the World" to the woman who inspired it, as well as "So Sick" and "Do You" from his previous albums. "I talk to her from time to time," he said. "She knows she's responsible [for those three songs]. Her man knows, her daughter knows, and they're flattered. She makes for great song lyrics, but she better not ask for 10 percent!

"The crazy thing about the song is that whenever you're in a blissful situation, you can't help but think about when it's going to end," Ne-Yo said. "I think deep down, everybody just wants to be sad. That's when you feel you're most alive. Not when you're happy."

That melancholic feeling also motivates the ballad "So You Can Cry," which Ne-Yo wrote after a female friend called to ask him to console her following a break-up that made her lock herself in her apartment for two weeks. "If there's something you don't want to become a song," he warned, "don't tell me, because I'm going to use it. I'm a heartless bastard."

Well, not quite. Instead of just consoling his friend verbally, Ne-Yo's song is meant to cheer her up as well. "I'm calling on God to tell Him to shine the sun the other way so she can cry all day long," he explained. At the same time, he refuses to attend her "pity party," because he doesn't have much patience for people complaining about situations of their own making, which he also addresses in a separate song called "What's the Matter."

"What's the Matter" is a be-careful-for-what-you-wish-for warning, and unlike most of Ne-Yo's material, it isn't purely romantic. The first verse addresses a woman who wants to be with a bad boy and then gets upset that he doesn't treat her well. Verse two addresses a man who wants to be a drug dealer but then gets upset when he gets caught and is sent to prison. Verse three addresses people who don't vote but then get upset about the political system.

"They ask for something, they get it, and then they don't want it no more," Ne-Yo said. "You don't vote but complain about who the president is? Be mad at yourself. This is what happens.

"All my albums are so relationship-oriented," Ne-Yo added, "that I wanted to get away from doing only that. Nine out of 10 times, what I sing about is what happened to me or what I observed. That's why I go back to the points in my life that were the most painful or the most sad, and for whatever reason, they make the best songs. Everybody loves drama."

Ne-Yo's label rep noted that a final track listing for Year of the Gentleman has yet to be determined.

See Also

Music Industry To Adapt As 14-24s Choose Illegal Downloads

The music industry needs to adapt to the 'digital landscape' as downloading increases, experts have claimed.

A survey published by the British Music Rights (BMR) organisation this week found that a huge proportion of 14- to 24-year-olds admitted to downloading music illegally, with some fans downloading thousands of songs per month.

But according to a spokesman for music retailer HMV, the music industry must acknowledge that downloading is "part of the landscape of how people discover music now".

"Downloading happens, we accept it and adapt," he told inthenews.co.uk. "It's the serial downloading that everyone gets upset about and is really taking bread out of the mouth of the artists and labels."

The poll, carried out for the University of Hertfordshire, found that on average 50 per cent of the content of young listeners' mp3 players had been downloaded illegally.

But with the respondents also indicated they would be willing to pay for a legalised filesharing service, the BMR has stressed that the future is still bright for music sales.

Feargal Sharkey, the BMR's chief executive and formerly of punk legends the Undertones, told the Guardian newspaper the music business should "draw great optimism from this groundbreaking survey".

"First and foremost, it is quite clear that this young and tech-savvy demographic is as crazy about and engaged with music as any previous generation," he explained.

"Contrary to popular belief, they are also prepared to pay for it too. But only if offered the services they want. That message comes through loud and clear."

And according to HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo, it is "sensible and reasonable" to assume that consumers will choose the convenience of downloading, either legally or illegally, and the challenge that awaits the industry is to evolve.

"From retail's point of view, the model we have is that people like to mix and match between physical and digital music forms. If you're a fan of an artist you'll want to go and see them and buy the t-shirt, so money will still be made that way.

"Of course, the anti-establishment nature of downloading is part of its appeal, but in terms of most consumers, the vast majority will engage via a mix of physical and downloads, some legal, some not. As a retailer we acknowledge and are prepared for that."

He explained that HMV is rolling out next generation stores with download kiosks and social networking access points which provide a social space to spend time in - and created a 25 per cent uplift in sales after being trialled in Dudley.

HMV also plans to launch a "social discovery site" at getcloser.com and in HMV stores, allowing music and film "to share their passions and recommendations".

18/06/2008 00:01:01

See Also

The Unband

Artist: The Unband

   Genre(s):
Other

Discography:

Retarder

Year: 2000
Tracks: 14

Has X Factor's Dannii Minogue Had Plastic Surgery?

Dannii Minogue has responded to Cheryl Cole’s appointment as X Factor judge with some new plastic surgery, according to rumours on set.
The Australian star is widely known to have welcomed Sharon Osbourne’s exit from the show, but according to a production source she is now intent on competing with her younger Girls Aloud replacement.
The insider tells the Daily Mirror, “Dannii walked into Arsenal's Emirates stadium for the auditions and you could tell she'd put in a lot of work into looking good. She knows there's a younger, more successful, more attractive kid on the block and they will both be fighting for attention.
"Dannii's face seems a lot tighter than last year and everyone is gossiping that she's had a bit of work done.
"She's 36 and Cheryl is just 24 and she's desperate not to be cast as the older Sharon Osbourne type - she wants to be Cheryl's equal. But it isn't working out like that.
"She's not happy that Cheryl is on £800,000, just £100,000 less than her. She feels there should be a bigger gap and, with Sharon gone, she should be earning nearer her £1.5m pay packet."

Muppet creator's life screen bound

A new biopic about the life and work of 'The Muppets' creator Jim Henson is to be made.
Empire Film Group, Inc has acquired the motion picture production and distribution rights to Robert D Slane's screenplay 'Henson'.
The film is due to begin production in the late summer with a budget of $30m.
Commenting, Empire Home Entertainment President Eric Parkinson said: "Jim Henson is one of the best known and most beloved entertainers of all time. His story is inspiring, tragic, heartwarming and epic, and will make for an important and entertaining motion picture."