StemCell Therapy

PHOENIX, July 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Nextmune group ("Nextmune"), headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the assets of Spectrum group ("Spectrum") and formed Spectrum Veterinary, LLC. Founded by Mervyn Levin in 1989, Spectrum, headquartered in Phoenix (Arizona), USA, is dedicated to helping veterinarians and pet parents provide a better quality of life for pets with allergies. By combining differentiated testing, treatment, technical support and customer service, Spectrum has become one of the leaders in the U.S. allergy market. Spectrum enjoys a proprietary portfolio of tests and treatments offering both subcutaneous and sublingual personalized medicine from its USDA-certified laboratory. In addition to its successful North American business reaching every state in the USA and province in Canada, Spectrum has a strong export business reaching 5 continents across the globe. The business employs 34 staff. Following closing, Mervyn Levin will gradually transition out of the business over the next 12 months and be succeeded by Jonathan Levin (currently serving as Executive Vice President) supported by the management team of Spectrum and the global resources in Nextmune.

"The acquisition of Spectrum represents another key building block on our journey to create a champion in specialty companion animal health company," says Magnus Kjellberg, CEO of Nextmune group. "The transaction is a perfect match. Nextmune goes from a European #1 to a global leader in allergy with sales in almost 80 countries worldwide. Spectrum represents a compelling platform for entry into the US market and we are committed to taking the business to the next level for the benefit of our patients, pet parents, partners and employees."

"I am very impressed by what Nextmune has built and its vision in specialty veterinary medicine. Through the resources and capabilities across the Nextmune group, there is significant potential to take the business I founded 28 years ago into the future. I am delighted to find a new home in Nextmune," says Mervyn Levin.

The transactions are not subject to any further approvals or clearances.

Nextmune is dedicated to improving quality of life for companion animals. The company's ambition is to be the partner of choice for pet owners and veterinarians in specialized indications. With innovation being at the core of Nextmune, the company will invest in product improvement, supply and sales & marketing initiatives to offer premier treatment for the pet's condition. The company is committed to an entrepreneurial management approach to ensure veterinarians and pet owners are catered to in the best possible way. Key shareholders of Nextmune are Fidelio Capital (www.fideliocapital.se) and Premune (www.premune.com).

If you are a veterinarian and want to know more about how we can help you treat your allergic patients through allergy diagnostics and treatment, please contact us on info@vetallergy.com or tel: (800) 553-1391, info@artuvet.com or tel: +31 320-783100 and info@alergovet.com or tel: +34 914-134472.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Jon Levin Executive Vice President, Spectrum Veterinary LLC 480.464.8971

Magnus Kjellberg CEO of Nextmune +46 768 837 884, magnus.kjellberg@nextmune.com

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Nextmune Creates Spectrum Veterinary LLC, a Leading Global Player in Allergy for Companion Animals - PR Newswire (press release)

By Charlie Powell, WSU College of Veterinary Medicine

PULLMAN, Wash. Temperatures nearing or surpassing the century mark in the Inland Northwest this week prompts the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine to issue a hot pavement advisory for pets.

Rarely do dog owners in the Inland Northwest need to be concerned about walking their pets on hot asphalt, explains Dr. Raelynn Farnsworth, head of the WSU veterinary teaching hospitals Community Practice Service. But even in relatively mild temperatures, burns to a pets pads can result if forced to walk on the hot surface.

86 degrees becomes 135 on asphalt

In the absence of any wind and in direct sunlight, asphalt surfaces can reach 125 degrees, when the air temperature is only 77 degrees, according to Dr. James Berens work on thermal contact burns published in 1970 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. At 86 degrees, the asphalt temperature jumps to 135 degrees and at 87 degrees, only one degree more, the asphalt temperature rises to 143 degrees.

Hot enough to fry an egg? Weve all heard the old adage but what temperature does it take to actually fry an egg in say 5 minutes? The answer is, an egg will fry on a 131 degree surface in only five minutes. And human skin destruction can occur in only 60 seconds on black pavement at a mere 125 degrees.

One thing pet owners can do is to press the back of their hand against pavement, explained Farnsworth. If you cant hold it there for a full seven seconds its too hot for a pets paws.

Burns in 35 seconds

First responders in human medicine can see thermal burns resulting from contact with hot pavement and they are trained to protect patients from the hazard. Work published in 1995 by physicians and first responders in Maricopa County, Ariz., noted that pavement there in the summer months typically was hot enough 9 a.m.-7 p.m. to burn flesh. The study also noted that second-degree burns could result on most days, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., within 35 seconds of pavement contact.

The good news is, unless incapacitated or restrained in some way so they cannot escape high surface temperatures, most pets pain response will not let them stay on a hot surface, said Farnsworth. So the key to not getting a pets paws burned is application of good common sense and situational awareness.

Avoid tethering and truck beds

In addition, pets should never be tethered on hot pavement or in the back of a pickup truck where the metal surface can burn. Let the pet find shade and walk on grassy surfaces; follow their lead.

If its not convenient to walk a pet on grass or soil, consider changing the walking time to early morning or late in the evening. And never walk a pet on any surface where hot tar may cling to their paws.

Pets with pad burns will typically limp or flat out refuse to walk and it takes time after the burn for the lesions to develop, said Farnsworth. The top layer of the skin will look like it is blistering and wanting to peel off, or it might already be absent entirely. And pets with burned pads will often lick their paws incessantly which can make the problem worse.

Farnsworth suggests that pets with suspected burns should always be seen by your family veterinarian as soon as possible. Care will usually involve supportive care including pain medication and cleaning and dressing wounds, plus an Elizabethan collar to suppress any licking.

Media Contact:

Charlie Powell, WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, public information officer, call or text 509-595-2017, or cpowell@vetmed.wsu.edu

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Protect your pet's feet from heat, burns - WSU News

Eli Lilly and Co. plans to give Purdue University up to $52 million over five years to find better ways to inject medicines and to develop new models for clinical drug tests that can better predict the outcome of new medications in humans.

The two institutions announced the strategic research collaboration Thursday morning, calling it the largest agreement of its kind between Purdue and a single company.

The announcement comes as Purdue, based in West Lafayette, is spending $250 million over five years to bulk up its work in the life sciences sector, hiring more than 60 faculty members in life-sciences related fields and purchasing new research equipment.

Our investment on campus in the life sciences, announced in 2016, is leading to just the types of impact we had hoped to effect, Purdue President Mitch Daniels said in a written statement.

For Lilly, the agreement is the latest in a long string of collaborations with universities and research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

The Indianapolis-based drugmaker traditionally spends about half of its research and development budget on outside partnerships, although it maintains a large in-house R&D workforce. Last year, Lilly had 9,300 employees in research and development, including several thousand in Indianapolis. Its total R&D budget last year was $5.24 billion, or about 25 percent of sales.

Lilly spokeswoman Lauren Zierke said the partnership wasn't expected to replace in-house research.

"This is not an outsourcing agreement, but rather a strategic collaboration for Lilly and Purdue to conduct additional research together using the expertise from both institutions," she said in an email to IBJ. "We anticipate no reduction to our headcount in Research and Development as we create this framework for a lasting collaboration. Instead, we view this agreement as an opportunity to reinforce a positive ecosystem for scientists in Indiana and further the work that has been done to create a life science hub in our state."

Lilly CEO David Ricks said the partnerships with Purdue and others were vital in helping to discover and develop the latest technology.

The biomedical revolution is upon us, but harnessing its full potential will require strong collaboration between academic research centers and industry partners, he said in a written statement.

The initial research between Purdue and Lilly will focus on two areas. The first will be to develop improved ways to inject medicines, with the goal of reducing pain, decreasing the number of injections and thus getting patients to comply with medical orders and improve their health.

The second area is to develop new models for clinical tests that will better predict how humans will respond to new medicines. The overall success rate for new drugs is just 9.6 percent, from early clinical testing to government approval, according to BIO, a huge biotech trade association, based on data from 2006 to 2015. That means nine out of every 10 drugs that go into clinical testing are scrapped along the way.

Purdue researchers from the natural and physical sciences, engineering and veterinary medicine will work on the projects with Lilly researchers. The collaboration could be expanded to other areas, the two institutions said.

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Lilly, Purdue seek medical advancements in new $52M collaboration - Indianapolis Business Journal

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Building Your Horse's Health Care Dream Team TheHorse.com Some equine veterinarians only serve the horse's medical needs, while others fill multiple roles if they've trained to also practice chiropractic, acupuncture, dentistry, physical or massage therapy, or other types of body work. And the best ...

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CROWN POINT Lake County police officers have opened their homes to puppies the department seized last month from a Center Township man awaiting trial on criminal charges.

Dan Murchek, assistant county police chief and department spokesman, said recently the sheriff is allowing officers to take home French bulldog puppies among other dogs to relieve overcrowding in the Lake County Sheriff's Animal Adoption & Control Center.

"Officers are helping taking them home, playing with them, socializing them. They are not getting paid for this," he said.

County police said they discovered 68 maltreated dogs last monthin a poorly ventilated garage in the 5900 block of West 125th Avenue.

The prosecutor's office has charged Steve Rajcinoski, 26, of Crown Point, with 11 felony counts of animal mutilation and more than 80 misdemeanor allegations of cruelty to an animal, practicing veterinary medicine without a license and failure to register as a commercial breeder in connection with the raid.

Rajcinoski is free on bond, and his lawyers have requested the court return the seized animals.

Police are keeping custody of the dogs until the Lake Superior Court issues a ruling.

The case has been on hold since Judge Julie Cantrell recused herself from it in the wake of public anger over the case. The judge said people tried to pressure her through telephone calls and social media to punish the defendant.

Before leaving the case, the judge slapped a gag order on all parties in the case at the request of Rajcinoski's attorney.

Murchek said the animal shelter's resources have been stretched in the meantime.

"When I last checked, there were 92 dogs. And that doesn't include all the cats. That is just overwhelming for us," Murchek said.

"It is expensive when you get this many dogs especially those with health care needs. These particular dogs had some medical issues, so our officers are helping, taking them to the veterinarian."

Murchek said the department is keeping the foster care arrangement within the department, and it is not offered to the general public.

"Our people are vetted. We know who they are. We have had officers in the past who have helped out when we have been overcrowded to take dogs home temporarily," he said.

Murchek insisted this foster home arrangement also is only temporary. "This guy could get all the dogs back," he said.

If the court forfeits dogs to the county, they would go up for normal adoption to the public. "Nobody has dibs on the dogs," he said.

He said the public may still make donations to the shelter to assist during this period.

"If they want to bring in items other than cash, they can call the animal shelter to find out what they are short of. We are a no-kill center. We have had dogs that have been in the shelter for months, who people don't adopt," he said.

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Stem cells have long been used to treat blood cancers and some immune diseases. But some doctors are offering stem cell treatments for diseases still under clinical trial. Photograph: Mauricio Lima/AFP/Getty Images

Medical and legal experts from around the world have united to call for more stringent regulation of stem cell therapies to prevent people pursuing unproven and potentially deadly treatments overseas.

In a perspective piece for the US journal Science Translational Medicine, 15 experts from countries including the UK, the US, Canada, Belgium, Italy and Japan wrote that national efforts alone would not be enough to counter an industry offering unproven treatments to vulnerable patients.

Stem cell-based interventions are classified under diverse and potentially incompatible national regulatory frameworks, the authors wrote.

Approaches for international regulation not only need to develop consistent rules over the commercialisation of medical practices and products but also need to give them teeth by developing cross-border partnerships for compliance.

Stem cells found in bone marrow and umbilical cord blood have long been used to successfully treat blood cancers including leukaemia and some immune diseases. But those are among the few proven treatments. Legitimate and ethics-approved clinical trials by academic centres are also occurring, exploring the potential of stem cells to treat a wider range of diseases.

But some doctors are directly offering to the general public stem cell treatments for diseases still under clinical trial or for which no evidence exists and for which the safety and efficacy is as yet unproven.

Deaths as a result of stem cell treatments have already occurred. In 2013 Sheila Drysdale died in a New South Wales nursing home after undergoing an unproven liposuction stem-cell therapy at a western Sydney clinic. Following Drysldales death, her doctor, Ralph Bright, gave a statement to police in which he claimed that stem-cell treatment could improve comorbidities and that stem cells could move from joints to other parts of the body to improve disease in distant sites including lungs and brain, vision, mentation and pain.

In his report into Drysdales death, the coroner Hugh Dillon wrote that he could not say what motivated Dr Bright to perform this unproven, dubious procedure on Sheila Drysdale.

But regardless of his motivation, Dr Brights performance as a medical practitioner was, for the reasons outlined above, poor and resulted in Sheila Drysdales death.

The Medical Council of NSW investigated Bright and placed a number of restrictions on his right to practice. Bright is still authorised to practise stem cell therapy for patients with osteoarthritis or who are taking part in research studies approved by an ethics committee. He is also still allowed to treat patients returning for remaining injections of stored cells.

In 2013 a Queensland woman, Kellie van Meurs, died when she travelled to Russia to undergo stem-cell treatment for a rare neurological disorder. She died of a heart attack as a result.

Australias drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, last year sought feedback on the regulation of autologous stem-cell therapies but is yet to publish those submissions. A TGA spokeswoman said the Administration was still examining the options for changes to the legislation to reflect public and industry views. The TGA currently considers autologous treatments, which involve treating someone with their own tissue or cells, to be a therapeutic good and, therefore, does not regulate them. Stem cells used for medical practice and therapeutic purposes are covered by different regulatory frameworks.

Associate Professor Megan Munsie, a University of Melbourne stem cell scientist and a co-author of the paper, said: The idea that stem cells are magical holds court in the community, along with this idea the advances in treatment are being held up by red tape.

Unethical health practitioners exploited this, she said, along with the vulnerability of patients with difficult-to-treat or incurable conditions.

There is a precedent for international regulation of this industry because regulations already exist around drugs the way they are manufactured, she said.

This could be extended to the regulation to the stem cell and tissue-based therapies. This international stance would then force or encourage stronger local regulations.

There have been successful efforts by scientists to push back against unscrupulous doctors. In Italy scientists and regulators highlighted the unproven yet government-subsidised treatments being offered by the entrepreneur Davide Vannoni and fought to stop him. He was convicted of criminal charges but the sentence was later suspended.

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Stem cell therapies: medical experts call for strict international rules - The Guardian

STEM CELL THERAPIES BREAKING BARRIERSPhysicians all over the world are increasingly employing stem cell therapies for the treatment of chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, neurological disorders, asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injuries, female and male sexual dysfunction, joint pain and autoimmune disease. INSET is Dr. David Ikudayisi, of the Glory Wellness and Regenerative Centre PHOTO CREDIT: http://theconversation.com

Technology offers groundbreaking new treatment option for chronic diseases to patients Physicians all over the world are increasingly employing stem cell therapies for the treatment of chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, neurological disorders, asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injuries, female and male sexual dysfunction, joint pain and autoimmune disease.

A study published last week in the FASEB Journal showed that a new therapy developed through stem cell technology holds promise as a treatment for chronic asthma.

Also, researchers have successfully patched up damaged hearts to treat heart failure, using the patients own muscle stem cells but another study published last week in journal Circulation found that the treatment could be more harmful than helpful if cardiac stem cells are involved.

In another study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, team of investigators has successfully repaired severe limb fractures in laboratory animals with an innovative technique that cues bone to regrow its own tissue. If found to be safe and effective in humans, the pioneering method of combining ultrasound, stem cell and gene therapies could eventually replace grafting as a way to mend severely broken bones.

Using new gene-editing technology, researchers have rewired mouse stem cells to fight inflammation caused by arthritis and other chronic conditions. According to the study published in the journal Stem Cell Reports, such stem cells, known as SMART cells (Stem cells Modified for Autonomous Regenerative Therapy), develop into cartilage cells that produce a biologic anti-inflammatory drug that, ideally, will replace arthritic cartilage and simultaneously protect joints and other tissues from damage that occurs with chronic inflammation.

Scientists have for the first time created a special type of neuron from human stem cells that could potentially repair spinal cord injuries. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Also, early results of a clinical trial suggest that stem cell therapy may be a promising treatment for erectile dysfunction, after the procedure was found to restore sexual function in men with the condition.

Meanwhile, the ANOVA IRM Stem Cell Centre has opened its doors in Frankfurt, Germany offering a groundbreaking new treatment option to patients worldwide.

One of the pioneers of stem cell therapy in Nigeria, Dr. David Ikudayisi, of the Glory Wellness and Regenerative Centre, with clinics in Abuja and Lagos, told The Guardian that there are several thousand clinical trials based on autologous (patients own) Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). He said these type of stem cells are relatively easy to obtain from a patient via bone marrow blood or fat tissue and have been shown to hold vast healing potential.

Ikudayisi is a United States (U.S.) Board Certified Internist with a strong passion for regenerative aesthetic and cosmetic medicine.

Ikudayisi said ASCT and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRPT) are under a new specialty of medicine known as regenerative medicine, which is a specialist segment of medicine that helps people to naturally regenerate and rejuvenate their bodies from the different conditions they may be suffering from without using chemicals or the orthodox medicine we are used to.

ASCT may hold answers to many questions and problems that we doctors believed had no solutions, especially neurological disorders. Adult stem cell therapy with or without PRPT revitalizes and regenerates the body organs and systems; it also reverses and repairs many pending subclinical medical problems before they become apparent, including the diseases that are age-related, Ikudayisi said.

He said that ASCT and PRPT are safe as shown by many published research reports and clinical trials done already. He, however, said this does not guarantee that adverse effects cannot occur if physicians that are not properly trained do the treatment.

The US-trained said ASCT has helped a lot of people all over the world to regain their lives back from debilitating ailments and Nigerians are not left behind. He said there are real people in Nigeria that were either wheelchair bound but now walking freely with occasional use of a cane or using a cane before but now walking without one; diabetes patients are able to have restoration of vision in their eyes, and some feel and look younger.

He said ASCT has helped chronic kidney disease patients in Nigeria that are on haemodialysis to either reduce the frequency of haemodialysis per week or like in a patient that was recommended to have kidney transplant a year ago is now off haemodialysis and off diabetic medications, and remain stable for the last six months.

Ikudayisi said men with erectile dysfunction are now feeling like young men again. He further explained: I would be remiss to mention that the type of treatment protocol, the dosage of stem cells used also play a role in the efficacy of the treatment, and not everyone will respond in the same manner. Most of the patients showed improvements after the first treatment, and the few that needed second treatment went on to see great results after more treatments were done; needless to say that they were elated with the results.

The only groups of patients that will always need more than a couple of transplantation sessions are patients with the neurological disorders. The latest researches and evidence-based studies show the number of treatment session needed to get significant clinical results can decreased by adding Exosomes to the treatment sessions.

Ikudayisi said there are some diseases that conventional treatments have no cure for, but ASCT can reverse the symptoms of those diseases, repair, and regenerate the damaged tissues or organs involved. He explained: In some cases, it significantly slows down the progression of the disorder. For example, it can regenerate the bony joints in arthritis, repair and strengthen partial Rotator cuff tears and avascular necrosis of the hip without surgery, revitalize the sexual organs in men and women, regenerate renal cells in kidney diseases, modulate immune system without use of medications that have very serious side effects in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Crohns disease, etc. Another advantage is its application in neurological disorders like Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal cord injury.

Ikudayisi said ASCT can gradually lower diabetic medications dosage and eventually may get the patients off diabetic medications. This is evidenced by stem cells in a hyperglycemic medium differentiating into pancreatic cells; therefore leading to increased development of new blood vessels, secretion of various products of the immune system, and up-regulation of pancreatic transcription factors and vascular growth factor. This aids the pancreas to regenerate and boost its ability to produce insulin. In stroke patients, stem cells activate cells around the suffering brain tissue to catalyze rapid healing and to improve brain function, thereby restoring motor function. Until recently, it was believed that damage to the brain tissue was permanent. This is being challenged by the evidences of re-growth of brain cells and improvements of neurological function documented with the use of adult stem cells, he said.

Ikudayisi said a procedure called P-Shot for Men uses PRPT to resolve challenges relating to erectile dysfunction by regenerating the damaged tissues. It gives treated men the possibility of saving their relationships by increasing stamina, enjoying bigger and harder genitals, and eventually increasing the length and girth. Orgasm-Shot for Women, the regenerative medicine procedure for womens sexual function, leads to increased ability to have orgasm, better arousal from clitoris stimulation, decreased pain during intercourse, tighter vaginal opening, increased sexual desire and natural lubrication, and increased arousal from G-spot stimulation. In addition, because of the O-Shot rejuvenation capabilities, there is help available for women suffering from urinary stress incontinence without the need for invasive surgery, he said.

Ikudayisi said since the stem cells used are autologous, there is no risk of rejection of the stem cell transplant, but as with any procedure, there is a risk of infection, which can be very minimal or non-existent if done under the right conditions. He said adult stem cells transplantation can also be considered by people looking for alternative treatments especially in the areas of diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, female and male sexual dysfunction, joint pain, neurological disorder and autoimmune disease.

The regenerative medicine expert, however, said: Currently, the cost of treatment varies, and it is not for everyone. However, you cant place a price tag on life just as the saying goes that Health is wealth.

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Stem cell therapies breaking barriers - Guardian (blog)

July 6, 2017 Material design empowered by protein sequence space. Credit: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, HKUST

Hydrogels, noted for their biomimetic properties, are the leading materials for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery and stem cell therapy. Traditional hydrogels made up of either synthetic polymers or natural biomolecules often serve as passive scaffolds for molecular or cellular species, which render these materials unable to fully recapitulate the dynamic signaling involved in biological processes, such as cell/tissue development.

Photo-responsive hydrogels are of particular interest to material scientists, because light is regarded as an ideal tool to control molecules or cell behavior with high spatiotemporal precision and little invasiveness. The major challenge for scientist is how to assemble these complex globular proteins into supramolecular architectures efficiently while preserving their function.

In a recent research, a group of scientists from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology created a B12-dependent light-sensing hydrogel by covalently stitching together the photoreceptor C-terminal adenosylcobalamin binding domain (CarHC) proteins under mild conditions. This direct assembly of stimuli-responsive proteins into hydrogels represents a versatile solution for designing "smart" materials and opens up enormous opportunities for future material biology.

The findings were published in the journal PNAS on June 6, 2017.

"In our research, we were able to create an entirely recombinant protein-based light-sensitive hydrogels by covalently assembling the CarHC photoreceptor proteins using genetically encoded SpyTag-SpyCatcher chemistry," said Fei Sun, author of the paper and assistant professor at HKUST's department of chemical and biomolecular engineering. "The AdoB12-dependent CarHC tetramerization has been shown to be essential for the formation of an elastic hydrogel in the dark, which can undergo a rapid gel-sol transition caused by light-induced CarHC disassembly."

"The resulting hydrogel composed of physically self-assembled CarHC polymers exhibited a rapid gel-sol transition on light exposure, which enabled the facile release/recovery of 3T3 fibroblasts and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from 3D cultures while maintaining their viability." Sun added. "Given the growing demand for creating stimuli-responsive "smart" hydrogels, the direct assembly of stimuli-responsive proteins into hydrogels represents a versatile strategy for designing dynamically tunable materials."

Explore further: Investigating folding stability and dynamics of proteins

More information: Ri Wang et al, B12-dependent photoresponsive protein hydrogels for controlled stem cell/protein release, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1621350114

Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Provided by: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Hydrogels are polymer materials that can absorb a large amount of water, making them flexible like human tissue. They are used in a number of medical applications, including contact lenses, wound dressings, and facial reconstruction.

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Photo-responsive protein hydrogels as agent for controlled stem cell/protein release - Phys.Org

Bareilly: Dog owners from across the country, including Delhi and Gujarat, are turning up with their paralytic pets at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) here for stem cell therapy. Scientists treat a paralyzed dog by transplanting stem cells from healthy dogs. IVRI is the second institute in the country to offer this treatment, after Madras Veterinary College, Chennai.

According to scientists, no research has been conducted to determine the number of dogs who suffer from paralysis every year in India. However, the institute receives at least four cases every week of spinal trauma which causes paralysis in dogs. IVRI recorded 143 cases of posterior paralysis in 2016. These were treated with stem cell therapy and medicines.

If dogs are treated only with medicines, recovery is witnessed only in a few cases, said Amarpal (who goes by his first name), head and principal scientist, division of surgery, IVRI. On an average, 17% recovery rate was noted among dogs administered only medicines.

However, the best response was recorded among severely affected dogs when they were treated using stem cells, where almost all the patients responded to treatment to variable extent, said the scientist. Though we have cases where recovery was 100%, the average recovery rate is about 50%. The experiment proved the efficacy of stem cell therapy in cases of paralysis due to spinal trauma, said Amarpal.

The paralytic dog is first administered anesthesia before the stem cells are injected into its spinal cord. It takes only one session for a dog to undergo the therapy and it is discharged the same day.. After this, the owner has to bring his pet for check-ups for two or more times so that vets can monitor how the animal is responding to the treatment and if it is suffering from any reaction, said Amarpal.

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Stem cell therapy to treat paralytic dogs draws pet owners from ... - Times of India

Having an exceptionally keen sense of smell would seem to be an unmitigated blessing: It can provide early warning of dangers, detect the presence of an attractive mate, and enhance the gustatory delight of a delicious meal.

But when youre a mouse (or, perhaps, a human) and fattening food is all around, a new study finds that those with little or no ability to detect odors may have a key advantage. While mice with an intact sense of smell grow obese on a steady diet of high-fat chow, their littermates who have had their sense of smell expunged can eat the same food yet remain trim.

If youre thinking this is a cautionary tale about the effect of enhancing gustatory delight on portion control, youre on the wrong track.

In fact, the mice with an impaired sense of smell did not eat less of the high-fat chow than did their peers with normal olfaction. Nor did they move around more in their cages, or expel more of their food before extracting its nutrients.

Instead, a report published Wednesday in the journal Cell Metabolism underscores that our sense of smell is lashed together with a broad range of seemingly unrelated basic functions, including metabolism and stress response.

Mice stripped of their sense of smell burn fat differently more intensively than do mice whose olfaction is normal, the new study found. They typically have higher levels of adrenaline the go signal in the bodys fight-or-flight system than do mice with an intact sense of smell. And even when all they eat is high-fat chow, they dont appear as likely as capable smellers to develop such afflictions as fatty liver or the kind of dangerous fat deposits that settle around the midsection.

In one of three experiments reported in the paper, researchers disabled the specialized olfactory brain cells of mice who were made fat on a diet of high-fat chow. The effect was rapid and robust: Those mice lost roughly a third of their body weight. And the weight they lost was virtually all from fat.

I was shocked the effect was so robust, said UC Berkeley stem cell biologist and geneticist Andrew Dillin, the studys senior author. I was convinced they were just eating less. When it became clear they werent, I thought, Wow, this is incredibly interesting.

In another experiment, researchers created super-smellers mice with an exceptionally acute sense of smell by disabling a specialized receptor in the brains olfactory system. Even when the smells the mice were tested on were social, such as the scent of an unknown member of the opposite sex, the champion smellers were at greater risk for weight gain and impaired metabolism than were mice with normal or low olfactory acuity.

Indeed, all kinds of hormonal signals, including many that play a role in appetite and fat storage, get dialed differently in mice with an impaired sense of smell, the researchers found.

Adrenaline, for instance, plays a role in an animals response not only to threats but to stresses such as cold. In mice with low-functioning olfactory neurons, higher adrenaline levels appeared to activate special stores of energy-intensive brown fat to burn white fat as fuel, and to convert some white fat stores to brown fat.

The collective effect of those differing signals was consistently to protect the smell-impaired mouse from the unhealthy effects of overconsumption, the researchers discovered.

The new study is a far cry from establishing that all the same dynamics are at play in humans. But while mice probably rely on their sense of smell more than humans, they can tell us a lot about human obesity, Dillin said. And these findings do suggest an intriguing way to help those with obesity lose some weight and improve their metabolic function without having to change what, or how much, they eat, he added.

Researchers know that when people lose their sense of smell an effect seen in certain strokes, brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases their appetites wane, they eat less, and (no surprise) they lose weight. Its also well known that the acuity of our sense of smell rises and falls depending on circumstance: Its at its zenith when we havent eaten in several hours, and plummets just after weve had a meal.

The first observation suggests that smell piques or sustains interest in eating directly. The second suggests that smell may set off a host of signals about the bodys energy needs that work indirectly to affect metabolic function. That side of the equation is a lot less obvious, and has been studied far less.

The new research suggests that reducing olfactory cues might do more than help overweight people shed pounds. It may also right some of the metabolic and hormonal signals that get pushed out of whack as a person accumulates too much fat.

The potential of modulating olfactory signals in the context of the metabolic syndrome or diabetes is attractive, write the authors of the new study. Even relatively short-term loss of smell improves metabolic health and weight loss, despite the negative consequences of being on a high-fat diet.

Dillin said there are a number of directions in which this research could be taken next. Researchers could look at broad populations of people, testing the acuity of their olfactory sense and, over time, measuring how that tracks with their propensity toward weight gain or metabolic abnormality.

As for human trials of impaired olfaction, Dillin said a clothes pin on the nose wont work: Our mouths also admit olfactory information. But some chemical agents, including one currently used as a pesticide, are known to knock out humans sense of smell temporarily. If such compounds could be used safely on humans, it might be possible to gauge how weight and metabolism are affected when olfaction is altered.

In the meantime, study first author Celine Riera, a post-doctoral fellow in Dillin's lab, plans to tease out the role that the brains hypothalamus a master regulator of everything from involuntary bodily functions to sleep and emotional response may play in translating smells into fat-burning commands.

Funding for the new research came from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Glenn Center for Research on Aging, and the American Diabetes Assn.

melissa.healy@latimes.com

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Does my sense of smell make me look fat? In mice, the answer seems to be yes - Los Angeles Times

A cell transplantation technique, historically used in human medicine with groundbreaking regenerative capabilities, has been made available to UK vets for the first time to treat a range of canine orthopaedic cases.

Originating in the medical world, the Lipogems technique was invented by Carlo Tremolada, an Italian maxillofacial plastic surgeon searching for a way to create a smoother, more viscous fat graft for filling defects and creating natural volumetric face enhancement.

Unexpectedly, patients given Lipogems experienced a significant decrease in bruising and inflammation normally associated with these procedures and demonstrated substantial regenerative effects on the underlying tissues.

Scientists identified the regenerative characteristics in Lipogems and it received US Food and Drug Administration Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) Section 510(k) clearance in 2014. A subsequent review in 2016 saw it amended to include application in orthopaedic surgery settings.

The Lipogems method is carried out in one surgical step via a single-use kit for the lipoaspiration process and deployment of adipose tissue. Micro-fragmenting adipose tissue (harvested from fat) is obtained from lipoaspirates through a non-enzymatic, mechanical process using a closed system and disposable device.

Adipose tissue is harvested using a vacuum syringe around the flank of the dog under general anaesthetic, after the region has been anaesthetised by local infiltration with sterile saline and adrenaline.

Harvested fat tissue using the Lipogems device is washed in saline and gently agitated so the pericytes detach from small vessels and activate. Cells with the stromal vascular structure of adipose tissue then act as a local scaffold to maintain regenerative activity for many months.

Vet Offer Zeira said: To colleagues who ask me, why Lipogems?, I give them this the shortest and most truthful answer whoever deals with regenerative medicine uses stem cells; whoever deals with stem cells should use Lipogems.

Dr Zeira said: The results are amazing. Dogs that suffered severe lameness manage to walk with nearly no lameness within five to six days.

Lipogems Canine chief executive Martin ffrench Blake said the objective of the Lipogems product was to favour the natural regenerative process of tissues and was used in numerous pathologies.

Crown Vet Referrals is the only clinic in the UK and Ireland to have staff trained in the Lipogems Canine technique.

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Novel regeneration therapy available for use in UK dogs - vet times

The mission of Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine (Nanomedicine: NBM) is to promote the emerging interdisciplinary field of nanomedicine.

Nanomedicine: NBM is an international, peer-reviewed journal presenting novel, significant, and interdisciplinary theoretical and experimental results...

The mission of Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine (Nanomedicine: NBM) is to promote the emerging interdisciplinary field of nanomedicine.

Nanomedicine: NBM is an international, peer-reviewed journal presenting novel, significant, and interdisciplinary theoretical and experimental results related to nanoscience and nanotechnology in the life sciences. Content includes basic, translational, and clinical research addressing diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, prediction, and prevention of diseases. In addition to bimonthly issues, the journal website (http://www.nanomedjournal.com) also presents important nanomedicine-related information, such as future meetings, meeting summaries, funding opportunities, societal subjects, public health, and ethical issues of nanomedicine.

The potential scope of nanomedicine is broad, and we expect it to eventually involve all aspects of medicine. Sub-categories include synthesis, bioavailability, and biodistribution of nanomedicines; delivery, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of nanomedicines; imaging; diagnostics; improved therapeutics; innovative biomaterials; interactions of nanomaterials with cells, tissues, and living organisms; regenerative medicine; public health; toxicology; point of care monitoring; nutrition; nanomedical devices; prosthetics; biomimetics; and bioinformatics.

Article formats include Communications, Original Articles, Reviews, Perspectives, Technical and Commercialization Notes, and Letters to the Editor. We invite authors to submit original manuscripts in these categories. The journal website (http://www.nanomedjournal.com) also presents important nanomedicine-related information, such as future meetings, meeting summaries, funding opportunities, societal subjects, public health, and ethical issues of nanomedicine.

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Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine - Official Site

LONDON, July 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "Global Nano Chemotherapy Market & Clinical Trials Outlook 2022" report highlights the current development in the in the field of nano chemotherapy. Report gives comprehensive insight on various clinical and non-clinical parameters associated with the expansion of global nano chemotherapeutics market. The clinical and pricing insight on chemotherapeutics nanoformulations of approved drugs helps to understand the current market scenario of the nano chemotherapeutics.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4884894/

Nano chemotherapy is emerging as an important anti-cancer modality by supplementing the traditional chemotherapy. The main aim of nano chemotherapeutics is to improve the therapeutic efficacy of currently available chemotherapeutic agents by combining it with a nano scale delivery component. The majority of the cancer nanodrugs in the market are liposomes and polymer based nanoformulations which lower the toxicity and enhance the delivery of chemotherapeutics through the passive targeting. It is based on enhanced penetration and retention effect to reduce the lymphatic drainage in tumor tissue.

Conventional chemotherapeutic agents are distributed non-specifically in body where they affect both cancerous and normal cells and thereby it limit the dose availability with in the tumor and also results in suboptimal treatment due to excessive toxicities. To overcome the limitations of chemotherapy treatment, many more therapies has also been emerged.

The use of nanoparticles by both passive and active targeting strategies can enhance the intracellular concentration of drugs in cancer cells while avoiding the toxicity in normal cells. When the nanoparticles bind to a specific receptors and then enter the cell, usually enveloped by endosomes through receptor mediated endocytosis and thereby bypassing the recognition of P glycoprotein.

Nanomedicine has already met with success in oncology domain with various product commercially available in the market. By releasing the efficacy of nanomedicine in oncology, it increases the interest of the market players to commercialize the products in the field of nanotherapeutics and helps to increase the global market. The future of nanotherapeutics is bright and especially for the reversible cross linked nano carriers which are decorated with the cancer targeting ligands and it promote the endocytic uptake in tumor cells. The approach has the potential to overcome the drug resistance which is often with conventional chemotherapies.

For the next generation cancer nanotherapeutics, the complexity is higher which are under clinical development in terms of hybrid structures, surface physiochemical characteristics and mechanisms of delivery and action. There have been rapid advances in the nano therapeutic field in the past decade. Many of the nano carriers have been developed from which some have the great therapeutic potential. However, there remain many challenges in translating the nanoparticle drugs into the clinics. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4884894/

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To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-nano-chemotherapy-market--clinical-trials-outlook-2022-300483678.html

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Global Nano Chemotherapy Market & Clinical Trials Outlook 2022 - PR Newswire (press release)

New research from Imperial College London, that has recently been published online, examined a novel type of nanoparticle called metal organic frameworks (MOF) as drug carriers for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Published in Pulmonary Circulation, the research describes the first steps in the development of nanoparticles that can deliver drugs directly to the lungs. The MOFs, created in the laboratory by the researchers, are composed of iron and can expand to create pores within which drugs used to treat PAH can be stored and released where needed.

The hope is that using this approach will ultimately allow for high concentrations of drugs we already have to be delivered to only the vessels in the lung, and reduce side effects, explained Professor Jane Mitchell, from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial in a news release. For patients with PAH, it could mean we are able to turn it from a fatal condition, to a chronic manageable one.

When testing the MOFs, the team from Imperial found that the structures reduced inflammation and were not toxic to human lung cells and blood vessels in laboratory conditions. Further testing in rats, showed the MOFs were safe in the animal model over a two-week period with few side-effects a slight build-up of iron was seen in the liver.

One of the biggest limitations in nanomedicine is toxicity, some of the best nanomedicine structures do not make it past the initial stages of development as they kill cells, continued Mitchell. We made these prototype MOFs, and have shown they were not toxic to a whole range of human lung cells.

The aim is to develop the metallic structures as a drug delivery method where the framework can hold onto the drug and release it under specific conditions, such as a change in pH, temperature or using magnets external to the body to draw the MOFs to the target area. Next steps for this research is to discover the ideal way to get the tiny structures loaded with drugs and delivered to the lungs effectively.

In this study we have proved the principle that this type of carrier has the potential to be loaded with a drug and targeted to the lung, Mitchell concluded. This is fundamental research and while this particular MOF might not be the one that makes it to a drug to treat PAH, our work opens up the idea that this disease should be considered with an increased research effort for targeted drug delivery.

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Metallic nanomolecules could help treat fatal lung disease in the future, notes research - EPM Magazine

Ella Beggs

The autism spectrum is broad and affects 1 in 68 children in the United States alone. For one local child, Ella Beggs, her family is working to raise money to take Ella to Panama for treatment for her autism.

The fundraiser will take place at the Old Hardy Gym, July 8 starting at 5 p.m. and will include a live auction, concert and BBQ dinner. All proceeds will be used to help Ella and her family travel to Panama for treatment.

According to Scarlett Beggs, Ellas mom, the treatment uses stem cells in order to help alleviate the developmental delays created by autism.

Michael and I are always researching things to just help her be her best and we found stem cell research online from a place called the Stem Cell Institute of Panama, where they do stem cell treatment for autism, Beggs said. Its done in several different places; China, Mexico and India too but Panama is where we have seen the most testimonials from. We contacted them and researched as much as we could and found that with the stem cell treatment for autism, kids that were completely non-verbal before, had started talking in full sentences. Kids that were not potty trained before, were able to potty train and just an overall improvement from stem cells.

Beggs said initially she was hesitant to travel to a foreign country in order to have her daughter undergo treatment, however the further she researched, the more comfortable she became with the idea.

They are doing trial runs in the U.S., but it takes so long to get things approved through the FDA; who knows when theyll get it done here. In order to be eligible for the trials here [in the United States], you have to have your own [umbilical] cord blood bank and we dont have Ellas, so we have to rely on donated cord blood, Beggs said. Its a simple process. Its like a blood transfusion. Shell go for a week and theyll do it through an IV and the only side effects theyve seen are very mild. With such a low risk, we have to give it a try. It cant hurt her. Its shell either stay the same or show improvement.

So far, the family has been able to raise a little less than half of the $20,000 which they will need in order to make the weeklong trip.

They would like to invite the community to come out and support Ellas Endeavor with Autism.

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Support Ella's Endeavor with Autism - Areawide News

Logan Van Dyk hopes stem cell operation in Central America will open doors for him ones that shut abruptly on Aug. 3, 2008.

It took seconds for the now 26-year-old Fort Langley residents life to change.

On that day nearly nine years ago, just after he graduated from R.E. Mountain Secondary, Van Dyk suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury in a mountain biking incident.

I was fooling around on a construction site with some friends and I accidentally fell off a dirt pile on my bike, recalled Van Dyk, who was born and raised in Langley. I fell 25 feet and landed on my face.

Van Dyk suffered a spinal cord injury that left him bound to a wheelchair, as a partial quadriplegic.

I got a C56 spinal cord injury, but its incomplete which means theres always a possibility for recovery, Van Dyk said.

Its that hope that has Van Dyk looking to travel to Panama for therapy.

He started doing some research on stem cells and found an institute in Panama City that offers treatments.

Van Dyk sent in an application and on March 8 received an email saying he will make an excellent candidate for stem cell therapy.

Of course there is no guarantee that I will gain anything back but at this point Im willing to try anything to improve the quality of my life, said Van Dyk, who hopes to get into broadcasting.

He has created a GoFundMe page to raise what he believes is the $45,000 necessary to pay for flights, treatments, accommodations, and a personal nurse in Panama City. Visit http://www.gofundme.com/anw8ce-stem-cell-research.

The therapy itself will cost roughly $37,400 US. As well, there are no nurses at the institute who would assist Van Dyk directly.

I receive care twice a day in order to get in and out of my wheelchair and in and out of bed, Van Dyke explained. So I need to get a bit of extra money so I can hire a nurse to come down with me. Im not sure how much that is going to cost.

A friend who works as a nurse guided Van Dyk towards the possibility of travelling to Panama.

She couldnt believe there was nothing that could be done given the circumstances of my injury, Van Dyke said, because Ive got feeling all the way down to my toes. She looked into it and she found this down in Panama City. We looked at it and found some testimonials from some people who have gone down. They say they have about a 75 per cent success rate.

Van Dyk said he always does his best to remain positive and happy in everything he does.

Even the most basic of things take all my effort to achieve, Van Dyk said on his GoFundMe page. There just had to be something out there that could make things easier.

However, time is running out.

Unfortunately, the cutoff is 10 years, Van Dyk said. They wont do this treatment on anybody whose injury is over 10 years old. Im at my deadline.

Positive attitude

After the accident, Van Dyk was told by doctors that it was very unlikely he would ever walk again and would need to be in a power wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Van Dyk said much to their surprise, he wasnt able to accept that and he worked as hard as possible to overcome the barriers the medical world presented him with, and within a few months started using a manual wheelchair every day.

Mobility however, did not return and life has been a constant struggle ever since.

Keeping Van Dyk moving forward has been a positive attitude, and he quickly adapted to his new life in a wheelchair. It was pretty easy to get over it. I never had trouble finding the positives in life. I kind of adapted. A lot of people would say that I am the most positive person that theyve ever met. I get compliments a lot on how well I actually dealt with the injury. It was difficult but it was easy at the same time.

Van Dyk is now turning to the public to help him regain some freedom.

I miss the active lifestyle I led prior to injury, and am getting really tired of sitting all day long with a limited amount of things I can do to entertain myself, Van Dyk said. Im as independent as a I can be and I still rely on a lot of help. If I can get anything back, even just a bit more upper body Im just looking for anything at this point.

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Wheelchair-bound Langley man raising funds for stem cell therapy in Central America - Surrey Now-Leader

CRANDON, Wis. (WSAW) -- The Forest/Oneida County medical examiner has determined the death of a 6-year-old child that died March 7 was caused by complications from diabetes.

Larry Mathein wrote Amber Perry's death is a homicide due to diabetic ketoacidosis, as he stated Perry did not receive proper management for her condition.

According to the report, family was aware Perry had insulin dependent diabetes.

"The severity of the dehydration discovered at autopsy would indicate a long term, chronic, lack of proper management of this decedent's medical condition," Mathein wrote in the report.

"I do not believe "accident" is appropriate due to the obvious chronic presentation of the physical condition of Amber's body", it reads.

Doctor Larry Gordon, a pediatrician who treats almost 200 people with diabetes explains what signs Amber Perry's family should have seen as she had diabetic ketoacidosis. "It messes with your respiration, it messes with your ability to get good blood flow to your body, as you get dehydrated your body automatically reacts," Gordon said. "Your body will just start slowly shutting down, your circulation, to try and conserve that flow and it's really going to take a toll on your body."

Another common part of diabetic ketoacidosis is a build-up of carbon dioxide. Doctors look for heavy breathing, since that's usually a sign of the body trying to get rid of carbon dioxide. This is also when patients can slip into a coma.

Crandon police responded to the report of an unresponsive child around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7 to the Grant Apartments located at 400 Grant St. in Crandon. Initially, investigators called Perry's death suspicious.

Gordon also says it's important to remember that every diabetes patient is different, which means we can't know exactly what Amber experienced before she died.

The report did not blame any one person for Perry's death, but stated several persons were responsible for her day-to-day care.

In a separate unrelated case, a Wausau couple was convicted of reckless homicide in separate trials after their daughter, 11-year-old Madeline Kara Neumann, died of untreated diabetes March 2008. Dale and Leilani Neumann's were each sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation. Prosecutors said the Neumanns chose to pray for their daughter, instead of seeking medial treatment.

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Report: Crandon girl, 6, died of complications from diabetes - WSAW

Ending the worlds diabetes epidemic could be one step closer, with a promising new technique curing the condition in mice.

Scientists at the University of Texas announced the breakthrough, which uses a novel approach that may eliminate Type 1 diabetes and see painful insulin injections become a thing of the past.

University of Texas Health Science Center doctors used a virus as a carrier to introduce insulin-producing genes into the pancreas of rodent subjects.

Professor Ralph DeFronzo said researchers altered cells so they secreted insulin, but only in response to glucose mimicking the behavior of the bodys beta cells.

This study bypasses the autoimmune system by altering other pancreatic cells so they can co-exist with immune defenses unlike beta cells, which are rejected in Type 1 patients.

At the moment, Type 1 diabetes is treated by monitoring glucose levels and injecting artificial insulin several times a day. While technology has made management of the condition easier, a cure has been elusive until now.

The patents co-inventor, Professor Bruno Doiron, said the results had never been seen before.

It worked perfectly, Doiron said. We cured mice for one year without any side effects.

Doiron predicted the same low-risk response in humans.

If a Type 1 diabetic has been living with these cells for 30, 40 or 50 years, and all were getting them to do is secrete insulin, we expect there to be no adverse immune response.

DeFronzo said the same method of treatment has been approved almost 50 times by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat various conditions, including rare childhood diseases.

While its early days, the potential applications are promising and the researchers will now conduct a study on larger animals before any move to human trials.

Type 2 diabetes is the fastest-growing chronic condition in Australia, increasing at a faster rate than both heart disease and cancer.

The researchers discovery could have a massive impact on the lives of the 29 million Americans living with diabetes. About 86 million more are living with prediabetes, according to the CDC.

The biggest side effect of diabetes is hypoglycemia, when the level of glucose in the bloodstream is at abnormally low levels.

It can have severe side effects including seizures, inability to eat or drink, and unconsciousness, and is potentially fatal.

The new therapy precisely regulated the blood sugar of the mice a major improvement over traditional insulin therapy.

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Researcher may have found a cure for diabetes - New York Post

A rising Gainesville High School junior will volunteer at a Dominican Republic camp for children with Type 1 diabetes.

Cassidy ONeill has spent most of her life with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at 16 months, the rising Gainesville High School junior is about to take her first trip out of the country to help other children with the disease.

ONeill, 16, will travel to Santo Domingo, the capital of Dominican Republic, to help run Campo Amigo Dominicano, a camp designed for children with Type 1 diabetes to learn how to follow a healthy lifestyle.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when ones pancreas produces too little insulin and the immune system attacks the pancreas insulin-producing cells.

As a kid, its scary, ONeill said. Shes used an insulin pump most of her life, and every 5 minutes her glucose monitor tests her blood sugar. She and her parents can check the results on their phones.

Some people arent as fortunate as Ive been, ONeill said.

In the Dominican Republic, people need blood test strips, syringes and insulin, she said. Accessible education is lacking, too.

Its really hard to find resources and support, she said.

The goal of the camp, which begins Saturday, is to educate children and empower them to live full lives in spite of their illness. Camp volunteers are asked to raise funds, and ONeill has already met the $6,500 target, selling wristbands to her fellow students and exploring other resources.

Because the camp is in the capital, children from across the country come. Its four days long, but ONeill will head out early to help plan and organize the camp. It will be her first time out of the country, although shes advocated for Type 1 diabetes awareness across the United States.

Its a big part of my life, she said.

Originally posted here:
Teen makes diabetes impact abroad - Gainesville Sun

SAN DIEGO An anti-inflammatory medication used for a variety of conditions could also be effective in treating type 2 diabetes, scientists with UC San Diego and the University of Michigan reported Wednesday.

In a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, the researchers said they found a molecular signature in patients who responded to the drug amlexanox, which is used to treat asthma patients in Japan and other afflictions.

In a study of 42 obese patients with type 2 diabetes, half were given the drug for three months and the other half a placebo. Some, but not all, of the group given amlexanox responded, said Alan Saltiel, director of the UC San Diego Institute for Diabetes and Metabolic Health.

We didnt understand why, so we did a molecular analysis from biopsies of fat cells we took from patients at the beginning and end of the study, Saltiel said.

In the responder group, the level of inflammation in fat was higher than in the non-responder group at the beginning of the study, indicating that there is something about inflammation that predisposes a person to respond, he said. And, what was really amazing was that there were more than 1,100 gene changes that occurred exclusively in the responders.

According to UCSD, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, weight and liver fat were measured. A biopsy of fat cells from each patients midsection was taken before and after the trial to measure changes in gene expression.

The researchers said amlexanox inhibits a pair of enzymes that are activated in obese mice, causing a drop in energy expenditure or reduction in calories burned. Giving obese mice the drug caused them to lose weight, while their sensitivity to insulin increased, improving their diabetes and fatty liver disease.

The human trial revealed that gene changes that occurred in the mouse model also happened in the human responder group. Blood sugar in the clinical trial patients went down as genes involved in the expenditure of energy changed, the scientists said.

Saltiel said amlexanox was promising as a type 2 diabetes treatment, but numerous questions still needed to be resolved regarding the proper dosage, frequency and other issues.

He said he plans to dive deeper into the gene changes to better understand which are most important, which affect liver fat, which translate into changes in blood sugar levels and more. He is planning a new human clinical trial with colleagues at Michigan.

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla assisted with the study, which was funded, in part, by the National Institutes of Health.

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Study: Anti-inflammatory medication could help treat type 2 diabetes - fox5sandiego.com