StemCell Therapy

Editors note: Have you seen the Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vets office? This article appeared in our April-Mayissue. Subscribe to Dogster and get the bimonthly magazine delivered to your home.

It seems like yesterday I was trying to tone down Chippers leaping, sprinting and quick-turn maneuvering especially inside my home. I envied her nonstop energy. Now nearing her 14th birthday, my slow-moving Husky-Golden Retriever mix needs time to rise up from a nap and to steady her legs.

Chipper has arthritis in the spine and, like many of you with dogs dealing with arthritis, I ache emotionally each time I watch my good old dog walk gingerly, wince or let out a short yip from pain. Its tough to find specific statistics on the percentage of dogs who develop arthritis, but arthritis is more apt to strike large breed dogs like German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers; dogs with long backs like Dachshunds and Pembroke Welsh Corgis as well as any canine who is overweight or, worse, obese.

So, what do you do to relieve pain and mobility limitations in your arthritic dog and more importantly, what can you do to possibly even prevent this disease from showing up?

Two simple but powerful solutions: exercise and diet. By keeping your dog engaged in some form of daily exercise, you can prevent him from transforming into a canine couch potato. By not dishing up overflowing bowls of kibble and excessively heaping on treats, you can keep him from morphing into a hairy ottoman.

Research conducted in 2015 by the Association for PetObesity Prevention found that more than one half of adult dogs in the United States are overweight. Sporting extra pounds not only spurs arthritis, diabetes and heart disease but reduces the dogs life span by two to five years compared to dogs kept at healthy weights and exercised regularly.

Combining an exercise routine (like taking daily walks on level surfaces, rolling the ball during fetch sessions and swimming in safe bodies of water) with proper diet that keeps your dog at a healthy weight can positively affect the health of your dog, declared Nancy Soares, D.V.M., president of the American Animal Hospital Association and owner of the Macungie Animal Hospital in Macungie, Pennsylvania.

Dog swimming by Shutterstock

Denis Marcellin-Little, DACVS, DECVS, a certified canine rehabilitation veterinarian and associate professor of orthopedics at North Carolina State in Raleigh, added, Being overweight can certainly accelerate the progress of osteoarthritis and make mobility much more limited. Mobility is immensely important in dogs for their longevity, comfort and joy.

And heres a surprising fact: Excessive fat tissue not only packs on the pounds and impairs mobility, but these tissues (known asadipose tissues) actually secrete hormones that promote pain.

Adipose tissue is a major endocrine organ within the body that secretes hormones and other substances, and these substances secreted trigger an inflammation cascade, which brings about pain, Dr. Soares explained.

Even if your dog is diagnosed with arthritis, be it in the form of hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis of the knee or other joint, our experts assessed some tactics to ease the aches and pains:

Consult your veterinarian about the possible benefits of providing supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM to your adult dog before or at the early signs of arthritis. While most products in this category are not studied and cannot make claims regarding their efficacy, anecdotally, anti-inflammatory benefits can be seen, Dr. Soares said.

Acupuncture, therapeutic massage, hydrotherapy and laser therapy may be beneficial, but make sure theyre administered by certified professionals. Hydrotherapy is a form of exercise, so it is effective, but realistically, it is easier to take your dog on a walk than finding a place that offers an underwater treadmill, Dr. Marcellin-Little said.

Pain management medications prescribed by a veterinarian, such as anti-inflammatories and analgesics, can reduce swelling and pain in the joints, but steer clear of human medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), as they are both extremely toxic to dogs.

Yes, some dogs do well with joint replacement surgeries, but make sure the operation is performed by a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. Our pets deserve specialty treatment when advanced care is warranted, Dr. Soares said.

There is limited clinical evidence to support the expense and invasiveness of stem cell therapy, Dr. Soares said. Additional research is underway to determine the best treatment and efficacy for the best outcome.

A holistic option being hailed by veterinarians and physicians is turmeric, a powerful spice that new studies show has the ability to help lessen arthritic inflammation. Also consider adding turmeric root to your dogs diet as a preventive aid in the battle against arthritis. A little bit goes a long way (see our suggested recipe that includes turmeric root powder).

The parting message: The big three weapons in combating osteoarthritis in dogs are managing pain with medications, losing excess weight and exercising regularly to help your dog stay strong and have good joint mobility, Dr. Marcellin-Little said. Your dog will feel better and move better and, hopefully, enjoy a long, quality life.

Spices by Gina Cioli/Lumina Media

Check out this recipe for Golden Paste by Australian veterinarian Doug English (BVSc) from his website turmericlife.com.au. As always, consult with your veterinarian for best treatments for your pets specific health issue.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Continued here:
How to Relieve Arthritis Aches in Your Dog - Dogster - Dogster.com

According to recent studies, arthritis affects approximately one-third of all adult farm and ranch operations and is considered one of the leading causes of disability by customers of the U.S. Department of Agricultures AgrAbility Project. It tends to affect most ag industry workers in their hands, knees and hips mainly because these are the joints that take the most pressure.

Trauma to these joints in relation to farming and ranching occurs when jumping off tractors, being kicked by large livestock or constant bending when milking cows. It can also occur from repetitive motions such as gripping tools, walking on cement floors or locking knees when riding in vibrating machinery all day.

There is no known cure for arthritis but it can be managed so that its progress is slowed and its effects minimized. That management should begin with an arthritis team that can involve your family doctor, a rheumatologist, the pharmacist, and in some cases a physical therapist and occupational therapist. There are going to help you with the most important step which is a diagnosis and treatment program.

When it comes to farming and ranching, there are some pain management practices that you can follow to ease the burden. Some of those practices are:

Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle;

Quit smoking;

Avoid gripping and grasping for long periods of time;

Organize the day by ranking the days tasks in order of importance;

Use built-up handles on toolsrubber hose or washcloths can help;

Wearing quality, nonslip footwear;

Use the largest joint possible to complete a task; and

Simplify your work with labor saving devices.

These are just a few techniques that you can use to alleviate arthritis pain encountered during you daily work. For more information concerning arthritis and agriculture, research the following resources: http://www.arthritis-ag.org, http://www.agrability.org/resources/arthritis, and

http://www.arthritis.com.

Farmers and ranchers may extend productive life in agriculture if they are willing to commit to controlling their arthritis by diet, exercise, modifying their work, and respecting their limitations.

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Arthritis affects agriculture - High Plains Journal

April 20, 2017 07:00 ET | Source: David Steenblock, D.O. Inc.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., April 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- David Steenblock, an osteopathic physician based in San Clemente, CA, uses stem cells and other therapies to achieve significant and improved lifestyle outcomes for many stroke patients.

Many of our cases have demonstrated improved mobility for stroke victims who received stem cell therapy, along with other therapies, including chelation and hyperbaric oxygen, says Dr. Steenblock.

One patient who suffered a stroke several years ago, came to Dr. Steenblocks clinic to undergo the full stroke program. This included EDTA chelation, a procedure that removes heavy metals from the blood, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, along with stem cells from his bone marrow to effect healing and restoration.

After having the bone marrow stem cells, the patients eyesight improved, and both of his knees, which hadnt been working well, were back to functioning almost normally. In addition, his hip joint went back to normal function and he believes his balance when walking has improved tremendously.

The EDTA Chelation Therapy, a treatment used to remove heavy metals from the blood, was used with hyperbaric oxygen, which can lead to significant neurologic improvements for stroke patients.

Dr. David Steenblock is a leading-edge physician in many fields of medicine, from stroke care, to acute brain trauma, to generative and cell-based medicine in the treatment of ALS, Cerebral Palsy and other chronic and degenerative diseases. For more information about Dr. Steenblocks work in stem cell therapies, visit http://www.stemcellmd.org

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David Steenblock, D.O., Uses Stem Cells and Other Therapies for ... - GlobeNewswire (press release)

The Emperor of All Maladies

Cancer is when an aberrant mutation in a cell leads it to prolifically divide, causingabnormal cell growth that can potentially spread to other parts of the body if untreated. Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, with one in every six deaths caused by a type of cancer in 2015, leading to 8.8 million deaths.

Because different mutations can cause cancer, and cancerous cells can develop in many different parts of the body, doctors are continually coming up with different strategies for treating the disease. With each passing year, research on the topic continues to progress. From personalized vaccines to mecha-suit sperm, weve been looking inevery possible nook and cranny in hopes of finding an effective therapy that can work better than what we have today.

Currently, we use a host of methods to treat cancer, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, stem cell transplant, and precision medicine. While some cancer patients receive only one treatment, these treatments are normally used in conjunction to increase the rate of success.

Since the 1960s, our efforts in tackling cancer have progressed significantly. Patients back in the day had a five-year survival rate of around 50 percent. With the advent of these new therapies, some the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the U.S. have 5-year-survival rates at around 75 percent.

Many are hopeful that these numbers will soon improve again, with studies concluding that, of allnew cancer therapies that make it intorandomized controlled trials, at least 25 to 50 percent will improve current therapies. In fact, this might be the case for a newpotential cancer treatment that uses nanoparticles.

The next step in cancer therapies might be quietly waiting for its time in the limelight in Seattle, Washington, at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where scientists have constructed biodegradable nanoparticles that can genetically program immune cells while inside the bodyto target cancer cells. The study was published on April 17 in Nature Nanotechnologyand focused on the effect that nanoparticle-programmed immune T cells had on leukemia in mouse models.

The nanoparticles carried genes that code for chimeric antigen receptors(CARs), which are proteins designed by scientists to help immune cells target and destroy cancer. Once the immune cells undergo this molecular modification, they turn into an army of cancer serial killers.

This new method can eliminate expensive and time-consuming steps that lag previous T cell cancer therapies. The current protocol is that theT cells are removed from the patient, genetically altered, regrown, and infused back into the patient. The biodegradable nanoparticles will eliminate the removal, regrowth, and infusion steps by accomplishing the reprogramming step over a time span of 24 to 48 hourswhile the T cells are in the body.

When the researchers compared the nanoparticle-based method to current immunotherapy methods that require the T cells to be removed, researchers noticed that leukemia-induced mice lived an additional 58 days on average when compared to the mice that received the current treatment.

While these results are exciting, the researchers are looking to make the process safer before they move into human trials. But if this new technique is approved for humans, it could have many more applications. Scientists are looking to adapt the method for diseaseslike hepatitis, HIV, or even solid tumors.

By quickly arming patients immune cells to fed off disease, this new treatment could lower healthcare costs and improve the quality of patients lives.

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In the Future, Cells Reprogrammed Inside Our Bodies Will Fight Cancer for Us - Futurism

Technology Networks

3D-printed Patch Can Help Mend a 'Broken' Heart Technology Networks In this study, researchers from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Alabama-Birmingham used laser-based 3D-bioprinting techniques to incorporate stem cells derived from adult human heart cells on ...

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3D-printed Patch Can Help Mend a 'Broken' Heart - Technology Networks

NEW DELHI: India has changed its over four- decade-old definition of blindness, bringing it in line with the WHO criteria, a step that would drastically bring down the number of people considered "blind" in the country.

According to the new definition, a person who is unable to count fingers from a distance of three metres would be considered "blind" as against the earlier stipulation of six metres, which was adopted in 1976.

The aim of revising the definition is also to be able to generate data which can be compared with global estimates and achieve the WHO goal of reducing the blindness prevalence of India to 0.3 per cent of the total population by 2020.

The notification in this regard has been issued by the Union Health Ministry.

Going by the new definition, the population of blind people in India will reduce from 1.20 crore (as per National Blindness survey 2007 data) to 80 lakh.

"Because of the earlier definition, we were projecting a higher figure of blind people from India at any international forum, presenting ourselves in poor light.

"Also, the data that we generated under the programme could not be compared with the global estimates as other countries were following the WHO definition," said Dr Promila Gupta, Deputy Director General of National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB).

Further, India has to achieve the goal set by the WHO which recommends reducing the prevalence of blindness to 0.3 per cent by 2020 to achieve the elimination of avoidable blindness.

"It would have been extremely difficult to achieve the WHO goal using the earlier NPCB definition since we had been addressing an extra 4 million (40 lakh) individuals blind due to refractive errors. Whereas, by adopting the blindness criteria of WHO, India now can achieve the goal," said Professor Praveen Vashist, in-charge Community Ophthalmology at Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS.

Also, the name of the scheme, 'National Programme for Control of Blindness' has been changed to 'The National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment'.

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India changes definition of blindness, opts for WHO criteria - Times of India

CTV Calgary Published Wednesday, April 19, 2017 11:38AM MDT Last Updated Wednesday, April 19, 2017 11:55AM MDT

Hundreds of thousands of people in the developing world are suffering from blindness or visual impairment due to a lack of one of the worlds most basic resources and a Calgary-based organization, including the efforts of one man, is trying to change that.

Rob Ohlson, the chairman for Operation Eyesight Universal, an organization dedicated to the prevention of avoidable blindness and the restoration of sight, has been going the extra mile to raise funds for his group.

He is credited with bringing in huge donations for the Washing Away Blindness campaign that aims to provide clean water to villages throughout Zambia and protect them from the devastating trachoma, a bacterial eye infection that leads to blindness.

He says he joined to celebrate the life of his father.

It was a way to celebrate his life and his career in India with the Bob Ohlson Centre for Sight Enhancement. I was just immediately struck by the impact that Operation Eyesight had.

In addition to raising money from donors, Ohlson has been matching donations and has come up with $485,000 so far.

Those funds are used to drill water wells for 24 of Zambias most vulnerable communities.

The clean water helps stop the spread of trachoma by allowing people to wash their hands and faces properly.

Brian Foster, the executive director for Operation Eyesight, says he is very happy with Ohlsons involvement.

He brings a lot of energy to the table and hes very involved with us as individuals and he pretty well knows everyone in our office hes pretty familiar with us all.

Ohlson says the work is very rewarding too, especially when it comes to seeing the change that clean, fresh water brings to an African village.

A lot of these areas are fairly dry, specifically in Zambia where were doing a lot of wells. You go back a year or two later and its just lush and green and the population is growing and its phenomenal.

For all he does to combat blindness in developing countries, Rob Ohlson is our Inspired Albertan this week.

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Albertan helping combat blindness in the developing world - CTV News

Deanna Coach Callender

Deanna Coach Callender is an inspiration. She is a lifelong resident of Minneapolis who lived a great life despite some recent health concerns, just like she did before going blind.

Callender went to grade school in Coon Rapids where, she says, No one looked like me. She then came to Minneapolis and went to Ramsey Junior High and Washburn High School. She graduated from Minneapolis Community College and St. Cloud State. She also formerly wrote for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR).

Teaching was her passion. I retired from school teaching. I was a teacher and a girls and boys basketball coach and a girls volleyball coach at Lake Country Montessori School. Callender told MSR that she misses teaching.

That was the joy of my life, teaching and being around children. She began her career teaching high school physical education, English and health at Holy Angels [High School]. When my son went to school, I taught physical education, health and kindergarten at Kings Christian Academy and Risen Christ [School]. Callender has one son, ShirDon, who is an estimator at M.A. Mortenson Company. He is my pride and joy, of course.

Speaking about some of her firsts, she told MSR, I am the first African American female to graduate from Minnesota Military Academy, class of 1987. I also served in the military, in the national guard from 1982-1984. [I] served in the Army active duty from 1984-1991, reserves from 1994-1998.

I was [the first] African American female Greek, Delta Sigma Theta, on the campus of St. Cloud [State University]. I deactivated when I went down south because they were still segregated. My heart was broken.

Callender began losing her sight nine years ago. She has been blind in one eye for three years and almost completely blind in the other eye for about three months, So it is still kind of new to me. Initially, she was diagnosed with glaucoma. However, by the time they found out, her peripheral vision was already gone. It just progressively got worse. I could not take [eye]drops and there was nothing they could do. A couple months ago, I woke up [to experiencing] a little light coming through. I still get a little light, but I cannot see anything.

After losing her sight, Callendar said, I was probably a little distraught for about a month. Then I thought, Well, this is it. This is what it is, and I [have] to get back up and start moving. She currently is waiting on a call to get a seeing-eye dog.

Callender is a member of St. Peter A.M.E Church, a chaplain for the Minnesota Blind Veterans Association, the ambassador for the Challenged Athlete Foundation for Minnesota, and a member of the Youth Association of Blind Athletes.

I do a lot of traveling, she said. I am very much a sports enthusiast, even though I have lost my sight. I still do everything. My favorite things to do are whitewater kayaking I love doing that and skiing, tandem biking, scuba diving and goal ball [blind soccer] at the Winter Sports Clinic for disabled veterans. I have been going there for five years. Callender also likes fishing, baseball, rock climbing and bowling. I just do everything, she said. I have been on two whitewater kayaking [trips] that lasted a week at a time, one in Yellowstone River in Montana and one in the Sandwater River in Utah.

She is employed part-time at the Hennepin County Medical Center. I work as a moulage patient for the fire fighters, EMTs and first responders, as they do their training and certifying. [A moulage applies mock injuries for Emergency Response Teams and other medical personnel.] It is not every day but an on-call kind of thing. Sometimes I will work every day from nine to noon, and sometimes I will only work once a month.

The greatest thing in her life right now, she said, are the sports. The Challenged Athlete Foundation allows me to do a lot of things. They pay for a lot of my trips. They send me on a lot of trips as the ambassador. Its really is a wonderful life. Despite all the life changes she is going through, Callender plans to keep living on her own and doing various activities forever, she said adamantly. Being blind is not a big deal. [It] only makes you want to do more things.

Brandi D. Phillips welcomes readers responses to bphillips@spokesman-recorder.com.

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Sports enthusiast doesn't let blindness slow her down - MSR News Online

The Newburgh Press

Why Investors remained confident on L Brands, Inc. (LB), Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI)? StockNewsJournal Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:PBYI), at its latest closing price of $36.85, it has a price-to-book ratio of 6.95, compared to an industry average at 11.13. A lower P/B ratio could mean that the stock is undervalued. This ratio also gives some idea ... Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Plunges 6.94% on April 18Equities.com Does $36.85 justifies Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI) shares?TopChronicle Orbis Allan Gray Ltd Has $1335000 Stake in Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI)The Cerbat Gem Market Exclusive -Markets Daily -Midway Monitor all 34 news articles »

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Why Investors remained confident on L Brands, Inc. (LB), Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI)? - StockNewsJournal

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - April 19, 2017) - Planda Biotechnology (OTCQB: PLPL) recently presented investors with its outlook for 2017 and a number of milestones that the company plans to accomplish in 2017. Planda's plans are certainly aggressive and representative of the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) -- someone we feel is ideally suited to move the company forward. It didn't take long at all for the new COO, Callum Cottrell-Duffield, to put his stamp on the company's future.

Three weeks ago Planda named Callum Cottrell-Duffield as its new COO, a role that will have him running the day-to-day operations of the company. In the time since being named COO, he has put together a plan to not only get Planda back on track, but to also move it aggressively into the future. With Planda shifting from purely a research and development biotechnology company to a company that is more focused on operations and sales, Callum Cottrell-Duffield is the ideal person to run Planda's day-to-day activity.

After all, he has been there from the beginning where he helped to prepare the company's 8,000-acre tea estate to grow, harvest and produce Planda's signature product, the highly bioavailable Phytofare Catechin Complex. Last year when that signature product was available for mass production and ready to market on a much broader scale, it was Callum Cottrell-Duffield who led the company's sales and marketing team. He has traveled throughout Africa, the United States, Europe, Asia and South America to tell the Planda story, and he has become the face of the company to the industry and to the large buyers who are either current clients or interested in developing a relationship with Planda worldwide.

In the company's latest news release, the COO highlighted several areas where he expects to see improvement and areas where Planda can realize growth. Among those items, Callum Cottrell-Duffield said that he (i) has placed getting the company "current" with its SEC filings at the top of his agenda, (ii) expects to increase production and to continue growing sales with Planda's existing customers as well as gaining traction in the market, which should lead to the addition of new customers all in an effort to make Planda cash flow positive and profitable by the end of 2017, (iii) recently signed a financing agreement that will provide the necessary capital to see the company through until it becomes cash flow positive.

With the appointment of Callum Cottrell-Duffield to COO, the company's CEO, Roger Baylis-Duffield, can now focus his efforts as a scientist on spearheading the company's clinical trials and developing new products for Planda to market. In the company's research and development efforts, the CEO will be busy with a number of major studies this year.

According to the COO, Planda's work in the clinic will include:

Additionally, Planda has granted a research license to Protext Mobility to develop pharmaceutical applications involving Phytofare. Protext will be conducting a human study using Phytofare to regulate glucose levels in Type 2 diabetics as well as, taking over the research to establish a platform for producing non-psychoactive Cannabis. Planda states that the plan for Protext is to produce a Phytofare complex containing bioavailable cannabinoids, cannabinoid acids, and polyphenols that will be formulated into an oral delivery system.

Needless to say, with success in these studies, these are all areas where Planda could develop much-needed products that could, in turn, drastically improve the company's bottom line. For a full look into the COO's agenda for 2017, read Planda's latest news release here:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/plandai-biotechnology-chief-operating-officer-162043100.html

About Stock Market Media Group

Stock Market Media Group is a Content Development IR firm offering a platform for corporate stories to unfold in the media with research reports, corporate videos, CEO interviews and feature news articles.

We may from time to time include our own opinions about our featured companies, their businesses, markets and opportunities. Any opinions we may offer are solely our own, and are made in reliance upon our rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and are provided solely for the general opinionated discussion of our readers and viewers. Our opinions should not be considered to be complete, precise, accurate, or current investment advice, or construed or interpreted as research. Any investment decisions you may make concerning any company are solely your responsibility based on your own due diligence. Our publications are provided only as an informational aid. We encourage you to invest carefully and read the investor information available at the web site of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at: http://www.sec.gov. We also recommend as a general rule, that before investing in any securities you consult with a professional financial planner or advisor, and you should conduct a complete and independent investigation before investing in any security after prudent consideration of all pertinent risks.

We are not a registered broker, dealer, analyst, or adviser. We hold no investment licenses and may not sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. Our publications are not a recommendation to buy or sell a security.

Section 17(b) of the 1933 Securities and Exchange Act requires publishers who distribute information about publicly traded securities for compensation, to disclose who paid them, the amount, and the type of payment. In order to be in full compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, Section 17(b), we are disclosing that SMMG is compensated $5,000 per month by Plandai Biotechnology for content development. Neither SMMG nor anyone associated with it owns shares in PLPL.

For more information: http://www.stockmarketmediagroup.com.

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Plandai Biotechnology Sets Aggressive Agenda for 2017 - Marketwired (press release)

[Editors note:Tom Frieden served seven and a half years as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He talks about health challenges facing the nation, as well as memorable moments from his tenure.]

What immediate health issues are facing the Trump administration?

Tom Frieden: Zika is not over. It is likely to spread in Latin America and the Caribbean for months and years to come, and we still dont fully understand the range of birth defects it causes. Antibiotic resistance in the U.S. is something that threatens to undermine modern medicineAnd we are always concerned about an influenza epidemic.

How prepared is the CDC to deal with these problems?

Its a big problem that when there is an emerging threat, we are not able to surge or work as rapidly as we should, as a result of a lack of additional funding and legislative authority. When there is an earthquake, the Federal Emergency Management Agency doesnt have to go to Congress and say, Will you give us money for this? But the CDC doesA blind spot anywhere puts any of us at risk.

What do you consider unfinished business or a regret?

I hoped that we would be over the finish line on polio [eradication] by now[But] we have further to go.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post:Is the U.S. Ready for Future Disease Threats?

For more background on the Genetic Literacy Project, read GLP on Wikipedia

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Does the US have the biotechnology and other tools to deal with the next wave of diseases? - Genetic Literacy Project

Shares of Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ:PRAN) are on our watchlist today as the stock has moved-1.05% from the open, touching$2.82 on a recent trade. While the stock has a nice low price tag to it, does it have any value?

Is Prana Biotechnology Limited Ready to Move higher? Sign Up For Breaking Alerts on this Stock Before the Crowd.

Equity marketscan move in an instant, requiring investors to always stay on their toes. Most sudden stock spikes or dropsrequire the attention of anyone who is keeping a keen eye on the shares. What may go somewhatundetected is the slow and steady rise or fall of a particular stock. Sometimes it can be difficultto decipher fact from fiction in the markets.

Why is a company that consistently produces strong returnsgoing down? Why are the underperforming company shares movinghigher? While there may be no clear cut answers to the questions, professional investors workendlesslyto make sense ofequity market nuances.

Based onrecent analysis, Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ:PRAN) shares have been seen trading -38.43% off of the 50-day peakand 38.24% away from the 50-daybottom. In terms of the stock price in relation to its moving averages, company shares are 1.03% away from the 20-day moving average and 14.59% off of the 50-day average. If we take alongerapproach, shares have been trading -15.43% away from the 200-day moving average.

Occasionally investors may be looking to shift their stockstrategy. Maybe one plan worked for a period of time, but now economic conditions have shifted and a change is required. Whatever the case, the primary goalis typically to maximize profits.

Finding a winning investing strategy may not happen immediately. Navigating the sometimes murky economic waters can be a struggle. Staying afloat may depend on many factors, but doing homework and studying all the available information is essential.

Over the last year, Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ:PRAN)s stock has performed -20.66%. For the last six months, the stock has performed -9.43%. From the start of the calendar year, shares have been 76.69%. Zooming in closer, company stock has been 11.20% for the quarter, 26.87% over the past month, and -4.95% over the past week.

Interested parties will be eagerly watching how the markets behave the rest of the year. Savvy investors typically try to spot opportunities around every corner. With the uncertainty of the global economic climate, individuals with a stake in the game will need to buckle down and be ready for multiple scenarios. Throw in the rate hike debate, and it makes for a very interesting next couple of months. We are currently keeping a close eye on stocks that are trading under the $5 price level.

Read more here:
Primed for Breakout or Bust? A look at Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ:PRAN) - Morgan Research

My aching joints make it hard to walk. If you have heard yourself, or a loved one, say these words then continue reading.

Many people accept chronic joint pain as a normal part of life, often assuming nothing can be done. But, there is good newsboth non-surgical and surgical treatment options are available that can help relieve, if not eliminate, chronic arthritis pain.

Arthritis is quite commonabout one in every five adults in the U.S. is affected by it. Arthritis is a general term referring to the inflammation and pain caused by more than 100 different types of joint conditions and diseases. The most common type is osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that causes the cartilage between the joints to wear away. Because arthritis is complex, it should be diagnosed by a doctor, who can recommend treatment options.

Arthritis can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the country have some type of doctor-diagnosed arthritis. More common in women than men, the pain usually worsens with age for both as joints further wear down. Carrying excess body weight can also cause issues with joints and worsen arthritis pain.

Living with arthritis and chronic joint pain can be overwhelming. Many people seek relief from over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen. Hot and cold compress therapy can also be used help reduce inflammation. Additionally, low-impact exercises like walking, cycling or water aerobics can help to ease arthritis pain by keeping joints moving and strengthening surrounding muscles.

Weight plays a significant role in joint stress so when people are overweight it puts stress on their joints, especially their weight-bearing joints like knees and hips. Every pound of excess weight exerts about 4 pounds of extra pressure on the knees. That is part of the stress on the body of people who are overweight, causing them to be at greater risk of developing arthritis. Losing even 10 percent of extra weight can have an impact on reducing pain and restoring joint function.

Other options to compliment or reduce the use of over-the-counter treatments are injections. The most common injections are corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid, to provide arthritis pain relief. These are inserted directly into the hip or knee joint by an orthopedic surgeon and can provide continuous relief that can last for several months.

If managing the pain is no longer effective, then surgical options like total joint replacement can provide a life-changing option to help restore mobility. The good news is that community members do not have to leave town to receive joint replacement surgery.

Centennial Orthopedics and Podiatry, located in Roseburg, offers a full range of diagnostic procedures, and surgical services, including total hip, knee and ankle joint replacements. A minimally invasive surgical procedure, anterior hip replacement, is also available locally and has shown to reduce recovery time significantly so patients can get back to enjoying life and the activities that may have been difficult in the past like traveling, gardening, climbing stairs and exercising. The majority of patients who have joint replacement procedures and prepare for their surgery by exercising and building strength are generally able to walk immediately after surgery with reduced pain.

CHI Mercy Healths New Strides Joint Center is designed to help patients both before and after surgery. New Strides nursing and physical therapy teams work closely with community surgeons to help ensure the best outcomes. They educate patients through every step of the procedure so they know what to expect to help reduce anxiety and prepare for their surgery and recovery. New Strides staff uses a unique group approach to physical therapy classes immediately after surgery to aid and track recovery. Mercys New Strides staff also works with patients to ensure their home environments are well-suited for their return, within a day or two, after surgery.

Everyones experience with arthritis is different. But, there may be options available for relief so you dont have to live with chronic pain. My advice to anyone suffering from hip or knee joint painreach out to your physician or call our office at 541-229-2663 to explore your treatment options. Its time to get your life back, and we can help.

Dr. Cary Sanders is an orthopedic surgeon at Centennial Orthopedics and Podiatry, a division of Centennial Medical Group in Roseburg.

Reporter Dan Bain can be reached at 541-957-4221 or e-mail at dbain@nrtoday.com.

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The autoimmune condition causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, usually in the hands, feet and wrists.

Its the second-most common form of arthritis, affecting one per cent of the UK population - approximately 690,000 people - and there are 20,000 new cases per year, according to The British Society for Rheumatology.

However, ground-breaking new research may have discovered a way to stop or reduce impact, and control its severity, by spotting and treating symptoms in the early stages.

The joint study by the University of Manchester and University of East Anglia found that patients who were prescribed drugs within the first six months of symptoms appearing had a significantly improved ability to walk, grip and dress themselves over the next 20 years, than others who were treated later.

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The study is one of a number of significant advances in knowledge about rheumatoid arthritis over the past 20 years.

Whats more, the researchers also found treating patients with the disease-modifying drugs - including sulfasalazine, methotrexate and steroids - also gave them a lower risk of dying once the disease was brought under control.

In their research, the study authors examined the cases of 602 patients with rheumatoid arthritis across two decades between 1990 to 2010.

Though there is a broad range in terms of how people are affected by the disease, the number of patients whose lives have improved has increased thanks in part to early treatment, says James Gwinnutt, first study author from The University of Manchester.

Early intervention has become more and more common in the NHS over these past 20 years. In the early 1990s early intervention would happen in about 30 per cent of cases. Nowadays, that figure is probably more like 60 to 70 per cent.

The study is one of a number of significant advances in knowledge about rheumatoid arthritis over the past 20 years.

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It is also encouraging to hear about the progress that has been made. This study confirms how important early diagnosis and the commencement of treatment is, says Dr Natalie Carter, head of research liaison and evaluation at Arthritis Research UK.

Its an incredibly painful condition that can be diagnosed at any age and have an impact on a persons everyday life.

The British Society for Rheumatology describes the first weeks and months following the onset of the disease as the window of opportunity, explaining treatment early in the disease - even within the first 12 weeks - can prevent damage to joints and other organs, improve long-term function, and increase the likelihood of achieving disease remission.

As well as making everyday tasks increasingly difficult, without adequate treatment the life expectancy for a suffer can be shortened by three to seven years and 10 to 15 years in severe cases.

Other research has highlighted a number of lifestyle factors that can reduce risk and severity of rheumatoid arthritis.

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A study published this month in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease found a healthier diet when youre younger can reduce risk, particularly in women who experience an onset of the condition before the age of 55.

The researchers also found lowering BMI, increasing fatty acid intake and having a modest alcohol consumption has a positive effect.

Furthermore, getting enough vitamin D also helps by reduce inflammation, strengthen bone cartilage, and minimise pain and risk for disability in sufferers, according to another 2004 study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism.

According to the NHS, its not known why the immune system attacks the cells that line your joints by mistake, triggering rheumatoid arthritis, but those at increased risk are women, smokers and those with a family history of the condition.

While theres no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, treatments include long-term medication that can relieve symptoms, physiotherapy or occupational therapy to keep you mobile and surgery to correct joint problems that may develop.

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Rheumatoid arthritis cure: Symptoms halted by doing THIS (it could prevent joint damage) - Express.co.uk

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejects the approval of baricitinib, an arthritis medicine submitted by Alapocas-based Incyte and Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly.(Photo: SUCHAT PEDERSON/THE NEWS JOURNAL)Buy Photo

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration declined to approve baricitinib, a potential rheumatoid arthritis medicine developed byIncyte and Eli Lilly & Co.

Baricitinib was expected to win approval in the United States and generate more than $2 billion in peak sales for the companies, according to Incyte's regulatory filings. In fact, executives at both Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Alapocas-based Incytepredicted the medicine would challenge market leader Pfizer's Xeljanz.Worldwide, Xeljanz generated more than $927 million in sales in 2016, up 77 percent over 2015 numbers.

"This is certainly a blow," said Jim Butkiewicz, chair of the University of Delaware's economics department. "They are going to have to pay a team to work on this getting approved, and the drug's potential revenue will be delayed for at least another year. This is a setback, no question about it."

European regulatory authorities approved baricitinib last month.

In a letter to the companies, the FDA said it needed more clinical data to determine the most appropriate doses. The agency also requested additional information about risks mixing the drug with other treatments.

"The companies disagree with the agency's conclusions," both Lilly and Incyte said in a statement. "The timing of a resubmission will be based on further discussions with the FDA."

Catalina Loveman, a spokeswoman for Incyte, did not respond to requests for additional comments.

"We are disappointed with this action," said Christi Shaw, president of Lilly Bio-Medicines, in a statement. "We remain confident in the benefit/risk of baricitinib as a new treatment option for adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis."

The rejection will sting both companies. Incyte and Lilly had been working on the drug since December 2009. Under the partnership agreement, Incyte agreed to cover 30 percent of baricitinib'sPhase III trials, estimated to cost over $500 million, in exchange for as much as 29 percent of the drug's sales.

"Pharmaceutical companies invest so much in research and development, and if the drug doesn't succeed, those costs need to passed on elsewhere," Butkiewicz said. "That's always the justification given for why pharmaceutical prices are so high because they have to cover the cost of research."

Wall Street analysts said they expect the FDA's denial will impact Incyte's earnings. Piper Jaffray analyst Josh Schimmer downgraded Incyte in a note issued to investors, calling baricitinib "an important part of the valuation and outlook for us." Michael Schmidt, analyst with Leerink, said that baricitinib contributed $25 to estimated Incyte stock price of $141 per share. Schmidt estimated in a research note that a one-year approval delay would be "a best case scenario."

Incyte's stock was battered by the rejection. After hitting a high of $141.23 per share last week, the stock closed Tuesday at $125.90. Eli Lilly shares also reflected the bad news dropping from $86.15 per share on Thursday to $81.20 at Tuesday's closing.

Separately, Incyte increased the executive compensation for its chief executive officer, HerveHoppenot, that it announced in a Monday regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Hoppenot's base salary jumped to $937,738 last year from $898,800 in 2015. Incyte also increased its stock and option awards to $9.5 million in 2016 from $3.7 million in 2015. That brings his total compensation package to $11.8 million last year from $6 million.

Since leaving Novartis for Incyte in 2014, Hoppenot has guided the company into the prestigious Standard & Poor's 500, an index of the most widely held stocks on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.

Incyte joined the list nearly one week after it reported its 2016 revenue surpassed $1 billion for the first time in the company's 26-year history. The $1.1 billion revenue represented a 47 percent increase from the $753 million it generated in 2015.

The company's growth was largely fueled by the success of Jakafi, a medicine approved in the United States and Europe to treat two rare blood cancer. Jakafi sales hit nearly $853 million last year, and Incyte expects the drug to generate $1 billion in sales this year.

Contact Jeff Mordock at (302) 324-2786, on Twitter @JeffMordockTNJ orjmordock@delawareonline.com.

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FDA rejects Incyte arthritis drug baricitinib - The News Journal

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Saturated fat has long been a prime suspect in the onset of osteoarthritis, after researchers found it changes the composition of cartilage, but scientists now believe carbs may also wreck joints.

The research, published today in Scientific Reports, was conducted by Professor Yin Xiao, from Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation.

They studied the effects on joints of diets rich in a variety of saturated fatty acids found in such foods as butter, coconut oil, palm oil and animal fat, and simple carbohydrates - a high-fat, high carbohydrate diet common to "junk food".

They reckon junk food changes the chemical composition of load-bearing joints that makes them weaker, eventually leading to painful osteoarthritis.

Professor Xiao said: "Our findings suggest that it's not wear and tear but diet that has a lot to do with the onset of osteoarthritis.

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"The main function of cartilage is to seal the bone ends in a joint and absorb pressure on the bones during weight-bearing movement such as walking.

"We found that a diet containing simple carbohydrates together with 20 per cent saturated fats produced osteoarthritic-like changes in the knee.

"Saturated fatty acid deposits in the cartilage change its metabolism and weaken the cartilage, making it more prone to damage.

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"This would, in turn, lead to osteoarthritic pain from the loss of the cushioning effect of cartilage.

"We also found changes in the bone under the cartilage on a diet rich in saturated fat."

PhD student Sunder Sekar said the team tested lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid found in coconut oil.

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He said fatty acids could cause tissue inflammation in the entire "joint environment".

He said: "Interestingly, when we replaced the meat fat in the diet with lauric acid we found decreased signs of cartilage deterioration and metabolic syndrome so it seems to have a protective effect.

"We tested a variety of saturated fats and found that long term use of animal fat, butter, and palm oil could weaken the cartilage.

"Replacement of traditional diets containing coconut-derived lauric acid with palm oil-derived palmitic acid or animal fat-derived stearic acid has the potential to worsen the development of both metabolic syndrome and osteoarthritis."

The study is supported by the Prince Charles Hospital Research Foundation.

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BALTIMORE Vizuri Consumer Healthcare on Tuesday launched PainBloc24, a 24-hour over-the-counter topical pain reliever for arthritis joint pain. PainBloc24 has been clinically shown to help relieve pain with as little as one application per day, the company stated.

This is a great milestone for our company, and we know the 53 million people who suffer from chronic arthritis pain need a longer-lasting pain reliever," stated Jeremy Puttock, VP Vizuri Consumer Healthcare. "Were proud to bring a true breakthrough to the market and look forward to expanding distribution in the coming months.

The patent-pending NeuroMax technology in PainBloc24 delivers the maximum allowable OTC dose of its pain-blocking medicine, capsaicin, to turn off certain nerve fibers that send pain signals to the brain. In a clinical study, 60% of patients reported a reduction in arthritic knee pain for 24 hours following one-to-two daily applications of PainBloc24. In addition, patients who used the product for just seven days continued to experience relief from their arthritis pain for an additional three weeks after the last application.

PainBloc24 is available exclusively online and will be rolled out to food, drug and mass retailers this summer.

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Stock images, St. George News

ST. GEORGE Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease condition that seems to be on the rise and it can affectanyoneregardless of gender, race or age; there areimperative facts you need to know about thiscondition that is becoming more serious every day.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a health condition that causes repeated swelling of synovial tissues around the joints. According to William Shiel, author and editor of Medicine.Net, RA is an autoimmune illness that can also result when body muscles are wrongly attacked by yourown immune system.

The effects of rheumatoid arthritis health condition have greatly impacted many people both socially and economically. This disease has caused suffering and huge economic losses to its victims and their relatives in treatment and management of the condition.

RA is increasingly becoming a common disease that is affecting almost 1 percent of the global population. In the United States, the disease has affected close to 1.3 million people, as revealed by most recent census findings reported by the Arthritis Foundation on arthritis.org.Although the disease can affect anyone regardless of gender, race or age, the statistics reveal itis more common inwomen than men, with 2 out of 3 victims of the condition likely to be women.However, it has been manifested mostly in people between the ages of 30 and 60 years old.

Because RAis acontinuing illness that advances with time, it is necessary to create maximum cognizance so that the health risk can be handled in the best way possible.

Causes

Although it is not clearly established what initiates RA onset, there are a number of most probable causes of this health condition. The major contributing factor of RA illness is anomalous reaction of the immune system against its own body; that is, abnormal or other than as expected.

Genetic composition is yet another probable cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Cases of the same family members suffering from RA have provided critical leads to researchers in establishing genetic factor as a potential cause of RA. Consequently, the prevalence of the condition in women more than in men points out that body hormonal composition also determines the probability of suffering from RA condition.

Environmental factors such as pollution and chemicals contamination have also been suspected of causing this joint disease. Exposure to certain bacteria and virus can also initiate RA.

Symptoms

RA symptoms may remain undetected until late stages of the illness. When the condition has advanced, victims may experience painful, soft and swollen joints. This joint problem is commonly replicated in more than one part of the body with the matching joints in both left and right sides of the body being affected.

Apart from joint complications, many RA victims can experience mild fatigue and fever. The symptoms of RA may be occurring with an on-and-off pattern. When the inflammation and pain become intense, they cause a flare situation that may require quick medical attention.

Other symptoms of RA include red eyes, dry mouth, red skin around the joints, limping and inflamed lungs leading to shortness of breath.

Diagnosis

The best specialist to diagnose RA is a rheumatologist. This is a trained medical personwho has adequate knowledge and skills in dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

A rheumatologist may follow one or more procedures in making adiagnosis: He may give a set of questions to the victimthat can be vital in determiningindications of RA. He may inquire about the victims medical past that touches on boththe patient and their relatives. The rheumatologist can also conductother tests such as physical examination, blood analysis, imaging scans and antibodies assessment. It is essential to note that one test may not be adequate to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and therefore specialists should combine a number of tests to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis.

Treatment

If you or someone you know is a victim of rheumatoid arthritis, itis very important to deliberate on various ways of treating this increasing and distressing health condition. Treatment of RA is aimed at achieving various objectives such as stopping inflammation, preventing tissue damage, improving physical performance of the patient and relieving pain.

Doctors should conduct aggressive treatment procedures initially aimed at stopping or minimizing inflammation. Treatment can completely minimize the conditions activity thus causing tight control of RA.

Different drugs are used in management and treatment of RA. Anti-inflammatory medications such as nonsteroids can be bought from chemists with a specialists instruction. Such drugs include ibuprofen and ketoprofen. Corticosteroids can also be used to quickly manage inflammations. Lastly, illness altering anti-rheumatic medicines such as sulfasalazine can be administered in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Written by JUDD LaROWE, M.D.

Dr. Judd LaRowes private practice is River View Medical Walk-In Clinic, 1664 S Dixie Drive.in St. George, telephone 435-656-2995 He is also an Intermountain Healthcare provider of internal medicine affiliatedwith Dixie Regional Medical Center.

Email: news@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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What you need to know about rheumatoid arthritis - St George News

The Husaini Haematology and Oncology Trust will soon provide facilities of bone marrow transplant and stem cell therapies at its newly established Blood Transfusion Centre and Thalassaemia Centre that was inaugurated by the city director health on Tuesday.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Karachi director health Dr Muhammad Toufique urged the trust officials to share the data of patients undergoing blood transfusions, stem cell therapies and bone marrow transplant.

He said the data would help the Sindh government formulate a plan to establish more such facilities in the future. In addition to the blood screening and storage facilities, the centre is providing blood transfusion service to children suffering from genetic blood disorders as well as diagnostic services related to blood disorders.

This is a state-of-the-art blood transfusion and thalassaemia centre where bone marrow transplant and stem cell therapies would be started very soon, said a renowned haematologist associated with the Husaini Blood Bank, Dr Sarfraz Jaffery, at the inaugural ceremony of the blood transfusion and thalassaemia centre located at Qalandaria Chowk, North Nazimabad.

The head office of the Husaini Haematology and Oncology Trust is equipped with a diagnostic lab, blood bank having storage capacity of around 3,000 blood bags and blood transfusion centre for thalassaemic patients while its management is also planning to introduce bone marrow transplant and stem cell therapy services at the same facility in the near future.

Felicitating the trust officials, the city director health vowed to support them in their services. He said the government was also striving hard for provision of safe blood to thalassaemic children and other patients.

Dr Toufique hoped that institutions like Hussaini would come forward to support the government in establishing such centres in the province. Talking to journalists, the director health said steps were being taken to control the outbreak of Chikungunya in the city.

He said the health department was in contact with the municipal authorities to start fumigation in various areas of Karachi to eliminate the mosquitoes and prevent people from mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue and Malaria.

The Sindh government was planning to merge the Malaria and Dengue Prevention and Control Cells under one project director, who would be utilizing all the resources to eliminate the mosquitoes that were responsible for the deadly infectious diseases in the province, he added.

I would also urge people to take precautionary measures, prevent themselves and their children from mosquitoes by using repellents, improving sanitation conditions in their residential areas and adopt other preventive measures to protect themselves against the mosquitoes, he advised.

Earlier, speaking at a workshop on thalassaemia management held at the same place, noted haematologists of the country stressed the need for promoting the culture of prevention from diseases in the country.

They called for the implementation of laws regarding thalassaemia screening, saying that both the government and private sector could not treat the increasing number of thalassaemic patients.

Senior haematologist from Lahore, Prof Dr Jovaria Mannan, urged the doctors and researchers to use latest research methods in the field of haematology.

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The CNIB has a new vision for providing services Regina Leader-Post Certified specialists help people with all levels of vision loss develop or restore their daily living skills and work with them to create a personalized rehabilitation plan. Staff explain eye diseases and how they affect vision, teach techniques to ...

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