Press Releases & News

Chicago, November 3, 2008 (word count: 579)

High-resolution pictures are available on request.

Ultrasound specialist for over 25 years, ECM has developed a new model of ultrasound device meeting the specific requirements of hog farmers and veterinarians. The VIRTUAL SCAN (V-SCAN) objective is to provide an alternative to the various screen-less Doppler mode A devices and also to compete against all ultrasound equipment with a product of excellence and affordability to any-size farms.

Lightweight at 1 lb (450 g), the V-SCAN is equipped with an internal five-hour battery and 5-MHz sector probe. Extremely easy to operate, just press the “on” button and instantly scan and read with 100% accuracy.

Compact and cordless, the V-SCAN can be used in any hog barns in tight, narrow, hard-to-reach stalls. Ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in the hand, the screen is well-positioned to be visible for a quick reading.

Pregnancy checking can be performed as early as 21 days following insemination. This makes it possible to re-inseminate an empty sow without wasting a costly additional cycle. The V-SCAN is easy to clean using a damp towel.

ECM and COTRAN will be at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 8 to 10, 2009.

For more information, please contact:

COTRAN Corporation (U.S. Sales)
Bertrand Dumont or Stéphane Dumont
P.O. BOX 130
Portsmouth,RI 02871
Tel.: (401) 682-1555
Fax: (401) 682-1775
E-mail: info@cotrancorp.com

or:

ECM
126, Bld de la République
16000 ANGOULEME
FRANCE
Tel: +33 (0)5 45 92 03 57
Fax: +33 (0)5 45 92 46 72
E-mail: e-c-m@wanadoo.fr
Web: www.agroscan.com

or:

FRENCH TECHNOLOGY PRESS OFFICE
205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3740
Chicago, IL 60601
Fax: (312) 327-5261
E-mail: contact.ftpo@ubifrance.fr

Not all enzymes that are assumed to require an RNA component in order to function do actually contain RNA. This surprising discovery was made during a project supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF that focussed on the enzyme RNase P. Contrary to accepted scientific theory, the project team from Vienna has long believed that certain forms of RNase P do not contain any RNA. They have now succeeded in proving their point through a series of sophisticated experiments, the results of which are being published today in the journal CELL.

Although ribozymes are not quite living fossils, these enzymes – which function only in the presence of RNA - hail from a long gone age when biochemical processes were still controlled by RNA molecules. It was only later that proteins came onto the molecular scene. RNase P, an enzyme that modifies transfer RNAs, is one such RNA enzyme (ribozyme). All previously characterised forms of this enzyme confirmed assumptions about their RNA component. Nevertheless, evidence has also been uncovered over the past 20 years that has cast doubt on the universality of this finding and indicated that this enzyme could be made up solely of proteins. The experts certainly had plenty to debate.

RNA NOT ALWAYS ESSENTIAL

But the debate seems to have been brought to an end. A group headed by Prof. Walter Rossmanith at the Medical University of Vienna has provided conclusive evidence by successfully identifying the components of human mitochondrial RNase P. Prof. Rossmanith: “RNase P is made up of three proteins that are solely responsible for the catalytic capacity of the enzyme without any RNA. This discovery has not been made before because the enzyme breaks down easily during purification due to the loose connection between its components. The approach we developed enabled us to get around this problem. That was the breakthrough that enabled us to identify the proteins.” Johann Holzmann, a PhD student and member of Prof. Rossmanith’s team, explains further: “The most difficult task was to track down the proteins. Everything started to move much faster once we had done that. We produced the individual proteins separately in bacteria, purified them and then used them to reconstitute mitochondrial RNase P in vitro. This finally removed any shadow of doubt for us - and CELL: mitochondrial RNase P does not contain RNA.”

REINVENTING THE WHEEL

The identification of the three proteins also resolved another previously unanswered question in molecular evolution research: How is a ribozyme replaced by a protein enzyme? The answer provided by data collected during the project is that the protein-only mitochondrial RNase P developed in parallel to a pre-existing ribozyme. Eventually, it replaced the latter. It is interesting to note that the three protein components have been recruited from entirely different biochemical pathways and yet they have nevertheless retained their original functions. Prof. Rossmanith adds: “We are also calling mitochondrial RNase P a patchwork enzyme, because it seems to be assembled from components available by chance at the time of its appearance in evolution.” It is still unclear why only animal mitochondrial RNase P and not all ribozymes have been replaced by protein enzymes. Indeed, the results of this successful FWF project have opened the door to a whole range of questions - and answers.

Image and text will be available online from Monday, 3rd November 2008,

11.00 a.m. CET onwards:

http://www.fwf.ac.at/en/public_relations/press/pv200811-en.html

Original publication:

“RNase P without RNA: Identification and functional reconstitution of the human mitochondrial tRNA processing enzyme”
J. Holzmann, P. Frank, E. Löffler, K. Bennett, C. Gerner & W. Rossmanith.
Cell 135, 462-474, October 31, 2008, DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2008.09.013

Scientific Contact:

Walter Rossmanith, PhD Medical
University of Vienna
Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology
Währingerstr. 13
1090 Vienna
Austria
M 0664 / 800 16 37 512
E walter.rossmanith@meduniwien.ac.at

Austrian Science Fund FWF:
Mag. Stefan Bernhardt
Haus der Forschung
Sensengasse 1
1090 Vienna
Austria
T +43 / 1 / 505 67 40 - 8111
E stefan.bernhardt@fwf.ac.at

Editing & Distribution:
PR&D - Public Relations for Research & Education
Campus Vienna Biocenter 2
1030 Vienna
Austria
T +43 / 1 / 505 70 44
E contact@prd.at
W http://www.prd.at

Peyronie’s disease is characterized by a plaque, or hard lump, that develops on the upper or lower side of the penis in layers containing erectile tissue. It starts with an inflammation and can develop into a hardened scar. Symptoms may develop slowly or appear overnight and they consist of reduced flexibility, pain, curved and shortened penis during erection.

The curvature of the penis generally leads to lowered self-esteem and makes sexual intercourse difficult, almost impossible.

Some of the factors involved in Peyronie’s disease can be: the existence of an infection, genetic predisposition, vascular problems, consumption of specific medicines, diabetes, hypertension, etc.

The plaque itself is benign, or noncancerous. However, if not treated, the disease may lead to a serious erectile dysfunction.

At first, the line of treatment for Peyronie’s disease was to “watch and wait” so as to find out whether the penile curvature resolved itself or worsened. When the latter occurred, the patient was given a vitamin E treatment, even though its positive outcome is not scientifically proved.

Researchers also have injected chemical agents into the plaques but here again; the procedure lacks scientific studies that prove its effectiveness.

A more effective way of curing Peyronie’s disease is surgery but it is considered a last resort because of the risks it carries (loss of erectile function, rigidity and shortening of the erect penis).

Luckily, surgery is not the only option to treat Peyronie’s disease and the patient suffering from the disease does not necessarily need to undergo a displeasing and risky surgery. Andromedical, a Spanish medical company, manufactures and distributes Andropenis®, a medical device using the principle of traction to straighten the penis with no side effect.

The first outcome should appear within three weeks of treatment and after 6 to 7 months, the patient will notice full results: a correction of up to 70 percent of the curvature. Thanks to its efficiency, Andropenis® benefits an important recognition from famous doctors all over the world, such as Doctor Wayne Hellstrom, Chief of Andrology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Moreover, many scientific studies guarantee the efficiency of Andropenis® in cases of Peyronie’s disease.

Apart from rectifying penile curvatures, Andropenis® can also be used as a penile postoperative treatment in order to avoid scar retraction and especially to achieve a penis enlargement of 3 to 4 centimetres (1.2 to 1.6 inches) in length as well as a girth increase of 1,5 centimetre (0.6 inch) with a 97.5 percent rate of efficiency as demonstrated by independent scientific research around the globe.

For more information about Andromedical and Andropenis®, please visit

www.andromedical.com

Media Contact:
Nicolas Defretin
media@andromedical.com