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Hear This: Scientists Regrow Sound-Sensing Cells – Live Science

February 21st, 2017 6:45 pm

Scientists have coaxed sound-sensing cells in the ear, called "hair cells," to grow from stem cells. This technique, if perfected with human cells, could help halt or reverse the most common form of hearing loss, according to a new study.

These delicate hair cells can be damaged by excessive noise, ear infections, certain medicines or the natural process of aging. Human hair cells do not naturally regenerate; so as they die, hearing declines.

More than 20 million Americans have significant hearing loss resulting from the death or injury of these sensory hair cells, accounting for about 90 percent of hearing loss in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the new study, scientists at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported that they isolated stem cells from a mouse ear, discovered how to get them to multiply in a laboratory setting, and then converted them into hair cells. Their previous efforts, in 2013, produced only 200 hair cells. With a new technique, however, the research team has increased this number to 11,500 hair cells that were grown from one mouse ear. [Inside Life Science: Once Upon a Stem Cell]

Their paper describing the stem cell advance appears today (Feb. 21) in the journal Cell Reports.

Jeffrey Corwin, an expert on hair-cell regeneration and a professor of neuroscience at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, who was not part of this new research, called it "a very impressive studyby a dream team of scientists" and "a big advance" in the pursuit of regenerating these sensory hearing cells in humans.

Hair cells grow in bundles in the inner ear, and are so named because they look like hairs. Many hair cells within the ear are involved in balance, not hearing. But in the cochlea, the hearing organ deep in the ear canal, there are two kinds of specialized hair cells: outer hair cells, which amplify pitch and enable humans to discern subtle differences in sound; and inner hair cells, which convert sound into electrical signals sent to the brain. Humans have two cochleae (one in each ear), and each has only about 16,000 hair cells.

In fish, birds, lizards and amphibians, cochlear hair cells that die can be regenerated in as fast as a few days. However, in mammals, for the most part, the cells cannot regenerate except for mice and other small mammals when they are newly born. But since so many species can naturally regenerate hair cells from a stem cell precursor, including some newborn mammals, many researchers have been motivated to find a way to rekindle hair-cell regeneration in adult mammals and, of course, in humans, Corwin said.

The new research was done by a team led by Albert Edge, director of the Tillotson Cell Biology Unit at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

In 2012, Edge's group discovered stem cells in the ear called Lgr5+ cells. These cells are also found in the gut, where they actively regenerate the entire lining of human intestines every eight days. The research team soon found a way to coax the Lgr5+ cells to differentiate into hair cells, instead of intestinal cells. But the process was slow, and the yield was low.

Now, the researchers have increased the yield dramatically by inserting a new step. After removing Lgr5+ cells from mice, the researchers first get them to divide in a special growth medium. This step produced a two-thousandfold increase in Lgr5+ cells, Edge told Live Science. Then, the researchers moved these stem cells into a different kind of growth culture and added certain chemicals to turn the Lgr5+ cells into hair cells. [7 Ways the Mind and Body Change With Age]

These laboratory-grown hair cells appear to have many of the characteristics of actual inner and outer hair cells, although they might not be fully functional, Edge said. The most immediate use for this new technique will be to create a large set of the cells to test drugs and to identify compounds that can heal damaged hair cells or regrow them and restore hearing, Edge said.

Scientists have had difficulty testing drugs on large batches of actual hair cells because there are so few in mammalian ears and they are deep in the cochlea, hard to extract, Edge said.

The researchers have reason to believe the technique to regenerate fully functional hair cells in humans could someday work. As reported in their paper, the team tested the technique on a sample of healthy ear tissue from a 40-year-old patient who underwent a labyrinthectomy (removal of parts of the inner ear) to access a brain tumor. The adult human stem cells isolated from this tissue also multiplied and differentiated into hair cells, although not as robustly as the mouse cells did.

But as Corwin noted about Edge's research, "You can see in their paper that they are perfecting their technique as they go along."

Follow Christopher Wanjek @wanjekfor daily tweets on health and science with a humorous edge. Wanjek is the author of "Food at Work" and "Bad Medicine." His column, Bad Medicine, appears regularly on Live Science.

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Resetting the immune system ‘stops MS in it’s tracks for at least five years’ – The Sun

February 21st, 2017 6:45 pm

The condition is caused by the immune system malfunctioning and mistakenly attacking nerves in the brain and spinal cord

A GROUNDBREAKING treatment that resets the immune system could stop the spread of mutliple sclerosis in nearly half of patients, expertssay.

The risky treatment involves wiping the bodies immune system with cancer treatment and rebooting it with a stem cell transplant, but not all patients will be suitable.

Alamy

A stem cell transplant followed by aggressive chemotherapy could reset the immune system and manage the symptoms of MSThe treatment prevents symptoms of the disease worsening for five years in 46 per cent of patients, a study from Imperial College London found.

Multiple sclerosis affects around 100,000 people in the UK, and 2.3 million worldwide.

The condition is caused by the immune system malfunctioning and mistakenly attacking nerves in the brain and spinal cord.

This leads to a range of symptoms including fatigue, problems with arm and leg movement, vision and balance.

There is no cure but certain medications can help slow progression of the disease.

But a stem cell transplant, followed by aggressive chemotherapy, could change that.

Participants in the studyhad advanced forms of the disease and had not responded to any other treatment.

They were given aautologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) A process in which removes healthy stem cells from the body to allow medics to kill the remaining ones.

It aims to stop the immune system from attacking the bodys nerve cells.

The results, published in the journal JAMA Neurology, suggested some patients saw an improvement in their symptoms.

http://www.alamy.com

In the treatment, a patient is given a drug that encourages stem cells to move from the bone marrow into the blood stream, and these cells are then removed from the body.

The patient then receives high-dose chemotherapy that kills any remaining immune cells.

The stem cells are then transfused back into their body to re-grow their immune system.

Previous studies have suggested this resets the immune system, and stops it from attacking the nerve cells.

But medics warn that because thetreatment involves aggressive chemotherapy that inactivates the immune system for a short period of time, some patients died from infections.

Out of the 281 patients who received the treatment in the study, eight died in the 100 days following the treatment.

Older patients, and those with the most severe forms of the disease, were found to have a higher risk of death.

MSis a neurological condition that affects your nerves.

Its caused when your immune system isnt working properly and the coating around your nerves, called myelin, is damaged.

The protective coating helps ensure messages travel smoothly from your nerves to your brain, but when it is damaged the messages become disrupted meaning they can slow down, become distorted or not make it at all.

Once diagnosed, MS stays with you for life, but treatments and specialists can help you to manage the condition and its symptoms.

The cause is not know and there isnt yet a cure, but research is progressing fast.

Symptoms:

Treatment: According to the MS Society, more than 100,000 people in the UK have MS and symptoms usually start in your 20s and 30s, affecting more women than men.

While there is no known cure for MS, there are several ways to treats its symptoms including medication, diet, exercise and physiotherapy.

The best course of action depends on what symptoms the sufferer has.

Dr Paolo Muraro, lead author of the study, said: We previously knew this treatment reboots or resets the immune system and that it carried risks but we didnt know how long the benefits lasted.

In this study, which is the largest long-term follow-up study of this procedure, weve shown we can freeze a patients disease and stop it from becoming worse, for up to five years.

However, we must take into account that the treatment carries a small risk of death, and this is a disease that is not immediately life-threatening.

Most patients with multiple sclerosis have a type of the disease that has flare-ups, known as relapses, followed by an improvement in symptoms.

Dr Muraro said the number of years this treatment prevented symptoms from worsening wasfar greater than would be expected in untreated patients with severe forms of relapsing MS.

Dr Muraro added: These findings are very promising but crucially we didnt have a placebo group in this study, of patients who didnt receive the treatment.

We urgently need more effective treatments for this devastating condition, and so a large randomised controlled trial of this treatment should be the next step.

Dr Sorrel Bickley, head of biomedical research at the MS Society, said: This study is one of the largest to date looking at AHSCT as a treatment for MS and the findings offer some encouraging insights.

It shows that AHSCT can slow or stop progression for many years, and the treatment is most effective in people with MS who have active inflammation in their brain and spinal cord.

There are more than 100,000 people with MS in the UK, its a challenging and unpredictable condition to live with and thats why the MS Society is funding research like this to further our knowledge and find treatments for everyone.

If anyone with MS is considering AHSCT they should speak to their neurologist as a referral is needed to access this treatment via a trial or on the NHS.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us attips@the-sun.co.ukor call 0207 782 4368

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Doctor convicted of botched surgery gets life sentence – USA TODAY

February 21st, 2017 6:45 pm

USA Today Network Tanya Eiserer, WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth Published 12:52 a.m. ET Feb. 21, 2017 | Updated 9 hours ago

Dr. Christopher Duntsch was once an up-and-coming neurosurgeon. After a series of botched surgeries that left two patients dead and others paralyzed, he is now headed to spend the rest of his life behind bars. USA TODAY NETWORK

Christopher Duntsch(Photo: WFAA-TV)

DALLAS Life in prison.

Those were the words that Christopher Duntsch never wanted to hear.And the words that his patients and their families desperately wanted to hear.

The one-time neurosurgeon was sentenced by the 12-member jury to spend the remainder of his life behind bars Monday afternoon.

This was a voice for Kellie, said Don Martin, whose wife bled to death after one of those botched surgeries in 2012.

Travel ban concerns some in Iowa, which relies on foreign-born doctors

His daughter, Caitlin Martin-Linduff, was relieved and tearful to know Duntsch will never hurt anyone again.

Im just so grateful from the bottom of my heart, she said. This will not bring my mother back, but it is some sense of justice for the all the families, for all of the victims.

Duntsch, 44, is the first surgeon known to be sentenced to prison for a botched surgery. He was convicted of injury to an elderly person in the 2012 surgery on Mary Efurd that put her in a wheelchair.

Duntsch was once an up and coming neurosurgeon. He did not make his mark, just not the one that he expected.

This defendant single-handedly ruined their lives, and he gave each of them a life of pain, prosecutor Michelle Shughart told jurors in closing statements.

For weeks, jurors heard the accounts of patients who had been maimed or paralyzed in bungled surgeries. Kellie Martin and Floella Brown died. Jurors also heard from doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who testified theywere shocked by what they saw Duntsch do during and after those surgeries.

So why didnt he stop? Shughart said. Because of greed. Because he owed people a lot of money. He wanted to live the high life and a neurosurgeon makes big bucks. Why didnt he stop? Because he had no conscience. He doesnt care what he has left in his wake.

Jurors heard from Duntschs father, mother, brother and a family friend who sought to appeal to the sympathies of the jury.

Duntsch grew up in a middle-class family. His mom was a teacher. His dad is a physical therapist. He was the eldest of four.

They described him as the bright, precocious little boy who had taken care of a sick bird and loved dogs. They showed photos of him as a baby, as a toddler, and as a boy getting a soccer ball for Christmas. They talked about how he doted on his two little boys.

His father, Don Duntsch, spoke with pride about how his son had once been one of the top authorities on stem cells and had done ground-breaking cancer research.

He said his son called him upset after several of the botched surgeries. He said he had no doubt that his son cared about his patients.

In the end, he blamed pride for his sons downfall.

I think what happened is that as things began to fall apart, the only thing he knew was to try harder, Don Duntsch said.

His younger brother, Nathan, said he had spoken to Duntschs friend and former employee, Jerry Summers, who was left a quadriplegic after one of the botched surgeries. He said that Summers had broken down in to uncontrolled crying and said, I know your brother would never do this to me on purpose.

His father says Christopher Duntsch is a humbled man.

Hes been devastated, Don Duntsch said. He has nothing. Hes lost everything.

Melinda Lehmann, his defense attorney, said Duntsch was a scapegoat for a medical establishment that just kept hiring him and putting him in operating rooms.

Is it right for him go to away, to be thrown away when all of them profited? she said of the hospitals that hired him. They all have blood on their hands.

The jury came back with their verdict in about an hour.

For Mary Efurd, it was sweet justice for the man who ruined her life.

This is what I wanted, she said. This what Ive waited for four and half years.

Follow Tanya Eiserer on Twitter: @tanyaeiserer

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Carl Bildt’s blindness to Sweden’s immigration failure is dangerous and pathetic – The Rebel

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm

In typical leftist arrogance and denial, Sweden's former Prime Minister Carl Bildt, denied there was anything wrong with Sweden on Twitter after President Trump made reference to the sad state of the European country.

During a rally in Florida, Trump said You look at whats happening in Germany, you look at whats happening last night in Sweden. Sweden. Who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. Theyre having problems like they never thought possible.

MORE: 10 stories that prove Sweden is the world's most PATHETIC country

Sweden? Terror attack? What has he been smoking? Questions abound, Bildt tweeted out, somehow equating what Trump said with a terrorist attack. But I guess this is what happens when the only search engine you use happens to be The Pirate Bay.

While it is unknown what event Trump was originally talking about, he explained himself on Twitter by saying, My statement as to what's happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that was broadcast on Fox News concerning immigrants & Sweden.

Not exactly the most optimal choice of words by The President, but the problems with Sweden far outweigh Trump's lightning jump in chain of thought. It's nothing new for him. And neither are the issues with Sweden and the denial on full display.

What complete utter cucks like Carl Bildt do is pretend there's nothing wrong. They deny, deny, deny and it gets to a point where even they believe themselves.

Sweden is by far the biggest joke of the western world. It's the shining example of how NOT to do immigration. You see, how things should be is when someone comes to your country, they assimilate into your culture, not the other way around. Alas, in Sweden, the latter occurs.

In fact, crime rates for migrants in Sweden are easily manipulated, as shown by reports that the Swedish government is covering up huge migrant crime sprees.

In a super viral Facebook post earlier this month, a 47-year-old veteran police officer revealed just how bad things are in the ultra-liberal country.

I've handled Monday-Friday this week: rape, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, rape-assault and rape, extortion, blackmail, off of, assault, violence against police, threats to police, drug crime, drugs, crime, felony, attempted murder, Rape again, extortion again and ill-treatment, Peter Springare wrote.

MORE: Sweden is actually trying to kill its language by replacing 'Standard Swedish' with 'migrant-inclusive accent'

Suspected perpetrators; Ali Mohammed, mahmod, Mohammed, Mohammed Ali, again, again, again Christopher... what is it true. Yes a Swedish name snuck on the outskirts of a drug crime, Mohammed, Mahmod Ali, again and again, he added.

Countries representing the weekly all crimes: Iraq, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Somalia, Syria again, Somalia, unknown, unknown country, Sweden. Half of the suspects, we can't be sure because they don't have any valid papers. Which in itself usually means that they're lying about your nationality and identity.

So, while Journalist Ami Horowitz says the Swedish government is deliberately covering up migrant crime, Carl Bildt linked to an article claiming to 'debunk' Sweden migrant myths along with the caption To whom it might concern: here is what is happening in Sweden. All in all a rather pleasant place.

Why anyone would believe someone who puts his head in the sand over a groundbreaking journalist is beyond me. But this is very typical for the rape capital of Europe as a whole.

So, with everything in mind about how migrant crime gets covered up, the amount of migrant crimes that fall through the cracks and gets reported on is still staggering. But of course, Sweden pretends it doesn't have an issue.

Sweden has become so obsessed with pleasing its Islamic captors, bringing up Stockholm Syndrome would just be a low blow. But a deserving one nonetheless.

This is the country that takes crosses off of churches to appease Muslims.

This is the country that decides to teach children in Arabic because of a decline in migrant school performances.

This is the country that blames non-traditional gender roles for rapes.

This is the country that actually considered giving ISIS terrorists DRIVERS LICENCES if they return 'home'.

This is a country so far off the left-wing deep end, they actually had a bloody feminist snow removal program. You can't make this shit up. It's absolutely laughable to the point where you'd think it's parody. This is utterly embarrassing and any proud Swedes probably cry themselves to sleep humming Where has my country gone.

Carl Bildt's see/hear/speak no evil mindset is beyond parody. It's dangerous to the point where Sweden doesn't recognize the grave it's dug for itself. Sweden has effectively signed its own death warrant with out of control immigration and left-wing governments that could make Montreal blush, all while remaining perfectly ignorant to the world around them.

Problems will NEVER be fixed if they're never discussed.

The left's love affair with radical Islam is a match made in hell. Not to give you any ideas that you will surely implement, but how long until the cross on Sweden's flag gets replaced with a crescent moon?

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Outlook Nebraska – Omaha World-Herald

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm

We achieve this mission through many means, but our primary service is employment, which is provided to the blind and visually impaired in an Omaha-based converting operation that supplies a full line of 100 percent recycled fiber content tissue and towel products to the U.S. Government and other customers.

The largest employer of the blind and visually impaired in Nebraska and the only agency of its kind in a seven-state region, ONI offers additional services for our associates and blind neighbors in our community, including social activities, education, technology and adaptive aids training, and health and wellness programs.

The vision of ONI is to be the premier provider of choice for exceptional employment, training, and experiences that allow the blind and visually impaired to realize their personal and career goals.

Outlook Nebraska, Inc. is a private, nonprofit agency qualified as a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue code and registered as a charitable corporation in the State of Nebraska. The organization operates under the Javits-Wagner-ODay (JWOD) Act and the AbilityOne Program, which mandates the Federal government to provide preferred vendor status to agencies such as ONI who employ persons who are blind or have other significant disabilities. As a result, in addition to empowering the blind and visually impaired to achieve independence and an increased quality of life. ONI is an economic engine that brings valuable government business to the Omaha metro area.

In addition to product sales, Outlook Nebraska, Inc. is supported by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by state and federal law. To make a donation, contact John Wick.

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MPs clash with biotechnology researchers over GMO ban – The Star, Kenya

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm

MPs on Tuesday clashed with biotechnology researchers over the lifting of the GMO ban.

The law makers dismissed a call to have the ban lifted and called for development of home grown biotechnology solutions rather than imposing "foreign ideologies".

Our researchers should focus on home grown technologies that address some of the challenges farmers are facing such as aflatoxin, drought tolerant crop varieties and the stem borer pest, said Agriculture Parliamentary committee chair Noor Mohammed.

He assured local scientists that as long as they focus on need based research, the committee will lobby the government to allocate more resources.

Mohammed made the remarks during a consultative meeting between the committee and biotechnology stakeholders.

He noted that there has not been any scientific evidence on the safety of GMOs, or any guarantee that it can offer a solution to food insecurity in the country.

Read: University students want government to issue licence of GMO maize

Also read: State launches GMO labelling mark amid jitters of effect on existent ban

There is no research in the world specifically stating on the safety of the technology. Let any scientist give evidence in Kenya own up and that GMO is safe for human consumption, he said.

Mohammed stated that MPs remarks should not be construed to mean that the political class in the country is against the introduction of GMO, but warned the researchers and other experts against issuing conflicting statements.

He said all the Parliamentary committees - health, agriculture, environment, education - and all the biotechnology researchers need to work together with a view to providing a common approach regarding the issue.

Dr Margaret Karembu emphasised on the need by the government to allow application of GMO as one of the tools to taming food insecurity and enhancing agricultural productivity.

Any country that does not give opportunity to researcher will forever rely on other peoples products. GMOs have been proven safe by the World Health Organization and other global biotechnology players, said Karembu.

Willy Tonui, the National Biosafety Authority CEO, assured Kenyans that there is no GMO product in the market and that the government is vigilant in monitoring all the foreign materials that are being imported in the county.

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Minuteman HS Receives Biotechnology Lab Grant – Patch.com

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm
Minuteman HS Receives Biotechnology Lab Grant
Patch.com
From Minuteman HS:Minuteman High School has landed another major grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to help upgrade its Biotechnology program. The $108,172 competitive grant will enable the school to outfit its Biotechnology lab with ...

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Cellect Biotechnology (APOP) Stock: Gaining Big On Positive Clinical Data – CNA Finance (press release)

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (NASDAQ: APOP)

Cellect Biotechnology is having an incredibly strong day in the market today. As soon as the session opened, the stock was already trading on overwhelmingly impressive gains. From there, we've seen a continuation of strong movement. Below, we'll talk about what we're seeing from the stock, why, and what we'll be watching for with regard to APOP ahead.

As mentioned above, Cellect Biotechnology is having an incredibly strong day in the market today. At the opening bell, the stock was already trading well into the green. Throughout the morning, we've seen a continuation of gains. At the moment (10:52), APOP is trading at $6.91 per share after a gain of $1.08 per share (18.52%) thus far today.

As is almost always the case, our partners at Trade Ideas were the first to send the alert that APOP was making a run for the top. As soon as we received the alert, the CNA Finance team started digging to see exactly what was causing the movement. It didn't take long to uncover the story. The gains are ultimately the result of a positive data release.

Early this morning, Cellect Biotechnology released positive results from its clinical trial of ApoGraft(TM). The point of the study was to validate the company's proprietary method for stem cell selection. To do so, the company went through the process of production and characterization through ApoGraft. In the announcement, investors learned that the company met its primary endpoint in this study.

Moving forward, the CNA Finance team will continue to keep a close eye on APOP. In particular, we're following ongoing work with regard to ApoGraft as well as the rest of the company's pipeline. We'll keep a close eye on the news and continue to bring it to you as it breaks!

Do you want real-time, actionable news delivered to your inbox? Join the CNA Finance mailing list below!

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This Biotech ETF Looks Primed To Rally Again – iShares Nasdaq … – Seeking Alpha

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm

The biotech sector has gotten a lot of attention lately both in the financial markets and in Washington. The sector, which was one of the worst performing areas of the market in 2016, posting a loss of more than 20%, has started posting gains again, and is looking like the rally may be poised to continue. The biggest play in the sector, the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB), is up more than 10% on the year (its smaller equal weight counterpart, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA:XBI), is up over 17%).

The sector has alternatively gotten good and bad news from the White House. For many months, there has been talk of lowering drug prices through open competition or price caps putting pressure on the big drug manufacturers. On the other hand, President Trump spoke recently of his desire to reform the entire drug approval process in order to "speed the approval of life-saving medications" and "cutting the red tape at the FDA." That notion was welcomed by the equity markets even though it received a tepid response from big pharma companies.

One thing working in favor of biotech right now is M&A and the big prize could be Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY). A StreetInsider article from this week called the company "in play" and listed Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY), Novartis (NYSE:NVS), Gilead (NASDAQ:GILD) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) all as potential buyers. Acadia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACAD) could also be up for grabs with Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) rumored to be a possible bidder. In its quarterly analyst meeting, Amgen's (NASDAQ:AMGN) CEO Bob Bradway discussed how his company was going to be on the lookout for acquisitions, both big and small.

Even Gilead, the big biotech that just caught Wall Street off guard when it significantly lowered 2017 revenue guidance due to weak sales in its hepatitis C drugs, even provided some reason for optimism. The stock dropped roughly 10% on its weak forecast, from a pre-earnings level of around $73, down to a post-announcement low in the $65 area. Since then, however, it has, somewhat surprisingly, begun rallying anew. The stock closed Friday at $70, gaining back nearly of what was lost. Does this signal something of a capitulation point and indicate that buyers are ready to return?

From a technical standpoint, the fund just broke out to the upside from a wedge pattern that has been forming over the past several months.

I wrote earlier this month that I felt the Biotech ETF could close out February above $300 if it could break through the resistance level around $285. It has and now it feels like that $300 level is well within reach.

Despite its rally so far this year, the fund is still about 13% off of its 2016 highs and 26% off of its all-time highs. Valuations in the sector look very reasonable right now as well. Thomson Reuters estimates put the forward P/E of the sector at less than 13, a level it hasn't seen in several years.

Gilead's results notwithstanding, the Q4 earnings season has been pretty good for biotech. Big players such as Amgen, Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG), Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) - all top 10 holdings in the fund - popped strongly after announcing earnings. If the sector can continue posting generally good revenue and earnings results and get a little help from the White House along the way, this could be a nice spot to add a few shares.

Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.

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This Biotech ETF Looks Primed To Rally Again - iShares Nasdaq ... - Seeking Alpha

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Stock Price of Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Increases 10.43% – Highland Mirror

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm

Puma Biotechnology Inc s chart and data analysis indicates that the stock price has dropped -14.54% in the past 12 Weeks but analyzing the 6 month chart of the stock, the price of the stock has managed to drop negative and it has dropped down to -29.98% . Looking at the past 52 week period, the stock price is down -12.97% . Relative price strength is a important factor used by wealth management firms while investing in stocks because the indicator compares the stock performance with the overall market. The relative price strength of Puma Biotechnology Inc has a positive value of 4.53 compared to overall market.Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is having a Relative Strength Index of 68.39 which indicates the stock is not yet over sold or over bought based on the technical indicators.

For the current week, the company shares have a recommendation consensus of Buy. Puma Biotechnology Inc (NYSE:PBYI) has climbed 10.43% in the past week and advanced 24.81% in the last 4 weeks. In the past week, the company has outperformed the S&P 500 by 8.78% and the outperformance has advanced to 20.57% for the last 4 weeks period.

Company has reported several Insider transactions to the SEC, on Jan 24, 2017, Steven Lo (Chief Commercial Officer) sold 2,290 shares at 33.24 per share price.On Jan 24, 2017, Charles R Eyler (officer ) sold 820 shares at 33.24 per share price.On Jan 24, 2017, Richard Paul Bryce (SR VP, CLINICAL RESEARCH & DEV) sold 2,293 shares at 33.24 per share price.

Puma Biotechnology Inc (NYSE:PBYI) rose 7.76% or 2.9 points on Friday and made its way into the gainers of the day. After trading began at $37.25 the stock was seen hitting $40.5 as a peak level and $36.7 as the lowest level. The stock ended up at $40.25. The daily volume was measured at 1,377,113 shares. The 52-week high of the share price is $73.27 and the 52-week low is $19.74. The company has a market cap of $1,482 million.

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, in-licensing, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Its products under development include PB272 (oral neratinib) for the treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) positive metastatic breast cancer and gastric cancer and PB272 (neratinib intravenous) for the treatment of patients with advanced cancer. Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

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8 Signs You May Be at Risk for Psoriatic Arthritis – Health.com

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can take multiple forms, and sometimes even switches from one type to another in the same patient. A condition that often affects people with psoriasis (a different autoimmune disorder that affects the surface of the skin), psoriatic arthritis tends to present as achy, swollen, or stiff joints throughout the body.

Are you wondering whether youre at risk for these uncomfortable aches and pains? Turns out there are eight things that might up your chances of developing psoriatic arthritis.

Heres one: A third of psoriasis patients also suffer with psoriatic arthritis--and the association goes both ways. That is, the majority (about 80%) of people who have psoriatic arthritis will also have psoriasis on their nails.

RELATED: 10 Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms

And while we already know that being overweight is bad news for your health, research confirms that people who are obese during their teens are more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis later on. Similarly, being diagnosed with psoriasis at a young age also raises ones chances of experiencing psoriatic arthritis symptoms later in life.

Another surprising sign you might run into psoriatic arthritis? Strep throat. Some experts believe the infection, which comes with that tell-tale scratchy sensation, may actually trigger psoriatic arthritis in some. Talk about a double whammy.

Curious about the other warning signs of the autoimmune disease? In this video, were highlighting eight important things that could elevate your psoriatic arthritis risk.

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Misdiagnosed Foot and Ankle Injuries May Result in Arthritis and Chronic Pain – National Pain Report

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm

By Staff

Physicians have been advised to err on the side of caution when diagnosing common foot and ankle injuries, or it may result in arthritis, chronic pain and disability, new research suggests.

A new study by orthopedic surgeons published in the February edition of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, outlined subtleties that complicate identification and treatment of snowboarders fractures (lateral talar process fractures) as well as os trigonum injuries, Lisfranc injuries, turf toe, navicular stress fractures and syndesmotic injuries.

These types of injuries account for more than 3 million emergency room visits in the United States each year are related to common foot and ankle injuries. The authors encourage clinicians to obtain additional imaging or a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon to confirm the initial diagnosis.

These types of trauma are a clinically significant source of morbidity and long-term disability among patients, not just those who are elite athletes. In many cases, the clinical symptoms are vague and tough to detect with standard imaging, said lead author Jessica Reissig, DO, of the Department of Orthopedics at Plainview Hospital in New York in a press release. As an osteopathic physician, I view treatment of foot and ankle injuries as acute and preventative care because a mismanaged injury leads to so many future problems for patients.

The authors noted that the potential for severe pain and disability, as well as a high correlation to future arthritis are associated with untreated snowboarders fractures. Additionally, improper treatment of other foot and ankle traumas can result in compensation injuries and other issues including tendinitis and recurrent ankle sprains.

While in many cases, these injuries can be resolved with a combination of medication, immobilization, ice and rest, some require surgical intervention. Elite athletes may also opt for surgery in order to resume their sport sooner, said co-author Adam Bitterman, DO, of the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, in many cases patients can be offered a range of treatment options from conservative to surgical. Choosing the best treatment for the individual can prevent the injury from decreasing the patients future quality of life, Dr. Bitterman explained.

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Why untreated rheumatism arthritis can lead to death and what to do about it – NAIJ.COM

February 21st, 2017 6:44 pm

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a serious illness

This post is a reaction to the many times I have heard At least its nothing serious. Well, some things about Rheumatoid Arthritis are downright serious. So, I want to place a warning to my readers that today I am utterly serious. For once, I have found something that is not a joking matter at all.

A few months ago, I read an old interview with Mrs. Daniels about her mother who had RA. The author said that she had died of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Mrs. Daniels mom is not the first, of course. My own grandfathers life was cut short and RA apparently was part of that.

To write faster, I will shorten Rheumatoid Arthritis to AR

Lets look at a few RA facts: http://bit.ly/RAsolutions

You do not need to read the all links to understand my point, but even though it was tedious, I wanted to provide them for anyone who may need to begin a particular search. And they prove my point, too.

Rheumatoid Arthritis can attack the spine. When the C-1 vertebra is affected, pressure on the spinal cord can lead to paralysis or death. Inside of the larynx are the Cricoarytenoid joints (the vocal cord joints) which bring the characteristic hoarseness of RA. Both the swelling and the nodules can interfere with ability to breathe. Sometimes, a tracheotomy is required. Here is a discussion of this.

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the pericardium (heart lining) interferes with heart function. There are also nodules and inflammation of the muscle itself. RA can attack the lungs in a similar way to the heart, inflaming the lining, or causing nodules. The pleurisy and the scarring both can be life threatening. Rheumatoid Arthritis patients sometimes die from infections because the treatments suppress the immune system.

Heart attack and heart disease risk is much higher. And much less recognized. RA causes inflammation and blockages of arteries. Rheumatoid Arthritis is associated with a shortened lifespan. Some reasons, like constant inflammation, are obvious. Others are not yet known. Studies show that the mortality gap is not improved by treatments.

More widely known is the greater risk of cancer for RA patients. Some attribute this to the treatments used, but this is uncertain. There are dozens of other lesser known complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis which can contribute to early death including involvement of blood vessels, nerves, and other vital organs.

Some of these problems are rarer than others, especially with mild disease. Some of them are fairly low in incidence when measured separately. However, taken together, there is reason for concern. Risk increases with the severity of the disease; RA patients with a severe form of Rheumatoid Arthritis are more likely to see one of these in their future. http://bit.ly/RAsolutions

Maybe we do not talk about this because we do not want to dwell on fearful things. Maybe it is because we are too busy with learning to walk on knee replacements or trying to get our insurance to pay for the shots.

No one can assure you what will happen with RA since disease progression varies, possibly due to genetics. But the goal of treating RA is the same for everyone: to interfere with the disease process. Slow progression, delay disability, and extend life.

You Can Get The Solution Here =) http://bit.ly/RAsolutions

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Stem cell therapy being used for osteoarthritis – WNDU-TV

February 21st, 2017 6:43 pm

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the US, affecting nearly twenty-seven million adults. It is currently an incurable disease in which the joints deteriorate. Now, a therapy that has been used in eye surgery and to heal the skin of burn victims is being used for the first time in knees and this new form of treatment involves stem cells from amniotic fluid.

As a professional photographer, climbing up step ladders and walking down stairs are part of the daily grind for 65-year-old Linda Schwartz.

"Theres constant activity; youre moving the whole time, really," said Schwartz.

But the pain of osteoarthritis in both of her knees was making all that activity a little harder.

"Tried cortisone shots. I had, um, something called Euflexxa. I was sent to physical therapy twice. I mean, I did try acupuncture in my knees. But it didnt really seem to make a difference," said Schwartz.

"Its like the rubber on the tire. So as you start to lose the rubber in your tire and the rim hits the road, thats what happens when you have bone on bone arthritis and youve lost all the cartilage in your knee," said dr. Adam Yanke, an orthopedic surgeon at rush university medical center.

Orthopedic surgeon Adam Yanke enrolled Schwartz in an experimental new therapy that involved injecting amniotic fluid that contained stem cells donated by healthy mothers into the knees of osteoarthritis patients.

"Between the two of those theyre a potent anti-inflammatory and they also have growth factors that help promote healing or healthy growth of tissue," said Dr. Yanke.

It was by far the most effective pain treatment that Schwartz has tried and, unlike cortisone shots, there are no side effects. The pain relief has so far lasted up to a year.

"It was a very gradual feeling of its a little bit better, its a little bit better, and then realizing, wow, its really pretty good," said Schwartz.

The one drawback is this therapy is not for patients whose arthritis is so bad it requires knee replacement surgery. Even though its still in the experimental stage, Dr. Yanke offers the stem cell treatment to his patients, but at a cost of 2200 dollars a shot, it is not yet covered by insurance.

TOPIC: Heart Attack: Slashing Door-To-Balloon Times REPORT: MB #4218

BACKGROUND: A heart attack is an event that occurs when the blood flow that transmits oxygen to the heart is severely reduced or stopped completely. One reason for this blood flow to become reduced is because of the blockage of an artery due to fat, cholesterol or plaque. About every 43 seconds, a person in America suffers from a heart attack. The most common symptoms of a heart attack are the following: * Chest discomfort, including uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or pain in the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and later comes back. * Discomfort in other areas of the body, including pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach. * Shortness of breath. * Cold sweat, nausea and lightheadedness The most common symptom in men is chest pain, whereas women are more likely to experience shortness of breath, vomiting and pain in other parts of the body.

(Source: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/AboutHeartAttacks/About-Heart-Attacks_UCM_002038_Article.jsp)

ACTING FAST: Heart attacks are very delicate events, and in order to overcome them it is important to act fast. If you think you are suffering from a heart attack it is important to call 911 immediately in order to be treated as soon as possible in a hospital with treatments like balloon angioplasty, clot-dissolving drugs, surgery and/or a combination of all of the above.

(Source: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/TreatmentofaHeartAttack/Treatment-of-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_002042_Article.jsp)

DOOR-TO-BALLOON: In order to save lives it is not only important that the patient acts fast, but the hospital does as well; every minute matters. Normally, severe heart attacks like a STEMI are treated with a door-to-balloon protocol. Door-to-balloon is the time that elapses from when a patient enters the door of the hospital to the time blood flow is circulating to heart again. The American College of Cardiology suggests that this time should be 90 minutes or less. In order for these times to be achieved it is important that everyone involved is working consistently and together; this includes doctors, nurses, paramedics, and pharmacists. There is a checklist these professionals have to follow and the data of each patient is posted daily. The Cleveland Clinic has been able to cut the door-to-balloon time almost in half. Thirty-five percent of their patients have had door-to-balloon times of 45 minutes or less and others were able to be treated in only 21 minutes. Researchers will soon publish the results of how their protocol reduces the overall time and how it is specifically impacting death rates.

(Source: Dr. Travis Gullet & https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/2016/05/streamlined-stemi-protocol-slashes-door-balloon-times/)

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT: Andrea Pacetti pacetta@ccf.org

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IBM researchers train Watson to identify eye abnormalities – ZDNet

February 20th, 2017 11:50 pm

IBM researchers in Melbourne have trained a research version of Watson to recognise abnormalities in retina images that could assist doctors in the early detection of eye diseases such as glaucoma, nicknamed "the silent thief of sight" as many patients remain undiagnosed until irreversible vision loss occurs.

Commencing in 2015, the IBM researchers applied deep learning techniques and image analytics technology to 88,000 de-identified retina images accessed through EyePACS to analyse key anomalies of the eye and streamline some of the manual processes that doctors have to undertake when diagnosing eye diseases.

This includes distinguishing between left and right eye images, evaluating the quality of retina scans, and measuring the ratio of the optic cup to disc, which is one of the key indicators of glaucoma.

"It is estimated that at least 150,000 Australians have undiagnosed glaucoma, with numbers expected to rise due to our rapidly ageing population," said Dr Peter van Wijngaarden, principal investigator at Centre for Eye Research Australia, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne.

"The development of image analytics and deep learning technology will provide great promise in this area."

In the future, Watson will be capable of detecting features of other eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, IBM said in an announcement.

"Medical image analysis with cognitive technology has the capacity to fundamentally change the delivery of healthcare services," said Dr Joanna Batstone, vice president and lab director at IBM Research Australia.

"Medical images represent a rich source of data for clinicians to make early diagnosis and treatment of disease, from assessing the risk of melanomas to identifying eye diseases through the analysis of retinas. Cognitive technology holds immense promise for confirming the accuracy, reproducibility, and efficiency of clinicians' analyses during the diagnostic workflow."

IBM has also outlined plans to expand its cognitive computing footprint by connecting Watson to primary, acute, and behavioural data to obtain a complete view of patients. The Watson-primary care provider connection is being rolled out in Central New York in a six-county region with more than 2,000 providers.

In Australia, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) ran a teleophthalmology trial in the Torres Strait Islands and Western Australian goldfields a few years ago, where nurses were trained to take retinal images on site using a mobile device. Those images were then forwarded for reading by ophthalmologists in Perth or Brisbane.

"We could actually provide ophthalmic screening to, in particular, diabetes patients in the community without the doctor having to travel to them or them having to travel to the doctor. That provided screening to a lot of people who wouldn't normally be screened," David Hansen, CEO of the Australian eHealth Research Centre, a joint venture between the CSIRO and Queensland Health, told ZDNet earlier in February.

"Through that study, we were able to diagnose people with diabetes who didn't even realise they had it. There were some people who had really bad diabetic retinopathy who needed to be urgently seen for sight-saving treatment."

CSIRO's teleophthalmology work, which has expanded into areas such as wound care, is currently run by the organisation's group in Perth.

Second Sight's Argus device is one of a handful of commercial retinal implants now being used to help patients with late-stage degenerative eye diseases regain some degree of vision.

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How treating diabetes is helping to prevent falls and injuries on Coast Live – wtkr.com

February 20th, 2017 11:50 pm

wtkr.com
How treating diabetes is helping to prevent falls and injuries on Coast Live
wtkr.com
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - A recent EVMS study in Virginia Beach showed that diabetes is among the top causes of senior falls. We spoke with researchers from the EVMS Strelitz Diabetes Center about ways they are treating and studying diabetes and ...

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Diabetes could cause up to 12% of US deaths – Futurity: Research News

February 20th, 2017 11:50 pm

The proportion of deaths attributable to diabetes in the US is as high as 12 percentthree times higher than estimates based on death certificates suggesta new analysis shows.

For a new study, published inPLOS ONE, researchers used two large datasets that included more than 300,000 people to estimate the fraction of deaths attributable to diabetes among people ages 30 to 84 between 1997 and 2011. To come up with the estimates, researchers calculated the prevalence of diabetes in the population, as well as excess mortality risk among people with diabetes over five years of follow up.

The proportion of deaths attributable to diabetes was estimated to be 11.5 percent using one datasetthe National Health Interview Study (NHIS)and 11.7 percent using the otherthe National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Among the subgroups examined, the attributable fraction was highest among individuals with obesity (19.4 percent).

The proportion of deaths overall was significantly higher than the 3.3 to 3.7 percent of deaths in which diabetes is identified on death certificates as the underlying cause.

The frequency with which diabetes is listed as the underlying cause of death is not a reliable indicator of its actual contribution to the national mortality profile, writes Andrew Stokes, assistant professor of global health at Boston University School of Public Health, and Samuel Preston, professor of sociology and a researcher with the Population Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

They say their analysis indicates that diabetes was the third leading cause of death in the US in 2010, after diseases of the heart and malignant neoplasms.

Diabetes is associated with a number of diseases and disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, renal disease, and visual impairment. Its prevalence has risen rapidly in the US and worldwide in the last 20 years.

Our results demonstrate that diabetes is a major feature on the landscape of American mortality, and they reinforce the need for robust population-level interventions aimed at diabetes prevention and care, Stokes says.

The study notes that the sensitivity and specificity of death certificate assignments of diabetes as an underlying cause of death are lowfar below those of administrative records or surveys.

When both diabetes and heart disease are mentioned on a death certificate, the researchers add, the decision about whether diabetes is listed as the underlying cause is highly variable.

The NHIS dataset is based on self-reports of diabetes diagnoses, while the NHANES data contains both self-reports and HbA1c levels, a preferred biomarker for the presence of diabetes. Individuals in both datasets were linked to the National Death Index through December 2011 to calculate mortality over five years.

The National Institute on Aging and the National Center for Health Statistics funded the work.

Source: Boston University

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Live Well, Be Well diabetes program set in Union County – Annanews

February 20th, 2017 11:50 pm
Live Well, Be Well diabetes program set in Union County
Annanews
A free, six-week diabetes self-management course is scheduled to begin on Feb. 28 at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro. The Live Well, Be Well with Diabetes course is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. each Tuesday in the community room at the ...

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Multiple sclerosis: Stem cell transplantation may halt disease progression – Medical News Today

February 20th, 2017 11:47 pm

New research provides further evidence of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis, after finding the procedure halted disease progression for 5 years in almost half of patients.

Lead study author Dr. Paolo Muraro, of the Department of Medicine at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, and colleagues recently reported their findings in JAMA Neurology.

The results come just a fortnight after another study revealed the success of a similar treatment in a small group of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

However, Dr. Muraro and team warn that further trials are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), after a small number of patients died within 100 days of treatment.

In AHSCT, a patient's own stem cells are harvested. The patient is then subject to high-dose chemotherapy to eliminate any diseased cells.

Next, the harvested stem cells are returned to the patient's bloodstream, with the aim of restarting normal blood cell production. In simple terms, AHSCT "resets" the immune system.

"We previously knew this treatment reboots or resets the immune system - and that it carried risks - but we didn't know how long the benefits lasted," notes Dr. Muraro.

For their study, the researchers assessed data from 25 treatment centers across 13 countries, identifying 281 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who underwent AHSCT between 1995-2006. Of these patients, 78 percent had a progressive form of MS.

Using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the team evaluated patients' progression-free survival at 5 years after treatment and any improvements in MS symptoms.

An EDSS score of zero represents no disability, seven represents the use of a wheelchair, while 10 represents death from MS. At the beginning of the study, patients had an average EDSS score of 6.5.

Overall, the researchers found that 46 percent of patients experienced no disease progression in the 5 years after treatment.

Patients with RRMS - characterized by inflammatory attacks, or "flare-ups," followed by periods of remission - had the best outcomes, with 73 percent experiencing no worsening of symptoms in the 5 years after AHSCT.

Additionally, patients experienced small improvements in MS symptoms after AHSCT. Patients with progressive MS saw their EDSS score rise by 0.14 a year after treatment, while patients with RRMS experienced a 0.76 increase in their EDSS score.

Patients with a younger age, few immunotherapies prior to AHSCT, and a lower EDSS score at study baseline also showed better outcomes with AHSCT.

While these findings show promise for the use of AHSCT for patients with MS, the team notes that there were eight deaths in the 100 days after AHSCT, which were thought to have been treatment related.

AHSCT involves aggressive chemotherapy, which can severely weaken the immune system and increase susceptibility to infection.

"In this study, which is the largest long-term follow-up study of this procedure, we've shown we can 'freeze' a patient's disease - and stop it from becoming worse, for up to 5 years.

However, we must take into account that the treatment carries a small risk of death, and this is a disease that is not immediately life-threatening."

Dr. Paolo Muraro

Dr. Muraro notes that, importantly, this study did not include a group of MS patients who did not receive treatment, further highlighting the need for more studies assessing the safety and efficacy of AHSCT.

"We urgently need more effective treatments for this devastating condition, and so a large randomized controlled trial of this treatment should be the next step," he adds.

Read about a study that links vitamin D level at birth to the risk of MS.

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Doctor convicted of botched surgery gets life sentence – 11alive.com

February 20th, 2017 11:47 pm

Tanya Eiserer, WFAA 8:40 PM. EST February 20, 2017

Dr. Christopher Duntsch (Photo: WFAA)

DALLAS -- Life in prison.

Those were the words that Christopher Duntsch never wanted to hear. And the words that his patients and their families desperately wanted to hear.

The one-time neurosurgeon was sentenced by the 12-member jury to spend the remainder of his life behind bars Monday afternoon.

This was a voice for Kellie, said Don Martin, whose wife bled to death after one of those botched surgeries in 2012.

His daughter, Caitlin Martin-Linduff, was relieved and tearful to know Duntsch will never hurt anyone again.

PREVIOUS |Testimony begins in trial of doctor accused of 'carnage'

Im just so grateful from the bottom of my heart, she said. This will not bring my mother back, but it is some sense of justice for the all the families, for all of the victims.

Duntsch, 44, is the first surgeon known to be sentenced to prison for a botched surgery. He was convicted of injury to an elderly person in the 2012 surgery on Mary Efurd that put her in a wheelchair.

Duntsch was once an upcoming neurosurgeon. He did not make his mark, just not the one that he expected.

PREVIOUS | Testimony in doctor's trial continues: 'He performed worse than any neurosurgeon'

This defendant single-handedly ruined their lives, and he gave each of them a life of pain, prosecutor Michelle Shughart told jurors in closing statements.

For weeks, jurors heard the accounts of patients who had been maimed or paralyzed in horrifically bungled surgeries. Kellie Martin and Floella Brown died. They also heard from doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who were shocked by what they saw Duntsch do during and after those surgeries.

So why didnt he stop? Shughart said. Because of greed. Because he owed people a lot of money. He wanted to live the high life and a neurosurgeon makes big bucks. Why didnt he stop? Because he had no conscious. He doesnt care what he has left in his wake.

Jurors heard from Duntschs dad, mother, brother and a family friend who sought to appeal to the sympathies of the jury.

Duntsch grew up in a middle-class family. His mom was a teacher. His dad is a physical therapist. He was the eldest of four.

They described him as the bright, precocious little boy who had taken care of a sick bird and loved dogs. They showed photos of him as a baby, as a toddler, and as a boy getting a soccer ball for Christmas. They talked about how he doted on his two little boys.

His father, Don Duntsch, spoke with pride about how his son had once been one of the top authorities on stem cells and had done ground-breaking cancer research.

He said his son called him upset after several of the botched surgeries. He has no doubt that his son cared about his patients.

In the end, he blamed pride for his sons downfall.

I think what happened is that as things began to fall apart, the only thing he knew was to try harder, Don Duntsch said.

His younger brother, Nathan, said he had spoken to Duntschs friend and former employee, Jerry Summers, who was left a quadriplegic after one of those botched surgeries. He said that Summers had broken down in to uncontrolled crying and said, I know your brother would never do this to me on purpose.

His father says hes a humbled man.

Hes been devastated, Don Duntsch said. He has nothing. Hes lost everything.

Melinda Lehmann, his defense attorney, said Duntsch was a scapegoat for a medical establishment that just kept hiring him and putting him in operating rooms.

Is it right for him go to away, to be thrown away when all of the profited? she said of the hospitals that hired him. They all have blood on their hands.

The jury came back with their verdict in about an hour.

For Mary Efurd, it was sweet justice for the man who ruined her life.

This is what I wanted, she said. This what Ive waited for four and half years.

Victim statements reveal more gruesome details of botched surgeries

Dallas doctor in botched surgeries found guilty of injury to an elderly person

( 2017 WFAA)

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Testimony in doctor's trial continues: 'He performed worse than any neurosurgeon'

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Testimony begins in trial of doctor accused of 'carnage'

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