StemCell Therapy

Since 2005, talented performers ages 8-18 from across the St. Louis region come together every summer to form the Arch City Kids Theater Troupe (ACTT), producing a Broadway-style musical revue to raise money and awareness for JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) in hopes of finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

As always, this year's production, Don't Stop Believin', is run entirely by kids, who cast, direct, choreograph and perform the show, donating all proceeds to JDRF. Don't Stop Believin' is directed this year by 18-year-old 2022 Lutheran South graduate, Gracie Maurer.

"ACTT is my favorite part of the summer," she says. "I've met lifelong friends and grown as a leader. I'm so excited to be directing the show this year!"

In 2021, ACTT's production Something About This Night raised $25,000, and over the years, with participation of more than 200 area kids, ACTT has given nearly $300,000 to JDRF.

Being a part of ACTT has become a fun and meaningful summer tradition for many young St. Louis performers, but for Assistant Director Natalie McAtee, singing and dancing in the show is only part of the appeal.

"Being able to raise money doing what I love for a disease that affects my friends is the highlight of my summer," said Natalie.

Gracie agrees.

"I am looking forward to raising money to turn Type 1 into Type None."

Don't Stop Believin', featuring songs from Broadway favorites like Rock of Ages, Hairspray, Legally Blonde, A Chorus Line, and Mamma Mia, runs August 5-7 at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Tickets are free but donations are encouraged. Raffles and concessions are available at each show, and all proceeds go to JDRF.

For more information on ACTT: https://cloud.broadwayworld.com/rec/ticketclick.cfm?fromlink=2186141id=81&articlelink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.archcitykids.org%2F?utm_source=BWW2022&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article&utm_content=bottombuybutton1

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Arch City Kids Theater Troupe Fights Type 1 Diabetes With Its Annual Revue - Broadway World

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Nutrigenomics Testing Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Nutrigenomics Testing market is expected to register a 13.3% of CAGR over the forecast period. The major factors for the market growth are increasing burden of lifestyle disorders and gaining popularity of personalized diet. Some of the lifestyle diseases include heart disease, and stroke, obesity and diabetes.

According to the World Health organization, cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death and around three-quarter of the deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, diet plays an influential role on the health with respect to the prevention of diseases and the overall quality of life. Thus, the nutrigenomics testing market growth is expected to propel.

Key Market Trends

Obesity Segment Expected to Exhibit Significant Market Growth

According to the factsheet of National Health Service, as of May 2020, about 20% of the children aged 6 years were obese in the United Kingdom. Childhood obesity is often associated with higher risk of premature death, disability in adulthood, and other risks such as difficulty in breathing, increased risk of fractures, hypertension, early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and psychological effects.

Furthermore, obesity has been a major issue in high-income countries, however in recent years it has seen an upsurge in low- and middle-income countries. In 2018, approximately 40 million children that were under the age of five were obese worldwide, nearly half of this population was found to in Asia. Thus, the rising burden of obesity is expected to have a positive impact on the nutrigenomics testing market.

North America Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market

North America is expected to be a dominant region in the Nutrigenomics Testing market owing to rising burden of diseases due to sedentary lifestyle adoption. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2017-18, the prevalence of obesity in the United States was found to be around 42.4% in adults. The prevalence of obesity was found to be more in women as compared to men. Furthermore, as per the data of Diabetes Research Institute, 2018, 34.2 million people in the United States had diabetes. Hence, a personalised dietary approach is gaining popularity for prevention and treatment of such diseases. Therefore, the aforementioned factors are expected to rise the demand for nutrigenomics testing market growth.

Competitive Landscape

Companies are taking initiatives to grow their presence in the market. In 2019, PT Kalbe Farma Tbk. launched Nutrigen-me panel that includes hormones, methylation, inflammation and antioxidants, plus sleep and lifestyle. Key players that are expected to be dominant in Nutrigenomics Testing market are Orig3n, DNA Life, Genus Health, LLC, Sanger Genomics Pvt. Ltd., The Gene Box, GX Sciences,Inc., Nutrigenomix, Cura Integrative Medicine and Holistic Health

Key Topics Covered

1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Study Assumptions1.2 Scope of the Study

2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Market Overview4.2 Market Drivers4.2.1 Increasing Prevalence of Lifestyle Disorders4.2.2 Increasing Popularity for Personalized Diet4.3 Market Restraints4.3.1 Stringent Regulatory Framework4.4 Porter's Five Force Analysis4.4.1 Threat of New Entrants4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers4.4.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

5 MARKET SEGMENTATION 5.1 By Application5.1.1 Obesity5.1.2 Diabetes5.1.3 Cancer5.1.4 Cardiovascular Disease5.2 Geography5.2.1 North America5.2.2 Europe5.2.3 Asia-Pacific5.2.4 Rest of the World

6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Company Profiles6.1.1 Cura Integrative Medicine6.1.2 DNA Life6.1.3 Genus Health, LLC6.1.4 GX Sciences, Inc.6.1.5 Holistic Health6.1.6 Nutrigenomix6.1.7 Orig3n6.1.8 Sanger Genomics Pvt. Ltd.6.1.9 The Gene Box

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gp59f9

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Nutrigenomics Testing Industry Forecast to 2027 - Insights Into Obesity, Diabetes, Cancer, and Cardiovascular Disease Applications -...

Preclinical evaluation of FasT CAR-T cellsFasT CAR-T (F-CAR-T) proliferation in vitro

To characterize the in vitro proliferative capacity of F-CAR-T cells, F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T cells were manufactured in parallel (Supplementary Methods, and Fig. S1) using T-cells from 6 B-ALL patients. To investigate the ex vivo proliferation of F-CAR-T, frozen CD19 F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T cells from each patient were thawed and stimulated with irradiated CD19-expressing K562 cells. The number of CD19-targeting CAR-T cells was then determined during the course of cell expansion in vitro. As shown in Fig. 1A, upon CD19 antigen stimulation, F-CAR-T proliferation was much more robust compared to C-CAR-T proliferation. On day 17 post co-culture, F-CAR-T expanded 1205.61226.3 fold (MeanSD), while C-CAR-T expanded only 116.437.2 fold (MeanSD), (p=0.001). To characterize the mechanism underlying the superior proliferative ability of F-CAR-T, we purified CD19+ CAR-T cells from both F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T. The expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis was analyzed using Nanostring (detailed gene sets are in Table S2). Gene expression profiles showed higher F-CAR-T expression scores for genes associated with cell cycle regulation (F-CAR-T vs. C-CAR-T, p<0.01) and lower expression scores for apoptosis-related genes (F-CAR-T vs. C-CAR-T, p<0.05) in F-CAR-T cells (Fig. S2A).

A Ex vivo cell proliferation of F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T derived from B-ALL patients (n=6) (***P=0.001, F-CAR-T vs. C-CAR-T, d17, unpaired student two-tailed t-test). B Tscm, Tcm, and Tem were characterized by surface staining of CD45RO and CD62L and analyzed with flow cytometry (***P<0.001 comparing F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T). C T-cell exhaustion was characterized by PD-1, LAG3, and TIM-3 staining; Statistical analyses of the percentage of PD1+ LAG3+ Tim3+ (***P<0.001, comparing F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T), unpaired student two-tailed t-test). D RTCA assay was used to examine the specific killing of HeLa-CD19 cells. Growth of target HeLa-CD19 or HeLa cells were monitored dynamically. E CD19+ target Nalm6-Luc cells or F Raji-Luc cells were co-cultured with either F-CAR-T or C-CAR-T for 6h. Target cell killing efficacy was calculated by luciferase activity. NS, P>0.05 F-CAR-T vs. C-CAR-T (unpaired student t-test, two-tailed). F-CAR-T FasT CAR-T, C-CAR-T conventional CAR-T, Tcm (CD45RO+CD62L+) T central memory cells, Tem (CD45RO+CD62L) T effector memory cells, Tscm (CD45ROCD62L+) T stem cell memory, PD1 programmed cell death protein 1, TIM-3 T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing-3, LAG3 lymphocyte-activation gene 3, RTCA real-time cell analyzer, E:T effector cells: target cells, NT normal T-cell.

Phenotypes of unstimulated F-CAR-T from three healthy donors were analyzed by flow cytometry. The CD45ROCD62L+ population was 45.7%2.2% which was comparable to the un-transduced T-cells (data not shown). Upon stimulation with CD19+ tumor cells for 9 days, C-CAR-T central memory cells (Tcm, CD45RO+CD62L+ and effector memory cells (Tem, CD45RO+CD62L) were 56.62%11.97% and 40.48%9.70%, respectively, among the C-CAR-T cells (Fig. 1B and Figs. S2B and S2). In contrast, Tcm cells (87.92%4.36%) was predominant in F-CAR-T, with only a small fraction of Tem (7.84%3.79%). In addition, F-CAR-T cells demonstrated more abundant T stem cell memory (Tscm) (3.841.22% vs 2.342.48%, p<0.05) than C-CAR-T cells. We also examined the exhaustion status of the stimulated CAR-T cells. A higher percentage of PD-1+LAG3+Tim3+T-cells were detected in the C-CAR-T (11.19%2.54%) compared to F-CAR-T (3.59%2.51%, p<0.001) (Fig. 1C). Together these data indicated that the F-CAR-T exhibited a younger phenotype and was less exhausted compared to C-CAR-T.

We used a real-time cell analyzer (RTCA) assay to measure the cytotoxicity of F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T against CD19+ cells in vitro. F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T killing of Hela-CD19 target cells were comparable using this assay (Fig. 1D). Similar levels of IFN- and IL-2 production were also observed (Fig. S2D). In a luciferase-based cytotoxicity assay, CD19+ B leukemia cell lines, Raji and Nalm6, were both effectively killed to similar or better levels at different E:T ratios (Fig. 1E, F).

To compare the in vivo cytotoxicity of F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T, severe immunodeficient NOG mice were engrafted with Raji-luciferase cells. One week after the tumor grafts were established, F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T were intravenously injected at various doses. The engrafted tumors progressed aggressively in control groups with either vehicle alone or control T-cells (Fig. 2A). In contrast, F-CAR-T or C-CAR-T treatment greatly suppressed tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 2A). In the high dose group (2106/mice), both F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T eliminated the tumor rapidly. However, in the low dose group (5105/mice), F-CAR-T showed more effective tumor-killing compared to C-CAR-T. On day 20, mice in the low dose F-CAR-T group became tumor-free, while C-CAR-T treated mice exhibited tumor relapse (Fig. 2A). We examined the CAR-T cell expansion in vivo after infusion. As shown in Fig. 2B, both F-CAR-T and C-CAR-T began to expand in the peripheral blood 7 days after infusion. C-CAR-T cell numbers reached their peak on day 14 and receded on day 21. In contrast, the F-CAR-T cell number peaked on day 21 and declined to a baseline level on day 28. F-CAR-T not only persisted longer but also underwent 26 folds greater expansion than C-CAR-T (Fig. 2B).

A Raji-Luc cell engraftment NOG mice were given high dose (2106/mice, n=3) and low dose (5105/mice, n=3) F-CAR-T/C-CAR-T along with control groups. Tumor growth was monitored with IVIS scan once every 3 days; B CAR-T expansion in peripheral blood of mice was analyzed by flow cytometry (n=6). ***P<0.001 for F-CAR-T HD vs. C-CAR-T HD; F-CAR-T LD vs. C-CAR-T LD; F-CAR-T HD vs. F-CAR-T LD; C-CAR-T HD vs. C-CAR-T LD (two-way ANOVA statistical analysis); C Schematic of the Nalm6 (1106) xenograft model, CAR-T (2106) infused 1 day after cyclophosphamide (20mg/kg) treatment. Bone marrow infiltration of F-CAR-T was analyzed 10 days after CAR-T infusion (n=3); D CD45+CD2 F-CAR-T vs. C-CAR-T in peripheral blood of mice were analyzed by flow cytometry; *P<0.05 (unpaired student two-tailed t-test). IVIS in vivo imaging system, PB peripheral blood, i.v. intravenous, HD high dose, LD low dose, Cy cyclophosphamide; *p<0.05; #: number.

We examined the BM infiltration of F-CAR-T cells after infusion into Nalm6-bearing mice (Fig. 2C). A larger population of CAR-T cells was observed 10 days after infusion in BM in F-CAR-T infused group than that in the C-CAR-T group (p<0.05) (Fig. 2D), suggesting F-CAR-T cells possessed a better BM homing capability than C-CAR-T.

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 is known to be critical for BM homing of T-cells [25, 26]. Indeed, a higher percentage of CXCR4+ T cells were detected in F-CAR-T than in the C-CAR-T. Interestingly, this phenotype was more pronounced for CD4+ T cells than CD8+ T cells (Fig. S3A). In a two-chamber system, more F-CAR-T cells could be detected in the lower chamber than their C-CAR-T counterparts (Fig. S3B).

Between Jan. 2019 and Oct. 2019, 25 pediatric and adult patients with CD19+R/R B-ALL were enrolled onto our phase 1 trial, including two patients who had relapsed following a prior allo-HSCT. Patient characteristics are detailed in Table 1. The median age of patients was 20 (range: 344) years old. Twenty patients were >14 years old, and five were 14 years old. The median percentage of pre-treatment BM blasts was 9.05% (range: 0.1982.9%). As our pre-clinical studies demonstrated that F-CAR-T cells had a superior expansion capability as compared to C-CAR-T, we infused a relatively low doses of F-CAR-T cells, ranging from 104105 cells/kg: 3.0104 cells/kg (n=2), 6.5 (5.867.43)104 cells/kg (n=9), 1.01 (1.01.16)105 cells/kg (n=12), 1.52(1.471.56)105 cells/kg (n=2), (Fig. S4). The median time from apheresis to the infusion of CD19+F-CAR-T cells was 14 days (range: 1220). Although the manufacturing time of F-CAR-T was next day, the quality control time and detailed final product releases including sterility testing require a minimum of 710 days to complete. In addition, transportation of cell products requires approximately two days. Of the 25 patients who received CD19 F-CAR-T infusion, 22 (88%) received bridging chemotherapy between apheresis and lymphodepleting chemotherapy to control rapid disease progression (Table S3).

F-CAR-T cells were manufactured successfully for all patients. The mean transduction efficiency of F-CAR-T was 35.4% (range: 13.170.3%) (Fig. S5A). Both CD4+/CAR+ (mean, 49.6%; range: 13.673.2%) and CD8+/CAR+ (mean, 41.5%; range: 20.677.7%) subsets were present in the CD3+CAR+ T cell subsets of all products. The mean proportion of Tscm, Tem, and Tcm cells in the CD3+CAR+ T cell subsets of all products was 23.3% (range: 3.5545.3%), 33.2% (range: 17.267.9%), and 36.1% (range: 20.758.1%), respectively (Fig. S5B). F-CAR-T products exerted significant IFN- release and cytotoxic effects against the CD19+ cell line HELA-CD19 (Fig. S5, C, D).

All 25 infused patients experienced adverse events (AEs) of any grade, with 25 (100%) experiencing grade 3 or higher adverse events. No grade 5 events related to F-CAR-T treatment were observed (Table 2).

CRS occurred in 24 (96%) patients with 18 (72%) grade 12 CRS,6 (24%) of grade 3, and no grade 4 or higher CRS (Fig. S6). In the >14 years old group, 16/20 (80%) patients developed mild CRS, and only 2/20 (10%) developed grade 3 CRS. For 14 years old patients, 2/5 (40%) had mild CRS, yet 3/5 (60%) experienced grade 3 CRS (Table S4). ICANS was observed in 7 (28%) patients, with 2 (8%) grade 3 ICANS occurring in patients >14 years old and 5 (20%) grade 4 ICANS all occurring in patients 14 years old. No grade 5 ICANS was developed (Fig. S7 and Table S4). The most frequent presentation of CRS was fever, particularly a high fever of >39C. The first onset of CRS symptoms occurred between day 3 and 8 post-CAR-T infusion with a median onset at day 4 (range: 110 days). The most common symptoms of ICANS were seizure (5/7) and depressed consciousness (5/7). The median time to ICANS onset from CAR-T cell infusion was 7 days (range: 58), and the median time to resolution was 2 days (Fig. S7). All CRS and ICANS events were managed including early intervention when fever of 39C persisted for 24h. Sixteen (64%) patients received tocilizumab with a median total dose of 160mg (range: 160320mg). Twenty-one (84%) patients received corticosteroids including dexamethasone (median total dose, 43mg; range: 4127mg) and or methylprednisolone (median total dose, 190mg; range: 401070mg). The vast majority of these patients discontinued corticosteroids within 2 weeks. The change in IL-6, IFN-, IL-10, and GM-CSF levels after infusion are selectively shown in Fig. S8. The peak levels of these four cytokines were observed between day 710. Among all 21 cytokines examined, only post-infusion IL-6 levels were associated with moderate to severe CRS and/or ICANS (Figs. S9 and S10).

Superior in vivo proliferation and persistence of F-CAR-T compared to C-CAR-T cells were observed regardless of dose levels. The median peak level was reached on day 10 (range: 714 days) with 1.9105 transgene copies/g of genomic DNA (range: 0.225.2105 transgene copies/g of genomic DNA) by qPCR and 83 F-CAR-T cells per l blood (range: 42102 F-CAR-T cells per l blood) by FCM (Fig. 3A, B). No significant differences were observed among the different dose groups in the mean F-CAR-T copies peak (Fig. 3C). Importantly, there was no significant difference in the mean F-CAR-T copies peak between patients who received corticosteroids compared to those who did not (Fig. 3D).

A F-CAR-T cells in peripheral blood by qPCR. Purple, dose level 1; black, dose level 2; blue, dose level 3; red, dose level 4; B F-CAR-T cells in peripheral blood by flow cytometry. Purple, dose level 1; black, dose level 2; blue, dose level 3; red, dose level 4; C Comparison of the mean peak copy number of F-CAR-T cells in peripheral blood at each dose level. Statistical significance was determined by the MannWhitney test. D Comparison of the mean peak copy number of F-CAR-T cells in peripheral blood with or without steroids. Statistical significance was determined by the MannWhitney test.

Fourteen days after F-CAR-T cell infusion, all patients achieved morphologic CR including 2/25 with CR and 23/25 CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), which further improved to 11/25 CR and 14/25 CRi 28 days post F-CAR-T (Table 1 and Fig. 4). More importantly, 23/25 (92%) had the minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative remission on day 14 and day 28 after F-CAR-T treatment. Patients achieving remission through CAR-T were given the option to proceed to allo-HSCT. With a median time of 54 days (range: 4581 days) post F-CAR-T infusion, 20 of 23 patients with MRD-negative status decided to pursue consolidative allo-HSCT including one patient who received a 2nd transplant. As of 18 October 2021, with a median follow-up duration of 693 days (range: 84973 days) among the 20 patients who had received allo-HSCT, one patient relapsed on day 172 and died 3 months after relapse, and four patients died from transplant-related mortality (TRM) including infection (n=3) and chronic GVHD (n=1) on day 84, day 215, day 220, and day 312, respectively. The other 15 patients remained in MRD-negative CR with a median remission duration of 734 days (range: 208973) except for one who became MRD-positive on day 294 with CD19+ disease. Among the other three patients (F05, F06, F16), one remained in MRD-negative CR on day 304, one remained in MRD-negative CR until day 303, received allo-HSCT but died from an infection on day 505, and one was lost to follow-up after day 114. Two patients who had MRD-positive CR after infusion withdrew from the study on day 42 and day 44, respectively, to seek other studies.

Clinical outcomes and consolidative allo-HSCT for the 25 patients who were treated with F-CAR-T therapy are shown. On day 28, 23/25 patients achieved MRD-negative CR/CRi. With a median time of 54 days (range: 4581) post F-CAR-T infusion, 20 of 23 patients with MRD-negative status received consolidative allo-HSCT. Among the 20 patients, 1 patient (F23) relapsed on day 172 and died 3 months after relapse. Four patients (F04, F09, F11, F12) died from transplant-related mortality (TRM) including infection (n=3) and chronic GVHD (n=1) on day 84, day 215, day 220, and day 312, respectively. The remaining 15 patients were in MRD-negative CR except for one (F18) who became MRD-positive on day 294. Among the other 3 patients (F05, F06, F16), 1 remained MRD-negative CR on day 304, 1 remained in MRD-negative CR until day 303, received allo-HSCT, and subsequently died from an infection on day 505. One patient was lost to follow-up after day 114. MRD minimal residual disease, CR complete remission, Allo-HSCT allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

F-CAR-T/T ratio in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was evaluated by FCM in 13/25 patients with available samples (Table S5). Between days 10 and 32, 9 patients were found to have considerable F-CAR-T penetration in their CSF, ranging from 40.65 to 79.2%, including 4 who developed severe ICANS. Among the other 4 patients, F-CAR-T cell abundance in the CSF ranged from 1.29% to 3.57%, and none experienced severe ICANS. Patients with higher levels of CAR-T in PB on day 10 consistently had higher levels of CAR-T in CSF with the exception of patient F15. Notably, CAR-T cells were still detectable in the CSF on day 101 with a 2.36% CAR-T/T ratio in patient F06, who also had undetectable circulating CAR-T cells at the same time.

In addition, concentrations of seven cytokines (IL-1b, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-, TNF-, MCP-1, and GM-CSF) in CSF samples from the above 10 of 13 patients were measured. Specifically, IL-1b was not detected in any of the 10 patients, and only one patient had detectable GM-CSF. For the other five cytokines, patients with severe ICANS had higher IL-6 levels in contrast to patients without severe ICANS, and the difference between the median level of IL-6 among these two groups of patients was statistically significant (Fig. S11). We did not observe significant differences among the other 4 cytokines between the two groups of patients. No clear relation between the CSF cytokine levels and the F-CAR-T/T % was observed.

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Next-day manufacture of a novel anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: first-in-human clinical study | Blood Cancer Journal...

Could a brain ever exist on its own, divorced from or independent of a body? For a long time, philosophers have pondered such "brain-in-a-vat" scenarios, asking whether isolated brains could maintain consciousness when separated from their bodies and senses.

Typically, a person's experiences are characterized by a web of interactions between the human brain, body and environment.

But recent developments in neuroscience mean this conversation has moved from the realm of hypothetical speculation and science fiction, to isolated examples where consciousness could be sealed off from the rest of the world.

In a 2020 study, detailed in the journal Trends in Neuroscience (opens in new tab), philosopher Tim Bayne, of Monash University in Melbourne, and neuroscientists Anil Seth, of the University of Sussex in England, and Marcello Massimini, of the University of Milan in Italy, describe contexts in which such "islands of awareness" could exist.

Related: What happens in our brains when we 'hear' our own thoughts?

In one possible situation, a brain that has been removed from its host is able to sustain consciousness using the oxygen and nutrients necessary for function delivered via some kind of apparatus. This is called the ex cranio brain.

In a study that sounds like something out of a horror movie (opens in new tab), researchers were able to successfully restore blood flow to brain cells, cellular functions of neurons, and spontaneous synaptic activity in pigs' brains that were removed after death and connected to a system called BrainEx. The system, which is designed to slow the degeneration of brain tissue after death, can be connected to the base of a postmortem brain, delivering warm artificial oxygenated blood.

In people who suffer from severe refractory epilepsy, one treatment called a hemispherotomy (opens in new tab) involves completely disconnecting the damaged half of the brain from the other hemisphere, brainstem and thalamus. In these cases, the damaged half remains inside the skull, and connected to the vascular system. While the disconnected hemisphere continues to receive the nutrients and oxygen needed for function, some have wondered whether this isolated hemisphere supports an adjacent consciousness to the opposing, connected hemisphere.

And scientists have created lab-based mini-brains, 3D structures developed from stem cells that display various features of the developing human brain. Some of these brains-in-a-dish have brainwaves similar to those seen in preterm babies.

But do any of these "brains" actually possess consciousness?

Scientists can't deduce consciousness from behavior in these cases, nor can they ask these brains if they are experiencing consciousness. This conundrum has led neuroscientists to devise a potential "objective" measure of consciousness.

For instance, scientists could use the so-called perturbational complexity index (PCI), which is based on the level of interactions between neurons within these "brains." Using this index, scientists would electrically stimulate a part of the brain and then measure the resulting patterns of neural activity to gauge the complexity of brain-cell interactions. If the resulting measurement of these interactions carries lots of information, then the system can be said to be more conscious.

It's kind of like tossing a rock into a pond and measuring the resulting ripples. If the ripples interact with other objects in the pond, setting off more ripples, then the more conscious the system.

In states where people have not been fully conscious, PCI has been a reliable indicator of their level of consciousness. For instance, being in a coma, or sleeping, would be considered a "lower" level of consciousness or awareness.

"PCI has proven effective in detecting disconnected awareness during dreaming, ketamine anesthesia (opens in new tab), and has also been fruitfully applied to patients who are non-responsive following severe brain injury (opens in new tab)," Bayne told Live Science.

It could be the case that consciousness is tightly coupled to dynamics of the brain that are relatively easy to measure, such as the case with the PCI.

But even if consciousness doesn't turn out to be reducible to any neural signal in the brain, Bayne believes the task of developing an "objective" measure of consciousness is still a valid one.

While these techniques might not be able to definitively answer the question of whether consciousness is present in these contexts, they will provide answers to some fundamental questions, such as whether islands of awareness have the same levels of neural complexity as the brains of conscious subjects. Or do these brains slowly go offline once disconnected from the external world?

Understanding what the contents of consciousness could look like in such cases offers an even trickier problem.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Can minds persist when they are cut off from the world? - Livescience.com

Black adolescent young adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia appeared to have inferior outcomes compared with White patients.

Adolescent and young adult patients who are Black with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) between 18 and 29 years old reportedly have worse survival than White patients receiving similar therapy, according to a study published in Blood Advances.

A higher rate of early death was observed in Black patients between the ages of 18 to 29 (16%) vs 3% the White population (3%; P = .002). Moreover, Black patients had a lower complete remission (CR) rate at 66% vs 83% (P = .01) in White patients, as well as a lower 5-year overall survival (OS) rate at 22% vs 51% (P <.001), respectively. Disparities were also observed across different cytogenetic subgroups, including worse 5-year OS rates among Black patients with non-core binding factor AML (12% vs 44%; P <.001) and cytogenetically normal AML (13% vs 50%; P = .003) compared with White patients.

Patients who were Black compared with White had a higher rates of early death at 11% vs 2% (P <.001), lower CR rates at 73% vs 82% (P = .06), and shorter 5-year OS rates at 32% vs 46% (P = .002). However, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was in 32% in Black patients vs 40% in White patients (P = .25).

Patient characteristics were almost the same in regard to age and sex, while there were no differences in clinical features were apparent at diagnosis. A total of 327 samples were collected from 50 Black patients and 277 White patients. At diagnosis, 40% of White patients were cytogenetically normal vs 19% of Black patients (P <.001), and 22% vs 37% of patients, respectively, had abnormal karyotypes with chromosome rearrangement that were associated with core-binding factor AML (P = .005).

Mutations of t(8;21)(q22;q22)/RUNX1::RUNX1T1 were observed in 22% of patients who were Black vs 10% of those who were White (P = .002), while there were similar rates of inv(16)(p13.1q22)/CBFB::MYH11 or t(16;16)(p13.1;q22)/CBFB::MYH11 mutationsincluding 15% in Black patients vs 12% in White patients (P = .49).

Gene variants including ASXL1 (12% vs 1%; P <.001), KRAS (16% vs 5%; P = .01), ZRSR2 (6% vs 0.4%; P = .01), BCOR (8% vs 2%; P = .05), and CALR (8% vs 2%; P = .05) were more prevalent in Black patients vs White patients. However, more White patients had gene alterations in NPM1 (29% vs 4%; P <.001) and bi-allelic CEBPA (17% vs 3%; P = .02) compared with Black patients.

Overall patients who were Black had higher early death rates in 16% vs 3% (P = .002). The median OS for patients who were Black and between the ages of 18 to 29 years was 1.3 years vs 10.2 years for patients who were White (P <.001). Investigators did not find any significant differences in survival between patients who were Black or White between the ages of 30 to 39.

A total of 15% of patients who were White and 4.5% of those who were Black received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) during first CR. Of those who underwent allogeneic HSCT, a longer DFS was observed among White patients vs Black patients and did not undergo the treatment. There were no significant differences in OS between treatment groups (P = .21).

Patients who were Black and had core-binding factor AML had higher rates of early death at 12% vs 3% of patients who were White (P = .06), lower CR rates at 85% vs 95% (P = .06), and shorter 5-year OS rates in 54% vs 70% (P = .05), respectively. No differences in DFS and OS were observed between patient subgroups with non-core binding factor AML with t(8;21) alterations. However, OS but not DFS was shorter for patients who were Black between 18 to 29 years of age with inv(16)/t(16;16) vs 18 to 29 and 30 to 39 year-olds who were White.

Larkin K, Nicolet D, Kelly BJ, et al. High early death rates, treatment resistance, and short survival of Black adolescents and young adults with AML.Blood Adv. Published Online July 5, 2022. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007544

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Black Adolescent Young Adults With AML Have Worse Outcomes Vs White Population - Cancer Network

Akari Therapeutics Plc

NEW YORK and LONDON, July 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), a late-stage biotechnology company focused on developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced that a patient has completed the course of investigational nomacopan treatmentin the open-label, multi-center Phase IIIPart Aclinical trial in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant-related thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA). Nomacopan is a bispecific recombinant inhibitor of complement C5 and leukotriene B4 (LTB4).

Three patients with severe (nephrotic range proteinuria and elevated soluble C5b-9) HSCT-TMA have been enrolled in the clinical trial. One patient completed more than 60 days of nomacopan treatment and subsequently was discharged from the hospital. Another patient died from multi-organ failureunrelated to nomacopan treatment.Dosing has begun in the third patient.

This is promising news for children and families facing hematopoietic stem cell transplant-related TMAs who have unmet needs that are significant and urgent because there are no approved treatment options, said Rachelle Jacques, President and CEO of Akari Therapeutics. Recruitment into a study of treatment for a rare and emergent complication of stem cell transplants in children has inherent challenges, and it is testament to the passion and commitment of everyone involved that this important Phase III clinical trial is progressing on behalf of patients and their families.

Nomacopan was granted Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pediatric HSCT-TMA. Data from the Phase III Part A study of nomacopan in HSCT-TMA will inform the pivotal Phase III Part B study that will be the basis for potential regulatory submissions in the U.S. and Europe.

The six-year-old patient who was discharged wastreated at a clinical trial site in Manchester, England by investigator Rob Wynn, M.D. Thrombotic microangiopathy following a stem cell transplant procedure is a rare but devastating complication made even more tragic because there are currently no approved treatments, said Professor Rob Wynn, of Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. As we advance this important clinical trial and offer treatment to children in Manchester where formerly there was none, we are bringing new hope to families who are in desperate need, and to other clinicians who very much want to offer a treatment option.

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Thrombotic microangiopathy following a stem cell transplant procedure is a rare but serious complication of HSCT that appears to involve complement activation, inflammation, tissue hypoxia and blood clots, leading to progressive organ damage and death. The mortality rate in patients who develop severe transplant-related TMAs is 80%.1 Currently, there are no approved treatment options in the U.S. or Europe.

Sites are open and recruiting in the U.S, U.K., and Poland for the Phase III Part A clinical trial of investigational nomacopan in pediatric patients who have undergone allogeneic or autologous HSCT and develop HSCT-TMA within a year of transplant. Patient dosing is underway in the multi-center, open-label study that has a recruitment goal of seven pediatric patients over six months old.

The primary study endpoints are either independence of red blood cell transfusion or urine protein creatinine ratio of 2 mg/mg maintained over 28 days immediately prior to any scheduled clinical visit up to Week 24. According to the study protocol, patients may discontinue therapy sooner than 24 weeks, if one, or both, of the primary endpoint components has been met and the treating clinician determines there is no longer a need for continued treatment with nomacopan. Patients who have achieved the primary endpoint and are no longer receiving nomacopan will have a follow-up clinic visit 30 days after the last dose, at 24 weeks and for long-term follow-up at one and two years.

References

Rosenthal J. Hematopoietic cell transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy: a review of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.J Blood Med. 2016;7:181-186. Published 2016 Sep 2. doi:10.2147/JBM.S102235

About Akari Therapeutics

Akari Therapeutics, plc (Nasdaq: AKTX) is a biotechnology company focused on developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Akari's lead asset, investigational nomacopan, is a bispecific recombinant inhibitor of C5 complement activation and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) activity. The Akaripipeline includes two late-stage programs for bullous pemphigoid (BP) and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), as well as earlier stage research and development programs in eye and lung diseases with significant unmet need. For more information about Akari, please visit akaritx.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward- looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in or suggested by those forward- looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control. Such risks and uncertainties for our company include, but are not limited to: needs for additional capital to fund our operations, our ability to continue as a going concern; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; an inability or delay in obtaining required regulatory approvals for nomacopan and any other product candidates, which may result in unexpected cost expenditures; our ability to obtain orphan drug designation in additional indications; risks inherent in drug development in general; uncertainties in obtaining successful clinical results for nomacopan and any other product candidates and unexpected costs that may result there; difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trials; failure to realize any value of nomacopan and any other product candidates developed and being developed in light of inherent risks and difficulties involved in successfully bringing product candidates to market; inability to develop new product candidates and support existing product candidates; the approval by the FDA and EMA and any other similar foreign regulatory authorities of other competing or superior products brought to market; risks resulting from unforeseen side effects; risk that the market for nomacopan may not be as large as expected risks associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; inability to obtain, maintain and enforce patents and other intellectual property rights or the unexpected costs associated with such enforcement or litigation; inability to obtain and maintain commercial manufacturing arrangements with third- party manufacturers or establish commercial scale manufacturing capabilities; the inability to timely source adequate supply of our active pharmaceutical ingredients from third party manufacturers on whom the company depends; unexpected cost increases and pricing pressures and risks and other risk factors detailed in our public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Except as otherwise noted, these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this press release. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

For more information

Investor Contact:Mike MoyerLifeSci Advisors(617) 308-4306mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:Eliza SchleifsteinSchleifstein PR (917) 763-8106eliza@schleifsteinpr.com

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Akari Therapeutics Announces First Patient to Complete Course of Treatment in the Phase III Part A Clinical Trial of Investigational Nomacopan in...

The U.S. Supreme Court's June 24 ruling ending federal abortion rights under Roe v. Wade could inspire groups that seek to protect embryos to urge greater restrictions on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryonic stem cell research, according to Henry T. (Hank) Greely, director of the Stanford Law School Center for Biomedical Ethics.

Assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF aren't constitutionally protected and neither is preimplantation genetic testing, which screens for certain traits and DNA-caused conditions in embryos that haven't yet been implanted in the uterus, he said in a recent interview prior to the landmark ruling.

The court's ruling doesn't ban these technologies, which assist people seeking to have children, but it is likely to inspire some groups and states to seek to preserve unused embryos or ban embryonic stem cell research, Greely said.

His paper about the potential short- and long-term impacts of the decision is in preprint publication and is expected to be published in the Journal of Law and Biosciences in the coming weeks. In the short term, the technologies that embryo-protection groups might seek to ban or limit might be an alternative for women who can no longer receive an abortion in their home state.

Prenatal testing currently can determine if the fetus has a serious DNA defect that would cause disease or disability; a woman can then decide whether to continue with or terminate the pregnancy. That choice would likely disappear in states that restrict abortions, Greely said.

But a genetic testing technique that is used during in vitro fertilization could be utilized to prevent IVF pregnancies with fetal abnormalities. Preimplantation genetic testing, or PGT, screens out embryos with DNA-causing birth defects before the embryos are transferred to the uterus. The procedure can determine with a high degree of accuracy whether an embryo would develop into a baby who might have one of a large number of conditions. The decision not to transfer an embryo with genes that could cause a disability, condition or trait isn't illegal in the U.S., he said.

In states where abortion is illegal, it's likely there would be an increased interest in using PGT. The embryos are screened while outside the womb and prior to implantation and pregnancy.

"I think some people, some couples will say, well, if we have an embryo for the pregnancy that would have a severe disability as a child, our state wouldn't allow us to abort it. So let's go through preimplantation," he said.

But Greely doesn't think using PGT will skyrocket after the court's abortion decision. The technique requires that prospective parents use IVF, which is unpleasant and risky due to egg harvesting, he said.

IVF is also expensive. Most couples seeking the technique do so due to infertility and the decision isn't made lightly. Anyone with enough money to afford IVF would likely be able to afford to travel to another state for an abortion, he said.

Greely thinks it is unlikely embryo-protection groups would advocate for any kind of legislation that has a negative effect on IVF, however.

"Americans like IVF; almost everybody knows somebody or will know somebody who's either gone through IVF or who's actually the product of IVF. Two percent of the babies born every year in the U.S. with the product of IVF, and particularly the wealthier people are, the more likely they are to have either used IVF or know somebody who uses IVF, and also, the more likely they are to be politically powerful," he said.

There's a certain sort of law Greely thinks might be politically viable: limiting the selection or deselection of an embryo for IVF for a specific reason such as race, gender or disability.

"We've already seen it in abortion state statutes. A lot of abortion laws ban abortion for the purpose of discriminating on race, sex or disability status. And some of them explicitly say Down syndrome status.

"I can imagine the disability community coming together with protection groups to try to pass laws banning using PGT to select against embryos based on race, sex or disability. The important part of that would probably be disability and maybe even with the focus just on Down syndrome, which has a very strong support group and has some political sympathy," he said.

There isn't much political support for eliminating embryos that would have a fatal disease, however, he said.

"There's a more attractive case for protecting embryos that might become people with Down syndrome compared to protecting embryos that might become babies who would die within a year from Tay-Sachs disease," he said.

The court's decision on Roe v. Wade could invigorate efforts to pass new legislation to protect embryos outside the uterus among people who believe embryos are viable far earlier than at the 15 weeks in the Mississippi case that challenged Roe v. Wade. Some groups have claimed that human life starts far earlier and even at fertilization, which would make, in their view, all embryos for IVF "viable" regardless of whether they are implanted in the womb.

In the normal medical standard of care, no more than two embryos should be transferred into a woman's uterus at a time to minimize the chances of multiple pregnancies, Greely noted in his paper.

Most IVF cycles produce more than two eggs. Prospective parents can choose to have the extra embryos frozen for possible later use, donated to other couples, designated for research or destroyed and discarded.

Some legislation advocated by embryo-protection groups could limit or change the practice, he said. With the exception of Louisiana, there are no limitations on destroying embryos that aren't implanted, he said, though some other states have considered the legislation.

"The only limitation that I know of is the Louisiana law where you're not allowed to destroy embryos. So leftover embryos are kept frozen indefinitely in IVF clinics there," he said.

Legislation could lead clinics to build facilities to freeze and store unused embryos in perpetuity, he said, adding that the Louisiana law hasn't caused IVF clinics to close.

Embryo-protection groups might also try to get a law passed that's similar to a 2004 Italian law, which was subsequently limited by a court decision, Greely noted.

"They said you have to transfer for possible implantation every viable embryo you make, which means in Italy they typically only make one or two embryos at a time.

The embryo-protection groups "might try that, but all that would do is make IVF more difficult or expensive, and I don't think there's going to be political support for it. I don't think there'll be enough political support for it for people to adopt it," he said.

Greely noted that there could potentially be a significant change in embryo research as opposed to clinical treatments in an IVF clinic.

"Actually, embryo research in particular has really nothing to do with Roe v. Wade. As a matter of law, Roe v. Wade never protected embryo research, but I think it's connected in terms of the political dynamics after the death of Roe v. Wade," Greely said.

There's a good chance that at some stage, states will pass laws that eliminate human embryo research, in part because it is a huge issue, he said. Embryonic stem cells are taken from embryos created and then not used for pregnancy at IVF clinics.

"Twenty years ago, a number of states banned it; a number of states like California encouraged that research. But research into Type 1 diabetes and other major diseases has been disappointing.

"I think it has been useful, but there have been no miracles from it so far," he said.

The discovery in 2007 of a method to turn regular body cells into cells that can become any cell type in the human body makes the argument for using embryonic stem cells less compelling, he noted in his paper. Called induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs, these cells take away some of the urgency about using embryonic stem cells.

But iPSCs aren't exactly like human embryonic stem cells, Greely noted. Researchers would likely argue that human embryos are still required for research on embryonic development that would lead to ways for couples to succeed in having babies.

iPSCs might also play a role in the same types of research, since scientists have been creating "embryo-like things" or "embryo models" that provide more information about human embryonic development, he wrote.

How these laws might affect funding for embryonic research is also unknown.

The federal government has had little appetite for funding embryonic research and has refused to fund research that "destroys, discards, or knowingly subject(s) to risk of injury of death" embryos, Greely noted in his paper.

Yet, the federal government doesn't limit or ban the research itself; its actions have solely been about research it funds. Federal funds can be used for research on cells created from embryos that were destroyed somewhere else, he noted.

At least 11 states, however, have banned (or effectively banned) human embryo research on cells created from destroyed embryos that came from somewhere else, he wrote.

Some states allow such research, including California, Connecticut, Michigan, Montana and New York, Greely noted. California in particular continues to support stem cell research without a ban on the use of embryonic cells. In 2020, the state's voters passed Proposition 14 for $5.5 billion in bonds to advance the research.

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How abortion ruling could affect IVF and embryonic research - The Almanac Online

News Photo by Julie RiddleDetective Sgt. Steve Davis works at his computer at the Alpena Police Department on Wednesday.

ALPENA Police work hinges on relationships, said Detective Sgt. Steve Davis, retiring on Friday from the Alpena Police Department.

In 14 years of responding to complaints in Alpena and another 11 years as Alpena detective, Davis has met some of the strongest people he knows.

Those resilient people often encountered as they reeled from the devastation of a recent trauma gave him strength to do the job he now leaves after 32 years, Davis said, reflecting on his career in an Alpena Police Department conference room on Wednesday.

Davis stepped into law enforcement in 1990, moving to Montmorency County in 1991.

Six years later, he joined the Alpena Police Department as a road patrol officer, from which he was promoted to road sergeant in 2001.

Since 2011, Davis has served as detective, chasing leads and digging deep into Alpenas most serious crimes.

That transition meant learning to slow down, looking over things not once, not twice, but three times, Davis said.

Unlike road patrol work which often involves hustling from complaint to complaint a detective has to step back and examine the big picture surrounding stabbings, suicides, rapes, assaults, and other major crimes, following leads and studying patterns and interviewing residents.

Last summer, during what Davis called one of the most complex cases of his career, he had to call in the help of the Michigan State Police during a months-long investigation into the disappearance of missing Alpena teenager Brynn Bills.

Police later found Bills body buried in a back yard in Alpena Township. No charges have been filed related to her death.

That investigation, now turned into a death investigation by the State Police, required pursuing numerous angles and talking to hundreds of people, Davis said.

Since his young days as a patrol officer, Davis has noted an alarming loss of communication skills within multiple age groups, a change he chalks up to social medias enabling of faceless retorts and insults without consequences.

When I was a kid, if you wanted to talk to someone, you rode your bike over to their house and talked to them, face to face, he said. As a society, weve lost a lot of that. And thats pretty unfortunate.

Society feels the brunt of that loss when people with differing viewpoints dont know how to listen to one another and resort to violence and then police have to step in, Davis said.

Since his career started, inpatient mental health facilities have closed and budget-strapped mental health agencies have struggled to keep up with a seeming increase in mental health struggles and police not trained as mental health workers have to pick up the pieces, Davis said.

Untreated mental illness paired with the inability to deal with an opposing viewpoint puts everyone in danger when people burst into schools or churches or parades ready to kill, he said.

Like many police officers, Davis mourns a changed public perception of police work that makes hiring officers harder and wears out officers who have to work overtime.

News reports of police doing wrong do not reflect the attitude or actions of most police officers, Davis said.

Then again, he added, neither do depictions of people hating and distrusting police reflect the way Alpena treats its police force.

In a community largely supportive of its public safety workers, he cant walk into a sandwich shop without someone offering to buy him lunch.

As a young officer, he sometimes took a cynical view of the community. Age and time have made him less judgemental and more ready to see positives, even while embroiled in the citys worst crimes.

Theres a lot of good people out there, he said. Weve just got to remember that.

Several years ago, Davis donated stem cells to save a woman from another country, someone whose name he will never know.

Asked if he was willing to undergo the procedure to help the woman, Davis assented readily.

Thats kinda why I got into law enforcement, he said.

His wife is making him celebrate his retirement with a party, Davis said, waving off a suggestion that a police retirement deserves special recognition.

We all put our part into this community, he said. Im just one little piece.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693 or jriddle@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jriddleX.

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Alpena detective: 'Good people out there' | News, Sports, Jobs - Alpena News

Viewers of today's This Morning programme have been left 'in tears' after a boy had the chance to meet the donor who saved his life. Jose flew all the way from Brazil to meet 10-year-old Finley Hill who was searching for a life-saving donor to cure a rare immune disease.

Finley and his family appeared on the show to share the news that he has now been cured. A pre-recorded message from Jose was then shown, before Phillip revealed he had been flown from Brazil to meet them in the studio.

And viewers were loving the sweet moment, taking to Twitter to share their reaction. @jmclean514 said: "What a beautiful story in real time. Brought tears to my eyes. This just goes to show that there's kindness in humankind" and @RachelWalker35 said: "I was in tears! Beautiful. Well done."

READ NEXT:Torquay guesthouse owner falls to his death while urinating in garden

@debbuecoates65 also added: "Awww well done this morning you made me cry." and @BushraA89302368 said: "So adorable! What a truly extraordinary story"

Finley Hill first appeared on This Morning in summer 2019 as he searched for a stem cell donor to cure a rare immune disease.

Following his appearance, Finley had a transplant in the November and since then has gone from strength-to-strength with the This Morning team following his journey all the way.

Talking on the programme about Jose saving her son's life, mum Jo said: "Thank you is never going to be enough. How do you thank the person that has saved your world? So thankfully, he's sent messages back and he's the most humble, beautiful man."

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This Morning viewers 'in tears' after boy meets donor who saved his life - Devon Live

A five-year-old boy has raised over 500 for charity after losing his best friend.

Rowan Lyons took part in five 2k junior park runs to honour the youngster who lost her battle with brain cancer this year. Rowan's best friend, Sophie Welburn, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumour in July, last year, when she was just four-years-old, Chronicle Live reports.

She was given nine months to live after her diagnoses and lost her battle with the disease in March. The pair met in September at Abbey Infant School, on Cleveland Terrace in Darlington, where they became best friends.

READ MORE: Developer's legal claim against council over failed snow centre project ends

After Sophie's death, young Rowan decided to complete park runs to honour each year of the youngsters short life. The schoolboy has raised 502 for brain tumour research.

Rowan said: "I felt really sad when Sophie died, and I miss my best friend. I wanted to do something good, and I like running. I felt very tired afterwards."

Despite Sophies illness, she continued to go to school until March, this year. Sophie's condition quickly deteriorated and on March 18 she died peacefully at home with her loving family by her side.

Rowans mum, Marianne Lyons, said: "My husband, Rob, and I are really proud of him. We still talk about Sophie, and the fundraising has helped Rowan to understand what has happened."

Sophie was diagnosed with a brain tumour known as a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). It forms in glial cells in a part of the brain stem called the pons.

The pons controls the nerves and muscles that help us perform basic but vital functions such as walking, talking, breathing and swallowing. A DIPG takes over this area of the brain and gradually stops these functions working.

Sophies Mum, Louise Wray, said: "Rowan didnt know Sophie was poorly and he embraced her like any other child. Although Sophie only attended a few mornings each week when she was well enough to, Rowan would wait for her by the door of the classroom.

"They were so close, she even made him a Valentines card." Sophies dad, Chris Welburn, added: "Sophie and Rowan were such good friends, and I think what hes done is so lovely.

"He is a little superstar. I think Sophie would be so proud of Rowan, and she would be cheering him on."

According to Brain Tumour Research, brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Yet historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease.

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and find a cure.

Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "We also think Rowan is a superstar, and were really grateful to him as its only with the support of people like him that were able to progress our research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients like Sophie who are forced to fight this awful disease.

"Unlike many other cancers, brain tumours are indiscriminate. They can affect anyone at any time. Too little is known about the causes and that is why increased investment in research is vital."

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'I miss my best friend': Five-year-old runs 10k to honour girl who died from rare brain tumour - Teesside Live

A sub-analysis of the Phase 3 LIVE-AIR study of lenzilumab showed a strong correlation between C-reactive protein (CRP) and outcomes with lenzilumab treatment with the greatest clinical benefit experienced by patients with baseline CRP<150 mg/L

In these patients, likelihood of survival without mechanical ventilation (SWOV) was achieved in 90% of LIVE-AIR patients treated with lenzilumab plus standard of care compared to 79% treated with placebo plus standard of care, which was highly statistically significant (HR 2.54, p=0.0009)

Lenzilumab-treated patients had a 62% relative reduction in the risk of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (OR=0.38; p=0.0053)

SHORT HILLS, N.J., July 07, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Humanigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGEN) ("Humanigen"), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on preventing and treating an immune hyper-response called cytokine storm, today announced a peer-reviewed publication in Thorax, one of the worlds leading respiratory medicine journals and the official journal of the British Thoracic Society, describing the role of CRP in identifying patients that derive the greatest benefit of lenzilumab. Participants in the LIVE-AIR study with baseline CRP <150 mg/L treated with lenzilumab demonstrated a 62% reduction in the relative risk of invasive mechanical ventilation and death compared to placebo.1

"A growing body of scientific evidence links CRP levels and response to certain immunomodulatory therapies, suggesting an important role of CRP as a biomarker to guide treatment of COVID-19," said Dale Chappell, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Humanigen. "These data demonstrate the importance of selecting the right treatment for the right patient at the right time which can be guided by the widely available biomarker CRP. These data are important because they demonstrate the utility of early neutralization of GM-CSF, an upstream driver of the cytokine storm cascade which can prevent downstream production of IL-6, IL-1, and markers of systemic inflammation including CRP, resulting in better patient outcomes."

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Lenzilumab improved clinical outcomes in hospitalized non-mechanically ventilated hypoxic COVID-19 patients.2 The greatest benefit was observed in those with a CRP level below 150 mg/L in the LIVE-AIR study. In this sub-analysis, lenzilumab improved the likelihood of SWOV compared with placebo (HR: 2.54; p=0.0009), demonstrated reduced odds (OR 0.38; p=0.0053) and a 62% reduction in the relative risk of progressing to mechanical ventilation or death in lenzilumab-treated patients, there were more ventilator-free days (p=0.0045), fewer ICU days (p=0.0458), and improved time-to-recovery (p=0.0219).1

"We believe data from our LIVE-AIR study provides a compelling argument for utilizing CRP as a biomarker to identify hospitalized patients for whom lenzilumab may provide the greatest benefit and we look forward to results of the NIHs ACTIV-5/BET-B study of lenzilumab, which is designed to confirm this approach," stated Dr. Cameron Durrant, Chairman and CEO, Humanigen. "Following consultation with the FDA, Humanigen expects that if the ACTIV-5/BET-B study is positive, which has its primary analysis focused on patients with CRP <150mg/L, it would be sufficient to support an Emergency Use Authorization submission to FDA."

Lenzilumab is an investigational product and is not approved or authorized in any country.

About Lenzilumab

Lenzilumab is a proprietary Humaneered first-in-class monoclonal antibody that has been proven to neutralize GM-CSF, a cytokine of critical importance in the hyperinflammatory cascade, sometimes referred to as cytokine release syndrome, or cytokine storm, associated with COVID-19 and other indications. Lenzilumab binds to and neutralizes GM-CSF, potentially improving outcomes for patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Humanigen believes that GM-CSF neutralization with lenzilumab also has the potential to reduce the hyper-inflammatory cascade known as cytokine release syndrome common to chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy and acute Graft versus Host Disease (aGvHD).

In CAR-T, lenzilumab successfully achieved the pre-specified primary endpoint at the recommended dose in a Phase 1b study with Yescarta in which the overall response rate was 100% and no patient experienced severe cytokine release syndrome or severe neurotoxicity. Based on these results, Humanigen plans to test lenzilumab in a randomized, multicenter, potentially registrational, Phase 3 study ("SHIELD") to evaluate its efficacy and safety when combined with Yescarta and Tecartus CAR-T therapies in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lenzilumab will also be tested to assess its ability to prevent and/or treat aGvHD in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

A study of lenzilumab is also underway for patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) exhibiting RAS pathway mutations. This study builds on evidence from a Phase 1 study, conducted by Humanigen, that showed RAS mutations are associated with hyper-proliferative features, which may be sensitive to GM-CSF neutralization.

About Humanigen

Humanigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGEN) ("Humanigen"), is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on preventing and treating an immune hyper-response called cytokine storm. Lenzilumab is a first-in class antibody that binds to and neutralizes granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Results from preclinical models indicate GM-CSF is an upstream regulator of many inflammatory cytokines and chemokines involved in the cytokine storm. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, investigation showed high levels of GM-CSF secreting T cells were associated with disease severity and intensive care unit admission. Humanigens Phase 3 LIVE-AIR study suggests early intervention with lenzilumab may prevent consequences of a full-blown cytokine storm in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Humanigen is developing lenzilumab as a treatment for cytokine storm associated with COVID-19 and CD19-targeted CAR-T cell therapies and is also exploring the effectiveness of lenzilumab in other inflammatory conditions such as acute Graft versus Host Disease in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, eosinophilic asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis. For more information, visit http://www.humanigen.com and follow Humanigen on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge, assumptions, judgment, and expectations regarding future performance or events. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, they give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, and you should be aware that actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements. Words such as "will," "expect," "intend," "plan," "potential," "possible," "goals," "accelerate," "continue," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the potential clinical benefits of lenzilumab, statements pertaining to the sufficiency of results from ACTIV-5/BET-B to support an amended EUA submission; statements regarding the SHIELD, aGvHD, and CMML studies, and other statements regarding improving the safety and efficacy of CAR-T and our plans relating to lenzilumab.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks inherent in our lack of profitability and need for additional capital to grow our business; our dependence on partners to further the development of our product candidates; the uncertainties inherent in the development, attainment of the requisite regulatory authorizations and approvals and launch of any new pharmaceutical product; the outcome of pending or future litigation; and the various risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" sections of our latest annual and quarterly reports and other filings with the SEC.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. You should not rely upon any forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, in each case, except as required by law.

References

Temesgen, Z. et al. (2022). C-reactive protein, a biomarker for early lenzilumab treatment of COVID-19, improves efficacy: a sub-analysis of the randomized phase 3 LIVE-AIR trial. Thorax. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2022-218744

Temesgen, Z. et al. (2021). Lenzilumab in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (LIVE-AIR): a phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00494-X

Humaneered is a trademark of Humanigen, Inc.Yescarta and Tecartus are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220706005311/en/

Contacts

Humanigen Investor Relations Ken TrbovichHumanigentrbo@humanigen.com 650-410-3206

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Humanigen Announces Peer-Reviewed Publication in Thorax Supporting Early Treatment of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with Lenzilumab Guided by...

GlobalData UK Ltd

Novartis AG has the highest number of thyroid cancer drugs in development

LONDON, July 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Thyroid Cancer Drugs in Development by Stages, Target, MoA, RoA, Molecule Type and Key Players, 2022 Update report offered by GlobalData Plc provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for thyroid cancer (oncology), complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history, and the latest news and press releases. It also reviews key players involved in therapeutic development for thyroid cancer and features dormant and discontinued projects.

Leading Companies in the Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market

Novartis AG: It is a healthcare company that provides drugs for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, dermatological conditions, neurological disorders, ophthalmic and respiratory diseases, immune disorders, and infections, among others.

Advenchen Laboratories LLC: It is a pharmaceutical company that conducts research and develops small molecule cancer drug discovery programs. It provides pipeline such as angiogenesis inhibitors and small molecule protein tyrosine kinases inhibitors, among others.

Loxo Oncology Inc: It is a biopharmaceutical company that carries out the development of targeted small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.

AstraZeneca Plc: It is a biopharmaceutical company, which develops products related to therapy areas such as respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases, cancer, autoimmune, infection, and neurological diseases.

Pfizer Inc: It offers products to treat various conditions such as cardiovascular, metabolic and pain, cancer, inflammation, immune disorders, and rare diseases.

Some Other Companies Covered in the Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market Report

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd

Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co Ltd

Merck & Co Inc

AffyImmune Therapeutics Inc

Story continues

Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market Analysis, by Leading Companies

To know about more leading thyroid cancer pipeline product companies, download a sample report

Key Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market Segment Highlights

The thyroid cancer pipeline products market report is segmented by target, MoA, RoA, and molecule type.

Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market Segment Analysis by Target

Proto Oncogene Tyrosine Protein Kinase Receptor Ret

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2

Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase B Raf

Programmed Cell Death Protein 1

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3

Others

Number of Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products, by Target

Download a sample report for detailed target insights on thethyroid cancer pipeline products market

Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market Segment Analysis by MoA

Proto Oncogene Tyrosine Protein Kinase Receptor Ret Inhibitor

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 Inhibitor

Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase B Raf Inhibitor

Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 Antagonist

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 Inhibitor

Mast/Stem Cell Growth Factor Receptor Kit Inhibitor

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor

Others

Number of Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products, by MoA

Download a sample report for detailed MoA insights on thethyroid cancer pipeline products market

Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market Segment Analysis by RoA

Oral

Intravenous

Subcutaneous

Intratumor

Intravenous Drip

Parenteral

Others

Number of Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products, by RoA

Download a sample report for detailed RoA insights on thethyroid cancer pipeline products market

Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market Segment Analysis by Molecule Type

Number of Thyroid cancer Pipeline Products, by Molecule Type

Download a sample report for detailed molecule type insights on thethyroid cancer pipeline products market

Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market Report Scope

The pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of thyroid cancer (oncology).

The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for thyroid cancer (oncology) by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.

The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages.

The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise, product description, descriptive licensing and collaboration details, R&D brief, MoA & other developmental activities.

The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in thyroid cancer (oncology) therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects.

The pipeline guide evaluates thyroid cancer (oncology) therapeutics based on mechanism of action (MoA), drug target, route of administration (RoA) and molecule type.

The pipeline guide encapsulates all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects.

The pipeline guide reviews the latest news related to pipeline therapeutics for thyroid cancer (oncology)

Reasons to Buy

Procure strategically important competitor information, analysis, and insights to formulate effective R&D strategies.

Recognize emerging players with potentially strong product portfolios and create effective counter-strategies to gain a competitive advantage.

Find and recognize significant and varied types of therapeutics under development for thyroid cancer (oncology).

Classify potential new clients or partners in the target demographic.

Develop tactical initiatives by understanding the focus areas of leading companies.

Plan mergers and acquisitions meritoriously by identifying key players and their most promising pipeline therapeutics.

Formulate corrective measures for pipeline projects by understanding thyroid cancer (oncology) pipeline depth and focus of Indication therapeutics.

Develop and design in-licensing and out-licensing strategies by identifying prospective partners with the most attractive projects to enhance and expand business potential and scope.

Adjust the therapeutic portfolio by recognizing discontinued projects and understanding from the know-how what drove them from the pipeline.

Related Reports

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Cancer Anorexia-Cachexia Syndrome Drugs in Development by Stages, Target, MoA, RoA, Molecule Type and Key Players, 2022 Update Click here

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Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market Overview

Targets

Proto Oncogene Tyrosine Protein Kinase Receptor Ret, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2, Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase B Raf, Programmed Cell Death Protein 1, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3, and Others

Mechanisms of Action

Proto Oncogene Tyrosine Protein Kinase Receptor Ret Inhibitor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 Inhibitor, Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase B Raf Inhibitor, Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 Antagonist, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 Inhibitor, Mast/Stem Cell Growth Factor Receptor Kit Inhibitor, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor, and Others

Routes of Administration

Oral, Subcutaneous, Intravenous, Intratumor, Intravenous Drip, Parenteral, and Others

Molecule Types

Small Molecule, Monoclonal Antibody, Cell Therapy, Recombinant Protein, Synthetic Peptide, Gene-Modified Cell Therapy, Monoclonal Antibody Conjugated, and Others

Leading Companies

Novartis AG, Advenchen Laboratories LLC, Loxo Oncology Inc, AstraZeneca Plc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pfizer Inc, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co Ltd, Merck & Co Inc, AffyImmune Therapeutics Inc, and Others

FAQs

What are the key targets in the thyroid cancer pipeline products market? The key targets in the thyroid cancer pipeline products market are Proto Oncogene Tyrosine Protein Kinase Receptor Ret, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2, Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase B Raf, Programmed Cell Death Protein 1, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3, and others.

What are the key mechanisms of action in the thyroid cancer pipeline products market?Some of the mechanisms of action of the thyroid cancer pipeline products market are Proto Oncogene Tyrosine Protein Kinase Receptor Ret Inhibitor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 Inhibitor, Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase B Raf Inhibitor, Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 Antagonist, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 Inhibitor, Mast/Stem Cell Growth Factor Receptor Kit Inhibitor, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor, and others.

What are the routes of administration in the thyroid cancer pipeline products market?The routes of administration in the thyroid cancer pipeline products market are oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intratumor, intravenous drip, parenteral, and others.

What are the molecule types in the thyroid cancer pipeline products market?The molecule types in the thyroid cancer pipeline products market are small molecule, monoclonal antibody, cell therapy, recombinant protein, synthetic peptide, gene-modified cell therapy, monoclonal antibody conjugated, and others.

Which are the leading companies in the thyroid cancer pipeline products market?Some of the key companies in the thyroid cancer pipeline products market are Novartis AG, Advenchen Laboratories LLC, Loxo Oncology Inc, AstraZeneca Plc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pfizer Inc, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co Ltd, Merck & Co Inc, AffyImmune Therapeutics Inc, and others.

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

Introduction

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Novartis AG, AstraZeneca Plc, and Pfizer Inc Among Leading Companies in the Thyroid Cancer Pipeline Products Market | Globaldata Plc - Yahoo Finance

I enjoy a good streaming service, be it Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime. Admittedly, one of my favorite places to log in, and the stream is from my bed. However, one thing Im not guilty of is falling asleep while catching up on the latest episode of Squid Game. In fact, it appears that I was protecting my longevity when doing this, as a new study has revealed that falling asleep in front of the TV could lead to an early death.

The study, published in Sleep, set out to find a link between late at night activities in older adults in the U.S. and its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. For the study, researchers from the Northwestern School of Medicine examined the impact of ambient light on the health and sleeping habits of 552 people between the ages of 63 and 84.

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The findings revealed that participants who slept under ambient light were more likely to experience hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance in the morning. In fact, 17.8% of the participants who slept with the TV on suffered from diabetes, compared to only 9.8% who didnt sleep with the TV on. Also, 40.7% of participants who slept under ambient light were obese, compared to the 26.7 who were also obese but slept in darkness.

For the team, the results of the study can be linked back to the fact that sleeping under ambient light affects glucose regulation, and insulin resistance has been associated with Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

According to a previous study published in PLOS Medicine, extreme obesity can shorten your lifespan by 14 years. Additionally, research has also found that people with type 2 diabetes, on average, have a shorter life expectancy of about 10 years.

In addition to the aforementioned findings, the study also revealed that participants who fell asleep in ambient light were more likely to stay awake later and then sleep later the next day.

We know late sleepers tend to also have a higher risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, Lead researcher Phyllis Zee told CNN.The saying the early bird catches the worm is anything but a common expression. In fact, one 2018 study suggested that night owls have a 10% heightened risk of early mortality.

People should do their best to avoid or minimize the amount of light they are exposed to during sleep, Phyllis Zee, CNN

Its not just your TV habits that are a cause for concern at night, as any screen that emits blue light can affect your sleep health, which in turn can compromise your longevity. If youre worried about your devices affecting your sleep hygiene, then heres how you can safely use your tech at night.

Tech at night tips:

At 46 years old, Eva Longoria is truly the embodiment of health and wellness. As the years go by, the Desperate Housewives actress continues to prioritize her longevity. In fact, she recently shared two health habits that had changed in her 40s, and these two could be the key to why shes aging so well: eating well and sleeping well.

Kitahara, C. M., Flint, A. J., Berrington de Gonzalez, A., Bernstein, L., et al. (2014). Association between class III obesity (BMI of 40-59 kg/m2) and mortality: a pooled analysis of 20 prospective studies.PLoS medicine,11(7), e1001673. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001673

Kim, M., Vu, T. H., Maas, M. B., Braun, R. I., Wolf, M. S., Roenneberg, T., Daviglus, M. L., Reid, K. J., & Zee, P. C. (2022). Light at night in older age is associated with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.Sleep, zsac130. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsac130

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Falling Asleep With The TV On Is Affecting Your Longevity - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

Climate change and longevity are inextricably. linked. Theres a significant health threat associated with changing weather patterns and some geographies may be harder hit than others. The danger is all encompassing.

Increasingly, leaders in the healthcare industry are raising their concerns about the impact climate change is already having on healthcare projections. Mustafa Kamel, Medical Affairs Director for Janssen South Africa is outspoken about his concerns. He says the time to act is now!

The world has already warmed by more than 1C. We can still limit temperature rise to 1.5C & avoid the worst climate impacts. But we need more ambition now.

At the tail-end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the worlds gaze has shifted to climate change and the impact that it would have in the near, medium and longer-term future. It is a stark reality and variations in severity are expected to be unequally distributed around the globe. Some places may become colder, but balanced out by other regions experiencing warmer winters, for example. Included in the package, more frequent and severe weather conditions. And we have already seen these phenomena emerge.

Just as temperature and weather changes will be distributed unequally, so too will the impact of climate change be disproportionately scattered.

Sadly, population segments most at risk would be those who are most vulnerable. These include lower-income communities, children and pregnant women, senior adults, persons with disabilities and pre-existing conditions amongst others. These risks are complex.

As Kamel notes, Think about what all of this really means. Just imagine your daily life. Clean drinking water, the air we breathe, the food that we eat, the flights we take and the fossil fuels we consume. We created this monster, and now we must deal with it.

Theres no question that climate change will bring about a significant impact on health and healthcare, too. In many instances, it is along the value chain such as food security, which is paired with nutrition, and in turn the associated diseases and conditions that may emanate. These may include increased risk of cancer, dental problems, weight gain and appropriate growth in children, mental health challenges and diabetes, amongst others.

Ground level Ozone, or smog, holds several respiratory dangers and consequences can include lung conditions, asthma, or compounded as a pre-existing condition, while water-borne threats like cholera could become more widespread. Diseases previously thought under a measure of control, like Malaria, could begin to spread again in previously eradicated areas. Lyme disease and dengue fever also count amongst ecologically-based diseases that may make an unwelcome return. The list of mild to severe impact on the wellness of the world is substantial. Mustafa Kamel, Medical Affairs Director for Janssen South Africa

Add to this the direct consequences of climate change that we have seen rearing its head already. Instances of heatwaves where sunstroke, cardiovascular failures and other related deaths occur. Flooding, like we have recently seen in many parts of the world causes damage to property, injury and death to people.

While endeavours to slow climate change continues to be on the global agenda, it is imperative that action be taken. And its not simply about reducing carbon emissions. It is also about the damage to the environment through activities like deforestation, over-grazing, waste management and the like. In fact, almost every aspect of our lives would have to shape-shift responsibly in a collective attempt to counter a tsunami that humanity has started. Now it is up to us to manage its severity.

We would be saving ourselves, said Kamel, And while the full impact of climate change may only be a scientific guessing game at present, governments around the world have taken note and are planning to meet the potentially inevitable. Healthcare is no different.

To effectively manage the impact of pressure on healthcare, said Kamel, it is imperative that greater emphasis be placed on primary healthcare. This is particularly true for emerging markets and countries where low-income population segments and unemployment or poverty is rife. South Africa is at risk.

Significant investment and round-table collaboration between role players is now more critical than ever. It requires national policy changes, and a collaborative effort between authorities, the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare practitioners, the private hospital sector and wellness organisations.

The opportunity cost is potentially enormous. Already the World Health Organisation estimated that by 2030, the cost of direct damage to health because of climate change could be between two to four billion dollars, and that excludes ancillary price tags of clean water and sanitation for example. The institution also projected an additional 250 000 deaths annually between now and 2050, directly related to the impact of climate change.

Kamel said that primary healthcare is where illness or disease can be treated most effectively, and progressive infections as well as their impact can be managed at the genesis of a disease. He notes,

Climate change is the biggest threat to humanity and life as we know it. Lets do something about it, now.

Longevity shares the global concern about the climate crisis. You can read more here: We cannot be Pro-Aging without a healthy planet

More here:
Climate Change and Longevity Go Hand in Hand - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

The researchers created a digital model of psychology aimed to improve mental health. The system offers superior personalization and identifies the shortest path toward a cluster of mental stability for any individual.

Deep Longevity has published a paper in Aging-US outlining a machine learning approach to human psychology in collaboration with Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School, an authority on happiness and beauty.

The authors created two digital models of human psychology based on data from the Midlife in the United States study.

The first model is an ensemble of deep neural networks that predicts respondents chronological age and psychological well-being in 10 years using information from a psychological survey. This model depicts the trajectories of the human mind as it ages. It also demonstrates that the capacity to form meaningful connections, as well as mental autonomy and environmental mastery, develops with age. It also suggests that the emphasis on personal progress is constantly declining, but the sense of having a purpose in life only fades after 40-50 years. These results add to the growing body of knowledge on socioemotional selectivity and hedonic adaptation in the context of adult personality development.

The article describes an AI-based recommendation engine that can estimate ones psychological age and future well-being based on a constructed psychological survey. The AI uses the information from a respondent to place them on a 2D map of all possible psychological profiles and derive ways to improve their long-term well-being. This model of human psychology can be used in self-help digital applications and during therapist sessions. Credit: Michelle Keller

The second model is a self-organizing map that was created to serve as the foundation for a recommendation engine for mental health applications. This unsupervised learning algorithm splits all respondents into clusters depending on their likelihood of developing depression and determines the shortest path toward a cluster of mental stability for any individual. Alex Zhavoronkov, the chief longevity officer of Deep Longevity, elaborates, Existing mental health applications offer generic advice that applies to everyone yet fits no one. We have built a system that is scientifically sound and offers superior personalization.

To demonstrate this systems potential, Deep Longevity has released a web service FuturSelf, a free online application that lets users take the psychological test described in the original publication. At the end of the assessment, users receive a report with insights aimed at improving their long-term mental well-being and can enroll in a guidance program that provides them with a steady flow of AI-chosen recommendations. Data obtained on FuturSelf will be used to further develop Deep Longevitys digital approach to mental health.

FuturSelf is a free online mental health service that offers guidance based on a psychological profile assessment by AI. The core of FuturSelf is represented by a self-organizing map that classifies respondents and identifies the most suitable ways to improve ones well-being. Credit: Fedor Galkin

A leading biogerontology expert, professor Vadim Gladyshev from Harvard Medical School, comments on the potential of FuturSelf:

This study offers an interesting perspective on psychological age, future well-being, and risk of depression, and demonstrates a novel application of machine learning approaches to the issues of psychological health. It also broadens how we view aging and transitions through life stages and emotional states.

The authors plan to continue studying human psychology in the context of aging and long-term well-being. They are working on a follow-up study on the effect of happiness on physiological measures of aging.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging.

Reference: Optimizing future well-being with artificial intelligence: self-organizing maps (SOMs) for the identification of islands of emotional stability by Fedor Galkin, Kirill Kochetov, Michelle Keller, Alex Zhavoronkov and Nancy Etcoff, 20 June 2022, Aging-US.DOI: 10.18632/aging.204061

Link:
Harvard Developed AI Identifies the Shortest Path to Human Happiness - SciTechDaily

LIV Golf made its U.S. debut in Portland on Thursday, and if the scene at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club "proves anything, its this: everyone at LIV is convinced its here to stay," according to Dylan Dethier of GOLF.com. To hear them tell it, the players are "thrilled to be" on the tour. Whatever "you may think of LIV, thats crucial to understanding its future; the pros will be its most effective advocates and recruiters going forward, and happy pros will attract others." Bryson DeChambeau was "delighted at the possibility of bringing his production company inside the ropes alongside him for content capture." He said of LIV, Anything we ask for, theyre allowing us to do." Meanwhile, this week the "fan-free practice rounds were particularly low-key, with friends and teams roaming freely across the grounds."Agents, managers and coaches are "welcomed on the fairways." One coach "remarked that LIV is more welcoming than any tour hes ever been on." He said, You have actual human rights out here. The music "cascading over the driving range was an engaging touch, as were the speakers set up every few holes." There were "tense moments in press conferences -- fueled by another good innovation, bringing three players up instead of just one at a time" (GOLF.com 6/30).

AVOIDING THE OBVIOUS? GOLF DIGEST's Dan Rapaport noted inside Pumpkin Ridges gates, and outside the media center, there has been "hardly any talk of the Twin Towers, Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Fallon Smart." No one is "discussing sharia laws treatment of Christians or homosexuals or women." The players "have been clear in their justification for being here: Im here to play golf and entertain the fans." Rapaport estimated "somewhere in the 3,000 range" for attendance on Thursday. But the fans on-site "wanted to watch the golf, and they wanted to be entertained" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 6/30).

FEELING THE VIBE: In Portland, Mitchell Forde notes those in attendance Thursday were "greeted by a scene that more closely represented a music festival than a country club, engineered to appeal to an audience beyond typical golf fans." A sprawling fan village "contained myriad Instagrammable decorations and Tik Tok-able interactive activities." Performers "rode around the area on oversized bikes or handless hoverboards." Food trucks provided a "wide range of concessions, while vendors sold beers for $5 apiece (a drastic departure from the PGA Championship, which somewhat infamously charged $18 per Michelob Ultra)." The "laid-back atmosphere inside the Pumpkin Ridge gates did not reveal so much as a hint of the criticism that has followed the tour" (Portland OREGONIAN, 7/1).

TENSION BELOW THE SURFACE: ESPNs Scott Van Pelt said "protests marked the first day" of the LIV Golf tournament in Portland. The "SportsCenter"broadcast then aired highlights of the first round of the event (ESPN, 6/30). ESPNs John Barr said ESPNs Mark Schlabach, who is on-site at the tournament, "described a fairly relaxed atmosphere within the tournament bubble which stands in stark contrast to everything going on around it." Schlabach noted "its been tense at times" in the players' press conferences, "more tense with Brooks Koepka probably than the others." But Schlabach added the "players seemed to be well-trained" when answering questions during their press conferences ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/30).

TALK OF THE TOWN: SBJ's "Strictly Business" Twitter Spaces talked all things LIV Golf on Thursday. SBJ's Josh Carpenter and David Rumsey were joined by The Fried Egg's Brendan Porath and Morning Read's Bob Harig, who is on the ground in Portland this week.

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LIV Golf's first US event shows signs of longevity, flexibility with players - Sports Business Journal

The key to a long, happy retirement is not just having a flush portfolio or moving to a low-tax state with 300-plus days of sunshine. Its having the good health to enjoy your golden years.

And thats more than clich. Edward Jones surveyed 11,000 adults and found that 69% wanted to live to age 100. However, some didnt want such longevity if they were in terrible health (32%), if they became a burden on their families (29%), if they had serious cognitive loss (20%), and if they no longer had purpose in life (14%).

Many people assume that their chances of a long, healthy life is largely out of their hands, controlled by the genes they inherited. Its not that simple.

While scientists previously believed that genetics accounted for roughly 25% of lifespan, new research has put that number under 10%. Genetics still matters. Whether or not you dodge a particular affliction may be determined by your genes. And for extremely long-lived peoplethose who live beyond perhaps age 105genes are still thought to pay a huge role.

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Barrons brings retirement planning and advice to you in a weekly wrap-up of our articles about preparing for life after work.

For most of us, however, whether we get 75 or 85 or 95 healthy years is affected more by lifestyle choices than by genes. Getting regular exercise and enough sleep, eating nutritious, healthy foods, staying resilient and connected with other humansthese are the habits that produce continuing good health, long lifespans and enjoyable, productive retirements. They will also lower your healthcare costs and reduce your odds of developing dementiatwo of the biggest worries for retirees.

Genetics are the gun and lifestyle pulls the trigger, says Dr. David Fein, medical director of the Princeton Longevity Center in New Jersey.

Barrons recently talked to longevity experts, geriatric doctors, and read the latest research to come up with some concrete steps for improving your odds of a long, healthy life. Some of it is age-old advice. But research has also upended some of the conventional wisdom in recent years. For example, doctors used to think that moderate alcohol consumption was good for you; new research shows otherwise.

Here are six things you can do to improve your chances for having the good health to enjoy your retirement.

Exercise isnt a particularly efficient way of losing weight. But it is great at just about everything else when it comes to improving your health.

Want to lower your blood pressure or your blood sugar levels? Want to sleep better? Want to improve your brain function and memory? Want to lift your spirits? All these things are important for our health, and over recent years, theres been much research showing how exercise helps in all.

Exercise doesnt necessarily mean going to the gym. Brisk daily walks around the neighborhood will give you similar benefits. Nor does exercise all have to be done in one continuous session. Little five- or 10-minute bursts of activity throughout the day could be even better for you than a single session.

Its very hard to make up for 47 hours of being sedentary with one hour of intensive exercise, says Dr. Fein. Chairs kill more people than anything else.

Especially as you get older, be sure to include resistance training or other weight-bearing exercises to strengthen your bones and retain muscle mass. Biking or swimming are great for your cardiovascular system but they wont protect you from osteoporosis. If youre not lifting weights, try a few minutes of jumping ropes to build stronger bones.

Can there be too much of a good thing when it comes to exercise? Some research has found that extreme exercise actually hurts your health. An in-depth study in 2018 found otherwise. It studied 122,000 patients and measured their fitness not on how much they said they exercised, but how they performed on a treadmill test. It found the extremely fit had the lowest mortality levels.

But the debate over how much exercise is too much is beside the point. The big difference in health isnt between those in good shape and those in extremely good shape. Its between those who exercise and those who dont.

All sorts of good things happen as you sleep. Cells renew themselves. Your body produces hormones, which helps restore the body and reset many of its functions. Not getting enough sleep hurts your immune function. Scientists have found that people who dont sleep enough are more likely to eventually develop dementia.

How much sleep is enough sleep? The rough rule is between six to eight hours a night for adults. But different people may have different patterns and still get enough sleep. Some people may wake up in the middle of the night, be up for an hour or two, and go back to sleep for a few more hours. Others may take a nap in the middle of the day.

What is the best pattern for you? We dont know, says Daniel Belsky, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health, who says there hasnt been much high-quality research on the subject. What pattern is optimal for a person may depend on the life they lead.

Dr. Belsky says there has been good research on shift workers who work at night while others are sleeping, and they pay a health priceparticularly if their sleep times keep changing.

Other Americans have trouble sleeping, no matter what time it is. If that applies to you, doctors advise you to improve your sleep hygiene. Go to bed at the same time each night. Make sure your bedroom is dark and at a comfortable temperature. And dont keep checking your smartphone throughout the night.

For years, many doctors advised their patients that moderate drinking, particularly red wine, was good for them. After all, research had shown that moderate drinkers lived longer than both heavy drinkers and nondrinkers.

But new research has changed the conventional wisdom on the subject.

It finds the reason moderate drinkers had better health wasnt the alcohol; it is believed to stem from favorable lifestyle, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors.

Drinking increases your risks for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain cancers. The risks appear minimal for light drinkers but increase with higher drinking levels.

Bottom line: Nobody should start drinking because they think its good for their health, says geriatrician Alicia Ines Arbaje, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Alcohol is directly toxic to the body. There is no amount that is beneficial.

Obesity is tied to a multitude of illnesses, including higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and many cancers. Obese people have been hit harder by the Covid-19 pandemic.

But it doesnt necessarily follow that going on a strict diet to shave off some pounds is good for you. Losing weight isnt that hard. But keeping weight off is quite hard, and yo-yoing up and down doesnt do your body any good.

Whats more, all fat isnt created equal. The subcutaneous fat that sits on our hips may be unsightly, but it doesnt appear to have big effects on our health. The nasty stuff is the visceral fat that surrounds our organs. It changes the hormones produced by the body, and is linked to diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and Alzheimers disease.

The only way of knowing for sure how much visceral fat you have is some sort of body scan, which is expensive and not recommended by most health experts for the general population.

People with bigger waists or apple-shaped bodies tend to have more visceral fat. But even there it gets tricky since different ethnic groups, notably people of Asian heritage, have a tendency to carry more visceral fat.

Morgan Levine is an assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine who studies aging and wrote the book True Age. Instead of focusing on your weight, she says people should exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. The good news is that exercise does reduce visceral fat.

Weight is such a bad proxy or measure for what is contributing to health, Dr. Levine says. Its so much more complex than how heavy you are.

Further complicating things, while weight loss may be desirable for the general population, it often isnt for seniors because it can cause loss of muscle and can contribute to osteoporosis. Geriatrician Deborah Kado, who has done extensive research on bone health and is co-director of the Stanford Longevity Center in California, doesnt usually advise her older patients to lose weight.

I tell them its insurance if you go into the hospital, she says. There is a lot of data that indicates that weight loss, whether intentional or unintentional, has been associated with adverse health outcomes rather than health benefits.

Nutrition is one of the trickier areas to research. Its hard to know exactly what research subjects actually eat. And it can take years for health effects to emerge. Nonetheless, scientists are seeing eating patterns that contribute to longevity.

A study found that even 60-year-olds could add an average eight or nine years to their lives by abandoning a Western diet. The biggest gains came from eating more legumes, whole grains and nuts, and eating less red meat and processed meat. Eating more fish was also a plus. The effects of eggs, poultry and oil were less clear. If it sounds a lot like the Mediterranean diet, it is. But its emphasis on vegetables, legumes and whole grains also bears similarities to how people eat in other parts of the world known for longevity.

Americans eat too much protein, says Yales Dr. Levine. She says protein contributes to overly high levels of the human growth hormone, which is linked to certain cancers and appears to increase aging.

But once again, the recommendation changes when it comes to seniors. Older people dont process protein as well, and need more of it in their diet to maintain muscle mass, research has found.

Live long enough, and bad things are likely to happen to you or the people around you. How you deal with them is key. People who have a positive mind-set on things they cant control tend to have much better outcomes, says Dr. Kado, the Stanford geriatrician. She says it is almost the most important factor in how her patients fare.

People are social creatures. And we tend to be more resilient when we have strong social connections. This can come through our family, our friends, our church, or even our retirement community. There has been research showing that maintaining social connections is good for brain health. So go for a walk with a friend and eat an apple afterward.

When it comes to longevity, these are all steps in the right direction. Saving for that longer life, and retirement, is another story.

Write to retirement@barrons.com

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Here's How to Maximize Your Healthy Years in Retirement. Eat Right and Exercise. - Barron's

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Busy Americans may not have time during the week to fit in the American Heart Associations recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise. But new research from nearly 351,000 adults shows the benefits of exercising only on the weekends are comparable to those seen among more regular exercisers.

Writing in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers explained how they assessed data from the National Health Interview Survey which took place between 1997 and 2013. Authors classified those who completed all their recommended weekly exercise in one or two sessions as weekend warriors and those who spread out sessions as regularly active.

Participants were followed for a median of 10.4 years and within that time frame, 4,130 people died of cardiovascular disease and 6,034 from cancer.

Similar all-cause mortality hazard ratios were reported for weekend warriors and regular exercisers when compared with inactive participants. Cause-specific mortality hazard ratios were also similar between the two active groups.

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According to the authors, findings reinforce the importance of reaching the recommended levels of physical activity for health.

They continued, for people with fewer opportunities for daily or regular physical activity during their work week, these findings are important.

Exercise can help prevent onset of several non-communicable diseases in addition to combating obesity and weight gain. Currently, 42 percent of the United States population is obese and 9.2 percent are classified as severely obese.

The papers findings underscore the importance of meeting total exercise time thresholds each week, as opposed to how often one exercises or at what time of day.

The self-reported nature of questionnaires marks a limitation to this study, as participant bias may have impacted results. However, a large sample size and the long duration of the study bolsters the conclusions reliability.

Published on Jul. 07, 2022

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Exercising only on the weekend is still effective, study finds - The Hill

Generational owners of multifamily properties turn to us because they will get more personalized service than they would from the bigger players, who cannot provide the same high level of attention we can.

ROSELAND, N.J. (PRWEB) July 07, 2022

Kriegman & Smith, Inc., a multifamily real estate investment and property management firm, is marking its 50th anniversary. This milestone underscores not only the longevity of the business, but just as important, the number of properties that have remained under management with the company over multiple generations, throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Founded by Michael Smith and Sam Kriegman in 1972, the firm grew from one desk and two northern New Jersey communities comprising 240 units to a portfolio of 6,000 apartment and townhouse units in two states. The company owns and manages garden apartments, mid-rises, luxury high rises, and townhouse-style duplex apartments across a range of rental rates. Kriegman & Smiths portfolio also includes properties it manages for third-party investors, including three non-profit affordable housing properties.

Today, the company is run by second-generation Co-Owner Jeffrey Smith and Co-Owner Adam Kaplan, who are committed to the firms founding principles: a dedication to maintaining high-quality luxury and affordable workforce housing available for renters for those just starting out in life to residents who remain tenants for decades.

Kriegman & Smiths history has not only been one of growth through acquisition and third-party partnerships, but also one that demonstrates longevity and stability among its properties, as well as employees. Weve always been committed to long-term goals and relationships, Kaplan said.

A history of longstanding relationships

One reason why we have maintained so many properties and retained so many employees across generations is that our core values have never wavered and are still our guiding principles 50 years later, said Smith. We treat each building as if it were our own. Thats never changed.

To that end, we are committed to delivering well-maintained properties that have benefited from strong investment in their upkeep and upgrades, with high-quality components meant to serve multiple generations of owners, managers and tenants, Smith noted. The company has also invested substantially in its own infrastructure to meet the challenging rental environment.

Were a small company committed to running our buildings with the same values our founders relied upon, but much like the large national firms, we have invested in the latest, most sophisticated property management technology to optimize operating procedures, said Kaplan, referring to its back-end integration with the firms website and digital tools for leasing agents, regional managers, resident managers and maintenance teams.

An owners perspective in third-party property management Smith attributes some of the companys success and longevity to the owners approach to property management, which has fueled its growth as a niche management operator for investor/owners and its expansion of services for those clients.

Generational owners of multifamily properties turn to us because they will get more personalized service than they would from the bigger players, who cannot provide the same high level of attention we can. These clients know that, as a third-generation, family-owned and -operated company, we appreciate the owners perspective and understand the importance of relationships and responsiveness across stakeholdersfrom the owners themselves to their leasing teams, superintendents and of course, residents, said Smith.

Property owners speak and work directly with Smith and Kaplan, without having to go through gatekeepers and a corporate chain of command and appreciate the flexibility available to them to meet their varied needs, instead of cookie cutter services.

Lisa DAllesandro, a managing member at Candal Properties LLC, has been a client of Kriegman & Smith since 2015, which manages their Hackensack, NJ, luxury high rise building with 267 units, concurs, Like Kriegman & Smith, we are a family-owned business, too, and appreciate the hands-on service and accessibility of the firms management team. There are some formulas you just dont change, and like us, they treat their staff like family.

Longstanding management of senior residences Kriegman & Smith also operates multiple communities for low-income seniors, some for 35 years or longer.

We are among a small group of property management companies that manage both market rate and subsidized properties, said Kaplan. Were very proud of this and value those properties and our relationships with them.

Those relationships have extended to both the management team and company employees getting personally involved, from showing up to flip burgers at barbeques to setting up and coordinating a COVID-19 vaccination drive at three sites through a partnership with Walgreens. For example, in January 2021, when vaccines were not yet widely available and appointments were challenging to access, the Kriegman & Smith team was able to get residents vaccinated and volunteered on site at all three residences in Union and Nutley as part of the companys commitment to community service.

Kriegman & Smith celebrated its 50th anniversary officially with an employee event on June 23. More information about the company is at http://www.kriegmanandsmith.com. ###

Photo Caption: Kriegman & Smith, Inc. on June 23, 2022, held a party for employees at Park Ave. Club in Florham Park. More than 150 employees and family members attended, where they celebrated 2020 and 2021 missed holiday parties and, of course, the Companys 50th Anniversary. A long list of more than 25 employees that have been with the firm since the last millennium were recognized.

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Kriegman & Smith, Inc. Celebrates 50 Years of Multifamily Investment and Property Management Business Across Generations - PR Web

Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and sometimes his reputation and demeanor equate him to LeBron James of the Lakers.

On more than one occasion, the Packers quarterback has shown how prolific he is. He is the NFLs reigning back-to-back MVP, and its hard to say that anyone has played better than him in the last two years.

Rodgers has had his ups and downs with the Packers organization, but overall, hes shown that hes an indispensable part of the franchises history.

Theres a subtle art about the way Aaron Rodgers plays. Hes aggressive without turning the ball over, as good in the pocket as he is out of it, and he can make throws no other player in the league can. For lack of better words, hes a magician.

Also Read: Anthony Edwards is taking your job Tom Brady: NFL and NBA fans go crazy after a viral Tweet of the Timberwolves star catches Bucs QBs attention

We all know about LeBrons dominance in the NBA. Hes a four-time NBA champion, and hes been to the Finals 10 times in his career, a high among all active players.

LeBron has never had a truly bad season. Even dating back to his rookie year, youd be hard-pressed to find a season when LeBron wasnt unequivocally the best player on his team, and perhaps even the league.

Michael Smith talked about how Rodgers once said that down year for him is a career year for most quarterbacks, and after hearing that statement, he immediately knew which NBA star to compare the Packers quarterback to.

Smith noted that even though other players like Giannis or Steph may try to take the throne by winning MVPs or titles, at the end of the day, LeBron is the most dominant.

Similarly, Rodgers holds that edge in the NFL. He felt that Brady had fallen off his peak and that the Green Bay star still reigns supreme over his biggest challenger in Patrick Mahomes.

Its a valid comparison to make. Rodgers has been the most consistently good quarterback in the league, especially in recent times. The only thing thats eluded him is a Super Bowl win.

Rodgers has also aged like LeBron. Hes 38 years old, coming off back-to-back MVPs. Last year, LeBron played at an MVP level despite being 36-37 years old. Time doesnt affect these two beasts.

Also Read: LeBron James is my favorite basketball player, for sure: Lamar Jackson snubbed Michael Jordan as he revealed his favorite NBA player is the Lakers star

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"Aaron Rodgers is to the NFL what LeBron James is to the NBA": Michael Smith detailed how the Packers QB's... - The Sportsrush