Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The MouseSkin update

The information that follows is from Sara, the nurse that is directly involved with this program. As you can see, even the MouseSkin family travels:

As I said on the phone yesterday, there are now a total of 12 mice in Maryland. From the initial implantation, there are 9 mice with measurable tumors and one more with a palpable tumor. There are 2 mice that were propagated into the next generation and both of these have measureable tumors. In addition, when these mice were propagated, tissue was sent to our facility in Texas to propagate additional mice there. There has been no change in these tumors. A few weeks ago, one of the mice in Maryland was found to have a cyst growing, and not a tumor and that mouse was euthanized according to protocol.
I will keep you posted as to the timing of the drug studies, but we need the mice to keep on growing a bit more so we can generate enough to study.
Take care.

Carpe Diem.

Monday, November 2, 2009

My weekend near Bernie's (Palm Beach house)

After trekking to Miami to see the Fontainbleau, Howard and I spent the rest of the weekend in Boca. Saturday morning we went for massages and then to Ilan's house to watch Man U (they won) and a few other matches. Ilan cooked a beautiful braii (BBQ) of borevors (farmer sausage) and it was a real treat. Jack, Bunda, Wayne and Howard Palte also stopped by. Howard and I went to a tiny hole-in-the-wall sushi joint for supper that seemed like it was popular with nearby Florida Atlantic University students. (Let's put it this way....this was not the cotton head crowd.....) I ordered some octopus, which Howard said reminded him of cold linoleum only linoleum tastes better. Then we came home and watched the World Series. I asked Howard a million questions about baseball rules and I'm happy to report that he only threw his shoe at me twice. The man is very patient and understanding and knows the game. I now know a hell of a lot more about baseball. Alas, I am still a huge footy fan but for Howard's sake......Go Yankees.

Sunday morning, I met Ilan, Robin, Bunda and Ellen for breakfast in West Boca (ie....inland). The company was great but the food was such drek (crap). I had been there before and should have learned my lesson. Robin came back to the apartment and Howard took her out snorkeling along the jetty. Conditions were good and they spotted a lot of fish. Sunday night, cousin Martin invited us to dinner with Lauren, her mother Marsha and his two daughters. First we stopped at his new house right on the golf course (see photo of me that Howard snapped at sunset). It's a fantastic place with a 100 inch TV in the middle of the living room. It's like being in a movie theater. Additionally, Martin has a TV in each room. Yes, each room. He took all of us to this great Italian restaurant off Federal Highway called Matteos. He ordered for all of us and got enough food for to feed a small army, but we ate well and cleaned out plates. It was delicious. Love that calamari.

Monday morning, Howard drove me to the airport at 7 a.m. and I caught the 8:15 flight to Baltimore. It was a great couple of days spent with my brother inlaw and some old Zim mates. The only thing I regret was that I never went for my usual overdose of Jamba juices. Oh well. Till next time.

Carpe Diem.