Archive for July, 2017

LONDON, July 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4825304/

The current and future aspects of cancer genomics have covered a long path of advances and the journey is still ongoing.

The technological improvements in genomic sciences had allowed parallel sequencing of both tumors and germline mutations and had provided the weapon of next generation sequencing. Under the supervision of intellectual property laws and appropriate guidelines cancer susceptibility testing has become one of the major assets in medical practice. There appears to be pervasive belief in both scientific and public circles that genetic testing is going to be the cornerstone of much, if not all, of what medicine holds for the future. Besides, what is generally meant is the wide scale testing for susceptibility to common diseases especially for cancer and for responsiveness to drugs has come to be described as genetic profiling.

With the knowledge and acceptance of the fact that the breast cancer is on alarming scale, the major concern has been diverted towards this scenario. As there are 5% to 10% of breasts cancer cases which occur due to the germline mutations and the most common ones are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Fortunately, these hereditary cancers can be prevented if diagnosed early or even before its occurrence which includes the susceptibility testing of breast cancer genes.

Breast cancer susceptibility has been in existence since 1966 and had served as the boon for the patients as well as the stakeholders. Certainly, 2013 have been the year of major events in the field of predictive genetic testing as US FDA approved the use of next generation DNA sequencing in clinical practice. Further, the decision of Supreme Court invalidated the BRCA patent held by Myriad genetics. These decisions made the new entries and embraced the competitions in the cancer genetics market.

Leading to the current scenario which is completely changing and the market is now subjected to the direct to consumer BRCA testing kits provided by varied pharmaceuticals. However, the new entrants to the global market will face considerable challenges in persuading physicians to choose them as a test provider. New entrants will need to provide indication of subsequent in meeting the requirements of physicians such as reputation, trust, transparency, and counseling. Some of these aspects cannot be established quickly, and take time to establish.

The future holds up for the precision medicine and cancer predictability will be proving a great deal, as through the aid of breast cancer predictive testing and better counseling measures this regimen can turn out into an effective prophylactic modality for hereditary as well as early stage breast cancer.

The predictive risk calculations will be leading towards the better management and improved survival rates. Over the next decade or two, it seems likely that the technology will screen entire populations or specific subgroups for genetic information in order to target interventions to individual patients that will improve their health and prevent disease. While the evidence base is still growing, genetic services industry leaders strongly believe that emerging testing capabilities will have significant clinical impact in the future.

"Global Breast Cancer Predictive Genetic Testing Market Outlook 2022" Report Highlights: Hereditary Breast Cancer Genes Conceptual of Breast Cancer Susceptibility Predictive Cancer Testing Essentials Economical, Ethical & Social Aspects Global Prevalence of Breast Cancer Market & Cost Analysis of Predictive Testing Insurance Affairs for Breast Cancer Predictive Testing Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4825304/

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Global Breast Cancer Predictive Genetic Testing Market Outlook 2022 - PR Newswire (press release)

July 5, 2017 Credit: Cancer Research UK

Cancer patients should have routine access to genetic testing to improve diagnosis and treatment, according to England's chief medical officer.

Despite the UK being a world leader in genomic medicine its full potential is still not being realised, Professor Dame Sally Davies said in a new report.

Davies urged clinicians and the Government to work together and make wider use of new genetic techniques in an attempt to improve cancer survival rates.

Genetic testing can pinpoint the faults in DNA that have led to a cancer forming. Different cancers have different faults, and these determine which treatments may or may not work.

Such testing could lead to patients being diagnosed faster and receiving more targeted or precise treatments.

Davies said that "the age of precision medicine is now" and that the NHS must act quickly to remain world class.

"This technology has the potential to change medicine forever but we need all NHS staff, patients and the public to recognise and embrace its huge potential." said Davies.

Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, agreed, saying that it would be a disservice to patients if the UK were slow to respond to innovations in this area.

The report recommends that within 5 years training should be available to current and future clinicians and that all patients should be being offered genomic tests just as readily as they're given MRI scans today.

Davies also called for research and international collaboration to be prioritised, along with investment in research and services so that patients across the country have equal access.

However the report recognises potential challenges such as data protection issues and attitudes of clinicians and the public.

"This timely report from the chief medical officer showcases just how much is now possible in genomics research and care within the NHS," added Sir Kumar.

"Cancer Research UK is determined to streamline research, to find the right clinical trial for cancer patients and to ensure laboratory discoveries benefit patients".

And the design of clinical trials are starting to change. A number of trials are underway, like Cancer Research UK's National Lung Matrix Trial with AstraZeneca and Pfizer, where patients with a certain type of lung cancer are assigned a specific treatment based on the genetic makeup of their cancer.

However, Sir Harpal Kumar stressed that to bring the report's vision to life the Government, the NHS, regulators and research funders need to act together.

Explore further: Adding abiraterone to standard treatment improves prostate cancer survival by 40 percent

Cancer Research UK is partnering with pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Pfizer to create a pioneering clinical trial for patients with advanced lung cancer marking a new era of research into personalised medicines ...

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Greater access to genetic testing needed for cancer diagnosis and ... - Medical Xpress

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Does doxycycline treat h pylori ulcers - Shelf life extension program doxycycline - Longboat Key News

Stem cells have long been used to treat blood cancers and some immune diseases. But some doctors are offering stem cell treatments for diseases still under clinical trial. Photograph: Mauricio Lima/AFP/Getty Images

Medical and legal experts from around the world have united to call for more stringent regulation of stem cell therapies to prevent people pursuing unproven and potentially deadly treatments overseas.

In a perspective piece for the US journal Science Translational Medicine, 15 experts from countries including the UK, the US, Canada, Belgium, Italy and Japan wrote that national efforts alone would not be enough to counter an industry offering unproven treatments to vulnerable patients.

Stem cell-based interventions are classified under diverse and potentially incompatible national regulatory frameworks, the authors wrote.

Approaches for international regulation not only need to develop consistent rules over the commercialisation of medical practices and products but also need to give them teeth by developing cross-border partnerships for compliance.

Stem cells found in bone marrow and umbilical cord blood have long been used to successfully treat blood cancers including leukaemia and some immune diseases. But those are among the few proven treatments. Legitimate and ethics-approved clinical trials by academic centres are also occurring, exploring the potential of stem cells to treat a wider range of diseases.

But some doctors are directly offering to the general public stem cell treatments for diseases still under clinical trial or for which no evidence exists and for which the safety and efficacy is as yet unproven.

Deaths as a result of stem cell treatments have already occurred. In 2013 Sheila Drysdale died in a New South Wales nursing home after undergoing an unproven liposuction stem-cell therapy at a western Sydney clinic. Following Drysldales death, her doctor, Ralph Bright, gave a statement to police in which he claimed that stem-cell treatment could improve comorbidities and that stem cells could move from joints to other parts of the body to improve disease in distant sites including lungs and brain, vision, mentation and pain.

In his report into Drysdales death, the coroner Hugh Dillon wrote that he could not say what motivated Dr Bright to perform this unproven, dubious procedure on Sheila Drysdale.

But regardless of his motivation, Dr Brights performance as a medical practitioner was, for the reasons outlined above, poor and resulted in Sheila Drysdales death.

The Medical Council of NSW investigated Bright and placed a number of restrictions on his right to practice. Bright is still authorised to practise stem cell therapy for patients with osteoarthritis or who are taking part in research studies approved by an ethics committee. He is also still allowed to treat patients returning for remaining injections of stored cells.

In 2013 a Queensland woman, Kellie van Meurs, died when she travelled to Russia to undergo stem-cell treatment for a rare neurological disorder. She died of a heart attack as a result.

Australias drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, last year sought feedback on the regulation of autologous stem-cell therapies but is yet to publish those submissions. A TGA spokeswoman said the Administration was still examining the options for changes to the legislation to reflect public and industry views. The TGA currently considers autologous treatments, which involve treating someone with their own tissue or cells, to be a therapeutic good and, therefore, does not regulate them. Stem cells used for medical practice and therapeutic purposes are covered by different regulatory frameworks.

Associate Professor Megan Munsie, a University of Melbourne stem cell scientist and a co-author of the paper, said: The idea that stem cells are magical holds court in the community, along with this idea the advances in treatment are being held up by red tape.

Unethical health practitioners exploited this, she said, along with the vulnerability of patients with difficult-to-treat or incurable conditions.

There is a precedent for international regulation of this industry because regulations already exist around drugs the way they are manufactured, she said.

This could be extended to the regulation to the stem cell and tissue-based therapies. This international stance would then force or encourage stronger local regulations.

There have been successful efforts by scientists to push back against unscrupulous doctors. In Italy scientists and regulators highlighted the unproven yet government-subsidised treatments being offered by the entrepreneur Davide Vannoni and fought to stop him. He was convicted of criminal charges but the sentence was later suspended.

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Stem cell therapies: medical experts call for strict international rules - The Guardian

Sergey with his wife and son

ABMDR salutes young officer and celebrates its 30th life saved through a transplant

LOS ANGELESThe Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) announced that it has facilitated its 30th bone marrow stem cell transplant, thanks to stem cells harvested from a young ABMDR matched donor. The stem cells of the donor, Sergey, who is a 23 year-old army officer serving on the frontline in Artsakh, were utilized to save the life of a cancer patient in Iran.

On July 3, 2017, Sergey became the 30th ABMDR donor to experience the joy of saving the life of someone he had never met, said ABMDR President Dr. Frieda Jordan.

Dr. Sevak Avagyan, Sergey, Dr. Andranik Mshetsyan

In 2012, Sergey had joined the ranks of ABMDRs donor registry during a recruitment drive at the Vazken Sagsyan Military Institute, in Yerevan. Five years later, he was found to be a perfect match for a patient in Iran who was suffering from leukemia and whose only hope for survival was to receive a bone marrow stem cell transplant from a compatible donor. Sergey turned out to be a perfect match for the patient. He was given a day off to leave the frontline to come to ABMDRs Stem Cell Harvesting Center in Yerevan to donate his stem cells and save a patients life.

Accompanied by his young wife and six-month old son, Sergey was greeted by ABMDR staff at the Stem Cell Harvesting Center. The painless, non-invasive harvesting procedure, performed by Dr. Andranik Mshetsyan, lasted approximately four hours. Also present at the procedure were ABMDR Executive Director Dr. Sevak Avagyan and Medical Director Dr. Mihran Nazaretyan.

Sergey, Dr. Mihran Nazaretyan, and Lab Staff Member

At the conclusion of the harvesting, as staff members performed quality-control analyses of the harvested cells and packed them for the special courier who was waiting to transport the precious gift of life to the patient in Iran, Sergey, a hero in the eyes of all, on the frontlines as well as far away from them, joined his young family while someone in Iran was about to get a second chance at life.

Established in 1999, ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited over 29,000 donors in 42 countries across four continents, identified over 4,190 patients, and facilitated 30 bone marrow transplants. For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit abmdr.am.

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Artsakh Soldier Saves Life Of Cancer Patient In Iran - Asbarez Armenian News

Blanca Romero gave birth to her son, Sebastian, on Feb. 12, 2017, at Houston Methodist Hospital in Katy. At 8 lbs. 9 oz., Sebastian had plump cheeks, big brown eyes and a head full of thick black hair. He was, by all appearances, a perfectly healthy baby boy.

Sebastian was Romeros third child, so she was familiar with the post-delivery drill. She took him to his newborn screening with the pediatrician, but something wasnt quite right with one of his tests. The results showed abnormalities in Sebastians immune system.

It was scary to hear your child has something, but you dont know what it is, Romero said.

Romero and her husband, Emil, met with Sarah Nicholas, M.D., an allergy and immunology specialist at Texas Childrens Hospital, who explained that their son had a rare genetic disorder called severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). The condition is more commonly known as bubble boy disease, named for David Vetter, who suffered from the same illness and was forced to live his short life in a sterile plastic bubble. Born in 1971, Vetter was also treated at Texas Childrens.

Patients with SCID are born missing their T cells, a type of white blood cell that protects the body from foreign invaders by killing viruses and sending instructions to the rest of the immune system. In some SCID cases, patients may be born without their B cells, a white blood cell that produces antibodies, or natural killer (NK) cells, a white blood cell that kills viruses and tumor cells.

Without the bodys natural defense system, Sebastian and other babies with SCID are at high risk for severe and recurrent infections, such as pneumonia.

Even a slight cold could turn deadly, a rash could turn into an infection and turn deadly, Romero said. Anything could kill him.

But there was hope. With chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, Sebastian had a good chance of living in the real world.

Although Sebastian didnt need to live in a plastic chamber like Vetter, the environment he required at home created a bubble of social isolation for Romero and her family.

Soon after his diagnosis, Romeros husband and the couples other two children, Abraham, 7, and Kayla, 5, caught colds.

Romeros instincts kicked in. She began formulating a way to keep Sebastian safe from pathogens and people, including his own family. First, she and her husband disinfected theirentire home, buying four air filters to remove dust, pollen, mold and bacteria from the air.

Then, they transformed the master bedroom into living quarters for her and Sebastian. Romero spent her days alone with the baby, venturing outside the room only for brief moments.

My husband would bring food into the bedroom whenever the kids would leave for school and he would leave for work, Romero said. He would Lysol the entire house so that I could go in the living room or the kitchen to get something to eat, and then Id go right back into the room.

Romero notified her childrens school of Sebastians condition. The classrooms where Abraham and Kayla spent most of their time were sanitized daily. The school also let Romero know when any students were sent home with fevers, so that she could decide whetheror not her children should go to school.

Rather than eating lunch in the cafeteria with the rest of his class, Abraham stayed in the classroom with his teacher and one friend.

When the kids returned home from school, they were required to shower immediately to make sure they didnt carry any outside pollutants or germs into the house.

Even then, the master bedroom was off limits. Although Abraham and Kayla were eager to hold and play with their baby brother, they had to stand far from the door. Romero would hold Sebastian up in the air like in Lion King when theyre showing Simba, she said, sothey could see him.

They went from being able to touch and love the baby to not being able to touch him anymore, Romero said. At first, they didnt understand, so they would cry a lot. We had to explain to them that this was life-threatening and he could die.

The kids were isolated from their mother, as well.

I couldnt hug my kids, Romero said. I couldnt kiss them because I have to protect Sebastian as his main caregiver.

Instead, she would give her two oldest children pretend hugs. She would hug herself and they would hug themselves at the same time, as if they were hugging each other.

I feel guilty, Romero said. Everybody tells me not to because Sebastian is the one who needs us the most right now, but I cant help, as a mother, to feel like Im failing my other two children because they also need me.

On May 14, Mothers Day, Blanca and Emil Romero packed their suitcases and drove Sebastian from their home in Katy to Texas Childrens. They settled into a small room with a metal crib for Sebastian and a sofa that converted into a pull-out mattress. For the next month, this would be their second home.

Currently, the only curative option for patients with SCID is a one-two punch of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant using stem cells.

With this treatment, the survival rate at Texas Childrens has been shown to be more than 90 percent for patients with SCID if treated within 3 months of age. Left untreated, however, SCID is almost always fatal from infection within a year of age.

Any time you see your patient go through a difficult procedure you really worry about the risks youre subjecting them to, but SCID is really universally fatal without intervention, Nicholas said. I feel good recommending it to my patients because I know its a lifesaving therapy.

Stem cells are the mother cells of the blood that eventually mature into red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells, explained Caridad Martinez, M.D., Sebastians bone marrowtransplant specialist and associate clinical director of the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Texas Childrens Cancer and Hematology Centers. Healthy white blood cells canfurther divide into various subtypesincluding lymphocytes, which are the bodys B cells, T cells and NK cells.

Since the lymphocytes arise from stem cells that are located in the bone marrow, the only curative option for SCID patients is basically to replace that sick marrow producing abnormallymphocytes with a normal marrow producing functional lymphocytes, Martinez said.

There are three options for patients who need a bone marrow transplant: a sibling donor, an unrelated marrow donor or a cord blood unit. A sibling donor is the preferred option, but only 25 percent of patients who need a bone marrow transplant will have a matched sibling donor.

Patients without a matched sibling require either a transplant from an unrelated marrow donor or a cord blood unitstem-cell-rich blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth that was donated to a public cord blood bank.

But none of these options worked for Sebastian, who is Hispanic. Minoritiesincluding Hispanics, African Americans and Asiansare underrepresented in the bone marrow transplant registry, making it difficult for babies of those ethnic backgrounds to find a good donor match.

Martinez said it was the first time in her 10 years of transplanting SCID babies that she and her team werent able to find a matched sibling or cord blood unit for transplant.

Without many options left, Martinez decided on a different type of transplant, one that had never been performed on a SCID patient at Texas Childrens: a haploidentical transplant. A haploidentical, or half-match, donor can be a patients mother, father or sibling, as long as they havent been exposed to certain viruses, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), a commonvirus that affects 85 percent of adults.

Once a person is exposed to CMV, the virus remains dormant inside the body and can be reactivated.

Those viruses are like common colds, but when they reactivate in the transplant period it can be a problem, Martinez said.

Fortunately, Romero tested negative for those viruses, making her an ideal haploidentical donor for Sebastian.

Martinez administered a drug called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to stimulate the production of Romeros stem cells and mobilize them out of the bone marrow to the peripheral blood for extraction. After measuring the amount of cells her body was producing, Martinez and her team discovered that Romero had four to five times the amount of stem cells Sebastian needed for his transplant. Romero called them her super cells.

The extracted stem cells were then sent to a lab for graft engineering and T cell depletion, a purification process that separates unmatched T cells to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Finally, on the evening of Thursday, May 25, Martinez and her team walked into Sebastians hospital room carrying a small blood bag full of purified stem cells. They hooked up the bag to the IV pole next to Sebastians bed and began administering 78 milliliters of the super cells.

Romero watched as the pink liquid snaked through the tube into Sebastians central line. An hour and 10 minutes later, his body received the final drops of lifesaving stem cells.

But Sebastian wasnt out of the woods yet. He was still experiencing side effects from chemotherapy.

In preparation for the bone marrow transplant, Sebastian underwent 10 days of chemotherapy to suppress any remaining immune response that might reject the donor cells and to clear space in the bone marrow for the new stem cells to grow and expand. Although this is a necessary part of the treatment, it takes a painful toll on the body.

During the chemo days, he looked fine, but now to see the after effects, I cant do anything and nothing soothes him, Romero said. I try to hold him and its horrible. I cant do anything. It sucks. I wish I could just know what hes feeling.

Monday, May 29, was one of their hardest days yet. Emil Romero sat in the pull-out bed, gently holding Sebastian in his arms, while the slack of catheter tubes attached to Sebastians body trailed around them. Sitting next to her husband, Blanca Romero gazed forlornly at her 3-month-old baby boy and listened to his subdued whimpering.

He has learned that, if he cries, it hurts him more, so he whimpers more than he cries, she said. He doesnt babble as much either because it hurts him.

As she caressed Sebastians head, strands of his hair stuck to her hands, a side effect of chemo. Sebastian inched closer to her and started rubbing her face. Could he sense his mothers pain, or was he just practicing his hand-eye coordination?

There are moments when Im pretty okay and then there are moments when I go into the bathroom and just cry it out, Romero said. Its tough to see your child going through this stuff but hes there fighting and were fighting along with him.

A new immune system takes time to grow and be normal, Martinez said.

You need to wait until that immune system is mature enough to be functional and able to fight viruses or respond to vaccines, she added. That usually happens about nine months to a year after the transplant is done.

On Wednesday, June 14, Sebastians doctors delivered some surprising news: His T cell count in his bone marrow was steadily increasing above optimal levels. He was going to be released that afternoon, ahead of schedule.

It was a mix of emotions, Romero said. You get choked up knowing were ready to go home, but at the same time, super scared because youve been in this environment where everybody knows they have to protect him.

But it was wonderful to have the family back together again. Sebastians two older siblings could finally shower their baby brother with affection. They had been waiting patiently and loving Sebastian from a distance, but now, they could hug and kiss him.

This is the closest theyve all been since he was born, Romero said.

Sebastian will continue to stay in isolation at home for at least three months. He was supposed to leave only for clinic visits three times a week to receive blood or platelet transfusions, but because of a fungal infection he contracted, Romero still takes him to the hospital for treatment every day for four to six hours. Its an exhausting routine traveling back and forth from Katy to the hospital, Romero said, but at least theyre home.

Were so thankful that hes been doing so good, she said, her voice a couple octaves higher, as she nuzzled Sebastians neck and cuddled with him on the sofa in their living room.

Over the past four months, Romero and her familys lives took an unexpected turn because of Sebastians SCID diagnosis. But Romero, ever the optimist, said she hopes Sebastians journey will raise more awareness about SCID and inspire others to become bone marrow or cord blood donors.

I know theres a plan and a purpose. I can see that through sharing our story, she said. If you could go, be a match and sign up, do it. You can save a life. Whats better than that? You can be somebodys hero.

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Bursting the Bubble - Texas Medical Center (press release)

STEM CELL THERAPIES BREAKING BARRIERSPhysicians all over the world are increasingly employing stem cell therapies for the treatment of chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, neurological disorders, asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injuries, female and male sexual dysfunction, joint pain and autoimmune disease. INSET is Dr. David Ikudayisi, of the Glory Wellness and Regenerative Centre PHOTO CREDIT: http://theconversation.com

Technology offers groundbreaking new treatment option for chronic diseases to patients Physicians all over the world are increasingly employing stem cell therapies for the treatment of chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, neurological disorders, asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injuries, female and male sexual dysfunction, joint pain and autoimmune disease.

A study published last week in the FASEB Journal showed that a new therapy developed through stem cell technology holds promise as a treatment for chronic asthma.

Also, researchers have successfully patched up damaged hearts to treat heart failure, using the patients own muscle stem cells but another study published last week in journal Circulation found that the treatment could be more harmful than helpful if cardiac stem cells are involved.

In another study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, team of investigators has successfully repaired severe limb fractures in laboratory animals with an innovative technique that cues bone to regrow its own tissue. If found to be safe and effective in humans, the pioneering method of combining ultrasound, stem cell and gene therapies could eventually replace grafting as a way to mend severely broken bones.

Using new gene-editing technology, researchers have rewired mouse stem cells to fight inflammation caused by arthritis and other chronic conditions. According to the study published in the journal Stem Cell Reports, such stem cells, known as SMART cells (Stem cells Modified for Autonomous Regenerative Therapy), develop into cartilage cells that produce a biologic anti-inflammatory drug that, ideally, will replace arthritic cartilage and simultaneously protect joints and other tissues from damage that occurs with chronic inflammation.

Scientists have for the first time created a special type of neuron from human stem cells that could potentially repair spinal cord injuries. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Also, early results of a clinical trial suggest that stem cell therapy may be a promising treatment for erectile dysfunction, after the procedure was found to restore sexual function in men with the condition.

Meanwhile, the ANOVA IRM Stem Cell Centre has opened its doors in Frankfurt, Germany offering a groundbreaking new treatment option to patients worldwide.

One of the pioneers of stem cell therapy in Nigeria, Dr. David Ikudayisi, of the Glory Wellness and Regenerative Centre, with clinics in Abuja and Lagos, told The Guardian that there are several thousand clinical trials based on autologous (patients own) Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). He said these type of stem cells are relatively easy to obtain from a patient via bone marrow blood or fat tissue and have been shown to hold vast healing potential.

Ikudayisi is a United States (U.S.) Board Certified Internist with a strong passion for regenerative aesthetic and cosmetic medicine.

Ikudayisi said ASCT and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRPT) are under a new specialty of medicine known as regenerative medicine, which is a specialist segment of medicine that helps people to naturally regenerate and rejuvenate their bodies from the different conditions they may be suffering from without using chemicals or the orthodox medicine we are used to.

ASCT may hold answers to many questions and problems that we doctors believed had no solutions, especially neurological disorders. Adult stem cell therapy with or without PRPT revitalizes and regenerates the body organs and systems; it also reverses and repairs many pending subclinical medical problems before they become apparent, including the diseases that are age-related, Ikudayisi said.

He said that ASCT and PRPT are safe as shown by many published research reports and clinical trials done already. He, however, said this does not guarantee that adverse effects cannot occur if physicians that are not properly trained do the treatment.

The US-trained said ASCT has helped a lot of people all over the world to regain their lives back from debilitating ailments and Nigerians are not left behind. He said there are real people in Nigeria that were either wheelchair bound but now walking freely with occasional use of a cane or using a cane before but now walking without one; diabetes patients are able to have restoration of vision in their eyes, and some feel and look younger.

He said ASCT has helped chronic kidney disease patients in Nigeria that are on haemodialysis to either reduce the frequency of haemodialysis per week or like in a patient that was recommended to have kidney transplant a year ago is now off haemodialysis and off diabetic medications, and remain stable for the last six months.

Ikudayisi said men with erectile dysfunction are now feeling like young men again. He further explained: I would be remiss to mention that the type of treatment protocol, the dosage of stem cells used also play a role in the efficacy of the treatment, and not everyone will respond in the same manner. Most of the patients showed improvements after the first treatment, and the few that needed second treatment went on to see great results after more treatments were done; needless to say that they were elated with the results.

The only groups of patients that will always need more than a couple of transplantation sessions are patients with the neurological disorders. The latest researches and evidence-based studies show the number of treatment session needed to get significant clinical results can decreased by adding Exosomes to the treatment sessions.

Ikudayisi said there are some diseases that conventional treatments have no cure for, but ASCT can reverse the symptoms of those diseases, repair, and regenerate the damaged tissues or organs involved. He explained: In some cases, it significantly slows down the progression of the disorder. For example, it can regenerate the bony joints in arthritis, repair and strengthen partial Rotator cuff tears and avascular necrosis of the hip without surgery, revitalize the sexual organs in men and women, regenerate renal cells in kidney diseases, modulate immune system without use of medications that have very serious side effects in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Crohns disease, etc. Another advantage is its application in neurological disorders like Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal cord injury.

Ikudayisi said ASCT can gradually lower diabetic medications dosage and eventually may get the patients off diabetic medications. This is evidenced by stem cells in a hyperglycemic medium differentiating into pancreatic cells; therefore leading to increased development of new blood vessels, secretion of various products of the immune system, and up-regulation of pancreatic transcription factors and vascular growth factor. This aids the pancreas to regenerate and boost its ability to produce insulin. In stroke patients, stem cells activate cells around the suffering brain tissue to catalyze rapid healing and to improve brain function, thereby restoring motor function. Until recently, it was believed that damage to the brain tissue was permanent. This is being challenged by the evidences of re-growth of brain cells and improvements of neurological function documented with the use of adult stem cells, he said.

Ikudayisi said a procedure called P-Shot for Men uses PRPT to resolve challenges relating to erectile dysfunction by regenerating the damaged tissues. It gives treated men the possibility of saving their relationships by increasing stamina, enjoying bigger and harder genitals, and eventually increasing the length and girth. Orgasm-Shot for Women, the regenerative medicine procedure for womens sexual function, leads to increased ability to have orgasm, better arousal from clitoris stimulation, decreased pain during intercourse, tighter vaginal opening, increased sexual desire and natural lubrication, and increased arousal from G-spot stimulation. In addition, because of the O-Shot rejuvenation capabilities, there is help available for women suffering from urinary stress incontinence without the need for invasive surgery, he said.

Ikudayisi said since the stem cells used are autologous, there is no risk of rejection of the stem cell transplant, but as with any procedure, there is a risk of infection, which can be very minimal or non-existent if done under the right conditions. He said adult stem cells transplantation can also be considered by people looking for alternative treatments especially in the areas of diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, female and male sexual dysfunction, joint pain, neurological disorder and autoimmune disease.

The regenerative medicine expert, however, said: Currently, the cost of treatment varies, and it is not for everyone. However, you cant place a price tag on life just as the saying goes that Health is wealth.

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Stem cell therapies breaking barriers Features The Guardian ... - Guardian (blog)

This report describes and evaluates cell therapy technologies and methods, which have already started to play an important role in the practice of medicine. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is replacing the old fashioned bone marrow transplants. Role of cells in drug discovery is also described. Cell therapy is bound to become a part of medical practice.

Stem cells are discussed in detail in one chapter. Some light is thrown on the current controversy of embryonic sources of stem cells and comparison with adult sources. Other sources of stem cells such as the placenta, cord blood and fat removed by liposuction are also discussed. Stem cells can also be genetically modified prior to transplantation.

Cell therapy technologies overlap with those of gene therapy, cancer vaccines, drug delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Pharmaceutical applications of stem cells including those in drug discovery are also described. Various types of cells used, methods of preparation and culture, encapsulation and genetic engineering of cells are discussed. Sources of cells, both human and animal (xenotransplantation) are discussed. Methods of delivery of cell therapy range from injections to surgical implantation using special devices.

Cell therapy has applications in a large number of disorders. The most important are diseases of the nervous system and cancer which are the topics for separate chapters. Other applications include cardiac disorders (myocardial infarction and heart failure), diabetes mellitus, diseases of bones and joints, genetic disorders, and wounds of the skin and soft tissues.

Regulatory and ethical issues involving cell therapy are important and are discussed. Current political debate on the use of stem cells from embryonic sources (hESCs) is also presented. Safety is an essential consideration of any new therapy and regulations for cell therapy are those for biological preparations.

The cell-based markets was analyzed for 2016, and projected to 2026. The markets are analyzed according to therapeutic categories, technologies and geographical areas. The largest expansion will be in diseases of the central nervous system, cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Skin and soft tissue repair as well as diabetes mellitus will be other major markets.

The number of companies involved in cell therapy has increased remarkably during the past few years. More than 500 companies have been identified to be involved in cell therapy and 306 of these are profiled in part II of the report along with tabulation of 291 alliances. Of these companies, 170 are involved in stem cells. Profiles of 72 academic institutions in the US involved in cell therapy are also included in part II along with their commercial collaborations. The text is supplemented with 64 Tables and 22 Figures. The bibliography contains 1,200 selected references, which are cited in the text.

Key Topics Covered:

Part I: Technologies, Ethics & Regulations

Executive Summary

1. Introduction to Cell Therapy

2. Cell Therapy Technologies

3. Stem Cells

4. Clinical Applications of Cell Therapy

5. Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Disorders

6. Cell Therapy for Cancer

7. Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders

8. Ethical, Legal and Political Aspects of Cell therapy

9. Safety and Regulatory Aspects of Cell Therapy

Part II: Markets, Companies & Academic Institutions

10. Markets and Future Prospects for Cell Therapy

11. Companies Involved in Cell Therapy

12. Academic Institutions

13. References

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hpj9sh/cell_therapy

Source: Jain PharmaBiotech

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Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

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July 06, 2017 07:00 ET | Source: Shire Pharmaceuticals Group

Shire submits investigational New Drug Application to FDA for Gene Therapy candidate SHP654 for treatment of Hemophilia A

SHP654 aims to deliver sustained protection against bleeds for patients with hemophilia A

Lexington, Mass.-July 6, 2017- Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG), the leading biotechnology company focused on serving people with rare diseases, today announcedthe submission of an investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SHP654, also designated as BAX 888, an investigational factor VIII (FVIII) gene therapy for the treatment of hemophilia A. SHP654 aims to protect hemophilia A patients against bleeds through the delivery of a long-term, constant level of factor expression.1 The IND filing for SHP654 represents the latest step forward for Shire's gene therapy program, which shows promise for both hemophilia A and B populations.

"Shire is leveraging decades of scientific leadership in hemophilia to advance research in gene therapy for this community," said Paul Monahan, M.D., Senior Medical Director, Gene Therapy, Shire. "Drawing from our rich heritage, Shire is well equipped to sustainably support the development of gene therapies that aim to advance current standards of care and minimize the burden of this disease. SHP654 uses a proprietary technology platform designed to produce sustained levels of factor similar to the natural mechanisms of the body. Our goal with gene therapy for hemophilia is to uphold the highest standards for safety and efficacy."

Shire's gene therapy program for hemophilia A uses a recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (rAAV8) vector, which selectively targets the liver.1,2 It involves the delivery of a functional copy of FVIII to the body's liver to enable its own production of FVIII, rather than relying on a factor-based treatment.1 SHP654 uses the rAAV8 vector to deliver a codon-optimized, B-domain deleted FVIII (BDD-FVIII) specifically to a patient's liver, where FVIII would then be produced and used to manage bleeds.1 The FVIII expression is further controlled in patients by incorporating the liver-specific transthyretin (TTR) promoter/enhancer.1

The IND filing for SHP654 was based on the results of pre-clinical and phase 1 studies demonstrating the potential utility of this candidate, including the following that will be presented at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 26th Biennial Congress in Berlin, Germany, from July 8 - 13, 2017:

An IND is a request for FDA authorization to administer an investigational drug to humans.5 Following the FDA's acceptance of the IND for SHP654, Shire will study SHP654 in a global multi-center study evaluating safety and examining the SHP654 doses required to boost factor VIII activity levels and affect hemophilic bleeding and will pursue bringing this innovation to markets worldwide.

About SHP654 Shire is developing SHP654 (BAX 888), which includes technology acquired from Chatham Therapeutics, LLC, a spin-out of Asklepios Biopharmaceutical, Inc. SHP654 is an investigational factor VIII (FVIII) gene therapy intended to treat hemophilia A using a recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (rAAV8) vector to deliver a codon-optimized, B-domain deleted FVIII (BDD-FVIII) specifically to a patient's liver, where FVIII would then be produced and used to manage bleeds.1,2

About Hemophilia A Hemophilia A, the most common type of hemophilia, is a rare bleeding disorder that causes longer-than-normal bleeding due to lack of clotting factor VIII in the blood.6 The severity of hemophilia A is determined by the amount of factor in the blood, with more severity associated with lower amounts of factor.7 More than half of patients with hemophilia A have the severe form of the condition.7 Approximately 25-30% of individuals with severe hemophilia A develop inhibitors.8 Inhibitors are a serious medical problem that can occur when a person with hemophilia has an immune response to treatment with clotting factor concentrates.9 Hemophilia primarily affects males, with an incidence of one in 5,000 male births.7,10

References

NOTES TO EDITORS

For further information please contact:

Media

About Shire

Shire is the leading global biotechnology company focused on serving people with rare diseases and other highly specialized conditions. We strive to develop best-in-class products, many of which are available in more than 100 countries, across core therapeutic areas including Hematology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Ophthalmics, Lysosomal Storage Disorders, Gastrointestinal / Internal Medicine / Endocrine and Hereditary Angioedema; and a growing franchise in Oncology.

Our employees come to work every day with a shared mission: to develop and deliver breakthrough therapies for the hundreds of millions of people in the world affected by rare diseases and other high-need conditions, and who lack effective therapies to live their lives to the fullest.

http://www.shire.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements concerning future strategy, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the anticipated timing of clinical trials and approvals for, and the commercial potential of, inline or pipeline products, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks or uncertainties materialize, Shire's results could be materially adversely affected. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

a further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in Shire's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Shire's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, in each case including those risks outlined in "ITEM 1A: Risk Factors", and in Shire's subsequent reports on Form 8-K and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings, all of which are available on Shire's website.

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. Except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Shire submits investigational New Drug Application to FDA for Gene Therapy candidate SHP654 for treatment of ... - GlobeNewswire (press release)

Women live longer than men in many countries around the world. In the United States, women outlive men by an average of five years. Scientists have long attributed this divide to genetics and biology, but a physician at Duke University is posing an alternative theory: toxic masculinity.

Haider Warraich is a clinical researcher and cardiology fellow atDuke University Medical Centerwho authored a new article in The Guardian that explores how male attitudes towards their own health may be at the core of the disparity in life expectancy.

Host Frank Stasio talks with clinical researcher and cardiology fellow Haider Warraich about the disparity in life expectancy for men.

Host Frank Stasio speaks with Warraich about why men in the U.S. tend to wait longer to seek physical and psychological help. They also discuss how the idea of manly behaviors, like drinking and smoking, may lead to lowered health outcomes.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

On changes in gender-based life expectancy through history: In the start of the 18th century women and men lived for about the same duration, which was surprisingly just to the mid 20s ... But then as we got better at making sure that childbirth wasn't a death sentence, and women were actually able to give birth and not die off prematurely, we started to see a gap emerge. We started to see women consistently, across societies, lived longer than men.

On the persistent gap in male to female life expectancy: That gap in the United States is about five years. In other countries such as Russia it's about 10 years. This is certainly something we have not seen for the expanse of human civilization but certainly something that we now see consistently across most developed societies.

On biological theories that seek to explain why women live longer: The female sex hormone estrogen conveys some protection as far as reducing the risk of heart disease ... Some have postulated that the fact that women have a faster heart rate in general in some ways or somehow simulates the effect of exercise which is why they're able to live longer. And others have said The female birth rate is higher. We have more female children than we have male children, which in some ways suggests that even from an almost embryonic stage women have some type of advantage over men. Those are some of the biological theories that have been postulated.

Why biological theories don't paint a full picture of the life expectancy gap: What we're seeing more and more is that it is male behaviors that are likely driving men dying off earlier than women ... Some of these behaviors just have to do with the fact that men are more likely to take risks than women. Some of that has to do with the fact that the male hormone testosterone drives risk-taking behavior. But a lot of it is a construct of society. Men have a higher rate of smoking pretty much across the world. Men drink more. Men have more road traffic accidents, gunshot wounds et cetera. All of these are things that are driven by male behaviors. Men are less likely to seek the help of a physician if they fall sick. Men who have some type of psychiatric issues such as depression or anxiety, or other things, are less likely to go see a psychiatrist.

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How Masculinity Can Be Bad For Men's Health - WUNC

An influx of men from the steppe of Central Asia may have swept into India around 3,500 years ago and transformed the population.

The same mysterious people ancient livestock herders called the Yamnaya who rode wheeled chariots and spoke a proto-Indo-European language also moved across Europe more than 1,000 years earlier. Somehow, they left their genetic signature with most European men, but not women, earlier studies suggest.

The new data confirm a long-held but controversial theory that Sanskrit, the ancient language of Northern India, emerged from an earlier language spoken by an influx of people from Central Asia during the Bronze Age. [24 Amazing Archaeological Discoveries]

"People have been debating the arrival of the Indo-European languages in India for hundreds of years," said study co-author Martin Richards, an archaeogeneticist at the University of Huddersfield in England. "There's been a very long-running debate about whether the Indo-European languages were brought from migrations from outside, which is what most linguists would accept, or if they evolved indigenously."

From the earliest days of colonial rule in India, linguists like William Jones and Jakob Grimm (who co-edited "Grimm's Fairy Tales") noticed that Sanskrit shared many similarities with languages as disparate as French, English, Farsi (or Persian) and Russian. Linguists eventually arrived at the conclusion that all these languages derived from a common ancestral language, which they dubbed Indo-European.

But while North Indian languages are predominantly Indo-European, South Indian languages mostly belong to the Dravidian language family. To explain this, scholars proposed the so-called Aryan invasion theory that a group of people from outside India swept in and brought a proto-Sanskrit language to northern India. (The name "Aryans" came from a Sanskrit word for "noble" or "honorable.") In the early 1900s, British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler proposed that these Aryan people may have conquered, and caused the collapse of, the mysterious Indus Valley Civilization that flourished in what is now India and Pakistan.

The Aryan migration theory eventually became controversial because it was used to justify claims of superiority for different Indian subgroups; was claimed as the basis for the caste system; and in a bastardized form, was incorporated into Nazi ideology that the Aryans were the "master race."

What's more, earlier genetic data did not seem to corroborate the notion of a dramatic Aryan influx into India during the Bronze Age, according to a 2003 study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

But past genetic analyses were based on either DNA from mitochondria, which is passed from mothers to daughters, or from genetic mutations found in nuclear DNA, which are inherited from both parents but can be difficult to date.

In the current study, which was reported in March in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology, Richards and colleagues analyzed modern genetic data from mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome DNA which is passed only from father to son and nuclear DNA. By tying all these pieces of data together, the team was able to tie patterns of migration to specific points in time.

The team found evidence that people began colonizing India more than 50,000 years ago and that there were multiple waves of migration into India from the northwest over the last 20,000 years, including waves of people from Anatolia, the Caucasus and Iran between 9,000 and 5,000 years ago.

But evidence for one migration was particularly striking: The genetic makeup of the Y chromosome dramatically shifted about 4,000 to 3,800 years ago, the study found. About 17.5 percent of Indian men carry a Y-chromosome subtype, or haplogroup, known as R1, with the haplogroup more dominant in men in the north compared to the south of India.

This new finding points to an ancient group of people who inhabited the grassland between the Caspian and Black seas from about 5,000 to 2,300 years ago, known broadly as the Yamnaya people. The Yamnaya (and its later subgroup, the Andronovo culture) typically buried their dead in pit graves, drove wheeled horse chariots, herded livestock and spoke an early precursor Indo-European language. About 5,000 years ago, people from this culture almost completely transformed the genetic landscape of Europe, a 2015 Science study suggests.

The genetic signature of the Yamnaya people shows up strongly in the male lineage, but hardly at all in the female lineage, the study found.

One possibility is that a group of horse-riding warriors swept across India, murdered the men and raped or took local women as wives, but not all explanations are that martial, Richards said. For instance, it's possible that whole family units from the Yamnaya migrated to India, but that the men were either able to acquire (or started out with) higher status than local males and thus sired more children with local women, Richards said.

"It's very easy for Y-chromosome composition to change very quickly," Richards told Live Science. "Just because individual men can have a lot more children than women can."

The shift wasn't as dramatic as the genetic transformation of Europe; while up to 90 percent of European men from some countries carry a version of R1, only a minority of men from the Indian subcontinent do, Richards said.

"It's not like a complete wipeout by any means," Richards said.

The study has a limitation: Because the very hot conditions in India don't preserve DNA well, the group lacks ancient DNA to prove that ancient migrants to the region carried the R1 haplogroup, said James Mallory, an archaeologist at Queen's University Belfast in Ireland, who was not involved in the study.

"They're trying to read the history of a people through its modern DNA," Mallory told Live Science. In the past, similarly well-grounded theories have been disproven once people sampled ancient skeletal remains, Mallory added.

The other problem is that there is very little archaeological evidence for a dramatic cultural transformation in India at that time, he added. The Andronovo left behind distinctive artifacts and evidence of their culture in other places, such as their pit burials and unique pottery.

But in India, "We do not really find evidence for these particular cultures," Mallory said.

On the other hand, population studies of the Irish have revealed almost 90 percent of men carry an R1 haplogroup, and yet there's also very little archaeological evidence of a cultural transformation consistent with huge population turnover, he added. So it may simply be that genetics are revealing a lost history of people in the area.

"The genetics are continually giving archaeologists surprises," Mallory said.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Aryan Invasion May Have Transformed India's Bronze-Age Population - Live Science

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09:45 am | The building provides a base of operations for collaborating scientists from around the world....

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Proventil hfa ventolin hfa - Proventil inhaler dosage for adults - Longboat Key News

The research studies carried out by John B. Gurdon (Anglo-Saxon) and Shinya Yamanaka (Japanese) were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine. These two scientists are considered of being the fathers of cellular reprogramming. They have achieved to create cells that behave identically to embryonic cells, however, without having to destroy human embryos. The Swiss Academy declared that both Gurdon and Yamanaka have revolutionized the current knowledge of how cells and organisms are developed, which has led to the perfection of the absurd methods of diagnosis and therapy.

Jhon Bertrand Gurdon, professor of the Zoology Department of the University of Cambridge, admitted of feeling extremely honored for such a spectacular privilege.

Moreover, Shinya Yamanaka discovered the so called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), which have the same proprieties of the embryonic ones and are able to turn into whatever other type of body cell. He asserted that he will continue to conduct research in order to contribute to society and medicine. For him that is a duty.

Yamanaka created four types of genes that supply cells with their pluripotentiality, in other words, the same capacity that embryonic stem cells have. If implanted in differentiated cells, for example of skin, they become pluripotent stem cells. The iPS supply a vast amount of plasticity just as embryonic stem cells do, however, without requiring the extermination or cloning of human embryos, since the initial cells can be obtained from the same patient. In this aspect, these cells have the same status as adult stem cells do, with the advantage of their versatility.

The dilema that has been stirred by the iPS is being resolved due to recent studies carried out by Leisuke Kaji (Universidad de Edimburgo) and Andreas Nagy (Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital of Toronto).

The created iPS perennially retain their pluripotentiality. There is still the need of research to be conducted concerning the control of the difference between these cells in order for them to create the tissue that is necessary for each case. As Kaji affirms in The Guardian, it is a step towards the practical use of reprogrammed cells in the field of medicine, which could eventually lead to eliminating the need of counting on human embryos as the main source of stem cells.

The Episcopal Subcommittee for the Family and Defense of Life of the Episcopal Conference, beliefs that no Catholic could support practices such as abortion, euthanasia or the production, freezing and/or manipulation of human embryos.

Clement Ferrer

Independent Forum of Opinion

http://indeforum.wordpress.com/

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The Gilmer Mirror - Hurray for Gurdon and Yamanaka Nobel Prize ... - Gilmer Mirror

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Words do not begin to explain how grateful we are for all their help and for giving us our little miracle that is slowly on its way. It is truly a blessing to be given the opportunity that these beautiful individuals have provided to our families and ourselves.

With Dr. Abae every step of the way was individualized and there was always ample time to ask talk; we are having twins.

I cried when I only had two embryos for transfer, but Dr. Abae said: Why are you crying? We ve got the best two embryos ever. He was right, my child is beautiful.

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Fertility and Genetics - Affordable High Quality Fertility ...

Even while she was pregnant with her son Brendon, now 18, Lisa Pleasants knew there was a possibility he would be born with a rare genetic condition that could leave him legally blind.

Pleasants has two brothers and a cousin who were born with X-linked retinoschisis, which causes layers of the retina to separate. It is the leading cause of juvenile macular degeneration in males.

Brendon Pleasants is legally blind. He uses magnifiers, large-print books, a camera connected to a computer, a Galaxy S6 cell phone and an iPad to read. Without assistance, he can read the top two lines of an eye chart. But his vision is getting worse over time, he said.

A recent graduate of Mandarin High School, Brendan was an honor roll student who ran track and cross country and earned a black belt in karate.

His mom is founder of MOMS for Sight, a nonprofit working to fund research into and raise awareness about retinal degenerative diseases.

MOMS for Sights primary fundraiser is its annual Black Ties &Blindfolds gala. MOMS for Sight also participates in the Foundation Fighting Blindnesss annual Vision Walk and sells MOMS for Sight bracelets through the website http://www.momsforsight.org, where she also writes an occasional blog.

This year MOMS for Sight raised $18,000, part of $86,000 raised in Jacksonville for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Both Lisa and Brendon Pleasants see gene therapy as their hope for the future. His condition is caused by the lack of a certain protein. They have been excited about the research into gene therapy being done by William W. Hauswirth, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Florida. Hauswirth is an innovator of delivery systems for sight-saving gene therapies that could provide the missing protein.

In April 2016, MOMS for Sight honored Shannon Boye, an assistant professor in University of Florida Department of Ophthalmology, who works with Hauswirth, with its MOMS for Sight Visionary award during the Black Tie &Blindfolds gala.

Last winter, Brendon was initially accepted into a gene therapy trial in Boston. But testing revealed that he had high pressure in his eyes, something hed never had before.

High eye pressure is a warning sign for glaucoma and Brendon had to leave the trial and return to Jacksonville to get laser treatment for his glaucoma.

In one of her MOMS for Sight blogs, Lisa Pleasants wrote about their disappointment at not starting the trial: This post is most likely the hardest one Ive ever written and it has taken me a few weeks to gather my emotions . We were absolutely crushed . The doctor in Boston told us, as he saw my tears forming, that everything happens for a reason and that we should be thankful we found this new issue early. I am thankful.

The Pleasant are hopeful Brendon will eventually get admitted to a trial. In the meantime, hes preparing to head to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida, where he wants to study engineering.

His goal is to become an aerospace engineer. Hes been fascinated by the space program since he was a little boy.

When he was 4 years old, Lisa Pleasants said, he told me, I dont want to be on the rocket that goes into space. I want to build the rocket that goes into space.

At UCF, Brendon Pleasants will live in a dorm. Hes confident hell have no difficulties finding his way around campus. If he wants or needs to go somewhere off campus, he can call for an Uber or catch a ride with friends. Hes looking forward to the experience.

I like feeling independent, he said.

Charlie Patton: (904) 359-4413

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With a son who is legally blind, Lisa Pleasants works to raise funds for research - Florida Times-Union

The Sun Herald

Girl who threw first pitch aims to strike out disease affecting her 3-year-old sister The Sun Herald She threw the pitch, which was sponsored by the Sun Herald, hoping it would help strike out multiple sulfatase deficiency or MSD, a rare genetic disease affecting her sister, 3-year-old Willow Cannan. MSD affects ... While Willow will not make the trip ...

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Girl who threw first pitch aims to strike out disease affecting her 3-year-old sister - The Sun Herald

Testing for abnormal breast cancer genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 is usually done on a blood or saliva sample taken in your doctors office and sent to a commercial laboratory or a research testing facility. Most people have it done by a commercial lab. During testing, the genes are separated from the rest of the DNA, and then they are scanned for abnormalities.

Often, the type of genetic testing that's done and the specific genes being tested dictate whether testing in a research setting is possible. Research labs tend to perform free and anonymous testing. But they may provide limited results or require multiple family members to participate. In addition, test results may not be available for many months or years, and sometimes they're not available at all.

In the United States, several laboratories perform commercial BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 testing, including Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Ambry Genetics, and GeneDx. They report results within 2 to 4 weeks. Abnormalities in other genes have also been associated with breast cancer risk. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are the most common cause of hereditary breast cancer. Right now, PALB2 and other breast cancer gene abnormalities appear to be a less common cause of breast cancer, although testing for many of these genes is now also available. People choosing to undergo genetic testing may choose to be tested for only the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes or to have multiple breast cancer-related genes tested together through a panel test. The cost of testing ranges from approximately $300 to $5,000, depending on whether you are being tested for only a specific area(s) of a gene known to be abnormal or if hundreds of areas are being examined within multiple genes.

Because different types of genetic abnormalities are detected by different test methodologies, it is important to be aware of the technical test type being performed. Gene sequencing detects the majority of genetic mutations. However, this test method cannot detect large mutations or genetic rearrangements that may occur within the genes. Therefore, testing the genes for large-scale mutations is also recommended. Most laboratories offering testing will perform both types of tests at the same time. If your testing was done in the past, it is possible screening for large-scale mutations was not performed. Inquire with the physician or genetic counselor who ordered testing to confirm what types of testing were completed and whether you may be eligible for any additional testing.

Find out if your insurance plan will cover genetic testing many insurance plans do. The 2008 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) protects against discrimination by health insurance plans based on an individuals genetic information. However, if you're still concerned about your privacy, you may pay for the testing yourself and submit your blood sample under a code number or an assumed name. If you opt for the latter, choose a name you can remember easily and stick to it. In addition, GINA does not extend to life insurance, so securing life insurance coverage prior to genetic testing is suggested.

In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to ensure quality standards and the accuracy and reliability of results across all testing laboratories (except research). Genetic testing should be performed by a CLIA-approved facility.

Original post:
Genetic Testing Facilities and Cost - Breastcancer.org

BBC News

Chief medical officer calls for gene testing revolution - BBC News BBC News Cancer patients should be routinely offered DNA tests to help select the best treatments for them, according to England's chief medical officer. Prof Dame Sally ... Gene testing could revolutionise cancer treatment - ITV NewsITV News Everything you need to know about the Government plan for genetic testing to treat cancer patientsBT.com Call for revolutionary DNA cancer care on NHSSky News Telegraph.co.uk -Daily Mail -Financial Times all 25 news articles »

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Chief medical officer calls for gene testing revolution - BBC News - BBC News

Cancer patients should have routine access to genetic testing to improve diagnosis and treatment, according to Englands chief medical officer.

Despite the UK being a world leader in genomic medicine its full potential is still not being realised, Professor Dame Sally Davies said in a new report.

This timely report from the chief medical officer showcases just how much is now possible in genomics research and care within the NHS. - Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK

Davies urged clinicians and the Government to work together and make wider use of new genetic techniques in an attempt to improve cancer survival rates.

Genetic testing can pinpoint the faults in DNA that have led to a cancer forming. Different cancers have different faults, and these determine which treatments may or may not work.

Such testing could lead to patients being diagnosed faster and receiving more targeted or precise treatments.

Davies said that the age of precision medicine is now and that the NHS must act quickly to remain world class.

This technology has the potential to change medicine forever but we need all NHS staff, patients and the public to recognise and embrace its huge potential. said Davies.

Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UKs chief executive, agreed, saying that it would be a disservice to patients if the UK were slow to respond to innovations in this area.

The report recommends that within 5 years training should be available to current and future clinicians and that all patients should be being offered genomic tests just as readily as theyre given MRI scans today.

Davies also called for research and international collaboration to be prioritised, along with investment in research and services so that patients across the country have equal access.

However the report recognises potential challenges such as data protection issues and attitudes of clinicians and the public.

This timely report from the chief medical officer showcases just how much is now possible in genomics research and care within the NHS, added Sir Kumar.

Cancer Research UK is determined to streamline research, to find the right clinical trial for cancer patients and to ensure laboratory discoveries benefit patients.

And the design of clinical trials are starting to change. A number of trials are underway, like Cancer Research UKs National Lung Matrix Trial with AstraZeneca and Pfizer, where patients with a certain type of lung cancer are assigned a specific treatment based on the genetic makeup of their cancer.

However, Sir Harpal Kumar stressed that to bring the reports vision to life the Government, the NHS, regulators and research funders need to act together.

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Greater access to genetic testing needed for cancer diagnosis and treatment - Cancer Research UK

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DuPont Pioneer announced it has secured exclusive rights to CRISPR-cas technology for all agricultural uses and applications in plants. CRISPR is one of the newest ways to edit biological genomes.

DuPont Pioneer Vice-President Neal Gutterson says,We see CRISPR-Cas technology as an advancement in plant breeding which can enable a new era in crop improvement. This licensing agreement with ERS is a piece of DuPont Pioneers strategy to position our business as a leader in the application of CRISPR-Cas in agriculture."

The licensing agreement is with ERS Genomics and already DuPont has 60 patents or patent applications for CRISPR bacteria identification and immunization, as well as gene editing technology.

Pioneer says it wants to use CRISPR to develop better environmental resiliency, productivity, and sustainability.

In another statement DuPont promises open and transparent communications and appropriate, science-based regulatory oversight for its work with CRISPR.

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Seed Company Secures CRISPR Rights | whotv.com - whotv.com

CRISPR-Cas3 is a subtype of the CRISPR-Cas system, a widely adopted molecular tool for precision gene editing in biomedical research. Aspects of its mechanism of action, however, particularly how it searches for its DNA targets, were unclear, and concerns about unintended off-target effects have raised questions about the safety of CRISPR-Cas for treating human diseases.

Harvard Medical School and Cornell University scientists have nowgenerated near-atomic resolution snapshots of CRISPR that reveal key steps in its mechanism of action. The findings, published in Cell on June 29, provide the structural data necessary for efforts to improve the efficiency and accuracy of CRISPR for biomedical applications.

Through cryo-electron microscopy, the researchers describe for the first time the exact chain of events as the CRISPR complex loads target DNA and prepares it for cutting by the Cas3 enzyme. These structures reveal a process with multiple layers of error detectiona molecular redundancy that prevents unintended genomic damage, the researchers say.

High-resolution details of these structures shed light on ways to ensure accuracy and avert off-target effects when using CRISPR for gene editing.

To solve problems of specificity, we need to understand every step of CRISPR complex formation, said Maofu Liao, assistant professor of cell biology at Harvard Medical School and co-senior author of the study. Our study now shows the precise mechanism for how invading DNA is captured by CRISPR, from initial recognition of target DNA and through a process of conformational changes that make DNA accessible for final cleavage by Cas3.

Discovered less than a decade ago, CRISPR-Cas is an adaptive defense mechanism that bacteria use to fend off viral invaders. This process involves bacteria capturing snippets of viral DNA, which are then integrated into its genome and which produce short RNA sequences known as crRNA (CRISPR RNA). These crRNA snippets are used to spot enemy presence.

Acting like a barcode, crRNA is loaded onto members of the CRISPR family of enzymes, which perform the function of sentries that roam the bacteria and monitor for foreign code. If these riboprotein complexes encounter genetic material that matches its crRNA, they chop up that DNA to render it harmless. CRISPR-Cas subtypes, notably Cas9, can be programmed with synthetic RNA in order to cut genomes at precise locations, allowing researchers to edit genes with unprecedented ease.

To better understand how CRISPR-Cas functions, Liao partnered with Ailong Ke of Cornell University. Their teams focused on type 1 CRISPR, the most common subtype in bacteria, which utilizes a riboprotein complex known as CRISPR Cascade for DNA capture and the enzyme Cas3 for cutting foreign DNA.

Through a combination of biochemical techniques and cryo-electron microscopy, they reconstituted stable Cascade in different functional states, and further generated snapshots of Cascade as it captured and processed DNA at a resolution of up to 3.3 angstromsor roughly three times the diameter of a carbon atom.

In CRISPR-Cas3, crRNA is loaded onto CRISPR Cascade, which searches for a very short DNA sequence known as PAM that indicates the presence of foreign viral DNA.

Liao, Ke and their colleagues discovered that as Cascade detects PAM, it bends DNA at a sharp angle, forcing a small portion of the DNA to unwind. This allows an 11-nucleotide stretch of crRNA to bind with one strand of target DNA, forming a seed bubble.

The seed bubble acts as a fail-safe mechanism to check whether the target DNA matches the crRNA. If they match correctly, the bubble is enlarged and the remainder of the crRNA binds with its corresponding target DNA, forming what is known as an R-loop structure.

Once the R-loop is completely formed, the CRISPR Cascade complex undergoes a conformational change that locks the DNA into place. It also creates a bulge in the second, non-target strand of DNA, which is run through a separate location on the Cascade complex.

Only when a full R-loop state is formed does the Cas3 enzyme bind and cut the DNA at the bulge created in the non-target DNA strand.

The findings reveal an elaborate redundancy to ensure precision and avoid mistakenly chopping up the bacterias own DNA.

To apply CRISPR in human medicine, we must be sure the system is accurate and that it does not target the wrong genes, said Ke, who is co-senior author of the study. Our argument is that the CRISPR-Cas3 subtype has evolved to be a precise system that carries the potential to be a more accurate system to use for gene editing. If there is mistargeting, we know how to manipulate the system because we know the steps involved and where we might need to intervene.

Structures of CRISPR Cascade without target DNA and in its post-R-loop conformational states have been described, but this study is the first to reveal the full sequence of events from seed bubble formation to R-loop formation at high resolution.

In contrast to the scalpel-like Cas9, CRISPR-Cas3 acts like a shredder that chews DNA up beyond repair. While CRISPR-Cas3 has, thus far, limited utility for precision gene editing, it is being developed as a tool to combat antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. A better understanding of its mechanisms may broaden the range of potential applications for CRISPR-Cas3.

In addition, all CRISPR-Cas subtypes utilize some version of an R-loop formation to detect and prepare target DNA for cleavage. The improved structural understanding of this process can now enable researchers to work toward modifying multiple types of CRISPR-Cas systems to improve their accuracy and reduce the chance of off-target effects in biomedical applications.

Scientists hypothesized that these states existed but they were lacking the visual proof of their existence, said co-first author Min Luo, postdoctoral fellow in the Liao lab at HMS. The main obstacles came from stable biochemical reconstitution of these states and high-resolution structural visualization. Now, seeing really is believing.

Weve found that these steps must occur in a precise order, Luo said. Evolutionarily, this mechanism is very stringent and has triple redundancy, to ensure that this complex degrades only invading DNA.

Read the rest here:

Bringing CRISPR into Focus - Bioscience Technology

Recent debate over the safety of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing following a study that suggested it can cause hundreds of unexpected mutations [1]left me puzzled. The research (see BioNews 903), published in Nature Methods and carried out in three living mice, could indeed be criticized for the lack of stringent controls and technical errors. In addition, a number of sloppy mistakes suggested a misinterpretation of the data and therefore incorrect conclusions [2]. It is hard to believe the assertion that CRISPR-Cas9 editing caused so many mutations. And it is also hard to believe how such sloppiness passed the scrutiny of one of the most highly-ranked scientific journals.

In defence of the authors, they did the right thing they used whole-genome sequencing to assess possible effects of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing in their experimental system. What they found - from their point of view - was quite alarming, and by publishing the study they wanted to make the data available to the public and warn the scientific community.

The puzzling part to me is the reaction of the companies Intellia Therapeutics and Editas Medicine and their calls for the paper to be retracted on the grounds of flawed design and interpretation (see BioNews 905). Intellia is working on permanently editing disease-associated genes in the human body with a single treatment course, whereas Editas Medicine is dedicated to treating patients with genetically defined diseases. The base technology used by both companies is CRISPR-Cas9.

Why did they get so upset? The notion that CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing may not be flawless brought down the share values of the companies. If they are so cocksure that the technology is flawless, the companies must have proof of that from their own pipelines. Instead just launching an attack to put minds of the investors at peace, they could make available a few examples of whole-genome sequencing data sets before and after CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing from their own work. This would show (I assume) that the technology is indeed in their hands very precise and, therefore, safe.

Failure to do that, makes me question whether they do whole-genome sequencing before and after CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. I cannot help but ask the question, what is their quality control?

How they can even think about developing clinical products without demonstrating that there are no unwanted genome alterations following genome editing? Regulatory bodies, concerned about patient safety, would never approve clinical studies without such proofs. Thus, naturally, the companies' shares have ended up plunging.

Such an approach is standard in other fields of emerging therapies. If you, for example, work in cellular therapy with pluripotent stem cells, either human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or human iPSs (induced pluripotent stem) cells, you would have to demonstrate the efficiency of your differentiation protocol by showing that not a single cell remained in a pluripotent state afterwards (which can lead to teratoma formation) - even though the probability of this happening is very low. The field has been struggling for years with the challenge of validating a hESC/hiPSC-derived cell dose for the absence of pluripotent stem cells.

And whole-genome sequencing is a part of the quality control in hiPSC-based clinical trials due to the fear that the reprogramming of somatic cells into hiPSC might cause mutations - even when the method used to reprogram the cells in the first place does not involve integrating DNA into the genome. Hence the possibility of introducing mutations due to reprogramming is almost zero.[3]

With CRISPR-Cas9, we are dealing with a genome editing technology and a remote possibility of unwanted genome alterations cannot be neglected. The whole genome sequencing before and after the editing should be a paradigm of quality control for any serious research study, not only clinical work.

And cost should not be an issue. According to the US National Human Genome Research Institute, the price of generating a high-quality 'draft' whole human genome sequence had fallen below US$1,500 [4] by the end of 2015, whereas the cost of a whole-exome sequence was generally below US$1,000. With such low costs, using this method for quality control should be a no-brainer for any CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing research study, not only for clinical applications.

How about CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing in human embryos? The UK's HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) last year granted a research licence for this (see BioNews 837) and, therefore, the same rules should apply as for any other research study. The complexity of the system and number of cells available would determine quality control. How investigators who have the licence granted will tackle the issue, remains to be seen.

See more here:

Safety matters can we be sure that CRISPR-Cas9 is not producing unwanted genetic alterations? - BioNews

Stem cell therapy: the next wave in regenerative medicine?

All it involved was a quick injection no different, really, than a flu shot.

A few weeks later, Bill Ambrose realized hed become significantly less reliant on taking Aleve for knee pain, and he was re-learning how to walk without shuffling his feet.

Surgery, it turned out, might not be necessary after all.

Last November, Ambrose scheduled knee surgery to alleviate discomfort in his knees caused by what orthopedic doctors called true bone-on-bone at the joint. But for one reason or another, he kept missing pre-surgery and the surgery never happened.

The next month, Ambrose met with Dr. Bill Nolan, of Cherry Street Health Group, to discuss advertising space in the Danvers Herald.

For the purpose of full disclosure, Ambrose is an employee of Gatehouse Media Company, and he works in the advertising department for Wicked Local, the local branch of GHM newspapers.

After Nolans ads ran inthe Jan. 5issue of the Herald, Ambrose said he reached out to Nolan again. This time, for himself.

Nolans practice offered a solution to his knee pain an alternative to knee surgery he had never considered before: stem cell therapy.

Essentially, the solutionCherry StreetHealth Group offered was an injection of amniotic fluid into Ambrose's knee joint. The stem cells and other growth factorsin the fluid would allow for the regeneration of the cartilage at the joint.

I became interested so I decided to go ahead with it, Ambrose said.

He brought in scans to show Nolan, who said, contrary to what orthopedic doctors had told him, he didnt have true bone on bone. There was still a small space between the bones.

I decided to have one leg done and my knee started getting much better, he said.

Satisfied with the results of the first injection, Ambrose decided to get his left knee done in April.

I still experience some pain in [the left knee], but I get up in the morning and theres very little pain at all, he said in an interview a few weeks following the appointment.

The stem cell option

In the U.S., there are three ways that stem cells are used, Nolan said. Theyre either taken from bone marrow, fat cells, or the amniotic membrane of a healthy c-section from a consenting woman.

When stem cellsare injected into the body,they're expected to increase space at the joint, rebuild cartilage, and ultimately, provide more stability in the joint. As many as 570 businesses across the country advertise some kind of stem cell therapy, according to a 2016 paper.

Stem cell therapy is not necessarily a new discovery, but it is relatively recent in the world of regenerative medicine.Stem cells were first used as much as century ago, first for eye procedures and as filler for the spinal cord, according to Regenexx, which claims to have pioneered orthopedic stem cell treatments in 2005.

Adult stem cells are retrieved directly from the patient, either frombone marrow or fat cells,and concentrated beforeits reinjectedinto the patient's site of pain.

In the case of amniotic fluid therapy,amniotic fluid, which contains stem cells and other growth factors, is injected into the site. These cellshave been shown to "expand extensively" and show "high renewal capacity,"according to research published in the National Library of Medicine.

We know that as you age, your stem cell count decreases,Nolan said, explaining the benefit of using cells from the amniotic membrane. We know that when we get it from the amniotic membrane, theres a large amount of stem cells that are present. From the amniotic membrane, there are no antibodies or antigens, so its safe for anyone to get.

At Cherry Street Health Group, theproduct usedis produced by General Surgical and distributed by RegenOMedix, according to Nolan.The product, which is called ReGen Anu RHEO, is American Tissue Bank approved and FDA cleared.

RHEO is marketed as "a human tissue allograft derived from placental tissue; amniotic membrane and amniotic fluid."Its a"powerful combination" of amniotic fluid and mesencymal stem cells, which are known to differentiate into a variety of cell types, according to RegenOMedix.It also contains growth factor proteins andis "rich" in other necessary components for tissue regeneration.

The product is non-steroidal and comes with no side effects, and the company says no adverse events have been recorded using the product.

Nolan said stem cell therapy has been offered as a treatmentat Cherry Street since 2016.

Across the U.S., there are as many as 56 businesses marketing some form of amniotic stem cellsto its consumers, according to the same paper.

At Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, for example, orthopedic surgeon Adam Yanke enrolled one of his patients into an experimental amniotic cell therapy treatment program. The woman, a 65-year-old suffering from osteoarthritis in both knees, told reporters the injections were "by far the most effective pain treatment" she had tried, and so farthat relief has lasted up to a year.

But while the use of amniotic fluid therapyas a regenerative medicine is becoming increasingly popular throughout the U.S.,the use of amniotic stemcellsdoesn't comewithout concern from some within the community.

Dr. Chris Centeno, who specializes in regenerative medicine andthe clinical use of adult stem cells, has blogged numerous times for Regenexx on the "scam" of using amniotic stem cells most recently in sharply worded post on May 22.

"Regrettably, we have an epidemic on our hands that began when sales reps began telling medical providers thattheir dead amniotic and cord tissues had loads of live cells on it," he wrote.

Nolan said he was familiar with Centeno's posts.

"A lot of the stem cell stuff is new," he said. "Some of the products out there ... They were doing testing on them and not finding cells."

Cherry Street Health Group has treatedabout 50patients with this form of regenerative medicine and had significant success, according to Nolan. Although Nolan owns the health group on Cherry Street in Danvers, the stem cell treatments are provided under the medical practice of Dr. Pat Scanlan.

Weve had really, really amazing success, Nolan said. Weve had over 95 percent success of all the patients weve had in the office. Its been a game changer from a practice standpoint.

The "worst thing" that could happen is there might not be any regeneration, he explained.

"You might get pain relief, but no regeneration," Nolan said. "But from what weve seen, there have been no negative side effects."

At Cherry Street, knees are the most commonly treated joints, followed by hips, shoulders and the lower back. The cervical spine is the least common.

"I hesitated on the surgery, and I'm gladI did," Ambrose said. "Even if[the stem cells]don't do any more than what they've done, its been well worth it."

Patients who do present with true bone on bone, however, are not candidates for this form of therapy, Nolan said.

The cost comparison

At Cherry Street Health Group, the cost of the injection comes toroughly $4,000 per knee, a cost that isn't covered by insurance. By comparison, health-care providers often charge insurers more than $18,000 for knee replacement surgeries in the Boston area, according to a report by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

The report, however, doesn't account for what the patient actually pays.

Nolan said when other factors of post-op are considered time off of work, rehabilitation time and cost the out-of-pocketcost for surgery compared to stem cell treatment is comparable.

"When you really boil it down, it can be the same or, in a lot of cases, a savings," he said.

Ambrose said it "boggles his mind" that more people don't choose this treatment over surgery.

"Why would you spend $40,000 on a car and not want to spend $4,000 on a knee?," he said."Its crazy. Yes, its out of pocket. So what? We buy a lot of stuff we dont need, and then for something like this, something that people, if they do it, theyll be glad they did it. Its just hard to convince them to do it."

In arecent report in STAT news, a health news start up of the Boston Globe, a study of orthopedic procedures in the U.S. suggested an estimated one-third of knee replacement surgeries are inappropriate. More than 640,000 of these surgeries are performed each year, making for a $10 billion dollar industry in knee surgery.

The study said that evidence isn't limited to just knee surgeries.

"There's a lot that needs to change when we look at health care in general,"Nolan said. "It's really no surprise that something like doing this regenerative medicine is going to take time for it to really take off."

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Danvers health group offers alternative solution to surgery - Wicked Local North of Boston

it will provide regenexx, a regenerative stem cells procedure to treat orthopedic and sports injuries (Attn.Editors: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with NewsVoir. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same).

It will provide Regenexx, a regenerative stem cells procedure to treat orthopedic and sports injuries

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (NewsVoir)July 5, 2017-- Regenexx, the world's most advanced stem cell procedures for treating orthopedic conditions and sports injuries has entered in Mumbai. This is there second branch in Asia. It would offer two stem cell procedures using imaging and interventional orthopaedic techniques to non-surgically repair and regenerate.The first one is a same-day procedure where stem cells are harvested, isolated and re-implanted on the same day. The second one is blood-derived plasma-rich platelet procedure. They would help athletes and non-athletes overcome early, mild, moderate ortho problems in a way that is devoid of surgery.

Regenexx is the most advanced stem cell and platelet procedures for treating orthopedic injuries, arthritis and other degenerative conditions. These procedures offer non-surgical alternatives to commonly occurring musculoskeletal conditions. Patented Regenexx procedures use precise injections of your own stem cells or blood platelets to help your body's ability to heal damaged muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, spinal disc and bone. Regenexx Stem Cell Therapy and Platelet Procedures, avoid the need for invasive surgery, in turn eliminating any complications that are typically seen with surgeries.

On this occasion Dr. Venkatesh Movva, MD, Regenexx India says, "The only option till now was total knee replacement. Now with this technology we can heal and regenerate the lost tissues like cartilage, meniscus and ligaments to reverse the arthritis and in turn avoid any major surgery. Patients return to their loved activities in no time. We could also treat conditions like lower back pain, hip arthritis, bulging discs, ankle and shoulder rotator cuff tears with stem cells orthopedics procedure. Majority of these are lifestyle related conditions,"

Regenexx procedures are image guided needle based procedures, so the downtime for recovery is minimal or none. These are truly ambulatory procedures without the need for hospitalization. The procedure process involves harvesting bone marrow stem cells, using our sophisticated lab process to separate cells and precise image guided injections into the target joints in an outpatient setting. Dr. Apurv Mahalle, MGIMS, says, "Regenexx procedures are out-patient procedues and that patients can walk out of the treatment the same day. Physiotherapy team at Regenexx will help patients make the necessary changes to their physical movements so that the procedures are effective." There is no alternative for arthritis patients but to wait until the joint is bad enough for a replacement and then go through a surgery. Regenexx procedures are going to help these patients get back to the normal routine without the necessity of a replacement surgery.

About Dr. Venkatesh Movva

Dr. Movva has fellowship trained in Sports Medicine & is board certified in pain management. He incorporates his unique training into a minimally invasive non-surgical approach in his practice, providing various cutting-edge treatments. Dr. Venkateshss Movva has introduced the world's most advanced Regenerative orthopedic stem cell and platelet procedures known as Regenexx. Training Experience:

University of Oklahoma

O Clinical Base at Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center Team Physician

O Tulsa University Basketball and Football Team NCAA I Team Physician

O Oral Roberts University Basketball,Soccer, Volleybal Track and Field Teams NCAA I

Team Physician

O Northeastern State University Football Team NCAA II

Board Certification:

American Board of Pain Medicine (ABPM) American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)

Memberships:

American Medical Association (AMA)

Amercan Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) National Acedemy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Amercan Board of Sports Medicine (ABPM) American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) About Regenexx

Regenexx is based out of Colarado, U.S.A is a group of doctors working towards the development of non-surgical procedures for treating orthopaedic injuries, arthritis, meniscus tears and other degenerative conditions. These procedures have been in development for over a decade and Dr. Venkatesh Movva one of the initial group of Regenexx doctor's has been contributing to the research and development of these procedures. Over 40,000 procedures have been performed using Regenexx regenerative science since 2006.

Here is the original post:
RegenOrthoSport Facility Launched - Outlook India

Women not only live longer than men, they also appear to be in more robust health. A new hypothesis offers a reason why: it's in their genes.

Women are known to have a lower incidence of cancer men have a two- to five-fold greater risk of developing the disease. Women are also better able to survive trauma, and, according to some reports, don't get as seriously ill from bacterial and viral infections.

In a new paper, researchers from Ghent University in Belgium argue these sex-specific health disparities may be due, at least in part, to tiny pieces of genetic material called microRNAs. The main function of microRNAs in cells is to turn off, or "silence," specific genes. The researchers say microRNAs located on the female X chromosome may give women an immune system advantage over males.

While the researchers' idea is certainly debatable, the paper "raises awareness of how little we consider the influence of sex on immune responses," said Eleanor Fish, a professor of immunology at the University of Toronto in Canada, who was not involved in the work.

Often, researchers who conduct medical studies on people do not analyze their data by sex, and sometimes they don't report the sex of patients at all. Hopefully this will change, Fish said, so that every time a study is done, sex differences are considered, she said.

XX and XY

In humans, sex is genetic: Females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y. However, in females, one X chromosome in each cell in the body is randomly shut off, or inactivated, while the embryo is developing.

But X inactivation is not a perfect process, and sometimes genes on the X chromosome escape inactivation. In this case, a female ends up with two active copies of a particular gene.

Here is where the researchers think the microRNAs come in. The X chromosome contains 10 percent of all microRNAs in the human genome. The Y chromosome has none. Some of the microRNAs on the X chromosome are thought to be involved in immune system function and cancer development.

If a microRNA did something "good," like help control cell growth, having two copies of that microRNA might provide females with extra protection against cancer. The same would be true for microRNAs that played a role in immune function.

As a real-life example, septic patients (who have widespread bacterial infections) have low levels of a particular microRNA found on the X chromosome, the researchers said.Thus, this particular microRNA may offer some protection against sepsis.

The researchers said they need to do more work to support their theory. For example, it's not known whether microRNAs on the X chromosome "escape" inactivation, they said.

Other factors

The X chromosome is known to contain a number of genes related to health, Fish said, and adding microRNAs to the mix would suggest that the X chromosome is even more important in terms of health differences between men and women.

However, the X chromosome is far from the only reason for the strong immune response in females, Fish said. Hormonal differences and a number of other factors probably play a role, she said.

Researchers have only recently turned their attention to mircoRNAs, and there is likely an incredible amount of information we can learn from them, Fish said.

The paper is published today (Sept. 27) in the journal BioEssays.

Pass it on: Women's seemingly superior immune systems might come from having more microRNAs in their cells than men.

This story was provided by MyHealthNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily staff writer Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner. Like us on Facebook.

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Why Women Have Stronger Immune Systems than Men