StemCell Therapy

PH

Despite regular eye examinations, clinicians missed the warning signs that led to the loss but with more thorough testing Leifs condition would have been detected and he would likely have retained his vision.

So medical technology designer Douglas set about inventing a fast, non-intrusive whole-retina scanner, which was patient-friendly enough for a five-year-old but would give examiners a full view of the eye, unlike the partial glimpse which most machines provided at the time.

The result was Optos, which uses laser technology to monitor any changes in the eye that would otherwise go undetected using traditional examination techniques and equipment.

Not only is the scanner now used in hospitals across the country, the machine also helped save the vision in Leifs other eye after it detected a new retina problem several years later.

The technological innovation is now celebrating 11 years since it was recognised with the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award, the UKs most prestigious prize in the field and known as the Oscars of the engineering world.

GETTY

There are about 11,000 devices worldwide and a staggering 70-100 million people have been imaged using the scanner, potentially saving the sight of millions globally.

What was needed was a device that could image the entire eye in a very patient-friendly way and could be used by a non-expert practitioner

Douglas Anderson

It was an achievement Douglas, 66, could have not imagined when he was reeling from the news that Leif had irrecoverably lost his vision in one eye.

It was a very emotional time, admits Douglas, from Fife in Scotland, who was running his own design consultancy developing medical products.

I reflected on the reason my son lost his left eye he had a top-rated clinician and you dont get in front of one of them unless youre already advanced with some kind of symptomatic disease.

PH

"The people who tend to do standard eye examinations on children are opticians or junior doctors and because of the uncooperative nature of many young children, the chances of a full retina examination were about 20 per cent. So chances were that lots of problems went undiagnosed until it was too late.

Although Leifs right eye was being monitored, Douglas worried it could suffer the same fate as the left.

Our clinician tried to reassure me about what he could see but I became progressively less convinced about his ability to do a full retinal examination on a small child.

From this point, Douglas decided that there was a need for a device which gave a high-quality retina examination, particularly for difficult patients.

I thought the manual examination being used was out of date. When I thought of other disciplines such as cardiology and orthopaedics, they had much better imaging systems available to do comprehensive examinations.

GETTY

Ophthalmology, on the other hand, was a backwater which was using devices that had been developed 50 or even 100 years before.

What was needed was a device that could image the entire eye in a very patient-friendly way and could be used by a non-expert practitioner.

Douglas started working on his ambitious plan back in 1992 after securing investment 20million over the past 20 years and unveiled his first devices back in 2000.

It took another 10 years to go from the first machines we had in the marketplace to the level of refinement we have today. We are now on the third generation of machines, he says.

Obviously my background in making medical products was useful but it has been a big challenge and was and still is very much a team effort. In 2007 Optos received a Queens Award For Enterprise and the following year Douglas was named European Inventor Of The Year.

Last year an Optos display was installed in the National Museum Of Scotland. The device was instrumental in saving Leifs second eye when he had another retinal detachment aged 20.

1 of 10

Douglas rushed him to hospital during a weekend only to find there were no consultants available.

Fortunately there was an Optos machine but there were no clinical operators. So Leif and I convinced the staff to let us image his eye and he was scheduled for urgent and immediate attention the next day, says Douglas, who also has a daughter Orea, 35.

Leifs eye was saved but without the immediate diagnosis it was at risk.

The machine played a big role with that. Leif is now 31 and his right eye is in good health although he does require continuous monitoring.

He has sight that is capable of reading and driving a car so his vision is very good. Im amazed weve managed to get so far. We make the product today that I hoped for 25 years ago. It means there are many parents out there who wont have to go through what we did all those years ago.

For more information visit optos.com

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Douglas Anderson: My invention saved my son's eyesight - Express.co.uk

At first glance Ajay Kumar Reddy is no different from the average guy you meet walking down the street.

All is not what it seems

Twitter

However, a closer look reveals that the man has problems with his sight. The left eye is completely blind and he can't see beyond two metres with his right one.

Nonetheless, this lad from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh is know the skipper of the Blind Indian cricket team and has just led the country to victory in the World T20 title clash.

He lost his vision as a child due to an eye infection and that hampered him for most part of the pre-teen years. But it did not dampen his determination to take up the sport.

Defiance in the face of adversity

Twitter

He would play cricket 'all night' under lights in childhood, to pursue the sport professionally. Cricket equipment, especially a bat (a good one can cost a few thousand rupees) can be expensive.

Life was one big ordeal for Ajay as he had to push himself much harder to compete with others till he joined the Lutheran High School for the Blind in Narsaraopet, in the seventh standard. The school was known for promoting cricketers and Ajay started playing the game.

As a farmer's son, he faced opposition from his own father to taking up the game, but it did not deter him from his goal.

When things got better

Twitter

Then came the turning point. A senior blind cricketer, G Nageshwar Rao told him about the selections for the Blind Andhra Pradesh team was on.

Ajay was selected for the AP team in 2006 and since then there has been no looking back.

This paved his way into the Indian team in 2010. In his very first tour to England in 2010 he won two man of the match awards.

Glory for the country

Twitter

More success was to follow Ajay as he was rewarded with the vice-captaincy for his efforts. He was part of the team that won the first ever World T20 for the Blind the same year. His 33-ball hundred against England is ranked right up there as one of the best knocks ever.

In 2014, Ajay had a big role in India winning the ODI World Cup. His aggressive batting helped India chase down 141 in 11 overs against Pakistan in the final.

During the latter part of last year, he was appointed the skipper and led the team to victory in the Asia Cup. The icing on the cake, however, was when the team defeated Pakistan to win the World T20 on February 12.

Decline in vision but still going strong

PTI

However, the man has admitted that it all comes at a price.

"All my leaves expire due to cricket, so I've no leaves left for personal life-say for example taking my wife out for a holiday!"

Also his vision is fading slowly and that has not helped matters.

Ajay has always campaigned for more support for visually impaired cricketers as he feels they should get their dues.

His story is one of inspiration. It shows that if you are willing to defy the odds, you can achieve greatness no matter what life throws at you.

He is certainly a benchmark for those visually impaired people who want to take up the game and prove that they are no less.

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The Story Of Ajay Kumar Reddy - From Losing His Vision As A Child To Leading India To The Blind World T20 Title - Indiatimes.com

Our reporter asked Dr David Keegan, consultant ophthalmologist at the Mater Hospital, what we can do to reduce and even halt the effects of many serious sight complaints

1 HAVE YOUR EYES TESTED REGULARLY

Having regular eye tests (recommended every two years) will identify early indications of diseases such as cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, which are treatable when caught early. An eye test can also identify other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

"Don't ignore poor vision or just put it down to old age," says Dr Keegan. "Have it seen to by an eye doctor or another eye-care professional. A lot of people ignore poor vision even though much of what causes it is preventable. So have regular eye check-ups to keep on top of things."

2 EAT WELL

Maintaining a healthy weight and eating well can have enormous benefits for your eyes.

Some foods can even help to protect against certain eye conditions like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration due to the specific nutrients they contain called lutein or zeaxanthin, which are found in many fruits and vegetables, including mango, broccoli, green beans and spinach.

"Having a diet rich in anti-oxidants, in fruit and vegetables and low in fats, particularly saturated fats, will prevent against macular degeneration, cataract and diabetic retinopathy - three of the main causes of vision impairment worldwide," says Dr Keegan.

3 DON'T SMOKE

It is well documented that smoking is bad for your general health, but it can also cause direct damage to your sight by lessening the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream available to your eyes. The results of this 'oxidative stress' can lead to retina damage and even cell death in the area.

Smoking is also a risk factor in the development of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. However, in many cases, one can stop or even reverse damage to the eyes - depending on the severity of the condition - by quitting.

4 DON'T IGNORE CHANGES IN YOUR VISION

From the moment you notice a problem with your vision, the clock is ticking on your treatment options.

"The biggest mistake people can make is to ignore progressive vision loss, either out of denial or not thinking it is a big problem because then, when they eventually do present, it may be too late," says Dr Keegan.

"Every eye doctor has multiple stories like that, unfortunately, where if the patient had just come in a few months earlier, they may have been able to do something for them. So don't ignore your symptoms. Do your bit by presenting to a health professional and looking for onwards referral."

5 wear quality-assured glasses

Not all sunglasses will protect against ultraviolet light from the sun, which can cause damage to eyes. So be sure your sunglasses have a UV factor rating and block 100pc of UV rays.

Fighting Blindness, an Irish patient-led charity, advises people to check the sunglasses they buy carry the 'CE' mark. The 'CE' mark indicates that the sunglasses in question meet European safety standards.

6 KNOW YOUR FAMILY'S HISTORY

Many of the eye conditions which cause sight loss are hereditary, so it is particularly important to be aware of any eye issues that may run in your family.

"It is important to know your family's eye history," says Dr Keegan. "There are some genetic conditions or partly genetic conditions which you can modify such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetes.

"These are things we can do something about. There are also conditions which will run in families and we don't have effective treatments for just yet, so they would be the inherited retinal degenerations for example, but these sorts of cases would fall into the 25pc of non-preventable causes of blindness currently.

"It is important that if an eye condition is in your family, you get assessed and checked yourself and you have a genetic test done, which is available through the Target 5000 Project run by Fighting Blindness."

For more information about Target 5000 or to register your interest, telephone 01 6789 004 or email target5000@fightingblindness.ie

7 GIVE YOUR EYES A BREAK

Your eyes are constantly on their 'A' game, so it is important to avoid eye strain by getting adequate rest periods. If you work at a computer, it is a good idea to take frequent screen breaks and enable you eyes to relax by looking into the distance briefly.

"Eye strain is a combination of muscle strain and your eyes drying out, and it can be very uncomfortable," explains Dr Keegan. "Eye strain relates to an intensive accommodative effort where you might be looking at something up close for long periods of time and that has all the muscles in the eye switched on.

"The best way to give your eyes a break is to look into the distance. So if you are setting up your computer, for example, don't set it up in the corner of a room, set it up by a window if you can instead, so you can look into the distance every 10 or 15 minutes.

"It is also important to be careful about working in very dry conditions or heated environments because your eyes may go dry. Be sure to blink regularly and you can take artificial tear supplements too if your eyes are very dry. These measures will eliminate 90pc of the symptoms of eye strain."

8 TAKE CARE WITH COSMETICS AND CHEMICALS

Your eyes are incredibly delicate, so take care and use common sense when using make-up removers or any other products around your eyes.

Make sure to close your eyes when spraying hairspray or perfumes and if you get dye or any other chemicals in your eye, rinse with water immediately.

"Be sensible. If you are getting things like false lashes for example, it is important to use reputable people," says Dr Keegan. "When something that is used to put on false lashes, or to dye the lashes, falls into the eye, it can be very sore, so if you get any sort of chemical products in your eye, wash it out with copious amounts of water and if it is still very sore, then present to the hospital to have somebody look at it."

9 GET SCREENED

Screening is a good idea for everyone, but for those with existing conditions such as diabetes, which could impact on their vision, it is a must. If you have diabetes, you should register with The National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme. For full details, see: http://www.diabeticretinascreen.ie.

"There are a lot of manageable eye conditions - a lot of vision impairment is managed just with glasses and then there are other conditions like cataract, which is treated with a surgery, glaucoma, which is managed with drops, or retina conditions like retinal detachment or macular hole, which is treated with surgery," says Dr Keegan. "So screening for eye disease is very important."

10 KEEP IT CLEAN

Washing your hands thoroughly will help avoid the risk of eye infection (and is particularly important if you wear contact lenses).

* For more information, visit retina.ie.

Health & Living

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10 ways to keep your eyes healthy - Irish Independent

CLARKSBURG Lions clubs across Harrison County are providing free vision screenings for students in third and sixth grades.

Thirty-five students at Wilsonburg Elementary School were screened Thursday, and approximately 1,600 county students are to be screened by the end of March.

The local initiative to help detect vision issues among children is part of a worldwide effort started by Lions Club International about two years ago, said Clarksburg Lions Club member Al Cox.

Since the preschool and kindergarten students are required to have this done for school, we decided to target age groups each three years apart, Cox said. Most children dont have vision screenings until they start having problems, and by that time, it might be too late.

Using state-of-the-art devices called Welsh Allyn SPOT and Plusoptix vision screeners, club members are able to check for farsightedness, nearsightedness, blurred vision, unequal refractive power, unequal pupil size and eye misalignment.

Dr. Craig Liebig, an optometrist, has served as eye equipment coordinator, training Lions on how to use the screeners, Cox said.

Eighty percent of learning is visual, and if we can help correct it before a students education is affected, then this is worth it, Cox said. Over the past two years, the Lions Club has been doing childrens eye screenings at different organizations and schools in the area.

Cox explained that Lions Club members provide vision screenings, not vision tests. If a screening finds any vision issues, children and their parents are referred to a professional.

Frank Barberio and Gary Bakers of the Wilsonburg Lions Club and Mickey Knight and David Lantz of the Adamston Lions Club took part in the vision screenings at Wilsonburg Elementary on Thursday.

They said they enjoy being able to provide the free service to students of Harrison County.

Its part of what we do, Bakers said. We serve, and were really involved in wanting to preserve the eyesight of children, catching any problems at an early age.

Knight agreed.

All of the local Lions clubs are involved, he said. This is free for the students, and its something that needs to be monitored as students get older and their vision begins to change.

Harrison County Schools Nursing Coordinator Jody Sperry praised the Lions and their work.

We like to collaborate with the Lions clubs because we need the extra manpower, and they are really tremendous individuals, Sperry said. By collaborating, it allows us to reach a greater number of students and gets students in to see professionals if needed.

Sixth-grade students at each of the countys middle schools have already been screened, and screenings at elementary schools are underway, Sperry said. Students at St. Marys, Heritage Christian and Emmanuel Christian schools also will be screened.

Sperry said the screenings are optional, but if parents would like their children of any age to be screened, they can contact a school nurse and set up a free appointment.

Cox said day cares, church groups and other organizations are also welcome to contact a Lions Club if theyre interested in vision screenings, Cox said.

Our motto is, We serve, and thats just what we will continue to do, Cox said.

Read more from the original source:
Lions club provides free eye screenings for elementary, middle school students - The Exponent Telegram (press release) (registration)

A recent study reported that diabetes is the third leading cause of death in the United States, up from seventh in 2010.

This study also reported that life expectancy has slowed down or even decreased, mainly due to the rise of diabetes and obesity in our country. Per recent Centers for Disease Control statistics, 21.95 million people in the United States, or 9.3 percent of the population, in 2014 had diabetes. In those 65 years old and older, more than 25 percent have diabetes, and that percentage is expected to double by 2050 if current trends continue.

If glucose levels are high over long periods of time, heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage and other complications can result. But prevention of these complications is possible. The American Diabetes Association recommends that most non-pregnant adults with diabetes maintain a hemoglobin A1c (a 3-month blood sugar average) less than 7 percent, with daily blood sugars less than 130 mg/dl after fasting and less than 180 mg/dl two hours after eating.

Diabetes costs $245 billion a year; $69 billion of those costs are indirect, such as lost productivity and increased absenteeism from work. Patients with diabetes have medical costs twice as much as those without diabetes. The risk of death in adults with diabetes is 50 percent higher than for adults without diabetes. Prediabetes (often a precursor to type 2 diabetes) currently has a prevalence of 86 million, or 30 percent of the population, and nine out of 10 of those folks are unaware they have it. In the Medicare population, more than half have prediabetes, based on estimates from the Centers for Disease Control.

Recent statistics estimate that 90 percent of the cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented through lifestyle change, specifically Diabetes Prevention Programs. Structured DPPs are effective interventions lasting one year and taught by a lifestyle coach. Participants in the DPP learn about healthy eating, ways to incorporate exercise, how to manage stress and set up their environment and life for success.

The goal of the DPP is to have participants lose 7 percent of their body weight over the course of a year through nutrition interventions and exercising at least 150 minutes per week. The results from the DPP suggest over a 50 percent reduction in acquiring type 2 diabetes for those at risk. In 2018, Medicare will pay for the DPP as long as the program goes through the CDC accreditation process.

The potential is there to slow the rate of type 2 diabetes in our country. If you or someone you love is concerned about having prediabetes, ask your doctor to do a simple blood test such as a hemoglobin A1C or take the CDC risk test found at cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/pdf/prediabetestest.pdf.

We can turn the tide of diabetes in our country by screening all people with risk factors for diabetes and getting them into a DPP. Such opportunities exist in Missoula and Western Montana. As Robert Ratner, M.D., chief scientific officer for the American Diabetes Association once said, We must prevent diabetes or our health system will be consumed by it. Now is the time!

Jennifer Troupe, MS, RD, is the manager of Providence Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition Center

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Nurse's Notes: The state of diabetes in America - The Missoulian

ANN ARBOR, MI Why do some people get Type 2 diabetes, while others who live the same lifestyle never do?

For decades, scientists have tried to solve this mystery and have found more than 80 tiny DNA differences that seem to raise the risk of the disease in some people, or protect others from the damagingly high levels of blood sugar that are its hallmark.

But no one Type 2 diabetes signature has emerged from this search.

Now, a team of scientists has reported a discovery that might explain how multiple genetic flaws can lead to the same disease.

Theyve identified something that some of those diabetes-linked genetic defects have in common: they seem to change the way certain cells in the pancreas read their genes.

The discovery could eventually help lead to more personalized treatments for diabetes. But for now, its the first demonstration that many Type 2 diabetes-linked DNA changes have to do with the same DNA-reading molecule. Called Regulatory Factor X, or RFX, its a master regulator for a number of genes.

The team reporting the findings in a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences comes from the University of Michigan, National Institutes of Health, Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, University of North Carolina, and the University of Southern California.

They report that many diabetes-linked DNA changes affect the ability of RFX to bind to specific locations in the genomes of pancreas cell clusters called islets. And that in turn changes the cells ability to carry out important functions.

Islets contain the cells that make hormones, including insulin and glucagon, which keep blood sugar balanced in healthy people. In people with diabetes, that regulation goes awry leading to a range of health problems that can develop over many years.

We have found that many of the subtle DNA spelling differences that increase risk of Type 2 diabetes appear to disrupt a common regulatory grammar in islet cells, says Stephen C.J. Parker, Ph.D., an assistant professor of computational medicine and bioinformatics, and of human genetics, at the U-M Medical School. RFX is probably unable to read the misspelled words, and this disruption of regulatory grammar plays a significant role in the genetic risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Parker is one of four co-senior authors on the paper, which also includes Michael Boehnke, Ph.D., of the U-M School of Public Healths Department of Biostatistics, Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institutes of Health, and Michael L. Stitzel, Ph.D. of the Jackson Laboratory.

Prior to their current faculty positions Parker and Stitzel worked in Collins lab at the National Human Genome Research Institute. Parkers graduate student, Arushi Varshney, is one of the papers co-first authors with Laura Scott, Ph.D., and Ryan Welch, Ph.D., of the U-M School of Public Healths Department of Biostatistics and Michael Erdos, Ph.D., of the National Human Genome Research Institute.

They performed an extensive examination of DNA from islet samples isolated from 112 people. They characterized differences not just in DNA sequences, but also in the way DNA was packaged and modified by epigenetic factors, and the levels of gene expression products that indicated how often the genes had been read and transcribed.

This allowed them to track the footprints that RFX and other transcription factors leave on packaged DNA after they have done their job.

RFX and other factors dont bind directly to the part of a gene that encodes a protein that does a cellular job. Rather, they bind to a stretch of DNA near the gene a runway of sorts.

But when genetic changes linked to Type 2 diabetes are present, that runway gets disrupted, and RFX cant bind as it should.

Each DNA change might alter this binding in a different way, leading to a slightly different effect on Type 2 diabetes risk or blood sugar regulation. But the common factor for many of these changes was its effect on the area where RFX is predicted to bind, in the cells of pancreatic islets.

So, says Parker, this shows how the genome the actual sequence of DNA -- can influence the epigenome, or the factors that influence gene expression.

The researchers note that a deadly form of diabetes seen in a handful of babies born each year may be related to RFX mutations. That condition, called Mitchell-Riley syndrome, involves neonatal diabetes and malformed pancreas, and is known to be caused by a rare autosomal recessive mutation of one form of RFX.

In addition to co-senior and co-first authors listed above, the studys authors include a range of researchers from several institutions. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (HL127984, DK062370, HG000024, DK099240, DK092251, DK093757, DK105561, DK072193, ZIA HG000024).Parker is a 2014 recipient of the American Diabetes Associations Pathway to Stop Diabetes grant, a type of grant awarded annually by the American Diabetes Association to provide up to $1.625 million to each scientist over a five- to seven-year grant term to spur breakthroughs in clinical science, technology, diabetes care and potential cures. Since launching in 2013 Pathway has awarded more than $36 million to 23 leading scientists.

Reference: PNAS, http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1621192114

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Diabetes in your DNA? Scientists zero in on the genetic signature of risk - University of Michigan Health System News (press release)

When she was just 11 months old, Billie Sue Wozniaks daughter Juno was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that affects 1.25 million people and approximately 200,000 children under age 20 in the United States.

The disease had affected several members of Billie Sues family, including her uncle, who passed away at the age of 30.

My first thought was, Her life is going to be short, the 38-year-old from Reno, Nevada recalled. The more that I learned, the more I found that many people with type 1 live longer and the treatment advances are really exciting.

While looking for treatments, Wozniak learned about encapsulation therapy, in which an encapsulated device containing insulin-producing islet cells derived from stem cells is implanted under the skin. The encapsulation device is designed to protect the cells from an autoimmune attack and may help people produce their own insulin.

After learning of the therapy through JDRF, Wozniak saw an ad on Facebook for Store-A-Tooth, a company that offers dental stem cell banking. She decided to move forward with the stem cell banking, just in case the encapsulation device became an option for Juno.

In March 2016, a dentist extracted four of Junos teeth, and sent them to a lab so her stem cells could be cryopreserved. Wozniak plans to bank the stem cells from Junos molars as well.

Its a riskI dont know for sure if it will work out, Wozniak said.

Dental stem cells: a future of possibilities

For years, stem cells from umbilical cord blood and bone marrow have been used to treat blood and bone marrow diseases, blood cancers and metabolic and immune disorders.

Although there is the potential for dental stem cells to be used in the same way, researchers are only beginning to delve into the possibilities.

Dental stem cells are not science fiction, said Dr. Jade Miller, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. I think at some point in time, were going to see dental stem cells used by dentistson a daily practice.

Dental stem cells have the potential to produce dental tissue, bone, cartilage and muscle. They may be used to repair cavities, fix a tooth damaged from periodontal disease or bone loss, or even grow a tooth instead of using dental implants.

In fact, stem cells can be used to repair cracks in teeth and cavities, according to a recent mouse study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Theres also some evidence that dental stem cells can produce nerve tissue, which might eliminate the need for root canals. A recent study out of Tufts University found that a collagen-based biomaterial used to deliver stem cells to the inside of damaged teeth can regenerate dental pulp-like tissues.

Dental stem cells may even be able to treat neurological disorders, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.

I believe those are the kinds of applications that will be the first uses of these cells, said Dr. Peter Verlander, Chief Scientific Officer for Store-A-Tooth.

When it comes to treating diseases like type 1 diabetes, dental stem cells also show promise. In fact, a study in the Journal of Dental Research found that dental stem cells were able to form islet-like aggregates that produce insulin.

Unlike umbilical cord blood where theres one chance to collect stem cells, dental stem cells can be collected from several teeth. Also, gathering stem cells from bone marrow requires invasive surgery and risk, and it can be painful and costly.

The stem cells found in baby teeth, known as mesenchymal cells, are similar to those found in other parts of the body, but not identical.

There are differences in these cells, depending on where they come from, Verlander said.

Whats more, mesenchymal stem cells themselves differ from hematopoietic, or blood-forming stem cells. Unlike hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells can expand.

From one tooth, we expect to generate hundreds of billions of cells, Verlander said.

Yet the use of dental stem cells is not without risks. For example, theres evidence that tumors can develop when stem cells are transplanted. Theres also a chance of an immune rejection, but this is less likely if a person uses his own stem cells, Miller said.

The process for banking stem cells from baby teeth is relatively simple. A dentist extracts the childs teeth when one-third of the root remains and the stem cells are still viable. Once the teeth are shipped and received, the cells are extracted, grown and cryopreserved.

Store-A-Tooths fees include a one-time payment of $1,749 and $120 per year for storage, in addition to the dentists fees for extraction.

For families who are interested in banking dental stem cells, they should know that theyre not necessarily a replacement for cord blood banking or bone marrow stem cells.

Theyre not interchangeable, we think of them as complementary, Verlander said.

Although the future is unclear for Junowho was born in 2008her mom is optimistic that shell be able to use the stem cells for herself and if not, someone else.

Ultimately, however, Wozniak hopes that if dental stem cells arent the answer, there will be a biological cure for type 1 diabetes.

I hold out hope that somewhere, someone is going to crack the code, she said.

Julie Revelant is a health journalist and a consultant who provides content marketing and copywriting services for the healthcare industry. She's also a mom of two. Learn more about Julie at revelantwriting.com.

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Can banking baby teeth treat diabetes? - Fox News

The End of Diabetes Is within Reach

By Satesh Bidaisee

The Food and Drug Administration just approved what could be one of the biggest breakthroughs in the treatment of type 1 diabetes in decades.

Dubbed an "artificial pancreas," the MiniMed 670G is an implantable pump that senses blood glucose levels and delivers precise insulin doses to diabetic patients. Devices like these could make syringes for injecting insulin and manual blood monitors obsolete.

Unfortunately, victories like this in the battle against diabetes remain rare. Even though the condition is one of the top causes of death in the United States, research into it is grossly underfunded. Just as troubling, public awareness of how to prevent diabetes -- and how to manage it effectively -- remains inadequate.

The medical community has the power to stop the diabetes epidemic in its tracks -- but only if it makes diabetes research and education a bigger priority.

About one in 10 Americans currently suffers from diabetes. Worse, incidence of the disease has been rising for years. The number of cases in the United States shot up 44 percent between 2004 and 2014.

Diabetes takes a toll not just on the health of millions of Americans but on the economy, too. The disease costs Florida over $24 billion a year -- and the entire country about $250 billion annually. That's bigger than the yearly economic output of most states.

Compared to these staggering treatment costs, research funding for diabetes is a pittance.

Consider that the disease kills 28 times more Americans each year than HIV/AIDS. Yet the National Institutes of Health spend nearly three times as much annually on HIV/AIDS research as on diabetes research.

Given the enormous promise of today's diabetes research, this lack of funding is a missed opportunity.

Researchers at Harvard and MIT, for instance, are exploring a technique for making large numbers of insulin-creating cells that, once delivered to type 1 diabetes patients, could keep the disease at bay for years at a time. Johnson & Johnson, together with biotech firm Viacyte, is currently developing the first-ever stem-cell treatment for diabetes.

In short, we've never been closer to curing diabetes. But meeting that goal will take far longer if research funding remains as sparse as it is today.

Halting the epidemic will also require a more aggressive effort to prevent and diagnose the disease. More than one-third of American adults have pre-diabetes -- the kinds of elevated blood sugar levels that often lead to diabetes. Yet 90 percent of these individuals aren't aware of their condition.

This is where government agencies and academic institutions could have a significant impact.

The school I teach at, St. George's University in Grenada, has already taken up this cause. We're collaborating with Grenada's Ministry of Health on a school nutrition policy to advocate for healthy consumption habits. We've also worked with the ministry to launch programs that promote physical activity in schools and offer exercise classes to the community.

Ending the diabetes epidemic is within reach -- if we commit to funding the most promising medical research and effectively educating the public about the disease.

Satesh Bidaisee is an Associate Professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies at St. Georges University, Grenada.

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The End of Diabetes Is within Reach - Gilmer Mirror

Science Daily

Cellular quality control process could be Huntington's disease drug target Science Daily Misfolded proteings in cells of people with Huntington's disease cause the death of neurons in brain and muscle cells in the body. Scientists have known that in people with Huntington's, chaperone proteins -- whose job it is to fold ... Thiele and ... and more »

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Cellular quality control process could be Huntington's disease drug target - Science Daily

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Prevention of Blindness Society to Honor Dr. William L. Rich Patch.com From the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington: Dr. William L. Rich III of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates will be honored at 31st Night of Vision gala. The Prevention of ...

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Prevention of Blindness Society to Honor Dr. William L. Rich - Patch.com

The white biotechnology market has been segmented based on product, application, feedstock, and region. Based on product, the market has been segmented into biochemical, biofuel, biomaterial, and bioproduct. In terms of application, the market has been categorized into food & feed, pharmaceuticals, pulp & paper, textile, energy, and others. Based on feedstock, the market has been segmented into grains & starch crops, agricultural residues, food waste, forestry material, animal by-product, energy crops, and urban & suburban waste.

The executive summary provides detailed insights about the report and the market in general. This elaborate executive summary provides a glimpse into the present scenario of the global white biotechnology market, which includes a market snapshot that provides overall information of various segments and sub-segments. The executive summary also provides overall information and data analysis of the global white biotechnology market with respect to market segments based on product, application, feedstock, and geographic regions. The market for white biotechnology has been extensively analyzed based on usefulness, effectiveness, sales revenue, and geographic presence. The market size and forecast in terms of US$ Bn for each product type, application, and feedstock has been provided for the period from 2016 to 2024. This report on the white biotechnology market also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) for each market segment for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024, considering 2015 as the base year.

Geographically, the white biotechnology market has been segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The market size and forecast for each of these regions have been provided for the period from 2016 to 2024, along with CAGR (%) for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. The research study also incorporates the competitive scenario in these regions.

A list of recommendations has been provided for new entrants as well as existing players to help establish a strong presence in the market and increase market share. The report also profiles major players in the white biotechnology market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Major players profiled in this report include Archer Daniels Midland Company, BASF SE, Cargill, Inc., DuPont, Corbion, DSM, Novozymes, and Lesaffre.

The global white biotechnology market has been segmented as follows:

Global White Biotechnology Market, by Product

Biochemical

Biofuel

Biomaterial

Bioproduct

Global White Biotechnology Market, by Application

Food & Feed

Pharmaceuticals

Pulp & Paper

Textile

Energy

Others

Global White Biotechnology Market, by Feedstock

Grains & Starch Crops

Agricultural Residues

Food Waste

Forestry Material

Animal By-product

Energy Crops

Urban & Suburban Waste

Global White Biotechnology Market, by Geography

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Download the full report:

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White Biotechnology Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024 - PR Newswire (press release)

Drug combo works against chikungunya arthritis in mice Trinidad Guardian Combining a drug for rheumatoid arthritis with one that targets the chikungunya virus can eliminate the signs of chikungunya arthritis in mice in the disease's earliest stage, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St ...

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Drug combo works against chikungunya arthritis in mice - Trinidad Guardian

EASTON, Conn. --Hope is a big word in the Standen household in Easton these days.

Through a procedure at the Cell Medicine Institute in Panama, there is a 60 percent to 70 percent chance that Zach Standen a 17-year-old who became paralyzed from the waist down after a car accident last summer may regain some feeling and movement in his legs.

In the procedure, The stem cells are taken from your own bone marrow and human umbilical cords and are re-injected into your body," Zachs mother, Christine Standen, said in a phone interview.

The ultimate goal is for the stem cells from Zach's body to regenerate the nerves and neural connections for him to regain some feeling and function in his legs.

It's extremely important that Zach gets the treatment as soon as possible, his mother said. "He should get the stem cell therapy within a year of the accident since this is when the most healing occurs and before scar tissue is laid down," Christine Standen said. Once this happens, she said, muscle mass is lost and muscles begin to atrophy.

Related story: Easton teen is left paralyzed after car crash.

Zach's family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise the nearly $40,000 needed to pay for the treatment. So far, the page has been shared 687 times. With 313 donations, it has raised $18,194 out of a $100,000 goal.

The family is hoping to raise enough money to get Zach two stem cell treatments, which would greatly increase his chances for recovery.

In addition, a fundraiser has been established to benefit the cause for Zach. Through Feb. 28, a total of 15 percent of the cost of all Arbonne products will be donated to Zach Standens Stem Cell Therapy Fund.

Zach and his mother, as well as Zachs girlfriend, Constance Rude, plan on taking the month-long trip to Panama.

We are hoping that Zach [who attends Joel Barlow High School in Redding] will get his homework assignments ahead of time," she said, adding that he will most likely have to take summer classes or make up some timein the fall.

In a post on Zachs GoFundMe Page, his mother wrote, As of right now, there has been very little progress physically and I can't see him being like this for the rest of his life. No walking, no bowel or bladder control, no sexual function, no feeling. This is no way to live if we can help it, especially for a 17 year old."

She said Zach's spirits are waning. "He is finding it difficult to study and is trying to maintain hope."

Aside from his medical issues, Zach has the life of a typical teenager he goes to school and hangs out with his friends.

Related story: A family seeks support for treatment for paralyzed son.

Zach goes twice a week to physical therapy at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford. "He is working really hard, every day," said his mother.

Another fundraiser for Zachwill be a concert by the Grayson Hugh & The Moon Hawks & The Bobby Paltauf Band on March 11 at 7 p.m. at the Fairfield Theatre Company. A total of 25 percent of ticket sales will go toward Zach's Stem Cell Therapy Fund.

Christine Standen said she feels extreme gratitude toward for the support the family has received through this tough time. "We are so grateful to the entire community," she said.

For previous Daily Voice articles on Zach Standen, click here and here .

Originally posted here:
Paralyzed Easton Teen Seeking Stem Cell Treatment In Bid To Move Legs Again - New Canaan Daily Voice

Increasingly, science is validating the therapeutic value of spices to prevent and treat disease, including for conditions as serious as lethal brain cancer.

When chemo fails, or worse, feeds the cancer, the immense healing power of food may be the only hope left.

A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has found that more frequent mammography results in dramatically increased rates of false positives and unnecessary biopsies.

What do we really know about ovarian cancer risk and the 'gene mutations' considered largely responsible for increasing it? The answer is quite surprising and opens up the possibility for a radical change in how we diagnosis and treat the most lethal gynecological cancer in existence.

This highly pungent Japanese condiment contains compounds that strike to the very core of pancreatic cancer malignancy.

Costing over $150 per milligram, this deadly and ineffective chemotherapy drug costs 4,000x its weight in gold. Why was it approved by the FDA and when will natural alternatives that actually work be made available to the public?

A new turmeric study published in Cancer Letters is paving the way for a revolution in the way that we both understand and treat cancer.

A new study finds vitamin D -- the 'sunlight vitamin' -- strikes to the very heart of breast cancer malignancy.

Newly published research from the journal cancer indicates that conventional radiation-based cancer treatments may actually be driving the cancer into greater malignancy. Irradiated breast cancer cells were found to be 30 times more capable of forming new tumors than nonirradiated breast cancer cells.

A new study confirms radiotherapy drives malignancy and invasiveness within cancer, as well as the power of natural substances as benign and accessible as blueberries to suppress the cancer stem cells at the root of the problem.

About one hundred times less toxic than chemotherapy, turmeric extract (curcumin) was found more effective at killing colorectal cancer stem cells from patients than a popular combination of conventional drugs.

Cancer treatment with chemotherapy yields disappointing results for most cancer cell types. Perhaps we should be exploring alternative cancer treatments, such as one proposed by Nicholas Gonzalez, MD, known as the trophoblast theory of cancer.

A new scientific review identifies 25 of the top foods and herbs which kill the cancer stem cells at the root cause of cancer malignancy.

The ancient Indian spice turmeric strikes again! A new study finds it is capable of selectively and safely killing cancer stem cells in a way that chemo and radiation can not.

Many of the most commonly used forms of chemotherapy target the fast-replicating cells, tricking them into incorporating deadly chemicals within their DNA, like fluoride or platinum, or by otherwise blocking some key cog in the machinery of DNA replication or translation.

Unbeknownst to most, a Copernican revolution has already taken place in cancer theory. Today, the weight of evidence indicates that plants and not chemicals are the solution for reversing the global cancer epidemic.

Cannabis contains a compound that may kill brain cancers that chemotherapy and radiation can't touch, so why isn't it being used today?

A new study reveals ginger contains a pungent compound that is up to 10,000 times more effective than conventional chemotherapy in targeting the root cause of cancers.

Conventional cancer treatments aren't working for women with breast cancer. Women are falling into a cancer industry machine only to be spit out at the other end, permanently damaged and still with no reasonable assurance of long-term survival.

From the perspective of conventional cancer treatment a diagnosis of multi-drug resistant cancer is equivalent to a death sentence. By the time such a diagnosis occurs, the patients body has been devastated by chemotherapy and radiation, and an even more aggressive cancer has emerged to take the place of the original one.

Millions die every year from cancer. Millions more from heart disease. A solid body of research indicates that consuming pomegranate may be the ideal way to protect yourself against the top two killers in the postmodern age.

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Cancer Stem Cells | GreenMedInfo | Disease | Natural Medicine

February 13, 2017 Misfolded proteings in cells of people with Huntington's disease cause the death of neurons in brain and muscle cells in the body. Scientists have known that in people with Huntington's, chaperone proteins -- whose job it is to fold misfolded proteins 0 are at low levels, but it wasn't clear why. Credit: Alisa Weigandt for Duke Health

The loss of motor function and mental acuity associated with Huntington's disease might be treatable by restoring a cellular quality control process, which Duke Health researchers have identified as a key factor in the degenerative illness.

Huntington's disease is an inherited condition that results in the gradual erosion of nerve cells, leading to impairments and death. It affects about one in 10,000 people in the United States and has no cure.

Like other neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, Huntington's disease is caused when certain protein molecules fail to fold into the proper structural shape required for them to function properly. These misfolded proteins build up and become toxic to the nerve cells that control movement and thought.

In a study published online Feb. 13 in the journal Nature Communications, Duke Health researchers looked at what causes the failure of the cellular process that usually fixes or discards these misfolded proteins.

"Normally when proteins misfold, the cells have a mechanism to cope," said senior author Dennis Thiele, Ph.D., George Barth Geller Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology. "These quality control mechanisms can prod the proteins back into their normal three-dimensional shape, or if the damage is too extensive, target them for removal in the cellular garbage disposal. In Huntington's disease, that's not happening."

Thiele and colleagues conducted experiments using yeast genetics, biochemistry, chemical biology screening, mouse models and stem cells from patients with Huntington's disease. They found a biochemical explanation for how the quality control process breaks down in Huntington's disease.

They focused on specialized proteins called chaperoneshelpmates that coax the misfolded proteins into their correct conformations. Chaperone proteins are abnormally scarce in people with Huntington's disease, but the cause of that scarcity was not known until now.

The Duke-led team found that the master control for chaperone production, called HSF1, was being destroyed in Huntington's disease due to the presence of abnormally high levels of a chemical modifier called CK2. As a result, neurons die due to their inability to produce sufficient levels of the beneficial chaperones.

"We demonstrated that we could restore the abundance of the protein chaperones by chemically inhibiting CK2 in a cell model of Huntington's disease, or genetically lowering CK2 kinase levels in a Huntington's disease mouse model," Thiele said. "In both cases, we dramatically increased the number of healthy neurons and we prevented the muscle wasting that is commonly observed in Huntington's disease."

With more functioning neurons, he said, the hallmarks of Huntington's disease diminish. Thiele said there are potential investigational drugs that could delay or prevent the cellular processes that cause the neurodegeneration of Huntington's disease, and could also be tested in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, along with other similar diseases.

But he said more pre-clinical studies are needed to explore those chemicals and to further illuminate the cellular events involved.

"We have identified a potential new target for a drug intervention in Huntington's disease," Thiele said, "but there are a lot of basic questions that still need to be answered."

Explore further: Potential therapeutic target for Huntington's disease

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Cellular quality control process could be Huntington's disease drug target - Medical Xpress

Technology is amazing. Within the last couple years alone, it has allowed human beings to advance in ways that, at one time, was only thought possible in science fiction. Virtual reality is becoming a household thing and 3D printing is changing lives. Now, technology is being tested to change a persons life entirely. In an upcoming study, Harvard Medical School is developing a brain implant that may reverse the effects of blindness long term.

Sometime next month, Harvard will begin testing the implant on primates. Instead of protruding into the brain, the new implant will rest right underneath the skull and sit on the brains surface. Tiny coils on the underside of the implantwill generate magnetic fields to initiate activity in different parts of the brain. Obviously, in this particular experiment, the researchers are focused on the effects this will have on thevisual cortex of the brain. They are hoping the surge of electricity from the implant will re-create the actions that causevision. In the end, the Harvard researchers are hoping to be able to turn signals from a camera into brain activity. If successful, the primates will be able to navigate a maze just by perceiving light, dark, and shapes. They will also be testing an implant that is embedded in the brain. Below, is a video that shows a brain implant giving a paralyzed monkey the ability to walk!

Unfortunately, this is an experiment that will not be finished anytime soon. The three-year project is being funded by a movement, the BRAIN initiative, put into action by President Obama. The initiative was put in place strictly for scientists to experiment in an attempt to better understand the human brain. When it comes to these sort of implants. they usually fail. The electrodes the implants are trying to pass through the various parts of the brain stop working when scar tissue builds around the implant. Since this new type of implant rests on top of the brain, scar tissue wont build up and erode these connections.

This implant could, not only, fix blindness in the long term, but could also be extremely useful for other sorts of disabilities.

Shelby loves all things horror and nerd-related and has been playing games for as long as she can remember. Her first memory of gaming comes from playing Super Mario World on the SNES with her aunt. She has a real passion for literature and the indie gaming community.

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Harvard Tests A Brain Implant That Could Reverse Blindness - The Nerd Stash (press release)

Introduction

Although the political uncertainty has abated, Donald Trump has been able to single handily influence the movement of specific stocks [i.e. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Ford (NYSE:F), Boeing (NYSE:BA) and others] and sectors (i.e. automotive, biotechnology, defense and healthcare). The overall healthcare sector has become volatile on the heels of any statement or tweet from Donald Trump. Case in point, Trump recently held a press conference and stated his stance with regard to the pharmaceutical industry and more specifically drug pricing. Trump stated that drug companies are "getting away with murder" when speaking to the drug pricing issue that has taken the spotlight. These remarks immediately resulted in a broad sell-off across the entire biotech cohort. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB) shed more than 2.5% or $7 per share as these comments were heard during the live broadcast. The healthcare sector has been faced with a political backdrop that's put the entire industry on edge. The overall healthcare umbrella has become sensitive to any tweet from President Trump as he vows to bring down drug prices. As he pursues his agenda against drug pricing, much of these threats may have already been priced-in as seen in many healthcare related stocks [i.e. McKesson (NYSE:MCK), CVS (NYSE:CVS), AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) and Allergan (NYSE:AGN)] that have seen sharp and sustained sell-offs. Lately, many large-cap pharma companies have create a drug pricing coalition of sorts to reign in transparency, separate themselves from a few bad actors and get out in front of Trump's crusade against the drug companies.

Figure 1 - IBB price activity over the previous 6 months with pronounced volatility that coincide with political rhetoric against drug pricing

Merck Joins Drug Pricing Coalition

Big pharma companies are joining forces as of late to address the price increases that the public and governmental officials have been demanding. Allergan, J&J (NYSE:JNJ), Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) and AbbVie have committed to limiting any annual drug pricing increases to less than 10%. J&J went further stating that they will be publishing an annual report regarding its portfolio and the price increases they've implemented. AbbVie released data on its increases as well stating that Humira was increased by 8.4% with an only once annual increase moving forward. Merck (NYSE:MRK) becomes the latest pharma to join this drug pricing transparency coalition. Merck raised list prices by an average of 9.6% with an average net price increase of 5.5%

M&A and Repatriation Catalysts

The M&A activity has heated up as of late with J&J and McKesson making a big splash with acquisitions of Actelion and CoverMyMeds, respectively. Johnson & Johnson made an all-cash offer of $30 billion to acquire Swiss drug maker Actelion. This acquisition was approved unanimously by the boards of both companies and valuing the transaction at $280 per share, payable in U.S. dollars. This acquisition will be financed by cash held outside the U.S. while Actelion shares spiked 20% on the news. The drug discovery operations of Actelion will be spun off as a standalone company, termed R&D NewCo. Johnson & Johnson will own a 16% stake in the newly formed company with rights to an additional 16% ownership equity via a convertible note. McKesson reached an agreement to acquire privately-held healthcare IT company CoverMyMeds for $1.1 billion in an effort to strengthen its technology offerings to pharmaceutical manufactures, clinicians and payers. In addition to the latest moves, Pfizer's acquisition of Medivation for $14 billion, Allergan's acquisition of Tobira for $1.7 billion and J&J's acquisition of Abbott's Medical Optics unit for $4.3 billion. Recently, Ariad (NASDAQ:ARIA) Pharmaceuticals was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceuticals for $5.2 billion.

As campaign promises of repatriation of overseas assets and decreases in corporate taxes come to fruition, this could serve as a catalyst for M&A. These events taken in conjunction with chronically depressed valuations of many companies may accelerate M&A within the sector. The governmental stance on M&A activity may loosen up with the new administration while its pro-business agenda. Potential repatriation of overseas assets, decreases in corporate taxes and the loosening of M&A push back may bode well for the industry in the intermediate term. As the cohort remains suppressed, many prospective buyout candidates become more financially appealing to the acquirer due to beaten down valuations in concert with the maturity of pipelines coming into play. As this acquisition activity heats up, be on the lookout for stocks that have been rumored as takeover targets to heat up and possibly take IBB along for the ride.

Summary

As Donald Trump pursues his crusade against drug pricing, much of these threats may have already been priced-in as seen in many healthcare related stocks that have seen sharp and sustained sell-offs that have now leveled off. President Trump may be up against a formidable challenge with the formation of this new coalition on drug pricing transparency within large pharma. As transparency and responsible drug price increases enter the market, reigning in these costs may be more challenging when countered with this coalition and its vow to limit drug price increases. If this debate can be stymied by the coalition and largely put behind the industry, this cohort will likely rise. Potential M&A activity and a favorable repatriation environment can further support this sector. Collectively, all these potential events bode well for the sector and as IBB attempts to break through the $300 barrier be on the lookout for these events in propelling the index higher.

Disclosure: I am/we are long IBB.

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.

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IBB: Merck Joins The Drug Pricing Coalition For Transparency - Seeking Alpha

iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (IBB) traded higher in the last at $284.75, gaining 0.19 points or 0.07%. From the data available, it can be said that the stock did not make an impact in the money flow department with the net figure coming to be $(-2.92) million. The composite uptick value of $19.32 million was eclipsed by the accrued downtick value of $22.25 million, thereby ensuring the up/down ratio of 0.87. For the week, the shares have posted returns of 0.6%.

iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology is having a Relative Strength Index of 61.82 which indicates the stock is not yet over sold or over bought based on the technical indicators.

Based on the Stock Research reports from financial advisors, there are Analysts recommending as a Strong Buy, and Analysts recommending as a Moderate Buy. Investors should also note that Stock brokerage firms are recommending to Hold the stock for short term. Stock Research experts are recommending to Sell based on the growth. There are Analysts recommending as a Strong Sell.

iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (NASDAQ:IBB) witnessed a decline in the market cap on Friday as its shares dropped 0.07% or 0.19 points. After the session commenced at $284.48, the stock reached the higher end at $285.88 while it hit a low of $283.55. With the volume soaring to 764,100 shares, the last trade was called at $284.37. The company has a 52-week high of $301.8. The company has a market cap of $8,332 million and there are 29,300,000 shares in outstanding. The 52-week low of the share price is $240.3.

The ISHARES NASDAQ BIOTECHNOLOGY INDEX FUND seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of companies primarily engaged in the biotechnology industry, as represented by the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index.

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Large Outflow of Money Witnessed in iShares Nasdaq ... - Highland Mirror

Home Anti-Aging Arthritis Researchers develop new arthritis treatment

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis are developing a new treatment for arthritis that can ease symptoms and make existing medications more effective. Injuries such as a twisted ankle, broken hip, and torn knee cartilage can have long-term side effects including arthritis, joint degeneration, osteoarthritis, and inflammation that could result in chronic pain. The team, led by professor Lori Setton, have found that silk particles can aid in the delivery of existing medications to affected areas that are sometimes hard to reach.

To develop this new treatment, the researchers addressed the main cause of cellular breakdown, inflammation, and pain following an injuryan intracellular compound referred to as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB). They are currently working on a method that utilizes silk to deliver two NF-kB inhibiting molecules to the site of the original injury in order to prevent long-term joint damage.

Setton explained their method, stating Silk naturally doesnt interact with water, and, when you mix it with these molecules that also dont interact with water, they bind to each other very strongly. We believe these selective compounds are therapeutically effective, but weve never been able to get them to their target site. By delivering them with the silk, we hope to get large doses to the target site with low toxicity and to have them remain in that compartment for longer periods of time.

In initial trials, Setton and her team have shown that compounds are able to stay in the joint space approximately five times longer when they are delivered with silk microparticles than when they are delivered alone. This new delivery method will begin testing in animal models in the near future.

If this method proves to be effective in animal and human trials, it could provide a more efficient way of treating the cause of long-term joint damage and potentially prevent the development of musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis.

Related: Living with arthritis? Simple lifestyle and exercise tips to improve your joint health

Related Reading:

11 best essential oils for arthritis: Control arthritis and inflammation

Osteoarthritis pain in older adults can be managed with chair yoga

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-02-apill-team-arthritis-treatment-silk.html

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Researchers develop new arthritis treatment - Bel Marra Health

Osteoarthritis of the hand and wrist is a relatively common condition that can lead to significant pain, stiffness and functional limitation. In some cases, arthritis can develop after a fracture or other trauma. However, most of the time it occurs as part of the aging process. Over time, the normal cartilage within the joint degenerates, thins and can wear away entirely, causing pain and inflammation.

Arthritis can occur in any of the joints of the hand and/or wrist, but the joint at the base of the thumb and the small joints of the fingers are most commonly affected. So, how do you know if you may be affected?

Patients with arthritis typically have pain and swelling in the affected joints. They also may notice that certain knuckles become more prominent as a result of osteophyte (bone spur) formation. Range of motion often becomes more limited. Many patients report difficulty with pinching and gripping activities, like opening jars or turning doorknobs or car keys.

Unfortunately, there is no good way to prevent hand and wrist arthritis. Its believed to be caused by a combination of genetics and just general wear and tear that occurs during life. If you do experience symptoms, however, seeing a doctor as soon as possible may allow for more treatment options.

Initial evaluation of the patient with arthritis usually will include a detailed history, including activities or treatments that worsen or improve symptoms. Physical exams can help determine which areas are most symptomatic, as well as assessing the motion and stability of the affected joints. Often, X-rays will be ordered to confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment.

For patients with earlier-stage disease and milder symptoms, conservative treatments such as ice or heat, rest or activity modification can be effective. Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) or pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) also can help with symptoms. For arthritis in certain locations like the joint at the base of the thumb splint usage or hand therapy may have a role. As symptoms become more severe, steroid injections into arthritic joints may provide short-term relief.

For patients with more advanced disease and symptoms not adequately addressed by non-surgical therapies, surgery may be an option. For patients with arthritis in the joint at the base of the thumb (carpometacarpal [CMC] arthritis), surgery can provide significant pain relief while preserving strength and motion in the thumb. Typically, the surgeon removes the arthritic bone (called the trapezium) through a small incision at the base of the thumb. One of the tendons in the area is then rerouted to support the thumb while it heals. After a period of immobilization and rehab, patients are able to return to full activity.

For the smaller joints of the fingers, arthroplasty (joint replacement) with silicone or pyrocarbon implants can preserve motion while relieving pain. These procedures are more commonly performed in the proximal finger joints (those closer to the wrist). For the more distal finger joints (those farther from the wrist), stability is often a more important concern, and an arthrodesis (fusion) procedure can relieve pain and provide a stable platform for pinch-and-grip activities.

Dr. Michael Potter is with Sentara Martha Jefferson Orthopedics.

This column, which promotes community health, is sponsored by Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, Region Ten Community Services Board, Thomas Jefferson Health District and the University of Virginia Health System.

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Vital Signs: Treatment options can ease pain of hand and wrist arthritis - The Daily Progress