Sometime in the distant past, well before humans walked the Earth, the ancestors of modern-day elephants evolved their iconic tusks. Elephants use their bleach-white incisors theyre technically giant teeth, like ours but longer to dig, collect food, and protect themselves.

Then Homo sapiens arrived, and elephant tusks became a liability. Poachers kill the massive animals for their tusks, which are worth about $330 a pound wholesale as of 2017. Hunters slaughter roughly 20,000 elephants a year to supply the global ivory trade, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

But just as tusks evolved because they provide a number of benefits, a striking new study shows that some populations of African elephants have rapidly evolved to become tuskless. Published in the journal Science, the papers authors found that many elephants in a park in Mozambique, which were heavily hunted for their ivory during a civil war a few decades ago, have lost their tusks presumably because tuskless elephants are more likely to survive and pass the trait on to their offspring.

While scientists have known about this trend for a while its not uncommon to see tuskless elephants in places with lots of poaching the study provides strong evidence that the trait is rooted in genetics, something previous research failed to do, said Andrew Hendry, an evolutionary biologist at McGill University who was not involved in the research. In other words, the study shows evolution in action.

The results also offer a vivid example of how animals can quickly adapt under human pressures such as poaching and climate change. Past research has shown that creatures can evolve new colors, shapes, and even behaviors to better tolerate the increasingly inhospitable world weve created for them. The problem is that even rapid evolution has its limits and many species are already on the brink.

Social conflict and the decline of wildlife are often closely linked, the authors of the Science study write. Few locations reveal a clearer picture of this than Gorongosa National Park, a protected area in central Mozambique where Shane Campbell-Staton, an evolutionary biologist at Princeton University, led the research.

During a 16-year civil war that began in 1977, poachers on both sides of the conflict slaughtered a huge number of elephants in the park for their ivory, which they sold to finance their efforts, according to the study. Over that period, the number of large herbivores (like elephants) at Gorongosa fell by more than 90 percent.

Thats not all that changed in the park. Between 1970 and 2000 a period that encompassed much of the impact of the long-running war the portion of female elephants without tusks nearly tripled. The researchers best guess was that it had something to do with genetics: A trait visible only in females suggests it might be associated with changes to genes on the X chromosome. (Female elephants have two X chromosomes, whereas males have an X and a Y chromosome.)

This study all but proved it. The first bit of evidence was that female calves born from tuskless mothers were often themselves tuskless, indicating that the trait is passed on from one generation to the next. A heritable trait is pretty strong evidence of a genetic basis, said Robert Pringle, a biology professor at Princeton and a co-author of the study.

The authors also identified a couple of regions in the animals DNA that appear to be associated with a lack of tusks. Sure enough, There is strong evidence for mutations on a particular region of the X chromosome, Pringle said. Mutations, or variations in an organisms DNA, are an important engine of evolution. If they result in traits that are beneficial such as tusklessness, for certain populations of female elephants theyre more likely to get passed to the next generation and drive evolution.

Remarkably, one of the genes associated with tusklessness is also present in humans, where its linked to a condition that limits the growth of our lateral incisors. These are essentially the same teeth that, in elephants, evolved into tusks millions of years ago.

What makes this study so fascinating is that it offers evidence of rapid evolution in an animal that has a pretty long lifespan 50 or 60 years in the wild, said Hendry and Fred Allendorf, a professor emeritus at the University of Montana who was not involved in the research.

Studies of elephants rarely can say anything about the genetic basis of tusklessness, Hendry said. For years, researchers assumed that rapid evolution was common only in small species with short life cycles. Given these results, Nobody can argue that evolution isnt occurring, even in the biggest and longest-lived species, he added.

In theory, its advantageous to be born without tusks in areas where poachers are active, Hendry said. But tusklessness also has its downsides. Elephants need their tusks to dig, lift objects, and defend themselves. The hulking incisors are not useless appendages.

The genes that seem to make female elephants tuskless also appear to prevent mothers from giving birth to male calves thats why all the tuskless elephants in the park are female, Pringle said. (Some mothers did give birth to males with tusks, who likely didnt inherit the gene.) Over time, a shift in the sex of elephants could have consequences for population growth.

There are also potential costs to African grasslands, which are among the rarest and most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, the study authors write. By turning over soil in search of food and minerals and gouging trees with their tusks, African savanna elephants prevent forests from growing too dense and help maintain grasslands. Thats why theyre considered engineers of the ecosystem. If they lose their tusks, a whole web of plants and animals may feel the impact.

This evolutionary change could have massive cascading ecological influences, Hendry said.

Humans have shaped the environment around them for centuries, down to the very genetics of wild plants and animals. The tuskless elephants in this study are just one example in a long list of species that have adapted in response to the pressures weve placed on them.

Human-induced changes are creating conditions for fast biological evolution so rapid that its effects can be seen in only a few years or even more quickly, a team of scientists wrote in a landmark intergovernmental biodiversity report in 2019.

One of the earliest and most famous examples is the peppered moth in the UK. Before the Industrial Revolution, most of the moths flitting about England were white with speckles of black, which helped them blend in with lichen and tree bark. Then, in the mid- to late-1800s, coal-fired power plants and mills started belching dark soot that blackened trees in parts of the country. White moths stood out against the newly dark background and were more likely to be eaten by birds, whereas the once-rare black ones were camouflaged and survived. In a matter of years, some populations of peppered moths inverted from white to mostly black. The phenomenon was deemed industrial melanism.

Scientists have measured similar changes in recent decades. One study from 2003, for example, found that bighorn sheep in Alberta, Canada, evolved smaller horns in roughly 30 years. The reason? Trophy hunters tend to target rams with larger horns. Another study, published in November 2020, suggests that a type of lily found in the mountains of China is evolving less-colorful leaves so it doesn't stand out in regions where its harvested as a traditional herb.

Rising temperatures from climate change also appear to be making some animals, including birds and mammals, smaller, as I previously reported. Smaller bodies cool off more easily than larger ones, so shrinking could be an adaptive response in warming environments (though its not yet clear whether these particular changes are genetic).

Then there are species changing in less conspicuous ways. In Japan, populations of mamushi snakes that are heavily hunted for their perceived medicinal and nutritional benefits seem to be better at evading predators, compared to snake populations that hunters have ignored. Many species, including plants and insects, have evolved resistance to pesticides, which is why farmers often use several at once and chemical companies must constantly develop new solutions.

Theres something like hope behind the idea of rapid evolution. Humans are deforesting, polluting, and exploiting the Earth at an alarming pace, yet in some cases, animals are adapting to live another day. Theres even a term for this resilience, Hendry said: evolutionary rescue.

Still, this evolution, as fast-tracked as it may be, still often isnt quick enough to overcome the many threats species face. And because adaptations can also come with drawbacks, there are untold and unpredictable consequences for the ecosystem at large.

Plus, not all species can adapt their way out of crisis. Consider rhinoceroses, which poachers kill for their horns. Three of the five rhino species have been hunted almost to extinction, yet none appear to have evolved hornlessness.

In Gorongosa National Park, the ecosystem has largely recovered from the war, Pringle said. Poaching has subsided, but tusks havent bounced back. After the war, the park successfully rebuilt its infrastructure, ramped up law enforcement, and put social development programs into place. The presence of tuskless elephants is now akin to a scar from an injury thats healed, Pringle said. So while evolution may have helped these creatures survive, the real remedy is putting an end to the underlying forces that triggered it in the first place.

Original post:
Hunting alters animal genetics. Some elephants are even losing tusks. - Vox.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

As I travel around the country and go from farm to farm, I see a good trend beginning to take hold as dairy producers are understanding the value of carrying extra heifer inventory.

Since the inclusion of sexed semen into dairy breeding programs, dairies can easily be heavy on heifer numbers. This is an amazing technology that allows us to produce more heifers than may be needed, but when we look at the drain these animals can put on the dairy economy, several things come into view. Replacement cost, calf value, production standards, genetic progress and labor concerns are just a few of the items that need to be processed to make an informed decision on your heifer inventory choices.

To begin this discussion, we do have to get a little philosophical. For the known history of dairy production in North America, management has dictated that heifers be cherished and treasured as the lifeblood of sustainability for your dairy. I have heard over and over, Yeah, growing up I knew I was going to be in trouble if we lost any calves. Make no mistake, I am in no way suggesting we should not have good husbandry for our youngstock. In fact, I would suggest we care for and manage them even better than before but only the ones we choose to retain.

Keep in mind, there is a ratio of first-lactation animals in your herd that is the most productive. Heifers by physiology are about 80% to 85% of the size and the production value of a periparturient cow. So just adding first-lactation animals into the herd because we have them may in fact cost us production in the herd. So what are some ideas to think about that will allow us to capitalize on this untapped potential in our herds?

In the last 10 years, beef on dairy or dairy beef phrases have taken off like wildfire as a way to make some extra income from drop calves or to capitalize on higher prices and better growth rates for feeders or finish cattle. I think we need to bring in another technique from our friends in the beef world and start looking at only retaining the heifers we need. Beef producers do not cull mother cows unless they absolutely must, as they are the breadwinners of the herd. Heifers will be inserted into the management chain only as needed to fulfill a need, whether for space or replacement. If we investigate doing this similarly in dairy management, we need to reverse our thinking and start from the end of a heifers life cycle.

To begin, we need to decide on the number of heifers we would ideally like to insert into the herd every month to maintain current population but not overwhelm the lactation ratio we choose. Dr. Jud Heinrichs from Penn State University has published equations to help us figure it out.

First, we calculate the heifers we need: (herd size[total]) x (cull rate) x (age at first calving 24) x (1 + non-completion rate for heifers). The non-completion rate being heifers that are born alive but never make it to the milk barn. Second, we calculate the number we produce: (herd size[total]) x (12 calving interval) x (percent female calves) x (1 calf mortality rate) x (24 age at 1st calving). Calf mortality counts deaths in first 48 hours after birth.

These two equations allow us to get an idea of our heifer surplus. These are the animals we carry in inventory that are costing us money, space or potential. Opinions vary, but I have seen operations as low as 33% and as high as 45% with first-lactation animals in the herd. If we are going to limit ourselves to raising fewer heifers than we are producing, where can we find advantages? Do we raise dairy beef or do we look at exclusively sexed semen, or embryo transfer for high genetic potential, or should we have cows that only milk and dont get pregnant? What can we do with the extra cow womb space now that we dont need every cow to deliver a calf into the herd?

There are a few items we need to investigate to realize the financials for this management change:

Economically, every dairy is different in lots of ways. Whether you sell extra feed, raise beef for sale, buy less feed, this analysis and change in philosophy may be of benefit. There will be considerable effort required to make change happen and for it to work.

First steps to get started are to use the two equations above, add 5% to 10% for safety and look at exactly how many heifers you need every month to maintain your herd. We cannot automatically say this will work for you, as this discussion is much more in-depth than an article can address. As with almost everything on a dairy operation, quality management and a team approach can make these scenarios achievable.

PHOTO:To maximize production, farms should evaluate their replacement heifer numbers and only raise the ones they need. Dairy beef may be a great option to fill extra cow womb space.Photo by Mike Dixon.

Original post:
Old heifer-raising ideals may not be the way of the future - Progressive Dairy

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Abstract

The results of multiple studies have shown that a substantial proportion of men with advanced prostate cancer carry germline DNA repair mutations. Germline testing in prostate cancer may inform treatment decisions and consideration for clinical trials. There are 2 FDA approved PARP inhibitors (PARPi), olaparib (Lynparza) and rucaparib (Rubraca), for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer with DNA repair deficiency. Increasing demand for germline testing in prostate cancer and a shortage of genetic counselors have created a need for alternative care models and encouraged oncologists to take a more active role in performing germline testing. This article summarizes recommendations for germline testing in prostate cancer and describes care models for providing counseling and testing.

Genetic testing in men with prostate cancer has become more widespread since the discovery that men with metastatic prostate cancer are more likely to carry germline DNA repair gene mutations and the approval of PARP, or poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase, inhibitors (PARPi) for prostate tumors with DNA repair deficiency. The resulting substantial increase in men with prostate cancer who are eligible for germline testing, with time-sensitive treatment implications, challenges the traditional in-person, time- and resource-intensive cancer genetics care delivery model, and calls for alternative approaches. Urologists, oncologists, and other medical providers are encouraged to take a more active role in delivering germline testing, and they should be aware of current guidelines and optimal pretest and posttest counseling components. This article focuses on the implementation of germline testing in the care of patients with prostate cancer.

Germline genetic testing evaluates for inherited mutations (otherwise known as pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants) that are found in virtually all cells of the body and are derived from the fundamental DNA of an individual. DNA from no cancerous, healthy cells (eg, leucocyte or saliva/buccal swab cells) are used for germline genetic testing. The goals of germline genetic testing are to evaluate for an inherited cancer syndrome; to inform individual and family cancer risks; and to guide cancer prognosis and treatment decisions. Germline testing should be distinguished from recreational and somatic (tumor-specific) testing. Direct-to-consumer recreational genetic testing consists of an at-home test that is advertised to help understand the customers ancestry. Recreational genetic panels look for inherited variants in saliva/buccal swab cells to inform genealogy, and they are not primarily intended to guide medical decisions as they lack gene coverage and clinical-grade precision. None of the recreational genetic tests include a comprehensive assessment of the BRCA1/2 or other DNA damage repair genes and are inadequate for medical purposes. Somatic testing panels are designed to identify alterations in a tumors DNA. A somatic test may occasionally identify mutations expected to be germline, in which case follow-up dedicated germline tests are needed. Examples of somatic panels that report germline mutations include Tempus and UW-Oncoplex. However, many somatic panels use bioinformatics algorithms that may filter out, miss, and/or choose not to report germline mutations. Thus, in general, somatic panels should not be considered adequate for germline conclusions; at most, they should prompt confirmatory germline testing. This articlefocuses on dedicated clinical-grade germline testing.

Germline testing in men with prostate cancer is being performed more often since an important number of prostate cancer cases have a heritable component.1,2 Germline mutations in DNA repair genes, such as BRCA1/2, contribute to hereditary prostate cancer risk and are present in up to 11.8% of men with metastatic prostate cancer,3 compared with 4.6% among men with localized prostate cancer and 2.7% in persons without a known cancer diagnosis.3,4

Germline BRCA1/2 mutations are associated with increased risk of prostate cancer: up to a 3.8-fold increase with BRCA1 and an 8.6-fold increase with BRCA2 mutations.5 Men who carry germline BRCA1/2 mutations are not only at increased risk of developing prostate cancer but are also at risk of a more aggressive prostate cancer phenotype. In their study, Castro et al found that patients with prostate cancer with germline BRCA1/2 mutations at the time of diagnosis were more likely to have higher Gleason score (8) and more advanced stage (T3/4, nodal involvement, and metastases) compared with noncarriers. Men with germline BRCA1/2 mutations also had shorter cancer-specific survival (CSS) than noncarriers (15.7 vs 8.6 years; P=.015).6 Men with localized prostate cancer and germline BRCA1/2 mutations have worse outcomes after definitive treatment with surgery or radiation compared with noncarriers: 5-year metastasis-free survival, 72% vs 94%; P <.001; 5-year CSS, 76% vs 97%; P <.001.7 The prospective PROREPAIR-B study found that germline BRCA2 status is an independent prognostic factor for CSS in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC; 17.4 vs 33.2 months; P = .027).8

Based on the study results above and others, the current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for prostate cancer (version 1.2022)9 recommend germline testing for the subsets of patients with prostate cancer who are more likely to have germline DNA repair mutations (Figure 1).

The NCCN guidelines recommend offeringgermline testing to the following groups of patients with prostate cancer9:

I. Men with node positive, high-risk or very highrisk localized prostate cancer

II. Men with metastatic prostate cancer

III. Men meeting family history criteria (Table 1)

NCCN recommends considering germline testing for men with personal history of prostate cancer and:

I. intermediate risk prostate cancer and intraductal/cribriform histology

II. personal history of exocrine pancreatic, colorectal, gastric, melanoma, pancreatic, upper tract urothelial, glioblastoma, biliary tract or small intestinal cancers

Several commercial vendors provide germline testing panels, including Invitae, Color, and Ambry. Further details and information on available panels can be found on the vendors websites. Panel sizes vary from dedicated BRCA1/2 testing to 91-gene panels. The NCCN guidelines for prostate cancer9 recommend that germline testing panels include genes associated with Lynch syndrome (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2) and homologous recombination genes (BRCA1/2, ATM, PALB2, CHEK2).9,10 Broader panels might be appropriate for men with mCRPC, especially if clinical trial participation is being considered. Average turnaround time for germline testing is between 10 and 30 days, which varies depending on the particular panel. The cost of germline testing varies depending on insurance coverage. Some companies offer provide testing for a flat out-of-pocket fee (eg, $250), and a benefit of participating in certain research studies may be no-cost testing.

NCCN guidelines recommend germline testing for a large subset of patients with prostate cancer, but the best care model to offer education and testing is unclear. The traditional clinical care delivery model for cancer genetics includes 2 in-person visits with a genetic counselor, the first for pretest risk assessment and education and the second to discuss the results. This is the most established pathway and, historically, has been utilized the most. However, broadening recommendations for germline testing create great demand that cannot be currently met in a timely fashion by the approximately 4000 genetic counselors in the United States.11,12 Therefore, oncologists and other providers are increasingly performing pretest counseling, ordering genetic testing, and providing posttest counseling for their patients, or following hybrid models (Table 2).13

The provider-led germline testing model has been tested in breast and ovarian cancer but is new in prostate cancer.14-18 Scheinberg et al reported results of a multicenter prospective study evaluating provider-led germline testing for men with prostate cancer. Twelve oncologists received training about the role of germline testing and in counseling patients, and then offered germline testing to patients with mCRPC in their practice. Those patients who accepted germline testing received pretest counseling and educational materials, and later discussed test results in the oncologists office. If a germline mutation was identified, the patient was referred to a genetic counselor to discuss the further implications of the results and to initiate cascade testing. Most patients (63 of 66; 95%) accepted the germline testing and high satisfaction rates were achieved among both oncologists and patients.19 A provider-led germline testing model in the Veterans Affairs health care system was also evaluated. Patients with metastatic prostate cancer were offered germline testing by their oncologists during regular clinic visits. Pretest counseling was provided by oncologists and study coordinators and saliva for the test was collected in the clinic. Posttest counseling sessions with genetic counselors were provided over the phone by the testing panel company. Again, most patients (190 of 227 approached veterans; 84%) accepted testing, and the test completion rate was 80% (182/227).20 Results of early studies suggest that provider-led germline testing in prostate cancer could be effective and satisfactory for both patients and providers.

The need to streamline germline testing also calls for the utilization of new technologies, such as video- or phone-based counseling. The EMPOWER study (NCT04598698) assessed mens preference of in-person genetic counseling vs video-based genetic education21; results indicated that in-person genetic counseling was preferred by men with less education and higher anxiety levels, and it resulted in greater improvement of cancer genetics knowledge. The rates of genetic testing uptake were similar for video-based and in-personcounseling groups.21 Video-based counseling was also evaluated by Tong et al, who compared 2 models of streamlined germline testing in prostate cancer: (a) a take-home genetic kit provided by an oncologist, followed by referral to a genetic counselor if subsequent results are concerning; and (b) a genetic testing station, at which the patient participated in a video call from a genetic counseling assistant for genetics education and collection of family history, which was followed by saliva sample collection and, later, referral to a genetic counselor if any mutation was identified. The latter approach resulted in a lower rate of incomplete tests and a higher rate of follow-up with genetic counselors for positive results. Authors suggested that utilization of video education and involvement of genetic counselor assistants may improve access to germline testing among patients with prostate cancer.22 Several studies are ongoing to evaluate other care models to provide genetic testing in prostate cancer (eg, NCT02917798, NCT03076242, NCT03328091, NCT03503097).23

Oncologists who choose to perform germline testing need to be comfortable with several aspects of genetic counseling and to remain current on the ethics of informed consent and posttest counseling for germline testing (Figure 2). The 2019 Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference suggests that optimal pretest consent should include discussion of the purpose of testing, types of possible results (ie, pathogenic/likely pathogenic; benign/likely benign; variant of unknown significance; no variants identified), the possibility of identifying hereditary cancer syndrome and/or other cancer risks, testings potential cost, the importance of cascade family testing, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) law.12 The GINA law protects against discrimination based on genetics in employment and health insurance; however, it is not applicable to life insurance, long-term care disability insurance, Indian Health services, and patients enrolled into federal employee, Veterans Administration, and US military health benefit plans.23,24 These gaps in protection by GINA law are important to discuss with patients, who may need to consider them before proceeding with the germline testing. Providers should also consider discussing the different panels available for testing, the privacy of genetic tests, and genetic laboratories policies related to sharing and selling of data.12

Providers ordering germline tests also must accept responsibility to follow up with patients if reclassification occurs of a variant of (currently) unknown significance (VUS). VUS are reported in about 30% of men with prostate cancer who undergo germline testing.4 VUS results do not change clinical recommendations, and the majority of them end up being reclassified as benign.25,26 In the Find My Variant Study, 38 of 63 VUS (61%) were reclassified: 32 of 38 (84%) as benign/likely benign and 6 of 38 (16%) as pathogenic/likely pathogenic.27,28 In the rare case when a VUS is reclassified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic, the provider who ordered the test is notified and they are responsible for disclosing the reclassification to the patient. Regardless of the model used, genetic counselor referral is recommended if a patient has a germline mutation identified and/or if clinical suspicion is high for an inherited cancer predisposition. Collaborative efforts are needed to educate oncology providers on aspects of germline testing counseling and to create shared printed and video resources for patients to facilitate informed consent.

Germline testing in men with prostate cancer can potentially benefit not only the patient but also family members. If a germline mutation is identified in a patient, testing for the same mutation in family members (cascade testing) should be performed. For instance, identifying family members with BRCA1/2 mutations could inform potentially lifesaving risk-reducing interventions, eg, prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy for female BRCA1 mutation carriers. The IMPACT study (Identification of Men with a Genetic Predisposition to Prostate Cancer: Targeted screening ingBRCA1/2mutation carriers and controls) evaluated the utility of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in men aged 40 to 69 years with germline BRCA1/2 mutations compared with its utility in noncarriers.29,30 The study enrolled 3027 men with no personal history of prostate cancer: 919 BRCA1 carriers, 902 BRCA2 carriers, 709 BRCA1 noncarriers, and 497 BRCA2 noncarriers. Preliminary results, reported after 3 years of follow-up, showed that BRCA2 mutation carriers, compared with noncarriers, have a higher incidence of prostate cancer and a younger age of diagnosis. The results for BRCA1 carriers were not definitive, and further investigation is needed. The results from IMPACT suggest annual PSA screening for BRCA2 mutation carriers aged between 40 and 69 years, using PSA cutoff of 3.0 ng/ml.30 Studies evaluating the predictive value of lower PSA cutoff and prostate MRI are ongoing (eg, NCT03805919, NCT01990521).

Advanced disease

PARPi. Patients with DNA repair mutations have higher responserates toPARPiand platinum chemotherapy.31,32 In 2020, two PARPi received FDA approval for treatment of mCRPC with germline or somatic DNA damage repair gene mutations. Rucaparib was approved based on the phase 2 TRITON2 (NCT02952534) study; it reported a 51% (50/98) radiographic response rate among men with mCRPC and BRCA1/2 alterations.33 The benefit for men with non-BRCA DNA repair mutations was less clear, and rucaparib is currently approved only for carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations. 33-35 The olaparib label includes a larger number of mutated genes eligible for treatment (BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, BRIP1, BARD1, CDK12, CHEK1, CHEK2, FANCL, PALB2, RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, RAD54L), based on results of the phase 3 ProFOUND study (NCT02987543). ProFOUND compared olaparib with enzalutamide or abiraterone and showed improved radiographic progression-free survival (5.8 months vs 3.5 months) with olaparib. 36 Several other ongoing studies are evaluating the efficiency of PARPi monotherapy and combined therapies in mCRPC. Table 3 summarizes study results reporting response rates to PARPi in prostate cancer. 37

Platinum chemotherapy. Historically, platinum chemotherapy has been used to treat tumors, such as ovarian or pancreatic cancer, that have a high frequency of DNA repair mutations.38,39 Early data suggest that platinum chemotherapy is also effective in prostate tumors with DNA repair deficiency.40-43 A retrospective case series by Cheng et al showed that 3 of 3 patients with prostate cancer who had biallelic inactivation of BRCA2 had an exceptional response to platinum chemotherapy after progressing on several therapies.40 The results of a larger retrospective study supported this observation, reporting that 75% (6/8) of patients with mCRPC and withgermline BRCA2 mutations had a PSA50 response (ie, decline of prostate-specific antigen by 50% from baseline) to platinum chemotherapy compared with 17% (23/133) of mCRPC patients without gBRCA2 mutations.41 Mota et al reported a 53% (8/15) PSA50 response to platinum chemotherapy among men with mCRPC and DNA damage repair mutations (ie, BRCA2, BRCA1, ATM, PALB2, FANCA, and CDK12).43

NCCN guidelines recommend considering DNA repair mutation status when discussing the possibility of active surveillance. Germline mutations in BRCA1/2 or ATM are associated with a higher likelihood of grade reclassification among men undergoing active surveillance.44 Mutation carriers should be closely monitored; they could potentially benefit from an earlier definitive treatment approach.

BRCA1/2 carriers have worse outcomes with conventional definitive therapies. Castro et al evaluated the response of BRCA1/2 carriers with localized prostate cancer to 2 radical treatmentsdefinitive radiation and radical prostatectomyand reported that BRCA status is an independent prognostic factor for metastasis-free survival (HR, 2.36; P = .002) and CSS (HR, 2.17; P = .016).7 New treatment approaches in earlier disease stages are being evaluated in clinical trials for patients with prostate cancer and DNA repair deficiency. Targeted therapies, such as PARPi, are being actively investigated in the biochemically recurrent stage of prostate cancer (eg, NCT03047135, NCT03810105, NCT04336943, NCT0353394) and as neoadjuvant therapy in localized disease (eg, NCT04030559).

Germline testing is becoming more commonplace with advances in precision oncology and expanding treatment implications of the results of this testing. The NCCN prostate cancer guidelines recommend germline testing for men with high-risk or very highrisk localized prostate cancer; men with metastatic prostate cancer; patients with intraductal histology of the prostate; and patients meeting family history criteria. These recommendations have created a need for germline testing of many prostate cancer patients, which calls for a change in the traditional cancer genetics delivery model to meet the new demand.45 Oncologists are encouraged to take a more active role in performing germline testing, but the optimal approach is unclear. Until the results of larger trials focusing on various testing delivery models are available, joint efforts are needed to build collaborative relationships between oncologists and genetic specialists. Further efforts are required to create dedicated resources to support providers in this new era of genetic testing and precision oncology in prostate cancer, which is marked by near-constant change.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We gratefully acknowledge support from the Institute for Prostate Cancer Research, NIH/NCI CCSG P30CA015704, NIH SPORE CA097186, NCI T32CA009515 award, Congressional Designated Medical Research Program (CDMRP) award W81XWH-17-2-0043, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Conflict of interest/disclosures: AOS has no conflicts to disclose; HHC receives research funding to her institution fromClovis Oncology, Color Genomics, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Medivation, Inc. (Astellas Pharma Inc), Phosplatin Therapuetics, and Sanofi S.A., and has a consulting or advisory role withAstraZeneca.

Sokolova is from the Division of Medical Oncology at Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.

Cheng is from the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Washington and the Division of Clinical Research at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center.

1. Mucci LA, Hjelmborg JB, Harris JR, et al; Nordic Twin Study of Cancer (NorTwinCan) Collaboration. Familial risk and heritability of cancer among twins in Nordic countries. JAMA. 2016;315(1):68-76. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.17703

2. Hjelmborg JB, Scheike T, Holst K, et al. The heritability of prostate cancer in the Nordic Twin Study of Cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2014;23(11):2303-2310. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-13-0568

3. Pritchard CC, Mateo J, Walsh MF, et al. Inherited DNA-repair gene mutations in men with metastatic prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(5):443-453. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1603144

4. Nicolosi P, Ledet E, Yang S, et al. Prevalence of germline variants in prostate cancer and implications for current genetic testing guidelines. JAMA Oncol. 2019;5(4):523-528. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.6760

5. Giri VN, Beebe-Dimmer JL. Familial prostate cancer. Semin Oncol. 2016;43(5):560-565. doi:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2016.08.001

6. Castro E, Goh C, Olmos D, et al. Germline BRCA mutations are associated with higher risk of nodal involvement, distant metastasis, and poor survival outcomes in prostate cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(14):1748-1757. doi:10.1200/JCO.2012.43.1882

7. Castro E, Goh C, Leongamornlert D, et al. Effect of BRCA mutations on metastatic relapse and cause-specific survival after radical treatment for localised prostate cancer. Eur Urol. 2015;68(2):186-193. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2014.10.022

8. Castro E, Romero-Laorden N, Del Pozo A, et al. PROREPAIR-B: a prospective cohort study of the impact of germline DNA repair mutations on the outcomes of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(6):490-503. doi:10.1200/JCO.18.00358

9. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Prostate cancer, version 1.2022. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/prostate.pdf. Accessed 9/10/2021

10. Cheng HH, Sokolova AO, Schaeffer EM, Small EJ, Higano CS. Germline and somatic mutations in prostate cancer for the clinician. J Natl Compr Cancer Netw. 2019;17(5):515-521. doi:10.6004/jnccn.2019.7307

11. Abacan MA, Alsubaie L, Barlow-Stewart K, et al. The global state of the genetic counseling profession. Eur J Hum Genet. 2019;27(2):183-197. doi:10.1038/s41431-018-0252-x

12. Giri VN, Knudsen KE, Kelly WK, et al. Implementation of germline testing for prostate cancer: Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2019. J Clin Oncol. 2020;38(24):2798-2811. doi:10.1200/JCO.20.00046

13. Giri VN, Hyatt C, Gomella LG. Germline testing for men with prostate cancer: navigating an expanding new world of genetic evaluation for precision therapy and precision management. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(17):1455-1459. doi:10.1200/JCO.18.02181

14. George A, Riddell D, Seal S, et al. Implementing rapid, robust, cost-effective, patient-centred, routine genetic testing in ovarian cancer patients. Sci Rep. 2016;6:29506. doi:10.1038/srep29506

15. Yoon SY, Bashah NSAhmad, Wong SW, et al. LBA4_PR. Mainstreaming genetic counselling for genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in ovarian cancer patients in Malaysia (MaGiC study). Ann Oncol. 2017;28(suppl 10):x187. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdx729.004

16. Enomoto T, Aoki D, Hattori K, et al. The first Japanese nationwide multicenter study of BRCA mutation testing in ovarian cancer: CHARacterizing the cross-sectionaL approach to Ovarian cancer geneTic TEsting of BRCA (CHARLOTTE). Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2019;29(6):1043-1049. doi:10.1136/ijgc-2019-000384

17. Kemp Z, Turnbull A, Yost S, et al. Evaluation of cancer-based criteria for use in mainstream BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing in patients with breast cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(5):e194428. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4428

18. Colombo N, Huang G, Scambia G, et al. Evaluation of a streamlined oncologist-led BRCA mutation testing and counseling model for patients with ovarian cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(13):1300-1307. doi:10.1200/JCO.2017.76.2781

19. Scheinberg T, Goodwin A, Ip E, et al. Evaluation of a mainstream model of genetic testing for men with prostate cancer. JCO Oncol Pract. 2021;17(2):e204-e216. doi:10.1200/OP.20.00399

20. Sokolova A, Cheng HH, Montgomery B. Implementation of systematic germline genetic testing (GT) for metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) patients at the Puget Sound VA Prostate Oncology Clinic. J Clin Oncol. 2020;38(15 suppl):abstr 1578. doi:10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.1578

21. Giri VN, Bowler N, Hegarty S, et al. Video vs. in-person genetic counseling for men considering germline prostate cancer testing: a patient-choice study. J Clin Oncol. 2020;38(15 suppl):abstr 1577. doi:10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.1577

22. Tong B, Borno H, Alagala F, et al. Streamlining the genetics pipeline to increase testing for patients at risk for hereditary prostate cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2021;39(6 suppl):abstr 66. doi:10.1200/JCO.2021.39.6_suppl.66

23. Paller CJ, Antonarakis ES, Beer TM, et al; PCCTC Germline Genetics Working Group. Germline genetic testing in advanced prostate cancer; practices and barriers: survey results from the Germline Genetics Working Group of the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2019;17(4):275-282.e1. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2019.04.013

24. Genetic discrimination. National Human Genome Research Institute. Updated September 16, 2020. Accessed April 27, 2021. https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genetic-Discrimination

25. Mersch J, Brown N, Pirzadeh-Miller S, et al. Prevalence of variant reclassification following hereditary cancer genetic testing. JAMA. 2018;320(12):1266-1274. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.13152

26. Slavin TP, Manjarrez S, Pritchard CC, Gray S, Weitzel JN. The effects of genomic germline variant reclassification on clinical cancer care. Oncotarget. 2019;10(4):417-423. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.26501

27. Tsai GJ, Raola JMO, Smith C, et al. Outcomes of 92 patient-driven family studies for reclassification of variants of uncertain significance. Genet Med. 2019;21(6):1435-1442. doi:10.1038/s41436-018-0335-7

28. Sokolova AO, Shirts BH, Konnick EQ, et al. Complexities of next-generation sequencing in solid tumors: case studies. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2020;18(9):1150-1155. doi:10.6004/jnccn.2020.7569

29. Page EC, Bancroft EK, Brook MN, et al; IMPACT Study Collaborators. Interim results from the IMPACT study: evidence for prostate-specific antigen screening in BRCA2 mutation carriers. Eur Urol. 2019;76(6):831-842. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2019.08.019

30. Eeles RA, Bancroft E, Page E, Castro E, Taylor N. Identification of men with a genetic predisposition to prostate cancer: targeted screening in men at higher genetic risk and controlsthe IMPACT study. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(6 suppl):abstr 12. doi:10.1200/jco.2013.31.6_suppl.12

31. Athie A, Arce-Gallego S, Gonzalez M, et al. Targeting DNA repair defects for precision medicine in prostate cancer. Curr Oncol Rep. 2019;21(5):42. doi:10.1007/s11912-019-0790-6

32. Carlson AS, Acevedo RI, Lim DM, et al. Impact of mutations in homologous recombination repair genes on treatment outcomes for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(9)e0239686. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239686

33. Abida W, Bryce AH, Balar AV, et al. TRITON2: an international, multicenter, open-label, phase II study of the PARP inhibitor rucaparib in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) associated with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(6 suppl):abstr TPS388. doi:10.1200/JCO.2018.36.6_suppl.TPS388

34. Abida W, Campbell D, Patnaik A, et al. Non-BRCA DNA damage repair gene alterations and response to the PARP inhibitor rucaparib in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: analysis from the phase II TRITON2 study. Clin Cancer Res. 2020;26(11):2487-2496. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-0394

35. Sokolova AO, Yu EY, Cheng HH. Honing in on PARPi response in prostate cancer: from HR pathway to gene-by-gene granularity. Clin Cancer Res. 2020;26(11):2439-2440. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-0707

36. de Bono J, Mateo J, Fizazi K, et al. Olaparib for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(22):2091-2102. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1911440

37. Sokolova AO, Cheng HH. Genetic testing in prostate cancer. Curr Oncol Rep. 2020;22(1):5. doi:10.1007/s11912-020-0863-6

38. Alsop K, Fereday S, Meldrum C, et al. BRCA mutation frequency and patterns of treatment response in BRCA mutation-positive women with ovarian cancer: a report from the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study Group. J Clin Oncol. 2012;30(21):2654-2663. doi:10.1200/JCO.2011.39.8545

39. Chetrit A, Hirsh-Yechezkel G, Ben-David Y, Lubin F, Friedman E, Sadetzki S. Effect of BRCA1/2 mutations on long-term survival of patients with invasive ovarian cancer: the national Israeli study of ovarian cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(1):20-25. doi:10.1200/JCO.2007.11.6905

40. Cheng HH, Pritchard CC, Boyd T, Nelson PS, Montgomery B. Biallelic inactivation of BRCA2 in platinum-sensitive, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Eur Urol. 2016;69(6):992-995. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2015.11.022

41. Pomerantz MM, Spisk S, Jia L, et al. The association between germline BRCA2 variants and sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy among men with metastatic prostate cancer. Cancer. 2017;123(18):3532-3539. doi:10.1002/cncr.30808

42. Mota JM, Barnett E, Nauseef J, et al. Platinum-based chemotherapy in metastatic prostate cancer with alterations in DNA damage repair genes. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(15 suppl):abstr 5038. doi:10.1200/JCO.2019.37.15_suppl.5038

43. Mota JM, Barnett E, Nauseef JT, et al. Platinum-based chemotherapy in metastatic prostate cancer with DNA repair gene alterations. JCO Precis Oncol. 2020;4:355-366. doi:10.1200/PO.19.00346

44. Carter HB, Helfand B, Mamawala M, et al. Germline mutations in ATM and BRCA1/2 are associated with grade reclassification in men on active surveillance for prostate cancer. Eur Urol. 2019;75(5):743-749. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2018.09.021

45. Carlo MI, Giri VN, Paller CJ, et al. Evolving intersection between inherited cancer genetics and therapeutic clinical trials in prostate cancer: a white paper from the Germline Genetics Working Group of the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium. JCO Precis Oncol. 2018;2018: PO.18.00060. doi:10.1200/PO.18.00060

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Germline Testing in Prostate Cancer: When and Who to Test - Cancer Network

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A generation ago, clinical wisdom strongly suggested that ADHD rarely existed in girls, much less adult women. Researchon ADHD almost exclusively focused on boys and men.

However, research now shows that ADHD in women and girls simply presentsdifferently. This is why the myth that only males have ADHD has persisted for decades.

ADHD in boys is often fairly noticeable because they're disruptive at home and at school. ADHD symptoms in boys often affectothers.

They "act out"aggressively, are hyperactive, restless, and interruptive. Their problems are very noticeable to teachers and parents, so they're more likely to be assessed, diagnosed, and treated.

RELATED:6 Common But Often Overlooked Symptoms Of ADHD In Adults

In some cases, this is also mixed with hyperactivity.

Generally, these girls tend to turn their emotions and behaviors inward that inward vs. outward focus is apparent in many of the behaviors, reactions, and disorders that affect both men and women.

A leading ADHD expert in womens and girls ADHD, Stephen Hinshaw Ph.D.,says that girls', and later womens, symptoms include that they "tend to take their problems out on themselves rather than others. Compared with boys who have the disorder, as well as with girls without it, girls with ADHD suffer more mood disorders such as anxiety and depression as well."

Due to these differences in presentation, teachers and parents often believe girls are just daydreamers, absent-minded, "dumb,"or socially awkward.

Since they often turn inward, they "act out" less and are not as disruptive as boys. Thus parents and teachers often miss these more subtle clues and their significance.

Or they focus solely on concerns about the girls' home lifeor depressive and anxious behaviors, missing the ADHD part of the picture altogether.

Recent research posits that potential adult-onset cases of ADHD are more likely to exist in females.

Research has not been conclusive so far however as to whether this is due to the factors explained above that it's just not seen or assessed due to presenting differently or if it's truly absent before adolescence or young adulthood in more females than males.

There's evidence that genetics plays a large role. Statistics indicate levels of genetic impact align with disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Genetic factors are thought to contribute up to 40 percent of causes when it comes to these disorders.

Whether it's geneticsor another factor such as nurture orsituational aspects or all of these factors together in some measure, young, older onset, and ongoing adult female ADHD has been found to have a profound impact in womens lives.

The bad news is thatgirlsand young women with undiagnosed ADHDcan become women with higher risk for multiple social and emotional problems,intimate partner violence, self-harm (NSSI, "nonsuicidal self-injury,"harming themselves through cutting, etc.) as well as have a greater incidence of actual suicide attempts.

Females with ADHD have been shown to have impulsive behaviors that lead to factors likestrikingly high rates of unplanned pregnancies, substance abuse, and other "impulse control"problems.

Research has shown that40 percent of women with ADHD encounter these life events versus just 10 percent of young women without ADHD.

Obviously, these effects can come from many factors besides ADHD including situational factors likeexposure to trauma, poverty, or societal/community harms.

RELATED:Im A Lost Girl Of ADHD

Women with ADHD often site their ability to focus for long periods of timeusually called "hyperfocus" as a benefit of ADHD.

Some feel the eclectic point of view ADHD can bring allows them to be more creative. Many have an artistic bent and believe they are able to think outside of the box more easily due to ADHD.

While self-report tests can try to answer the question, "Do I have ADHD?", most professionals believe such tests are only indicators that consultation with an expert is needed.

Assessment and diagnosis are very important. Most women report a sense of relief and clarity upon being diagnosed. They experience a boost in self-esteem and improved functioning when they understand their diagnosis and prognosis.

Another benefit towomen with ADHD and symptoms of ADHD is understanding that no matter the cause of their ADHD,it is treatable.

Some believe medication is the answer.

Medications likeAdderall (mixed amphetamine salts) greatly improve focus for some and lessen anxiety. The majority of therapists and doctors agree that the most beneficial treatment includes a blend of medication and talk therapy.

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A combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Relational Multicultural Theory (RMT)-based therapycan be the most helpful to women experiencing ADHD.

Research backs up this view.

While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provides a structured way to challenge ones automatic thoughts and choose new ones that better fit our current life circumstances and beliefs, RMT can provide an important addition, especially for women.

Relational Multicultural Theory (RMT) addresses the social anxiety and sense of self or self-esteem aspects of ADHD in women.

RMT was developed by the Stone Center at WellesleyCollege which bases its longitudinal research on girls and women and how they develop and grow.

Their research shows that most teen, young adult, and adult women with ADHD benefit from discussion, education, and therapy experiences that focus on their unique needs as females.

Therapy should include assistance with interactions in relationships, realistic and aspirational relational and personal expectations, and a connection with a therapist that is positive and supportive.

RMT addresses these concerns to help women with ADHD see themselves, their own needsand others' needs, and their path forward in a clearer and more positive light.

This blend of CBT, RMT, and improved research and treatment can help women with this disorder improve their lives and regain their sense of agency in the world.

Though ADHD in women and girls receives less attention than ADHD in men and boys, there are viable options for individuals to lead successful, healthy lives.

RELATED:How Adult ADD & ADHD Can Impact Healthy Relationships

Tracy Deagan is a psychotherapist with a strong background in working with those that experience PTSD, Dissociative disorders, and Healthy Multiplicity from traumatic experiences.

Read more:
The Different Ways That ADHD Symptoms Present in Women And How It Affects Everyday Life - YourTango

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Dr. William N. Kelley, MACP, MACR, Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, was recently chosen to be featured in the Top 50 Fearless Leaders Publication by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP).

While being selected to be published in IAOTPs Top 50 Fearless Leaders Publication, is an honor in itself, only 50 of the worlds most brilliant, courageous, inspirational professionals are selected for this distinction.

These special honorees are hand selected to share their stories of perseverance, resilience, passion and strength. They have made outstanding contributions to society; they have impacted their industries and are respected in their trades. A chapter will be dedicated to each honoree and the book is anticipated to be released in the 4th quarter of 2021.

Dr. Kelley has exemplary brilliance in medical research and education. He has dedicated more than fifty years of his career as a Physician Scientist, Medical Doctor, and Educator. He will receive his IAOTP recognition from 2020 as Top Professor of the Year in Medicine at their Annual Awards Gala being held at the Plaza Hotel in NYC this December. Furthermore, Dr. Kelley will be inducted into IAOTPs exclusive Hall of Fame on stage at this ceremony.

Dr. Kelley earned his Doctor of Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, in 1963 and subsequently served an internship and residency in Medicine at the Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, TX. He completed his senior residency in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr. Kelleys other titles have included Clinical Associate in Human Biochemical Genetics with the National Institutes of Health, Educator to Fellow of Medicine at Harvard University, and Macy Faculty scholar at the University of Oxford in England. Later in his career, he received an honorary Master of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania.

His impressive repertoire of roles has included Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, and Founding CEO of the Penn Health System (now known as Penn Medicine). Prior appointments included Professor of Medicine, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, and Chief of Rheumatic and Genetic Diseases at Duke University, followed by Professor of Biological Chemistry and Internal Medicine, and Chair of Internal Medicine with the Medical School at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

In the early 1990s at PENN, Dr. Kelley, in his role as Dean of the Medical School and CEO of the Health System (the combination now known as PENN Medicine), began to build a broad research program focused on the creation of gene-based medicine and vaccines as a new method for preventing and curing human disease. While the road was a rocky one over the last three decades, he is proud to note that PENN Medicine is now the global leader in this new field. This includes the two recently FDA approved mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Biontech/Pfizer) to prevent COVID-19 which came from the PENN Medicine research laboratories of Doctors Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman. Dr. Kelley is noted for developing the first fully integrated university-based academic health system in the country at the University of Pennsylvania and expanding the Medical Centers regional footprint by acquiring hospitals and private practices, including Pennsylvania Hospital and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Dr. Kelley was known for his breakthrough research and leadership of academic medical programs at Duke and the University of Michigan when he arrived at Penn. During Dr. Kelleys Tenure, the Perelman School became a research powerhouse moving the school into the top 3 rankings for NIH funding. There is now a Professorship named in his honor at the Perelman School of Medicine.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Kelley has received many awards, accolades and has been recognized worldwide for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the profession. This year he will be considered for an exclusive interview on TIP Radio and for the 2022 Doctor of the Decade award. In 2018 he received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2005, Dr. Kelley was presented with the Kober Medal by the Association of American Physicians and the Emory Medal in 2000 from his alma mater, Emory University. He was the recipient of the David E. Rogers Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the John Phillips Award of the American College of Physicians, the Gold Medal Award from the American College of Rheumatology, the Robert H. Williams Award from the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, and the National Medical Research Award from the National Health Council. Dr. Kelley has been featured in many magazines and publications, including Whos Who in America, Whos Who in Medicine and Healthcare, and Whos Who in the World.

In addition to his successful career, Dr. Kelley is a sought-after lecturer, speaker, and contributor to numerous professional journals and chapters to books. He was the co-inventor of a Viral-Mediated Gene Transfer System, now the most used method today for in vivo gene therapy. Dr. Kelley founded and edited numerous early editions of Kelley and Firesteins Textbook of Rheumatology and Kelleys Textbook of Internal Medicine. He was also editor-in-chief for Essentials of Internal Medicine and co-editor of Arthritis Surgery and Emerging Policies for Bio-Medical Research. Dr. Kelley has served on the Board of Directors for many public companies such as Beckman Coulter, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc, and has been involved with many committees and subcommittees with the National Institutes of Health. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society.

Looking back, Dr. Kelley attributes his success to his perseverance, his education, his mentors as well as outstanding students and trainees he has had along the way. When not working, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. For the future, he hopes that his contributions, including support for those many outstanding faculty he helped to succeed, will continue to improve human health worldwide.

For more information on Dr. Kelley please visit: http://www.iaotp.com

Watch his video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uhxBnYVY54

About IAOTP

The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization that handpicks the worlds finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers, and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.

IAOTPs experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve andhave helped in building their branding empires.IAOTP prides itself to bea one of a kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place.

For More information on IAOTP please visit: http://www.iaotp.com

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Award Winning Dr. William Kelley selected to be featured in IAOTPs Top 50 Fearless Leaders Publication - PRUnderground

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A mutation in the BRCA gene can exacerbate the risk of developing hereditary breast cancer

This rise in breast cancer all over the world can be attributed to lifestyle choices such as sedentary living, alcohol or tobacco abuse, stress, increased oestrogen exposure due to use of contraceptive pills, delayed child birth etc. On the other hand, genetics also play a significant role. For instance, a mutation in the BRCA gene can exacerbate the risk of developing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. It's also reported that constant factors such as polluted air and water can be attributed to the rise of cancer in people.

Early detection is the key

Though extremely serious, it must be noted that breast cancer can be treated and swiftly bridged to remission if a patient has early detection. It is advised to start mammography screenings as indicated by guidelines, women aged between 45-54 every year and women aged 55 and older once in 2 years. Furthermore, self-examinations are also helpful in detecting superficial lumps or undulations. Early education and awareness is critical, especially since breast cancer when occurring in young women is fairly aggressive. Any unusual discharge or lumps must be checked out at once.

While there is no definitive method of preventing breast cancer, early detection provides the best chance of effective treatment. When detected early, tumors can be surgically removed to eliminate the chances of metastasis. This offers excellent chances of complete recovery and increased survival rates. Alternatively, a patient will be less reliant on chemotherapy drugs which can eliminate or reduce chemotherapy-induced toxic effects resulting in improved quality of life. Early detection will reduce a patient's financial stress; along with emotional and psychological trauma associated with chemotherapy treatment. Since late detection of breast cancer will require aggressive forms of treatment along with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Up until a few decades ago, breast cancer was managed by mastectomy followed by several rounds of chemotherapy. Thanks to the technological and medical advancements that have opened a plethora of treatment options for these patients.

Myths busted!

In addition to a customized treatment plan for individual patients, there needs to be awareness about breast cancer, especially among young people who believe they're unlikely to develop this disease. Here are some other popular misconceptions-

Myth- If no one in the family has had cancer, that means you are risk-free

Only about 5-10% of all cancers are inherited or genetic. Majority of cancers (90-95%) are caused by DNA mutations that could develop over a person's life as a natural progression influenced by age, environmental factors (air pollution, cigarette smoke, tobacco) and encounters with carcinogens. It is advised to receive regular screenings and mammograms even if there's no suspected family history of cancer.

Myth- A cancer diagnosis is always fatal

Indeed, a cancer diagnosis used to be considered terminal. However, survivability rates today are higher than ever especially with early detection and appropriate treatment. With so much global investment in cancer research, certain variants of the disease are entirely curable, and most patients can live a long and healthy life once treated. Breast cancer patients for instance, have a 90% survival rate if detected in early stages (I and II).

Myth- One treatment suits all

We've come a very long way from having limited treatment options. Plans depend on stage of detection, size of lump, age, lifestyle, etc. Patients today can choose between full breast removal (mastectomy) or removal of only the malignant lump (breast conservation surgery). Radiation therapy could be applied depending on the type of surgery and lymph node involvement. Chemotherapy too could be entirely avoided.

In fact, cancer treatment is being customized based on molecular testing: mutations in cancer cells may help guide a patient's treatment. In the last few years, companies have been investing in the development of prognostic tests that can analyses the molecular make-up of a patient's cancer stage and estimate the probability of relapse. These tests are widely available today, even in India.

(Dr Rohan Khandelwal isLead Consultant & Head, The Breast Cancer Centre atCK Birla Hospital)

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

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Breast Cancer Patients, Here's What An Oncologist Wants You To Know - NDTV Doctor

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The month of October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is now the most common form of cancer and has surpassed cervical cancer. Breast cancer is also now more common in the younger age group with more women in their thirties and forties being now diagnosed with breast cancer. This can also be attributed to increasing awareness on the disease but genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors are also at play. We often hear that early diagnosis is important. So how can we maximize the chance of catching breast cancer early? Here are some points to note.

Risk for breast cancer for women is high if there is family history. If a woman has a mother or a sister who has had breast cancer or family members on either her maternal or paternal side who have had breast or ovarian cancer, her risk for developing cancer is higher and therefore it is important for her to screen more often. Inherited gene mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase risk of breast cancer. Women who have inherited these genetic changes are a greater risk. The BRCA gene test is a blood test that helps determine if you have mutations in your DNA that increase the risk of breast cancer.

Family history of breast cancer increases the risk of an individualPhoto Credit: iStock

A self - breast examination along with other diagnostic tools can be powerful in detecting breast cancer early. Breast self-exam is no cost and convenient and helps understand your body better and most importantly if there are any changes, you may catch it early. A breast self-exam is recommended for all women above 20 years of age. There are many guides that help in a detailed self-breast examination and this usually does not take more than 15 minutes. A week after the menstrual cycle is the best time to do a self - breast exam.

A clinical breast exam is recommended annually for those between 20 and 30 years, half yearly for those between 30 and 60 years and annually for those above 60 years. A clinical breast exam happens at the doctor's office.

Mammograms are nothing but low dose x-rays of breast. A mammogram can detect breast changes so early that it may be years before physical symptoms develop and therefore for a women who is at average risk, a mammogram is a good diagnostic tool, especially when ordered after a clinical breast examination when any changes are noted.

Mammograms are not perfect and therefore may miss some cancers and may also lead to over-diagnosis. It is possible that someone is diagnosed with cancer which is caught during screening which may not have caused any problems at all. There is also 3D Mammogram that is available now that is especially found to be useful in women with dense breasts. Your doctor will help you understand the risk and limitations of a mammogram and accordingly provide medical guidance.

The Mammogram Guidance for a women with average risk as per the American Cancer Society is as below. Average risk is defined if a woman she doesn't either have a personal history of breast cancer of a family history or a genetic mutation like the BRCA gene or has not undergone chest radiation therapy before the age of 30.

To improve survival rates and treatment outcomes, it is important for women and men to be fully aware of breast cancer, understand one's own risk and take steps to increase the chances of diagnosing breast cancer early.

(Dr Simi Bhatia fromSRL Diagnostics, Mumbaihas almost 30 years of experience in laboratory medicine)

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

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month: All You Need To Know About Early Detection Of Breast Cancer - NDTV

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A mother and daughter from Blair, Nebraska, are in remission after their simultaneous battles with breast cancer. If you look through the branches of Amanda Nelson's family tree, you'll find a long history of breast cancer. So it was no surprise to her when she found out she carries the BRCA-2 gene, which makes her more susceptible to the disease."I knew without a doubt just from that history that the risk was very high for me," said Nelson. "There really never was a question of if I would get breast cancer, it was just always a matter of when is it going to happen," said Nelson.Nelson stayed on top of her breast health, scheduling annual mammograms and breast MRIs."So with that breast MRI, it does take a deeper dive so-to-speak out of that breast tissue, just to see what's going on," said Nelson. "It's a better picture from what you're going to get with a mammogram."Then in 2019, that MRI caught a tumor deep in her breast tissue."I believe is what saved my life," said Nelson.Things were already hard for Amanda, who was taking care of her mom, Terry Wulf, after she received a diagnosis of her own, a rarer form of breast cancer known as triple-negative. "It was scary. It was really, really scary to get hers," said Nelson.The mother and daughter's treatments were very different. Amanda underwent a double mastectomy, while her mom was put on several rounds of chemotherapy and intensive oral medications. "That was probably so hard on my body, that that is when I truly thought I wasn't going to live any longer, that that was going to kill me," said Wulf. Dr. Katie Honz is a reconstructive surgeon with Methodist Health System. She followed the two on their journey and performed Amanda's reconstructive surgery. Honz and a team of doctors meet each week for a tumor conference. These experts analyze cancer masses and come up with options for each patient. "These patients need a lot of care, even down to their physical therapy and support teams," said Honz. Wulf's battle with cancer would continue. To her doctors' surprise, Wulf was diagnosed with another form of cancer in her fallopian tube. But, with her daughter by her side, they never gave up, and after long, arduous battles, they both went into remission. Now, Terry and Amanda both ask others to keep a close eye on their breast health. Amanda hopes women can find groups for support and the right doctor to make everything more manageable. "I just want to think, 'I made it through it. And now I just want to live my life,'" said Wulf.

A mother and daughter from Blair, Nebraska, are in remission after their simultaneous battles with breast cancer.

If you look through the branches of Amanda Nelson's family tree, you'll find a long history of breast cancer. So it was no surprise to her when she found out she carries the BRCA-2 gene, which makes her more susceptible to the disease.

"I knew without a doubt just from that history that the risk was very high for me," said Nelson. "There really never was a question of if I would get breast cancer, it was just always a matter of when is it going to happen," said Nelson.

Nelson stayed on top of her breast health, scheduling annual mammograms and breast MRIs.

"So with that breast MRI, it does take a deeper dive so-to-speak out of that breast tissue, just to see what's going on," said Nelson. "It's a better picture from what you're going to get with a mammogram."

Then in 2019, that MRI caught a tumor deep in her breast tissue.

"I believe [the MRI] is what saved my life," said Nelson.

Things were already hard for Amanda, who was taking care of her mom, Terry Wulf, after she received a diagnosis of her own, a rarer form of breast cancer known as triple-negative.

"It was scary. It was really, really scary to get hers," said Nelson.

The mother and daughter's treatments were very different. Amanda underwent a double mastectomy, while her mom was put on several rounds of chemotherapy and intensive oral medications.

"That was probably so hard on my body, that that is when I truly thought I wasn't going to live any longer, that that was going to kill me," said Wulf.

Dr. Katie Honz is a reconstructive surgeon with Methodist Health System. She followed the two on their journey and performed Amanda's reconstructive surgery. Honz and a team of doctors meet each week for a tumor conference. These experts analyze cancer masses and come up with options for each patient.

"These patients need a lot of care, even down to their physical therapy and support teams," said Honz.

Wulf's battle with cancer would continue. To her doctors' surprise, Wulf was diagnosed with another form of cancer in her fallopian tube. But, with her daughter by her side, they never gave up, and after long, arduous battles, they both went into remission.

Now, Terry and Amanda both ask others to keep a close eye on their breast health. Amanda hopes women can find groups for support and the right doctor to make everything more manageable.

"I just want to think, 'I made it through it. And now I just want to live my life,'" said Wulf.

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Mother and daughter survive simultaneous battles with breast cancer - KETV Omaha

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

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MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. (BioRestorative or the Company) (OTC: BRTX), a life sciences company focused on stem cell-based therapies, today announced the nomination of two new independent members to its Board of Directors with industry and medical device experience: Patrick F. Williams, Chief Financial Officer at STAAR Surgical, and David Rosa, President and Chief Executive Officer at NeuroOne. Their election to the Board will take effect in the event the Companys pending registration statement becomes effective.

Our new board member nominations represent qualified and diverse executives who bring new perspectives, relevant expertise and leadership experience, positioning BioRestorative to fulfill our mission of bringing cell therapies to patients said Lance Alstodt, Chief Executive Officer of BioRestorative. The addition of Patrick and David is part of a strategic effort to add meaningful leadership experience to BioRestoratives Board of Directors to support the companys focus on driving future growth, enhancing its corporate governance, and creating additional shareholder value.

Patrick F. Williams

Patrick F. Williams has more than 20 years of experience across medical device, consumer product goods and technology sectors. Appointed as Chief Financial Officer of STAAR Surgical Company in July 2020, Mr. Williams is responsible for optimizing the financial performance of STAAR and ensuring the scalability of various functions to support high growth expansion. From 2016 to 2019, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Sientra, Inc. before transitioning to General Manager for its miraDry business unit. From 2012 to 2016, Mr. Williams served as Chief Financial Officer of ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc., a publicly-traded medical device company that was acquired by Allergan. Previously, he served as Vice President in finance, strategy and investor relations roles from 2007 to 2012 at NuVasive, Inc., a San-Diego based medical device company servicing the spine sector. He has also held finance roles with Callaway Golf and Kyocera Wireless. Mr. Williams received an MBA in Finance and Management from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, San Diego.

David Rosa

DavidRosa has served as the Chief Executive Officer, President and a director of NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation, or NeuroOne (Nasdaq: NMTC), since July2017 and served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of NeuroOne, Inc., formerly its wholly-ownedsubsidiary, from October2016 until December2019, when NeuroOne, Inc. merged with and into NeuroOne. NeuroOne is committed to providing minimally invasive and hi-definition solutions for EEG recording, brain stimulation and ablation solutions for patients suffering from epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, dystonia, essential tremors, chronic pain due to failed back surgeries and other related neurological disorders that may improve patient outcomes and reduce procedural costs. From November2009 to November2015, Mr.Rosa served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Sunshine Heart, Inc., n/k/a Nuwellis, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUWE), a publicly-heldearly-stagemedical device company. From 2008 to November2009, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Milksmart, Inc., a company that specializes in medical devices for animals. From 2004 to 2008, Mr.Rosa served as the Vice President of Global Marketing for Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology at St. Jude Medical, Inc. He serves as a director on the board of directors of Biotricity Inc (Nasdaq: BTCY) and is Chairman of the Board at Neuro Event Labs, a privately held AI-based diagnostics company in Finland.

About BioRestorative Therapies, Inc.

BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. (www.biorestorative.com) develops therapeutic products using cell and tissue protocols, primarily involving adult stem cells. Our two core programs, as described below, relate to the treatment of disc/spine disease and metabolic disorders:

Disc/Spine Program (brtxDISC): Our lead cell therapy candidate, BRTX-100, is a product formulated from autologous (or a persons own) cultured mesenchymal stem cells collected from the patients bone marrow. We intend that the product will be used for the non-surgical treatment of painful lumbosacral disc disorders or as a complementary therapeutic to a surgical procedure. The BRTX-100 production process utilizes proprietary technology and involves collecting a patients bone marrow, isolating and culturing stem cells from the bone marrow and cryopreserving the cells. In an outpatient procedure, BRTX-100 is to be injected by a physician into the patients damaged disc. The treatment is intended for patients whose pain has not been alleviated by non-invasive procedures and who potentially face the prospect of surgery. We have received authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to commence a Phase 2 clinical trial using BRTX-100 to treat chronic lower back pain arising from degenerative disc disease.

Metabolic Program (ThermoStem): We are developing a cell-based therapy candidate to target obesity and metabolic disorders using brown adipose (fat) derived stem cells to generate brown adipose tissue (BAT). BAT is intended to mimic naturally occurring brown adipose depots that regulate metabolic homeostasis in humans. Initial preclinical research indicates that increased amounts of brown fat in animals may be responsible for additional caloric burning as well as reduced glucose and lipid levels. Researchers have found that people with higher levels of brown fat may have a reduced risk for obesity and diabetes.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and other risks, including, without limitation, those set forth in the Company's latest Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

CONTACT:Email: ir@biorestorative.com

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BioRestorative Therapies Announces Nomination of Two New Members to the Board of Directors - StreetInsider.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global culture media market size was USD 5.43 billion in 2020 and is expected to register a CAGR of 9.3% between 2021 and 2028. Steady market revenue growth is driven by rising need for monoclonal antibodies, growing emphasis on personalized medicine, increasing prevalence of infectious diseases, rising investment in research & development of innovative cell culture products, rising awareness about vaccines based on cell culture, and high demand for single-use technologies.

Drivers: Increased Investment in Research & Development of Innovative Cell Culture Products

Increased investment in research & development of innovative cell culture products is a key factor driving culture media market revenue growth. Cell culture media is an important component in producing cultivated meat. Cell culture media is necessary to keep the cells healthy and alive. Currently, most of these media are very expensive and oftentimes deliver inconsistent outcomes. A limited number of species-specific formulations of commercial culture media exists in case of cultivated meat firms dealing with fish species. For instance; in September 2020, GFI announced providing a two-year grant to a research project focused on development of a serum-free, high-quality fish cell culture media, which is an essential move in making cultivated seafood to reach market. Researchers at Virginia Tech are developing a formulation for open-source media improved for growing fish cells. This research project deploys artificial neural networks and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimize cell culture media for better thriving of fish cells.

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Restraints: Cost Prohibitive Culture Media and Contamination Risks

Cost prohibitive culture media and contamination risks may hamper market revenue growth over the forecast period. Culture media comprise various ingredients such as serum and nutrients for cell growth, which makes the product very costly. Also, issues associated with specificity, variability, and standardization may also impact market revenue growth negatively. Sometimes, ingredients procured from poor sources can lead to contamination risks of cell culture media. This factor would also restrain demand for culture media.

Growth Projections

The global culture media market size is expected to reach USD 11.10 billion in 2028 and register a revenue CAGR of 9.3% over the forecast period, attributed to growing population, especially geriatric population, and rising prevalence of infectious diseases. Increasing prevalence of infectious diseases and rising need for development of more efficient drugs to combat resulting conditions are driving market revenue growth. Infectious diseases are considered to be the foremost cause of mortalities across the globe, particularly in young children living in low-income countries. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), diarrheal diseases and lower respiratory infections were included in the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide in 2019. Culture technologies are considered crucial for identification of infectious diseases, despite significant increase in molecular testing, as pathogenic organisms causing disease are required to be separated from other microbes in mixed cultures. In addition, occurrence of an organism is necessary for assessing the probability that a specific organism is responsible for a said disease, unlike a culture.

COVID-19 Direct Impacts

COVID-19 pandemic has boosted demand for culture media, as many biotechnology firms are conducting in-vitro R&D for vaccines and antivirals. In-vitro assessment of vaccines normally requires a culture media for identifying and analyzing the response and growing targeted microbes. Increasing emphasis on research & development of vaccines by various pharmaceutical companies to curb spread of COVID-19 virus is also propelling market revenue growth.

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Current Trends and Innovations

Increasing trend of single-use technologies plays a pivotal role in driving market revenue growth. In the biotechnology industry, use of single-use technologies has become a common practice. Engineers and researchers are utilizing plastic components as an alternative to stainless steel items in biomanufacturing processes. In cell culture production, adoption of single-use is quite essential and these cell growth systems may be wave-type bioreactors, plastic bioreactors, or plastic linings present in stainless-steel support. Reusable or disposable probes are present in all systems that protrude through an interior sleeve or attach to the outside. Majority of the connections depend on separate systems having aseptic/plastic connectors. Single-use systems are pre-cleaned and pre-sterilized, generally via gamma irradiation. Hence, there is no requirement for cleaning, sterilization, or sanitization steps. It saves money on use of chemicals for cleaning, as well as power and equipment needed to produce pure water and steam.

Geographical Outlook

Culture media market in Asia Pacific is expected to register fastest revenue CAGR during the forecast period, attributed to increasing geriatric population in countries such as Japan and China and increase in prevalence of chronic diseases. In addition, increasing prevalence of contagious diseases, high demand for personalized medication, and presence of biotechnology firms such as Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited and large population base in countries in the region are also contributing to market growth.

Strategic Initiatives

In December 2018, Fujifilm acquired IS Japan (ISJ) and Irvine Scientific Sales Company (ISUS). Both companies have expertise and technological know-how on cell culture media. Irvine Scientific Sales Company distributes its products mostly in Europe and the US, whereas IS Japan distributes its products primarily in Japan and various other Asian countries. Both of these firms offer culture media to bio-ventures, pharmaceutical companies, and academia. Fujifilm is a photography and imaging firm in Japan. It has entered into stock purchase contract worth approximately USD 800.0 million.

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Some Key Highlights From the Report

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Emergen Research has segmented global culture media market on the basis of type, research type, application, end-use, and region:

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Culture Media Market Size to Reach USD 11.10 Billion in 2028 | Increased Investment in Research & Development of Innovative Cell Culture Products...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

This article was originally published here

J Virol. 2021 Oct 20:JVI0106321. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01063-21. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 affects multiple organs. Clinical data from the Mount Sinai Health System shows that substantial numbers of COVID-19 patients without prior heart disease develop cardiac dysfunction. How COVID-19 patients develop cardiac disease is not known. We integrated cell biological and physiological analyses of human cardiomyocytes differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of interleukins, with clinical findings related to laboratory values in COVID-19 patients, to identify plausible mechanisms of cardiac disease in COVID-19 patients. We infected hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, from healthy human subjects, with SARS-CoV-2 in the absence and presence of IL-6 and IL-1. Infection resulted in increased numbers of multinucleated cells. Interleukin treatment and infection resulted in disorganization of myofibrils, extracellular release of troponin-I, and reduced and erratic beating. Infection resulted in decreased expression of mRNA encoding key proteins of the cardiomyocyte contractile apparatus. Although interleukins did not increase the extent of infection, they increased the contractile dysfunction associated with viral infection of cardiomyocytes resulting in cessation of beating. Clinical data from hospitalized patients from the Mount Sinai Health System show that a significant portion of COVID-19 patients without prior history of heart disease, have elevated troponin and interleukin levels. A substantial subset of these patients showed reduced left ventricular function by echocardiography. Our laboratory observations, combined with the clinical data, indicate that direct effects on cardiomyocytes by interleukins and SARS-CoV-2 infection might underlie heart disease in COVID-19 patients. Importance SARS-CoV-2 infects multiple organs including the heart. Analyses of hospitalized patients show that a substantial number without prior indication of heart disease or comorbidities show significant injury to heart tissue assessed by increased levels of troponin in blood. We studied the cell biological and physiological effects of virus infection of healthy human iPSC cardiomyocytes in culture. Virus infection with interleukins disorganizes myofibrils, increases cell size and the numbers of multinucleated cells, suppresses the expression of proteins of the contractile apparatus. Viral infection of cardiomyocytes in culture triggers release of troponin similar to elevation in levels of COVID-19 patients with heart disease. Viral infection in the presence of interleukins slows down and desynchronizes the beating of cardiomyocytes in culture. The cell level physiological changes are similar to decreases in left ventricular ejection seen in imaging of patients hearts. These observations suggest that direct injury to heart tissue by virus can be one underlying cause of heart disease in COVID-19.

PMID:34669512 | DOI:10.1128/JVI.01063-21

Read more:
Functional Effects of Cardiomyocyte Injury in COVID-19 - DocWire News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Elephants, which typically have tusks, are often hunted for the valuable ivory that their tusks are made of. Due to this poaching, elephants which are born without tusks have a higher chance of living and mating, causing an evolutionary trend towards naturally tuskless elephants. Photo byMagda EhlersfromPexels.

Recentlywhile procrastinating homework and scrolling through Instagram, I came across a picture of an elephant, to which my first response was,oh, cute! Then I read the associated caption,which talked about how,due toexcessive poaching,many African elephantsareevolvingto be born without tusksalsoknown asnaturally tuskless.

This is horrifying to think about on multiple levels. Although this change in the genetics ofelephantsmay seembeneficial to thematfirst glancebecauseit puts them at a lower risk of being hunted,thereis amuchdeeper issue.This isaharmfulmutation in their genetics that is lethal to male elephants,and is thus likely to have long term effects on the African elephant population.

Normally, both male and female African elephants are born with tusksmade of ivory, and thus valued by poachers. When these elephantsare huntedfor their ivory, they are oftenunable to pass down their genesto future generations, making it more likelyfortuskless elephantstopass downtheirgenes.

This has its own problems, genetically speaking. When female elephants are born tuskless, there is a variation on one of their two X chromosomesthatgives maleoffspringa50/50 chancetoinherit this variation. Male elephants that receive this mutated X chromosomeareunable to survive.Although this genetic variation maybe helpfulforfemale elephants astudyshowed that over a 28-year period,female tuskless elephants were five times more likely to survive than female elephants with tusks itislethalto the male elephant population.

Poaching elephants for their ivory is horribleandhas greatconsequences for their speciesand the environment around them. Despite the1989 ban on the international ivory trade, as of 2015,35,000 and 50,000 African elephantswerereportedbeing poached yearly. As of March2021, itwas estimatedthatonly 415,000 elephantsremainon the entire continent of Africa.Thespecies is endangered, with the most prominent cause being poaching for ivory.Thisissuecannot be takenlightly.

On the black market, a pound of ivory costs about$1,500 per pound, with tusks from male elephants weighing about 250 pounds each. Therefore, the monetary value of ivory drives many of these poachers, regardless of the risks and detrimental effects.

Elephant poaching has immense effects on the ecosystem and theenvironment as a whole.Elephant manure, for example, helps fertilize soilthat helpsplant crops,and elephants play large parts inseed dispersalas well. When elephantsare poachedto the degree that they have been throughout history, it compromises their own population as well as the surrounding ecosystem, including the lives of many humans.

The importance of elephants in the environment and the greater ecosystemmust be understoodand widely known. Poaching has gone too far, endangering the elephants themselves as well as the environment around them, which includes other animals and humans.

In order to ensure that elephantsare not poachedfor ivory, other measures must be taken. For example,synthetic ivorycould have immense benefits to elephant populations and theenvironment as a whole. However, this would require immense research and funding to ensurethe synthetic ivory is similar enough to real ivory and so that its prices are affordable enoughtodiscouragepeoplefrom poaching.

There should be more research, time, effort and funding putinto thisissuetoprotect elephants andto ceasepoachingaltogether. The consequences ofnot doing so are far too great for elephants and for thegreater environment.

Read the rest here:
Protect the elephants - UConn Daily Campus

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

In 1989, when elephant ethologist Joyce Poole began carrying out surveys of three East African elephant populations to understand the impact that heavy poaching was having on them, she quickly noted several stark trends. There was a huge skew in the sex ratio, with very few adult males. Many families lacked older femalesand many of those females had no tusks.

Pooles observationswhich were used a few months later to support a ban on international ivory tradewere alarming, but they mostly made sense. Poachers, she knew, prioritized elephants with the largest tusks. Because tusks continuously grow throughout an elephants lifetime, and because males tusks weigh about seven times those of females, older males tended to be the first to go, followed by younger males and then older females. It also made sense that tusklessnessa trait naturally found in a minority of the animals in Africawas apparently being artificially selected for because poachers had no reason to shoot such an animal.

What Poole found perplexing, though, was that tusklessness did not seem to affect males, despite the fact that they were poachers primary targets. Its something I had puzzled over for so long, says Poole, co-founder and scientific director of ElephantVoices, a nonprofit science and conservation organization. The more killing there was, the more tuskless females you got. But why werent there any tuskless males?

More than 30 years later, she finally may have her answer. Tusklessness, according to a new paper in Science, can be attributed in large part to a dominant mutation on the X chromosomea genetic change that also explains the sex skew Poole saw. In females, mutations in a key gene on one of their X chromosomes seems to be responsible for tusklessness. But in males with no other X chromosome to fall back on, that mutation appears to cause death in the womb.

This is a beautiful study that is certain to become a textbook example of how intense human exploitation of wildlife can rapidly change the natural world, says Jeffrey Good, a mammalian evolutionary geneticist at the University of Montana, who was not involved in the research. Such a deep genetic understanding of complex evolutionary changes in large free-ranging animals would have been unobtainable just a few years ago.

Shane Campbell-Staton of Princeton University, co-lead author of the new paper, has spent his career studying the ways that humans force such evolutionary changes across the tree of life. Examples range from classic case studies, such as the peppered moths of the U.K. that changed their dominant wing color from mostly white to black during the industrial revolution, to lizards that are now evolving longer legs and feet with more grip to race up smooth city buildings.

Typically, though, such studies focus on small creatures that have large population sizes and fast generational turnovers because changes they undergo are easier to observe in real time. This has left a notable gap in the literature that the new paper helps to fill. This study is among the first to show that selective killing of large vertebrates can have a direct impact on evolutionary change, says Fanie Pelletier, an ecologist at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, who co-authored a perspective piece in Science about the research.

Elephants were not an obvious choice for Campbell-Staton, who has mostly focused on lizards until now. But he found himself sucked into the mystery of tuskless elephants when he watched a YouTube video about the phenomenon. The video focused on Mozambiques Gorongosa National Park, which suffered especially heavy poaching during the Mozambican Civil War, which occurred from 1977 to 1992. Gorongosas elephant population declined by about 90 percent, from more than 2,500 individuals in 1972 to fewer than 250 in 2000. Like other places that had undergone intense poaching, Gorongosas female elephants exhibited an abnormally high proportion of tusklessness.

Campbell-Staton was just as perplexed by this as Poole had been, and he soon struck up a collaboration with her and other elephant ecologists. The researchers first needed to determine whether it was actually the selection from poaching that led to a disproportionate number of tuskless individuals or if it was just some fluke of chance that emerged as the population crashed.

Poole, who is a co-author on the new paper, combed through old natural history films and amateur videos to estimate the prevalence of tusklessness prior to the war. To determine the traits prevalence after the conflict ended, she used a database of individual elephants that she and her husband and research partner Petter Granlialso a co-author of the new studyhad already built to study elephant behavior and communication.

The frequency of tusklessness, the team found, increased from about 18.5 percent before the war to 50.9 percent after. In population simulations, the researchers confirmed that it is extremely unlikely that tusklessness would have changed so drastically by chance alone. Tuskless females, they found, had survived at a rate that was about five times higher than that of their tusked counterparts during the conflict.

Using Pooles database, they further confirmed that, with a single exception, female elephants with two tusks had never been observed to have a tuskless baby. Tuskless mothers, on the other hand, had about an equal proportion of daughters with or without tusks (or, in some cases, with a single tusk). This pattern suggested to the researchers a sex-linked genetic origin for what they were seeing.

The sex ratio of the offspring of tuskless mothers also indicated that the genetics responsible may be lethal for males. Instead of having sons and daughters at an equal proportion, tuskless mothers gave birth to daughters roughly two thirds of the time.

After making these observations, Campbell-Staton decided it was time to use a whole-genome analysis to pinpoint the potential genetic factors. Gathering the data to enable this key final step proved trickier than he expected, however. We were going to drive around at Gorongosa, spot an elephant, see if the elephant had tusks or not, wait for the elephant to poop and then collect its DNA, he says. It seemed simple enoughexcept we drove all day, every day for a week and didnt see a single elephant.

Fortunately, another research team was carrying out a collaring project to track matriarch elephants. Campbell-Staton and his co-first author, Brian Arnold of Princeton, were able to join forces with the other researchers to collect blood samples from 18 femalessome with tusks and some withoutthat would meet the genomic requirements for the project.

Using those samples, they identified candidate regions in the genome that, when mutated, seemed to explain tusklessness and its apparent male lethality. One of the genes, AMELX, is known from decades of basic research in mice and humans to play a role in mammalian tooth development. Additionally, disruptions to the same region of the X chromosome in humans is associated with a syndrome that usually causes male fetuses to abort in the second trimester. Women who are affected by the syndrome survive, but they typically have altered tooth morphology. In particular, they often are missing their upper lateral incisorsthe anatomical equivalent of tusks in elephants.

The study shows that tuskless male elephant offspring are not viable, meaning that population decline is accentuated, Pelletier says. Not only do animals die due to poaching, but there is also additional decline because half of the male offspring from the surviving tuskless mothers do not survive.

Good agrees that the findings are alarming. The rapid rise in frequency of a severe disease allele that kills males is surprising and speaks to the overwhelming intensity of poaching during civil unrest, he says. These changes came with enormous cost to the overall genetic health of these declining populations.

Ultimately, Campbell-Staton says, the study speaks to the ubiquity of the human footprint as an evolutionary force.

There is some good news, however. As poaching in Gorongosa has been stamped out through sustained conservation efforts, the number of baby elephants born tuskless has begun to decrease. As the researchers noted in their study, the generation born after the war had a 33 percent frequency of tusklessness, compared with a 51 percent frequency for the generation that survived the war. Nature, in this case at least, seems to be correcting itself. Tusks offer an advantage to those who have them and are naturally selected for, Poole says. If we keep the pressure off these elephants, the rate of tusklessness declines with each generation.

Link:
Disturbing Answers to the Mystery of Tuskless Female Elephants - Scientific American

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences has selected a study published by Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers as an Extramural Paper of the Month.

The paper, Paternal preconception phthalate exposure alters sperm methylome and embryonic programming, published in in the October issue of the journal Environment International by J. Richard Pilsner, Ph.D., professor and Robert J. Sokol, M.D., Endowed Chair of Molecular Obstetrics and Gynecology, and director of Molecular Genetics and Infertility for the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development; and Stephen Krawetz, Ph.D., the Charlotte B. Failing Professor of Fetal Therapy and Diagnosis, and associate director of the Mott Center, was selected by the NIEHS as a paper of the month for September.

The Extramural Papers of the Month are selected based on their important findings and potential for public health impact.

The researchers reported that male mice exposed to phthalates before conception had DNA methylation changes in sperm, which can be transferred to the next generation as altered gene expression in embryos. DNA methylation occurs when a chemical compound, called a methyl group, attaches to DNA, affecting whether a gene is turned on or off.

They exposed male mice to either a low or high level of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate for two sperm production cycles, or 67 days. Following exposure, they mated the mice with unexposed females. They then assessed genome-wide methylation in sperm, embryos and extra-embryonic tissues, which support the developing embryo.

Compared with unexposed controls, paternal preconception DEHP exposure altered methylation in 704 sperm gene regions, 1,716 embryo gene regions, and 3,181 extra-embryonic gene regions. Of these, 29 gene regions overlapped between sperm and embryonic tissues, suggesting methylation changes related to paternal DEHP exposure may be transmitted to the next generation. The researchers also identified changes in gene expression in embryos in both exposure groups compared with controls. Many of the altered genes were related to pathways important in development.

The researchers said their results indicate that preconception is a sensitive window in which phthalate exposure alters sperm methylation and embryo gene expression in ways that may influence offspring health and development.

Others involved in the research and subsequent publication include Oladele Oluwayiose, a doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; Chelsea Marcho, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Haotian Wu, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; Alexander Suvorov, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Emily Houle, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst; and Jesse Mager, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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Report by Mott Center researchers named NIEHS Extramural Paper of the Month - The South End

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Destructive human activity has left a permanent, devastating mark on the African elephant as a species. Over the last few decades, the beloved creatures have evolved to develop without their iconic tusks which are useful in helping them dig, lift trees, and protect themselves in an attack. Poachers had removed and illegally sold them on the black market for several years, and although the evolution happened relatively quickly, it seems as though many of these elephants are now tuskless.

The data that shows the current number of tuskless elephants is truly shocking to animal experts, because it took such a short amount of time for the evolution to take place.

"When we think about natural selection, we think about it happening over hundreds, or thousands, of years," conservationist Samuel Wasser told NPR. "The fact that this dramatic selection for tusklessness happened over 15 years is one of the most astonishing findings."

Over the last several years, increasing numbers of female African elephants in Gorongosa National Park have been born without their tusks, which experts believe is due to a 15-year ivory war in Mozambique, according to CNN. After the war ended in 1992, animal experts noticed the population of tuskless female African elephants had multiplied by three in 28 years.

"During the war, Gorongosa was essentially the geographic center of the conflict," University of Idaho professor, Ryan Long, told CNN.

"As a result there were large numbers of soldiers in the area and a lot of associated motivation... to kill elephants and sell the ivory to purchase arms and ammunition. The resulting level of poaching was very intense," he continued.

Experts attribute the evolution to the fact that female elephants who were born tuskless during the war were 5 times as likely to survive as tusked elephants.

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Many are also shocked that the evolution happened in such a short period of time. This was likely because of how often elephants were having their tusks removed.

"The fact that it occurred so rapidly is rare indeed, and is a direct function of the strength of selection," Long mused. "In other words, it happened so quickly because tuskless females had a MUCH higher probability of surviving the war, and thus a MUCH greater potential for passing their genes on to the next generation."

Source: African Elephant Poaching

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Only female elephants can be born tuskless, and although it had previously occurred naturally on occasion, it's become increasingly more common. And while being tuskless helped elephants during the war, as it increased their chances of survival, there are downsides. According to Live Science, not having tusks makes natural survival trickier they can't lift branches and trees as easily, scratch bark, or protect themselves. It's also harder to dig holes for water without them.

Additionally, it doesn't help with repopulating the species. Due to genetics, tuskless female African elephants who pass on X chromosomes with the mutant gene to their male embryos inhibit their chances of survival. About 50 percent of male embryos (or those who inherit said gene) won't survive.

Since the war, numbers of the African elephant have increased tremendously, but this is a major setback hopefully they will readapt to their post-war state, and get their tusks back.

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African Elephants Are Evolving Without Tusks, Due to Years of Poaching - Green Matters

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Breast cancer can affect men too although it's more common in women. Approximately 1-2% of all breast cancer patients are men yet when it comes to diagnosis, they may face a unique set of challenges. Men tend to ignore the symptoms of breast cancer due to fear of stigma and may be diagnosed at an advanced stage and have poorer outcome as compared to women.

"Men suffering from Klinefelter syndrome (where they are born with an extra X chromosome) are at risk of getting breast cancer as they have higher estrogen levels and get gynecomastia that outgrow breast tissue in males," says Dr Aditi Agrawal, Consultant Breast and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road.

Breast cancer starts in the milk ducts and the lobules, which are the structures containing the milk-producing glands. Male and female breast tissue have few ducts under the nipple and areola until puberty. During puberty, females see increased levels of various hormones like estrogen causing ducts to grow and lobules to form. While in males, owing to low levels of these hormones, ducts, lobules are few and tend to consist of fat tissue, according to Dr Agarwal.

ALSO READ: Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 5-step self-examination guide you must follow

In women on the other hand, early start of periods before the age of 12 and late menopause, after age of 55, giving birth for the first time at an older age, or never giving birth increases the risk of breast cancer.

Dr Agarways says age and genetics are common factors seen in both males and females when it comes to breast cancer. She says other common factors which can be taken care at an individual level are smoking, previous radiation therapy, alcohol and lack of exercise.

Symptoms for both men and women

Females and males having breast cancer will spot symptoms such as bumps and lumps, swelling in one or both the breasts, feeling tenderness, soreness, discharge from the breast, itchy skin around nipples, inverted nipple, thickened skin on the breast and pain. "In males as the breast is small in size is recognised at a small size but spreads fast to neighbouring structure/organs," says Dr Agarwal.

A mammogram and a biopsy remain the diagnosis tools for both men and women to determine if the lump is cancerous.

"After the type, location, and stage of the cancer are confirmed, your doctor will decide on a proper line of treatment for you. You will be asked to opt for a mastectomy, lumpectomy that falls under surgery. Apart from that, other options such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy can also be advised to you," says Dr Agarwal when asked about the treatment for breast cancer.

It is also advised to make lifestyle modifications like exercising every day, avoiding weight gain and eat balanced diet of leafy green vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and whole grains. One should also do self-breast examination from the age of 18.

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month: What men need to know about breast cancer - Hindustan Times

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Wednesday, 27 October 2021, 12:13 pmPress Release: Ramari Stewart

Whales are often named after Western scientistsand after men, but that tradition is about to change, as anewly discovered species of whale will carry an Indigenousname and the name of a woman.

Its scientificname will be Mesoplodon eueu, referring to itsIndigenous roots in South Africa, and its common nameRamaris beaked whale after Ramari Stewart, a MtaurangaMori whale expert.

Until now, this beaked whale wasthought to be the Trues beaked whale but almost a decadeago, a female washed ashore on the west coast of TeWaipounamu (South Island), Aotearoa New Zealand. She was 5meters long and pregnant. The local iwi (tribe) of NgtiMhaki named her Nihongore and her bones were sent to TePapa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington-New Zealand forpreservation.

When Nihongore turned up I knew thatshe was something different, I knew it was special because Ihadnt seen it before, Ramari Stewart says.

Thediscovery was made by Ramari Stewart, a renowned TohungaTohor (whale expert) who was raised by her elders in thetraditional Mori knowledge of the moana (sea). Togetherwith biologist Dr Emma Carroll from the University ofAuckland Waipapa Taumata Rau, they would bring the worldof Mtauranga Mori and science together to explore thenature and origins of this whale.

Ramari broughtextensive knowledge to the project, including leading workpreparing Nihongore for Te Papa. Its brilliant thatRamari accepted the honor of having this species named afterher, in recognition of Ramaris Mtauranga and Westernknowledge on whales and dolphins. As Ramari also meansa rare event in Te Reo (Mori language) it is also afitting tribute to the elusive nature of most beakedwhales, says Dr Emma Carroll.

Initially the NewZealand research team thought this was the first Truesbeaked whale found in the country, but that changed duringtheir work with a global network of researchers. They soonrealised that the genetics and skull shape of the Truesbeaked whales in the Northern Hemisphere were very differentto the Trues beaked whales in the SouthernHemisphere. They have been separated for around half amillion years, probably because they dont like the warmwater near the equator. Its clear that they are differentspecies.

Its wonderful that Western science isstarting to recognise that Mtauranga Mori is as equallygreat as Western science and the two can work together.Rather than just bridging a relationship and takingknowledge from Indigenous practitioners, it is better thatwe both sit at the table, Ramari Stewart.

Thisdiscovery brings the total number of beaked whale species to24. These are the most visible inhabitants of the deep oceandue to their large size and need to surface to breath. Thegroup includes the deepest diving mammals, which can dive100s or 1000s of metres to find their prey. Ramarisbeaked whale probably spends a lot of time offshore in deepwaters given so few specimens have beendiscovered.

The scientific name Mesoplodon eueuconnects the male specimens used in this research to theirorigins in South Africa, a territory inhabited by theKhoisan peoples. Guided by the Khoisan Council, the nameeueu was given, meaning big fish in the Khwedamlanguage. This is representative of languages from theregion, as the languages of people that inhabited the coast,where the whales stranded, are now mostly extinct.

Incollaboration with an international team of over 30scientists, research led by Dr Emma Carroll will bepublished in the international journal Proceedings of theRoyal SocietyB.

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Vertex Pharmaceuticals will develop in vivo gene-editing therapies for two genetic diseases using Mammoth Biosciences CRISPR systems through a collaboration that could generate more than $695 million for Mammoth, the companies said today.

The companies is not disclosing which diseases they will target.

We are focused on developing in vivo gene-editing therapies in two indications for specific serious and/or life-threatening diseases with the Vertex team,Peter Nell, Mammoths Chief Business Officer and Head of Therapeutics Strategy, told GEN.

Mammoth and Vertex did say, however, that they will apply Mammoths CRISPR platform consisting of a proprietary toolbox of novel Cas enzymeswhat the company calls the largest toolbox of CRISPR proteins on earth.

These include Cas12, which targets double-stranded DNA;Cas13, which targets and recognizes single-stranded RNA; Cas14, which targets single-stranded DNA; and Cas, which is encoded exclusively in the genomes of huge bacteriophages.

Mammoth has exclusively licensed foundational IP around novel CRISPR Cas12, Cas13, Cas14, and Cas systems from the University of California, Berkeley, where, they were discovered in the lab of Nobel laureate and Berkeley-based researcher Jennifer Doudna, PhD.

Doudna is a co-founder of Mammoth Biosciencesalong with CEO Trevor Martin, PhD; Janice Chen, PhD, the companys CTO, who discussed her companys technology last year onGENs monthly GEN Live program; Lucas Harrington, Mammoths CSO; and Ashley Tehranchi, PhD, who served as CTO until May 2019.

Cas14 and Cas are the smallest known CRISPR systems. Their sizes530 amino acids for Cas14a and 757 amino acids for Cas-2are less than half those of commonly used variants of Cas9 [1368 amino acids for SpCas9] and Cas12 [1,300 amino acids for FnCas12], offering numerous potential advantages for the therapies Mammoth plans to develop, Martin told GEN Edge last month, after the company announced the completion of $195 million in new financing completed over the past year.

The additional financingconsisting of $150 million in Series D financing and a $45-million Series C round whose investors included Amazonbrought Mammoths total capital raised from investors to more than $255 million., propelling the company to a unicorn valuation of more than $1 billion.

In addition, Mammoth said, it is building out its IP portfolio by discovering novel CRISPR systems within and beyond the foundational work. The company has yet to disclose those systems or other Cas enzymes under development.

The combination of Mammoths unique technology with Vertexs unmatched experience in serious disease research and development will only accelerate programs with the goal of reaching patients with high unmet medical need, Nell added. We believe our novel ultra-small CRISPR systems have the potential to be game-changers when it comes to systemic and targeted delivery of in vivo gene-editing therapies.

CRISPR-edited therapies have been an area of focus for Vertex. Late last year, the company and CRISPR Therapeutics reported positive data from a pair of Phase I/II trials for their CRISPR-Cas9 gene-edited therapy CTX001 showing consistent and sustained positive response in 10 patients treated for a pair of blood disorders, sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta thalassemia.

The companies in April amended their collaboration agreement to give Vertex leadership in global development, manufacturing, and commercialization of CTX001 with support from CRISPR Therapeutics, in return for CRISPR receiving a $900 million upfront payment and a potential additional $200 million milestone payment upon CTX001 regulatory approval. Two months later, during the Joint European Hematology Association-American Society of Hematology (EHA-ASH) Symposium, researchers presented additional clinical data showing CTX001 to have delivered a consistent and sustained response to treatment in 22 patients in two ongoing Phase I/II trials.

We see tremendous potential for CTX001, Stuart A. Arbuckle, Vertexs executive vice president and chief commercial and operations officer, told analysts July 29 on the companys quarterly earnings call following release of second-quarter results. He cited an estimate of more than 150,000 patients in the United States and Europe, who have beta thalassemia, or sickle cell disease, approximately 32,000 of whom have severe disease; plus another 25,000 severe sickle cell disease patients, the vast majority of which were in the United States.

We believe that a gene-editing approach which holds the potential for a one-time curative treatment will be highly valued by patients, physicians, and payers, Arbuckle said. Consistent with our own internal market research, published physician surveys in the United States consistently indicate that they expect a quarter to a third of their sickle cell disease patients would be good candidates for a one-time curative approach using the current conditioning regimen, which is in line with the estimates of the numbers of severe patients.

With gentler conditioning regimens in the future, Arbuckle added, we expect CTX001 to be an attractive option for a much larger proportion of the 150,000 beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease patients.

To launch its collaboration with Mammoth, Vertex has agreed to pay the Brisbane, CA,-based company $41 million upfront, including an investment in the form of a convertible note, and up to $650 million in potential future payments tied to achieving research, development, and commercial milestones across two potential programs.

Mammoth is also eligible for tiered royalties from Boston-based Vertex on future net sales on any products that may result from the collaboration, the first one announced by Mammoth for the development of gene-edited therapies.

Vertex and Mammoth share the same commitment to developing therapies that have the potential to be transformative for people with serious diseases, stated David Altshuler, MD, PhD, Vertexs CSO. We look forward to expanding our cell and genetic therapies capabilities with the addition of Mammoths ultra-small CRISPR systems for in vivo genome editing, which will provide us with another set of tools to tackle many of the diseases were interested in.

Mammoth is also developing CRISPR-based diagnostics, having applied Cas12 in itsCOVID-19diagnostic effort which culminated in the SARS-CoV-2 RNA DETECTR Assay, a COVID-19 diagnostic for whichUCSF Health Clinical Laboratorieswasgranted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)in August 2020.

The 45-minute test is designed to detect nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory specimens. The test extracts, isolates, and purifies SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid for simultaneous reverse transcription into cDNA, followed by amplification using loop-mediated amplification (RT-LAMP).

The SARS-CoV-2 RNA DETECTR Assay was co-developed by Mammoth through itspartnership with UCSF professor Charles Chiu, MD, PhD, who is also director of the UCSF-Abbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center, and a member of the companys Scientific Advisory Board. Mammothin 2019exclusively licensed two U.S. patents granted to the regents of the University of California that cover CRISPR collateral cleavage diagnostic systems.

In July 2020, Mammoth won funding for its development of a scalable COVID-19 test, when the company wasawarded $23.1 millionof $248.7 million in contracts to the first seven lab-based and point-of-care tests diagnostics developersfunded through the NIHs Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative. The testing system can be adapted to detect for other viruses, though Mammoth has not made public which ones.

Two months earlier in May 2020, Mammoth launched a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKlines GSK Consumer Healthcare to develop a handheld test designed to apply the DETECTR platform at point of need. Mammoth has disclosed few details since the initial announcement, with Martin saying last month: I cant say too much about it, but definitely weve made huge strides.

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Vertex, Mammoth Launch Up-to-$695M CRISPR Gene-Editing Collaboration - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Life goes on as gene-edited foods begin to hit the market. Japanese consumers have recently startedbuying tomatoes that fight high blood pressure, and Americans have been consuming soy engineered to produce high amounts of heart-healthy oils for a little over two years. Few people noticed these developments because, as scientists have said for a long time, the safety profile of a crop is not dictated by the breeding method that produced it. For all intents and purposes, it seems that food-safety regulators have done a reasonablejob of safeguarding public health against whatever hypothetical risks gene editing may pose.

But this has not stopped critics of genetic engineering from advocating for more federal oversight of CRISPR and othertechniquesused to make discrete changes to the genomes of plants, animals and other organisms we use for food or medicine. Over at The Conversation, a team of scientists recently made the case for tighter rules in Calling the latest gene technologies natural is a semantic distraction they must still be regulated.

Many scientists have defended gene editing, in part, by arguing that it simply mimics nature. A mutation that boosts the nutrient content of rice, for example, is the same whether it was induced by a plant breeder or some natural phenomenon. Indeed, the DNA of plants and animals we eat contains untold numbers of harmless, naturally occurringmutations. But The Conversation authors will have none of this:

Unfortunately, the risks from technology dont disappear by calling it natural... Proponents of deregulation of gene technology use the naturalness argument to make their case. But we argue this is not a good basis for deciding whether a technology should be regulated.

They have written a very long peer-reviewed article outlining a regulatory framework based on "scale of use."The ideais that the more widely a technology is implemented, the greater risk it may pose to human health and the environment, which necessitates regulatory "control points" to ensure its safe use. It's an interesting proposal, but it's plagued by several serious flaws.

Where's the data?

The most significant issue with a scale-based regulatory approachis that it's a reaction to risks that have never materialized. This isn't to say that a potentially harmful genetically engineered organism will never be commercialized. But if we're going to upend our biotechnology regulatory framework, we need to do so based on real-world evidence. Some experts have actually argued, based on decades of safety data, that the US over-regulates biotech products. As biologist and ACSHadvisorDr. Henry Miller and legal scholar John Cohrssen wrote recently in Nature:

After 35 years of real-world experience with genetically engineered plants and microorganisms, and countless risk-assessment experiments, it is past time to reevaluate the rationale for, and the costs and benefits of, the case-by-case reviews of genetically engineered products now required by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The problem with scale

Real-world data aside for the moment, there are some theoretical problems with the scalabilitymodel as well. Theargument assumes thatrisks associated with gene editing proliferate as use of the technology expands, because each gene edit carries a certain level of risk. This is a false assumption, as plant geneticist Kevin Folta pointed out on a recent episode of the podcast we co-host (21 minute mark).

Scientists have a variety of tools with which to monitor and limit the effects of specific gene edits. For example, proteins known as anti-CRISPRs can be utilized to halt the gene-editing machinery so it makes only the changes we want it to. University of Toronto biochemist Karen Maxwell has explained how this could work in practice:

In genome editing applications, anti-CRISPRs may provide a valuable 'off switch for Cas9 activity for therapeutic uses and gene drives. One concern of CRISPR-Cas gene editing technology is the limited ability to control its activity after it has been delivered to the cell . which can lead to off-target mutations. Anti-CRISPRs can potentially be exploited to target Cas9 activity to particular tissues or organs, to particular points of the cell cycle, or to limit the amount of time it is active

Suffice it to say that these and other safeguards significantly alter the risk equation and weaken concerns about a gene-edits-gone-wild scenario. Parenthetically, scientists design these sorts of preventative measures as they develop more genetic engineering applications for widespread use. This is why the wide variety of cars in production today have safety features that would have been unheard of in years past.

Absurdity alert: The A-Bomb analogy

To bolster their argument, The Conversation authors made the following analogy:

Imagine if other technologies with the capacity to harm were governed by resemblance to nature. Should we deregulate nuclear bombs because the natural decay chain of uranium-238 also produces heat, gamma radiation and alpha and beta particles? We inherently recognize the fallacy of this logic. The technology risk equation is more complicated than a supercilious 'its just like nature' argument

If someone has to resort to this kind of rhetoric, the chances are excellent that their argument is weak. Fat Man and Little Boy, the bombs dropped on Japan in 1945, didn't destroy two cities because a nuclear physicist in New Mexico made a technical mistake. These weapons are designed to wreak havoc. Tomatoes bred to produce more of an amino acid, in contrast, are not.

The point of arguing that gene-editing techniques mimic natural processes isn't to assert that natural stuff is good; therefore, gene editing is also good. Instead, the point is to illustrate that inducing mutations in the genomes of plants and animals is not novel or uniquely risky. Even the overpriced products marketed as all-natural have been improved by mutations resulting from many years of plant breeding.

Nonetheless, some scientists have argued that reframing the gene-editing conversation in terms of risk vs benefit would be a smarter approach than making comparisons to nature. I agree with them, so let's start now. The benefits of employing gene editing to improve our food supply and treat disease far outweigh the potential risks, which we can mitigate. Very little about modern life is naturaland it's time we all got over it.

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CRISPR Revolution: Do We Need Tighter Gene-Editing Regulations? No - American Council on Science and Health

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Published: Oct. 20, 2021 at 9:05 PM EDT

DAEJEON, South Korea, Oct. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 2, 2021, a scientific paper from GenKOre on the new hypercompact CRISPR system called CRISPR/Cas12f-GE was published in an online issue of Nature Biotechnology (IF 54.9), one of the world's top-tier biotechnology journals.

For effective gene therapy, it is absolutely essential that the genetic payload be delivered to the desired location inside a patient's body. The best method for accomplishing this is to use the Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) as a vector. AAV is a non-enveloped single-stranded DNA virus that penetrates cells that either divide or do not divide. AAV replicates only when a helper virus is present and thus it is non-pathogenic to humans. Because of these traits, AAV is an effective and practical method to deliver genes into various types of cells and is used as a vector in gene therapy. However, with the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, the size of the scissor gene is large and it is difficult to transport the gene inside the human body using the virus (AAV) carrier. For this reason, the clinical use of CRISPR/Cas9 as a gene therapy is very limited.

Because the size of the gene in the 'CRISPR/Cas12f-GE' system developed by GenKOre is one-third that of Cas9, it is an ideal payload for AAV delivery. GenKOre demonstrated its potential utility as the best gene therapy by improving the editing efficiency. In addition to high editing efficiency, it has proven to be effective and safe as gene scissor technology with respect to the off-target issue, a chronic weakness of CRISPR gene scissors.

The hypercompact CRISPR system Cas12f-GE has revealed its value as a therapeutic agent that can be widely used for developing medical treatments for patients who chronically suffer from life-long illnesses or diseases due to the lack of fundamental remedies.

GenKOre, which successfully developed this new technology, is a spin-off company of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB), a research institute funded by the South Korean government.

Dr. Yong-Sam Kim, CEO of GenKOre remarked, "I hope that our achievements based on our research will bring about a revolution in gene therapies utilizing this genome-editing tool. Our technology can be seen as a breakthrough by resolving the major obstacle linked to the original CRISPR technology, and I am optimistic that in tandem with existing gene scissors, our technology will contribute to the human health and welfare."

With the successful development of CRISPR/Cas12f-GE, GenKOre plans to step up its development of gene therapy and new products through its unique gene scissor technology and collaborate with other companies in becoming a market leader in the realm of gene therapy and new plant biotechnology

For more content on GenKOre's paper published online by Nature Biotechnology, refer to https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-01009-z.

The website of GenKOre is http://www.genkore.com

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SOURCE GenKOre

The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.

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A Hypercompact CRISPR Technology Developed by GenKOre is deemed a Potential Game Changer in Gene Therapy. - WKYT

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA), a leading clinical-stage genome editing company focused on developing curative therapeutics using CRISPR/Cas9 technology both in vivo and ex vivo, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to NTLA-2001 for the treatment of transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. This investigational therapy is the first CRISPR therapy to be administered systemically to edit a disease-causing gene inside the human body. NTLA-2001 has the potential to be the first single-dose treatment for ATTR amyloidosis as it may be able to halt and reverse the devastating complications of this disease. ATTR amyloidosis is a rare condition that can impact a number of organs and tissues within the body through the accumulation of misfolded transthyretin (TTR) protein deposits.

Orphan drug designation underscores the FDAs recognition of NTLA-2001s potential promise as a single-dose, novel therapy for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis, said Intellia President and Chief Executive Officer John Leonard, M.D. At Intellia, we are committed to advancing our modular genome editing platform to develop potentially curative treatment options for life-threatening diseases, and we look forward to working with the ATTR amyloidosis community and the FDA to bring a much-needed treatment option to patients.

NTLA-2001 is currently being studied in a Phase 1 trial in adults with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN). In June 2021, Intellia and its collaborator Regeneron announced positive interim clinical results from the first two cohorts of this study. These results, which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, represented the first-ever clinical data supporting the safety and efficacy of in vivo CRISPR genome editing in humans.

The FDA's Orphan Drug Designation program provides orphan status to drugs defined as those intended for the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Orphan drug designation qualifies the sponsor of the drug for certain development incentives, including tax credits for qualified clinical testing, prescription drug user fee exemptions and seven-year marketing exclusivity upon FDA approval. The decision by the FDA follows a March 2021 decision by the European Commission (EC) to also grant NTLA-2001 orphan drug designation for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis.

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About Transthyretin (ATTR) Amyloidosis Transthyretin amyloidosis, or ATTR amyloidosis, is a rare, progressive and fatal disease. Hereditary ATTR (ATTRv) amyloidosis occurs when a person is born with mutations in the TTR gene, which causes the liver to produce structurally abnormal transthyretin (TTR) protein with a propensity to misfold. These damaged proteins build up as amyloid deposits in the body, causing serious complications in multiple tissues, including the heart, nerves and digestive system. ATTRv amyloidosis predominantly manifests as polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN), which can lead to nerve damage, or cardiomyopathy (ATTRv-CM), which can lead to heart failure. Some individuals without any genetic mutation produce non-mutated, or wild-type TTR proteins that become unstable over time, misfolding and aggregating in disease-causing amyloid deposits. This condition, called wild-type ATTR (ATTRwt) amyloidosis, primarily affects the heart.

About NTLA-2001Based on Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR/Cas9 technology, NTLA-2001 could potentially be the first curative treatment for ATTR amyloidosis. NTLA-2001 is the first investigational CRISPR therapy candidate to be administered systemically, or intravenously, to edit genes inside the human body. Intellias proprietary non-viral platform deploys lipid nanoparticles to deliver to the liver a two-part genome editing system: guide RNA specific to the disease-causing gene and messenger RNA that encodes the Cas9 enzyme, which carries out the precision editing. Robust preclinical data, showing deep and long-lasting transthyretin (TTR) reduction following in vivo inactivation of the target gene, supports NTLA-2001s potential as a single-administration therapeutic. Interim Phase 1 clinical data released in June 2021 confirm substantial, dose-dependent reduction of TTR protein following a single dose of NTLA-2001. Intellia leads development and commercialization of NTLA-2001 as part of a multi-target discovery, development and commercialization collaboration with Regeneron.

About Intellia TherapeuticsIntellia Therapeutics, a leading clinical-stage genome editing company, is developing novel, potentially curative therapeutics using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. To fully realize the transformative potential of CRISPR/Cas9, Intellia is pursuing two primary approaches. The companys in vivo programs use intravenously administered CRISPR as the therapy, in which proprietary delivery technology enables highly precise editing of disease-causing genes directly within specific target tissues. Intellias ex vivo programs use CRISPR to create the therapy by using engineered human cells to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Intellias deep scientific, technical and clinical development experience, along with its robust intellectual property portfolio, have enabled the company to take a leadership role in harnessing the full potential of CRISPR/Cas9 to create new classes of genetic medicine. Learn more at intelliatx.com. Follow us on Twitter @intelliatweets.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements of Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (Intellia or the Company) within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding Intellias beliefs and expectations regarding its: being able to complete clinical studies for NTLA-2001 for the treatment of transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis pursuant to its clinical trial applications (CTA), including submitting additional regulatory applications in other countries; ability to demonstrate effectiveness of NTLA-2001 in treating or reversing ATTR amyloidosis in patients; advancement and expansion of its CRISPR/Cas9 technology to develop human therapeutic products, as well as its ability to maintain and expand its related intellectual property portfolio; expectations of the potential impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on strategy, future operations and timing of its clinical trials or IND submissions; ability to optimize the impact of its collaborations on its development programs, including but not limited to its collaborations with Regeneron, including its co-development programs for ATTR amyloidosis; and statements regarding the timing of regulatory filings regarding its development programs.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on managements current expectations and beliefs of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks related to Intellias ability to protect and maintain its intellectual property position; risks related to Intellias relationship with third parties, including its licensors and licensees; risks related to the ability of its licensors to protect and maintain their intellectual property position; uncertainties related to the authorization, initiation and conduct of studies and other development requirements for its product candidates; the risk that any one or more of Intellias product candidates will not be successfully developed and commercialized; the risk that the results of preclinical studies or clinical studies will not be predictive of future results in connection with future studies; and the risk that Intellias collaborations with Regeneron or its other collaborations will not continue or will not be successful. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Intellias actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled Risk Factors in Intellias most recent annual report on Form 10-K as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Intellias other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Intellia undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

Intellia Contacts:

Investors:Ian KarpSenior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications+1-857-449-4175ian.karp@intelliatx.com

Lina LiDirector, Investor Relations+1-857-706-1612lina.li@intelliatx.com

Media:Lisa QuTen Bridge Communications+1-678-662-9166media@intelliatx.com lqu@tenbridgecommunications.com

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Intellia Therapeutics Receives U.S. FDA Orphan Drug Designation for NTLA-2001, an Investigational CRISPR Therapy for the Treatment of Transthyretin...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

How successful of an investor is Cathie Wood? Consider that over the last five years, the two best-performing non-leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were her ARK Next Generation Internet ETF and ARK Innovation ETF. And her ARK Genomic Revolution ETF came in at No. 5.

The kinds of stocks that Wood likes aren't for everyone. They're often high-risk, potentially high-reward plays that are suitable only for aggressive investors. If you don't mind taking on considerable risk, here are three stocks Wood is buying that you might want to consider too.

Image source: Getty Images.

Both the ARK Innovation ETF and ARK Genomic Revolution ETF have scooped up more shares ofBeam Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BEAM) in October. The biotech stock is only one spot away from jumping into the top 10 holdings for the ARKG ETF.

Beam specialized in base editing. It's a type of gene editing that enables pinpoint rewriting of a specific letter in the genome. And Beam's approach could prove to be more important over the long run than other types of gene editing.

The company doesn't have any candidates in clinical testing yet. That could change relatively soon, though, with Beam on track to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application within the next couple of months for BEAM-101 in treating rare blood disorders beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

Beam's market cap stands above $6 billion. That's a quite lofty valuation for a preclinical-stage biotech. However, if the company's base editing works in one indication, it could potentially be applied in many other indications. Wood obviously thinks the chances that will happen are worth placing a major bet on Beam Therapeutics.

Beam Therapeutics isn't the only gene-editing stock that Wood likes these days. Her ARK Innovation ETF and ARK Genomic Revolution ETF have also added to their positions in CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) in recent weeks.

CRISPR Therapeutics could become the first biotech focused on CRISPR gene editing to have a shot at getting a product on the market. The company and its partner Vertex Pharmaceuticalshope to file for regulatory approvals of CTX001 in 2023. CTX001 is a CRISPR gene-editing therapy targeting beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

Some investors were disappointed with the durability of response in CRISPR Therapeutics' phase 1 data for its off-the-shelf chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy CTX110. However, the day after those results were announced, Wood chose to buy more shares of the stock at a discount.

CRISPR Therapeutics' market cap of over $7 billion might be hard to swallow for cautious investors. But with the prospects of potentially launching its first product in 2024 and a still-promising pipeline of gene-editing therapies, the company could become a big player in healthcare over the long run.

There's no question thatTeladoc Health (NYSE:TDOC) remains one of Wood's favorite stocks. So far in October, three of her ARK ETFs have bought additional Teladoc shares. Teladoc ranks as the top holding of the ARK Genomic Revolution ETF. It's the second-largest position in the ARK Innovation ETF. The telehealth stock is even in the top 10 for the ARK Fintech Innovation ETF.

Some investors have soured on Teladoc this year due to concerns about slowing membership growth. However, the company continues to perform well overall. Visits have risen. Revenue per member per month is up. Utilization rates are climbing.

On the other hand, Wall Street hasn't given up on the stock. Analysts think that Teladoc could soar close to 40% over the next 12 months. This optimism about Teladoc from both Wood and Wall Street centers on the company's long-term prospects.

The virtual care market remains only in its early stages. Teladoc is the clear leader in the market. It also continues to launch new products and services that provide further competitive advantages. Of these three stocks being bought by Wood recently, Teladoc is the least risky while still offering strong growth prospects.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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3 Stocks Cathie Wood Is Buying That You Might Want to Consider Too - Motley Fool

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Latest Study on Industrial Growth of Global CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market 2021-2027. A detailed study accumulated to offer Latest insights about acute features of the CRISPR-Based Therapeutics market. The report contains different market predictions related to revenue size, production, CAGR, Consumption, gross margin, price, and other substantial factors. While emphasizing the key driving and restraining forces for this market, the report also offers a complete study of the future trends and developments of the market. It also examines the role of the leading market players involved in the industry including their corporate overview, financial summary and SWOT analysis.

The Major Players Covered in this Report: Caribou Biosciences, Addgene, CRISPR THERAPEUTICS, Merck KGaA, Mirus Bio LLC, Editas Medicine, Takara Bio USA, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Horizon Discovery Group, Intellia Therapeutics & GE Healthcare Dharmacon

CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market Study guarantees you to remain / stay advised higher than your competition. With Structured tables and figures examining the CRISPR-Based Therapeutics, the research document provides you a leading product, submarkets, revenue size and forecast to 2027. Comparatively is also classifies emerging as well as leaders in the industry.Click To get SAMPLE PDF of CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) @https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3176523-global-crispr-based-therapeutics-market-growth

This study also covers company profiling, specifications and product picture, sales, market share and contact information of various regional, international and local vendors of Global CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market. The market proposition is frequently developing ahead with the rise in scientific innovation and M&A activities in the industry. Additionally, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new merchant applicants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on reliability, quality and modernism in technology.

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The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below:In-depth analysis of Global CRISPR-Based Therapeutics market segments by Types: , Genome Editing, Genetic Engineering, gRNA Database/Gene Librar, CRISPR Plasmid, Human Stem Cells, Genetically Modified Organisms/Crops & Cell Line EngineeringDetailed analysis of Global CRISPR-Based Therapeutics market segments by Applications: Biotechnology Companies, Pharmaceutical Companies, Academic Institutes & Research and Development Institutes

Major Key Players of the Market:Caribou Biosciences, Addgene, CRISPR THERAPEUTICS, Merck KGaA, Mirus Bio LLC, Editas Medicine, Takara Bio USA, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Horizon Discovery Group, Intellia Therapeutics & GE Healthcare Dharmacon

Regional Analysis for Global CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market: APAC (Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, India, and Rest of APAC; Rest of APAC is further segmented into Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe; Rest of Europe is further segmented into Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania) North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) South America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Rest of South America) MEA (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa)

Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2015-2020Base year 2020Forecast period** 2021 to 2027 [** unless otherwise stated]

**Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players.

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Key takeaways from the Global CRISPR-Based Therapeutics market report: Detailed considerate of CRISPR-Based Therapeutics market-particular drivers, Trends, constraints, Restraints, Opportunities and major micro markets. Comprehensive valuation of all prospects and threat in the In depth study of industry strategies for growth of the CRISPR-Based Therapeutics market-leading players. CRISPR-Based Therapeutics market latest innovations and major procedures. Favorable dip inside Vigorous high-tech and market latest trends remarkable the Market. Conclusive study about the growth conspiracy of CRISPR-Based Therapeutics market for forthcoming years.

What to Expect from this Report On CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market:1. A comprehensive summary of several area distributions and the summary types of popular products in the CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market.2. You can fix up the growing databases for your industry when you have info on the cost of the production, cost of the products, and cost of the production for the next future years.3. Thorough Evaluation the break-in for new companies who want to enter the CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market.4. Exactly how do the most important companies and mid-level companies make income within the Market?5. Complete research on the overall development within the CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market that helps you elect the product launch and overhaul growths.

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Detailed TOC of CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market Research Report-

CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Introduction and Market Overview CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market, by Application [Biotechnology Companies, Pharmaceutical Companies, Academic Institutes & Research and Development Institutes] CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Industry Chain Analysis CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market, by Type [, Genome Editing, Genetic Engineering, gRNA Database/Gene Librar, CRISPR Plasmid, Human Stem Cells, Genetically Modified Organisms/Crops & Cell Line Engineering] Industry Manufacture, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2015-2020) Industry Value ($) by Region (2015-2020) CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market Status and SWOT Analysis by Regions Major Region of CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Marketi) Global CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Salesii) Global CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Revenue & market share Major Companies List Conclusion

Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, MINT, BRICS, G7, Western / Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia. Also, we can serve you with customize research services as HTF MI holds a database repository that includes public organizations and Millions of Privately held companies with expertise across various Industry domains.

About Author:HTF Market Intelligence consulting is uniquely positioned empower and inspire with research and consulting services to empower businesses with growth strategies, by offering services with extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist in decision making.

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CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Market Analysis, Size, Strategic Assessment, Market Growth and Forecasts to 2027 Puck77 - Puck77

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

CRISPR in agriculture market includes biological techniques that have been utilized in a wide variety of plant species to improve agricultural traits. Due to the deterioration of air quality, the health of soils, and adverse climate change CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) has been implemented to improve crop yields.

The agriculture sector is one of the potential sectors that utilize CRISPR technology to increase the production of crops. The CRISPR processes in which specified enzymes have been modified can remove DNA from a genome that is different from the genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

According to FSA (Federation of American Scientists), NIH had sanctioned funds with the value of approximately $1,155.4 million in 2020 respectively for the CRISPR related research activities and projects.

Report Consultant has published an innovative statistical data, titled as CRISPR in Agriculture market. This report has been aggregated with different market segments, such as applications, end-users and revenue. It focuses on the analysis of the existing market and upcoming innovations, to provide better insights for the businesses. This study includes the elaborative description of CRISPR in Agriculture market along with the different perspectives from various industry experts.

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Top Key Players:Bayer AG, Benson Hill Biosystems, Inc., Caribou Bioscience Inc., CRISPR Therapeutics, Horizon Discovery Group PLC, Intellia Therapeutics Inc., Yield10 Biosciences Inc., and so on.CRISPR in Agriculture Market By End-UserAcademic & Research InstitutesBiotech Companies

CRISPR in Agriculture Market By Target TypeCropsLivestockAquaculture

The genetic editing technology in CRISPR has brought multiple benefits to the food and agricultural industry that improves the productivity of fermentation processes. The development of abiotic stress-tolerant crop plants in the tropics by using the technology of CRISPR such as drought, soil salinity, heat stress that significantly limit the yield of crops across the globe. The CRISPR increases the demand of genome-editing for emerging diseases and pests in tropical regions that has opened a new opportunity for rapid development of disease resistant crop varieties by deletion of susceptibility.

Different regions, such as North America, Latin America, Japan, China, Asia Pacific, and India are considered to examine the facts of the leading key players. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, this report has summarized about the significant pillars that can boost the performance of different industries.Get a Sample Copy of this CRISPR in Agriculture Market report now! @https://www.reportconsultant.com/request_sample.php?id=77685

CRISPR in Agriculture Market Research objectives1. To study and analyze the CRISPR in Agriculture market size by key regions/countries, product type and application, history data from 2016 to 2020, and forecast to 2028.2. To understand the structure of the CRISPR in Agriculture market by identifying its various sub-segments.3. To analyze the CRISPR in Agriculture concerning individual growth trends, prospects, and their contribution to the total market.4. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).

5. To project the size of CRISPR in Agriculture sub-markets, concerning key regions (along with their respective key countries).6. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches and acquisitions in the market.7. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.

A substantial study of the market strategies, challenges, prospects for advancements along with a detailed introspection of prominent aspects affecting the market is included in this report. It also sheds light upon the ongoing developments in this field as well as prevailing strategies to thrive in such a continually evolving market. To conclude with, this report covers all the necessary financial, economic and social factors relevant to the industry, thus enhancing a readers ability to understand the information required to make an informed decision.Customization Service of the Report:Report Consultant provides customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.Contact us:Rebecca Parker(Report Consultant)Contact No: +81-368444299[emailprotected]www.reportconsultant.comAbout Report Consultant:Report Consultant A global leader in analytics, research and advisory that can assist you to renovate your business and modify your approach. With us, you will learn to take decisions intrepidly. We make sense of drawbacks, opportunities, circumstances, estimations and information using our experienced skills and verified methodologies.Our research reports will give you an exceptional experience of innovative solutions and outcomes. We have effectively steered businesses all over the world with our market research reports and are outstandingly positioned to lead digital transformations. Thus, we craft greater value for clients by presenting advanced opportunities in the global market.

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CRISPR in Agriculture Market to Exhibit Robust Growth in Forthcoming Period 2021- 2028 With Prominent Players: Bayer AG, Benson Hill Biosystems, Inc.,...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Detailed study and analysis of the Global CRISPR Technology Market highlights new trends in the CRISPR Technology industry and provides companies with trading insights. This study helps manufacturers, suppliers and investors, CEOs to identify opportunities and business optimization strategies to improve their value in the global CRISPR Technology market. Provides important information for well-known companies that are one of the top performing companies. The report provides comprehensive coverage of existing and potential markets as well as an assessment of competitiveness in changing market scenarios.

The report also presents data in the form of charts, tables and figures together with contact details and sales contact information for the major market players in the global market. There is a detailed overview of the competitive landscape of the global CRISPR Technology industry, with all the information gathered and deepened with the SWOT analysis. Opportunities for potential industrial growth have been discovered and the competition risks involved have also been structured.

Get FREE Sample copy of this Report with Graphs and Charts at:https://reportsglobe.com/download-sample/?rid=282174

The segmentation chapters enable readers to understand aspects of the market such as its products, available technology and applications. These chapters are written to describe their development over the years and the course they are likely to take in the coming years. The research report also provides detailed information on new trends that may define the development of these segments in the coming years.

CRISPR Technology Market Segmentation:

CRISPR Technology Market, By Application (2016-2027)

CRISPR Technology Market, By Product (2016-2027)

Major Players Operating in the CRISPR Technology Market:

Company Profiles This is a very important section of the report that contains accurate and detailed profiles for the major players in the global CRISPR Technology market. It provides information on the main business, markets, gross margin, revenue, price, production and other factors that define the market development of the players studied in the CRISPR Technology market report.

Global CRISPR Technology Market: Regional Segments

The different section on regional segmentation gives the regional aspects of the worldwide CRISPR Technology market. This chapter describes the regulatory structure that is likely to impact the complete market. It highlights the political landscape in the market and predicts its influence on the CRISPR Technology market globally.

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The Study Objectives are:

This report includes the estimation of market size for value (million USD) and volume (K Units). Both top-down and bottom-up approaches have been used to estimate and validate the market size of CRISPR Technology market, to estimate the size of various other dependent submarkets in the overall market. Key players in the market have been identified through secondary research, and their market shares have been determined through primary and secondary research. All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns have been determined using secondary sources and verified primary sources.

Some Major Points from Table of Contents:

Chapter 1. Research Methodology & Data Sources

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

Chapter 3. CRISPR Technology Market: Industry Analysis

Chapter 4. CRISPR Technology Market: Product Insights

Chapter 5. CRISPR Technology Market: Application Insights

Chapter 6. CRISPR Technology Market: Regional Insights

Chapter 7. CRISPR Technology Market: Competitive Landscape

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Original post:
CRISPR Technology Market Size 2021 Key Strategies, Applications, Trends and Opportunities | Top Brands: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Merck KGaA,...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith