StemCell Therapy

Editors note: We are delighted to welcome Otangelo Grasso, a graduate of the Summer Seminar on Intelligent Design, as a contributor.

As journalist Carl Zimmer reported not long ago in the New York Times,Wired Bacteria Form Natures Power Grid: We Have an Electric Planet. Electroactive bacteria were running current through wires long before humans discovered electricity. Now that is worthy of note and analysis. How did they learn this very sophisticated trick?

In a tweet, Zimmer did not hide his amazement, admitting that that the discovery thatmicrobes build electric wires all over the world is mind-blowing. Though an outspoken advocate of unguided Darwinian evolution, Zimmer in his article did not explain how bacteria might have gotten that ability by evolutionary means.

Zimmer isnt the only one to confess his astonishment. Electroactive bacteria were unknown until 1993, when Derek Lovley at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst discovered and describedGeobactermetallireducens. As Lovley told New Scientist in 2010:

They grow biological wires to share energy in the form of electrons. I think its probably one ofthe most surprising things Ive seen working in microbiology. [Emphasis added.]

Some background on respiration may be helpful here. For advanced multicellular organisms, oxygen is essential to life. During aerobic respiration, it is the final acceptor of electrons in the electron transport chain. In anaerobic (non-oxygen breathing) respiration, on the other hand, as in some bacteria, a variety of acceptors other than oxygen exist. Such bacteria thus can survive without oxygen, which is good thing for them. Some bacteria grow in places where there is no oxygen, or too little oxygen for respiration, or where other chemicals that will do the job are more abundant. Indeed oxygen is poisonous to many bacteria. One group ofanaerobic bacteriaare electroactive. Living meters below the Earths surface, and even on the ocean floor, these bacteria are adapted to live in environments inhospitable to most other life forms.

Geobacterbacteria breathe using elements such as iron, sulfur, and uranium. They employ microbial nanowires that conduct electricity (as flowing electrons). Geobacter nanowires are filaments called pili, according to Wikipedia. Pili (plural of pilus) is Latin for hairs. These hairs are thin rod-like appendages, about 1/100,000 the width of a human hair.

Bacteria may have dozensof pili on their surfaces. Bacteria use pili for various functions, including adhesion to surfaces, DNA transfer, locomotion, and gliding. In the most fascinating case, that of electroactive bacteria, they make electrical connections with minerals.

According to another 2010 article in New Scientist:

Some researchers believe that bacteria in ocean sediments are connected by a network of microbial nanowires. These fine protein filaments could shuttle electrons back and forth, allowing communities of bacteria to act as one super-organism. Now Lars Peter Nielsen of Aarhus University in Denmark and his team have found tantalising evidence to support this controversial theory.The discovery has been almost magic,says Nielsen. It goes against everything we have learned so far.Microorganisms can live in electric symbiosis across great distances.Our understanding of what their life is like, what they can and cant do these are all things we have to think of in a different way now.

Specialized pili of the bacteriumGeobacter sulfurreducensconduct electrons from inside the cell to the iron external to the cell. The metal functions as the terminal electron acceptor for respiration. This, again, is in contrast to humans (and most animals, fungi, and plants) where the terminal electron acceptor is oxygen. In our case, during respiration, electrons are removed from oxidized fuels, such as hydrocarbons, or glucose, inside cells. Oxidation entails the loss of electrons. These electrons are then combined with oxygen, from the air you breathe. The oxygen is reduced to water, since reduction is the gain of electrons. Without a terminal electron acceptor, the flow of electrons stops. This means respiration stops, along with the supply of energy from fuels.

If the terminal electron acceptor is solid, like iron, then it cannot be easily imported into the cell. The solution is to leave it outside the cell and to send the electrons to it. The specialized pili conduct electrons from the respiratory system that is, the electron transport system required to make ATP, the energy currency in the cell to the final electron acceptor. Nanowires are among the smallest known electrical wires. And remember, they were doing their job long before humans discovered electricity.

The architecture involved in nanowires is anultracomplex, microtechnological marvel.Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Virginia made a significant advance in unraveling nanowire structure.Nanowires, it turns out, have a core of precisely stacked, ordered, and spaced metal-containing hemes (the active part of hemoglobin in red blood cells). These line up to create a continuous path along which electrons travel:

The technology [to understand nanowires] didnt exist until about five years ago, when advances in cryo-electron microscopy allowed high resolution, said [Edward H.] Egelman, of UVAs Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. We have one of these instruments here at UVA, and, therefore, the ability to actually understand at the atomic level the structure of these filaments. According to the report of his research, Scientists had believedGeobacter sulfurreducensconducted electricity through common, hair-like appendages called pili. Instead, a researcher at the School of Medicine and his collaborators have determined that the bacteria transmit electricity throughimmaculately ordered fibersmade of an entirely different protein. These proteins surround a core of metal-containing molecules, much like an electric cord contains metal wires. This nanowire, however, is 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

So Geobacter used highly specialized pili, rather than ordinary pili, to conduct electricity.

The UVA scientists published their results in the journal Cell. The technical details give a sense of the complexity involved:

G.sulfurreducensnanowires are assembled bymicrometer-longpolymerization of thehexahemecytochromeOmcS, with hemes packed within 3.56 [ 1 = 1010m] of each other. The inter-subunit interfaces show unique structural elements such as inter-subunit parallel-stacked hemes andaxial coordination of hemeby histidines fromneighboringsubunits. Wild-type OmcS filaments show100-fold greater conductivitythan other filaments from a DomcS strain, highlighting the importance of OmcS to conductivity in these nanowires. This structure explains theremarkable capacity of soil bacteria to transport electronsto remote electron acceptors for respiration and energy sharing.

Facing daunting technical problems, nature comes up with solutions that are in most cases far more advanced than those in equivalent devices made by man.For example, the journal Environmental Science, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, reports that some microbes can link with each other to form longer, living electrical cables that allow them to penetrate even deeper into oxygen-free areas. As researchers came to appreciate such ingenious innovations, biomimetics has become a growing field of scientific investigation. Nanowires, among the other wonders of biology, have much to teach us. As Derek Lovleyhas explained:

Microbial nanowires are arevolutionary electronic material with substantial advantages over man-made materials.Chemically synthesizing nanowires in the lab requires toxic chemicals, high temperatures and/or expensive metals. The energy requirements are enormous. By contrast,natural microbial nanowires can be mass-produced at room temperature from inexpensive renewable feedstocks in bioreactors with much lower energy inputs.And the final product is free of toxic components.

How electrons in this context are transported across long distances was unknown until the 1990s, after many physiological, biochemical, and electrochemical experiments. For electron transfer to work, the architecture ofG. sulfurreducenspili must be precisely arranged. As in other living systems, this order is only functional once it is fully set up. How unguided evolutionary mechanisms could produce such a system remains very unclear. One of the few papers to address the origin of electron-conductive pili makes the following claim:

The results suggest that e-pili ofGeobacter sulfurreducensand Geobacter metallireducens, and presumably close relatives, are a relatively recent evolutionary development.

But considerable nanotechnology is required to assemble these marvelous wires. The claim above is not accompanied by any detailed or convincing explanation of how this evolutionary development was accomplished.

Somehow,G.sulfurreducens know how to assemble molecules in their pili in an exact sequential and functional order. The steps involved require the assistance of many elements, including assembly chaperones.Whether these amazing pili can be explained by evolution, without recourse to intelligent design, is of course the key question. The irreducible precision of their construction, though, strongly suggests design. The wires require their several parts to be arranged in just the right way, ordered and stacked in the right sequence, to be able to conduct electrons. Several experiments have demonstrated that if this arrangement of the filaments is not exactly right, electron transfer is not possible.

So, where did nanowires come from? How did they arise? That is a question worth putting to Carl Zimmer.

Image: Nanowires, by Asw-hamburg [CC BY-SA 4.0],via Wikimedia Commons.

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Electroactive Bacteria: A Mind-Blowing Case of Intelligent Design - Discovery Institute

OPINION: Recently, there has been a shift in society's view of genetic modification and its potential applications in the fight against climate change. This has led to a call for changes in our current policies from farmers and MPs alike.However, due to the Green Party's current stance on this topic, New Zealand is unable to utilise genetic modification for anything that is not laboratory-based.

I am a member of the Emerging Scientists for Climate Action society, which involves students from universities all over New Zealand. We are writing an open letter to the Greens to encourage them to review their stance on genetic modification and the current laws and regulations around genetic engineering. Our overarching goal to tackle climate change aligns with the Greens, and they are in a position to make positive change. We have 155signatures from emerging scientists (aged under 30) in support.

Genetic modification is a controversial topic, and there is much misunderstandingabout its techniques and applications.Genetic modification (aka genetic engineering) uses gene editing technologies and knowledge of genetics to make changes in an organism for a specific outcome. For example, a plant could be genetically modified to grow bigger to produce a higher yield. There are many gene-editing techniques that can be utilised, which further adds to the misconceptions around its applications. There is warranted concern over the long-term impacts of manipulating organisms at the molecular level, however, does this mean that we should disregard genetic modification altogether?

READ MORE:* New Zealand's anti-science GMO laws need to change to tackle climate change* Gene-editing risks are still too great to warrant a change in the law* Time for a grown-up conversation about gene editing

Our laws and regulations around genetic modification were established in 2001 and fall under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. That lawregulates research and release of all living things that do not already exist in New Zealand, including those that are genetically modified. However, these regulations have not accounted for the rapid advances in gene editing technology over the last decade, leaving New Zealand behind in the biotechnological sector. The calls for law changes come from all over New Zealand, including government agents such as Professor Juliet Gerrard, the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor. Current legal and regulatory frameworks are struggling to keep up with current technologies.

The focus on genetic modification has largely been on food production, such as pesticide-resistant crops and increased growth for higher crop yields. But the scope of genetic engineering expands far beyond this. Genetic engineering techniques have many benefits,including to mitigate the effects of climate change. For example, there has been research into genetically modifying plants to sequester more carbon from the environment, which would assist with lowering rising temperatures.

SUPPLIED

Deborah PaullPostgraduate student - Masters of Science in Microbiology, at the University of Canterbury.

I have been working on projects involving genetic modification, specifically, around genetically modifying milk proteins to reduce the allergenicity. The goal is to produce these proteins through a cellular-agriculture based system that can produce milk products in a more sustainable fashion in comparison to current methods. When discussing this project with people within the dairy industry, the overall remark is that it's a great idea but it will never be produced in New Zealand. It is disheartening to see that the potential benefits of using technology such as this to address climate change hasn't been considered due to our laws.

But it is now 2019, and we have advanced our technology and understanding of genetics in ways we couldn't have imagined. A new generation of emerging scientists has new values and ethical drives, especially focused on preserving our planet for future generations. To mitigate the effects of climate change, we need new and optimised technologies, such as genetic engineering. This is a practical action that could be implemented through highly controlled policy.

It is time to reframe the conversation around genetic modificationIf we hope to reach the carbon neutral targets set in the UN by 2050 while meeting the demands of the increasing population in a sustainable fashion, this is a conversation that we need to have now. The Royal Society has started this discussion, identifying the cultural values involved with using genetic engineering technologies but emphasisinghow New Zealand needs to shift its current view of this technology.

The goal is not to be carelessly modifying organisms for the benefit of a few -it is to utilise knowledge and technology so that as a country we can take a step forward. New Zealand is a world leader in green agricultural technologies. As a forward-thinking country, let's break the stigma surrounding genetic modification and create a better future for ourselves and the generations to come.

DeborahPaullis studying for aMasters of Science in Microbiologyat the University of Canterbury.

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Time to break the stigma on genetic modification, for the sake of the climate - Stuff.co.nz

Scientists at theHudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnologyhave pinpointed epigenetic differences in the way lupus affects black women compared to other lupus patients, revealing important mechanics of the puzzling disease. Epidemiologists have identified that lupus impacts black women with greater frequency and severity than other populations. Scientists inDevin Absher's Labat HudsonAlpha published findings in August showing that increased risk and harm to lupus patients can be linked to epigenetic differences--essentially, the degree to which certain genes are functioning.

The finding, published inArthritis & Rheumatology, helps create a more complete understanding of an often misunderstood disease, revealing some of the mechanisms that contribute to it. It also reveals a gap in genetic research, highlighting the lack of information scientists have regarding racial differences on the genetic level.

Devastating Disease

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. It causes symptoms that are often difficult to quantify, including fatigue and extreme joint pain.

Lupus is one of the most historically chronicled diseases, having first been documented by Socrates in 400 BC. The disease gets its name from a common rash that forms on the face which is said to resemble the markings of wolves, hence the latin name "lupus" meaning wolf.

There are more than 200,000 cases of lupus in the US every year, yet there is no universally accepted cause or cure. The disease is chronic, meaning it can last for years or even an entire lifetime.

Megan Breitbach, PhD, is the lead author on the paper. She notes, "The diagnostic process can also prove long and tedious, because the symptoms come and go and often can only be observed through patient description."

"On average," she adds, "it takes six years to diagnose someone with lupus."

While treatment can help manage lupus, the condition cannot be cured. Instead, patients and their physicians try to address symptoms and take the edge off flare-ups.

Molecular Differences

While the disease on the whole remains a mystery, scientists hope to find some answers in the ways that the condition affects different populations. In the United States, lupus has a much higher prevalence in non-white populations. In fact, lupus is the 5th leading cause of death for black women ages 15-24.

Ancestry can dramatically impact disease genetics, so understanding why the disease affects populations differently could go a long way toward telling us what genetic factors play a part in developing the condition.

In the case of lupus, the body's immune B cells function distinctive epigenetic signatures of the disease are found in B cells, which are part of the immune system. The analysis performed by the Absher Lab revealed lupus-specific differences in methylation throughout B cell development between black and white women.

Methylation changes can alter the degree to which a stretch of DNA functions without changing the genetic code itself. This research shows the most significant changes in methylation occur around genes related to Interferons, which are proteins that regulate immune response.

These differences in B cell development could help explain the more severe symptoms and earlier age of onset for lupus in black women.

"What we found," explains Devin Absher, PhD, "was that there are a number of methylation changes we can link to lupus. When you isolate them, you see that the changes are far greater in black women. The population differences could be key to a more complete understanding of the disease on the whole."

Gaps in Understanding

The genetic gap between these two groups of patients with lupus illustrates a broader gap in knowledge. One key limitation of genetics stems from a lack of diverse data, which hurts all populations.

Disease genetics frequently relies on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to link genes with various health conditions. However the most recent aggregations of GWAS show nearly 88% of participants come from European ancestry. These eurocentric results can make it harder to identify genetic components of diseases that disproportionately affect underrepresented populations.

A lack of diversity in genetic research slows progress across the board. The unique genetic factories of all kinds of ancestry can help us better understand the human genome and even find potential ways to share the benefits of natural resistance. For example, Americans of African descent were found to have mutations on their PCSK9 genes which led to lower levels of cholesterol in their bloodstream. With that information, researchers developed PCSK9 inhibitors to lower cholesterol and heart disease risk across ancestries.

This lupus research from the Devin Absher Lab further illustrates the importance of understanding racial diversity when examining genetic components for diseases.

Absher is involved in a number of efforts to drive greater diversity in genetic research, including the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative, which aims to bring the value of genetic sequencing to diverse populations across the state.

The Way Forward

This lupus research helps open the door for future exploration of methylation around Interferon sites as it relates to the disease. However, the finding is only possible because of an active consideration of the value of diversity in genetic research. HudsonAlpha remains dedicated to bringing the value of genomics to all, as a diverse approach to research opens doors that would otherwise remain closed.

2018 NatureWorldNews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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Lupus Study Illustrates the Importance of Diversity in Genetic Research - Nature World News

MPST gene expression (which leads to hydrogen sulphide production) was higher in postmortem brains from people with schizophrenia than in those from unaffected people. MPST protein levels in these brains also correlated well with the severity of premortem symptoms. Credit: RIKEN

Working with model mice, post-mortem human brains, and people with schizophrenia, researchers at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan have discovered that a subtype of schizophrenia is related to abnormally high levels hydrogen sulfide in the brain. Experiments showed that this abnormality likely results from a DNA-modifying reaction during development that lasts throughout life. In addition to providing a new direction for research into drug therapies, higher than normal levels of the hydrogen sulfide-producing enzyme can act as a biomarker for this type of schizophrenia.

Diagnosing disorders of thought is easier when a reliable and objective marker can be found. In the case of schizophrenia, we have known for more than 30 years that it is associated with an abnormal startle response. Normally, we are not startled as much by a burst of noise if a smaller burstcalled a prepulsecomes a little bit earlier. This phenomenon is called prepulse inhibition (PPI) because the early pulse inhibits the startle response. In people with schizophrenia, PPI is lowed, meaning that their startle response is not dampened as much as it should be after the prepulse.

The PPI test is a good behavioral marker, and although it cannot directly help us understand the biology behind schizophrenia, it was the starting point that led to current discoveries.

The researchers at RIKEN CBS began first looked for differences in protein expression between strains of mice that exhibit extremely low or extremely high PPI. Ultimately, they found that the enzyme Mpst was expressed much more in the brains of the mouse strain with low PPI than in the strain with high PPI. Knowing that this enzyme helps produce hydrogen sulfide, the team then measured hydrogen sulfide levels and found that they were higher in the low-PPI mice.

Nobody has ever thought about a causal link between hydrogen sulfide and schizophrenia, says team leader Takeo Toshikawa. Once we discovered this, we had to figure out how it happens and if these findings in mice would hold true for people with schizophrenia.

First, to be sure that Mpst was the culprit, the researchers created an Mpst knockout version of the low-PPI mice and showed that their PPI was higher than that in regular low-PPI mice. Thus, reducing the amount of Mpst helped the mice become more normal. Next, they found that MPST gene expression was indeed higher in postmortem brains from people with schizophrenia than in those from unaffected people. MPST protein levels in these brains also correlated well with the severity of premortem symptoms.

Now the team had enough information to look at MPST expression as a biomarker for schizophrenia. They examined hair follicles from more than 150 people with schizophrenia and found that expression of MPST mRNA was much higher than people without schizophrenia. Even though the results were not perfectindicating that sulfide stress does not account for all cases of schizophreniaMPST levels in hair could be a good biomarker for schizophrenia before other symptoms appear.

Whether a person develops schizophrenia is related to both their genetics and the environment. Testing in mice and postmortem brains indicated that high MPST levels were associated with changes in DNA that lead to permanently altered gene expression. So, the next step was for the team to search for environmental factors that could result in permanently increased MPST production.

Because hydrogen sulfide can actually protect against inflammatory stress, the group hypothesized that inflammatory stress during early development might be the root cause. We found that anti-oxidative markersincluding the production of hydrogen sulfidethat compensate against oxidative stress and neuroinflammation during brain development were correlated with MPST levels in the brains of people with schizophrenia, says Yoshikawa.

He proposes that once excess hydrogen sulfide production is primed, it persists throughout life due to permanent epigenetic changes to DNA, leading to sulfide stress induced schizophrenia.

Current treatments for schizophrenia focus on the dopamine and serotonin system in the brain. Because these drugs are not very effective and have side effects, Yoshikawa says that pharmaceutical companies have abandoned the development of new drugs. A new paradigm is needed for the development of novel drugs, he explains. Currently, about 30% of patients with schizophrenia are resistant to dopamine D2-receptor antagonist therapy. Our results provide a new principle or paradigm for designing drugs, and we are currently testing whether inhibiting the synthesis of hydrogen sulfide can alleviate symptoms in mouse models of schizophrenia.

###

This study was published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine today, October 28, 2019.

Reference: Excess hydrogen sulfide and polysulfides production underlies a schizophrenia pathophysiology by Masayuki Ide, Tetsuo Ohnishi, Manabu Toyoshima, Shabeesh Balan, Motoko Maekawa, Chie Shimamoto-Mitsuyama, Yoshimi Iwayama, Hisako Ohba, Akiko Watanabe, Takashi Ishii, Norihiro Shibuya, Yuka Kimura, Yasuko Hisano, Yui Murata, Tomonori Hara, Momo Morikawa, Kenji Hashimoto, Yayoi Nozaki, Tomoko Toyota, Yuina Wada, Yosuke Tanaka, Tadafumi Kato, Akinori Nishi, Shigeyoshi Fujisawa, Hideyuki Okano, Masanari Itokawa, Nobutaka Hirokawa, Yasuto Kunii, Akiyoshi Kakita, Hirooki Yabe, Kazuya Iwamoto, Kohji Meno, Takuya Katagiri, Brian Dean, Kazuhiko Uchida, Hideo Kimura and Takeo Yoshikawa, 28 October 2019, EMBO Molecular Medicine.DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201910695

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Discovery Leads to Schizophrenia Biomarker and New Insights on Cause and Treatment - SciTechDaily

Imagine youre a smiley-faced, feathery-gilled Mexican salamander called an axolotl. Youve just been born, along with hundreds of brothers and sisters. But salamanders like you live in the wild only in one lake near Mexico City, and that habitat isnt big enough for all of you. Theres not enough food. Only the strongest can survive. What do you do?

If youre an axolotl, you have two choiceseat your siblings arms, or have your arms eaten.

But even if you are the unfortunate victim of this sibling violence, not all hope is lost. In a few months, youll grow a whole new armbones, muscle, skin, nerves and all.

Its pretty gruesome, but cannibalism is a possible reason why they grow their arms back, says associate biology professor James Monaghan. His lab studies regeneration in axolotls, a peculiar species that can grow back limbs and other organs to various degrees.

When an injury occurs, some cues are released in that animal that tells cells near the injury to go from a resting state into a regenerative state, Monaghan says.

His lab is trying to figure out what those cues are, and how we might induce that response in humans, who have very limited regenerative abilities.

Humans are notoriously bad at regenerating, Monaghan says. After were done growing, the genes that tell our cells to grow new organs are turned off.

Thats a good thing because otherwise itd be chaos, he says. No one wants to spontaneously grow an extra finger.

Axolotls can turn back on those genes that we turn off permanently, Monaghan says.

Understanding the specific mechanisms that induce regenerative responses in axolotls is no small task since axolotls have the largest genome ever sequenced.

So far, the lab has identified one molecule, neuregulin-1, which is essential for regeneration of limbs, lungs, and possibly hearts.

When we removed it, regeneration stopped. And when we added it back in, it induced the regenerative response, Monaghan says. Im not saying its a golden bullet for inducing regeneration in humans, too, but it could be part of the puzzle.

A lot of researchers study limb regeneration in axolotls. But Monaghans lab is interested in extending this research to other organs, as well.

When you think of the human condition, most of our issues with disease are with internal organs, Monaghan says.

Take retina regeneration, for example. Monaghan says we can either learn the process axolotls undergo that allows their specialized cells to return back to developmental cells, and then mimic that process in human eyes. Or, we can learn which elements of the axolotl enable their cells to behave this way, and then add those elements to human stem cell therapy.

To test the latter, Monaghan has teamed up with a Northeastern associate professor of chemical engineering, Rebecca Carrier, and her lab to figure out the best way to transplant mammalian retinal cells using molecules found in the axolotl.

In the experiment, Monaghan and Carrier used pig eyes, which are similar to human eyes. When they transplanted stem cells from the retina of one pig into the retina of another, 99 percent of the transplanted cells died. Somethings missing, Monaghan says. The cells dont have the right cues.

But when Carrier and Monaghan injected those same pig stem cells into the axolotl eye, fewer cells died. They were much happier, Monaghan says. Theres something in the axolotl retina that the mammalian cells like.

One reason axolotls are so good at receiving transplants is because, unlike humans, they dont have a learned immune system, meaning they cant distinguish between themselves and foreign entities.

Its really easy to do grafts between animals because the axolotls cant tell that the new tissue isnt theirs, he says. They dont reject it like we might.

An obvious example of this can be seen in axolotls that are genetically modified with a green fluorescent protein found in jellyfish. These naturally white axolotls glow neon green in certain lighting.

With this we can ask really basic questions, like do cells change their fate when they participate in regeneration? Monaghan says.

For example, if Monaghan grafts muscle tissue from a green fluorescent animal onto a white axolotl and then that axolotl regenerates, does the axolotl grow green muscle? Do its bones glow green, too? What about its skin?

Researchers have found, however, that cells dont actually change. Green muscle yields green muscle only.

The axolotl isnt the only animal that can regrow organs. Starfish, worms, frogs, and other species of salamanders can also regenerate. But axolotls are special because, unlike other animals, they can regrow organs that are just as robust as the originals, no matter how old they get.

For example, tadpoles can regenerate limbs. But once they undergo metamorphosis and become frogs, they can only regrow a spike, Monaghan says. They lose the ability to grow back their digits.

The axolotls ability to fully regrow organs, even as it ages, could be partially due to its perpetual juvenile state. Axolotls, unlike most other amphibians, dont undergo metamorphosis naturally, which means they never technically reach adulthood, even though they can reproduce. This condition is called neoteny.

Axolotls come from a species that used to walk on land, Monaghan says. They do have legs, after all. But some mutation occurred that keeps them in the lake and from reaching adulthood.

To test whether their neotenic state is responsible for their ability to regenerate, Monaghan took a group of axolotl siblings and induced metamorphosis in one half by exposing them to thyroid hormones, a chemical that flips on the maturity switch in these amphibians. The other half was kept in the juvenile state.

In the experiment, the juveniles regenerated normally, but all of their adult siblings regenerated slower than usual, and had deformities in their regrown limbs.

There is some association with neoteny and the ability to regenerate, Monaghan says. But its not the main factor.

That main factor is yet to be discovered. But even though some of this might sound like science fiction, you already made an arm once, Monaghan says. If we could just learn how to turn back on those programs, our bodies might do the rest of the work.

For media inquiries, please contact media@northeastern.edu.

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Meet the axolotl: A cannibalistic salamander that regenerates its limbs and might help us better understand human stem cell therapy -...

A new antiviral drug that induces mutations in the genetic material of influenza virus is highly effective in treating influenza infection in animals and human airway tissue and could be a groundbreaking advance in influenza therapy, according to a study by theInstitute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.

The antiviral drug blocks RNA polymerase, the enzyme that plays a central role in replicating the genome of influenza virus, causing mutations in the viral genome. If enough mutations occur, the genome becomes nonfunctional and the virus cannot replicate. The findings were published online on Oct. 23 inScience Translational Medicine.

The compound is highly efficacious against influenza, said Dr. Richard Plemper, senior author of the study and a professor in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences. Its orally available, its broad spectrum against all influenza virus strains tested, and most important it establishes a high barrier against viral escape from inhibition.

Influenza, caused by a contagious respiratory virus, is characterized by fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise, sore throat and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients in higher risk groups, such as older adults and individuals with compromised immune systems, frequently require hospitalization. Each year, seasonal influenza results in 30,000 to 80,000 fatalities in the United States. The seasonal flu vaccine is only moderately effective, and licensed antivirals are compromised by rapidly emerging viral resistance to the drugs.

In the study, the new antiviral drug was tested in ferrets, the most informative animal model for human influenza disease, against various strains that include seasonal and pandemic viruses, such as the swine-origin influenza virus responsible for a 2009 pandemic. The researchers found that the antiviral drug efficiently inhibited replication of all of these strains. Virus burden dropped rapidly after treatment, and the duration of fever was significantly shorter in treated ferrets than in control animals that did not receive the drug.

We think that the next generation of influenza antiviral drugs must not only be efficacious and safe, but also address the resistance problem, said Dr. Mart Toots, first author of the study and a research assistant professor associated with Dr. Plempers lab in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences.

That is where the new drug comes in. Through a combination of conventional and ultra-deep sequencing, Toots has demonstrated in collaboration with Dr. Alex Greninger at the University of Washington that it is very challenging for the virus to find a viable way to avoid the compound.

We have not identified specific resistance mutations yet and are confident to say that the genetic barrier against viral resistance is high, Plemper said. We believe that this compound has high clinical potential as a next-generation influenza drug that combines key antiviral features.

Reference: Toots, et al. (2019) Characterization of orally efficacious influenza drug with high resistance barrier in ferrets and human airway epithelia. Science Translational Medicine DOI:10.1126/scitranslmed.aax5866

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Drug Induces Mutations in Genetic Material of the Influenza Virus - Technology Networks

At mbg, we're no strangers to the benefits of functional medicine. Nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress levels, relationships, and genetics are all major contributors to chronic disease, and sometimes piling medication upon medication just won't cut it.

While we're not suggesting you skip out on your routine checkups, it's becoming increasingly popularcrucial, evenfor people to start thinking about the ways lifestyle factors can influence and help treat disease.

In fact, there's a new study (the first ofits kind, no less!) to actually show how a functional medicine model can provide unique health benefits for patients. What researchers found was that functional medicine can yield a greater quality of life compared to the standard, primary care model of medicine.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, analyzed two groups of patients for two years: 1,595 patients treated at Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine and 5,657 patients treated at a primary care health center. To assess each patient's quality of life, researchers used the PROMIS questionnaire, a validated measure by the NIH. This questionnaire assesses patients' global physical and mental health through factors such as fatigue, physical function, pain, gastrointestinal issues, and emotional well-being.

In as little as six months, they saw around 31% of functional medicine patients improve their PROMIS global physical health scores by 5 points or more, an improvement that has a very noticeable effect on daily life, according to the study. Only 22% of primary care patients were able to raise their scores this high.

There are a variety of reasons why functional medicine could have helped raise these patients' scores. Researchers believe that in addition to the holistic, functional medicine model itself, the types of patients seeking functional medicine and whether or not they believe in this model of care could have contributed to these global physical health improvements. While future research is needed to address these concerns, it's exciting that people are now starting to recognize functional medicine as deserving of these evidence-based experiments.

"This is a first-of-its-kind study to evaluate the impact of functional medicine model of care on patients' health-related quality of life," leader of the study Michelle Beidelschies, Ph.D., agrees. "In the past, evidence to support the model has been primarily anecdotal, published as case reports."

What's even more interesting about this study is that the sample of primary care patients actually had a higher median income than the functional medicine group. It speaks to the significant benefits of the functional medicine model that despite these patients' higher financial status, they still had a lower quality of life than the Cleveland Clinic group.

Perhaps these results can inspire even the most traditional of physicians to include integrative medicine into their practiceor, at the very least, allow them to regard functional medicine as a legitimate health care model.

"Functional medicine practitioners have suggested that their patients are improving with a systems-based approach to chronic disease,"Beidelschies says. "Now, they have evidence that their approach is associated with improved quality of life."

With respect to Beidelschies and this new study, it looks like holistic healing is truly becoming a practical measure for patient care. In this case, soul really is meeting science.

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Functional Medicine Linked To A Higher Quality Of Life, New Study Finds - mindbodygreen.com

The fundraising goal for the University of Arizona Foundation was reached yet again this year, making it the second year in a row to break the record for philanthropic donations to the university.

The foundation, in support of the UA, raised $334.6 million during the 2019 fiscal year, according to a university press release. This is an increase of over $17 million from last years total of $317 million.

John-Paul Roczniak, the president and CEO of the UA Foundation as well as the vice president of development at the UA, said he is very grateful for all the support from alumni and friends.

We have a very dedicated group of donors who care about the institution, Roczniak said. We have a president who is inspiring people to give more.

Two large donations were made by Dr. Andrew Weil and James Wyant, esteemed UA faculty members who have established positions at the university in integrative medicine and optical sciences.

Weil contributed $15 million as well as a $5 million gift for the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and established the Andrew Weil Endowed Chair for Research in Integrative Medicine.

David Hahn, dean of the College of Engineering, recognized how integral endowed chairs are in keeping top-notch faculty members working at the university.

What chairs allow you to do is attract and retain the best, absolutely world-class faculty, Hahn said.

Hahn stated that the endowed chairs provide resources to faculty members to invest in research and education, while also adding a level of prestige.

Wyant and his family committed $20 million for a minimum of 10 endowed chairs to recruit more distinguished faculty members. James Wyant is the founding dean and professor emeritus of the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences.

The number of donors was a record year for us, Roczniak said. People gave at every level.

The foundations board members laid out a specific plan laid so that alumni and other donors can get a better idea of what exactly their money will go toward.

The strategic plan has laid out a vision that people are excited about, Roczniak said. Weve been able to make some really good things happen.

David Hahn agreed that the focused vision of the university has allowed people to see a clearer picture of the future.

People want to invest in a plan and a vision to make the University of Arizona better, Hahn said.

The scope of what the UA Foundation works to beneift is very wide, with multiple different areas receiving funding. Roczniak said that the endowment funds scholarships, faculty chairs, programs and capital projects.

Pick a corner of the institution and I can guarantee you theres gifts that support it, Roczniak said.

The endowment not only goes toward improvements on campus and faculty, but also keeping the UA Foundation stocked with the best representatives.

Weve been able to hire more development officers to meet with alumni, parents and friends to see if theyre interested in giving, Roczniak said.

Within the past year, the UA was commended for their fundraising with an Educational Fundraising Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Specific colleges such as the College of Engineering plan to use some of the grant money for improving their program. Starting with the students helps the university be hands-on in their giving.

For engineering, what were really going to do with these resources is bring the concept of engineering design throughout our entire program, Hahn said.

The record number of scholarships and renovations made to the Albert B. Weaver Science-Engineering Library are certainly noticeable to students, and the university hopes to keep making these improvements to benefit the campus.

The goal is always to do more, Roczniak said. One of the big pushes for this year is pillar one of the strategic plan, which is all about the wildcat journey and student success.

The UA Foundation will host an event on Nov. 1 on campus about a new program being launched to support students through finding scholarships and affordable housing. Creating new opportunities to help students find the resources they need is immensely important to the foundation.

Helping students directly through the endowment will not only make noticeable improvements, but also encourage others to donate more in the future.

We are really going to focus on the student aspect of fundraising next year, Roczniak said. We are forever grateful to our donors and whoever gives back to our university.

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UA Foundation beats their fundraising record - Arizona Daily Wildcat

True Food Kitchen has opened its first Miami-area restaurant at the Falls.

The health-driven restaurant has replaced the former T.G.I.Friday's and occupies more than 10,000 square feet with an indoor dining room, a patio, and a bar.

"At True Food Kitchen, we believe that every ingredient matters in everything we serve," True Food Kitchen brand chef Robert McCormick says.

True Food Kitchen was bornin Phoenix, Arizona, in 2008 when cofounder Dr. Andrew Weil didnt want to sacrifice flavor for the sake of healthy eating. The Harvard-trained Weil made a name for himself by embracing alternative medicine techniques. The doctor and author is known for books such as The Natural Mind: An Investigation of Drugs and the Higher Consciousness. The prolific doctor also hosts a podcast and sells skincare products and wild-caught seafood on drweil.com.

The integrative medicine doctor wanted to create a restaurant that served food people could enjoy and not regret eating.Eleven years later, there are 28 locations in 17 states, including New York, Louisiana, Colorado, and California. The Falls outpost marks the seventh True Food Kitchen in Florida, with other locations in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tampa, Naples, and Jacksonville.

The entire menuis based on Weil's anti-inflammatory food pyramid, which stresses eating more fruits and vegetables and minimizing the consumption of processed foods. The menu offers dishesfilled with whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and limited carbohydrates. "Anti-inflammatory is a lifestyle," says Christine Ferris, senior marketing brand manager for True Food Kitchen.

Each menu item avoids causing the fatigue, bloating, and loss of energy that certain meals create, Ferris says. Even the higher-calorie items on True Food's menu, such as desserts and alcoholic beverages, should be enjoyed without any guilt, according to Ferris.

The menu also changes with the seasons."We change our menu quarterly because it allows us to showcase seasonal ingredients that are nutrient-dense and at the peak of their freshness and flavor, McCormick says. Most items are vegetarian, although chicken, seafood, and even steak are offered. All dishes can also be made gluten-free and can be customized for a particular diet.

True Food Kitchen has incorporated sea buckthorn an orange-red berry into its fall menu. The plant is used in some of the bar's drinks, from the antioxidant mimosa, infused with the berry, cava, honey, and pomegranate, to a ginger margarita ($12), made with ginger liqueur, organic reposado tequila, and honey.

"From nutrient-dense staples and carefully sourced proteins to little-known superfoods, we use the most responsible, creative, in-season ingredients we can find," McCormick says.

The menu includes permanent dishes too. The ancient grain bowl ($14) reflects each level of the anti-inflammatory pyramid by including miso-glazed sweet potato, house-made cilantro paste, turmeric, grilled portobello mushrooms, avocado, and hemp seed. Edamame dumplings, made with dashi and white truffle oil, are another staple on the menu.

The bar also serves organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wines, along with a wide selection of beers.

Ferris says the restaurant localizes its bright and approachable atmosphere by adding local artwork to embody Miamis culture. You will feel the energy when you walk in."

True Food Kitchen is an exciting addition to the shopping center, says the Falls' manager, Dailen Rodriguez. "The community is very wellness-aware, making the restaurant a great fit for our customers."

True Food Kitchen at the Falls. 8888 SW 136th St., Miami; truefoodkitchen.com.Monday through Saturday10 a.m. to 9 p.m.,Sundaynoon to 7 p.m.

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Dr. Andrew Weil's True Food Kitchen Opening in Miami at the Falls Mall in South Miami-Dade - Miami New Times

TahoeLand: Bad News, Bears

In summer 2019, CapRadio examined the impact of climate change on one of Northern Californias geographical gems: Lake Tahoe. In the podcast TahoeLand, reporter Ezra David Romero explores how climate change will affect Tahoes color, snowpack, fire season and wildlife.

Episode 4 takes a look at how the changing climate will impact bears. Bears in Tahoe are also hibernating less if at all. Its not just black bears feeling the impact of climate change polar bears, grizzlies and other bears around the world are at risk.

This episode will also look at the ways humans do, or do not, keep bears out of our garbage. Peoples leftovers and waste lead to more human-bear interactions, which is ultimately bad news for bears.

When a few wild animals were injured in California wildfires, it was a chance for doctors to take an innovative approach to recovery and pain management. To help heal the paws of two bears and a mountain lion cub, veterinarians turned to another animal: tilapia.

Dr. Jamie Peyton is the associate director at the UC Davis Center for Advancing Pain Relief and Chief of Integrative Medicine Service at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. She and her team designed biologic bandages using fish skin, honey, oils and beeswax. She partnered with Dr. Deanna Clifford, a senior wildlife veterinarian for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigations Lab, to pioneer this technique and track its success.

Both veterinary doctors joined Insight in January 2018 to discuss this innovative therapy.

Engineering Eden is the title of a book by Northern California writer Jordan Fisher Smith that takes a deep dive into the United States history of attempting to manage nature.

The book centers on the story of Harry Walker, a man who was killed by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park as the park celebrated its centennial anniversary. That was in 1972 and, as Smith discovered in his research, a 1975 civil trial in Los Angeles followed. That trial became a proxy for the larger issue of wilderness management and the conflicting approaches at the time.

The author examines the process of people moving into the vast territory of wild animals, the new science that would be needed for the management of the land and the tragic details of Harry Walkers death.

Smith joined Insight in September 2016 to discuss and highlight parts of that book. Engineering Eden is now out in paperback.

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Bears of Tahoe / Bears with Bandages / Yellowstone Bears - Capital Public Radio News

I had no downtimeI hopped on the subway ideal right after, went to perform, and did almost everything as standard. There was slight redness from the acupuncture and some puffiness all around the injection internet sites but nothing at all that was way too distracting or embarrassing to be observed in public. (Ive heard anecdotally that gals who get the microneedling edition experience more redness and swelling.)

And then the future working day I woke up to the ideal my pores and skin has looked given that, effectively, I cant tell you how lengthy. I have only recently developed out of a decadelong struggle with zits (I still get flare-ups and breakouts), and it really is remaining me some texture and tone concerns. It really is genuinely practically nothing so important that would result in me any duress, but its some thing that I discover about my skin. I see it predominantly all around my cheeks, chin, and mouth: There is certainly the subtlest hint of rolling scars, pigmentation issues, and slight uneven texture total. (I will say that most outsiders likely wouldnt characterize me as possessing acne scars, as I have been diligent with my publish-zits pores and skin treatment and then blur the relaxation with make-up, but it continue to quite substantially annoys me.) It also worried me heading forward pores and skin loses firmness as you get more mature, and any texture issue you develop when you are youthful tends to get even worse. I was nervous that if I experienced these dents now, even if they had been smallwhat would they appear like in 10, 20, 30 decades?

And almost overnight, these indented areas had stuffed out it was the smoothest my pores and skin had at any time been because my initial breakout decades and yrs in the past. To be sincere, I wasnt rather well prepared for it to handle my pimples scarring as well as it did, but board-accredited dermatologist Kiera Barr, M.D., formerly talked about to me that it was becoming employed for healing a variety of pimples scar tissue styles.

Weirdly, what I seen as the most important variance had almost nothing to do with appearances. When I washed my face, I could feel the texture alter: It was plush and tight. The small intricacies of my skin, the ones that you only notice if you contact it day in and day out, felt easy, and the in general high-quality experienced improved.

In the coming days, the skin only enhanced. Firshein tells me that benefits build in excess of time, even though it will probable get started to plateau inevitably. The positive aspects can very last up to 15 months.

Excerpt from:
What Are PRP Injections & Acupuncture? I Analyzed The Integrative Therapy - asume tech

Cancer coaches make the disease and survivorship more manageable with goal-oriented plans.

As she recovered and prepared for weeks of alternating radiation therapy and chemotherapy, Gendreau searched for online support groups and information about novel treatments. My medical care team was great, but I didnt feel like they had the time to sit with me, answer questions, explain alternative or complementary therapies or help me discern what my future might look like, Gendreau says. The hospital had a wall plastered with brochures, but I needed more one-on-one engagement and direction. Early on, it became clear that it was primarily my responsibility to research new studies, alternative therapies and potential clinical trials all while I was still recovering from brain surgery.

In her search for answers and resources, Gendreau stumbled onto the webpage for cancer coach Jeannine Walston. I didnt know that cancer coaches existed, Gendreau says. But when I read Walstons story and saw her credentials, I knew she was the person who could help me navigate this confusing new world I was now living in.

In 1998, at age 24, Walston learned she had a rare type of cancerous brain tumor, oligoastrocytoma. Over the past two decades, she has undergone three brain surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, clinical trials and integrative cancer therapies, even venturing overseas for treatments. Walstons diagnosis changed the trajectory of her life. She embarked on a cancer-focused career path, working as a patient advocate, educator and researcher for nonprofit organizations, the National Cancer Institute, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Healths National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (now the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health). She is also a CURE contributor.

Walston, who lives in Los Angeles, started offering her services as a cancer coach in 2007. At that point, I had provided information to support groups, attended brain tumor and cancer conferences, and worked in the cancer field for 10 years, she says. Many people kept coming to me for advice and information. I wanted to help, and I knew my personal and professional experiences coaching cancer patients and caregivers addressed essential needs.

EMPOWERING PATIENTS TO MEET CHALLENGESThe popularity of professional coaching has grown significantly since the 1990s. There are coaches to help discern purpose in life, improve health and wellness, navigate divorce and break into a new career. Whatever the problem, theres a coach who can offer help. In many ways, cancer coaches are a natural extension of health and wellness coaching, helping clients mainly patients but also caregivers and other loved ones improve quality of life throughout the cancer journey.

Cancer coaches provide a valuable service by helping patients create goal-oriented plans that help them manage particular challenges, says Dawn Wiatrek, interim senior vice president of patient and caregiver support for the American Cancer Society (ACS). As soon as you receive a cancer diagnosis, so many factors are out of your control. Coaches provide needed support and guidance that help patients break down barriers and instill a feeling of confidence. They empower the patient to feel more in charge of an uncertain health situation. Wiatrek notes that the ACS has been coaching people for years through its tobacco cessation program. Cancer coaching is a similar idea, she says. You are giving someone the tools to help them navigate what seems like an insurmountable task.

Talaya Dendy, founder of On the Other Side cancer coaching in St. Paul, Minnesota, says her services save clients from putting time, effort and energy into treatment planning that would be better focused on physical and emotional healing. I research treatments, cancer centers, specialists and available resources and condense that information into easy-to-understand terms that spare the client the gloomy statistics, Dendy says. In addition to helping clients manage the emotional side of cancer, she helps them maximize time with care teams. Patients are often shocked at how little time they actually have with their oncologist or medical team, Dendy says. I make sure my clients are prepared for these appointments so they can advocate for themselves, get the answers they need and make informed decisions.

The ACS sees so many patient benefits to cancer coaching that the organization is using a grant to provide coach training to ACS patient navigators employed at approximately 70 cancer or medical centers nationwide, Wiatrek says. Historically, the role of a navigator has been to provide patients, caregivers and loved ones with resources for things like paying medical expenses, getting to and from treatments and connecting patients to community organizations that can offer assistance, she says. Increasingly, our navigators have found more patients relying on them to counsel them through what questions to ask their care team or asking for more personal guidance.

As employees of hospitals or cancer centers, patient navigators and oncology social workers can help schedule appointments and medical tests, as well as work with billing departments and health insurers, something cancer coaches dont do. Navigators and social workers may steer a patient toward general information about treatments and social support networks, whereas coaches can spend more time researching and gathering information specific to a patients needs.

Preliminary results from the six ACS sites that piloted the patient navigator coach training are positive. Patients said that they felt more confident after being coached on how to improve communication with their care team, Wiatrek says. Patients also understood their treatment plans better, and doctors noted improved compliance. By offering not only in-person sessions but also services via phone, Skype and email, cancer coaches may bridge a gap in care for patients who lack easy access to hospital or cancer center resources.

Because cancer coaching is a relatively new field, few studies address its specific benefits and effectiveness. Findings from a 2017 study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham showed that pairing older cancer patients with nonmedical professionals who received coach-type training reduced patients need for other health care resources, which in turn lowered costs. Other studies on health coaching suggest that these services bolster patient engagement, leading to improved quality of life, reduced hospital readmission rates and lowered medical expenses. Health coaching appears to be especially helpful for people dealing with chronic illnesses like cancer.

A COMPLEMENTARY APPROACH TO CARECancer coaches arent meant to replace patient navigators, oncology social workers or case managers, and they are quick to emphasize that they are not medical experts. I share what I know from my unique patient perspective and decades of experience working in cancer and health care arenas. I do not give medical advice, Walston says.

Gendreau first turned to Walston for help gathering information about possible treatments so that she could consider them, speak to her care team and make informed decisions. My job for a software company required doing a good bit of research, so I felt confident in my researching skills, Gendreau says. Still, I was overwhelmed when I started exploring my condition and treatment options. I felt like I was being buried in a landslide of information.

Walston helped Gendreau create an action plan, breaking down her to-do list into achievable steps. This approach eased some of Gendreaus anxiety and uncertainty. Walston also researched and shared information about integrative therapies, such as yoga, acupuncture and art, something Gendreaus care team didnt seem to have the time or expertise to address.

Most recently, Gendreau asked Walston for help deciphering the vast number of clinical trial opportunities. I could ask my husband or daughter to do some of this research, but that exposes them to all of the scary statistics and information. They are as shocked and frightened as I am, says Gendreau, who emphasizes that Walston serves strictly as her coach and not her therapist. I have a terrific therapist who is helping me cope with my emotions, she says. The coaching aspect gives me a sounding board, a place to discuss ideas and next steps. Having Jeannine to turn to has greatly lifted a burden off of me and my loved ones.

Some medical centers and nonprofit organizations pair patients and mentors who have a similar diagnosis. Cancer coaches go beyond this type of peer-to-peer service. A mentor or peer provides emotional support. They can tell you about their experiences, but their role isnt to give advice or offer suggestions on what you should do, says licensed social worker Angelique Caba, senior director of social work administration for CancerCare, a national nonprofit organization that provides free, professional support services for anyone affected by cancer. A coach provides practical guidance and helps you anticipate barriersto care and troubleshoot for problems.

Donita Wheeler, founder of Donita Mama Bear, a cancer coaching company, believes her services complement those of other specialists. I feel each of us has something unique to offer to the cancer community. We must lean on each other to get through the most difficult times, she says.

That is exactly what Gendreau is doing with her coach. I now know that it was naive of me to expect to get much hand-holding from my oncologist, she says. I appreciate that there are cancer coaches who have taken the worst evil you can imagine and turned it into a passion to help others.

Read more from the original source:
Putting the Ball In Your Court With Cancer Coaches - Curetoday.com

Antibiotic treatment can disrupt the gut microbiome at the strain level, with changes lasting as long as six months.

Trillions of microbes in the intestine aid human health, including digestion of breast milk, breaking down fiber and helping control the immune system. However, antibiotic treatment is known to disrupt the community structure of these microbes 500 to 1,000 bacterial species that have a mainly beneficial influence.

A study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham now has tracked this disruption at the level of a strain of microbes replacing another strain of the same species in 30 individuals all of them young, healthy adults who would be expected to have stable microbial communities.

As shown from our analysis, the capacity to recover with respect to the number and stability of new strains is specific for each individual, said Casey Morrow, Ph.D., leader of the research team and professor emeritus in UABs Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology.

Differences in recovery have potential health implications, Morrow says.

It is possible that as individuals age, with each differing in numbers and cycles of antibiotic treatment, the reservoir of microbial strains is depleted, resulting in an intra-individual recovery pattern for specific microbial strains, he said. Understanding this recovery pattern including the occurrence of particular strains following antibiotics may be an important consideration for long-term health.

In the future, the characterization of these individual-specific recovery patterns could also be used to forecast the susceptibility to both endogenous and exogenous microbial pathogens.

The UAB study used bioinformatic tools to analyze a previously described study of 18 individuals who had been given a single antibiotic, cefprozil, for a week. Their fecal samples were collected at pre-treatment, at the end of antibiotic treatment and at three months post-treatment. The UAB study also analyzed previously described data of 12 individuals who were given a combination of three antibiotics meropenem, gentamicin and vancomycin for four days. Their fecal samples were collected at pretreatment; at end of treatment; and at four, 38 and 176 days post-treatment. Six control individuals who did not receive antibiotics were also analyzed.

Casey Morrow, Ph.D.In general, the UAB researchers found that strains of the 10 most abundant species remained stable in controls. In the single antibiotic treatment individuals, 15 of 18 individuals had transient new strains post-treatment that, in turn, were replaced by the original strain by three months post-treatment.

In contrast, the triple-antibiotics individuals showed a significant increase of new strains that persisted as long as six months after treatment, as compared to the single antibiotic and the control individuals. Furthermore, the fraction of transient strains was also significantly higher in the multiple antibiotics individuals. This suggested a long-term change to an alternative stable microbiome state, Morrow says. These changes were not due to a difference in growth rates.

Given the importance of the microbiome in human health, we think our results with these data sets can be used to help evaluate microbiome stability under different conditions, Morrow said. For example, we can now provide guidance to clinical investigators to judge the impact of certain treatments for diseases, such as cancer or diabetes, on the gut microbial community that could be significant for evaluation of outcomes. Furthermore, this approach could be applied to a patients pre- and post-hospitalization to identify individuals who may need further management of their microbiomes.

This study used a strain-tracking bioinformatics tool previously developed by UAB, called Window-based Similarity Single-nucleotide-variant, or WSS, for tracking of individuals microbial strains from pre-treatment to post-antibiotics treatment, said Hyunmin Koo, Ph.D., UAB Department of Genetics and Heflin Center for Genomic Science, who led the informatics analysis. This technique advances analysis of the impact of antibiotics on the human gut microbiota. Previous studies of the microbiome had been able to determine an overall taxonomic profile including the relative abundance information of each species, but showed a limitation to distinguish each species at the strain level or track the same strain in each individual at the longitudinal level.

In 2017, the UAB researchers used WSS to show the first direct demonstration that fecal donor microbes used to treat patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infections remained in recipients for months or years after fecal transplants.

The antibiotics study was published in the Nature Partner Journals Biofilms and Microbiomes. Co-authors with Morrow and Koo are David K. Crossman, UAB Department of Genetics and Heflin Center for Genomic Science; Joseph A. Hakim, UAB Department of Biology; Ranjit Kumar, Biomedical Informatics, UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences; and Elliot J. Lefkowitz, UAB Department of Microbiology.

Support came from the UAB School of Medicine. The Cheaha UABgrid of the UAB Information Technologys Research Computing group provided the high-performance computing support necessary for bioinformatics analyses.

Original post:
Transient and long-term disruption of gut microbes after antibiotics - UAB News

Most cancers kill because tumor cells spread beyond the primary site to invade other organs. Now, a USC study of brain-invading breast cancer cells circulating in the blood reveals they have a molecular signature indicating specific organ preferences.

The findings, which appear in Cancer Discovery, help explain how tumor cells in the blood target a particular organ and may enable the development of treatments to prevent the spread of cancers, known as metastasis.

In this study, Min Yu, assistant professor of stem cell and regenerative medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, isolated breast cancer cells from the blood of breast cancer patients with metastatic tumors. Using a technique she developed previously, she expanded or grew the cells in the lab, creating a supply of material to work with.

Analyzing the tumor cells in animal models, Yus lab identified regulator genes and proteins within the cells that apparently directed the cancers spread to the brain. To test this concept, human tumor cells were injected into the bloodstream of animal models. As predicted, the cells migrated to the brain. Additional analysis of cells from one patients tumor predicted that the cells would later spread to the patients brain and they did.

Yu also discovered that a protein on the surface of brain-targeting tumor cells helps them to breach the blood-brain barrier and lodge in brain tissue, while another protein inside the cells shield them from the brains immune response, enabling them to grow there.

We can imagine someday using the information carried by circulating tumor cells to improve the detection, monitoring and treatment of the spreading cancers, Yu said. A future therapeutic goal is to develop drugs that get rid of circulating tumor cells or target those molecular signatures to prevent the spread of cancer.

Yu is a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, and her laboratory is located in the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In addition to Yu, other authors of the study are Remi Klotz, Amal Thomas, Teng Teng, Sung Min Han, Oihana Iriondo, Lin Li, Alan Wang, Negeen Izadian, Matthew MacKay, Byoung-San Moon, Kevin J. Liu, Sathish Kumar Ganesan, Grace Lee, Diane S. Kang, Michael F. Press, Wange Lu, Janice Lu, Bodour Salhia and Frank Attenello, all of the Keck School of Medicine; Sara Restrepo-Vassalli, James Hicks and Andrew D. Smith of USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; and Charlotte S. Walmsley, Christopher Pinto, Dejan Juric and Aditya Bardia of Massachusetts General Hospital.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (DP2 CA206653) the Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation, the Stop Cancer Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Alexander & Margaret Stewart Trust, the SC CTSI pilot grant (UL1TR001855 and UL1TR000130), a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) postdoctoral fellowship and a CIRM Bridges award (EDUC2-08381), and the National Cancer Institute (P30CA014089).

More stories about: Cancer, Research

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New study reveals why breast cancer spreads to the brain - USC News

Cindi Bigelow, CEO of Bigelow Tea in Fairfield

Cindi Bigelow, CEO of Bigelow Tea in Fairfield

Photo: Dan Haar / Hearst Connecticut Media / Dan Haar / Hearst Connecticut Me

Cindi Bigelow, CEO of Bigelow Tea in Fairfield

Cindi Bigelow, CEO of Bigelow Tea in Fairfield

Innovation TED Talks coming to Fairfield University

FAIRFIELD Fairfield University will host a diverse line-up of speakers at a TEDx program on October 28.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design topics that combined in 1984 to form the first TED Talk in Monterey, Calif.

Today, the idea has been expanded to sharing ideas worth spreading. TEDx, programs launched in 2009 to share TED-worthy ideas on a smaller scale.

Featured in the Fairfield U event at Wien Experimental Theatre of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts will be a current student, an alumna, an honorary degree recipient, and a faculty member, as well as individuals in health care, education, business, and technology.

Doors open at 2 p.m. and the event is free but registration is required. While TEDx audiences are capped at 100 to promote an intimate live experience, overflow attendees will be invited to watch the presentations via live-stream in the adjacent Kelley Theatre.

The theme for the event will be Innovation and Inspiration, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the university's School of Engineering.

The nine speakers include:

* Dr. Stephen F. Badylak, deputy director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

* David C. Banks, president and CEO of The Eagle Academy Foundation, Inc.

* Cindi Bigelow, the third-generation president and CEO of Bigelow Tea, headquartered in Fairfield.

* Dr. Donna Coletti, scholar-in-residence at the Egan Schools Kanarek Center for Palliative Care.

* Lilliana Delmonico Class of 2020 and a bioengineering major in the School of Engineering and co-founder of the Biomedical Engineering Society at Fairfield University.

* Dr. T. Sloane Guy, professor of surgery and director of Minimally Invasive & Robotic Cardiac Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

* Aidan Kehoe, founder and CEO of Skout Cybersecurity.

* Dawne Ware, Class of 1989 and CEO of Ware Consulting LLC.

* Mark Unger, owner and director of Unger Global Companies, who wrote his book First Survivor, to honor those who helped him reject the diagnosis of zero chance of survival when his son was diagnosed with childhood cancer.

Excerpt from:
Innovation TED Talks coming to Fairfield University - CTPost

Antleron has created an R&D facility at their headquarters in Leuven, Belgium - a location known as an incubator for medical and life science innovation, including regenerative medicine, to support and validate customer projects in the field of 3D bioprinting. Antleron's 'living therapy factory' mergescells, biomaterials, biologics, bioreactors and 3D Systems printers to accelerate the engineering of living therapies. Using quality-by-design and artificial intelligence the Antleron multidisciplinary specialists translate these core technologies into pioneering workflows that turn cells into therapies.

The 3D Systems/Antleron relationship addresses solutions for medical device and advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) applications, incorporating a variety of innovative technologies that are of benefit to biomedical manufacturing process, beginning with 3D Systems' ProJet MJP 2500and Figure 43D printers and existing portfolio of 21 biocompatible, USP Class VI materials; 3D Sprintand 3DXpertsoftware, and post-processing equipment and processes. The goal is to establish a flexible, scalable Digital Factory approach, built on modular, closed parametric processes which include digital monitoring and quality control for risk mitigation. An example is to advance the way cells and tissues are grown to enable the transition from a static 2D to bioreactor-based 3D cell culture. This can lead to new ways to manufacture functionalized medical implants, vaccines, cell therapies, and living tissues.

According to Antleron CEO, Jan Schrooten, "The vision of Antleron is to sustainably bring living therapies into the clinic. 3D printing is key to this endeavor, and we are eager to collaborate with 3D Systems and its experts. I look forward to the pioneering solutions we'll be able to achieve to elevate the efficacy of bioprinting and extend its biomedical application reach."

"3D Systems is excited about working with Antleron as they explore bioprinting, and especially their capability to develop end-to-end solutions utilizing the 3D Systems' state of the art printing platforms and materials," said Chuck Hull, co-founder and chief technology officer, 3D Systems. "As we look to the future, bioprinting and regenerative medicine are large opportunities for 3D printing, and we look forward to expanding the role 3D Systems will play in these exciting fields."

At Formnext 2019 to be held November 19-22, 3D Systems (booth D03, hall 12.1) and Antleron will exhibit for the first time what is in store for next-generation medical applications with the ProJet MJP 2500 printer and VisiJet materials.

Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements made in this release by or in reference to 3D Systems that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current expectations and may include comments as to the company's beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in 3D Systems' periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise.

About 3D Systems More than 30 years ago, 3D Systems brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing industry. Today, as the leading AM solutions company, it empowers manufacturers to create products and business models never before possible through transformed workflows. This is achieved with the Company's best-of-breed digital manufacturing ecosystem - comprised of plastic and metal 3D printers, print materials, on-demand manufacturing services and a portfolio of end-to-end manufacturing software. Each solution is powered by the expertise of the company's application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform manufacturing environments. 3D Systems' solutions address a variety of advanced applications for prototyping through production in markets such as aerospace, automotive, medical, dental and consumer goods. More information on the company is available at http://www.3dsystems.com.

About AntleronAntleron is a young R&D company on a mission to enable personalized manufacturing 4.0 in the domain of advanced therapies. The company's nimble team is revolutionizing medicine by merging the potential of cells, biomaterials, biologics, 3D printing and bioreactors to accelerate the engineering of living therapies - empowering patients with fully personalized, regenerative care. Antleron translates core technologies including additive manufacturing (AM), quality-by-design and artificial intelligence into pioneering workflows that turn cells into living therapies to eventually make organ manufacturing a reality. To support its mission, Antleron's business philosophy is to create sustainable ventures that bring living, personalized therapies from idea to patient through risk & reward sharing partnerships. From the company's headquarters in Belgium, Antleron operates at the cutting edge between life sciences and technology within Europe's leading biotech ecosystem. More information on the company is available at http://www.antleron.com.

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3D Systems and Antleron Collaborating to Accelerate 3D Printing Biomedical Breakthroughs - PRNewswire

Phoenix,AZ(October 11, 2019) AxolotlBiologix, an innovative biotechnology leader in regenerative medicine,announced it has obtained HealthcareCommon Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) billing codes from the Centers forMedicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for all its products effective October 1,2019.

Were thrilled that the CMS has made it easier forhealthcare providers to get reimbursed for treatments using Axolotl products,said Gary Lauterbach, CEO of AxolotlBiologix. Axolotls products are already part of the GSAs FederalSupply Schedule and areavailable through Indian Health Services and Veterans Affairs. Issuance of these HCPCS Q-Codes by CMS will help simplify thereimbursement process making it easier to utilize our regenerative products.

AxolotlsDualGraft and Axolotl Graft products have been assigned the code Q4210.Axolotls DualGraft is a bi-layered human amnion membrane patch that protectswounds while serving as a barrier to help encourage skin repair andreconstruction. DualGraft is a double-layered amniotic membrane convenientlypackaged as a dehydrated allograft, which can be stored at room temperature andapplied without special instruments in a clinical setting.

AxolotlAmbient and Axolotl Cryo products were assigned the code Q4215. AxolotlAmbient and Axolotl Cryo products are liquid allografts derived from theamniotic components of the placenta to promote regeneration and repair ofdamaged or degenerated tissue. The Ambient product is a liquid allograft that can be stored at an ambienttemperature (257C, 7713F).

For more information on Axolotl products visit http://www.axobio.com

About Axolotl Biologix:

Axolotl Biologix, Inc.is an innovative biotechnology leader in regenerative medicine throughresearch, technology and clinical application. Axolotl Biologix is expandingthe human bodys ability to regenerate by developing and manufacturingregenerative human cell and tissue medical technologies that are disruptingtraditional, more invasive, painful and expensive treatment protocols. For moreinformation, visit http://www.axobio.com

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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Makes It Easier for Healthcare Providers to Choose Axolotl Biologix Products to Spur Wound and Tissue...

According to a recent press release on Global Regenerative Medicines Market Outlook: Industry Analysis & Opportunity Evaluation 2018-2025 which delivers detailed overview of the global regenerative medicines market in terms of market segmentation by technology, source, application, end-users and region.

Further, for the in-depth analysis, the report encompasses the industry growth drivers, restraints, supply and demand risk, trends and regulations & policies.

The Regenerative Medicines industry caters to the individuals with a long-term requirement to treat chronic oncogenic, immunogenic or infectious diseases. Research Nester released a report stating that the market is currently expanding and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.33% during the forecast period (2018-2027). By 2027, the global regenerative medicine market is predicted to reach USD 64.32 Billion.

Various funding programs initiated by the International Society for Stem Cell Research in the past as well as in the future are expected to attract large number of potential new players in the regenerative medicines market. Research Grants from organizations such as, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Sponsorship Programmes, Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation and Training Center and Biotechnology, California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are expected to create higher opportunities for regenerative medicines research and development.

Asia Pacific region is projected to witness enormous growth in forthcoming years. Country governments such as Japan and China across Asia-Pacific are drafting policies to advocate building new infrastructure (and research networks) to push towards a profitable commercialization of regenerative medicine products. Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MST),the State of Food and Drug Agency and the Ministry of Health have issued approximately 30 new rules and regulations to increase the development of regenerative medicines across the country. Further, in 2014 Pharmaceutical and Medical Device (PMD) Act and the Safety of Regenerative Medicine Act issued in Japan, new regulations to accelerate the approval process of regenerative medicine products. These initiatives across the countries of Asia-Pacific by the local governments are projected to drive the regenerative medicines market exponentially over the forthcoming years.

To Request a Report Sample for Research Scope CLICK HERE

The global regenerative medicines market is segmented on the basis of technology into gene therapies, cellular therapies, exosome therapeutics and tissue engineering wherein cellular therapies segment is further segmented into cellular immunotherapies, stem cell therapies, therapeutics utilizing, differentiated cell types and direct cell reprogramming.

Growing demand for organ transplantation in developed and developing countries and the commercialization of regenerative medicines are some of the key trends anticipated to supplement the growth of the global regenerative medicine market through the forecast period. Increased use of skin substitutes, grafts, bone matrix and other tissue engineered regenerative medicines are one of the prominent factor backing for the growth of the global regenerative medicine market over the forthcoming years.

The market is further segmented based on the source as autologous and allogeneic. Kite Pharma and Fosun Pharma created joint venture in China to commercialize autologous t-cell therapies to cure cancer in 2019. According to this agreement, Fosun Pharma will deliver the RMB equal of $20 million in financing to sustenance clinical development and engineering activities and kite will provide certain technical transfer facilities to the joint venture. Such ventures in the regenerative medicines market are boosting the autologous segmental growth around the globe.

Despite its innumerable benefits, Regenerative Medicines market is expected to have its own share of challenges and limitations such as the issues of high costs, requirement for highly skilled professionals, and stringent regulatory standards. These are some of the restraining factors that might affect the growth of the market over the forecast period.

This report also provides the existing competitive scenario of some of the key players of the global regenerative medicines market which includes company profiling of Smith & Nephew Plc., Sangamo, Integra LifeSciences Corporation, Novartis, Stryker Corporation and other prominent players. In order to expand the market presence, Regenerative Medicines companies are expanding their product line extensively. For an instance, Baxter International announced its participation in The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) and the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center organized conference for its product upliftment and gaining greater insights into its research and development activities for regenerative medicines.

The profiling enfolds key information of the companies which encompasses business overview, products and services, key financials and recent news and developments. On the whole, the report depicts detailed overview of the global Regenerative Medicines market that will help industry consultants, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players searching possibilities and other stakeholders to align their market centric strategies according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future.

To request a sample report for Technological Breakthroughs CLICK HERE

About Research Nester:

Research Nester is a one-stop service provider with a client base in more than 50 countries, leading in strategic market research and consulting with an unbiased and unparalleled approach towards helping global industrial players, conglomerates and executives for their future investment while avoiding forthcoming uncertainties. With an out-of-the-box mindset to produce statistical and analytical market research reports, we provide strategic consulting so that our clients can make wise business decisions with clarity while strategizing and planning for their forthcoming needs and succeed in achieving their future endeavors. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds.

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Regenerative Medicines - A More Effective and Result Oriented Way to treat chronic Diseases for Long Term Range - PharmiWeb.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Scientists looking for a way to help breast cancer patients have found a new organelle inside cells that may help.

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine say the organelle works to prevent cancer by ensuring that genetic material is sorted correctly as cells divide and problems with this organelle have been connected to a subset of breast cancer tumors due to a lot of mistakes when segregating chromosomes.

According to a release, this analysis offers a new way for doctors to sort patient tumors as they choose the therapies that may be used to treat the patients.

The researchers hope these insights will help doctors to better personalize treatments to best benefit patients, potentially sparing up to 40 percent of breast cancer patients from treatment that will not be effective.

Some percentage of women get chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer that are not very effective. They are poisoned, in pain and their hair falls out, so if it isn't curing their disease, then that's tragic, said researcher P. Todd Stukenberg, PhD, of the UVA Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. One of our goals is to develop new tests to determine whether a patient will respond to a chemotherapeutic treatment, so they can find an effective treatment right away.

Stukenberg and his team of researchers ay the organelle they found is essential but ephemeral, as it only forms when needed to ensure chromosomes are sorted correctly. It then disappears when that task is complete.

Stukenberg also compares the organelle to a droplet of liquid that condenses within other liquid, saying the droplets act like mixing bowls that concentrate certain cellular ingredients to allow for biochemical reactions to occur in a specific location.

What's exciting is that cells have this new organelle and certain things will be recruited into it and other things will be excluded, he said. The cells enrich things inside the droplet and, all of a sudden, new biochemical reactions appear only in that location. It's amazing.

He says the organelle acts more like a gel that allows cellular components to come in and exit but it has binding sites that concentrate a small set of the cell's contents.

Our data suggests this concentration of proteins is really important, said Stukenberg. I can get complex biochemical reactions to occur inside a droplet that I've been failing to reconstitute in a test tube for years. This is the secret sauce I've been missing.

The release adds that researchers have known for about eight years that cells make droplets like this for other processes, but they did not know they are made on chromosomes during cell division.

Stukenberg thinks such droplets are common and more important than previously understood, saying the cells are using these non-membranous organelles to regulate much of their work.

The release says this discovery helps scientists better understand the process of mitosis, or cell division, and it sheds light on cancer and how it occurs.

The organelle's main function is to fix mistakes in tiny microtubules that pull apart chromosomes when cells are dividing. They ensure that each cell gets the correct genetic material.

However, in cancer cells, the repair process is defective, and the cancer cells can be driven to be more aggressive.

Stukenberg has also developed tests to measure the amount of chromosome mis-segregation in tumors, which he hopes will allow doctors to pick the proper treatment for patients.

His next step he says will be to examine the strange organelle's role in colorectal cancer.

The findings have been described in the scientific journal Nature Cell Biology.

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Researchers find new organelle that may help cancer patients - CBS19 News

When Christian Porras came to the University of Chicago three years ago, he knew he had a passion for science. What was less apparent to him was how to chart a path from first-year student to research scientist.

As a first-generation college student from a low-income household, Porras didnt know anyone who had taken a similar path. That changed when he connected with the UChicago chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.

SACNAS became this community, this family for me. It removed some of the uncertainties about my professional goals because I was able to talk to people who were further down the path, Porras said. Now a fourth-year majoring in biological sciences, Porras is undergraduate president of the campus chapter.

This month, SACNAS named the UChicago group chapter of the year for demonstrating significant accomplishments and activities across five areasrecruitment and membership retention, professional development, community outreach, chapter development and fundraising.

One reason for the honor was a regional conference that the leadership team of the UChicago chapter planned earlier this year. They oversaw the 2019 Midwest Regional SACNAS Conference, which brought more than 200 students from the Midwest and around the United States to UChicago for a day of research presentations and professional development.

With the theme Empowering through Boundaries, the conference focused on inclusion and helping students overcome the challenge of breaking through career obstacles. Workshops covered a range of topicsfrom crafting compelling academic applications to including disabilities in discussions about diversity.

This award is an acknowledgement and appreciation of all the hard work that our chapter has put in, not just this year, but over the course of its history at UChicago, said Juan Manuel Vazquez, graduate president of the organization and a fifth-year PhD student in the Department of Human Genetics. He served as chair and lead for the 2019 Midwest conference.

The UChicago chapter of SACNAS was formed in 2016 and became a registered student organization in 2018. The organization has about 50 members, however, its events are open to all students and draw people from different backgrounds and disciplines. Lucia Rothman Denes, the A. J. Carlson Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics, serves as its faculty adviser.

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Student group works to foster diversity in the sciences - UChicago News