StemCell Therapy

Gordon M. Hughes 9:00 a.m. ET May 24, 2017

Gordon M. Hughes(Photo: Photo provided by IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital)

May 20 is World Autoimmune Arthritis Day. Many of us know someone afflicted with arthritis or suffer from it ourselves. Similarly to many diseases, early diagnosis and treatment is vital for daily living and recovery.

Arthritis is a term referring to joint pain, and there are more than 100 different forms of it. That is why the International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis works hard to focus its efforts on the autoimmune and associated diseases where arthritis is a major issue so that those suffering can receive the treatment they need.

What is autoimmune arthritis?

An autoimmune disease is a condition where the immune system, in response to an unknown trigger, begins producing antibodies that attack the bodys own tissue instead of infections. This decreases the bodys ability to fight invaders and makes it vulnerable to infection. In autoimmune arthritis, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints themselves in addition to other parts of the body.

How do I know if I have autoimmune arthritis?

Typically, autoimmune arthritis diseases have a set of overlapping symptoms that help in diagnosis because along with the inflammation of the tissue around the joints there tends to be inflammation and injury in other organs in the body. These symptoms frequently include debilitating fatigue, fevers, myalgia (ever-present muscle pain), brain fog and joint pain in multiple locations at the same time.

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The most common form this takes is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Usually, multiple joints are affected in a symmetrical pattern. This disease is characterized by periods of disease flares and remissions, and because it is a chronic inflammation that over time loosens the joint ligament by eroding cartilage and bone, it can often cause permanent joint destruction and deformity.

Approximately 1.3 million people in the U.S. suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, and the disease is three times more common in women than men. It can actually start at any age and even effect children, but it most often starts between 40 and 60 years of age.

What are other forms of autoimmune arthritis?

There are many autoimmune diseases involving arthritis that are most similar in onset, continued symptoms, treatment, and potential for remission to Rheumatoid Arthritis. Some of them are psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Stills disease, Sjogrens syndrome, systemic lupus, erythematosus and juvenile arthritis (all versions of the disease in children).

What are the potential complications of these conditions?

Like already noted, these are largely systemic diseases where inflammation can affect many parts of the body. Inflammation of the glands of the eyes and mouth can cause dryness of these areas. Left alone, this can cause damage to the cornea and the white parts of the eye which endanger it as a whole.

Inflammation of the lungs can cause chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing. If this is untreated, it can continue to intensify and is associated with an increased risk for heart attack. Again, because these are systemic diseases, there are complications that can be present in multiple parts of the body.

What can I do about this?

The best preliminary advice is to see your primary care provider early. Early diagnosis and specific treatment can go a long way in moving forward with these conditions. When you talk to your doctor, be specific about what the pain really feels like. Only you know how much it hurts and how it affects your life.

Gordon M. Hughes, MD, FRCP, FACR, is board certified in internal medicine/rheumatology. He began practicing in 1990, and is currently medical director of Specialty Services. For more information, visit iuhealth.org/ball-memorial, or call IU Health Ball Memorial Physicians Rheumatology at 765-289-5410.

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Ask the Expert: What is autoimmune arthritis? - Muncie Star Press

New research shows that people who eat more fiber are much less likely to develop arthritis of the knee.

In a paper published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, scientists analyzed data from more than 6,000 Americans participating in two long-running studies. In one group, those who ate more fiber (the top 25 percent of participants in terms of fiber consumption) had a 61 percent lower chance of developing the condition, compared to those who ate the least. In the other group, the upper quartile had a 30 percent lower chance of experiencing osteoarthritis, compared to those in the bottom 25 percent.

To single out the effect of fiber, researchers controlled for age, diet and many other factors, and still saw a benefit of fiber, says Virginia Kraus, a researcher and physician at Duke University School of Medicine who wasnt involved in the study. Those who eat the most fiber tend to weigh less and to be better educated.

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Eating foods high in fiber may reduce the risk of knee arthritis, new research shows. Ohio State University

Dietary fiber has been shown to help prevent obesity and inflammation, two conditions which make the development and symptoms of arthritis worse. Obesity in particular is strongly linked with arthritis, in part because being heavier puts more strain on the knee, and wears down the cartilage therein. Researchers showthat eating more fiber changes the composition of bacteria in the gut and decreases the leakiness of the bowel so bacterial-produced toxins have less of a chance of penetrating into the systemic circulation where, if not cleared by the liverand less is cleared when liver is fatty[the toxins] can induce inflammation and pain, Kraus says.

The findings are particularly relevant as the average American doesnt consume enough fiber, eating only 15 grams per day. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 recommend that women older than 51eat 22 grams per day and men 28 grams per day, says study first author Joy Dai, a postdoctoral fellow at Boston University School of Medicine.

Reducing your risk of developing knee arthritis is especially important given that it is not a simple problem to treat once it develops. Recent research has found, for example, that steroid injections for knee arthritis arent effective, and are no better than a placebo treatment. That work was published May 16 in JAMA.

Asked if those at risk of knee arthritis should eat more fiber, Kraus answers in the affirmative. It is heart healthy and potentially joint healthy, she says.

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Want to Avoid Knee Arthritis? Eat More Fiber - Newsweek

May 24, 2017

In a pivotal phase-3 clinical trial led by a Stanford University School of Medicine investigator, patients with psoriatic arthritis for whom standard-of-care pharmaceutical treatments have provided no lasting relief experienced a significant reduction in symptoms, including joint tenderness and swelling, when they were given a new drug.

The 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at 109 centers in 10 countries and involved more than 300 adults for whom available biologic drugsthe standard of care for this painful autoimmune conditionhad lost their efficacy or lacked it in the first place.

Results of the trial will be published online May 24 in The Lancet.

Left untreated or treated unsuccessfully, psoriatic arthritis can progress to induce severe joint and bone damage and functional disability, said Mark Genovese, MD, Stanford professor of immunology and rheumatology and the study's senior author.

In the trial, known as SPIRIT-P2, 314 patients received regular injections of either a biologic drug, ixekizumab, or a placebo for 24 weeks. The trial was sponsored by Eli Lilly & Co., the drug's manufacturer.

Treatment with ixekizumab resulted in more than 50 percent of the participants having at least a 20 percent reduction in the number of tender and swollen joints, significantly outperforming the placebo, said Genovese. Few serious adverse events were reported for patients receiving the drug or the placebo, he said.

The search for lasting relief

About one in 200 adults in developed countries lives with psoriatic arthritis. Like the more common rheumatoid arthritis, which affects nearly 2 percent of the population, psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease whose symptomsincluding stiffness, pain and swelling of several jointstypically emerge between the ages of 30 and 50.

The two syndromes differ, though, in their constellation of symptoms. For example, psoriatic arthritis manifests most often in the lower extremities and is associated with the autoimmune skin condition called psoriasis, in which raised red, scaly patches appear on the skin. Although psoriatic rashes most often precede the onset of the arthritic stage, the reverse can also be the case.

Three of the 10 top-selling drugs in the United States in dollar salesadalimumab, etanercept and infliximabare biologics prescribed for psoriatic arthritis as well as for the more common rheumatoid arthritis. These three drugs share a common property: They block the action of a pro-inflammatory substance called tumor necrosis factor. Secreted by various immune cells, TNF stimulates the immune response and accompanying inflammation.

However, despite the availability of TNF inhibitors, "only about half of psoriatic arthritis patients who are given TNF inhibitors get better," said Genovese.

Although the ultimate cause of the disease remains unknown, there was a good clinical rationale for hoping it might be responsive to ixekizumab. For the last decade or so, Genovese said, another pro-inflammatory substance called IL-17 has been drawing the attention of immunologists focusing on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Ixekizumab works by blocking IL-17. The drug, an injectable monoclonal antibody, is already commercially available for the treatment of psoriasis, for which it has been remarkably effective, said Genovese. And in an earlier Lilly-sponsored phase-3 trial, ixekizumab was shown to be effective for psoriatic arthritis patients who had not yet been treated with biological drugs such as TNF inhibitors. (Another approved monoclonal antibody that targets IL-17, secukinumab, was approved in 2016 for psoriatic arthritis.)

Less pain, swelling

Over the 24-week duration of the latest trial, 109 participants received ixekizumab every two weeks; 94 received placebo injections every two weeks; and 111 alternated every two weeks between getting injections of ixekizumab and the placebo. While 19.5 percent of patients who received only the placebo injections were judged to have met the trial's specified clinical endpointat least a 20 percent reduction in the number of tender and swollen jointsthe response rate among those getting the real drug every four weeks was 53.3 percent. Those getting the drug every two weeks didn't do any better and were slightly more prone to side effects, such as a mild reaction at the injection site.

Although any treatment that works by blocking the immune system's ability to mount an inflammatory response should be carefully monitored for its potential to render the body vulnerable to infectious disease, there were few observed differences in this category between recipients of placebo versus active drug given every four weeks, Genovese said.

Lilly has filed for approval of the drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Genovese has served as a consultant to Lilly.

Explore further: Ixekizumab efficacious for psoriasis over 60 weeks

(HealthDay)The benefits of ixekizumab in the treatment of psoriasis extend to 60 weeks, according to a study published online June 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In a pivotal phase-3 trial led by a Stanford University School of Medicine investigator, a novel drug for rheumatoid arthritis substantially reduced symptoms and improved daily physical functioning in patients for whom other ...

A University of Manchester led trial of a new psoriasis drug has resulted in 40 percent of people showing a complete clearance of psoriatic plaques after 12 weeks of treatment and over 90 percent showing improvement.

(HealthDay)A new drug called brodalumab appears to be effective in treating patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis, a study says.

If you have psoriasis or a family history of psoriasis and you are experiencing joint pain and swelling, you could have psoriatic arthritis, a serious disease that may lead to joint destruction and disability.

(HealthDay)For patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to methotrexate, baricitinib is associated with significant clinical improvements, compared to either placebo or adalimumab, according ...

In a pivotal phase-3 clinical trial led by a Stanford University School of Medicine investigator, patients with psoriatic arthritis for whom standard-of-care pharmaceutical treatments have provided no lasting relief experienced ...

New research from the University of Liverpool, published today in the journal npj Systems Biology and Applications, has identified 'cell messages' that could help identify the early stages of osteoarthritis (OA).

Osteoarthritis can potentially be prevented with a good diet and regular exercise, a new expert review published in the Nature Reviews Rheumatology reports.

Maintaining the supply of a molecule that helps to nourish cartilage prevented osteoarthritis in animal models of the disease, according to a report published in Nature Communications online May 11.

The results of a study led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators suggest that following a diet known to reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease may also reduce the risk of gout. The team's ...

In a preclinical study in mice and human cells, researchers report that selectively removing old or 'senescent' cells from joints could stop and even reverse the progression of osteoarthritis.

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Drug for refractory psoriatic arthritis shows promise in clinical trial - Medical Xpress

New York Times

High-Fiber Diet Tied to Less Knee Arthritis New York Times As fiber intake increased, the prevalence of arthritis decreased. In the larger study, those who ate the most fiber were 30 percent less likely to have knee osteoarthritis than those who ate the least, and in the smaller study, they were 61 percent ... Eat These Foods to Fight Your Knee PainMen's Health Studies spotlight diet, supplements for knee painWSFA all 7 news articles »

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High-Fiber Diet Tied to Less Knee Arthritis - New York Times

May 24, 2017 10:58 AM

Arthritis does not need to interfere with living an active life. The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), in association with Miami-Dade Parks, will offer free activity classes designed especially for arthritis patients. Learning how to manage the disease makes a big difference on your quality of life, and having access to arthritis intervention programs is crucial, said Dr. Sarah Messiah, Ph.D., M.P.H. University of Miami Research Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects more than 50 million children and adults in the United States. There are more than a hundred different types of arthritis with varying symptoms. Miami-Dade Parks experts know first-hand that participating in exercise programs helps increase physical strength, boosts activity levels and elevates mood. Many arthritis sufferers do not participate in regular physical activity, even though the Arthritis Foundation recommends it for a number of health benefits. The new arthritis intervention program starts May 1. It will help arthritis sufferers deal with daily pain.

These classes offer a way for folks to manage arthritis symptoms without compromising an active lifestyle, Eric Hansen, manager of Recreation Planning and Program Development for the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department said. The three programs which run six weeks each include, Aquatic Program, Arthritis Foundation and Active Living Everyday.

Walk With Ease

The Walk with Ease program teaches participants how to safely make physical activity part of their everyday life. Participants may use a workbook to guide them through the self-directed program, or they can participate in a six-week group program led by a trained leader. The information and strategies used are based on research and tested programs in exercise science, behavior change and arthritis management. The Arthritis Foundation has proven that this program increases balance, strength and walking pace, as well as reduces pain. Data is available in a report from the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and the Institute on Aging at the University of North Carolina.

Aquatic Program

Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program (AFAP) classes are conducted by trained instructors and include range of motion, stretching, breathing and light aerobic activities in the water. The six-week program typically meets two or three times per week for one hour. This program is designed for anyone with arthritis, related rheumatic diseases or musculoskeletal conditions.

Active Living Every Day

Active Living Every Day helps individuals make changes in their everyday life so that active living is possible. The behavior change program is also six weeks and teaches how to set realistic goals, avoid pitfalls and get support for becoming active.

Research has shown that positive benefits occur in patients who combine strengthening exercises,cardiovascular exercises and coordination activities. The benefits in the three exercise programs include the following:

Many of the programs offered by the Miami-Dade Parks Active Older Adults program, including Tai Chi and Enhance Fitness, are on the Center for Disease Controls list of Intervention Programs or Recommended and Promising Programs.

While current active older adult programming provides many ways for 55 and older individuals to socialize and energize, these new programs provided by NRPA deal specifically with issues relating to arthritis and will attract new participants to Miami-Dade Parks as well as benefit those already attending programs, said Allan Tavss, Active Older Adults Program Coordinator and Advocate for Miami-Dade Parks.

Adults with arthritis no longer have to suffer with pain. If you are an arthritis patient, visit http://www.miamidade.gov/parks for more information or call Allan Tavss at 305.962.8393. Registration for the program is required. For more information on the aquatic program contact A.D. Barnes pool at 305-665-1626.

Above Content Provided By Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade and Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation

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Miami-Dade Parks To Offer Free Classes To Help Arthritis Sufferers Live Actively - CBS Miami

Regeneron and Sanofi's rheumatoid arthritis drug is 15% to 30% cheaper than rival drugs from Amgen, AbbVie and Roche, an analyst said Tuesday. (Regeneron)

Regeneron (REGN) and Sanofi's (SNY) rheumatoid arthritis drug is 15% to 30% cheaper than rival drugs from Amgen (AMGN), AbbVie (ABBV) and Roche (RHHBY), an analyst said Tuesday after the duo's Kevzara grabbed Food and Drug Administration approval.

Kevzara's approval comes seven months after the FDA delayed its approval on issues with manufacturing at a French factory where the drug is filled. The approval is for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who don't respond to other anti-rheumatic drugs.

"The approval came on time and with a label that more or less matches our expectations," Leerink analyst Geoffrey Porges said in a note to clients. Kevzara can be prescribed alone or in combination with FDA-approved methotrexate. It is a self-administered injection.

Like Roche's Actemra, which belongs to the same class of drugs, Kevzara is associated with an increased risk of serious and minor infections, liver issues and injection-site reactions. But it's also at a 15% discount to Actemra at $39,000 annually.

"With discounts, (it) should offer a cost-effective treatment option for payers in this setting," Porges said. Kevzara costs 30% less than Amgen's Enbrel and AbbVie's Humira, which are widely prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, though belong to a different drug class.

IBD'S TAKE:Regeneron could be among those leading a biotech resurgence this year, analysts say. Head to IBD's Technologypage for a deeper dive on why Amgen, Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Biogen (BIIB) aren't expected tobe at the forefront of the revitalization.

Regeneron and Sanofi expect European approval to come later this year and see Kevzara hitting the market in the U.S. within a few weeks. But Porges sees the drug as a minimal driver and forecasts $37 million in sales this year, growing to $456 million in 2021.

A number of drug classes address rheumatoid arthritis, he noted. The field is likely to become more crowded later this year when Dow componentJohnson & Johnson (JNJ) adds its drug sirukimab to the lineup and as morein a class dubbed JAK inhibitors arrivein 2018-19.

"Kevzara contributes approximately 11% of our expected sales of joint Sanofi-Regeneron products in 2018, but this falls to 5% long term as expected growth of (eczema drug) Dupixent and even (cholesterol-lowering drug) Praluent rapidly eclipse Kevzara's importance," Porges said.

The consensus forecasts Kevzara sales at $56 million this year, growing to $705 million by 2020 and hitting $1.1 billion by 2025.

On the stock market today, Regeneron stock rose 0.1% to 461.37, as Sanofi stock fell 0.2% to 49.07. Shares of rivals Amgen and AbbVie were up 0.7% and 0.6%, respectively, while Roche dipped 0.4%.

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Regeneron, Sanofi Undercut Amgen, AbbVie In Rheumatoid Arthritis - Investor's Business Daily

NEW DELHI: Arthritis is not an affliction that plagues you in old age, as a survey in five Delhi hospitals three state-run and two private found recently. In fact, one in every four osteoarthritis patients turned out to be less than 40+ years old and often overweight.

The survey, held over the past six months in Veer Savarkar, Hedgewar, Jagpravesh, RK and Malik Medix Hospitals, had orthopaedic surgeons reporting 600 patients with knee pain. Of the, 26% were in their thirties and the rest above the age of 40. The orthopaedic surgeons disclosed that while most of the patients under 40 had mild to moderate arthritis, 25% of them complained of severe symptoms, for example difficulty walking for 10 minutes. Their x-rays revealed marked narrowing of the knee joint space, Dr Sushil Sharma, who led the research team, said.

The increased incidence of obesity, the researchers found, was the leading cause of osteoarthritis in the younger adults. "In our hospital, we found the younger patients were overweight women," Dr Arvind Kumar, one of the researchers from east Delhi's Hedgewar Hospital, told TOI. "They were from the poorer socio-economic group and had taken to alternative therapies for pain relief. Some of the medicines they used contained steroids."

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Arthritis gets younger: 1 in every 4 below 40 years - Times of India

Sgt. Jayden Cormier and five of his buddies from the Canadian Scottish Regiment made a big impression at the 2016 Victoria Walk to fight Arthritis, strapping on up to 36 kilograms apiece and doing the main five-kilometre route three times.

It was all inspired by the 28-year-old Cormiers mother, Denise, who has had arthritis since he was born. The Victoria event is part of a national effort to stage fundraising walks in support of the Arthritis Society.

Cormier said he suggested the idea of doing the walk to a regimental committee that annually picks a charity to support.

I pitched it to the committee and everyone was on board.

Ten members of his new regiment, the 5th (B.C.) Field Artillery, will be at the 2017 Victoria walk on June 4, but Cormier is preparing for deployment to eastern Europe and is not sure if he can be there.

I may or may not be back, he said from Edmonton, where he is training in advance of his posting.

Team fundraising is underway and includes gathering pledges, Cormier said. The group will once again do the 5K route three times laden with similar weight.

He said his mothers arthritis has gone through various stages over the years.

Ive grown up seeing it progress, he said. Its kind of been a bit of a roller coaster, progressively getting worse.

But theres some really great programs and treatments out there, and a recent surgery that she had that has really brought back a lot of her mobility, which has been wonderful.

Cormier said his mother is serving as this years co-ordinator for the other Island walk in Parksville.

Its kind of neat to see, he said. They were looking for someone and she stepped up.

People can relate to arthritis as a cause worthy of support, Cormier said.

For me theres definitely personal ties, and within the community, for the most part, everyone knows somebody who has been impacted by arthritis.

Cormier said he and his army friends are proud to be associated with the walk,

For us, as military members, its nice to give back but also show that not only are we representatives within our community, but we are members of it, as well.

Victoria has been part of the Arthritis Societys national walk program for the past seven years, but the city has had an arthritis walk since 1992.

About 250 people took part in the citys 1016 walk, and Victoria spokeswoman Emma Kirkland is hoping to see about 300 this year. The walk will once again start near the Selkirk Trestle in Selkirk Green Park and provide the option of a one- or five-kilometre route.

Participants will begin by walking across the trestle.

Kirkland said arthritis affects 4.6 million Canadians or one in seven. There are 100 different types of arthritis, she said, ranging from osteoarthritis and gout to fibromyalgia.

Register for either the Victoria or Parksville walk at walktofightarthritis.ca, or in Victoria call Kirkland at 250-519-4002.

Both walks have event-day registration at 8:30 a.m. and start at 10 a.m.

The Parksville walk is centred at Parksville Community Park.

jwbell@timescolonist.com

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Team carries heavy burden in arthritis walk - Times Colonist

May 24, 2017

An innovative method for treating type 1 diabetes based on the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells taken from the patient's own bone marrow began undergoing testing in Brazil 13 years ago. The results were highly variable. While some of the volunteers were able to stop self-injecting insulin for more than a decade, others had to resume use of the medication only a few months after receiving the experimental treatment.

A possible explanation for this discrepancy in the clinical outcome for the 25 patients included in the study was presented in an article published recently in the journal Frontiers in Immunology. According to the authors, the duration of the therapeutic effect was shorter in the patients whose immune systems had attacked the pancreatic cells more aggressively in the pre-transplantation period.

This research was conducted at the Center for Cell-Based Therapy (CTC) in Brazil. Initially led by immunologist Julio Voltarelli, who died in March 2012, it is proceeding under the coordination of researchers Maria Carolina de Oliveira Rodrigues and Belinda Pinto Simes.

"Because type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, the aim of the treatment is to 'switch off' the immune system temporarily using chemotherapy drugs and 'restart' it by means of the transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells, which can differentiate into every kind of blood cell," Rodrigues explained.

By the time the symptoms of type 1 diabetes appear, she added, around 80 percent of the patient's pancreatic islets have already been damaged. If the autoimmune aggression is interrupted at this point, and the remaining cells are protected, the patient can produce an amount of insulin that is small but nevertheless important.

"Studies with animals and diabetic humans suggest the percentage of insulin-producing cells declines sharply, reaching almost zero between six and eight weeks after diagnosis. Our center has therefore set a six-week limit for patients to start the transplantation process," Rodrigues said.

Twenty-five volunteers aged between 12 and 35 were initially included in the study. The therapeutic effect has lasted an average of 42 months (3.5 years) but ranges overall from six months to 12 years, the longest follow-up period so far. Three patients remain completely insulin-free. One has been insulin-free for ten years, another for 11, and the third for 12.

"In this more recent study, we compared the profiles of the volunteers who remained insulin-free for less than and more than 42 months, which was our cutoff point," Rodrigues said.

The variables considered included age, time between diagnosis and transplantation, pre-treatment insulin dose, and post-transplant recovery of defense cells.

"We observed no significant differences between the groups for any of these factors," Rodrigues said. "The only exception was the degree of pancreatic inflammation before the transplant, which did vary significantly."

This discovery was made possible by collaboration with Dutch researcher Bart Roep at the Leiden University Medical Center. Roep's analysis of blood samples taken from all 25 patients before treatment and once per year after the transplant enabled him to quantify their autoreactive T-lymphocytes, white cells that recognize and specifically attack proteins secreted by pancreatic islets.

"This method enabled us to evaluate the extent to which the immune system was attacking the pancreas," Rodrigues said. "We observed a clear association between a larger number of autoreactive lymphocytes before transplantation and a worse response to treatment."

In the group of patients who responded well, Rodrigues went on, stem cell therapy rebalanced the immune system thanks to an increase in the proportion of regulatory T-cells (Tregs), a type of white cell with immunosuppressive action that helps combat autoimmunity.

"In patients with more autoreactive lymphocytes before transplantation, this balance didn't occur," she said. "Despite the increase in the number of Tregs due to the treatment, they were still outnumbered by autoreactive lymphocytes. What we don't yet know is whether these were new cells that differentiated from transplanted stem cells or were a remnant of the autoreactive lymphocytes that weren't destroyed by chemotherapy and resumed multiplication."

Data from the scientific literature show that the latter hypothesis is more plausible, so the group at CTC has begun a second study in which patients are being subjected to more aggressive chemotherapy with the aim of ensuring that no vestiges of autoreactive T-lymphocytes remain.

Explore further: Novel tissue-engineered islet transplant achieves insulin independence in type 1 diabetes

More information: Kelen C. R. Malmegrim et al. Immunological Balance Is Associated with Clinical Outcome after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Type 1 Diabetes, Frontiers in Immunology (2017). DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00167

Scientists from the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have produced the first clinical results demonstrating that pancreatic islet cells transplanted within a tissue-engineered ...

Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body's own immune system attacking its pancreatic islet beta cells and requires daily injections of insulin to regulate the patient's blood glucose levels. A new method described in BioMed ...

A team of researchers, led by investigators at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, have identified a new class of antigens that may be a contributing factor to type 1 diabetes, according to an article published ...

A Yale-led research team identified how insulin-producing cells that are typically destroyed in type 1 diabetes can change in order to survive immune attack. The finding may lead to strategies for recovering these cells in ...

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients who have developed low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) as a complication of insulin treatments over time are able to regain normal internal recognition of the condition after receiving pancreatic ...

A study carried out in India examining the safety and efficacy of self-donated (autologous), transplanted bone marrow stem cells in patients with type 2 diabetes (TD2M), has found that patients receiving the transplants, ...

Research led by the University of Adelaide is paving the way for safer and more effective drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, reducing side effects and the need for insulin injections.

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Success of stem cell therapy for diabetes depends on pre-transplant immune condition - Medical Xpress

"At StemGenex, we are committed to helping people achieve optimum health and better quality of life through the healing benefits of their own stem cells," said Alexander. "Specifically, we use adipose-derived adult stem cell therapy for patients battling conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, COPD, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. We are also committed to the science of stem cell therapy and sponsor five clinical outcome studiesregistered with theNational Institute of Health (NIH) for these diseases."

"What I personally witnessed before the start of StemGenex were patients who had exhausted conventional medical treatments but wanted to try alternative therapies. I was one of them, suffering from severe Rheumatoid Arthritis. Ihad only three options; I could seek a clinical trial, travel to outside of the U.S. to try alternative therapies such as stem cell treatment or petition the FDA for access to drugs under the agency's "expanded access," or "compassionate use" program. Now, new state laws, built on model legislation from the Goldwater Institute in Arizona, will potentially allow doctors and patients to make their own informed decisions on treatments that have cleared the safety phase of FDA testing."

Last year, in a move that was seen by some as a response to "Right to Try" laws, the 21st Century Cures Act, a landmark piece of legislation focused on medical innovation and medical research, was signed into law by President Obama. This Act provides the FDA with the flexibility to accelerate how it evaluates regenerative medicine treatments, such as stem cell therapies, while maintaining its high standards of safety and efficacy.

"We're on the cusp of a major change on how patients can access stem cell therapy," saidAlexander. "Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by a wide range of autoimmune and degenerative illnesses," said Alexander. "StemGenex Medical Group is proud to offer the highest quality of care and to potentially help those with unmet clinical needs improve their quality of life."

ABOUT StemGenex Medical Group StemGenex Medical Group is committed to helping people achieve optimum health and better quality of life through the healing benefits of their own stem cells. StemGenex provides stem cell therapy options for individuals suffering with inflammatory and degenerative illnesses. Committed to the science and innovation of stem cell treatment,StemGenex sponsors five clinical outcome studiesregistered with theNational Institutes of Health ("NIH") for Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ("COPD") and Osteoarthritis. These have been established to formally document and evaluate the quality of life changes in individuals following adipose-derived stem cell treatment.

Contact: Jamie Schubert, Director of Media & Community Relations jschubert@StemGenex.com, (858) 242-4243

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stem-cell-therapy-is-one-step-closer-to-becoming-law-in-texas-300461859.html

SOURCE StemGenex

http://www.stemgenex.com

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Stem Cell Therapy is One Step Closer to Becoming Law in Texas - PR Newswire (press release)

Animation of stem cell therapy attacking malignant glioma. (Northwestern Medicine)

CHICAGO - A first-of-a-kind neural stem cell therapy that works with a common cold virus to seek out and attack a lethal and aggressive brain cancer is being tested at Northwestern Medicine in a Phase I clinical trial for patients newly diagnosed with malignant glioma.

The novel drug to treat malignant glioma, notorious for recurring after typical bouts of standard cancer treatment, was developed by a Northwestern scientist and has been approved as an investigational drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This is only the second time the University has supported and filed an investigational new drug as a sponsor.

We have discovered that combining stem cells with a virus causes the new drug to react like a cancer-seeking missile targeting cancerous cells in the brain said principal investigator, Dr. Maciej Lesniak, the Michael J. Marchese Professor and chair of neurological surgery atNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicineand a neuro-oncologist at Northwestern Medicine. If it works in humans, it could be a powerful weapon against brain cancer and an option that our patients are desperate for.

One reason malignant glioma recurs so often is because a small subpopulation of cancer cells, often deep in the brain tissue, is highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiation.

We havent seen significant progress in the last decade for patients with a brain tumor, and that is why its crucial to do everything we can to find a better treatment for brain tumors.

The pre-clinical work done by Lesniak and his team has shown that the approach being tested at Northwestern Medicine can target this population of therapy resistant cells, further delaying and sometimes even preventing tumor recurrence.

The stem cells used in the research came from a collaboration of researchers from City of Hope.

We havent seen significant progress in the last decade for patients with a brain tumor, and that is why its crucial to do everything we can to find a better treatment for brain tumors, said Dr. Roger Stupp, a co-investigator who is working alongside Lesniak on this clinical trial. Combining novel therapy with medical expertise, we are able to get one step closer to eradicating this lethal disease.

Stupp, a world-renowned neuro-oncologist, recently joined Northwestern Medicine as director of neuro-oncology and associate director for strategic initiatives at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. He is best known for developing temozolomide in combination with radiation as the standard-of-care chemotherapy for patients with glioblastoma.

Lesniak and his team of scientists are starting to test the safety and dosage of the treatment in patients at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Lesniak began the research more than a decade ago while at the University of Chicago and completed it when he moved to Northwestern in 2015.

This investigational new drug contains neural stem cells to deliver a potent virus responsible for the common cold, oncolyotic adenovirus, which is engineered to kill brain cancer cells. The novel treatment works synergistically with chemotherapy and radiation to enhance the standard cancer treatments effectiveness.

Malignant gliomas are the most aggressive forms of cancer and are predicted to affect nearly 20,000 new patients this year, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. Sometimes called the grow-and-go tumors, gliomas can make their own blood supply, which fuels the tumors rapid growth and helps them hatch satellite tumors. Each tumor sends out tentacles that infiltrate and dig deep into normal brain tissue, making complete removal of cancerous cells impossible. Any cancerous cells in the brain left over from standard of care can cause the tumor to recur.

Lesniak plans to enroll up to 36 newly diagnosed patients with glioma. These patients will be divided into two groups: those with tumors that can be removed and those where the tumors are not removable by surgery.

Next step, Northwestern Memorial will extend this research to the collaborating partners at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, California.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke grant U01NS069997.

Link:
New investigational drug acts like a cancer-seeking missile in brain - Northwestern University NewsCenter

Alimorad Farshchian, M.D., founder and medical director of The Center for Regenerative Medicine, founded in 1999.

A Miami doctor who has developed an international reputation for medical innovation over the last 18 years has become a pioneer in the burgeoning and critically important field of stem cell therapy.

Alimorad Farshchian, M.D., founder and medical director of The Center for Regenerative Medicine, founded in 1999, has developed innovative, safe and effective stem cell treatments for Parkinsons Disease, spinal stenosis and other physical ailments, such as back and knee problems. More recently, he has developed stem cell-derived eye drops that have successfully treated a range of eye disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa.

Since 2006, Dr. Farshchian has treated more than 11,000 patients in more than 50countries with his proprietary stem cell therapies. Despite his major innovation and success with stem cell therapies, he is best-known worldwide for successfully treating the late Michael Jackson for his addiction to prescription painkillers and also for an ankle injury before what would have been the new tour Jackson planned before his death.

Stem cells are the bodys most fundamental raw materials the cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. They either become new stem cells or specialized cells, such as retina cells for the eyes. No other cell in the human body has the ability to generate new types of cells that address specific bodily functions.

Beginning in 1999, Dr. Farshchian, a member of the American Academy ofAnti-Aging Medicine, began a quest to develop new and more effective treatments forneurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons Disease. In 2006, he began experimenting with revolutionary stem cell treatments that involve using the patients own stem cells, known as autologous stem cells, which are reinjected into the patients body after minimal processing.

Ive experienced great improvement as a result of the stem cell treatments, says 62-year-old Sharon Davis of Cocoa, Florida, who was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease three and a half years ago. After taking medications for more than three years that did not eliminate her symptoms and also had unpleasant side effects, she sought out Dr. Farshchian after he successfully treated her 37-year-old daughter, Heather Fleckinger, who had suffered from chronic and severe lower back problems for five years.

A series of three monthly stem cell injections significantly relieved Ms. Daviss symptoms, especially the shaking she was experiencing on her right side, and reduced her need for prescription medications. Based on how much he helped me, I tell everybody I know to go see him, says Ms. Davis, who is continuing treatment in the hope her symptoms will be completely alleviated, ending her need for any medications.

Her daughter, Ms. Fleckinger, says, I feel like Dr. Farshchian saved my life. Before I went to see him, I wore a back brace and took daily medications, but my back problems still prevented me from doing my job as a horse trainer and I had to wear a back brace almost constantly. Over a five-year period, I also tried chiropractors and acupuncture, but nothing worked.

Then, she says, a series of three stem cell injections from Dr. Farshchian over a one-week period cured her. Within three weeks, my back felt much better, she says. And after four weeks, it didnt hurt at all. I could hardly believe it. I consider it a miracle. She returns for follow-up booster shots every six to 12 months.

Rose Rubino, a 69-year-old business owner from Cape Canaveral, has been treated with Dr. Farshchians stem cell therapies over the last seven years for knee problems, severe arthritis, and spinal stenosis.

The first time I went to see him, I was scheduled for knee replacement surgery,Ms. Rubino says. But I ended up being able to avoid surgery because of the incredible resultI got from the stem cell injections. She received three injections over a one-week period.

Three months later, her 54-year-old sister suffered a frozen shoulder. Doctors told herthe condition required arthroscopic surgery. Instead, based on Ms. Rubinos recommendation, she saw Dr. Farshchian, who treated her successfully with a single stem cell injection. So shewas able to avoid surgery, just like I was, Ms. Rubino says.

Over the past five years, Dr. Farshchian has also successfully treated Ms. Rubino for arthritis and spinal stenosis. Dr. Farshchian saved my life, as far as Im concerned, she says. Nobody ever told me that as I aged, I would develop all these painful physical ailments that would supposedly require surgery. And every time, Dr. Farshchians stem cell treatments worked. I consider myself his unofficial spokesperson, because as far as Im concerned he performed multiple miracles in my life. So I tell the world about him, every chance I get.

Dr. Farshchians latest progress is in the field of optical regeneration. He has developed proprietary eye drops, trademarked as iFarshchian Drops, to treat retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that involves a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina.

The drops are uniquely developed for each patient from his or her own stem cells and are engineered to penetrate the sclera, or white outer layer of the eyeball, in order to find damaged eye cells and rejuvenate them.

Dr. Farshchian stresses that recently reported and serious complications from therapy at a South Florida clinic that injected stem cells into the eyes of patients were the result of flawed delivery of the therapy, rather than the therapy itself, which has been proven safe and successful in ongoing clinical trials at University of California at Irvine and at RIKEN Laboratory in Kobe, Japan. He also emphasizes that his eye drops are less invasive and safer than injections.

This spring, Dr. Farshchians eye drops successfully treated 89-year-old James

Enochs of Prince George, VA for degenerative eye disease. Ive already had significant improvement in my ability to read an eye chart, says Enochs, who was successfully treated with stem cell therapy by Dr. Farshchian for chronic knee problems seven years ago. My eyes had been very sensitive to wind and light. And Ive noticed a significant improvement in that sensitivity. I can only speak about the eye drops from my own experience. But for me,they have already delivered pretty remarkable results. He will now continue to use the dropsat home.Dr. Farshchian is a very brilliant and innovative doctor, Enochs says. I was justabout as skeptical as you could be the first time I came to Miami seven years ago fortreatment on my knees. But I had a huge success with my knees, and was able to avoid thesurgery that my orthopedist wanted to perform. Now Ive also had success with my eyes.So Im very impressed with his work with stem cells. Im not a skeptic anymore. Because Dr. Farshchian uses only autologous stem cells those taken from a patients own body the therapies are neither restricted nor regulated by the Food & Drug Administration. But, Dr. Farshchian points out, he fully complies with all stem cell-related FDA recommendations.

The three primary disorders that I treat with stem cells retinitis pigmentosa, Parkinsons Disease, and spinal stenosis, are difficult to treat traditionally because they are stubbornly resistant to surgery, Dr. Farshchian says. That means that most patients with those conditions are in dire need of a new alternative that works. And very few of them are aware yet of the dramatic breakthroughs being made with stem cell therapies.

His stem cell treatments are not Dr. Farshchians first major medical innovation. Almost 20 years ago, he coined the term orthopedic regenerative medicine to describe the highly effective new treatments he developed for common ailments such as arthritis.

The Center for Regenerative Medicine is located at 1001 NE 125th Street in North Miami. For more information , call (305) 891-4686 or visit ArthritisUSA.net.

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Miami Doctor Pioneers Innovative Stem Cell Therapies For Parkinson's Disease, Spinal Stenosis And Degenerative ... - Miami's Community Newspapers

After decades of practising conventional, high-tech, hospital-based medicine, I experienced a profound shift in my understanding of health and healing. I realised that healing was an internal process that the body itself performed. The human body was designed with a tremendous capacity to heal itself. I, the doctor, was not really the healer.

My job with my medicines, surgery and other techniques was to support and encourage the healing process, to create the optimal circumstances for repair and healing to take place. Yes, my treatments could help correct a negative situation, restore balance and even save a life, but ultimately, the body could heal itself.

The human body is composed of up to 100 trillion microscopic units called cells. These cells are the building blocks of life. Each cell is intelligent and sophisticated, cooperating with its fellows to maintain the body's health.

Normally, cells are not immortal and as they age, get damaged or diseased, they die and are replaced. For example, liver and skin cells have a three-month lifespan; red blood cells live for four months; while the cells lining your intestines are quickly replaced every two days.

Every minute, millions of your body's cells die and new ones take their place. Each year, over 90 per cent of your cells are replaced as the body continually repairs itself. Old medical dogma had insisted that once brain cells died they could not be replaced. We now know that even the brain can regenerate new cells.

Heart specialists had also claimed that when heart cells die from a heart attack, they never grow back. Not true. Groundbreaking research has overturned the old, negative thinking, showing that heart cells are capable of regenerating themselves. This is great news, as heart attacks that damage hearts and strokes that injure brains are two of the commonest causes of death and disability worldwide. Old beliefs die hard, and years may pass before most doctors come to accept these new discoveries.

The body repairs itself using special cells called stem cells. A stem cell is a cell produced in the body with the ability to create all types of new cells. Your body creates these stem cells every day and they act as a repair system, replenishing damaged tissues. Modern medicine is racing to find expensive ways to transplant stem cells into patients to promote healing. This has been called regenerative medicine. An example of this approach is the injection of stem cells into the hearts of people with severe heart disease. The world welcomes all the help modern, sophisticated medicine offers.

However, my focus is on natural regenerative medicine: how to encourage your body to produce more of its own stem cells for your healing. Then, if that fails, we can consider the more dangerous, expensive and invasive options. Research has shown that your lifestyle influences the activation of these stem cells and may improve the ability of your body to self-repair and heal.

New research reveals that the body increases stem cell numbers when we exercise. The more active we are, the more new cells we need and the more stem cells we make. Physical exercise not only stimulates an increase of stem cells in your muscles, but also in other tissues such as heart, bone, brain, liver, etc.

Researchers in China report that people who practise the martial art tai chi saw a significant boost in their stem cell populations. I suspect the same may be true of yoga.

Regular exercise not only prevents disease, but also keeps stored stem cells in reserve for healing after stress and injury. Although exercise can boost stem cell numbers, optimal stem cell activity is enhanced when exercise is accompanied with healthy sleep and good stress management.

Research shows that fasting boosts stem cell production. Even after a few days of fasting, the number of stem cells in the blood is definitely elevated. It seems that the body becomes more efficient when food intake is lowered and boosts its stem cell output. Meals low in calories but high in nutrient value are ideal for this purpose. The quality of your nutrition has a major impact on the quality of your cells. The cellular nutrition meal-replacement shake and supplements are great tools for that purpose.

Research conducted at the University of Pennsylvania medical school revealed that a type of oxygen therapy using hyperbaric oxygen dramatically increases stem cell activity. The results were amazing. After only one treatment, concentrations of stem cells doubled, and after a full course of 20 treatments, stem cell levels increases by 800 per cent!

Our neighbours, the Cubans, have long promoted and successfully used hyperbaric oxygen to help in the recovery from strokes and other nervous system and circulatory problems. Other simpler and still useful oxygen therapies include ozone therapy, breathing oxygen while exercising, and even some deep-breathing techniques.

We live in a toxic world. For example, the plastic industry has filled our lives with products made of or stored in plastic. There is growing evidence that some of the chemicals in plastics such as bisphenol-A and polyvinyl chloride are dangerous and may damage stem cells. Regular detoxification of the body is therefore very important for good health.

To be really safe, try to limit storing food in plastic containers, or drinking out of plastic bottles. Also, never microwave food in a plastic container of any kind, even if it says it is microwave-safe. In general, use microwave ovens as little as possible.

Based on current evidence, popularly advertised stem cell enhancement supplements are not effective. Stem cell experts say they are at best a waste of money and at worst a risk to your health.

- You may email Dr Vendryes at tonyvendryes@gmail.com or listen to 'An Ounce of Prevention' on POWER 106 FM on Fridays at 9 p.m. Visit http://www.tonyvendryes.com for details on his books and articles.

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Ounce of Prevention | The wonder of natural regenerative medicine - Jamaica Gleaner

A WOMENS organisation in Yate has awarded 3,000 to a blindness charity after organising a series of events over the past year.

Members of Yate and District Townswomens Guild chose Retinitis Pigmentosa(RP) Fighting Blindness as their charity of choice for 2016-17, and raised funds for the organisation by hosting beetle drives, sales tables, a fashion show and Christmas Craft Stalls.

Rhona Cowie, Chairman of Yate and District Townswomen's Guild,said: "I would like to extend my thanks to all of the ladies of the guild for their hardwork and effort.

"My predecessorChristina Shinton did an amazing job organising the fashion show, which was attended by around 160 people and raised most of the money."

"Models wearing clothing fromM&CO and Next also made the fashion show a very successful evening."

Rhona and Christinapresentedrepresentatives from RP Fighting Blindness with a 3,000 cheque at the Townswomen's monthly meeting in April.

RP Fighting Blindness is a charity dedicated to finding a treatment for a group of eye conditions (retinitis pigmentosa) that affect vision and can ultimately lead to blindness.

There is currently no cure for RP, which affects around 25,000 people in the UK, but the charity provides support and guidance for those who have been diagnosed.

Ian Watson, Fundraising Manager at RP Fighting Blindness, said: We were delighted to hear of the support from Yate and District Townswomens Guild.

Community support of this type is so important for our charity; not only does it raise much-needed funds, but spreads the word of our work too, raising awareness of inherited retinal dystrophies with the general public.

The Townswomen's Guild have now announced that their next charity will beDogs for Good, an organisation that trains assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities and children with autism.

They will be hosting a luncheon on Wednesday, May 31 at 12.30pm at the Masonic Hall in order to raise funds for the charity.

Those wishing to book a ticket should contact Rhona on 01454 881532.

She added: New members are always welcome to join us. We area friendly group who enjoy meeting, having a chat and give amazing support to various charities.

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Yate and District Townswomen's Guild raise 3000 for blindness charity - South Cotswolds Gazette

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. If youve lived in central Indiana for a while, youve probably heard Bernie Eagans voice come through the radio at work, at home or in your car.

Bernie is the afternoon radio personality from 4 to 8 p.m. on Soft Rock B105.7. Hes also been working at Emmis Communications, which also owns 93 WIBC, since 1981 and has only been on two radio stations this entire time. Before joining B105.7 as their morning radio personality in 2002, Bernie had worked as a DJ at Lite Rock 97.1 WENS, which is now Country 97.1 HANK FM.

But if youve listened to Bernie over the past 36 years, you may have never known this entire time that he is blind.

It doesnt matter. It doesnt add to the show, it doesnt take away from the show. If it made a difference, they probably wouldnt have hired me, says Bernie who says he focuses instead on talking about the music, station events, upcoming concerts and things that he says his listeners can relate.

Because Bernie may rarely, if ever, mention on-air that he is blind, he says his listeners are surprised to find out when they meet him.

If youve never met a blind person, people dont know how to behave, says Bernie.

His wife Teresa drives him to and from work and helps him to the studio to start his show. Once she sets up the computer for him, hes ready to roll.

A lot of times shell help me with transcribing things. Shell read them, Ill write them down. When youre blind, theres no question there are certain things that somebody has to help you with and she is just great, says Bernie.

Shes [also] a much better driver than I am, says Bernie jokingly about Teresa, whom he married in 1995.

Bernie also takes the music logs for B105.7, which tells a radio DJ the order the songs on the station will play, and transcribes them into braille to print off and use for his show.

Bernie had gone to the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired through high school and knew that he wanted to work in radio as a teenager.

I went down to what use to be Indiana Central College, now the University of Indianapolis. They [have] a station, WICR, and so I used to bug those guys because I used to live very close. My mother took me over to the station and I went in and started telling the [DJ] how to do his show because I was 14 years old, so I [thought I] knew everything. And [the DJ] finally said to me, do you want to take over the show? Of course it scared me unbelievably, and I said, sure! Bernie says the WICR DJ showed him how to run the equipment, and he had his first taste of being on-air.

From there, Bernie went to Ball State University to study Radio Broadcasting and worked at several stations in East Central Indiana including WERK, which is where David Letterman also got his first start.

In 1981, Bernie applied to work at a new station called WENS, and was hired by Program Director Rick Cummings, who is now the President of Radio Programming for Emmis Communications. Bernies first day on the air was July 11, 1981, which was one full week after WENS had debuted as an Adult Contemporary format on July 4.

After nearly 36 years on the air in Indianapolis, does Bernie have any plans of slowing down anytime soon and stepping away from his passion in radio?

Im not really sure. Im going to work here, if I can, until I retire. Then after that, well see what happens.

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR BERNIE EAGAN TALK WITH 93 WIBCS C.J. MILLER ABOUT OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF BEING BLIND AND WHY HE DECIDED TO GO INTO RADIO BROADCASTING.

93 WIBCS C.J. MILLER REPORTING.

Twitter: @CJMillerWIBC

Photo Credit: C.J. Miller / WIBC

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B105.7 Radio DJ Bernie Eagan on Overcoming Challenges of Blindness - 93.1 WIBC Indianapolis

Monday was a good start to the week for stocks, with major benchmarks climbing around half a percent on the day. Most market participants pointed to a lack of bad news over the weekend and anticipation about expected favorable economic data in the coming days as drivers of the generally positive attitude among investors.

But there are still plenty of factors that are preventing stocks overall from mounting stronger gains, including nervousness about geopolitical issues as well as weaker parts of the global economy. Nevertheless, some stocks posted strong gains, and Puma Biotechnology (NASDAQ:PBYI), Applied Optoelectronics (NASDAQ:AAOI), and Ferroglobe (NASDAQ:GSM) were among the best performers on the day. Below, we'll look more closely at these stocks to tell you why they did so well.

Image source: Getty Images.

Shares of Puma Biotechnology soared 39% as investors anticipated that the biotech company will get approval of its neratinib breast cancer drug from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. An FDA advisory committee is scheduled to meet later this week, and documents supporting that meeting were released today. In those documents, investors found fewer critical views of neratinib than some had expected, and that led those following the stock to conclude that the drug is likely to get a favorable review from the advisory panel. That by itself won't mean certain approval for neratinib, as the final decision from the FDA doesn't necessarily hinge on the advisory panel. Nevertheless, positive signs have investors excited about Puma, and there's potential for further gains if the FDA does indeed follow through with approval later this year.

Applied Optoelectronics stock climbed 12% after the supplier of fiber-optic components got a favorable review from Wall Street analysts. Needham & Co. began its coverage of Applied Optoelectronics stock with a strong buy rating, arguing that the company has a lot of growth potential stemming from moves among enterprise data center users to upgrade their performance and incorporate faster transfer speeds. Needham set an $85-per-share price target on the stock, which still gives investors nearly 20% upside from current levels. If Applied Optoelectronics can turn the new upgrade cycle into accelerating growth, then investors could see even greater gains in the long run.

Finally, shares of Ferroglobe rose 9%. The producer of silicon metal and various related alloys released its first-quarter financial results, which included flat revenue compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 and a minimal net loss for the quarter. Shipment volumes were down from year-ago levels, but a rise in prices for manganese alloys was sufficient to keep total average selling prices relatively steady. Yet CEO Pedro Larrea was optimistic about the company's performance, noting that "significant margin improvement reflects solid demand across end markets and a continued improvement in the overall pricing environment." Even with the gains, Ferroglobe shares have lost half their value in the past two years, but investors are optimistic that the company can earn back some of those losses over time.

Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Why Puma Biotechnology, Applied Optoelectronics, and Ferroglobe Jumped Today - Motley Fool

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Biotechnology Congress 2017 - (5th in the Series) Academic" conference to their offering.

The 'Global Biotechnology Congress 2017' would provide eminent scientists the opportunity to present their cutting edge researches in the field of biotechnology and its applications in medicine. A number of Nobel Laureates and leading researchers are expected to participate in this important conference.

This unique international conference provides a platform for researchers and decision makers in biotechnology to present their latest findings and learn about all the important developments in biotechnology. Many Nobel Laureates and world's renowned experts will participate in the conference.

The conference will cover the translational nature of biotechnological research, with emphasis on both the basic science as well as its applications in industry and academia. Presentations will include major research advances in biotechnology, business development, strategic alliances, partnering trends, product opportunities, growth business models and strategies, licensing and pharmaceutical biotechnology (e.g. vaccines, CNS, cancer, antibodies), medical biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, protein engineering, plant and environmental technologies, transgenic plant and crops, bioremediation, and microbial diversity research.

Throughout the course of the four day conference, you will have the opportunity to both network and hear leaders from the international academic and corporate biotechnology communities.

Benefits of Attending

- Exchange ideas and network with leading biotechnologists and decision makers.

- Bring together top international biotechnology professionals presenting cutting-edge discoveries, research and opportunities for new biotech business practices and partnerships.

- Participants can gain direct access to a core audience of biotechnology professionals and decision makers, and have increased visibility through branding and networking at the conference.

- Obtain a global roundup of Pharmaceutical research capabilities and opportunities.

- The conference will feature a commercial exhibition and poster sessions.

For more information about this conference visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/tw4sc3/global

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Global Biotechnology Congress 2017: Academic Registration (Boston, United States - July 10-11-12-13, 2017 ... - Business Wire (press release)

BioTime to Present at 16 thNational Life Sciences and Biotechnology Week (MIXiii BIOMED)

BioTime, Inc.(NYSE MKT: BTX and TASE: BTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and commercializing products addressing degenerative diseases, today announced that BioTime, and its subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd., will be featured in two presentations at the 16th National Life Sciences and Biotechnology Week (MIXiii BIOMED) on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 as part of the Regenerative and Cell Therapies track. The conference is being held at the David InterContinental in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 23-25, 2017.

Presentations will be held at 12:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. IDT in Hall B of the InterContinental, and will highlight both the companys technology and business model. Jim Knight, BioTime, Inc. Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Development, will discuss the evolution of the BioTime group of companies during one of the presentations. A second presentation will focus on cell-based transplantation therapy in AMD patients. Each presentation will be followed by a panel discussion. More information about the conference program and presentations can be found here.

About BioTime

BioTime, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies developed from what the company believes to be the worlds premier collection of pluripotent cell assets. The foundation of BioTimes core therapeutic technology platform is pluripotent cells that are capable of becoming any of the cell types in the human body. Pluripotent cells have potential application in many areas of medicine with large unmet patient needs, including various age-related degenerative diseases and degenerative conditions for which there presently are no cures. Unlike pharmaceuticals that require a molecular target, therapeutic strategies based on the use of pluripotent cells are generally aimed at regenerating or replacing affected cells and tissues, and therefore may have broader applicability than pharmaceutical products. BioTime also has significant equity holdings in two publicly traded companies, Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. and OncoCyte Corporation, which BioTime founded and which, until recently, were majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries of BioTime.

BioTimecommon stock is traded on the NYSE MKT and TASE under the symbol BTX. For more information, please visitwww.biotimeinc.comor connect with the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Google+.

Investor Contact: EVC Group, Inc. Michael Polyviou/Doug Sherk, 646-445-4800 mpolyviou@evcgroup.com;dsherk@evcgroup.com or Media Contact: JQA Partners, Inc. Jules Abraham, 917-885-7378 jabraham@jqapartners.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170523005380/en/

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BioTime to Present at 16th National Life Sciences and Biotechnology Week (MIXiii BIOMED) - Stockhouse

How to Trade these Stock After an unavoidable Selloff: Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI), BofI Holding, Inc. (BOFI) StockNewsJournal Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:PBYI) market capitalization at present is $1.42B at the rate of $37.80 a share. The firm's price-to-sales ratio was noted 0.00 in contrast with an overall industry average of 100.20. Most of the active traders and ... and more »

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How to Trade these Stock After an unavoidable Selloff: Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI), BofI Holding, Inc. (BOFI) - StockNewsJournal

BUZZ-Puma Biotechnology: Shares on the prowl:BUZZ-Puma Biotechnology: Shares on the prowl

** Puma Biotechnology shares soar 50.3 pct to $56.80 in heavy Monday morning trading; shares rise as high as $69.35, halted multiple times for volatility

** U.S. Food and Drug Administration posts documents reviewing Puma's neratinib for treating breast cancer ahead of FDA advisory committee meeting on the product on Weds

** Based on sensitivity analyses conducted, results appear to be generally similar to the primary analysis results, supporting an effect of neratinib, FDA staffers say in review documents

** Options market has been pricing in a move about 63 pct, positive or negative, in PBYI shares in reaction to neratinib review, JPMorgan analyst Cory Kasimov said in research note last week

** Short interest in PBYI shares stood at 21.5 pct of shares outstanding as of Apr 27, according to Thomson Reuters data

** Five analysts rate PBYI shares a "buy" or "strong buy", two rate "hold", according to TR data; median price target is $80

** PBYI shares have nearly doubled in 2017, against 9.7 pct rise for Nasdaq Biotechnology index

(This story has not been edited by timesofindia.com and is autogenerated from a syndicated feed we subscribe to.)

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Puma Biotechnology: Shares on the prowl - Times of India