Archive for the ‘Skin Stem Cells’ Category

An immunotherapy based on supercharging the immune system's natural killer cells has been effective in treating patients with recurrent leukemia and other difficult to treat blood cancers. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown in preclinical studies conducted in mice and human cells that this type of cell-based immunotherapy also could be effective against solid tumors, starting with melanoma, a type of skin cancer that can be deadly if not caught early.

The study is published June 29 inClinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

In recent years, an immunotherapy called immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized treatment for advanced melanoma. In one well-known example, this immunotherapy was successfully used to treat former President Jimmy Carter, whose melanoma had spread to his liver and brain.

But the therapy only works in about half of such patients. And even among those who respond well to the initial therapy, about half go on to develop resistance to it. Consequently, researchers have been seeking different ways to harness the immune system to attack melanoma cells. One possibility is to use natural killer (NK) cells, a part of the immune system's first line of defense against dangerous cells, whether cancer cells or invading bacteria.

Todd A. Fehniger, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine, and his team have had success in clinical trials treating recurrent leukemia with a patient's own natural killer cells or those from a donor. The NK cells are harvested from the patient's or a donor's blood and exposed to a set of chemical signals called cytokines that activate the cells and prime them to remember this activation. When these "cytokine-induced memory-like" NK cells are given to the patient, they are more potent in attacking the cancer because they already have been revved up, as Fehniger puts it.

"These 'revved-up' memory-like NK cells attack blood cancers quite well," said Fehniger, the study's co-senior author and an oncologist who treats patients at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. "But relatively little work has been done on whether these cells can be used against solid tumors. This is an unmet need in solid tumor oncology. Our study provides proof of principle that memory-like NK cells respond better than normal NK cells against melanoma, and it serves as a stepping stone to a first-in-human clinical trial of these cells in advanced melanoma."

Added co-senior author Ryan C. Fields, MD, the Kim and Tim Eberlein Distinguished Professor of Surgical Oncology: "We hope this is also a step toward harnessing NK cells against multiple solid tumors. Melanoma was a good place to start because we know it responds to immune therapy. But because many patients don't respond or develop resistance, we felt that targeting a different aspect of the immune system was a promising strategy to pursue."

The standard checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy that works well in some melanoma patients targets T cells, another type of immune cell that also frequently is harnessed against different forms of cancer. According to the researchers, patients who don't respond well or stop responding to the T cell-based standard therapy and have no other options would be good candidates for NK cell therapy.

The researchers studied human NK cells from both healthy people and from patients with melanoma and found that the cytokine-induced memory-like NK cells could effectively treat mice harboring human melanoma tumors. Tumors shrank to the point of being almost undetectable in many of the mice, and the memory-like NK cells prevented the tumors from returning in most cases for the duration of the 21-day experiment. While normal NK cells also reduced and controlled melanoma tumors, they did not do so to the same degree.

"We are currently designing a clinical trial to evaluate these NK cells in patients with advanced melanoma who have exhausted all other treatment options," Fehniger said. "We would like to investigate NK cells from a donor and, separately, a patient's own NK cells to see if the cytokine-induced memory-like NK cells offer an effective treatment option for patients with this aggressive skin cancer."

The NK cell-based immunotherapy is potentially safer than other cell-based immunotherapies because the NK cells do not trigger a cytokine storm, as is seen sometimes in CAR-T cell therapy, which often is used for blood cancers, nor do the NK cells cause graft-versus-host disease, which sometimes follows a stem cell transplant.

"Even 10 years ago, we had no effective therapies for advanced melanoma -- much like the lack of therapies for glioblastoma or advanced pancreatic cancer today," said Fields, a surgeon who treats patients at Siteman. "Checkpoint immunotherapy has revolutionized melanoma treatment, but we're still not satisfied with the 50% response rate. We want to do better, and this NK cell therapy is a promising approach. And in the future, we may be able to combine an NK cell-based therapy with checkpoint inhibition for an even better response."

Fehniger and his colleagues have worked with Washington University's Office of Technology Management to license the cytokine-induced memory-like NK cell technology to a company called Wugen. Fehniger is a co-founder of Wugen and serves on its scientific advisory board.

Reference:Marin ND, Krasnick BA, Becker-Hapak M, et al. Memory-like differentiation enhances NK cell responses to melanoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2021. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-0851

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Cell-Based Immunotherapy May Be Effective Against Melanoma - Technology Networks

CRANFORD, N.J., May 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Citius" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTXR), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of first-in-class critical care products with a focus on anti-infective products in adjunct cancer care, unique prescription products and stem cell therapy, today announced that it has received the Best Poster Award at the prestigious International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) 2021 Annual Meeting.

The poster, titled "Novel Induced-Mesenchymal Stem Cells (i-MSCs) Attenuate Severity of ARDS in Septic Sheep," will be presented today, May 25, 2021 by Dr. Perenlei Enkhbaatar, Professor and Director of the Translational Intensive Care Unit at The University of Texas Medical Branch.

"The ISCT annual meeting brings together the brightest minds in cell and gene therapy and highlights cutting edge research in the field," stated Dr. Myron Czuczman, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Citius. "We are honored to be selected for the Best Poster Award from among this distinguished peer group. The interim results demonstrate a marked improvement in i-MSC treated animals over control animals in key clinical parameters including: improved oxygenation, less systemic shock, and reduced bacterial burden and vascular injury to the lungs. We are encouraged by the data and welcome the support and engagement of the scientific research community," concluded Dr. Czuczman.

Myron Holubiak, President and Chief Executive Officer of Citius added, "We are grateful to be recognized by our peers for this award as we advance our novel stem cell program for the treatment of ARDS. In parallel to the expansion of our proof-of-concept ARDS sheep study, we are following guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the development of a cGMP Master Cell Bank of i-MSCs. I am pleased to report that we have completed the development of an i-MSC Accession Cell Bank (ACB) which is to serve as the basis for a scalable cGMP compliant manufacturing capability to support all of our planned pre-clinical and clinical trials. Compared with donor-derived cells that require a continuous supply of new donors, we believe our i-MSCs,derived from a single clonal induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC), offer multiple advantages including consistent and scalable manufacturing and a potentially limitless supply of i-MSCs to meet our future needs. Moreover, we believe that our i-MSC stem cell program has the potential to meaningfully impact the treatment of ARDS and we appreciate the recognition received from the cell and gene therapy community as we advance our program."

Citius' i-MSCs are derived from iPSCs originating from a qualified single-donor dermal fibroblast, resulting in one homogeneous, validated source for all future cells. A patented synthetic, non-immunogenic mRNA high efficiency cell reprogramming technique is applied to create a clonal iPSC Master Cell Bank from which our i-MSCs are differentiated and expanded to create an i-MSC Accession Cell Bank. Citius has completed the development of its i-MSC ACB and is currently testing (as per FDA guidance) and expanding the cells to create an allogeneic cGMP i-MSC Master Cell Bank to support all future i-MSC needs.

The poster will be available to conference attendees via the conference website. The poster will be available on Citius' website once the event commences.

Conference Details:

Abstract Title:

"Novel Induced-Mesenchymal Stem Cells (i-MSCs) Attenuate Severity of ARDS in Septic Sheep"

Authors:

K. Hashimoto, N. Bazhanov, P. Enkhbaatar, M. Angel, A. Lader, M. Czuczman, and M. Matthay

Abstract Number:

100

Date and Time:

May 25, 2021

Session I

12:30 2:00 PM EDT

Session II

8:00 9:30 PM EDT

About Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

ARDS is an inflammatory process leading to build-up of fluid in the lungs and respiratory failure. It can occur due to infection, trauma and inhalation of noxious substances. ARDS accounts for approximately 10% of all ICU admissions and almost 25% of patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Survivors of ARDS are often left with severe long-term illness and disability. ARDS is a frequent complication of patients with COVID-19. ARDS is sometimes initially diagnosed as pneumonia or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs from heart disease). Symptoms of ARDS include shortness of breath, rapid breathing and heart rate, chest pain (particularly while inhaling), and bluish skin coloration. Among those who survive ARDS, a decreased quality of life is relatively common.

About Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Citius is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of first-in-class critical care products, with a focus on anti-infectives in adjunct cancer care, unique prescription products, and stem cell therapy. The Company's lead product candidate, Mino-Lok, an antibiotic lock solution for the treatment of patients with catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), is currently enrolling patients in a Phase 3 pivotal superiority trial. Mino-Lok was granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Through its subsidiary, NoveCite, Inc., Citius is developing a novel proprietary mesenchymal stem cell treatment derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for acute respiratory conditions, with a near-term focus on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) associated with COVID-19. For more information, please visit http://www.citiuspharma.com.

Safe Harbor

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks relating to the results of research and development activities, including those for our NoveCite stem cell therapy; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; the early stage of products under development; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to successfully undertake and complete clinical trials and the results from those trials for our product candidates; the estimated markets for our product candidates and the acceptance thereof by any market; the ability of our product candidates to impact the quality of life of our target patient populations; our need for substantial additional funds; market and other conditions; risks related to our growth strategy; patent and intellectual property matters; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; our ability to identify, acquire, close and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; our ability to procure cGMP commercial-scale supply; government regulation; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. These risks have been and may be further impacted by Covid-19. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks regarding our business are described in detail in our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings which are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on December 16, 2020 and updated by our subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Investor Relations for Citius Pharmaceuticals:

Andrew ScottVice President, Special ProjectsT: 908-967-6677 x105E: [emailprotected]

Ilanit AllenVice President, Corporate Communications and Investor RelationsT: 908-967-6677 x113E: [emailprotected]

SOURCE Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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Citius Pharmaceuticals Selected to Receive Best Poster Award at the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy 2021 Annual Meeting - PRNewswire

Founded to meet the future protein demands of an expanding global population, Australias Magic Valley is developing cell-cultured lamb products including mince, strips, steaks and chops. With lambs currently slaughtered at an incredibly young age using traditional farming methods, its founder tells us this particular meat became the obvious choice for the companys first product range.

There is absolutely no need for the mass slaughter of animals for food and hopefully intensive animal agriculture will soon be a thing of the past

Vegconomist spoke with Founder Paul Bevan, who says that he had become frustrated by the pace of change and effectiveness of his own activism so he turned his attention to technology, specifically the development of slaughter-free cultured meat, beginning with lamb.

Utilising induced pluripotent stem-cells and FBS-free media, Magic Valley is able to grow real animal meat from animal cells, using animals such as Lucy, who Paul refers to as cell volunteers.

Eventually we would like to expand into developing cultured meat products for all other animal species

Lucy the lamb is our very special cell donor. From just a tiny skin biopsy less than 4mm in diameter we are able to generate an infinite number of muscle and fat cells without ever having to interfere with an animal again. That is one of the distinct advantages of our technology and using induced pluripotent stem cells.

Meanwhile, Lucy gets to live out the entirety of her natural life (up to 20 years of age) happy and unharmed, blissfully unaware that her cell donation has potentially saved the lives of billions of lambs that would otherwise have been slaughtered at just 6 months of age.

Magic Valleys team consisting of Australias leading scientists have extensive experience in both stem cell biology and livestock production. As part of its ambitions to become a leader in the field, the company also announced this week the onboarding of industry pioneer Dr. Sandhya Sriram, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO of the cell-based crustacean producers Shiok Meats, to its advisory board.

Eventually we would like to expand into developing cultured meat products for all other animal species that have traditionally been farmed for human consumption. With the advancement of this technology, there is absolutely no need for the mass slaughter of animals for food and hopefully intensive animal agriculture will soon be a thing of the past, Bevan commented to vegconomist.

Our immediate goal is to develop the safest, healthiest and tastiest cultured lamb products possible. We know that to be successful, cultured meat products have to become the obvious choice for consumers and that means taste, price & convenience are paramount. We know that ethical or environmental concerns alone are not enough to change consumer behaviour it has to be a better product.

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Australia's Magic Valley On How to Turn Cells From "Cell Volunteer" Lucy the Lamb Into Lamb Steaks and Chops - vegconomist - the vegan...

Scientists in Japan from fiscal 2023 will applytechnology to createinduced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to solve the mystery of how people age, saidNobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka, urging the government to continue funding regenerative medicine research.

Yamanaka,who was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with Sir John B. Gurdon,called for continuous investments in the research of technologies based on iPS cells, such as one to rejuvenate aged cells.

The director of Kyoto Universitys Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) made the appeal at a meeting of the science and technology ministry on May 11 to discuss governmental support for projects using iPS cells.

He also noted that research institutes and business operators need to boost their cooperation to realize a seamless flow from basic research through commercialization for the development of regenerative medicines.

The point is whether we can harness the total strength of Japan, Yamanaka said.

Yamanaka explained the center's research plans for fiscal 2023 and later, and stressed the essentiality of financial assistance to maintain Japans international competitiveness in the fields on which iPS cell researchers are expected to concentrate.

The government is pouring as much as 110 billion yen ($1 billion) over the 10 years from fiscal 2013 through 2022 into regenerative medicines taking advantage of primarily iPS cells.

As the support plan for 2023 or afterward has yet to be determined, the ministry in March started discussions over the issue.

Yamanaka said the technology to create iPS cells will be applied to ascertain the mechanism of how people age, starting from fiscal 2023.

Genes are injected into skin and blood cells to initialize them so that iPS cells obtain the ability to turn into other cells again. Improving the method is anticipated to be used to stop cells from aging and rejuvenate tissues.

Yamanaka also expressed his intention to make treatments using iPS cells common. Under the plan, the quality, uniformity and costs of iPS cells produced and supplied by the CiRA Foundation will be further improved.

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Nobel laureate calls for research funds to solve the mystery of aging : The Asahi Shimbun - Asahi Shimbun

CHICAGO, May 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this global regenerative medicine market report.

The regenerative medicine market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 30% during the period 20202026.

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Key Offerings:

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Regenerative Medicine Market Segmentation

Regenerative Medicine Market by Application

Regenerative Medicine Market by Product

Regenerative Medicine Market by End-Users

Regenerative Medicine Market Dynamics

Regenerative medicine is expected to evolve and impact the overall healthcare industry in a positive way in the coming years. Among the global pharmaceutical companies, nearly 1000 companies are working on gene therapy, cell therapy, and tissue-engineering therapeutic products. Many companies worldwide have been developing a wide array of scaffolds that can be used in different tissue engineering applications, which cater to patients who require tissue and organ substitutes. The advances in scaffolds are attributable to several innovations in tissue scaffolds, bone scaffolds, and dental scaffolds. Tissue scaffolds basically act by integrating local cells in the desired shape of the scaffold after implantation. The scaffolds are of different types, such as cellusponge scaffolds in which cells are distributed in sponge pores and start growing. Collagen scaffolds have a unique porous network that allows diffusion of nutrients for cell growth, while hydrogel scaffolds have water content similar to natural tissue. Nanofiber scaffolds are transparent and ease cell imaging and quantification of cells.

Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth:

Regenerative Medicine Market Geography

In 2020, North America accounted for a share of over 62% in the global regenerative medicine market. The region is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period due to the highest number of RM companies in the world. The region has nearly 534 of the 987 RM companies worldwide. The growth is primarily attributable to the increasing incidence rates of different types of cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma of the skin, leukemia, and rare disorders, including Spinal muscular atrophy and multiple sclerosis. Cancer is the leading cause of death in North America. In 2018, nearly 1.9 million new cancer cases were reported in the North American region, along with 693,000 deaths. In the North American region, the US shows the highest prevalence rate for cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other life-threatening rare diseases.

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Regenerative Medicine Market by Geography

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AriztonAdvisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

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Regenerative Medicine Market Size to Reach Revenues of over USD 27 Billion by 2026 - Arizton - PRNewswire

Every year, about 10,000 people in the U.S. need a stem cell transplant but cant find a donor.

The intense medical procedure, which can help those with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and other blood diseases, can save lives but securing a donor can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Be The Match is a nonprofit, national registry where people can sign up to donate their stem cells. More than 35 million people around the world have volunteered yet only a small percentage of those donors are Americans, and even the registry admits most Americans dont know it exists.

The mother of a 12-year-old boy with leukemia has set out to change that.

Mandy Goldman is a hairdresser who lives with her husband and four children outside Boston. She remembers the devastating day five years ago when doctors told her the chemotherapy they gave her son Mateo Goldman, 9 years old at the time, didnt work.

They told us that our only option of curing Mateo was a bone marrow transplant, she says, a risky procedure that often involves a host of complications. But they had no other choice, she says.

The family got to work on the monumental task finding Mateo Goldman a close enough match.

Linda Matchan first reported the Goldman familys experience for The Boston Globe. In her research, she found very, very few people had any awareness of the need for bone marrow and stem cells donors. The awareness campaign around the subject is severely lacking compared to other campaigns like the importance of donating blood, she says.

For example, there's a little boy right now in North Carolina named Thor Forte, who's 10 and has sickle cell disease. And he has been waiting for literally half his life, five years, for a donor to be available, Matchan says. He's a tough match, but they finally did find somebody. And then when the time came for the procedure, the person backed out. So two years later, the boy is still waiting.

Fortunately, quickly after finding out Mateo Goldman didnt match with anyone in his family, he was paired with a donor on the registry from Germany. Mandy Goldman says Laura Stterlin of Frankfurt was ready to go and donate, ultimately saving her son.

Mateo Goldman wrote Stterlin, whose name he did not know at the time, a thank you note reading: Dear Donor, thank you for giving me the bone marrow. You feel like youre already part of my family, he says.

And unlike usual Make-A-Wish requests, Mateo Goldman asked to meet Stterlin in person halfway across the world. The trip to Germany was planned for summer of 2020 but has since been canceled due to the pandemic.

In 2019 when she was reporting this story, Matchan had a trip planned to Germany. She ended up meeting Stterlin and hearing the story of how she became a donor. Stterlin said she was at a sporting event with her husband when she got hungry and went on the hunt for some grub.

Dear Donor, thank you for giving me the bone marrow. You feel like youre already part of my family.

Germany has a robust public service campaign to get citizens to donate bone marrow, Matchan says. So it came to no surprise to Stterlin when she came across a kiosk to sign up.

Just three months later, she got a call and an email from the registry saying that there is somebody in the United States for whom she could be a match and was asked if she would donate, Matchan says. A couple of days later, she went into the hospital and did the donation.

Stterlins stem cells then crossed the Atlantic Ocean, making their way to America during a snowstorm.

The cells started working in Mateo Goldman right away but not without some difficulties, Mandy Goldman says. He battled total body stiffness from graft-versus-host disease, a complication of the transplant.

But, you know, Matteo's an amazing kid, she says, so through it all, he was smiling and making the best of it, even though he was suffering for a lot of the time.

Two years later, in July of 2020, the cancer came back. But since Mateo Goldmans first transplant, the science had evolved greatly.

So much so that his older brother, Leo Goldman, became a candidate to donate his cells for the second stem cell transplant.

I didn't realize how I could get my brother's cells, Mateo Goldman, now 12 years old, says. Once that sank in, I felt that it would connect me and my brother more.

Right before Christmas last year, the family got extraordinary news: Mateo Goldman had zero cancer in his bone marrow, Mandy Goldman says.

Now the mom of four is on a mission to raise awareness on stem cell donations and share the story of how it saved her sons life.

The amazing feeling Leo got from being able to be the person who saved his brother's life is something he's going to carry with him forever, she says. And even Laura [Stterlin], she gave him three and a half years of his life that we get to spend with him. I just really want to educate people about how empowering it is to do something so incredible for somebody else.

When she started talking to others to raise awareness, she was shocked to discover how fearful people were in committing to be a donor.

If people could see the trauma these patients go through her son had a drain placed in his stomach, total body radiation, chemotherapy that left him head-to-toe in a skin-burning rash she says then maybe they wouldnt be scared to dedicate a small action for someone whose only cure is through a stem cell transplant.

Once people are educated about how much of a difference it makes, she says, then I feel like they would do it.

Click here to learn more about the Be The Match Registry.

Tinku Rayproduced and edited this interview for broadcast.Serena McMahonadapted it for the web.

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After Bone Marrow Donation Saves 9-Year-Old Boy With Cancer, Boston Mom Fights To Raise Awareness - Here And Now

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood. The two most common types in children are acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia.

In a person with leukemia, blood cells are released into the bloodstream before they are fully formed, so there are fewer healthy blood cells in the body.

Below, we describe the types of childhood leukemia, the symptoms, and the treatments. We then look at when to contact a doctor, what questions to ask, and where to find support.

Childhood leukemia is the most common form of cancer in children. It affects up to 3,800 children under the age of 15 in the United States each year.

Leukemia occurs when bone marrow releases new blood cells into the bloodstream before they are fully mature.

These immature blood cells do not function as they should, and eventually, the number of immature cells overtakes the number of healthy ones.

Leukemia can affect red and white blood cells and platelets.

The bone marrow produces stem cells. A blood stem cell can become a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell.

Lymphoid stem cells become white blood cells. Myeloid stem cells can become:

Leukemia is typically acute or chronic, and chronic types are rare in children. They can include chronic myeloid leukemia or chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Most childhood leukemias are acute, meaning that they progress quickly and need treatment as soon as possible.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type in children, accounting for 75% of childhood leukemia cases.

It affects cells called lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

In a person with ALL, the bone marrow releases a large number of underdeveloped white blood cells called blast cells. As the number of these increases, the number of red blood cells and platelets decreases.

There are two subtypes of ALL: B-cell and T-cell.

In most childhood cases of ALL, the cancer develops in the early forms of B-cells. The other type, T-cell ALL, typically affects older children.

Research from 2020 reports that the majority of people diagnosed with ALL are under 18 and typically between 2 and 10 years old.

The American Cancer Society report that children under 5 years old have the highest risk of developing ALL and that this risk slowly declines until a person reaches their mid-20s.

The outlook for ALL depends on the subtype, the persons age, and factors specific to each person.

Myeloid leukemias account for approximately 20% of childhood leukemia cases, and most myeloid leukemias are acute.

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) affects white blood cells other than the lymphocytes. It may also affect red blood cells and platelets.

AML can begin in:

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) accounts for approximately 12% of leukemia cases in children.

This rare type is neither acute nor chronic. JMML begins in the myeloid cells, and it typically affects children younger than 2 years.

Symptoms can include:

The symptoms of leukemia may be nonspecific similar to those of other common childhood illnesses.

A doctor will ask how long the child has been experiencing the symptoms, which can include:

Children may experience specific symptoms depending on the type of blood cell that the leukemia is affecting.

A low number of red blood cells can cause:

A low number of healthy white blood cells can cause infections or a fever with no other sign of an infection.

A low platelet count can cause:

Various factors can increase a childs risk of leukemia, and most are not preventable.

The following genetic conditions can increase the risk of leukemia:

Also, having a sibling with leukemia may increase the risk of developing it.

These can include exposure to:

If a child has symptoms that might indicate leukemia, a doctor may perform or request:

A bone marrow aspiration involves using a syringe to take a liquid sample of bone marrow cells. The doctor may give the child a drug that allows them to sleep through this test.

During the diagnostic process, a person might ask:

The doctor may recommend a variety of treatments for childhood leukemia, and the best option depends on a range of factors specific to each person.

The treatment usually consists of two phases. The first aims to kill the leukemia cells in the childs bone marrow, and the second aims to prevent the cancer from coming back.

The child may need:

Before or during treatment, a person might ask the doctor:

Questions to ask after the treatment might include:

Children who have undergone leukemia treatments require follow-up care, as the treatments often cause late effects.

These can develop in anyone who has received treatment for cancer, and they may not arise for months or years after the treatment has ended.

Treatments that can cause late effects include:

These complications may affect:

The late effects that may come can also depend on the type of treatment and the form of leukemia.

Because many leukemia symptoms can also indicate other issues, it can be hard to know when to contact a doctor.

Overall, it is best to seek medical advice if a child shows symptoms or behaviors that are not normal for them.

If a child has received a leukemia diagnosis, the effects can extend to parents, other family members, caregivers, and friends.

A person can find support and additional resources from:

The following organizations based in the United Kingdom also provide support and guidance:

Childhood leukemia can affect mental health, as well as physical health.

Learn more about mental health resources here.

According to the American Cancer Society, most children with leukemia have no known risk factors. There is no way to prevent leukemia from developing.

Because there are very few lifestyle-related or environmental causes of childhood leukemia, it is very unlikely that a caregiver can do anything to help prevent the disease.

A childs outlook depends on the type of leukemia. It is important to keep in mind that current estimates do not take into account recent advances in technology and medicine.

For example, the most recent 5-year survival rate estimates reflect the experiences of children who received their diagnoses and treatments more than 5 years ago.

The American Cancer Society report that the 5-year survival rate for children with ALL is 90%. The same rate for children with AML is 6570%.

Childhood leukemia is typically acute, which means that it develops quickly. As a result, a person should contact a doctor if they notice any of the symptoms.

The most common type of childhood leukemia is ALL, representing 3 out of 4 leukemia cases in children.

Treatment may include a combination of chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy, stem cell transplants, surgery, and radiation.

The prognosis depends on the type of leukemia and the childs age.

This diagnosis can affect mental as well as physical health, and the effects can extend to caregivers, family members, and friends. Many different resources are available for support.

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Leukemia in children: Symptoms, causes, treatment, outlook, and more - Medical News Today

Paragon Biosciences, a life science innovator that creates, invests in and builds life science companies in biopharmaceuticals, cell and gene therapy and synthetic biology utilizing artificial intelligence, has launched CiRC Biosciences, a cell therapy company developing treatments for serious diseases with high, unmet needs with an initial focus on the eye."The addition of CiRC Biosciences to our portfolio builds upon our cell and gene therapy platform, an area that has tremendous potential to address serious genetic diseases," said Jeff Aronin, founder, chairman and chief executive officer, Paragon Biosciences. "CiRC Biosciences gives us the science to target retinal diseases that could lead to vision restoration with numerous other applications in the years ahead."CiRC Biosciences is currently advancing pre-clinical development of chemically induced retinal cells for vision restoration in Geographic Atrophy Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD), which is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss over the age of 65, and advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a genetic disorder that causes tunnel vision and eventual blindness. There are no U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatments to restore vision loss in Dry AMD or RP.The company's novel mechanism of action is designed for direct chemical conversion of fibroblasts into other cell types using a cocktail of small molecules in an 11-day chemical conversion process. Pre-clinical studies have shown efficacy in blind mice that demonstrated vision restoration. CiRC Biosciences has provisional patent applications to protect its platform."Our technology transforms ordinary skin cells into specialized retinal cells using a cocktail of small molecules," said Sai Chavala, M.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer, CiRC Biosciences. "This process is potentially safer, quicker, more cost effective and easier to manufacturer than using traditional stem cells. Working with Paragon Biosciences to build and advance CiRC Biosciences provides us the opportunity to efficiently progress this technology through research and development stages.CiRC Biosciences first reported its discovery in the highly respected scientific journal Nature (April 15, 2020). A recently published New England Journal of Medicine article (Nov. 5, 2020) discussed CiRC's technology of using chemically induced cells to restore retinal function. The article concluded, "The new and emerging strategies for the rescue, regeneration, and replacement of photoreceptors suggest a bright future in the fight to preserve and restore vision in blinding eye diseases."The abstract in Nature is available here.Access to the NEJM article is available here.

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Paragon Biosciences Expands Cell And Gene Therapy Platform - Contract Pharma

Introduction

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the major causes of cancer-associated illness and death, with more than 600,000 newly diagnosed cases worldwide each year1 and a continuously increasing incidence rate.2 HNSCC includes cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. The anatomical structures of the head and neck can be damaged by the tumor itself or treatments such as surgical resection and chemoradiotherapy, which sometimes cause speech, swallowing, and breathing impairments.3,4 Patients with HNSCC have been shown to bear greater psychological distress than those with other types of cancer.5

Despite the currently available therapies, patients with advanced HNSCC still experience poor outcomes.68 For example >50% of patients with locoregionally advanced HNSCC experience recurrence or metastases development within 3 years of treatment.911 Treatment options for patients with the recurrent and metastatic disease following progression after a platinum-based regimen are limited, and the median overall survival of such patients is less than 7 months.1215

The recurrence and metastasis of HNSCC are facilitated by immune evasion;16 therefore, as one of the methods to inhibit immune evasion, the use of programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway inhibitors is considered effective in the treatment of recurrent HNSCC.1719 Nivolumab, a fully human IgG4 antiPD-1 monoclonal antibody, has shown remarkable antitumor efficacy and safety when administered to patients with recurrent HNSCC whose disease had progressed within 6 months of platinum-based chemotherapy;19 Furthermore, nivolumab treatment has been shown to improve the quality of life of these patients.20 However, PD-1 inhibitors can upregulate T cells in vivo, which may lead to the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).2123 To the best of the authors knowledge, no studies have investigated the safety and efficacy of nivolumab in patients with HNSCC after allo-HSCT. Here, we report the case of a patient who experienced excellent control of left buccal squamous cell carcinoma with nivolumab after the failure of platinum-based chemotherapy despite receiving allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Without any family history of tumor, a 33-year-old man was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on March 19, 2014. He received one course of vincristine and prednisone therapy and four courses of vincristine, daunorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone therapy. He was in complete remission at the end of therapy. Subsequently, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation was performed; the donor was his human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical sibling (sister). He experienced chronic GVHD (c GVHD) of the oral cavity and skin 3 months after transplantation, for which he was treated with steroid hormone- and cyclosporine-based therapies. Skin rejection lasted for more than 3 years. Imatinib mesylate was administered for 2 years after transplantation, and his leukemia was well controlled.

In August 2018, the patient developed an ulcer of approximately 0.5 0.5 cm size in the left buccal mucosa; the ulcer was slightly painful and covered with white moss. In September 2018, the patient was admitted to Peking University Stomatological Hospital, where a biopsy of the buccal mucosa was performed. The pathology results showed the presence of squamous cell carcinoma in the left cheek. Unfortunately, this patient was not a right candidate for HNSCC in terms of exposure to risk factors, such as long terms of smoking and drinking. On October 10, 2018, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) showed that the mass in the left cheek was metabolically active, which is consistent with the activity of a malignant tumor. One course of an adjuvant therapy regimen (nimotuzumab [200 mg d0] + docetaxel [60 mg d1, 8]+ nedaplatin [60 mg d2, 3]) was administered on October 26, 2018. Following this, the patient developed degree II thrombocytopenia and redness, swelling, and ulceration of the cheek, which had discharge with a peculiar smell. On November 29, 2018, a head and neck CT scan showed a left buccal malignant tumor with the destruction of the neighboring mandibular bone and lymph node enlargement in the left submaxillary region and right carotid sheath. The CT examination revealed disease progression. Following a multidisciplinary consultation in our hospital, surgery was not recommended; instead, a chemotherapy-based comprehensive treatment was recommended as a better option for the patient. The patient received chemotherapy with albumin paclitaxel (200 mg d1, 8)+ bleomycin (15,000 units d2, 9) from November 30, 2018 to January 9, 2019. On another CT scan, the curative effect was evaluated as partial remission (showed in Video 1, Figure 1A); subsequently, two courses of a chemotherapy regimen comprising nivolumab (140 mg d1) + albumin paclitaxel (200 mg d1, d8) were administered. A CT examination showed stable disease (SD) on March 12, 2019, following which the patient was administered 120 mg of nivolumab once every 2 weeks from March 15 to May 23, 2019. Another CT examination was performed on May 28, 2019 (showed in Video 2, Figure 1B). During the therapy course, the related tumor markers showed an overall downward trend, the new metastases did not appear, the patients status became better than before. Subsequently, another CT examination performed in August 02, 2019 showed the extent of the tumor was obvious reduction than before (showed in video 3, Figure 1C). And the corresponding CT report in August 02, 2019 was described as follows Compared with the CT on 28 May, 2019, the extent of the tumor in the left cheek became obviously smaller, the tubercle in the left submandibular and the lymph nodes in the left neck also became smaller. There were no other significant changes in this image. Most importantly, the patient did not develop any form of GVHD following nivolumab administration.

Figure 1 Head and neck CT images showing tumor before (A) and after treatment with nivolumab (B, C, respectively).

Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.

Note: The arrows indicate the maximum length diameter of tumor or tumor site.

Reliable data on the clinical safety and efficacy of nivolumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic HNSCC have been obtained in a Phase III randomized clinical trial (CheckMate 141).19 In this trial, 361 patients with recurrent HNSCC for whom disease had progressed within 6 months after platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled between May 29, 2014, and July 31, 2015. The median follow-up duration for overall survival (OS) was 5.1 months (range, 016.8 months). OS was significantly greater in patients randomized to receive nivolumab than in those who received standard second-line, single-agent systemic therapy with either methotrexate, docetaxel, or cetuximab (hazard ratio, 0.70; 97.73% confidence interval (CI), 0.510.96; P = 0.01). The median OS was 7.5 months (95% CI, 5.59.1) in the nivolumab group versus 5.1 months (95% CI, 4.06.0) in the standard therapy group. The one-year survival was also greater in patients who received nivolumab than in those who received standard therapy (36.0%vs. 16.6%). Furthermore, the response rate was higher in those who received nivolumab than in those who received standard therapy (13.3% vs 5.8%); however, the median progression-free survival was not significantly different between the groups (2.0 vs 2.3 months; P=0.32). In this study, patients who were treated with nivolumab had a longer OS than those treated with standard therapy, regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression or p16 status. Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 13.1% of patients who received nivolumab and 35.1% of those who received standard therapy. Physical function, role functioning, and social functioning were stable in the nivolumab group, whereas they were substantially worse in the standard therapy group.20 Moreover, among Asian patients, the survival benefits were consistent with the global group.24

It was unclear whether nivolumab could be used in patients with recurrent HNSCC after allo-HSCT, though Khaddour et al proved the efficacy and safety of Pembrolizumab in patients who underwent allo-HSCT after relapsed and refractory Szary Syndrome and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.25 However, some case reports (Table 1) and clinical trials (Table 2) have reported the efficacy and safety of nivolumab when administrated to patients with recurrent hematological malignancies (mostly Hodgkins lymphoma) after allo-HSCT.

Table 1 Case Reports of Nivolumab Use After Allo-HSCT

Table 2 Studies on Nivolumab Use After Allo-HSCT

In Herbaux et al, nivolumab (3 mg/kg, once every 2 weeks) was administered to 20 patients with Hodgkins lymphoma who experienced relapse after allo-HSCT. The overall response rate was 95%, the 1-year progression-free survival rate was 58.2%, and the 1-year OS rate was 78.8%.26 Compared with other treatment options, nivolumab was more effective in these patients.2730 Haverkos et al reported results after a median follow-up duration was 428 days (range, 133833 days). After treatment with PD-1 inhibitors [nivolumab 3 mg/kg, once every 2 weeks (n = 28) and pembrolizumab (n =3)], the overall response rate of 31 patients with relapsed lymphoma after allo-HSCT was 77%, the median progression-free survival was 591 days (range,400644 days), and 68% of the patients survived to the end of the study.23 These two studies showed that nivolumab is effective when administered to patients with recurrent blood cancers after allo-HSCT, which is consistent with the results of several other case reports3134 and case series.35,36 The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway plays a key role in the regulation of the balance among T cell activation, T-cell tolerance, and immune-mediated tissue damage. This pathway protects healthy cells from excessive inflammatory or autoimmune responses.37,38 Some studies have shown that the activation of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can reduce acute and chronic GVHD, whereas its blockade can accelerate the graft-versus-host response and increase the associated mortality.21,22,39 It is unclear whether the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab increases the risk of GVHD and the associated mortality in patients after allo-HSCT.23,26 Some clinical studies and case reports have shown that nivolumab treatment-related GVHD and consequent death in patients after allo-HSCT might be affected by the following factors. First, GVHD after antiPD-1 treatment has been observed most frequently in matched sibling donor transplants; for which Haverkos et al reported an incidence of 75%.23 In a Phase I pilot study, without GVHD or G3/G4 immune toxicity after receiving multiple doses of nivolumab was only among one patient whose donor source was Haploidentical+cord blood Fludarabine.40 Second, a history of GVHD, especially for the acute GVHD, may lead to an increased risk of nivolumab treatment-related GVHD after allo-HSCT. In a French cohort, all patients who presented with acute GVHD after nivolumab treatment had a prior history of acute GVHD, among which three patients presented with steroid-refractory nivolumab-induced GVHD, and GVHD was not observed among patients without a history of GVHD.26 This phenomenon was also observed in Steinerovs medical report.41 In the study by Haverkos et al, 63% of patients with a history of GVHD prior to antiPD-1 treatment developed treatment-emergent GVHD after receiving antiPD-1.23 Third, the shorter the interval between transplantation and nivolumab use, the greater the risk of GVHD. In the study by Herbaux et al, the median intervals between transplantation and nivolumab use in cases with the presence and absence of GVHD were 8.5 months and 28.5 months, respectively.26 In another study by Wang et al, the reported four patients all experienced immune-related adverse events following nivolumab treatment and the median time from transplantation to nivolumab use was 7.8 months.40 Fourth, dose is a risk factor for nivolumab treatment-related GVHD. In a case report, chronic skin GVHD was observed when the dose of nivolumab was adjusted from 0.5 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg.33 Other factors, such as immunosuppressive therapy at the time of nivolumab administration, may also influence nivolumab treatment-related GVHD. Recently, a comprehensive literature review was launched by Awais et al to assess the safety and efficacy of the use of checkpoint inhibitors (ipilimumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab) in blood cancers before and after allo-HSCT. Collective data showed that checkpoint inhibitors use after allo-HSCT for post-transplant relapse had higher efficacy but the risk of GVHD was significant. Moreover, the investigation indicated that higher drug doses, shorter intervals between checkpoint inhibitors exposure and allo-HSCT and prior history of GVHD had a positive correlation with the risk of GVHD.42

In the present case, HNSCC was effectively controlled without any nivolumab treatment-related acute or chronic GVHD after nivolumab administration, while the weight loss being the only adverse event. After comprehensive analysis, we found that many factors may impede the development of nivolumab treatment-related GVHD in our patient. On one hand, the appropriate donor, no use of checkpoint inhibitors prior to allo-HSCT, the long interval between nivolumab administration and allo-HSCT (36 months) and the standard dose use of nivolumab were the negative factors for GVHD development. On the other hand, the chronic GVHD of the oral cavity and skin before nivolumab use might lead to the development of GVHD. However, it remained unknown what role the immunosuppressant therapy played in the occurrence of GVHD, though we definitely known that immunosuppressant was administered more than 2 years after allo-HSCT and discontinued for 2 years before treatment with nivolumab in our patient. Finally, whether the two primary cancers in our case affected the efficacy and safety of nivolumab by some unknown pathways were unclear, which needed further exploration.

Nivolumab has been shown to be effective in patients with HNSCC for whom platinum-based therapy has failed. However, little is known about the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in patients with HNSCC who have undergone allo-HSCT. Our case report shows that nivolumab could be used effectively and safely in such patients, however, more clinical trials are required to confirm these results.

This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. The authors state that they have obtained verbal and written informed consent from the patient for the inclusion of their medical and treatment history within this case report.

This work was supported by the Tianjin Science and Technology Commission (18ZXXYSY00070), Key Task Project of Tianjin Health and Family Planning Commission (16KG128), Anticancer Key Technologies R&D Program of Tianjin (12ZCDZSY16200), and Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin (18JCYBJC91600).

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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[Full text] Successful Use of Nivolumab in a Patient with Head and Neck Cancer Aft | OTT - Dove Medical Press

Gaining more fat cells is probably not what most people want, although that might be exactly what they need to fight off diabetes and other diseases. How and where the body can add fat cells has remained a mystery - but two new studies from UT Southwestern provide answers on the way this process works.

The studies, both published online in Cell Stem Cell, describe two different processes that affect the generation of new fat cells. One reports how fat cell creation is impacted by the level of activity in tiny organelles inside cells called mitochondria. The other outlines a process that prevents new fat cells from developing in one fat storage area in mice - the area that correlates with the healthy subcutaneous fat just under the skin in humans. (Both studies were done in mice.)

In the second study, a commonly used cancer drug was able to jump-start healthy fat cell creation in mice, a finding that raises the possibility of future drug treatments for humans.

While fat isn't popular, as long as people overeat they will need a place to store the excess calories, explains Philipp Scherer, Ph.D., director of the Touchstone Center for Diabetes Research at UT Southwestern and senior author of the first study focusing on mitochondria. There are two options, he says: squeezing more lipids (fat) into existing fat cells and ballooning their size, leading to problems such as inflammation and, eventually, diabetes; or creating new fat cells to help spread the load. Fat stored properly - in fat cell layers under the skin (subcutaneous fat) that aren't overburdened instead of around organs (visceral fat) or even inside organs - is the healthy alternative, he says.

Problems follow if existing fat cells are left on their own to become engorged, adds Rana Gupta, Ph.D., associate professor of internal medicine and senior author of the second study. "When these cells are so overwhelmed that they can't take it anymore, they eventually die or become dysfunctional, spilling lipids into places not intended to store fat."

Those lipids may move into the liver, leading to fatty liver disease; to the pancreas, resulting in diabetes; or even to the heart, causing cardiovascular disease, Gupta says. Visceral, or belly fat, may surround the organs, creating inflammation.

The healthiest place to store fat is in subcutaneous fat, adds Gupta. Ironically, that is where mice in his study were least able to create new fat cells, despite the fact that stem-cell-like progenitor cells primed to become fat cells were present there as well, he says.

Gupta's study identified a process that prevents progenitor cells from developing into fat cells in mouse subcutaneous inguinal fat.

The protein HIF-1a (short for hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha) is central to the process. It kicks off a series of cellular actions that ultimately inactivate a second protein called PPARgamma, the key driver of fat cell formation.

These proteins are found in both humans and mice. In fact, in a culture of human subcutaneous fat cell progenitors, HIF-1a also inhibited new fat cells from being created, according to Gupta.

In Gupta's mouse study, researchers used a genetic approach to inhibit HIF-1a and found that the progenitor cells could then make subcutaneous inguinal fat cells and fewer were inflamed or fibrotic.

Next, they tested the cancer drug imatinib (brand name Gleevec) and found it had the same effect. The cancer drug was tried because it was known to have beneficial effects against diabetes in cancer patients with both diseases, Gupta says.

In Scherer's study, researchers manipulated a protein called MitoNEET in the outer membrane of the precursor cells' mitochondria, organelles known as the cells' power plants. The resulting mitochondrial dysfunction and drop in cell metabolism caused precursor cells to lose the ability to become new fat cells and increased inflammation.

"This study shows we can manipulate the precursor cells' willingness to become fat cells," Scherer says. "The ability to recruit new fat cells by tickling these pre-fat cells to become fat cells is very important and has profound beneficial effects on health, particularly in the obesity-prone environment that we all live in."

He says his goal is now to design a drug that could stimulate mitochondrial activity.

"Understanding the mechanism is an important first step," Scherer says, referring to the findings from the two studies. "We will have to learn in the future how to manipulate these processes pharmacologically."

Reference: Joffin N, Paschoal VA, Gliniak CM, et aI. Mitochondrial metabolism is a key regulator of the fibro-inflammatory and adipogenic stromal subpopulations in white adipose tissue. Cell Stem Cell. doi:doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2021.01.002

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Two Studies Shed Light on How and Where the Body Can Add New Fat Cells - Technology Networks

With her sun-kissed hair and flawless golden skin, it's easy to forget that Heidi Klum is in her mid 40s. Genetics certainly help. But so do Heidi Klum's favourite skincare products by Glossier and Drunk Elephant, plus a reminder of home courtesy of German beauty brand The Cream by Augustinus Bader.

In a rare selfie, Klum showed off the Perfectil Hair Skin And Nails Vitamins she takes daily, alongside this smorgasbord of beauty products, which proves the supermodel takes her skincare seriously.

Here are some of her favourite products:

More from womanandhome:

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum

This night serum contains a hefty dose of glycol acid to exfoliate built-up dead skin cells and resurface dull, uneven skin. Expect brighter, smoother skin when you wake.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 25% AHA + 2% BHA Mask

If you like to feel a product working, you'll positive love this mask. Like an AHA/BHA facial in a bottle, it resurfaces skin to reveal greater clarity and improved skin tone.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum

This vitamin C day serum is packed with antioxidants to protect skin from urban aggressors.

Glossier Solution

A liquid exfoliator that you apply a bit like toner, it buffs away dead dulling skin with a single swipe.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

We know, we know, even supermodels get spots. This cult zit lotion contains salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide to dry up blemishes - fast.

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream

The brainchild of a stem cell scientist no less, this overnight treatment uses amino acids and vitamins to re-energise cells to repair damage more effectively.

Read more:
Heidi Klum loves to pamper her skin with goodies from Drunk Elephant and Glossier - woman&home

There is no incorrect time of day to take fish oil supplements. However, some evidence suggests that people absorb omega-3 fatty acids more effectively when they take them with a meal that contains dietary fat.

This comes from a study in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care.

Fish oil is a major source of omega-3 fatty acids, which may have a number of health benefits.

In this article, we will discuss when people should take fish oil, how to take it, dosage, and any health benefits and side effects.

There is no significant benefit to taking fish oil at a specific time of day. However, people may wish to take fish oil with a meal that contains dietary fat.

A 2019 study on omega-3 found that taking an omega-3 concentrate with food that contains fat increased bioavailability, making it easier for the body to absorb.

Additionally, an older 2015 study found that taking omega-3 fatty acids with a low fat meal reduced absorption.

Both of these studies looked at omega-3 fatty acids specifically, so the results may not apply to people taking fish oil. Additionally, the amount of omega-3 in fish oil can vary, depending on factors such as the type of fish, and the brand.

People can take fish oil capsules with water during a meal. If a person typically does not eat much fat at breakfast, they may wish to wait until lunch or their evening meal before taking it.

Some people experience gastrointestinal side effects when taking fish oil. If a person experiences this side effect, they may find it helpful to split their fish oil into two doses and take them at different times of the day.

People who split their dose in half may need to take each one at different mealtimes.

Researchers have found it difficult to define an optimal amount of omega-3 fatty acids to get per day.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend adults take between 5001,000 milligrams of omega-3 per day. However, other countries and organizations recommend different doses.

The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) note that while some types of omega-3 have no official recommended dose, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is an exception. This table shows the recommended daily amounts by age and sex:

The amount of ALA in omega-3 supplements can depend on the type of supplement and the manufacturer. Read the product label to determine how much a supplement contains.

Omega-3 fatty acids may have a positive effect on human health in a number of ways. Research into its benefits is ongoing, but there is evidence that it may:

However, many studies on omega-3s health benefits focus on getting these fatty acids from fish and seafood, rather than from fish oil capsules. If a person is thinking of taking fish oil for a health condition, they should speak with a doctor first.

Some specific conditions that may benefit from a higher intake of omega-3 include:

According to a 2015 review, there is some evidence that consuming omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent or manage cardiovascular conditions. Omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce triglyceride levels in the blood and reduce the risk of cardiovascular death.

Omega-3 fatty acids may also have antiarrhythmic effects, which means they help a persons heart beat in a regular pattern. The effect that omega-3 fatty acids have on arrhythmia may significantly reduce the risk of fatal ventricular arrhythmias.

However, more recent studies show that there may not be a clear benefit to taking omega-3 to prevent adverse effects of cardiovascular conditions. There is also some evidence that taking statins at the same time as omega-3 fatty acid supplements may reduce their protective effect on cardiovascular conditions.

Scientists need to carry out more research on omega-3 and its relationship with preventing or managing cardiovascular diseases.

Some studies have shown that a high omega-3 intake can reduce the risk of inflammatory disease mortality.

Some have also found that omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for people with Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, two types of inflammatory bowel disease.

However, there is no clinically significant evidence on whether omega-3 fatty acids help prevent relapses for people with these conditions.

Several in vitro studies show that omega-3 fatty acids have an effect on colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSC). CCSC have a long lifespan and can self-renew, leading to colon tumors.

CCSC can lead to cancer relapse and chemotherapy resistance. Omega-3 fatty acids may stop CCSC from growing and may reduce chemotherapy resistance.

Omega-3 fatty acids may have several positive effects with regards to prostate cancer, although research on this is mixed.

Several studies have found that consuming fish or omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer, including aggressive forms.

However, other studies suggest that there is no clear benefit to consuming omega-3 fatty acids to prevent prostate cancer.

Side effects of fish oil supplements are usually mild. They include:

Additionally, omega-3 supplements can have an adverse interaction with drugs that affect blood clotting.

People should contact their healthcare provider to ensure it is safe for them to take a supplement before trying it.

Some evidence suggests that taking supplements that contain omega-3 with a meal that contains fat can increase absorption. As a result, people may wish to take fish oil at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. However, there is no correct or incorrect time to take it.

Always speak with a doctor before starting a new supplement. If a person experiences side effects, they may benefit from splitting their dose in two.

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When to take fish oil: Timing, dosages and side effects - Medical News Today

With her sun-kissed hair and flawless golden skin, it's easy to forget that Heidi Klum is in her mid 40s. Genetics certainly help. But so do Heidi Klum's favourite skincare products by Glossier and Drunk Elephant, plus a reminder of home courtesy of German beauty brand The Cream by Augustinus Bader.

In a rare selfie, Klum showed off the Perfectil Hair Skin And Nails Vitamins she takes daily, alongside this smorgasbord of beauty products, which proves the supermodel takes her skincare seriously.

Here are some of her favourite products:

More from womanandhome:

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum

This night serum contains a hefty dose of glycol acid to exfoliate built-up dead skin cells and resurface dull, uneven skin. Expect brighter, smoother skin when you wake.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 25% AHA + 2% BHA Mask

If you like to feel a product working, you'll positive love this mask. Like an AHA/BHA facial in a bottle, it resurfaces skin to reveal greater clarity and improved skin tone.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum

This vitamin C day serum is packed with antioxidants to protect skin from urban aggressors.

Glossier Solution

A liquid exfoliator that you apply a bit like toner, it buffs away dead dulling skin with a single swipe.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

We know, we know, even supermodels get spots. This cult zit lotion contains salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide to dry up blemishes - fast.

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream

The brainchild of a stem cell scientist no less, this overnight treatment uses amino acids and vitamins to re-energise cells to repair damage more effectively.

Original post:
Heidi Klum loves to pamper her skin with goodies from Drunk Elephant and Glossier - Woman & Home

CHICAGO, Feb. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Paragon Biosciences, a life science innovator that creates, invests in and builds life science companies in biopharmaceuticals, cell and gene therapy and synthetic biology utilizing artificial intelligence, today announced the launch of CiRC Biosciences, a cell therapy company developing treatments for serious diseases with high, unmet needs with an initial focus on the eye.

"The addition of CiRC Biosciences to our portfolio builds upon our cell and gene therapy platform, an area that has tremendous potential to address serious genetic diseases," said Jeff Aronin, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Paragon Biosciences. "CiRC Biosciences gives us the science to target retinal diseases that could lead to vision restoration with numerous other applications in the years ahead."

CiRC Biosciences is currently advancing pre-clinical development of chemically induced retinal cells for vision restoration in Geographic Atrophy Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD), which is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss over the age of 65, and advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a genetic disorder that causes tunnel vision and eventual blindness. There are no U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatments to restore vision loss in Dry AMD or RP.

The company's novel mechanism of action is designed for direct chemical conversion of fibroblasts into other cell types using a cocktail of small molecules in an 11-day chemical conversion process. Pre-clinical studies have shown efficacy in blind mice that demonstrated vision restoration. CiRC Biosciences has provisional patent applications to protect its platform.

"Our technology transforms ordinary skin cells into specialized retinal cells using a cocktail of small molecules," said Sai Chavala, M.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer of CiRC Biosciences. "This process is potentially safer, quicker, more cost effective and easier to manufacturer than using traditional stem cells. Working with Paragon Biosciences to build and advance CiRC Biosciences provides us the opportunity to efficiently progress this technology through research and development stages.

CiRC Biosciences first reported its discovery in the highly respected scientific journal Nature (April 15, 2020). A recently published New England Journal of Medicine article (Nov. 5, 2020)discussed CiRC's technology of using chemically induced cells to restore retinal function. The article concluded, "The new and emerging strategies for the rescue, regeneration, and replacement of photoreceptors suggest a bright future in the fight to preserve and restore vision in blinding eye diseases."

The abstract in Nature is available here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2201-4

Access to the NEJM article is available here: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcibr2027602

About CiRC Biosciences CiRC Biosciences is a privately held cell therapy company dedicated to developing treatments for serious diseases with high, unmet needs with an initial focus on the eye. Currently it is pre-clinical phase for Geographic Atrophy Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD) and advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). CiRC Biosciences is a portfolio company of Paragon Biosciences. Visit our website: https://circbiosciences.com/.

About Paragon Biosciences Paragon is a life science innovator that creates, invests in and builds life science companies in biopharmaceuticals, cell and gene therapy and synthetic biology utilizing artificial intelligence. The company's current portfolio includes Castle Creek Biosciences, CiRC Biosciences, Emalex Biosciences, Evozyne, Harmony Biosciences, Qlarity Imaging, Skyline Biosciences, and a consistent flow of incubating companies created and supported by the replicable Paragon Innovation Capital model. Paragon stands at the intersection of human need, life science, and company creation. For more information, please visit https://paragonbiosci.com/.

Media Contact:

Evelyn M. O'Connor Paragon Biosciences 312-847-1335 [emailprotected]

SOURCE Paragon Biosciences

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Paragon Biosciences Launches CiRC Biosciences to Expand Cell and Gene Therapy Platform - PRNewswire

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As we continue to stare down several more weeks of winter (or more, pending what Punxsutawney Phil determines in a few days), its more important now than ever to take care of our winter-worn skin and hair. And under quarantine where, lets face it, a lot of us have been skipping certain steps in our self-care routines, having the kind of products that can not only protect but help restore some neglected areas is all the more important.

You (and your skin) are in luck: M3 Naturals has a wide range of personal care products perfect to help you feel and look better with every scrub, lather and shampoo. And today only, you can get up to 60 percent off these Amazon best-sellers.

Whether youre looking to battle wrinkles, clear up your skin, or just treat yourself in the shower, make sure to grab these before the deal ends its only for today.

With over 13,000 five-star reviews, this salt scrub boasts a plethora of good-for-your-skin benefits, from detoxifying and clearing to anti-aging, thanks to the potent blend of collagen and stem cells in the formula. Plus, natural ingredients like lychee fruit and sweet almond oil make it great for cleansing. Even better? Its made in the USA.

Shoppers cant get enough of the scrub, with one reviewer raving: Worth every penny! SO HAPPY I BOUGHT! adding, I love the relaxing feeling I get Scrubbing in the shower I instantly feel better.. all dead skin gone and left with super soft amazing looking skin!

Shop it: M3 Himalayan Salt Scrub, $14 (was $33), amazon.com

Battling crows feet and fine lines around your eyes? Just a few dabs once or twice a day can help reduce wrinkles, puffiness, or dark circles. With a combination of hyaluronic acid, stem calls and collagen, the M3 Naturals Eye Cream is designed to deliver results. Plus, it has nearly 2,400 five-star reviews!

Story continues

I have had bags and wrinkles under my eyes my entire life, one reviewer noted, I figured I would give this a try because of the reviews and such a difference! It was hard to capture the dark circles but those have lightened soooo much too. I am so excited and plan to buy another when I run out!

Shop it: M3 Eye Cream, $23 (was $29), amazon.com

Hair loss can affect both men and women, and while its certainly less stigmatized (thanks to Charlize Theron in Max Max for showing us that a cropped look can be mega stylish), we still want to be in control over our hairstyle, instead of letting our follicles decide for us. For those of us who want to give our scalp a push in the right direction, look no further than the M3 Hair Growth Shampoo. Its combination of collagen, biotin and argan oil help encourage thicker, healthier hair with a DHT blocker formula.

Hundreds of shoppers swear by this shampoo, with one sharing: My hair is very thin and I am only 39 years old...I have been using this only for a week and can already see a difference in the growth of my hair and also the thickness. It leaves your hair feeling so clean literally all day not like when I use other shampoo products. It smells pretty good actually and it has not left my hair greasy or anything. I also noticed I no longer have dandruff. I love this stuff.

Shop it: M3 Hair Growth Shampoo, $14 (was $18), amazon.com

This made-in-the-USA retinol is designed to be used on both your face and neck, and thanks to a potent infusion of collagen and stem cells, can tackle both fine lines and deep wrinkles. Its not just a wrinkle buster, either: The formula hydrates, brightens, and firms.

Shoppers agree, with one five-star reviewer happily reporting: This moisturizer is REALLY good! First, I love that it comes in a jar where you simply push down on the top and the lotion comes out. You get to control how much of the product actually comes out. (No more putting your fingers into a jar of lotion over and over.) Second, the lotion is thick, but not too thick. It is just the right consistency for a good facial moisturizer. It doesn't have a smell, and it doesn't take much product to cover your entire face and neck. I have only been using it for about a week, but I already completely love it!

Shop it: Retinol Moisturizer, $14 (was $18), amazon.com

For those of us who live and die by the drip of our Nespresso, were prone to believe coffee is nothing short of a miracle bean. But even the most devoted drinker will be blown away by how effective this Arabica Coffee Scrub is at cleansing and revitalizing skin. Not only does this scrub help promote smoother, healthier skin, but the subtle scent will help give you an extra bit of pep in your step. Looks like your favorite bean is just as good on your skin as it is in your cup.

Over 1,600 five-star shoppers found this scrub irresistible, with one reviewer who bought it as a gift admitting: This coffee scrub is fantastic! I bought it for my husband but I ended up using it, too! It really removes dead skin and doesn't leave your skin dry like other scrubs do. It is gentle enough for sensitive skin but works really well on rough patches of skin, too. It rinses clean and smells AMAZING.

Shop it: Arabica Coffee Scrub, $23 (was $29), amazon.com

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) will present this years ISSCR Momentum Award to Valentina Greco, PhD, Carolyn Walch Slayman Professor of Genetics and member of the Yale Stem Cell Center. The prize recognizes the exceptional achievements of an investigator whose innovative research has established a major area of stem cell-related research with a strong trajectory for future success. Greco will present her science during a special lecture on June 25 during ISSCR 2021 Virtual, the worlds leading meeting of global innovators in stem cell science and regenerative medicine.

Studies from Grecos lab are redefining scientific understanding of the complex mechanisms that organize and regulate the skin stem cell niche and the behavior of normal and mutant cells in the epidermis under physiologic challenge and with aging. Her groups body of work exploring cell biology in vivo determined that the niche, rather than the stem cells, are required for tissue growth, that location in the niche dictates stem cell fate, that the niche exploits stem cell plasticity to maintain homeostasis, and that homeostatic correction battles disease emergence. These breakthroughs pave the way for new concepts in mammalian regenerative biology.

Valentina is a wonderful ambassador for the stem cell community and in particular for young, female scientists in our field, said Christine Mummery, PhD, ISSCRs president. She has a confidence and skill to pursue bold new ideas. Not only is she a pioneer in live cell imaging, but she also has made multiple important discoveries regarding the mechanisms that regulate epithelial stem cell function. We are honored to recognize Valentina for her momentous achievements.

Beyond her creativity and scientific talent, Greco has shown great leadership. She is deliberate in her commitment to career development and the training of young faculty and her lab members, and brings tremendous enthusiasm to her work. Throughout her career, Greco has sought out new ways to enhance her effectiveness as a mentor by pursuing education from others, thereby establishing a strong foundation for making fundamental scientific discoveries in partnership with her lab members. She shared her perspectives and experiences as a woman and an immigrant working in science in Stem Cell Reports, Women in Stem Cell Science, Part 1.

My lab and I are honored to be recognized with this award, Greco said. Our science is inspired by the previous insights of incredible scientists that have paved the way for our contributions including the inspiring work of Cristina Lo Celso, David Scadden, Charles Lin, and Shosei Yoshida and their pioneering live imaging of mammalian stem cells in blood regeneration and spermatogenesis.

Greco was also awarded the ISSCR Dr. Susan Lim Outstanding Young Investigator Award in 2014.

Submitted by Robert Forman on January 25, 2021

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Valentina Greco Receives the 2021 ISSCR Momentum Award < Yale School of Medicine - Yale School of Medicine

GlobeNewswire

Fast-Growing U.S. Region Now Served by EPCORPHOENIX, Jan. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EPCOR Water Arizona Inc., a subsidiary of EPCOR USA Inc. (EPCOR USA), has acquired the assets and operations of Johnson Utilities LLC. (Johnson Utilities), making EPCOR USA the water and wastewater service provider for one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States. Regulatory approval for the transfer of ownership was received from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) on December 22, 2020. The financial transaction and transfer of ownership from Johnson Utilities to EPCOR was completed January 29, 2021. Recognizing the potential of the San Tan Valley, George Johnson founded Johnson Utilities in 1997. Under George Johnsons ownership of Johnson Utilities, the area experienced significant growth. Now known as the San Tan water and wastewater districts, EPCORs newest service areas are located just southeast of the greater metropolitan Phoenix area and anchor the Arizona Sun Corridor connecting the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, one of the most desirable growth corridors in the country. The 160-square-mile service area serves approximately 29,450 water and 40,160 wastewater customers in the communities of Florence, Queen Creek and unincorporated San Tan Valley in Pinal County. Were honored to be part of these vibrant communities where values that are important to EPCOR family and community are both the foundation and the future. We look forward to being an active community partner and bringing the kind of investment that is essential for job opportunities and the regions strong long-term economic outlook, said Joe Gysel, President of EPCOR USA. The ACC appointed EPCOR Interim Manager of Johnson Utilities in August 2018 and the company has worked to enhance service and reliability, address public health issues, and significantly improve customer satisfaction. More than $138 million in infrastructure improvements are still necessary over the next three years, including the construction of a new treatment facility and the expansion of another. This is the beginning of a new chapter. We are fully committed to bringing these customers safe, reliable service that is consistent with customer expectations, our brand and company values and were eager to get started, Gysel said. For further information, please contact: Rebecca StenholmDirector, Public & Government AffairsEPCOR USAO 623.445.2424 | C 602.390.5662 | rstenholm@epcor.com About EPCOR USAHeadquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, EPCOR USAs wholly owned subsidiaries build, own and operate water and wastewater and natural gas facilities and infrastructure in the southwestern United States. EPCOR USA is among the largest private water utilities in the Southwest and the largest in Arizona, providing water, wastewater, wholesale water and natural gas services to approximately 780,000 people across 42 communities and 18 counties in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. About EPCOR Utilities Inc.EPCOR, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, builds, owns and operates electrical, natural gas and water transmission and distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities, sanitary and stormwater systems, and infrastructure in Canada and the United States. The Company also provides electricity, natural gas and water products and services to residential and commercial customers. EPCOR, headquartered in Edmonton, is an Alberta Top 75 employer.

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[Courtesy of ToolGen]

SEOUL --ToolGen, a South Korean developer of genome editing technology, tied up with T&R Biofab, a 3D bioprinting company, to cooperate in applying induced pluripotent stem cells to gene correction. ToolGen has original technology related to third-generation gene scissors to cut out genetic information in cells.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are derived from skin or blood cells that have been reprogrammed back into an embryonic-like pluripotent state that enables the development of an unlimited source of any type of human cell needed for therapeutic purposes. iPSCs can be derived directly from adult tissues and bypass the need for embryos.

ToolGen signed a memorandum of understanding T&R Biofab, which prints human organs and tissues for clinical transplantation, to develop and utilize cells that combine iPSCs and gene calibration technologies. "Inductive pluripotent stem cells are an ideal platform for developing gene correction therapy because they can be segmented into various cells," said ToolGen co-CEO Kim Young-ho.

ToolGen has partnered with VivaZome Therapeutics, an Australian biotech company, to develop therapies based on exosomes which are recognized for their critical role in cell-to-cell communication and transportation. The market for exosome therapeutics has been growing rapidly, and many life science companies have launched tools and systems to support exosome research.

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ToolGen ties up with 3D bioprinting company to apply induced pluripotent stem cells to gene correction - Aju Business Daily

If you have cancer and your doctor recommends Opdivo to treat it, you may be wondering what side effects this drug might cause.

Opdivo (nivolumab) is a brand-name prescription medication used in adults to treat certain types of cancer. These include specific forms of bladder, colorectal, and esophageal cancer, as well as several other cancer types. Its also used in some children to treat colorectal cancer.

Opdivo is a biologic drug (a type of drug made from living cells). Specifically, its an immunotherapy treatment, which means it can cause side effects involving your immune system. Its given as an intravenous infusion (an injection into a vein thats given over a period of time). For more information about Opdivo, see this in-depth article.

Opdivo may be a long-term cancer treatment. Your doctor will decide the length of your treatment based on various factors, including what side effects you experience.

Read on to learn more about the possible mild and serious side effects of Opdivo.

Like all drugs, Opdivo may cause side effects in some people.

The more common side effects of Opdivo include:

For more information about rash as well as muscle, bone, and joint pain, see the Side effects explained section below.

Certain side effects may be more common if other cancer drugs, such as ipilimumab (Yervoy), are part of your treatment plan. You may have a higher risk for certain side effects depending on the type of cancer you have.

Talk with your doctor about your risk for side effects, given your specific treatment plan. Also tell them about any side effect symptoms you may have.

Learn more about Opdivos side effects in the next sections.

You may experience mild side effects with Opdivo, such as:

For more information about muscle, bone, and joint pain, see the Side effects explained section below.

Opdivo may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the Opdivo Medication Guide for details.

Opdivos mild side effects should be manageable, and theyll likely go away during your treatment. But some could also be signs of more serious side effects.

If any side effects bother you, get worse, or dont go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Try to keep all of your appointments to get Opdivo unless your doctor stops your treatment.

Opdivo may cause serious side effects. While these are generally rare, some people may be at higher risk for certain serious side effects. For example, your risk for some side effects may increase if youre receiving both Opdivo and other drugs for your cancer.

Call your doctor right away if youre having any new or worsening symptoms. If your symptoms feel life threatening, call 911 or get emergency medical care right away.

Serious side effects can include:

For more information on hepatitis, type 1 diabetes, and allergic reaction, see the Side effects explained section below.

Talk with your doctor about your risk for serious side effects. Also let them know about any concerns you may have.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Opdivos side effects.

No, Opdivo shouldnt cause confusion. In clinical studies of Opdivo, confusion wasnt a reported side effect.

However, confusion may be a symptom of rare, serious side effects of Opdivo, such as:

Also, Opdivo can cause hyponatremia (low blood sodium levels). Confusion is a symptom of this condition, which was a common side effect in certain clinical studies of Opdivo.

If youre feeling disoriented or having trouble thinking clearly during Opdivo treatment, contact your doctor right away.

In clinical studies of Opdivo as a melanoma treatment, reported side effects were similar to those researchers found when looking at the drug to treat other cancers.

However, Opdivo isnt always used alone to treat melanoma. The risk of side effects may differ depending on your treatment plan. For more information, see the Opdivo Medication Guide.

If youre receiving Opdivo infusions to treat melanoma, ask your doctor about your side effect risks.

Side effects with Opdivo can happen at any time, including after stopping treatment.

For example, severe reactions have happened during Opdivo infusions. However, these are rare compared with mild or moderate infusion-related reactions. Some people have had reactions within 2 days after their infusion, although these are rare as well.

Opdivo may cause your immune system to attack healthy tissues or organs. This can happen anytime during or after stopping Opdivo treatment.

Symptoms of a severe reaction that may happen during an Opdivo infusion can include:

If you have these or other symptoms during an Opdivo infusion, immediately tell the healthcare provider who is giving you the infusion.

Though rare, people have had reactions up to 2 days after their infusion. You should watch for any new or bothersome symptoms on the days between your infusions, too.

If you have a severe reaction, your healthcare provider may stop your Opdivo infusion. If you have a mild or moderate reaction during your infusion, they may slow the rate of infusion or pause it to help manage your symptoms.

Yes, it can. For example, Opdivo treatment could increase your risk for pneumonia. Pneumonia is a serious infection of the air sacs in one or both of your lungs.

In clinical studies for certain cancers, pneumonia was one of the more common serious reactions when Opdivo was used alone or with the cancer drug ipilimumab (Yervoy).

In clinical studies for certain cancers, rare but fatal infections have also occurred when Opdivo was used alone or with other cancer drugs.

Upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold, is a common side effect of Opdivo. Though upper respiratory tract infections arent usually serious, they can lead to secondary infections such as pneumonia.

See your doctor if you have any infection symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath, or fever.

Learn more about some of the side effects Opdivo may cause.

You may have painful joints from treatment with Opdivo. Joint pain is a common side effect of the drug.

Muscle, back, and bone pain are also common side effects of Opdivo.

Opdivo can cause your immune system to attack healthy tissues, even after youve stopped the drug. This can happen to any part of your body, including your joints. Rarely, arthritis (swelling in your joints) has occurred with Opdivo treatment.

If youre experiencing pain in your joints or other areas of your body during or after Opdivo treatment, talk with your doctor. They can check your symptoms and suggest ways you can manage them.

For mild joint pain, they may recommend you take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). They may also suggest applying ice packs or warm compresses to your joints.

Rash is a common side effect of Opdivo.

In rare cases, Opdivo may cause a severe skin reaction, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome. It may also result in allergic reactions, which may be mild or serious. Rash can be a symptom of both of these reactions.

During and after Opdivo treatment, contact your doctor if you have a rash that bothers you, gets worse, or doesnt go away. Get emergency medical care right away if you have blisters, peeling skin, or rash accompanied by fever, swelling, or trouble breathing. These could be signs of a severe, life threatening reaction.

If your symptoms are mild to moderate, your doctor may suggest that you manage them with a topical cream or ointment, such as hydrocortisone cream.

If youre having a severe skin reaction, your healthcare provider will pause or permanently stop your Opdivo infusions. Theyll manage the reaction with corticosteroids, such as prednisone, or other immune-suppressing drugs.

Though rare, Opdivo treatment may cause your immune system to attack healthy tissues, including your liver. When this happens, it can cause inflammation (swelling and damage) of your liver known as hepatitis.

This side effect may be more likely to happen if your treatment plan includes both Opdivo and the cancer drug ipilimumab (Yervoy).

If you have hepatitis from Opdivo treatment, your healthcare provider will pause or permanently stop your infusions. Theyll manage the condition with a corticosteroid drug, such as prednisone. In some cases, you may need to take another immune-suppressing drug.

During and after stopping Opdivo treatment, tell your doctor if you have any symptoms of hepatitis, such as:

Rarely, Opdivo may cause type 1 diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, your blood glucose (sugar) level becomes too high because your pancreas isnt releasing insulin. If untreated, this can lead to serious complications. An example is diabetic ketoacidosis (high levels of blood acids called ketones), which can be fatal.

Your doctor may check your blood glucose level while youre getting Opdivo. During and after your treatment, watch for any diabetes or ketoacidosis symptoms, such as:

Remember, high blood glucose can cause severe complications. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor or get medical care right away.

Like most drugs, Opdivo can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild skin rash or itching, call your doctor right away. They may suggest an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or a topical product, like hydrocortisone cream, to manage your allergic reaction.

If your doctor confirms you had a mild allergic reaction to Opdivo, theyll decide if you should continue receiving this drug.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you had a serious allergic reaction to Opdivo, theyll stop your Opdivo treatment and decide if another cancer treatment is right for you.

During your Opdivo treatment, consider keeping notes on any side effects youre having. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful to do when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things like:

Sharing such notes with your doctor will help your doctor learn more about how Opdivo affects you. Your doctor can also use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Opdivo may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Opdivo. Factors to consider include those mentioned below.

Stem cell or organ transplant. Opdivo treatment before or after an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (transplant of blood-forming cells from a genetic match) could cause serious or fatal problems.

If youre planning a stem cell transplant or have had one, talk with your doctor about the safety of Opdivo treatment. Also tell your doctor if youve received an organ transplant.

Allergic reaction. If youve had an allergic reaction to Opdivo or any of its ingredients, Opdivo shouldnt be part of your cancer treatment. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

Immune system problems. With Opdivo treatment, your immune system may attack healthy tissues.

Before starting Opdivo, tell your doctor if you have an autoimmune or inflammatory condition, such as Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus. Tell them even if your condition is in remission (times when youre symptom-free).

History of chest radiation. Opdivo may cause a serious side effect of the lungs called pneumonitis. Your risk for pneumonitis may be higher if youve had radiation treatment to your chest.

Before starting Opdivo, tell your doctor about any past chest radiation treatments youve had and if youve received other drugs similar to Opdivo.

Nervous system problems. In rare cases, Opdivo treatment may cause your immune system to attack your nervous system, including your brain, spinal cord, or nerves.

Before starting Opdivo, tell your doctor if youve had a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barr syndrome.

Opdivo doesnt interact with alcohol.

However, alcohol can harm your liver. In rare cases, Opdivo can cause inflammation (swelling and damage) of your liver known as hepatitis. Opdivo can be used to treat some liver cancers.

Ask your doctor if its safe to consume alcohol while being treated with Opdivo.

Its unsafe to be treated with Opdivo during pregnancy. If youre able to become pregnant, youll need to get a pregnancy test before starting Opdivo to make sure youre not pregnant.

Youll also need to use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 5 months after your last infusion.

Opdivos manufacturer hasnt given recommendations about contraception for people taking Opdivo who have a partner who can become pregnant. If you have questions or concerns about this, talk with your doctor.

Its unknown if Opdivo is safe to use while breastfeeding. You shouldnt breastfeed during Opdivo treatment or for at least 5 months after your last infusion.

Before starting Opdivo, talk with your doctor about safe ways to feed your child.

Opdivo may help treat your type of cancer. At the same time, it can put you at risk for rare but serious side effects. However, most common symptoms of Opdivo are mild or manageable.

If youre wondering about Opdivos side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Ask questions to get the answers you need to feel confident about your cancer treatment. Here are a few to get you started:

My doctor said thyroid problems are possible serious side effects of Opdivo. What symptoms should I watch for?

Opdivo may cause your immune system to attack your thyroid gland, resulting in thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland). Though thyroiditis isnt usually serious, it can lead to hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) or hyperthyroidism (high thyroid levels).

Hypothyroidism may happen more often, especially when Opdivo is used with ipilimumab (Yervoy).

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include increased weight, fatigue (lack of energy), and feeling cold. They also include a slow heart rate, depression, and a puffy face.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include a fast heart rate, high blood pressure, shaking hands, and trouble sleeping.

Call your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms. They may pause or stop your Opdivo treatment depending on how severe the side effect is. Your doctor may also recommend that you take other medication to treat your hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Read more here:
Opdivo Side Effects: What They Are and How to Manage Them - Healthline

Lets get into the science behind it: As hair is being formed, melanocytes inject pigment into keratinocytesthe cells containing keratinwhich is the protein making up hair, skin and nails, says Wayne, NJ plastic surgeon and hair specialist Jeffrey B. Wise, MD. Over time, melanocytes continue to inject pigment into the hairs keratin, which is where hair gets its color. In the aging process, melanocytes slow down and eventually stop secreting melanin, which causes a lack of pigment, and the hair turns gray.

According to Chicago dermatologist Dr. Quenby Erickson, going gray is programmed in our genetic code, which means we can get clues as to how extensively and when it will happen by looking at our parents. However, a 2020 study published in Science Daily shows there may also be a link between stress and gray hair. When testing on mice, researchers found that the type of nerve involved in the fight-or-flight response causes permanent damage to the pigment-regenerating stem cells in the hair follicle. The study makes perfect sense, says Dr. Wise. Stress is a huge factor in premature aging, as well as hair thinning. Naturally, it should also affect hair graying as well. There is also a lot of evidence that shows smoking cigarettes plays a role in making hair go gray earlier.

Color isnt always the only factor either; textural changes can ensue as well. Some people are blessed with gorgeous gray hair, but for most of us, the gray is accompanied with thinning and rougher texture that leave our hair finer and harder to style, Dr. Erickson says. There are no proven ways to prevent hair from turning gray, but both Drs. Erickson and Wise have seen some promising results from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Because these treatments are aimed at waking up your own stem cells, they could potentially reinvigorate melanocyte production as well, explains Dr. Wise. We have seen growth of darker, thicker hairs on some of our stem cell therapy patients, even though the original goal was to combat thinning. Treatment results are dependent on the patients individual conditions, so realistic expectations should be set by your doctor.

Celebrity colorists Chad Kenyon and Rita Hazan say none of their clients embraced their grays during quarantine, or they tried, but caved eventually. For those in camp cover them up, topical dyes and root concealers can help camouflage. The process to cover gray hair is the same on both blonds and darker shades, but my clients with lighter hair can go longer in between touch-ups because gray hairs blend with blond hairs more easily, says Kenyon. Celebrity colorist Aura Friedman often suggests adding a darker pepper tone to silver hair for people who feel more comfortable being darker, but dont want the two-, three- or four-week regrowth touch-up thats needed.

For those who want to permanently cover their grays at home, Nikki Lee, celebrity colorist and cofounder of Nine Zero One Salon, recommends Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme ($8). There are more than 75 shades and you can easily find your match using a virtual shade selector, she says. If DIY color makes you nervous, temporary root sprays are great to use in between salon appointments.

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Why Hair Goes Gray, and How to Cover It If You Want To - NewBeauty Magazine

PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the tide in the global fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, may soon begin to turn. Last month, three pharmaceutical companies announced promising results from vaccine trials. Countries around the world are now poised to begin the largest mass vaccination campaigns since the 1950s. Researchers led by Dr. Dan Barouch of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center used monkeys to look at levels of antibodies and immune cells required to prevent reinfection with the virus. NIH said some questions remainabout what types and amounts of immune system components are needed to produce long-term immunity against SARS-CoV-2. This information would be valuable both for tracking the effectiveness of vaccines and designing new ones in the future. It said that This finding suggests that T cells are needed for long-term protection from the virus. "Antibodies alone can protect, including at relatively low levels, but T cells are also helpful if antibody levels are insufficient," Barouch says. "Such knowledge will be important in the development of next generation vaccines, antibody-based therapeutics, and public health strategies for COVID-19."Active biotech companies in the Covid-19 developments this week include Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRNE), BioVaxys Technology Corp. (OTCPK: LMNGF) (CSE: BIOV), INOVIO (NASDAQ: INO), CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY), Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX).

BMJ. Com reportedon a similar test but humans were the patients here, to find out how long the T Cells last after an infection. The results were that Robust cellular immunity persists for at least for six months after even mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, research has shown. The study of 100 people showed that all had a cellular immune response against SARS-CoV-2 six months after infection although the size of response was 50% higher in those who had experienced symptomatic disease. There has been concern that the cellular immune response following covid-19 infection may not be sustained. "This data is reassuring," lead study author Paul Moss, from the University of Birmingham, told a Science Media Centre briefing on 2 November. "However, it does not mean that people cannot be re-infected. We need to have much larger population studies to show that." Moss also added that the findings "can't be taken as confirmation that an 'immunity passport' would be feasible."

BioVaxys Technology Corp. (OTCPK: LMNGF) (CSE: BIOV.CNQ) BREAKING NEWS: COVID-T CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INITIATED REGULATORY ADVISORY GROUP ENGAGED - BioVaxys Technology Corp. ("BioVaxys") is pleased to announce that it has initiated the clinical development program for Covid-T, the Company's novel diagnostic platform for detecting T-cell activity. The US Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has tentatively agreed to permit that BioVaxys can file for a pre-Emergency Use Authorization ("EUA") for Covid-T. Under an EUA, FDA may allow the use of unapproved medical products, or unapproved uses of approved medical products in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions when certain statutory criteria have been met, including that there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.

Covid-T addresses an unmet need for a low-cost, easy-to-administer, and accurate tool to test for the presence of T-cells which may offer lasting protection against SARS-CoV-2.

It is believed that detection of T-cells can potentially identify safe and/or at-risk populations. Covid-T also provides an ability to evaluate the effectiveness of any SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate in stimulating T-cell immunity. Mass availability of Covid-T would complement antibody testing and various public health risk mitigation strategies.

James Passin, CEO of BioVaxys, stated, "We believe that our low cost, scalable, easy-to-administer test for T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 may help solve the urgent global public health crisis of prioritizing the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines; we look forward to rapidly advancing Covid-T towards commercialization."Current methods of measuring T-cell immunity require drawing blood from the test subject, followed by a time-consuming and expensive analysis of the blood sample at laboratories possessing specialized equipment.

Covid-T is based on the well-established concept of Delayed Type Hypersensitivity ("DTH"), the oldest and most reliable test of human T lymphocyte function. The process involves an intradermal "skin prick" of an immunogenic composition of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein, where an inflammatory response develops 24-72 hours after skin exposure to the s-spike antigen.

BioVaxys anticipates that once clinical testing is complete, Covid-T would have the potential for detecting differences in T-cell responses between the original SARS-CoVC-2 virus and the two new strains of SARS-Cov-2 the had originally been identified in the UK and South Africa---B.1.1.7 and 501Y.V2, respectively--- but which are spreading worldwide.

"Although our vaccine programs are of major importance to us, Covid-T is a priority for BioVaxys, especially given the unmet need for such a simple, disposable, and accurate tool to test for the presence of T-cells against SARS-CoV-2," says BioVaxys President and Chief Operating Officer Ken Kovan.BioVaxys has prepared the clinical development plan for Covid-T, and engaged global regulatory advisory group Rio Pharmaceutical Services ("RPS") of Bridgewater, NJ, to provide strategic regulatory guidance, prepare an FDA pre-submission guidance package, recommend regulatory pathway, and support BioVaxys on the registration filing.

RPS has provided pharmaceutical and medical-device advisory services across the entire drug, biologic and device development and approval spectrum of the pharmaceutical industry since 2000.Collectively, the RPS team of pharmaceutical industry executives offers nearly 150 years of experience in providing advice and support services for medical, scientific, clinical-trial and regulatory issues to clients including a majority of Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies. Read this full release and more news for BioVaxys Technology at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-biov/

Other recent developments in the biotech industry include:

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRNE) recently announced positive preliminary results from its Phase 1b study of human allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (COVI-MSC) for patients suffering from COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress (ARD) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This ongoing study (PSC-CP-004) is a single arm, non-randomized Phase 1b study of the safety and preliminary efficacy of COVI-MSCs administered every other day for three infusions for a total of 1 x 106cells/kg. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety of intravenous infusion of allogeneic adipose MSC cells in patients with COVID-19-induced ARD or ARDS. The secondary objective is to evaluate efficacy outcome variables to give guidance regarding the risk/benefit ratio in patients with COVID-19 respiratory distress.

The first three patients enrolled tolerated treatment well and improved rapidly. Each of the three patients was discharged from the hospital within a week of starting the patient's COVI-MSC infusions and two patients were discharged on the day of their last infusion. One of the patients had been in the hospital for three weeks, unable to be weaned from significant oxygen support, and another patient with uncontrolled diabetes had been discharged previously but had to be readmitted due to recurrent ARD. Each of the infusions were well-tolerated and no patient reported any infusion-related adverse events. A fourth patient is currently at the beginning of a course of treatment, with no safety issues following the patient's first infusion. Additional enrollment continues.

INOVIO (NASDAQ: INO), a biotechnology company focused on bringing to market precisely designed DNA medicines to treat and protect people from infectious diseases and cancer, and Advaccine Biopharmaceuticals Suzhou Co., Ltd. ("Advaccine"), an emerging biotech company with next-generation technology in vaccines, both preventive and therapeutic, recently announced that they have entered into a collaboration and license agreement for COVID-19 DNA vaccine candidate INO-4800.

Under the collaboration and license agreement, Advaccine will have the exclusive right to develop, manufacture and commercialize INO-4800 withinGreater China, inclusive of Mainland China,Hong Kong,Macao, andTaiwan. Advaccine will license its plasmid manufacturing process for use with INO-4800 and other INOVIO pipeline product candidates to INOVIO with the right to sublicense to INOVIO's manufacturing partners. Additionally, Advaccine will provide its clinical data to INOVIO in support of INOVIO's global INO-4800 regulatory filings and INOVIO will provide its INO-4800 clinical data for Advaccine to incorporate into its marketing applications inGreater China. Advaccine will make to INOVIO an upfront payment of$3.0 millionas well as pay an aggregate of$108.0 millionupon the achievement of specified development and sales-based milestones for INO-4800 inGreater China. INOVIO will be entitled to receive a royalty equal to a high single-digit percentage of annual net sales in each region withinGreater China.

CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY), a late-stage biotechnology company developing Vyrologix (leronlimab-PRO 140), a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, announced this month a research manuscript submitted by Nicholas J. Agresti, M.D. has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Translational Autoimmunity. Dr. Agresti's research findings were based on four critically ill COVID-19 patients treated with leronlimab under eIND.

The manuscript Ms. No. JTAUTO-D-20-00043R1 is entitled "Disruption of CCR5 Signaling to Treat COVID-19-Associated Cytokine Storm: Case Series of Four Critically Ill Patients Treated with Leronlimab."

Nicholas J. Agresti, M.D., stated, "We are very thankful with the clinical outcomes for these patients and are honored by the acceptance of our research for publication. We hope this work will continue to advance research to understand how to effectively mitigate the effects of COVID-19."

Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX), a late-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, recently announced that it has finalized an agreement with the Government of Canada to supply up to 76 million doses of NVX-CoV2373, the company's recombinant protein-based COVID-19 vaccine. Canada has committed to purchase 52 million doses of the vaccine with the option for up to an additional 24 million doses. NVX-CoV2373 is currently in Phase 3 clinical development for the prevention of COVID-19.

"We thank the Government of Canada for their confidence in our program and ongoing partnership in the regulatory review and delivery of a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine for the citizens of Canada," said John J. Trizzino, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Business Officer, Novavax. "Novavax is proud to play our part in working tirelessly together with governments, scientists, regulators and others in the global effort to put an end to the pandemic."

The company expects to supply NVX-CoV2373 to Canada beginning as early as the second quarter of 2021, following authorization by Canada's regulatory agency.

DISCLAIMER:FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material.All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks.All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release.FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers.Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks.For current services performed FNM has been compensated forty nine hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by BioVaxys Technology Corp. by a non-affiliated third party.FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

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Studies Indicating T-Cells May Be Needed For Long-Term Protection From The SARS-Cov-2 Virus - PRNewswire

Unfortunately, there arent too many manatees that dont have a wound, says Jon (JP) Peterson, vice president of zoological operations at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla. Peterson oversees the rescue team, a group of wildlife veterinarians and animal specialists who travel the coastal waterways of the Southeast providing emergency medicine to wild animals, including injured, cold and orphaned manatees. Boats are the most common cause of wounds: Sharp skegs and propellers scrape along the animals backs and flanks, leaving behind everything from minor scratches to much more severe lacerations like those Peterson calls sucking chest wounds.

Assess the cut and nearby tissue. Gray is bad, Peterson says. You want pink. If you see dark gray or brown, blood, pus or smell a pungent odor, there is usually infection. A manatees outer skin is tough, like an elephants hide, and prone to close up quickly. Clean, flush and scrub the wound with a sterile solution like chlorhexidine until youve removed the necrotic tissue (you may need to cut it out). To accelerate healing, Petersons team uses antibiotics, cold-laser therapy and stem cells, as well as raw, unpasteurized honey. Use a tongue depressor and pack the honey into the wound, Peterson says. With its sticky, antibacterial properties, honey stays put, even underwater.

Dont underestimate the strength of these animals. Theyre one ball of muscle, Peterson says. Dolphins and whales make less challenging patients. Release healed manatees back into the wild. Of course, unless youre trained and permitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, you should not handle manatees at all. Mistreating them is illegal and can result in a fine and prison time. In 1967, only a few hundred manatees remained in Florida when they were listed among the first class of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Researchers now estimate the population at 6,300, most with crisscrossing bright white scars across their bodies. In fact, scarring is so prevalent that scientists use scar patterns to identify individual manatees during aerial surveys. You can look down from an airplane and see, Oh, look, theres so-and-so, Peterson says.

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How to Treat a Wounded Manatee - The New York Times

As the air continues to dry and temperatures drop, the yearly battle against dry hands and skin has officially begun. New research from Northwestern University has discovered new evidence deep within the skin about the mechanisms controlling skin renewal and repair.

Skins barrier function gives it the unique ability to fight winter woes and keep water for our bodies. The outer layer of the skin, the skin, is constantly turning over to replace damaged or dead cells, creating new cells to reinforce the barrier function and heal damage. The gene regulatory mechanisms that control epidermis turnover remain incompletely understood.

Every month were covered with a new layer of the epidermis, said Northwesterns Xiaomin Bao, who headed the study. The next question is what does that procedure involve?

The newspaper will be published on Jan. 19 in the journal Nature Communications.

GeneticjunkThe scientific community has developed a wide breadth of knowledge about proteins, the workhorses of various cellular activities. Many mysteries remain about the nature of introns, non-coding segments of DNA that make up 24% of the human genome.

Regardless of the general belief that introns are nothing butgenetic junk, they actually play critical roles in modulating RNA transcription throughout a tissues lifespan. RNA transcription is the first step of gene expression, in which the data from DNA is copied into RNA, which is then subsequently used as a template for synthesizing proteins to drive the specific function of a cell.

Based on where transcription terminates within an intron or at the conclusion of a gene an epidermal stem cell will either remain a stem cell or become a specified cell barrier function. Bao said while its well-known that transcription ends at the end of a gene, her labs research found conflicting data.

Future research could have implications for carcinoma research.

Technology critical to the discovery of the phenomenonSkin cells are gaining popularity with researchers in part because of their regenerative properties and readiness to grow in cultures. This allows researchers to apply an assortment of state-of-the-art technologies. By growing skin cells and regenerating skin tissue in a petri dish, the Bao Lab can experiment with this fast-growing tissue to determine molecular mechanisms and regulatory elements within DNA.

Technology development is an integral driver that enabled us to uncover this new phenomenon, Bao said.

The group used a novel genomic technique that maps where transcription stops. The integration of proteomic approaches identified RNA-binding proteins which read specific regulatory sequences in the introns.

The team further leveraged CRISPR technologies to delete genomic sequences in the intron, which provided direct evidence demonstrating that the crucial roles of introns in modulating gene expression.

Before this study, mechanisms between introns to govern the switch between a skin stem cell and a terminally differential state (for example, a cell that participates in forming a skin barrier), were unknown. Most studies ignored introns, despite them accounting for 10 to 20 times more sequences than the protein-coding regions (exons) in the human genome.

The study demonstrates that different genes may involve different sets of RNA-binding proteins to recognize the regulatory sequences in their introns. These RNA-binding proteins help to mature RNAdecide whether to cut transcription early or dismiss termination sites within an intron during differentiation due to changes in protein availability.

We are only starting to appreciate the roles of the intron in human health and diseases, Bao said.

Results of this study could have broader impacts because, according to Bao, the procedures regulating skin cells are almost definitely not restricted to skin cells. Future research on other systems, including other epithelial tissues, will likely uncover similar patterns.

We are extremely hopeful that what weve found is the first step to knowing what we have ignored in the past, Bao said. My students also wish to know more about the RNA binding proteins which provide specificity in governing which site to use to terminate transcription.

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Research finds new proof about the systems controlling skin repair and regeneration - Microbioz India

While the thought of dozens of tiny needles aimed directly at our faces sounds like a scare, microneedling may be worth it for the radiant skin it delivers. As with any trending procedure, it has its pros and consheres what four top doctors want you to know before scheduling an appointment.

It Opens Up the Skin BarrierMicroneedling creates little puncture sites in the skin, which allow for deeper product penetration, says Highland Park, IL plastic surgeon Steven P. Bloch, MD, who recommends combining the treatment with TCA peels that include hydrogen peroxide, exosomesthe healing, skin-calming growth factors derived from stem cellsor vitamins to stimulate collagen and elastin production. Applying medical-grade skin-care products after the procedure offers the best results because the skin will soak everything up much more effectively.

It Stimulates Collagen ProductionAs we age, our bodies produce less collagen (starting as early as our 20s), and therefore our skin begins to lose elasticity. However, Birmingham, AL dermatologist Corey Hartman, MD explains that microneedling promotes collagen production in our skin cells, helping it look as young as possible. Microneedling, which works on all skin types, administers small injuries to kick the bodys natural healing process into gear and rejuvenate the skin, he explains. Though there are only a few procedures in cosmetic dermatology that are truly preventive, microneedling delivers on the promise to stimulate fibroblasts, which synthesize the production of collagen.

ItCanBeEffectiveforTreatingMelasmaOne of the most common concerns women walk into our office with is melasma, says Grand Rapids, MI plastic surgeon Bradley Bengtson, MD. More often than not, melasma is not optimally treated with high-heat laser devices, so microneedling is a great tool to break up the pigment. The procedure banishes dark patches by allowing brightening creams and serums with ingredients like vitamin C to penetrate deep into the epidermal and dermal layers.

ItRequiresNoSkilltoUseAny Tom, Dick, Sally or Jane can buy a microneedling machine, set up a strip-mall shop and offer it to people, says Eagan, MN dermatologist Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD, who stresses that complications can arise if you dont visit a board-certified doctor for the treatment. Instead, he recommends an ablative laser, which also boosts collagen and tightens the skin with much more sophistication.

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4 Doctors Reveal the Pros and Cons to Microneedling Treatments - NewBeauty Magazine

Body Shop stans, assemble! We have collated the best the brand has to offer to optimise your bathroom cabinet.

But before you start shopping, here are a few did you knows. This cruelty-free, British brand was the first international cosmetics brand to prohibit the use of ingredients tested on animals and one of the first to promote Fair Trade with third world countries. Earning its place as a household name over the past four decades plus a cult following, thanks to a diverse range of over 900 products, suitable for different skin tones and types and half of which are vegan.

For some insight, this Brighton-born beauty story dates back to 1976. It was founded by the iconic entrepreneur and human rights activist Dame Anita Roddick, pioneer to ethical consumerism, who wanted to create a high quality, revolutionary skincare range that would be a positive force in the beauty landscape. What differentiated Roddicks vision to other beauty giants was her desire to create the perfect harmony between quality, accessibility, environmental consciousness (starting out with refillable containers etc) and profit. That passion filtered through to employees - and the brand's ideology hasnt much changed along the years.

Helping disadvantaged communities is a brand priority and they have been sourcing their Community Fair Trade (CFT) shea butter from Tungteiya Womens Association in Northern Ghana since 1994. Where 640 women from 11 villages, handcraft shea butter using an 18-stage process of traditional techniques, successfully creating generational opportunities passed from mother to daughter. Their CFT handcrafted paper and gift packaging is also sustainably sourced from Kathmandu, Nepal.

A B Corp certified brand is amongst the 3,000 businesses worldwide to have the highest social and environmental standards for people and the planet. One focus is on using plant-based and recycled plastic (rather than oil-based plastics) and creating initiatives to aid consumers around the world to reuse, repurpose and recycle. In 2019, we reintroduced our pioneering refill scheme, a recycling programme and removed 21 tonnes of plastic from our gifts. says says Linda Campbell, Managing Director for the UK.

The ideals of The Body Shops founder had a direct impact on the direction of the brand. They havent shied away from supporting feminist movements, constantly raising the bar on ethical consciousness and fighting to empower girls and women across all demographics. The Body Shop have spent the last few years initiating and aligning with campaigns, most recently the Covid-19 response derived #IsolatedNotAlone campaign. With the objective of raising awareness on domestic abuse and providing potentially life-saving resources for survivors and bystanders at increased risk during lockdown measures." says Campbell.

If all this doesnt make you feel more passionate about the brand, we dont know what will. And that's before we even get the quality products at consumer friendly prices. But dont let the Body Shop name fool you though, as not only extensive bath and body sup, but skincare, haircare and vegan makeup.

If youre a lover of newness, you might want to investigate the latest drop, which includes Hemp Dry Body Oil, 14, and the Drops of Youth Bouncy Jelly Mist, 16. A gel-to-mist formula protect the skin from indoor and outdoor pollution as well as the effects of blue light from all the Zooming.

But the beauty giant is just as loved for its cult products, from the nourishing glow masks to their world famous body butters (which sell at a rate of one every three seconds). If you want to know what the hype is really about, here is a selection of the 10 bestselling products and why they deserve a spot in your bathroom cabinet.

See the rest here:
Here's Why The Body Shop Is A Cult Brand to Know Plus The Best-Sellers To Buy - GLAMOUR UK