StemCell Therapy

Len Richard (left) and actor Terrance Howard on the set of "Empire" in 2015. View Full Caption

Provided by Len Richard

CHICAGO Len Richard used to fight in movie scenes as a stuntman, but now hes fighting for his life.

Diagnosed with liver disease in 2009, hes been placed on the liver and kidney transplant list to replace his rapidly failing organs. Hes opted to have stem cell replacement therapy in place of the transplant, but his insurance wont cover it, so hes raising $10,000 through YouCaring.

The 44-year-old Englewood native said hes desperate to live a healthy life and doesnt want to risk trying the transplant. Theres the fear that the new organs wont work for long and hell constantly get sick from the anti-rejection medications hell have to take, he said.

Once I understood how stem cell works and how it cures people, it was a no-brainer, Richard said. I rather do that than have someone's organs.

More than 5,000 liver transplants in the United States take place each year, according to the "Stem Cell Therapy for Liver Diseases," a review article published in the Journal of Stem Cell Research and Therapy. About 20,000 people are waiting for a transplant, but only 7,000 procedures are performed each year, and up to 1,500 patients die each year waiting.

Use of stem cells to cure liver diseases has been proved beneficial in most of the conditions, according to the article. Scientific literature reveals the role of stem cells in treatment and cure of various diseases like liver cirrhosis, end stage liver failure, genetic liver disease and also the liver cancer. The stem cells possess the ability to renew and multiply by them or stem cells possess special characteristics of regenerating themselves.

Besides being hospitalized twice in eighth grade for a high fever and an enlarged liver and spleen, Richard has lived a fairly healthy life, he said. He had no major health problems in high school or college.

As an adult, he worked behind the scenes in the control room at Channel 50, before moving to Los Angeles in 1998 for a similar television job. Thats when his life changed.

He was at a gym working out and got invited to train with a group who worked as stuntmen, he said.

A stunt coordinator saw me and said that I looked like Omar and Cuba Gooding, Richard said. He hired me for 'Baby Boy.' Thats how I got into doing stunts.

That job led to other jobs in major films, including "Barbershop" and "Transformers."

Everything was going well for Richard, he said, until 2008 when he tore his rotator cuff during filming for the movie "First Sunday," starring Ice Cube and Katt Williams.

I had surgery, and the person I was seeing at the time noticed that I started losing weight and was going to the bathroom a lot, Richard said.

When he went to the doctor for a routine checkup, he learned that he was diabetic. The doctor reviewed his medical history and asked if he has ever been evaluated for a liver transplant.

In 1987, when he was 13, he mysteriously became ill, he said. He was in the hospital for a high fever and the doctors noticed that his liver and spleen were enlarged, but didnt know why. He was sent home only to return a few days later.

I spent the whole summer in the hospital, Richard said. They did exploratory abdominal surgery and took a sample of all of my organs. They sent it to the CDC and other labs and came back with nothing.

Now that hes on the transplant list, Richard is hoping that hes able to raise enough money to travel to see a doctor in Mexico who was recommended by another patient and have the alternative procedure instead.

I want to avoid the transplant and keep my organs, Richard said.

He said he misses his old life, although he did more recently work on the show "Empire." Hes on disability now, but wants to return to work and the gym.

I was always in the gym, used to go hiking a lot, but now I work out when I feel like it, he said. I have low energy, and its kind of hard right now. I'll ride a bike and try to do air squats, but I was doing crossfit before it became too much for me.

Nobody wants to be sick. Id like to be back in California, moving around. I just get tired of going to doctor, getting poked and having having them tell me I need a transplant. Its mentally draining, and it's scary.

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Former Hollywood Stuntman Raising $10000 For His Stem Cell Therapy - DNAinfo

Researcher Leonard Zon, founder and director of the Stem Cell Program at Boston Children s Hospital, in a lab at the hospital in Boston. AP PHOTO

BOSTON -- In his offices at Boston Children's Hospital, Leonard Zon is busily developing cutting-edge stem cell therapies surrounded by fellow researchers, lab equipment and 300,000 striped, transparent zebrafish.

Zon's lab -- and the zebrafish -- are the results of an initiative begun nearly a decade ago to make Massachusetts one of the country's premier life sciences incubators.

That 2008 initiative, signed by former Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick, committed Massachusetts to spending $1 billion over 10 years to jump-start the life sciences sector -- attracting the best minds, research facilities and the venture capital funding.

By most yardsticks, Patrick's gamble has paid off. Massachusetts, and the greater Boston area in particular, are now seen as a top life sciences hub.

For Zon, and other life sciences leaders, the support has been transformative.

In 2013, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, which is charged with distributing the state funds, awarded a $4 million grant to Children's Hospital to help establish the Children's Center for Cell Therapy. Some of the money went toward replacing the original aquaculture facilities at Zon's lab with state-of-the-art systems.

Zon said the changes helped him pursue stem cell therapies -- taking tissues grown from stem cells aimed at thwarting specific diseases and transplanting them into a diseased organ.

"Massachusetts is the best place in the world for biotechnology," he said. "It's been life-changing for us."

Zon's experience isn't unique.

NxStage Medical, Inc., a medical technology company founded in 1998 in Lawrence focused on end-stage renal disease and acute kidney failure, received nearly $1.8 million in tax incentives through the program. In 2013, Woburn-based Bio2 Technologies received $1 million in loan financing, helping it develop bone graft substitute implants.

The state's reputation as a magnet for life sciences also can be seen in the surge of construction in Boston and Cambridge, particularly around the Kendall Square area, where glass-lined office and research buildings have sprouted.

Travis McCready, CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, also pointed to the influx of grant money from the National Institutes of Health and funds from world-class academic and research institutions.

"By pretty much any measure we are considered the leading life sciences ecosystem in the U.S., and among the leading ecosystems in the world," McCready said.

McCready said the 2008 initiative helped create a framework for that growth, even as he acknowledged that not every company or research effort that receives funding succeeds.

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$1 billion life sciences plan bears fruit in Massachusetts - Lowell Sun - Lowell Sun

By Sharon N Chonchir, ContributorAugust / September 2017

Irish universities are at the forefront of medical science. Here are some of the recent breakthroughs they have made in understanding human health.

Dr. Philip Dunne. (Photo: QUB)

Improving the prognosis and quality of life for patients with bowel cancer is the aim of researchers at Queens University Belfast.

Patients with bowel cancer are currently offered chemotherapy, which is successful for some. However, it has no effect on fighting the cancer for others, even though those patients still suffer its debilitating side effects.

Scientists at Queens have shown how defining precise gene signatures within bowel cancer can allow for the development of new prognostic markers as well as personalized medical approaches.

Dr. Philip Dunne, senior research fellow at Queens said, Through analysing data generated from tissue samples, we have discovered different subtypes of bowel cancer. This will allow us to identify particular gene signatures that can indicate sensitivity or resistance to specific therapies. Thus, we can tailor treatment to individual patients, maximizing effectiveness while minimizing potential side effects.

Dr. Denise Fitzgerald. (Photo: QUB)

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Ireland, with approximately 2,500 people diagnosed every year. Mortality rates are high and its the second most common cause of cancer death in the country.

Developing a cure for MS is the goal of another team of researchers at Queens. A recent landmark study of theirs has raised hopes of a breakthrough in the treatment of MS and other neurological disorders.

MS affects 2.3 million people worldwide. It involves the body attacking its own myelin sheath the protective layer that surrounds the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. These attacks can lead to symptoms such as vision loss, pain, fatigue, and paralysis.

Until now, treatment could limit these attacks but could not reverse the damage already done. This new research shows that a protein made by certain cells within the immune system triggers the brains stem cells to mature into oligodendrocytes that repair myelin.

This opens up new therapeutic potential for myelin regeneration in patients, says Dr. Denise Fitzgerald, senior author of the study.

Professor Noel Caplice. (Photo: Tomas Tyner / UCC)

Scientists at University College Cork may have discovered how to mend broken hearts. In the first trial of its kind in the world, a UCC professor has shown that low dose insulin-like growth factor injected into the heart improves remodelling for heart attack patients.

Professor Noel Caplice, the chair of cardiovascular sciences at UCC, successfully tested the growth factor in a trial of 47 patients, all of whom had experienced serious heart attacks.

Some received the growth factor while others received a placebo. Those who received the growth factor had improved remodelling of their heart muscle in the two months after their heart attack as well as other measures of improved heart performance.

Around a fifth of people who suffer heart attacks have ongoing difficulties because of lasting damage to heart muscle, even after the best current therapies.

We hope that these findings can be replicated in larger trials of many hundreds of subjects in thefuture, Caplice says. A significant minority ofpatients currently remain unwell after heart attacks and we are excited by the possibility that cardiacrepair therapy may help them.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the single leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the industrialized world, accounting for 40 percent of all new cases in the U.S. and E.U. There are few effective treatments for this condition, but a cell therapy company at the National University ofIreland Galway may have found one.

Dr. Stephen Elliman, the chief scientific officer at Orbsen Therapeutics, has discovered a novel allogeneic stromal cell therapy called ORBCEL-M. This therapy has demonstrated significant improvements in kidney function in pre-clinical models of DKD and clinical trials are now about to begin at locations across Europe, all coordinated from NUIG.

The aim of the research project, called NEPHSTROM, is to establish the safety and efficacy of ORBCEL-M. It hopes to show that important markers of DKD are improved and that the therapy is safe to use in the long term.

For decades, the standard practice for treating stings by the Portuguese man o war jellyfish was to rinse with seawater and apply ice. However, an NUIG study has found these are actually the worst things to do.

Collaborating with jellyfish sting experts from the University of Hawaii, NUIG scientists discovered that the best treatment was to rinse with vinegar,remove tentacles and immerse in 45C (113F) hot water for 45 minutes.

Just last September, unprecedented numbers of Portuguese man o war jellyfish came ashore inIreland. Thankfully we had very few reported stings given the time of year, said Dr. Tom Doyle, lecturer in zoology at NUIG. If this event had occurred during the summer, then we may have had hundreds.

According to Dr. Christie Wilcox from the University of Hawaii, the previous advice could have had fatal results. Because we didnt have solid science to back up medical practices, we ended up with practices that actually worsen stings and even cost lives, she said.

NUIG scientists are now researching the next most venomous snake in Irish waters, the lions mane jellyfish. Its responsible for more bad stings than any other and many victims end up in hospital.

Professor Abhay Pandit. (Photo: Andrew Downes / xposure)

CRAM, the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Research in Medical Devices based at NUIG, has recently begun to collaborate with the Mayo Clinic on research into blood clots which cause ischemic stroke.

Ischemic strokes occur as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. They can be caused by clots that come from the heart, the carotid artery, or other parts of the body. The characteristics of these clots vary widely, which has implications for what therapy is given to patients.

The Mayo Clinic is initiating a nationwide effort in the U.S. to collect samples of clots removed from patients who have suffered strokes in order to analyse them. Through CRAM, NUIG will be establishing a dedicated clot pathology lab to conduct parallel research in Europe.

Professor Abhay Pandit, scientific director of CRAM, commented: Were excited by the opportunity to advance research in this area. We hope this will lead to ground-breaking research and drive significant improvements in outcomes for stroke patients in the future.

Professor Nigel Stevenson. (Photo: TCD)

Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have discovered that a biological molecule known as STAT3 is critical in protecting against infection.

With new viral infections such as Zika and Ebola emerging all the time, the importance of understanding how we can protect our immune systems against viruses has never been greater.

During any viral infection, cells produce interferon to prevent viruses from replicating in our bodies.

Interferon activates other molecules within the cells and when the final molecule is activated, the viralinfection should be cleared.

However some viruses, such as hepatitis C, are not cleared by this response. Immunologists from Trinity, led by assistant professor in immunology Dr. Nigel Stevenson, have discovered that these viruses have evolved to block responses to interferon.

STAT3 may be able to counter this negative effect. Using new molecular techniques, we have revealed that STAT3 is an essential anti-viral component in the signaling pathway, said Dr. Stevenson. Without it, cells cannot even fight the common flu virus. This discovery opens the door to new therapeutic options which we hope will help people to restore their natural immunity against a host of problematic viruses.

Professor Orla Hardiman. (Photo: TCD)

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have also shown for the first time that motor neuron disease (MND) and schizophrenia share a genetic origin,indicating that the causes of these conditions are biologically linked.

By analysing the genetic profiles of 13,000 MND cases and 30,000 schizophrenia cases, the researchers confirmed that many of the genes associated with these conditions are the same.

Our work has shown us that MND is a much more complex disease than we originally thought, lead investigator Orla Hardiman, professor of neurology in Trinity, said. Combining clinical work and our studies using MRI and EEG, it becomes clear that MND is not just a disorder of individual nerve cells but a disorder of the way these nerve cells talk to one another as part of a larger network.

She and her team now see MND similarly to schizophrenia as a problem of disruptions in connectivity between different regions of the brain. They are looking for drugs to help stabilize these failing brain networks.

This research also shows that the divide between psychiatry and neurology may be a false one. This will have major implications for how we classifydiseases going forward and in turn how we traindoctors in psychiatry and neurology, said Professor Hardiman.

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Irish Universities: Leading the Way in Life & Health Science - Irish America

An international team of medical experts recently published a global call to action in Science Translational Medicine in an effort to curb the unethical, unsubstantiated use of stem-cell based therapies driving medical tourism. Such ill-advised stem cell treatments have led to pediatric deaths in Germany, blindness in the United States, the closure of Italys Stamina Foundation to name a few as well as a variety of untoward effects given their lack of rigorous testing for safety and efficacy.

With high price tags, so-called stem-cell clinics are designing therapies without evidence that serve to do harm, be ineffective, prey on the most vulnerablepotentially curtailing their ultimate treatment choices, and threaten the legitimate work being done that holds great promise for devastating disease.

When greed trumps science, we all lose.

In The Worst 'Healthcare': 'Stem Cell' Clinics Wrought With Red Flags, Insincerity And Blindness, I detail the distressing accounts of three patients who endured irreparable damage to their vision after seeking treatment at the same unnamed stem cell clinic in Broward, Florida. Reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), the harrowing experiences of the women aged 72-88 years old resulted in blindness to near blindness from untested stem cell therapies being injected into their eyes while being fleeced $5000 for the procedures. Promised revolutionary therapy, they were left with catastrophic reminders of the unfortunate and unnecessary ordeal.

Theirs is a cautionary taleof the hazards of poor and irresponsible practice at a private stem cell clinic, unfixable medical interventions with no scientific evidence to back claims, sales over substance, marketing hype lacking in meaning and actions taken by seemingly complicit personnel who may have misrepresented their credentials that took advantage of those most in need. See here for a more detailed road map of how to read between the lines of such marketing hype and to understand the timeline of this particular bad outcome.

Heres the deal with stem cells

Stem cells are currently in use for a rather limited scope of disorders. Ones where the data is well-established and been subject to proper design, rigorous testing and clinical trials. They are also being actively studied, in general. The notion that they can cure every type of medical condition is not one based in our present reality or the near term future. The media tends to overstate where we are in stem cell-based therapeutics.

The safety and efficacy of stem cell use when derived from bone marrow or your peripheral blood is well-established, but stem cells are now being increasingly derived from alternate sources like adipose (aka fatty) tissue and put in use for orthopedic to neurological disorders.

Many in the medical community are enthused about their promise and rightfully so as some advancements are already underway. In my recent article Did Gene Therapy Cure Sickle Cell Disease?, I discuss the hopeful work in autologous stem cell transplantation obtained from bone marrow for this and other hemoglobinopathies. This is further explored in this television appearance:Dr. Jamie Wells On Al Jazeera TV Discussing Sickle Cell Anemia.

Facilities offering false hope often based on the most minimal of clinical evidence are popping up all over the country and world without well-controlled clinical trials or having met any regulatory standards. In the cases of autologous use especiallysince they are your own cells, advocates affirm they are safe. These private stem cell clinics are typically patient-funded at nonacademic centers, are not based on preclinical research or sound design and lack investigational new drug application with the FDAbecause, again, they are your own cells despite the fact what the facility mixes them with are unknown agents that have not been tested to confirm safety.(1)

In a perspective written by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the NEJM, the FDA maintains: Outside the setting of hematopoietic reconstitution and a few other well-established indications, the assertion that stem cells are intrinsically able to sense the environment into which they are introduced and addresswhatever functions require replacement or repairwhether injured knee cartilage or a neurologic deficitis not based on scientific evidence. The piece goes on to inform about misadventures of their use and the worrisome lack of evidence in particular in circumstances where therapies proved harmful or ineffective when properly studied.

Hence, why this recent global call to action by worldwide leaders in the field

Buoyed by efforts of the scientific community to impact changes in stem cell facilities in Germany and Italy among others, an international consortium of medical experts outline in their latest publication local to transnational considerations that could limit unchecked marketing claims and unfounded science. Appreciating the current climate of expediting lengthy approval processes, the politics of right to try legislation and direct-to-consumer advertising, the authors contend with respect to sham stem cell therapies under-regulation has led to substantial, reverberating harm.

Due to general regulatory resistance, the panel of fifteen urges a more coordinated approach nationally and internationallythat emphasizes engagement, harmonization and enforcement. Highlighting prior success, the group encourages mobilization of international scientific organizations to create global standards and the utilization of traditional and social media type engagement to expand reach to the public as well as positively influence national policies.

With the main goals of eliminating harmful therapies and preserving a patients ability to seek effective treatment, they identify further the risk of not doing anything will worsen the big problems of destabilizing health markets and delegitimizing biomedical efforts that could genuinely benefit society.

Among their requests for proactive efforts is for groups with broad constituencies like the World Health Organization (WHO) to dispense guidelines in conjunction with national authorities for the responsible use of human cells and tissues which they maintain they already dofor medical devices and medicines. They call for cross-border partnerships for compliance.

Of particular note, the article includes a wonderful chart clarifying where inroads can be made locally, regionally and internationally to prevent the all too frequent co-opting of scientific legitimacy. It can be very difficult for patients to suss out what is fact from fiction when powerful advertising runs amok. Words like revolutionary and clinical trials and expert are consistently thrown around to confuse and can be a challenge for many to unpack accurately.

The authors provide in this graphic tangible ways to cut through the nonsense. By outing deceptive tactics used throughout the commercialization of these products and spreading these protective messages, patients can become empowered and the culture of fleecing might shift. Here, they point out a number of ways scientific integrity gets diminished:the use of renting space in academic facilities as a way to appear legitimate by association, suggestby having a patent application this means the product is proven or tested as opposed to just a sign of an initiation of applying, citing preclinical and other findings to rationalize clinical use without efficacy testing etc. (3) I would argue this list is an excellent tool that could be applied well beyond the stem cell industry. Interventions starting withthis listcould certainly support more honesty.

In conclusion

Though rarely a lover of regulation, in general, given the likelihood of overdoing it, creating more problemsand the tendency for many policies to be one-size-fits-all and misguided, in this realm the price people are paying as well as society could be too great to allow the wild west ways of the stem cell industry to continue as is. The authors in this work provide some meaningful measures to compel a more honest arena.

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Fraud Alert! Unproven Stem Cell Use Prompts International Call to Action - American Council on Science and Health

In a new studyin Nature Communications, Stephanopoulos and his colleague Ronit Freeman successfully demonstrated the ability to dynamically control the environment around stem cells, to guide their behavior in new and powerful ways. Credit: Northwestern University

What if one day, we could teach our bodies to self-heal like a lizard's tail, and make severe injury or disease no more threatening than a paper cut?

Or heal tissues by coaxing cells to multiply, repair or replace damaged regions in loved ones whose lives have been ravaged by stroke, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease?

Such is the vision, promise and excitement in the burgeoning field of regenerative medicine, now a major ASU initiative to boost 21st-century medical research discoveries.

ASU Biodesign Institute researcher Nick Stephanopoulos is one of several rising stars in regenerative medicine. In 2015, Stephanopoulos, along with Alex Green and Jeremy Mills, were recruited to the Biodesign Institute's Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics (CMDB), directed by Hao Yan, a world-recognized leader in nanotechnology.

"One of the things that that attracted me most to the ASU and the Biodesign CMDB was Hao's vision to build a group of researchers that use biological molecules and design principles to make new materials that can mimic, and one day surpass, the most complex functions of biology," Stephanopoulos said.

"I have always been fascinated by using biological building blocks like proteins, peptides and DNA to construct self-assembled structures, devices and materials, and the interdisciplinary and highly collaborative team in the CMDB is the ideal place to put this vision into practice."

Yan's research center uses DNA and other basic building blocks to build their nanotechnology structuresonly at a scale 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

They've already used nanotechnology to build containers to specially deliver drugs to tissues, build robots to navigate a maze or nanowires for electronics.

To build a manufacturing industry at that tiny scale, their bricks and mortar use a colorful assortment of molecular Legos. Just combine the ingredients, and these building blocks can self-assemble in a seemingly infinite number of ways only limited by the laws of chemistry and physicsand the creative imaginations of these budding nano-architects.

Learning from nature

"The goal of the Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics is to use nature's design rules as an inspiration in advancing biomedical, energy and electronics innovation through self-assembling molecules to create intelligent materials for better component control and for synthesis into higher-order systems," said Yan, who also holds the Milton Glick Chair in Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Prior to joining ASU, Stephanopoulos trained with experts in biological nanomaterials, obtaining his doctorate with the University of California Berkeley's Matthew Francis, and completed postdoctoral studies with Samuel Stupp at Northwestern University. At Northwestern, he was part of a team that developed a new category of quilt-like, self-assembling peptide and peptide-DNA biomaterials for regenerative medicine, with an emphasis in neural tissue engineering.

"We've learned from nature many of the rules behind materials that can self-assemble. Some of the most elegant complex and adaptable examples of self-assembly are found in biological systems," Stephanopoulos said.

Because they are built from the ground-up using molecules found in nature, these materials are also biocompatible and biodegradable, opening up brand-new vistas for regenerative medicine.

Stephanopoulos' tool kit includes using proteins, peptides, lipids and nucleic acids like DNA that have a rich biological lexicon of self-assembly.

"DNA possesses great potential for the construction of self-assembled biomaterials due to its highly programmable nature; any two strands of DNA can be coaxed to assemble to make nanoscale constructs and devices with exquisite precision and complexity," Stephanopoulos said.

Proof all in the design

During his time at Northwestern, Stephanopoulos worked on a number of projects and developed proof-of-concept technologies for spinal cord injury, bone regeneration and nanomaterials to guide stem cell differentiation.

Now, more recently, in a new study in Nature Communications, Stephanopoulos and his colleague Ronit Freeman in the Stupp laboratory successfully demonstrated the ability to dynamically control the environment around stem cells, to guide their behavior in new and powerful ways.

In the new technology, materials are first chemically decorated with different strands of DNA, each with a unique code for a different signal to cells.

To activate signals within the cells, soluble molecules containing complementary DNA strands are coupled to short protein fragments, called peptides, and added to the material to create DNA double helices displaying the signal.

By adding a few drops of the DNA-peptide mixture, the material effectively gives a green light to stem cells to reproduce and generate more cells. In order to dynamically tune the signal presentation, the surface is exposed to a soluble single-stranded DNA molecule designed to "grab" the signal-containing strand of the duplex and form a new DNA double helix, displacing the old signal from the surface.

This new duplex can then be washed away, turning the signal "off." To turn the signal back on, all that is needed is to now introduce a new copy of single-stranded DNA bearing a signal that will reattach to the material's surface.

One of the findings of this work is the possibility of using the synthetic material to signal neural stem cells to proliferate, then at a specific time selected by the scientist, trigger their differentiation into neurons for a while, before returning the stem cells to a proliferative state on demand.

One potential use of the new technology to manipulate cells could help cure a patient with neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's disease.

The patient's own skin cells could be converted to stem cells using existing techniques. The new technology could help expand the newly converted stem cells back in the laband then direct their growth into specific dopamine-producing neurons before transplantation back to the patient.

"People would love to have cell therapies that utilize stem cells derived from their own bodies to regenerate tissue," Stupp said. "In principle, this will eventually be possible, but one needs procedures that are effective at expanding and differentiating cells in order to do so. Our technology does that."

In the future, it might be possible to perform this process entirely within the body. The stem cells would be implanted in the clinic, encapsulated in the type of material described in the new work, and injected into a particular spot. Then the soluble peptide-DNA molecules would be given to the patient to bind to the material and manipulate the proliferation and differentiation of transplanted cells.

Scaling the barriers

One of the future challenges in this area will be to develop materials that can respond better to external stimuli and reconfigure their physical or chemical properties accordingly.

"Biological systems are complex, and treating injury or disease will in many cases necessitate a material that can mimic the complex spatiotemporal dynamics of the tissues they are used to treat," Stephanopoulos said.

It is likely that hybrid systems that combine multiple chemical elements will be necessary; some components may provide structure, others biological signaling and yet others a switchable element to imbue dynamic ability to the material.

A second challenge, and opportunity, for regenerative medicine lies in creating nanostructures that can organize material across multiple length scales. Biological systems themselves are hierarchically organized: from molecules to cells to tissues, and up to entire organisms.

Consider that for all of us, life starts simple, with just a single cell. By the time we reach adulthood, every adult human body is its own universe of cells, with recent estimates of 37 trillion or so. The human brain alone has 100 billion cells or about the same number of cells as stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

But over the course of a life, or by disease, whole constellations of cells are lost due to the ravages of time or the genetic blueprints going awry.

Collaborative DNA

To overcome these obstacles, much more research funding and recruitment of additional talent to ASU will be needed to build the necessary regenerative medicine workforce.

Last year, Stephanopoulos' research received a boost with funding from the U.S. Air Force's Young Investigator Research Program (YIP).

"The Air Force Office of Scientific Research YIP award will facilitate Nick's research agenda in this direction, and is a significant recognition of his creativity and track record at the early stage of his careers," Yan said.

They'll need this and more to meet the ultimate challenge in the development of self-assembled biomaterials and translation to clinical applications.

Buoyed by the funding, during the next research steps, Stephanopoulos wants to further expand horizons with collaborations from other ASU colleagues to take his research team's efforts one step closer to the clinic.

"ASU and the Biodesign Institute also offer world-class researchers in engineering, physics and biology for collaborations, not to mention close ties with the Mayo Clinic or a number of Phoenix-area institutes so we can translate our materials to medically relevant applications," Stephanopoulos said.

There is growing recognition that regenerative medicine in the Valley could be a win-win for the area, in delivering new cures to patients and building, person by person, a brand-new medicinal manufacturing industry.

Explore further: New technology to manipulate cells could help treat Parkinson's, arthritis, other diseases

More information: Ronit Freeman et al. Instructing cells with programmable peptide DNA hybrids, Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15982

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Bio-inspired materials give boost to regenerative medicine - Medical Xpress

A darling British biotech that is working on the development of the worlds leading gene therapy for cancer has posted reduced losses and a leap in sales.

Oxford BioMedica signed a deal worth up to $100m (77m) with Swiss drugs giant Novartis last month to supply cell material for its potential blockbuster treatment, known as CTL019, for a type of leukaemia.

The living drug was recommended for approval by US regulators in June, with a final determination expected this autumn.

It would be the first gene therapy for cancer and if approved is expected to generate a spike in revenues for Oxford BioMedica, with the potential for further tie-ups on other cancer treatments.

Oxford BioMedica is also trialling its lentiviral vectors, which help manipulate genes, in potential treatments for Parkinsons Disease and an eye condition.

In half-year results today, Oxford BioMedica pared back losses to 2.2m, compared to 6.9m in the red the previous year. Revenues jumped 26pc to 15.7m.

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Gene therapy darling Oxford BioMedica pares losses - Telegraph.co.uk

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GAINESVILLE, Florida Imagine only being able to see the things in front of you in soft focus, and just in black and white.

For people with the genetic eye condition achromatopsia, those are just some of the side effects.

Each time Tara Cataldo prepares to leave her house, she has to make sure her face is completely shielded from the sun.

"I need to have very dark, very tinted sunglasses to feel comfortable outside, to see really well," said Tara.

Tara has achromatopsia, a genetic condition that makes her eyes incredibly sensitive to light.She is also very nearsighted; even while wearing glasses or contacts, she can only see clearly at a very short distance.

"I cannot drive a car so I rely on public transportation and my bike to get around," she said.

"There are currently no approved or no effective treatments for achromatopsia," said Dr. Christine Kay, a surgical ophthalmologist at the University of Florida.

But she's working to change that.

She is one of a handful of experts testing a gene therapy.

"For achromatopsia the cells we have to target are cone cells responsible for decreased vision and color vision. and those are cells at the very bottom layer of the retina," explained Dr. Kay.

Using a tiny cannula, doctors deliver a normal copy of one of two mutated genes, the CNGA-3 or CNGB-3 gene, directly into the eye to restore vision.

Tara`s myopia is so severe that her risk of retinal detachment from any retinal surgery is high, which rules her out for the current trial.

In the meantime, Tara says she's learned to adapt to achromatopsia and live without limitations.

"And I hope, ya know, all young achromats, ya know, learn the same thing."

Dr Kay says if the gene could eventually be delivered to the surface of the retina, additional patients, like Tara, could be treated. AGTC, the biotech company that developed the therapies, and several U.S. universities have successfully tested this therapy in dogs and sheep.

NEW TECHNOLOGY: A new clinical trial is underway testing gene therapy for achromatopsia. The genes are responsible for releasing proteins essential for the function of all the cells. Researchers remove the virus from the host DNA so it does not have the capacity to make the patient sick, and then insert the gene of interest into the DNA. Surgically done by a vitro retinal surgeon, the gene is then directly delivered to the retinal tissue. Researchers try to avoid directly touching the retina, to avoid detaching it and keep the surgery less evasive. The CNGA3 or CNGB3 gene would help restore the patient`s vision. This can only be done on certain patients; those with extremely severe achromatopsia are not able to participate in this trial because of the risk of retinal rupturing.

If this story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Jim Mertens at jim.mertens@wqad.com or Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com.

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YOUR HEALTH Gene therapy for better eyesight - WQAD.com

Investment Thesis

With an undervalued stock, a critically-acclaimed drug leading in its space and a barrage of financial and expertise-based backing, Sangamo Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SGMO) is the ideal vehicle for exposure to a market with high growth potential and a hedge against the antiquated methods (CRISPR/Cas9) of treating hemophilia. The same method has also been found to work to a high degree of accuracy on other genetic disorders.

Sangamo Therapeutics' accomplishments to date have helped to draw integrity to its operations and raise its profile against common competitors in the space (QURE, GSK, ONCE, BMRN, BLUE, BIVV (a pure-play hemophilia company). Principally, Sangamo has secured an exclusivity agreement (and subsequent vote of confidence) from Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) (also once a competitor) regarding the development and commercialization of gene therapy programs for hemophilia A (SB-525), which affects 85% of hemophilia sufferers (Nelson Pediatrics), bagging $70 million upfront and a potential $475 million in milestones and royalties (Reuters). (The Zinc Finger Protein Nuclease technology method adopted is targeted at diseases which are caused by genetic defects, as their removal is known to respond best to gene editing targeting, in particular, tauopathies, thalassemias, hemophilia, and HIV/AIDS).

The company's strong balance sheet was further bolstered by a raise of circa $78.1 million through public offering at a price of $7.25 per share, with a revised analyst share price target estimates from Jefferies LLC of $17 per share (jefferies.com), as a "financial investment hedge against emerging gene-editing technology of CRISPR," the CRISPR/Cas9 system, has seen less successful testing, coupled with scientific criticism for its reported high incidence of nonspecific DNA cleavage, mosaicism (failure to replicate mutant alleles in only some of the cells) and inversely, and overproduction of mutations in a given organism.

SGMO's latest 10-Q (SEC.gov):

In the context of gene therapy, Sangamo ($707.16 million market cap) (capitaliq.com) was the only firm with innovative gene therapy drugs to advance in two clinical trials (namely the SB-728-T program in the Sangamo ZFP Therapeutic Pipeline targeting HIV/AIDS), and the first to conduct genome editing studies in clinical trials, as covered in the Financial Times. The stock's performance has been volatile, and investors were disinclined to back the drug lottery in gene therapy as biotech became heavily saturated in players, regulations and setbacks, stunting the prospect of any tangible advancement.

Sangamo has jumped on the "radar" to become a buy. The FDA has authorized Fast Track designation, the scientific backing is legitimate (and has received industry-wide appraisal), the longer-term targets look plausible and Sangamo's management and consultants are capable of executing given their credentials and two decades of development.

By all measures of valuation, Sangamo is undervalued, and price-action enthusiasts will recognize the surge in trading volumes and the breaking of the 50-day moving average. Early riders would have capitalized on the short-term price depression triggered by the publicizing of the mucopolysaccharidosis Type I (MPS I) and MPS II delay, an overreaction from the market that posed a great value opportunity at the beginning of this month, whose benefits were felt just last week when the stock surged on the impressive FIH results.

Gene therapy (and emicizumab) renders recombinant factor VIII/IX proteins redundant. This a slice of the industry that is represented by $8-10 billion annually (with 90%+ profit margins) shared by Shire (NASDAQ:SHPG), Bayer (OTCPK:BAYRY), Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO), Pfizer and Bioverativ (NASDAQ:BIVV), an overvalued stock whose current operations consist entirely of the moribund method of treating hemophilia - a potential sell. It recently acquired True North and thus entering into cold agglutinin disease market, a result of severe hemolytic anemia.

Sangamo now has the backing and leeway to make its drugs commercially viable, magnetizing further interest - 48 institutions have increased their respective positions in SGMO, with Wasatch and BlackRock leading the pack. The smart money and medical experts are backing Sangamo.

Bold tickers indicate potential buys should this thesis play out as predicted.

This is not investment advice, you are advised to carry out your own due diligence.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Read the original here:
Sangamo Therapeutics: The Breakthrough In Gene Therapy - Seeking Alpha

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. A Russian gene therapy drug for individuals infected with HIV called Dinavir is undergoing pre-clinical trials, and the drug has already proved its efficiency on cells. The pre-clinical tests on animal models, clinical trials and the registration procedure may take up to 10 years, senior research fellow at the Epidemiology Central Research Institute of Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service on Surveillance for Customers Rights Protection and Human Well-Being) Dina Glazkova told TASS.

"This is not about the next year, but rather in five years, at the earliest. It takes up to 10 years on the average," she said.

Glazkova reiterated that the registration is made after the clinical trials. "Again, the clinical trials are costly, and the drug production is costly as well," the scientist added.

Dinavir proved to be safe while tested on cells, in vitro. A Phase II pre-clinical trial will utilize animal models to test the efficiency and safety of treatment. A Phase I clinical trial will be carried out on humans to test safety of the therapy and will take up not less than a year.

"Phase II takes up two to three years, and it is unclear how much will be required from us. Phase I is about safety, and it takes a few patients: five, maybe ten. Phase II is when we have to prove that the drug works in these five to ten [patients] and that it had a positive effect on them. Phase III is when we enroll a lot of patients [in the trial] to show that the five were cured not by accident and that it [the gene therapy] really works," Glazkova explained.

The gene therapy for HIV treatment is being developed by a group of researches at the Epidemiology Central Research Institute of Rospotrebnadzor.

Original post:
Scientists foresee Russian gene therapy for HIV cure may be registered in 5-10 years - TASS

Whether youre diabetic, youre caring for a person in one of the various stages of the disease or you simply want to maintain a healthy lifestyle Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) in Solvang is offering free nutrition and diabetes education classes.

Beginning Sept. 1, the community hospital, located at 2050 Viborg Road, is hosting the classes to encourage healthy eating habits and diabetes management for all ages.

Led by clinical dietitian Stacey Bailey, the support classes will be held in the hospitals conference room (enter through the Physicians Clinic). No RSVP is required and participants can bring their own lunch to eat during class.

People have so many concerns about food types, preparation, diets and supplements, said Bailey, M.S., R.D. and C.D.E. Please join me as I share some tips during these informal, free classes.

Bailey, who joined SYVCH as clinical dietitian in August 2011, provides inpatient and outpatient dietary management and counseling services. She also assists in the formulation of meal and menu planning specifically for the hospital.

SYVCH reports it treated 72,000 patients through its 24-hour emergency departments and helped deliver 2,400 newborns. One-on-one nutrition sessions with Bailey are available with a doctors referral.

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We are delighted to be able to offer these free, educational and fun classes taught by our popular clinical dietitian Stacey Bailey," said Wende Cappetta, SYVCHs vice president. We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to learn how to achieve improved health and wellness with better food choices.

For more information, contact Bailey directly at 805-694-2351.

Continue reading here:
Free nutrition and diabetes classes offered | Local News ... - Lompoc Record

GENEVA Fifty-five participants. Almost 500 pounds of weight loss. A nearly 90 percent attendance rate.

Based on those numbers, Finger Lakes Health employees are calling their inaugural diabetes prevention program a resounding success and looking forward to the next session in September.

We had a great experience and met our expectations in every way, said Christina Ganzon, a registered dietitian at FL Healths Diabetes Care Center in Geneva. People really enjoyed the program, thought it was very beneficial and led to a healthier lifestyle.

The free 16-week program, developed by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is geared to prevent diabetes and other chronic diseases. Classes were held from January to June at the diabetes center on West North Street and FL Healths Lifecare Medical Associates practice in Seneca Falls.

Fifty-five people took part in three classes. While they were required to attend at least nine of the 16 classes, Ganzon said the average attendance was 14 out of 16 weeks an 88-percent rate.

I was a little bit nervous about the attendance, because attendance and weight loss are two data points the CDC really focuses on ... and people sometimes join things and dont always stick with it, she said. To have an average of 14 out of 16 weeks was great. We really tried to make the program active, doing a grocery store tour and a cooking demonstration.

The goal of the program is to make lifestyle changes and lose weight to prevent the onset of diabetes. Collectively, participants lost 482 pounds an average of 8.8 pounds per person.

According to the CDC, more than 9 percent of Americans (29.1 million people) are diagnosed with diabetes, and the disease has dramatically driven up health care costs. The program involves group meetings led by lifestyle coaches (registered nurses, certified diabetes educators and dietitians) in an effort to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Other members of the FL Health team along with Ganzon are Family Nurse Practitioner Rhonda Solomon, director of the diabetes center; Cheryl Andreas, a registered nurse; and diabetes educators Pat Cochrane and Amanda Tourtellotte.

The center provides a team of medical professionals with advanced education and experience in the field of diabetes. The philosophy of the center is based on the fact that diabetes is a complex disease that requires multiple professionals working together to make sure diabetics are getting the best care.

FL Health will start the next round of classes in mid-September (see accompanying article), as CDC guidelines call for a one-year commitment by local health agencies. Ganzon said Finger Lakes Health, which includes Soldiers & Sailors Hospital in Penn Yan, is looking to start the program in Yates County this fall but the time has not yet been determined.

Ganzon added that participants during the first session had plenty of support from family and friends. Those who came to classes alone soon found comrades in the group setting.

We had couples come in together, friends that came together, she said. Other people formed connections from being in the program. They would see each other at the grocery store, stop and talk about what they were buying. Some ended up becoming walking partners and others started going to the gym together. They bonded and started supporting one another.

Read the rest here:
FL Health diabetes program a success | Geneva | fltimes.com - Finger Lakes Times

Diabetes is one of the largest health issues of the 21st century. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly29 million peoplehave diabetes in the U.S. 9.3 percent of the population.

How does the U.S. compare to other nations when it comes to levels of diabetes? Usingdata from theInternational Diabetes Federationto find the countries and territories with the highest rates of diabetes in 2015 (the most recent year available), the following is a ranking of countries with the highest diabetes rates in the world.

The report from the IDF includes levels of diabetes prevalence for people aged 20 to 79, as well as the number of diabetes-related fatalities and total number of diabetes cases. The IDF prevalence figures are age-adjusted to account for different age structures in various countries. For context, also included is the average amount spent per person with diabetes for each country, as reported by the IDF. These amounts are measured in international dollars, a hypothetical currency with the same purchasing power parity of U.S. dollars in the U.S. at a given point in time.

The data from the IDF includes the prevalence of bothType 1 and Type 2 diabetes(either diagnosed or undiagnosed). Type 1 occurs when the pancreas makes insufficient insulin; Type 2, the more common variety, occurs when the body has difficulty producing and using insulin.

The ranking is dominated by small island nations, particularly in the Pacific Islands. Many countries in this region have dealt withmalnutrition and inadequate food labeling, especially as they import more processed food. Countries in the Middle East also showed reported elevated levels of diabetes. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar all made the top 10.

Note: Ties are broken by the number of diabetes-related deaths. There are countries where certain variables are not monitored and could not be extrapolated accurately by the IDF; these were therefore left blank.

Originally posted here:
The 25 countries with the highest diabetes rates - Fremont Tribune

A new initiative between IBM and JDRF, one of the leading groups funding the fight against type 1 diabetes, will apply machine learning to troves of worldwide research data accumulated over the years with the aim of uncovering commonalities that could point to diabetes risks in children.

The partnership is meant to give type 1 diabetes a foothold in emerging precision medicine efforts, officials say, combining JDRF's global research with the computing power of IBM.

Scientists will start by examining three separate data sets, applying algorithms to help spotlight certain patterns or common factors that might identify ways to delay or prevent type 1 diabetes in kids. The analytics tools will mine genetic, familial, autoantibody and other data to arrive at a set of features that is common to all three data sets.

[Also:IBM Watson thinks it can use AI to fight opioid addiction]

The models that emerge should quantify the risk for juvenile diabetes from the combined dataset using this foundational set of features, officials say. That will enable JDRF to better identify top predictive risk factors, cluster patients based on them and explore a number of data-driven models for predicting onset.

A bit further on, the partners have eyes toward putting big data to work helping understand root causes of type 1 diabetes and hope to apply analytics to more complex datasets, such as microbiome and genomics or transcriptomics data. The hope, of course, is to eventually put the insights gleaned from these projects toward a cure.

"JDRF supports researchers all over the world, but never before have we been able to analyze their data comprehensively, in a way that can tell us why some children who are at risk get T1D and others do not," said JDRF CEO Derek Rapp in a statement. "IBM's analysis of the existing data could open the door to understanding the risk factors of T1D in a whole new way, and to one day finding a way to prevent T1D altogether."

"Nearly 40,000 new cases of type 1 diabetes will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. And each new patient creates new records and new data points that, if leveraged, could provide additional understanding of the disease," said Jianying Hu, senior manager and program director at IBM Research's Center for Computational Health.

"The deep expertise our team has in artificial intelligence applied to healthcare data makes us uniquely positioned to help JDRF unlock the insights hidden in this massive data set and advance the field of precision medicine towards the prevention and management of diabetes," he said

Twitter:@MikeMiliardHITNEmail the writer: mike.miliard@himssmedia.com

Excerpt from:
IBM aims machine learning at type 1 diabetes with JDRF partnership - Healthcare IT News

Cutting back on sugar? So is much of the world.

The changecan be attributed to several factors, according to a new report from Rabobank,including warnings about rising obesity rates, government initiatives like soda taxes, and manufacturers commitments to reformulatingprocessed foods to lower their sugar content.

Nor are emerging markets likely to provide a robustalternative for the sugar industry. Rising incomes tend to slow the consumption ofprocessed foods, and sugar with them.

This whole movement has gone beyond the fad stage and become a trend, saidAndy Duff, a global strategist at RaboResearchand an author of the report. It does give the market a shake. Were saying its something you shouldnt dismiss.

The trend is evident at the grocery store and in the news.Snacks are getting healthier. People are drinking less soda. Processed foods once heavy on the corn syrupare being replaced with those bearingclean labels and shorter ingredients listsso artificial sweeteners arent taking sugars place.

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U.S. cities from Oakland to Philadelphiahave started taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, as have countries around the world, including Mexico, where two-thirds of the adult population is obese, and Mauritius, which has a major sugar-producing industry. Companiesare trying to meet consumer demands by announcing cuts to their sugar usage, with reductions or planned reductions coming from Mars Inc., Kellogg Co., Unilever NV, and plenty more.

Rising incomes incountries where sugar consumption has been growingare changing consumer habits, moving those regions from what the report calls sugarsrapid-growth zone to the moderate-growth zone.RaboResearch concludes thatthe rate of growth of global sugar consumption in the coming 15 years is likely to be lower than the growth rate seen in the last 15 years.

Because nobody directly measures sugar consumption, Duff said,were operating against a considerable degree of uncertainty.He stressedthat sugar consumption is still expected to grow, just at a slower pace than would have been projected a decade ago.

Were not talking about a reversal here, he said, predicting insteadshort-term turbulence and lower growth in the future.

Read more:
Sugar Consumption Is Slowing Amid Obesity and Diabetes ... - Bloomberg

During my nurse residency program, I listened to a lecture about diabetes and what people with the disease live with every day. Only months later, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

At first I was devastated, but quickly realized I was not alone. About one in seven U.S. adults have diabetes, and California has the most new cases annually of any state. Diabetes is a chronic condition, so meticulous monitoring and management of blood-sugar levels is the key to avoiding complications. In the first year after my diagnosis, it was hard to get my levels just right. Thats when I turned to a continuous glucose monitoring system, which uses alarms and alerts when blood glucose reaches a life-threatening level.

But tens of thousands of Californians with diabetes senior citizens, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities cannot access these life-saving devices because while they are covered by health insurance for people like me, they arent covered by Medi-Cal.

Assembly Bill 447, which is making its way through the Legislature, would require Medi-Cal to cover continuous glucose monitors. AB 447 would not only help improve the lives of Medi-Cal patients, but also would help lower health care spending and save taxpayer money.

Health care costs for people with diabetes is 2.3 times higher than for those without, and a UCLA study found that 75 percent of hospital costs for patients with diabetes is paid by taxpayers. Patients without the glucose monitors are more likely to experience complications such as stroke, kidney disease, amputations and blindness. If AB 447 becomes law, the long-term savings would dwarf the short-term costs.

As a diabetes nurse educator and someone who manages diabetes every day, I can tell you that passing this bill will change the lives and improve the health of tens of thousands of low-income and senior Californians. AB 447 has bipartisan support, and if it reaches Gov. Jerry Browns desk, he should sign this lifesaving bill into law.

Read the original here:
Diabetes monitor bill will cut costs and save lives - Sacramento Bee

Of all the medical tests expectant mothers undergo in the months before childbirth, perhaps one of the most important evaluates for gestational diabetes. This pregnancy-related conditionin which hormonal changes cause blood sugar levels to rise dangerouslyis increasingly common, but moms-to-be can still take key steps to protect their health and that of their babies.

According to a 2016 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 9 percent of pregnant women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The condition used to be relatively uncommon, but the rate has risen dramatically in recent years.

To evaluate for gestational diabetes, women between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy undergo a routine screening. This test is performed earlier in pregnancy if certain risk factors are present, inclusive of:

African-American, Native-American, Asian-American, Hispanic or Pacific Islander ethnicity

History of gestational diabetes

Presence of obesity

Prior delivery of a large infant (10 pounds or more)

History of stillbirth

Strong family history of diabetes

The test involves drinking a bottle of a glucose solution (called Glucola), and having blood drawn an hour later to analyze glucose levels. If a womans blood sugar is higher than 135 mg/dL, shes referred for whats called an oral glucose tolerance testa more stringent screening involving an overnight fast, consuming another glucose solution and having blood drawn four times over three hours. An abnormal result confirms the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes risks to mother and baby

Why is it important to test blood sugar levels during pregnancy? Because when levels rise and remain chronically high, gestational diabetes poses particular risks to both mom and baby.

Associated risks to the mother include the following:

Miscarriage

Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, a condition involving seriously high blood pressure that can harm both mother and child

Premature delivery, particularly if gestational diabetes is diagnosed before 24 weeks gestation

Delivering an overweight baby (more than 10 pounds), which raises the risk of requiring a cesarean birth

Associated risks to the baby include the following:

Fetal death caused by the excessively high sugar levels in the mothers blood

Birth-related injuries caused by larger size

Low blood sugar and electrolyte abnormalities in the neonate after birth

Premature birth

Temporary respiratory problems in the newborn

Jaundice or yellowing of the skin, which resolves with treatment

Unfortunately, not all risks to mom and baby from gestational diabetes disappear after childbirth. Half or more of women diagnosed with the condition during pregnancy will eventually develop type 2 diabetes. Research shows that children of women with gestational diabetes are at higher risks of developing type 2 diabetes.

Tips to control gestational diabetes

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, theres a lot that can be done to protect both moms and babys health despite the condition. Some cases can be managed without prescribing insulin. Implementation of regular exercise and dietary changes can effect good glucose control. Eating fewer sweets and smaller, more frequent meals can greatly affect blood sugar levels for the better.

Checking blood sugars regularly is an important tactic to ensure levels stay stable. Additionally, its important that you bring your sugar log to each prenatal visit, so your health provider can monitor your progress. If insulin is recommended by your doctor, make sure you take it as prescribed.

Kecia Gaither, M.D., MPH, FACOG, a perinatal consultant and womens health expert, is a double board-certified physician in OB/GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine in New York City. http://www.keciagaither.com

Read this article:
Gestational diabetes: Tips for a healthy mom and baby - Amsterdam News

Fredonia alumni Nick Catanzaro, 13, with Dr. Deborah Good, 87, at Virginia Tech, having fun celebrating last falls #FREDlanthropy Day.

A Fredonia alumnus, now a graduate student at Virginia Tech, has been awarded a fellowship to investigate a virus responsible for significant economic losses in the swine industry.

Nicholas Catanzaro, of Lewiston, N.Y., completed a bachelors degree in Molecular Genetics at Fredonia in 2013. He first visited Virginia Tech during the summer of 2012 to participate in Research Experiences for Undergraduates, a 10-week summer program that introduced him to microbiology research at the university.

Mr. Catanzaro credited his undergraduate professors at Fredonia with preparing him for the next step in his studies. Through integrative and engaging experiences in both the classroom and lab, I learned valuable skills and techniques that allowed me to hit the ground running upon starting my dissertation research, Catanzaro said. However, it was the environment and culture at Fredonia, especially within the Biology department, that prepared me the most. The people around me, both my peers and professors, made science exciting and motivated me to learn.

Catanzaro, a Ph.D. student in the Virginia Tech Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, hopes his research on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) will eventually help scientists develop safer, better vaccines. He was recently awarded a two-year, $95,000 fellowship from the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture for his research.

This is one of the most economically devastating global swine pathogens and causes more than $600 million in economic losses in the United States alone each year, Catanzaro said. My fellowship looks at how the virus causes disease in pigs. Thats important because scientists are trying to make safer, more-effective vaccines for pigs against the virus.

First discovered in 1987, PRRSV causes reproductive failures in pregnant sows and respiratory disease in young piglets. Although it has similarities to the Coronaviridae family of viruses, which include the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), it cannot spread from animals to humans and poses no food safety threat.

Catanzaros interest in research peaked during his time at Fredonia, he said. During my junior and senior years at Fredonia, I worked on an undergraduate research project with Dr. Theodore Lee, Cantanzaro said. We were interested in microbial communities involved in a unique geological process along the banks of Canadaway Creek. This research experience allowed me to apply the skills and techniques discussed in the classroom to a real world problem. In working with Dr. Lee, I realized research was something I enjoyed and would like to pursue as a career.

Thanks to his Fredonia undergraduate degree, Catanzaro is able to do just that.

Reprinted in part with permission from Virginia Tech University.

The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation is offering a Grant Writing Workshop on Oct. 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. This ...

SILVER CREEK Two sessions of the five-hour pre-licensing course will be offered by the Community Education ...

Oct. 19-22Unless otherwise noted, reservations for events may be made at: http://alumni.fredonia.edu/Events.aspx. ...

Originally posted here:
Science graduate helps to conquer a global problem - Evening Observer

TOM MULHOLLAND

Last updated05:00, August 20 2017

123RF

If I had a belief that vaccination was harmful, I wouldn't vaccinate my kids or myself.

Belief is an interesting thing. It is the cause of much of the conflict in the world, our communities, and in our own homes. It can seriously affect our wellbeing. Current conflict of beliefs sees war, fatal riots in the US, and political resignations and resurrections in our own land.

Beliefs are layered down and they become more deeply entrenched through a process known as the Ladder of Inference. Beliefs can cause actions or inactions, such as vaccinating or not vaccinating yourselves or your children.

For years, I believed vaccination was relatively safe and prevented terrible diseases. I vaccinated myself, my children and thousands of patients in my medical practices. The belief was based on what I had learnt in getting a FirstClass Honours degree in molecular genetics, a further five years of study to get my medical degree then about 10 years' clinical experience as a doctor.

READ MORE:*Dr Cathy Stephenson: Vaccinations are part of a 'bigger picture'*Vaxxed: A view from both sides of the debate*To frame anti-vaccine rhetoric as 'debate' is dangerous and wrong

So, my belief was seriously challenged with news that vaccination could potentially be linked to autism. I felt sick. I couldn't sleep. I became a doctor to help people, not harm them, myself or my own children. Contrary to some beliefs, we don't become doctors to work for pharmaceutical companies and we are not rewarded by them with perks and overseas travel.

So how could this be? I needed to know more what research was out there to suggest or prove a link with vaccination and autism. My enquiry over 10 years ago showed there was no link and in 2010 the original study was discredited and the author criticised for serious misconduct.

Proper studies of 500,000 Danish children, 27,000 Canadian children and Japanese children have shown no link with vaccination and autism. To my medical and scientific brain there is no link: vaccination is safe while not vaccinating is unsafe and dangerous. As I write this article, there are reports of vaccinations rates being below 60 per centin some areas, and diseases like polio are making a return.

If I had a belief that vaccination was harmful, I wouldn't vaccinate my kids or myself. Whilewriting this article I did a Google search on vaccination and autism. One site listed a number of scientific papers supporting the argument. Now, reading scientific papers is hard work even for someone who has spent their life doing so. The terms and names of compounds and cellular processes are confusing and hard to make sense of. But whatI could make sense of, was that the articles had nothing to do with vaccination and autism together but definitions of cellular pathways unrelated to either entity.

So, this strengthens thebelief that, as a scientist, as a father and as a doctor, vaccination is not only safe, but vital for our health and wellbeing, both as individuals and as communities.

My belief is also that we should debate the issue not the characters of the people who have conflicting beliefs. Some people have a belief in a sentinel being in the sky, in a god or gods they have never seen. To try and argue otherwise can be frustrating for both sides. If their beliefs don't create actions that impede others wellbeing, they are both entitled to them.

It's when a belief causes harm to others and especially unprotected infants who don't yet have beliefs that the debate can get heated.

The key is education without judgement. In simple terms, play the ball and not the individual, understand their beliefs and re-examine your own, whatever they may be.

Dr Tom Mulholland is an Emergency Department doctor and GP with more than 25 years' experience in New Zealand. He's currently on a mission, tackling health missions around the world.

-Stuff

Read more from the original source:
Dr Tom: Why I believe in vaccinations - Stuff.co.nz

Molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine major Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN - Free Report) achieved another milestone as its EndoPredict test got positive coverage decision from Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor that assesses molecular diagnostic technologies.

Notably, EndoPredict is Myriad Genetics next-generation, multigene prognostic test for breast cancer.The test provides information to help doctors devise personalized treatment plans.

Following the full implementation of these decisions, Myriad Genetics will have coverage for over 90% of breast cancer patients post implementation of these decisions.

Considering that EndoPredict has been used clinically in more than 15,000 patients, we areconfident about the growing adaptability of this test post the Medicare coverage approval.

As per a report provided by GBI Research, the global breast cancer treatment market will reach a worth of $17.2 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 7.3%. Thus, the company clearly has bountiful prospects in this market.

Also, we note that the company has recently received extended Medicare coverage for its Prolasis test.

In this regard we note that, for the past three months, Myriad Genetics has been trading above the broader industry. The stock has gained 32.2%, higher than the industrys gain of 4.5%.

Recent Developments

Myriad Genetics announced that its BRACAnalysis CDxcompanion diagnostic test successfully identifiedBRCA-mutated patients with HER2- metastatic breast cancer in the OlympiAD trial who responded better to treatment with olaparib than standard chemotherapy.

Also, Myriad Genetics presented favorable findings from its BRACAnalysis CDx test which successfully identified patients with metastatic breast cancer in Phase 3 OlympiAD Study.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Myriad Genetics carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked medical stocks are IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX - Free Report), Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (LNTH - Free Report) and Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN - Free Report). Align Technology sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Lantheus Holdings and IDEXX Laboratories carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You canseethe complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Align Technology has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 26.6%. The stock has rallied roughly 22.3% over the last three months.

Lantheus Holdings has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 12.5%. The stock has gained 70.4% over the last six months.

IDEXX Laboratories has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 19.8%. The stock has gained around 6.8% over the last six months.

4 Surprising Tech Stocks to Keep an Eye on

Tech stocks have been a major force behind the markets record highs, but picking the best ones to buy can be tough. Theres a simple way to invest in the success of the entire sector. Zacks has just released a Special Report revealing one thing tech companies literally cannot function without. More importantly, it reveals 4 top stocks set to skyrocket on increasing demand for these devices. I encourage you to get the report now before the next wave of innovations really takes off.

See Stocks Now>>

Read more:
Myriad Genetics' EndoPredict Gets Positive Coverage Decision - Zacks.com

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Aug 18, 2017) - The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) released today its most recent quarterly data report, offering an in-depth look at cell therapy, gene therapy, tissue engineering and broader global regenerative medicine sector trends and metrics in the second quarter and first half of 2017.

Using information provided by ARM's data partner Informa, the quarterly data report details industry-specific statistics compiled from more than 822 cell therapy, gene therapy, tissue engineering and other regenerative medicine companies worldwide, including total financings, partnerships and other deals, clinical trial information, key clinical data events and current legislative and regulatory priorities.

The Q2 2017 data report also features expert perspectives from ARM member representatives and other key stakeholders, highlighting important focus areas for the sector:

Expert perspective on the growing interest and advantages of induced pluripotent stem cells as a therapeutic platform, with insights from:

Addressing the unique aspects of market access and reimbursement policy for cell and gene therapies, with insights from:

"At mid-point 2017, this sector has nearly or actually surpassed 2016 year-end totals by several metrics, signifying a renewed uptick in dealmaking and partnering activity across the sector," said Janet Lynch Lambert, ARM's Chief Executive Officer. "We are looking forward to an eventful second half of the year, with several anticipated high-profile product approvals and additional clinical progress in several key therapeutic areas."

Highlighted findings from the Q2 2017 data report include:

ARM will continue to update this information through new reports to be released after the close of each quarter, tracking sector performance, key financial information, clinical trial numbers and clinical data events.

The report is available online here. For more information, please visit http://www.alliancerm.org or contact Lyndsey Scull at lscull@alliancerm.org.

About The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) is an international multi-stakeholder advocacy organization that promotes legislative, regulatory and reimbursement initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine worldwide. ARM also works to increase public understanding of the field and its potential to transform human healthcare, providing business development and investor outreach services to support the growth of its member companies and research organizations. Prior to the formation of ARM in 2009, there was no advocacy organization operating in Washington, D.C. to specifically represent the interests of the companies, research institutions, investors and patient groups that comprise the entire regenerative medicine community. Today, ARM has more than 270 members and is the leading global advocacy organization in this field. To learn more about ARM or to become a member, visit http://www.alliancerm.org

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The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine Releases Q2 2017 Data ... - Benzinga