StemCell Therapy

The fact: Kenya's second president, Daniel arap Moi, died on Tuesday at a ripe age.

It was 95 on paper, but his son Raymond and Press Secretary Lee Njiru have argued that Mois actual age was more than 100 years.

The circumstances: that Moi was a man who observed a healthy and traditional diet is a well-known fact.

It is also known that his elder brother, Paulo, lived to 104 and his sister, Rebecca, died at 100.

And so a debate ensues: what guarantees longevity? It could be the right genes, a proper diet, exercise, good medication or a combination of all those.

But there is no single clear-cutting factor from the stories of the people who have lived for a century and beyond. We gathered different world-views on the matter.

NUTRITIONIST: Diet is the key to longevity

According to Gladys Mugambi, a nutritionist working with the Ministry of Health, a proper diet is a major determinant of how long a person lives.

I cannot attribute it to vegetarian or meat consumption but to eating variety of foods in the right amounts accompanied by appropriate physical activity, she told Lifestyle.

Mois famous breakfast of tea or porridge with boiled green maize will definitely offer points to ponder for the lot that cherishes wheat products and fried goodies at their breakfast table.

Abraham Kiptanui (then-State House comptroller) would make sure there was tea and green maize, Mois one-time Cabinet Minister Kalonzo Musyoka told Nation in 2014.

Regardless, Moi was not entirely vegetarian. Njiru told documentarist Salim Amin two years ago that the former president ate meat like a lion.

I have heard people say that Moi does not eat meat, but the centrality of Mois food is meat, said Njiru.

Other things like vegetables and ugali are additions. He slaughters an animal every day, mostly merino sheep. His (longevity) is not a matter of food but genetics.

Mugambi advocates for eating from the major food groups, with starchy foods at the centre of the diet.

Asked how smoking and taking alcohol affects a persons lifespan, the nutritionist said the two substances are more harmful to individuals who do not eat well and who are living a stressful life.

One of Kenyas famous centenarians, former Attorney-General Charles Njonjo, said in 2015 that he doesnt entirely keep off alcohol.

I dont drink much, he told Business Daily. If Im to drink, it will be just a bottle of beer and maybe a cider, thats it.

Then there is the case of Nepalese woman Batuli Lamichhane, who may have shown the world that smoking is not a life limiter after all.

She was 112 years old in 2016 when she revealed that she smoked about 30 cigarettes every day.

She told reporters that she smoked leaf rolls made of tobacco. She, however, noted that she was a very active woman, who walked up and down a steep terrain in Nuwakot, Nepal.

We could study these individuals to establish what has kept them surviving with the unhealthy habits of alcohol and smoking. The amount of alcohol taken, the frequency and the speed could be keeping Njonjo going; I do not know, reasoned Mugambi.

Genetics could also contribute. There are people who take a lot of alcohol and they do not get the negative effect, but why should one take a chance with his or her life in trying such bad and addictive habits? She posed.

The principle of eating right was employed by the person captured by Guinness World Records (GWR) as the man who lived longest.

Jiroemon Kimura, a Japanese, died aged 116 years and 54 days in December 2012. Since birth recording began, no man has lived longer than that.

His personal motto was eat light to live long, and he believed the key to his longevity is to be a healthy, small eater, reads his entry on GWR.

EX-CATHOLIC PRIEST: Observing a routine is a good path to longevity

One of the longest-living Catholic priests in history is Fr Jacques Clemens, a Dutch clergyman who died in March 2018 aged 108.

Reuters reported in 2016 that Fr Clemens secret for clocking 100-plus years was the routine he observed.

Every day he rises at 5.30am, and every night he goes to bed by 9.00pm. Fr Clemens manages to stick by his strict regimen regardless of the demands on his schedule, the news agency said.

Writer Peter Economy opined on Inc.com that observing routine is helpful in many ways.

When we have a set time for resting our bodies every day, we are much more likely to have good, consistent control of our bodies homeostasis. Maintaining stability, as we well know, is the way to long-term success in anything. Our health is no exception to this rule, reasoned the writer.

Moi was also known for his strict routine. Njiru told Lifestyle in 2016 that during his 24 years as president, and even after, Moi was an early riser, who did not start his days activities later than 6.30am.

Even after retirement, Njiru noted, Moi would still wake up early, mostly to handle the schools and farms he was running. Under normal circumstances, he does not wake up later than 6am.

PSYCHOLOGIST: Childhood influences determine the length of ones life

See more here:
Lifestyle secrets of some of the world's oldest people - nation.co.ke

A reporter examines a 23andMe DNA genetic testing kit in Oakland, California.

Cayce Clifford | Bloomberg | Getty Images

It has not been a good year for consumer DNA testing companies.

In January, Silicon Valley-based 23andMe laid off 100 employees, about 14% of its workforce. A month later, Ancestry, which has offices in Utah and San Francisco, also cut 100 jobs, representing about 6% of its staff.

The major reason for the downsizing? Simply put, consumers aren't buying as many at-home DNA tests as they used to.

The first sign came in the summer, when Illumina, maker of the DNA sequencing machines that are used by Ancestry and 23andMe, acknowledged in an earnings call to investors that the category had hit a lull. CEO Francis DeSouza didn't share an explanation for that, but noted that Illumina was taking a "cautious view" of the opportunity in the near term. Orasure, maker of the spit tubes used by consumer DNA testing companies, has also seen its stock take a hit.

At that time, some smaller companies were already feeling the impact. Helix, a start-up that spun out of Illumina to build an "app store" model for DNA tests, cut staff in May. The company revealed to Bloomberg that it was shifting its focus away from consumers to population health, meaning it would work with health industry partners. A few months later, Veritas Genetics another company focused on consumers that sold more expensive but more detailed whole genome sequencing tests shuttered its U.S. operations.

So what happened? There hasn't yet been a detailed study to understand the shift in consumer thinking around these tests. But CNBC spoke with some of the leading genetics experts and doctors, who shared a few theories.

Dawn Barry, a former Illumina executive with a start-up in the space called LunaDNA, blames a few factors, especially privacy concerns.

Consumers have seen a slew of reports in the past few years about how companies are using their personal data for targeted advertising, without their knowledge, and might be feeling particularly sensitive about their health information.

Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23andMe, has previously referred to these concerns as the "Facebook effect." In her view, consumers are increasingly freaked out about stories they're reading in the media about privacy, mostly about Facebook and other technology companies, and are reacting by feeling anxious about getting DNA tests.

Companies like 23andMe do make money off this information. Her company does ask for consent from users and it has publicly explained its revenue model, but a big part of its business involves its relationships with pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline. 23andMe also has a therapeutics arm, where it is hoping to leverage its database of millions of people's DNA to develop new drugs.

Making matters worse for these companies, suggests Barry, is the Golden State Killer case. Law enforcement honed in on a suspect after running DNA from a decades-old crime scene through a free online database, where anyone can upload their genetic information.

A suspect was found through a distant relative who might have paid for a test via Ancestry or 23andMe, and then uploaded it into the database.

The case raised all sorts of complicated questions about whether genetic information is fundamentally different than other types of data because it implicates family members and not just individuals.

Other experts suspect that consumer DNA testing companies might have run out of early adopters. The theory goes that there's about 20 million or 30 million consumers who are naturally interested in learning more about their family background, and it's not that challenging or expensive to sell tests to them. At this point, many of these people have already been sold to, and there's no reason for them to buy a second test. Ancestry has sold about 14 million tests, and 23andMe has sold some 9 million.

But many people are wary about learning information they might not want to know like the father who raised them isn't their biological father or that they have a risk for a genetic disease that they can't take a pill to prevent.

There's likely a larger consumer segment that's interested, but still wary about these tests. They might not believe that the information is valuable enough to warrant the price tag. The cheapest tests sell for $99, and they'll cover ancestry and some health risks but lack truly actionable health information, like whether an individual might respond poorly to a drug based on their genetic makeup.

"The ancestry market is a finite market," said David Mittelman, CEO of Othram, a genomics start-up and a molecular physicist. A decade or so in, "these companies are beginning to tap out the market."

Mittelman notes that customer acquisition costs, including ad dollars these companies need to spend on sites like Facebook, will increase over time.

"I think the companies know this," he said. "The investment in health shows that they are working to appeal to a broader market."

What's noteworthy about the recent round of layoffs is that Ancestry kept all of its employees at its Ancestry Health business. And 23andMe is still highly focused on its drug development business. That suggests that both companies are indeed hinging their future on developing powerful health applications.

In light of that, some geneticists are optimistic about their future.

"First of all, a slowdown isn't a stoppage," said Dr. Robert Green, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School. "Our research is finding that genetics is about to take its rightful place in medical care for the world."

As Green explains, it's been a challenge for doctors to understand how genetics can inform their patient care. Many haven't had the education about genetics to understand how to talk about it with their patients or recommend tests that might be beneficial. But that's starting to change.

For instance, 23andMe is starting to roll out new tests that can identify people's risk for chronic diseases like diabetes, called polygenic risk scores. These results could be used by doctors to help steer their patients toward making healthier lifestyle choices to help them avoid getting the disease.

And for these companies, which already have genetic databases of millions of people, they might not need to keep spending ample marketing dollars to acquire new customers. Instead, they could focus on developing new insights from their existing databases. if they succeed at that, they can forge partnerships to the medical industry.

As Mittelman puts it, there's no need to "force people down an ancestry funnel."

Green agrees, saying companies like 23andMe and Ancestry might double down on more expensive but more detailed sequencing tests that provide a lot more relevant health information. 23andMe has dabbled with those kinds of tests but has been reluctant to roll out higher-priced tests while its main focus has been growth.

"The direct-to-consumer phenomenon will give way to a more of a proper integration of genomics into the day-to-day care of patients," said Green. "What we're seeing is a course correction, and consumers are waking up to the potential limitations of a $99 test."

CNBC Evolve will return, this time to Los Angeles, on June 8. Visit cnbcevents.com/evolve to apply to attend.

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Consumer DNA testing is a bust: Here's how companies like Ancestry and 23andMe can survive - CNBC

Feb 8th 2020

PERHAPS MORE than any other, cancer is seen as a disease of genes gone wrong. So, as genetic-sequencing technology has become cheaper and faster, cancer scientists are using it to check which changes to genes cause tumours to spread.

The latest insights from one group, the international Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG), are revealed this week in Nature. In an analysis of the full genomes of 2,658 samples of 38 types of tumour taken from the bladder to the brain, the researchers give a blow-by-blow account of how a series of genetic mutations can turn normal cells into runaway clones. It provides the most comprehensive analysis yet of where to find this damaging disruption to DNA and, by unpicking the genetics of what makes cancer tick, just how hard it will be to tame.

For each of the cancer samples, the team produced a read-out of the tumour genomethe 3bn or so individual DNA lettersand compared it with the genome sequences of healthy cells taken from the same patients. In this way they could look for the genetic signatures of the cancer cells, where specific mutations had warped the genetic information.

Most mutations in the genome are harmless. But driver mutations, where genetic changes cause a cell to multiply more easily and faster than other cells, can trigger tumour growth. Many driver mutations have been found over the past decade and a handful have been translated into new medicines. In a fifth of breast cancers (pictured), for example, a driver mutation in the gene HER2 makes cells produce more of a protein on their surface that encourages them to grow and divide out of control. A series of drugs, including Herceptin, target this protein, and lead to significantly improved survival rates. The same HER2 mutation also appears in some lung cancers, raising hopes that similar therapies could work against that disease.

The problem is that most cancers have multiple driver mutations. Indeed, the PCAWG work found that on average each cancer genome carried four or five. And with some clever genetic archaeology they also found that some driver mutations can occur years before symptoms appear.

To discover this, researchers used a new concept called molecular time to reconstruct the cellular evolution of tumour cells. By comparing the DNA of cells within tumours, the researchers could place mutations in chronological order based on how many cells they appeared in. Earlier mutations occur more frequently. For example, driver mutations in a gene called TP53 were found to have originated at least 15 years before diagnosis in types of ovarian cancer, and at least five years before in types of colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Driver mutations in a gene called CDKN2A were found to have occurred in some lung cancers more than five years before diagnosis. In theory, that provides a window in which to find people at risk of developing these diseases, and perhaps prevent the cancer ever appearing.

The new study closes down talk that significant numbers of unknown driver mutations could lurk in the relatively unexplored regions of the human genome. One such driver mutation in non-coding DNA was found in 2013a mutation in the TERT gene across many different cancer types. To check for more like this, the consortium sequenced and analysed all the DNA letters of these non-coding regions (which account for 98% of human DNA) for the first time. They found that non-TERT driver mutations occurred at a rate of less than one per 100 tumours in these regions.

Peter Campbell of the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, Britain, and a member of the PCAWG consortium, says an important contribution of the study is that by sequencing so many tumours it has raised the number of patients in whom a genetic contribution to their cancer can be identified from less than 70% to 95%. The goal, he says, is for genome sequencing of tumours to become routine. Efforts to introduce this are under way in some countries, including Britain, the Netherlands and South Korea, he adds.

Insights are all very well, but what about cold, hard clinical progress? Turning genome sequences into meaningful predictors of cancer will require comparisons between samples from tens of thousands of patients, say the researchers, along with data on their treatments and survival rates. Processing this would be beyond the reach of any single organisation. Instead, a follow-up project is planned that includes national funding agencies, charities and corporate partners from more than a dozen countries around the world. It aims to link full sequences of 200,000 cancer patients to their clinical data by 2025.

This article appeared in the Science and technology section of the print edition under the headline "Scientists reveal the most extensive genetic map of cancers ever made"

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Scientists reveal the most extensive genetic map of cancers ever made - The Economist

The Scottish scientist in the frontline of the battle against the deadly coronavirus is warning the need for a vaccine is even more critical with more than 31,000 confirmed cases and around 630 deaths.

Dr Kate Broderick, is working round the clock with her team of researchers at the pharmaceutical company Inovio in San Diego to develop a jab in just six months.

The 42-year-old, who is originally from Dunfermline, and has been living in California for 20 years, says the aim is to make a vaccine faster than theyve made any other in our history.

Broderick has helped create successful vaccines for ebola, zika, lassa fever and Mers (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) moving from Glasgow to develop her work in molecular genetics.

She first read about the coronavirus outbreak on Hogmanay and saw that the World Health Organisation had reported a couple of cases.

From there the Chinese authorities published the DNA sequence online which was the trigger for Broderick and her team to start working on a new vaccine.

She said: Seeing it online was like 100 per cent confirmation that this was a new virus but even before that from the disease symptoms it wasnt fitting into any particular box.

So, we already suspected that this was something new.

We downloaded the sequences and the first stage of our development is done on a computer which is why our technology at Novio allows us to go so far.

We ran the sequences through a computer algorithm and three hours later we actually had a full design for the vaccine and the next day we were able to put that into manufacturing.

She added: Its definitely 100 per cent a race against the clock were working here 24/7 and thats not an exaggeration to get this thing out.

What were trying to do here is make a vaccine faster than weve ever made any other vaccine in our history.

Our fastest in the past was seven months from sequence to patient and that was for the Zika outbreak where kids were being born with these terrible neurological deficits and we really sprang into action there.

We got the viral sequence and we got it tested in humans within seven months and we were so proud of that and here for the novel coronavirus were trying to do it significantly faster than that.

We need international support and I think were seeing that in the scientific community.

Theres a lot of organisations working together but its absolutely a race against time.

The UK government announced earlier this week that it has pledged 20 million to develop new vaccines to combat the worlds deadliest diseases, amid concerns over the novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV.

Dr Broderick welcomed the funding which will go to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), originally formed in response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

She added: Thats what we need now funding to support this work.

We have to follow all the established protocols and work with the authorities thats absolutely critical.

So, all we would do first is a phase one clinical trial which we plan to do early summer.

Thats testing it on completely healthy people just to get a read-out of the fact the vaccine is safe and its doing what we hope its going to do.

We hope to roll that out in the US in the early summer and well also be working with our colleagues in China to do similar kinds of trials there with an eye to discussing with the Chinese authorities to get the vaccine out to people who need it as soon as its available.

Dr Broderick has retained her Scottish accent having gone to St Columbas High School in Dunfermline before studying genetics at the University of Glasgow, where she also completed her PhD.

Her father was a physicist, her mother a therapist, one of her sisters is a nurse and the other is a social worker.

She met her husband, Steve, in California, and 20 years on is still there. She has two children, Rory, aged eight, and four-year-old Isla.

She said: Every single day almost someone will ask me if Im here on vacation and Ill say no Ive been here for 20 years.

I come back to Scotland at least once a year and my whole family are still in Scotland and I feel very, very Scottish.

Im proud of my adopted home in California but I very much consider myself Scottish.

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Coronavirus: Meet the Scottish doctor working to create life-saving vaccine - Scotland on Sunday

Epithelial cells line the lobules (small lobes) and terminal ducts of the breast and carry out the important function of making milk. Cancer scientists, such as Dr. Chonghui Cheng at Baylor College of Medicine, have great interest in these cells because they can transform into cancer cells giving rise to carcinomas, which represent the vast majority of breast cancers.

The Cheng lab investigates how RNA regulation controls cellular processes in normal biology and in the context of cancer, including metastasis. Using molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics approaches in conjunction with genetic models and patient samples, the Cheng lab currently focuses on the regulation of breast cancer metastasis driven by alternative splicing.

Dr. Cheng is an associate professor in the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center and the Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor. She also is a member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

By Ana Mara Rodrguez, Ph.D.

Originally posted here:
Image of the Month: Human breast epithelial cells - Baylor College of Medicine News

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 4

To commemorate World Cancer Day, Central University of Punjab (CUP) on Tuesday organised lectures on topic, Cancer Prevention and Awareness, on February 3.

The programme was organised by the Departments of Biochemistry, Zoology and Human Genetics & Molecular Medicine under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof K Kohli. Eminent oncologists Dr Praveen Bansal, Director, Baba Farid University of Health Science (BFUHS), Faridkot, and cancer immunologist Dr Sunil Arora, cancer immunologist, PGIMER, Chandigarh, were the guest speakers.

The speakers highlighted the need for lifestyle modifications to reduce the risk of cancer. Besides faculty members, non-teaching employees, over 300 students and research scholars took part in the event.

Dr Aklank Jain, a cancer biologist from the Department of Zoology, welcomed the guest speakers and introduced the programme theme. He said: There is a need for advanced cancer diagnostic methods to prevent and treat cancer.

Dr Parveen Bansal defined cancer as malignant growth caused due to uncontrolled division of cells. He said spices, vegetables and fruits kept diseases at bay. He emphasised practising asans such as upavasa, dinacharya and ritucharya in daily life to stay fit and healthy.

Dr Sunil Arora said it was essential to study tumour microenvironment to identify the growth and development of cancer cells. He said additional research was needed to study the origin and chemoresistance of cancer cells. Cancer can be cured by targeting the tumour microenvironment and by strengthening the immune system, Dr Sunil said.

Dr Shashank Kumar, cancer biochemist from the Department of Biochemistry, CUP, said according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, around 1.5 lakh new breast cancer cases occurred annually in the country. Stage 0 breast cancer is the earliest form of breast cancer and due to the absence of symptoms, it is hard to detect, he said. Dr Shashank said the periodic physical examination of breast by self or a trained health worker might help detect cancer early.

Dr Sabyasachi Senapati, human geneticist from the Department of Human Genetics & Molecular Medicine, CUP, said: Appropriate genetic tests for early diagnosis and preventive therapies for some forms of familial breast, prostate, uterine, colorectal, liver and ovarian cancer can reduce the risk of cancer by up to 40%. The Department of Health Research and the ICMR are creating awareness on the disease through several projects.

During the programme, university students presented a thematic poster. A nukkad natak to educate public about cancer prevention was staged by students.

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Advanced diagnostic methods needed to prevent, treat cancer - The Tribune

Each week, The Dailys Science & Tech section produces a roundup of the most exciting and influential research happening on campus or otherwise related to Stanford. Heres our digest for the week of Feb. 2 Feb. 8.

CRISPR-based cancer therapy shows promise

A new FDA-approved cancer therapy uses the gene-editing technology Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) to enhance T-cells, a type of immune cell, in order to better fight cancer, a study published on Feb. 6 in Science found.

Lets say normally, theres a T-cell thats involved in an allergic reaction to pollen, genetics and dermatology professor Howard Chang told Stanford Medicines blog SCOPE. We can use CRISPR to alter the cell so that it doesnt react to pollen anymore, and instead, only fights cancer.

The researchers goal was to introduce three gene edits to T-cells, then reintroduce edited T-cells back into the patient. The gene edits would rid T-cells of their natural receptors and increase their immune activity to actively fight cancer. After three months, researchers took edited T-cell samples from patients to analyze their molecular characteristics.

If you think of all of these edited T-cells like theyre in a horse race, analyzing these cells is like being able to see which horse wins the race, but also that horses speed, gait and all of the critical details that make that horse the best, Chang told Stanford Medicines blog SCOPE.

The findings suggest the therapy is safe, and further studies will need to be performed in future human clinical trials.

Industry-backed studies show bias favoring indoor tanning

Studies on indoor tanning that are financially backed by the tanning industry are more likely to promote benefits and dismiss risks compared to studies without financial support, an investigation published on Feb. 4 in the British Medical Journal found.

The association is quite striking, dermatology professor Eleni Linos told Stanford Medicine News. We need scientific data to be independent of industry influence. I am concerned that funding sources may influence the conclusions of these papers.

The researchers analyzed 691 journal articles referencing indoor tanning and found that 50 had industry backing. 78% of articles with industry backing portrayed indoor tanning in a positive light, compared to 4% of articles without industry backing.

This is the first study to examine conflict of interest in indoor tanning literature, and it echoes whats been said about the influence of the tobacco and sugar industries on science, Linos told Stanford Medicine News. Researchers, public health experts and members of the general public should be aware of and account for industry funding when assessing the evidence related to the risks and benefits of indoor tanning.

Immigrants who obtain legal status might still fear deportation

Immigrants might continue to fear deportation even after receiving documentation, a study published on Jan. 29 in Law & Society Review found.

Documentation is hardly a shield from deportation fears, sociology assistant professor Asad Asad told Stanford News. Documentation affords some protection from deportation, but it can also heighten fears since the bureaucracies that document immigrants have a greater perceived ability to surveil and expel them.

Between 2013 to 2015, he conducted extensive interviews with 50 undocumented and documented immigrants living in the Dallas metropolitan area to learn about their everyday lives.

Some undocumented migrants may be chilled out of legalization opportunities in an attempt to maintain a sense of invisibility to a system they view as primarily punitive, Asad told Stanford News. If fears of deportation lead immigrants to pass up rare opportunities for legal status in their search for invisibility from a system they view as unforgiving, they and their U.S.-citizen children may face restricted opportunities for promoting their long-term well-being in this country.

Contact Derek Chen at derekc8 at stanford.edu.

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Research Roundup: CRISPR-based cancer therapy, tanning studies, immigration and deportation - The Stanford Daily

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Osteoporosis drug investigated in premenopausal women to see if it reduces breast density

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is conducting a phase 2 clinical trial to investigate an osteoporosis drug for its potential to lower breast density in women with dense breasts. Such women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women with lower breast density. Premenopausal, cancer-free women who have dense breasts and are planning to have a mammography at Siteman Cancer Center may be eligible to participate in this prevention trial.

Some 330,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are seeking ways to reduce that number.

A new $3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is supporting a phase 2 clinical trial to investigate an osteoporosis drug for its potential to lower breast density in women with dense breasts. Women with dense breasts have four- to six-times higher risk of developing breast cancer than women with lower breast density. The average woman has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer over an 80-year life span.

The trial will investigate whether the drug denosumab, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010 to treat osteoporosis, can reduce breast density in premenopausal women with dense breasts and, in the future, could be used for breast cancer prevention in these women.

For women who have not yet gone through menopause, we do not have good preventative measures against breast cancer, said principal investigator Adetunji T. Toriola, MD, PhD, an associate professor of surgery in the Division of Public Health Sciences. About 25% of breast cancers are diagnosed in premenopausal women, but we have only one preventive therapy that has been approved for this group tamoxifen, a chemotherapy drug that has undesirable side effects, including early menopause. While severe side effects are rare, tamoxifen increases a womans risk of developing endometrial cancer, blood clots and stroke.

With such risks in mind, many women choose not to take tamoxifen to reduce their risk of breast cancer. Therefore, Toriola and his colleagues are seeking new preventive therapies that can reduce the risk of breast cancer with fewer undesirable side effects.

Women undergoing annual screening mammography at Siteman Cancer Center who are cancer-free and found to have dense breasts will be eligible to participate in this prevention trial. The researchers are seeking 210 participants. Trial participants must be at least 40 years old and premenopausal, and may meet any other criteria that suggest an increased risk of breast cancer, such as having a family history of the disease in a parent or sibling.

We go through these factors in detail with the possible study participants during the screening process, Toriola said.

The trial will not include women whose family histories of breast cancer are due to inherited mutations in the BRCA genes. Women with this genetic background and family history are at much higher risk of breast cancer, and their prevention options are different and more aggressive.

Breast density can only be assessed by having a mammogram. Dense breasts have more fibrous tissue and less fatty tissue. This trial is focused on women whose breasts show mostly fibrous or entirely fibrous tissue on a screening mammogram. About half of premenopausal women over age 40 have dense breasts. Breast density tends to decrease with age, with about 20% to 30% of women over age 70 having dense breasts.

Women with dense breasts who decide to participate in the trial will randomly be assigned to receive either the osteoporosis drug denosumab or a placebo. Denosumab is marketed under the brand names Xgeva and Prolia and has been shown to stop bone loss, thereby increasing bone density and reducing fractures associated with osteoporosis.

Denosumab blocks a molecular signaling pathway called RANK that, in addition to regulating bone remodeling, has been shown to play a role in the development of fibrous mammary gland structures as well as breast cancer in experimental models.

The safety and effectiveness of this drug is well established in its use as an FDA-approved therapy to prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures in older women, Toriola said. It is given as an injection under the skin in the upper arm, upper thigh or stomach area, but it only needs to be administered every six months, rather than daily like tamoxifen. So we hope that denosumab will provide an additional prevention option for women with dense breasts who are at high risk of developing breast cancer.

The participants will receive one dose of denosumab or placebo by injection at the first trial visit. Then participants will receive a second, and final, dose of either denosumab or placebo at the six-month mark. For all participants, the researchers will measure breast density by mammography at baseline and again after 12 months.

Denosumab does have side effects, including low calcium levels and muscle pain. The most severe side effect degeneration of the jaw bone is rare and resolves on its own when the drug is stopped, according to Toriola.

We would like to find out if, over time, the drug has an effect on breast density and molecular markers in the breast that we know are associated with breast cancer risk, Toriola said. We also would like to follow these participants yearly for the following three years to see if any effects on breast density continue over a longer period of time.

This initial phase is a five-year study, Toriola added. But we plan to pursue future renewals of funding in order to follow participants long enough to be able to measure whether the drug has any effect on breast cancer rates.

This work is supported by the NCI of the NIH, grant number R37CA235602.

Washington University School of Medicines 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, ranking among the top 10 medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

See the rest here:
Breast cancer prevention trial underway - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Over the last two decades, since its founding at the turn of the millennium, the Gates Foundation has given away $53.8 billion. In this years annual letter about the foundations activities, Bill and Melinda Gates take a look at whats worked (vaccines) and what hasnt (education) over the lifetime of the organizationand look forward to how they plan to give away the next billions.

At its best, philanthropy takes risks that government cant and corporations wont, they write. Governments, they argue, should focus on scaling up solutions that are already proven to work, and businesses have to think about profit, but foundations can experiment with different approaches.

For the Gates Foundation, which has focused its efforts to date on global health and on education in the U.S., one of the first experiments involved vaccines. They realized that children in some countries were dying from diseases that were easily preventable. Through a new alliance that it created called Gavi, the foundation worked with governments and other organizations to raise funds to buy vaccines.

They didnt know if it would workor whether governments in low-income countries would succeed in getting the vaccines to children. But it was a success. By 2019, the program had helped prevent 13 million deaths and vaccinated more than three-quarters of a billion children. It helped bring down the cost of one key vaccine by more than 70%. Still, a segment of hard-to-reach children still isnt getting vaccinated; the foundation now plans to work on getting basic vaccinations to all children.

Some of the foundations other work has been more challenging. The foundation made early bets on preventative medicine for HIV that had to be taken every day; while an effective daily preventive pill now exists, the team realized that it wasnt something that people realistically want to use in many locations, and it hasnt made a significant difference in preventing HIV in lower-income countries. In other cases, patients with HIV havent gotten treatment even when it was readily available because of the stigma. The foundation is now taking a broader look at what would help prevent the disease, including factors such as financial literacy and ending gender-based violence.

The foundations investments in education in the U.S. also havent gone as expected. If youd asked us twenty years ago, we would have guessed that global health would be our foundations riskiest work and our U.S. education work would be our surest bet, Melinda Gates writes. In fact, it has turned out just the opposite. One Gates-funded effort spent hundreds of millions trying to improve high school graduation rates in a handful of states by continually assessing teachers and offering assistance, but it didnt really help; most of the teachers were already rated as effective, and it wasnt clear how to help teachers improve.

Overall, the letter reports, more students are now graduating from high school, but many still dont go on to finish college. Part of the problem, Melinda Gates says, is that it still isnt clear which interventions work best, and solutions are also hard to scale upits better to tailor specific solutions to specific areas. The foundation is now focusing more effort on helping local networks of schools identify local solutions.

The foundation has sometimes been criticized for its choices; one editorial in the medical journal The Lancet, for example, argues that the Gates Foundation has focused on diseases such as malaria even in areas where other diseases cause more harm, diverting attention and resources away from necessary research. The foundation spends more on health than most countries and more than the World Health Organization but has less accountability.

Still, its clearly had an impact in the areas it does support, and its committed to continual improvement. We now have a much deeper understanding of how important it is to ensure that innovation is distributed equitably, they write in the letter. If only some people in some places are benefitting from new advances, then others are falling even further behind.

In the coming years, the foundation will also focus on two other key issues: climate changeincluding helping people in poorer countries adapt to the impacts caused by a changing climateand gender equality. Melinda Gates writes that progress on gender equality has been slow because the world has refused to make gender equality a priority. Thats something that the sheer scale of the Gates Foundation could help change. And it plans to continue making what it calls big bets in all of its work, taking risks on solutions that may not be successful but will have an outsized impact if they are. The goal isnt just incremental progress, the letter says. Its to put the full force of our efforts and resources behind the big bets that, if successful, will save and improve lives.

Read the original:
Bill and Melinda Gates's annual letter looks back on 20 years - Fast Company

When it comes to affordable health care, most of the candidates miss the point.

If you make cholesterol medication affordable for all, there will be fewer admissions to emergency rooms for heart attacks.

If you make blood pressure medication affordable for all, there will be fewer admissions to emergency rooms for stroke.

If you make diabetic medication affordable for all, there will be fewer admissions to emergency rooms for congestive heart failure and emergency amputations.

Add to this the cost of ongoing care once, or if, the patients survive the condition. Ask any hospital CFO the cost of uninsured patients in the emergency room. These written-off costs get passed on to the rest of the medical clients.

According to Medicare and Medicaid (a rapidly diminishing source for the uninsured), most procedures wont be paid for unless done by a doctor. Many of these same procedures can be accomplished by a registered nurse or physicians assistant under a doctors orders. The key to financially sustainable health care does not lie in cutting services; it lies in providing better preventative medicine.

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Key to affordable care is better prevention | Letters To Editor - Greensboro News & Record

NDA Partners Chairman Carl Peck, MD, announced today that Dr. Linda McKibben, a former Pediatric Medical Officer/Clinical Reviewer in the Division of Vaccines and Related Products at the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, has joined the firm as an Expert Consultant.

ROCHELLE, Va., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --NDA Partners Chairman Carl Peck, MD, announced today that Dr. Linda McKibben, a former Pediatric Medical Officer/Clinical Reviewer in the Division of Vaccines and Related Products at the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), has joined the firm as an Expert Consultant. Dr. McKibben's expertise includes pediatric therapies, pediatric trials, preventative medicine, public health, health policy, and clinical regulatory strategy.

Prior to joining the FDA, Dr. McKibben served in multiple roles at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Senior Advisor for Health Services Research at the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Senior Medical Officer in the Office of HealthCare Partnerships (OHP), and Medical Epidemiologist at the National Center for Prevention of Injuries (NCIPC). She has also served as a Senior Policy Analyst/Medical Director of Altarum Institute (Alexandria, Virginia), and Vice President of Health Policy at The Lewin Group (Falls Church, Virginia).

Most recently, she served as a Clinical Trials Medical Consultant for Ripple Effect Communications, where she supported the Deputy Director of Extramural Research at NIH's National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, and as a Medical Consultant in the Integrated Product Development Division of PAREXEL Consulting.

According to Dr. Carl Peck, "Dr. McKibben's first-hand knowledge and experience in pediatric therapies, pediatric trials, preventative medicine, and clinical regulatory strategy, both at the FDA and in the Industry, make her an excellent addition to our team of Expert Consultants. We are very pleased to welcome her to NDA Partners."

Dr. McKibben earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, Doctor of Public Health degree in Health Policy from the University of Michigan, Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University, School of Public Health, and bachelor's degree in microbiology/pre-medicine from the University of Georgia. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and board certified in preventative medicine.

About NDA Partners NDA Partners is a life sciences management consulting and contract development organization (CDO) focused on providing product development and regulatory services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries worldwide. The highly experienced Principals and Expert Consultants in NDA Partners include three former FDA Center Directors; the former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer at the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP); an international team of more than 100 former pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agency senior executives; and an extensive roster of highly proficient experts in specialized areas including nonclinical development, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, CMC, medical device design control and quality systems, clinical development, regulatory submissions, and development program management. Services include product development and regulatory strategy, expert consulting, high-impact project teams, and contract management of client product development programs.

Contact Earle Martin, Chief Executive Officer Office: 540-738-2550 MartinEarle@ndapartners.com

SOURCE NDA Partners LLC

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Dr. Linda McKibben, Former FDA Pediatric Medical Officer, Division of Vaccines and Related Products, Joins NDA Partners - Yahoo Finance

Primary care doctors do a lot of different things. We diagnose illnesses from the trivial, to the catastrophic. We treat maladies both chronic and acute. We confront, and we console.

Of course, these are common roles in medicine, filled by many different providers. One role the primary care physician is more uniquely suited to fill, however, and one of my personal favorites, is that of guide. Im talking specifically about the art of prevention, of maintaining wellness over the long term, and reducing the risk of diseases that might make it harder to do what you need to do, what you want to do, what you love to do.

Prevention is truly underutilized. We are a lot better at looking for a problem, and a pill or a procedure to fix it, than we are at fixing what might lead to a problem in the first place. In fairness, human beings are inclined to wait for the crisis to hit before we believe it is really and truly ahead. Changing habits is hard and eating takeout pizza while watching must-see TV is a lot less work than hitting the gym and making a salad.

On the other hand, some parts of prevention are easy. Its easy to get a flu shot, or a shingles shot. Its easy to get a mammogram, or a colonoscopy. Its easy to get blood drawn, and get checked for diabetes or hepatitis C.

Of course, its only easy to do these things if you are aware of the benefits of doing so. This is the value of the annual checkup. From birth, to your last birthday, wellness visits have an important role.

For infants and children, we monitor growth and development. For adults, we screen for diseases, and give advice on reducing risk factors that might lead to disease. Even the oldest of our old can benefit from simple tests for things such as hearing and memory. At every age, we think about safety: is that infant sleeping on her back? Is that teen wearing his seatbelt? Is that adult drinking and driving? Is that elderly person at risk for falls? Has that patient received their flu shot?

Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance programs cover prevention visits with no copay. This even includes Medicare. Everyone can benefit from these opportunities to focus on staying well, rather than treating problems.

Prevention is an important part of being a primary care doctor, and an important reason to HAVE a primary care doctor. So, take your preventative action today, make a call and set up an appointment, just for that checkup.

Deb Johnston, M.D. is a contributing Prairie Doc author who has practiced family medicine for more than 20 years.

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Prairie Doc Perspectives - Your guide for prevention and wellness - The Capital Journal

NANJING, ChinaChinas rulers are now calling the coronavirus epidemic a major test of Chinas system and capacity for governance and Communist Party leader Xi Jinping is warning against any lack of boldness fighting it. But infections are rampant, the death toll is still mounting, and the country is increasingly isolated by a world community afraid this could become a pandemic. With no vaccine, hospitals overcrowded, and a dearth of solid information about how to treat the flu-like disease, what are Chinas 1.4 billion people (or the rest of us) supposed to do?

The answers have come on the internet: stay away from your pet dog, gargle salt water, fumigate with vinegar, take a potion made from flowers, and smoke a lot.

Yes, fake news has gone viral in the fight against the virus, which youd expect. But the picture is complicated by the Chinese medias advocacy of traditional Chinese medicine, and some half-baked reporting that credits U.S. President Donald Trump with possession of a "super drug" hell be willing to share real soon.

Chinese citizens hungry for any kind of protection against the disease have been posting and re-posting dubious reports about miracle cures and alternative medicine on the main Chinese social networks: the microblog Weibo and the chat app Weixin.

In a country where many hundreds of millions of people are currently holed up inside, on break from work, and thirsty for any new information about the deadly virus, such bad reporting and fake news that goes viral can provoke some frenzied side effects.

After Peoples Daily published an article claiming that scientists researching the novel coronavirus found shuanghuanglian oil, a traditional Chinese medicine concocted from three flowers, was effective treating it, believers in the efficacy of traditional medicine, or TCM, flocked to drug stores and bought up all of it they could find.

Sales and hype were such that the stock price of one producer, Fushen Pharmaceutical Co., soared by 120 percent on the Hong Kong stock exchanges as markets opened February 3. For a brief few minutes, founder and chairman and majority stakeholder Cao Changcheng was a billionaire, richer on paper than Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei, until the speculative rush died down and the price fell back to its opening level. Even so, at 8 Hong Kong dollars a share it's worth twice what it was two weeks ago.

Combining multiple bullshit ideas, one Chinese blogger wrote, Its a disease carried by canines and spread to nearby dogs, dog-to-dog, then dog-to-human.

And while shuanghuanglian, which includes Japanese honeysuckle, Chinese skullcap, and forsythia suspensa and comes in tablet form as well as oil, might not be as dangerous to its users as drinking bleach (a cure recommended by QAnon conspiracy theorists in the United States) or consuming the dung and urine of cows, recommended by a swami in India, the injectable form can cause anaphylactic shock if administered to pregnant women or young children.

Although many Chinese publications claim that shuanghuanglian has been shown to be effective against influenza, respiratory illnesses, and a variety of ailments, they did have to report that there is no evidence to suggest it does anything against coronavirus.

Young Chinese laugh at the drama over shuanghuanglian. The Chinese characters used look and sound similar to the characters for double egg yolk lotus seed paste moon cake (shuanghuang lianrong yuebing), prompting the joke that after shuanghuanglian is sold out, people should buy moon cake. Consumption of all manner of TCM products is largely concentrated among their elders. When it is used, it is mostly as a preventative measure in addition to, not instead of, modern medicine. But various herbal products are hardly the only less-than-scientific solutions being offered.

Many viral messages advise people to swish diluted salt water around in their mouth before and after leaving the house as a means to kill the virus. This advice sometimes is attributed falsely to Dr. Zhong Nanshan, who discovered SARS in 2003. While salt water mouthwashes are sometimes used as a home remedy for sore throats or colds, they would do nothing against coronavirus, as multiple Chinese websites have noted.

Other false rumors about the virus claim it is spread by dogs, or that hanging clothes outside can disinfect them.

Combining multiple bullshit ideas, one Chinese blogger wrote, Its a disease carried by canines and spread to nearby dogs, dog-to-dog, then dog-to-human. Dogs do not get sick, but humans get sick. After humans get sick, they spread it to dogs, and the cycle continues. So, people must stay away from dogs. Families who raise dogs must keep their dogs inside the house, and you cannot play with your dog. Before going out, spray alcohol on your head and clothes. When you return home, wipe your hands, cell phone, and belongings with alcohol. Hang your coat on the open-air balcony to air it out, and gargle diluted salt water.

Young Chinese laugh at the drama over shuanghuanglian.

Some of the methods of prevention have to be jokes. One post claimed that smoking prevents all varieties of coronavirus because the oil from smoke coats ones lungs at a nanometer level, preventing coronavirus from striking the lungs cells, almost like your lungs are wearing a nanometer mask at the cellular level.

One piece of outright fake news was debunked by official national-level tabloid Global Times Monday afternoon. The false news, shared by a large number of Weibo users on February 2, asserted that there was an American super drug that could cure diseases caused by coronavirus and that President Donald Trump was going to fast-track its proliferation to China.

But the story is a little more complicated than smoking and puppy hoaxes.

Real highly effective drug has come out. It has gone through Americas process for effective medicines. Trump called on Americas Centers for Disease Prevention and Control to publicly release the formulation. I hope our researchers dont continue to be obsessed with huoxiang zhengqi/hyssop oral oil for vital energy [another Chinese medicine] and shuanghuanglian, and instead quickly try this medicine, one variation said.

The storyline shares much in common with pro-Trump posts swimming around right-wing corners of the American blogosphere. Theres a simple answer being hidden from the public, and perhaps an exaggeration of somevacuousstatement Trumputteredwithout thinking, aboutwhich conspiracy theorists will fill in the blanks.

What Trump did say in an interview with CNBC on January 22 was that, We have it totally under control. Its one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. Its going to be fine. We do have a plan, and we think its going to be handled very well.

Trump never said anything about America having any kind of secret or fast-track drug. The drug in question, remdesivir, has not been proven effective yet. It was previously tested as a treatment for Ebola in the Congo and performed worse than competitors, but its manufacturers say it has been useful against SARS and MERS, which also are coronaviruses.

The origin of the Chinese fake news apparently can be traced back to a post on January 29 by the Chinese website Science Net. That piece summarized Jon Cohens article in Science, published on January 27, about potential existing drug combinations that might work against coronavirus, before adding its own exaggerations and rhetorical flourishesthe super drug moniker.

In reality, Cohens article notes the apparent effectiveness of remdesivir in a study of mice, and cites a microbiologist agreeing that it is the most promising drug, while emphasizing that it is unproven and not available in China.

Gilead, the California-based maker of remdesivir, has issued a statement that the company is in active discussions with researchers and clinicians in the United States and China regarding the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus outbreak and the potential use of remdesivir as an investigational treatment. Whether or not remdesivir ultimately is made available, and whether it proves effective, does not hinge on Trump or the CDC, but on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, Gilead shares shot up 5 percent.

Cohen, who has three decades of experience as a writer for Science and whose writing on coronavirus has been increasingly cited on Weibo, said by email, I hear from people all over the world, every day, including people from China. Many have questions I cannot answer. Some are pushing their own theories. Some want me to play doctor and want medical advice, which I cannot give. Some are just worried and want accurate information.

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The Crazy Coronavirus 'Cures' on the Chinese Web Include Trump's Secret 'Super-Drug' - The Daily Beast

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is already considered a national leader in precision medicine. Now, the university has proposed a project that could transform the Birmingham metropolitan area and the entire state for generations to come. The only catch? A final portion of funding from the State of Alabama is needed to make the project a reality.

First, some background.

Precision medicine focuses on individual patients to understand how their lifestyles, behavior, environment and genetics interact to affect their health. More importantly, precision medicine allows a systematic approach to integrate these key factors into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease all tailored to each and every individual patient.

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Essentially, what UAB does in its world-class precision medicine practice in partnership with top-notch Alabama entities like HudsonAlpha and Southern Research is: (1) sequence a patients whole genome or a specific tumors genome; (2) then evaluate that sequence for a mutation(s); (3) use a massive and continually growing database to determine what effect any given mutation has on a patient; (4) cross-reference that mutation with all known compounds or drugs to (5) determine a treatment plan for the patients condition.

This process cures rare diseases on a regular basis. The story of UABs own Matt Might, considered a preeminent international leader in the field, epitomizes what precision medicine is all about.

Between May 2016 and April 2019, UABs precision medicine practice successfullydeveloped research plans for 90 patients who were each previously believed to have an undiscoverable rare disease. Additional patients were also referred directly to an appropriate program or specialist through UABs precision medicine process.

Moreover, UAB (through the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative) has repurposed approximately 10 existing medications for treating new disorders through the precision medicine practice. Examples are as simple as over-the-counter medications like Prevacid that UAB has discovered can be repurposed to treat a rare disease.

Simply put, the results have been staggering just in the first few years of UABs precision medicine focus.

However, this could be merely the beginning a prelude to historic things to come.

To really establish itself as the unequivocal global leader in genomic medicine and data sciences, UAB is committed to renovating and outfitting a state-of-the-art genomics facility.

The university has already secured a generous $10 million donation from Lee Styslinger III and the Altec-Styslinger Foundation. As such, UAB plans to name the building the Altec-Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Research Building.

UAB has further secured $8 million in federal funding.

Yet, to get the facility done, another $50 million is needed. UAB is asking the state for this amount through anAlabama Public School and College Authority bond issue. Governor Kay Ivey chairs the authority.

The university also plans to pursue local government funding from both the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County.

The University of Alabama System, in which UAB is one of three campuses, argues that the payoff on the requested $50 million in funding for the state would be unquestionably worth it in multiple ways.

First, the most tangible way is the estimated economic benefits of the project.

With this facility in place, UAB would recruit 50 researchers and an additional 300 support staff, meaning 350 high to very high paying jobs would be created. The university would spend $75-100 million recruiting this top talent over the next seven or eight years. UAB projects those researchers, when collaborating with the intuitions existing Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute and Alabama Genomic Health Initiative, can generate $75-85 million in new funding.

Ultimately, leaders within the UA System believe that Birmingham would be set to become the Silicon Valley of Biomedicine with the facility operational.

Each rare disease discovered or treatment plan formed could, in itself, become a large spin-off healthcare startup company based in the Magic City. This has already happened once in the first few years of the precision medicine practice in the form of a leukemia drug screening service that identifies the best possible treatment for each individual leukemia patient.

At a meeting of the UA Systems board of trustees Friday at UAB, UA System Chancellor Finis St. John said that the UAB genomics facility could have a transformational impact on the Yellowhammer State similar to the likes of NASA and Redstone Arsenal, Mercedes-Benz and the Port of Mobile. He called the project a once in a lifetime opportunity.

St. John said this is an opportunity to improve the lives of our citizens in a way which may never occur again.

Watch his powerful remarks:

St. Johns urgency was echoed by each trustee on Friday. Board members made passionate pleas for the state to support this unprecedented effort.

It should also be noted that it is not just officials associated with UAB or the UA System leading the charge on this project.

Every member of the Jefferson County state legislative delegation (who essentially never unanimously agree on anything) has signed a letter of support for the project, calling for the facility to be funded.

Senators wrote in their respective joint letter in 2019, stating, The economic impact of this project cannot be overstated.

This letter was authored by Senate Rules Committee Chairman Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia) and signed by Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed (R-Jasper), State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham), State Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham), State Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville), State Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) and State Sen. Priscilla Dunn (D-Bessemer). House members signed onto a separate letter echoing similar sentiments, and U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) backs the project and helped secure the federal funding component.

Here is a snippet from the state senators letter:

Waggoner and Smitherman attended the board of trustees meeting on Friday to emphasize their staunch support for the project.

The State can provide this support (the requested funding), and the State should provide this support because nothing that the State could do [with the funding] would be more important to the future of this state, St. John said.This is not a project to benefit UAB. Its not a project to even benefit the University of Alabama System. It is a project for the future of the citizens of Alabama.

Because, while the economic impact of the project could be unparalleled, there is a bigger factor in play, the greatest of them all: peoples lives.

Ivey has said that every life is a sacred gift from God.

UABs genomics facility would undoubtedly save countless lives and improve the quality of others. That return on investment is quite simply priceless.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

Excerpt from:
Roby: Preventative actions to take during flu season - Yellowhammer News

Professor Geoffrey Tofler

Bereavement following the death of a loved one is one of the most stressful experiences to which almost every human is exposed, said Professor Tofler, Professor of Preventative Cardiology at the University of SydneysFaculty of Medicine and Health, and Senior Staff Cardiologist at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Our study isthe first clinical trial to examine how the cardiac risk factors could be mitigated during early bereavement.

The research team from the University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital and the Kolling Institute enrolled 85 spouses or parents in the study within two weeks of losing their family member.

Forty-two participants received low daily doses of a beta blocker and aspirin for six weeks, while 43 were given placebos. Heart rate and blood pressure were carefully monitored, and blood tests assessed blood clotting changes.

The main finding was that the active medication, used in a low dose once a day, successfully reduced spikes in blood pressure and heart rate, as well as demonstrating some positive change in blood clotting tendency, said Professor Tofler.

The investigators also carefully monitored the grief reaction of participants.

We were reassured that the medication had no adverse effect on the psychological responses, and indeed lessened symptoms of anxiety and depression, said Professor Tofler.

Encouragingly, and to our surprise, reduced levels of anxiety and blood pressure persisted even after stopping the six weeks of daily beta blocker and aspirin.

Co-investigator Associate ProfessorTom Buckleysaid the study builds on the teams novel work in this area with their earlier studies among the first to identify the physiological correlates of bereavement.

While beta blockers and aspirin have been commonly used long term to reduce cardiovascular risk, they have not previously been used in this way as a short-term preventative therapy during bereavement, said Associate Professor Buckley of the University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery.

The authors acknowledge that larger long-term studies are needed to identify who would benefit most however the findings provide encouragement for health care professionals to consider this preventative strategy among individuals that they consider to be at high risk associated with early bereavement.

Our finding on the potentially protective benefit of this treatment is also a good reminder for clinicians to consider the well-being of the bereaved, said Associate Professor Buckley.

Future studies are needed to assess if these medications could be used for other short periods of severe emotional stress such as after natural disasters or mass bereavement where currently there are no guidelines to inform clinicians.

Co-investigator Dr.Holly Prigerson, Co-Director of the Center for Research on End-of-Life Care at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, said, This is an important study because it shows ways to improve the physical and mental health of at-risk bereaved people. It is a preventive intervention that is potentially practice-changing, using inexpensive, commonly available medicines.

People experiencing cardiac symptoms should discuss their condition with a health care professional before taking medication as incorrect use could be harmful.

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Common medication may lower risk of broken heart during bereavement - News - The University of Sydney

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The thermal baths complex of the Balneario of Archena has been in use since the time of the Roman occupation of this part of the Iberian Peninsula in the third century BC and offers a full range of thermal spa leisure options including thermal baths, thermal spa circuit, health and beauty treatments as well as a hotel and restaurant complex which is open throughout the year.

At the heart of the Balneario is the water which emanates from a natural spring at a temperature of 52.5 degrees Celsius and with a high mineral content which makes it particularly beneficial for treating sore joints and also facilitates the natural repair processes of the skin.

The Spa Centre itself offers extensive facilities, with an innovative indoor-outdoor thermal circuit experience complemented by a wide range of medical, beauty and relaxation treatments, attracting both visitors on courses of therapy (principally related to respiratory conditions, articulatory problems and stress) and those looking for a period of relaxation and pampering.

In addition, the thermal bath complex in Archena, it has to be said, is one of the most attractive places in the Region of Murcia, set as it is in the lush greenery which thrives on the banks of the River Segura at the southern end of the Ricote Valley.

Treatment, massage, saunas and recreational areasThere are three main areas at the Balneario de Archena offering therapeutic, beauty and relaxation treatments and recreational activities.

1. The Balnea thermal spa circuit (circuito Termal Balnea). This is a comprehensive and extensive spa circuit in which bathers pass through a wide range of different elements both inside and outside of the spa complex.

The Balnea Thermal Spa Circuit includes various saunas at different temperatures and levels of humidity, one of which is heated purely by the water of the spring while others use a variety of techniques. In addition there is a cross-current pool of minero-medicinal water with a temperature of 30 to 31C, a lemon pool (with fresh lemons floating in water at a temperature of 34 degrees), a flotation pool providing conditions similar to the Dead Sea, a cold water pool at 20 degrees, an igloo at approximately 2C, contrast showers, corridors containing alternating jets of warm and cool water, warm hammocks and infrareds.

The facilities also include onsite eateries in the Termalium area at the La Piscina snack bar and the Restaurante del Agua.

In addition, a wide range of beauty and health treatments (including facials, massages etc) are offered in the Centro de Esttica The beauty treatments include facial cleansing, oxygen Termalium (cleansing and hydration), Termalium Caviar (exfoliation and relaxation massage), cell refreshment anti-aging therapy, cleansing and collagen veil, hydration, face and scalp massages, beauty body massages, chocolate massage, chakra stone massage, psychosomatic Ayurveda, cellulite draining massage, peeling massage, lymphatic body drainage, foot reflexology, slimming and firming treatment and a vitamin C citrus bath.

The beauty centre is open:

Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 20:00Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 19:00. (see feed below for full information)

PricingA complete 2-hour circuit of the facilities in the Balnea spa area of the Balneario de Archena is priced at 25 euros during the week and 35 euros at weekends for those who are not staying at the hotels in the complex: guests at the Hotel Termas, Hotel Levante and Hotel Len receive a 5-euro discount.Open: 7 days a week from 11:00 to 21:00Age limit: 14. Minors aged 14-18 must be accompanied by an adult.

2. SPA Thermal swimming poolsThe swimming pools of the Balneario de Archena are filled using the waters of the thermal spa and provide year-round fun and relaxation for adults and children both indoors and outdoors.

For youngsters there is an additional special pool with slides, and also an area which generates a current around a small circuit, which is particular popular! For the grown-ups, meanwhile, there are two main pools, one indoors in the lush green setting of the Balneario and the other under cover, and a series of Jacuzzis and jet showers.

Full-day tickets here are priced at between 10 euros and 22 euros for adults depending on the time of year, with discounts for children (7 euros to 12 euros) and for evening-only sessions. Whole-day visits are recommended, allowing a chance to eat at the bar or the Restuarante del Agua.

Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.

The swimming pools are open between November and March from 10.00 to 21.00, from March to June and from 1st September to 31st October between 10.00 and 22.00, and in July and August from 10.00 until midnight.

Full pricing is as follows:November until March open from 10:00 to 21:00Weekdays: adults 10, evening-only admission 7 (from 18:00), children 7.Weekends and public holidays: adults 17, evening-only admission 13 (from 18:00), children 11.March until October, plus 2nd to 10th December and the Christmas period: March to June and from 1st September to 31st October between 10.00 and 22.00, and in July and August from 10.00 until midnight.

Weekdays: adults 14, evening-only admission 8 (from 19:00), children 8.Weekends and public holidays: adults 22, evening-only admission 15 (from 19:00), children 12.

NB: During July and August the night-time reduced price period begins at 21:00 with the facilities closing at midnight

3. The thermal baths on the underground floors of the Hotel TermasIn this area of the Balneario a wide range of thermal treatments is available.

Most of the properties of thermal therapy lend themselves to both therapeutic and preventative medicine, particularly in the fields of respiratory and articulatory problems (painful joints) as well as countering stress, and the results achieved at the thermal baths in Archena are extremely positive, providing an improvement in quality of life for patients by reducing pain, improving mobility and lessening the dependence on pharmaceuticals.

The facilities on the second basement level of the Hotel Termas have been awarded the seal of quality by the Spanish tourist authorities, and a fully qualified medical team is present to oversee treatments and to prescribe them.

See feed below for full range of treatments available, ranging from 14 and 45 euros. See feed below for full details of how to book, price lists and treatment descriptions.

Therapeutic treatments

Treatments are prescribed by the onsite medical team, which includes three specialists in hydrology who perform an exhaustive initial check on all customers staying in the hotels and monitor their progress minutely. The treatments available in the spa underneath the Hotel Termas include the following:

Archena massage: the flagship treatment at the Balneario consists of a massage using thermal mud which is then showered off with water from the thermal spring. This is particularly effective at reducing muscle spasms and tension.

Thermal mud: a clay poultice containing thermal water is applied to the joints at a temperature of 45C. Beneficial for rheumatic diseases, painful musculo-skeletal conditions and the effects of trauma.

Termarchena: a small thermal circuit consisting of a steam room, a thermal water pool at 37C, a corridor with contrast showers (hot and cold) and two cabins providing 5-7 minutes of manual friction with mud and ice on the back.

For respiratory conditions there are also facilities for steam from the thermal spa to be breathed in directly, and a host of other therapeutic and physiotherapeutic options are provided.

All of the above are located in the Roman baths under the Hotel Termas, but the Balneario complex also includes numerous other treatments, all using the spring water, in the Balnea thermal circuit.

Hotel accommodation

Hotel Thermas (4-star)

Hotel Levante (4-star)

Hotel Len (3-star)

(Click for more information about the hotels or see feed below)

Practical details

What to take with you

Visitors to the Balneario de Archena are reminded to take with them a dressing-gown (white is preferred), at least one bathing costume, flip flops or similar, a bathing cap and a towel. For hotel guests the dressing-gown is included, and they can also be hired at the Balneario at a small extra cost.

Food, refreshments, souvenirs

Apart from the hotel dining-room restaurants in the Termas ( la carte) and the Len (buffet) there are also various other opportunities to grab a bite to eat or drink, including the chiringuito at the swimming pools, the cafeteria in the Casino (with its beautiful shady terrace), and a snack-bar. Another option is the Restaurante Del Agua, next to the swimming pools, and in summer the Bar Azul on the river bank offers live entertainment every Friday evening.

There is an onsite souvenir shop which also sells the most indispensable items for visitors: bathing caps, flip-flops, dressing gowns and swimwear!

How to get to the Balneario de Archena

Heading north from the city of Murcia on the A-30 motorway towards Madrid, take the exit at kilometre 121, where Archena is clearly signposted on the MU-554 road. Once approaching the town follow the signs for Balneario de Archena: these take visitors on a rather roundabout route, encircling the whole town before entering from the other side, so to speak, but trust the signs they do work!

The only sign which might be easy to miss is just about the last one, when the route appears to be taking visitors back out of town towards Villanueva del Ro Segura and Ulea. This is a right turn just after a Repsol petrol station: be on the lookout!

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Lunch and Spa thermal pools circuit for just 20 euros at the Archena Balneario - Murcia Today

Kim Kardashian West isnt eating meat anymore. And neither are her kids. For the most part, anyway.

According to a recent Twitter post, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians stay says her kids, Psalm, 8 months, Chicago, 2, Saint, 4, are all joining her in the plant-based diet with the exception of North, 6, who still eats fish.

Kardashian West announced last year that she was eating plant-based in a bid to help reduce her lifelong battle with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Before the arthritis hit, I spent about four months doing everything naturalevery ointment, cream, serum, and foam you can possibly imagine and everything from the dermatologist, she wrote in a blog post on her sister Kourtneys Poosh website. I even tried an herbal tea that tasted like tar. I tried celery juice for eight weeks. Then Id do celery juice mixed with the tea. I would do that twice a day. I was just exhausted by everything. I changed my diet to plant-based (which I still follow).

She said that she works to reduce stress and take time for herself so that she is centered. And diet still plays a role: I live a healthy life and try to eat as plant-based as possible and drink sea moss smoothies, she wrote.

The reality star also recently shared the contents of her refrigerator. The photos revealed a number of Beyond Meat products and lots of produce.

Kardashian West isnt the only parent raising kids on a plant-based diet. A growing number of schools are offering students meatless meals, too.

In New York, the citys public schools are all offering Meatless Monday menus. The Los Angeles school district has also been expanding its vegan lunch offerings.

Filmmaker James Camerons wife Suzy Amis Cameron runs the MUSE School in Los Angeles County. It only serves students vegan meals and was the inspiration behind Amis Camerons One Meal a Day program and book. According to Amis Cameron, going vegan just one meal a day for a year saves up to 200,000 gallons of water and reduces as much gas equal to a road trip from LA to New York.

Summary

Article Name

Kim Kardashian West Is Raising Her Kids on a Plant-Based Diet

Description

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West are following the trend of raising kids on a plant-based diet for their health and the climate.

Author

Jill Ettinger

Publisher Name

LIVEKINDLY

Publisher Logo

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Kim Kardashian West Is Raising Her Kids on a Plant-Based Diet - LIVEKINDLY

Before 2011, if you had chest pain and went to what was then Great Plains Regional Medical Center, theyd run non-invasive tests, like an echocardiogram.

If you showed signs of a heart attack, youd probably be given a medication that dissolves blood clots and then flown to a larger hospital. That medication, called a thrombolytic, can restore blood flow to the heart in most people. But time is muscle, and if flow isnt completely restored, there can still be muscle loss.

Maybe you wouldnt even go to Great Plains for medical help, as was noted in a Sept. 1987 Telegraph article: Although the hospital has equipment and qualified doctors to provide heart tests, heart patients often leave North Platte.

There are a fair number who leave town because we dont have a cardiologist, (hospital president Cindy) Bradley said.

The hospital had a cardiac rehabilitation lab for people after they have a heart attack, but little to do to prevent or treat one.

In a county with one of the highest death rates due to cardiovascular disease in the state, the hospitals board decided in 2004 that something needed to be done to establish cardiovascular care in Lincoln County.

It began with a diagnostic catheterization lab: A place where tests can be done to determine if intervention is needed.

Patients who didnt have an active heart attack would be given a general cardiology work-up, which generally included an electrocardiogram measuring the electrical activity of the heartbeat and maybe a diagnostic catheterization passing a thin, flexible tube through the vessels in the heart to see how well the organ is functioning. Patients with a heart attack would be transferred to another hospital with treatment options.

Ivan Mitchell

As you can see, we had a lot of good diagnostic tools, but no intervention tools, said Ivan Mitchell, chief operating officer of Great Plains Health. With time being muscle for your heart, it took a lot longer to do treatment.

Cardiologys roots run deep

Humans have realized the importance of the pulse and the heart since ancient times: An unknown Egyptian physician describes the heart as the center of a system of vessels and seems to identify arterial fibrillation, a condition where the heart fails to beat with enough force to pump blood and that can cause cardiac arrest, according to a 1995 paper by Dr. James Willerson and Rebecca Teaff.

In the fourth century B.C., the philosopher Aristotle thought that the heart was the seat of intelligence, whereas the brain merely existed to cool blood.

In the second century A.D., the prominent physician Galen cited the liver as the source of veins, and said the heart was simply an organ blood passed through.

It wasnt until 1628 that the heart came back into the spotlight as the organ responsible for circulation. At that time, English physician William Harvey published his key work, in which he proposed that the heart pumps blood around the body with a single system of arteries and veins. The book included experiments and evidence backing that up, though others in the field were slow to accept his idea.

It took until the 20th century for physicians to link chest pain and hardening of the arteries with heart attacks, according to Dr. Rachael Hajar in her 2017 article on the history of coronary artery disease.

Getting blood pumping in the Great Plains

In 2011, the GPH board decided to move toward an interventional program they wanted to treat people right then and there if they came into the hospital with a heart attack.

They hired on a doctor, and added an interventional cath lab and clinic space. They added another doctor.

And then something happened.

What was really interesting was that we started to see the mortality rate decrease when that happened, Mitchell said, because if someone has an active heart attack, (the cardiology team) could do an intervention essentially right away.

The program couldnt seem to stop growing a second cath lab had to be added in 2018, and more doctors were hired.

Since 2016, weve had about 300% growth, Mitchell said. Weve really become a regional presence and referral center for our cardiology program.

The lab is a really, extremely busy cath lab, with 11 procedures alone taking place on the day Mitchell was interviewed.

The interventions include implantable medical devices, like the implantable cardiovascular defibrillator a battery-powered device that keeps track of heart rate and pacemakers, which help the heart beat in a regular rhythm. Even after the patient leaves the hospital with an implantable device, theyll still receive support from what Mitchell calls the Device Clinic.

If you have a pacemaker in and your heart throws a rhythm thats concerning, it will actually alert our Device Clinic, which will then alert the physicians, he said. Having that (clinic) here has been a great thing.

With all of the procedures available at GPH, some may be surprised to learn that the hospital doesnt have a cardiothoracic surgeon on site.

The data out there suggest that the programs without cardiothoracic surgery in hospitals have just as good of outcomes as programs that do have cardiothoracic surgery, Mitchell said. So what weve done is if someone comes in and their blockage is so severe that they need open heart surgery, we actually have a couple of tools that are used (until they can be transferred).

One of those options is a balloon pump, which is a balloon attached to a catheter. The doctor inserts it into the artery inside your upper leg and guides it to the aorta, or main artery, where the balloon inflates when the heart relaxes and deflates when it contracts. This allows the heart to pump more blood to the body using less energy, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

The other option is a device called an Impella, a mini heart pump that goes in like the balloon pump and works by drawing blood out of the heart and pumping it into the aorta, according to the Federal Drug Administrations page on recently approved medical devices.

(Acute interventions) really save lives, without any question, said Dr. Azariah Kirubakaran, an interventional cardiologist at GPH.

Until 1961, heart attack patients who made it to a hospital were simply placed in beds located throughout the hospital, far away from nurses stations, often with lethal results the risk of dying in a hospital from myocardial infarction was around 30%, according to Nabel and Braunwald.

Following that, cardiac care units where heart attack patients were closely monitored were implemented in general hospitals.

Balloon angioplasty and insertion of bare-metal stents were implemented soon after.

The first artery-to-artery anastomosis, known today as a cardiac bypass graft surgery, was performed in 1968 by Dr. George Green of Saint Lukes Hospital in New York. This surgery has become the absolute gold standard for bypasses, said Ludovic Melly and Gianluca Torregrossa in a 2018 article on the history of artery bypass grafting.

Cardiologists began to open blocked coronary arteries using streptokinase, a thrombolytic, in 1976.

In 1988, it was found that aspirin further reduced deaths in patients who had suffered heart attacks when used in conjunction with a thrombolytic.

These leaps and bounds in treatment are so recent that Kirubakaran can recall what he calls the dark ages during the early days of his own career.

I have personally seen people just die like flies, basically, back in the 80s, when they had heart attacks, Kirubakaran said. Compared to that, its a night and day difference. Even though I cant say that nobody dies of a heart attack thats not true the risk has been tremendously reduced with all the technologies we have, and its getting better every year.

For as many patients who have sought treatment, GPH is also trying to make sure some patients dont get to that point.

Dr. Azariah Kirabakaran

(Prevention) is a lot more attractive than trying to fix something once its happened for a variety of reasons: One, it doesnt put patients at risk at the time of the expression of the disease, Kirubakaran said. Secondly, its a lot less expensive to do so. And now there are ways of prevention that can be applied to large populations and it can be helpful to do so.

The Heart Institute at GPH has started offering a discounted cardiac screening to help patients determine their risks.

There are a lot of people who theyve caught those heart issues early on because of (the screenings), Mitchell said.

One of the components of that screening is calcium scoring, which measures the build-up of calcium in arteries. The greater the amount of calcified plaque, the higher the risk of heart disease.

But one of the most mundane things is also one of the best ways to catch heart problems early.

The most basic thing is to get your physical: Check your bloodwork, check your blood pressure, all that good stuff, Mitchell said. Ensuring that youre established with your primary care provider is also important because they can track your health over time and identify any worrying trends.

In spite of all of the treatment, diagnostic and preventative measures, Kirubakaran and Mitchell still feel that the program has more room to grow.

Kirubakaran hopes the program will be able to move toward doing more than just treating blockages with catheters.

We can replace some other valves at least with catheter-based techniques, which are a lot less invasive. It can be tolerated even by people who are very, very frail. Even seven or eight years ago, that was something unimaginable, but now its almost routine, Kirubakaran said.

Another thing that Kirubakaran hopes to see is cardiac MRI, which would allow them to see the heart in greater detail.

Studies show that the MRI is probably a lot more acurate of a stress test than any other test we can run. he said.

Mitchell also spoke on the possibility of eventually bringing an electrophysiologist to GPH, someone who would deal with electrical impulses in the heart and would be able to burn or scar heart tissue causing irregular heartbeats, a procedure known as an ablation. Much like in a house, one person cant necessarily fix everything.

Your interventional cardiologist is like a plumber theyre making sure the pipes are working and that the blood is pumping through your system, Mitchell said. An electrophysiologist is considered the electrician, and theyre making sure the rhythm is proper.

Technological advances are changing the ways cardiovascular disease is approached.

Kirubakaran described a medication being developed that would lower bad cholesterol by 40% to 45% with a single shot once a year.

A lot of people are already looking at it in terms of preventing large populations of people (from further developing heart disease), Kirubakaran said. It turns out that the longer your blood vessels are exposed to bad cholesterol, the higher the liklihood of developing a blockage. Being able to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol would therefore reduce the risk.

The Human Genome Project, where researchers sequenced and mapped all of the genes in Homo sapiens, was completed in 2003 and gave more insight into genetic components of diseases. Kirubakaran discussed the implications this research has in treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

Now there are a lot of things we know about atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy these all have some genetic background to them. How much genetics has a role to play and how much environment has a role to play, those are variable depending on an individual patient, Kirubakaran said. But now we are having more and more success figuring out how much genetics is playing a role, which can lead to better therapies that target the genes causing the diseases.

Kirubakaran is looking to a future without heart attacks.

Once theres a heart attack, its a messy thing. Theres no easy, clear-cut solution, Kirubakaran said. So if my patients never get to that point, Ill be really happy.

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At the heart of our own history: Cardiology sees changes in North Platte and beyond - North Platte Telegraph

To mark World Cancer Day, an international day to raise awareness of the disease, NoCamels is highlighting some recent medical developments in Israeli cancer research, treatment, and care all from 2019-2020.

Why does cancer therapy help some patients and not others? That is a question Israeli Professor Yuval Shaked of the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa has been trying to answer with his latest medical research. Shaked recently published a study in Nature Reviews Cancer, a monthly review journal covering the field of oncology, that delved into how understanding and predicting individual host responses to cancer therapy can significantly improve care.

The initial cancer treatment phase can be often successful, but many patients are affected by the development of resistance, characterized by tumor relapse and/or spread, the Technion said in a statement.

The majority of studies devoted to investigating the basis of resistance have focused on tumor-related changes that contribute to therapy resistance and tumor aggressiveness, Shaked wrote. But over the past decade, the diverse roles of various host cells in promoting therapy resistance have become better understood. The current understanding is that cancer therapy can induce local and systemic responses in the patients body, and these actually support the resurgence of cancer and its progression.

Current modern immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer care, Shaked said in a Technion statement. However, despite considerable advances in cancer treatment, most patients do not respond to therapy at all or from a particular stage. Without the ability to predict the effectiveness of treatment, many suffer from disease recurrence or spread, which sometimes erupts with even greater violence.

Over the years, many have investigated and are still investigating the effect of therapy on the tumor itself, but few have analyzed the effect of the therapy on the patient, he pointed out.

This shift in focus can produce better care and help advance personalized and precision medicine, he indicated.

We are not saying that existing treatments are not good, he emphasized in the statement. They just arent suitable for everyone. Each treatment triggers a host response, and when this response exceeds the therapy effect, we receive ineffective treatment. For the therapy to be effective at the specific host level, it is important to predict the same counter-response and try to block it. This is how we will gain much more effective therapy.

Shaked is the head of the Technion Integrated Cancer Center and the chief scientific advisor of OncoHost a company he founded that uses response profiling to improve personalized cancer therapy.

OncoHost recently opened a new state-of-the-art laboratory in Binyamina for this very research and has already begun clinical trials in Israel. The company is in talks to start trials in Europe and the US, Shaked said,

It was recently awarded a $1 million grant as part of the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation to advance its research.

For immunotherapy, one of the most important effective approaches today in the field of cancer, only some 20-30 percent of patients today respond. Through blood testing, we can predict the outcome of patients treated with immunotherapy and continue such treatment only in patients in whom treatment is expected to be effective, he said.

Based on the present study, in the future, we may offer combined therapies to increase the effectiveness of treatment or allow patients who are currently unresponsive to immunotherapy drugs to respond to them. This is a huge revolution that we must advance not only in research but also in the commercialization of research into actual therapies. Only then can we contribute to saving lives, he added.

Israels Alpha Tau Medical, an Israeli medical technology company that developed breakthrough radiation cancer therapy, announced late last year that initial results of a preclinical trial have proved very promising.

Alpha Tau Medical was founded in 2016 to focus on R&D and commercialization of its breakthrough cancer treatment, Alpha DaRT (Dffusng Alpha-emtters Radaton Therapy). The technology, initially developed in 2003 by Professors Itzhak Kelson and Yona Keisari at Tel Aviv University, delivers high-precision alpha radiation that is released when radioactive substances decay inside the tumor, killing cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.

The first clinical trial of the treatment was conducted in Israel and Italy starting in 2018. The trial was designed to establish the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of the companys Alpha DaRT technology for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and head and neck area.

The results, published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics, showed nearly 78.6 percent of 28 patients received a complete tumor response rate. That means the patients all responded to the alpha radiation treatment in some way.

Overall, these impressive outcomes serve as an excellent basis for future trials in other tumor types, said the principal investigator of the trial Prof. Aron Popovtzer, MD, from Rabin Medical Center in Israel. The Italian arm of the trial was led by Dr. Salvatore Roberto Bellia from the IRST (Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori).

Future clinical trials will also investigate Alpha DaRT in other oncology indications, as a monotherapy or in combination with various systemic therapies.

Late last year, Israeli scientists said a new study they conducted showed that a small molecule called PJ34 triggered the self-destruction of human pancreatic cancer cells in mice.

According to the research,publishedin the peer-reviewed open-access biomedical journal Oncotarget, the administration of the molecule reduced the number of cancer cells in developed tumors by up to 90 percent in 30 days.

The study was led by Professor Malka Cohen-Armon and her team at Tel Aviv Universitys Sackler Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with Dr. Talia Golan and her team at the Cancer Research Center at Sheba Medical Center, and conducted with transplantations of human pancreatic cancer cells into immunocompromised mice, or xenografts.

Professor Cohen-Armon indicated that the mechanism, tested in parallel studies, acted efficiently in additional types of cancer, eradicating a variety of resistant cancer cells (breast, lung, brain, and ovarian cancer) including types resistant to current therapies.

PJ34 is being tested in pre-clinical trials according to FDA regulations before clinical trials on larger animals and then humans begin, Tel Aviv University said in a statement at the time.

Dr. Golan is a lead researcher at the Pancreas Cancer Olaparib Ongoing (POLO) Clinical Trial at the Sheba Medical Center.

This past summer, NoCamels reported on Dr. Golans work on a drug regimen that proved promising for some pancreatic cancer patients, specifically those with advanced stages of the disease as well as a BRCA 1 or 2 germline mutation.

BRCA1 & 2 are tumor suppressor genes, meaning that those with the deleterious mutation have a higher lifetime risk of developing cancer. The gene is predominantly linked to breast and ovarian cancer, but several studies name pancreatic cancer as the third most common cancer associated with these mutations.

Among patients with pancreatic cancer, onlyfour to seven percent have this gene variation, so Dr. Golans clinical trial team looked for participants from across the world.

Dr. Golan tested the effectiveness of a drug regimen that featured a PARP inhibitor called Lynparza, the trade name for the biological agent olaparib.The drug blocks the production of Poly ADP-ribose Polymerase (PARP), a protein that repairs DNA in tumor cells.

Her study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, explained: PARP inhibitors cause an accumulation of DNA damage and tumor-cell death. The PARP inhibitor olaparib has been shown to have clinical efficacy in patients with a germline BRCA mutation and ovarian or breast cancer.

The results of the Phase III randomized, double-blind study with a placebo control group showed that, in essence, the drug treatment regimen stalls the progression of the disease. Of the 3,315 patients who underwent screening, 154 fit the study criteria to be assigned to trial intervention, thus 92 received the treatment and 62 received the placebo.

The median progression-free survival was significantly longer in the olaparib group than in the placebo group (7.4 months vs. 3.8 months), the study detailed.

Israeli and British scientists published a new study in October that showed that a simple blood test that relies on a DNA repair score proved effective for lung cancer screening.

The study was led by Professor Zvi Livneh and Dr. Tamar Paz-Elizur, both members of the Weizmann Institute Department of Biomolecular Sciences, alongside Professor Sir Bruce Ponder of the University of Cambridge and Professor Robert Rintoul from Royal Papworth Hospital and Cambridge.

Titled DNA-Repair Biomarker for Lung Cancer Risk and its Correlation with Airway Cells Gene Expression and published in the peer-reviewed journal the National Cancer Institute-Cancer Spectrum (JNCI-CS), the scientists study found that patients DNA repair scores a summation of the activity of three DNA repair enzymes (OGG1, MPG and APE1) through which cells are known to respond to genetic damage can significantly improve current lung cancer risk prediction, assisting prevention and early detection.

The study involved 150 British patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and a control group of 143 healthy volunteers. The scientists calculated each participants DNA repair score based on blood activity levels of three enzymes known to respond to DNA damage, the Weizmann Institutesaidin a statement.

They found that the DNA repair score of those with lung cancer was lower than the control group across the board, establishing this enzymatic activity as a robust biomarker for lung cancer risk independent of smoking.

The results, the Weizmann Institute said, validated a previous studypublished in 2014by Professor Livneh that examined DNA repair scores in an Israeli population, showing that the new approach could potentially be implemented to promote more effective lung cancer screening worldwide.

Reliance on age and smoking status as the two main risk factors isnt enough, as preventative screening in this selected population misses most lung tumors, the Israeli and British scientists wrote in their paper. Moreover, individuals who are not obvious candidates for screening remain unaware of the danger they may face leading to delayed treatment and poorer prognosis, they went on.

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Top 5 Recent Advances In Israeli Cancer Research And Treatment | Health News - NoCamels - Israeli Innovation News

DUBLIN, Feb. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Molecular Diagnostics Global Market - Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global molecular diagnostics global market is estimated to reach $18,668.9 million by 2026 growing at a high single-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026.

Among the overall molecular diagnostic market is increasing prevalence of different types of cancers, infectious diseases, genetic disorders and other diseases, increasing awareness in personalized medicine and companion diagnostics and also growth in the point of care testing and sequencing-based tests and other molecular techniques.

Molecular diagnostics plays a pivotal role in the evaluation of the disease and for the effective response for specific therapy. However, the complex regulations for the approval of molecular diagnostic tests, availability of competing/alternative technologies, high cost of the tests, and also a shortage of technical experts are some of the restrains for the growth of the molecular diagnostics market.

Segment Highlights

The molecular diagnostics global market is segmented based on product, technology, application and end-users.

The product market is further categorized into instruments, consumables and software and services. As per research estimations, the consumable global market commanded the largest revenue in 2019 and is projected to grow at double-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026.

The molecular diagnostics global market by technology is divided into PCR, microarray and microfluidics, isothermal nucleic acid amplification tests, in-situ hybridization, NGS and other technologies. PCR accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a double-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026 due to low cost and is a common and indispensable technique used for diagnosis when compared to other instruments such as NGS and also due to technological advancements in PCR and their subtypes such as digital droplet PCR with precise and highly sensible results.

The molecular diagnostics by application market is classified into infectious diseases, oncology, genetic testing, transplantation, blood screening and other diseases such as metabolic disorders and diseases associated with the central nervous system. The largest revenue was contributed by infectious diseases segment in 2019 and this market is expected to grow at a high single-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026 due to high incidence of bacterial and viral infections.

Infectious diseases are further segmented into bacterial, viral and other diseases. The viral diseases commanded the largest revenue in 2019 and the market is expected to grow at a strong double-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026. Viral diseases are further segmented into HIV, hepatitis, HPV, influenza and other viral infections. Among these, HIV accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a double-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026.

The bacterial diseases are sub-segmented into sexually transmitted diseases (STD) caused by bacteria, hospital acquired infections, tuberculosis and other diseases such as sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis, etc. Sexually transmitted disease accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at high single-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026. The growth is attributed to the increased awareness about the molecular based kits available for the diagnoses of STDs and also increases in the prevalence.

Under genetic testing segment the market is segmented into NIPT, cystic fibrosis and other genetic testing, among them NIPT commanded the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a double digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026 as NIPT provides a safer alternative to invasive tests and it analyzes fetal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from the mother's circulation, making early detection of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome and other chromosomal aberrations easier.

Based on the type of cancer, the oncology market is segmented into lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, ovarian, melanoma, ovarian and other cancers. The largest revenue under oncology was accounted for by colorectal cancer with the revenue in 2019 and breast cancer is expected to grow at double-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026.

Based on the cancer care, the oncology segment is subdivided into early screening, companion diagnostics, prognosis and recurrence. Early screening contributed for the largest revenue in 2019 and companion diagnostics is expected to grow at double-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026. Further, the transplantation market is segmented into kidney, heart and other transplantation such as lung and pancreatic transplantation. Among them, kidney transplantation commanded the largest revenue in 2019.

Molecular diagnostics end-users market is segmented into hospitals, clinical/centralized laboratories, academics and research and other end users. Clinical/centralized laboratories accounted for the largest revenue due to the rapid adoption of technology and economies of scale in testing a large number of samples collected from affiliated hospitals.

Geographical wise, North America region commanded the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a mid-single-digit CAGR from 2019 to 2026 owing to the high demand for early detection, treatment selection and prevention of diseases with advanced technology due to diseases associated with the lifestyle. However, the Asia-pacific region is expected to grow at an early teen CAGR from 2019 to 2026 attributing to increasing awareness of the molecular based test for the better outcome.

Competitive Landscape

The molecular diagnostics global market is a competitive market and all the existing players in this market are involved in developing new and advanced molecular based techniques for diagnosis to maintain their market shares and also acquiring companies for product expansion.

Some of the key players in molecular diagnostics global market are Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), F.Hoffmann-LA Roche AG (Switzerland), BioMerieux (France), Qiagen (Netherlands) Exact Sciences (U.S.), Grifols (Spain), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), Hologic, Inc. (U.S.), and Myriad Genetics, Inc. (U.S.)

Key Topics Covered

1 Executive Summary

2 Introduction

3 Market Analysis3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Segmentation3.3 Factors Influencing Market3.3.1 Drivers and Opportunity3.3.1.1 Increasing Incidence of Infectious Diseases3.3.1.2 Rising Incidence of Cancer and Non-Infectious Diseases3.3.1.3 Technological Advancements3.3.1.4 Favorable Reimbursements3.3.1.5 Investment by Major Players3.3.2 Restraints and Threats3.3.2.1 Lack of Skilled Professionals3.3.2.2 High Cost of Molecular Diagnostics Products3.3.2.3 Lack of Standardization of the Molecular Diagnostics Test3.3.2.4 Stringent and Time-Consuming Regulatory Issues3.3.2.5 Lack of Reproducibility and Repeatability3.3.2.6 Biochemical and Alternative Tests3.4 Market Share Analysis3.4.1 Molecular Diagnostics Global Market Share Analysis3.4.2 Molecular Diagnostics In Infectious Diseases Market Share3.5 Regulatory Affairs3.5.1 U.S.3.5.2 Europe3.5.3 China3.5.4 India3.5.5 Japan3.5.6 Australia3.5.7 South Korea3.6 Reimbursement Scenario3.7 Clinical Trials3.7.1 Ctdna Clinical Trials3.7.2 Cfdna Clinical Trials3.7.3 Circulating Tumor Cells3.7.4 Companion Diagnostics3.8 Latest and Upcoming Products3.9 Porter's Five Force Analysis3.10 Funding Scenario

4 Market Sizing4.1 U.S.Cancer Care Market Sizing Information4.1.1 Oncology Testing4.1.1.1 Early Screening4.1.1.2 Companion Diagnostics4.1.1.3 Prognosis Monitoring4.1.1.4 Recurrence Monitoring4.1.2 Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPT)4.1.3 Transplantation Diagnostics

5 Molecular Diagnostics Global Market, by Products5.1 Introduction5.2 Instruments5.3 Consumables5.4 Software and Services

6 Molecular Diagnostics Global Market by Technology6.1 Introduction6.2 PCR6.3 Microfluidics and Microarray6.4 Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology (INAAT)6.5 In-Situ Hybridization6.6 Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)6.7 Others

7 Molecular Diagnostics Global Market, by Application7.1 Introduction7.2 Infectious Diseases7.2.1 Bacterial Diseases7.2.1.1 Sexually Transmitted Diseases7.2.1.2 Hospital Acquired Infections7.2.1.3 Tuberculosis7.2.1.4 Others7.2.2 Viral Diseases7.2.2.1 Hiv7.2.2.2 Hepatitis7.2.2.3 Influenza7.2.2.4 Human Papiloma Virus (HPV)7.2.2.5 Other Viral Diseases7.2.3 Other Infectious Diseases7.3 Genetic Testing7.3.1 Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)7.3.2 Cystic Fibrosis7.3.3 Other Genetic Diseases7.4 Oncology Testing7.4.1 Cancer Types7.4.1.1 Introduction7.4.1.2 Lung Cancer7.4.1.3 Breast Cancer7.4.1.4 Colorectal Cancer7.4.1.5 Prostate Cancer7.4.1.6 Melanoma7.4.1.7 Ovarian Cancer7.4.1.8 Others7.4.2 Cancer Care7.4.2.1 Introduction7.4.2.2 Early Screening7.4.2.3 Companion Diagnostics7.4.2.4 Prognosis Monitoring7.4.2.5 Recurrence Monitoring7.5 Transplantation7.5.1 Kidney Transplantation7.5.2 Heart Transplantation7.5.3 Other Transplantation7.6 Blood Screening7.7 Other Diseases

8 Molecular Diagnostics Global Market, by End Users8.1 Introduction8.2 Hospitals8.3 Clinical/Centralized Laboratories8.4 Academic and Research8.5 Others

9 Molecular Diagnostics Global Market, by Region9.1 Introduction9.2 North America9.2.1 U.S.9.2.2 Rest of North America9.3 Europe9.3.1 France9.3.2 Germany9.3.3 Italy9.3.4 Rest of Europe9.4 Asia-Pacific Region9.4.1 China9.4.2 India9.4.3 Japan9.4.4 Rest of Asia-Pacific9.5 Rest of the World9.5.1 Brazil9.5.2 Rest of Latin America9.5.3 Middle East and Others

10 Competitive Landscape10.1 Introduction10.2 Approvals10.3 Collaborations10.4 Acquisitions10.5 New Product Launches10.6 Others

11 Major Companies11.1 Abbott Laboratories11.1.1 Overview11.1.2 Financials11.1.3 Product Portfolio11.1.4 Key Developments11.1.5 Business Strategy11.1.6 SWOT Analysis11.2 Becton, Dickinson and Company11.3 BioMerieux11.4 Danaher Corporation11.5 Exact Sciences Corporation11.6 Grifols, S.A.11.7 Hologic, Inc.11.8 Myriad Genetics, Inc.11.9 Qiagen N.V.11.10 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Companies Mentioned

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Molecular Diagnostics Industry Report, 2020 to 2026 - Analysis by Product, Technology, Application, End-user and Region - PRNewswire