Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have identified a mechanism that controls the expression of genes regulating the growth of the most aggressive form of medulloblastoma, the most common paediatric brain tumour. The team also identifies potential targets for future treatments.

“We set out to find the most important regulators of gene expression programs in medulloblastoma,” says senior author Miguel Rivera, MD, of the MGH Department of Pathology and the Center for Cancer Research. “To do that we used a powerful genomic technology called chromatin profiling to map all the genomic elements contributing to transcription regulation in Group 3 medulloblastoma – the most aggressive subtype. This goes beyond measuring gene expression because it tells you how genes are turned on and off.”

Medulloblastoma is a fast-growing tumour that arises in the developing brain and most commonly affects children under the age of 10. Four molecular variants, each with different patterns of DNA alteration and gene expression, have been identified. Subtypes WNT and SSH are the best understood; the other two – Group 3 and Group 4 – are poorly understood and account for 60 percent of tumours.

Cells regulate whether specific genes are transcribed into RNA through the action of transcription factors, proteins that bind to DNA and either stimulate or suppress the expression of their target genes. Rivera’s team used advanced genomic technologies to identify key DNA elements called enhancers that were active in primary Group 3 medulloblastoma samples and cell lines. The transcription factor OTX2, which plays a role in normal brain development and is known to be highly expressed in Group 3 medulloblastomas, was present at the majority of active enhancer sites in tumours, suggesting it may have a role in promoting the expression of tumour-associated genes.

Subsequent experiments revealed that OTX2 can function as a “pioneer factor,” opening up chromatin – which consists of DNA wound around proteins called histones – to activate enhancers and that its function is amplified by a second transcription factor called NEUROD1. The investigators then identified a set of genes the expression of which was significantly reduced when OTX2 was suppressed. Among these genes, they found that expression of the kinase NEK2 responded to OTX2 levels and that its depletion or pharmacologic inhibition strongly reduced the growth and survival of medulloblastoma cells.

“Overall, our findings show that OTX2 is a critical factor in regulating gene expression programs in Group 3 medulloblastoma and possibly in the WNT and Group 4 subtypes, where it is also expressed,” says Rivera, who is an assistant professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School. “This work points to OTX2 itself and its target genes – including NEK2 – as potential therapeutic targets. Disruption of the relationship between OTX2 and NEUROD1 may also be a potential treatment strategy.

Massachusetts General Hospitalwww.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=2063

More than 3,000 medical laboratory industry professionals expected to attend the launch edition of MEDLAB Europe at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. 

After many years of operating successful MEDLAB events around Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions has announced that the MEDLAB Series will be expanding its presence into Europe. Taking place at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain, from 13-15 September 2017, more than 3,000 industry professionals are expected to attend Europe’s leading event for laboratory management and diagnosis.
With the European medical laboratory market expected to reach USD 15.5 billion (€ 14.2 billion) by 2024[1], a platform such as MEDLAB presents a huge opportunity for global laboratory industry leaders, including manufacturers, dealers and distributors, to make inroads into the European market. Housing international exhibitors and covering 2,000 sqm of exhibition space, MEDLAB Europe will give visitors from across the world an opportunity to access cutting-edge laboratory products, next-generation technology, innovative services and world-class educational content. 
According to Tom Coleman, Group Exhibition Director, MEDLAB Series: “The launch of MEDLAB Europe is in line with our global expansion strategy for our MEDLAB series of events. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising geriatric population coupled with the rising awareness towards early diagnosis, has positioned the European medical laboratory market as a critical market for manufacturers, services providers, and dealers and distributors from across the globe. MEDLAB Europe will generate substantial value for our customers and partners by driving further product innovation and deeper engagement in these specific markets.”

Over the three-day event, MEDLAB Europe will also offer a multi-disciplinary congress tackling current challenges and developments key to the European market, and leveraging the true potential of laboratory testing to dramatically improve patient outcomes across the continent.

The conference programme covers five main tracks including Point of Care Testing (POCT), Histopathology, Lab Management, Microbiology and Hematology. From new methods of effective lab management to the development of techniques in detecting diseases, the conferences will also review the expanding role of the laboratory medicine and discuss partnership between a clinician and a lab professional in providing delivery of care to every patient.
“The scientific programme at MEDLAB has been carefully designed in collaboration with some of the brightest minds in the medical laboratory industry in order to have a real impact on improving the health and wellbeing of patients across the region,” said Coleman.

¹ http://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/europe-in-vitro-diagnostics-ivd-market-analysis

www.medlabeurope.com

With the medical laboratory market in the UAE expected to continue on a growth trajectory, innovative products and next-generation technology remains a focus for the region’s medical laboratory and IVD industry

Dubai, UAE, 25^th January 2017: As the UAE gears up for a boom in the In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market, expected to reach USD 0.83 billion by the end of 2020^[1], the medical community has turned its focus towards exciting new products and technologies to keep up with the demand for new diagnostic capabilities that can have a real impact on improving the health of patients across the region.
MEDLAB Exhibition & Congress, the world’s leading event for laboratory management and diagnostics, which takes place on 6^th – 9^th February 2017 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, presents a huge opportunity for global laboratory industry leaders, including manufacturers, dealers and distributors, to showcase new innovations and to introduce some cutting-edge products to the UAE market. More than 30,000 visitors are expected to attend the four-day exhibition where they can explore over 400 products and services from more than 700 exhibitors from 38 countries.
A number of companies associated with ABIMO (Brazilian Medical Devices Manufacturers Association) will be at MEDLAB to showcase products and services including diagnosis and laboratory reagents, IVD, devices for medical tests, laboratory tests, laboratory refrigerators and products for hematology.
According to Clara Porto, ABIMO’s marketing and exports manager, “There is almost no national production of the sector and, as such, the region is quite dependent on imports. Generally, there is a great acceptance of Brazilian products so we expect to make good contacts and profitable deals at this year’s show.”
Binding Site, one of the largest independent providers for IVD tests and equipment in the United Kingdom, will be at MEDLAB to launch its latest protein system that can process complex protein assays 40% faster than current systems. Charles de Rohan, CEO from Binding Site commented: “We wanted to bring simplicity to complex analytical processes. The result is Optilite, the latest innovation in special protein testing, which offers laboratories reliable results without compromising speed and efficiency.”
Meanwhile, Sysmex Corporate, one of the leading international providers of solutions for systemising processes for medical laboratories, will be at MEDLAB to showcase their new urinalysis series. For the first time, they are offering an ‘all-in-one’ series of analysers that will allow you to examine both through chemistry and sediment, followed by imaging and validation.
Another exhibitor bringing something new to the market is American Medical Technologists (AMT), an internationally recognised certification agency for allied health professionals, who will promote a set of practice exams for its respected laboratory certifications including Medical Technologists (MTs), Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) and Phlebotomists.
“With a new practice test for those preparing to take the certification exam for medical technologist through AMT, candidates have an important tool to take them a step closer to becoming certified members of the clinical laboratory community,” said Christopher Damon, JD, Executive Director of AMT.
This year at MEDLAB, a selection of free workshops will also be available for all industry professionals offering learning and training opportunities from leading international IVD and laboratory companies. The free workshops are an addition to MEDLAB’s conferences, which will span from blood transfusion medicine, laboratory informatics, clinical diagnostics of cardiology and diabetes, to laboratory management, microbiology, immunology and clinical chemistry.
Dr Mansour Al-Zarouni, Member, General Secretariat Committee at Sultan Bin Khalifa International Thalassemia Award (SITA) and Chair of MEDLAB said: “With new cutting edge innovations having a lifecycle of approximately 24-48 months, it’s crucial for this congress to play a role in connecting and merging pre-existing gaps between clinicians and laboratory professionals, through the conferences, to ensure everything is done to improve patient care outcomes.”
According to Simon Page, Managing Director of Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, the Organiser of MEDLAB: “It is not enough for our visitors to simply view the new technologies from afar – we want them to get a hand-on experience of these products through the free workshops directly offered by the manufacturers. For example, LabCorp from the USA and National Reference Laboratory in the UAE are coming together to host a workshop on coagulation reference testing to discuss the significance of the coagulation reference laboratory.”
“Another example is Sidra’s workshop, the Pediatric Pathology symposium, which will address anatomical pathology, hematopathology, microbiology and molecular microbiology, clinical chemistry, and genetics, which will be led by international experts and attended by pathologists, lab physicians and scientists in the region, who work with pediatric specimens”, he added.
MEDLAB Exhibition & Congress is supported by the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention, Health Authority Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Healthcare City Authority, Jebel Ali Free Zone, College of American Pathologists, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and the Saudi Society for Clinical Chemistry.
For more information about MEDLAB Exhibition & Congress, please visit www.medlabme.com

^{[1] UAE In-Vitro Diagnostics Market – Growth, Trends & Forecast (2015-2020), August 2016}

For years, scientists have been trying to determine what effect a gene linked to the brain chemical serotonin may have on depression in people exposed to stress. But now, analysing information from more than 40,000 people who have been studied over more than a decade, researchers led by a team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found no evidence that the gene alters the impact stress has on depression.
New research findings often garner great attention. But when other scientists follow up and fail to replicate the findings? Not so much.
In fact, a recent study published in PLOS One indicates that only about half of scientific discoveries will be replicated and stand the test of time. So perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that new research led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that an influential 2003 study about the interaction of genes, environment and depression may have missed the mark.
Since its publication in Science, that original paper has been cited by other researchers more than 4,000 times, and some 100 other studies have been published about links between a serotonin-related gene, stressful life events and depression risk. It indicated that people with a particular variant of the serotonin transporter gene were not as well-equipped to deal with stressful life events and, when encountering significant stress, were more likely to develop depression.
Such conclusions were widely accepted, mainly because antidepressant drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help relieve depression for a significant percentage of clinically depressed individuals, so many researchers thought it logical that differences in a gene affecting serotonin might be linked to depression risk.
But in this new study, the Washington University researchers looked again at data from the many studies that delved into the issue since the original publication in 2003, analysing information from more than 40,000 people, and found that the previously reported connection between the serotonin gene, depression and stress wasn’t evident.
“Our goal was to get everyone who had gathered data about this relationship to come together and take another look, with each research team using the same tools to analyze data the same way,” said the study’s first author, Robert C. Culverhouse, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine and of biostatistics. “We all ran exactly the same statistical analyses, and after combining all the results, we found no evidence that this gene alters the impact stress has on depression.”
Over the years, dozens of research groups had studied DNA and life experiences involving stress and depression in the more than 40,000 people revisited in this study. Some previous research indicated that those with the gene variant were more likely to develop depression when stressed, while others didn’t see a connection. So for almost two decades, scientists have debated the issue, and thousands of hours of research have been conducted. By getting all these groups to work together to reanalyze the data, this study should put the questions to rest, according to the researchers.
“The idea that differences in the serotonin gene could make people more prone to depression when stressed was a very reasonable hypothesis,” said senior investigator Laura Jean Bierut, MD, the Alumni Endowed Professor of Psychiatry at Washington University. “But when all of the groups came together and looked at the data the same way, we came to a consensus. We still know that stress is related to depression, and we know that genetics is related to depression, but we now know that this particular gene is not.”
Culverhouse noted that finally, when it comes to this gene and its connection to stress and depression, the scientific method has done its job.

Washington University School of Medicine
medicine.wustl.edu/news/study-reverses-thinking-genetic-links-stress-depression/