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Could pacemakers become a thing of the past?©Picsfive/shutterstock.com (WASHINGTON–AFP) – Injecting a certain gene into cardiac muscle has been shown in animal studies to help a weakened heart beat more strongly, scientists said Wednesday. If shown to be safe and effective in people, experts said the procedure might one day replace the need for electronic pacemakers, though that knowledge is years away. “This development heralds a new era of gene therapy, where genes are used not only to correct a deficiency disorder, but actually to convert one type of cell into another to treat disease,” said lead author Eduardo Marban, director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. It is the first time that a heart cell has been preprogrammed in a living animal in order to cure a disease, said Marban. Gene therapy has long been viewed as a promising but risky field, particularly after early attempts to use it in people in the 1990s showed it could be dangerous and even fatal. Marban said the use of a mild virus as a delivery vector for the gene should reduce concerns that typically arise in gene therapy, such as the potential for a deadly immune reaction or the possibility that the process could lead to the formation of a tumor, but acknowledged that more research is needed. The study in the journal Science Translation Medicine details a therapy in which a gene known as TBX18 is injected into an area the size of a peppercorn in the pumping chambers of the Read More …

By Elena Johnson This heart-healthy, cholesterol-free recipe for vegetarian chicken salad is perfect for summertime cookouts. Since the Beyond Meat Chicken-Free Strips are already cooked, you won’t even need to turn on the stove. This quick and easy salad is delicious on toasted bread for picnic sandwiches or, served in a lettuce cup, an elegant dish for a backyard dinner party. Chicken-Free Salad Chicken-Free Salad 4 – 6 servings 12 oz. Beyond Meat Chicken-Free Strips, cut into ½ inch pieces 2 stalks celery, finely chopped ½ small red onion, finely chopped Approximately 30 green seedless grapes, halved ⅓ cup parsley, finely chopped ½ teaspoon salt 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper ⅓ – ½ cup egg-free mayo, such as Just Mayo, to taste  Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir gently until thoroughly combined. Adjust seasoning to taste. Assemble sandwiches using toasted bread or serve in lettuce cups. About the Author Elena Johnson Elena Johnson is a second-generation Filipino American living in Baltimore, MD. As a vegan chef and caterer she has been reinventing her family’s recipes and sharing them with friends, relatives, and those interested in vegetarian cooking. Elena is also the Special Projects Manager at Compassion Over Killing, a national animal advocacy organization focusing on cruelty to animals in agriculture and promoting vegetarian eating as a way to build a kinder world for all. Elena combines her passion for vegetarian food with a love of teaching by offering cooking demonstrations to the public. To learn more about Read More …

Present during the contract signing were (left to right) Miss World Philippines National Director Cory Quirino, GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, and GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV Lilybeth G. Rasonable. Philippine broadcast industry giant GMA Network is the official media partner of Miss World Philippines 2014. The contract signing was held on July 4 at the GMA Network Center and attended by the top officers of the Network. Just like the pageants held in 2011 and 2013, Miss World Philippines partners with GMA Network again this year to stage and broadcast this prestigious event. Last year, the Philippines made a significant milestone as Megan Young was the first Filipino to be awarded the Miss World title. “We’ve been partners with GMA from the beginning since 2011 and we feel that there’s no better or stronger home for us than GMA,” says Miss World Philippines National Director Cory Quirino on having GMA as a media partner. “In 2011, we successfully launched the brand Miss World Philippines wherein we placed first runner-up. This 2014, Megan comes home to crown our queen. This will be the first time she will walk the Philippine stage as our very first Miss World. It will be very historic for us and we would like to share that history-making moment with GMA,” she adds. Meanwhile, Gozon also expressed his gladness that GMA Network was chosen as Miss World Philippines 2014’s media partner. “Our partnership with Miss World Philippines is getting stronger and Read More …