In a recently published study, researchers from the UCSD School of Medicine and scientists from the San Diego-based biotech company Viacyte, Inc. investigated methods to create endocrine cells, specifically pancreatic T-cells, which are important in treating diabetes through their production of insulin. The study compared two methods of generating endocrine cells from stem cells, in vitro (in cultures), and through transplantation of immature endocrine cells grown from mice. The malleable nature of the stem cell makes it possible to pursue both of these methods.

“The stem cell has the capacity to become any cell in the body. They will make certain decisions to become tissue or organ cells,” said Maike Sander, the principal scientist and a professor of pediatrics and cellular and molecular medicine, and director of UC San Diego’s Pediatric Diabetes Research Center.

In the research laboratory, Sander and other cellular biologists learned how to make various viable organs or tissues by recreating the same environment that the body provides. According to Sander, cells differentiate through a very specific sequence of events in the body, and scientists are taking steps to recreate these events as accurately as possible in a laboratory setting. In the lab, researchers can figure out what to do to the stem cell to make it develop like it would in the body.

In order to grow these cells, the UCSD researchers and Viacyte, Inc. scientists created their own medium to grow the stem cells and followed strict rules regarding the development process.

“One of the issues with human embryonic stem cells is that they turn into any cell in the body so there needs to be rules and protocols to make sure the cells do not differentiate until it is required,” said Allan Robins, who leads the development of techniques for cell manufacturing at Viacyte’s Georgia location.

Currently, in vitro cultivation of endocrine cells from stem cells has been an interesting obstacle to overcome.

“We don’t quite know how to execute this,” Sander said.

According to Sander, the main challenge to cultivating in vitro endocrine cells comes from correct duplication of the biological environment that triggers their differentiation. The cells they have produced in the past did not develop the primary genes essential to healthy endocrine function, such as insulin production.

However, the method of transplanting immature endocrine cells has shown promising results.

“We can [create endocrine cells] by taking a precursor, a stem cell, and putting it in the mice to grow. It takes 150 days to a year until they are matured and fully functional. [The endocrine cells cultivated from the mice] are pretty much like normal human [pancreatic] cells,” Sander said.

According to Sander, no one has attempted to transplant the immature endocrine cells from mice into humans. However, she does have an idea for how it could be done. This transplantation method is only one of many that are being tried.

“[The] best method right now is to put them into an encapsulation device, a thin membrane where the cells cannot get out but the insulin can. The cells are contained in a little membrane and the insulin [can move through it]. If anything goes wrong, you could just remove the device from the person,” Sander said.

The technique keeps in mind the experimental nature of the endocrine cells. Viacyte, Inc. aims to start human clinical trials with this method by 2014.

“We have developed our own device,” Robins said. “It’s transplanted subcutaneously. After a short amount of time the device is able to maintain the cells in the device, which then become pancreatic hormone-producing cells.”

In other developments with stem cell research and diabetes, Fernando Fierro, an assistant adjunct professor of cell biology and human anatomy at the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures in Sacramento, intends to run clinical trials for mesenchymal stem cells to treat two major complications of diabetes: chronic wounds and critical limb ischemia.

“Mesenchymal stem cells are easy to grow in a culture plate. We typically obtain them from bone marrow from healthy donors, which contain a few thousands of them. After a few weeks in the laboratory, we have expanded them to several millions,” Fierro said.

At the very least, stem cell treatments for the complications of diabetes are currently in development as well.

While Viacyte, Inc. and Fierro move ambitiously to human clinical trials, Sander notes that it is important to realize that there is still much research to be done on the use of stem cells in general, and that it is important to thoroughly test every part of the process.

VICTORIA TRANG can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

So it’s been over a month since you promised yourself you would get those six-pack abs and a pair of python-sized biceps. You’ve probably tried everything from dieting to going hard five times a week at the gym. Six weeks later, getting that perfect body for Houseboats or spring break seems hopeless.

Every once in a while, I have friends asking me about my routines and dieting. Some people say that diets and exercise routines sound ridiculous. But we should remember that quote by Thomas Jefferson, which is “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” Well, it’s time to break the bad habits and step out of your comfort zone. It’s time to get some results.

Diet is probably the easiest path to losing weight. Let’s forget about working out to attain that perfectly sculpted serratus or those Adonis abs. Take the time to figure out your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the amount of calories required for the body to function normally at rest.

BMR can be calculated simply in two ways: using some sort of BMR calculator online (Google it), or just actively counting the calories you eat throughout the day while maintaining a stable baseline weight. This process takes longer and is done over a few days or even weeks. Don’t worry about how accurate the figure is; just think of this as a reference point. From there, you figure out the calorie deficit or excess that’s right for you.

The next step is to find a realistic diet you can stick to. Don’t look at a dieting template and think “wow this sucks”; that sort of mentality will only hinder your progress over the long haul. Find a diet that is easy to maintain depending on your daily schedule and how much effort you’re willing to expend. Make sure your diet is reasonable. Don’t try something like limiting yourself to 500 calories a day while also working out.

The other key aspect of a successful diet is to stick to it even if it sounds counterintuitive. If the diet calls for cheat days (days with excess carbs or calories), allow for cheat days. A successful diet is essentially a change in lifestyle. View it as a long-term change to your habits, and not simply a quick fix.

Once dieting is properly executed and maintained, you may consider incorporating a workout routine.

A workout routine is a huge investment of time and calories. While getting fit and strong isn’t exactly a survival necessity in today’s society, good physical health and a strong physique has beneficial effects on other aspects of your life. Point is, don’t waste your time on useless routines; do something that can provide benefits in your everyday life.

If you’ve been to the weight room lately, you’ll see there are more people than usual (I call them the “Resolutionaries”). After a few months, the gym clears out again and the only ones left are the “regulars.” This phenomenon happens every year and is usually due to people giving up after not seeing the desired results fast enough.

That is the first problem. People are quick to give up when patience and persistence is key. The bodybuilder greats like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Frank Zane didn’t get their mind-boggling aesthetics over night.

The next bit of advice is simple, yet effective (it’s also the only advice I feel comfortable actually giving): lift heavy, lift heavy and lift heavy. Unless you know what you’re doing, you should forget about burnout sets, supersets, crossfit etc … Develop a strong base to work from. By lifting heavy with few reps per set (3-5), you’re building myofibrillar hypertrophy, which is essentially building denser / true muscle mass.

This works both ways, for weight loss and gains, when combined with the appropriate diet. Don’t skimp out on squats, deadlifts and bench press only to become a cardio bunny. Running helps maintain weight, but lifting helps with building definition.

The benefits of lifting heavy are insurmountable. By lifting heavy, you’re automatically increasing your base strength, which is usable throughout daily life. The mechanisms behind myofibrillar hypertrophy also correlate to better muscle coordination through increased motor neuron stimulation (think of pro-athletes and how coordinated they are).

Lastly, lifting heavy helps keep fat off better. This works in two ways. Your body’s hormone concentrations will change. Testosterone, a naturally produced steroid, will increase, resulting in lower body fat percentage and quicker recovery times. In one study, scientists compared the serum testosterone levels of a male before lifting and after lifting an extensive period of time. The end result was a 27 percent increase in serum testosterone levels. Your body’s basal metabolic rate will also increase just to maintain the newly developed muscle mass. This combination of increased testosterone and muscle mass will help keep body fat relatively low with little effort.

So what should you take from this article? Basically keep things simple, be knowledgeable about the diets and routines, be patient, and most of all stay safe.

ALLEN GUAN can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

There are many conventional and unconventional ways to treat ailments. Some people prefer the organic method, downing apple cider vinegar or sipping herbal tea at the first sign of a cold, while others rely solely on antibiotics. However, those who depend on approved medicinal practices and scoff at non-traditional medicine may be surprised to find that oftentimes the field of medicine goes much deeper than a bottle of pills.

Many conditions require medication because there simply is no other option to turn to. One of these conditions is epilepsy. Epilepsy affects one in 26 people, and is a condition characterized by spontaneous seizures in the brain.

“People with epilepsy have recurring, unprovoked seizures,” said Michael Rogawski, a professor in the Department of Neurology, and an epilepsy researcher at UC Davis. “The seizures can be very dramatic, such as a generalized convulsion — stiffening and jerking of the whole body — or very subtle, such as a brief loss of awareness. However, in all cases, epileptic seizures relate to abnormal electrical discharges in the brain.”

The dramatic seizure described is called a “grand mal,” while the other, less obvious seizure is called a “petit mal.” Petit mals are sometimes more dangerous because in the brief moments of unconsciousness, the individual can swerve off the road when driving, or lose body control and fall. The aftermath of a grand mal is similar to the symptoms of a petit mal.

The 2007 news story of Wesley Autrey and Cameron Hollopeter involved the aftermath of a grand mal seizure. Causes vary from brain injury to genetics but there is no known cure for epilepsy. Most people take anticonvulsants to manage their seizures.

“Some current treatment options include drugs that target brain cells, and surgery to remove the part of the brain believed to be where the seizures are starting,” said Caren Armstrong and Esther Krook-Magnuson of the UC Irvine Department of Anatomy and Neurology in a joint interview. “A major drawback of drugs is that they are basically always on rather than just at the time of the seizure, and that they lack specificity, [and] thus can have serious side effects.”

Armstrong and Krook-Magnuson added that for about 40 percent of patients, current treatment options do not provide adequate seizure control.

Recently, UC Irvine neuroscientists have come up with a way to combat epilepsy using fiber optic light signals. Ivan Soltesz, the Chancellor’s Professor and chair of the Anatomy and Neurobiology Department at UC Irvine, and his team created an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based computer system that activates optical fibers placed in the brain when a seizure is detected. Light-sensitive proteins called opsins are then activated which either stimulate or inhibit neurons during a seizure. The research team found this process was able to stop electrical seizure activity and reduce convulsions successfully in a mouse model.

“This approach is useful for understanding how seizures occur and how they can be stopped experimentally,” Soltesz said in the initial press release. “In addition, clinical efforts that affect a minimum number of cells and only at the time of a seizure may someday overcome many of the side effects and limitations of currently available treatment options.”

The research has opened up an avenue to new possibilities, but more development is necessary before pursuing this fiber optic strategy in humans. Rogawski, who discussed the novel treatment, said that light sensitive channels in the brain are needed for the fiber optic treatment to work, but it is not naturally present. Mice used for the model were genetically engineered to express the light-sensitive gene but in humans it is not that simple.

“Obviously, people can’t be bred to express engineered channels,” said Rogawski. “Another approach will need to be used.”

Rogawski went on to describe how the engineered channels could be induced using a gene therapy vector, such as a genetically engineered virus.

“A light pipe would then need to be surgically implanted [into the patient’s’ brain]. This is a very elegant strategy because it allows specific types of neurons to be activated selectively.”

The issue with the surgery is that it is very complicated, and simpler approaches to treat epilepsy are being researched. One alternative is using electrical stimulation on the brain with metal electrodes.

While the tools to attain the ultimate goal of replicating the fiber optic treatment in humans may be distant, the research still could lead to better alternatives for people with epilepsy. With any luck, fiber optics will someday be used in more than just high-definition television and night lights.

NICOLE NOGA can be reached at science@theaggie.org.

Is your lover the fairest you’ve ever met? Were they born to finish your duet? If the answer is yes, you are in luck: There is an app for that.

What is Duet?
Duet is an app made for iOS devices specifically targeting couples. The app begins with a date proposal sent to your sweetheart and they either accept or deny it.

How much does it cost?
The app is currently free in the Apple Store, and works on both the iPhone and the iPod Touch. While not yet available on other operating systems, development of an Android version is currently underway.

How does it work?
First you must download the app and launch it on your mobile device. Next you propose a duet with that special someone. Your proposal is a private invitation leading to spending time together.

Your message starts with the phrase “Let’s…” and you fill in the blank with a suggestion. The person you send it to then accepts or denies your duet.

When your duet proposal is accepted, it is “paired,” becoming a private conversation between you and your love. You can add videos, notes and pictures to your conversation as well. Duet saves your conversation so that you can cherish the moments with each other forever.

You must have that person’s number stored in your device and you may only send a proposal to one person at a time. If the person you propose the duet to does not have the app installed, that is fine; it will automatically send the message via SMS.

For the LDR crowd:
For those of you in long distance relationships who are unable to see your significant other on Valentine’s Day, the app is great for sharing moments in a more interactive way than a simple Skype call or Snapchat moment.

NICOLE NOGA can be reached at science@theaggie.org.