StemCell Therapy

left to right, instructor Jake Wendell and participant Kenta Otawa.

left to right, instructor Jake Wendell and participant Kenta Otawa.

Photo: Dan Gentile / SFGate

left to right, instructor Jake Wendell and participant Kenta Otawa.

left to right, instructor Jake Wendell and participant Kenta Otawa.

Blindness, amputations and paralysis can't stop these veterans from skiing Tahoe

Like most ski camps, the first thing you see when walking out onto the slopes of Achieve Tahoes headquarters at Alpine Meadows is a beginner wipeout and some encouraging teasing from instructors.

The difference between this and any other normal scene at the base of the mountain is in the gear: poles with stabilizing blades offer amputees stability, sit-down bi-skis help those with paralysis make their way down the mountain and orange blind skier vests serve as a reminder that with enough willpower, just about anything is possible.Since 1967, the non-profit Achieve Tahoe has empowered the disabled to learn how to ski. As the founding chapter of Disabled Sports USA (there are now 140 around the country), the group has pioneered the use of innovative equipment and instruction that lets almost anyone safely traverse the slopes, from the blind to amputees to those with cognitive disabilities like autism.Everyone likes to feel this level of achievement. People say stoke or passion -- what you get from being outdoors and feeling the wind in your hair, says executive director Haakon Lang-Ree, who started with Achieve Tahoe as a volunteer 27 years ago. The freedom of choosing your own path down the mountain, everyone likes that feeling, and this is a population that doesnt get too many chances to do that.

RELATED: 'You have a bunch of hungover 20-year-olds': Locals sound off on Tahoe tourists

The program works with roughly 700 individuals a year during the winter, plus half of that in summer, all heavily subsidized thanks to their non-profit status. Lessons take place at Alpine, Squaw Valley, Northstar and Sugar Bowl, with adaptive equipment included and free or discounted skis, poles and boots donated by rental shops.

Todays a special day at Alpine Meadows. In addition to Achieve Tahoes regular services, once a year they offer a program specifically aimed at wounded veterans. The Anthem Winter Ski Festival invites former members of the armed services to a three-day camp, typically free of charge (thanks to some generous donors).

During the first morning, the scene outside their headquarters looks a lot like any other resort. People lounge at picnic benches suiting up, newbies glide on the flat snow to gain their balance, and more than one never ever beginner takes a tumble to the ground. Excited skiers joke with each other as they take off on the lift and rise over the treeline. Theres a comradery in the air, and also a sense of determination. Whatever challenges the participants have faced, theres nothing stopping them from enjoying the mountain.

Since Achieve Tahoes inception, the non-profit has been at the forefront of implementing adaptive tech to remove barriers to enjoying both the fitness and social elements of skiing. In the 80s, one of their instructors developed one of the first sit-down ski systems. Although most of the gear addresses issues of stability, Achieve Tahoe is also on the cutting edge of mechanized technology. The company hosts the beta site for a University of Utah program developing a fully automated mono-ski thats controlled via joystick. Motors inside the skis can wedge or edge, essentially reading the slopes like a golf green. They allow someone with quadriplegia who may be in a power wheelchair to have the same mountain experience as anyone else.

It opens up a whole new niche for folks who didnt have any options, says Lang-Ree.

RELATED: A new breed of ski bum: Working for Silicon Valley, living in Tahoe

For some of the wounded veterans, the equipment isnt the key, but rather patient instruction. If it werent for Kenta Otawas orange vest that reads blind skier, hed look just like any other first timer testing his balance on the bunny hills. The young veteran who traveled from San Diego lost most of his vision due to the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan, but he comes across as optimistic and determined not to let his disability keep him from doing anything (even gliding down a mountain). Hes never skied before, but thanks to the help of one-on-one instruction from Jake Wendell, hes already feeling comfortable after only a half-hour.

Through auditory and kinesthetic learning, we describe the movements and the feelings, then we just ski, said Wendell, as veterans in the distance weave between orange cones on mono-skis. Eventually we talk about a guiding method with verbal cues for the turn shapes. Hell be able to make his own turns, and I just let him know when hes getting off-center.

Im having a blast, says Otawa from behind slick, wrap-around black shades. He sounds just like any other over-confident beginner Im ready to go black diamond!

Dan Gentile is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com | Twitter: @Dannosphere

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Blindness, amputations and paralysis can't stop these veterans from skiing Tahoe - SFGate

Abstract / Synopsis:

Research is finding key patient benefits to gene therapy as a promising treatment strategy for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

This article was reviewed by Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, FRCOphth, FRCPath, BMedSci, MBBS, PhD

Data from two clinical studies of Lebers hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) showed substantial visual improvements in patients with both disease durations of less than six months and between six months and one year. The improvements resulted from a unilateral injection of a gene therapy vector (GS010) and remarkably, the viral vector seemed to be carried over to the untreated eye.

The mechanism of action for these unexpected results need to be clarified with further experimental work.

Related: Research targets precision dosing for gene, cell therapy

LHON is the most common cause of mitochondrial blindness with a minimal prevalence of one in 30,000 individuals in the population. It causes blindness mostly in young adult men with a peak age of onset in the third decade of life. It is invariably a bilateral disorder in which the fellow eye becomes affected within three to six months after disease onset in the first eye.

Both eyes are affected simultaneously in about 25% of patients, according to Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, FRCOphth, FRCPath, BMedSci, MBBS, PhD, an academic neuro-ophthalmologist with faculty positions at the University of Cambridge, Moorfields Eye Hospital, and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, in the UK.

Three primary mutations within the mitochondrial genome cause about 90% of cases worldwide, namely, m.3460G>A, m.11778G>A and m.14484T>C, with m.11778G>A being the most common mutation by far, accounting for over 70% of those affected with LHON. Unfortunately, most affected patients remain legally blind with vision worse than 1.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) or 3/60 in Snellen equivalent.

Given the poor prognosis, there is an urgent clinical need to identify effective treatments for this blinding optic nerve disease.

Related: LHON gene therapy: Deciphering phase III data

TreatmentGene therapy is obviously a very attractive treatment option, because the underlying pathophysiology is due to insufficient amount of the wild-type protein, Dr. Yu-Wai-Man said. Therefore, if the defective gene is replaced, we should be able to rescue the retinal ganglion cells, preserving function and improving the visual prognosis.

He described the principles of allotopic gene expression that involves inserting the mitochondrial gene of interest, in this case MTND4, into the nuclear genome with a modified viral vector. The wild-type protein produced has a specific mitochondrial targeting sequence that directs it to be imported into the mitochondrial compartment.

The use of an intravitreal injection is a big advantage for this treatment approach as it is a relatively straightforward procedure that provides direct access to the inner retina. Previous preclinical work indicates that allotopic expression is able to rescue the retinal ganglion cells from the deleterious effects of the m.11778G>A mutation.

Related: Gene therapy offering hope for retinal, corneal patients

Continued here:
Studies target unilateral gene therapy injection - Ophthalmology Times

The 2020 Australian of the Year is Adelaide eye surgeon Dr James Muecke, who has been recognised for his work in helping to prevent blindness.

Dr Muecke began his medical career in Kenya, but has most recently turned his focus to type 2 diabetes - the leading cause of blindness in adults.

He plans to use his national platform to challenge Australians' perception of sugar and the impact it has on the development of type 2 diabetes.

2020 Australian of the Year Dr John Muecke.

AAP

Receiving the award, he made a joke that got a chuckle from the audience: "What a tremendous honour to be named Australian of the Year for 2020, such an auspicious year for eyesight."

The 56-year-old says with 80 per cent of blindness cases avoidable in the world, he sees the issue as one about human rights.

Dr Muecke founded Sight For All, an organisation dedicated to fighting all causes of blindness with projects in Aboriginal and mainstream Australian communities, Asia and Africa.

2020 Australian of the Year winner Dr James Muecke is hugged by his wife during the awards ceremony.

AAP

With diabetes becoming the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults in Australia, he will spend much of his time in the public spotlight this year talking up how to tackle what he describes as a "looming catastrophe".

Some of the solutions include a sugar tax, better food labelling and restrictions on advertising, especially during children's TV viewing times.

"People are going blind and losing vision, what we need to do is go right back to beginning and say what is causing this?"

He said as an eye surgeon he often saw patients at the end stage of their diabetes, when it's too late to save their sight.

Senior Australian of the Year winner Professor John Newnham, Local Hero winner Bernie Shakeshaft and Australian of the Year winner Dr James Muecke.

AAP

"What saddens me greatly is that, much of the time, such complications are avoidable, whether through lifestyle changes or more disciplined health checks," he said.

"My mission this year is to get back to the root cause of this disease and prevent what will otherwise be our nation's health catastrophe."

He wants to encourage "hard-hitting strategies" to build greater awareness of the detrimental role of sugar.

"And how it's as toxic and addictive as nicotine, and should be treated by consumers, businesses and governments as such."

The Chair of the National Australia Day Council, Danielle Roche, saidDr Muecke is to be commended for his achievements.

"Dr James Mueckes passionate and selfless commitment to preventing blindness here at home and around the world is literally changing lives," she said.

"He is a fierce advocate at the forefront of the fight against the rising epidemic of diabetes-induced blindness."

Tennis World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty from Queensland has been named as 2020 Young Australian of the Year.

Obstetrics specialist Professor John Newnham from Perth is Senior Australian of the Year.

The 67-year-old is recognised as one of the worlds leading authorities in the prevention of pre-term birth - the single greatest cause of death and disability in children up to five years of age.

Australias Local Hero award went to youth advocate Bernie Shakeshaft from Armidale, NSW.

Using the skills he developed growing up and as a jackaroo in the Northern Territory learning from the Aboriginal trackers, Bernie developed a program to help disadvantaged youth.

The BackTrack Youth Works Program uses animal-assisted learning, agricultural skills and a residential facility to help redirect youth.

The program has helped to decrease Armidales youth crime rate by more than 38 per cent.

More:
Eye surgeon James Muecke named Australian of the Year - SBS News

Posted January 27, 2020 15:24:40

The 2020 Australian of the Year, ophthalmologist James Muecke, plans to use his new title to increase awareness about the debilitating consequences of diabetes, but behind the scenes he has had to face his own health challenge.

The Adelaide eye doctor has spent about three decades working to prevent and treat blindness in some of the world's poorest countries.

"We're now seeing fantastic results. Children are surviving and they're actually keeping vision, which is immensely satisfying," Dr Muecke told 7.30.

"I loved the idea of doing very fine work with my hands and so microsurgery was always something that appealed to me as a doctor, and that then drove me down a pathway of ophthalmology.

"I loved the idea of surgery on the eye, such a delicate structure."

In a cruel twist, Dr Muecke has revealed he has been forced to stop doing the surgery he loves because of an inherited medical condition.

"Unfortunately I have a neurological disability which I've inherited from my father, which is impacting on my ability to use my right hand," he said.

"Fortunately it's not a life-threatening condition but it is a career-destroying condition.

"In the next year or two I'll have to bow out of my medical career sadly."

Having tackled some of the most confronting eye conditions, Dr Muecke is philosophical about his own medical challenge.

"I've met many people in my life who've had much tougher battles and their resilience is incredibly admirable," he said.

The condition has forced Dr Muecke to change his focus from surgery to advocacy.

He plans to use his Australian of the Year title to lobby hard for measures to tackle obesity, which can cause type 2 diabetes. The dietary-caused disease can cause blindness.

"Diabetes is now affecting one in 10 of our population," he said.

"Every year I'm seeing more and more patients who are losing vision as a result of this disease, a disease which is actually entirely preventable."

Dr Muecke is calling for a tax on sugar and said confronting advertising, similar to anti-smoking campaigns, was warranted.

"The government can help by reducing the time and space for sweet products, particularly during children's TV," he said.

"I think we need to have a clearer labelling system of sweet products, and for those products with high sugar content, taxing would be very important to help people choose lower sugar alternatives," he told 7.30.

Diabetes cost Neil Hansell his eyesight. He is now the face of Dr Muecke's campaign to highlight the debilitating consequences of the disease.

"Basically I went to bed one night, woke up the next morning and everything was black," Mr Hansell said.

"I would describe Dr Muecke as being very, very passionate at what he does, extremely loyal to all the people who come and see him.

"He's an inspiration really. I put him up there with Fred Hollows, he's that good."

It is an obvious comparison, but Dr Muecke said he was forging his own path.

"Well Fred [Hollows] was an absolute Aussie hero, he's a legendary character, he was an ophthalmologist like myself. Fred's passion was cataract blindness that is the leading cause of blindness in the world.

"My agenda is that there are quite literally hundreds of eye diseases, many of these are blinding and some are deadly," he told 7.30.

Dr Muecke's charity work goes back decades. In 2000 he co-founded Vision Myanmar and a few years later Sight for All, an organisation which uses Australian and New Zealand eye specialists to train overseas doctors.

"We've trained colleagues across many of the poorest countries in Asia, including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, and ultimately our projects are now impacting on roughly a million people every year," he said.

Watch this story on 7.30 tonight.

Topics:doctors-and-medical-professionals,health,eyes,diseases-and-disorders,diabetes,australia,adelaide-5000,sa

Read the rest here:
Australian of the Year James Muecke forced to give up surgery due to neurological condition - ABC News

Individuals with disabilities are over-represented in the prison system. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) found that 32% of state and federal prisoners had a disability in 2011-2012, compared to 15% of the general population. This disparity is rooted in a school-to-prison pipeline that traps young people with disabilities in a cycle of disadvantage, misconduct, and punishment, leading eventually to incarceration in the adult correctional system. In this article, we use data from our states Common Follow-Up System (CFS) to illustrate the extent of the school-to-prison pipeline for young people with disabilities in North Carolina.

Note that the BJS reports cognitive disabilities as the most prevalent type of disability among the prison population. While some individuals have disabilities that are immediately apparent, such as those requiring the use of wheelchair or a walking cane, many struggle with invisible disabilities that are non-apparent but nonetheless present challenges. Indeed, our own analysis finds that students with invisible disabilities such as behavioral / emotional disorders, intellectual disabilities, specific learning disabilities, and traumatic brain injury are significantly more likely to wind up in the adult correctional system in the years following high school than their peers without disabilities.

We begin our analysis by following a cohort of 83,126 students who exited public high school in North Carolina, either graduating or dropping out, during the 2000 school year.1 Nearly 6.4% of these individuals entered a state prison in North Carolina within 18 years after high schoolmore than half of them (3.5%) within seven years [Figure 1]. Students with disabilities were much more likely than their peers without disabilities to land in prison within 18 years (12.8% versus 5.6%, respectively). Most of these students with disabilities were reported by the state Department of Public Instruction as having a specific learning disability, an umbrella category that includes dyslexia and dysgraphia.2

This disparity in incarceration rates is preceded by a disparity in high school graduation rates. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that, during the 2017 school year, students with disabilities in North Carolina had a four-year high school graduation rate of only 70%, compared to 87% for all students. Our own analysis of students who exited high school during the 2000 school year finds that only 33% of those with disabilities graduated upon exit, compared to 61% of their peers without disabilities.3

Previous research using data from the U.S. Census Bureau found that 16- to 24-year-olds who dropped out of high school were six times more likely to be institutionalized than high school graduates. Our own analysis reflects these findings: high school dropouts in our cohort were around six times more likely to enter prison than their peers who graduated. For example, 17.5% of individuals with disabilities who dropped out of high school in 2000 entered prison within 18 years, compared to 3.0% of their peers with disabilities who graduated [Figure 2]. However, lower graduation rates among individuals with disabilities cannot fully explain their higher rates of incarceration. Only 1.8% of high school graduates without disabilities went to prison, compared to 3.0% of graduates with disabilities, and while high school dropouts were overall more likely to enter prison than graduates, dropouts with disabilities (at 17.5%) had a higher incarceration rate than dropouts without disabilities (11.6%).

Although individuals with disabilities as a group are over-represented in prison, incarceration rates vary widely by type of disability. We examine this variation in more detail by following a cohort of 990,270 students who exited high school during the 2000-2010 school years.4 This multi-year cohort provides us with a larger and more representative sample for measuring incarceration rates by type of disability.

Overall, individuals with disabilities who exited high school between 2000 and 2010 were more than twice as likely to enter prison within seven years after high school than their peers without disabilities [Figure 3]. Those with behavioral/emotional disorders were the most at risk, with nearly 20% entering prison within seven years. Individuals with intellectual disability, specific learning disabilities, or traumatic brain injury also had a significantly elevated risk of going to prison. On the other hand, those with autism or orthopedic impairment were significantly less likely to enter prison than their peers without disabilities. The likelihood of individuals with visual impairment/blindness, hearing impairment/deafness, or speech impairment going to prison was not significantly different from their peers.5

The school-to-prison pipeline for youth with disabilities is not only a human tragedy, it is also a workforce challenge. Our prior research demonstrated that former prisoners in North Carolina are much less likely to find employment after release than the broader population, depriving our economy of a potentially rich source of human capital. Our states educators, employers, and communities all have a stake in ensuring young people with disabilities are steered toward the pathway to opportunity and diverted away from the pipeline into prison.

Data sources cited in this article are derived from surveys and/or administrative records and are subject to sampling and/or non-sampling error. Any mistakes in data management, analysis, or presentation are the authors.

1This includes students who exited high school between July 1, 1999 and June 30, 2000. We use a single-year cohortbased on the earliest year of data availablein order to compare incarceration rates for a full 18 years after high school.

2Nearly 11% of all individuals in our cohort students exiting high school during the 2000 school year had a reported disability. The most prevalent disabilities were specific learning disabilities (52% of all students with disabilities), followed by intellectual disability (23%), behavioral / emotional disorders (10%), other health impairments (7%), speech impairment (5%), and a smaller number of students with hearing impairment / deafness,multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, autism, visual impairment / blindness, or traumatic brain injury (all 1% or less).

3For this analysis, we define graduates as individuals who exit high school as graduates in a given year, and we define dropouts as those who exit high school without graduating and do not re-enroll by October of the following year. The four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate reported by the National Center for Education Statistics is the share of a given cohort of 9th-graders who graduate within four years, with adjustments made for students who transfer into the cohort or transfer out of the cohort, emigrate to another country, or pass away.

4 This includes students who exited high school between July 1, 1999 and June 30, 2010.

5Individuals with other health impairments or multiple disabilities are not reported here.

Visit link:
From School to Prison: The Criminal Justice Outcomes of Youth with Disabilities in North Carolina - NC Dept of Commerce

Author Matthew Ferrari Associate Professor of Biology, Pennsylvania State University

The measles virus has been a part of human life for thousands of years. A recent study suggests that it appeared about 4,000 years ago, originating from a virus affecting livestock. That was also the time when cities were reaching population sizes above 250,000 enough to keep the virus spreading even though people who have had measles dont ever get it again.

As recently as the mid-20th century, before the development of a vaccine, nearly every person could expect to be infected with the measles virus in their lifetime. The introduction of a vaccine in the mid-1960s has dramatically cut the incidence of measles. Fewer than seven million cases were estimated in 2017. But those improvements have not been evenly spread. The incidence of measles is concentrated in low-income countries. And the risk of death or severe complications is disproportionately high in marginalised populations with poor access to health services.

The risk of mortality due to measles infection is 5-times higher in low- compared to high-income countries and can be greater than 10% when outbreaks overwhelm health systems. There were over 1,000 measles deaths in Madagascar in 2019 and there have been over 6,000 deaths so far in an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The long-term effects of these outbreaks on immunity to other diseases has yet to be seen, and may be substantial.

Measles is very easily transmitted from person to person in the droplets created when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can stay in the air for hours.

The disease often begins with a runny nose, runny eyes and a cough, followed by a rash. The virus infects cells throughout the body, but specifically kills cells of the immune system which the body uses to fight infection. This makes it harder to fight off common infections that cause pneumonia or diarrhoea. During and just after measles infection, individuals are more likely to get very ill or even die from secondary infections that would otherwise be relatively harmless.

Recent research has uncovered a new mechanism suggesting that this effect may persist for over a year. This new research suggests that measles infection not only weakens the immune system, but in some cases resets it. It can make people susceptible again to infections they were previously immune to. In rare cases, measles infection can lead to neurological complications that result in deafness or blindness.

Preventing measles

Vaccination prior to exposure remains the single most effective way to prevent measles disease. The vaccine is a weakened virus which triggers strong immunity to the full-strength virus without causing disease. A successful vaccination against measles in childhood should provide lifetime protection. Two doses are recommended for each child to ensure at least one is successful.

The more similar the structure of the vaccine is to the virus in its natural state, the stronger the protection of the vaccine. The measles vaccine is very similar and conveys strong protection. But this similarity is the vaccines greatest weakness as it must be kept in a very narrow temperature regime not too cold, not too warm to remain effective. The supply chains to get the vaccine from production to health clinics must have very specific refrigeration equipment throughout. This has been difficult in places where electrification is limited. These communities may only receive effective vaccines during large campaigns every few years, leaving some children unprotected.

The combination of rapid transmission and strong immunity after infection means that measles disease commonly occurs in dramatic outbreaks. Even in places where measles is present year-round, there tends to be large differences between the high and low seasons. It can flare up in periods of increased contact among people, for example due to school or economic cycles. A lot of people will be infected at the same time, and then be immune. After an outbreak, there arent many people who are still able to get infected until more children are born. If vaccination coverage is high enough, it can prevent transmission altogether and eliminate measles, as has been achieved in the Americas.

The impact of measles has changed dramatically over the last half century. What was once a near certain infection for all people has become a distinctly inequitable health risk. Wealthy countries can maintain high rates of vaccination and reduce the risk of exposure. Even within low-income countries where measles is both endemic and common, the risk falls disproportionately on populations that are difficult to reach with effective vaccination. They may be far from vaccination services or otherwise marginalised and unable to access vaccination. Political and military conflict frequently add to the problem.

An analysis prior to the Madagascar outbreak highlighted that declining vaccination coverage (perhaps due to the political crisis in 2009) and failure of supplementary immunisation activities to reach adolescents who had missed routine childhood doses may have increased the outbreak risk. The magnitude of the ongoing outbreak in the DRC reflects long-term, systemic challenges of achieving high vaccination coverage in a large, mainly rural population. The Ebola outbreak in the northeast has placed additional burdens on the routine health system and led to additional declines in vaccination coverage.

Measles infection can be easily managed with prompt health care and symptom management. But in the absence of care, mild symptoms can turn into life-threatening secondary infections or long-term effects such as deafness and blindness.

While measles may be a faint memory in some parts of the world, the impact in the worst-affected populations is a constant reminder of the need for vigilance.

Read more here:
Explainer: a history of the measles virus and why it's so tenacious - World - ReliefWeb

Ponce de Lens search for the fountain of youth in Florida is just a legend.

But about 1,500 miles to the north, in the icy waters of Cedar Lake in Minneapolis, dozens of people think theyve found the next best thing.

On a recent Sunday around 9:30 a.m., a diverse group of about 20 people dressed in swimsuits trekked to a spot near the shore on the west side of the lake and immersed themselves in an 8-by-12-foot rectangular hole cut in the ice. Later in the day, another group of people gathered to do the same thing.

This isnt a once-a-year, get-in, get-out, New Years Day plunge for Instagram bragging rights.

This is something that happens every Sunday throughout the winter.

Some people come several times a week, and stay for a good, long soak of five, 10, 15 minutes or more. Except for the knit hats, they look like they could be relaxing in a hot tub as they stand in water that ranges from waist- to neck-deep.

Called cold therapy or cold thermogenesis, ice-water bathing is a practice that biohackers and assorted others believe makes them healthier.

The Twin Cities Cold Thermogenesis Facebook group, which was created in 2016, claims the frigid dips do everything from increase testosterone in men to boosting brown adipose tissue. (The so-called brown fat or good fat may be helpful in combating obesity because it burns calories to create heat.)

Cold-water immersion also strengthens the immune system, according to Svetlana Vold, a part-time firefighter and ultramarathon winter bike racer from St. Louis Park, who organizes the Sunday morning cold-immersion session.

Vold and others say chilling out in the water combats inflammation, helps them sleep better and improves their focus and endurance. Some said theyre inspired by Wim The Iceman Hof, a Dutchman famous for his breathing and cold exposure technique called the Wim Hof Method.

The Cedar Lake group would probably meet the approval of David Sinclair, a Harvard genetics professor and longevity expert who thinks that cold exposure may help slow the aging process.

Maria OConnell, the organizer of the afternoon session, has been immersing herself in an ice-filled horse trough in her backyard since 2011. Initially its a little uncomfortable, she said. You end up getting better the more you do it.

But many say the frigid dunks are a mood-altering, even pleasurable experience.

It hurts so damn good, said Stephen McLaughlin, a 61-year-old Minneapolis resident. You are just completely present.

It makes me happy. I think its adrenaline, said Allison Kuznia, 42, of Minneapolis.

Its kind of a treat to go out and get really cold, said Nick White, 46, of Minneapolis. It gives you a feeling of euphoria.

Read this article:
Meet the people who think soaking in a frozen Minneapolis lake is the secret to good health - Minneapolis Star Tribune

(MENAFN - ForPressRelease) 11

New Delhi 23rd January 2020 On Saturday, January 18th, 2020, the Advancells Group & the International Fertility Center together ended their first workshop Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020). The three-day workshop had specialized doctors, medical practitioners, learned scientists of Advancells, the leaders in cell manufacturing & processes and IFC, one of India's most prestigious Fertility institute who were joined by candidates with MBBS/BAMS/BHMS/BPharma & Master's degree in Life Sciences.

The key-note speaker of the workshop was Dr. Rita Bakshi, founder and chairperson of International Fertility Centre, the oldest fertility clinic and one of the most renowned IVF clinics in India, one of the organizers of the event. Participants also had a privilege to listen to Dr. Sachin Kadam, CTO, Advancells and gain hands-on experience in the preparation of PRP; Liposuction method; and Bone Marrow aspiration. All these techniques were talked about at length and demonstrated in the form of manual & kit-based models to help the candidates gain exposure.

Dr. Punit Prabha, Head of Clinical Research and Dr. Shradha Singh Gautam, Head of Lab Operations at Advancells successfully set the base of stem cell biology for the participants who were experts in gynecology field, stem cell research and pain specialist. With the help of detailed analysis of 'Application of PRP for Skin rejuvenation'; 'Preparation of Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue and Nano Fat & SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) from Adipose Tissue'; and 'Cell Culturing and Expansion in a Laboratory', applicants understood the application of stem cells in aesthetics, cosmetology, and anti-aging.

Vipul Jain, Founder & CEO of Advancells Group said, 'Educating young scientists about stem cells is important for us. With this workshop we wanted to discuss and share the challenges and lessons we have learned in our journey of curing our customers. We wanted to establish more concrete knowledge base in the presence of subject matter experts and help our attendees in more possible ways. We are hopeful to have successfully achieved what we claimed with this workshop'.

Given the resounding success of the Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020), it's hoped that the future events shall offer even greater wisdom to the participants by helping them improve and the lead the community into the age of greater awareness.

Advancells Group Advancells is leading the field of stem cell therapies in India and abroad, with representative offices in Bangladesh and Australia. The company provides arrangements for stem cell banking and protocols for partner doctors and hospitals which they can use for treating the patients using regenerative medicine. With a GMP compliant research and processing center that works on different cell lines from various sources such as Bone Marrow, Adipose Tissue, Dental Pulp, Blood, Cord Tissue etc. Advancells also intends to file a patent for this processing technology soon.

User :- Ajit Singh

Email :

Mobile:- 9953809503

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Advancells Group & IFC Concluded their 3-Day Workshop on Regenerative Medicine - MENAFN.COM

New Delhi [India], Jan 23 (ANI/Business Wire India): On Saturday, January 18 2020, the Advancells Group and the International Fertility Center together ended their first workshop - Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (STAR 2020).

The three-day workshop had specialized doctors, medical practitioners, learned scientists of Advancells, the leaders in cell manufacturing and processes and IFC, one of India's most prestigious Fertility institutes who were joined by candidates with MBBS/BAMS/BHMS/BPharma and Master's degree in Life Sciences.

The key-note speaker of the workshop was Dr Rita Bakshi, founder and chairperson of International Fertility Centre, the oldest fertility clinic and one of the most renowned IVF clinics in India, one of the organizers of the event.

Participants also had a privilege to listen to Dr Sachin Kadam, CTO, Advancells and gain hands-on experience in the preparation of PRP; Liposuction method; and Bone Marrow aspiration. All these techniques were talked about at length and demonstrated in the form of manual and kit-based models to help the candidates gain exposure.

Dr Punit Prabha, Head of Clinical Research and Dr Shradha Singh Gautam, Head of Lab Operations at Advancells successfully set the base of stem cell biology for the participants who were experts in gynecology field, stem cell research and pain specialist.

With the help of detailed analysis of 'Application of PRP for Skin rejuvenation'; 'Preparation of Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue and Nano Fat & SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) from Adipose Tissue'; and 'Cell Culturing and Expansion in a Laboratory', applicants understood the application of stem cells in aesthetics, cosmetology, and anti-ageing.

"Educating young scientists about stem cells is important for us. With this workshop, we wanted to discuss and share the challenges and lessons we have learned in our journey of curing our customers," said Vipul Jain, founder and CEO of Advancells Group.

"We wanted to establish a more concrete knowledge base in the presence of subject matter experts and help our attendees in more possible ways. We are hopeful to have successfully achieved what we claimed with this workshop," he added.

Given the resounding success of the Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (STAR 2020), it's hoped that the future events shall offer even greater wisdom to the participants by helping them improve and the lead the community into the age of greater awareness.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)

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Advancells Group, IFC concluded their three-day workshop on Regenerative Medicine - Yahoo India News

What: LDUNA Aesthetics and Wellness Center, designed to explore and introduce the future of advance treatments for the purposes of anti-aging, wellness, and aesthetics, is hosting a grand opening celebration on Jan. 22. Recognized astheCenter of Excellence for Merakris Therapeutics, a biotechnology company that focuses on cellular regeneration, Ldunasprocess will help to empower a healthier, happier, and improved quality of life.The event will feature jazz entertainment byNieve Malandra, delicious bites by Chef Anthony Vidal, 30-40% off treatments booked that evening, and raffle prizes.

Our centers approach to non-surgical procedures and regenerative treatments to enhance and restore youthfulness will not only change the way others see you, but the way you see yourself. says Byron Brooks,Director of Operations at Lduna Aesthetics and Wellness Center. We are grateful to the Henderson community for welcoming us and look forward to working with Henderson Leadership and community members to sponsor and support community activities and initiatives.

The med spas aesthetics category provides the most innovative, non-surgical methods of skin tightening for both the face and body. These services include Botox, Kybella, Juvederm, and other known fillers, Plasma Pen, as well as, fat cell reduction body contouring, laserskin improvement treatments, micro-needling with exosomes, and other technological skin related services. The anti-aging services offered are genetic testing and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, to ensure peak biological performance, while Ldunasregenerative medicine category includes the following treatments: Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), exosome therapy, and joint mobility injections.

Additionally, LDUNAs line of featured luxury products include: Cosmedix, Lucrece, Valmont, GM Collin, NeoCutis, and Jan Marini.

When: Wednesday, January 22

Time: 5:30pm

Address: 10521 Jeffreys Street, Henderson, Suite 220, 89052

Who: Byron Brooks, Director of Operations

Dr. Bonnie Fraser, and Dr. Abraham Fakhouri, Medical Directors

Debra Newell,Celebrity Interior Designer, Featured on Netflix and Bravo

Nieve Malandra, Entertainment/Singer

Chef Anthony Vidal

Zach Zoufaly,Chippendales Performer

For more information, please visit:https://lduna.com/(in development) or like and share on Facebook atLduna Aesthetics and Wellness Center.

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LDUNA Aesthetics and Wellness Center Grand Opening Celebration, Jan. 22 - Nevada Business Magazine

Global Field Service Management Software Market report 2020 offers a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Field Service Management Software industry along with competitive landscape, Market share and revenue forecast 2026. The report firstly introduced the basics: definitions, classifications, applications, and industry chain overview; industry policies and plans; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures and so on.

Statistical forecasts in the research study are available for the total Field Service Management Software market along with its key segments and development policy. The key segments, their growth prospects, and the new opportunities they present to market players have been mentioned in the report. Moreover, the impact analysis of the latest mergers and acquisition and joint ventures has been included in the report. The report also provides valuable proposals for new project development that can help companies optimize their operations and revenue structure.

The main sources are industry experts from the Field Service Management Software industry, including management organizations, processing organizations, and analytical services providers that address the value chain of industry organizations. We interviewed all major sources to collect and certify qualitative and quantitative information and to determine future prospects. The qualities of this study in the industry experts industry, such as CEO, Vice President, Marketing Director, Technology and Innovation Director, Founder and Key Executives of key core companies and institutions in major Field Service Management Software around the world in the extensive primary research conducted for this study we interviewed to acquire and verify both sides and quantitative aspects.

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry [emailprotected] https://www.prominentmarketresearch.com/inquiry-report/103296

On the basis of types, the Field Service Management Software market is primarily split into:Cloud-basedOn-premises

On the basis of applications, the market covers:BFSIHealthcareEnergy and UtilitiesTelecom and ITConstruction and Real EstateTransportation and Logistics

The Field Service Management Software market can be split based on product types, major applications, and important regions. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Field Service Management Software market.

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Key Points Table of Content:

Chapter 1: Field Service Management Software Market Overview, Product Overview, Market Segmentation, Market Overview of Regions, Market Dynamics, Limitations, Opportunities and Industry News and Policies.

Chapter 2: Field Service Management Software Industry Chain Analysis, Upstream Raw Material Suppliers, Major Players, Production Process Analysis, Cost Analysis, Market Channels and Major Downstream Buyers.

Chapter 3: Value Analysis, Production, Growth Rate and Price Analysis by Type of Field Service Management Software.

Chapter 4: Downstream Characteristics, Consumption and Market Share by Application of Field Service Management Software.

Chapter 5: Production Volume, Price, Gross Margin, and Revenue ($) of Field Service Management Software by Regions (2014-2020).

Chapter 6: Field Service Management Software Production, Consumption, Export and Import by Regions (2014-2020).

Chapter 7: Field Service Management Software Market Status and SWOT Analysis by Regions.

Chapter 8: Competitive Landscape, Product Introduction, Company Profiles, Market Distribution Status by Players of Field Service Management Software.

Chapter 9: Field Service Management Software Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application (2020-2026).

Chapter 10: Market Analysis and Forecast by Regions (2020-2026).

Chapter 11: Industry Characteristics, Key Factors, New Entrants SWOT Analysis, Investment Feasibility Analysis.

Chapter 12: Market Conclusion of the Whole Report.

Chapter 13: Appendix Such as Methodology and Data Resources of This Research.

We can also customize this report and provide individual chapters or a region-wise breakdown report such as North America, Europe or Asia. Also, if you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.

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Field Service Management Software Market by Key Manufacturers, Regions, Risk Analysis, Industry Share, Driving Factors, Deployment Policy, Innovative...

With so many groundbreaking medical advances being revealed to the world every single day, you would imagine there would be some advancement on the plethora of many female-prevalent diseases (think female cancers, Alzheimer's, depression, heart conditions etc.) that women are fighting every single day.

For Anna Villarreal and her team, there frankly wasn't enough being done. In turn, she developed a method that diagnoses these diseases earlier than traditional methods, using a pretty untraditional method in itself: through your menstrual blood.

Getting from point A to point B wasn't so easy though. Villarreal was battling a disease herself and through that experience. I wondered if there was a way to test menstrual blood for female specific diseases," she says. "Perhaps my situation could have been prevented or at least better managed. This led me to begin researching menstrual blood as a diagnostic source. For reasons the scientific and medical community do not fully understand, certain diseases impact women differently than men. The research shows that clinical trials have a disproportionate focus on male research subjects despite clear evidence that many diseases impact more women than men."

There's also no denying that gap in women's healthcare in clinical research involving female subjects - which is exactly what inspired Villarreal to launch her company, LifeStory Health. She says that, with my personal experience everything was brought full circle."

There is a challenge and a need in the medical community for more sex-specific research. I believe the omission of females as research subjects is putting women's health at risk and we need to fuel a conversation that will improve women's healthcare.,"

-Anna Villarreal

Her brand new biotech company is committed to changing the women's healthcare market through technology, innovation and vocalization and through extensive research and testing. She is working to develop the first ever, non-invasive, menstrual blood diagnostic and has partnered with a top Boston-area University on research and has won awards from The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Northeastern University's RISE.

How does it work exactly? Proteins are discovered in menstrual blood that can quickly and easily detect, manage and track diseases in women, resulting in diseases that can be earlier detected, treated and even prevented in the first place. The menstrual blood is easy to collect and since it's a relatively unexplored diagnostic it's honestly a really revolutionary concept, too.

So far, the reactions of this innovative research has been nothing but excitement. The reactions have been incredibly positive." she shares with SWAAY. Currently, menstrual blood is discarded as bio waste, but it could carry the potential for new breakthroughs in diagnosis. When I educate women on the lack of female subjects used in research and clinical trials, they are surprised and very excited at the prospect that LifeStory Health may provide a solution and the key to early detection."

To give a doctor's input, and a little bit more of an explanation as to why this really works, Dr. Pat Salber, MD, and Founder of The Doctor Weighs In comments: researchers have been studying stem cells derived from menstrual blood for more than a decade. Stem cells are cells that have the capability of differentiating into different types of tissues. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. Adult stem cells have a more limited differentiation potential, but avoid the ethical issues that have surrounded research with embryonic stem cells. Stem cells from menstrual blood are adult stem cells."

These stem cells are so important when it comes to new findings. Stem cells serve as the backbone of research in the field of regenerative medicine the focus which is to grow tissues, such as skin, to repair burn and other types of serious skin wounds.

A certain type of stem cell, known as mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) derived from menstrual blood has been found to both grow well in the lab and have the capability to differentiate in various cell types, including skin. In addition to being used to grow tissues, their properties can be studied that will elucidate many different aspects of cell function," Dr. Salber explains.

To show the outpour of support for her efforts and this major girl power research, Villarreal remarks, women are volunteering their samples happily report the arrival of their periods by giving samples to our lab announcing de-identified sample number XXX arrived today!" It's a far cry from the stereotype of when it's that time of the month."

How are these collections being done? Although it might sound odd to collect menstrual blood, plastic cups have been developed to use in the collection process. This is similar to menstrual products, called menstrual cups, that have been on the market for many years," Dr. Salber says.

Equally shocking and innovative, this might be something that becomes more common practice in the future. And according to Dr. Salber, women may be able to not only use the menstrual blood for early detection, but be able to store the stem cells from it to help treat future diseases. Companies are working to commercialize the use of menstrual blood stem cells. One company, for example, is offering a patented service to store menstrual blood stem cells for use in tissue generation if the need arises."

View original post here:
How I Went From Managing Complexity to Becoming a U.S. Ambassador and CEO - SWAAY

The Cryochambers market study added by Market Study Report, LLC, exhibits a comprehensive analysis of the growth trends present in the global business scenario. The study further presents conclusive data referring to the commercialization aspects, industry size and profit estimation of the market. The study also illustrates the competitive standing of leading manufacturers in the projection timeline whilst incorporating their diverse portfolio and regional expansion endeavors.

The Cryochambers market report presents a detailed assessment of the industry vertical and it also elaborates about the dual perspective- production and consumption.

Considering the production aspect, the study provides details regarding the manufacturing of the product, product renumeration, and the gross margins of the firms manufacturing the product. Speaking of the consumption, the report includes data related to the product consumption value and the product consumption volume along with the import and export status of the products.

Request a sample Report of Cryochambers Market at:https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/2450123?utm_source=technologymagazine&utm_medium=Kunal

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Regional segmentation: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America.

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Report provides details related to the competitive spectrum of the Cryochambers market.

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The report provides data relating growth margins of these firms along with the product costs, renumeration, and manufacturing expenses.

It also provides data that reveals the extent to which the industry has been evaluated. Also, the report contains data about the analysis of the feasibility of the new investment projects that have commenced along with the research conclusions inferred from the studies.

For More Details On this Report:https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-cryochambers-market-research-report-2020-segment-by-key-companies-countries-types-applications-and-forecast-2021-to-2026

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Cryochambers Market Analysis, Size, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts to 2026 - Technology Magazine

Sorry Mom and Dad: It turns out you might not have been exaggerating when you told us your children made your hair turn gray.

Stress may play a key role in just how quickly hair goes from colored to ashen, a study published this past week in the journal Nature suggests.

Scientists have long understood some link is possible between stress and gray hair, but this new research from Harvard University in Massachusetts more deeply probes the exact mechanisms at play.

The researchers initial tests looked closely at cortisol, the stress hormone that surges in the body when a person experiences a fight or flight response.

Its an important bodily function, but the long-term presence of heightened cortisol is linked to a host of negative health outcomes.

But the culprit ended up being a different part of the bodys fight or flight response the sympathetic nervous system.

These nerves are all over the body, including making inroads to each hair follicle, the researchers reported.

Chemicals released during the stress response specifically norepinephrine causes pigment producing stem cells to activate prematurely, depleting the hairs reserves of color.

The detrimental impact of stress that we discovered was beyond what I imagined, Ya-Chieh Hsu, PhD, a lead study author and an associate professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard, said in a press release. After just a few days, all of the pigment-regenerating stem cells were lost. Once theyre gone, you cant regenerate pigments anymore. The damage is permanent.

But stress isnt the only or even the primary reason that most people get gray hair.

In most cases, its simple genetics.

Gray hair is caused by loss of melanocytes (pigment cells) in the hair follicle. This happens as we age and, unfortunately, there is no treatment that can restore these cells and the pigment they produce, melanin, Dr. Lindsey A. Bordone, a dermatologist at ColumbiaDoctors and an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, told Healthline. Genetic factors determine when you go gray. There is nothing that can be done medically to prevent this from happening when it is genetically predetermined to happen.

That doesnt mean environmental factors such as stress dont play a role.

Smoking, for instance, is a known risk factor for premature graying, according to a 2013 study. So kick the habit if you want to keep that color a little longer.

Other contributing factors to premature graying include deficiencies in protein, vitamin B-12, copper, and iron as well as aging due in part to an accumulation of oxidative stress.

That stress is prompted by an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body that can damage tissue, proteins, and DNA, Kasey Nichols, NMD, an Arizona physician and a health expert at Rave Reviews, told Healthline.

And some degree of oxidative stress is a natural part of life.

We would expect increasing gray hair as we advance in age, and we see about a 10 percent increase in the chance of developing gray hair for every decade after age 30, Nichols said.

Changes you can pursue to delay premature grays include eating a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts and fatty fish, not spending too much time in the skin-damaging and hair-damaging ultraviolet light of the sun, and taking vitamin B-12 and vitamin B-6 supplements.

That said, if you are going gray prematurely, it wouldnt hurt to go have a checkup just in case natural genetic factors arent the sole culprit.

The new Harvard research is only a mouse study, so replicating the same results in a human study would be necessary to strengthen the findings.

But the Harvard research has implications far beyond graying hair, with the hair color change merely one obvious sign of other internal changes as a result of prolonged stress.

By understanding precisely how stress affects stem cells that regenerate pigment, weve laid the groundwork for understanding how stress affects other tissues and organs in the body, said Hsu. Understanding how our tissues change under stress is the first critical step towards eventual treatment that can halt or revert the detrimental impact of stress.

Might that also mean someday halting and reverting the march of premature gray hair? Its too soon to tell.

We still have a lot to learn in this area, Hsu said.

See more here:
Scientists Think They Know How Stress Causes Gray Hair - Healthline

When Marie Antoinette was captured during the French Revolution, her hair reportedly turned white overnight. In more recent history, former U.S. Senator John McCain experienced severe injuries as a prisoner during the Vietnam Warand lost color in his hair.

For a long time, anecdotes have connected stressful experiences with hair-graying.

Get more HMS news here

Now, for the first time, Harvard University scientists have discovered exactly how the process plays out: stress activates nerves that are part of the fight-or-flight response, which in turn cause permanent damage to pigment-regenerating stem cells in hair follicles.

The work, published inNature, details the molecular mechanisms behind the longstanding biological puzzle.

Everyone has an anecdote to share about how stress affects their body, particularly in their skin and hairthe only tissues we can see from the outside, said senior authorYa-Chieh Hsu, the Alvin and Esta Star Associate Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard. We wanted to understand if this connection is true, and if so, how stress leads to changes in diverse tissues. Hair pigmentation is such an accessible and tractable system to start with, and besides, we were genuinely curious to see if stress indeed leads to hair-graying.

Fingering the culprit

Because stress affects the whole body, researchers first had to narrow down which body system was responsible for connecting stress to hair color. The team first hypothesized that stress causes an immune attack on pigment-producing cells. However, when mice lacking immune cells still showed hair-graying, researchers turned to the hormone cortisol. Once more, it was a dead end.

Stress always elevates levels of the hormone cortisol in the body, so we thought that cortisol might play a role, Hsu said. But surprisingly, when we removed the adrenal gland from the mice so that they couldnt produce cortisol-like hormones, their hair still turned gray under stress.

After systematically eliminating different possibilities, researchers homed in on the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the bodys fight-or-flight response.

Sympathetic nerves branch out into each hair follicle on the skin. The researchers found that stress causes these nerves to release the chemical norepinephrine, which gets taken up by nearby pigment-regenerating stem cells.

Permanent damage

In the hair follicle, certain stem cells act as a reservoir of pigment-producing cells. When hair regenerates, some of the stem cells convert into pigment-producing cells that color the hair.

Researchers found that the norepinephrine from sympathetic nerves causes the stem cells to activate excessively. The stem cells all convert into pigment-producing cells, prematurely depleting the reservoir.

When we started to study this, I expected that stress was bad for the body, but the detrimental impact of stress that we discovered was beyond what I imagined, Hsu said. After just a few days, all of the pigment-regenerating stem cells were lost. Once theyre gone, you cant regenerate pigments anymore. The damage is permanent.

The finding underscores the negative side effects of an otherwise protective evolutionary response, the researchers said.

Acute stress, particularly the fight-or-flight response, has been traditionally viewed to be beneficial for an animals survival. But in this case, acute stress causes permanent depletion of stem cells, said postdoctoral fellow Bing Zhang, the lead author of the study.

Answering a fundamental question

To connect stress with hair-graying, the researchers started with a whole-body response and progressively zoomed into individual organ systems, cell-to-cell interaction and, eventually, all the way down to molecular dynamics. The process required a variety of research tools along the way, including methods to manipulate organs, nerves and cell receptors.

To go from the highest level to the smallest detail, we collaborated with many scientists across a wide range of disciplines, using a combination of different approaches to solve a very fundamental biological question, Zhang said.

One of the study collaborators wasIsaac Chiu, assistant professor of immunology in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, who studies the interplay between the nervous and immune systems.

We know that peripheral neurons powerfully regulate organ function, blood vessels and immunity, but less is known about how they regulate stem cells, Chiu said.With this study, we now know that neurons can control stem cells and their function and can explain how they interact at the cellular and molecular levels to link stress with hair-graying.

The findings can help illuminate the broader effects of stress on various organs and tissues. This understanding will pave the way for new studies that seek to modify or block the damaging effects of stress.

By understanding precisely how stress affects stem cells that regenerate pigment, weve laid the groundwork for understanding how stress affects other tissues and organs in the body, Hsu said. Understanding how our tissues change under stress is the first critical step towards eventual treatment that can halt or revert the detrimental impact of stress. We still have a lot to learn in this area.

More:
Research details the link between stress and gray... - ScienceBlog.com

Every year, medical technology further evolves, and new discoveries are made. This brings hope to those suffering from grave medical conditions. Health24 covers these advances on an ongoing basis, and the following are a few of the biggest breakthroughs of the decade in a nutshell:

The past decade has seen a number of medical headlines involving 3D-organ-printing, up to the point where, recently, researchers managed to create living skin, complete with blood vessels, as well as hearts. While many of these advancements need more research before they can be used in a clinical setting, 3D-printing is set to become more prevalent over the next the next decade, which will make transplanting easier for those in need.

Health24 published several stories about gene therapy over the last ten years. And while there were restrictions placed on gene therapy research in the early 2000s, there's been a strong resurgence, as illustrated by this study focusing on gene therapy in the fight against leukaemia.

Despite a number of setbacks, there were some successes that could translate to treatments in the future. One of the most recent development involves the first clinical trial of its type. Researchers used CRISPR to edit the DNA of peoples immune systems to help treat certain cancers.

While only a small number of patients were involved in the Stage 1 clinical trial, experts believe that this was an important step, in that it proved that the technique is safe to use.

Read more about gene therapy here.

The focus on gut health and our microbiome (the collection of bacteria in the gut) has never been stronger. In the past, researchers didnt pay much attention to the role of the bacteria in our gut, and it's been mainly during the past 15 years that researchers have been studying this concept.

According to the BMJ, the gut microbiota is crucial for essential processes in the body, such as the fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibres. It does more than that, though, and plays a role in many key areas of human health, from our immunity and appetite to the way we digest our food.

This helped researchers to explore the role of gut bacteria in areas like depression. An article in the BMJ reports on changes in the gut microbiota in the case of not only obesity, diabetes, and liver disease, but also cancer and even neurodegenerative diseases.

In fact, a study covered by Health24 links gut microbes to chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition that has been baffling experts for decades.

HIV and Aids remain important public healthcare topics in South Africa. During the past decade, antiretroviral treatment has improved and become more readily available. In fact, the virus is currently controlled so well that the viral load in many patients' blood has become virtually undetectable.

According to Pharmaceutical Technologies, various studies over the past decade found that treatment with antiretroviral therapy has also reduced the risk of spreading the infection to HIV-negative partners in both homosexual and heterosexual couples.

A few months ago, Health24 published a story about a man simply known as the London patient, who became entirely free from HIV following stem cell treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He was the second patient to demonstrate this phenomenon.

In 2017, a man known as the Berlin patient had two copies of the CCR5-delta32 genetic mutation. The patient stopped his ART 16 months following a bone marrow transplant, and his blood viral load was still undetectable 18 months later.

Canceris one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases reported annually, according to the World Health Organization. Experts say immunotherapy is a promising new development, and ongoing research has been conducted over the past decade.

In one of the latest studies, Dr Christopher E. Rudd, a researcher at the Centre de Recherche de l'Hpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (CR-HMR) and Universit de Montral, discovered a new cell therapy approach that boosts the immune response of T lymphocytes to malignant tumours. The results of the study were recently published in the respected journal Nature.

Image credit: iStock

Compiled by Marelize Wilke

Read the original:
5 of the biggest medical advances of the past decade - Health24

With so many groundbreaking medical advances being revealed to the world every single day, you would imagine there would be some advancement on the plethora of many female-prevalent diseases (think female cancers, Alzheimer's, depression, heart conditions etc.) that women are fighting every single day.

For Anna Villarreal and her team, there frankly wasn't enough being done. In turn, she developed a method that diagnoses these diseases earlier than traditional methods, using a pretty untraditional method in itself: through your menstrual blood.

Getting from point A to point B wasn't so easy though. Villarreal was battling a disease herself and through that experience. I wondered if there was a way to test menstrual blood for female specific diseases," she says. "Perhaps my situation could have been prevented or at least better managed. This led me to begin researching menstrual blood as a diagnostic source. For reasons the scientific and medical community do not fully understand, certain diseases impact women differently than men. The research shows that clinical trials have a disproportionate focus on male research subjects despite clear evidence that many diseases impact more women than men."

There's also no denying that gap in women's healthcare in clinical research involving female subjects - which is exactly what inspired Villarreal to launch her company, LifeStory Health. She says that, with my personal experience everything was brought full circle."

There is a challenge and a need in the medical community for more sex-specific research. I believe the omission of females as research subjects is putting women's health at risk and we need to fuel a conversation that will improve women's healthcare.,"

-Anna Villarreal

Her brand new biotech company is committed to changing the women's healthcare market through technology, innovation and vocalization and through extensive research and testing. She is working to develop the first ever, non-invasive, menstrual blood diagnostic and has partnered with a top Boston-area University on research and has won awards from The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Northeastern University's RISE.

How does it work exactly? Proteins are discovered in menstrual blood that can quickly and easily detect, manage and track diseases in women, resulting in diseases that can be earlier detected, treated and even prevented in the first place. The menstrual blood is easy to collect and since it's a relatively unexplored diagnostic it's honestly a really revolutionary concept, too.

So far, the reactions of this innovative research has been nothing but excitement. The reactions have been incredibly positive." she shares with SWAAY. Currently, menstrual blood is discarded as bio waste, but it could carry the potential for new breakthroughs in diagnosis. When I educate women on the lack of female subjects used in research and clinical trials, they are surprised and very excited at the prospect that LifeStory Health may provide a solution and the key to early detection."

To give a doctor's input, and a little bit more of an explanation as to why this really works, Dr. Pat Salber, MD, and Founder of The Doctor Weighs In comments: researchers have been studying stem cells derived from menstrual blood for more than a decade. Stem cells are cells that have the capability of differentiating into different types of tissues. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. Adult stem cells have a more limited differentiation potential, but avoid the ethical issues that have surrounded research with embryonic stem cells. Stem cells from menstrual blood are adult stem cells."

These stem cells are so important when it comes to new findings. Stem cells serve as the backbone of research in the field of regenerative medicine the focus which is to grow tissues, such as skin, to repair burn and other types of serious skin wounds.

A certain type of stem cell, known as mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) derived from menstrual blood has been found to both grow well in the lab and have the capability to differentiate in various cell types, including skin. In addition to being used to grow tissues, their properties can be studied that will elucidate many different aspects of cell function," Dr. Salber explains.

To show the outpour of support for her efforts and this major girl power research, Villarreal remarks, women are volunteering their samples happily report the arrival of their periods by giving samples to our lab announcing de-identified sample number XXX arrived today!" It's a far cry from the stereotype of when it's that time of the month."

How are these collections being done? Although it might sound odd to collect menstrual blood, plastic cups have been developed to use in the collection process. This is similar to menstrual products, called menstrual cups, that have been on the market for many years," Dr. Salber says.

Equally shocking and innovative, this might be something that becomes more common practice in the future. And according to Dr. Salber, women may be able to not only use the menstrual blood for early detection, but be able to store the stem cells from it to help treat future diseases. Companies are working to commercialize the use of menstrual blood stem cells. One company, for example, is offering a patented service to store menstrual blood stem cells for use in tissue generation if the need arises."

See the original post:
What I Learned About Marriage as a Survivor of Abuse - SWAAY

When Marie Antoinette was captured during the French Revolution, her hair reportedly turned white overnight. In more recent history, John McCain experienced severe injuries as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War and lost color in his hair.

For a long time, anecdotes have connected stressful experiences with the phenomenon of hair graying. Now, for the first time, Harvard University scientists have discovered exactly how the process plays out: stress activates nerves that are part of the fight-or-flight response, which in turn cause permanent damage to pigment-regenerating stem cells in hair follicles.

The study, published in Nature, advances scientists knowledge of how stress can impact the body.

Everyone has an anecdote to share about how stress affects their body, particularly in their skin and hair the only tissues we can see from the outside, said senior author Ya-Chieh Hsu, the Alvin and Esta Star Associate Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard. We wanted to understand if this connection is true, and if so, how stress leads to changes in diverse tissues. Hair pigmentation is such an accessible and tractable system to start with and besides, we were genuinely curious to see if stress indeed leads to hair graying.

Narrowing down the culprit

Because stress affects the whole body, researchers first had to narrow down which body system was responsible for connecting stress to hair color. The team first hypothesized that stress causes an immune attack on pigment-producing cells. However, when mice lacking immune cells still showed hair graying, researchers turned to the hormone cortisol. But once more, it was a dead end.

Stress always elevates levels of the hormone cortisol in the body, so we thought that cortisol might play a role, Hsu said. But surprisingly, when we removed the adrenal gland from the mice so that they couldnt produce cortisol-like hormones, their hair still turned gray under stress.

After systematically eliminating different possibilities, researchers honed in on the sympathetic nerve system, which is responsible for the bodys fight-or-flight response.

Sympathetic nerves branch out into each hair follicle on the skin. The researchers found that stress causes these nerves to release the chemical norepinephrine, which gets taken up by nearby pigment-regenerating stem cells.

Permanent damage

In the hair follicle, certain stem cells act as a reservoir of pigment-producing cells. When hair regenerates, some of the stem cells convert into pigment-producing cells that color the hair.

Researchers found that the norepinephrine from sympathetic nerves causes the stem cells to activate excessively. The stem cells all convert into pigment-producing cells, prematurely depleting the reservoir.

When we started to study this, I expected that stress was bad for the body but the detrimental impact of stress that we discovered was beyond what I imagined, Hsu said. After just a few days, all of the pigment-regenerating stem cells were lost. Once theyre gone, you cant regenerate pigment anymore. The damage is permanent.

The finding underscores the negative side effects of an otherwise protective evolutionary response, the researchers said.

Acute stress, particularly the fight-or-flight response, has been traditionally viewed to be beneficial for an animals survival. But in this case, acute stress causes permanent depletion of stem cells, said postdoctoral fellow Bing Zhang, the lead author of the study.

Answering a fundamental question

To connect stress with hair graying, the researchers started with a whole-body response and progressively zoomed into individual organ systems, cell-to-cell interaction and, eventually, all the way down to molecular dynamics. The process required a variety of research tools along the way, including methods to manipulate organs, nerves, and cell receptors.

To go from the highest level to the smallest detail, we collaborated with many scientists across a wide range of disciplines, using a combination of different approaches to solve a very fundamental biological question, Zhang said.

The collaborators included Isaac Chiu, assistant professor of immunology at Harvard Medical School who studies the interplay between nervous and immune systems.

We know that peripheral neurons powerfully regulate organ function, blood vessels, and immunity, but less is known about how they regulate stem cells, Chiu said.

With this study, we now know that neurons can control stem cells and their function, and can explain how they interact at the cellular and molecular level to link stress with hair graying.

The findings can help illuminate the broader effects of stress on various organs and tissues. This understanding will pave the way for new studies that seek to modify or block the damaging effects of stress.

By understanding precisely how stress affects stem cells that regenerate pigment, weve laid the groundwork for understanding how stress affects other tissues and organs in the body, Hsu said. Understanding how our tissues change under stress is the first critical step towards eventual treatment that can halt or revert the detrimental impact of stress. We still have a lot to learn in this area.

The study was supported by the Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award, the Pew Charitable Trusts, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard/MIT Basic Neuroscience Grants Program, Harvard FAS and HMS Deans Award, American Cancer Society, NIH, the Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, and an HSCI junior faculty grant.

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Researchers uncover link between the nervous system - Tdnews

First patient with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) continues to show no detectable circulating tumor cells (CTC) or putative metastatic tumor cells after 15 weeks of treatment with leronlimab in combination with carboplatin

Second patient with stage 4 HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC) shows 50 percent shrinkage in the primary tumor and no new signs of metastasis in the brain after treatment with leronlimab as a monotherapy

VANCOUVER, Washington, Jan. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CytoDyn Inc. (CYDY), (CytoDyn or the Company"), a late-stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab (PRO 140), a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, announced today additional promising results from its clinical trials evaluating leronlimab for the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) and metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

New data from the first patient enrolled in the Companys metastatic triple-negative breast (mTNBC) Phase 1b/2 trial continues to show no detectable levels of circulating tumor cells (CTC) or putative metastatic cells in the peripheral blood following 15 weeks of treatment with leronlimab in combination with carboplatin.

The second patient, enrolled through an emergency investigational new drug (IND) with stage 4 HER2+ MBC that has metastasized to the liver, lung and brain, showed a 50 percent shrinkage of the primary tumor and no new metastasis in the brain after treatment with leronlimab as a monotherapy. The patient was previously treated with pertuzumab and trastuzumab for over a year and a half. This patient has been taking leronlimab since November 25, 2019 with one 700 mg dose each week.

Recent testing of the first patient demonstrated continued absence of CTCs in all blood tubes with only one cancer-associated macrophage like cells (CAMLs) in one of two tubes. In the second patient, the follow up brain scan conducted on January 17, 2020, showed that the largest brain lesion had a greater than 4-fold reduction in size, said Bruce Patterson, M.D., chief executive officer and founder of IncellDx, a diagnostic partner and an advisor to CytoDyn. Other smaller lesions on the second patients brain have not changed in size and cerebral edema remains at decreased levels since the last imaging studies. Taken together, these results suggest continued response of both primary and metastatic tumors to treatment with leronlimab for both the first and second patient.

Nader Pourhassan, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of CytoDyn, added: We are thrilled to see these additional data that further support leronlimab as a potential treatment option for patients with mTNBC and MBC. As a Company, we look forward to continuing our work in the oncology space and developing a potentially safe and effective treatment option for patients suffering from this deadly disease.

About Triple-Negative Breast CancerTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer characterized by the absence of the three most common types of receptors in the cancer tumor known to fuel most breast cancer growthestrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR) and the hormone epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) gene.1TNBC cancer occurs in about 10 to 20 percent of diagnosed breast cancers and can be more aggressive and more likely to spread and recur.2,3Since the triple negative tumor cells lack these receptors, common treatments for breast cancer such as hormone therapy and drugs that target estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 are ineffective.4Currently, there are no targeted therapies approved to treat triple negative breast cancer.5

About Leronlimab (PRO 140)The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have granted a Fast Track designation to CytoDyn for two potential indications of leronlimab for deadly diseases. The first as a combination therapy with HAART for HIV-infected patients and the second is for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Leronlimab is an investigational humanized IgG4 mAb that blocks CCR5, a cellular receptor that is important in HIV infection, tumor metastases, and other diseases including NASH. Leronlimab has successfully completed nine clinical trials in over 800 people, including meeting its primary endpoints in a pivotal Phase 3 trial (leronlimab in combination with standard anti-retroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients).

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In the setting of HIV/AIDS, leronlimab is a viral-entry inhibitor; it masks CCR5, thus protecting healthy T cells from viral infection by blocking the predominant HIV (R5) subtype from entering those cells. Leronlimab has been the subject of nine clinical trials, each of which demonstrated that leronlimab can significantly reduce or control HIV viral load in humans. The leronlimab antibody appears to be a powerful antiviral agent leading to potentially fewer side effects and less frequent dosing requirements compared with daily drug therapies currently in use.

In the setting of cancer, research has shown that CCR5 plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Increased CCR5 expression is an indicator of disease status in several cancers. Published studies have shown that blocking CCR5 can reduce tumor metastases in laboratory and animal models of aggressive breast and prostate cancer. Leronlimab reduced human breast cancer metastasis by more than 98% in a murine xenograft model. CytoDyn is therefore conducting aPhase 2 human clinical trial in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and was granted Fast Track designation in May 2019. Additional research is being conducted with leronlimab in the setting of cancer and NASH with plans to conduct additionalclinical studies when appropriate.

The CCR5 receptor appears to play a central role in modulating immune cell trafficking to sites of inflammation and may be important in the development of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and other inflammatory conditions. Clinical studies by others further support the concept that blocking CCR5 using a chemical inhibitor can reduce the clinical impact of acute GvHD without significantly affecting the engraftment of transplanted bone marrow stem cells. CytoDyn is currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical study with leronlimab to further support the concept that the CCR5 receptor on engrafted cells is critical for the development of acute GvHD and that blocking this receptor from recognizing certain immune signaling molecules is a viable approach to mitigating acute GvHD. The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to leronlimab for the prevention of GvHD.

About CytoDynCytoDyn is a biotechnology company developing innovative treatments for multiple therapeutic indications based on leronlimab, a novel humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the CCR5 receptor. CCR5 appears to play a key role in the ability of HIV to enter and infect healthy T-cells. The CCR5 receptor also appears to be implicated in tumor metastasis and in immune-mediated illnesses, such as GvHD and NASH. CytoDyn has successfully completed a Phase 3 pivotal trial with leronlimab in combination with standard anti-retroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients. CytoDyn plans to seek FDA approval for leronlimab in combination therapy and plans to complete the filing of a Biologics License Application (BLA) in 2019 for that indication. CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 3 investigative trial with leronlimab (PRO 140) as a once-weekly monotherapy for HIV-infected patients and, plans to initiate a registration-directed study of leronlimab monotherapy indication, which if successful, could support a label extension. Clinical results to date from multiple trials have shown that leronlimab (PRO 140) can significantly reduce viral burden in people infected with HIV with no reported drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs). Moreover, results from a Phase 2b clinical trial demonstrated that leronlimab monotherapy can prevent viral escape in HIV-infected patients, with some patients on leronlimab monotherapy remaining virally suppressed for more than four years. CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 2 trial to evaluate leronlimab for the prevention of GvHD and a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial with leronlimab in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. More information is at http://www.cytodyn.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press releasecontains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Words and expressions reflecting optimism, satisfaction or disappointment with current prospects, as well as words such as believes, hopes, intends, estimates, expects, projects, plans, anticipates and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The Companys forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and actual results could vary materially from those contained in or expressed by such statements due to risks and uncertainties including: (i)the sufficiency of the Companys cash position, (ii)the Companys ability to raise additional capital to fund its operations, (iii) the Companys ability to meet its debt obligations, if any, (iv)the Companys ability to enter into partnership or licensing arrangements with third parties, (v)the Companys ability to identify patients to enroll in its clinical trials in a timely fashion, (vi)the Companys ability to achieve approval of a marketable product, (vii)the design, implementation and conduct of the Companys clinical trials, (viii)the results of the Companys clinical trials, including the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results, (ix)the market for, and marketability of, any product that is approved, (x)the existence or development of vaccines, drugs, or other treatments that are viewed by medical professionals or patients as superior to the Companys products, (xi)regulatory initiatives, compliance with governmental regulations and the regulatory approval process, (xii)general economic and business conditions, (xiii)changes in foreign, political, and social conditions, and (xiv)various other matters, many of which are beyond the Companys control. The Company urges investors to consider specifically the various risk factors identified in its most recent Form10-K, and any risk factors or cautionary statements included in any subsequent Form10-Q or Form8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release.

CONTACTSMedia:Grace FotiadesLifeSci Communicationsgfotiades@lifescicomms.com (646) 876-5026

Investors: Nader Pourhassan, Ph.D.President & CEOnpourhassan@cytodyn.com

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Impressive Results Continue from CytoDyns Clinical Trials Evaluating Two Patients with Leronlimab, One in mTNBC and One in MBC - Yahoo Finance

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zhittya Genesis Medicine, Inc. (a private company) (Zhittya or the Company), has signed a $151.5 million USD international marketing partnership agreement with Regenerative Medicine of Latin America, Inc. for the exclusive rights to market and sell all biological drugs developed by Zhittya during a 30-year time period. The payments include an initial upfront payment valued at $76.5 million with the additional $75 million to be amortized through future milestone payments.

Zhittya is developing a family of biological drugs to treat diseases which are characterized by diminished blood flow, or perfusion, to specific tissues or organs. The diseases Zhittyas drugs are intended to treat address a variety of disorders and diseases, including: coronary heart disease, diabetic foot ulcers, stroke recovery, Parkinsons disease (PD), Alzheimers disease, and 14 additional major medical disorders characterized by insufficient blood perfusion.

According to the American Heart Associations 2019 Statistics at a Glance, heart disease is responsible for the death of approximately one out of three U.S. adults. In a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clinical trial, Zhittyas heart-specific drug treatment demonstrated a successful triggering of new blood vessel growth in a diseased heart. According to a 2017 report by the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 20 million people who suffer from heart disorders in Latin America alone, 80% of which suffer from a particularly notorious form called small vessel disease, a disease that only Zhittyas drug has been able to address; the standard forms of treatment for coronary artery disease, including bypass and stenting procedures, can only be performed on larger arteries.

Our portfolio of drugs seeks to address diseases which directly cause the suffering and even death of over 50% of all adults, said Zhittya CEO Daniel C. Montano. In addition to the territories covered by our existing partnerships in North America, Europe and China, Latin America is particularly impacted by heart disease due to a variety of health and environmental concerns in the region. This agreement with Regenerative Medicine of Latin America is another major step forward to treating heart disease in Latin America and globally. Going forward, we believe we are on the path to a number of other major medical breakthroughs to address even more diseases caused by a lack of blood perfusion.

Dr. Jack Jacobs, President of Zhittya Genesis Medicine, stated, Our drug currently being developed to treat Parkinsons disease has demonstrated encouraging results with impressive outcomes in preclinical models of Parkinsons disease in rodents and primates. This drug has the potential to be a disease modifying agent; in preclinical studies it was shown to reverse the decline and actually stimulate the regeneration of dopamine-producing neurons, the root cause of Parkinsons disease in patients. According to a recent report from the Cleveland Clinic, the incidence rate of Parkinsons disease per 100,000 people was highest in Hispanics. We believe our drug can have a tremendous impact in this region in addition to our existing partnerships both domestically and internationally.

Dr. Jacobs added, We have filed applications and are advancing through the approval process to initiate Phase I clinical trials in Mexico for Parkinsons disease. We are also pursuing a second medical indication for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is our goal to be in a position to begin dosing patients with Parkinsons disease and ALS by early 2020, which should enable us to learn if our drug has the same beneficial effects in humans as it demonstrated in animals. These clinical trials that will hopefully begin very soon in Mexico will drive intense attention and interest to Regenerative Medicine of Latin America.

About Zhittya Genesis MedicineZhittya Genesis Medicine, Inc. is advancing a group of drugs which trigger the human bodys natural regeneration process. Our medicine initiates a biological response in the human body referred to as therapeutic angiogenesis, which will only occur in diseased tissues that become ischemic due to a lack of blood flow. In those areas with insufficient blood flow, the drug stimulates growth of new blood vessels, providing nourishment and removing metabolic waste products, thereby re-establishing normal cellular functions. Heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetic foot ulcers are just some of the disorders the drugs can treat. Currently, over 75 human diseases are known to be caused by lack of blood flow to a tissue or organ. The Companys management has been working to advance its proprietary medicines for over 21 years and has expended in excess of $140 million USD to date in support of these efforts. To learn more, please visitzhittyaregenerativemedicine.com

About Regenerative Medicine of Latin AmericaRegenerative Medicine of Latin America, Inc. owns the 30-year exclusive rights to market and sell all drugs developed by Zhittya for the territories of Mexico and all Latin American countries south of Mexico. These areas encompass a population of over 600 million people. In addition to its vast population, Latin America also has some of the worlds highest rates of diabetes, heart disease, strokes and other diseases brought on by vascular dysfunction.

Zhittya Contact:

Daniel C. Montano, CEOZhittya Genesis Medicine, Inc.702-790-9980dan@zhittyamedicine.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Matt Glover and Tom ColtonGateway Investor Relations949-574-3860zhittya@gatewayir.com

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Zhittya Genesis Medicine Signs $151.5 Million Biopharmaceutical Marketing Partnership Agreement with Regenerative Medicine of Latin America - BioSpace