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A Chip That Reprograms Cells Helps Healing, At Least In Mice

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NC Daily Star Staff
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August 8, 2017·5:00 AM ET
by Angus Chen
Scientists have created an electronic wafer that reprogrammed damaged skin cells on a mouse’s leg to grow new blood vessels and help a wound heal.

One day, creator Chandan Sen hopes, it could be used to be used to treat wounds on humans. But that day is a long way off — as are many other regeneration technologies in the works. Like Sen, some scientists have begun trying to directly reprogram one cell type into another for healing, while others are attempting to build organs or tissues from stem cells and organ-shaped scaffolding.

But other scientists have greeted Sen’s mouse experiment, published in Nature Nanotechnology on Monday, with extreme skepticism. “My impression is that there’s a lot of hyperbole here,” says Sean Morrison, a stem cell researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. “The idea you can [reprogram] a limited number of cells in the skin and improve blood flow to an entire limb – I think it’s a pretty fantastic claim. I find it hard to believe.”

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When the device is placed on live skin and activated, it sends a small electrical pulse onto the skin cells’ membrane, which opens a tiny window on the cell surface. “It’s about 2 percent of the cell membrane,” says Sen, who is a researcher in regenerative medicine at Ohio State University. Then, using a microscopic chute, the chip shoots new genetic code through that window and into the cell where it can begin reprogramming the cell for a new fate.

Sen says the whole process takes less than 0.1 seconds and can reprogram the cells resting underneath the device, which is about the size of a big toenail. The best part is that it’s able to successfully deliver its genetic payload almost 100 percent of the time, he says. “No other gene delivery technique can deliver over 98 percent efficiency. That is our triumph.”

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Chandan Sen, a researcher at Ohio State University, holds a chip his lab created that has reprogrammed cells in mice.

Wexner Medical Center/The Ohio State University

To test the device’s healing capabilities, Sen and his colleagues took a few mice with damaged leg arteries and placed the chip on the skin near the damaged artery. That reprogrammed a centimeter or two of skin to turn into blood vessel cells. Sen says the cells that received the reprogramming genes actually started replicating the reprogramming code that the researchers originally inserted in the chip, repackaging it and sending it out to other nearby cells. And that initiated the growth of a new network of blood vessels in the leg that replaced the function of the original, damaged artery, the researchers say. “Not only did we make new cells, but those cells reorganized to make functional blood vessels that plumb with the existing vasculature and carry blood,” Sen says. That was enough for the leg to fully recover. Injured mice that didn’t get the chip never healed.

When the researchers used the chip on healthy legs, no new blood vessels formed. Sen says because injured mouse legs were was able to incorporate the chip’s reprogramming code into the ongoing attempt to heal.

That idea hasn’t quite been accepted by other researchers, however. “It’s just a hand waving argument,” Morrison says. “It could be true, but there’s no evidence that reprogramming works differently in an injured tissue versus a non-injured tissue.”

What’s more, the role of exosomes, the vesicles that supposedly transmit the reprogramming command to other cells, has been contentious in medical science. “There are all manners of claims of these vesicles. It’s not clear what these things are, and if it’s a real biological process or if it’s debris,” Morrison says. “In my lab, we would want to do a lot more characterization of these exosomes before we make any claims like this.”

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Sen says that the theory that introduced reprogramming code from the chip or any other gene delivery method does need more work, but he isn’t deterred by the criticism. “This clearly is a new conceptual development, and skepticism is understandable,” he says. But he is steadfast in his confidence about the role of reprogrammed exosomes. When the researchers extracted the vesicles and injected them into skin cells in the lab, Sen says those cells converted into blood vessel cells in the petri dish. “I believe this is definitive evidence supporting that [these exosomes] may induce cell conversion.”

Even if the device works as well as Sen and his colleagues hope it does, they only tested it on mice. Repairing deeper injuries, like vital organ damage, would also require inserting the chip into the body to reach the wound site. It has a long way to go before it can ever be considered for use on humans. Right now, scientists can only directly reprogram adult cells into a limited selection of other cell types like muscle, neurons and blood vessel cells. It’ll be many years before scientists understand how to reprogram one cell type to become part of any of our other, many tissues.

Still, Morrison says the chip is an interesting bit of technology. “It’s a cool idea, being able to release [genetic code] through nano channels,” he says. “There may be applications where that’s advantageous in some way in the future.”

Sunset Boulevard at Moonlight Starts August 16

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NC Daily Star Staff
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The next performance of the summer season will begin August 16th, it will be brilliant.
Sunset Boulevard weaves a magnificent tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition. Silent movie star, Norma Desmond, longs for a return to the big screen, having been discarded by tinsel town with the advent of “talkies.” Her glamour has faded in all but her mind. When she meets struggling Hollywood screen-writer Joe Gillis in dramatic circumstances, their subsequent passionate and volatile relationship leads to an unforeseen and tragic conclusion. Based on the film noir classic by Billy Wilder that starred Gloria Swanson and William Holden, it received seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and features some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most soaring melodies including, With One Look and As If We Never Said Goodbye.

http://www.moonlightstage.com/performances/sunset-boulevardhttp://www.moonlightstage.com/performances/sunset-boulevard
http://www.moonlightfoundation.com/foundation/history-of-moonlight-cultural-foundation

Vista Rod Run 28 Was Classic

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NC Daily Star Staff
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August 6, 1989 was the 1st Annual Vista Rod Run. This Sunday, was the 28th year and it was yet again a Hot Rod success. The streets of Historic Downtown Vista were lined with classic Pre-74 vehicles, cruisers, trucks and all things Rod Run. The sun was a mild 78 degrees with a steady breeze and people strolled from car to car admiring the beautiful paint jobs, engines and interiors. You could hear conversations like, “Remember When”, “I Had one like that”, and “My Dad had one like that when we were little”. The grand kids were seeing hundreds of cars that are not made like that anymore.

The DJ, High Quality Entertainment, located his sound systems on each corner block to announce what was happening while he played wonderful songs of years gone by for the visitors to enjoy. Also, returning to Vista were the “Millionaire Beach Bums”. They are four San Diego kids, ages 13-16, that started playing gigs together in 2013 when they discovered they all shared a love of surf music. Today they rocked the gazebo on the corner of Main and Indiana.

Millionaire Beach Bums
Yellow Ford Woody Station Wagon

This year there were over 300 entries and 30 winners of various categories. The Overall Best Of Show and Best Chrome was the father of Ryan Bikakis with his 1956 Ford F-100. He has registered his vehicle in his sons name every year since his son passed.

An added feature to this years Rod Run was TJ Crossman from TJ Crossman’s Auto Repair, gave away a car to 18 year old Juan Soberanes. Read all about it this week in the North County Daily Star.

Best of Show and Best Chrome, Mr. Bikakis, showing his vehicle in his sons name, Ryan Bikakis
Jason and Amy Moore, 36 Plymouth

The North County Daily Star sponsored the Corvette category, and the winner was Alex Matkovich, age 77, and his wife Barbara, who entered a Blue 1961 Chevrolet Corvette. There were only 419 of this color made. Alex bought the car 54 years ago and he just recently finished refurbishing the car. This was his first competition.
Thanks to the Sponsors, North County Ford, PDT Inc and Vista Village Business Association. Debbie Medrano, with Five Star Premier Events coordinated the event. Large crowds enjoyed the day and they came from cities all over North County and beyond. They enjoyed all that Historic Vista has to offer with the hustle and bustle of the many tasting rooms, restaurants and shops.

We are now anticipating the 29th Annual Rod Run which will be August 5th, the first Sunday in August 2018. See you all then.

Juvenile Whale Spotted in Lagoon

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NC Daily Star Staff
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Beachgoers were treated to a rare up close and personal sighting of a 15 foot juvenile gray whale Monday afternoon, when the little guy found his way (or her way?) under the bridge to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad. Sightings were first reported around 2 p.m., prompting Carlsbad public safety officials to call in whale experts from Sea World and set up traffic and security patrols around the lagoon inlet to ensure the safety of all mammals in the area, human and whale alike.

“We got reports of people trying to swim with the whale,” said City of Carlsbad Fire Chief Mike Davis. “It may be small by whale standards but you’re still talking about a 2,000 pound sea creature. One flip of the tail could easily incapacitate a curious swimmer.”

Police officers set up traffic controls around the bridge and urged onlookers to keep an eye out for distracted drivers and pedestrians.

Sea World officials said the whale did not appear to be in distress and should be left alone to explore, rest and do whatever else whales do. Mostly the whale cruised around just east of the bridge, giving people along Carlsbad Boulevard and nearby trail an impromptu nature show met with oohs and ahhhs, along with lots of questions. “Where’s it’s mother?” “Is it okay?” “Why is it here?”

Alas, before these questions could be answered, around 4 p.m. with one final spray out the blowhole, the whale dipped once again under the bridge and headed back out to sea, leaving the small crowd with only their memories (and iphone videos).

Woman’s Club of Vista Throw Party for “Gunfighters”

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NC Daily Star Staff
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Members of the Woman’s Club of Vista GFWC and the Contemporary Women of North County ( CWONC) joined together for a Beach Bash for the Helicopter Members of the Woman’s Club of Vista GFWC and the Contemporary Women of North County ( CWONC) joined together for a Beach Bash for the Helicopter Marine Light Attack 369 Squadron, known as the “Gunfighters”, at Camp Pendleton. The City of Vista has adopted this squadron and almost 500 Marines and their families attended.

The ladies pictured are preparing a Dessert Table, in addition to barbeque food and soft drinks for the squadron’s members and families

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Several activities for everyone included a dunk tank, volleyball, drum demonstration, and children’s activities. The Woman’s Club meets the second Wednesday of the month at the Shadowridge Golf Club at 10AM for a meeting and luncheon; all are welcome. For reservations, call 919-847-2786. www.womansclubofvista.org, known as the “Gunfighters”, at Camp Pendleton.

Operation HOPE-Vista Celebrates Birthday of Year Round Program

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NC Daily Star Staff
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Board of Directors and Volunteers L-R Kathleen Higgins, Anita Gunther, Nicole Katcher, Tracy Lyons, Beth Haight, Beatriz Palmer, Mary Donovan

Operation HOPE-Vista (Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement), hosted a birthday celebration on Saturday, August 5th in honor of its first full year as a 12-Month Program. The celebration of this tremendous milestone brought the community and family members together with food and fun activities such as face painting, games, and live music.

In fiscal year 2017 they have served 215 individual unique clients which includes men, women, and children. Last November in 2016, there were 100 families on the wait list as the homeless population continues to grow and the need is always there. There has not been less than 45 families on their waiting list.

Operation HOPE Vista first opened its doors in 2003 as an emergency winter shelter. With the support of the community and all of their donors throughout the years, the shelter was able to open its doors as a year round shelter on August 1, 2016 to provide services to homeless families and children all year long to help them regain their hope and self sufficiency.

The shelter’s First Birthday is to celebrate all the community support and generous financial contributions from donors who together, have made this all possible for their clients.

https://www.operationhopeshelter.org/about-us

Vista Structure Fire Sunrise Drive

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NC Daily Star Staff
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On August 5, 2017 at 8:48 am City of Vista Fire Department personnel were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 1608 Sunrise Drive in Vista. The first fire engine arrived on scene 6 minutes later to find a single story home with smoke and fire visible. There were reports of a victim in the home and the firefighters entered the home to search for the victim and to extinguish the fire. At 9:02 the firefighters determined the home to be clear of occupants. A patient was located outside of the home. At 9:07 the fire was contained. Fire personnel expect to be on scene throughout the morning making certain the fire is extinguished.

Due to the nature of the fire the San Diego County Sheriff Bomb Arson unit was requested to assist Vista Fire Department investigators with the fire investigation. The male patient was transported by a helicopter ambulance to a local trauma center.

27 fire personnel were on scene and assistance was provided by the Carlsbad and Oceanside Fire Departments as well as the Sheriff Department and San Diego Gas and Electric.

Additional questions please contact Ned Vander Pol 760-310-0217

Thinking Outside the Coop: 8 Common Myths about Raising Backyard Poultry

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NC Daily Star Staff
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Thinking outside the coop: 8 common myths about raising backyard poultry

(BPT) – From fresh egg production to natural garden fertilizer, there is no shortage of benefits in raising backyard poultry. But even as families become more familiar with sustainable living and keeping chickens, several poultry myths still exist.

Here to set the record straight for our feathered friends is poultry expert Lisa Steele, creator of the renowned Fresh Eggs Daily brand and author of three top-selling books on the subject. Steele is also a consultant with Tractor Supply Company, the rural lifestyle retailer.

Here are Steele’s eight most common myths surrounding backyard flocks:

Myth 1: Chickens are difficult to care for.

“There is, of course, a certain level of responsibility required to properly care for any living animal. However, when it comes to backyard poultry, the time commitment is fairly minimal — maybe 30 minutes daily,” Steele says. Here’s what you can expect: In the morning, chickens will need to be let out and fed; waterers will need to be filled. At some point, eggs will need to be collected. Then, around dusk, after the chickens have wandered back to the coop, the door needs to be locked to protect from predators.

Myth 2: Chickens (and coops) smell.

“Chickens themselves don’t smell, nor does a well-maintained coop,” Steele says. “On average, a chicken produces about 1.5 ounces of manure a day, which is far less than the average dog — not to mention, when composted, it makes wonderful nitrogen-rich fertilizer for a garden.”

Myth 3: Chickens are noisy.

“Despite what you may have heard, chickens are pretty quiet. In fact, a clucking chicken tends to be on par with normal human conversation (60–65 decibels). In other words, it’s a lot quieter than your neighbor’s barking dog, lawn mower or car alarm,” Steele says.

Roosters are a different story, and some areas prohibit them for that very reason. Be sure to check your local ordinances about keeping backyard poultry!

Myth 4: You need a rooster to get eggs.

Chickens will lay eggs regardless of whether or not there is a rooster in the flock. A male chicken is only needed to fertilize an egg, meaning eggs laid by hens in a rooster-less flock can never hatch into baby chicks. And while there are some benefits to having roosters, they aren’t necessary for your hen to produce a basket of delicious, fresh eggs.

Myth 5: A chicken lays an egg every day.

Fresh eggs to eat and share with friends are one of the best benefits of raising poultry, but Steele says not to expect your hen to lay an egg every day. “The average chicken will produce four to five eggs a week, but that will vary depending on the chicken’s age, breed, health and environment. Shorter days, extreme temperatures, molting (growing in new feathers) and other stressors, such as the presence of predators, can all affect egg production,” Steele says.

Myth 6: Brown eggs are more nutritious than white eggs.

“The nutrient content of an egg is based largely on a hen’s diet, not the color of its egg, which is determined solely by the chicken’s breed,” Steele says. According to a study conducted by Mother Earth News magazine, a free-roaming chicken that consumes grass and bugs will lay eggs with less cholesterol and saturated fat and more Vitamin A and E, beta-carotene and Omega-3s than a chicken fed purely commercial corn/grain-based foods.

Myth 7: Chickens carry disease.

“Chickens don’t carry any more risk of disease than a dog or cat. In fact, they love to eat ticks and other pesky critters known to transmit diseases like Lyme disease, tapeworm and heartworm,” Steele explains. “While salmonella can be transmitted to humans through poultry dander and feces, simply washing hands after handling the chickens keeps the risk of infection minimal.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also cautions against live poultry inside the home and against letting children younger than 5 years old handle poultry.

Myth 8: Chickens attract rodents and predators.

“Wild predators are not any more attracted to chickens than they are to wild birds, rabbits, squirrels and other small animals,” Steele says. “The truth is, predators are likely already living in your midst. The key to keeping them at bay is to keep your chickens safe in an enclosed pen or run area. Chicken feed should also be taken up at night and stored in predator-proof containers to reduce the possibility of flies and mice.”

When it comes to raising backyard poultry, Tractor Supply is a one-stop shop with coops, equipment, feed and the expert advice you need to successfully raise chicks into an egg-laying flock.

For more expert information on safe handling and care for poultry, starting a chicken coop and more, visit TractorSupply.com/Chicks.

Jennifer Johnson named CSUSM Golf Assistant Coach

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NC Daily Star Staff
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SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Jennifer Johnson, a seven-year professional on the LPGA Tour, will join the Cal State San Marcos golf program as an assistant coach, head coach Greg Hutton announced Wednesday.

“Being born in San Diego and living just over the hill, I am looking forward to starting my college coaching career and working with a coach like Greg that has so much experience,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to share my knowledge from playing competitively at a lot of levels with the team.”

“Adding Jennifer to our coaching staff is a game changer,” Hutton said. “Having a tour player is an amazing benefit for our student-athletes. Jennifer is a proven winner who brings so much knowledge about competing at the highest level.”

Johnson brings over 16 years of competitive golf experience and coaching experience through junior and high school volunteer positions to CSUSM.

During her professional career, Johnson won the 2013 Mobile Bay LPGA Classic and finished six times in the top-10. She shot a career-low round of 62 at the Seaview Resort in Galloway, New Jersey to tie the course record at the 2014 Shoprite LPGA Classic.

Johnson had a decorated junior and amateur career prior to her stint on the LPGA Tour. She won eight tournaments in 2008 including the Women’s California State Amateur Championship and the Rolex Tournament of Champions. She played on victorious United States teams at the 2008 Junior Ryder Cup, 2009 Junior Solheim Cup, 2009 Spirit Cup (playing with partner Lexi Thompson) and the 2010 Curtis Cup. Johnson was the runner-up at the 2009 United States Women’s Amateur preceding her freshman year at Arizona State.

As a Sun Devil, Johnson was the NCGA and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and a First Team All-American after finishing as the individual runner-up at the 2010 NCAA Division I Golf Championships.

A native of San Diego, Johnson played for one season at Arizona State before turning pro. She was on the Dean’s List for the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU and is completing her coursework in business communications.

3 Ways to Create an Outdoor Living Area as Unique as You Are

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NC Daily Star Staff
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Your backyard canvas: 3 ways to create an outdoor living area as unique as you are

(BPT) – It’s amazing to contemplate that all the famous paintings in history — from da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to van Gogh’s Starry Night — are essentially formed from three primary colors. Artists skillfully combine red, yellow and blue to formulate an infinite range of colors to bring their paintings to life.

Likewise, when creating your own outdoor living space, you can combine three basic elements — decking, railing and lighting — in nearly endless ways to “paint” a personal masterpiece of fun and relaxation.

1. Get decked out with modern decking

For decades, backyard decks mainly have been rectangles. This is largely because of the rectangular shape of traditional wood deck boards. With the advent of modern materials, it is now easier to fashion decks of virtually any shape — from curved sections following the contours of a sloping yard to round decks. Or, let your imagination run wild and create a specialty shaped deck of something you love, like a giant guitar or stacked leaves.

“Today’s decking options offer exceptional design flexibility,” says Brent Gwatney, senior vice president of MoistureShield Decking. “Composites in particular are more easily bent into creative shapes than wood decking, and can be ripped and routed to form virtually any design you can think of.” DIYers and deck builders can even install moisture-resistant boards such as MoistureShield Vantage or Infuse decking on the ground, in the ground or under water for more design possibilities, notes Gwatney.

2. Rail against the ordinary

Many decks are required by law to have safety railings. But, with some creativity, the railing can enhance your deck’s look even as it prevents falls. With the variety of products now available, the railing can be a visual complement to your home and deck. For example, if you have a cabin, you could install hewn timber posts and railings for a rustic appeal. For a waterfront home, a nautical-themed railing system of posts and ropes could do the trick. Or, if you have a modern home and prefer simple visual lines, cable-and-wire railings or glass panels could be your style.

For a distinctive look for your deck, consider mixing colors and materials, like combining white aluminum railing and balusters with rich brown composite posts to create a dramatic look. Or, to add a sophisticated mix of texture and color, you can install on the top of a black or white railing a composite board that complements the decking color.

3. Light up the night

A third element to add to your outdoor living design palette is deck lighting. With the right lighting, you can extend your hours outside and keep your deck as charming in the nighttime as it is during the day.

From subtle post lights that cast a magical evening glow to understated recessed lights and rail strip lights that help guide guests’ steps, today’s deck lighting choices are both functional and affordable. And, with the emergence of energy-efficient LEDs, you can use them liberally with little effect on your monthly electricity bill. Some decking manufacturers like MoistureShield offer deck lights specifically designed to integrate with their decking and railing.

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