Archive for May, 2020

TheGlobal Steroids Market isexpected to grow at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period, 2017-2025.Increase in geriatric population drives the androgens and anabolic steroids market, as older men are more prone to hypogonadism. Additionally, rise in obesity in men propels the global androgens and anabolic steroids market.

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The increasing poor health status especially in the developing countries is projected to fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period. Moreover, rise in government initiatives for better health care is attributed to the growth of the global androgens and anabolic steroids market.This report analyses the future prospects of Global Steroids Market.

Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.

Complete report on Steroids Industry spread across 114 pages, profiling 09 companies and supported with tables and figures. Enquire for more at https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/484751

Top Key Companies Analyzed in Global Steroids Market are PFIZER Novartis Merck Sanofi Johnson And Johnson GSK Astrazeneca Cipla Sumitomo

Key benefit of this report: This report provides current market trends and future growth expectations. This report examines the market size and changing competitive dynamics It covers information regarding key drivers, challenges or restraining market growth It provides a five-year forecast assessed on the basis market value chain, porters five forces, and supply chain management. Market factor analysis delivers treasured information regarding the possible purchasers and suppliers and understanding the stakeholders involved. This report incorporates data regarding companies and business decision by having complete insights on the markets and by creating in depth analysis of market segments.

Target audience: Suppliers R&D Institutes Technology providers Wholesalers Dealers

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Major Points Covered in Table of Contents:1. Executive Summary2. Demographic Overview3. Research Methodology4. Premium Insights5. Market Overview6. Market Factor Analysis7. Market Segment by Types8. Market Segment by Application9. Market Segment by Routes of Administration10. Market Segment by End User11 Market Segment by Regions12 Market Trends & Competitive Analysis

13 Company ProfilesAuthor ListDisclosure SectionResearch MethodologyData Source

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COVID-19 Impact on Global Steroids Market 2020: Industry Trends, Size, Share, Applications, SWOT Analysis by Top Key Players and Forecast Report to...

SHANGHAI, May27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Cell Therapy Group (SHCell) recently entered intoa six-year research collaborative project with Professor Qi-Long Ying from the University of Southern California (USC). Through the project, sponsored by $3.6 million from the Baize Plan Fund, the Ying laboratory aims to develop conditions for the long-term ex vivo expansion of mouse and human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

"Hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs, are found in the bone marrow of adults," said Professor Qijun Qian, CEO of Shanghai Cell Therapy Group. "HSCs have the ability for long-term self-renewal and differentiation into various types of mature blood cells, and for rebuilding normal hematopoiesis and immune function in patients. They also have enormous potential to treat diseases, including tumors, autoimmune diseases, severe infectious disease, and inherited blood diseases, and to combat the effects of aging."

This research project will be conducted and supervised by Professor Qi-Long Ying, a Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Professor Ying's pioneering stem cell research has won international acclaim, including the 2016 McEwen Award for Innovation, the highest honor in the field.

"We'll develop and optimize culture conditions for the long-term ex vivo expansion of HSCs," said Professor Ying. "We'll also test combinations of basal media, small molecules, cytokines and growth factors, and characterize ex vivo expanded hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. These cells will then be genetically modified and tested for their potential to treat different diseases, including blood disorders and cancers."

Professor Andrew P. McMahon, Director of Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research of USC, added: "Stem cell biology represents an exciting area in medicine with great therapeutic potential. I am delighted SHCell is supporting Professor Ying. A breakthrough in the ability to propagate and manipulate HSCs will have lasting clinical significance."

The project also plans to build animal models of different blood diseases and cancers and test the safety and effectiveness of genetically modified hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells before clinical translation. SHCell will actively explore clinical applications of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the treatment of cancers or blood diseases.

As SHCell's first overseas collaboration, this project aims to advance the goals of the Baize Plan: to provide first-class cell treatments and cell therapies at an affordable price to cure cancer and increase life expectancy. SHCell hopes that this project will also accelerate original scientific breakthroughs in the stem cell field.

Shanghai Cell Therapy Group

Founded in 2013, Shanghai Cell Therapeutics Group Co., Ltd is located at the Shanghai Municipal Engineering and Technology Research Center, which was established by the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission. With a mission of "changing the length and abundance of life with cell therapy", SHCell has created a closed-loop industrial chain and an integrated platform for cell treatment and cell therapy. It comprises cell storage, cell drug research and cell clinical transformation with cell therapy as its core business.

The Baize Plan was proposed in 2016 by Wu Mengchao, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and initiated by Professor Qian, aiming to provide first-class cell treatments and cell therapies at an affordable price with the goal of curing cancers and increasing life expectancy. The Baize Plan Fund was created by the Shanghai Cell Therapy Group to realize the vision of the Baize Plan.

University of Southern California (USC)

Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is one of the world's leading educational and research institutions, and also the oldest private research university in California. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, the University of Southern California comprises 23 schools and units, and students are encouraged to explore different fields of study. The University of Southern California ranked #22 in National Universities in the 2020 edition of Best Colleges, published by U.S. News & World Report.

For more information, visit http://www.shcell.com/

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Shanghai Cell Therapy Group Launches Collaboration with USC researcher to Improve the ex vivo Expansion of Hematopoietic Stem Cells for Clinical...

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a devastating disease process involving pulmonary edema and atelectasis caused by capillary membrane injury [1]. The main clinical manifestation is the acute onset of hypoxic respiratory failure, which can subsequently trigger a cascade of serious complications and even death [2]. Thus, ALI causes a considerable financial burden for health care systems throughout the world. ALI can result from various causes, including multiple traumas, large-volume blood transfusions, and bacterial and viral infections [2, 3]. A variety of viruses, including influenza virus, coronavirus (CoV), adenovirus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are associated with ALI [4]. Importantly, most viruses, whose hosts are various animal species, can cause severe and rapidly spreading human infections. In the early 2000s, several outbreaks of influenza virus and CoV emerged, causing human respiratory and intestinal diseases worldwide, including the more recent SARS-CoV-2 infection [5,6,7]. To date, SARS-CoV-2 has affected more than 80,000 people, causing nearly 3300 deaths in China and more than 1,800,000 people, causing nearly 110,000 deaths all over the world (http://2019ncov.chinacdc.cn/2019-nCoV/).

Infectious respiratory diseases caused by different viruses are associated with similar respiratory symptoms ranging from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome [8]. This makes the clinical distinction between different agents involved in infection very difficult [8, 9]. Currently, the clinical experience mainly includes antibacterial and antiviral drug treatment derived from handling several outbreaks of influenza virus and human CoVs. Numerous agents have been identified to inhibit the entry and/or replication of these viruses in cell culture or animal models [10]. Although these antiviral drugs can effectively prevent and eliminate the virus, the full recovery from pneumonia and ALI depends on the resistance of the patient. Recently, stem cell-based therapy has become a potential approved tool for the treatment of virus-induced lung injury [11,12,13]. Here, we will give a brief overview of influenza virus and CoVs and then present the cell-based therapeutic options for lung injury caused by different kinds of viruses.

Influenza virus and human CoV are the two most threatening viruses for infectious lung injury [14]. These pathogens can be transmitted through direct or indirect physical contact, droplets, or aerosols, with increasing evidence suggesting that airborne transmission, including via droplets or aerosols, enhances the efficiency of viral transmission among humans and causes uncontrolled infectious disease [15]. Throughout human history, outbreaks and occasional pandemics caused by influenza virus and CoV have led to approximately hundreds of millions of deaths worldwide [16].

Influenza virus is a well-known human pathogen that has a negative-sense RNA genome [17]. According to its distinct antigenic properties, the influenza virus can be divided into 4 subtypes, types A, B, C, and D. Influenza A virus (IAV) lineages in animal populations cause economically important respiratory disease. Little is known about the other human influenza virus types B, C, and D [18]. Further subtypes are characterized by the genetic and antigenic properties of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins [19]. Sporadic and seasonal infections in swine with avian influenza viruses of various subtypes have been reported. The most recent human pandemic virusesH1N1 from swine and H5N1 from aviancause severe respiratory tract disease and lung injury in humans [20, 21].

CoVs, a large family of single-stranded RNA viruses, typically affect the respiratory tract of mammals, including humans. CoVs are further divided into four genera: alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-CoVs. Alpha- and beta-CoVs can infect mammals, and gamma- and delta-CoVs tend to infect birds, but some of these viruses can also be transmitted to mammals [22]. Human CoVs were considered relatively harmless respiratory pathogens in the past. Infections with the human CoV strains 229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU1 usually result in mild respiratory illness, such as the common cold [23]. In contrast, the CoV responsible for the 2002 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), the 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV), and, more recently, the SARS-CoV-2 have received global attention owing to their genetic variation and rapid spread in human populations [5,6,7].

Usually, the influenza virus can enter the columnar epithelial cells of the respiratory tract, such as the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. Subsequently, the influenza virus begins to replicate for an asymptomatic period of time and then migrate to the lung tissue to cause acute lung and respiratory injury [24]. Similar to those with influenza virus infection, patients with SARS, MERS, or SARS-CoV-2 present with various clinical features, ranging from asymptomatic or mild respiratory illness to severe ALI, even with multiple organ failure [5,6,7]. The pathogenesis of ALI caused by influenza virus and human CoV is often associated with rapid viral replication, marked inflammatory cell infiltration, and elevated proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine responses [25]. Interestingly, in IAV- and human CoV-infected individuals, the pulmonary pathology always involves diffuse alveolar damage, but viral RNA is present in only a subset of patients [26]. Some studies suggest that an overly exaggerated immune response, rather than uncontrolled viral spread, is the primary cause in fatal cases caused by virus infection [27]. Several immune cell types have been found to contribute to damaging host responses, providing novel approaches for therapeutic intervention [28].

IAV infection, the most common cause of viral pneumonia, causes substantial seasonal and pandemic morbidity and mortality [29]. Currently, antiviral drugs are the primary treatment strategy for influenza-induced pneumonia. However, antiviral drugs cannot repair damaged lung cells. Here, we summarize the present studies of stem cell therapy for influenza virus-induced lung injury.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) constitute a heterogeneous subset of stromal regenerative cells that can be harvested from several adult tissue types, including bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose, and endometrium [30]. They retain the expression of the markers CD29, CD73, CD90, and CD105 and have a rapid proliferation rate, low immunogenicity, and low tumorigenicity [30]. MSCs also have self-renewal and multidifferentiation capabilities and exert immunomodulatory and tissue repair effects by secreting trophic factors, cytokines, and chemokines [31]. Due to these beneficial biological properties, MSCs and their derivatives are attractive as cellular therapies for various inflammatory diseases, including virus-induced lung injury.

Several studies on IAV-infected animal models have shown the beneficial effects of the administration of different tissue-derived MSCs [32,33,34,35]. H5N1 virus infection reduces alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) and enhances alveolar protein permeability (APP) in human alveolar epithelial cells, which can be inhibited by coculture with human bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) [32]. Mechanistically, this process can be mediated by human BMSC secreted angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) [32]. Moreover, in vivo experiments have shown that human BMSCs have a significant anti-inflammatory effect by increasing the number of M2 macrophages and releasing various cytokines and chemokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17 [32]. Similar anti-inflammatory effects have been achieved in another virus-induced lung injury model. The intravenous injection of mouse BMSCs into H9N2 virus-infected mice significantly attenuates H9N2 virus-induced pulmonary inflammation by reducing chemokine (GM-CSF, MCP-1, KC, MIP-1, and MIG) and proinflammatory cytokine (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-, and IFN-) levels, as well as reducing inflammatory cell recruitment into the lungs [33]. Another study on human BMSCs cocultured with CD8+ T cells showed that MSCs inhibit the proliferation of virus-specific CD8+ T cells and the release of IFN- by specific CD8+ T cells [36].

In addition, human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) were found to have a similar effect as BMSCs on AFC, APP, and inflammation by secreting growth factors, including Ang1 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), in an in vitro lung injury model induced by H5N1 virus [34]. UC-MSCs also promote lung injury mouse survival, increase the body weight, and decreased the APP levels and inflammation in vivo [34]. Unlike Ang1, KGF, and HGF mentioned above, basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) plays an important role in lung injury therapy via immunoregulation. The administration of the recombinant FGF2 protein improves H1N1-induced mouse lung injury and promotes the survival of infected mice by recruiting and activating neutrophils via the FGFR2-PI3K-AKT-NFB signaling pathway [37]. FGF2-overexpressing MSCs have an enhanced therapeutic effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced ALI, as assessed by the proinflammatory factor level, neutrophil quantity, and histopathological index of the lung [38].

MSCs secrete various soluble factors and extracellular vesicles (EVs), which carry lipids, proteins, DNA, mRNA, microRNAs, small RNAs, and organelles. These biologically active components can be transferred to recipient cells to exert anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and tissue regeneration functions [39]. EVs isolated from conditioned medium of pig BMSCs have been demonstrated to have anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammation, and antiviral replication functions in H1N1-affected lung epithelial cells and alleviate H1N1-induced lung injury in pigs [35]. Moreover, the preincubation of EVs with RNase abrogates their anti-influenza activity, suggesting that the anti-influenza activity of EVs is due to the transfer of RNAs from EVs to epithelial cells [35]. Exosomes are a subset of EVs that are 50200nm in diameter and positive for CD63 and CD81 [40]. Exosomes isolated from the conditioned medium of UC-MSCs restore the impaired AFC and decreased APP in alveolar epithelial cells affected by H5N1 virus [34]. In addition, the ability of UC-MSCs to increase AFC is superior to that of exosomes, which indicates that other components secreted by UC-MSCs have synergistic effects with exosomes [34].

Despite accumulating evidence demonstrating the therapeutic effects of MSC administration in various preclinical models of lung injury, some studies have shown contrasting results. Darwish and colleagues proved that neither the prophylactic nor therapeutic administration of murine or human BMSCs could decrease pulmonary inflammation or prevent the progression of ALI in H1N1 virus-infected mice [41]. In addition, combining MSC administration with the antiviral agent oseltamivir was also found to be ineffective [41]. Similar negative results were obtained in another preclinical study. Murine or human BMSCs were administered intravenously to H1N1-induced ARDS mice [42]. Although murine BMSCs prevented influenza-induced thrombocytosis and caused a modest reduction in lung viral load, murine or human BMSCs failed to improve influenza-mediated lung injury as assessed by weight loss, the lung water content, and bronchoalveolar lavage inflammation and histology, which is consistent with Darwishs findings [42]. However, the mild reduction in viral load observed in response to murine BMSC treatment suggests that, on balance, MSCs are mildly immunostimulatory in this model [42]. Although there are some controversial incidents in preclinical research, the transplant of menstrual-blood-derived MSCs into patients with H7N9-induced ARDS was conducted at a single center through an open-label clinical trial (http://www.chictr.org.cn/). MSC transplantation significantly lowered the mortality and did not result in harmful effects in the bodies of the patients [43]. This clinic study suggests that MSCs significantly improve the survival rate of influenza virus-induced lung injury.

The effects of exogenous MSCs are exerted through their isolation and injection into test animals. There are also some stem/progenitor cells that can be activated to proliferate when various tissues are injured. Basal cells (BCs), distributed throughout the pseudostratified epithelium from the trachea to the bronchioles, are a class of multipotent tissue-specific stem cells from various organs, including the skin, esophagus, and olfactory and airway epithelia [44, 45]. Previously, TPR63+/KRT5+ BCs were shown to self-renew and divide into club cells and ciliated cells to maintain the pseudostratified epithelium of proximal airways [46]. Several studies have shown that TPR63+/KRT5+ BCs play a key role in lung repair and regeneration after influenza virus infection. When animals typically recover from H1N1 influenza infection, TPR63+/KRT5+ BCs accumulate robustly in the lung parenchyma and initiate an injury repair process to maintain normal lung function by differentiating into mature epithelium [47]. Lineage-negative epithelial stem/progenitor (LNEP) cells, present in the normal distal lung, can activate a TPR63+/KRT5+ remodeling program through Notch signaling after H1N1 influenza infection [48]. Moreover, a population of SOX2+/SCGB1A/KRT5 progenitor cells can generate nascent KRT5+ cells as an early response to airway injury upon H1N1 influenza virus infection [49]. In addition, a rare p63+Krt5 progenitor cell population also responds to H1N1 virus-induced severe injury [50]. This evidence suggests that these endogenous lung stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) play a critical role in the repopulation of damaged lung tissue following severe influenza virus infection (Table2).

Taken together, the present in vitro (Table1) and in vivo (Table2) results show that MSCs and LSCs are potential cell sources to treat influenza virus-induced lung injury.

Lung injury caused by SARS, MERS, or SARS-CoV-2 poses major clinical management challenges because there is no specific treatment that has been proven to be effective for each infection. Currently, virus- and host-based therapies are the main methods of treatment for spreading CoV infections. Virus- and host-based therapies include monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs that target the key proteins and pathways that mediate viral entry and replication [51].The major challenges in the clinical development of novel drugs include a limited number of suitable animal models for SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 infections and the current absence of new SARS and MERS cases [51]. Although the number of cases of SARS-CoV-2-induced pneumonia patients is continuously increasing, antibiotic and antiviral drugs are the primary methods to treat SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Similar to that of IAV, human CoV-mediated damage to the respiratory epithelium results from both intrinsic viral pathogenicity and a robust host immune response. The excessive immune response contributes to viral clearance and can also worsen the severity of lung injury, including the demise of lung cells [52]. However, the present treatment approaches have a limited effect on lung inflammation and regeneration.

Stem cell therapy for influenza virus-induced lung injury shows promise in preclinical models. Although it is difficult to establish preclinical models of CoV-induced lung injury, we consider stem cell therapies to be effective approaches to improve human CoV-induced lung injury. Acute inflammatory responses are one of the major underlying mechanisms for virus-induced lung injury. Innate immune cells, including neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes-macrophages (IMMs), are major innate leukocyte subsets that protect against viral lung infections [53]. Both neutrophils and IMMs are rapidly recruited to the site of infection and play crucial roles in the host defense against viruses. Neutrophils and IMMs can activate Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and produce interferons (IFNs) and other cytokines/chemokines [54]. There are two functional effects produced by the recruitment of neutrophils and IMMs: the orchestration of effective adaptive T cell responses and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines [55]. However, excessive inflammatory cytokine and chemokine secretion impairs antiviral T cell responses, leading to ineffective viral clearance and reduced survival [56].

MSCs are known to suppress both innate and adaptive immune responses. MSCs have been suggested to inhibit many kinds of immune cells, including T cells, B cells, dendritic cells (DCs), and natural killer (NK) cells in vitro and in vivo [57] (Fig.1). Several molecules, including IL-1, TNF-, and INF-, most of which are produced by inflammatory cells, are reported to be involved in MSC-mediated immunosuppression [58]. Furthermore, MSCs can produce numerous immunosuppressive molecules, such as IL-6, PGE2, IDO, and IL-10, in response to inflammatory stimuli. PGE2 has been reported to mediate the MSC-mediated suppression of T cells, NK cells, and macrophages. Moreover, PGE2 has been found to act with IDO to alter the proliferation of T cells and NK cells [59]. In contrast, MSCs have come to be recognized as one type of adult stem cell actively participating in tissue repair by closely interacting with inflammatory cells and various other cell types [60]. Numerous reports have demonstrated that MSCs can release an array of growth and inhibitory factors, such as EGF, FGF, PDGF, and VEGF, and express several leukocyte chemokines, such as CXCL9, CCL2, CXCL10, and CXCL11. These factors provide an important microenvironment to activate adaptive immunity for lung repair [61]. Thus, the dual functions of MSCs may improve lung recovery after human CoV-induced ALI. Recently, MSCs was transplanted intravenously to enrolled patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. After treatment, the pulmonary function and symptoms of these patients were significantly improved. Meanwhile, the peripheral lymphocytes were increased, the C-reactive protein decreased, the level of TNF- was significantly decreased, and the overactivated cytokine-secreting immune cells disappeared. In addition, a group of regulatory DC cell population dramatically increased. Thus, the intravenous transplantation of MSCs was effective for treatment in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia [62, 63].

Stem cell therapies for treatment of influenza virus and coronavirus-induced lung injury. CoVs, coronavirus; MSCs, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells; LSCs, lung stem/progenitor cells; NK cells, natural killer cells; DC cells, dendritic cells

In addition, endogenous LSCs also play an important role in lung cell reconstitution after virus-induced ALI. In particular, TPR63+/KRT5+ airway BCs comprise approximately equal numbers of stem cells and committed precursors and give rise to differentiated luminal cells during steady state and epithelial repair after lung injury [44, 64]. Research has shown that KRT5+ cells repopulate damaged alveolar parenchyma following influenza virus infection [47]. However, there is still little evidence for the role of altered TPR63+/KRT5+ stem cells during lung injury repair caused by human CoVs.

In summary, exogenous MSCs may modulate human CoV-induced lung injury repair and regeneration through their immunoregulatory properties. These cells are capable of interacting with various types of immune cell, including neutrophils, macrophages, T cells, B cells, NK cells, and DCs. Furthermore, viral infections can activate endogenous LSCs to produce new lung cells and maintain lung function (Fig.1). Thus, we propose that MSCs and LSCs are two potential cell sources for treating human CoV-induced lung injury.

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Stem cell therapy: a potential approach for treatment of influenza virus and coronavirus-induced acute lung injury - BMC Blogs Network

She just wanted to be somewhere safe, somewhere familiar, where people looked and spoke like her and she could stand to eat the food. Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson

Midnight Robber (2000) is about a woman, divided. Raised on the high-tech utopian planet of Touissant, Tan-Tan grows up on a planet populated by the descendants of a Caribbean diaspora, where all labor is performed by an all-seeing AI. But when she is exiled to Touissants parallel universe twin planet, the no-tech New Half-Way Tree, with her sexually abusive father, she becomes divided between good and evil Tan-Tans. To make herself and New Half-Way Tree whole, she adopts the persona of the legendary Robber Queen and becomes a legend herself. It is a wondrous blend of science fictional tropes and Caribbean mythology written in a Caribbean vernacular which vividly recalls the history of slavery and imperialism that shaped Touissant and its people, published at a time when diverse voices and perspectives within science fiction were blossoming.

Science fiction has long been dominated by white, Western perspectives. Vernes tech-forward adventures and Wells sociological allegories established two distinctive styles, but still centered on white imperialism and class struggle. Subsequent futures depicted in Verne-like pulp and Golden Age stories, where lone white heroes conquered evil powers or alien planets, mirrored colonialist history and the subjugation of non-white races. The civil rights era saw the incorporation of more Wellsian sociological concerns, and an increase in the number of non-white faces in the future, but they were often tokensparts of a dominant white monoculture. Important figures that presaged modern diversity included Star Treks Lieutenant Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols. Nichols was the first black woman to play a non-servant character on TV; though her glorified secretary role frustrated Nichols, her presence was a political act, showing there was space for black people in the future.

Another key figure was the musician and poet Sun Ra, who laid the aesthetic foundation for what would become known as the Afrofuturist movement (the term coined by Mark Dery in a 1994 essay), which showed pride in black history and imagined the future through a black cultural lens. Within science fiction, the foundational work of Samuel Delany and Octavia Butler painted realistic futures in which the histories and cultural differences of people of color had a place. Finally, an important modern figure in the decentralization of the dominant Western perspective is Nalo Hopkinson.

A similarly long-standing paradigm lies at the heart of biology, extending back to Darwins theoretical and Mendels practical frameworks for the evolution of genetic traits via natural selection. Our natures werent determined by experience, as Lamarck posited, but by genes. Therefore, genes determine our reproductive fitness, and if we can understand genes, we might take our futures into our own hands to better treat disease and ease human suffering. This theory was tragically over-applied, even by Darwin, who in Descent of Man (1871) conflated culture with biology, assuming the Wests conquest of indigenous cultures meant white people were genetically superior. After the Nazis committed genocide in the name of an all-white future, ideas and practices based in eugenics declined, as biological understanding of genes matured. The Central Dogma of the 60s maintained the idea of a mechanistic meaning of life, as advances in genetic engineering and the age of genomics enabled our greatest understanding yet of how genes and disease work. The last major barrier between us and our transhumanist future therefore involved understanding how genes determine cellular identity, and as well see, key figures in answering that question are stem cells.

***

Hopkinson was born December 20, 1960 in Kingston, Jamaica. Her mother was a library technician and her father wrote, taught, and acted. Growing up, Hopkinson was immersed in the Caribbean literary scene, fed on a steady diet of theater, dance, readings, and visual arts exhibitions. She loved to readfrom folklore, to classical literature, to Kurt Vonnegutand loved science fiction, from Spock and Uhura on Star Trek, to Le Guin, James Tiptree Jr., and Delany. Despite being surrounded by a vibrant writing community, it didnt occur to her to become a writer herself. What they were writing was poetry and mimetic fiction, Hopkinson said, whereas I was reading science fiction and fantasy. It wasnt until I was 16 and stumbled upon an anthology of stories written at the Clarion Science Fiction Workshop that I realized there were places where you could be taught how to write fiction. Growing up, her family moved often, from Jamaica to Guyana to Trinidad and back, but in 1977, they moved to Toronto to get treatment for her fathers chronic kidney disease, and Hopkinson suddenly became a minority, thousands of miles from home.

Development can be described as an orderly alienation. In mammals, zygotes divide and subsets of cells become functionally specialized into, say, neurons or liver cells. Following the discovery of DNA as the genetic material in the 1950s, a question arose: did dividing cells retain all genes from the zygote, or were genes lost as it specialized? British embryologist John Gurdon addressed this question in a series of experiments in the 60s using frogs. Gurdon transplanted nuclei from varyingly differentiated cells into oocytes stripped of their genetic material to see if a new frog was made. He found the more differentiated a cell was, the lower the chance of success, but the successes confirmed that no genetic material was lost. Meanwhile, Canadian biologists Ernest McCulloch and James Till were transplanting bone marrow to treat irradiated mice when they noticed it caused lumps in the mices spleens, and the number of lumps correlated with the cellular dosage. Their lab subsequently demonstrated that each lump was a clonal colony from a single donor cell, and a subset of those cells was self-renewing and could form further colonies of any blood cell type. They had discovered hematopoietic stem cells. In 1981 the first embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from mice were successfully propagated in culture by British biologist Martin Evans, winning him the Nobel Prize in 2007. This breakthrough allowed biologists to alter genes in ESCs, then use Gurdons technique to create transgenic mice with that alteration in every cellcreating the first animal models of disease.

In 1982, one year after Evans discovery, Hopkinson graduated with honors from York University. She worked in the arts, as a library clerk, government culture research officer, and grants officer for the Toronto Arts Council, but wouldnt begin publishing her own fiction until she was 34. [I had been] politicized by feminist and Caribbean literature into valuing writing that spoke of particular cultural experiences of living under colonialism/patriarchy, and also of writing in ones own vernacular speech, Hopkinson said. In other words, I had models for strong fiction, and I knew intimately the body of work to which I would be responding. Then I discovered that Delany was a black man, which opened up a space for me in SF/F that I hadnt known I needed. She sought out more science fiction by black authors and found Butler, Charles Saunders, and Steven Barnes. Then the famous feminist science fiction author and editor Judy Merril offered an evening course in writing science fiction through a Toronto college, Hopkinson said. The course never ran, but it prompted me to write my first adult attempt at a science fiction story. Judy met once with the handful of us she would have accepted into the course and showed us how to run our own writing workshop without her. Hopkinsons dream of attending Clarion came true in 1995, with Delany as an instructor. Her early short stories channeled her love of myth and folklore, and her first book, written in Caribbean dialect, married Caribbean myth to the science fictional trappings of black market organ harvesting. Brown Girl in the Ring (1998) follows a young single mother as shes torn between her ancestral culture and modern life in a post-economic collapse Toronto. It won the Aspect and Locus Awards for Best First Novel, and Hopkinson was awarded the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

In 1996, Dolly the Sheep was created using Gurdons technique to determine if mammalian cells also could revert to more a more primitive, pluripotent state. Widespread animal cloning attempts soon followed, (something Hopkinson used as a science fictional element in Brown Girl) but it was inefficient, and often produced abnormal animals. Ideas of human cloning captured the public imagination as stem cell research exploded onto the scene. One ready source for human ESC (hESC) materials was from embryos which would otherwise be destroyed following in vitro fertilization (IVF) but the U.S. passed the Dickey-Wicker Amendment prohibited federal funding of research that destroyed such embryos. Nevertheless, in 1998 Wisconsin researcher James Thomson, using private funding, successfully isolated and cultured hESCs. Soon after, researchers around the world figured out how to nudge cells down different lineages, with ideas that transplant rejection and genetic disease would soon become things of the past, sliding neatly into the hole that the failure of genetic engineering techniques had left behind. But another blow to the stem cell research community came in 2001, when President Bushs stem cell ban limited research in the U.S. to nineteen existing cell lines.

In the late 1990s, another piece of technology capturing the public imagination was the internet, which promised to bring the world together in unprecedented ways. One such way was through private listservs, the kind used by writer and academic Alondra Nelson to create a space for students and artists to explore Afrofuturist ideas about technology, space, freedom, culture and art with science fiction at the center. It was wonderful, Hopkinson said. It gave me a place to talk and debate with like-minded people about the conjunction of blackness and science fiction without being shouted down by white men or having to teach Racism 101. Connections create communities, which in turn create movements, and in 1999, Delanys essay, Racism and Science Fiction, prompted a call for more meaningful discussions around race in the SF community. In response, Hopkinson became a co-founder of the Carl Brandon society, which works to increase awareness and representation of people of color in the community.

Hopkinsons second novel, Midnight Robber, was a breakthrough success and was nominated for Hugo, Nebula, and Tiptree Awards. She would also release Skin Folk (2001), a collection of stories in which mythical figures of West African and Afro-Caribbean culture walk among us, which would win the World Fantasy Award and was selected as one ofThe New York Times Best Books of the Year. Hopkinson also obtained masters degree in fiction writing (which helped alleviate U.S. border hassles when traveling for speaking engagements) during which she wrote The Salt Roads (2003). I knew it would take a level of research, focus and concentration I was struggling to maintain, Hopkinson said. I figured it would help to have a mentor to coach me through it. That turned out to be James Morrow, and he did so admirably. Roads is a masterful work of slipstream literary fantasy that follows the lives of women scattered through time, bound together by the salt uniting all black life. It was nominated for a Nebula and won the Gaylactic Spectrum Award. Hopkinson also edited anthologies centering around different cultures and perspectives, including Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction (2000), Mojo: Conjure Stories (2003), and So Long, Been Dreaming: Postcolonial Science Fiction & Fantasy (2004). She also came out with the award-winning novelThe New Moons Arms in 2007, in which a peri-menopausal woman in a fictional Caribbean town is confronted by her past and the changes she must make to keep her family in her life.

While the stem cell ban hamstrung hESC work, Gurdons research facilitated yet another scientific breakthrough. Researchers began untangling how gene expression changed as stem cells differentiated, and in 2006, Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University reported the successful creation of mouse stem cells from differentiated cells. Using a list of 24 pluripotency-associated genes, Yamanaka systematically tested different gene combinations on terminally differentiated cells. He found four genesthereafter known as Yamanaka factorsthat could turn them into induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and he and Gurdon would share a 2012 Nobel prize. In 2009, President Obama lifted restrictions on hESC research, and the first clinical trial involving products made using stem cells happened that year. The first human trials using hESCs to treat spinal injuries happened in 2014, and the first iPSC clinical trials for blindness began this past December.

Hopkinson, too, encountered complications and delays at points in her career. For years, Hopkinson suffered escalating symptoms from fibromyalgia, a chronic disease that runs in her family, which interfered with her writing, causing Hopkinson and her partner to struggle with poverty and homelessness. But in 2011, Hopkinson applied to become a professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside. It seemed in many ways tailor-made for me, Hopkinson said. They specifically wanted a science fiction writer (unheard of in North American Creative Writing departments); they wanted someone with expertise working with a diverse range of people; they were willing to hire someone without a PhD, if their publications were sufficient; they were offering the security of tenure. She got the job, and thanks to a steady paycheck and the benefits of the mild California climate, she got back to writing. Her YA novel, The Chaos (2012), coming-of-age novelSister Mine (2013), and another short story collection, Falling in Love with Hominids (2015) soon followed. Her recent work includes House of Whispers (2018-present), a series in DC Comics Sandman Universe, the final collected volume of which is due out this June. Hopkinson also received an honorary doctorate in 2016 from Anglia Ruskin University in the U.K., and was Guest of Honor at 2017 Worldcon, a year in which women and people of color dominated the historically white, male ballot.

While the Yamanaka factors meant that iPSCs became a standard lab technique, iPSCs are not identical to hESCs. Fascinatingly, two of these factors act together to maintain the silencing of large swaths of DNA. Back in the 1980s, researchers discovered that some regions of DNA are modified by small methyl groups, which can be passed down through cell division. Different cell types have different DNA methylation patterns, and their distribution is far from random; they accumulate in the promoter regions just upstream of genes where their on/off switches are, and the greater the number of methyl groups, the lesser the genes expression. Furthermore, epigenetic modifications, like methylation, can be laid down by our environments (via diet, or stress) which can also be passed down through generations. Even some diseases, like fibromyalgia, have recently been implicated as such an epigenetic disease. Turns out that the long-standing biological paradigm that rejected Lamarck also missed the bigger picture: Nature is, in fact, intimately informed by nurture and environment.

In the past 150 years, we have seen ideas of community grow and expand as the world became more connected, so that they now encompass the globe. The histories of science fiction and biology are full of stories of pioneers opening new doorsbe they doors of greater representation or greater understanding, or bothand others following. If evolution has taught us anything, its that nature abhors a monoculture, and the universe tends towards diversification; healthy communities are ones which understand that we are not apart from the world, but of it, and that diversity of types, be they cells or perspectives, is a strength.

Kelly Lagor is a scientist by day and a science fiction writer by night. Her work has appeared at Tor.com and other places, and you can find her tweeting about all kinds of nonsense @klagor

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On the Origins of Modern Biology and the Fantastic: Part 18 Nalo Hopkinson and Stem Cell Research - tor.com

SUZHOU, China and SHANGHAI, May 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gracell Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. ("Gracell"), a clinical-stage immune cell and gene therapy company, today announced that two presentations were accepted at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Virtual Scientific Program.

Both presentations can be found in the Development Therapeutics Immunotherapy session, central on Gracell's TruUCAR GC027 in relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r T-ALL) patients and EnhancedCAR GC008t in patients with advanced mesothelin-positive solid tumors.

"We are delighted to report on both TruUCAR GC027 in T-ALL and EnhancedCAR GC008t in solid tumors" said Dr. Martina Sersch, CMO of Gracell. "and glad to share safety and preliminary efficacy data on two of our exciting new CAR-T platform therapies with the scientific community at the ASCO annual meeting." Dr. William CAO, CEO of Gracell, added "Thanks to our highly efficient gene editing capability, CAR-T cells with PD-1 gene edited are generated to have enhanced capability of tumor control in inhibitory tumor microenvironment. We believe this strategy will improve CAR-T/TCR-T's potency against solid tumors.Gracell carried out this strategy as early as 2017, upon our foundation. With two years' preclinical and clinical investigations, we are very glad to see it showing first encouraging results in an effort to enhance CAR-T cells to combat solid tumors".

Session type: poster discussionAbstract Title: Safety and efficacy results of GC027: The first-in-human, universal CAR-T cell therapy for adult relapsed/refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r T-ALL)Abstract ID: 3013Link: https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/185068/poster

Session type: posterAbstract Title: Phase I study of CRISPR-engineered CAR-T cells with PD-1 inactivation in treating mesothelin-positive solid tumorsAbstract ID: 3038Link:https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/189057/poster

About TruUCAR

TruUCAR is Gracell's proprietary and patented platform technology, with selected genes being edited to avoid GvHD and immune rejection without using strong immunosuppressive drugs. In addition to T-ALL antigen, the platform technology can also be implemented for other targets of hematological malignancies.

About GC027

GC027is an investigational, off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapy, redirected to CD7 for the treatment of T cell malignancies. GC027 was manufactured from T cells of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) unmatched healthy donors using TruUCAR technology, which is expected to improve efficacy and reduce production time, available for off-the-shelf use in a timely manner.

About EnhancedCAR

EnhancedCAR is Gracell's proprietary and patented platform technology, with selected genes edited to enhance immune cell performance in terms of killing efficiency, in vivo persistence, including selected PD-1 and TCR mediations. The technology can be implemented to many other targets with high editing precision and efficiency.

About GC008t

GC008t is an investigational, autologous CAR-T cell therapy, redirected to mesothelin with PD-1 disruption for the treatment of mesothelin-positive solid tumors. With PD-1 knocking out, GC008t is expected improve persistence and clinical efficacy.

About T-ALL

T - Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, with a diffuse invasion of bone marrow and peripheral blood. In 2015, T-ALL affected around 876,000 people globally and resulted in 110,000 deaths worldwide. T-ALL compromises about 15%-20% of all children and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia[1].Current standard of care therapies for T-ALL are chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. 40-50% of patients will experience relapse within two years following front line therapy with limited treatment options available[2][3]. Treatment of relapsed and refractory T-ALL remains a high unmet medical need.

About Mesothelin-positive Solid Tumors

Mesothelin, a cell surface antigen, has high expression to a broad spectrum of solid tumors while express low levels on normal cells. Mesothelin is believed as a good target for multiple solid tumors. The GC008t study enrolled patients with advanced solid tumors, including pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, and colorectal cancer, of which clinical outcome of standard of care remains poor.

About Gracell

Gracell Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. ("Gracell") is a clinical-stage biotech company, committed to developing highly reliable and affordable cell gene therapies for cancer. Gracell is dedicated to resolving the remaining challenges in CAR-T, such as high production costs, lengthy manufacturing process, lack of off-the-shelf products, and inefficacy against solid tumors. Led by a group of world-class scientists, Gracell is advancing FasTCAR, TruUCAR (off-the-shelf CAR), DualCAR and EnhancedCAR-T cell therapies for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and solid tumors.

[1]Pediatric hematologic Malignancies: T-cell acute lymphoblastic Leukemia, Hematology 2016

[2]Progress and innovations in the management JAMA Oncol 2018

[3]Defining the course and prognosis of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Cancer 2010

SOURCE Gracell

http://www.gracellbio.com

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Gracell Announces Two Presentations at the Annual Meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) - PRNewswire

Surplus protein: Male mice that overproduce proteins in microglia have enlarged microglia and more synapses (right) than controls do (left).

The overproduction of proteins in brain cells called microglia causes social impairments, cognitive deficits and repetitive behavior in male mice, a new study has found.1 These behavioral differences are not present in female mice, or in mice that produce excess protein in other brain cells, including neurons or star-shaped support cells known as astrocytes.

Microglia help eliminate excess synapses connections between brain cells that form early in life; this pruning process is crucial to healthy brain development. But male mice that have been engineered to overproduce proteins in these cells have enlarged microglia. That, in turn, lowers the cells mobility and may prevent them from migrating to synapses that need eliminating.

In support of that idea, the mice have too many synapses, the researchers found a result that mirrors evidence that certain brain regions may be overconnected in people with autism.

Increased protein synthesis in microglia is sufficient to cause autism phenotypes in mice, says lead investigator Baoji Xu, professor of neuroscience at the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida. Problems in microglia could be an important pathological mechanism for autism.

The researchers studied mice that produce excess levels of EIF4E, a protein that facilitates the synthesis of other proteins. Mutations in several genes linked to autism including TSC1, TSC2, PTEN and FMR1 are associated with elevated levels of an active form of EIF4E and, as a result, many other proteins in the brain. Mice that overproduce EIF4E also display autism-like behavior, researchers have previously found.

These findings have led researchers to theorize that increased protein production in the brain may underlie autism and several related disorders. But the precise link has remained unclear at least until the new work.

By looking at different cells within the mouse brain, they were able to demonstrate the mechanism, says Zosia Miedzybrodzka, professor of medical genetics at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, who was not involved in the research. Understanding if these same mechanisms are at work in humans is key.

Xus team engineered mice that overproduce EIF4E in specific brain cells: microglia, astrocytes and neurons. Then they put the mice through a battery of behavioral tests. They found that male mice that make extra ElF4E in their microglia are less social, have problems with learning and memory, and overgroom traits considered analogous to those seen in autistic people.

Although female mice also produced excess protein in their microglia, they did not display the same behavioral changes. Nor did mice that overproduced EIF4E in astrocytes or in neurons, although the latter displayed signs of anxiety. The study was published in April in Nature Communications.

Male mice with excess microglial EIF4E have more and larger microglia than control mice do, but their cells are less mobile, and the animals have more synapses.

Although the microglia are bigger, they arent able to migrate, Xu says.

Together, the findings suggest that in male mice, protein overproduction impairs the ability of microglia to travel to synapses that need pruning, altering the animals brain circuitry and behavior in ways that resemble autism in people.

The research provides convincing evidence that the overproduction of proteins in microglia can cause autism-like features, says Eric Klann, director of the Center for Neural Science at New York University, who was not involved in the research.

But Klann says he is not ready to rule out the possibility that elevated protein levels in neurons may play a role, too; ramping up protein production in all of the brains neurons may have masked an effect in certain sub-populations of the cells.

It would be interesting if they had done this manipulation looking at specific subtypes of neurons, Klann says.

It is also not yet clear why none of the microglial abnormalities appeared in female mice, Xu says, but the finding is especially intriguing given that autism is more common in boys than girls.

You have a mechanism that points to why there might be a sex bias in autistic spectrum disorder, which has thus far been elusive, Miedzybrodzka says. Drugs that target microglia might be developed to treat autism and related conditions, she says.

Xu and his colleagues are trying to figure out why female mice seem to be protected from the consequences of protein overproduction in microglia, and to identify specific proteins that might cause the abnormalities in the cells.

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Extra proteins alter microglia and behavior in mice - Spectrum

Each week, HealthDay's Physician's Briefing division rounds up the most important COVID-19 developments in the medical field. See this week's edition below for May 25-May 29.

VA Slashes Use of Hydroxychloroquine to Treat COVID-19 Patients

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The VA health system has stopped nearly all use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie said at a House hearing on Thursday.

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Deferment of Elective Surgeries Due to COVID-19 Will Have Lasting Impact

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- At two years after the end of the elective orthopedic surgery deferment related to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be a cumulative backlog of more than 1 million surgical cases in an optimistic scenario, according to a study published online May 12 in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Read Full Article

Remdesivir Use Growing Globally in COVID-19 Patients

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Worldwide more physicians are using remdesivir to treat COVID-19 patients, according to a survey released May 21 by Sermo, a global health care polling company and social platform for physicians.

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Five-Day Course of Remdesivir Beneficial in Severe COVID-19

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- There seems to be no significant difference between a five- and 10-day course of remdesivir for patients with severe COVID-19 not requiring mechanical ventilation, according to a study published online May 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Burden of Severe COVID-19 High in California, Washington State

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For residents of California and Washington with COVID-19, the length of hospital stay and intensive care unit admission are high, according to a study published online May 22 in The BMJ.

Read Full Article

Positive RT-PCR Findings Seen After COVID-19 Discharge

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Some patients with COVID-19 have positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction results after discharge, according to a research letter published online May 28 in JAMA Network Open.

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CDC: Coronavirus Antibody Tests Still Not Accurate Enough

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Coronavirus antibody test results may not be accurate enough to help guide decisions about whether to allow large groups of people to gather at work, schools, dormitories, correctional facilities, and other locations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

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Parents Facing Higher Levels of Stress During Pandemic

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals, particularly parents, are coping with extreme stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a survey released May 21 by the American Psychological Association.

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CV Toxicity Tied to Azithromycin and/or Hydroxychloroquine

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin may have a serious adverse impact on the cardiovascular system, according to a research letter published online May 22 in Circulation.

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Improving Glycemic Control May Also Aid COVID-19 Outcomes

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Insulin infusion helps achieve glycemic targets and may reduce the risk for poor outcomes in patients with hyperglycemia and COVID-19, according to a study published online May 19 in Diabetes Care.

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Parents Struggling to Provide for Families During Pandemic

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The COVID-19 pandemic poses risks to children's health, well-being, and development as parents struggle to provide for their families, according to a survey released by the Urban Institute.

Read Full Article

U.K. Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 Are More Often Male

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are more often male and frequently have comorbidities, according to a study published online May 22 in the The BMJ.

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Neuroimaging Features of COVID-19 Are Variable

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Neuroimaging features of COVID-19 are variable among patients with acute neurological symptoms but are dominated by acute ischemic infarcts, according to a research letter published online May 21 in Radiology.

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African-Americans More Likely to Be Hospitalized With COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- African-American patients have an increased likelihood of hospitalization for COVID-19, according to a report published online May 21 in Health Affairs.

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WHO Suspends Testing of Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 Patients

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The World Health Organization has suspended use of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine in a clinical trial of treatments of COVID-19 after a study revealed that patients taking the drug are at increased risk for death and serious heart problems.

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Remdesivir Beats Placebo for Time to COVID-19 Recovery

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For adults hospitalized with COVID-19 with lower respiratory tract infection, time to recovery is shorter with remdesivir than placebo, according to a study published online May 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Hydroxychloroquine Plus Macrolides No Benefit in COVID-19

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, there is no evidence of benefit for use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide, according to a study published online May 22 in The Lancet.

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Adenovirus Type-5 Vectored COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Promise

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A recombinant adenovirus type-5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine is safe, tolerable, and immunogenic, according to a study published online May 22 in The Lancet.

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Placental Injury Seen in Pregnant Women With SARS-CoV-2

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Higher rates of decidual arteriopathy and other maternal vascular malperfusion features are seen in placentas of women with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, according to a study published online May 22 in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology.

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Right Ventricular Dilation Linked to Mortality in COVID-19

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Right ventricular dilation is associated with in-hospital mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published online May 15 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

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HealthDay Reports: UK Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 Are More Often Male - HealthDay Coronavirus Liveblog

Did you know that male honey bees dont have a father? A novel aspect of honey bee reproduction is that they get their genetics straight from the queen, and they have a grandfather but not a father.

That tidbit was enough to intrigue Ryan Giesecke to get interested in the honey bee game. A beekeeper had talked his ear off at a barbecue after a bee had peacefully landed on Giesecke.

I turned and kind of gently tried to blow her off of my shoulder, he says. The guy I was talking to said, Wow, thats a really good reaction. Youre not scared of bees. You should be a beekeeper.

Six months later, his new friend called him and said, Remember how you wanted to be a beekeeper? Suddenly, he had his first two hives. At first, he thought it was going to be a two-hive hobby, but his experience with ladders and power tools resulted in him removing bees from the walls at his aunts, uncles and parents homes. Next, he founded Honey Bee Relocation Services. Here are his thoughts on what we can learn from the hobby:

Link:
Lessons we can learn from the honeybees - Advocate Media

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seattle Genetics, Inc.. today announced positive results from exploratory analyses of intracranial efficacy, including survival, in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who had stable or active brain metastases in the HER2CLIMB pivotal trial of TUKYSA (tucatinib). HER2CLIMB compared TUKYSA in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine to trastuzumab and capecitabine alone in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer with or without brain metastases. Of the patients enrolled in the trial, 48 percent had a presence or history of brain metastases. Results demonstrated that the addition of TUKYSA to trastuzumab and capecitabine in patients with brain metastases delayed progression in the brain, doubled the intracranial response rate (tumor shrinkage in the brain) and reduced the overall risk of death by nearly half. The data were consistent across patients who had either stable or active brain metastases. Results were presented in an oral presentation in the virtual scientific program of the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and simultaneously published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200529005149/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

TUKYSA in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2020 for adult patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including patients with brain metastases, who have received one or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting. Primary results from HER2CLIMB were first presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December 2019 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

It is immensely gratifying to see for the first time, results for patients with stable or active brain metastases who are not typically included in clinical trials, especially when you consider that nearly half of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer experience disease progression to the brain, said Nancy U. Lin, M.D., director of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Program in the Susan F. Smith Center for Womens Cancers at Dana-Farber in Boston, MA. These additional analyses provide further evidence that TUKYSA improves survival and delays cancer progression in the brain for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who have brain metastases.

These additional analyses, together with the primary analysis of HER2CLIMB, show TUKYSA is active for patients with and without disease that has spread to the brain, said Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Seattle Genetics. We continue to be encouraged by the remarkable clinical activity of TUKYSA in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine and look forward to evaluating its potential in additional treatment settings and tumor types through our ongoing clinical program.

The new data that further examine TUKYSAs effect in the brain include exploratory analyses for central nervous system progression-free survival (CNS-PFS), overall survival (OS), intracranial objective response rate (ORR-IC) and duration of response in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients whose disease had spread to the brain.

The exploratory analyses demonstrated that patients with brain metastases who received the TUKYSA combination versus trastuzumab and capecitabine alone had:

Endpoint

TUKYSA Arm (TUKYSA + trastuzumab + capecitabine)

Control Arm (Placebo + trastuzumab + capecitabine)

OS Benefit in All Patients with Brain Metastases

N=198

N=93

Risk Reduction

42% (Hazard Ratio [HR]=0.58 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.40, 0.85]; p=0.005)

One-Year OS

70.1% (95% CI: 62.1, 76.7)

46.7% (95% CI: 33.9, 58.4)

Median OS

18.1 months (95% CI: 15.5, not estimable)

12 months (95% CI: 11.2, 15.2)

CNS-PFS Benefit in All Patients with Brain Metastases

N=198

N=93

Risk Reduction

68% (HR=0.32 [95% CI: 0.22, 0.48]; p<0.0001)

One-year CNS-PFS

40.2% (95% CI: 29.5, 50.6)

0%

Median CNS-PFS

9.9 months (95% CI: 8.0, 13.9)

4.2 months (95% CI: 3.6, 5.7)

Intracranial Objective Response Rate (ORR-IC) in Patients with Active Brain Metastases and Measurable Intracranial Lesions at Baseline

N=55

N=20

Complete Response (CR)

3 (5.5%)

1 (5.0%)

Partial Response (PR)

23 (41.8%)

3 (15.0%)

Stable Disease

24 (43.6%)

16 (80.0%)

Progressive Disease

2 (3.6%)

0

Not Available

3 (5.5%)

0

ORR-IC (CR+PR)

26 (47%) (95% CI: 34, 61)

4 (20%) (95% CI: 6, 44)

Duration of Response-IC

6.8 months (95% CI: 5.5, 16.4)

3 months (95% CI: 3.0, 10.3)

About HER2CLIMB

HER2CLIMB is a multinational randomized (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, active comparator, pivotal clinical trial comparing TUKYSA in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine compared with trastuzumab and capecitabine alone in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who were previously treated with trastuzumab, pertuzumab and T-DM1. The primary endpoint of the trial was PFS per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 as determined by blinded independent central review (BICR) in the first 480 patients enrolled in the trial. HER2CLIMB enrolled a total of 612 patients to support the analyses of key secondary endpoints, including OS, PFS per BICR in patients with brain metastases at baseline and confirmed ORR.1

Results of Primary Analysis of HER2CLIMB

Control Arm (Placebo + trastuzumab + capecitabine)

PFS by BICR in the first 480 patients

46% reduction in risk of progression or death (HR=0.54 [95% CI: 0.42, 0.71]; p<0.00001; N=480)

OS

34% reduction in risk of death (HR=0.66 [95% CI: 0.50, 0.87]; p=0.0048; N=612)

PFS* by BICR in patients with brain metastases

52% reduction in risk of progression or death (HR=0.48 [95% CI: 0.34, 0.69]; p<.0.00001; N=291)

One-Year PFS

25% (95% CI: 17, 34)

0%

Median PFS

7.6 months (95% CI: 6.2, 9.5)

5.4 months (95% CI: 4.1, 5.7)

*standard RECIST, includes brain and body

In HER2CLIMB, serious adverse reactions occurred in 26 percent of patients who received TUKYSA. Serious adverse reactions occurring in 2 percent or more of patients who received TUKYSA were diarrhea (4%), vomiting (2.5%), nausea, abdominal pain, and seizure (2% each). The most common adverse reactions occurring in 20 percent or more of patients who received TUKYSA were diarrhea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, nausea, fatigue, hepatotoxicity, vomiting, stomatitis, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, headache, anemia, and rash. Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 6 percent of patients who received TUKYSA; adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation of TUKYSA (in 1 percent or more of patients) were hepatotoxicity (1.5%) and diarrhea (1%).1

About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer have tumors with high levels of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. An estimated 279,100 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2020.2 Between 15 and 20 percent of breast cancer cases are HER2-positive.3 Historically, HER2-positive breast cancer tends to be more aggressive and more likely to recur than HER2-negative breast cancer.3,4,5 Up to 50 percent of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer patients develop brain metastases over time. 6,7,8

About TUKYSA (tucatinib)

TUKYSA is an oral, small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of HER2, a protein that contributes to cancer cell growth.1,9 In vitro (in lab studies), TUKYSA inhibited phosphorylation of HER2 and HER3, resulting in inhibition of downstream MAPK and AKT signaling and cell growth (proliferation), and showed anti-tumor activity in HER2-expressing tumor cells. In vivo (in living organisms), TUKYSA inhibited the growth of HER2-expressing tumors. The combination of TUKYSA and the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab showed increased anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo compared to either medicine alone.1

Important Safety Information

Warnings and Precautions

If diarrhea occurs, administer antidiarrheal treatment as clinically indicated. Perform diagnostic tests as clinically indicated to exclude other causes of diarrhea. Based on the severity of the diarrhea, interrupt dose, then dose reduce or permanently discontinue TUKYSA.

Monitor ALT, AST, and bilirubin prior to starting TUKYSA, every 3 weeks during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Based on the severity of hepatoxicity, interrupt dose, then dose reduce or permanently discontinue TUKYSA.

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 26% of patients who received TUKYSA. Serious adverse reactions in 2% of patients who received TUKYSA were diarrhea (4%), vomiting (2.5%), nausea (2%), abdominal pain (2%), and seizure (2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2% of patients who received TUKYSA including sudden death, sepsis, dehydration, and cardiogenic shock.

Adverse reactions led to treatment discontinuation in 6% of patients who received TUKYSA; those occurring in 1% of patients were hepatotoxicity (1.5%) and diarrhea (1%). Adverse reactions led to dose reduction in 21% of patients who received TUKYSA; those occurring in 2% of patients were hepatotoxicity (8%) and diarrhea (6%).

The most common adverse reactions in patients who received TUKYSA (20%) were diarrhea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, nausea, fatigue, hepatotoxicity, vomiting, stomatitis, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, headache, anemia, and rash.

Lab Abnormalities

In HER2CLIMB, Grade 3 laboratory abnormalities reported in 5% of patients who received TUKYSA were: decreased phosphate, increased ALT, decreased potassium, and increased AST. The mean increase in serum creatinine was 32% within the first 21 days of treatment with TUKYSA. The serum creatinine increases persisted throughout treatment and were reversible upon treatment completion. Consider alternative markers of renal function if persistent elevations in serum creatinine are observed.

Drug Interactions

Use in Specific Populations

For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information for TUKYSA here.

About Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics, Inc. is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops and commercializes transformative medicines targeting cancer to make a meaningful difference in peoples lives. The company is headquartered in the Seattle, Washington area, and has offices in California, Switzerland and the European Union. For more information on our robust pipeline, visit http://www.seattlegenetics.com and follow @SeattleGenetics on Twitter.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are forward looking, such as those, among others, relating to the therapeutic potential of TUKYSA including its efficacy, safety and therapeutic uses, including its use in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine to treat patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer with brain metastases who have received one or more previous anti-HER2 therapies, and its potential use in additional treatment settings and tumor types. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the difficulty and uncertainty of pharmaceutical product development; the possibility that adverse events or safety signals may occur; that utilization and adoption of TUKYSA by prescribing physicians may be limited due to impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, availability and extent of reimbursement or other factors; and that adverse regulatory actions may occur. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained under the caption Risk Factors included in the companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle Genetics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Continued here:
Seattle Genetics Announces Positive Results from Exploratory Analyses of HER2CLIMB for TUKYSA (tucatinib) in Brain Metastases Patients With...

Each week, HealthDay's Physician's Briefing division rounds up the most important COVID-19 developments in the medical field. See this week's edition below for May 25-May 29.

VA Slashes Use of Hydroxychloroquine to Treat COVID-19 Patients

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The VA health system has stopped nearly all use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie said at a House hearing on Thursday.

Read Full Article

Deferment of Elective Surgeries Due to COVID-19 Will Have Lasting Impact

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- At two years after the end of the elective orthopedic surgery deferment related to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be a cumulative backlog of more than 1 million surgical cases in an optimistic scenario, according to a study published online May 12 in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Read Full Article

Remdesivir Use Growing Globally in COVID-19 Patients

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Worldwide more physicians are using remdesivir to treat COVID-19 patients, according to a survey released May 21 by Sermo, a global health care polling company and social platform for physicians.

Read Full Article

Five-Day Course of Remdesivir Beneficial in Severe COVID-19

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- There seems to be no significant difference between a five- and 10-day course of remdesivir for patients with severe COVID-19 not requiring mechanical ventilation, according to a study published online May 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Read Full Article

Burden of Severe COVID-19 High in California, Washington State

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For residents of California and Washington with COVID-19, the length of hospital stay and intensive care unit admission are high, according to a study published online May 22 in The BMJ.

Read Full Article

Positive RT-PCR Findings Seen After COVID-19 Discharge

FRIDAY, May 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Some patients with COVID-19 have positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction results after discharge, according to a research letter published online May 28 in JAMA Network Open.

Read Full Article

CDC: Coronavirus Antibody Tests Still Not Accurate Enough

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Coronavirus antibody test results may not be accurate enough to help guide decisions about whether to allow large groups of people to gather at work, schools, dormitories, correctional facilities, and other locations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

Read Full Article

Parents Facing Higher Levels of Stress During Pandemic

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals, particularly parents, are coping with extreme stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a survey released May 21 by the American Psychological Association.

Read Full Article

CV Toxicity Tied to Azithromycin and/or Hydroxychloroquine

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin may have a serious adverse impact on the cardiovascular system, according to a research letter published online May 22 in Circulation.

Read Full Article

Improving Glycemic Control May Also Aid COVID-19 Outcomes

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Insulin infusion helps achieve glycemic targets and may reduce the risk for poor outcomes in patients with hyperglycemia and COVID-19, according to a study published online May 19 in Diabetes Care.

Read Full Article

Parents Struggling to Provide for Families During Pandemic

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The COVID-19 pandemic poses risks to children's health, well-being, and development as parents struggle to provide for their families, according to a survey released by the Urban Institute.

Read Full Article

U.K. Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 Are More Often Male

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are more often male and frequently have comorbidities, according to a study published online May 22 in the The BMJ.

Read Full Article

Neuroimaging Features of COVID-19 Are Variable

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Neuroimaging features of COVID-19 are variable among patients with acute neurological symptoms but are dominated by acute ischemic infarcts, according to a research letter published online May 21 in Radiology.

Read Full Article

African-Americans More Likely to Be Hospitalized With COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- African-American patients have an increased likelihood of hospitalization for COVID-19, according to a report published online May 21 in Health Affairs.

Read Full Article

WHO Suspends Testing of Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 Patients

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The World Health Organization has suspended use of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine in a clinical trial of treatments of COVID-19 after a study revealed that patients taking the drug are at increased risk for death and serious heart problems.

Read Full Article

Remdesivir Beats Placebo for Time to COVID-19 Recovery

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For adults hospitalized with COVID-19 with lower respiratory tract infection, time to recovery is shorter with remdesivir than placebo, according to a study published online May 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Read Full Article

Hydroxychloroquine Plus Macrolides No Benefit in COVID-19

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, there is no evidence of benefit for use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide, according to a study published online May 22 in The Lancet.

Read Full Article

Adenovirus Type-5 Vectored COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Promise

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A recombinant adenovirus type-5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine is safe, tolerable, and immunogenic, according to a study published online May 22 in The Lancet.

Read Full Article

Placental Injury Seen in Pregnant Women With SARS-CoV-2

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Higher rates of decidual arteriopathy and other maternal vascular malperfusion features are seen in placentas of women with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, according to a study published online May 22 in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology.

Read Full Article

Right Ventricular Dilation Linked to Mortality in COVID-19

TUESDAY, May 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Right ventricular dilation is associated with in-hospital mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published online May 15 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

Read Full Article

Link:
Poll Finds Many Teachers and Students May Not Return to Schools Even as They Reopen - HealthDay Coronavirus Liveblog

Metabolic imaging in conjunction with PSA testing could improve evaluation of treatment response and disease progression in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), according to data presented during the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2020 Virtual Scientific Program.

Thisapproach would address a frequently observed paradoxical response to treatmentwhereby radiographic disease progression occurs despite stable or declining PSAlevels, according to investigators.

Ina study of 123 men with mCRPC who received second-generation hormone therapy(either abiraterone or enzalutamide) post-taxane-based chemotherapy,investigators found that nearly 40% of men experienced radiographic progressionas determined by serial imaging with C-11 choline positron emissiontomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) despite having stable or declining PSAlevels.

JamalAlamiri, MB, BCh, of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleaguesdefined radiographic progression of disease by an increase in blood poolcorrected maximum standardized uptake value of the index lesion on C-11 cholinePET/CT scans. Patients underwent serial PSA testing and C-11 choline PET/CTscans every 3 to 6 months. They confirmed suspicious lesions using conventionalimaging, subsequent C-11 choline PET/CT evaluation, or by biopsy of themetastatic lesions whenever feasible.

Ofthe 123 men, 43% had radiographic disease progression while on abiraterone orenzalutamide, Dr Alamiris team reported. At the time of radiographicprogression, 60.4% of patients demonstrated a parallel rise in PSA levels(group A), whereas 39.6% had stable or declining PSA levels (group B).

Themedian PSA level at the time of radiographic progression was significantlyhigher for group A than group B (3.1 vs 1.3 ng/mL). Bone-predominanceprogression occurred more frequently in group B than group A (90% vs 65%). Themedian time until radiographic progression was significantly longer for group Athan group B (9.5 vs 3.9 months).

The study revealed the presence of 5or more metastatic lesions, bone metastatic lesions, and local or prostatic beddisease predicted a paradoxical response, Dr Alamiri told Renal & Urology News. Patients on enzalutamide were 4.6 timesmore likely to have a paradoxical response compared with those on abiraterone. Onmultivariable analysis, however, only local or prostatic bed disease remained asignificant predictor of paradoxical response.

As for why radiographic progressioncan occur despite stable or declining PSA levels, Dr Alamiri said itis possible prostate cancer cells gaintreatment-induced androgen-receptor (AR)-independent resistance mechanisms dueto exposure to multiple therapies. Invitro studies of cell lines have found AR-indifferent mCRPC cells that donot depend onAR pathways for growth. These cell lines showed resistanceagainst second-generation hormone therapies such as abiraterone andenzalultamide and expressed cross-resistance against taxane-based chemotherapy.It is unknown whether the genetic and molecular findings reported in thesestudies explain the paradoxical response described in our study, Dr Alamirisaid. Future studies performing genomic analysis on biopsy samples frommetastatic site from these patients are needed to see if they will mimic themolecular resistance mechanisms described in the in vitro studies.

Reference

Alamiri J, Ahmed ME, Andrews JR, etal. Radiographic paradoxical response in patients with metastatic castration-resistantprostate cancer (mCRPC) undergoing treatment with second-generation hormonetherapy (second-HT). Presented at the 2020 American Society of ClinicalOncology Virtual Scientific Program held May 29 to 31. Abstract 5577.

https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/188050/abstract

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PET/CT Imaging Potentially Useful in Evaluating mCRPC Treatment Response - Renal and Urology News

publication date: May. 29, 2020

By Alexandria Carolan

This story is part of The Cancer Letters ongoing coverage of COVID-19s impact on oncology. A full list of our coverage, as well as the latest meeting cancellations, is availablehere.

Radiation visitsmuch like preventative screenings, surgery, chemotherapy and screeningwere delayed or canceled at the peak of COVID-19 in the United States.

Now, the patients are returning, in some cases creating small upticks in demand for treatments that were delayed in March, April and May. In a few institutions, the return of the patients is creating wich-welcomed backlogs.

In a survey conducted by the American Society for Radiation Oncology April 16-30, 85% of oncology practices said radiation oncology appointments at their practices had decreased by about a third, even though their doors remained open through the pandemic. ASTRO received responses from 222 physician leaders of radiation oncology practices.

In the survey, 82% of respondents cited delayed/deferred treatment and 81% cited decreases in the number of patients being referred for radiation therapy.

On average, radiation oncology practices reported seeing two-thirds of their typical patient volume in late April. Source: ASTRO.

What were trying to do with the survey data is to dive deeper into that. We dont have the answers yet, because we simply are still collecting the data. But one of the questions we do want to ask isif there is a differential impact of COVID specific to cancer care, and to radiation delivery, that may or may not require some kind of policy-level intervention, or practice-level intervention, David Schwartz, co-author of the ASTRO study, said to The Cancer Letter.

This is where its now a global, community-wide freakout. What impacts some of these things is not just the physicians, nor even the diseaseits also the patient and communitys response to an overwhelming threat. Youre seeing people not showing up for surveillance, said Schwartz, professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Data from another survey, conducted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, showed that 79% of patients in active cancer treatment reported a delay to their health care (up from 27% in a previous survey). Seventeen percent of patients in active treatment reported delays to their cancer therapychemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy. The survey polled more than 1,200 cancer patients and survivors.

There are certain feeder cancers that keep the radiation oncology units busy. Those need to be diagnosed as a process. That process was brokenis broken, Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer at ACS, said to The Cancer Letter. A breast cancer patient needs radiation following a lumpectomy, a prostatectomy that needs radiation, lung cancer patients that may benefit from radiation.

In the ACS CAN survey, 17% reported that the threat of COVID-19 prevented them from seeing a doctor for an illness or injury for which they would have otherwise sought treatment. Among those who delayed or canceled care, 59% said the decision was made by their health care provider.

Nearly half (46%) of cancer patients and survivors reported a deterioration to their financial situation that affected their ability to pay for care, an increase from 38% in the ACS CAN survey released in April.

What were going to see is a backlog of more advanced presentations in the future, with patients whose care has been affected and delayed by the pandemic, Sue S. Yom, professor in the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at University of California, San Francisco, said to The Cancer Letter.

Radiation oncology is unique in that it requires such a specific commitment of time and resources over a very intensive period. I dont think that that is something that all patients have the ability to do right now, Yom said.

The uptick in demand for services is especially dramatic at New Yorks Mount Sinai Health System. Mount Sinai deferred appointments at the beginning of the crisis, and made room in its hospitals for an expected overflow of COVID-19 cases in the city. That overflow never came.

We have some outpatient facilities that patients were able to go to. Once we realized we were on the other side of the peak, and there wasnt really going to be a need to use our clinical areas, we started opening them up again and ramping up, Kenneth Rosenzweig, professor and system chair of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Health System, said to The Cancer Letter.

As of today, the end of May, were actually at a higher volume of patients on treatment than our typical average, Rosenzweig said. I think part of that, another reason is that some of the patients who had been delayed are now on treatment. So, there was a bit of a backlogand now thats opened up.

Radiation appointments at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center plummeted during the peak of COVID-19. Now, MSK is seeing increases in radiation oncology appointments.

It was certainly expected that during that time where you would see, particularly in Aprilwhen the incidence [of COVID-19] was so high here, and we were seeing the ER flooded with patientsthat we would see a reduction in radiation oncology visits, Daniel Gomez, director of thoracic radiation oncology, and chief of radiation oncology, Manhattan Service, at MSK, said to The Cancer Letter.

Now that thats subsided, youre seeing the opposite effect, and with regard to patients wanting to come in and get their cancers treated.

On a policy level in the U.S., it is up to the states and counties to institute COVID-19 guidelines.

As the country learns how to deal with thisin policies, were downstream with those things. What might be going up in Tennessee might not be going up in New York or Chicago, Daniel V. Wakefield, co-author of the ASTRO survey, said to The Cancer Letter.

What well see as a patchwork quilt of changes based on local government ordinances across the country, on not just a state level, but really, on city-to-city level, said Wakefield, chief resident in the Department of Radiation Oncology at University of Tennessee Health Science Center and MPH 20 candidate at Harvard University.

Cancer hospitals are a part of this patchwork quilt.

What you are seeing is different phases of a pandemic. Everyones been in different acute and recovery phases, UCSFs Yom said. And I will say that now that San Francisco is sort of officially in reopening and recovery, we definitely are seeing a very dramatic uptick in our consultations. But, remember, the time from consultation to initiation of treatment can be a week to several weeks.

What were seeing now isnt reflected yet, but our numbers have been trending up for about the past week or two.

Many cancer experts have pointed out that COVID-19 has exacerbated health disparities, making the underserved more underserved (The Cancer Letter, May 22).

The maps that we see of COVID infection rate positivity can actually be overlayed onto cancer incidence and cancer mortality, said Schwartz, who is also in charge of COVID-19 testing and data collection in Memphis. It comes down to one overriding issue: social determinants of health.

This can be manifested as cancer, but also as chronic disease. And thats another issue that we see here in Memphisis that cancer incidences also overlap very tightly with the incidence of hypertension, especially uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, obesity, food insecurityall of those things, Schwartz said.

David Beyer, medical director of radiation oncology at the Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona Healthcare, has delayed radiation treatments and pivoted to telehealth whenever possible out of concern for the health of his staff and patients.

Beyer is the only physician at his clinic.

We dont know whats going to happen. We dont know who in our department is going to get sick. We are a small rural clinic, Beyer said. If I get sick or have to quarantine myself for two weeks, we have a serious problem. We have two radiation therapy technologists, and they actually deliver the treatments on a day-to-day basis to each patient. We have two of them. If one of them gets sick, or God forbid both of them get sick or have to self-quarantine, we have a problem.

Beyers clinic used to treat 25-30 patients per daynow he sees about 15-20.

There is one place where you can get screening mammograms. They are not doing screening mammograms right now, Beyer said. They made the same choice to shut down routine screening mammography. So, were not seeing breast cancer patients that otherwise mightve been diagnosed right now with an asymptomatic breast cancer.

Still, Beyers location in Sedona has been relatively spared from the coronavirus. As of May 25, his local hospital had one confirmed case of the disease. His staff members have been asking, When are we going to start seeing our new patients in person, instead of over the computer?

My answer is, Not yet, Beyer said. Were still sticking with the telehealth options as much as possible, so that we reduce the risk of exposing us and exposing them.

The next county over is the Navajo Nation. It exploded there. They have one of the highest rates of COVID anywhere in the country right now. Its not that its not closeits not right here. What were doing works right now, for us, Beyer said.

In Memphis, where ASTRO study architects Schwartz and Wakefield treat cancer patients, the spread of COVID-19 has been moderate. Nonetheless, the number of radiation oncology appointments at their clinic has declined.

Ours is a center where we dont have high concentrations of people living on top of each other like New York, or San Francisco, or Washington or Los Angelesand we experienced a much different pandemic, Wakefield said. Ours was more of a slow burn. And to be frank, now I think its starting to have more effect than what we were seeing in New York six weeks ago.

The population in Memphis tends to be poor and rural, Wakefield said. People drive their cars to the clinic rather than walk or take public transportation. High poverty rates and accompanying social risks leave its population and rural practices vulnerable.

In Memphis, there is a rural-urban divide, Schwartz said.

Memphis is in an agricultural area, but it represents the largest metropolitan area in this region of the mid-South. We do get rural populations, and do refer back patients to referral to rural practices, Schwartz said. My impression is that rural practices probably have been struggling, simply because they do depend very much on a steady stream of referrals to maintain the nuts and bolts of their practices.

Now, Schwartz and Wakefield are conducting a follow-up survey for ASTRO. That study is likely to show that demand for radiation oncology is continuing to rise.

Now, as the general relaxing of social distancing and restrictive measures have kind of been released at least to some degree, and the nation slowly returns to business, were starting to see a larger influx of patient numbers, Schwartz said. I also think, probably, the patients are more comfortable to come in.

Whatever loss of volume and losses of referrals that we got, I have to believe that the patients, too, are part of that issue. They simply did not feel comfortable coming in anywhere, let alone to a healthcare facility that was seeing patients with COVID, Schwartz said.

If patients are beginning to receive treatment for cancer that requires radiation after the fact, it may take weeks from there to show up in the data.

The number of cases of cancerthe screening test, the diagnoses, the visits starting with a primary care doctor, maybe a urologistall of those visits are way down, ACSs Lichtenfeld said. The normal progress of activity starts with diagnosis, and the treatment. And consequently, if the diagnoses are decreased because people arent going to see the doctor, then I wouldnt be surprised to see that radiation therapy is decreased.

One of the major messages thats been so hard to deliver during this pandemic has been, if you have to a or symptom of cancer, you need to see somebody and you need tonotwithstanding concerns about the risk of going to see a doctoryou have to break through that concern and get yourself taken care of.

The rest is here:
Radiation oncology appointments plummeted in the COVID-19 pandemicbut seem to be rising again - The Cancer Letter

As we begin to anticipate eagerly the loosening of the restrictions that have bounded our lives for the past many weeks, Ive been hankering most of all for resuming hugs with my grandchildren. All my friends who are blessed with being grandparents have been talking throughout the period of quarantine about their feelings of longing for the embrace of the kids.

It turns out that physical contact is a real need; it is vital for mental, emotional, and also physical health. Human beings are wired for contact. People who live alone as I do since the death of my husband three and a half years ago are starved for touch. An article that I read in Healthline makes clear that this deprivation doesnt apply only to sensual touch any and all positive touch is considered to be beneficial. Hot showers and rubbing your own feet can go only so far to relieve skin hunger.

In more than two months without physical contact with another person and in the environment of pervasive anxiety, my body has been releasing the stress hormone cortisol and has not enjoyed the release of oxytocin, sometimes called the love or cuddle hormone; its effects include increasing bonding and trust, which have been in short supply during this period of isolation. Thankfully, the two-dimensional social contacts enjoyed through Zoom meetings and FaceTime have countered the deprivation to some extent. But our bodies know that its not the same.

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After about two weeks into the restrictions, a package that I hadnt ordered arrived for me. My adult daughters had sent me an adorable stuffed animal, a Gund puppy with a sweet face and a soft body. They wanted me to have something to hug, and Im not embarrassed to admit that this sweet little dog has found a place on the pillow next to mine.

The mandated social distance exacerbated a brief emergency that I experienced in the kitchen one evening shortly after Passover. Following several weeks of isolation, my youngest daughter thankfully had recovered from symptoms of covid-19. She had come into my house more than 72 hours after she had tested negative for the virus, and we were being scrupulous to maintain a physical separation between us. I was in the kitchen cutting a bagel, and I carelessly sliced deep into the index finger on my left hand. Blood was gushing. Struggling to rip open the paper wrapping of several Band-Aids and keeping my pulsing, wounded finger under a stream of running cold water, I could hardly manage to wrap it by myself. But there was no way that I could ask for and receive help from my daughter.

My options were limited, because I wouldnt drive over to Holy Name Medical Center when hospital was overwhelmed with serious covid cases, and the nearby urgent care clinic had closed early on a Sunday evening. I had to do it myself, with advice on the phone from an AARP nurse, terrified that contact with another person could invite the disease. In emergency situations fear is especially palpable.

However, throughout the quiet weeks at home without physical contact, Ive had the recurring feeling that something sustaining in my life clearly has been missing.

Im becoming reconciled to the likelihood that some aspects of our earlier social life likely are gone forever. This springtime, most organizations are holding virtual galas on screen, so no handshakes or hugs are possible. But when these events do resume, perhaps by next fall or spring, people are going to hold back from the easy, warm welcomes of old, that involved physical touch. What will be the future of Israeli dance groups, square dancing, and choral singing, where people gather in close proximity? Will acquaintances who abstain from casual contact with people of the opposite sex hold back from supportive pats on the back and sweaty wedding dances with their friends of the same gender, understanding that danger could lurk again in droplets of perspiration? How sad it is that shaking the hand of a colleague will be perceived as a potential threat to well-being yet these are probable lasting legacies of the coronavirus. And after weeks of being cognizant of the need to cultivate compassion, I will keep in mind that there are people near and far who arent able to look forward to the restoration of positive touch in their daily lives.

As summer approaches, well bask in the comfort of cuddles with grandchildren once again, assuming that the kids will be trusting to join the embrace, after months of warnings to keep their distance. Well be able to enjoy the pleasures of a massage or a pedicure and having someone else wash our hair at the salon. Sitting close to friends and loved ones on the sofa while watching a movie and relaxing into a warm hug for several seconds are comforts too long denied that wont be taken for granted for some time to come. The restoration of positive touch is one of lifes blessings, for which we will share words of gratitude with family and friends for having come through the pandemic more or less intact. We could celebrate the first hug of renewed contact by citing the morning blessing of matir asurim, thanking God for setting us free from captivity.

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Yearning to feel human contact once again - The Jewish Standard

A Baldock transgender man has opened up on his battle with alcohol and his mental health as he desperately fights for a body to match his identity.

Kade Mynott, 32, suffered with severe mental health problems as he struggled to come to terms with his true self prior to coming out as transgender.

He also became dependent on alcohol for a number of years before he bravely told his family and friends how he felt.

Now he has started taking testosterone and hopes to soon have top surgery - but NHS waiting times can be long and Kade is having to wear a restrictive chest binder which affects his asthma.

To help, a Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise 8,000 to get Kade the surgery he so desperately wants.

Kade has now courageously shared his story and explained what it has been like to come to terms with his identity:

For the majority of Kade's life so far, he has struggled with his identity and his mental health.

Talking about his experience, he said: "I've struggled for a long time with mental health issues and it clouded my judgements for many years.

"I got into drinking alcohol to deal with my problems so it took me a long time to be able to deal with how I felt.

"I was alcohol dependant for 10 years but I managed to get myself off it after it made my mental health issues worse. I managed to go cold turkey and get myself off alcohol in 2016.

"In the years that followed things started to become a lot clearer about my identity. I didn't manage to come out as transgender until I was age 30 in 2018.

"The whole experience was one of the toughest things I have had to deal with, not knowing who you are is a horrible thing to have to deal with.

"But you add on top the hate you have for yourself and your body for not seeing the outside match the inside.

"I'd shown a lotof signs as a child growing up with having my hair cut short. Even at the age of three I was refusing to wear dresses and skirts and just wanted to wear trousers like all my boy cousins were doing.

"I managed to come out to my mum first - I'm very close to my mum and she is extremely understanding and I'm very lucky to have such a great mum.

"One of my aunties also told me, when I came out, that when I was four I told her I wanted to be a boy. So I guess I have always known but just never knew how to deal with it all.

"My family have been very supportive, my friends have also, which is a great help.

"Like I said, I am extremely lucky to have such a good family around me because I know a lotof people can be the opposite and be disowned for being this way."

Fortunately today, transgender people can now seek help from the NHS in the form of hormone therapies and surgery, and Kade has also managed to get help.

Kade explained: "I went to my GP first to start my journey and she referredme to a NHS Transgender Clinic in London but with such high demand in patients over the past years the waiting lists are just getting longer and longer.

"I've heard there was up to a three or more years waiting time and I was starting to struggle with the dysphoria even more, so I decided to go private to start testosterone treatment.

"I was so happy the day I had the appointment and was told I could start testosterone. I was given Testogel, which was the best option for me as - because of my mental health conditions - the injections could of made my mood more unstable.

A transgender person is someone whose personal idea of their gender does not match with their assigned gender role.

For example a transgender man was born a woman but identifies as a man.

However, under this term, a personal can also identify as a combination of the two sexes or as neither.

Often people who identify as transgender suffer from gender dysphoria where there feel distress because of a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity.

This is a recognised medical condition and often surgery and hormone treatment as well as psychological support can help with this.

Anyone needing help should see their GP who can refer them to a Gender Identity Clinic (GIC).

More information about gender dysphoria can also be found on the NHS website.

"The effects were slow at first until about the three month mark then my voice started dropping and I'd started getting a lot of body hair growth, and hunger - I wasso hungry all the time!

"I'm only just seven months on testosterone so I've got a lot more to experience yet."

Kade now wants to undergo top surgery but waiting times on the NHS can be long depending on the individual surgeon and clinic.

The waiting time is now affecting Kade and he is desperate to finally feel like his true self.

In a hope to get the surgery quicker, he decided to set up a Go Fund Me page to raise 8,000 to have the surgery privately.

"As I said there is a long waiting list to get an appointment at the NHS gender clinic and even after the first appointment I'd have to wait longer for a second appointment to discuss the option of surgery," he continued.

"It's got too hard waiting especially as you see other parts of your body changing more masculine but there is still obvious signs of being female.

"I'm having to wear binders that restrict my breathing and effect my asthma just to hide my chest.

"I'd be extremely grateful for anyone that donated any money, even the littlest of money helps.

"It would make me so happy to finally be able to live in a body that matches how i feel inside."

Kade also has a message for anyone else who is currently struggling to come to terms with their identity.

He said: "Make sure you talk about it to somebody you think you can trust, just sharing it with someone even if its somebody online takes a big weight off of your shoulders.

"It's okay to be confused and it's okay to not feel like your in the right body you can do things to change it."

The rest is here:
Baldock transgender man's painful battle to live in a body that matches his identity - Hertfordshire Mercury

Medical intervention is required in case you have an irregular menstrual cycle

World Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed on May 28. This day is meant to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and reduce the taboo around menstruation. Menstruation is a physiological process which is directly related to and responsible for the ability to bear children. The time from the first day of a woman's period to the day before the next period is the menstrual cycle. This cycle of approximately 26-30 days involves a lot of changes that occur in a woman's body in preparation for a pregnancy.

The main reproductive organs in a female are the uterus and two ovaries. The female hormones oestrogen and progesterone rise and fall with the cycle to orchestrate the maturation and release of an egg from the ovary around mid-cycle, which is then implanted in the uterus if it is fertilised by the sperm. Else, the thick lining of the uterus is shed at the end of the cycle in the form of periods. The cycle goes through a series of hormonal changes from day one of the cycle to the 14 day when an egg is released from the ovary and the uterus prepares for pregnancy. Fertility is known to depend on the menstrual cycle.

Also read:Irregular Periods? 5 Possible Reasons Other Than Pregnancy Every Girl Must Know

The menstrual cycle is divided into two phases: the follicular or the first half phase and the luteal phase or the second half. Follicular phase begins on day 1 of the cycle, during which time the hormone oestrogen stimulates the ovaries for growth of eggs, and ends with the ovulation or release of one egg. Luteal phase begins with ovulation during which time progesterone prepares and thickens the lining of the uterus in case of a pregnancy and ends as shedding of this lining or menses in the absence of fertilization.

The length of the follicular phase may vary while that of luteal phase is around 14 days. While the length of the menstrual cycle varies from one woman to another, it usually lasts 287 days.

Each menstrual cycle has a fertile window. This is the period during which women can conceive. In a standard cycle, the fertile window begins 5 days before ovulation and ends on the day of ovulation. While it is difficult to precisely tell when ovulation occurs, most women usually ovulate around 10 to 16 days prior to the next period. The fertile window also varies from cycle to cycle.

Also read:6 Ways To Deal With Excruciating Pain During Periods

The length of your menstrual cycle says a lot.It may serve as a potential indicator of hormonal imbalances and whether ovulation is occurring in a regular manner. A normal length cycle points to regular ovulation while a short or long menstrual cycle suggests that ovulation is either not occurring or occurring irregularly. The fertility rate of women with long or irregular cycles is also decreased.

A shorty cycle usually lasts for less than 21 daysPhoto Credit: iStock

A short cycle, usually less than 21 days, may indicate that ovaries have fewer eggs and may point to imminent menopause. It may also suggest that ovulation is not occurring as it should. If further tests confirm the same, conception may be difficult. A longer cycle (>35 days) also suggests that ovulation is not occurring or is not occurring in a regular manner, thus making conception difficult. Bleeding for a longer period, say more than 7 days, may also suggest that ovulation is not occurring in a regular manner.

Menstrual cycle characteristics therefore appear to have a key link with the fertility potential. Normal menstrual cycle has a robust link with ovulation and fertility potential. If you are in the reproductive age group and wish to conceive but you have irregular menstrual cycles, you must consult a specialist.

Also read:Top 4 Yoga Asanas For Irregular Periods

Irregular or no ovulation decreases the odds of conception without medical intervention. A woman less than 35 years of age with normal cycles who has been unable to conceive after a year of trying should consult a specialist. A woman over 35 with a normal menstrual cycle who has been trying for 6 months and has had no success should also seek a specialist's advice. Normal menstruation indicates regular ovulation, but there may be other reasons for not being able to conceive. As for irregular cycles, we know that ovulation does not occur in a regular manner in such cycles and medical attention is thus required.

(Dr Veena Aggarwal, MD IJCP Group of Publications, Medical Advisor Medtalks.in. She practices in her own clinic in South Delhi)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Original post:
World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2020: Everything You Need To Know About Your Menstrual Cycle And Fertility - NDTV Doctor

On this page:BasicsCausesRisk FactorsSymptomsHeart Attack Symptoms in WomenDiagnosisBest TreatmentsLifestyle ChangesMedicationsSurgery

There are many different types of heart disease, but coronary artery disease, or CAD for short, is the most common. You might also hear it referred to as coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease, but no matter what you call it, more than 18 million American adults have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). And its not just a concern for older folks. Its the number-one killer of both men and women, a sobering 20% of them younger than 65. But there are things you can do, right now, to lower your risk of CAD. Well tell you how.

Coronary artery disease develops when your hearts all-important arteries become damaged. This damage, which happens in a number of ways well soon explain, causes your arteries to dangerously narrow, which can then cause blockages that prevent blood and oxygen from reaching your heart and the rest of your body. (And you probably dont need a website to tell you thats not good.)

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what causes all those problems, lets do a quick review of how the circulatory system works:

You have arteries throughout your body. Along with your veins and capillaries, they comprise a 60,000-mile-long system of blood vessels.

Your arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood from your heart to every cell in the rest of your body.

Along the way, the blood transfers nutrients and picks up waste products from cells via tiny capillaries, and then it heads back to heart by way of the veins.

Once there, it enters the pulmonary circulatory system. The heart pumps it over to the lungs, where it unloads carbon dioxide and stocks up on a fresh supply of oxygen.

Then it's back over to the heart to do the whole thing again.

Your entire blood supplymore than a gallon of the life-sustaining stuffcycles throughout your body roughly every 30 seconds. Pretty amazing, right?

Whats more, your heart has its own network of arteries to support this critical work. Here are the main players:

In a healthy heart, blood flows unobstructed through the many arteries, providing all that your ticker needs to keep on pumpingand keep you alive. But when CAD develops, serious heart complications can result, including:

The culprit behind CAD is nearly always atherosclerosis. That mouthful of a name describes a process in which plaque builds up over time on the walls of one or more of your hearts arteries. Plaque is a mixture of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and fibrin (a substance that helps your blood to clot), and it tends to collect within the arteries where damage has occurred.

But what damages arteries in the first place?

So, it's like this: When the inside of your arteries get roughed up, it's easier for the plaque-forming compounds to gain a foothold. As it builds up, blood cant flow as easily as it once did. The result? Coronary artery disease.

As CAD progresses, plaque continues to accumulate. Your arteries become increasingly narrow, and you edge closer and closer to heart attack territory. Why? Because heart attacks are caused by partial or complete blockages of blood flow to the heart.

And know this: You dont need a complete blockage for plaque to be life-threatening. Even partially obstructed arteries are a major cause for concern. Why? Because:

Yes. While atherosclerosis is by far and away its most common cause, CAD can also be triggered by the rarer (but still possible) coronary artery spasm. This is also known as non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Such spasms cause an artery to suddenly tighten, cutting off the flow of blood. They can be triggered by cocaine and nicotine use, or occasionally, severe cold or extreme emotional stress, according to the Mayo Clinic. While such spasms most often occur in people who already have CAD, they can also strike people whose arteries are healthy. For some, a spasm is an isolated event, but in others they occur more than once.

In addition, CAD can also be triggered by other, less-obvious culprits:

Endothelial dysfunction: This is when an artery does not expand to meet the need for increased blood flow, such as during exercise.

Birth defects: Some babies are born with structural damage to their hearts.

Coronary-artery dissection: This is a tear in the wall of one your coronary arteries, which traps blood between the arterial layers. Swelling results, which narrows or blocks the artery to potentially trigger an emergency situation like a heart attack. The reasons for such tears are unknown.

Autoimmune diseases: Conditions that cause chronic inflammation, such as lupus or Crohns disease, can lead to CAD because inflammation damages your arteries, which attracts plaque buildups.

Radiation therapy: This treatment can also cause damage to your arteries, leading to CAD.

A whole host of risk factors bump up your likelihood of developing atherosclerosis and, as a result, your odds of being diagnosed with CAD, as well. The good news? For a substantial number of them, lifestyle changes can make a huge difference. And while some risk factors are unchangeable (like your age and family history), others are within your power to eliminate altogether. Thats because living a healthier lifestyle can help reduce your odds of getting CAD.

Lets first examine the risk factors you cant do anything about (and get 'em out of the way):

Your arteries become more damage-prone the older you get. Its just part of the regular wear and tear of living. Youre most likely to develop CAD after you turn 65.

If a parent or sibling had CAD, especially at a younger age55 for your dad or your brother, 65 for your mom or sisteryour risk may be more than double that of people without a family history of heart disease, according to a 2019 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association. This can be due to lifestyle factors your family shared, such as smoking or a lack of exercise. Or it could be genetic.

For example, some people inherit a gene mutation that makes it likelier they will have high cholesterol, a contributor to CAD. Most often, this is caused by a mutation in the LDLR gene, which helps control the production of LDL (so-called bad cholesterol), which well get into shortly.

Men are more likely to develop CAD starting at an earlier age than women. For men, the risk tends to begin rising at about age 45. Womens risk starts to climb about 10 years later, at age 55. Experts believe this is because the hormone estrogen, which women have in greater amounts before menopause, provides some protection against CAD.

While you cant do anything to change the above, theres plenty you can do to change the risk factors below. Want some additional motivation? Improving a single risk factor often improves or even eliminates others.

Being sedentary, a.k.a. couch potato syndrome, contributes to many CAD risk factors, including HBP, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and high triglycerides, a type of fat found in your bloodstream thats linked to atherosclerosis. When youre physically fit, your heart works more efficiently. That can improve your blood pressure. It can also help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight, which eases the burden on your heart. Plus, exercise reduces stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, that can otherwise strain your heart. And, it helps keep your cholesterol at healthy levels. Working out is basically magic for your whole body.

Lighting up damages your blood vessels. The toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke, such as carbon monoxide, may injure the walls of your arteries, and that in turn may trigger plaque buildups. Smoking also causes your blood vessels to constrict, which raises your blood pressure. Oh, and it may also thicken your blood, increasing your risk of clots by making clot-forming platelets stickier. If exercise is magic, cigarettes are kryptonite.

Does that mean you should switch to vaping? No way! E-cigarette vapor contains many toxic chemicals linked to heart disease, according to the AHA, which recently published a report that showed how vaping may harm your blood vessels in much the same way smoking cigarettes does.

Fortunately, the benefits of being smoke-free start the moment you quit. To help kick your smoking habit, check out the AHAs smoking cessation resources.

Hypertension, a.k.a. high blood pressure (HBP), stresses your arteries, causing them to harden and thicken, which makes it more difficult for blood to flow through them. The stress from HBP can also damage the lining of your arteries, and that damage may attract plaque buildups.

Carrying too many pounds increases your chances of diabetes, a major cause of heart disease. Excess weight also makes your heart work harder. That can raise your blood pressure, which then damages the inner lining of your arteries. If this seems like a chain reaction, it's because it often is. But what's important to remember? It goes the other way, too. Losing even a modest amount of weight can lower your blood sugar and your pressure.

You know the drill here: Diets high in saturated fat (like butter or beef) or trans fat (found in processed foods like cookies, crackers, and margarine), and refined carbs (like processed breads, pizza dough, pastries, and some breakfast cereals) really aren't great for your heart. Saturated and trans fats increase your bad cholesterol and decrease your good cholesterol. Meanwhile, refined carbs boost your blood sugar levels. Over time, that elevated blood sugar can lead to type 2 diabetes, a known risk factor for heart disease.

High cholesterol means you have elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad, cholesterol and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good, cholesterol. LDL cholesterol circulates throughout your body and can build up on the walls of your arteries, which makes them hard and stiff. This often happens when you dont have enough HDL at the ready; this blood fat actually sweeps up the excess LDL and takes it to liver to be processed as waste.

This sleep disorder causes repeated interruptions to your breathing throughout the night and has been linked to obesity and HBP, both major risk factors for CAD. Sleep apnea impacts blood pressure by causing frequent drops in blood oxygen levels during moments of interrupted breathingforcing your heart to work harder.

Your immune response can be triggered by plaque buildups in your arteries, leading to inflammation. Over time, low levels of chronic inflammation irritates your blood vessels and may make a plaque buildup more vulnerable to rupture.

Plaque buildup that leads to CAD often moves slowly, over many, many years. In fact, it can begin as early as childhood. But you wont necessarily know that you have it. Usually, symptoms of CAD dont begin until youre well into middle age or nearing retirement.

For some people, the first symptom of CAD will be a heart attack. This makes it critical to discuss your CAD risk factors with your doctor to determine the state of your heart health.

Symptoms of CAD include:

This is also known by its fancier name, angina. It occurs when your heart doesnt get enough oxygen-rich blood. You may feel pain, pressure, or a squeezing sensation in your chest. It frequently goes away when you rest.

Panting or struggling to get enough air can occur from restricted blood flow in your hearts arteries and the reduced amount of oxygen that results, often during or after physical activity.

Feeling exhausted after your normal activities or your usual exercise routine can also result from restricted blood flow and reduced oxygen-rich blood.

Pain in other parts of the body such as the neck, jaw, shoulder, and back may occur because some nerves in the heart are connected to these areas, so symptoms can be felt in these more distant places. Its not clear why this happens, but it may be due to the way your heart and brain are wired. When the brain sends out pain signals during a heart attack, those signals may activate nerves in a network in and around the heart.

The answer? Sometimes, yes. In fact, women are 50% more likely to report having a heart attack without obvious signs like chest pain, although it does remain their most common symptom, especially after age 65, when they no longer enjoy the protective effect of estrogen.

Among women, other common symptoms include:

Its thought the difference in heart attack symptoms between men and women may be a result of men having more plaque ruptureswhich occur suddenly and cause classic, chest-clutching symptomswhile women experience more plaque erosions, which happen slowly over days or even weeks, causing what are known as atypical symptoms, such as nausea, weakness, and light-headedness.

Your doctor will begin by reviewing your symptoms and taking a detailed health history, including your family history of heart disease. Youll also be asked to describe your daily habits that affect your health, such as diet and exercise. Your physical exam will include blood pressure measurements and blood tests, including cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and more.

Further testing likely will include:

This test records the electrical activity inside your heart and shows whether or not its beating normally. An EKG also reveals whether your heart is receiving an adequate amount of blood.

Your heart will be monitored via EKG while you walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike. This will determine whether your heart gets enough blood and oxygen during exertion. If you cant exercise, you will be given a nuclear stress test. A small amount of radioactive tracer gets injected into your bloodstream. Using special cameras, a doctor can track its movement through your heart, revealing areas that get insufficient blood flow.

This test uses sound waves to produce images of the heart that allow doctors to evaluate your hearts strength and how well it functions.

A thin tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel near your groin and threaded through to your coronary arteries. A special type of ink will be injected into your arteries. The ink will show your doctor, via x-ray images, where your blockages are located. Catheterization is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. You will be awake but mildly sedated during this procedure.

A computed tomograpy (CT) scan measures the amount of calcium in your arteries. Why calcium? Its a component of the plaque buildup thats blocking your artery.

Treatment for CAD has several goals: to ease the hearts workload, to improve blood flow, and to slow or reverse plaque buildup in the arteriesall of which can help extend your life. There are a menu of treatment approaches to accomplish this, including:

What works best for you will depend on your individual health history, ability to change any unhealthy habits you might have, and what your doctor prescribes based on screening tests.

A critical part of any treatment plan, this parts largely up to you to focus on and continue over your lifetime. Medications and procedures may helpthey might even save your lifebut to be the healthiest you can be, you must do the heavy lifting.

Your goal: 150 minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking, each week. That breaks down to 30 minutes, five times a week. Before you start, ask your doctor what type of exercise program would be best for you. Often, the best way start is to put one foot in front of the other. You know: Take a walk.

Focus your food choices on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes such as beans, lean meat, and fish. Read food labels so you can avoid foods with saturated fats and/or trans fats as well as highly caloric foods loaded with sodium and/or sugar.

Your body mass index (BMI, a ratio of height to weight used to estimate body fat) should be in the normal range, between 19 and 25. Higher than that and you are overweight or, at 30 and above, obese. (Unless, that is, you're a serious gym bunny whose measurements in pure muscle defy regular BMI standards.) Start with small, achievable weight loss goals, because losing as little as five to ten pounds can pay dividends in health benefits, such as lower blood pressure.

It's true the more you smoke, the greater your health risks, but even light or part-time smokers should drop the habit. Women who are light smokers, for example, have a 500% higher risk of lung cancer than non-smokers. And light smoking may leave you with other forms of lung disease or cause a stroke, breast cancer, or cataracts, or the list goes on and on.

No one likes being stressed out. But did you know that too much stress harms your heart? It can boost your blood pressure and make you more prone to give into unhealthy temptations, like smoking and overindulging in junk food or alcohol. The AHA recommends stress management, which you can get with the help of a therapist, at a cardiac rehab program, through regular exercise, or simply by breathing deeply.

A variety of medications exist that can help reduce CAD symptoms such as chest pain as well as prevent the progression of the disease and prevent heart attacks.

Lowering blood pressure reduces your hearts workload. Beta blockers lower blood pressure by slowing your heart rate and easing the force of your hearts contractions. Calcium channel blockers work by relaxing your blood vessels. Some also will slow your heart rate, and they may be used for chest pain.

These drugs (like aspirin) help prevent the formation of dangerous blood clots, which can develop around plaque buildups.

This treatment, which includes nitroglycerin, dilates, or widens, narrowed arteries from CAD to boost blood flow to your heart, which in turn eases chest pain. Nitrates also widen the veins, which helps ease the strain on your heart.

These medications, which include common brand names like Lipitor and Crestor, are used to control cholesterol levels. This reduces plaque buildup in your arteries. Statins may also help clear existing plaque buildups. Other cholesterol-lowering drugs are available if you cant take statins.

This drug, often prescribed under the brand name Ranexa, helps ease chest pain (angina) if it persists despite the use of other therapies. It does this by improving blood flow, allowing the heart to work more efficiently.

When your arteries are severely blocked, you may require a procedure that opens them up to let a sufficient amount of blood flow to pass through. Such procedures include:

In this procedure, a surgeon takes an artery or vein from elsewhere in your bodyoften a leg, forearm, or your chestand uses it to connect your aorta to the blocked artery, rerouting blood flow.

A cardiologist threads a catheter through a blood vessel to the point of the blockage. There, a small balloon is inflated, which flattens the plaque on the wall of your artery. Then, a stent is implanted at the site to hold the artery open. This allows blood to flow more freely and prevents the collapse of the artery.

Current treatments and earlier diagnosis are helping people live better lives with CAD, but a lot of the work is up to you. Cardiac rehabilitation will help.

Cardiac rehab, which typically consists of 36 sessions over 12 weeks, offers:

The AHA recommends cardiac rehab for everyone with coronary artery diseaseeven if you havent suffered a heart attack. To participate, you will need a referral from your doctor. The AHA also suggests you initiate this discussion with your doctor. Dont wait for your physician, who may be very busy with many patients that day, to bring it upyour heart health is too important for you to remain passive. So be your own best advocate. It just may save your life. People who attend cardiac rehab after a heart attack reduce their risk of dying by more than 50% compared to those who dont attend, according to the CDC.

Worry is a strong wordso lets just say: Be proactive. CAD symptoms dont often begin until the plaque buildup has narrowed an artery by 70%. However, plaque can rupture, which causes heart attacks, and this commonly occurs when a blockage is only a 50% obstruction. If you have any CAD risk factors, discuss them with your doctor.

While chest pain and shortness of breath are hard to ignore, it can be difficult to decide whats important if you have vague symptoms like nausea. In most cases, after all, nausea is NOT due to CAD. But if you have known risk factors for heart disease and are worried that you may be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Lifestyle modification is the cornerstone therapy for halting the progression of CAD. The most beneficial? Exercise. Regular workouts get your heart pumping; reduce inflammation, cholesterol and blood pressure; improve the health of your blood vessels; lower stress; and make you feeland even lookgood, too.

If you have heart disease, youre at higher risk of depression. That makes addressing mental health one of the most important things you can do for CAD. If youre not doing well emotionally, youll be less likely to take your medications as directed, and you might find it harder to stick to a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine. Talk to your doctor if you feel anxious or depressed.

Here is the original post:
What is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)? And Other Questions - HealthCentral.com

Global Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment Market Growth Projection

The new report on the global Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment market is an extensive study on the overall prospects of the Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment market over the assessment period. Further, the report provides a thorough understanding of the key dynamics of the Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment market including the current trends, opportunities, drivers, and restraints. The report introspects the micro and macro-economic factors that are expected to nurture the growth of the Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment market in the upcoming years and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment . In addition, the report offers valuable insights pertaining to the supply chain challenges market players are likely to face in the upcoming months and solutions to tackle the same.

The report suggests that the global Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment market is projected to reach a value of ~US$XX by the end of 2029 and grow at a CAGR of ~XX% through the forecast period (2019-2029). The key indicators such as the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth and CAGR growth of the Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment market are discussed in detail in the presented report. This data is likely to provide readers an understanding of qualitative and quantitative growth prospects of the Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment market over the considered assessment period.

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The following manufacturers are covered:Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Bio-Cancer Treatment International LimitedBiogen IncBoryung Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.Bristol-Myers Squibb CompanyCantex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.Cell Source, Inc.Cell2B S.A.CellECT Bio, Inc.Cleveland BioLabs, Inc.Compugen Ltd.Cynata Therapeutics LimitedCytodyn Inc.Dompe Farmaceutici S.p.A.Dr. Falk Pharma GmbHEscape Therapeutics, Inc.F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.Fate Therapeutics, Inc.Generon (Shanghai) Corporation Ltd.

Segment by RegionsNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndia

Segment by TypeAzathioprineAdrenocorticotropic HormoneCyclophosphamideCyclosporine AOthers

Segment by ApplicationHospitalClinicOthers

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Vital Information Enclosed in the Report

Go here to read the rest:
Global trade impact of the Coronavirus Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection Treatment Market Worldwide Growth Survey by 2028 - Cole of Duty

Glucose and insulin metabolism in patients with diabetes are profoundly altered by advanced chronic kidney disease. Risk of hypoglycemia is increased by failure of kidney gluconeogenesis, impaired insulin clearance by the kidney, defective insulin degradation due to uremia, increased erythrocyte glucose uptake during hemodialysis, impaired counter-regulatory hormone responses (cortisol, growth hormone), nutritional deprivation and variability of exposure to oral anti-hyperglycemic agents and exogenous insulin. Patients with end stage kidney disease frequently experience wide glycemic excursions, with common occurrences of both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Assessment of glycemia by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is hampered by a variety of CKD-associated conditions that can bias the measure either to the low or high range. Alternative glycemic biomarkers, such as glycated albumin or fructosamine, are even less reliable than HbA1c. Therefore, HbA1c remains the preferred glycemic biomarker despite its limitations. Based upon observational data for associations with mortality and risks of hypoglycemia with intensive glycemic control regimens in advanced CKD, a HbA1c range of 7-8% appears to be most favorable. Emerging data on the use of continuous glucose monitoring in this population brings promise for more precise monitoring and treatment adjustments to permit fine-tuning of glycemic management in patients with diabetes and advanced CKD. Endocrine Society 2020. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

PubMed

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Glycemic Monitoring and Management in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease. - Physician's Weekly

Are you aware your irregular menstrual pattern or cycle that tends to include missing periods can be a sign of infertility? This may suggest that a woman may not be ovulating on a regular basis as she should be. Irregular ovulation can happen due to many problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, being underweight, or having thyroid issues. Here, we explain to you why an irregular menstrual pattern can lead to infertility. Read on to know more about thisThe menstrual cycle can be described as the monthly series of changes that a womans body undergoes in order to prepare her for conceiving (the possibility of getting pregnant). The process of ovulation takes place when ones ovary releases an egg. Moreover, at the same time, ones hormonal changes also prepare the uterus in order to conceive and get pregnant. So, if the ovulation takes place and the egg is not fertilized, the lining of the uterus sheds via the vagina and this is termed as a menstrual period.Know what is a normal cycle?Did you know? Menstrual flow tends to occur every 21 to 35 days and may last up to 7 days. Also remember that during the first few years when the menstruation starts, ones cycle can be long. Yes, you heard it right. You will also be surprised to know that the menstrual cycles tend to become short and regular, as you age. But, if your menstrual cycle is irregular, the flow is heavy and you encounter any problems while menstruating then it can be worrisome.

This is how your periods can be causing infertility

Missing period for the wrong reason: Consult your doctor, if you are trying to get pregnant and you have missed your period owing to the wrong reason. Missing period for a long time can indicate an underlying condition that can be bothersome. (PCOS), obesity, and having thyroid issues can be culprits. This can also put you at risk of infertility.

Abnormal blood flow: Are your periods heavy or light? Then, this can become a growing matter of concern and a grave problem that needs to be solved before the conception. As, this can be an obstacle in conceiving.

See the rest here:
Your menstrual pattern could be a sign of infertility - Times of India

Editors note: In honor of Menstrual Equity Day (May 28), Ms. is republishing this classic piece from its first issue in 1972. The original piece (below) was written by Dr. Estelle Ramey; the introductionwritten by Rameys granddaughter, Jessica Stender, Ms. contributor and feminist lawyeris a modern revisit of topics explored by Ramey in 72.

The cry that anatomy is destiny has held women back for centuries. Inherent in this claim is the idea that womens hormones render them unfit for positions of leadership.

In 1970, Dr. Edgar BermanVice President Humphreys physician and a member of the Democratic Partys Committee on National Prioritiesdismissed U.S. Representative Patsy Minks assertion that a woman could be president, by referencing womens raging storms of monthly hormonal imbalances.

The woman who subsequently held him to account was Dr. Estelle Rameymy grandmother.

In a letter published in the Washington Star, she observed that as an endocrinologist (specializing in the study of hormones), she was startled to learn that ovarian hormones are toxic to brain cells. This led to a highly publicized debate between the two, hosted by the National Womens Press Club, (women were barred at that time from membership in the National Press Club)a confrontation that ultimately nurtured a broader public awareness of the scientific invalidity of such arguments.

In Mens Cycles (They Have Them Too You Know)published in the first issue of Ms. Magazine in 1972 and republished hereDr. Ramey exposed the inherent sexism of statements like Dr. Bermans. She explained that hormonal variations affect all human beings, and that, although far less acknowledged, men also experience monthly hormonal cycles which cause changes in mood, energy and overall well-being.

She emphasized that the broader failure to accept this reality not only prevents an understanding of how these cycles affect mens physical and mental health, but also perpetuates the myth of womens inferiority owing to their inherent biological difference from men.

As Dr. Ramey pointed out, What is human and the same about the males and females classified as Homo Sapiens is much greater than the differences.

While progress has unquestionably been made in societys views of female capabilities, women continue to be denigrated and denied positions of power on the pretext of physiological inferiority. One need look no further than the current occupant of the White House, who crudely suggested that reporter Megyn Kelly had been on her period after she questioned him during a presidential debate, and who repeatedly makes demeaning comments about womens appearance, proper role, and emotional strengthreferring, for example, to Hillary Clinton as unstable, unbalanced and unhinged.

As noted by Dr. Ramey, a broader societal recognition of the inherent similarities between the sexes, will require a rejection of the mythology of male biological stabilityan imperative which has not yet become a reality, perhaps because logic has little to do with the impulse to enshrine and justify a power structure.

Male supremacy rests on the belief that women are defective men, since they are periodic and lack the rod of divinity.

Sooner or later at every cocktail party polemic on the subject of women, someone (usually male) plays the trump card.

You have to admit, says the accuser, all sweet reason and paternalism, that women are biologically different from men.

This is the cue for cries of Vive la diffrence, or other examples of sexual wit, and the argument for social justice being made by the defendant (usually female) tends to get drowned out in the innuendo and laughter.

As an endocrinologist, I found out long ago that men and women are different. But I also found that what is human and the same about the males and females classified as Homo sapiens is much greater than the differences. I think we are all beginning to understand that differentwhen applied to females, or to males of other raceshas been exaggerated and oddly interpreted in order to come out synonymous with inferior.

In fact, the accusations and laughter so common in living room debates are almost gestures of religious faith: forms of worshipping the great Freudian tenet, Anatomy Is Destiny.

As a rational justification of sex discrimination becomes harder and harder to find, much less sustain, the need for the religious masculine supremacy becomes greater and more intense. The newest wave of pseudo-biology and pseudo-anthropology to hit the publishing business, a wave typified by Lionel Tiger and his belief that human females should behave in the same way baboon females do, is a self-protective upsurge of this popular religion.

In practice, the religion rests on the belief that women are defective men. They are structurally lacking, since they lack the rod of divinity.

(Of course, Mother Goddesses have been worshipped for precisely the reverse reasonthat they have wombs, and men do notbut logic has little to do with the impulse to enshrine and justify a power structure.)

Furthermore, females lack the consistent and calm behavior of males, because women suffer from a form of periodic lunacy imposed by their lunar sex hormone rhythms. Men, according to this theory, are the natural leaders, being endowed with a biological stability that rivals that of the rocks.

To be fair, the recurrent drama of menstrual bleeding must have been unnerving to primitive peoples. In man, the shedding of blood is always associated with injury, disease or death. Only the female half of humanity was seen to have the magical ability to bleed profusely and still rise phoenix-like each month from the gore.

But now that human knowledge has exceeded the invention of elaborate myths to explain the events most obvious in nature, we should be willing to accept and to study the less obvious evidence of cycles, both monthly and daily, that affect all living thingsmen as well as women, plants as well as animals.

Because men do have monthly cycles. The evidence of them may be less dramatic, but the monthly changes are no less real.

In Denmark, for instance, a careful, sixteen-year study was conducted in which male urine was tested for the fluctuating amounts of male sex hormones it contained. The result: A pronounced 30-day rhythm was revealed through the ebb and flow of hormones.

Other studies have tested mood changes in men. More than 40 years ago, for instance, the late Dr. Rex Hersey believed that male factory workers were incorrectly thought to be stable and unchanging in their daily capabilities. For a year, he observed both management and workers, concentrating on a group of men who seemed particularly well-adjusted and at ease in their jobs.

Through a combination of four-times-a-day interviews with the workers, regular physical examinations, and a supplementary set of interviews with their families, he arrived at charts for each individual, showing that emotions varied predictably within the rhythm of 24 hours, and within the larger rhythm of a near-monthly cycle of four to six weeks.

Low periods were characterized by apathy, indifference or a tendency to magnify minor problems out of all proportion. High periods were often marked by a feeling of well-being, energy, a lower body weight and a decreased need for sleep.

Each man tended to deny that he was more or less irritable, more or less amiable, at different points in his cyclebut standardized psychological tests established clearly that he responded very differently to the same life stresses at different times of his cycle. This denial by men of a cyclicity traditionally accepted by women may be an important factor: a two-edged sword for both men and women.

Female acceptance of, and even obsession with, the monthly cycle may unnecessarily accentuate its effects. Women actively engaged in ego-satisfying work, for instance, report far less discomfort or emotional disarray during their biological ups and downs than women who are bored or relegated to stultifying jobs.

Even the statistical information derived by science is reported in a culturally-influenced way. Monthly discomforts are rightly regarded as normal in women, because 60 percent of all women report them.

But the obvious conversethat 40 percent of all women report no cycle symptomsis emphasized much less. And 40 percent is a lot of women.

It is forever being pointed out, too, that women have a higher incidence of car accidents and suicides during their periods. However, it is rarely added that the percentage of women who have accidents or commit suicide is still much lower than the percentage of men.

Men, on the other hand, also respond to cycles in a way that is a function of their culturally-acquired self-image. They deny it.

This reluctance to deal with their biological bondage has probably played down mens monthly symptoms compared to womens, since the human brain is extraordinarily powerful and suggestible. But it has also postponed the study of male cycles by a largely male scientific community, and therefore postponed the practical utilization of biological rhythms in the treatment of disease or in protection against disease both mental and physical. (Resistance to disease may be different at different points in the cycle, for instance, yet this possibility is rarely considered in treatment. Japanese researchers have discovered psychoses that occur in teenagers and adult men in near-monthly cycles.)

Study of mens cycles might even have the socially and commercially useful result of reducing the accident rate.

The directors of the Omi Railway Company of Japan, for instance, are pragmatic students of human behavior and have therefore decided to accept the fact that men have lunar cycles of mood and efficiency. This company operates a private transport system of more than 700 buses and taxis in dense traffic areas of Kyoto and Osaka.

Because their operations were plagued with high losses due to accidents, the Omi efficiency experts began in 1969 to make studies of each man and his lunar cycles and to adjust routes and schedules to coincide with the appropriate time of the month for each worker. They report a one-third drop in Omis accident rate in the past two years, despite the fact that during the same period traffic increased. The benefit to the companyand to the menhas been substantial.

Menopause in men has been studied somewhat more than the effects of their monthly cycles, but not enough.

For women, the menopause is an abrupt end to an obvious cyclicity, and it is made more traumatic by various cultural factors: Older women are often regarded as having less social value than older men, and womens main role as mother is likely to run out about the time of menopause, as children become independent and leave home.

For men, menopause appears to be less traumatic, being largely a social and psychological response to a generalized fear of aging and death. They are likely to be at the height of their careers at this crucial time, in great contrast to most women. (Among women, those with continuing ego-satisfying work suffer menopausal symptoms much less.)

But it is also true that there is a gradual decrease in the secretion of testosterone, the male hormone, from youth to old age. In some men, the downslope of sex hormone production is steeper than in others. Very little attention has been given to this part of the male life cycle, perhaps again because meneven men of sciencehave assumed their freedom from cycles. (One wonders sometimes if they prefer not to know.)

But a great deal more research into the male menopause needs to be done if men are to be relieved medically from some of its symptoms, and to suffer less from the personal implications of trying to deny biological facts.

So there are, for all living things, lunar cycles, as well as the longer life cycles of childhood, puberty, adulthood and senescence. But another kind of cyclethe daily or circadian onehas often been either ignored or taken for granted by both men and women.

The data just beginning to come out of hospitals and laboratories are rather startling. They show men and women to be in a constant 24-hour rhythmic flux of hormones, moods, strengths and weaknesses. We sleep and wake, our body temperature rises and falls with our hormones (sex hormones included), and this causes a rise and fall of efficiency and libido.

These circadian rhythms are remarkably fixed in time and are difficult to alter by changes in lifestyle. They are also age-linked: The young child has more erratic timing of biological events, and the older person shows signs of disorganization in daily timing. In healthy maturity, however, the adult human changes with clock-like regularity during each day, just as he or she does during each month, or each of lifes seasons.

The hormonal cycles that have been most studied are the periodic changes in the adrenal hormones (cortisone, for example), which are called the stress hormones. These vital substances are secreted in largest amounts about the time of waking in the morning, and in the smallest amounts after midnight. Their physiological effects, however, are not felt until several hours after the highs and lows are seen in blood levels of the hormones.

A similar pattern has been reported for the secretion of male and female sex hormones in the course of each day. Testosterone levels are found to be highest in early morning and lowest after midnight. The maximum functional effects seem to be reached several hours after the actual secretion of the hormones. They induce subtle changes in mood and behavior, but men are seldom aware of them. Many psychological tests have shown, however, that daily mood variability is a real and recurrent background to emotional response.

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In medicine, relatively little attention is being paid to the significance of these cyclic changes in hormones. Yet there is evidence to show that the timing of the administration of a drug is critical in determining its effects, whether toxic or curative.

When a certain dose of amphetamines was given to rats at the daily peak of their body temperature cycle, for instance, it killed 77.6 percent of them. The same dose, given to litter mates of these animals at the lowest point in their daily activity cycle, killed only 6 percent.

Yet we continue to prescribe and use buckshot capsules that release drugs at the same rate continuously into the blood stream with no regard to changes of sensitivity. Overdoses are probably errors in timing, as frequently as errors in dosage. If a person imposes a powerful stimulus on the brain when it is already at peak excitability for that 24-hour cycle, he or she can cause death with the same dose of the drug taken with impunity on another day, at another point in the excitability rhythm.

Cancer cells also seem to be affected by the circadian rhythms. They may be at their highest point of metabolic activity and cell division when normal cells in the same organ are at a low point. This has many implications for therapy, whether with anti-cancer chemicals or with X-rays. It may eventually be possible to time the treatment so that the cancer cells are at the peak of their sensitivity to the destructive agents while the normal cells are most resistant to them. Smaller doses of these toxic agents would thus be more curative, and the unpleasant side effects could be minimized.

Some clinicians and researchers are beginning to suggest that certain kinds of cancers may result from the consequences of altered internal clocks. Cancer cells have abnormal rhythms and are outside the temporal discipline found in healthy tissue. Some people are more sensitive than others to an alteration in their fundamental cyclicity.

Given these two facts, investigators propose that inheritance of susceptibility to cancer may be related to a propensity for mis-timing, and that a persons speed of readjustment to time shifts could be an indicator of vulnerability to illnesses of mis-timing. Such individuals, they point out, should probably avoid irregular work-rest schedules and jobs involving rotating shifts. Its still very much in the theoretical stage, but these concepts may turn out to be vital to the preventive medicine of the future.

Emotional problems may also be exaggerated in individuals who frequently alter their cyclicity. (But remember, individual tolerance of such changes varies. Ideally, those least suited to such jobs could be pre-selected out.) Workers who often change from night to day shifts have been found to be the most vulnerable to emotional and physical disorders.

Next come those workers who remain in the night shift: They are more likely than day workers to have ulcers or nervous disorders. And most healthy are those who work regularly and during the day.

Even the traveler who flies overnight to Tokyo or Peking has significantly deranged his or her circadian rhythms, and cerebral activity is likely to suffer. In addition, individuals vary greatly in their ability to restore normal cycles, sleep-wake patterns and performance.

Some of mens most cherished tests of stamina have to do with the ability to function well without sleep, but these tests of manhood may be doing us all in. Interns, for instance, are traditionally put through round-the-clock work schedules during much of their internship, as if this were part of the training of a real doctor, like the puberty tests of primitive tribes. In fact, a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that chronic sleep deprivation impaired the interns performance sharply, no matter how much of a man the male or female intern might be.

Sleep-deprived interns, said the study, felt increased sadness and decreased vigor, egotism and social affection. In addition, numerous psychopathologic symptoms developed

Internal clocks arent reset easily. Even after ten hours sleep for each intern, the previous sleep-deprivation resulted in decrements on a vigilance task. The article concludes that only a small amount of sleep loss can be sustained before emotional and intellectual function deteriorates.

It seems hard for men to admit they are not the masters of nature. During World War II, Dr. Nathaniel Kleitman of the University of Chicago was asked by the Navy to study the sleep patterns of seamen working the traditional four-hour shifts of naval duty. Dr. Kleitman measured body temperature cycles and correlated these changes with efficiency of performance in the four-hour cycle. It turned out to be a terrible physiological way to run a Navy, with enormous cost in efficiency of response.

Dr. Kleitman wrote an eloquent scientific report on his findings. The Navy thanked him courteously and has continued the traditional four-hour work cycle to this day.

Given this and a myriad of other evidences of male resistance, it is perhaps optimistic to expect our male-run hierarchies to take lessons from women, or even from the Japanese, when it comes to the less admissible problem of monthly cycles. Such a departure from the mythology of male biological stability might produce in men the same kind of psychological wrench that Copernicus inflicted on them when his theories revealed that man is not, in fact, the center of the universe.

But menand womenshould take heart. What separates us from baboons and other animals, even if Lionel Tiger would rather not admit it, is our very different kind of cerebral cortex.

We are Homo sapiens: the thinking ones. We share with other living creatures a captivity to time, but human beings, we alone have the extraordinary plasticity of behavior that results from the unique powers of our cerebral cortex. In other words, our minds can control our behavior to a degree unknown in any other animal. Perhaps we would all be better off if we recognized both the cycles that control humans, male and female, and the intellectual powers that can mitigate their effects.

Thomas Jefferson had periodic migraine headaches all his life. Abraham Lincoln had periodic depressions. The potential women leaders of this country have cycles, as all living things have to varying degrees, but women do not have the encouragement to mitigate and work around their cycles. Womens chains have been forged by men, not by anatomy.

We should all be informed of the various forces that influence us. As Dylan Thomas wrote,

Time held me green and dying

Though I sang in my chains like the

sea.

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Original post:
Men's Cycles (They Have Them Too, You Know) - Ms. Magazine

The morning-after pill is a type of emergency contraceptive that women use to prevent pregnancy.

The morning-after pill is a type of emergency contraceptive that women use to prevent pregnancy. Often, it used as a plan B after the user suspects that their usual birth control method may have failed. Also, women who have had unprotected intercourse can use the morning after pill just to reduce their chances of having gotten pregnant.

This type of contraceptive is not designed to be used as a primary method of birth control. Instead, it is intended as a backup.

The morning-after pills contain progestin, the same hormone found in oral contraceptives, known as levonorgestrel. However, the hormone levels found in the morning-after pill are usually higher. The higher doses of levonorgestrel often affect the normal pattern of the menstrual cycle.

RELATED:Pregnant Women Offered A Scam Treatment That Supposedly Reverses Morning After Pill

Morning-after pills are designed to stop conception after having unprotected intercourse. The hormones in the pills work by delaying ovulation. If the egg was already released before intercourse, the pill works by stopping fertilization from taking place.

In the process of doing this, the length of your normal period can be affected. It is not unusual for you to see a change in your normal menstrual cycle after taking the morning-after pill. Some women do not have any irregularities though.

After taking the morning after pill, your next period can be:

You should not get alarmed if you notice spotting between periods. These changes normally last for one cycle. You should soon resume to your normal cycle. If you notice that you have not had your period after a week, take a pregnancy test just to be sure.

As mentioned earlier, morning-after pills should never be used as primary birth controls. They should only be taken during emergencies. The more you take, the more you are likely to experience irregular menstrual cycles. In a year, if you find yourself using too many morning-after pills, it is advisable to talk to your physician to recommend other birth control methods that are more effective.

Is it true that morning-after pills can cause a miscarriage? The truth is that morning-after pills should never be used as an abortion pill. Also, they are not designed to cause miscarriages. However, if you experience a heavy blood flow containing large clots after taking this medication, you should visit your doctor as soon as possible.

If you are a parent, using morning-after pills is safe for you and your baby. Apart from affecting your normal menstrual cycle as discussed above, the levonorgestrel hormone is known to decrease milk production. This is only for a brief moment and it does not harm the breastfeeding baby.

Studies have shown that no brand of morning-after pills is 100 percent effective. No contraception is either. The only way you can be sure that a morning-after pill has worked is to wait until you get your next period. As mentioned earlier, one of the effects can be delayed periods. So, it is very important that you remain calm during this period. Keep yourself busy with other activities to take your mind off ofthe results.

It is advisable to learn about your menstrual cycle. There is more to it than just when and how long you get your periods. Having this information can help you spot signs when you are due and when you are late.

The number one question most women ask after they test positive after a pregnancy test is will the baby be ok? It is very important that you visit your doctor if the test result is positive. Your doctor will insist on doing more tests just to confirm the results. This is because there have been cases of false-positive results. Once your doctor has confirmed your results, the two of you can discuss your options. He or she will help you decide what is best for you.

Note that morning-after pills affect each woman differently. The way it affects you and your body could be different from the next woman. However, if you experience any long-term side effects or changes that seem to be ongoing, make a point to see your physician as soon as possible.

NEXT:Study Reveals The Birth Control Pills Can Impact A Woman's Oxytocin Levels

Sources:healthline.com,mymorningafter.co.uk,mayoclinic.org

Rwanda Will Release 50 Women Who Are Imprisoned For Having Abortions

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What To Expect From Your Period After Taking The Morning After Pill - BabyGaga

What makes the coronavirus pandemic unlike any other collective tragedy is that we can't commiserate together.

Post-layoff drinks at a dive bar near the office; embracing someone you haven't seen in months; pats on the back these are seemingly small comforts that have morphed into luxuries in the past few months.

While there are many things I miss about the Before, these touches of comfort are high on the list. As we round the corner into another month of social distancing I find myself thinking about touch constantly. One look at dating apps or porn sites and I know I'm not alone in that.

The phrase "touch starved" might once have sounded dramatic, evoking Victorian-era courting where couples couldn't even bear witness to each other's ankles. In a time where I haven't high-fived let alone hugged someone in months, though, it doesn't sound overdramatic at all.

While there's limited research on "touch starvation" itself, according to Dr. Natasha Bhuyan, MD, a practicing family physician in Phoenix, Arizona, there's emerging touch research that emphasizes its positive impact. "Physical touch activates brain neurotransmitters that can lift our mood, reduce stress, and even improve sleep quality," she said.

Dr. Lori Whatley, clinical psychologist and author of Connected and Engaged, reaffirmed those benefits. "As humans we are wired for connection, and connection also means touch," she said. "Touch with other humans is at the foundation of connection and an essential part of our being and forming healthy relationships."

Unfortunately, many are currently going without any physical connection for months on end. A lack of touch intensifies feelings of isolation, said Dr. Mitchell Hicks, core faculty in Walden University's PhD in Clinical Psychology program. When we can't touch anyone it leaves the impression that we lack that connection we're wired for, that we're truly alone.

"For many, touch from a loved and trusted person increases their visceral sense of connection and soothes them," said Hicks. "No amount of videoconferencing can really make up for that."

It's not just that touch gives the impression of connection, either. Touch actually has an impact on the brain. Humans deprived of connection experience a decrease in oxytocin a hormone known to increase positive feelings and a simultaneous increase in the stress hormone cortisol, explained Dr. Alexis Parcells, MD. High levels of cortisol can lead to a slew of physical and mental health problems, such as increased blood pressure.

"People suffering with touch deprivation report high rates of depression, anxiety, and insomnia," said Parcells.

"People suffering with touch deprivation report high rates of depression, anxiety, and insomnia."

Despite the consequences of lack of touch, there is good news. You can do something to help and I don't mean stopping social distancing. (Do not stop social distancing.) The benefit of touch has to do with moving the skin, said Dr. Tiffany Field, founder and director of the Touch Research Institute said in an interview with To the Best of Our Knowledge. Moving the skin stimulates the brain. This means that exercise, such as yoga or dance, can produce some of the benefits we see from touch.

Furthermore, it's okay to go months without touch if you're taking care of your mental health in other ways, according to Bhuyan. While there's no "real" substitute for human touch, there are activities you can do to give the same benefits.

While exercise can give you some of the physical benefits, it doesn't do much when it comes to creating that connection with your loved ones. Bhuyan suggests exercising with a friend over video while it seems silly, it can actually be beneficial. "The mutual body movement can create a powerful connection," said Bhuyan. "Its also important to invest in your own self-care and mindfulness."

Parcells suggested any virtual meetup, not just working out. While it's not the same as meeting in person, it still has a positive impact. Parcells said, "Research has shown that a virtual connection is about 80% as effective in increasing the release of oxytocin as seeing that same person face-to-face."

Whatley reiterated, "When we connect personally with others via FaceTime we can release oxytocin and lower stress." This is exactly the opposite of what occurs when we lack touch.

Another suggestion of Parcells has already been heeded by people across the United States: adopting a pet. "Time and time again," said Pacells, "Studies have shown pets to be therapeutic during a stressful time." Not only do they provide comfort, but they're a tactile substitute for human interaction.

As monks have demonstrated over millennia, we won't die from not having been touched in a while. There's no direct substitute from human touch, but through exercise and speaking to our loved ones even virtually we can maintain some of these benefits. Maybe we don't have to be touch starved; maybe we just need a little nosh.

Originally posted here:
The real impact of not having been touched in months - Mashable SE Asia

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Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic on March 11, 2020, the words COVID-19 testing have become a fundamental part of every U.S. citizens vocabulary. Each day, news sources report the number of new coronavirus cases, the number of new deaths and total deaths, as well as the number of coronavirus tests performed. These testing results have shaped the very foundation of U.S. society by providing data to the White House Coronavirus Task Force and state leaders. This data is used to make pivotal decisions about public health and the nations economy. Such decisions have resulted in life versus death outcomes for loved ones and have had a vital impact on our personal finances.

Because COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, it can only be diagnosed through the collection of a nasal swab. We have all seen images of healthcare workers collecting nasal swabs, but have you ever wondered what type of healthcare professional is actually performing the tests on those swabs? Within the laboratory are unseen medical laboratory scientists who carefully analyze a variety of biological specimen types using specialized skills and sophisticated instrumentation. Information from the analysis of clinical specimens can provide data critical for patient diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, or disease prevention. The medical laboratory scientist (MLS) works as an integral member of the healthcare team and touches the lives of every patient.

The term COVID-19 testing has been used in the media to encompass a variety of components, which may require some clarification. Testing may be used to refer to the drive-thru testing sites, which are strictly nasal swab collection sites, or it may refer to the actual laboratory tests. Lab tests include both the genetic test used to detect the viral particles and the antibody test used to detect antibodies formed to the virus. Medical laboratory scientists perform both of these tests.

At the forefront of the pandemic, genetic testing was not available in hospital labs. However, hospital labs worked quickly to acquire the necessary equipment and reagents. Performance of COVID-19 testing by an MLS within these labs is especially vital because it provides emergency room physicians with rapid testing results for patients with suspect respiratory symptoms. If test results are positive for COVID-19, patients are placed in COVID-19 designated rooms to receive specialized care. This process not only provides the most rapid and ideal treatment for the patient, but also protects family members, other hospitalized patients, and healthcare workers from the infection.

We have all heard the news reports about the challenges the lab faces when acquiring the necessary testing reagents. The unavailable or delayed testing in the case of coronavirus could be the loss of human lives. Without hospital-based lab testing results, direct patient care providers are handicapped. In addition, unnecessary waste of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical resources is likely to occur because symptomatic patients may require interim isolation if their COVID status is unknown.

Antibody testing is performed on blood collected after a patient recovers from coronavirus infection. Positive results indicate that the patient has had a past infection with COVID-19. Convalescent plasma is a blood product collected from recovered patients. It is being used to treat hospitalized patients suffering from current COVID-19 infections, although the exact clinical impacts of such treatments are still uncertain. Medical laboratory scientists and the laboratory team within the blood bank department collect, test, manage and issue such convalescent plasma. Thus, not only are medical laboratory scientists among the most essential healthcare workers in the diagnosis of COVID-19, but they also play critical roles in providing blood products used in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

Because the results obtained from COVID-19 testing govern the nations current and future health until a vaccine can be developed, the field of medical laboratory science has become the cornerstone of healthcare during the COVID-19 crisis. Though medical laboratory scientists typically do not have face-to-face contact with patients, they are the unsung heroes performing these crucial tests that guide patient care decisions each day. Almost all patients, whether hospitalized, ill, or just in for an annual checkup, require laboratory testing. Some routine tests performed by an MLS include:

Blood cell counts Blood typing and donor testing Chemistry panels and hormone levels Therapeutic drug monitoring and drugs of abuse detection Hepatitis and HIV testing Bacterial cultures and viral testing Urine evaluations

It is difficult to imagine how modern medicine could function without the quick availability of reliable results from the MLS profession.

In this time of uncertainty, many people may be considering alternate career options. Medical laboratory science is one consideration but is a career unknown to most people. What type of person might choose a career in MLS?

The type of personal characteristics that lead to success in MLS include:

Sharp critical thinking and problem-solving Meticulous attention to detail Effective intrapersonal communication skills

Critical thinking and problem-solving are essential, especially in the evaluation of abnormal patient results, which may require additional verification, advanced follow-up testing, or manual assessments. Because the production of accurate, quality results is at the forefront of laboratory testing, following complex procedures with great attention to detail is a necessity for medical laboratory professionals. In addition, the MLS must be able to communicate about testing protocols and critical patient results with colleagues and members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team such as nurses and physicians accurately.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical laboratory scientists is expected to increase 11 percent over the next decade, much faster than the average for all occupations. A greater need to diagnose medical conditions through lab testing is projected due to the growing number of patients within the aging population. Although the most common employment site for medical laboratory scientists is the hospital lab, opportunities expand far beyond the hospital to include public health labs, physician offices, industrial/research labs, biotechnology labs, and crime labs. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, healthcare employment opportunities will continue to be abundant.

While the long-term repercussions of COVID-19 are mostly unknown, one thing remains certain: MLS professionals will always play a crucial behind-the-scenes role in American healthcare even after this crisis has passed.

Are you interested in making a difference in the lives of our future healthcare heroes? Please visitfranu.edu/giving to learn ways of how you can make an impact.

Excerpt from:
Coronavirus Advisory: The role of medical laboratory science in a COVID-19 world - Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market was valued US$ 711.24 Mn in 2018 and is expected to reach US$ XX Mn by 2026, at a CAGR of XX% during a forecast period.

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The key driving factors of the global clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats market are increasing demand for drug discovery, a risk of congenital anomalies, late pregnancies leading to birth disorders, increasing size of the geriatric population, and investment in path-breaking research technology. Lack of awareness and probable misappropriated use of the CRISPR gene editing tool are the major factors limiting the CRISPR market growth.

The global clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats market is segmented into the products, application, end-uses, and region. In terms of products, the global clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats market is classified into design tools, plasmids, vectors, library, control kits, proteins, genomic RNA, and other products.

Based on the application, the global clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats market is divided into genome editing & genetic engineering, GRNA database & gene library, CRISPR plasmid, human stem cells, and cell line engineering. By application, genome editing & genetic engineering is used for modifying an organisms genome, where deletions, insertions or replacements are carried out in the DNA of the living organism by making use of molecular machinery and engineered nucleases.

In terms of end-uses, global clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats market is segmented into industrial biotech biological research, agricultural research, and therapeutics and drug discovery. changing lifestyles, late pregnancies leading to birth disorders, increasing demand for drug discovery, synthetic genes leading the way, investment in path-breaking research technology and aging genetic disorders are drive the growth of biological research segment.

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Key players operating in global clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats market are Addgene, CRISPR Therapeutics, Editas Medicine, Egenesis, Inc., GE Healthcare, GenScript Biotech Corporation, Horizon Discovery Group PLC, Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., and Lonza Group.

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The objective of the report is to present comprehensive analysis of Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market including all the stakeholders of the industry. The past and current status of the industry with forecasted market size and trends are presented in the report with the analysis of complicated data in simple language. The report covers all the aspects of industry with dedicated study of key players that includes market leaders, followers and new entrants by region. PORTER, SVOR, PESTEL analysis with the potential impact of micro-economic factors by region on the market have been presented in the report. External as well as internal factors that are supposed to affect the business positively or negatively have been analyzed, which will give clear futuristic view of the industry to the decision makers. The report also helps in understanding Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market dynamics, structure by analyzing the market segments, and project the Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market size. Clear representation of competitive analysis of key players by Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Type, price, financial position, product portfolio, growth strategies, and regional presence in the Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market make the report investors guide.The Scope of the Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market:

Global clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats market, by products:

Design tools Plasmids Vectors Library Control kits Proteins Genomic RNA Other productsGlobal Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market, By Application:

Genome editing & genetic engineering GRNA database & gene library CRISPR plasmid Human stem cells Cell line engineeringGlobal Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market, By End-Uses:

Industrial biotech Biological research Agricultural research Therapeutics and drug discoveryGlobal Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market, By Region:

North America Europe Middle East & Africa Asia Pacific Latin AmericaKey Players Operating In Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Market:

Addgene CRISPR Therapeutics Editas Medicine Egenesis, Inc. GE Healthcare GenScript Biotech Corporation Horizon Discovery Group PLC Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. Lonza Group

MAJOR TOC OF THE REPORT

Chapter One: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Market Overview

Chapter Two: Manufacturers Profiles

Chapter Three: Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Market Competition, by Players

Chapter Four: Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Market Size by Regions

Chapter Five: North America Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Revenue by Countries

Chapter Six: Europe Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Revenue by Countries

Chapter Seven: Asia-Pacific Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Revenue by Countries

Chapter Eight: South America Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Revenue by Countries

Chapter Nine: Middle East and Africa Revenue Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat by Countries

Chapter Ten: Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Market Segment by Type

Chapter Eleven: Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Market Segment by Application

Chapter Twelve: Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Market Size Forecast (2019-2026)

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Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) Market : Industry Analysis and... - Azizsalon News

The Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats(CRISPR) Technology Market is known to provide a comprehensive and detailed information of the keyword Market for the estimated forecast period. In addition, the report also analyses the overall growth of the market in the estimated forecast period. It also covers and determines the market growth and market share for the estimated forecast period. Moreover, the report provides in depth and detailed analysis for the market in the estimated time frame. It also covers and analyze several segments which are present in the market. Furthermore, detailed analysis is done to determine the competitive landscape of the market share, market size, for the estimated forecast period. The report is also known to cover detailed and in depth analysis of the major trends which are covered for the Global Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats(CRISPR) Technology Market.

This study covers following key players:

Thermo Fisher ScientificMerckGenScriptIntegrated DNA TechnologiesHorizon Discovery GroupAgilent TechnologiesCellectaGeneCopoeiaNew England BiolabsOrigene TechnologiesSynthego CorporationToolgen

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The study is done with the help of analysis such as SWOT analysis and PESTEL analysis. SWOT analysis includes the study of Threats, weaknesses, strengths and opportunities that the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats(CRISPR) Technology Market. This method of market analysis gives the idea about the competitors and helps a vendor to identify the factors that will make them different from others. Whereas PESTEL analysis is the study concerning Economic, Technological, legal political, social, environmental matters. External factors affecting the market are determined by PESTEL analysis. PESTEL analysis making strategies and planning for all the types of business that may be opening a new company in a new location or an expansion of a product line.

There are different marketing strategies that every marketer looks up to in order to ace the competition in the Global market. Some of the primary marketing strategies that is needed for every business to be successful arePassion, Focus, Watching the Data, Communicating the value To Your Customers, Your Understanding of Your Target Market. There isa target set in market that every marketing strategy has to reach. The key players of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats(CRISPR) Technology industry, their product portfolio, market share, industry profiles are studied in this report.

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Market segment by Type, the product can be split into

ProductsServices

Market segment by Application, split into

Biomedical ApplicationsAgricultural ApplicationsIndustrial ApplicationsBiological Research

The major market players are studied on the basis of gross margin, production volume, price structure, and market value. Adaptation of new ideas and accepting the latest trends are some the reasons for any markets growth. The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats(CRISPR) Technology Market has its impact all over the globe. On global level Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats(CRISPR) Technology industry is segmented on the basis of product type, applications, and regions. It also focusses on market dynamics, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats(CRISPR) Technology growth drivers, developing market segments and the market growth curve is offered based on past, present and future market data. The industry plans, news, and policies are presented at a global and regional level.

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GLOBAL CLUSTERED REGULARLY INTERSPACED SHORT PALINDROMIC REPEATS (CRISPR) TECHNOLOGY MARKET 2020: SIZE, SHARE, GROWTH ANALYSIS, PRESENT STATUS,...