VHIR

Dr. Barquinero from VHIR comments the cloning advance on human stem cells (17/05/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The head of the Cell and Gene Therapy group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Dr. Jordi Barquinero, commented to the Catalan newspaper ARA and to the news agency Europa Press, the landmark study by researchers from Oregon Health & Service University on the creation of human stem cells through cloning. VHIR researcher highlighted that the American study �is the first step for the creation of human clones because it has been produced a real embryo� which could be developed if it is implanted into the uterus. Nonetheless, he stressed that the embryo �wouldn�t have probably reach the following phase of fetus because the system is still very inefficient and nobody would dare doing it�. Dr. Barquinero outlined that several technical limitations have been overcome with this study, but it actually must be seen if the cells obtained in the lab will act like normal embryonic stem cells. In any case, he concluded that there is still a long way to walk for the use of these embryos as a therapy against some diseases.

A vaccine of immune system cells prevents the onset of Type 1 Diabetes in mice (16/05/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Today, in an original article at PLOS ONE Journal, the Immunology of Diabetes Research Group at Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, with the collaboration of the Immunology Group and the Statistics and Bioinformatics Unit at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), and the Institut de Recerca Biom�dica de Lleida, report a new experimental immunotherapy that prevents the onset of Type 1 Diabetes in mice predisposed to the disease. The therapy, which works as a vaccine, consists of the in vitro generation, modification and then administration of dendritic cells (a type of immune system cell) to pre-diabetic mice in order to reverse the autoimmune destruction. Even though it�s too early to reach a conclusion, the authors consider that this strategy can be used to prevent diabetes and other autoimmune diseases in human. In the study, the dendritic cells, which were obtained from mice predisposed to diabetes, were modified in vitro by the uptake of programmed death (apoptotic) beta cells, and then re-administered to pre-diabetic mice. These cells gave signals to the immune system that slow down the destruction of the insulin producing cells. Type 1 Diabetes is a metabolic disease caused by the destruction of insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas by the immune system. Insulin is the hormone that is responsible for the processing of the ingested glucose. At the moment, there isn�t any cure for this disease, and the absence of insulin production has fatal consequences. For this reason, people who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes (0,3% of the population) have to get exogenous insulin injections as a treatment. A scarce option is either full pancreas transplantation or the transplantation of the part that contains the beta cells. There are some genetic and environmental factors that are involved in the occurrence of the disease, which arises during childhood or youth.

Vall d�Hebron host a Spanish meeting on chronic fatigue (15/05/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Spanish leaders in the field of chronic fatigue joined today, May 15, in the 'XI Meeting on advances in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)', at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital. On May 16th there is a benefit jazz and soul concert of Erwyn Seeruton Black & White. Research in CFS focuses the last part of the meeting, with the lecture of the member of the Chronic Fatigue group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Jes�s Castro, who offers the point of view of the lab about the model of immunoinflammatory disease, and the lecture of the professor at Universitat Aut�noma de Barcelona (UAB), Albert Selva, who gave a clinical vision on myositis. Besides these lectures, in the meeeting will be also discussed the fatigue in Parkinson disease, with a conference of Dr. Naia S�ez from the Chronic Fatigue group at VHIR, the characteristics of the sleep in patients with CFS, the clinical assessment of patients with CFS in 2013, and the assessment of their bodily harm. The meeting is not only addressed to professionals, but also to patients, associations and foundations related with CFS. VHIR and UAB organize this national meeting with the collaboration of Vitae and Laboratorio Complementos Nutricionales, and the direction of Dr. Tom�s Fern�ndez from UAB. The head of the Chronic Fatigue research group at VHIR, Dr. Jos� Alegre, coordinates the meeting together with Dr. Ana Mar�a Garc�a from Cl�nica Delfos. In the opening ceremony, besides Dr. Alegre and the board of the hospital, there was also a representative of the Catalan Minister of Health, Roser Vall�s, and Dr. Anna Meseguer, assistant to VHIR's director. From Tuesday 14th to 28th of May, Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) participates in the outdoor photo exhibition 'Would you sign to leave a better world?', organized by Legado Solidario at Moll de la Barceloneta in Barcelona. Together with VHIR, 21 nonprofit organizations have chosen an image and a slogan related to their activity, to show in a positive and enthusiastic way the possibility of leaving bequests and legacies to charities and nonprofit orgs. The image that represents VHIR is a newborn who clutches his parents hand with the slogan �Your legacy will give life to others�. The goal of the campaign is to inform about the easy, inexpensive and simple procedure that people must follow to formalize a legacy. The campaign coincides with the 15th edition of the congress dedicated to elderly people in Catalonia (FIRAGRAN) that will be hosted from the 16th to the 19th of May at Drassanes Reials in Barcelona. On Thursday at 4.30PM, the head of fundraising at VHIR, Carmen Netzel, will present the campaign at Legado Solidario�s stand, introducing the public notary Josefa Querol who will talk about the importance of leaving legacies and bequests.

Dr. Josep Sanchez de Toledo, Catalan of the Year 2012 (14/05/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Josep S�nchez Toledo, leader of the Group in Translational Research in Children Cancer at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and of the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Service at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, has been awarded with the prize of Catalan of the Year 2012, contest organized by the newspaper 'El Peri�dico' and the tv show 'Els Matins' of TV3. The oncologist from Vall d'Hebron has disputed this award with the chairwoman of the National Catalan Assembly, Carme Forcadell, and Anna Vives, the 28-year-old girl with Down's syndrome that, with her digitized typography has triumphed around the world, proving that adding capacities you can overcome the problems. The votings, which have been very disputed up to the last moment, have given as winner Dr. Josep Sanchez of Toledo in recognition of his career in our hospital. The service that directs is an international reference in children cancer and was pioneering in Spain in transplants of bone marrow in children with leukaemia. In 2012 he got the maximum European award for the quality of the procedures that applies. Dr. Josep Sanchez of Toledo combines his clinical work in children with tumors and transplants of bone marrow with the most advanced research in children cancer from five research lines. As recognition of his intense activity for the well-being of the patients, his research group collects big donations of out-standing entities, and important calls, as that of 'La Marat� de TV3', or, more recently, the initiative 'One child one smile'. After receiving the award, Dr. Sanchez of Toledo showed his satisfaction because of the "important recognition to which I represent, the children we attend in our hospital". Nonetheless, the winner alerted that "we have improved very much but still lack a long way to walk. There is a 20% of children that we lose", and finished giving a message to the president of Catalonia, Artur Mas, who gave him the prize: "Give the best company to face this situation of crisis with the doctors and professionals".

VHIR stands out in the Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Conference in Health Sciences (09/05/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Thu, 9 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Spanish National Health School hosted on Tuesday 7th of May the Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Conference in Health Sciences, organized by the Network of Clinical Research Managers (Regic), Carlos III Health Institute, the Spanish federation of technological companies applied to health (FENIM), the Spanish Platform of innovation in technology applied to health, the National Health School, and the Spanish Society of Intensive, Critical Medicine and coronary units (SEMICYUC). The head of knowledge transfer and innovation at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Raquel Egea, moderated the first debate of the conference focused in the innovation applied to science. Experts in knowledge transfer discussed the social, economic and political commitment to support biomedical innovation. After a second discussion on innovation in the hospital environment, the project manager in knowledge transfer and innovation at VHIR, Jos� Valenzuela, presented two new projects: an in vitro method of diagnosis and prognosis for the early detection of brain injuries, designed by the Neurovascular Diseases Group led by Dr. Joan Montaner, and another in vitro method for the diagnosis and prognosis of renal cell cancer, developed by the CIBBIM- Nanomedicine research group in Kidney Physiopathology, led by Dr. Anna Meseguer. The director of Carlos III Health Institute, Dr. Antonio Andreu, closed the conference.

Functional Dyspepsia is associated with alterations in the duodenum very similar to those detected in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (08/05/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Wed, 8 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A team of the Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Digestive Tract group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), that studies the Irritable Bowel Syndrome, has described structural alterations in the duodenum of patients with Functional Dyspepsia (FD). This extremely common disorder has always been considered a functional gastrointestinal problem rather than structural, but now for the first time, researchers have found biological alterations. Specifically, patients with FD displayed increased duodenal mucosal permeability, associated with altered expression of cell-to-cell adhesion proteins. These proteins correlate with the extent of increased permeability and the severity of low-grade duodenal inflammation. In the long term, these findings may be an attractive therapeutic target for treating patients with FD. The results of the study, published in GUT and realized with the collaboration of Dr. Ricard Farr� and his team at the Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, specify the impaired duodenal mucosal integrity and bring a new view on this disorder. Besides, "the high level of similarity between these findings in the duodenal mucosal and the rest of the digestive tract related with Irritable Bowel Syndrome suggest that the onset of the disorder is very similar, although manifestations are located in different parts of the digestive tract", reports Dr. Javier Santos, head of this research line at VHIR. Functional Dyspepsia is defined as the presence of symptoms thought to originate in the gastroduodenal region, in the absence of any organic, systemic or metabolic disease that readily explains the complaints. It is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders, affecting up to 20-40% of the population. Studies indicate that FD is a heterogeneous disorder, in which several pathophysiological disturbances are associated with speci?c symptom patterns. Because of the lack of effective treatment options, FD is associated with signi?cantly impaired quality of life and considerable healthcare costs, emphasizing the importance to unravel its pathophysiology.

VHIR researchers want to determine if pollution can be a no allergic cause of asthma (07/05/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 7 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from the Pneumology group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) have started a study to determine if pollution can be one of the factors which induce the onset of asthma in adulthood. 2,000 inhabitants from Ribes de Freser, a small village situated in a mountain location near Ripoll, and 2,000 residents from the district of Horta in Barcelona, located near Vall d�Hebron University Hospital, will be surveyed in order to detect if they have symptoms related to asthma. Those detected, will have the opportunity to be diagnosed and treated. Dr. Xavier Mu�oz, from the Pneumology Service at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital, leads this study that will be finished at the end of 2014. �Nearly half of the asthma cases in adulthood are caused by allergies that use to appear in childhood. Nonetheless, the other 50% is caused by factors that are still being studied. One of them could be environmental pollution�, reports Dr. Mu�oz. For comparing the incidence of respiratory diseases among inhabitants not very exposed to pollution, researchers have chosen Ribes de Freser, where Dr. Mu�oz is from. The data of the environmental pollution collected in the meteorological station of the village will be compared with the data collected near Vall d�Hebron Hospital, in the district of Horta in Barcelona. The goal of the survey, which is going to be randomly done in people older than 18, is to know the influence of the environment in the prevalence and etiology of asthma. According to Dr. Mu�oz, the study will give new information �about the asthma that appears in adulthood, the factors that induce its onset and the differences among patients with asthma since childhood and adulthood�. After summer, when researchers had the results of the survey, they will start calling those who had indicated respiratory symptoms to realize a deeper survey and offering them the opportunity to have a medical consult for being diagnosed and treated.

The head for the promotion of clinical trials at VHIR participates in a debate at 'Para todos la 2' (06/05/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 6 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

How can specialists know that a drug is effective and has no side effects? With this question started the debate of the Television Espa�ola programme �Para Todos la 2� of Monday 6th, dedicated to clinical trials. Xavier Molina, head of clinical research and clinical trials promotion at Vall d�Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), talked about the new spaces at Vall d'Hebron dedicated exclusively to clinical trials, which will be working in a few weeks. A space of more than 900m2 dedicated to the clinical research that companies are nowadays looking for �in order to optimize resources, pharmaceutical labs are concentrating clinical research in leading centers like Vall d�Hebron where the quality of clinical trials is adapted to the demands of the regulator�, Molina assured. In the debate also participated Dr. Xavier Luria, independent consultant for the development and regulation of new drugs, and Dr. Jos� Antonio Sacrist�n, medical director of the Spanish division of Lilly Labs. The situation of clinical trials in Spain, the different phases that a drug must follow before arriving to the market and the protection of patients, were other questions put on the table during the debate. Before the discussion, the programme broadcasted a report about the new floor dedicated to clinical trials at VHIR, with the participation of Imma Fuentes, head of the Clinical Research Support Unit, and the obstetrics Elisa Llurba, who explained a Spanish public clinical trial that is being coordinated at VHIR.

International experts in research against hepatitis B and C will meet in Barcelona to improve treatments (02/05/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Thu, 2 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The CosmoCaixa building in Barcelona will host the 30th and 31st of May the international symposium 'Control or eradication of hepatitis B and C', coordinated by the Liver Diseases research Group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), in collaboration with the Spanish Networked Biomedical Research Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), the Spanish Society of Virology, and with the sponsorship of Ram�n Areces Foundation. During two days, basic scientists and clinicians with complementary expertise in the field of infection in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) will meet to review current knowledge, discuss the improvements in the treatments and to describe predictive factors of response to design cost-effective individualized therapies. Dr. Josep Quer, researcher of the Liver Diseases group at VHIR and coordinator of the scientific programme together with Dr. Juan Ignacio Esteban Mur and Dr. Mar�a Buti from VHIR, assures that "we are facing an important time for the treatment of this virus with the application of new massive sequencing technologies which allow the definition of predictive factors of response to new antiviral inhibitors". In the case of HVC, these inhibitors "act against viral regions which are crucial for the replication of the virus, as protease NS3 (two inhibitors have already been approved for clinical use and are being applied in well-defined cases), the NS5A region, which is the protein that controls the replication of VHC, and against NS5B, which is the polymerase of VHC". Hepatitis C is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and the major indication for liver transplantation. Blood-transmitted, close to 2.3% of the world population and 2.5% of the Spanish population are chronic HCV carriers. HCV doesn�t have any vaccine and its treatment is only effective in the 50% of the infections, leaving important side effects. Regarding hepatitis B virus, it may cause acute and chronic liver diseases as well as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Almost a third of the human population and a 1% of the Spanish population have been infected with the virus. Nonetheless, unlike HVC, HVB has an effective and safe vaccine.

"In the coming years nearly 95% of patients with Hepatitis C will be cured" (30/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Rafael Esteban Mur, researcher of the Liver Diseases group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and head of the Hepatology Service at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital, returned from the International Liver Congress held in Amsterdam (Netherlands) with a hopeful message: �In the coming years nearly 95% of patients with Hepatitis C will be cured�. The advances in oral treatments against this disease will provide in the near future safer drugs which will neutralize the virus without causing so many side effects as the current therapies with interferon. Dr. Esteban Mur, who participated in several presentations during the congress celebrated from the 24th to the 28th of April, explained which are the new drugs to treat Hepatitis C, in an interview published at Europa Press and EFE.

VHIR collaborates with a European consortium to develop new oral drugs against cancer (29/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A European Consortium, led by the biotech company Argon Pharma in Barcelona, will develop new orally administered antitumor drugs for concrete indications which are not covered, especially in orphan oncological disorders such as pancreas cancer, and with a high prevalence, such as colorectal cancer. The CIBBIM- Nanomedicine Drug Delivery and Targeting research group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), led by Dr. Sim� Schwartz, will collaborate assessing the therapeutic effectiveness of ARGON�s antitumor candidates in cancer stem cell models in order to prevent distant metastasis. The project, called �WispATDrug�, will be developed in an international consortium in which participate four more companies from Germany and Finland. In the next three years, they will work with the aim to obtain new drugs with a better toxicity profile, a more convenient dosing and an improved formula to increase the quality of life of patients and their well-being during and after the treatment. The strategic approach of the project is to design new drugs capable to inhibit a concrete mechanism of action, associated to carcinogenic processes and advanced metastatic cancers. The inhibition of this cancer mechanism of action induces apoptosis which causes the death of cancer cells, but leave healthy cells intact. �This approach could help partners to find pharmaceutical companies which are committed to share the cost of preclinical and clinical trials, and to get agreements for the future commercial exploitation in different markets�, general director of Argon Pharma, Ram�n Roca, reported. WispATDrug will be funded with 1,507,000� from the EURA-NET program of the Dr. Xavier Montalban, head of the Clinical Neuroimmunology group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center in Catalonia (Cemcat), explains in a report published on Friday in La Vanguardia the last advances in the research in multiple sclerosis (MS). After more than 20 years leading research in this neurodegenerative disease, Dr. Montalban assures to the Spanish newspaper that �it is a great time for those who research and treat multiple sclerosis�. The cure of MS is not possible yet, but �perspectives are much better than one or two years ago�, thanks to the research in new therapies which reduce the outbreaks and slow down the progress of the disorder. Besides, in the following months, two new drugs will be launched in order to personalize the treatments and make them more effective and less aggressive for patients. Nonetheless, as Dr. Montalban alerts in the report, there is still a long way to identify the myelin protein which is attacked by the immune system, to define the proper treatment and, the most important, to find the cure of this disorder that in Spain affect nearly 46,000 people, according to the Spanish association of multiple sclerosis.

Vall d'Hebron participates in the campaign to aware and raise funds on research in PID (25/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vall d�Hebron participates in the campaign �Primary Immune Deficiencies: Turning hope into action�, organized by the Catalan Association of Primary Immune Deficiency (ACADIP), coinciding with the World Week against these disorders which affect the immune system. Among the different activities scheduled for these days, Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) celebrated on Wednesday 24th the seminar �Primary Immune Deficiencies (PID): a link between assistance and research�, with the lectures of Dr. Pere Soler, Dr. Concepci�n Figueras and Dr. M�nica L�pez, from the research group in Infection in Immunocompromised Pediatric Patients. ACADIP also participated in the seminar, with a presentation about the experience of patients with PID. Besides this seminar, on Saturday 27th Vall d�Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) will host the celebration of the first PID children party at the Pla�a Messi. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness on the severity of these pathologies, to promote into the scientific community the knowledge in DIPs, and to raise funds to encourage research in this field. DIPs are a group of rare diseases caused by alterations in the immune system of children, which globally affect 1 of 2,000 newborns. Patients are susceptible to suffer infections that, if are not treated properly, can be lethal or leave sequels that would worsen their quality of life. At VHIR, the research group in Infection in Immunocompromised Pediatric Patients, led by Dr. Concepci�n Figueras, and the group in Immunology, led by Dr. Ricard Pujol, investigate these disorders with the cooperation of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit at HUVH. This unit has positioned the hospital in the forefront of the assistance to patients with DIPs, with nearly 700 patients diagnosed.

VHIR hosts the first Spanish meeting about cooperative research to prevent stroke (24/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) hosted this Wednesday 24th of April the first Spanish meeting to prevent stroke, organized by the new cooperative research network INVICTUS, approved by Instituto de Salud Carlos III. For the first time, during the following 4 years, researchers from the 11 Spanish leading centers which take part of this network will focus not only in the treatment and repair after stroke, but also in the prevention. The coordinator of the Neurovascular Diseases Area at VHIR and coordinator of the prevention area at INVICTUS, Dr. Joan Montaner, assures that �it is the first time that in Spain that we join together to cooperate in research to prevent stroke�. And continues, with this cooperation researchers will obtain �a wider vision of the disorder, because not only we will work with patients, but also with high-risk population groups". INVICTUS network arises from the previous network RETIC-RENEVAS, which in the last 5 years demonstrated the added value of coordinated and synergic work among different research groups in neurovascular diseases. Nonetheless, the new network is clearly focused on the translation of the results to the clinical practice to facilitate the search for knowledge to identify diagnostic and therapeutic targets in order to reduce stroke morbidity and mortality in our environment. In times of reduced governmental investment on research and due to the current economic frame in Europe, another important goal of INVICTUS is the achievement of patents that could be exploited and generate value to support the research in this field. 11 Spanish research institutes and hospital participate in this network: VHIR, Institut d�Investigacions Biom�diques August Pi i Sunyer, Institut d�Investigaci� en Ci�ncies de la Salut Germans Tries i Pujol, Institut de Recerca de l�Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d�Investigaci� Biom�dica de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta, Hospital Cl�nico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Hospital Universitario La Paz de Madrid, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Hospital Cl�nico Universitario de Salamanca, Cl�nica Universitaria de Pamplona and Hospital Universitario La Fe de Valencia.

VHIR is full of roses, books, Catalan flags and scientific quotes for Sant Jordi's Day (23/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A Sant Jordi with a cap�s face, a rose bush located in the neuroretina, a Catalan flag done with test tubes, a special Heat Map� With pictures like that, it is demonstrated that Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research is full of scientific creativity! Here you have a compilation of the original pictures and quotes that we have received to celebrate the Catalan�s celebration. If you want to see more pictures, we recommend you to visit the Atlas of Blood Cells and Blood Diseases, led by Dr. Teresa Vallesp� from VHIR, where you will find spectacular microscopies. Thank you very much for your collaboration! [Visit our Facebook to see the pictures with more information and resolution] "Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing" By Wernher von Braun (1912-1977), quoted by Guillem Nadal. A study, led by Dr. Rosanna Paciucci, from the Research Unit in Biomedicine and Translational Oncology at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), has identified one of the mechanisms of Prostate Tumor Overexpressed-1 (PTOV1) protein, related with the development of tumors and metastasis in prostate cancer. The investigation, published in Oncogene, opens the door to the design of new therapeutic targets. PTOV1 is a protein expressed at high levels in prostate cancer and other premalignant lesions which precede the disease. Thanks to this study, researchers have demonstrated that it is a regulator of other proteins which intensify the aggressiveness of the tumor. Particularly, when PTOV1 interacts with RACK1 protein, it activates the protein synthesis of a group of mRNAS, among them there is the oncogene c-JUN/AP1. At the same time, this oncogene causes an overexpression of SNAIL1 and uPA genes, which are well-known for their motility, invasiveness of prostate cancer cells, and in vivo metastasis. To demonstrate the regulatory function of PTOV1, VHIR researchers inoculated in mice prostate cancer cells with the PTOV1 very reduced, proving that the resulting tumors were smaller and metastasized later. These tumors, besides having the PTOV1 expression very reduced, didn�t express c-Jun oncogene. On the other side, they also proved that in human prostate cancer samples, the expression of high levels of PTOV1 in primary and metastatic tumors was significantly associated with increased nuclear localization of active c-Jun. With these results, Dr. Paciucci assures that, despite the mechanisms of activation of PTOV1 in cancer cells are yet unknown, the identification of its mechanism of action suggests new strategies for antitumorals therapies: �PTOV1 is a good therapeutic target for developing new drugs which could block its activity and improve the efficiency of current treatments�. So this protein, as well as being involved in the development of tumors and metastasis, it also participates in the resistance to the effects of some drugs. According to the Spanish Cancer Association, every year in Spain nearly 25,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed and almost 6,000 men die. It is the cancer with the higher incidence among men and its survival rate during the five years after the diagnosis is near 65 years.

VHIR signs an agreement with Universitat de Val�ncia to make use of the Spanish Register of Child Cancer Tumors (22/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) has signed a collaboration agreement with Universitat de Valencia (UV) to promote the use of the Spanish Register of Child Cancer Tumors (RNTI-SEHOP) and to develop scientific projects in the field of cancer during childhood. The projects will led by Dr. S�nchez de Toledo, head of the Translational Research in Child Cancer group at VHIR, and Dr. Rafael Peris Bonet, director of RNTI-SEHOP. The Spanish Register of Child Cancer Tumors, located in the Valencian university, was founded with the aim to do develop epidemiologic research in order to improve the assistance to children with cancer, to follow up the situation of child cancer in Spain and to study the causes of this pathology. With this agreement, both parts are committed to make the most of the data which offers this register for the identification of areas for potential improvement in child cancer and for the development of survival studies and incidence of cancer in Spain, compared to other countries. The agreement will also support the execution of projects and programs of research in child cancer, as well as the exchange of researchers in joint projects and the organization of activities to promote the research in this field. The collaboration agreement was signed on Monday in the Valencian university, by VHIR�s director, Dr. Joan X. Comella, and UV�s university president, Dr. Esteban Morcillo.

Researchers and professionals from Vall d'Hebron ask for 11,000 euros to buy an ultrasound machine for a hospital in Angola (18/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A team of doctors from the research group in Infectious Diseases at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and the Infectious Diseases Unit at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) coordinate the initiative for buying an ultrasound machine for the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz de Cubal, located in the center west of Angola. The equipment is worth 11,000 euros and the fundraising campaign will be open until the 1st of June in the crowfunding site Rocket Hub. Nossa Senhora da Paz de Cubal is a private center which gives service to the Angola�s national health system and every year attends more than 20,000 people from the province of Cubal. Despite the extreme poverty of the infrastructures in the country, the hospital is a reference in the region for the quality in the medical attention, thanks to the effort in the training of staff. During 5 years, Vall d�Hebron has been participating in this training. Due to the difficulties in the access to diagnostic techniques, Vall d�Hebron�s team participated in a 6-month training course on Ultrasounds addressed to the staff of the African Hospital. The best pupil had the opportunity to complete his training in the Radiology Service at HUVH and a few months later, he returned to Cabul with an old ultrasound machine, which eventually broke down. For that reason and to improve the quality of the medical assistance, the doctors from Vall d�Hebron have started this fundraising campaign through Rocket Hub. Dr. Israel Molina, responsible of the research line in International Health and Tropical Medicine from the research group in Infectious Diseases at VHIR, leads this initiative together with 7 doctors.

Vall d'Hebron has joined together in Sitges experts in the treatment of Sepsis (17/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Once again, Vall d�Hebron has joined together in Sitges national and international experts in the treatment of patients with sepsis. The International Course on Antimicrobial Strategies in Sepsis (ICASIS), organized by the Intensive Medicine Service at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital, closed the 2013 edition with a great participation success, with nearly one hundred participants. During the days 15th and 16th of April, 14 experts in anti-infectious therapies for critical patients focused on the last strategies in the treatments and the innovation with nanoparticles. The course was led by Dr. Jordi Rello, responsible of the Clinical Research/Innovation in Pneumonia (CRIPS) research group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), and coordinated by Dr. Jes�s Caballero, specialist in the Intensive Medicine Service. The course has been accredited by CCFCPS, has the scientific endorsement of CIBERES, and it has been recognized of professional interest by the Department of Health of the Catalan Government.

VHIR researchers discover the gene which causes limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1F (15/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from the Neuromuscular and Mitochondrial Pathology group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), have discovered the gene which causes limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1F (LGMD1F), a rare disease described more than 10 years ago in more than 6 generations of the same family, which affects nearly 50 people in Spain. It is the TNPO3 gene, which is encoded by the protein transportin 3. To realize this study, published at Brain, scientists followed a whole genome sequencing strategy and analyzed the changes in the chromosomal 7 region, linked with the inheritance of the disorder. The analysis demonstrated that a microdeletion in the termination codon of transportin 3 gene generated a 15-amino acid extension of the transportin 3 protein that explains the dominant form of this disease. Transportin 3 is a nuclear membrane protein which had been identified in previous studies as a key factor in the importation process of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to the nucleus. Nonetheless, Dr. Mart� assures that this function has no relation with its current implication as a cause of LGMD1F. Thanks to the research of VHIR�s group, which is associated to the Rare Diseases CIBER (CIBERER), and thanks to the collaboration of Josep G�mez from VHIR, Dr. Juan V�chez from Hospital de la Fe in Valencia, Dr. Carmen Navarro from Hospital Universitario de Vigo, and Dr. Michio Hirano from Columbia University in New York, scientists have expanded their knowledge of the molecular basis of muscular dystrophies and bolstered the importance of defects of nuclear envelope proteins as causes of inherited myopathies. Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1F produces weakness in the muscles of pelvic and scapular zones. Although its severity is different in every case but in must of the patients the prognosis is mild or moderate, there are some cases which can finish with the patient using a wheelchair. It is a rare disease without any treatment and the family studied in this work is the only one observed with this type of muscular dystrophy.

Participate in Sant Jordi's celebration sending us quotes and pictures related to science (12/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

For a second year in a row, in occasion of the Day of Sant Jordi, we invite you to dress VHIR�s webpage with phrases and images related to science and this special Catalan celebration. Send us poems, phrases or quotes related to science, biomedicine and your field of research, as well as pictures that could link your daily work with Sant Jordi. Use the Twitter and Facebook profiles of VHIR for sending us your proposals, or the mail comunica@vhir.org. The deadline is the 19 April and a selection of the best will be published in this web the 23rd of April. Do you want any example? Watch the cute picture that we have received. It is a rose and the 'senyera' (the Catalan flag) done with lab materials! And this is one of the quotes that we have received via Twitter: "Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing" by Wernher von Braun, send by Guillem Nadal These are some of the quotes Leo Messi supports once again a worthy cause. In this case, promoting a tale with a supportive objective: �La for�a del Bar�a�, written by V�ctor Panicello and illustrated by Marta Biel Tres. The book, which is already on sale, is a joint project of FC Barcelona, Leo Messi Foundation and Fundaci� �nima, with the aim of collecting funds for research against child cancer at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR). 'La for�a del Bar�a', is addressed to children above 6 and it tells the story of Nico and Laura: two child with cancer who have the opportunity to meet their idols in a Barcelona�s training session. The book costs 9,95 euros and it is edited by Estrella Polar. All the funds collected will be sent to the Translational Research in Child Cancer group at VHIR, led by Dr. Josep S�nchez de Toledo, head of the Oncology Service at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital (HUVH), who has written the introduction of the book. The vocation of this research group is to find molecular evidences for designing specific and potent anti-oncogenic drugs and, in general, to improve the therapies for patients with cancer, in order to improve their survival rates and to reduce the possible secondary effects. Vall d�Hebron is a Spanish and international center of reference in the treatment of child cancer and hematologic disorders. Since 1984, the service has done 1040 transplantations of haematopoietic progenitors: of bone narrow, peripheral blood, and blood from the umbilical cord. Last year, the Service of Child Oncology and Hematology at HUVH got the quality JACIE accreditation, which is the most prestigious recognition in this field.

'Children with cancer give us lessons of courage' (10/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The newspaper 'El Peri�dico de Catalunya' publishes a report about the experience of Dr. Josep Sanchez Toledo, leader of the Group in Translational Research in Children Cancer of Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and of the Pediatrics Oncology and Haematology Service of the University Hospital Vall d�Hebron, coinciding with his candidacy to Catalan of the Year 2012. In his 35 years as a specialist in Child Cancer, he has witnessed the huge advances in the fight against this disease: �When I started, 50% of children survived cancer, whereas at the moment, 80% of them do it�, assured to the Catalan newspaper. During this time, hundreds of brave little patients have come across him: �They give us courage lessons and serenity. Children accept their reality with an equanimity rarely observed in adults. They inspire a great feeling of solidarity�. S�nchez de Toledo continues as one of the three more voted among the 10 finalists that can be elected Catalan of the Year 2012, organized by �El Peri�dico� and tv show �Els Matins de TV3�. To vote for Dr. Sanchez Toledo, there are three different ways: through the web www.cataladelany.cat via phone at 905.44.60.40 and via SMS, sending a message to 25152 with the word CATALA, finalist�s name �in this case Josep S�nchez Toledo- and the name of the person that participates. On April 16 it will be announced the first elimination of the finalists that have less public support in this second phase. It won�t be until May 8 to make public the names of the three candidates who will advance to the final. In this phase, the third and final one, it will be only possible to vote for one of the three finalists. The voting period will close before a notary on May 14 at noon. The Catal� de l'Any 2012 will be announced on the evening of May 14 at the gala in the TNC, live broadcasted on TV3, and the winner will be given a sculpture made by Vaccaro Ricard. The election of Dr. S�nchez Toledo between the finalists suppose an important recognition to his clinical assistance and research labour and the impact in the scientific community and society.

Step by Step Foundation and 501SITU will contribute to fund the project 'Time to Move' led at VHIR (09/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 9 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Step by Step Foundation (SbS) and the real state agency 501SITU will donate 25% of the profits of a housing promotion for a research project in spinal cord injuries. The agreement will contribute to fund the project �Time to Move�, based on cell therapy to promote new approaches in the treatment of this type of injuries. VHIR leads this study in which collaborate 7 research groups: 2 from VHIR, 2 from the Universitat de Girona (UdG), 2 from the Centro de Investigaci�n Pr�ncipe Felipe (CIPF), and the rehabilitation group at SbS Foundation. In the signature of the agreement, hosted at the Economy Department of the Catalan government, participated VHIR�s director, Dr. Joan X. Comella, the head of the Spinal Cord Unit at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital, Dr. Miguel �ngel Viejo, 501SITU's partner and SbS�s founder, Frederic Crespo, and the trustees at SbS, Xavier Esteve and Anna Veiga. For VHIR�s director, �Time to Move� project is unique because it deals the research in spinal cord from a �multidisciplinary point of view with leading groups in their field of study�. A fact which also highlighted Dr. Gonzalez Viejo, who insisted on the approach that this project does from �all possible perspectives�. The act was led by the director of research of the Catalan government, Josep Maria Martorell, who underlined �the commitment of a private company in the research done in Catalonia�, as well as the �benefits that the investment in science generates for the quality of life of citizens�. Step by Step Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery of people suffering from neurological disease affecting the central nervous systems, especially in the case of spinal cord injuries. Besides offering an innovative rehabilitation center, it has a scientific committee to promote new research lines which contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of patients.

Innovative software predicts tumor nodes in the armpit of patients with breast cancer (08/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 8 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from the Breast Cancer Center at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) have developed a software which calculates the probability of finding tumor sentinel lymph nodes in the armpit of breast cancer patients in the early stages with positive sentinel lymph nodes detected. The new tool determines the value of the tumor burden of these nodes by using a molecular technique (OSNA-one-step nucleic acid simplification) which is already used in several hospitals. For the first time with this tool, specialists have another mechanism to assess if the removal of all sentinel lymph nodes, when a positive one is detected, is the best option. Dr. Isabel Rubio, head of the Mammary Pathology Unit at HUVH, assures that �this calculator is very useful because it provides more information about the patient and benefits her treatment, as we always try to use the treatment and surgery with the less aggressiveness but the highest effectiveness. To develop this tool, thanks to the collaboration in knowledge transfer of Vall d�Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), researchers have focused in the results of a multicenter study done with 600 patients from 8 Spanish research centers. It is estimated that the 10-20 per cent of the patients, with this characteristics, could benefit from this new tool. Nonetheless, it is important to remark that it is an informative tool that doesn�t replace the final criteria of the doctor, who is the last responsible for taking the decision.

The directors of VHIR and 12 de Octubre talk about research in Spain at Onda Cero (05/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Fri, 5 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The director of Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Dr. Joan X. Comella, and the director of the Instituto de Investigaci�n 12 de Octubre, Dr. Joaqu�n Arenas, participated in the program Pont Barcelona-Madrid at Onda Cero Catalunya, to talk about the current situation and the challenges of biomedical research in Spain. For Dr. Comella, thanks to the public effort �it has been created in Spain a basis to develop knowledge transfer. This basis will make possible the establishment of biotechnological companies that could benefit from the knowledge; otherwise, if we don�t take advantage of it, international competitors will do it�. In that sense, he assured that entrepreneurs �are not yet convinced that biomedical research can generate wealth�. On the other hand, both directors made an appeal to the government for not reducing the funds for research: �Over the last years, biomedical research has grown very significantly in Spain. This research needs economic support for the maintenance of its infrastructure, so any cut of the public funds could worsen the future of our research�, warned Dr. Arenas. Clinical trials, translational research and the profile of the scientists were some of the topics also discussed in the program broadcasted the 4th of April.

The Catalan government authorizes HUVH Biobank (04/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Thu, 4 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Health Department of the Catalan Government has authorized the constitution and the activity of the HUVH Biobank managed by Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR). With this indefinite authorization, the bank of biological samples is conformed to The Biomedical Research Law 14/2007 and the Royal Decree 1716/2011 which regulates the proper collection, storage and use of biological samples of human origin, and promotes their use for biomedical research by following good ethical and scientific practices. The aim of HUVH Biobank is to make available to the scientific community the biological material necessary for research in optimal conditions to ensure competitiveness and research excellence. It offers advisory services to VHIR and HUHV groups on methodological, ethical and legal aspects related to the use of the samples in biomedical research; a registry service of HUVH collections approved by the HUVH Ethics Committee of Clinical Research; and a material transfer service for the samples of research projects on the different HUVH collections (Tumor bank, Fetal Tissue Bank, Pediatric Endocrinology Bank and IMID-biobank). HUHV biobank is led by Dr. Santiago Ramon i Cajal and supervised by an External Scientific Committee and the HUVH Ethics Committee of Clinical Research.

VHIR participates in a new fundraising campaign (02/04/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 2 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

'Donate one more cent than Don Amancio'. This is the slogan of the fundraising campaign hosted at donamasquedonamancio.org: an initiative which encourages citizens to be more supportive than Inditex�s president, Amancio Ortega, who donated 20 million euros to charity last 2012. A percentage that, according to the organizers of the campaign, only represents the 0,05 per cent of his patrimony. Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), through its donations site 'yoinvestigo.org' ('faigrecerca.org', in Catalan), and several organizations such as the Spanish Cancer Association (AECC), Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and UNICEF, participates in this original campaign that let citizens know what should they donate to be more generous than the richest person in Spain.

Dr. David Valc�rcel explains in 'Diario M�dico' the role of monosomal karyotype in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (28/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. David Valc�rcel, member of the Experimental Hematology group at Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), has published in 'Journal of Clinical Oncology', a study which reveals that the bad prognosis of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), not only is caused by the presence of the monosomal karyotype, but also by multiple genetic alterations. In a report published in 'Diario M�dico', VHIR�s researcher explains the results of this joint study of the Spanish Group of MDS, done at 50 Spanish hospitals with 1,054 patients with this disorder. In an interview for the Spanish weekly publication, Dr. Valc�rcel assures that the data obtained �is a turning point with the previous studies which suggested that monosomal karyotype worsens the prognosis of patients with MDS, as well as it determines that the accumulation of multiple alterations, which are present in the 85-90% of these patients, is the responsible of the lower survival rates and the higher evolution of acute myeloid leukemia�. The Spanish Group of MDS works with the aim of promoting and developing research, diagnosis and therapies of this disorder, that in Spain suffer more than 7.000 patients.

Dr. Montaner tells at R�dio 4 the preliminary results of the clinical trial to detect silent strokes (28/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Joan Montaner, coordinator of the Neurosciences Area at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), explained in the R�dio 4 news bulletin the preliminary results of the first stage of the clinical trial which attempts to determine the frequency of silent strokes, coordinated by Dr. Pilar Delgado. In a sample over 1.000 patients with hypertension and aged between 50 and 70, researchers detected brain injury in the 15 per cent of them. This damage was caused by silent strokes, which are unnoticed and don�t present any clinical manifestations. As patients are not aware of it, they don�t follow any treatment or take any preventive measure. Therefore, the possibility of suffering a second stroke is then multiplied by 3, probably with manifestations of serious conditions, as well as the possibility of suffering some form of dementia is multiplied by 5. Dr. Montaner warned at the public radio that such a high rates are quite alarming because in Barcelona, there could be over 100,000 people suffering silent strokes, without being aware of it. The second stage of the clinical trial will be focused in the common characteristics of people who suffer silent strokes and the validation of the results in more patients. VHIR�s researchers work with the aim of preventing and designing new routine tests that in a future could detect the risk of suffering them. Stroke is the first cause of death in women in Catalonia, and every year hospitals attend more than 13.000 patients: the 10 per cent of them die at the hospital, whereas the 30 per cent suffer a permanent disability.

Researchers from VHIR and IDIBELL license a patent for acute respiratory diseases (27/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) have signed a licensing agreement with the Spanish biotech company Histocell to make use of a patent for the treatment of acute pulmonary diseases with mesenchymal stem cells. These cells, administered intravenously, have the ability to go directly to the damaged lungs, acting as a "smart drug". The novelty patented has been the insertion of improvements through genetic engineering that can significantly enhance the anti-inflammatory and regenerative power of the mesenchymal cells. The cells are extracted from adipose tissue obtained from liposuction and are capable of enhancing the regeneration of the damaged lung tissue and secrete inflammatory proteins therein when injected into the blood. Specifically, researchers have modified the antagonist to secrete interleukin 33, a regulatory protein (cytokine) that has a fundamental role in the inflammatory process. The treatment has proven to be very effective given intravenously and has been successful in experiments on animals with acute respiratory distress, a very severe respiratory failure without effective treatment. It has also been proven effective in animal models with allergic asthma to persulfate salts, a condition equivalent to a professional disease detected among professional hairdressers. The study has been developed by a team led by Dr. Josep Maria Aran, researcher at the Human Molecular Genetics group of IDIBELL, together with doctors Mar�a Jes�s Cruz and Francisco Javier Mu�oz from the Pneumology research group at VHIR, and doctors Oriol Roca and Joan Ramon Masclans, from the Clinical Research/Innovation in Pneumonia and Sepsis (CRIPS) at VHIR. Finally, the Biomedical Research Network Centre for Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES) have also participated in this study.

Researchers identify 8 molecules which could improve the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (26/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from the Institut de Recerca de la Sida IrsiCaixa and the Institut d�Investigaci� en Ci�ncies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol have identified a group of 8 molecules of the immunological system which are associated to a worse immunological response of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Scientists from the research group in CFS at Vall d�Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), the Cl�nica SCF in Tarragona, the Cl�nica Delfos, as well as several associations of patients with CFS and the foundation against AIDS in Catalonia, have also participated in this study done with 22 diagnosed individuals fulfilling Fukuda criteria. �The alterations of these molecules in patients with CFS could improve the reliability and the early diagnosis of this complex disorder which has been wrongly defined in the molecular field�, assures Juli� Blanco, Miguel Servet senior researcher of the Institut d�Investigaci� en Ci�ncies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol at Irsi Caixa, coordinator of the study and responsible of the Virology and Cellular Immunology group. At present, the diagnosis of CFC is only focused in the evaluation of the clinical symptoms, after ruling out other diseases. Moreover, the diagnosis is not very quantitative, and requires effort and neurological tests which can be more unpleasant than a blood draw. The study was recently published in Journal of Translational Medicine and could also explain the higher effect of some infections caused by virus in these patients. Nonetheless, scientists stress the need of proving these results with larger studies. The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a complex disorder which affects the immunological, neurological, cardiovascular and endocrinal systems. In Spain, it is estimated that 1 of 1,000 people suffer CFS.

The BMF and Vall d'Hebron promote research into eye disease (25/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vall d�Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR) and Vall d�Hebron University Hospital have signed a collaboration agreement with the Barcelona Macula Foundation (BMF) with the aim of boosting research into the eye diseases which lead to blindness and for which there is no efficient treatment, such as AMD, Stargardt�s Disease or pigmentary retinosis. The collaboration framework will benefit from the research synergies between the three centres to help in the development of the research field in promoting the generation, exchange and transfer through research projects, clinical trials and innovation together with joint activities. VHIR�s director, Dr. Joan X. Comella, the general manager of the hospital, Dr. Jos� J. Navas, and the Medical Director of the BMF, Dr. Jordi Mon�s, formalized the signing at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital. BMF have an experience of 20 years of research, design and conduct of clinical trials for severe loss of vision.

Dr. Josep S�nchez de Toledo candidate to Catalan of the Year 2012 (22/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Josep Sanchez Toledo, leader of the Group in Translational Research in Children Cancer of Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and of the Pediatrics Oncology and Haematology Service of the University Hospital Vall d�Hebron, is one of the three first candidates in the top that can be elected Catal� de l�Any (Catalan of the Year) 2012, organized by the newspaper El Peri�dico and tv show Els Matins de TV3, after the first votes of the newspapers readers and viewers of the program. The election of Dr. S�nchez Toledo between the finalists suppose an important recognition to his clinical assistance and research labour and the impact in the scientific community and society. Among the list of finalists there are household names such as the doctor Elena Barraquer or the actress Montserrat Carulla, completing the top three classifieds at the moment, besides personalities from very varied fields ranging from art and literature to sports and science. This show the standing of the 13 edition of the competition, considering that for being Catal� de l'Any must have provided values ??or milestones that are a benchmark in society. Dr. Josep S�nchez de Toledo combines his clinical work in children with tumors and bone marrow transplants with the latest research on childhood cancer from five different lines of study. In recognition of his intense activity for the welfare of the patients, his research group collects large donations of important entities, important grants, such as L a Marat� de TV3, or more recently the initiative 'A child, a smile'. To vote for Dr. Sanchez Toledo, there are three different ways: via phone at 905.44.60.40, via SMS, sending a message to 25152 with the word CATALA, finalist�s name �in this case Josep S�nchez Toledo- and the name of the person that participates, and through the web www.cataladelany.cat. On April 16 it will be announced the first elimination of the finalists that have less public support in this second phase. It won�t be until May 8 to make public the names of the three candidates who will advance to the final. In this phase, the third and final one, it will be only possible to vote for one of the three finalists. The voting period will close before a notary on May 14 at noon. The Catal� de l'Any 2012 will be announced on the evening of May 14 at the gala in the TNC, live broadcasted on TV3, and the winner will be given a sculpture made by Vaccaro Ricard.

Dr. Maria Vicario, awarded with an international grant to study the irritable bowel syndrome (20/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Maria Vicario, who leads together with Dr. Javier Santos the research line in Neuro-Immuno-Gastroenterology, inside the Phisiology and pathophisiology of the digestive tract group at VHIR, has obtained an annual grant for the study of functional digestive diseases, the only one that has granted in 2013 the organization 'The Rome Foundation'. The work, titled 'Distinctive humoral activity in the intestinal mucosa of IBS. New approach to IBS etiopathogenesis', has been awarded with 50.000 dollars during the period June 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. This grant, that recognizes worldwide the potential of Dr. Vicario's research and the environment of our institute and the hospital in which he works, is the only one that will give this institution in 2013 among many candidates. Irritable bowel Syndrome has a great impact in society but at present lacks specific biomarkers. The research line of Dr. Vicario has proved the relation between the activation of the intestinal mast cells and structural abnormalities in the epitelial barrier, both related to the specific symptomatology of this syndrome. Additional experiments have identified the presence of cellular and molecular markers of humoral activity in the bowel of these patients. From this stand point, the granted project will focus on the study of the contribution of the B lymphocytes and the characterization of the neuro-immunological mechanisms that promote the survival of the plasma cells and the production of immunoglobulin in this pathology. This research will contribute relevant information, till now unknown, about the physiopathology of the disease and will help to the identification of biomarkers. According to Dr. Vicario, leader of the project, "our aim is to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie bowel dysfunction in these patients, to be able to design effective therapeutic strategies that revert the typical symptomatology of this pathology". 'The Rome Foundation' is a non-profit organization that supports activities destined for the scientific knowledge on the diagnosis and the treatment of functional gastrointestinal diseases to improve the quality of life of patients who suffer them.

'A child, a smile' raises 8,000 euros for research in child cancer at VHIR (19/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The campaign �Un ni�o, una sonrisa� (a child, a smile) collected 23,000 euros to fund research in child cancer and to organize a summer camp in Menorca for children recovered from cancer. The research group in Translational Research in Child Cancer at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), led by Dr. Josep S�nchez de Toledo, and the Fundaci� Institut d�Investigaci� Biom�dica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL) received 8,000 euros each. With this contribution, Dr. S�nchez de Toledo aims to study in depth the retinoblastoma, a child cancer that develops in the cells of retina: �Firstly, we always want to preserve life, but then, it is also crucial to preserve the organ and the vision�. VHIR�s researchers will work together with IDIBELL�s scientists to study the genetic alterations which cause this type of tumor. The ceremony was hosted the 16th of March at the Barcelona�s City Council, with the presence of the health responsible of the local government, Cristina Iniesta, the group leader at VHIR, Dr. S�nchez de Toledo, the director of the program at IDIBELL, Dr. Manel Esteller, and the responsibles of the fundraising campaign. The funds were collected from several charity concerts.

'La Vanguardia' talks about the cancer diagnosis test as an example of research applied to market (18/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The newspaper 'La Vanguardia' published a report on the new test that Transbiomed, VHIR�s spin-off, is developing in order to diagnose the early stages of prostate cancer, using urine analysis to reduce the high number of unnecessary biopsis. Dr. Jaume Revent�s, scientific adviser of Amadix, and head of the Research Unit in Biomedicine and Translational Oncology at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), leads this new diagnosis system which detects in the urine up to three biomarkers of this type of cancer. The new test was proved successfully in 200 patients at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital and the second stage will be validated in a set of ten hospitals. The report, titled �M�s y mejor vigilancia para la pr�stata�, was published the 17th of March in the Money section of 'La Vanguardia'. Biocat also dedicated a report on this test published the 8th of February.

SODIR is awarded with the Best Medical Communication 2012 (15/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The research group in Shock, Organ Dysfunction and Resuscitation (SODIR) at Vall d�Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) has been awarded with the Best Medical Communication 2012 of the Catalan Society of Intensive and Critical Medicine, for the article: �The sounds of cardiac arrest: innovating to obtain accurate record during in-hospital cardiac arrest�. The article, published at Resuscitation, the official journal of the European Resuscitation Council, explains the results of the incorporation of an audio recording system during in-hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation, with the aim to know the factual procedures, techniques and therapeutics used in resuscitation. The proposed innovative solution also improves the items recommended by the Utstein style and enables the reconstruction of the cases in real time in order to be analyzed and discussed with the team afterwards, and to improve the quality of the in-hospital cardiac arrest assistance. The researchers Nuria Duran, Jordi Riera, Xavier Nuvials, Juan Carlos Ruiz-Rodr�guez, Joaquim Serra and Jordi Rello signed the article awarded during the 34th meeting of the Catalan Society of Intensive and Critical Medicine.

ACADIP will direct donations through the VHIR's website 'Yo investigo' (14/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vall d�Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) signed an agreement with the Catalan Association of Primary Immune Deficiency (ACADIP) to direct the donations that the members want to send to research projects. The contributions will be paid through the VHIR�s fundraising website 'yoinvestigo.org' (�faigrecerca.org�, in Catalan). ACADIP is an association which gathers patients diagnosed with any type of Primary Immune Deficiency and gives support to them and their families. One of its goals is working with the research community to improve the quality of life of the patients, as well as doing activities to spread and improve the comprehension of the society on this infectious disorder. The next campaign will take place during the World Immune Week, which starts the 22nd of April: the association will present a book and will celebrate a party for children at Messi Park at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital and a gymkhana for familiars. Besides, VHIR will organize the seminar �Primary Immune Deficiencies: a bond between assistance and research�. Primary Immune Deficiencies are a group of several disorders motivated by the quantitive and/or functional alterations of the different mechanisms implied in the immune response, which affects 1 of 2000 people, mainly children. Patients are susceptible to suffer infections that, if are not treated properly, can be lethal or leaving sequels which could worsen their quality of life. The agreement among both organizations was formalized the 13rd of March with the presence of ACADIP�s president, Gaspar Puig, the vicepresident, Carlota Villar, and the secretary of the association, Jordi Carnero; representing VHIR, Dr. Joan X. Comella signed the agreement, together with Dr. Pere Soler, member of the Infection in Immunocompromised Pediatric Patients group at VHIR.

UNNIN's researchers show to students the gravity of traumatic brain injury (13/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Coinciding with the Brain Awareness Week, students of high school at Vall d�Hebron saw in first-hand the traumatic brain consequences that people can suffer after surviving a traffic accident. Dr. Juan Sahuquillo and Dr. M� Ant�nia Poca from the Neurotraumatology and Neurosurgery group (UNNIN) at Vall d�Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) explained to the young students the general concepts, causes and consequences of traumatic brain injury. The activity was celebrated for the fourth time at the Traumatology Hospital of Vall d�Hebron University Hospital. The students heard the experience of the president of the Catalan Association of Traumatic Brain Injury Affected, who suffered an accident when she was 17, as well as they visited the patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit and learned how professionals act when a patient with traumatic brain injury arrives to the hospital. Car accidents and as a consequence, traumatic brain injuries are considered the silent epidemic of XXI century and the first cause of death among young people. According to the Spanish traffic institution (DGT), in 2012, 145 people between 15 and 24 years dead in the Spanish roads.

VHIR's researchers identify a protein which predicts kidney cancer in the initial stages and in its prognosis (12/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from the CIBBIM- Nanomedicine- Kidney Physiopathology group at Vall d�Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) have proved the relation between a membrane protein of renal cells, called HAVCR-1/KIM1, and the evolution of different types of kidney cancer. The study shows a strong correlation with the presence of this protein in the urine and the risk of developing kidney cancer, specifically the Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma (ccRCC) and papillary. Furthermore, for the first time the results suggest that the levels of the protein in the tumor and the urine are connected with the degree and the malignancy of the tumors. Consequently, HAVCR-1/KIM1 protein is confirmed as a very useful biomarker to diagnose renal cell cancer and to determine the gravity and the stage of development. Although the protein is detected in ccRCC and papillary cancer, this study, published at the European Journal of Cancer, has demonstrated that in patients with ccRCC the protein HAVCR-1/KIM1 is also expressed in the healthy part of the kidney where there is no evidence of tumor. For that reason, the results indicate that �the anomalous expression of this protein in the renal tissue confers the possibility of developing ccRCC tumors, as well as it detects the presence in the initial stages�, assures Dr. Anna Meseguer, responsible of the study and the Kidney Physiopathology group at VHIR. Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is the most usual urological cancer and it has a global mortality of 100.000 cases per year. It represents the 3% of new cases of cancer and its influence has been increasing over the last three decades. There are several types of renal cancer, but the most common is the ccRCC, which is one of the most aggressive and represents the 75-80% of renal tumors. �One of the main problems of this type of cancer is that it doesn�t show any signs, symptoms or biochemical anomalies for detecting the tumor. In several cases, it is detected incidentally too late, when the possibilities of surviving are less than the 5%. To date, there is not any proceeding for detecting it in the early stages�, explains Dr. Enric Trilla, from the Urology Service at Vall d�Hebron University Hospital.

Vall d�Hebron celebrated the third edition of the course 'Ventilung' about mechanical ventilation (11/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Service of Intensive Medicine of Vall d�Hebron University Hospital (HUVH) celebrated successfully 'Ventilung', the course on basics of artificial ventilation and its main clinical applications. In the course participated 17 internationally renowned experts from Vall d�Hebron, Hospital Universitari Parc Mar, Hospital Universitari Parc Taul�, Hospital Mois�s Broggi Sant Joan Desp� and Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, and assisted 65 specialists and internships interested in this treatment, from Spain, Argentina, Portugal and Colombia. During the 7th and 8th of March, they combined theoretical lessons with discussions of clinical cases and practical seminars with simulation. Dr. Rello, head of the group of Clinical Research/Innovation in Pneumonia & Sepsis (CRIPS) at VHIR, together with Dr. Morell, head of the Pneumology group at VHIR, and Dr. Gea, from the Pneumology Service at Hospital del Mar, led this third edition that took place at HUVH. The course is accredited by the Catalan Council for Continuing Medical training and the Commission of Continuing training of the National Health System with 2 credits. Furthermore, it is a module of the Master�s Degree in Respiratory Pathology organized by UPF-UB, and it has the scientific support of CIBERES, SEMICYUC, SEPAR, SOCMIC i SOCAP.

El VHIR participa en el M�ster Oficial en Bioqu�mica, Biologia Molecular i Biomedicina de la UAB (11/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ja est� oberta la inscripci� al M�ster Oficial en Bioqu�mica, Biologia Molecular i Biomedicina de la UAB pel curs 2013-14. La finalitat del m�ster es oferir una formaci� d�alta qualitat en el camp de la Bioqu�mica, la Biologia Molecular i la Biomedicina que permeti a l�estudiant integrar-se en un grup de recerca o en una empresa del sector farmac�utic, biotecnol�gic o biom�dic. El m�ster inclou tant m�duls te�rics com activitats de recerca i desenvolupament. La nostra instituci� participa en la doc�ncia d�aquest m�ster. La segona tanda de preinscripcions finalitza el 28 d�abril. Podeu trobar m�s informaci� a la p�gina web del m�ster i a la p�gina oficial de la UAB: http://bioquimica.uab.es/paginas_cat/master.php http://www.uab.cat/servlet/Satellite/informacio-academica-dels-masters-oficials/l-oferta-de-masters-oficials/informacio-general/bioquimica-biologia-molecular-i-biomedicina-1096480139517.html?param1=1096480140580 Comissi� de Formaci� en Investigaci� VHIR

Three thoughts about Women's Day at VHIR (08/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Fri, 8 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Coinciding with the international women's day, three scientific authorities at Vall d'Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR) talk about this date and the situation of women in science. They are Dr. Anna Meseguer, assistant to the direction in basic research, Dr. Mar�a Jesus Carmona, member of the Scientific Internal Council (CCI) at VHIR, and Dr. F�tima N��ez, head of the person in charge of the Technical & Scientific Support Area. They are only three of the 428 women working at VHIR who every day contribute to advance in biomedical research: 325 devoted to research and support, and 76 to administration. These numbers represent almost 75 per cent of the whole personnel of the institute. VHIR counts since 2011 with a equality plan to guarantee the same conditions and opportunities to women and men as this is one of the aims of the institute. For that reason, during the last two years have been carried out concrete actions, as for instance an ethics code of equality of opportunities and fixing schedules of meetings bearing in mind the conciliation of the personal, familiar and labor life of the personnel. Dra. Anna Meseguer "M'han demanat que us escrigui alguna cosa sobre dona i ci�ncia� Potser perqu� fa molts anys que em vaig endinsar en aquesta activitat i hauria de poder desvetllar-vos algun secret! Per� vet aqu� que de secrets no n�hi ha gaires per ser dona i cient�fica a la vegada. El que hi ha s�n reptes; s�, reptes per poder arribar a tot! Al menys aix� �s el que ens ha passat a les dones de la meva generaci� que mantenim viva i desperta aquella curiositat i fascinaci� per entendre els processos biol�gics de la salut i la malaltia, alhora que tractem d�harmonitzar la nostra dedicaci� professional amb la vida familiar i estar a prop dels que estimem. La fascinaci� que sentia quan vaig comen�ar la carrera no ha fet m�s que cr�ixer dia rere dia� I �s que la complexitat dels sistemes vius �s infinitament m�s gran del que mai hagu�s pogut imaginar! Hem tingut la sort de viure en un temps on els aven�os cient�fics s�n vertiginosos� per� ser dona, ser mare� �s la gran festa de la vida! Compaginar-ho tot ha estat el gran repte. I s�ho valia, s�ho val, de ben segur, tot i que mantenir l� equilibri no ha estat f�cil. Hem lluitat per guanyar-nos un lloc en aquest m�n competitiu i gens f�cil de la ci�ncia, perqu� hi cr�iem, perqu� tot plegat ens inspira i ens fa ser el que som, per� alhora tamb� perqu� som mares, filles, amigues i amants! Vull pensar, veient ara els meus fills grans, que ells seran capa�os de canviar les coses, faran que les responsabilitats siguin realment compartides entre homes i dones dins la llar, on les persones independentment del sexe i condici� puguin desenvolupar les seves leg�times aspiracions personals i professionals sense ren�ncies ni males consci�ncies del temps que hem robat als que tenim a prop per dedicar-lo a la ci�ncia. Dr. Anna Rosell from the Neurovascular Research group at VHIR, Dr. Anna Roig from the Group of Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites at the Institut de Ci�ncia de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) and Dr. Eva Pereiro, responsible of the ALBA synchrotron light source, have obtained the first images of human endothelial stem cells by Transmission Soft X-ray Microscopy at ALBA Synchrotron in Cerdanyola del Vall�s. A new concept for research in the field of stroke involves the participation of neurovascular plasticity after brain injury. At present, there are several cell therapies being investigated that focus on neurorepair. In particular, the administration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to promote the creation of new blood vessels in the peri-lesional area appears to be a very promising therapeutic strategy to enhance angio-vasculogenic responses during the neuro recovery period. For a successful treatment it is crucial to ensure the arrival and engraftment of sufficient number of the transplanted cells into the brain. The Neurovascular Research Laboratory at VHIR and the ICMAB-CSIC started a project in 2009 with the working hypothesis that by applying a local magnetic field externally to the brain and by incorporating iron oxide nanoparticles into EPCs, it will be possible to safely guide the arrival of these cells into targeted brain areas where their engraftment will strengthen the endogenous neurorepair mechanisms and thus their angiogenesis potential. The experiment proposal awarded at the MISTRAL beamline aimed to image whole unsectioned, unstained EPCs containing nanoparticles by perfoming X-ray cryo-tomography. This is one of the three microscopes in the world available to acquire soft X-ray cryo-tomographies. Following lengthy preparations researchers have obtained the first cryo X-ray tomographies of human endothelial progenitor cells. With this experiment, after imaging reconstruction, they expect to obtain tomographic data sets of 50-60 nm resolution that will allow gathering 3D views of the whole cells allowing a comparative study (size and morphology) of the iron-loaded cells with the pristine cells, as well as between the different EPC subtypes. In addition the researchers aim to determine the spatial bulk distribution of the endosomes/lysosomes containing nanoparticles inside the cells. The project is currently funded by the Instituto Carlos III-FIS and Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad. According to the World Health Organization, 15 million persons suffer a stroke worldwide each year. The incidence of this disease in Europe is approximately 200-250 cases every 100,000 inhabitants. It is estimated that at present less than 5% of those patients receive treatment.

Probable amnestic MCI people are in the highest risk of conversion to dementia (06/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Wed, 6 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

People with probable amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have the most and closest risk of conversion to dementia, mainly Alzheimer�s disease (AD), according to a recent research of Fundaci� ACE, Barcelona Alzheimer Treatment and Research Center, with the collaboration of Dr. Merc� Boada from the Alzheimer group at Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Alzheimer Disease Research Center at the Universirty of Pittsburg (USA). That is, amnestic MCI subjects without any comorbidity that could explain their cognitive deficits have 8.5 times more risk to convert to dementia than people with non-amnestic MCI caused by cerebrovascular pathology or psycho-affective symptoms. Furthermore, a storage pattern of memory impairment, the multiple domain condition, and the presence of at least one �4 allele increase the risk of conversion to dementia in MCI subjects.� The study, published at 'Journal of Alzheimer's Disease', reports one of the largest single-site clinical MCI series reported worldwide: a five-year longitudinal follow-up of 550 MCI subjects, undertaken and led by Fundaci� ACE, Barcelona Alzheimer Treatment and Research Center. All individuals had a Clinical Dementia Rating scale of 0.5, they were older than 60 years old, and their DNA was available. Therefore, MCI cases were divided into probable amnestic (Pr-aMCI, n = 115), probable non-amnestic (Pr-naMCI, n = 37), possible amnestic (Pss-aMCI, n = 234), and possible non-amnestic (Pss-naMCI, n = 164), single or multiple domain. A total of 257 (46.7%) subjects developed dementia during the five-year follow-up research. Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) collaborated in the analysis and the interpretation of the results. �Espinosa et al article is the first study that analyzes the non-amnestic group with or without comorbidities to increase the accuracy of the MCI classification�, says doctor Montserrat Alegret, Neuropsychology Chief of Fundaci� ACE. The study determined which neuropsychological test performances, including episodic memory profiles, and genetic risk factors (APOE �4) better predict early conversion to dementia among the four MCI subtypes. For the whole MCI group, neuropsychological assessment demonstrated that Orientation, Verbal Delayed Recall and visuospatial functions are of great importance in the conversion to dementia, independently of APOE �4. The most recent studies about MCI are focused on the search for risk factors that make patients more vulnerable to conversion to dementia, mainly AD. The results allow estimating the conversion rates from a MCI type to dementia. Moreover, �this new classification identifies probable amnestic MCI people as a new target for future AD clinical trials. In the clinical practice, neuropsychological testing is the most cost-effective and may be the most sensitive method to assess the early impaired brain functions in a Memory Clinic Diagnostic Unit�, concludes Ana Espinosa, first author of the study.

Vall d'Hebron and B. Braun will investigate a new treatment for burns (05/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Tue, 5 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Vall d�Hebron University Hospital hosted the signature of the collaboration agreement of a research project between the hospital (HUVH), its research institute (VHIR) and the company B. Braun Medical, S. A. to validate a new treatment for burns. The research project, called �Prospective and descriptive study of a cohort with Prontosan Wound Gel X, for the treatment of second-degree burns �Prontoburn��, aims to assess the security profile of the product �Prontosan Wound Gel X� in the recovery of second-degree burns affecting no more than the 15% of the body surface area, and to evaluate the evolution, recovery and tolerability of the burns after using this product. The scientific responsible of the research project and principal investigator is Dr. Joan Pere Barret Ner�n, head of the Plastic Surgery and Burned Patients Service at HUVH and VHIR�s researcher. The team of the Burned Patients Unit at Vall d�Hebron has participated in many clinical and research studies, with the goal of validating and developing treatments for patients with different types of burns. As a result of these initiatives, the project �Prontosan Wound Gel X� has been developed. The promoter of the study is Braun Medical, S.A., a company interested in collaborating with VHIR�s scientific goals and with the promotion of this product. During the project, researchers will evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment of cleaning and moisturizing the second-degree burns with prolihexanida, and it is expected that its effect will be similar to other antiseptic preparations but with the advantage of not entailing side effects. During the signing of the agreement, VHIR�s director, Dr. Joan Comella, showed his satisfaction and offered to Braun Vall d�Hebron as �their reference laboratory for practicing�. On the other hand, Jes�s Donado-Mazarr�n, Braun�s general manager in Spain, assured that �this will be the first of many agreements with this hospital�. For a year, this study will be carried out with 60 patients in the Burned Patients Unit of HUVH in Barcelona.

Dr. Gali�anes talks about research in heart repair therapy in 'El Punt Avui' (04/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Mon, 4 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Manuel Gali�anes, head of the Reparative Therapy of the Heart group at Vall d�Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), appeared in 'El Punt Avui' of the 3rd of March, to talk about the research lines to recover the damage of the myocardium in order to avoid transplantation. One of the research lines is focused on the use of stem cells that, after many years of studies, it has been demonstrated that can be useful to help the myocardium�s cells to repair the damage after suffering a heart attack. In this interview, Dr. Gali�anes explained that researchers are seeking alternatives to the heart transplantation to avoid the problems and complications originated by immunosuppressive drugs. VHIR�s researchers and world leading experts shared the last advances in these therapies in the 'Unsolved Problems in Heart Repair' sessions, celebrated last November in Barcelona.

Dr. Alegre talks about the chronic fatigue syndrome at the TV show �Para todos la 2� (01/03/2013)

comunica@vhir.org (VHIR) — Fri, 1 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Jos� Alegre, head of the Chronic Fatigue group at Vall d�Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), has participated at the TVE�s show �Para todos la 2�, to talk about this syndrome that in Spain affects about the 1% of the population. In a debate with Dr. Jordi Carbonell, head of the Rheumatology Service at Hospital del Mar, and Maite Vivancos, president of the Catalan foundation of patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, Dr. Alegre has explained that chronic fatigue patients are diagnosed with a delay of 7-10 years, after visiting all the specialists. An exhausting way that many patients have suffered because their symptoms are not only related with their fatigue, but also with cognitive, functional and sensorial aspects. At the show of the public television, Dr. Alegre has reviewed the most common symptoms of chronic fatigue and some of the advices to palliate its effects.