StemCell Therapy

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How this report will benefit you:

Read on to discover how you can exploit the future business opportunities emerging in this sector.

In this brand-new127 page reportyou will receive70 charts- all unavailable elsewhere.

The127-page report provides clear detailed insight into the gene therapy market. Discover the key drivers and challenges affecting the market.

By ordering and reading our brand-new report today you stay better informed and ready to act.

Report Scope:

Gene Therapy market forecastsfrom2017-2027

This reportassesses the approved gene therapy productsin the market and givesrevenue to 2027 for Neovasculgen

Providesqualitative analysis and forecastof thesubmarket by indicationfor the period 2017-2027: Cancer Cardiovascular disorders Rare diseases Ophthalmological diseases Other therapeutic uses

Profilesleading companiesthat will be important in the development of the gene therapy market. For each company, developments and outlooks are discussed and companies covered in this chapter include: UniQure Biogen Bluebird Bio Spark Therapeutics Applied Genetics Technologies Corporation Oxford Biomedica GenSight Biologics

Assesses the outlook for theleading gene treatment R&D pipelinefor 2016 and discusses technological progress and potential. Profiles appear for gene therapy drug candidates, withrevenue forecasts for six leading agents: SPK-RPE65 (Spark Therapeutics) Collategene (AMG0001, AnGes MG/Vical) Invossa (TissueGene-C, TissueGene Inc/Kolon Life Science) BC-819 (BioCancell) Lenti-D (Bluebird Bio) GSK2696273 (GlaxoSmithKline)

Provides qualitative analysis of trends that will affect the gene therapies market, from the perspective of pharmaceutical companies, during the period 2017 to 2027.SWOT analysisis provided andan overview of regulation of the gene therapy market by leading regiongiven.

Our study discussesfactors that influence the marketincluding these: Translation of research into marketable products modifying human DNA - gene transfer for therapeutic use, altering the nuclear genome Genomic editing technology and other supporting components Collaborations to develop and launch gene-based products - acquisitions and licensing deals Supporting technologies for human genetic modification, gene replacement and targeted drug delivery Gene therapies for ophthalmologic diseases - next-generation medicines Regulations in the United States, the European Union and Japan - overcoming technological and medical challenges to pass clinical trials.

Visiongain's study is intended for anyone requiring commercial analyses for the gene therapy market. You find data, trends and predictions.

Buy our report todayGene Therapy R&D and Revenue Forecasts 2017-2027: Cancer, Cardiovascular, Rare Diseases, Ophthalmologic, Other Diseases.

To request a report overview of this report please email Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongain.com or call Tel: +44-(0)-20-7336-6100

Or click on https://www.visiongain.com/Report/1954/Gene-Therapy-R-D-and-Revenue-Forecasts-2017-2027

List of Companies and Organisations Mentioned in the Report:

Active Medical, Inc.

AngioDynamics, Inc.

Aspen Laboratories

AtriCure, Inc.

Barcapel Foundation

Biosense Webster, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)

BSD Medical Corporation

C.R. Bard

Cosman medical, Inc.

Covidien

DFINE, Inc.

Endosense SA

Ethicon

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Galil medical, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson

Linvatec Canada ULC

Macmillan Cancer Support

Medtronic

Microsulis Medical Ltd.

Monteris Medical

National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

nContact, Inc.

NeuroTherm, Inc.

NeuWave Medical, Inc.

NxThera, Inc.

Olympus Corporation

Perseon Corporation

Profound Medical Corp.

Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Philips

Shandong Provincial Hospital

Smith & Nephew

SonaCare Medical

St Jude Medical

Terumo Europe

The American Heart Association

Trod Medical N.V.

University College London

To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongain.com

SOURCE Visiongain Ltd

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Gene Therapy R&D and Revenue Forecasts 2017-2027 - PR Newswire (press release)

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Cancer Gene Therapy Market 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The global cancer gene therapy market to grow at a CAGR of 20.63% during the period 2017-2021.

The report, Global Cancer Gene Therapy Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

According to the report, one driver in the market is rising geriatric population. The global geriatric population is continues to grow at a faster pace due to several factors such as rapidly falling fertility rates and growing life expectancy due to better medical facilities. The US Census Bureau reported that the total population aging 65 years and above was estimated at 617 million in 2015 and is expected to rise to 1,566 million by 2050.

Asia has the largest and fastest growing aging population due to several factors such as the huge population of the region, government policies such as one child policy of China has reduced the addition of young population, and higher investment in the healthcare sector has led to better medical facilities and longer life expectancy.

Key vendors

Other prominent vendors

Key Topics Covered:

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope Of The Report

Part 03: Research Methodology

Part 04: Market Landscape

Part 05: Pipeline Analysis

Part 06: Market Segmentation By Therapy

Part 07: Geographical Segmentation

Part 08: Decision Framework

Part 09: Drivers And Challenges

Part 10: Market Trends

Part 11: Vendor Landscape

Part 12: Key Vendor Analysis

Part 13: Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hrzr8h/global_cancer

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Global Cancer Gene Therapy Market to Grow at a CAGR of 20.6 ... - Business Wire (press release)

Arthritis is a joint disease that can cause cartilage destruction and erosion of the bone, as well as tendon inflammation and rupture. Affected areas are highlighted in red in this enhanced X-ray.

American doctors have been noticing an increase in osteoarthritis of the knee. They have suspected two driving forces: more old people and more people who are overweight.

A study published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences argues that's far from the whole story. Even correcting for body mass index and age, osteoarthritis of the knee is twice as common now as it was before the 1950s.

"That's an incredible difference," says Daniel Lieberman, a professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University and co-author of the study.

Lieberman started wondering about arthritis a few years ago as he was compiling a list of diseases that modern humans aren't well adapted to cope with such as heart disease, lower back pain and nearsightedness.

"I wanted to include arthritis in the list, but realized that there wasn't any good data," he tells NPR.

So Lieberman asked Ian Wallace, a post doctoral research fellow in his lab, to fly around the country and study human skeletons that had ended up in museums or had been donated to medical schools for scientific research. The skeletons were from people who died as long ago as 4,000 B.C..

"The oldest specimens that we looked at were some skeletons from prehistoric Inuit hunter-gatherers from Alaska," Wallace says. The most recent were the remains of people who died in Tennessee in 2015.

Conventional wisdom is that osteoarthritis of the knee results mostly from wear and tear, which is why, these days, it's more common among older people and those whose excess body weight puts extra stress on those joints..

"So, going into it, I suppose my expectation was that people in the past, especially early hunter-gatherers and early farmers, would have had a much higher prevalence of osteoarthritis than people do today," Wallace says. Surely all that running around, squatting, twisting and other activity in the days before cars and couches would have worn out joints quickly.

But that's not what the evidence showed.

"I was actually extremely surprised to find that [osteoarthritis] is much more common today" than it was in Americans long ago, says Wallace.

That higher rate held true even after scientists corrected for body mass and age. So there's apparently something else driving the increase in knee arthritis. The current study doesn't pinpoint that cause.

"If I were a betting man, I would guess physical activity is especially important," Lieberman says. "One of the things that's really shifted in our world today is that we sit all the time, and kids sit all the time. And that may be affecting how our joints are forming and how our joints are aging."

This makes sense to Dr. Richard Loeser a rheumatologist who directs the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

"Your joints aren't just like your automobile tires that wear out as you use them," he says. In fact, exercise helps nutrients diffuse into cartilage in the knee and keep it strong and healthy.

If cartilage "is formed and more healthy when you're younger, then your joints are more likely to be functioning better and have less osteoarthritis when you get older," Loeser says. And exercise also helps fully grown people.

"By strengthening your muscles and by stimulating your cartilage you can still improve the health of your joint," Loeser says.

That's not to say that exercise fully explains the trend that the Harvard researchers have noted.

"There may be dietary factors that may be important," Loeser suggests And sports injuries, which he says "have become more and more common" may be contributing to arthritis, too.

As Lieberman and his colleagues try to figure out exactly what's behind the problem, they're hopeful that a lot of what's driving it may be preventable.

You can contact Richard Harris at rharris@npr.org.

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6000-Year-Old Knee Joints Suggest Osteoarthritis Isn't Just Wear And Tear - NPR

The majority of rheumatologists indicate that "ideal" Cosentyx patients have previously failed at least one TNF agent, a group representing nearly half of all biologic-treated PsA patients, so what is at the source of Cosentyx's apparent plateau? Just under one-third of rheumatologists report high satisfaction with the IL-17 inhibitor, a lower percent compared to the leading TNF agents and Janssen's Stelara. Furthermore, despite Cosentyx's association with strong efficacy in skin clearance, more rheumatologists prefer AbbVie's Humira over Cosentyx for patients with severe psoriasis. Finally, use of Cosentyx continues to be hampered by rheumatologists' perceptions of inferior market access compared to more established biologic brands.

Additional pressure on Cosentyx is ahead in the form of pipeline PsA agents which will offer even more options for non-TNF treatment. Among those is the second IL-17 inhibitor, Eli Lilly's Taltz. Although nearly one-third of respondents see Cosentyx's first-to-market status as a significant advantage over Taltz, over the past year there has been a significant increase in Taltz familiarity and a growing percent of rheumatologists anticipate routine use of Taltz once approved.

Taltz is expected to have a competitive position in the PsA treatment paradigm if available, however most rheumatologists agree that there is a higher unmet need for new, oral, small molecule agents for PsA than for any additional alternate MOA biologics. Indeed, when asked directly which agent they would most like to see gain the PsA indication, 61% selected a JAK inhibitor, such as Pfizer's Xeljanz, whereas the remaining respondents were split between BMS' Orencia, an additional IL-17 such as Taltz, and an IL-23 inhibitor.According to RealWorld Dynamix: Biologic and Otezla Switching in PsA, which evaluated over 1000 PsA patients recently switched from one biologic or Otezla to a different brand, Xeljanz has already captured 2% of the switch population and one in five recently switched patients are considered by the treating rheumatologist to be good candidates for future treatment with Xeljanz.

RealTime Dynamix: Psoriatic Arthritis is an independent report series published on a quarterly basis. The series tracks the evolution of the PsA market, provides a deep dive on launch effectiveness, and highlights opportunities for pipeline agents. The next wave of research will be published in September 2017.

About Spherix Global Insights Spherix Global Insights is a business intelligence and market research company specializing in renal, autoimmune, neurologic and rare disease markets. We provide clients with strategic insights leveraged from our independent studies conducted with healthcare providers and other stakeholders.

All company, brand or product names in this document are trademarks of their respective holders.

For more information contact: Lynn Price, Immunology Franchise Head Email: info@spherixglobalinsights.com

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Novartis' Cosentyx Beginning to Plateau in Psoriatic Arthritis, as US Rheumatologists Prepare for an Influx of Non ... - PR Newswire (press release)

(Reuters Health) - Oral glucosamine, a natural supplement often marketed for joint pain, has no more effect than a dummy pill, according to a new review of available research.

The analysis of randomized controlled trials from which data have been made public found that at both three-month and 24-month follow-up points, the supplement had no effect on either hip or knee pain from arthritis.

Even analyses of the results for sub-groups of study participants, such as overweight people or those with high inflammation, found no benefit with the supplements.

Most recent guidelines conclude there is an overall lack of efficacy of glucosamine, however, we knew that osteoarthritis could affect subgroups differently, said senior study author Sita Bierma-Zeinstra of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The most recent report from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics found that Americans spent nearly $13 billion in 2012 on natural product supplements, and glucosamine was one of the most popular.

The Osteoarthritis Research Society International and the U.S. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recently issued guidance about the lack of evidence for glucosamine as a cure for joint pain.

Before we threw the baby out with the bathwater, however, it was important to know whether different subgroups could have some effect, Bierma-Zeinstra told Reuters Health by email.

The researchers analyzed data from randomized, controlled trials conducted between 1994 and 2014. Of the 21 studies they found on the subject, only six shared data through the OA Trial Bank, an international collection of data from trials conducted worldwide. None of the trials included in the analysis was funded by industry, the authors note.

Five of the trials, which altogether included more than 1,600 patients, compared glucosamine with a placebo. Five of the six studies investigated knee osteoarthritis, and one looked at hip osteoarthritis.

Overall, the effects of glucosamine and the placebo on pain and physical functioning didnt differ, either in the short-term or one or two years later. The supplement was also no better than placebo among subgroups based on pain severity, severity of osteoarthritis, age, body mass index, gender or signs of inflammation.

Of course, the most striking thing in this study is that when a commercial party funded the source, data sharing became difficult, Bierma-Zeinstra said. Open access to data from clinical studies, although propagated by many research organizations worldwide, is still far from common practice.

In addition, the researchers found that data for a study published in 2006 was no longer available. Although data from older studies may disappear, that doesnt often happen with recent ones, she added.

The research team plans to update subgroup data in the OA Trial Bank every five years. Theyll continue to contact clinical trial researchers to encourage them to contribute data to the project.

Future studies should look more closely at knee versus hip osteoarthritis and specific supplement types such as glucosamine sulfate versus glucosamine hydrochloride, the Bierma-Zeinstras team writes in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Consumers should be cautious about spending money on unproven treatments, said Dr. C. Kent Kwoh, director of the University of Arizona Arthritis Center in Tucson.

For instance, side effects of glucosamine include heartburn, drowsiness, headaches, allergic reactions, weight gain, diarrhea and abdominal pain, said Kwoh, who wasnt involved in the study.

Most consumers believe that, as a natural product, glucosamine is safe, but there are potential side effects, he told Reuters Health by email. There is very little evidence that oral glucosamine is beneficial for pain.

SOURCE: bit.ly/2vTqE5h Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, online July 28, 2017.

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Glucosamine supplements don't help knee or hip arthritis pain - Reuters

CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB:ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) (ISCO or the Company), a California-based clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel stem cell-based therapies and biomedical products, today provided a business update and announced operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.

Over the period ended, we have substantially improved our business indicators, including a significant decrease in our cash burn, said Andrey Semechkin, PhD, Co-Chairman and CEO of ISCO. Additionally, we are successfully continuing with phase I Parkinsons disease clinical trial. Based on our success in the current clinical trial, we are working towards commencing phase II of the traumatic brain injury, for which a more detailed update will be released shortly.

Year-to-Date Financial Highlights

Recent Clinical Trial Highlights

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). hpSCs avoid ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications, please click on the following link: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0

To like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for company updates and industry related news, visit: http://www.facebook.com/InternationalStemCellCorporation

Safe harbor statement

Statements pertaining to anticipated developments, expected clinical studies (including timing and results), progress of research and development, and other opportunities for the company and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates,") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, application of capital resources among competing uses, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements.

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International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Operating Results for the Three and Six-Months ended June 30, 2017 - GlobeNewswire (press release)

Forkhead box O3, also known as FOXO3 or FOXO3a, is a human protein encoded by the FOXO3 gene.[3]

FOXO3 belongs to the O subclass of the forkhead family of transcription factors which are characterized by a distinct fork head DNA-binding domain. There are three other FoxO family members in humans, FOXO1, FOXO4 and FOXO6. These transcription factors share the ability to be inhibited and translocated out of the nucleus on phosphorylation by proteins such as Akt/PKB in the PI3K signaling pathway (aside from FOXO6, which may be constitutively nuclear).[4] Other post-translational modifications including acetylation and methylation are seen and can result in increased or altered FOXO3a activity.

This protein likely functions as a trigger for apoptosis through upregulation of genes necessary for cell death, such as Bim and PUMA,[5] or downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins such as FLIP.[6]

Gopinath et al.(2014)[7] demonstrate a functional requirement for FOXO3 as a regulator of Notch signaling pathway (an essential regulator of quiescence in adult stem cells) in the self-renewal of stem cells during muscle regeneration.

It is thought that FOXO3a is also involved in protection from oxidative stress by upregulating antioxidants such as catalase and MnSOD. Ron DePinho's group generated Foxo3 knockout mice, and showed that female exhibit a dramatic age-dependent infertility, due to premature ovarian failure.

Deregulation of FOXO3a is involved in tumorigenesis,[8] for example translocation of this gene with the MLL gene is associated with secondary acute leukemia. Downregulation of FOXO3a activity is often seen in cancer (e.g. by increase in Akt activity resulting from loss of PTEN). FOXO3 is known as a tumour suppressor.

Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding the same protein have been observed.[9]

A variant of FOXO3 has been shown to be associated with longevity in humans. It is found in most centenarians across a variety of ethnic groups around the world.[10][11] The homologous genes daf-16 in the nematode C. elegans and dFOXO in the fruit fly are also associated with longevity in those organisms.

This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.

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FOXO3 - Wikipedia

Energy organisation SSE has hedged pension longevity risks of 1.2 billion across two of its defined benefit (DB) pension schemes through the completion on one longevity insurance and two buy-in transactions.

The two buy-in transactions, conducted with Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), totalled 350 million. This included a buy-in for SSEs Scottish Hydro-Electric pension scheme (SHEPS), which covers 250 million of scheme liabilities and approximately 800 pensioners, as well as a buy-in for its Scotia Gas Networks pension scheme (SGNPS). This SGNPS buy-in covers 100 million of pensioner liabilities and 600 pensioners of the schemes 2,000 members.

The longevity insurance, provided by Legal and General, covers a further 800 million of pensioner longevity risk for SHEPS, and transfers the risk to the end reinsurer. This covers around 2,400 pensioners. SHEPS has approximately 5,800 members in total.

Hymans Robertson advised the organisation on all areas of the project, CMS offered legal advice to trustees, Club Vita provided longevity analytics, and Eversheds Sutherland gave legal advice to Legal and General.

Tony Fettiplace, chair of trustees for the Scotia Gas Networks pension scheme, said:This deal is great news for the scheme. Reducing risk over time is an absolute priority for us and it is important to do this in the most cost effective way.

Graham Laughland, chair of trustees for the Scottish Hydro-Electric pension scheme, added:I am delighted to have taken this positive step in reducing risk and improving the security of members benefits.

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SSE hedges 1.2bn of longevity risk for two defined benefit pension schemes - Employee Benefits

As medical instruments and technologies grow more sophisticated and complex, it is increasingly important to guard sensitive components from the autoclaving process while supporting their longevity. Glass offers a solution.

Jochen Herzberg, Schott Electronic Packaging

Autoclavable glass-sealed connector from Schott [Image courtesy of Schott Electronic Packaging]

Implementation of high-quality connectors using the right materials is crucial. Inferior components can weaken the protection of the devices electronics. Glass-to-metal sealing technology, already used in other harsh-environment applications such as aviation, aerospace and automotive safety, has emerged as an ideal solution in the development and manufacture of medical connectors. Glass-to-metal sealed connectors offer a resilient and dependable option that remains reliably gas-tight for over 3,500 autoclaving cycles, subsequently helping extend the lifespan of medical devices.

Many medical connectors are sealed with polymers or epoxy resins, which are not capable of maintaining a dependable seal over a long period. During the autoclaving process and especially after repeated cycles, polymer-based connectors will allow for a certain permeability of moisture. This can cause damage to electronic components. The binders and chemicals that make up polymer seals deteriorate over time, leaving a brittle shield incapable of providing truly reliable protection from autoclaving conditions.

The aging process and breakdown of these organic materials can happen quickly, sometimes after as few as 100 autoclaving cycles. The potential inability of polymer seals to stand up to the fundamentally important autoclaving process can lead to a plethora of problems: shortened device lifespan, failure during a procedure and increased total cost of ownership from compromised seal integrity.

A common argument against glass as a material is the idea that it is easily broken. Glass-to-metal sealing technology challenges this concept. Using advanced manufacturing processes, the glass preform and metal pieces are heated to a temperature that melts the glass, fusing glass and metal to create a gas-tight and pressure-proof seal.

During their use, glass seals maintain integrity because glass is inorganic and non-aging. It is non-porous and resistant to drastic environmental changes. This makes it a choice material to use in the manufacture of medical connectors because it has a proven ability to withstand the autoclaving process more than 3,500 times. The strong seal effectively prevents the ingress of moisture and other outside contaminants, safeguarding electronics from damaging humidity and particulates.

Confidence is of the utmost importance in medicine. A doctors confidence in his abilities, decisions, colleagues and treatment all come together in the effort to create a successful patient outcome. The same need for confidence applies to medical devices. Medical professionals must be able to have trust in their equipment. The use of devices with glass-to-metal sealed connectors goes a long way to help establish this on many fronts.

Cross-contamination incidents are one of the most substantial threats to patient safety and professional integrity in the medical industry. Mitigating the risk of such incidents is why the autoclaving process is extremely important in medical environments. Traditionally, steam sterilization presents a major strain on devices because it can accelerate wear on components. With protection for electronics from glass-to-metal connectors, devices can undergo a complete and intensive autoclaving cycle over 3,500 times without risk of accelerated damage or wear on the electronics.

Increased reliability aided by the use of glass-to-metal connectors eases worry both in the operating room and finance office. Glass-to-metal connectors can help extend device service life, reduce maintenance costs, and lessen the chance of warranty claims and physician frustrations. Surgeons and patients can experience the safety benefit of a decreased chance of device failure, while hospital budgets can experience a reduced burden thanks to a less-frequent device replacement schedule.

Versatility is another key benefit that sets glass-to-metal sealed connectors apart in a constantly developing medical landscape. Integration possibilities for medical applications include surgical tools, endoscopes or instruments for spectrometry and pulse oximetry. Customization possibilities can be met for individual and exact application needs, enabling design flexibility for medical device engineers. This creates the opportunity to conceptualize distinct ideas while still meeting strict regulatory requirements for medical devices.

Glass-to-metal sealed medical connectors can be custom-designed in a number of ways, including varying shapes, sizes and pin configurations to match requirements for integration in medical devices that require power and data supply and must be repeatedly autoclaved.

Devices and techniques will change, but the rigid standards for autoclaving requirements for hygienic operating rooms will remain a constant. As medical instruments and technologies grow more sophisticated and complex, it is increasingly important to guard sensitive components from the autoclaving process while supporting their longevity. Glass, in its distinct role as an inorganic and reliable sealing material, offers a way.

Jochen Herzberg is an innovation leader at Schott Electronic Packaging in Landshut, Germany.

(See the best minds in medtech live at DeviceTalks Boston on Oct. 2.)

Continue reading here:
How glass-sealed connectors increase medical device longevity - Medical Design & Outsourcing

Dancing is the secret to longevity carehome.co.uk News An inspirational lady who celebrated her 103rd birthday at a Sanctuary Care home in Redditch this week says dancing has been her secret to her longevity. Ivy Flaherty marked her milestone birthday yesterday (Monday 14 August) with a tea party at ... and more »

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Dancing is the secret to longevity - carehome.co.uk News

by: Clark HowardUpdated: Aug 10, 2017 - 4:15 PM

Worried about living a life of poverty during your golden years? Heres an insurance policy that could prevent that!

Read more: 2 kinds of annuities that actually make sense for your wallet

The number of people living past their 100th birthday is growing. So when you stop working, the great anxiety inherent in retirement planning is not knowing how much to save for later in life vs. how much you can afford to live on and spend in the early years of your retirement.

Enter the longevity insurance policy. It is a simple insurance product you buy that most people will never get the benefit of. Thats because it doesnt start paying a living benefit until you hit 85!

The idea is that with a longevity policy in place, you could plan to blow through all the cash in your retirement plan through age 84. Because the minute you turn 85, you get a check every month for as long as you live.

Insurers offer a great benefit on longevity policies. Why? Because they know from actuarial tables that most people who buy the policy wont live to receive any money. But if you do live to age 85, you get that nice monthly check.

You wont hear a lot of insurance agents talk about longevity policies because the commissions on them are so small. But they can be a great idea for so many situations where people might otherwise outlive their money.

If you want to explore the idea of buying a policy, ask the agent for the insurance policy that doesnt pay any money until age 85. Theyll know what you mean; different people call it different things, but theyll know what you mean based on that description.

A longevity insurance policy is kind of like a life annuity. People tend to buy either of them in $100,000 increments. The money you put down generates far more income each month than you could on your own.

The optimum time to buy longevity insurance is at the time of retirement. It could prevent you from living a life in poverty if you dont have to. Of course, when you do buy longevity insurance, the money you use is no longer available for your heirs.

Read more: 5 scary facts about nursing home costs (and what to do about them)

Clark.com

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Longevity insurance is a smart buy at retirement | WSB-TV - WSB Atlanta

Shares ofStemcell United Ltd (SCU.AX) are on watch as the Tenkan Line has moved belowthe Kijun line, indicating negative momentum for the equity. Stemcell United Ltd moved0.00 in the most recent session and touched0.07 on a recent tick.

The Tenkan Line or Tenkan Sen (Sen means line in Japanese) is known as the conversion line or turning line is similar to a 9SMA but actually is quite different. Remember a SMA (simple moving average) will smooth out all the data and make it equal but the Tenkan Line will take the highest high and lowest low over the last 9 periods. The explanation for this is Hosada felt price action and its extremes were more important than smoothing any data because price action represented where buyers/sellers entered and directed the market, thus being more important than averaging or smoothing the data out. As you can see by the chart below, the Tenkan Line is quite different than a 9SMA. Because the TL (Tenkan Line) uses price instead of an averaging or the closing prices, it mirrors price better and is more representative of it. You can see this when the TL flattens in small portions to move with price and its moments of ranging.

Akin to all moving averages, the angle of the Tenkan line is very important as the sharper the angle, the stronger the trend while the flatter the Tenkan, the flatter or lesser the momentum of the move is. However, it is important to not use the Tenkan line as a gauge of the trend but more so the momentum of the move. However, it can act as the first line of defense in a trend and a breaking of it in the opposite direction of the move can often be a sign of the defenses weakening.

Turning to addtiional indicators, Stemcell United Ltd (SCU.AX) currently has a 14-day Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of -87.92. Dedicated investors may choose to use this technical indicator as a stock evaluation tool. Used as a coincident indicator, the CCI reading above +100 would reflect strong price action which may signal an uptrend. On the flip side, a reading below -100 may signal a downtrend reflecting weak price action. Using the CCI as a leading indicator, technical analysts may use a +100 reading as an overbought signal and a -100 reading as an oversold indicator, suggesting a trend reversal.

Investors may be trying to define which trends will prevail in the second half of the year. As the markets continue to chug along, investors may be trying to maximize gains and become better positioned for success. Technical analysts may be studying different historical price and volume data in order to help uncover where the momentum is headed. Coming up with a solid strategy may take some time, but it might be well worth it in the long run. As we move deeper into the year, investors will be closely tracking the next few earnings periods. They may be trying to project which companies will post positive surprises.

We can also do some further technical analysis on the stock. At the time of writing, the 14-day ADX for Stemcell United Ltd (SCU.AX) is 32.59. Many technical chart analysts believe that an ADX value over 25 would suggest a strong trend. A reading under 20 would indicate no trend, and a reading from 20-25 would suggest that there is no clear trend signal. The ADX is typically plotted along with two other directional movement indicator lines, the Plus Directional Indicator (+DI) and Minus Directional Indicator (-DI). Some analysts believe that the ADX is one of the best trend strength indicators available.

Interested investors may be watching the Williams Percent Range or Williams %R. Williams %R is a popular technical indicator created by Larry Williams to help identify overbought and oversold situations. Investors will commonly use Williams %R in conjunction with other trend indicators to help spot possible stock turning points. Stemcell United Ltd (SCU.AX)s Williams Percent Range or 14 day Williams %R currently sits at -100.00. In general, if the indicator goes above -20, the stock may be considered overbought. Alternately, if the indicator goes below -80, this may point to the stock being oversold.

Tracking other technical indicators, the 14-day RSI is presently standing at 36.37, the 7-day sits at 35.27, and the 3-day is resting at 38.98 for Stemcell United Ltd (SCU.AX). The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is an often employed momentum oscillator that is used to measure the speed and change of stock price movements. When charted, the RSI can serve as a visual means to monitor historical and current strength or weakness in a certain market. This measurement is based on closing prices over a specific period of time. As a momentum oscillator, the RSI operates in a set range. This range falls on a scale between 0 and 100. If the RSI is closer to 100, this may indicate a period of stronger momentum. On the flip side, an RSI near 0 may signal weaker momentum. The RSI was originally created by J. Welles Wilder which was introduced in his 1978 book New Concepts in Technical Trading Systems.

For further review, we can take a look at another popular technical indicator. In terms of moving averages, the 200-day is currently at 0.08, the 50-day is 0.09, and the 7-day is resting at 0.07. Moving averages are a popular trading tool among investors. Moving averages can be used to help filter out the day to day noise created by other factors. MAs may be used to identify uptrends or downtrends, and they can be a prominent indicator for detecting a shift in momentum for a particular stock. Many traders will use moving averages for different periods of time in conjunction with other indicators to help gauge future stock price action.

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Bearish Signals Shown in Stemcell United Ltd (SCU.AX) Charts ... - Evergreen Caller

When Raymond Funnell, 52, was diagnosed with leukaemia, he had no idea he would survive to climb five of the worlds highest mountains.

Funnell was just over 40 and working as a consulting engineer for a Joburg mining company when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2006. This was is after he noticed a bruise on his arm that wouldnt heal.

I had always been fit and healthy so it came as a big shock that cancer was spreading rapidly in my bone marrow.

I was on put on chemotherapy and within no time I was in an isolation ward in hospital as I had no immune system.

At that stage, I had no idea just how hard or how long the treatment was going to be and that it would totally change my outlook on life. My wife and young family were devastated to hear what was about to happen to our normal life.

While he was recovering in hospital, Funnell would shuffle out of his isolation room in the still of the night and slow-walk along the corridors.

He says when the nurses moaned at him to take it easy, the idea of climbing Kilimanjaro was inspired.

For motivation, my wife put up a picture of Kilimanjaro on my room wall. By the middle of 2010, I was ready to make this dream a reality. It was such a spiritual experience, reaching the top of Africas highest point.

Since 2010 he has climbed Mount(Mt) Kilimanjaro, Mt Aconcagua in South America and Mt Vinson in Antarctica.

He attempted to climb Mt Elbrus in Russia in 2012 but 100m from the summit he was held back by poor weather conditions.

Despite the setbacks experienced along the way, including the recurrence of cancer two years after his initial diagnosis, Funnell, who is currently in remission, refuses to give up on life. And this month he has gone back to Russia to reattempt his climb of Mt Elbrus.

This is the highest peak in Europe at an altitude of 5642m, and Funnell hopes to climb it in five days to raise awareness about cancer and stem cell donation.

Not only do I want to inspire other cancer patients, but I also want raise awareness about the need for people to register as stem cell donors. If all goes well, we hope to be holding the Sunflower Fund banner high above our heads on August 17.

Funnell says he wants other people to also benefit from the life-saving stem cell treatment, which saved his life 10 years ago.

I was fortunate to have a perfect match with my brother and we made plans to have the stem cell transplant at the beginning of 2007. The stem cell infusion was uneventful and then it was a waiting game until the new bone marrow was able to produce new blood.

It changed my blood type from A-negative to O-negative. Due to all the anti-rejection drugs, I had a weak immune system and lost a huge amount of weight. I was convinced I was cured, but in March 2008 a routine blood test showed I had relapsed. It was such a feeling of hopelessness.The oncologist was stunned that I had relapsed after the stem cell transplant, he recalled.

After the relapse the only remaining option was high dose chemotherapy, which is about 20 times the concentration of the induction treatment.

The risks were high and this would be a real fight for survival. He spent most of the year between chemo treatments, blood transfusions and isolation wards.

The treatment was very severe and left my body weak and anaemic. I had over 50 blood transfusions and therefore I am truly thankful for all the donors who kept me alive.

Funnells experience opened up a new world and took away the feeling of limitations.

Never give up on your dreams, he says. It may be impossible to get to the top of a mountain in one single step, but by taking many small steps you can climb any summit in your life. Just keep going, step by step, and a day at a time

For more information on becoming a blood stem cell donor contact The Sunflower Fund on the toll-free number 0800 12 10 82

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Climbing for cancer and donor awareness - Independent Online

The Impossible Burger has had a charmed honeymoon period. Crowds of foodies surged into fancy eateries to try it. Environmentalists and animal rights activists swooned. So did investors: Impossible Foods brought in $75 million during its latest investment round.

Now the backlash is here. The activist organizations Friends of the Earth and the ETC Group dug up documents which they claim show that Impossible Foods ignored FDA warnings about safety and they handed them over to the New York Times.

The ensuing story depicted Impossible Foods as a culinary version of Uber disrupting so rapidly that its running headlong into government regulators. In reality, Impossible Foods has behaved like a pedestrian food company, working hand in hand with the FDA and following a well-worn path to comply with an arcane set of rules.

So why isnt this story a nothingburger?

In a word: GMOs. You see, soy leghemoglobin, or SLH, the key ingredient that makes the Impossible Burger uniquely meaty, is churned out by genetically modified yeast. This is a protein produced with genetic engineering; its a new food ingredient, Dana Perls, senior food and technology campaigner at Friends of the Earth, told me when I asked why theyd singled out Impossible Foods.

The company has never exactly hidden the fact that they used genetic engineering, but they havent put it front and center either. You have to dig into their frequently asked questions to catch that detail and thats a recent edit, according to Perls. When I first looked at the Impossible Foods website, maybe back in March, there was no mention of genetic engineering, she said.(An Impossible Foods spokesperson disputed Perlss claim, saying the FAQ has included references to genetic engineering for at least a year, since before the burgers launch in restaurants. But areview of cached webpages suggests the references were added in June.*)

By tiptoeing around this issue, Impossible Foods set themselves up for a takedown by anti-GMO campaigners. These groups monitor new applications of genetic engineering, watch for potentially incriminating evidence, then work with journalists to publicize it. In 2014, Ecover, a green cleaning company, announced it was using oils made by algae as part of its pledge to remove palm oil a major driver of deforestation from its products. When Friends of the Earth and the ETC Group figured out the algae was genetically engineered, they pinged the same Times writer. Ecover quickly went back to palm oil.

When I asked Impossible Foods founder Pat Brown about the GMO question, he said he didnt think that battle was theirs to fight. After all, the SLH may be produced by transgenic yeast, but it isnt a GMO itself. He also pointed out that this isnt unusual: nearly all cheese contains a GMO-produced enzyme.

But now, Friends of the Earth and the ETC Group have brought their battle to Impossible Foods doorstep. (In a blistering series of responses to the New York Times article, the company charged it was chock full of factual errors and misrepresentations and was instigated by an extremist anti-science group.) The FDA documents handed over to the Times include worrying sentences like this one: FDA stated that the current arguments at hand, individually and collectively, were not enough to establish the safety of SLH for consumption.

If FDA officials say your company hasnt done enough to convince them that a new ingredient is safe, arent you supposed to stop selling it?

Not according to a risk expert at Arizona State University who reviewed the documents released by activists. There are no indications that they should have pulled this off the market, Andrew Maynard told me.

Thats just not how the food safety review process works, said Gary Yingling, a former FDA official now helping Impossible Foods navigate the bureaucracy. In the United States, its up to the companies themselves to determine if an ingredient is safe. (Not everyone likes that system or thinks the FDA is doing enough to protect public safety, but it is the law.)

Impossible worked with a group of experts at universities who decided in 2014 that their burger was safe. SLH, it turns out, grows naturally in the roots of soy plants, and the proteins in the burger look a lot like animal proteins a good indicator of safety.

Impossible could have stopped there: Companies, however, can ask the government to weigh in on their research. Sometimes, the FDA asks for more information, which is what happened with Impossible Foods. Its not unusual for the FDA to determine it cant establish the safety of a new ingredient its happened more than 100 times, with substances like Ginkgo biloba, gum arabic, and Spirulina. The FDA has called for more information in about one in every seven of the ingredients companies have asked it to review.

In the case of SLH, the FDA suggested more tests, including rat-feeding trials. Impossible Foods has finished these tests, and academics who have studied the new data confirmed that its generally recognized as safe. Next, Impossible Foods will bring the new evidence back to the FDA, Yingling said.

The criticism raised in this case is really criticism of a system that allows companies to decide for themselves if a new ingredient is OK to add to our food.

If a company decides something is safe, they can go ahead and do it, said Maynard, the risk expert. So thats a weakness in the system. On the other hand, you can argue that once you start this process with the FDA, they have smart scientists who ask tough questions. You can see in those documents that the level of due diligence that a company has to go through is really pretty deep. You really want to make sure that you have a system that doesnt inhibit innovation, but captures as much potentially harmful things as possible.

Each new innovation creates the potential for new hazards. We can block some of those hazards by taking precautions. But how high should we put the precautionary bar?

Impossible Burger could indeed pose some unknown hazard. We just have to weigh that against the known hazards of the present foodborne diseases in meat, greenhouse gases from animal production, the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria in farms, and animal suffering. These are problems which Impossible Foods is trying to solve.

There are other companies trying to solve these problems. (Friends of the Earth notes that the success of non-animal burgers, like the non-GMO Beyond Burger, demonstrates that plant-based animal substitutes can succeed without resorting to genetic engineering.) But its not yet clear that any of these companies including Impossible Foods will be successful in just generating a profit, let alone in replacing the global meat industry. No one knows which startups will pan out. And well probably need to try and discard lots of new things as we shift to a sustainable path.

Trying new things can be risky. Not trying new things and staying on our current trajectory is even more risky.

*This story has been updated to include a response from Impossible Foods about when references to genetic engineering first appeared in its FAQ, and to add information about the FDAs food safety review process.

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The Impossible Burger wouldn't be possible without genetic engineering - Grist

James N. Jarvis, MD, is conducting a study of the gene-environment paradigm for juvenile idiopathic arthritis pathogenesis.

Published August 14, 2017

JamesN. Jarvis, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics, will usean Arthritis Foundationgrant to study how genes and environment work together to influencethe immune dysfunction in juvenile arthritis.

After asthma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the mostcommon chronic disease condition in children. While genetics play asmall role in the disease, environmental factors are also known tobe important.

Study Focuses on Influence of Epigenome

The study, titled Interplay Between Genetics andEpigenetics in Polyarticular JIA, builds upon previous workby Jarvis and his fellow researchers.

The epigenome refers to the features of DNA and the proteinsthat DNA is wrapped around that do not control the genetic makeupof a person but do influence how cells respond to the environment,says Jarvis, principal investigator on the grant.

Specifically, the epigenome determines what genes a cellwill turn on or turn off in response to environmental cues,he notes.

New Paradigm of Pathogenesis Informs Research

Like most complex traits, genetic risk for JIA is principallylocated within non-coding regions of the genome.

Our preliminary studies present the hope that we canfinally understand the gene-environment paradigm forJIA pathogenesis, Jarvis says.

Rather than regarding JIA as an autoimmunedisease, triggered by inappropriate recognition of aself protein by the adaptive immune system, Jarvishypothesizes that JIA emerges because leukocytes suffer geneticallyand epigenetically mediated perturbations that blunt their capacityto regulate and coordinate transcriptions across the genome.

This loss of coordinate regulation leads to inappropriateexpression of inflammatory mediators in the absence of the normalexternal signals typically required to initiate or sustain aninflammatory response, he says.

Our field has been dominated by a single hypothesis forJIA pathogenesis for 30 years, Jarvis notes. However,as the field of functional genomics becomes increasingly wedded tothe field of therapeutics, our work carries the promise ofcompletely new approaches to therapy based on a completelydifferent paradigm of pathogenesis.

Newly Diagnosed Children Tested in Study

The researchers are recruiting 30 children with newly diagnosedpolyarticular JIA for its study to survey the epigenome and CD4+ Tcells in them and compare the results with findings in 30 healthychildren.

We plan to build a multidimensional genomic map thatsurveys the functional epigenome, examines underlying geneticvariation and examines the effects of genetic and epigeneticvariation on gene expression, Jarvis says.

He notes the work will focus on CD4+ T cells because theresearchers have already identified interesting interactionsbetween their epigenome and transcriptome in the context oftherapeutic response in JIA.

Taking Novel Approach to Understanding Disease

Because the epigenome is the medium through which theenvironment exerts its effects on cells, Jarvis believes thatcharacterizing the epigenome in pathologically relevant cells,ascertaining where epigenetic change is linked to genetic variationand determining how genetic and epigenetic features of the genomeregulate or alter transcription is the key to truly understandingthis disease.

This project addresses a question that parents alwaysask, which I never thought wed begin to answer in mylifetime: What causes JIA? This study wontprovide the whole answer, but it will go a long way toward takingus there, he says.

The project has three specific aims:

Arthritis Patients Help Determine Funded Projects

The two-year, $730,998 grant is part of the ArthritisFoundations 2016 Delivering on Discovery awards. It was oneof only six projects out of 159 proposals chosen for funding. Forthe first time, arthritis patients helped the foundation selectprojects.

Including patient input as part of the selection processwas a new milestone in patient engagement for the ArthritisFoundation and allowed us to select projects that hold the mostpromise from an arthritis patients point of view,says Guy Eakin, senior vice president, scientific strategy.

Partners from JSMBS, Philadelphia Hospital

Collaborators from the JacobsSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences are:

Other collaborators include researchers from theChildrens Hospital of Philadelphia.

See the article here:
Studying How Genes, Environment Contribute to Juvenile Arthritis - UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences News

Researchers from Portland, Ore. genetically modified human embryos for the first time on American soil, but this is not a new feat. The process has already been done in China. To date, no genetically modified embryo has been inserted into a womb.

The lead researcher, Shoukhrat Mitalipov of Oregon Health and Science University, has a history of embryo work and demonstrated this round that its possible to safely remove inherited diseases by changing defective genes. This is called germline engineering. However, none of the embryos were allowed to last longer than a few days and the results are still pending publication.

Germline engineering typically uses CRISPR-Cas9, technology which precisely alters DNA. CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.

At its roots, CRISPR is comprised of a small piece of RNA and a protein called Cas9. The RNA is preprogrammed to match a specific genetic code to then subsequently alter a specific strand of DNA once injected. The RNA guides the injection, and Cas9 tags along because, as an enzyme, it is able to break the DNA at an exact spot.

The challenge is that DNA tends to repair itself pretty fast. To avoid this, some CRISPR injections carry another strand of DNA the cell can use to fix the break thats created, therefore allowing genetic alterations.

The implications are very large, Dr. Charles Murry, Director of the UW Medicines Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, said. It gives us the ability to permanently eradicate a genetic disease from a familys pedigree. And as a physician, thats something thats extremely exciting to me.

Genetic modifications have been around for decades, and CRISPR has applied since early 2013. The possibilities for CRISPR were first realized through a natural bacterial process that defends against invasive viruses also known as this all started with yogurt, surprise.

However, the real breakthrough happened in 2015 with Junjiu Huangs first human embryo edits in China. Scientists are also looking at this system to eliminate pests and the diseases they carry.

Theres another side to it of course, Murry contended. When humans begin to rewrite our own genetic code, and there are all kinds of chances to not only make corrections as we edit but to make new mistakes as we edit we may inadvertently create problems in the attempt to solve others.

UW Health Sciences and Medicine public information editor Leila Gray said UW Medicine researchers are using CRISPR on specific somatic cells, which are the ones that make up your body. These cells were collected from patients with their approval. One team, for example, is trying to edit cells with kidney disease, studying certain conditions in petri dishes. But no UW researcher is reporting work to remove genetic diseases from human embryos.

Currently, the National Institutes of Health wont federally fund this research. However, the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine are recommending cautious reconsideration.

Murry predicts that before any of this would apply to a human being, a large animal would have to successfully carry to term a genetically modified embryo. Scientists would also likely have to monitor the newborns life afterward.

There are ethical conundrums with this new technology. Its so concerning that upon its first big embryonic debut, there was a three-day summit in December 2015 for hundreds of local and global scientists, policymakers, and the US presidential science adviser.

Some worry genetic engineering could lead to a dark future where humans are pre-edited for appearance, physical strength, or intelligence.

George Church, a Harvard Medical School geneticist, first told the Washington Post two years ago that there were nearly 2,000 genetic therapy trials already underway that didnt use CRISPR. The difference between those and the few that have is cost.

Its about 1,000 times cheaper for an ordinary academic to do, Church is quoted in the article. It could be a game-changer.

Reach reporter Kelsey Hamlin at news@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @ItsKelseyHamlin

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First human embryo genetically modified in the US - Dailyuw

By KIMBERLY HOUGHTONUnion Leader CorrespondentAugust 14. 2017 11:06PM

This sequence of images shows the development of embryos after being injected with a biological kit to edit their DNA, removing a genetic mutation known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.(Oregon Health & Science University)

Bryan Luikart, an associate professor of molecular and systems biology at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.

It is pretty amazing. It is a super-exciting time to be a scientist right now, said Bryan Luikart, an associate professor of molecular and systems biology at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.

The study, which was published in the journal Nature, was detailed in a New York Times report. According to the article, Oregon researchers reported they repaired dozens of human embryos, fixing a mutation that causes a common heart condition that can lead to sudden death later in life.

The way they have dodged some ethical considerations is that they didnt go on to have that embryo grow into a person, said Luikart, explaining that if the embryos with the repaired mutation did have the opportunity to develop, they would be free of the heart condition.

At the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Luikart and his colleagues have already been using this concept with mouse embryos, focusing specifically on autism.

Researchers are using the gene-editing method called CRISPR-Cas9 in hopes of trying to more fully understand autism, which he said is the most critical step in eventually finding a cure.

I think the CRISPR is a tremendous breakthrough. The question really is where and when do you want to use it, Luikart said. I have no ethical concerns using it as a tool to better understand biology.

The new milestone, an example of human genetic engineering, does carry ethical concerns that Luikart said will trigger some debates. He acknowledged that while the advancement of gene-editing technology could eventually stop unwanted hereditary conditions, it also allows for creating babies with smarter, stronger or more attractive traits.

The ability to do that is now within our grasp more than it has ever been, he said.

More importantly, the breakthrough could ultimately eliminate diseases, Luikart said. As the technology advances, he said, genetic diseases that are passed down to children may be corrected before the child receives them.

He used another example of a brain tumor, which often returns after it is surgically removed. Now, once the brain tumor is removed, there is the possibility of placing something in the space to edit and fix the mutation that causes the brain tumor in the first place if physicians are able to find the right cell to edit, Luikart said.

People are definitely thinking along those lines, or cutting the HIV genome, said Luikart, who predicts that those advancements will occur in mice within the next decade, and the ability to do that in humans is definitely there.

The big question is whether that can occur without some sort of side effect that was not predicted, he said.

Columbia University Medical Center posted an article earlier this year warning that CRISPR gene editing can cause hundreds of unintended mutations, based on a study published recently in Nature Methods.

This past May, MilliporeSigma announced it has developed a new genome editing tool that makes CRISPR more efficient, flexible and specific, giving researchers more experimental options and faster results that can accelerate drug development and access to new therapies, according to a release.

CRISPR genome editing technology is advancing treatment options for some of the toughest medical conditions faced today, including chronic illnesses and cancers for which there are limited or no treatment options, states the release, adding the applications of CRISPR are far ranging from identifying genes associated with cancer to reversing mutations that cause blindness.

It is pretty big news, Luikart said.

khoughton@newstote.com

HealthHanover

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New Hampshire biologist reacts to gene-editing discovery - The Union Leader

FAIRBANKS Organizers hope a giant fundraiser Saturday will help save the life of a baby.

Six-month-old Quinn Bartholomew has been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the No. 1 genetic cause of death ininfants. She is the daughter of lifelong Fairbanksan Brienna Marok-Bartholomew and Jack Bartholomew.

A new drug called Spinraza recently wasapproved by the Federal Drug Administration to combat the condition, but the drug is very expensive. Little Quinn will need at least seven treatments at a cost of $125,000 per dose.

Her insurance will not cover the medication or any expenses pertaining to the procedure, fundraiser organizers said. This means insurance will not pay for the medicine, hospital stay, anesthesia, bloodwork, radiology and more.

So family and friends are reaching out to Fairbanksans for help.

Fairbanksans are responding, as always, with incredible generosity. People can donate and also keep track of Quinns progress on YouCaring.com at http://bit.ly/2wKUOFK. The posts are heart rending.

Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disease in which the motor neurons in the spinal cord degenerate, causing muscle weakness. Babies born with Type 1, like Quinn, are very floppy and have trouble swallowing and feeding. Life expectancy is generally less than two years.

The good news is, it appears Quinn is benefitting from the treatments. Her parents posted on the YouCaring site Saturday: We are only two treatments in and already we have seen drastic improvements, not only in Quinns strength, but her personality as well. She has been able to hold her head up for around five seconds on multiple occasions over the last few days. She wakes us up every morning with giggles and gurgling stories.

Her third treatment is Wednesday.

When friends of the family offered to organize fundraisers to help pay for these treatments, the Maroks and Bartholomews were grateful. Now, they are overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and support.

Quinns grandparents are retired teachers Bob and Blanche Marok. They have lived in Alaska for 40 years and in Fairbanks for the past 28 years. They are longtime volunteers in the community for everything from Fairbanks Community Food Bank and hospice to sports activities and youth organizations. Over the years, they served as foster parents for 26 children through Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption. Their three children, Chris, Brienna and Trina, all grew up in Fairbanks.

The generosity of the community has been overwhelming, Bob Maroksaid.

People are always asking us, Why do you live in Fairbanks? he said. This is exactly why. Its just blown us away.

The big fundraiser planned for Saturday is called Quinns Roundup. Everyone is invited to saddle up for an evening of games, raffles and shopping, as everyone rounds up funds for Quinns treatments.

The fundraiser takes place at the Event Center and Lounge, 1288 Sadler Way. Doors open at 2 p.m. The silent auction is 2-7 p.m. and a taco bar opens at 5 p.m. An outcry auction begins at 8 p.m. There will be live music throughout the day, including a performance by Nashville singer Ryan Bexley. The fundraiser will include outside volleyball, vendors, 50/50 raffle and door prizes. Some of the auction items aregift cards, artwork, tickets to NASCARevents, airline tickets, a Hawaiian vacation package, chainsaw, the chance to have a photo booth at your own event, hotel stays and gift baskets.

All proceeds go to Quinn and her family to help pay for medical treatments.

Organizers are recruiting support from vendors, donations of gift certificates, merchandise or services. Contact Krystal Wester at 750-6098 or drop off auction donations at the Chris Marok Allstate Agency, 59 College Road.

Another fundraiser is set for Aug. 25. From 5:30-8:30 p.m., you can Spin for Quinn at Lavelles Taphouse. F&H Fitnessis hosting the event. Its a Spin-athon that includes a live disc jockey, prizes and refreshments.

Reach columnist/community editor Kris Capps at kcapps@newsminer.com. Call her at the office: 459-7546. Follow her on Twitter: @FDNMKris.

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Fairbanks fundraiser benefits baby with genetic disease - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

PHOENIX - It's the trip that Justin Mann and his sister Ashtyn will never forget: that one time they biked from Oregon to South Carolina.

It was Ashtyn who had the idea. The two would peddle 3,500 miles in 64 days. They passed through 12 states and three mountain ranges, which was certainly a challenge. But even in Kansas, it was tough. Justin says the wind was intense and made riding even harder.

The two met a lot of strangers along the route and that's where they were able to tell them why they were biking so far: to raise money and awareness for diabetes.

Justin was diagnosed with Type One when he was six.

"It was a pretty terrifying moment in my life," said Justin. "I remember the doctor came out and he said you have diabetes. I was just like -- the first thing I heard was, die."

Justin had to adjust to wearing an insulin pump 24-7 and now also wears a sensor on his arm to monitor his blood sugar. He turned to sports as an outlet and played football for UCLA and Washington State. Oddly biking wasn't anything he had done until a couple weeks before this cross-country ride. Sure the journey was long but the payoff is still going.

"It's already cool enough for someone who is not diabetic to make it across the country," says Justin. "What if a diabetic? A lot of people think shouldn't or couldn't do this kind of thing."

The money raised will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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Siblings bike 3500 miles to raise awareness about diabetes - ABC15 Arizona

The medical benefits of cannabis are diverse and far-reaching. Even where marijuana cant treat or eliminate a disease, it can still reduce the severity of symptoms and aid recovery. Diabetes is a case in point.In this guide, we break down the best weed strains for diabetes.

According to 2014 CDC data, more than 29 million people in the United States have diabetes. The disease affects the bodys ability to break down sugars in the blood.

This difficulty controlling the bloods sugar levels creates a host of dangerous health issues for people with diabetes. But medical cannabis can help with those issues in a variety of ways

According to researchers, neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes. It also happens to be one of the hardest to deal with. Neuropathy, a dysfunction of the nerves, leads to numbness, weakness, and pain.

Fortunately, cannabis is a proven anti-inflammatory medicine that can reduce nerve pain and even heal damaged nerves. More specifically, its the non-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD, or cannabidiol, thats neuroprotective. This cannabinoid shields nerves from damage and reduces neuropathic pain for people with diabetes.

Therefore, some of the best weed strains for diabetes are those that can reduce diabetic neuropathic pain. These strains are high in CBD and rich in the antioxidant properties that protect and restore nerves. Hence, they tend to be indicas.

Devil Fruit treats medical cannabis patients with a light, euphoric cerebral enhancement coupled with full-body soothing effects.

A fantastic strain with strong antioxidant properties, Devil Fruit, helps reduce neuropathic pain with a sweet and spicy palette. Great White Shark genetics give this strain its high CBD content.

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10 Best Weed Strains For Diabetes - Green Rush Daily