StemCell Therapy

Apex Eye is a Leading Ophthalmology Group Offering Cataract Surgery, Glaucoma Treatment, Retinal Surgery, Diabetic Eye Care, and Other Advanced Eye Health Services in Cincinnati, OH, and Surrounding Areas

Your vision is crucial for your overall well-being. With that in mind, having eye doctors who are as passionate about providing exceptional eye care as you are about maintaining your eye health is a prescription for success. If you reside in Cincinnati, Ohio, or a surrounding area, youll find that level of commitment from the professionals at Apex Eye. Were a leading group practice of board-certified ophthalmologists, fellowship-trained eye specialists for cornea, retina, glaucoma and oculoplastics, licensed optometrists, and knowledgeable support staff. Our team shares a passion for excellence in eye care and dedication to delivering exceptional patient care. We continually strive to provide the best possible medical and surgical eye care for our patients in a pleasant, caring environment. Apex Eye has eight convenient locations throughout the Greater Cincinnati, OH, area for convenient, easy access to our eye doctors and eye care specialists. Set your sights higher with Apex Eye, where your vision is our top priority.

At Apex Eye, we care for all aspects of our patients eyes, including all types of eye diseases and visual problems. From offering comprehensive eye exams to diagnosing and treating patients with cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other sight-threatening conditions, we are committed to providing the highest quality care. Our ophthalmologists and eye specialists also treat other common eye problems like eye infections, allergies, dry eyes, blurry vision, and much more. We provide a full range of surgical procedures, including cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, corneal surgery, and laser vision correction. Whatever your eye care needs might be, Apex Eye is committed to working with you to provide thorough, professional care to help you preserve and enhance your eye health and vision.

While the caring and friendly staff at Apex Eye has the expertise necessary to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye problems and conditions, there is further value in choosing our team to provide all of your for eye care needs. In addition to offering comprehensive eye health services to residents of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the surrounding area, we are very involved in advancing the field of ophthalmology. We take an active role in conducting scientific research on new medications, therapies, and treatments. Not only does this research contribute to medical breakthroughs and advances for eye health and vision, but our patients also benefit by having access to leading-edge treatments that may not be generally available.

If you are dealing with an issue in one or both of your eyes, your sight is compromised or threatened, you want to know more about the advanced eye care we provide to the residents of Cincinnati, OH, or you just want to be proactive in maintaining your eye health, schedule an appointment at the Apex Eye location nearest you. We are the eye doctors you can trust for convenient, comprehensive, and caring eye care services.

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Ophthalmology Cincinnati OH | Eye Doctors | Eye Specialists

Contact: (0191) 241 8600 - Dr David Bourn, Head of Laboratory, Molecular Genetics

The molecular laboratory service provides genetic diagnosis for those families suffering from inherited conditions caused by mutation of specific single genes.Testing is performed using a variety of DNA analysis techniques to identify causative mutations or to track defective genes through families.

The Molecular Genetics Laboratory operates within the Professional Guidelines of the Clinical Molecular Genetics Society (CMGS).

The laboratory is accredited by Clinical Pathology Accreditation

Clinical scientists and MLSO staff are State Registered with the Health Professions Council after the required period of training.

The Molecular Genetics Laboratory participates in the following external quality assurance schemes:

Northern Genetics Service Institute of Genetic Medicine Central Parkway Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ

Tel: 0191 241 8600

The laboratory operates Monday to Friday between the hours of 08.30 and 17.00.For the receipt and analysis of very urgent samples outside these hours, please make special arrangements with the laboratory.

Head of Laboratory

Dr David Bourn

telephone: 0191 241 8600

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Newcastle Hospitals - Molecular Genetics

The immune system never restsits cells constantly patrol the circulation. Without the immune system, the body would be overwhelmed with infections. With it, blood transfusions must be performed with great care.

If incompatible blood is given in a transfusion, the donor cells are treated as if they were foreign invaders, and the patient's immune system attacks them accordingly. Not only is the blood transfusion rendered useless, but a potentially massive activation of the immune system and clotting system can cause shock, kidney failure, circulatory collapse, and death.

This chapter discusses the causes of transfusion reactions and how the hazards of blood transfusions are minimized.

Many of the adverse effects of blood transfusions are mediated by the recipient's immune system. In general, the formation of this and other immune responses occur in three stages:

the immune system detects foreign material (antigen)

the immune system processes the antigen

the immune system mounts a response to remove the antigen from the body

The immune response varies tremendously, depending on the individual (the health of his or her immune system and genetic factors) and the antigen (how common it is and how "provocative" it is to the immune system).

The red blood cells (RBCs) from one person may enter into the circulation of another person in two different ways, either by a blood transfusion or by pregnancy. The RBCs will appear foreign if they contain antigens that are not found on the patient's own RBCs.

When the macrophage encounters an antigen, it engulfs it, digests it, and then presents the antigenic fragments on its cell surface together with MHCII (Major Histocompatibility Complex II).

A T helper cell binds to the antigen/MHCII on the macrophage, and the two cells interact. The macrophage secretes cytokines to stimulate the T cell, which in turn secretes cytokines to stimulate the growth and production of more T cells.

The T helper cell, now activated, leaves to activate a third type of cell, the B cell. Existing B cells are stimulated by the T cell to grow, divide, and produce genetically identical daughter cells. Some of the daughter cells become plasma cells that produce antibodies that are specific for the antigen that stimulated their production. The amount and type of antibody produced results from the interaction of T helper cells (which stimulate antibody production) and T suppressor cells (which inhibit antibody production). Other daughter cells remain as B cells in the circulation for many years. They serve as "memory cells", remembering the encounter with the antigen that stimulated their production.

Read a summary of antigen presentation to T cells in Janeway & Traver's Immunobiology

If this is the first time the antigen has been encountered, a primary immune response is mounted. Usually there is a delay of several days, then IgM antibody is produced, followed by a switch to IgG antibody production. The initial IgM molecules bind the antigen weakly, but the subsequent IgG molecules are much better targeted. IgG continues to be produced long after the encounter with the antigen, providing long-lasting immunity.

If the immune system has encountered the antigen before, it will already be armed with primed B cells (memory cells) that accelerate the production of larger amounts of IgG (rather than IgM). This is called the secondary immune response. It is faster, more specific, and the production of the specific antibody may remain high for years. B cells may also undergo changes to further improve how the antibodies they produce bind to the antigen.

There are two main arms of immune response: humoral (using antibodies) and cellular (using immune cells). Severe immune-mediated transfusion reactions usually involve the humoral arm. In the case of a foreign red blood cell antigen, the patient's pre-existing antibodies bind to the antigen, coating the donor RBCs.

Some types of antibody may activate the complement cascade, a series of enzyme-driven reactions involving protein fragments. The cascade ends with the formation of a "membrane attack complex", a large molecule that punches a hole in the cell membrane. Other antibodies simply bind to the donor RBCs and cause them to clump together (agglutinate). The agglutinated cells may survive or may be prematurely removed from the circulation by the macrophages.

Otherwise, the fate of the incompatible RBCs largely rests in the hands of macrophages in the liver or the spleen. They remove the antibody-coated cells from the circulation and phagocytose them. Phagocytosis is aided by the macrophages having a receptor that binds to the antibodies and another receptor that binds to complement fragments. Therefore, incompatible RBCs are rapidly destroyed after antibody binding. In addition, this antibody response may cause dangerous hemolytic transfusion reactions as described below.

To avoid a transfusion reaction, donated blood must be compatible with the blood of the patient who is receiving the transfusion. More specifically, the donated RBCs must lack the same ABO and Rh D antigens that the patient's RBCs lack. For example, a patient with blood group A can receive blood from a donor with blood group A (which lacks the B antigen) or blood group O (which lacks all ABO blood group antigens). However, they cannot receive blood from a donor with blood group B or AB (which both have the B antigen).

Before a blood transfusion, two blood tests known as a "type and cross match" are done. First, the recipient's blood type is determined, i.e., their ABO type and Rh D status. In theory, once the recipient's blood type is known, a transfusion of compatible blood can be given. However, in practice, donor blood may still be incompatible because it contains other antigens that are not routinely typed but may still cause a problem if the recipient's serum contains antibodies that will target them. Therefore, a "cross match" is done to ensure that the donor RBCs actually do match against the recipient's serum.

To perform a cross match, a small amount of the recipient's serum is mixed with a small amount of the donor RBCs. The mixture is then examined under a microscope. If the proposed transfusion is incompatible, the donor RBCs are agglutinated by antibodies in the recipient's serum.

Immune-mediated transfusion reactions occur when incompatible blood products are transfused into a patient's circulation, triggering a response from the patient's immune system. The destruction of incompatible RBCs is called a hemolytic transfusion reaction, which may occur immediately (acute) or after a period of days (delayed). The destruction of incompatible donor white blood cells (WBCs) causes a febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction (FNHTR), and the destruction of incompatible donor platelets causes post-transfusion purpura (PTP).

The symptoms produced by these transfusion reactions are often similar, beginning with chills, fever, shaking, and aching. Some transfusion reactions are mild and resolve by themselves (e.g., FNHTR) whereas others can develop into a life-threatening reaction (e.g., acute hemolytic transfusion reaction).

The risks are minimized by using blood products only when necessary and, even then, using a specific blood component rather than whole blood. Also, all WBCs are now removed from donated blood; leukodepletion reduces the risk of certain infections as well as the risk of fever due to white blood cell incompatibility.

Hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs) are reactions in which donor RBCs are destroyed by antibodies in the recipient's circulation. They occur when antigen-positive donor RBCs are transfused into a patient who has preformed antibodies to that antigen. The donor RBCs may be destroyed immediately (a potentially serious reaction) or may have a shortened or even normal survival time (milder reactions).

Red blood cell incompatibility may also occur when the patient's RBC antigens are attacked by antibodies from the donor's plasma. This tends to be a minor problem because of the small amount of antibody present in the donated plasma, which is further diluted on transfusion into the recipient's circulation.

Acute hemolytic transfusion reactions occur within 24 hours of the transfusion and often occur during the transfusion. Ominously, the patient may report a "feeling of impending doom". They may also complain of a burning sensation at the site of the infusion, together with chills, fever, and pain in the back and flanks.

The severity of the reaction depends upon: (1) how much incompatible antigen was transfusedhow much blood was given and the number of antigens per red blood cell; (2) the nature of the antigen - its size and location on the red blood cell membrane; and (3) the nature of the recipient's antibodies - the type (IgG or IgM) and subtype (IgG3) of antibody, the amount present in the circulation at the time of the transfusion, its avidity for binding to the antigen, and its ability to activate complement.

The most severe reactions involve an intravascular hemolysis; the donor RBCs are destroyed by the recipient's antibodies while they are still inside blood vessels. Such reactions involve antibodies that strongly activate complement, which in turn lyses the donor RBCs. Hemoglobin is released into the plasma and excreted in urine (hemoglobinuria), turning the urine a dark brown color. Bilirubin, a metabolite of hemoglobin usually secreted into bile by the liver, instead accumulates in the blood causing jaundice. Massive activation of complement can cause shock, as can the large amounts of tissue factor released by RBC debris that triggers an uncontrollable clotting cascade (disseminated intravascular coagulation).

The most common cause of an acute intravascular hemolytic transfusion reaction is ABO incompatibility. The ABO blood group antigens are densely expressed on the RBC surface, and most people have adequate amounts of preformed antibodies that can not only bind to the RBCs but can also activate complement. Although routine typing and cross matching should prevent incompatible ABO blood group antigens from triggering this type of reaction, human error occasionally leads to the "wrong blood" being given during a transfusion.

Apart from anti-A and anti-B, other antibodies capable of intravascular hemolysis of transfused RBCs include anti-H produced in people with the Bombay blood group (see the H blood group), anti-Jka (see the Kidd blood group), and anti-P, P1, Pk (see the P blood group system).

In extravascular hemolytic reactions, the donor RBCs are removed from the circulation by macrophages in the spleen and liver. The macrophages destroy the red blood cells inside these organs.

The donor RBCs may still be coated with the recipient's antibodies, but these antibodies do not trigger an immediate intravascular hemolysis. Instead, their presence (specifically, the Fc component of the antibody) is recognized by IgG-Fc receptors of macrophages, which aids the phagocytosis of the cells. Antibodies directed at antigens of the Rh blood group mediate this type of RBC removal.

Other types of antibody that bind to the donor RBCs may bind the complement component C3b without activating the entire cascade. This further aids the phagocytosis by macrophages that have C3b receptors. Such antibodies include those directed against antigens of the ABO, Duffy, and Kidd blood groups.

Because the extravascular destruction of RBCs is slower and more controlled than intravascular hemolysis, very little free hemoglobin is released into the circulation or excreted in the urine. The liver can keep up with the increased production of bilirubin, and jaundice rarely occurs. Therefore, the main symptoms of this type of reaction are fever and chills.

Delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions may occur as soon as 1 day or as late as 14 days after a blood transfusion. The donor RBCs are destroyed by the recipient's antibodies, but the hemolysis is "delayed" because the antibodies are only present in low amounts initially.

The recipient's antibodies were formed during a previous sensitization (primary stimulation) with a particular antigen. However, by the time a cross match is done, the level of antibody in the recipient's plasma is too low to cause agglutination, making this type of reaction difficult to prevent. Likewise, during the blood transfusion the level of antibody is too low to cause an acute transfusion reaction.

However, during the blood transfusion, as the patient re-encounters the antigen, his or her immune system is stimulated to rapidly produce more antibodies (secondary stimulation). Over the following days, the recipient's antibodies bind to the donor RBCs, which are subsequently removed from the circulation by macrophages (extravascular hemolysis).

The clinical outcome depends upon the rate at which the patient can produce antibodies and hence destroy the donor RBCs. Usually, this type of reaction is much less severe than acute hemolytic reactions.

This type of transfusion reaction is associated with antibodies that target the Kidd and Rh antigens.

The most common transfusion reaction is a fever without signs of hemolysis. This is called a febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction (FNHTR). Most cases are mildthe patients may describe feeling hot and cold, their temperatures rise by at least 1C, and they may have rigors. Only when other potentially severe causes of transfusion reactions have been excluded may FNHRT be diagnosed.

The cause is thought to be the patient's preformed antibodies attacking transfused WBCs, binding to their HLA antigens. Another factor might be that during the storage of blood units, WBCs release cytokines that may provoke a fever when the unit of blood is transfused into a patient.

The risk of FNHRT is reduced by removing WBCs from blood units prior to storagea process known as leukodepletion. In addition, patients who receive multiple transfusions may be given an anti-pyretic before the transfusion to lessen fever symptoms.

Post transfusion purpura (PTP) is defined as a thrombocytopenia (low number of platelets) that occurs 5 to 10 days after a platelet transfusion. Patients are at risk of bleeding, and bleeding into the skin causes a purplish discoloration of the skin known as purpura.

PTP is caused by the recipient having a platelet-specific antibody that reacts with the donor platelets. The recipient's own platelets are also attacked. The platelet antigen HPA-1a appears to be most frequently targeted.

PTP is more common in women because pregnancy increases the likelihood of forming the platelet-specific antibody. It may also have formed after an earlier platelet transfusion. Treatment includes the use of intravenous immunoglobulin to neutralize the antibodies or to remove them from the plasma by plasmapheresis.

Some patients can have an allergic reaction after their blood transfusionsthey report feeling itchy and break out into hives (urticaria). This is more common in patients who have a history of allergic conditions such as hay fever.

This type of allergic reaction happens when existing IgE antibody binds to its antigen and triggers the release of histamine from the patient's mast cells and basophils. In an allergic reaction to a blood transfusion, either the transfused blood contains IgE that binds to antigen from the recipient's blood, or the antibody is the recipient's own and binds to antigen in the transfused blood.

Fortunately, symptoms are usually mild and can be controlled by stopping the transfusion and giving antihistamines.

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur after only a few milliliters of blood have been transfused. The patient reports difficulty breathing and may be wheezing and coughing. There may also be nausea and vomiting in the absence of a fever. Other signs include low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, respiratory arrest, and circulatory shock. Urgent treatment is essential and includes giving epinephrine.

Usually the antigen that triggers the anaphylaxis is not known. In the case of patients with IgA deficiency, it is thought that the presence of IgA in the donor's plasma is the trigger. IgA-deficient patients have a mild immunodeficiency that may not have been diagnosed. Because they lack IgA, their immune systems can be sensitized to it. Although this type of transfusion reaction is rare in these patients, special precautions are taken to reduce their risk of exposure to IgA in blood products.

Transfusion associated lung injury (TRALI) is a rare and occasionally fatal transfusion reaction characterized by a sudden onset of shortness of breath.

The underlying mechanism is not fully understood, but it is thought to involve the transfusion of donor plasma that contains antibodies that attack the recipient's WBCs. These donor antibodies bind to, and cause the aggregation of, the recipient's WBCs in the blood vessels that supply the lungs. The white cells release inflammatory mediators that increase the permeability of the lung capillaries, causing fluid to accumulate in the tissue of the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary edema for which supportive treatment is given.

Transfusion associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) arises when transfused blood cells (the graft) attack the patient's own cells (the host). It is more common in immunocompromised patients whose immune systems fail to eliminate the transfused cells. Instead, the surviving donor T cells attack cells that bear HLA antigens.

This type of reaction becomes apparent about one week after the transfusion. Signs include a fever, characteristic skin lesions, and diarrhea. Blood tests reveal signs of bone marrow failure and liver malfunction.

To prevent TA-GVHD, special precautions are taken with high-risk patients. They only receive blood products that have been irradiated. This prevents all donor cells, including the T cells, from being able to divide and attack the host. In cases where TA-GVHD does develop, the outcome is grave. The patient usually dies several weeks after the blood transfusion.

Not all of the problems that can arise during a blood transfusion are attributable to the immune system. Some are mechanical, especially in patients who need multiple blood transfusions. For example, blood that is not sufficiently warmed before transfusion can cause hypothermia. Also, the volume of blood that needs to be transfused may be too great for the patient's cardiovascular system, especially in elderly patients or patients with varying degrees of heart failure. In such cases, transfusion can cause volume overload and respiratory difficulty.

Metabolic disturbances can also occur, older or damaged RBCs release potassium, and transfusing such blood may cause hyperkalemia (an increased level of potassium) in the patient, putting them at risk of heart arrhythmias. In large amounts, citrate, a blood preservative that prevents clotting, can lower the level of calcium in the plasma (hypocalcemia), leading to muscle tremors and heart arrhythmias.

Finally, the risk of blood transfusions transmitting infectious diseases has been greatly reduced, but a small risk still remains. A virus can be passed on from the donor who is unaware that he or she has an infection. Infection may also occur after the blood has been donated; bacteria can contaminate blood products while they are being stored.

To minimize the risk of infection, blood donors are now screened, and people who are at risk of infectious diseases are excluded from donating blood. In addition, all donated blood is tested for infectious agents. Currently in the USA, blood is tested for HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, syphilis, and HTLV types I and II, which are linked to leukemia. Since 2003, blood has also been screened for West Nile virus (WNV).

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Blood transfusions and the immune system - Blood Groups ...

For too long, weve taken gratitude for granted.

Yes, thank you is an essential, everyday part of family dinners, trips to the store, business deals, and political negotiations. That might be why so many people have dismissed gratitude as simple, obvious, and unworthy of serious attention.

But thats starting to change. Recently scientists have begun to chart a course of research aimed at understanding gratitude and the circumstances in which it flourishes or diminishes. Theyre finding that people who practice gratitude consistently report a host of benefits:

Thats why the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeleyin collaboration with the University of California, Davislaunched the multiyear project Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude. The project is supported with funding from the John Templeton Foundation. The general goals of this initiative are to:

To achieve these goals, we have developed a range of research and education initiatives, from a research grant competition to a series of articles on gratitude to a large public event.

You can learn more about the fruits of the first phase of the project (through June 2014) in this short video; the second three-year phase of the project launched in early 2015. A more detailed description of the entire project is below.

1. Research Grant Competition. At the end of 2011, we launched a $3 million research initiative to expand the scientific understanding of gratitude, particularly in the key areas of health and well-being, developmental science, and social contexts. We received nearly 300 applications from institutions all over the United States, and we evaluated each one based on its scientific significance, approach and methods, creativity, potential influence, and capacity for success.

The 14 winning projects were announced in August of 2012; they cover topics ranging from the neuroscience of gratitude to the role of gratitude in romantic relationships to how gratitude might reduce bullying. In the fall of 2013, grant award winners participated in a research retreat, where they presented their work to date and discussed the next stages of building the field.

2. Dissertation Research Awards. In January 2013, we announced 15 grants in support of the most innovative dissertation research projects on gratitude, with emphasis on research than spans two or more disciplines. Awardees received $10,000 for one year to assist in the conduct of their research into topics that include workplace gratitude, the role of gratitude in couples coping with breast cancer, and the neuropharmacological basis of gratitude.

3. Youth Gratitude Research Project. Building on research into the development of gratitude in children and adolescents, researchers at California State University, Dominguez Hills, the University of California, Davis, and Hofstra University have been running a multi-year study to address the following questions: What is the role of gratitude in positive youth development? What can the people with the greatest influence over childrenparents, teachers, coaches, and othersdo to foster gratitude in children? What is the developmental trajectory of gratitude in children? What school-based interventions can promote sustainable increases in grateful character traits? Is there a critical period when the capacity for gratitude is best transmitted from an older to a younger generation? To what degree is gratitude predictive of positive outcomes such as school success, overall well-being, community service, resiliency, health behaviors, and less risk taking? You can learn more about the Youth Gratitude Project here.

1. Expanding Coverage of the Science of Gratitude. New research on gratitude has the potential to improve the lives of millions, if not billions, of people worldwide. For almost a decade, the Greater Good Science Center has provided trailblazing coverage of the science of gratitude through its website, books, and other media. Now, as part of the project, the GGSC has greatly expanded its coverage, helping the general public understand new findings from the science of gratitude and apply this research to their personal and professional lives. In the latest phase of the ESPG project, the GGSC will also report on the launch, progress, and results of the research funded through the Expanding Gratitude project.

You can view our latest stories on gratitude here, including articles, videos, and posts to Christine Carters Raising Happiness parenting blog. Also check out our gratitude definition page, succinctly outlining what gratitude is, why its worth practicing, and how to cultivate it. For more on gratitude, see our list of key gratitude books, studies, and organizations.

2. Gratitude Radio Specials. As part of the GGSCs efforts to illuminate the results of gratitude research through high-quality journalism, it has partnered with the Peabody Award-winning Ben Manilla Productions to produce a series of specials for public radio. First was the State of Gratitude seriesa series of short pieces exploring different aspects of gratitude, such as the importance of gratitude in romantic relationships, in friendships, and in the workplace. The pieces aired on public radio stations nationwide around Thanksgiving of 2013 and can be heard here.

Building on that success, the GGSC and Ben Manilla Productions then co-produced The Science of Gratitude, an hour-long, documentary-style special narrated by Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon and distributed by Public Radio International to stations across North America. That special includes segments exploring gratitudes role in health, happiness, education, and even death, combining the latest scientific findings with stories that bring the research to life. The Science of Gratitude is airing around Thanksgiving of 2015 and through the holiday season on public radio stations in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Atlanta, San Diego, Cleveland, Portland, and many other cities. Check with your local public radio station to determine when The Science of Gratitude will be broadcast in your area.

3. Digital Gratitude Journal. In the fall of 2012, we launched Thnx4.org, an online journal that allows users to record and share the things for which theyre grateful. This unprecedented, web-based effort to track and promote the practice of gratitude worldwide also serves as an invaluable source of scientific data on gratitude: Users of Thnx4 can see how practicing gratitude affects their health and happiness, and these results will also be made available to the research community, though individual users always have the option to keep their data private. In effect, Thnx4 gives the public and researchers the opportunity to study trends in the practice of gratitude, and it has the potential to provide a truly global snapshot of our planets current state of gratefulness.

Thnx4s launch received considerable media coverage and engaged users from around the world; our analysis of its initial round of data showed that it gave a significant boost to users health and happiness. Thnx4 went offline in the summer of 2013 and is relaunching in the fall of 2015.

4. Public Event. In June of 2014, the GGSC hosted The Greater Good Gratitude Summit, a large public event where more than 600 people participated in a day of science, stories, and inspiration. This event featured presentations by researchers (including many of the GGSCs gratitude grant recipients), educators, and special guests such as U.S. Olympic womens swimming head coach Teri McKeever, producers from the public radio series StoryCorps, and spiritual teachers Jack Kornfield and Brother David Steindl-Rast.

We have since reported on some of the key insights shared at the event and produced videos of the presentations.

In the latest three-year phase of the ESPG project, running from 2015-2018, the GGSC is partnering with leaders in education, health care, and business to explore how the fruits of gratitude research can inform new initiatives to build well-being in each of those fields.

The GGSCs work to apply gratitude research findings to the real world will be conducted in collaboration with GreatSchools.org, Teach for America, the Committee for Children (which runs the Second Step program), Kaiser Permanente, Sharp HealthCare, and several other prominent organizations.

What to know more about the science and practice of gratitude? Please see these Greater Good resources:

Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude Greater Good Science Center University of California, Berkeley, MC 6070 Berkeley, CA 94720-6070 510.642.2490 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/expandinggratitude

Link:
Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude | Greater Good

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Cellular responses to stress, organism-specific biosystemCells are subject to external molecular and physical stresses such as foreign molecules that perturb metabolic or signaling processes, and changes in temperature or pH. The ability of cells and tissu...

Central carbon metabolism in cancer, organism-specific biosystemMalignant transformation of cells requires specific adaptations of cellular metabolism to support growth and survival. In the early twentieth century, Otto Warburg established that there are fundamen...

Central carbon metabolism in cancer, conserved biosystemMalignant transformation of cells requires specific adaptations of cellular metabolism to support growth and survival. In the early twentieth century, Otto Warburg established that there are fundamen...

Chaperonin-mediated protein folding, organism-specific biosystemThe eukaryotic chaperonin TCP-1 ring complex (TRiC/ CCT) plays an essential role in the folding of a subset of proteins prominent among which are the actins and tubulins (reviewed in Altschuler and...

Chronic myeloid leukemia, organism-specific biosystemChronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) originates in a pluripotent hematopoetic stem cell of the bone marrow and is characterized by greatly increased numbers of granulocytes in the blood. Myeloid and ot...

Chronic myeloid leukemia, conserved biosystemChronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) originates in a pluripotent hematopoetic stem cell of the bone marrow and is characterized by greatly increased numbers of granulocytes in the blood. Myeloid and ot...

Colorectal cancer, organism-specific biosystemColorectal cancer (CRC) is the second largest cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. CRC arises from the colorectal epithelium as a result of the accumulation of genetic alterations in ...

Colorectal cancer, conserved biosystemColorectal cancer (CRC) is the second largest cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. CRC arises from the colorectal epithelium as a result of the accumulation of genetic alterations in ...

DNA Damage/Telomere Stress Induced Senescence, organism-specific biosystemReactive oxygen species (ROS), whose concentration increases in senescent cells due to oncogenic RAS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction (Moiseeva et al. 2009) or due to environmental stress, cause DNA...

DNA Double Strand Break Response, organism-specific biosystemDNA double strand break (DSB) response involves sensing of DNA DSBs by the MRN complex which triggers ATM activation. ATM phosphorylates a number of proteins involved in DNA damage checkpoint signali...

DNA Double-Strand Break Repair, organism-specific biosystemNumerous types of DNA damage can occur within a cell due to the endogenous production of oxygen free radicals, normal alkylation reactions, or exposure to exogenous radiations and chemicals. Double-s...

DNA Repair, organism-specific biosystemDNA repair is a phenomenal multi-enzyme, multi-pathway system required to ensure the integrity of the cellular genome. Living organisms are constantly exposed to harmful metabolic by-products, enviro...

DNA damage response, organism-specific biosystemThis is the first pathway out of two pathways which deals with DNA damage response. It has two central gene products (ATM and ATR) which are connected to the sources of DNA damage (in blue). The two ...

DNA damage response (only ATM dependent), organism-specific biosystemThis is the second pathway out of two pathways which deals with DNA damage response. It has two central gene products (ATM and TP53) which are connected with the first DNA damage response pathway. In...

Delta-Notch Signaling Pathway, organism-specific biosystemThere are 4 Notch receptors in humans (Notch 1-4) that bind to a family of 5 ligands (Jagged 1 and 2 and Delta-like 1-3). The Notch receptors are expressed on the cell surface as heterodimeric protei...

Direct p53 effectors, organism-specific biosystem Direct p53 effectors

Endometrial cancer, organism-specific biosystemEndometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynaecological malignancy and the fourth most common malignancy in women in the developed world after breast, colorectal and lung cancer. Two types of endom...

Endometrial cancer, conserved biosystemEndometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynaecological malignancy and the fourth most common malignancy in women in the developed world after breast, colorectal and lung cancer. Two types of endom...

Epstein-Barr virus infection, organism-specific biosystemEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus that is associated with oncogenesis. EBV infection to primary human B lymphocytes leads to induction of EBV-specific HLA-restricted cytotoxi...

Epstein-Barr virus infection, conserved biosystemEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus that is associated with oncogenesis. EBV infection to primary human B lymphocytes leads to induction of EBV-specific HLA-restricted cytotoxi...

ErbB signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemThe ErbB protein family or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family is a family of four structurally related receptor tyrosine kinases. Insufficient ErbB signaling in humans is associated with ...

Factors involved in megakaryocyte development and platelet production, organism-specific biosystemMegakaryocytes (MKs) give rise to circulating platelets (thrombocytes) through terminal differentiation of MKs which release cytoplasmic fragments as circulating platelets. As MKs mature they underg...

Fluoropyrimidine Activity, organism-specific biosystemThe main mechanism of 5-FU activation is conversion to fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate (FdUMP) which inhibits the enzyme thymidylate synthase (TYMS), an important part of the folate-homocysteine cyc...

Formation of Senescence-Associated Heterochromatin Foci (SAHF), organism-specific biosystemThe process of DNA damage/telomere stress induced senescence culminates in the formation of senescence associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF). These foci represent facultative heterochromatin that is...

G1 to S cell cycle control, organism-specific biosystemIn the G1 phase there are two types of DNA damage responses, the p53-dependent and the p53-independent pathways. The p53-dependent responses inhibit CDKs through the up-regulation of genes encoding C...

G1/S DNA Damage Checkpoints, organism-specific biosystemIn the G1 phase there are two types of DNA damage responses, the p53-dependent and the p53-independent pathways. The p53-dependent responses inhibit CDKs through the up-regulation of genes encoding ...

G2/M Checkpoints, organism-specific biosystemG2/M checkpoints include the checks for damaged DNA, unreplicated DNA, and checks that ensure that the genome is replicated once and only once per cell cycle. If cells pass these checkpoints, they f...

G2/M DNA damage checkpoint, organism-specific biosystemThroughout the cell cycle, the genome is constantly monitored for damage, resulting either from errors of replication, by-products of metabolism or through extrinsic sources such as ultra-violet or i...

G2/M Transition, organism-specific biosystemCyclin A can also form complexes with Cdc2 (Cdk1). Together with three B-type cyclins, Cdc2 (Cdk1) regulates the transition from G2 into mitosis. These complexes are activated by dephosphorylation of...

Gastric cancer network 2, organism-specific biosystemNetwork generated by mapping candidate oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes identified by integrated analysis of expression array and aCGH data. Network generated by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis.

Gene Expression, organism-specific biosystemGene Expression covers the pathways by which genomic DNA is transcribed to yield RNA, the regulation of these transcription processes, and the pathways by which newly-made RNA Transcripts are process...

Generic Transcription Pathway, organism-specific biosystemOVERVIEW OF TRANSCRIPTION REGULATION: Detailed studies of gene transcription regulation in a wide variety of eukaryotic systems has revealed the general principles and mechanisms by which cell- or t...

Glioma, organism-specific biosystemGliomas are the most common of the primary brain tumors and account for more than 40% of all central nervous system neoplasms. Gliomas include tumours that are composed predominantly of astrocytes (a...

Glioma, conserved biosystemGliomas are the most common of the primary brain tumors and account for more than 40% of all central nervous system neoplasms. Gliomas include tumours that are composed predominantly of astrocytes (a...

Glucocorticoid receptor regulatory network, organism-specific biosystem Glucocorticoid receptor regulatory network

HTLV-I infection, organism-specific biosystemHuman T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a pathogenic retrovirus that is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). It is also strongly implicated in non-neoplastic chronic inflammato...

HTLV-I infection, conserved biosystemHuman T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a pathogenic retrovirus that is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). It is also strongly implicated in non-neoplastic chronic inflammato...

Hemostasis, organism-specific biosystemHemostasis is a physiological response that culminates in the arrest of bleeding from an injured vessel. Under normal conditions the vascular endothelium supports vasodilation, inhibits platelet adhe...

Hepatitis B, organism-specific biosystemHepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped virus and contains a partially double-stranded relaxed circular DNA (RC-DNA) genome. After entry into hepatocytes, HBV RC-DNA is transported to the nucleus and...

Hepatitis C, organism-specific biosystemHepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease. The HCV employ several strategies to perturb host cell immunity. After invasion, HCV RNA genome functions directly as an mRNA in the...

Hepatitis C, conserved biosystemHepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease. The HCV employ several strategies to perturb host cell immunity. After invasion, HCV RNA genome functions directly as an mRNA in the...

Herpes simplex infection, organism-specific biosystemHerpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are very common worldwide, with the prevalence of HSV-1 reaching up to 80%-90%. Primary infection with HSV takes place in the mucosa, followed by the establishme...

Herpes simplex infection, conserved biosystemHerpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are very common worldwide, with the prevalence of HSV-1 reaching up to 80%-90%. Primary infection with HSV takes place in the mucosa, followed by the establishme...

Huntington's disease, organism-specific biosystemHuntington disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects medium spiny striatal neurons (MSN). The symptoms are choreiform, involuntary movements, personality...

Huntington's disease, conserved biosystemHuntington disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects medium spiny striatal neurons (MSN). The symptoms are choreiform, involuntary movements, personality...

Hypoxic and oxygen homeostasis regulation of HIF-1-alpha, organism-specific biosystem Hypoxic and oxygen homeostasis regulation of HIF-1-alpha

Integrated Breast Cancer Pathway, organism-specific biosystemThis pathway incorporates the most important proteins for Breast Cancer. The Rp score from the Connectivity-Maps (C-Maps) webserver was used to determine the rank of the most important proteins in Br...

Integrated Cancer pathway, organism-specific biosystem Integrated Cancer pathway

Integrated Pancreatic Cancer Pathway, organism-specific biosystemAn integrated pathway model which displays the protein-protein interactions (PPIs) among the relevant proteins for pancreatic cancer. This pathway is a collection of different mechanistic protein pat...

Intrinsic Pathway for Apoptosis, organism-specific biosystemThe intrinsic (Bcl-2 inhibitable or mitochondrial) pathway of apoptosis functions in response to various types of intracellular stress including growth factor withdrawal, DNA damage, unfolding stress...

LKB1 signaling events, organism-specific biosystem LKB1 signaling events

Longevity regulating pathway, organism-specific biosystemRegulation of longevity depends on genetic and environmental factors. Caloric restriction (CR), that is limiting food intake, is recognized in mammals as the best characterized and most reproducible ...

MAPK signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemThe mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a highly conserved module that is involved in various cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Mammals e...

MAPK signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemThe mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a highly conserved module that is involved in various cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Mammals e...

MAPK signaling pathway, conserved biosystemThe mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a highly conserved module that is involved in various cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Mammals e...

Measles, organism-specific biosystemMeasles virus (MV) is highly contagious virus that leads infant death worldwide. Humans are the unique natural reservoir for this virus. It causes severe immunosuppression favouring secondary bacteri...

Measles, conserved biosystemMeasles virus (MV) is highly contagious virus that leads infant death worldwide. Humans are the unique natural reservoir for this virus. It causes severe immunosuppression favouring secondary bacteri...

Melanoma, organism-specific biosystemMelanoma is a form of skin cancer that has a poor prognosis and which is on the rise in Western populations. Melanoma arises from the malignant transformation of pigment-producing cells, melanocytes...

Melanoma, conserved biosystemMelanoma is a form of skin cancer that has a poor prognosis and which is on the rise in Western populations. Melanoma arises from the malignant transformation of pigment-producing cells, melanocytes...

Metabolism of proteins, organism-specific biosystemProtein metabolism comprises the pathways of translation, post-translational modification and protein folding.

MicroRNAs in cancer, organism-specific biosystemMicroRNA (miRNA) is a cluster of small non-encoding RNA molecules of 21 - 23 nucleotides in length, which controls gene expression post-transcriptionally either via the degradation of target mRNAs or...

MicroRNAs in cancer, conserved biosystemMicroRNA (miRNA) is a cluster of small non-encoding RNA molecules of 21 - 23 nucleotides in length, which controls gene expression post-transcriptionally either via the degradation of target mRNAs or...

Mitotic G2-G2/M phases, organism-specific biosystem Mitotic G2-G2/M phases

Neurotrophin signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemNeurotrophins are a family of trophic factors involved in differentiation and survival of neural cells. The neurotrophin family consists of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic facto...

Neurotrophin signaling pathway, conserved biosystemNeurotrophins are a family of trophic factors involved in differentiation and survival of neural cells. The neurotrophin family consists of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic facto...

Non-small cell lung cancer, organism-specific biosystemLung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among men and women in industrialized countries. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancer and represents a heter...

Non-small cell lung cancer, conserved biosystemLung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among men and women in industrialized countries. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancer and represents a heter...

Oncogene Induced Senescence, organism-specific biosystemOncogene-induced senescence is triggered by high level of RAS/RAF/MAPK signaling that can be caused, for example, by oncogenic mutations in RAS or RAF proteins, or by oncogenic mutations in growth fa...

Oncostatin M Signaling Pathway, organism-specific biosystemOncostatin M (OSM) is a member of the multifunctional cytokine interleukin 6 (IL6) - type cytokine family. It is mainly produced in cell types such as activated T lymphocytes, macrophages, monocytes,...

Oxidative Stress Induced Senescence, organism-specific biosystemOxidative stress, caused by increased concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell, can happen as a consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction induced by the oncogenic RAS (Moiseeva et al...

PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemThe phosphatidylinositol 3' -kinase(PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway is activated by many types of cellular stimuli or toxic insults and regulates fundamental cellular functions such as transcription, tra...

PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, conserved biosystemThe phosphatidylinositol 3' -kinase(PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway is activated by many types of cellular stimuli or toxic insults and regulates fundamental cellular functions such as transcription, tra...

PLK3 signaling events, organism-specific biosystem PLK3 signaling events

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TP53 tumor protein p53 [ (human)] - Gene ID - 7157

AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, organism-specific biosystemAdvanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a complex group of compounds produced through the non-enzymatic glycation and oxidation of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, primarily due to aging and un...

AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, conserved biosystemAdvanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a complex group of compounds produced through the non-enzymatic glycation and oxidation of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, primarily due to aging and un...

Adipocytokine signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemIncreased adipocyte volume and number are positively correlated with leptin production, and negatively correlated with production of adiponectin. Leptin is an important regulator of energy intake and...

Adipocytokine signaling pathway, conserved biosystemIncreased adipocyte volume and number are positively correlated with leptin production, and negatively correlated with production of adiponectin. Leptin is an important regulator of energy intake and...

Adipogenesis, organism-specific biosystemThe different classess of factors involved in adipogenesis are shown. Adipogenesis is the process by which fat cells differentiate from predadipocytes to adipocytes (fat cells). Adipose tissue, compo...

African trypanosomiasis, organism-specific biosystemTrypanosoma brucei, the parasite responsible for African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), are spread by the tsetse fly in sub-Saharan Africa. The parasites are able to pass through the blood-brai...

African trypanosomiasis, conserved biosystemTrypanosoma brucei, the parasite responsible for African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), are spread by the tsetse fly in sub-Saharan Africa. The parasites are able to pass through the blood-brai...

AhR pathway, organism-specific biosystem AhR pathway

Allograft Rejection, organism-specific biosystemThis pathway illustrates molecular interactions involved in the fundamental adaptive immune response for allograft destruction. This pathway was adapted in large part from the KEGG pathway http://www...

Allograft rejection, organism-specific biosystemAllograft rejection is the consequence of the recipient's alloimmune response to nonself antigens expressed by donor tissues. After transplantation of organ allografts, there are two pathways of anti...

Allograft rejection, conserved biosystemAllograft rejection is the consequence of the recipient's alloimmune response to nonself antigens expressed by donor tissues. After transplantation of organ allografts, there are two pathways of anti...

Alzheimer's disease, organism-specific biosystemAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic disorder that slowly destroys neurons and causes serious cognitive disability. AD is associated with senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Amyloid-b...

Alzheimer's disease, conserved biosystemAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic disorder that slowly destroys neurons and causes serious cognitive disability. AD is associated with senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Amyloid-b...

Alzheimers Disease, organism-specific biosystemThis pathway displays current genes, proteolytic events and other processes associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease. This pathway was adapted from KEGG on 10/7/2011. Note: mitochondria...

Amoebiasis, organism-specific biosystemEntamoeba histolytica, an extracellular protozoan parasite is a human pathogen that invades the intestinal epithelium. Infection occurs on ingestion of contaminated water and food. The pathogenesis o...

Amoebiasis, conserved biosystemEntamoeba histolytica, an extracellular protozoan parasite is a human pathogen that invades the intestinal epithelium. Infection occurs on ingestion of contaminated water and food. The pathogenesis o...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), organism-specific biosystemAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, lethal, degenerative disorder of motor neurons. The hallmark of this disease is the selective death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), organism-specific biosystemAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, lethal, degenerative disorder of motor neurons. The hallmark of this disease is the selective death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), conserved biosystemAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, lethal, degenerative disorder of motor neurons. The hallmark of this disease is the selective death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord...

Angiopoietin receptor Tie2-mediated signaling, organism-specific biosystem Angiopoietin receptor Tie2-mediated signaling

Antigen processing and presentation, organism-specific biosystem Antigen processing and presentation

Antigen processing and presentation, conserved biosystem Antigen processing and presentation

Apoptosis, organism-specific biosystemApoptosis is a distinct form of cell death that is functionally and morphologically different from necrosis. Nuclear chromatin condensation, cytoplasmic shrinking, dilated endoplasmic reticulum, and ...

Apoptosis, organism-specific biosystemApoptosis is a genetically programmed process for the elimination of damaged or redundant cells by activation of caspases (aspartate-specific cysteine proteases). The onset of apoptosis is controlled...

Apoptosis, conserved biosystemApoptosis is a genetically programmed process for the elimination of damaged or redundant cells by activation of caspases (aspartate-specific cysteine proteases). The onset of apoptosis is controlled...

Asthma, organism-specific biosystemAsthma is a complex syndrome with many clinical phenotypes in both adults and children. Its major characteristics include a variable degree of airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and ...

Asthma, conserved biosystemAsthma is a complex syndrome with many clinical phenotypes in both adults and children. Its major characteristics include a variable degree of airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and ...

Calcineurin-regulated NFAT-dependent transcription in lymphocytes, organism-specific biosystem Calcineurin-regulated NFAT-dependent transcription in lymphocytes

Canonical NF-kappaB pathway, organism-specific biosystem Canonical NF-kappaB pathway

Caspase cascade in apoptosis, organism-specific biosystem Caspase cascade in apoptosis

Cellular roles of Anthrax toxin, organism-specific biosystem Cellular roles of Anthrax toxin

Ceramide signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystem Ceramide signaling pathway

Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), organism-specific biosystemTrypanosoma cruzi is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease. The parasite life cycle involves hematophagous reduviid bugs as vectors. Once parasites enter the host body, they ...

Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), conserved biosystemTrypanosoma cruzi is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease. The parasite life cycle involves hematophagous reduviid bugs as vectors. Once parasites enter the host body, they ...

Cytokine Signaling in Immune system, organism-specific biosystemCytokines are small proteins that regulate and mediate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis. They are secreted in response to immune stimuli, and usually act briefly, locally, at very low concen...

Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, organism-specific biosystemCytokines are soluble extracellular proteins or glycoproteins that are crucial intercellular regulators and mobilizers of cells engaged in innate as well as adaptive inflammatory host defenses, cell ...

Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, conserved biosystemCytokines are soluble extracellular proteins or glycoproteins that are crucial intercellular regulators and mobilizers of cells engaged in innate as well as adaptive inflammatory host defenses, cell ...

Cytokines and Inflammatory Response, organism-specific biosystemInflammation is a protective response to infection by the immune system that requires communication between different classes of immune cells to coordinate their actions. Acute inflammation is an imp...

Death Receptor Signalling, organism-specific biosystemThe death receptors, all cell-surface receptors, begin the process of caspase activation. The common feature of these type 1 transmembrane proteins is the "death-domain" a conserved cytoplasmic motif...

Developmental Biology, organism-specific biosystemAs a first step towards capturing the array of processes by which a fertilized egg gives rise to the diverse tissues of the body, examples of three kinds of processes have been annotated. These are a...

Dilated cardiomyopathy, organism-specific biosystemDilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disease characterised by dilation and impaired contraction of the left or both ventricles that results in progressive heart failure and sudden cardiac d...

Dilated cardiomyopathy, conserved biosystemDilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disease characterised by dilation and impaired contraction of the left or both ventricles that results in progressive heart failure and sudden cardiac d...

Downstream signaling in naive CD8+ T cells, organism-specific biosystem Downstream signaling in naive CD8+ T cells

EBV LMP1 signaling, organism-specific biosystembased on science-slides...

FAS pathway and Stress induction of HSP regulation, organism-specific biosystemThis pathway describes the Fas induced apoptosis and interplay with Hsp27 in response to stress. More info: [http://www.biocarta.com/pathfiles/h_hsp27Pathway.asp BioCarta].

Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemFc epsilon RI-mediated signaling pathways in mast cells are initiated by the interaction of antigen (Ag) with IgE bound to the extracellular domain of the alpha chain of Fc epsilon RI. The activation...

Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway, conserved biosystemFc epsilon RI-mediated signaling pathways in mast cells are initiated by the interaction of antigen (Ag) with IgE bound to the extracellular domain of the alpha chain of Fc epsilon RI. The activation...

Graft-versus-host disease, organism-specific biosystemGraft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a lethal complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) where immunocompetent donor T cells attack the genetically disparate host cells....

Graft-versus-host disease, conserved biosystemGraft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a lethal complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) where immunocompetent donor T cells attack the genetically disparate host cells....

HIV-1 Nef: Negative effector of Fas and TNF-alpha, organism-specific biosystem HIV-1 Nef: Negative effector of Fas and TNF-alpha

HTLV-I infection, organism-specific biosystemHuman T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a pathogenic retrovirus that is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). It is also strongly implicated in non-neoplastic chronic inflammato...

HTLV-I infection, conserved biosystemHuman T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a pathogenic retrovirus that is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). It is also strongly implicated in non-neoplastic chronic inflammato...

Hematopoietic cell lineage, organism-specific biosystemBlood-cell development progresses from a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), which can undergo either self-renewal or differentiation into a multilineage committed progenitor cell: a common lymphoid proge...

Hematopoietic cell lineage, conserved biosystemBlood-cell development progresses from a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), which can undergo either self-renewal or differentiation into a multilineage committed progenitor cell: a common lymphoid proge...

Hepatitis B, organism-specific biosystemHepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped virus and contains a partially double-stranded relaxed circular DNA (RC-DNA) genome. After entry into hepatocytes, HBV RC-DNA is transported to the nucleus and...

Hepatitis C, organism-specific biosystemHepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease. The HCV employ several strategies to perturb host cell immunity. After invasion, HCV RNA genome functions directly as an mRNA in the...

Hepatitis C, conserved biosystemHepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease. The HCV employ several strategies to perturb host cell immunity. After invasion, HCV RNA genome functions directly as an mRNA in the...

Herpes simplex infection, organism-specific biosystemHerpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are very common worldwide, with the prevalence of HSV-1 reaching up to 80%-90%. Primary infection with HSV takes place in the mucosa, followed by the establishme...

Herpes simplex infection, conserved biosystemHerpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are very common worldwide, with the prevalence of HSV-1 reaching up to 80%-90%. Primary infection with HSV takes place in the mucosa, followed by the establishme...

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), organism-specific biosystemHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary myocardial disorder with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance that is characterized by hypertrophy of the left ventricles with histological feat...

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), conserved biosystemHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary myocardial disorder with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance that is characterized by hypertrophy of the left ventricles with histological feat...

IL23-mediated signaling events, organism-specific biosystem IL23-mediated signaling events

IL27-mediated signaling events, organism-specific biosystem IL27-mediated signaling events

Immune System, organism-specific biosystemHumans are exposed to millions of potential pathogens daily, through contact, ingestion, and inhalation. Our ability to avoid infection depends on the adaptive immune system and during the first crit...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), organism-specific biosystemInflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract due to environmental and geneti...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), conserved biosystemInflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract due to environmental and geneti...

Influenza A, organism-specific biosystemInfluenza is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza virus infection. Influenza A virus is responsible for both annual seasonal epidemics and periodic worldwide pandemics. Novel strains ...

Influenza A, conserved biosystemInfluenza is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza virus infection. Influenza A virus is responsible for both annual seasonal epidemics and periodic worldwide pandemics. Novel strains ...

Insulin resistance, organism-specific biosystemInsulin resistance is a condition where cells become resistant to the effects of insulin. It is often found in people with health disorders, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic...

Integrated Pancreatic Cancer Pathway, organism-specific biosystemAn integrated pathway model which displays the protein-protein interactions (PPIs) among the relevant proteins for pancreatic cancer. This pathway is a collection of different mechanistic protein pat...

Legionellosis, organism-specific biosystemLegionellosis is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and other legionella species. Two distinct clinical and epidemiological syndromes are associated...

Legionellosis, conserved biosystemLegionellosis is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and other legionella species. Two distinct clinical and epidemiological syndromes are associated...

Leishmaniasis, organism-specific biosystemLeishmania is an intracellular protozoan parasite of macrophages that causes visceral, mucosal, and cutaneous diseases. The parasite is transmitted to humans by sandflies, where they survive and prol...

Leishmaniasis, conserved biosystemLeishmania is an intracellular protozoan parasite of macrophages that causes visceral, mucosal, and cutaneous diseases. The parasite is transmitted to humans by sandflies, where they survive and prol...

MAPK signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemThe mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a highly conserved module that is involved in various cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Mammals e...

MAPK signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemThe mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a highly conserved module that is involved in various cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Mammals e...

MAPK signaling pathway, conserved biosystemThe mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a highly conserved module that is involved in various cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Mammals e...

Malaria, organism-specific biosystemPlasmodium protozoa are parasites that account for malaria infection. Sporozoite forms of the parasite are injected by mosquito bites under the skin and are carried to the liver where they develop in...

Malaria, conserved biosystemPlasmodium protozoa are parasites that account for malaria infection. Sporozoite forms of the parasite are injected by mosquito bites under the skin and are carried to the liver where they develop in...

Matrix Metalloproteinases, organism-specific biosystemMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases; other family members are adamalysins, serralysins, and astacins. The MMPs belong to a larger family of proteases known as the metzi...

MicroRNAs in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, organism-specific biosystemThis pathway shows the role of microRNAs in the process of cardiac hypertrophy. MicroRNA targets were predicted by the TargetScan algorithm, and the predicted interactions are shown in red dashed lin...

Monoamine Transport, organism-specific biosystem Monoamine Transport

NF-kappa B signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemNuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is the generic name of a family of transcription factors that function as dimers and regulate genes involved in immunity, inflammation and cell survival. There are...

NF-kappa B signaling pathway, conserved biosystemNuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is the generic name of a family of transcription factors that function as dimers and regulate genes involved in immunity, inflammation and cell survival. There are...

NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemSpecific families of pattern recognition receptors are responsible for detecting various pathogens and generating innate immune responses. The intracellular NOD-like receptor (NLR) family contains mo...

NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, conserved biosystemSpecific families of pattern recognition receptors are responsible for detecting various pathogens and generating innate immune responses. The intracellular NOD-like receptor (NLR) family contains mo...

Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, organism-specific biosystemNatural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that are involved in early defenses against both allogeneic (nonself) cells and autologous cells undergoing various forms of stre...

Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, conserved biosystemNatural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that are involved in early defenses against both allogeneic (nonself) cells and autologous cells undergoing various forms of stre...

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), organism-specific biosystemNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to more severe steatohepatitis with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, known as nonalcoholic steatohepati...

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), conserved biosystemNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to more severe steatohepatitis with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, known as nonalcoholic steatohepati...

Notch Signaling Pathway, organism-specific biosystemThe Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved, intercellular signaling mechanism essential for proper embryonic development in all metazoan organisms in the Animal kingdom. The Notch pro...

Osteoclast differentiation, organism-specific biosystemThe osteoclasts, multinucleared cells originating from the hematopoietic monocyte-macrophage lineage, are responsible for bone resorption. Osteoclastogenesis is mainly regulated by signaling pathways...

Osteoclast differentiation, conserved biosystemThe osteoclasts, multinucleared cells originating from the hematopoietic monocyte-macrophage lineage, are responsible for bone resorption. Osteoclastogenesis is mainly regulated by signaling pathways...

Pertussis, organism-specific biosystemPertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by a bacteria called Bordetella Pertussis. The characteristic symptoms are paroxysmal cough, inspiratory whe...

Pertussis, conserved biosystemPertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by a bacteria called Bordetella Pertussis. The characteristic symptoms are paroxysmal cough, inspiratory whe...

Proteoglycans in cancer, organism-specific biosystemMany proteoglycans (PGs) in the tumor microenvironment have been shown to be key macromolecules that contribute to biology of various types of cancer including proliferation, adhesion, angiogenesis a...

Proteoglycans in cancer, conserved biosystemMany proteoglycans (PGs) in the tumor microenvironment have been shown to be key macromolecules that contribute to biology of various types of cancer including proliferation, adhesion, angiogenesis a...

RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway, organism-specific biosystemSpecific families of pattern recognition receptors are responsible for detecting viral pathogens and generating innate immune responses. Non-self RNA appearing in a cell as a result of intracellular ...

RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway, conserved biosystemSpecific families of pattern recognition receptors are responsible for detecting viral pathogens and generating innate immune responses. Non-self RNA appearing in a cell as a result of intracellular ...

RXR and RAR heterodimerization with other nuclear receptor, organism-specific biosystem RXR and RAR heterodimerization with other nuclear receptor

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TNF tumor necrosis factor [ (human)]

Learn the basic principles of pharmacokinetics.

Pharmacokinetics for Pharmaceutical Scientists Course

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Biomedical Micro and Nanotechnology Core

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MedList Clinic

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American Course on Drug and Regulatory Sciences

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School of Pharmacy | UCSF

Welcome to the Sight Eye Clinic, the premier ophthalmology practice in the Holland and Zeeland area serving all your eye needs! Were glad youre here. We have been members of the West Michigan community since the 1930s, helping our neighbors see clearly and take care of their eyes.

You use your eyes for just about everything in your daily life, yet so many people take them, and their vision, for granted. Poor vision can be life-changing, restricting your independence, taking a toll on your work, interfering with school, and generally impairing your life. For many people, though, it doesnt have to be this way. Active eye care can improve your vision, manage issues like progressive diseases, and help you live a healthier life.

We at Sight Eye work to provide excellent eye care in a warm, compassionate environment in order to serve the community we love. Many of us in our practice share a Christian faith which forms the basis for this mission we are called to love and serve our patients and coworkers as ourselves. To that end, we strive to make Sight Eye a place where anyone in the community feels welcome and receives excellent, personal eye care.

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Ophthalmologist Zeeland, MI | Sight Eye Clinic

Frontiers in Biotechnology

Biotechnology is an innovative science in which living systems and organisms are used to develop new and useful products, ranging from healthcare products to seeds. The field of Biotechnology is growing rapidly making tremendous impacts in Medical/Health Care, Food & Agriculture. The Global Biotechnology industry is in the growth phase of its economic life cycle. Over the five years to 2014, revenue and industry value added (IVA) growth have outpaced world GDP growth. The Frontiers in Biotechnology track will cover current technological aspects that aim at obtaining products with scientific, industrial, health and agricultural applications, from organisms with increasing levels of complexity from bacteria, yeast, plants, animal cells and virus. With the lectures and demonstrations on stem cell therapy, Embryo transfer technology, next generation sequencing, Drug discovery, biotechnology in food and dairy, etc... The participants are expected to acquire knowledge in techniques and methodologies used in Biotechnology.

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is the science that covers all technologies required for producing, manufacturing and registration of biological drugs.Pharmaceutical Biotechnologyis an increasingly important area of science and technology. It contributes in design and delivery of new therapeutic drugs,diagnosticagents for medical tests, and in gene therapy for correcting the medical symptoms of hereditary diseases. The Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is widely spread, ranging from many ethical issues to changes inhealthcarepracticesand a significant contribution to the development of national economy.Biopharmaceuticalsconsists of large biological molecules which areproteins. They target the underlying mechanisms and pathways of a disease or ailment; it is a relatively young industry. They can deal with targets in humans that are not accessible withtraditional medicines.

Related Conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech Industries Meet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 13thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 28-30, 2016, San Francisco, USA;Global Biotechnology Congress2016, May 11th - 14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA;Biomarker Summit2016, March 21-23, 2016 San Diego, CA, USA; 14thVaccines Research & Development, July 7-8, Boston, USA;Pharmaceutical & BiotechPatent Litigation Forum, Mar 14 - 15, 2016, Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4thBiomarkers in Diagnostics, Oct 07-08, 2015 Berlin, Germany, DEU.

Medical Biotechnology

Medicine is by means of biotechnology techniques so much in diagnosing and treating dissimilar diseases. It also gives opportunity for the population to defend themselves from hazardous diseases. The pasture of biotechnology, genetic engineering, has introduced techniques like gene therapy, recombinant DNA technologyand polymerase chain retort which employ genes and DNA molecules to make adiagnosis diseasesand put in new and strong genes in the body which put back the injured cells. There are some applications of biotechnology which are live their part in the turf of medicine and giving good results.

Related Conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech Industries Meet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 13thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 28-30, 2016, San Francisco, USA;Global Biotechnology Congress2016, May 11th - 14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA;Biomarker Summit2016, March 21-23, 2016 San Diego, CA, USA; 14thVaccines Research & Development, July 7-8, Boston, USA;Pharmaceutical & Biotech Patent Litigation Forum, Mar 14 - 15, 2016, Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4thBiomarkers in Diagnostics, Oct 07-08, 2015 Berlin, Germany, DEU.

Molecular Biotechnology

Molecular biotechnology is the use of laboratory techniques to study and modify nucleic acids and proteins for applications in areas such as human and animal health, agriculture, and the environment.Molecular biotechnologyresults from the convergence of many areas of research, such as molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, genetics, and cell biology. It is an exciting field fueled by the ability to transfer genetic information between organisms with the goal of understanding important biological processes or creating a useful product.

Related Conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech IndustriesMeet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 13thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 28-30, 2016, San Francisco, USA; GlobalBiotechnology Congress2016, May 11th-14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA;BIO Investor Forum, October 20-21, 2015, San Francisco, USA;BIO Latin America Conference, October 14-16, 2015, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Bio Pharm America 20158th Annual International Partnering Conference, September 15-17, 2015, Boston, MA, USA.

Environmental Biotechnology

The biotechnology is applied and used to study the natural environment. Environmental biotechnology could also imply that one try to harness biological process for commercial uses and exploitation. It is "the development, use and regulation of biological systems for remediation of contaminated environment and forenvironment-friendly processes(green manufacturing technologies and sustainable development). Environmental biotechnology can simply be described as "the optimal use of nature, in the form of plants, animals, bacteria, fungi and algae, to producerenewable energy, food and nutrients in a synergistic integrated cycle of profit making processes where the waste of each process becomes the feedstock for another process".

Related Conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech IndustriesMeet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 13thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 28-30, 2016, San Francisco, USA; GlobalBiotechnology Congress2016, May 11th - 14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA;Biomarker Summit2016, March 21-23, 2016 San Diego, CA, USA; 14thVaccines Research & Development, July 7-8, Boston, USA;Pharmaceutical & BiotechPatent Litigation Forum, Mar 14 - 15, 2016, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Animal Biotechnology

It improves the food we eat - meat, milk and eggs. Biotechnology can improve an animals impact on the environment. Animalbiotechnologyis the use of science and engineering to modify living organisms. The goal is to make products, to improve animals and to developmicroorganismsfor specific agricultural uses. It enhances the ability to detect, treat and prevent diseases, include creating transgenic animals (animals with one or more genes introduced by human intervention), using gene knock out technology to make animals with a specific inactivated gene and producing nearly identical animals by somatic cell nuclear transfer (or cloning).

Related Conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech Industries Meet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 13thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 28-30, 2016, San Francisco, USA;Global Biotechnology Congress2016, May 11th - 14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA;Biomarker Summit2016, March 21-23, 2016 San Diego, CA, USA; 14thVaccines Research & Development, July 7-8, Boston, USA;Pharmaceutical & BiotechPatent Litigation Forum, Mar 14 - 15, 2016, Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4thBiomarkers in Diagnostics, Oct 07-08, 2015 Berlin, Germany, DEU.

Agricultural Biotechnology

Biotechnology is being used to address problems in all areas of agricultural production and processing. This includesplant breedingto raise and stabilize yields; to improve resistance to pests, diseases and abiotic stresses such as drought and cold; and to enhance the nutritional content of foods. Modern agricultural biotechnology improves crops in more targeted ways. The best known technique is genetic modification, but the term agricultural biotechnology (or green biotechnology) also covers such techniques asMarker Assisted Breeding, which increases the effectiveness of conventional breeding.

Related Conferences

3rd GlobalFood Safety Conference, September 01-03, 2016, Atlanta USA; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 12thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 14-15, 2016, San Francisco, USA;Biologically Active Compoundsin Food, October 15-16 2015 Lodz, Poland; World Conference onInnovative Animal Nutrition and Feeding, October 15-17, 2015 Budapest, Hungary; 18th International Conference onFood Science and Biotechnology, November 28 - 29, 2016, Istanbul, Turkey; 18th International Conference on Agricultural Science, Biotechnology,Food and Animal Science, January 7 - 8, 2016, Singapore; International IndonesiaSeafood and Meat, 1517 October 2016, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Industrial Biotechnology

Industrial biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for industrial purposes, includingindustrial fermentation. The practice of using cells such as micro-organisms, or components of cells like enzymes, to generate industrially useful products in sectors such as chemicals, food and feed, detergents, paper and pulp, textiles andbiofuels. Industrial Biotechnology offers a premier forum bridging basic research and R&D with later-stage commercialization for sustainable bio based industrial and environmental applications.

Related Conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech Industries Meet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 13thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 28-30, 2016, San Francisco, USA; GlobalBiotechnology Congress2016, May 11th - 14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA;Biomarker Summit2016, March 21-23, 2016 San Diego, CA, USA; 14thVaccines Research & Development, July 7-8, Boston, USA;Pharmaceutical & BiotechPatent Litigation Forum, Mar 14 - 15, 2016, Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4thBiomarkers in Diagnostics, Oct 07-08, 2015 Berlin, Germany, DEU.

Microbial Biotechnology

Microorganisms have been exploited for their specific biochemical and physiological properties from the earliest times for baking, brewing, and food preservation and more recently for producingantibiotics, solvents, amino acids, feed supplements, and chemical feedstuffs. Over time, there has been continuous selection by scientists of special strains ofmicroorganisms, based on their efficiency to perform a desired function. Progress, however, has been slow, often difficult to explain, and hard to repeat. Recent developments inmolecular biologyand genetic engineering could provide novel solutions to long-standing problems. Over the past decade, scientists have developed the techniques to move a gene from one organism to another, based on discoveries of how cells store, duplicate, and transfer genetic information.

Related conferences

3rdGlobal Food Safety Conference, September 01-03, 2016, Atlanta USA; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 12thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 14-15, 2016, San Francisco, USA;Biologically Active Compoundsin Food, October 15-16 2015 Lodz, Poland; World Conference onInnovative Animal Nutrition and Feeding, October 15-17, 2015 Budapest, Hungary; 18th International Conference onFood Science and Biotechnology, November 28 - 29, 2016, Istanbul, Turkey; 18th International Conference on Agricultural Science, Biotechnology,Food and Animal Science, January 7 - 8, 2016, Singapore; International IndonesiaSeafood and Meat, 1517 October 2016, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Food Biotechnology

Food processing is a process by which non-palatable and easily perishable raw materials are converted to edible and potable foods and beverages, which have a longer shelf life. Biotechnology helps in improving the edibility, texture, and storage of the food; in preventing the attack of the food, mainly dairy, by the virus like bacteriophage producing antimicrobial effect to destroy the unwanted microorganisms in food that cause toxicity to prevent the formation and degradation of other toxins andanti-nutritionalelements present naturally in food.

Related Conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech Industries Meet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 13thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 28-30, 2016, San Francisco, USA;Global Biotechnology Congress 2016, May 11th-14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA;BIO Investor Forum, October 20-21, 2015, San Francisco, USA;BIO Latin America Conference, October 14-16, 2015, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Bio Pharm America 20158th Annual International Partnering Conference, September 15-17, 2015, Boston, MA, USA.

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

One kind of biotechnology is gene technology, sometimes called 'genetic engineering' or'genetic modification', where the genetic material of living things is deliberately altered to enhance or remove a particular trait and allow the organism to perform new functions. Genes within a species can be modified, or genes can be moved from one species to another. Genetic engineering has applications inmedicine, research, agriculture and can be used on a wide range of plants, animals and microorganisms. It resulted in a series of medical products. The first two commercially prepared products from recombinant DNA technology were insulin andhuman growth hormone, both of which were cultured in the E. coli bacteria.

The field of molecular biology overlaps with biology and chemistry and in particular, genetics and biochemistry. A key area of molecular biology concerns understanding how various cellular systems interact in terms of the way DNA, RNA and protein synthesis function.

Related Conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech Industries Meet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 13thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 28-30, 2016, San Francisco, USA;Global Biotechnology Congress2016, May 11th - 14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA;Biomarker Summit2016, March 21-23, 2016 San Diego, CA, USA; 14thVaccines Research & Development, July 7-8, Boston, USA;Pharmaceutical & BiotechPatent Litigation Forum, Mar 14 - 15, 2016, Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4thBiomarkers in Diagnostics, Oct 07-08, 2015 Berlin, Germany, DEU.

Biotechnology Investor & partnering Forum

The Biotech Investor & Partnering Forum is one of the unique conclave focused on the management and economics of biotechnology which became so important as the field is growing on a fast paced. From agriculture and environment sectors to pharmaceutical and healthcare products and services, the industries and institutions emerging from the biotech revolution Bio-Based Economy represent one of the largest and most steadily growing building blocks of the Global economy. The social impact is overwhelming, generating tremendous progress in quality of life but also difficult issues that needs responsible management based on consumer & bio-industry perspective, solid ethical principles, growing intellectual property rights complexity, long drug development times, Bio security, unusual market structures and highly unpredictable outcomes are just some of the challenges facing biotechnology management today.

Related Conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech Industries Meet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 13thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 28-30, 2016, San Francisco, USA;Global Biotechnology Congress2016, May 11th - 14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA;Biomarker Summit2016, March 21-23, 2016 San Diego, CA, USA; 14thVaccines Research & Development, July 7-8, Boston, USA;Pharmaceutical & BiotechPatent Litigation Forum, Mar 14 - 15, 2016, Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4thBiomarkers in Diagnostics, Oct 07-08, 2015 Berlin, Germany, DEU.

Nano Biotechnology

Nano biotechnology, bio nanotechnology, and Nano biology are terms that refer to the intersection of nanotechnology and biology. Bio nanotechnology and Nano biotechnology serve as blanket terms for various related technologies. The most important objectives that are frequently found inNano biologyinvolve applying Nano tools to relevantmedical/biologicalproblems and refining these applications. Developing new tools, such as peptide Nano sheets, for medical and biological purposes is another primary objective in nanotechnology.

Related Conferences

8thWorldMedicalNanotechnologyCongress& Expo during June 9-11, Dallas, USA; 6thGlobal Experts Meeting and Expo onNanomaterialsand Nanotechnology, April 21-23, 2016 ,Dubai, UAE; 12thNanotechnologyProductsExpo, Nov 10-12, 2016 at Melbourne, Australia; 5thInternationalConference onNanotekand Expo, November 16-18, 2015 at San Antonio, USA; 11thInternational Conference and Expo onNano scienceandMolecular Nanotechnology, September 26-28 2016, London, UK; 18thInternational Conference onNanotechnologyand Biotechnology, February 4 - 5, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia; 16thInternational Conference onNanotechnology, August 22-25, 2016 in Sendai, Japan; International Conference onNano scienceand Nanotechnology, 7-11 Feb 2016 in Canberra, Australia; 18thInternational Conference onNano scienceand Nanotechnology, February 15 - 16, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey; InternationalNanotechnologyConference& Expo, April 4-6, 2016 in Baltimore, USA.

Animal biotechnology

Animal biotechnology is a branch of biotechnology in which molecular biology techniques are used to genetically engineer animals in order to improve their suitability for pharmaceutical, agricultural or industrial applications. Many animals also help by serving as models of disease. If an animal gets a disease that's similar to humans, we can use that animal to test treatments. Animals are often used to help us understand how new drugs will work and whether or not they'll be safe for humans and effective in treating disease.

Related conferences

11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech IndustriesMeet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 12thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 14-15, 2016, San Francisco, USA;BIO IPCC Conference, Cary, North Carolina, USA; World Congress onIndustrial Biotechnology, April 17-20, 2016, San Diego, CA; 6thBio based Chemicals: Commercialization & Partnering, November 16-17, 2015, San Francisco, CA, USA; The European Forum forIndustrial Biotechnology and Bio economy, 27-29 October 2015, Brussels, Belgium; 4thBiotechnology World Congress, February 15th-18th, 2016, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; International Conference on Advances inBioprocess Engineering and Technology, 20th to 22nd January 2016,Kolkata, India; GlobalBiotechnology Congress2016, May 11th - 14th 2016, Boston, MA, USA

Biotechnology Applications

Biotechnology has application in four major industrial areas, including health care (medical), crop production and agriculture, nonfood (industrial) uses of crops and other products (e.g. biodegradable plastics, vegetable oil, biofuels), and environmental uses. AppliedMicrobiologyand Biotechnology focusses on prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells, relevant enzymes and proteins, applied genetics and molecular biotechnology,genomicsand proteomics, applied microbial and cell physiology, environmental biotechnology, process and products and more.

Related conferences

3rd GlobalFood Safety Conference, September 01-03, 2016, Atlanta USA; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, Thailand; 11thEuro Biotechnology Congress, November 07-09,2016, Alicante Spain; 12thBiotechnology Congress, Nov 14-15, 2016, San Francisco, USA;Biologically Active Compoundsin Food, October 15-16 2015 Lodz, Poland; World Conference onInnovative Animal Nutrition and Feeding, October 15-17, 2015 Budapest, Hungary; 18th International Conference onFood Science and Biotechnology, November 28 - 29, 2016, Istanbul, Turkey; 18th International Conference on Agricultural Science, Biotechnology,Food and Animal Science, January 7 - 8, 2016, Singapore; International IndonesiaSeafood and Meat, 1517 October 2016, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Biotechnology Companies & Market Analysis

From agriculture to environmental science, biotechnology plays an important role in improving industry standards, services, and developing new products. Biotechnology involves the spectrum of life science-based research companies working ontransformative technologiesfor a wide range of industries. While agriculture, material science and environmental science are major areas of research, the largest impact is made in the field medicine. As a large player in the research and development of pharmaceuticals, the role ofbiotechnologyin the healthcare field is undeniable. From genetically analysis and manipulation to the formation of new drugs, many biotech firms are transforming into pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical leaders.

Related conferences

10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok; 11thEuroBiotechnologyCongress, November 7-9, 2016 Alicante, Spain; 11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech IndustriesMeet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 13thBiotechnologyCongress, November 28-30, 2016 San Francisco, USA; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, UAE;BioInternational Convention, June 6-9, 2016 | San Francisco, CA;BiotechJapan, May 11-13, 2016, Tokyo, Japan;NANO BIOEXPO 2016, Jan. 27 - 29, 2016, Tokyo, Japan;ArabLabExpo2016, March 20-23, Dubai; 14thInternational exhibition for laboratory technology,chemical analysis, biotechnology and diagnostics, 12-14 Apr 2016, Moscow, Russia

Biotechnology Capital & Grants

Every new business needs some startup capital, for research, product development and production, permits and licensing and other overhead costs, in addition to what is needed to pay your staff, if you have any. Biotechnology products arise from successfulbiotechcompanies. These companies are built by talented individuals in possession of a scientific breakthrough that is translated into a product or service idea, which is ultimately brought into commercialization. At the heart of this effort is the biotech entrepreneur, who forms the company with a vision they believe will benefit the lives and health of countless individuals. Entrepreneurs start biotechnology companies for various reasons, but creatingrevolutionary productsand tools that impact the lives of potentially millions of people is one of the fundamental reasons why all entrepreneurs start biotechnology companies.

10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok; 11thEuroBiotechnologyCongress, November 7-9, 2016 Alicante, Spain; 11th World Congress onBiotechnology and Biotech IndustriesMeet, July 28-29, 2016, Berlin, Germany; 13thBiotechnologyCongress, November 28-30, 2016 San Francisco, USA; 10thAsia Pacific Biotech CongressJuly 25-27, 2016, Bangkok, UAE;BioInternational Convention, June 6-9, 2016 | San Francisco, CA;BiotechJapan, May 11-13, 2016, Tokyo, Japan;NANO BIOEXPO 2016, Jan. 27 - 29, 2016, Tokyo, Japan;ArabLabExpo2016, March 20-23, Dubai; 14thInternational exhibition for laboratory technology,chemical analysis, biotechnology and diagnostics, 12-14 Apr 2016, Moscow, Russia

Scope and Importance

From the simple facts of brewing beer and baking bread has emerged a field now known asBiotechnology. Over the ages the meaning of the word biotechnology has evolved along with our growing technical knowledge. Biotechnology began by using cultured microorganisms to create a variety of food and drinks, despite in early practitioners not even knowing the existence of microbial world. Today, biotechnology is still defined as many application of living organisms or bioprocesses to create new products. Although the underlying idea is unchanged, the use of genetic engineering and other modern scientific techniques has revolutionized the area.

The field of genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry are merging their respective discoveries into the expanding applied field of biotechnology, and advances are occurring at a record pace. Traditional biotechnology goes back thousands of years.

Modern biotechnology applies not only modern genetics but also advances in other sciences. However, there is a third revolution that is just emergingnanotechnology. The development of techniques to visualize and manipulate atoms individually or in small clusters is opening the way to an ever-finer analysis of living systems. Nanoscale techniques are now beginning to play significant roles in many area of biotechnology.

This raises the question of what exactly defines biotechnology. To this there is no real answer. Today, the application of modern genetics or other equivalent modern technology is usually seen as application of modern genetics or equivalent modern technology is usually seen as necessary for a process to count as biotechnology. Thus, the definition of biotechnology has become partly a matter of fashion. Therefore, to classical terms, (modern) biotechnology as resulting in a broaden manner from the merger of classical biotechnology with modern genetics, molecular biology, computer technology, and nanotechnology.

Biotech Congress 2017covers mostly all the allied areas of biotechnology which embraces both the basic sciences, technology and as well as its applications in research, industry and academia. This conference will promote global networking between researchers, institutions, investors, industries, policy makers and students. The conference varied topics in biotechnology like healthcare, environmental, animal, plant, marine, genetic engineering, industrial aspects, food science and bio process.

Through this conference we can get all the relevant information regarding how we can use the advances in the biotechnology for building a better tomorrow by reducing the environmental impacts.

Why Italy?

Rome is the capital of Italy; it is also the countrys largest and most populated comune and fourth-most populous city in the European Union. The Metropolitan City of Rome has a population of 4.3 million residents. The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of Tiber River. Vatican City is an independent country within the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states. Roman mythology dates the founding of Rome at only around 753 BC; the site has been inhabited for much longer, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe. It is referred to as Roma Aeterna (The Eternal City) and Caput Mundi (Capital of the World), two central notions in ancient Roman culture. One of the most important city, Rome, was founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus.

The Apennine Mountains form its backbone and stretch from north to south, with the Tiber River cutting through them in central Italy. Along the northern border, the Alps serve as a natural boundary. The three major bodies of water surrounding Italy are the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Ancient Rome is characterized by the seven hills and the Tiber River. The Tiber River flows from the Apennine Mountain, to the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Rome is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. In 2005, the city received 19.5 million global visitors, up of 22.1% from 2001. Rome ranked in 2014 as the 14thmos-visited city in the world, 3rd most visited in the European Union, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. Its historic center is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Monuments and museums such as the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum are among the worlds most visited tourist destinations with both locations receiving millions of tourists a year. Rome hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics and is the seat of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Rome is the city with the most monuments in the world.

The weather is fantastic in Rome in June, when the average temperature starts off at around 20C and gradually climbs up to 23C-24C as the month progresses.

Congress Highlights:

Biotech Congress 2017 emphasizes on:

Target Audience

CEO, Directors, Vice Presidents, Co-directors, Biotechnologists, Academicians, Biostatistician, Biotechnologists, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Metabolomics Data Analyst, Clinicians, Commissioner of Health, Community health workers, CROs, Directors, Environmental Scientists, Food Scientists, Genetic Engineers, Health Economist, Health officials, Healthcare Analyst, Manager of Quality Assurance and Evaluation, Market Access Manager, Marketing Intelligence Associate, Master/PhD students, Medical professionals, Microbiologists, Pharmaceutical Scientists, Physicians, Plant Scientists, Postdoctoral Fellows, Public Health Officer, Public Health Policy Analyst, Research Associates, Research Coordinator, Research Data Analyst, Research Intern, Researchers and faculty, Scientific and Medical Information Assistant, Scientists, Food, Environmental & Plant Scientists, Clinicians, Professors, Health care industrialists, Post Doctorate Fellows, Brand Manufacturers of Consumer Products/ Managers, Pharmaceutical Scientists, Students.

Focusing areas to get more participations & Exhibitions

Why to attend?

Biotech Congress is a remarkable event which brings together a unique and international mix of Biotechnology Researchers, Industrial Biotechnologists, leading Universities and Research Institutions making the congress a perfect platform to share experience, foster collaboration across Industry and Academia, and evaluate emerging technologies across the globe.

Biotechnology in Europe

Only in March a market analysis by British researchers at the University of Cambridge had calculated a market potential of three billion euros for Europe.At present, such Crowd Investing platforms only have a market share of 6.5%, however, the growth forecasts are good. The biotech industry in Europe spends nearly $7.32 billion in R&D and $23.2 billion in revenue. Around 20% of the total marketed medicines, and as much as 50% of all drugs that are in the pipeline, are all healthcare biotech products. The European biotech industry provides employment to approximately 95,000 people. Biotechnology sector makes a substantial contribution to the fundamental EU policy objectives, such as job creation, economic growth, ageing society, public health, environmental protection and sustainable development.

Biotechnology in Italy

The Italian Biotechnology Report by Ernst&Young and Assobiotec, in cooperation with Farmindustria and Italian Trade Promotion Agency, shows that the Italian biotech companies are able to compete outstandingly on the international market, managing to grow despite continuing difficulties in the economic situation. With 394 companies, of which 248 pure biotech, Italy is third in Europe after Germany and the United Kingdom, for the number of pure biotech companies, with a growth trend (+2,5%) in clear contrast with that of the countries that occupy the top ranking positions. With 206 companies operating in the health-care field, the red biotech is the prevalent sector. Looking at the other sectors, 43 green biotech, 34 white biotech, 61 GPET (Genomics, Proteomics and Enabling Technologies) and 50 multi core companies are operating in Italy. 77% of the companies are small (less than 50 employees) and micro (less than 10 employees) enterprises, mainly located in Science and Technology Parks or Incubators. Total revenues in the biotech field amount to 7 billion Euros (+4%). Investments in R&D amount to 1,8 billion Euros (+8%), equal to 25% of total revenues. Italian biotech revenues contributes to 0,7% of GDP and the sector is being considered more and more often as a meta-sector, able to create value and employment and with significant effects on various fields, ranging from textiles to detergents, cosmetics, polymers, paper and animal feed, from paints to food, from treatment of waste to leather treatment, and many others. The future trends of Italian red biotech are connected to a further specialization in oncology, neurology and infectious diseases and to new achievements in the fields of Advanced Therapies and personalized medicine. The analysis of the Italian biotech pipeline shows 319 products for therapeutic use, of which 80 in the preclinical phase, 43 in Phase I, 98 in Phase II and 98 in Phase III. Plant genomics and traceability, preservation and safety of foods, as well as bioremediation and biomasses, are the most promising applications in the green & white fields.

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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and intestine.[1][2] Long-term issues include difficulty breathing and coughing up mucus as a result of frequent lung infections. Other signs and symptoms include sinus infections, poor growth, fatty stool, clubbing of the fingers and toes, and infertility in males, among others. Different people may have different degrees of symptoms.[1]

CF is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. It is caused by the presence of mutations in both copies of the gene for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein.[1] Those with a single working copy are carriers and otherwise mostly normal.[3] CFTR is involved in production of sweat, digestive fluids, and mucus.[4] When CFTR is not functional, secretions which are usually thin instead become thick.[5] The condition is diagnosed by a sweat test and genetic testing.[1] Screening of infants at birth takes place in some areas of the world.[1]

There is no cure for cystic fibrosis.[3] Lung infections are treated with antibiotics which may be given intravenously, inhaled, or by mouth. Sometimes the antibiotic azithromycin is used long term. Inhaled hypertonic saline and salbutamol may also be useful. Lung transplantation may be an option if lung function continues to worsen. Pancreatic enzyme replacement and fat-soluble vitamin supplementation are important, especially in the young.[1]Airway clearance techniques such as chest physiotherapy have some short term benefit but long term effects are unclear.[6] The average life expectancy is between 42 and 50 years in the developed world.[7][8] Lung problems are responsible for death in 80% of people with cystic fibrosis.[1]

CF is most common among people of Northern European ancestry and affects about one out of every 3,000 newborns.[1] About one in 25 people are carriers.[3] It is least common in Africans and Asians.[1] It was first recognized as a specific disease by Dorothy Andersen in 1938, with descriptions that fit the condition occurring at least as far back as 1595.[2] The name cystic fibrosis refers to the characteristic fibrosis and cysts that form within the pancreas.[2][9]

The main signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis are salty-tasting skin,[10] poor growth, and poor weight gain despite normal food intake,[11] accumulation of thick, sticky mucus,[12] frequent chest infections, and coughing or shortness of breath.[13] Males can be infertile due to congenital absence of the vas deferens.[14] Symptoms often appear in infancy and childhood, such as bowel obstruction due to meconium ileus in newborn babies.[15] As the children grow, they exercise to release mucus in the alveoli.[16]Ciliated epithelial cells in the person have a mutated protein that leads to abnormally viscous mucus production.[12] The poor growth in children typically presents as an inability to gain weight or height at the same rate as their peers and is occasionally not diagnosed until investigation is initiated for poor growth. The causes of growth failure are multifactorial and include chronic lung infection, poor absorption of nutrients through the gastrointestinal tract, and increased metabolic demand due to chronic illness.[11]

In rare cases, cystic fibrosis can manifest itself as a coagulation disorder. Vitamin K is normally absorbed from breast milk, formula, and later, solid foods. This absorption is impaired in some cystic fibrosis patients. Young children are especially sensitive to vitamin K malabsorptive disorders because only a very small amount of vitamin K crosses the placenta, leaving the child with very low reserves and limited ability to absorb vitamin K from dietary sources after birth. Because factors II, VII, IX, and X (clotting factors) are vitamin Kdependent, low levels of vitamin K can result in coagulation problems. Consequently, when a child presents with unexplained bruising, a coagulation evaluation may be warranted to determine whether there is an underlying disease.[17]

Lung disease results from clogging of the airways due to mucus build-up, decreased mucociliary clearance, and resulting inflammation.[18][19] Inflammation and infection cause injury and structural changes to the lungs, leading to a variety of symptoms. In the early stages, incessant coughing, copious phlegm production, and decreased ability to exercise are common. Many of these symptoms occur when bacteria that normally inhabit the thick mucus grow out of control and cause pneumonia. In later stages, changes in the architecture of the lung, such as pathology in the major airways (bronchiectasis), further exacerbate difficulties in breathing. Other signs include coughing up blood (hemoptysis), high blood pressure in the lung (pulmonary hypertension), heart failure, difficulties getting enough oxygen to the body (hypoxia), and respiratory failure requiring support with breathing masks, such as bilevel positive airway pressure machines or ventilators.[20]Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the three most common organisms causing lung infections in CF patients.[19] In addition to typical bacterial infections, people with CF more commonly develop other types of lung disease. Among these is allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, in which the body's response to the common fungus Aspergillus fumigatus causes worsening of breathing problems. Another is infection with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), a group of bacteria related to tuberculosis, which can cause a lot of lung damage and does not respond to common antibiotics.[21]

Mucus in the paranasal sinuses is equally thick and may also cause blockage of the sinus passages, leading to infection. This may cause facial pain, fever, nasal drainage, and headaches. Individuals with CF may develop overgrowth of the nasal tissue (nasal polyps) due to inflammation from chronic sinus infections.[22] Recurrent sinonasal polyps can occur in as many as 10% to 25% of CF patients.[19] These polyps can block the nasal passages and increase breathing difficulties.[23][24]

Cardiorespiratory complications are the most common cause of death (~80%) in patients at most CF centers in the United States.[19]

Prior to prenatal and newborn screening, cystic fibrosis was often diagnosed when a newborn infant failed to pass feces (meconium). Meconium may completely block the intestines and cause serious illness. This condition, called meconium ileus, occurs in 510%[19][25] of newborns with CF. In addition, protrusion of internal rectal membranes (rectal prolapse) is more common, occurring in as many as 10% of children with CF,[19] and it is caused by increased fecal volume, malnutrition, and increased intraabdominal pressure due to coughing.[26]

The thick mucus seen in the lungs has a counterpart in thickened secretions from the pancreas, an organ responsible for providing digestive juices that help break down food. These secretions block the exocrine movement of the digestive enzymes into the duodenum and result in irreversible damage to the pancreas, often with painful inflammation (pancreatitis).[27] The pancreatic ducts are totally plugged in more advanced cases, usually seen in older children or adolescents.[19] This causes atrophy of the exocrine glands and progressive fibrosis.[19]

The lack of digestive enzymes leads to difficulty absorbing nutrients with their subsequent excretion in the feces, a disorder known as malabsorption. Malabsorption leads to malnutrition and poor growth and development because of calorie loss. Resultant hypoproteinemia may be severe enough to cause generalized edema.[19] Individuals with CF also have difficulties absorbing the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

In addition to the pancreas problems, people with cystic fibrosis experience more heartburn, intestinal blockage by intussusception, and constipation.[28] Older individuals with CF may develop distal intestinal obstruction syndrome when thickened feces cause intestinal blockage.[29]

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency occurs in the majority (85% to 90%) of patients with CF.[19] It is mainly associated with "severe" CFTR mutations, where both alleles are completely nonfunctional (e.g. F508/F508).[19] It occurs in 10% to 15% of patients with one "severe" and one "mild" CFTR mutation where there still is a little CFTR activity, or where there are two "mild" CFTR mutations.[19] In these milder cases, there is still sufficient pancreatic exocrine function so that enzyme supplementation is not required.[19] There are usually no other GI complications in pancreas-sufficient phenotypes, and in general, such individuals usually have excellent growth and development.[19] Despite this, idiopathic chronic pancreatitis can occur in a subset of pancreas-sufficient individuals with CF, and is associated with recurrent abdominal pain and life-threatening complications.[19]

Thickened secretions also may cause liver problems in patients with CF. Bile secreted by the liver to aid in digestion may block the bile ducts, leading to liver damage. Over time, this can lead to scarring and nodularity (cirrhosis). The liver fails to rid the blood of toxins and does not make important proteins, such as those responsible for blood clotting.[30][31] Liver disease is the third most common cause of death associated with CF.[19]

The pancreas contains the islets of Langerhans, which are responsible for making insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose. Damage of the pancreas can lead to loss of the islet cells, leading to a type of diabetes that is unique to those with the disease.[32] This cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) shares characteristics that can be found in type 1 and type 2 diabetics, and is one of the principal nonpulmonary complications of CF.[33]Vitamin D is involved in calcium and phosphate regulation. Poor uptake of vitamin D from the diet because of malabsorption can lead to the bone disease osteoporosis in which weakened bones are more susceptible to fractures.[34] In addition, people with CF often develop clubbing of their fingers and toes due to the effects of chronic illness and low oxygen in their tissues.[35][36]

Infertility affects both men and women. At least 97% of men with cystic fibrosis are infertile, but not sterile and can have children with assisted reproductive techniques.[37] The main cause of infertility in men with cystic fibrosis is congenital absence of the vas deferens (which normally connects the testes to the ejaculatory ducts of the penis), but potentially also by other mechanisms such as causing no sperm, teratospermia, and few sperm with poor motility.[38] Many men found to have congenital absence of the vas deferens during evaluation for infertility have a mild, previously undiagnosed form of CF.[39] Approximately 20% of women with CF have fertility difficulties due to thickened cervical mucus or malnutrition. In severe cases, malnutrition disrupts ovulation and causes a lack of menstruation.[40]

CF is caused by a mutation in the gene cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The most common mutation, F508, is a deletion ( signifying deletion) of three nucleotides[41] that results in a loss of the amino acid phenylalanine (F) at the 508th position on the protein. This mutation accounts for two-thirds (6670%[19]) of CF cases worldwide and 90% of cases in the United States; however, there are over 1500 other mutations that can produce CF.[42] Although most people have two working copies (alleles) of the CFTR gene, only one is needed to prevent cystic fibrosis. CF develops when neither allele can produce a functional CFTR protein. Thus, CF is considered an autosomal recessive disease.

The CFTR gene, found at the q31.2 locus of chromosome 7, is 230,000 base pairs long, and creates a protein that is 1,480 amino acids long. More specifically the location is between base pair 117,120,016 to 117,308,718 on the long arm of chromosome 7, region 3, band 1, sub-band 2, represented as 7q31.2. Structurally, CFTR is a type of gene known as an ABC gene. The product of this gene (the CFTR) is a chloride ion channel important in creating sweat, digestive juices and mucus. This protein possesses two ATP-hydrolyzing domains, which allows the protein to use energy in the form of ATP. It also contains two domains comprising 6 alpha helices apiece, which allow the protein to cross the cell membrane. A regulatory binding site on the protein allows activation by phosphorylation, mainly by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.[20] The carboxyl terminal of the protein is anchored to the cytoskeleton by a PDZ domain interaction.[43]

In addition, there is increasing evidence that genetic modifiers besides CFTR modulate the frequency and severity of the disease. One example is mannan-binding lectin, which is involved in innate immunity by facilitating phagocytosis of microorganisms. Polymorphisms in one or both mannan-binding lectin alleles that result in lower circulating levels of the protein are associated with a threefold higher risk of end-stage lung disease, as well as an increased burden of chronic bacterial infections.[19]

There are several mutations in the CFTR gene, and different mutations cause different defects in the CFTR protein, sometimes causing a milder or more severe disease. These protein defects are also targets for drugs which can sometimes restore their function. F508-CFTR, which occurs in >90% of patients in the U.S., creates a protein that does not fold normally and is not appropriately transported to the cell membrane, resulting in its degradation. Other mutations result in proteins that are too short (truncated) because production is ended prematurely. Other mutations produce proteins that: do not use energy normally, do not allow chloride, iodide, and thiocyanate to cross the membrane appropriately,[44] degrade at a faster rate than normal. Mutations may also lead to fewer copies of the CFTR protein being produced.[20]

The protein created by this gene is anchored to the outer membrane of cells in the sweat glands, lungs, pancreas, and all other remaining exocrine glands in the body. The protein spans this membrane and acts as a channel connecting the inner part of the cell (cytoplasm) to the surrounding fluid. This channel is primarily responsible for controlling the movement of halogens from inside to outside of the cell; however, in the sweat ducts, it facilitates the movement of chloride from the sweat duct into the cytoplasm. When the CFTR protein does not resorb ions in sweat ducts, chloride and thiocyanate[45] released from sweat glands are trapped inside the ducts and pumped to the skin. Additionally hypothiocyanite, OSCN, cannot be produced by the immune defense system.[46][47] Because chloride is negatively charged, this modifies the electrical potential inside and outside the cell that normally causes cations to cross into the cell. Sodium is the most common cation in the extracellular space. The excess chloride within sweat ducts prevents sodium resorption by epithelial sodium channels and the combination of sodium and chloride creates the salt, which is lost in high amounts in the sweat of individuals with CF. This lost salt forms the basis for the sweat test.[20]

Most of the damage in CF is due to blockage of the narrow passages of affected organs with thickened secretions. These blockages lead to remodeling and infection in the lung, damage by accumulated digestive enzymes in the pancreas, blockage of the intestines by thick faeces, etc. There are several theories on how the defects in the protein and cellular function cause the clinical effects. The most current theory suggests that defective ion transport leads to dehydration in the airway epithelia, thickening mucus. In airway epithelial cells, the cilia exist in between the cell's apical surface and mucus in a layer known as Airway Surface Liquid (ASL). The flow of ions from the cell and into this layer is determined by ion channels like CFTR. CFTR not only allows Chloride ions to be drawn from the cell and into the ASL, but it also regulates another channel called ENac. ENac allows sodium ions to leave the ASL and enter the respiratory epithelium. CFTR normally inhibits this channel, but if the CFTR is defective, then sodium will flow freely from the ASL and into the cell. As water follows sodium, the depth of ASL will be depleted and the cilia will be left in the mucous layer.[48] As cilia cannot effectively move in a thick viscous environment, there is deficient mucociliary clearance and a buildup of mucus, clogging small airways.[49] The accumulation of more viscous, nutrient-rich mucus in the lungs allows bacteria to hide from the body's immune system, causing repeated respiratory infections. The presence of the same CFTR proteins in pancreatic duct and skin cells are what cause symptoms in these systems.

The lungs of individuals with cystic fibrosis are colonized and infected by bacteria from an early age. These bacteria, which often spread among individuals with CF, thrive in the altered mucus, which collects in the small airways of the lungs. This mucus leads to the formation of bacterial microenvironments known as biofilms that are difficult for immune cells and antibiotics to penetrate. Viscous secretions and persistent respiratory infections repeatedly damage the lung by gradually remodeling the airways, which makes infection even more difficult to eradicate.[50]

Over time, both the types of bacteria and their individual characteristics change in individuals with CF. In the initial stage, common bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae colonize and infect the lungs.[19] Eventually, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (and sometimes Burkholderia cepacia) dominates. By 18 years of age, 80% of patients with classic CF harbor P. aeruginosa, and 3.5% harbor B. cepacia.[19] Once within the lungs, these bacteria adapt to the environment and develop resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Pseudomonas can develop special characteristics that allow the formation of large colonies, known as "mucoid" Pseudomonas, which are rarely seen in people that do not have CF.[50] Scientific evidences suggest that Interleukin 17 pathway plays a key role in resistance and modulation of the inflammatory response during P. aeruginosa infection in CF.[51] In particular, Interleukin 17 -mediated immunity plays a double-edged activity during chronic airways infection: on one side, it contributes to the control of P. aeruginosa burden while, on the other, it propagates exacerbated pulmonary neutrophilia and tissue remodeling.[51]

One way infection spreads is by passing between different individuals with CF.[52] In the past, people with CF often participated in summer "CF Camps" and other recreational gatherings.[53][54] Hospitals grouped patients with CF into common areas and routine equipment (such as nebulizers)[55] was not sterilized between individual patients.[56] This led to transmission of more dangerous strains of bacteria among groups of patients. As a result, individuals with CF are now routinely isolated from one another in the healthcare setting, and healthcare providers are encouraged to wear gowns and gloves when examining patients with CF to limit the spread of virulent bacterial strains.[57]

CF patients may also have their airways chronically colonized by filamentous fungi (such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Scedosporium apiospermum, Aspergillus terreus) and/or yeasts (such as Candida albicans); other filamentous fungi less commonly isolated include Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus nidulans (occur transiently in CF respiratory secretions) and Exophiala dermatitidis and Scedosporium prolificans (chronic airway-colonizers); some filamentous fungi like Penicillium emersonii and Acrophialophora fusispora are encountered in patients almost exclusively in the context of CF.[58] Defective mucociliary clearance characterizing CF is associated with local immunological disorders. In addition, the prolonged therapy with antibiotics and the use of corticosteroid treatments may also facilitate fungal growth. Although the clinical relevance of the fungal airway colonization is still a matter of debate, filamentous fungi may contribute to the local inflammatory response and therefore to the progressive deterioration of the lung function, as often happens with allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) the most common fungal disease in the context of CF, involving a Th2-driven immune response to Aspergillus.[58][59]

Cystic fibrosis may be diagnosed by many different methods including newborn screening, sweat testing, and genetic testing.[60] As of 2006 in the United States, 10 percent of cases are diagnosed shortly after birth as part of newborn screening programs. The newborn screen initially measures for raised blood concentration of immunoreactive trypsinogen.[61] Infants with an abnormal newborn screen need a sweat test to confirm the CF diagnosis. In many cases, a parent makes the diagnosis because the infant tastes salty.[19]Trypsinogen levels can be increased in individuals who have a single mutated copy of the CFTR gene (carriers) or, in rare instances, in individuals with two normal copies of the CFTR gene. Due to these false positives, CF screening in newborns can be controversial.[62][63] Most states and countries do not screen for CF routinely at birth. Therefore, most individuals are diagnosed after symptoms (e.g. sinopulmonary disease and GI manifestations[19]) prompt an evaluation for cystic fibrosis. The most commonly used form of testing is the sweat test. Sweat-testing involves application of a medication that stimulates sweating (pilocarpine). To deliver the medication through the skin, iontophoresis is used to, whereby one electrode is placed onto the applied medication and an electric current is passed to a separate electrode on the skin. The resultant sweat is then collected on filter paper or in a capillary tube and analyzed for abnormal amounts of sodium and chloride. People with CF have increased amounts of sodium and chloride in their sweat. In contrast, people with CF have less thiocyanate and hypothiocyanite in their saliva[64] and mucus (Banfi et al.). CF can also be diagnosed by identification of mutations in the CFTR gene.[65]

People with CF may be listed in a disease registry that allows researchers and doctors to track health results and identify candidates for clinical trials.[66]

Couples who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy can have themselves tested for the CFTR gene mutations to determine the risk that their child will be born with cystic fibrosis. Testing is typically performed first on one or both parents and, if the risk of CF is high, testing on the fetus is performed. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends testing for couples who have a personal or close family history of CF, and they recommend that carrier testing be offered to all Caucasian couples and be made available to couples of other ethnic backgrounds.[67]

Because development of CF in the fetus requires each parent to pass on a mutated copy of the CFTR gene and because CF testing is expensive, testing is often performed initially on one parent. If testing shows that parent is a CFTR gene mutation carrier, the other parent is tested to calculate the risk that their children will have CF. CF can result from more than a thousand different mutations.[68] As of 2016 typically only the most common mutations are tested for, such as F508[68] Most commercially available tests look for 32 or fewer different mutations. If a family has a known uncommon mutation, specific screening for that mutation can be performed. Because not all known mutations are found on current tests, a negative screen does not guarantee that a child will not have CF.[69]

During pregnancy, testing can be performed on the placenta (chorionic villus sampling) or the fluid around the fetus (amniocentesis). However, chorionic villus sampling has a risk of fetal death of 1 in 100 and amniocentesis of 1 in 200;[70] a recent study has indicated this may be much lower, approximately 1 in 1,600.[71]

Economically, for carrier couples of cystic fibrosis, when comparing preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) with natural conception (NC) followed by prenatal testing and abortion of affected pregnancies, PGD provides net economic benefits up to a maternal age of approximately 40 years, after which NC, prenatal testing, and abortion has higher economic benefit.[72]

While there are no cures for cystic fibrosis, there are several treatment methods. The management of cystic fibrosis has improved significantly over the past 70 years. While infants born with cystic fibrosis 70 years ago would have been unlikely to live beyond their first year, infants today are likely to live well into adulthood. Recent advances in the treatment of cystic fibrosis have meant that an individual with cystic fibrosis can live a fuller life less encumbered by their condition. The cornerstones of management are the proactive treatment of airway infection, and encouragement of good nutrition and an active lifestyle. Pulmonary rehabilitation as a management of cystic fibrosis continues throughout a person's life, and is aimed at maximizing organ function, and therefore the quality of life. At best, current treatments delay the decline in organ function. Because of the wide variation in disease symptoms, treatment typically occurs at specialist multidisciplinary centers and is tailored to the individual. Targets for therapy are the lungs, gastrointestinal tract (including pancreatic enzyme supplements), the reproductive organs (including assisted reproductive technology (ART)) and psychological support.[61]

The most consistent aspect of therapy in cystic fibrosis is limiting and treating the lung damage caused by thick mucus and infection, with the goal of maintaining quality of life. Intravenous, inhaled, and oral antibiotics are used to treat chronic and acute infections. Mechanical devices and inhalation medications are used to alter and clear the thickened mucus. These therapies, while effective, can be extremely time-consuming.

Many people with CF are on one or more antibiotics at all times, even when healthy, to prophylactically suppress infection. Antibiotics are absolutely necessary whenever pneumonia is suspected or there has been a noticeable decline in lung function, and are usually chosen based on the results of a sputum analysis and the person's past response. This prolonged therapy often necessitates hospitalization and insertion of a more permanent IV such as a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) or Port-a-Cath. Inhaled therapy with antibiotics such as tobramycin, colistin, and aztreonam is often given for months at a time to improve lung function by impeding the growth of colonized bacteria.[73][74][75] Inhaled antibiotic therapy helps lung function by fighting infection, but also has significant drawbacks like development of antibiotic resistance, tinnitus and changes in the voice.[76] Oral antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin or azithromycin are given to help prevent infection or to control ongoing infection.[77] The aminoglycoside antibiotics (e.g. tobramycin) used can cause hearing loss, damage to the balance system in the inner ear or kidney problems with long-term use.[78] To prevent these side-effects, the amount of antibiotics in the blood is routinely measured and adjusted accordingly.

Several mechanical techniques are used to dislodge sputum and encourage its expectoration. In the hospital setting, chest physiotherapy (CPT) is utilized; a respiratory therapist percusses an individual's chest with his or her hands several times a day, to loosen up secretions. Devices that recreate this percussive therapy include the ThAIRapy Vest and the intrapulmonary percussive ventilator (IPV). Newer methods such as Biphasic Cuirass Ventilation, and associated clearance mode available in such devices, integrate a cough assistance phase, as well as a vibration phase for dislodging secretions. These are portable and adapted for home use.[79][needs update]Ivacaftor is an oral medication for the treatment of cystic fibrosis due to a number of specific mutations.[80][81] It improves lung function by about 10%; however, as of 2014 is expensive.[80]

Aerosolized medications that help loosen secretions include dornase alfa and hypertonic saline.[82] Dornase is a recombinant human deoxyribonuclease, which breaks down DNA in the sputum, thus decreasing its viscosity.[83]Denufosol is an investigational drug that opens an alternative chloride channel, helping to liquefy mucus.[84] It is unclear if inhaled corticosteroids are useful.[85]

As lung disease worsens, mechanical breathing support may become necessary. Individuals with CF may need to wear special masks at night that help push air into their lungs. These machines, known as bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilators, help prevent low blood oxygen levels during sleep. BiPAP may also be used during physical therapy to improve sputum clearance.[86][needs update] During severe illness, a tube may be placed in the throat (a procedure known as a tracheostomy) to enable breathing supported by a ventilator.

For children, preliminary studies show massage therapy may help people and their families quality of life.[87] It is unclear what effect pneumococcal vaccination has as it has not been studied as of 2014.[88]

Lung transplantation often becomes necessary for individuals with cystic fibrosis as lung function and exercise tolerance decline. Although single lung transplantation is possible in other diseases, individuals with CF must have both lungs replaced because the remaining lung might contain bacteria that could infect the transplanted lung. A pancreatic or liver transplant may be performed at the same time in order to alleviate liver disease and/or diabetes.[89] Lung transplantation is considered when lung function declines to the point where assistance from mechanical devices is required or someone's survival is threatened.[90]

Newborns with intestinal obstruction typically require surgery, whereas adults with distal intestinal obstruction syndrome typically do not. Treatment of pancreatic insufficiency by replacement of missing digestive enzymes allows the duodenum to properly absorb nutrients and vitamins that would otherwise be lost in the feces. However, the best dosage and form of pancreatic enzyme replacement is unclear, as are the risks and long-term effectiveness of this treatment.[91]

So far, no large-scale research involving the incidence of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease in adults with cystic fibrosis has been conducted. This is likely due to the fact that the vast majority of people with cystic fibrosis do not live long enough to develop clinically significant atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease.

Diabetes is the most common non-pulmonary complication of CF. It mixes features of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and is recognized as a distinct entity, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD).[33][92] While oral anti-diabetic drugs are sometimes used, the only recommended treatment is the use of insulin injections or an insulin pump,[93][needs update] and, unlike in type 1 and 2 diabetes, dietary restrictions are not recommended.[33]

Development of osteoporosis can be prevented by increased intake of vitamin D and calcium, and can be treated by bisphosphonates, although adverse effects can be an issue.[94][needs update] Poor growth may be avoided by insertion of a feeding tube for increasing calories through supplemental feeds or by administration of injected growth hormone.[95]

Sinus infections are treated by prolonged courses of antibiotics. The development of nasal polyps or other chronic changes within the nasal passages may severely limit airflow through the nose, and over time reduce the person's sense of smell. Sinus surgery is often used to alleviate nasal obstruction and to limit further infections. Nasal steroids such as fluticasone are used to decrease nasal inflammation.[96]

Female infertility may be overcome by assisted reproduction technology, particularly embryo transfer techniques. Male infertility caused by absence of the vas deferens may be overcome with testicular sperm extraction (TESE), collecting sperm cells directly from the testicles. If the collected sample contains too few sperm cells to likely have a spontaneous fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection can be performed.[97]Third party reproduction is also a possibility for women with CF. It is unclear if taking antioxidants affects outcomes.[98]

The prognosis for cystic fibrosis has improved due to earlier diagnosis through screening, better treatment and access to health care. In 1959, the median age of survival of children with cystic fibrosis in the United States was six months.[99] In 2010, survival is estimated to be 37 years for women and 40 for men.[100] In Canada, median survival increased from 24 years in 1982 to 47.7 in 2007.[101]

Of those with cystic fibrosis who are more than 18 years old as of 2009, 92% had graduated from high school, 67% had at least some college education, 15% were disabled and 9% were unemployed, 56% were single and 39% were married or living with a partner.[102]

Chronic illnesses can be very difficult to manage. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic illness that affects the "digestive and respiratory tracts resulting in generalized malnutrition and chronic respiratory infections".[103] The thick secretions clog the airways in the lungs, which often cause inflammation and severe lung infections.[104][105] If it is compromised, it affects the quality of life of someone with CF and their ability to complete such tasks as everyday chores. It is important for CF patients to understand the detrimental relationship that chronic illnesses place on the quality of life. According to Schmitz and Goldbeck (2006), the fact that cystic fibrosis significantly increases emotional stress on both the individual and the family, "and the necessary time-consuming daily treatment routine may have further negative effects on quality of life (QOL)".[106] However, Havermans and colleagues (2006) have shown that young outpatients with CF who have participated in the CFQ-R (Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised) "rated some QOL domains higher than did their parents".[107] Consequently, outpatients with CF have a more positive outlook for themselves. Furthermore, there are many ways to improve the QOL in CF patients. Exercise is promoted to increase lung function. Integrating an exercise regimen into the CF patients daily routine can significantly improve the quality of life.[108] There is no definitive cure for cystic fibrosis. However, there are diverse medications used, such as mucolytics, bronchodilators, steroids, and antibiotics, that have the purpose of loosening mucus, expanding airways, decreasing inflammation, and fighting lung infections.[109]

Cystic fibrosis is the most common life-limiting autosomal recessive disease among people of European heritage.[111] In the United States, approximately 30,000 individuals have CF; most are diagnosed by six months of age. In Canada, there are approximately 4,000 people with CF.[112] Approximately 1 in 25 people of European descent, and one in 30 of Caucasian Americans,[113] is a carrier of a cystic fibrosis mutation. Although CF is less common in these groups, approximately 1 in 46 Hispanics, 1 in 65 Africans and 1 in 90 Asians carry at least one abnormal CFTR gene.[114][115] Ireland has the world's highest prevalence of cystic fibrosis, at 1:1353.[116]

Although technically a rare disease, cystic fibrosis is ranked as one of the most widespread life-shortening genetic diseases. It is most common among nations in the Western world. An exception is Finland, where only one in 80 people carry a CF mutation.[117] The World Health Organization states that "In the European Union, 1 in 20003000 newborns is found to be affected by CF".[118] In the United States, 1 in 3,500 children are born with CF.[119] In 1997, about 1 in 3,300 caucasian children in the United States was born with cystic fibrosis. In contrast, only 1 in 15,000 African American children suffered from cystic fibrosis, and in Asian Americans the rate was even lower at 1 in 32,000.[120]

Cystic fibrosis is diagnosed in males and females equally. For reasons that remain unclear, data has shown that males tend to have a longer life expectancy than females,[121][122] however recent studies suggest this gender gap may no longer exist perhaps due to improvements in health care facilities,[123][124] while a recent study from Ireland identified a link between the female hormone estrogen and worse outcomes in CF.[125]

The distribution of CF alleles varies among populations. The frequency of F508 carriers has been estimated at 1:200 in northern Sweden, 1:143 in Lithuanians, and 1:38 in Denmark. No F508 carriers were found among 171 Finns and 151 Saami people.[126] F508 does occur in Finland, but it is a minority allele there. Cystic fibrosis is known to occur in only 20 families (pedigrees) in Finland.[127]

The F508 mutation is estimated to be up to 52,000 years old.[128] Numerous hypotheses have been advanced as to why such a lethal mutation has persisted and spread in the human population. Other common autosomal recessive diseases such as sickle-cell anemia have been found to protect carriers from other diseases, a concept known as heterozygote advantage. Resistance to the following have all been proposed as possible sources of heterozygote advantage:

It is supposed that CF appeared about 3,000 BC because of migration of peoples, gene mutations, and new conditions in nourishment.[137] Although the entire clinical spectrum of CF was not recognized until the 1930s, certain aspects of CF were identified much earlier. Indeed, literature from Germany and Switzerland in the 18th century warned "Wehe dem Kind, das beim Ku auf die Stirn salzig schmekt, er ist verhext und muss bald sterbe" or "Woe to the child who tastes salty from a kiss on the brow, for he is cursed and soon must die," recognizing the association between the salt loss in CF and illness.[137]

In the 19th century, Carl von Rokitansky described a case of fetal death with meconium peritonitis, a complication of meconium ileus associated with cystic fibrosis. Meconium ileus was first described in 1905 by Karl Landsteiner.[137] In 1936, Guido Fanconi published a paper describing a connection between celiac disease, cystic fibrosis of the pancreas, and bronchiectasis.[138]

In 1938 Dorothy Hansine Andersen published an article, "Cystic Fibrosis of the Pancreas and Its Relation to Celiac Disease: a Clinical and Pathological Study," in the American Journal of Diseases of Children. She was the first to describe the characteristic cystic fibrosis of the pancreas and to correlate it with the lung and intestinal disease prominent in CF.[9] She also first hypothesized that CF was a recessive disease and first used pancreatic enzyme replacement to treat affected children. In 1952 Paul di SantAgnese discovered abnormalities in sweat electrolytes; a sweat test was developed and improved over the next decade.[139]

The first linkage between CF and another marker (Paroxonase) was found in 1985 by Hans Eiberg, indicating that only one locus exists for CF. In 1988 the first mutation for CF, F508 was discovered by Francis Collins, Lap-Chee Tsui and John R. Riordan on the seventh chromosome. Subsequent research has found over 1,000 different mutations that cause CF.

Because mutations in the CFTR gene are typically small, classical genetics techniques had been unable to accurately pinpoint the mutated gene.[140] Using protein markers, gene-linkage studies were able to map the mutation to chromosome 7. Chromosome-walking and -jumping techniques were then used to identify and sequence the gene.[141] In 1989 Lap-Chee Tsui led a team of researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto that discovered the gene responsible for CF. Cystic fibrosis represents a classic example of how a human genetic disorder was elucidated strictly by the process of forward genetics.

Gene therapy has been explored as a potential cure for cystic fibrosis. Results from trials have shown limited success as of 2013.[142] A small study published in 2015 found a small benefit.[143]

The focus of much cystic fibrosis gene therapy research is aimed at trying to place a normal copy of the CFTR gene into affected cells. Transferring the normal CFTR gene into the affected epithelium cells would result in the production of functional CFTR in all target cells, without adverse reactions or an inflammation response. Studies have shown that to prevent the lung manifestations of cystic fibrosis, only 510% the normal amount of CFTR gene expression is needed.[144] Multiple approaches have been tested for gene transfer, such as liposomes and viral vectors in animal models and clinical trials. However, both methods were found to be relatively inefficient treatment options.[145] The main reason is that very few cells take up the vector and express the gene, so the treatment has little effect. Additionally, problems have been noted in cDNA recombination, such that the gene introduced by the treatment is rendered unusable.[146] There has been a functional repair in culture of CFTR by CRISPR/Cas9 in intestinal stem cell organoids of cystic fibrosis patients.[147]

A number of small molecules that aim at compensating various mutations of the CFTR gene are under development. One approach is to develop drugs that get the ribosome to overcome the stop codon and synthesize a full-length CFTR protein. About 10% of CF result from a premature stop codon in the DNA, leading to early termination of protein synthesis and truncated proteins. These drugs target nonsense mutations such as G542X, which consists of the amino acid glycine in position 542 being replaced by a stop codon. Aminoglycoside antibiotics interfere with protein synthesis and error-correction. In some cases, they can cause the cell to overcome a premature stop codon by inserting a random amino acid, thereby allowing expression of a full-length protein.[148] The aminoglycoside gentamicin has been used to treat lung cells from CF patients in the laboratory to induce the cells to grow full-length proteins.[149] Another drug targeting nonsense mutations is ataluren, which is undergoing Phase III clinical trials as of October 2011[update].[150]

It is unclear as of 2014 if ursodeoxycholic acid is useful for those with cystic fibrosis-related liver disease.[151]

See original here:
Cystic fibrosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

therapy [therah-pe] activity therapy in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the prescription of and assistance with specific physical, cognitive, social, and spiritual activities to increase the range, frequency, or duration of an individuals (or groups) activity. animal-assisted therapy in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the purposeful use of animals to provide affection, attention, diversion, and relaxation. art therapy in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as facilitation of communication through drawings or other art forms. aversion therapy (aversive therapy) a form of behavior therapy that uses aversive conditioning, pairing undesirable behavior or symptoms with unpleasant stimulation in order to reduce or eliminate the behavior of symptoms. The term is sometimes used synonymously with aversive conditioning.

client-centered therapy a form of psychotherapy in which the emphasis is on the patients self-discovery, interpretation, conflict resolution, and reorganization of values and life approach, which are enabled by the warm, nondirective, unconditionally accepting support of the therapist, who reflects and clarifies the patients discoveries.

cognitive therapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy) a directive form of psychotherapy based on the theory that emotional problems result from distorted attitudes and ways of thinking that can be corrected. Using techniques drawn in part from behavior therapy, the therapist actively seeks to guide the patient in altering or revising negative or erroneous perceptions and attitudes.

1. treatment, usually in a psychiatric treatment center, that emphasizes the provision of an environment and activities appropriate to the patients emotional and interpersonal needs.

1. the use of music to effect positive changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of individuals with health or educational problems. Music therapy is used for a wide variety of conditions, including mental disorders, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimers disease and other conditions related to aging, brain injury, substance abuse, and physical disability. It is also used for the management of acute and chronic pain and for the reduction of stress.

[G. therapeia, medical treatment]

ablation therapy the destruction of small areas of myocardial tissue, usually by application of electrical or chemical energy, in the treatment of some tachyarrhythmias.

antiplatelet therapy the use of platelet-modifying agents to inhibit platelet adhesion or aggregation and so prevent thrombosis, alter the course of atherosclerosis, or prolong vascular graft patency.

art therapy the use of art, the creative process, and patient response to the products created for the treatment of psychiatric and psychologic conditions and for rehabilitation.

behavior therapy a therapeutic approach that focuses on modifying the patients observable behavior, rather than on the conflicts and unconscious processes presumed to underlie the behavior.

biological therapy treatment of disease by injection of substances that produce a biological reaction in the organism.

cognitive therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy that based on the theory that emotional problems result from distorted attitudes and ways of thinking that can be corrected, the therapist guiding the patient to do so.

convulsive therapy treatment of mental disorders, primarily depression, by induction of convulsions; now it is virtually always by electric shock (electroconvulsive t.) .

dance therapy the therapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual in the treatment of a variety of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical disorders.

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) a treatment for mental disorders, primarily depression, in which convulsions and loss of consciousness are induced by application of brief pulses of low-voltage alternating current to the brain via scalp electrodes.

endocrine therapy treatment of disease by the use of hormones.

family therapy group therapy of the members of a family, exploring and improving family relationships and processes and thus the mental health of the collective unit and of individual members.

fibrinolytic therapy the use of fibrinolytic agents (e.g., prourokinase) to lyse thrombi in patients with acute peripheral arterial occlusion, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or acute myocardial infarction.

gene therapy manipulation of the genome of an individual to prevent, mask, or lessen the effects of a genetic disorder.

group therapy psychotherapy carried out regularly with a group of patients under the guidance of a group leader, usually a therapist.

massage therapy the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing them, thereby enhancing health and healing.

milieu therapy treatment, usually in a psychiatric hospital, that emphasizes the provision of an environment and activities appropriate to the patients emotional and interpersonal needs.

music therapy the use of music to effect positive changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of individuals with health or educational problems.

occupational therapy the therapeutic use of self-care, work, and play activities to increase function, enhance development, and prevent disabilities.

oral rehydration therapy (ORT) oral administration of a solution of electrolytes and carbohydrates in the treatment of dehydration.

orthomolecular therapy treatment of disease based on the theory that restoration of optimal concentrations of substances normally present in the body, such as vitamins, trace elements, and amino acids, will effect a cure.

photodynamic therapy intravenous administration of hematoporphyrin derivative, which concentrates selectively in metabolically active tumor tissue, followed by exposure of the tumor tissue to red laser light to produce cytotoxic free radicals that destroy hematoporphyrin-containing tissue.

1. treatment by physical means.

2. the health profession concerned with the promotion of health, the prevention of disability, and the evaluation and rehabilitation of patients disabled by pain, disease, or injury, and with treatment by physical therapeutic measures as opposed to medical, surgical, or radiologic measures.

PUVA therapy a form of photochemotherapy for skin disorders such as psoriasis and vitiligo; oral psoralen administration is followed two hours later by exposure to ultraviolet light.

1. treatment to replace deficiencies in body products by administration of natural or synthetic substitutes.

2. treatment that replaces or compensates for a nonfunctioning organ, e.g., hemodialysis.

substitution therapy the administration of a hormone to compensate for glandular deficiency.

thyroid replacement therapy treatment with a preparation of a thyroid hormone.

1. Treatment of illness, injury, or disability.

2. Psychotherapy.

3. Healing power or quality: the therapy of fresh air and sun.

Etymology: Gk, therapeia, treatment

the treatment of any disease or a pathological condition, such as inhalation therapy, which administers various medicines for patients suffering from diseases of the respiratory tract.

[G. therapeia, medical treatment]

n revealing of emotional aspects of a physical dysfunction by simultaneously testing an indicator muscle with its asso-ciated emotional neuromuscular reflex(es).

n.pl in holistic nursing, therapeutic approaches that involve ones sense of peace and awareness. The patient may use prayer, meditation, quiet contemplation, and imagery.

n.pl in holistic nursing, directed therapeutic ap-proach that involves several con-ventional medicine techniques, such as traditional procedures, medications, and surgery with a specific goal or outcome.

n.pl in Ayurveda, the processes that patients undergo at the end of the days treatment that serve to eliminate impurities, which have been loosened during the therapies. See also anu and naruha.

n.pl ap-proaches where expressive arts are employed to promote awareness, healing, and growth.

n.pl therapies such as hypnosis, visual imagery, yoga, relaxation, and meditation, in which the mind and body are used in conjunction to assist or catalyze the healing process.

n.pl therapeutic modalities that involve body postures, breathing, movement, prayer, and/or meditation to facilitate relaxation and awareness of mental, emotional, and spiritual states.

n.pl various traditional and modern herbal treatments and ceremonies used to address physical complaints and psychospiritual maladies.

n.pl techniques that use nature-based animals or plants that reconnect patients to the natural environment and its rhythms to improve and hasten healing and improve quality of life.

n technique in which animals are brought into contact with patients who are recovering; provides touch, builds connection, empathy, and enjoyment.

n therapy that involves treating a patient with nosodes prepared from the patients blood sample or a pooled sample from several patients. Occasionally the patients blood is mixed with homeopathic potencies before admini-stration. Also called autosanguine therapy.

n therapeutic method that stimulates the patients innate ability to heal, as when a healing touch removes blockages or constrictions within the bodys energy flow. Therapy that frees the body to heal itself. See also medicine, natural.

n the use of venom derived from bees for medicinal purposes; used in the treatment of skin, pulmonary, rheumatologic, cardiovascular, pulmonary, sensory, psychological, and endocrine conditions. It has also been used to treat bacterial and viral infections; administered by a variety of methods. Persistent nodular lesions and allergic reactions are a concern. Also called therapy, bee venom and BVT.

n branch of psychotherapy that emphasizes modifying specific behaviors. Sessions include analysis of a behavior and devising ways to change it to a more desirable response.

n therapy that uses music to affect nonmusical behavior; developed from behavior modification theory to facilitate social and cognitive learning and operant conditioning.

n pr. a mind-bodyintegrated therapy developed by Gerda Boyesen, a Norwegian physiotherapist; uses a variety of methods such as massage, talking, sensory awareness, and meditation to refresh the body. Also called the Gerda Boyesen technique or biodynamic psychology.

n any healing practice that addresses the patients biofield, uses the biofield of the practitioner, or a combination of both. See also biofield, reiki, and therapeutic touch.

n a therapeutic modality that uses the biological response modifier, part of the bodys immune system, to fight disease and infection or to protect from the side effects of other treatments. Also called biological response modifier therapy, biotherapy, BRM therapy, or immunotherapy.

n a dietary system, developed by Keith Block, MD, that recommends 50% to 70% complex carbohydrates, 10% to 25% percent fat, and the remaining percentage as protein in the diet. The primary objective of this regimen is decreasing and subsequently removing dairy, refined sugars, and meat from ones diet while increasing the number of calories from complex carbohydrates such as vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Also called BINT.

n form of psychotherapy that holds that emotions are encoded in the body as areas of restriction and tension; movement, breathing, and manual therapy are used to release such emotions.

n a biofeedback therapy in which sensors are placed on the patients abdomen and chest to observe and measure the rhythm, location, volume, and rate of airflow by which the patient learns deep abdominal breathing; used for respiratory conditions, hyperventilation, asthma, and anxiety.

n.pr developed by clinical psychologist Dr. Roger Callahan, therapy that draws on specific energy meridian points in a particular progression in order to eliminate the cause of negative emotions, as well as their effects on health.

n an unconventional cancer treatment containing sodium sulfite, potassium hydroxide, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and catechol.

n a treatment for cancer in which embryonic animal cells from tissues or organs corresponding to those with the cancer are injected into the cancer patient, with the understanding that these healthy cells are incorporated into the organ, thus repairing or replacing the cancerous cells. This treatment may have side effects, including infections, serious immune responses to the foreign proteins in the cells, and death. Since 1984 the FDA has banned the importation of all injectable cell-therapy materials. Also called cellular suspensions, cellular therapy, embryonic cell therapy, fresh cell therapy, glandular therapy, live cell therapy, organotherapy, or sicca cell therapy.

n.pr a treatment used for cancer, offered in the Dominican Republic, in which the client is exposed to a donut-shaped magnetic device (with an electromagnetic field weaker than in MRI) that allegedly reduces the cancer burden (i.e., destroys enough cancer cells) so that the immune system can take care of the remainder.

n 1., removal of heavy metals, such as lead, iron, and mercury, through the use of chelating agents, usually given intravenously. 2., the purported removal of heavy metals, plaque, and other toxins through intravenous infusion of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), a synthetic amino acid and chelating agent.

n treatment that seeks to change behavior (i.e., habits) by addressing the underlying beliefs that drive the behaviors. Comparable to and often used in concert with behavioral therapy.

n psychotherapeutic approach used to alter thinking and behavior.

n treatment with lasers made from helium-neon or gallium aluminum arsenide and used to treat a host of neurologic problems including carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines, arthritis, vertigo, and soft tissue injuries. Also called low-level light therapy (LLLT).

n the use of professionally administered whole-bowel enemas combined with analysis of fecal chemistry, evaluation of environmental and psychologic factors in the patients life, and regular exercise to maintain bowel health. Based on the belief that the health of the colon is directly related to the health of the whole body and that poor colon health can manifest as a variety of illnesses. Also called colonic hydrotherapy or colonic irrigation.

n treatment of the tissues and fluids of the skull to correct body rhythms and induce self-healing.

n the practice of using ones hands to assess the rhythms of the tissues and fluids in the skull area and to direct those rhythms into healthful patterns. A version of cranial osteopathy sometimes conducted by nondoctors, including massage therapists and physical therapists.

n the integration of artistic abilities into therapy to alleviate patients suffering. Activities include but are not limited to drawing, painting, dancing, poetry writing, singing, and gardening.

n therapeutic use of improvisational music to encourage stimulation and development of musical intelligence, confidence, and self-actualization. Psychodynamic and humanistic theories are often used. Also called Nordoff-Robbins improvisational music therapy.

n the use of quartz crystal energy with a persons energy to facilitate a cascade of spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical changes simultaneously or following a hierarchy of cure.

n therapy used for the prevention of serious allergic responses, in which the patient is regularly injected with increasing doses of a purified allergen to reduce the sensitivity of the immune system to that allergen.

n.pr method used for cancer treatment that employs substances such as bromocriptine, melatonin, and retinoid solution.

n cancer treatment that aims to stimulate cancer cells beyond their undifferentiated state to differentiate like normal cells to halt their uncontrolled proliferation.

n the use of digitalis glycosides to increase the hearts rate of contractions and speed. This protocol can decrease the conduction speed of the atrioventricular node and create negative dromotropy, thus leading to heartbeat irregularities.

n technique that employs intravenous transfusions containing disodium EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) to remove minerals, toxins, and other substances from the blood and vessels. No known risks if used properly. Also called chelation.

n treatment system developed by Max Wolf, MD, in the 1930s using orally ingested enzymes derived from animals and plants to address enzyme deficiency and several illnesses.

n treatment of mental and physical conditions through therapeutic interactions (e.g., riding) with horses. Also called hippotherapy, riding therapy, or therapeutic riding. See also therapy, animal-assisted.

n induction of fever for healing purposes using herbal, biological, or mechanical (e.g., hot baths) preparations. Also called pyretotherapy.

n biofeedback therapy in which the rate and force of the pulse are measured and used for controlling anxiety, hyperten-sion, cardiac arrhythmia, and other conditions.

n the use of specific high-frequency oscillations to destroy pathogenic organisms or cancerous cells and restore health. Also called energoinformational therapy or Rife frequency therapy.

n See healing, crystal.

n therapy in which genes are introduced into the patient in order to cure or treat a disease. Also called somatic cell gene therapy.

n.pr an unorthodox anticancer treatment that includes a diet that comprises vegetables and fruits with nutritional supplements, liver extract injections, and coffee enemas.

n.pr a method of humanistic psychotherapy that examines the present emotions of the patient without consideration to the past to gain a new level of self-awareness. Instead of explaining the meaning of these emotions, the therapist works with the patient to elucidate his or her own understanding of these feelings.

n.pr a group-oriented, process-driven form of art therapy created by Janie Rhyne and based on the humanistic Gestalt psychology of Fritz Perls.

n a treatment in which tissue extracts of organs such as spleen, thymus, adrenal glands, or liver are used orally to help with a number of conditions, including asthma, autoimmune diseases, cancer, chronic fatigue, cystic fibrosis, eczema, inflammatory diseases, low white cell count, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions.

n a form of therapy wherein people meet with each other and a therapist in order to interact and discuss their problems.

n use of heat on all or part of the body to encourage hyperemia, increase circulation, facilitate sweating, and relax muscles. Used in sports and rehabilitation medicine and as a cancer treatment.

n a method for treating symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, decreased sexual desire, vaginal dryness, sleep disorders, and mood swings by using estrogen alone or in combination with progestin.

n a subcategory of nature-assisted therapy focused on gardening and horticultural activities for therapeutic benefits.

n a means of enhancing a patients ability to recognize, express, and enjoy humor. Used to help patients learn, express anger, relieve tensions, or manage painful emotions. See also therapy, laughter.

n a cancer treatment based on the belief that hypoxia and resulting anaerobic metabolism promote the growth of cancerous cells. In these therapies, the patient is treated with oxygenating agents, such as germanium sesquioxide, hydrogen peroxide, or ozone. Germanium compounds can have lethal nephrotoxicity. Also called bio-oxidative therapy or oxidative therapy.

n the use of heat either systemically or locally.

n psychotherapy based upon the idea that behaviors have their roots in a clients family dynamics, instinctual drives, childhood development, and genetic traits. Therapy in this vein consists of delving into these areas for information resulting in treatment of disorders.

n.pr a treatment for scotopic sensitivity, a condition of perceptual stress accompanying autism and some learning disorders. In this therapy, the patient wears lenses that have been tinted to a specific color to minimize or eliminate their sensitivity.

Originally posted here:
Genetic Medicine

The NEW MSc EnrichedStem Cell Face Lift in Thailandis also known as:

Stemcell facelifts are new scientific breakthrough and Thai Medical is proud to offer Genuine CAL Facelift exclusively in Bangkok Thailand. CAL orCell Assisted Lipotransfer utilizes advanced medical technologies of cell regeneration to bring us one step closer to the elusive Fountain of Youth. Thailand is one of the few countries on the planet that allowstherapeutic cellular expansion/growth in a private stem cell lab. Other countries like the US, Australia and UK do not currently allow the expansion of stem cell and expanded/manipulated cells are considered as drug manufacturing thereby banned by the FDA in those countries. Without cell expansion a treatment becomes simple fat grafting that takesfat and stem cells from your stomach and re injects them back into the face withoutany additional expansion. This method is simply not as effective as culturing and expanding stem cell face lift protocol that we currently offer.

Weoffer men and women a fantastic chance to improve the tone,tightness,elasticity and health of their face,hands and feet with our approved cosmetic stem cell treatmentssuch as CAL breast enlargement & CAL stem cell face lift. Our surgical theater/operating room is the only closed system lab in Thailandand have innovated upon and improved theno surgery face Lift to safely and efficiently and restore your youthful appearances naturally by simply using your own fat derived stem cells without the risks of having major facelift operation. Using your own fat stem cells is 100% safe with no chances of any complications or rejection associated with previous embryonic derived stem cells or traditional surgicalface lifts.

Traditional surgical facelifts are usually good to perform once or a maximum of two times in your life. Stem Cell facelifts can be repeated permanently without the added risk of painful surgeries and recovery. By using your own cells from your belly fat we are able to rejuvenate,restore and repair your face, or body into a more youthful, attractive way that is:

For over 25 years now surgeons have used fat grafts from their patients body to restore elasticity and fullness while eliminating wrinkles in the face,neck and hands. Stem Cells was first used for reconstruction purposes in treatments such as the cell assisted lipotransfer or CALbreast augmentation after breast cancer mastectomy or after suffering severe burns to the hands and face.

Many patients are also taking advantage today of regenerative medical therapies as a safe and natural alternative to orthopedic treatments for connecting tissue without the need for any expensive surgery and/or unnatural implants.

100% Safe 100% Natural 100% UnDetectable!

Since those early days countless new and innovative applications are being used today to treat everything thing from stem cell hair restoration,stem cells for macular/optical regeneration, stem cells for lip augmentation,thigh lifts,stem cell butt lifts, stem cells for anti-agingand neck or brow lifts.

We do not use Vaser or SMART Lipo Laser Liposuction to Remove fat and Stem Cells as this usually destroys the stem cells making the treatment ineffective.

Our previous experiences with stem cells comes from a more practical and life-saving treatments for many diseases today such as

Your hands and neck area can also be effectively regenerated using your own msc enriched adipose stem cells. Our Cell face lift results are also very long term and eliminates the need for temporary injection of fillers such as Botox,Restylane ,Juvederm,hyaluronic acids, facial and skin care.

See the original post here:
Non-Surgical CAL Stem Cell Facelift Enriched MSc Cells

Promising cures for blood-related diseases, such as leukemia and lymphoma, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have been heavily researched for decades. However, like many significant findings in science, their discovery was not made in search for such a cure, but stumbled upon while dealing with another serious medical issue of the time: radiation. While trying to treat people exposed to lethal doses of radiation during World War II, transplants from the spleen and bone marrow were found to rescue these victims (Ford et al., 1956). It was not until later that scientists determined that the HSCs present in these tissues were what was restoring the damaged tissues, observed by performing transplants using lethally irradiated mouse and rat models (Becker et al., 1963). HSCs in humans were further characterized and cultured in the 1980s (Morstyn et al., 1980; Sutherland et al., 1989; Sutherland et al., 1990). The formation of the National Marrow Donor Program during this time also greatly improved the availability of these cells for research. Not only have HSCs been successfully used clinically in humans since the 1950s, but to this day they are still one of the few adult stem cells to be tested for clinical uses.

It is now not only better understood how HSCs from a donor animal can save a lethally irradiated recipient animal, but how HSCs can be used in many other medical applications as well. HSCs are able to give rise to all cells in the hematopoietic system, which includes myeloid elements (i.e. red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets) and the lymphatic system (i.e. T-Cells) (Regenerative Medicine, 2006). Because radiation generally targets rapidly dividing cells, including bone marrow cells and cells in the lymphatic system, HSCs have the ability to replenish the supply of cells most damaged by radiation. While HSCs can be collected from adult bone marrow, some fetal tissues (liver, spleen, thymus), umbilical chords, and peripheral blood, in recent years there has been a great shift towards obtaining HSCs mainly from peripheral blood, using a much simpler and less controversial procedure, though achieving a large enough number of HSCs for transplants is still an obstacle to overcome (Stem Cells, 2001). HSCs are now being used to treat cancers of the hematopoietic system (leukemia and lymphomas), replenish cells lost to high-doses of chemotherapy, and fight against autoimmune diseases, in addition to other medical applications (Regenerative Medicine, 2006).

Hematopoietic stem cells give rise to two major progenitor cell lineages, myeloid and lymphoid progenitors (Regenerative Medicine, 2006).

A rather unique, and not fully understood, characteristic of HSCs is their mobility; HSCs can travel out of the bone marrow and into surrounding tissues, such as peripheral blood, nearby bones, the spleen, and many other tissues. Multiple studies have shown that HSCs transplanted into a donor animal can travel to such areas especially when they are injured. Though the molecular method for the homing mechanisms is still being elucidated, it is thought that an injury causes a loss of cells normally functioning in the hematopoietic system and this loss must quickly be replaced by HSCs, which migrate to where they are needed and then differentiate into the required, lost derivatives (Whetton and Graham, 1999; Regenerative Medicine, 2006; Chamberlain et al., 2007). While HSCs have been clinically studied to a large extent relative to other human stem cells, much work remains to be done to fully understand their molecular interactions.

References

Becker, A. J., McCulloch, E. A, and Till, J. E. Cytological Demonstration of the Clonal Nature of Spleen Colonies Derived from Transplanted Mouse Marrow Cells. Nature. 1963. 197:452-4. View Article

Chamberlain, G., Fox, J., Ashton, B., Middleton, J. Concise Review: Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Their Phenotype, Differentiation Capacity, Immunological Features, and Potential for Homing. Stem Cells. 2007 Nov;25(11):2739-49. Epub 2007 Jul 26. View Article

Ford, C. E., Hamerton, J. L., Barnes, D. W. H., and Loutit, J. F. Cytological identification of radiation-chimeras. Nature. 1956. 177:4524. View Article

Morstyn, G., Nicola, N. A., and Metcalf, D. Purification of hemopoietic progenitor cells from human marrow using a fucose-binding lectin and cell sorting. Blood. 1980. 56:798-805. View Article

Regenerative Medicine. Department of Health and Human Services. Chapter 2: Bone Marrow (Hematopoietic) Stem Cells. August 2006. http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/2006report.htm

Sutherland, H. J., Eaves, C. J., Eaves, A. C., Dragowska, W., and Lansdorp, P. M.. Characterization and Partial Purification of Human Marrow Cells Capable of Initiating Long-Term Hematopoiesis In Vitro. Blood. 1989. 74(5):1563-70. View Article

Sutherland, H. J., Lansdorp, P. M., Henkelman, D. H., Eaves, A. C., and Eaves, C. J. Functional characterization of individual human hematopoietic stem cells cultured at limiting dilution on supportive marrow stromal layers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990. 87(9): 3584-8. View Article

Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions. Chapter 5: Hematopoietic Stem Cells. Department of Health and Human Services. June 2001. http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/2001report

Whetton, A. D. and Graham, G. J. Homing and mobilization in the stem cell niche. Trends Cell Biol. 1999. Jun;9(6):233-8. View Article

Original Hematopoiesis image from the Wikimedia Commons and redistributed according to the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

admin Hematopoietic Stem Cells adult, clinical trials, hematopoietic, history 2009-2010, Teisha Rowland. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from:
All Things Stem Cell Hematopoietic Stem Cells: A Long ...

BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces theBIO International Convention, the worlds largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.BIOtechNOWis BIO's blog chronicling innovations transforming our world and the BIO Newsletter is the organizations bi-weekly email newsletter.Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.

Corporate members range from entrepreneurial companies developing a first product to Fortune 500 multinationals. We also represent state and regional biotech associations, service providers to the industry, and academic centers. Our members help foster a healthy economy by creating good-paying, biotechnology jobs.

Not only do we advocate for our members, but we also work towards enriching the industry with networking, partnering and education opportunities. We organize the BIO International Convention, the global event for biotechnology, along with many other industry-leading investor and partnering events held around the world. In addition, we produce BIOtechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling innovations transforming our world.

BIO is organized into four different sections to best represent our members and their goals:

We serve the needs of small-to-medium size companies, most of whom do not yet have major products approved and on the market. Whether advocating for pro-innovation tax policies to encouraging an economic and policy environment to foster biotech investment, we focus on critical issues affecting smaller companies and build programs to enhance their development.

We promote biomedical innovation by developing and advocating for public policies that represent the best interests of members focused on human health. We break-down the barriers that impede American innovation by reducing bureaucratic hurdles to lifesaving technologies. Among the priority issues are matters affecting the healthcare-related regulatory and reimbursement climate, pandemic and biodefense preparedness, publicly funded scientific research, and personalized medicine.

We promote the use of industrial enzymes, conversion of biomass to energy and chemicals, and innovative clean up technologies. We work closely with the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and international organizations to encourage the development of technologies that make our lives and environment cleaner, safer and healthier.

We create and advance industry policies on all food and agriculture biotechnology issues related to international affairs, government relations, science and regulatory affairs, and media and public affairs. We work for a safe and clean supply of healthy food for a growing global population.

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Experts explore new ways to treat the mind, body, and spirit -- all at the same time.

Even medical schools have added courses on nontraditional therapies, although doing so can sometimes be a point of contention among faculty.

At the University of California, San Francisco, medical students can augment their coursework in infectious disease and immunology with electives, such as "Herbs and Dietary Supplements" or "Massage and Meditation." They can even opt to study as exchange students at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the world of integrative medicine, it's not unusual to see a Western-trained MD who also has credentials in acupuncture or hypnosis, or a registered nurse who is also a yoga teacher and massage therapist.

Not all doctors are jumping onboard, though. Some critics have charged that integrative medicine is driven largely by market forces, as well as public fascination and demand for alternative treatments.

"This is a very faddish country," says Tom Delbanco, MD, a Harvard Medical School professor and doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. In one national survey of hospitals that offer complementary therapies, 44% listed "physician resistance" as one of the top three hurdles in implementing programs, along with "budgetary constraints" (65%) and "lack of evidence-based research" (39%).

Delbanco says he's concerned that there's not enough scientific evidence to justify the amount of resources spent on integrative medicine and complementary therapies. "I worry that people are making claims in the context of scientific medicine that they cannot really justify. I think there have been few rigorously controlled, scientifically sound studies in the area, and when they have been done, the vast majority have shown these medicines to be no different from placebo."

"I have no trouble with offering hope," he adds. "I think people need hope and optimism. Where I have trouble is when we promise things to people that aren't real."

The search for solid evidence is key: which therapies help and which don't? "There's a clamoring for understanding the biology of this," Sternberg says. Many proponents of integrative care say that it's crucial to hold alternative therapies up to scientific scrutiny, rather than dismissing them outright, because doctors and patients alike need answers. For example, a patient may be taking an herb that is harmful or may interfere with prescription drugs.

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North Carolinians are increasingly feeling the effects of diabetes as thousands of people suffer from the disease, and many others may have diabetes and not know it! It is estimated that one out of every three children born after 2000 in the United States will be directly affected by diabetes. In the Charlotte Metro area, roughly 170,000 people have diabetes.

That is why the American Diabetes Association's Charlotte office is so committed to educating the public about how to stop diabetes and support those living with the disease.

We are here to help.

We welcome your help.

Your involvement as an American Diabetes Association volunteer whether on a local or national level will help us expand our community outreach and impact, inspire healthy living, intensify our advocacy efforts, raise critical dollars to fund our mission, and uphold our reputation as the moving force and trusted leader in the diabetes community.

Find volunteer opportunities in our area through the Volunteer Center.

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Charlotte, North Carolina American Diabetes Association

Kannapolis Internal Medicine, located in Kannapolis, NC, offers a group of board-certified physicians who are dedicated to providing primary adult care.

As internists affiliated with Carolinas HealthCare System NorthEast, our physicians provide comprehensive care for anyone in your family over the age of 16.

If you need more specialized care, your internist will direct and follow up on your care.

Kannapolis Internal Medicine provides new and existing patients the following forms for download to complete and bring to your appointment:

Kannapolis Internal Medicine, located in Kannapolis, NC, offers a group of board-certified physicians who are dedicated to providing primary adult care.

As internists affiliated with Carolinas HealthCare System NorthEast, our physicians provide comprehensive care for anyone in your family over the age of 16.

If you need more specialized care, your internist will direct and follow up on your care.

Kannapolis Internal Medicine provides new and existing patients the following forms for download to complete and bring to your appointment:

Originally posted here:
Kannapolis Internal Medicine > Kannapolis, NC

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin (insulin resistance). Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors appear to play roles.

Prediabetes A condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Also called Juvenile Diabetes, generally develops in children and young people under the age of 30. A person with type 1 diabetes does not produce any insulin and needs insulin injections to control blood glucose levels. For additional information click here.

Type 2 Generally occurs after the age of 30; now increasingly seen among youth and young adults. Over-weight/obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and it is mainly controlled with diet, exercise and medication.

Gestational Occurs in some pregnant women who never had diabetes before but experience high glucose levels during pregnancy. Although gestational diabetes goes away after the baby is born, a women who has had it is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

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Diabetes North Carolina

http://www.naturalnews.com/041111_stem_cells_root_canals_dentistry.html

According to The Wall Street Journal, scientists have made advances in restoring tooth pulp, which would negate having to perform root canals. Per the paper:

Several recent studies have demonstrated in animals that procedures involving tooth stem cells appear to regrow the critical, living tooth tissue known as pulp. Treatments that prompt the body to regrow its own tissues and organs are known broadly as regenerative medicine. There is significant interest in figuring out how to implement this knowledge to help the many people with cavities and disease that lead to tooth loss.

Elimination of root canals?

That's important because, according to statistics, half of children in the U.S. have at least one cavity by the time they're 15 years old; in adults, a quarter of those over the age of 65 have lost all their teeth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that Americans spent $108 billion on dental care in 2010, a figure which includes elective and out-of-pocket care.

Tooth decay occurs when infections or bacteria outstrip a tooth's natural ability to heal or repair itself. If the damage eventually causes too much erosion of the hard, outer enamel shell and penetrates the tooth, eventually the infection can kill off the soft pulp tissue inside, which makes removal of the tooth or a root canal to repair the damage necessary. Pulp is essential in detecting sensation - heat, cold, pressure - and it is where the stem cells ("undifferentiated cells that turn into specialized ones," WSJ reported) that can regenerate tooth tissue are located.

Researchers from all over the world - the U.S., Japan, South Korea and the U.K., among others - have been working to figure out how to make stem cells regenerate pulp. Right now the research is in its early stages, but if a technique can be found "it could mean a reduction or even elimination of the need for painful root canals," the paper said.

Root canals deal with the tooth's infection but they are not a cure-all, per se, WSJ reports:

While the affected tooth remains in the mouth, it is essentially dead, which could impact functions like chewing. That also means no living nerves remain in the tooth to detect further decay or infection. Infection could subsequently spread to surrounding tissue without detection. An estimated 15.1 million root canals are performed in the U.S. annually, according to a 2005-06 survey by the American Dental Association, the most recent data available.

'Public health issue'

"The whole concept of going for pulp regeneration is that you will try and retain a vital tooth, a tooth that is alive," Tony Smith, a professor in oral biology at the University of Birmingham in the U.K., told the paper. "That means the tooth's natural defense mechanisms will still be there."

He adds: "I think we are really just at the opening stages of what is going to be a very exciting time, because we're moving away from traditional root-canal treatments."

Misako Nakashima, DDS, Ph.D., of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology in Obu, Japan, says the dental stem cell research addresses an important "public health issue."

"Dental cavities and inflammation of the surrounding pulp is a challenging public health issue, as tooth decay not only can cause a patient great pain but it also can lead to other serious health issues including heart disease," he told AlphaMed Press.

"Other studies demonstrated the therapeutic effects and safety of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for various diseases. There have been no preclinical reports, however, to support the use of pulp stem cells as a potential treatment for pulpitis in clinical trials," he continued. "We also knew that previous studies involving the spinal cord show that combining G-CSF with stem cells derived from other types of tissues, bone marrow stromal cells, neuronal stem cells and amniotic fluid stem cells had several benefits. So we reasoned that G-CSF might positively impact the pulp stem cells, too."

Though in the early stages, using stem cell therapies to treat dental problems looks promising.

Sources:

http://online.wsj.com

http://www.prweb.com

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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The phrase stem-cell tourism often conjures images of back-alley clinics in distant lands, destinations such as Mexico and China, to which, increasingly, desperate patients are travelling to undergo risky and unproven treatments.

But according to new research, another country is being overlooked in the debate over stem-cell tourism: the United States.

In a study published Thursday by the journal Cell Stem Cell, researchers analyzed the Internet to find that there are 351 businesses in the United States, collectively operating at least 570 stem-cell clinics.

The clinics advertise treatments that involve injecting primitive, undeveloped cells into patients bodies. They also claim to treat a laundry list of problems, from autism and Alzheimers disease to sexual dysfunction, even though clinical trials have not proven that stem-cell treatments are safe or effective for any of these.

But, if the size of the marketplace is any indication, American stem-cell clinics are doing booming business, even attracting patients from Canada, and charging thousands or tens of thousands for their services.

Experts agree that the science is at a tipping point, but it moves slowly and stem-cell therapies arent ready yet for prime time, according to Timothy Caulfield, a University of Alberta professor and Canada research chair in health policy and law.

Caulfield warns that the list of diseases with proven stem-cell treatments is still incredibly short.

Regulators in Canada and the U.S. have, for the most part, approved things such as skin grafts or bone marrow transplants for blood cancers such as leukemia.

These clinics are really leveraging the excitement around the field, Caulfield said. People think there are all these efficacious stem-cell therapies that are available now, and thats really not the case.

In the study, researchers found that stem cell clinics in the U.S. are clustering in certain cities, such as Beverly Hills and New York, and states such as California and Florida

Most advertise autologous stem cells, cells mined from the patients body, typically fat tissue. An estimated one in five clinics claim to use stem cells sourced from amniotic material, placental tissue or umbilical cords. And at least two clinics advertised using bovine amniotic cells.

But because these clinics are not regulated, patients have no way of knowing what they are being injected with, said study co-author Leigh Turner, a bioethicist with the University of Minnesota.

Maybe patients are paying $15,000 for whats effectively a blood transfusion.

He noted that many businesses also advertise the same stem-cell procedure for treating a wide range of highly complex disorders, something that should serve as a warning sign.

Turner believes his study highlights an urgent need for federal regulators to crack down on stem-cell clinics, closing regulatory loopholes that have allowed them to thrive.

Its difficult to see how these could possibly be compliant with federal regulations, Turner said. What we have is rampant marketing of unproven, unapproved stem-cell interventions, all of it happening in the U.S., all of it happening beneath the nose of the FDA.

A main concern, of course, is that these treatments come with unknown risks.

Study co-author Paul Knoepfler points out scientists still dont understand the harms that could arise from stem-cell injections, both short and long term.

Maybe theres a moderate risk, but it doesnt manifest until 10 to 20 years later, he said.

Some of these risks, such as blood clots, have been documented by the scientific literature.

There have been high profile disasters: patients in Florida and Europe who have died after stem-cell treatments, or a California woman who developed bone fragments in her eyelids after undergoing a stem-cell facelift.

One woman who participated in a clinical trial in Portugal developed a growth in her spine, a growth that had nasal tissue and bits of bone in it.

The New York Times recently reported the horrifying story of a stroke victim who spent $300,000 on stem-cell injections, only to develop a huge mass in his spinal column, which has left him paralyzed from the neck down.

His doctors have no idea how to stop the mass from growing.

You can get the wrong type of tissue growing in the wrong place, said Knoepfler, a professor with the University of California, Davis.

And, if a stem-cell transplant goes wrong, thats a living thing, you know?

There might not be a way to undo that.

Stem-cell tourism is largely driven by patients who describe seemingly miraculous cures. These people can be celebrities such as Gordie Howe, who lend their star power to the stem-cell industry, or ordinary patients such as Tina Kapel, a 49-year-old woman from Stouffville, Ont., who has Parkinsons disease.

Kapel said she has refused the drugs recommended by doctors because she distrusts pharmaceutical companies and doesnt like the side effects. Instead, she has turned to a Paleo diet, acupuncture and naturopathy.

Last year, she stumbled on stem-cell treatments after Googling terms such as reversing Parkinsons and natural cures. At the urging of her naturopath, she flew to California for a stem-cell procedure.

The procedure cost $14,995 U.S., which she paid using lines of credit and loans from friends and family. She is unable to work because of her Parkinsons and finds herself in a horrible position financially, but says she would do it all over again.

Im better than I was before the transplant, she says, adding she hopes to get another treatment, and is now trying to raise money online for more injections. When you live in a Parkinsons body, the reality is Im willing to take the chance.

Knoepfler and Turner hear from patients all the time. But they said that, without good clinical trials for treatments, its impossible to know whats really going on with them. Is there something else the patient is doing that might account for the improvements? Could they be experiencing a placebo effect, an undeniably powerful force, especially when patients are desperate and have invested tens of thousands of dollars?

Or perhaps the treatments do work. The only way to know for certain is through research, not relying on anecdotes, Caulfield said.

For now, stem-cell clinics and their claims should be treated with extreme caution, he said.

If it was that easy to translate this stuff into treatments, that would be happening; the best scientists in the world are working on it, Caulfield said.

We all want it to work . . . if only it was that easy.

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