StemCell Therapy

Whether youve been recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) or have been living with the condition for a while, chances are youll sometimes hear terms from your healthcare team that are new to you.

The following is a quick, alphabetical guide to the terminology you may need to know as you manage your condition:

Ankle-Foot Orthosis (AFO) A brace designed to support the position of the foot and motion of the ankle to compensate for nerve damage and muscle weakness in the area caused by MS and other movement disorders. An AFO is typically used to stabilize weak limbs or to reposition a limb with contracted muscles into a more normal position.

Autoimmune Disease Your immune system plays a major part of your bodys defense against bacteria and viruses by sending out cells to attack them once they enter your body. However, if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in your body, causing them to weaken or break down. MS is thought to be just one example of an autoimmune disease. It has been suggested that in MS, your immune system may mistakenly attack the cells in your central nervous system.

Axon Long threadlike structures of nerve cells that send impulses to other cells in your body. Research suggests that damage to or loss of these fibers in progressive MS may be linked to worsening disability and more severe progression.

Central Nervous System (CNS) The group of organs in your body that includes the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. If you have MS, your bodys immune system may be working against the CNS, producing neurological symptoms such as muscle weakness and vision problems.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) A clear, colorless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to protect the CNS and assist in the circulation of nutrients and removal of waste products. In MS, damage to the myelin sheath of nerve cells causes certain types of proteins to be released into the spinal fluid. The presence of these proteins in the CSF, but not in the blood, may point to a diagnosis of MS.

Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) A first episode of neurologic symptoms that lasts at least 24 hours and is caused by inflammation or demyelination (loss of the myelin that covers the nerve cells) in the CNS. People who experience CIS may or may not go on to develop MS. However, when CIS is accompanied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)detected brain lesions similar to those found in MS, you have a 60 to 80 percent chance of a second neurologic event and diagnosis of MS within several years, according to the National MS Society.

Cog Fog A commonly used term that refers to the cognitive changes experienced by many people with MS. According to MS Australia, approximately 50 percent of people with the condition will develop some degree of cog fog, or inhibited ability to think, reason, concentrate, or remember. For some, cognitive problems will become severe enough to interfere in a significant way with daily activities.

Corticosteroids (or Steroids) Prescription medication used to treat relapses in relapsing-remitting MS. Your doctor may prescribe intravenous (IV) corticosteroids if the symptoms of your relapse are causing significant problems, like poor vision or difficulty walking. These drugs work by suppressing the immune system and reducing inflammation in the CNS, and they may help relapse symptoms resolve more quickly. But they wont affect your ultimate level of recovery from a relapse or the long-term course of your MS. Methylprednisolone is a commonly used corticosteroid in MS.

Diplopia (or Double Vision) An eye problem in which you see two images of a single object. It may be present when only one eye is open (monocular) or disappear when either eye is closed (binocular). Diplopia is a common symptom of MS, and it occurs because of damage to the optic nerve.

Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs) Drugs designed to reduce new relapses, delay progression of disability, and limit new CNS inflammation in people with MS. Although there are multiple DMTs that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in MS, these drugs generally work by reducing inflammation in nerve cells in theCNS.

Dysarthria A speech disorder caused by neuromuscular impairment and resulting in disturbances in motor control of the muscles used in speech. Its believed the demyelinating lesions in MS may result in spasticity, weakness, slowness, or ataxic incoordination of the lips, tongue, mandible, soft palate, vocal cords, and diaphragm, causing this speech impairment.

Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing) A condition that may occur in people with MS, leading to difficulty in eating solid foods or liquids, frequent throat clearing during eating or drinking, a feeling that food is stuck in the throat, or coughing or a choking sensation when eating or drinking. Its the result of nerve damage within the muscles that control swallowing.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) A virus believed to be a possible cause or trigger for MS. Although the exact cause of MS remains unknown, researchers suggest an infectious agent may be involved in its development. Studies have found that antibodies (immune proteins that indicate a person has been exposed to a given virus) to EBV are significantly higher in people who eventually develop MS than in those who dont. Other research has noted that people with a specific immune-related gene and high levels of antibodies to EBV in their blood are 9 times more likely to develop MS than others.

Evoked Potentials A test that measures the speed of nerve messages along sensory nerves to the brain, which can be detected on your scalp using electrodes attached with sticky pads. Its sometimes used in the diagnosis of MS, because nerve damage can slow down the transmission of nerve signals. Evoked potential tests can indicate nerve pathways that are damaged prior to the onset of MS symptoms.

Exacerbation An occurrence of new symptoms or the worsening of old symptoms that may also be referred to as a relapse, attack, or flare-up. Exacerbations can be very mild, or severe enough to interfere with a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities.

Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) A scale used for measuring MS disability and monitoring changes in the level of disability over time. Developed by neurologist John Kurtzke, MD, in 1983, the EDSS scale ranges from 0 to 10 in 0.5-unit increments (scoring is based on a neurological exam) and relies on walking as its main measure of disability. People with an EDSS of 1 have no disability and minimal loss of function, while those with an EDSS of 9.5 are confined to bed and totally dependent on others for functions of daily living.

Foot Drop (or Drop Foot) A symptom of MS caused by weakness in the ankle or disruption in the nerve pathway between the legs and the brain, making it difficult to lift the front of the foot to the correct angle during walking. If you have foot drop, your foot hangs down and may catch or drag along the ground, resulting in trips and falls. Foot drop can be managed with an AFO or other treatments.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) A procedure designed to reboot the immune system, the National MS Society says, using hematopoietic (blood cellproducing) stem cells derived from a persons own bone marrow or blood. If your doctor recommends HSCT, youll undergo a chemotherapy regimen before these cells are reintroduced to the body via IV injection, where they will migrate to your bone marrow to rebuild the immune system.

John Cunningham (JC) Virus A common infection completely unrelated to MS that is found in as many as 90 percent of people, according to the UK's MS Trust. JC virus has no symptoms and is normally controlled by the immune system. However, if your immune system is weakened, the JC virus can reactivate, causing potentially fatal inflammation and damage to the brain known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Certain MS disease-modifying therapies have been linked with increased risk for PML.

Lhermittes Sign An electric shock-like sensation experienced by some with MS when the neck is moved in a particular way. The sensation can travel down to the spine, arms, and legs.

Lesion (or Plaque) Refers to an area of damage or scarring (sclerosis) in the CNS caused by inflammation in MS. These lesions can be spotted on an MRI scan, with active lesions appearing as white patches. With regular MRIs, a neurologist can tell how active your MS is.

Lumbar Puncture (or Spinal Tap) A procedure used for the collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), sometimes done to help diagnose MS. For this procedure, your doctor will ask you to lie on your side or bend forward while seated, before cleansing an area of your lower back and injecting a local anesthetic. He will then insert a hollow needle and extract a small amount of spinal fluid using a syringe.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) The diagnostic tool that currently offers the most sensitive noninvasive way of imaging the brain, spinal cord, or other areas of the body, according to the National MS Society. Its the preferred imaging method for diagnosis of MS and to monitor the course of the disease. MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to measure the relative water content in tissues, which is notable in MS because the layer of myelin that protects nerve cell fibers is fatty and repels water. In areas where myelin has been damaged by MS, fat is stripped away and the tissue holds more water. This shows up on an MRI as a bright white spot or darkened area, depending on how the images are made.

McDonald Criteria A guidance used in the diagnosis of MS, authored by an international panel of experts on the condition, originally in 2010. The guidance was updated in 2017. Among the key changes: advising for the use of brain MRI as part of the diagnostic process.

MS Hug A common symptom of MS. If you experience the MS hug, you may feel like you have a tight band around your chest or ribs, or pressure on one side of your torso. Some people find that it is painful to breathe. The MS hug can last for seconds, minutes, hours, or even longer.

Myelin A substance rich in lipids (fatty substances) and proteins that helps form the myelin sheath. In MS, particularly relapsing-remitting MS, an abnormal immune response produces inflammation in the CNS, effectively attacking the myelin in the cells.

Myelin Sheath An insulating layer of fatty substances and proteins that forms around the nerves in body, including those in the CNS. It allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells, but these impulses can be slowed if the sheath is damaged, causing MS.

Neurodegeneration Refers to the process by which the myelin sheath of cells in the CNS is damaged in MS. Its believed to be a major contributor to neurological disability in the condition, and may be the reason immune modulation treatments (disease-modifying therapy) are generally less effective in the progressive MS than in the relapsing-remitting MS.

Neurologist The point person for monitoring your MS treatment and managing MS symptoms. This specialist typically focuses on conditions affecting the CNS.

Neuropathic Pain A type of pain common in MS that results from changes or damage to the myelin sheath and the axons, or nerve fibers, it normally covers. MS-caused neuropathic pain may be chronic, intermittent, or occur only in response to a stimulus.

Neuropsychologist A specialist you may be referred to who helps you manage the cognitive effects of MS. Neuropsychological testing (or testing of the functioning of your brain) involves identifying memory or learning difficulties associated with MS. Cognitive rehabilitation may improve functioning.

Nociceptive Pain Caused by damage to muscles and joints, it can be either acute or chronic, and may not result from MS itself, but be caused by changes in posture or walking or the overuse of assistive devices in those with the condition.

Nystagmus A common eye abnormality in MS, its characterized by involuntary, rhythmic, back-and-forth motion of the eyeball, either horizontally or vertically. For those with nystagmus, the perception of the rhythmic movement of the surrounding stationary world (oscillopsia) can be disorienting and disabling.

Oligoclonal Bands (OCBs) Immunoglobulins, or proteins, that collect in blood plasma or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Although not every person with MS has OCBs, their presence can support a diagnosis of MS. Having OCBs is generally associated with a younger age of MS onset and a poorer prognosis.

Optic Neuritis An inflammatory condition that damages the optic nerve, a bundle of nerve fibers that transmits visual information from your eye to your brain, causing pain and temporary vision loss in one eye. Its been linked with nerve damage resulting from MS, and may be among the first symptoms a person with the condition experiences.

Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) A neurologic effect experienced by roughly 10 percent of people with MS as well as some with Parkinsons disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA). Its characterized by sudden, uncontrollable expressions of laughter or crying without an obvious cause, which can be distressing as well as embarrassing to those who experience it. PBA is believed to be a mood disorder related to the disruption of nerve impulses in the CNS, but its different from depression, which is also common in MS.

Pseudoexacerbation A temporary worsening of symptoms without actual myelin inflammation or damage. It is often triggered by other illnesses or infection, exercise, a warm environment, depression, exhaustion, and stress. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common type of infection to cause a pseudoexacerbation.

Sclerosis A general hardening of the body tissue. The term multiple sclerosis refers to the multiple areas of scar tissue often called lesions that develop along affected nerve fibers and that are visible in MRI scans.

Spasticity A symptom of MS that causes your muscles to feel stiff, heavy, or difficult to move. When a muscle spasms, youll experience a sudden stiffening that may cause a limb to jerk. This may be painful.

Trigeminal Neuralgia (or Tic Douloureux) A type of neuropathic pain that occurs on the face (usually on one side only). Its a known symptom of MS, and you may experience it in your cheek; upper or lower jaw; inside the mouth; or in the area around your eyes, ears, or forehead. In MS, its typically caused by damage to the myelin sheath around the trigeminal nerve, which among other functions controls the muscles used in chewing. The condition is triggered by everyday activities, like tensing facial muscles while shaving or when chewing.

Vertigo An intense sensation of the surrounding environment spinning around one. In MS, vertigo is typically caused by growth of an existing lesion or development of a new lesion on the brain stem or cerebellum, the area in the brain that controls balance. It can also be a symptom of a problem with the inner ear, or it can be side effect of medication used to treat MS or other health conditions you may have.

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Speaking Multiple Sclerosis: A Glossary of Common Terms - Everyday Health

In todays future-facing era, phenomena once relegated to the world of science fiction are starting to edge their way into reality.

We have scientists growing brains from stem cells in petri dishes; robots are being granted national citizenship; virtual intelligences experience and expressanger.

For the past 50 years, the microprocessorthe chip that processes information in a computerhas doubled in capacity at least everyyear to two years. Experts predict that machine intelligence will be smarter than humans by 2030.

So heres my question: When the machines weve created possesses an intelligence that equals ours, will they deserve our protection?

Will they desire it? Maybe even demand it?

This should be your question, too. Because in a little longer than a decades time, well need answers if want to avert moral and civil rights mishaps.

Futurists and technologists have been working to prepare the world for radical new sapient technologies and intelligences with publications such as the Cyborg Bill of Rights V1.0 which advocates equality for mutants.

Beyond the microprocessor, instrumental in catapulting machine intelligence to new levels through its ever-increasing speed for calculations, weve seen accelerating advances in genetic editing, stem-cell research, and 3D bioprinting, each which will help to create entities that have both consciousness and intelligence. This year 3D bioprinting has come so far that a team of Israeli scientists were able to successfully print part of a human heart.

Netflix released a popular four-part documentary series called Unnatural Selection on the topic.

Scientists are already wading into murky waters when it comes to the rights of these new intelligent organisms that we create. AtYale University brains from deceased pigs are being stimulated in a vat, which has prompted controversy in the animal rights world.

Do the brains of these animals, once dead, now represent live animals? And if so, do they receive the same legal rights that have informed laws that protect animals against harmful animal testing and animal cruelty?

As a result of these emerging ethical issues, were seeing more debates about new terms of futurist-oriented rights.

But the fact remains that there are few, if any, actual rules for most of our new scientific realities.

This is largely what inspired me to come up with theTranshumanist Bill of Rights, which Wiredpublished in full in 2018. The document recently underwent its third rendition via crowdsourcing.

When the machines weve created possesses an intelligence that equals ours, will they deserve our protection?

Like many of the cyborg bills that existthere are about half a dozen significant ones floating around the internetthis bill includes legal protections for thinking robots, gender explanations for virtual intelligences, laws for genetically engineered sapient creatures, defense of freedoms allowing biohackers to modify their bodies, and many other protections. It even includes policies to fight off environmental destruction and planetary existential threats such as asteroids, plagues, nuclear war, and global warming.

In 2015, Iwalked up to the US Capitol building holdinga single-page print out of the document I had written. The machine gun-toting police standing guard just feet away from me threatened arrest, but there was little need; the taped-on page quickly fell off the building, fluttered off the wall in the wind.

I wasnt arrested. The police and journalists surrounding me chuckled at the bungled ceremonial moment.

I recall that I couldnt help but smile myself at the idea of getting a futurist bill of rights to become a fixed part of US governing policy at the time.

But four years later, with machines showing ever increasing sophisticationhumans are even marrying robotsin some parts of the worlda bill of rights is not as wild as it once sounded. We could easily say the same for genetically-modified babies being born, which happened for the first time inChinalast year.

In my work, I meet with people around the world who are interested in answering not if we need a futurist bill of rights, but when we will need it, from Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government to theCato Institute to theWorld Economic Forumto European ministries.

If you look through the various cyborg-inspired bills of rights already out there, youll find that a major goal is to include cyborg and transhumanist rights in the UNs 1948Universal Declaration of Human Rights one day.

The ideas of personhood, a right to education, and freedom of speech were once considered unattainable in some countries. Now these basic human rights are common, and at least some of this change is due to the powerful legal influence of the UNs universal bill, often seen as a blueprint for governments and laws around the globe.

Interestingly, one of the challenges of getting a transhumanist bill of rights taken seriously comes from minorities groups, when its perceived that futurist rights will undermine movements of historically marginalized peoples. While plenty of transhumanists are members of the LGBTQ community, the community has been reluctant to wander intofuturist LGBTQissues, such as nongender roleplaying as different species in virtual environments.

LGBTQ friends of minewhile often sympathetic to transhumanist goalshave told me that they believe that after their historic quest for rights in America especially, they still need to focus on progress for their own movement and its goals. They perceive a futurist bill of rights as a distraction.

I respect and agree with this. Minorities in the US and around the world face social discrimination and violations of rights that warrant our attention. But it wont slow down the trajectory of radical technologies, which is spurring a growing futurist community to call for its own set of rights, rules, and protections.

I understand that at times it seems preposterous to believe the world will need to consider whether super intelligentrobots can vote, or whether human heads can betransplantedto waiting tech-engineered bodies, or if four years of college education canbe downloadedinto human brains.

But these realities are likely to occur long before the century is out.

If society doesnt accept that new sapient lifeformswhether its an autonomous digital avatar living in a supercomputer, or a biological creature with human-level intelligence that genetic editing createdalso need rights, or that new forms of engineered conscious intelligences will walk among humans on Earth as a result of scientific progress, society will undergo another wave of civil strife as we scramble to play catch-up to whats fair and moral.

At the very least, societies and governments need more comprehensive plans to formally deal with these new realities. That begins with a Congressional dialogue and forming preliminary legal documents outlining potential rights for the evolving future.

Ultimately, it comes down to how humans believe new intelligent life deserves to be treated.

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Do transhumanists need their own bill of rights? - Quartz

The Inherited Neuropathy Consortium led by University of Iowa neurologist Michael Shy has received a grant renewal to continue studying inherited neuropathies.

The Carver College of Medicine is pictured on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

Gaoyuan Pan

The Carver College of Medicine is pictured on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

Gaoyuan Pan

Gaoyuan Pan

The Carver College of Medicine is pictured on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

As clinical research of medical technology advances, so will the understanding of genetic neurological diseases. The National Institute of Health has renewed the University of Iowas grant to study inherited neuropathic diseases.

The Inherited Neuropathy Consortium, located in the UI Carver College of Medicine, recently received a five-year $7.2 million grant renewal to continue researching inherited peripheral neuropathies in the hope of finding a cure for related diseases.

Peripheral neuropathies are disorders affecting the nerves that spread from someones back to their hands and feet, which can cause weakness and balance problems, UI neurologist Michael Shy said. Although these disorders have many causes, he said, a common cause is a genetic mutation that can disrupt the nerves.

Shy said the diseases are referred to as Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1 or type 2, depending on which part of the nerve the disease affects. These diseases are fairly common and affect one in 2,500 people, he added.

Up until 1990, there were no known genetic causes for any of these, although it was known that the diseases could be genetic, Shy said. Now theres mutations in over 100 different genes that can cause these disorders.

The consortium works with other institutions around the world to determine how these diseases change over time, identify other genetic causes of Charcot-Marie-Tooth, and train physicians to study and treat the diseases, Shy said.

With the grant renewal, the consortium will continue its study of how Charcot-Marie-Tooth changes over time through using different outcome measurements they have developed and new instruments allowing them to measure outcomes in infants, Shy said.

RELATED: UI doctors prepare to study obscure leading cause of death in refractory epilepsy

The grant will also allow researchers to continue to identify and study biomarkers in patients blood that are common for Charcot-Marie-Tooth, he said.

Even though clinical trials have been developed to treat the diseases, there is no cure, Shy said. The clinic emphasizes genetic counseling to help people understand their condition and the potential it has to pass on to other generations, he said.

Counselors meet with families to discuss genetic testing options, provide an understanding of what their insurance will cover, and an understanding of the various lab testing they will receive, said Shawna Feely, genetic counselor and clinic coordinator.

Feely is the consortiums project manager and oversees the 20 sites involved. She helps research teams navigate protocols, understand the testing, and create uniformity in the way clinical trials are conducted.

RELATED: University of Iowa receives grant to improve statewide-maternal-health

Any time youre giving a genetic diagnosis, there can be an emotional element to the person or family in terms of family dynamics or feeling guilt that someones passed a genetic disease on, and so genetic counselors part of the counseling part is to help families cope, Feely said.

Genetic counselor Tiffany Grider said in an email to The Daily Iowanthat a common question from patients is whether or not their child will have the same condition, and whether theres a treatment for it.

Researchers like Dr. Shy have spent decades learning the exact biological mechanism for how these diseases happen, Grider said.

With the developing research and the grant, the future of the clinic and genetic testing will be in the hands of the next generation, Shy said.

Its this next generation of scientists who are going to take this to the clinic, so these are going to become treatable diseases, Shy said. And we need that generation to be well-trained to be able to develop [treatments].

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UI-led neuropathy consortium receives grant renewal from National Institute of Health - UI The Daily Iowan

HOUSTON Deborah Brancato has worked as a flight attendant for 25 years, but after undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer, she developed neuropathy. The pain in her feet was so bad she was not able to stand for long periods of time and couldn't wear the required closed-toed shoes that were part of her uniform.

Brancato needed to find a solution to treat the pain she experienced from neuropathy. She found help at Advanced Nerve and Health Center, where patients of Dr. Bao Thai are seeing amazing results. Dr. Thai has developed a non-invasive, pain free treatment that helps the body repair nerves without surgery or medication.

Dr. Thai is a pioneer in this field, and has studied all over Europe and Asia exploring technologies and processes. He conducted his own research and found that the body wants to heal the nerve, and over time it will heal.

The Advanced Nerve and Health Center has a limited time offer for Great Day Houston viewers. For $39, the first 17 callers will get an in-office consultation, a copy of Dr. Thai's "Healthy Diet to Heal Nerve Pain" book, and a diagnostic nerve test to see if they can help. This is a $399 value.

Call Advanced Nerve and Health Center now at 832-626-1260.

Advanced Nerve and Health Center is located at 8558 Katy Freeway, Suite 116, Houston, TX 77024.

For more information, log on to NerveAndHealth.com.

This content is sponsored by: Advanced Nerve and Health Center.

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Advanced Nerve & Health Center helps breast cancer survivor reverse her neuropathy - KHOU.com

In 2018, the market size of Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment Market is million US$ and it will reach million US$ in 2025, growing at a CAGR of from 2018; while in China, the market size is valued at xx million US$ and will increase to xx million US$ in 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during forecast period.

In this report, 2018 has been considered as the base year and 2018 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment .

This report studies the global market size of Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment , especially focuses on the key regions like United States, European Union, China, and other regions (Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia).

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This study presents the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment Market production, revenue, market share and growth rate for each key company, and also covers the breakdown data (production, consumption, revenue and market share) by regions, type and applications. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment history breakdown data from 2014 to 2018, and forecast to 2025.

For top companies in United States, European Union and China, this report investigates and analyzes the production, value, price, market share and growth rate for the top manufacturers, key data from 2014 to 2018.

In global Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment market, the following companies are covered:

Boehringer IngelheimBayerJohnson & JohnsonBristol-Myers SquibbPfizerDaiichi-SankyoGilead

Segment by RegionsNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndia

Segment by TypeOral Direct Thrombin InhibitorsOral Direct Factor Xa Inhibitors

Segment by ApplicationHospitalsClinicsAmbulatory Surgical Centers

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The content of the study subjects, includes a total of 15 chapters:

Chapter 1, to describe Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market driving force and market risks.

Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment , with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment in 2017 and 2018.

Chapter 3, the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment competitive situation, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast.

Chapter 4, the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales, revenue and growth by regions, from 2014 to 2018.

Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales, revenue and market share for key countries in the world, from 2014 to 2018.

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Chapter 10 and 11, to segment the sales by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2014 to 2018.

Chapter 12, Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2024.

Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Treatment sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion, appendix and data source.

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Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment Market expected to Witness a Sustainable Growth over 2017 2025 - Health News Office

TheDiabetic Neuropathy Market is a professional and in depth market reportthat focuses on primary and secondary drivers, possible sales volume, market share, leading segments, market size and geographical analysis of the market. It shows that the increase in market value is generally attributed to the increasing growth of the applicable industries and the subsequent increase in demand for applications. The Diabetic Neuropathy market analysis examines the different segments that are relied on to witness the fastest growth in the approximate forecast frame. The competitive landscape section of the Diabetic Neuropathy report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of major industry players.

Diabetic Neuropathy Market: Scope of the Report :

This report provides an all-inclusive environment of the analysis for the Diabetic Neuropathy Market. The market estimates provided in the report are the result of in-depth secondary research, in-house expert reviews, and primary interviews. These market estimates have been considered by studying the impact of various social, political and economic factors along with the current market dynamics affecting the Diabetic Neuropathy Market development. In addition to the description of the market, which includes market dynamics, the chapter includes Porters Five Forces analysis which explains the five forces; namely buyers bargaining power, suppliers bargaining power, the threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition in the Diabetic Neuropathy Market. The report also focuses on the competitive landscape of the Diabetic Neuropathy Market.

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Diabetic Neuropathy Market: Competitive Landscape

The market analysis entails a section solely dedicated to major players in the Diabetic Neuropathy Market wherein our analysts provide an insight into the financial statements of all the major players, along with its key developments, product benchmarking and SWOT analysis. The Company Profile section also comprises a business overview and financial information. The companies that are provided in this section can be customized according to the clients requirements.

There are some key players Pfizer Inc, Eli Lilly and Company, Actavis Pharma Inc, Cephalon Inc, Meda Pharma GmbH, GlaxoSmithKline plc, NeuroMetrix Inc, Johnson & Johnson Inc, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Astellas Pharma Inc.

Diabetic Neuropathy Market Segments:

Segmentation on the basis of disorder type:

Peripheral neuropathyAutonomic neuropathyProximal neuropathyFocal neuropathySegmentation on the basis of treatment:

RadiotherapyPhysiotherapy

Key Questions Answered by This Report:

How did the market evolve and what is the market status in 2019?

What are the drivers and restraints of the Market?

What are the opportunities for growth within the market and where do the major threats lie?

How will each submarket segment grow in the near future and how much market value will each segment generate for 2019 2028?

How the political, economic, social, and technology factors influence the submarkets and regional market?

How will individual leading Worldwide markets perform over the forecast period, and what are their drivers and restraints?

What have been the major developments of the leading Worldwide markets over recent years, leading to their current market status?

How will the market shares of the regional and leading Worldwide markets evolve by 2019 2028, and which geographical region will lead in 2019 2028?

Who are the key players within the market, and what are their strategies over the forecast period?

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In more detail, the chapters of this report contain the following topics:

Chapter 1 It consists of research objective and assumption, research objectives of the report

Chapter 2 Introduces the market; discusses the different segmentations of the market; summaries the report

Chapter 3 Includes market drivers, restraint, opportunity, and trends contributing to the growth of the market. The dynamic section of the report also includes DR Impact Analysis, Opportunity Orbit, PEST Analysis, and Porters Five Analysis.

Chapter 4 Studies the global market, providing market shares and sales figures. The chapter also analyses market forecasts, factors enabling growth, and the future of the market, covering the period 2018-2029. Furthermore, it provides in-depth detailed analyses and forecasts of the submarkets.

Chapter 5 provides an in-depth and thorough analysis of the regional and Worldwide markets. The chapter continues by supplying market forecasts, details on growing regions, factors enabling the growth, drivers, and restraints on a Worldwide basis, developments over 2015 and their influence over the forecast period, and future market predictions, covering the period 2018-2029.

Chapter 6 Identifies, discusses and analyzes the leading players in the market, as well as innovative, growing companies that will impact the future of the industry.

Chapter 7 Explains the research methodology the company follows to create, enriched insights to clients from millions of data points.

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PDF Report : Diabetic Neuropathy Market 2019 || Comprehensive Analysis of the market with Competitive Landscape and Forecasts To 2028 - Tech News...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In some ways, the month is a celebration of the many advances made toward diagnosing and treating breast cancer at its very earliest stages. With these earlier identifications come the expectations for more favorable treatment and survival outcomes.

That said, when a cancer diagnosis is delivered, the individual receiving it often hears nothing but I have cancer. Words like these can be overwhelming. It begins a search to gather and develop the most competent team to lead you through this journey.

There are many options when considering breast cancer surgery. Those are for you and your surgical team to examine. Perhaps you have chosen to pursue a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. These procedures might include lymph nodes being removed in the axilla (the armpit), to discover if a cancer has spread elsewhere.

But what happens after a tumor has been removed? Surgical intervention can deliver a whole new set of concerns including:

n Tissue adhesions that can lead to postural changes

n Impaired shoulder function

n Pain and subsequent movement compensations

n Seromas

n Hematomas

n Serratus anterior weakness

n Axillary web syndrome/cording (scarring or connective tissue under the arm that can limit range of motion)

Lymphedema is also a common side effect following breast cancer surgery. It occurs after the lymph nodes have been removed or damaged, impairing normal lymphatic flow in the arm, which causes the arm to swell.

Your plan of care might also include radiation or chemotherapy. If radiation is part of your treatment, there can be temporary tissue adhesions; reduced shoulder and trunk range of motion; inflammatory edema (swelling caused by excess fluid); and pain. You may also experience permanent changes called radiation fibrosis, which is scar tissue that can occur in the breast and chest wall.

If your oncology team decides chemotherapy is warranted, challenges from the treatment can include pain; fatigue; poor tolerance to activity; neuropathy; weakness; and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Regardless of your breast cancer treatment approach, every survivors plan for recovery should include treatment for whatever physical changes you may experience. It is imperative to see a physical therapist and certified lymphedema therapist early on to ensure the best results.

A therapist trained in breast cancer rehabilitation can work with you to:

n Address shoulder, complex movement, and soft tissue disorders

n Improve your comfort and function during and following breast reconstruction

n Address effects of radiation

n Reduce fatigue and weakness

n Develop an individualized home exercise program

St. Peters Health Partners Patient Therapies has a variety of outpatient physical therapists at locations throughout the Capital District, accepting all insurances and providing quality one-on-one treatment. Our staff works closely with your oncology and/or primary care team to help decrease pain, improve flexibility, and reduce effects of scar tissue adhesions/radiation fibrosis.

If you are seeking treatment for lymphedema, our therapists have received specialized training in manual lymph drainage and compression bandaging. We have the longest operating lymphedema management program in the Capital District.

For information, call 518-268-5749 or visit us at http://www.sphp.com/patient-therapies.

See more here:

Surviving breast cancer what comes next? - Hudson Valley 360

ATLANTA - If you have arthritis, you know all about the pain, swelling, and stiffness that the disease brings on.

"We're seeing arthritis at an earlier age, not only in the knees, but shoulders, really everywhere," said Dr. Mathew Pombo of Emory Orthopedics & Spine Center. "It's becoming an epidemic of sorts."

But did you know certain habits can make your symptoms worse? Staying still is the first mistake that can intensify your pain. Regular physical activity makes your joints more flexible, but too much exercise can also be a bad thing.

"We also have a lot of younger people participating in sports, and we know that prior injury leads to post-traumatic arthritis," Pombo continued.

Try swimming, biking or walking for about 30 minutes a day. Ignoring your dental health may also lead to worse problems. One study found the bacterium that causes periodontal disease increases the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.

The wrong foods can also cause inflammation in the body and trigger symptoms. Some ingredients to avoid: sugar, saturated fats, refined carbs, omega-six fatty acids, MSG, gluten, aspartame, and alcohol.

Lastly, stress could make your symptoms worse. A trauma or stressful situation can actually trigger the development of certain types of arthritis. Yoga, meditation, and getting enough sleep can help you manage your stress levels.

Smoking is another bad move. Recent research shows both current and past smokers with arthritis had worse symptoms and more joint damage than those who never smoked.

Continue reading here:
Health Beat: 5 things that make arthritis more painful - WFMZ Allentown

Scientists have discovered an unusual link between the severity of arthritis-related pain and weather.

For years, health experts have suspected that weather may play a key role in the severity of arthritic symptoms.

The BBCsays that hearing someone say their knee is playing up because of the weather is pretty common - usually because of the cold, adding thatsome say they can even predict the weather based on how their joints feel. However, there has been no scientific consensus on the subject.

But this week, the University of Manchester published a study of around 2,500 people suffering from arthritis in all 124 postcode areas of the UK, which asked them to record their levels of distress on a daily basis using their smartphone, The Telegraph says.

To their surprise, the researchers found that sufferers were 20% more likely to be in pain on days that were humid and windy with low atmospheric pressure than they were on days with average weather.

For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the weeks news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for 6

The BBC reports that if someoneschances of a painful day with average weather were five in 100, they would increase to six in 100 on a damp and windy day.

However, the researchers were also keen to stress that they found no link between temperature and pain, or rain and pain, but that a mixture of factors such as wind, humidity and low atmospheric pressure did have an effect.

The study, called Cloudy with a Chance of Pain, was funded by the charity Versus Arthritis and ran from January 2016 to April 2017.There were more than five million pieces of data submitted.

Professor Will Dixon, who led the study, said that weather has been thought to affect symptoms in patients with arthritis since Hippocrates and added that around three quarters of people living with arthritis believe their pain is affected by the weather.

The analysis showed that on damp and windy days with low pressure the chances of experiencing more pain, compared to an average day, was around 20%.

He also suggested that the findings mightallow people who suffer from chronic pain to plan their activities, completing harder tasks on days predicted to have lower levels of pain.

Dr Stephen Simpson, director of research at Versus Arthritis, said: We know that of the 10 million people in the UK with arthritis, over half experience life-altering pain every day.

Supporting effective ways of self-managing pain can make all the difference for people with arthritis, helping them to get and stay in work, to be full members of the community and simply to belong.

This research will help us understand the bigger picture of the complexity of pain caused by arthritis and how people with the condition can take control of it.

Original post:
Arthritis: whats the weather got to do with it? - The Week UK

People with painful chronic conditions such as arthritis tend to experience more pain on humid days than on dry ones, according to a British study published Thursday in the journal NPJ Digital Medicine.

When days are windy and have low atmospheric pressure, pain is also more likely to increase, although to a lesser extent than when the humidity is high, the study also reports.

No evidence was found linking cold days with more pain unless those days were also damp and windy.

The results of this study could be important for patients in the future for two reasons, said William Dixon, the lead author of the research and an epidemiologist at the University of Manchester, in a released statement. Given we can forecast the weather, it may be possible to develop a pain forecast knowing the relationship between weather and pain. This would allow people who suffer from chronic pain to plan their activities, completing harder tasks on days predicted to have lower levels of pain.

The dataset will also provide information to scientists interested in understanding the mechanisms of pain, which could ultimately open the door to new treatments, he adds.

As Dixon and his co-authors point out in their paper, people with arthritis have blamed weather for worsening their symptoms since at least the fifth century BCE, when the Greek physician Hippocrates was writing his medical treatises. Today, about three-quarters of individuals living with arthritis believe weather affects their pain.

Past studies have investigated these claims, but with conflicting results most likely because such studies have tended to involve a small number of people (fewer than 100) and/or a short time frame (a month or less).

The current study, according to its authors, is the first to use a large dataset one collected from smartphones to look at the relationship between local weather and daily pain among people with chronic conditions over a long period of time.

For the study, Dixon and his colleagues analyzed data collected from 2,658 people, aged 17 and older, from across the United Kingdom. All had a painful, chronic medical condition, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine or neuropathy. Most, however, had arthritis.

At the start of the study, participants were asked to download a smartphone app, which asked them each evening to answer a series of questions about symptoms they had experienced that day. The participants did so on most days for about six months.

The researchers used the smartphones GPS to determine the local weather for each patient on each day. They then looked for correlations between various weather factors and the patients reported symptoms.

High humidity had the strongest link with increased pain, although high wind and low atmospheric pressure also showed significant associations.

And when all three of those weather elements occurred together, there was a kind of pain trifecta, the data revealed.

The analysis showed that on damp and windy days with low pressure the chances of experiencing more pain, compared to an average day, was around 20 percent, says Dixon. This would mean that, if your chances of a painful day on an average weather day were 5 in 100, they would increase to 6 in 100 on a damp and windy day.

That may seem like a small increase, but, as Dixon and his colleagues note, it could be a meaningful change for many people living with chronic pain.

The study found no link between temperature alone and pain symptoms.

And although weather is known to affect day-to-day mood and physical activity, those factors were not found to have much of an impact on the studys findings.

The research comes with caveats. Most notably, it involved only people living in the United Kingdom, so its findings may not be applicable to other populations. In addition, the study began with about 10,000 participants, but most failed to complete enough of the daily questionnaires to be included in the final analysis. There may be something different between the people who stayed in the study and those who dropped out a difference that may make the studys results less reliable.

Still, the findings are intriguing. They may also offer some reassurance to people who struggle with controlling chronic pain.

So many people live with chronic pain, affecting their work, family life and their mental health. Even when weve followed the best pain management advice, we often still experience daily pain, says Carolyn Gamble, one of the authors of the study and a graduate student at the University of Manchester, in a released statement. Gamble has a form of arthritis known as ankylosing spondylitis.

Knowing how the weather impacts on our pain can enable us to accept that the pain is out of our control, it is not something we have done, or could have done differently in our own self-management, she adds.

FMI: You can read the study in full on NPJ Digital Medicines website. The study was funded by Versus Arthritis, a British nonprofit.

The rest is here:
Weather, or not? Study finds chronic pain tends to be worse on humid, but not cold, days - MinnPost

The CDC estimates that more than 1 in 4 adults age 65 or older will fall each year. Out of these falls, 1 in 5 will result in serious injury, such as broken bones and head injuries.

In addition, the Arthritis Foundation estimates that over 50 million adults suffer from one of the many forms of arthritis resulting in pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased ability to perform normal daily tasks.

The "Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention" is an evidence-based program recommended by both the Arthritis Foundation and the National Council on Aging to manage arthritis and reduce fall risk, increase balance and flexibility, and decrease stress.

The program was developed by Dr. Paul Lam, a family physician in Sydney, Australia who developed arthritis while still in his teens due to the malnutrition he experienced while growing up in China. Dr. Lam used tai chi to manage his own arthritis and eventually worked with tai chi, medical and education experts to create this program.

The Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention program uses the Sun style of tai chi which has been modified to make it gentle on the joints, easy to learn, and significantly safer for older adults than other forms of tai chi. Often described as "meditation in motion," it consists of slow, continuous movements with a focus on body awareness, posture, weight shifting, and calming the mind. While the movements appear gentle and graceful, they contain a surprising internal power. Dr. Lam describes it as being like a calm, flowing river that has the power and strength to reshape the earth under its surface.

The power of the "Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention" program has been demonstrated in numerous medical studies by showing a significant decrease both in falls and in the pain and stiffness of arthritis.

It is performed using a higher stance than most other forms of tai chi and martial arts moves with higher risk have been modified or replaced with safer alternatives. This makes it both easier and safer for arthritis sufferers and those at risk for falls.

Instructor Diana Nielsen, certified teacher of the "Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention" program, says, "I love introducing people to this program and watching their balance and confidence improve. I have practiced other styles of tai chi for years but find this form is best for my own arthritis."

Each class consists of warm up and cool down exercises, a review of previously learned moves, and the learning of one or two new moves in a positive learning atmosphere. Over the course of the program, participants will build the balance and muscular strength that is important in both preventing falls and in stabilizing and protecting arthritic joints. The slow movement against gentle resistance also develops strength in the body's core stabilizer muscles which is critical to good posture and back health.

One does not need to have arthritis or a history of falls to benefit from this program. It is geared toward adults age 55 and older who would like a gentle, low-impact program that will increase their balance, mobility, flexibility, and lower body strength while decreasing stress.

Tai chi student Beverly Adams of Elk Grove Village states that this program has been "very rewarding" and that the "classes have been extremely helpful in my rehabilitation from knee and hip replacement surgery."

The Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention program is being offered at the Amita Health Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital, 935 Beisner Road in Elk Grove Village.

It consists of 6 one-hour class sessions and is taught by Diana Nielsen, a licensed occupational therapy assistant and a certified instructor of the Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention program.

A new class will be starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. Register in advance by calling (847) 981-5556, option 2. All participants for this program must be able to walk unassisted for at least 100 feet for safety.

For questions on this program including additional class times and locations, please email TCAFP.DN@gmail.com.

Read the original here:
Learn how to curb the pain, stop the falls with tai chi program this fall - Chicago Daily Herald

People with arthritis are more likely to feel pain on humid, windy days, new research suggests.

Scientists from the University of Manchester found sufferers were 20% more likely to be in pain on days that are humid and windy with low atmospheric pressure than on days with average weather.

The study, funded by the charity Versus Arthritis, examined data from 2,658 people, who provided daily data on pain levels on most days for around six months via their smartphones.

The group had a range of different health issues, predominantly arthritis, but also including fibromyalgia, migraine and neuropathic pain.

According to the research, humid days were the most likely to be painful, whereas dry days were the least likely.

Low pressure and higher wind speed were also linked to more painful days, although to a lesser extent than humidity.

The researchers found no solid link with changing temperature or rainfall, although cold days that were also damp and windy could be more painful.

As part of the study, participants used a dedicated smartphone app to record daily symptoms which were then compared with local weather reports based on the phone's GPS.

Professor Will Dixon, from the University of Manchester, who led the study, said: "Weather has been thought to affect symptoms in patients with arthritis since Hippocrates.

"Around three quarters of people living with arthritis believe their pain is affected by the weather.

"Yet, despite much research examining the existence and nature of this relationship, there remains no scientific consensus.

"Our analysis showed that on damp and windy days with low pressure the chances of experiencing more pain, compared to an average day, was around 20%.

"Given we can forecast the weather, it may be possible to develop a pain forecast knowing the relationship between weather and pain.

"This would allow people who suffer from chronic pain to plan their activities, completing harder tasks on days predicted to have lower levels of pain."

Dr Stephen Simpson, director of research at Versus Arthritis, said: "We know that of the 10 million people in the UK with arthritis, over half experience life-altering pain every day.

"Supporting effective ways of self-managing pain can make all the difference for people with arthritis, helping them to get and stay in work, to be full members of the community and simply to belong.

"This research will help us understand the bigger picture of the complexity of pain caused by arthritis and how people with the condition can take control of it."

Continue reading here:
Arthritis pain is linked to the weather, new study confirms - Gloucestershire Live

Early treatment with infliximab sold under the brand name Remicade, among others leads to lower inflammation and fewer joints showing active disease over 12 months in children and adolescents with polyarticular idiopathic arthritis (pJIA), a single center study in China suggests.

But to be effective for a full year, treatment soon after disease onset seems essential, its researchers wrote.

The study, Infliximab therapy and outcomes in patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a single-center study in China, was published in the World Journal of Pediatrics.

Advances in the development and approval of biologic therapies over the last two decades have had a significant impact on the outcome of children with pJIA.

Compared to other disease types, pJIA patients are more likely tofail to respond to initial treatment withdisease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). But biologic DMARDs have helped to manage disease activity and lessen symptoms.

Among JIA patients, pJIA patients especially those withhigh risk factors [that include]arthritis of the hip or cervical spine, and radiographic damage have more aggressive disease and worse functional outcomes, the team wrote.

Infliximabis a biologic DMARD designed to specifically target and block TNF-alpha, a protein that promotes inflammation and is involved in autoimmunity. This type of therapy has shown efficacy in people with pJIA, but differences exist as to an optimal treatment regimen, the researches noted.

The teamreviewed the long-term impact of treatment with infliximab in 40 children (ages 2 to 13 at diagnosis) with pJIA. All were treated and followed at ChildrensHospital of Chongqing Medical University over an eight year-period starting in January 2010.

Patients were divided into three groups based on their disease course and when they started on infliximab. Nine (group A) started treatment within three months of disease onset, 13 (group B) between three months and one year of onset, while the remaining 18 (group C) initiated treatment more than one year after disease onset.

All patients were given at least four doses of infliximab (36 mg/kg) over three months. Twenty-six received six doses (over six months), and eight patients had nine doses of infliximab, which corresponds to a 12-month treatment period.

Results showed that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) an indicator of active inflammation was significantly lower in all groups after three and six months of therapy, compared to pre-treatment values. But this benefit, after 12 months, was only maintained in patients with early treatment (group A).

Children in group A were also the only ones to show stable decreases over 12 months in the number of joints with active disease defined as joints that were tender or painful to move, were swollen, or had limited motion. Also used was the 27-point juvenile arthritis disease activity score (JADAS-27), which includes a physician assessment, a parent/patient global evaluation, ESR rates, and an active joint count.

Patients in groups B and C alsoshowed fewer joints with active disease and a lower JADAS-27 score up to six months of treatment, but experienced increases in both assessments at 12 months. These increases were statistically significant when treatment was started more a year after disease onset (group C).

Overall, infliximab can dramatically improve the outcomes in polyarticular JIA patients, and it should be introduced early during the clinical course, the team wrote.

Total Posts: 11

Jos is a science news writer with a PhD in Neuroscience from Universidade of Porto, in Portugal. He has also studied Biochemistry at Universidade do Porto and was a postdoctoral associate at Weill Cornell Medicine, in New York, and at The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. His work has ranged from the association of central cardiovascular and pain control to the neurobiological basis of hypertension, and the molecular pathways driving Alzheimers disease.

More here:
Polyarticular JIA Patients Show Lesser Inflammation, Affected Joints with Early Use of Infliximab, Study Says - Juvenile Arthritis News

Aplastic anemia is a medical condition that damages stem cells in a person's bone marrow. These cells are responsible for making red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are vital to human health.

Doctors believe various conditions can cause aplastic anemia, while the disease itself ranges in severity from mild to life threatening.

Medical advancements mean that aplastic anemia is more treatable than ever. In this article, learn more about this rare medical disorder.

When a person has aplastic anemia, their bone marrow does not create the blood cells it needs. This causes them to feel ill and increases their risk of getting infections.

Doctors also call aplastic anemia bone marrow failure.

Doctors do not know exactly how many people in the United States have aplastic anemia.

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), doctors diagnose approximately 500 to 1,000 cases every year. It is most common in older children, teenagers, and young adults.

Researchers believe that most cases of aplastic anemia are due to the immune system attacking healthy bone marrow cells, according to NORD.

Doctors have also identified some of the possible causes of this immune system response, including:

However, doctors usually cannot pinpoint the underlying cause in most aplastic anemia cases.

When the cause is unknown, doctors refer to the condition as idiopathic aplastic anemia.

Symptoms of aplastic anemia include:

These symptoms may be severe. Some people may have heart-related symptoms, such as chest pain.

A doctor will start by asking about a person's symptoms and their medical history.

They will usually use a blood test known as a complete blood count (CBC) to evaluate a person's red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. If all three of these components are low, a person has pancytopenia.

A doctor may also recommend taking a sample of bone marrow, which comes from a person's pelvis or hip.

A laboratory technician will examine the bone marrow. If a person has aplastic anemia, the bone marrow will not have typical stem cells.

Aplastic anemia can also have similar symptoms as other medical conditions, such as myelodysplastic syndrome and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. A doctor will want to rule out these conditions.

Sometimes, a person with other medical conditions can develop aplastic anemia. These conditions include:

If a person has these conditions, a doctor will recognize that they are more likely to get aplastic anemia.

Doctors usually have two goals when treating aplastic anemia. The first is to reduce the person's symptoms, and the second is to stimulate the bone marrow to create new blood cells.

People with aplastic anemia can receive blood and platelet transfusions to correct low blood counts.

A doctor may also prescribe antibiotics as a person needs white blood cells to fight infections. Ideally, these drugs will prevent infections until a person can build more new white blood cells.

Doctors usually recommend a bone marrow transplant to stimulate new cell growth in the long term.

For this, a doctor may first prescribe chemotherapy medications to kill off abnormal bone marrow cells that are affecting a person's overall bone marrow function.

Next, a doctor performs a bone marrow transplant by injecting the bone marrow into a patient's body.

Ideally, the individual will receive bone marrow from a close family member. However, even a sibling donor is only a match in 2030% of cases.

People can also receive bone marrow from someone who is not related to them if doctors can find a compatible donor.

Some people cannot tolerate bone marrow transplants, especially older adults, and those having difficulty recovering from chemotherapy. Others may not be able to find a donor that matches their bone marrow. In these instances, a doctor can prescribe immunosuppressive therapy.

Immunosuppressive medicines suppress the immune system, which ideally stops it from attacking healthy bone marrow cells. Examples of these medications include antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine.

According to NORD, an estimated one-third of people with aplastic anemia do not respond to immunosuppressive drugs.

If this is the case, doctors may consider other treatments, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and a medication called eltrombopag (Promacta).

Those with aplastic anemia may face complications due to their disease as well as their treatment.

Sometimes, a person's body rejects a bone marrow transplant. Doctors call this graft-versus-host disease or GVHD.

GVHD can make a person feel extremely ill and can cause symptoms that include:

According to 2015 research, about 15% of aplastic anemia patients who receive immunosuppressive therapy will develop myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia.

These conditions can develop years after a person's initial diagnosis.

Some people do not respond to aplastic anemia treatments. When this is the case, they are more vulnerable to infections that can be life threatening.

The outlook for a person with aplastic anemia depends on many factors, including:

A doctor will discuss a person's treatment outlook when considering the various therapies.

Aplastic anemia damages stem cells in a person's bone marrow. The bone marrow makes red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are all essential for the body.

A person with aplastic anemia may experience severe anemia symptoms. Treatment may include chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, and immunotherapy.

Here is the original post:
What is aplastic anemia? Symptoms, causes, and treatment - Medical News Today

Coming to terms with my [end stage kidney failure] has been one of the hardest things I have had to accept. The mental turmoil and anxiety replay daily in my mind, over and over. Naomi Adams, a British-Caribbean mother of two, was diagnosed with the critical condition just before her birthday last year. As her health continues to deteriorate, the nurse in her thirties knows she needs an organ transplant sooner rather than later.

For Naomi, the risks are much higher if she fails to get a kidney transplant. One in five people who died last year while waiting for an organ transplant came from a black, Asian or ethnic minority background (BAME), according to 2018 statistics from NHS Blood and Transplant.

Naomi still remembers being told the news. As the doctor informed her of the diagnosis, her mind drifted back to the life she had. It was one of the most devastating events of my life The future lacked clarity, certainty. Hopes and dreams crushed, she says. I was devastated, in total shock. End-stage renal failure is a life-changing condition. The impact it had on my mental and physical well-being has been enormous for such a short amount of time.

She is just one of the hundreds of patients who belongs to an ethnic minority group in the UK. In total, more than a quarter of those on the transplant waiting list are from BAME communities, despite representing around 11 percent of the UK population.

Different blood and tissue types across racial groups means that finding a donor from a similar ethnic background could be a matter of life or death for those in need, especially since BAME patients are more vulnerable to developing particular illnesses that can lead to organ failure (such as high blood pressure and diabetes). That makes it much harder to match patients and donors who are genetically similar.

Given the circumstances, many have described the problem as a silent crisis that has reached a tipping point. In 2018, Labour MP Eleanor Smith led a review into the situation. The resulting report, titled Ending the Silent Crisis, published a series of recommendations to help tackle the low number of ethnic minority donors.

About her review, Smith wrote: Everyone has a role to play, whether that be the Government, NHS Blood and Transplant, the community itself, or MPs. We need to foster more superheroes in our community, who selflessly donate blood.

Without a doubt, greater community participation is urgently needed. According to the report, fewer than 5 percent of donors who gave blood in the last year, alongside 7 percent of deceased organ donors, were from BAME communities. Only 61 percent of BAME patients in need of a stem cell transplant find a suitably matched donor, in comparison with 96 percent of white patients.

For patients such as Naomi, a lack of dialogue surrounding donation within her community means that she not only had to adjust to a life-changing condition, but also needed to have difficult conversations with her family about the possibility of donating one kidney to help save her. She asked, but to no avail.

In my case, my family has not been forthcoming in being tested [and] a friend who stepped forward to be tested wasn't a blood match. It's quite difficult to put into words the emotions I felt. It's bittersweet.

But there is still a glimmer of hope. A new organ donation system comes into effect next year in England to help reduce the number of people waiting for a life-saving transplant. Currently, there is a voluntary opt-in system, but under the new legislation, known as Max and Keiras Law, consent will be presumed for adults unless they opt out. (Family members can still block the donation if relatives did not give explicit consent or if the donation will cause distress to their family.)

Orin Lewis OBE, the co-founder of the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust, said the new opt-out scheme could break down the present status quo. Max and Keiras Law gives hope to patients [from minority groups] waiting for a transplant, he tells VICE. But in terms of turning that into more supply of donors, I'm hoping for a positive change [in the number of donors].

But hes fearful there will be an initial backlash of people opting out, due to an expected influx of damaging social media messages that will spread fear and misinformation. Over the last several years the number of BAME patients in need of blood, stem cell and organ transplants has risen, while the number of eligible donors from minority groups has remained alarmingly low. This disparity between patients and donors has no doubt led to BAME communities making up 35 percent of those waiting for a kidney transplant.

Among those waiting is Faizan Azwan, 33, who has suffered from renal complications since birth. As a newborn, he was fed by tube and tasted solid food for the first time at the age of three.

Faizan was saved by a transplant twice in the last three decades and is now facing the same fate for a third time. Five years ago, he began to feel unwell and was rushed to a hospital by his parents only to find out that the kidney his father donated had failed.

His five-year wait for a transplant reflects the small pool of donors Azwan has to choose from as a British-Pakistani patient. The average waiting time for a kidney transplant is two years for European patients, in comparison to two and a half for those from minority ethnic groups.

He said: [Renal failure] has affected me, as with most BAME patients waiting for a transplant. On average we have to wait approximately six months to a year longer than our European counterparts, and that is simply because our communities do not tend to donate.

Lewis sees the new opt-out scheme as an opportunity to remind those who come from communities that do not donate, that they are needed. We need those individuals to realise their ethnicity counts, and get the message across that we need everyone, but actually we need you the most.

He adds: If we don't step forward as donors, we are self discriminating against our own.

@Zahra_ZW

Original post:
Not White? You Might Struggle to Find an Organ Donor - VICE UK

Clinical exome sequencing has revolutionized genetic testing for children with inherited disorders, and Baylor College of Medicine researchers have led efforts to apply these DNA methods in the clinic. Nevertheless, in more than two-thirds of cases, the underlying genetic changes in children who undergo sequencing are unknown. Researchers everywhere are looking to new methods to analyze exome sequencing data to look for new associations between specific genes and those rare genetic diseases called Mendelian disorders. Investigators at theHuman Genome Sequencing Centerhave developed new approaches for large-scale analysis of Mendelian disorders, published today in theAmerican Journal of Human Genetics.

The investigators used an Apache Hadoop data lake, a data management platform, to aggregate the exome sequencing data from approximately 19,000 individuals from different sources. Using information from previously solved disease cases, they established methods to rapidly select candidates for Mendelian disease. They found 154 candidate disease-associating genes, which previously had no known association between mutation and rare genetic disease, according toAdam Hansen, lead author of the study and graduate student inmolecular and human geneticsat Baylor.

We found at least five people for each of these 154 genes that have very rare genetic mutations that we suspect might be causing disease, Hansen said. This shows the power of big data approaches toward accelerating the rate of discovery of associations between genes and rare diseases.

These computational methods solve the dual problems of large-scale data management and careful management of data access permission. saidDr. Richard Gibbs, study author and professor of molecular and human genetics and director of the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor. They are perfect for outward display of data from the Baylor College of Medicine programs.

Exome sequencing currently only diagnoses 30 to 40% of patients, Hansen said. He hopes that diagnosis rate will increase with the discovery of new associations between mutations in certain genes and rare diseases.

The genetics community can now focus on genetic mutations in these genes when they see undiagnosed patients, Hansen said. Since our initial analysis, 19 of these genes have already been confirmed as disease-associating by independent researchers. The collective effort of the genetics community will advance our understanding of these genes and provide further evidence for their potential role in disease.

Other researchers at the Human Genome Sequencing Center who were involved in the study included Mullai Muragan, Donna Muzny, Fritz Sedlazeck, Aniko Sabo, Shalini Jhangiani, Kim Andrews, Michael Khayat, and Liwen Wang.

This work was supported in part by grants UM1 HG008898 from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHBLI) to the Baylor College of Medicine Center for Common Disease Genetics; UM1 HG006542 from the NHGRI/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to the Baylor Hopkins Center for Mendelian Genomics; R01 NS058529 and R35 NS105078 (J.R.L.) from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); and P50 DK096415 (N.K.) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

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Connecting gene mutations, rare genetic diseases - Baylor College of Medicine News

Humans, the latest tally suggests, have approximately 21,000 genes in our genome, the set of genetic information in an organism. But do we really need every gene we have? What if we lost three or four? What if we lost 3,000 or 4,000? Could we still function? Humans have variation in their genomes, but the overall size does not vary dramatically among individuals, with the exception of certain genetic disorders like Downs syndrome, which is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 and all the genes that it carries.

Each gene in a genome provides the code for a protein which affects our lives, from the growth of our hair to allowing us to digest certain foods. Most of the genes found in the human genome are probably safe for now, but there are some organisms which, over time, have cut down their genome to live in various habitats.

Scientists previously thought that every gene in an organisms genome was essential for survival because humans have little variation in our genome sizes from person to person. However, studies using animals with smaller, streamlined genomes have proven this untrue.

What does it take to streamline a genome? Does the organism just cut genes over time and hope for the best, or are there a series of processes that compensate for the loss of these genes? If researchers can understand how some of these small genomes work so efficiently, we can better understand how human genomes function as well. We, Amey Redkar, Alison Gerken and Jessica Velez, are a team of biologists with diverse backgrounds, all associated with the Genetics Society of America. We are interested in understanding how diverse genetic processes work in a variety of organisms and strive to communicate these exciting facts about genetics to a broad audience.

Genomes can change in a variety of ways. Changes can be slight, involving just a single DNA building block, or large-scale, such as the duplication or loss of a large chunk of DNA. It is even possible to lose entire gene pathways groups of genes acting together. Large losses in DNA over time are known as genome streamlining.

Every organism is adapted to their environment, and some have achieved this through the process of genome streamlining. During this process the genome is rearranged as the species adapt to their environment. Genome streamlining enables organisms to thrive in challenging environments, such as low-nutrient ocean sites, or adapt to unique evolutionary challenges, such as those posed by flight.

Researchers explore these adaptations by studying the streamlined genomes of specific species, known as model species, to uncover what genetic material is excessive and if there is an optimum number of genes needed for an organism to survive.

A striking example of genome streamlining is seen in hummingbirds, in which the main drivers of genome size adaptations are thought to be flight and metabolic demands. These birds developed the ability to fly as well as a high-energy lifestyle, which are both reflected in their genetic code. Hummingbirds possess the smallest and least variable genome within bird species at around 900,000,000 units of DNA. The genes that encode proteins are, on average, between 27% and 50% shorter than those in mammalian genomes. These adaptations arose through the process of genome streamlining. DNA and genes which did not actively contribute to hummingbirds living at higher altitudes and having an extremely active, high-energy lifestyle were lost through adaptive mutations.

Fast-moving birds are only one of the more energetically complex species which have undergone genome streamlining. In the plant kingdom, the tiny, rootless aquatic bladderwort plant, Utricularia gibba, captures insect prey in miniature traps using vacuum suction. This plant is adapted to a predatory lifestyle through evolutionary selection of genes that allow the bladderwort to break down complex molecules using special enzymes and retain the plants structural integrity in water environments. Redundant, less important and unnecessary genes were lost.

The previous examples of reduced genome sizes raise a fundamental question: Just how streamlined can a genome be? As the genome of a species shrinks, scientists can explore how many genes a species can lose before an organism can no longer survive.

One such organism used in these studies, Prochlorococcus marinus, is a single-celled cyanobacterium living in the open ocean. At 1,800,000 units of DNA, P. marinus is known for having the smallest genome of any known photosynthetic organism.

These cyanobacteria can no longer create many essential molecules needed for survival. They have lost entire gene pathways used for the creation of amino acids, which are necessary to build proteins. As a result, P. marinus is no longer able to survive in its natural environment without the assistance of symbiotic or beneficial species which provide the amino acids P. marinus needs. In a laboratory, researchers cannot grow P. marinus without the presence of these helper species, or by directly adding the necessary amino acids P. marinus needs.

Similar symbiotic relationships exist inside of insects. Some species of the bacterial pathogen Nardonella have undergone genome streamlining to a genome size as small as 230,000 units of DNA, shedding all genes except those necessary for DNA synthesis and the gene pathway for manufacturing tyrosine, an amino acid for building proteins.

These bacteria derive almost all of their metabolic requirements from the weevil in which they live. The bacteria, in turn, provide the final building block for the pathway in order for the weevil to generate the amino acid tyrosine that builds a darker, harder exoskeleton for the weevil which protects the insect from predators and from drying out. As a result, Nardonella both relies on and provides a benefit to the host weevil in exchange for this reliance.

Like humans, these species all have structured genetic information, but studies in these animals, plants, and bacteria have revealed that not every gene was essential to survive in their environments. As researchers continue to explore genome streamlining, we move closer to understanding how genetic adaptations arise, how the loss of genetic information affects the genomes of species, and just how few genes a species must have in order to survive in unique, challenging environments.

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Not all genes are necessary for survival these species dropped extra genetic baggage - The Conversation US

Although the gut microbiome remains relatively stable throughout adulthood, various environmental factors such as disease, and diet have been reported to affect the gut microbiota composition. Although host genotype may influence relative abundance of microbial taxa, only few associations between host genetics and gut microbiota diversity have been found. Thus, inter-individual gut microbiome variation remains largely unexplained.

Researchers from different institutions from Switzerland, France, Sweden and the US investigated the role various socio-demographic and environmental factors play in inter-individual gut microbiome variation from 858 healthy adults of French descent from the Milieu intrieur cohort. They did this by analyzing stool samples via 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing, genetic variation via a genome-wide association study (GWAS), as well as 110 different non-genetic factors that included demographic, behavioral, nutritional, and medical data. These participants were living in the same region and only 1% of the individuals were on over the counter medication throughout the duration of the study in order to eliminate possible variables that might affect the gut microbiome.

In total, all non-genetic factors explained 16.4% of the variance, and out of the more than 5 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) analyzed, no significant genome wide associations were found in relation to fecal microbiome diversity. On the other hand, age along with the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glomerular filtration rate, having breakfast and eating in fast-food restaurants were variables that significantly affected all -diversity models whereas sex and BMI did not show any consistent association. Moreover, increased -diversity was associated with foods generally considered as healthy (fruits, fish), while a decrease was associated with foods generally considered unhealthy such as fried foods.

In agreement with previous studies, sex and age had the most significant effects on all -diversity indexes. Other factors that had mild yet significant correlations with -diversity in this cohort include medical history (especially chickenpox vaccination and teeth extraction), blood measurements (ALT levels and diastolic blood pressure), and lifestyle (such as tendency to have breakfast or lunch as well as appetite).

Finally, while exploring how certain factors affect the gut microbiome on a taxonomic level, Scepanovic and colleagues found an association between age and the Comamonadaceae family and the Schlegelella genus. They also discovered a correlation between oral mineral supplement consumption and the Clostridium papyrosolvens species, though the clinical relevance of these findings is currently unknown.

In conclusion, host genetics appears to play a minor role in shaping the gut microbiome while various non-genetic factors, primarily demographic and environmental, were associated with individual taxa in healthy individuals.

Although this study was comprehensive in its evaluation of several host variables, longitudinal studies of larger cohorts are needed in addition to more diverse genotyping arrays that evaluate rare genetic variants. Furthermore, shotgun sequencing is preferable to 16S rRNA genotyping which provides a narrower picture of the overall gut microbiome diversity and variability. Hopefully in the near future metagenomic and genomic data can be pooled across cohorts to gain a broader understanding of how host environmental factors and genetics shape the gut microbiome.

Reference:

Scepanovic P, Hodel F, Mondot S, et al. A comprehensive assessment of demographic, environmental, and host genetic associations with gut microbiome diversity in healthy individuals. Microbiome, 2019. doi: 10.1186/s40168-019-0747-x.

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Demographic, environmental, and host genetics and the gut microbiome in healthy individuals - Gut Microbiota for Health

By Harold Watters, Ohio State University Extension agronomist

I have conducted a number of trials and comparisons over the years and generally have concluded that new is better when it comes to choosing a hybrid or variety. One such comparison I have been making over several years now is of a modern hybrid to open pollinated corn varieties. This may be used as a comparison for those who grow open pollinated corn for sale as organic, although I used herbicides here for weed control. For 2019, I compared a modern traited hybrid, an early modern traited hybrid, a modern open pollinated variety and several older open pollinated varieties.

Reids yellow dent has a history with Ohio and has played a significant role in modern corn breeding. Green Field and Krug are selections from Reid yellow dent. They were all tall, and had some leaning problems, so looked like Reid across the board. I planted all the treatments at 28,000 seeds per acre. I got 90% plus germination on the modern genetics and about 65% stand on the older varieties. And this year with no derechos at South Charleston, they all stood reasonably well.

Typically when I make this comparison between my modern hybrid and Reids yellow dent, I have about a 100-bushel advantage for the modern hybrid. This year, the differences were a bit more at 175 bushels per acre. I use this information when talking with consumers about the value of modern technology in plant breeding. As to why the Rea Hybrid did so poorly raccoons love this stuff and took about 75% of the ears at roasting ear stage.

Economics? I think you can do the math. Put in $4 per bushel and maybe $10 for the open pollinated varieties if sold as certified organic.

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Are modern genetics worth the money? Ohio Ag Net - Ohio's Country Journal and Ohio Ag Net

A two-time cancer survivor learns more about pancreatic cysts and discusses the value and cautions of genetic testing.

Barbara Tako is a breast cancer survivor (2010), melanoma survivor (2014) and author of Cancer Survivorship Coping ToolsWe'll Get You Through This. She is a cancer coping advocate, speaker and published writer for television, radio and other venues across the country. She lives, survives, and thrives in Minnesota with her husband, children and dog. See more at http://www.cancersurvivorshipcopingtools.com,or http://www.clutterclearingchoices.com.

Intraductal Papillary Mucosal Neoplasms in my pancreas are the latest "lovely" thing that cancer has brought into my life. Well, it is not my first time around - I have already had breast cancer and melanoma. My particular IPMNs may not be or ever become cancer, and yet they subject me to play the "wait and watch game" with one more cancer-type thing.

If you are a cancer survivor, you know how that gameworks - try to move forward with life while not pre-worrying too much. How were my IPMNs found? I had a screening MRI because of my PALB2 genetic cancer mutation. Sometimes IPMNs are found by accident when having an MRI for an unrelated reason. Gotta love technology!

The way one doctor worded it, I was fortunate to have the PALB2 genetic mutation that prompted the MRI that caught these three IPMNs so early and will result in continued monitoring. Cancer survivors all learn that cancers caught early often have better outcomes than cancers that have already grown and spread. Pancreatic cancer has a poor survival ratebecause it is often caught too late. There is a moral to that story that I want to shout from the rooftops: Please, please see a geneticist and have genetic testing done!

Still, there is a potential dark side to genetic testing. It sounds like if a person has a genetic finding and wants to have children, they may be able to screen out embryos that get the mutation before implanting them. Hm. Hey wait a minute:I would have been one of those screened-out embryos if the technology had existed back in that day and my parents had chosen that route. So, yes, genetic testing is a choice,but meeting with a genetic counselor before the testing is decided upon is also very important.

There are many questions to consider before even getting testing done. To test or not to test? How much do you want to know? What happens once that knowledge is out there?A person can't be discriminated against for health care due to genetic test results, but life or disability insurancecoverage, among others, may be a different story. Also, if you choose genetic testing, how often do you go back and get re-tested? Exciting advances are happening rapidly in this field. When I first got tested nine years ago, they only tested a couple of breast cancer genetic mutations. My latest genetic test looked for nineteen mutations - and found my PALB2!

Of course in my case, I GoogledIPMNs and learned lots of frightening stuff before I met with the pancreas specialist. For IPMNs, location and size matter, and I am fortunate that mine are very small and not in worrisome locations. They are also too small for fine needle aspiration or surgery. I will have another MRI in about a year to watch for changes. This means that if they do start to appear cancerous, I may have surgical options to consider which might, in my case, provide a better prognosis than usual for pancreatic cancer.

Genetic testing leaves me optimistic, grateful, and yes, cautious. Please be careful out there, make thoughtful choices, and be sure your sources of information are reliable.

Link:
Things to Consider in Genetic Testing - Curetoday.com