StemCell Therapy

Experts explore new ways to treat the mind, body, and spirit -- all at the same time.

What makes integrative medicine appealing? Advocates point to deep dissatisfaction with a health care system that often leaves doctors feeling rushed and overwhelmed and patients feeling as if they're nothing more than diseased livers or damaged joints. Integrative medicine seems to promise more time, more attention, and a broader approach to healing -- one that is not based solely on the Western biomedical model, but also draws from other cultures.

"Patients want to be considered whole human beings in the context of their world," says Esther Sternberg, MD, a National Institutes of Health senior scientist and author of The Balance Within: The Science Connecting Health and Emotions.

Sternberg, a researcher who has done groundbreaking work on interactions between the brain and the immune system, says technological breakthroughs in science during the past decade have convinced even skeptics that the mind-body connection is real.

"Physicians and academic researchers finally have the science to understand the connection between the brain and the immune system, emotions and disease," she says. "All of that we can now finally understand in terms of sophisticated biology."

That newfound knowledge may help doctors to see why an integrative approach is important, she says.

"It's no longer considered fringe," Sternberg says. "Medical students are being taught to think in an integrated way about the patient, and ultimately, that will improve the management of illness at all levels."

The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, takes a similarly broad view of health and disease. The center, which includes a patient clinic, says on its web site: "Integrative medicine seeks to incorporate treatment options from conventional and alternative approaches, taking into account not only physical symptoms, but also psychological, social and spiritual aspects of health and illness."

To promote integrative medicine at the national level, the Osher Center and Duke have joined with 42 other academic medical centers -- including those at Harvard, Columbia, Georgetown, and the University of Pennsylvania -- to form the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine.

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What Is Integrative Medicine? - WebMD - Better information ...

Myopia

Myopia (nearsightedness) causes a person's near vision to be clear, while distance vision is blurry. Myopic individuals often squint, may complain of headaches and may have complaints of eyestrain. Myopia is often detected between the ages of six and 20, and can progress as time goes on.

Light rays, which are meant to reach the macula, actually converge too soon, causing a blur on the macula. The light-bending properties of the eye are too strong, converging light at a point before the retina. This may result from the corneal surface being too steep or from the actual length of the eye being too long. Myopes wear either contact lenses or glasses with minus (concave) power to weaken and diverge light rays. This pushes the focus of light rays back to the retina. Myopia often becomes worse during the growing years. If you detect a problem with your eyes, make sure you call for an appointment today.

Astigmatism is a refractive error, which distorts vision both at distance and near. The corneal surface is spherically shaped (similar to a ball). When the shape of the cornea is sphere-cylindrical (like a football), it is known as astigmatism. This causes the light rays to reflect unevenly inside the eye. While some light rays focus on the retina, other light rays focus in front of or behind the retina, resulting in blurred vision. Patients with astigmatism may wear glasses or contact lenses, which provide more power to the other section. Contact lenses required to correct the astigmatism are termed toric lenses; the fit of these is more complex. If you are experiencing blurred vision, make an appointment today.

Hyperopia (farsightedness) is complex to understand because in people under the age of 40, there is a compensatory mechanism to help bring images into focus. A patient may have no symptoms or just complain of eyestrain or headaches while reading. Light rays that reach the macula converge at a point behind the retina. The light-bending property of the eye is too weak; either the corneal surface is too flat or the actual length of the eyeball is too short.

Depending on the degree of hyperopia, patients need either contact lenses or glasses with convex power to aid in the convergence of light. This pulls the focus of light onto the retina. In low or moderate levels of hyperopia, the crystalline lens can change its shape to add more plus power to the eye. The change of shape and power of the crystalline lens is referred to as accommodation. In high levels of hyperopia, accommodation cannot add enough power to compensate, thus glasses or other forms of correction are needed. A complete eye exam will determine your true level of farsightedness.

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Eye Conditions & Treatments | Eye Site Vision Center ...

RAS AL KHAIMAH, United Arab Emirates, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --Grace Century's bio banking project, Provia Laboratories, LLC has reported a record enrollment quarter for their Store-a-Tooth cryogenic storage service of dental stem cells.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150625/225698

Provia posted a 47% increase in enrollments, month to date and quarter over quarter, compared to last year.

Store-a-Tooth technology enables dental stem cells to be stored and used in future years to take advantage of future stem cell-therapies being researched for conditions such as cardiovascular disorders, type 1 diabetes and muscular dystrophy.

The impressive results are attributed to a dramatic increase in the awareness and interest of the potential benefits of Store-a-Tooth technology, seen during 2015. In particular, a markedly enhanced level of online activity and research on Store-a-Tooth has significantly boosted enrollments. In addition, continued International expansion and improved marketing tools within partner dental offices have contributed to the recent growth. Multiple markets are expanding, further validating Provia's original business model.

Grace Century's CEO, Scott Wolf, comments, "With Provia's consistent success, we are clearly seeing the future in the field of stem cell storage technology. Recent capital commitments and advancing negotiations with institutional sources give us confidence in a bright future for Store-a-Tooth technology and we are tentatively predicting further double or even triple-digit growth for 2016."

Howard Greenman, CEO of Provia added, "Our recent performance is a testament to the commitment of our team and the company's vision. We are proud to continue developing our current network of healthcare providers who help raise awareness of our technology in their communities. This network is the building block for building awareness of our important technology."

About Grace Century, FZ LLC Grace Century FZ LLC is an International research and private equity consultancy located in Ras Al Khaimah, (north of Dubai) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Grace Century specializes in "game-changing" life science and health related private equity projects.

For portfolio or company information please email info@gracecentury.com or call +971 (0)7 206 8851

Please direct all media enquiries to info@bigwheel.me or call +971 (0)52 712 1777

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Provia Laboratories Announces Record Enrollment for Store ...

At Woodward, we are very proud of our Sports Medicine program. Our certified athletic trainers care for all Upper School student-athletes, evaluating injuries to determine if they can safely participate, taping and bracing to prevent injuries, and rehabilitating injured athletes in coordination with their own physicians.

In addition, athletic trainers are accessible at all practices and games to assist athletes in case of injury, and they keep records on individual athletes, their injuries, and treatments.

The full-time athletic trainers at Woodward are certified by the National Athletic Trainers Board of Certification, which requires them to hold a bachelors degree in athletic training, physical education, or a related field, and to pass a national exam administered by the board. They also possess thorough knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology, biomechanics, and physiology as well as the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. In addition, our trainers are educated in nutrition, counseling, and psychology.

Mr. Patterson holds a bachelors degree in P.E. with an emphasis in athletic training from Iowa State University and a masters of education in sports administration and sports management from the University of Georgia, where he served as head athletic trainer for the womens basketball team. He also worked with high school athletes in clinical settings before joining Woodward in 2000 to expand the schools sports medicine program.

Ms. Mounts holds a bachelors degree in wellness and athletic training from Defiance College in Ohio, where she played softball. She worked as a graduate assistant at The Westminster Schools while earning her masters degree at Georgia State University and served as a trainer at Whitefield Academy before joining the training staff at Woodward.

Dr. Wilkes practices at OrthoAtlanta and is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He also is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and is a Clinical Associate Professor at Emory University. He functions as as an orthopaedic consultant for the U.S. Luge Association and has been an associate team physician for the Atlanta Falcons. Dr. Wilkes served as coordinator of venue medical directors for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Dr. Gropper graduated from Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee School of Medicine. He is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and has served as a neurological consultant to the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Braves. Dr. Gropper practices at Atlanta Brain and Spine Care.

Our team also includes graduate assistants working toward their masters degrees in sports medicine at Georgia State University.

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Woodward Academy - Sports Medicine

What are Stem Cells? Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into some or many different cell types in the body, depending on whether they are multipotent or pluripotent. Serving as a sort of repair system, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells for as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each "daughter" cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

What are the Various Classes of Stem Cells? There are three classes of stem cells i.e totipotent, pluripotent and multipotent (also known as unipotent).

What are the Different Types of Stem Cells? Many different terms are used to describe various types of stem cells, often based on where in the body or what stage in development they come from. You may have heard the following terms:

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (IPS cells): In 2006, scientists discovered how to reprogram cells with a specialized function (for example, skin cells) in the laboratory, so that they behave like an embryonic stem cell. These cells, called induced pluripotent cells or IPS cells, are created by inducing the specialized cells to express genes that are normally made in embryonic stem cells and that control how the cell functions.

Where do Stem Cells Come From? Embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst: the fertilized egg, called the zygote, divides and forms two cells; each of these cells divides again, and so on. Soon there is a hollow ball of about 150 cells called the blastocyst that contains two types of cells, the trophoblast and the inner cell mass. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from the inner cell mass.

Stem cells can also be found in small numbers in various tissues in the fetal and adult body. For example, blood stem cells are found in the bone marrow that give rise to all specialized blood cell types. Such tissue-specific stem cells have not yet been identified in all vital organs, and in some tissues like the brain, although stem cells exist, they are not very active, and thus do not readily respond to cell injury or damage.

Stem cells can also be obtained from other sources, for example, the umbilical cord of a newborn baby is a source of blood stem cells. Recently, scientists have also discovered the existence of cells in baby teeth and in amniotic fluid that may also have the potential to form multiple cell types. Research on these cells is at a very early stage.

What is Stem Cell Therapy? Stem cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat certain diseases. Stem cells are obtained from the patients own blood bone marrow, fat and umbilical cord tissue or blood. They are progenitor cells that lead to creation of new cells and are thus called as generative cells as well.

How does Stem Cell Therapy Work? The biological task of stem cells is to repair and regenerate damaged cells. Stem cell therapy exploits this function by administering these cells systematically and in high concentrations directly into the damaged tissue, where they advance its self-healing. The process that lies behind this mechanism is largely unknown, but it is assumed that stem cells discharge certain substances which activate the diseased tissue. It is also conceivable that single damaged somatic cells, e.g. single neurocytes in the spinal cord or endothelium cells in vessels, are replaced by stem cells. Most scientists agree that stem cell research has great life-saving potential and could revolutionize the study and treatment of diseases and injuries.

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Stem Cell Therapy in India, Low Cost Stem Cell Therapy in ...

Empowered by genetic information, Vanderbilt aims to reinvent health care. by Bill Snyder and Dagny Stuart

The iconic Norman Rockwell painting of a family doctor checking the heart of a young patients doll may seem quaint, but its far from old-fashioned. On the contrary, personalized medicine is bringing the family doctor back and the family nurse, and the family pharmacist, and a whole team of family health care providers. Only this time, they will be empowered by 21st-century tools like genomics, informatics and high-tech imaging.

Ailments will be diagnosed more quickly and accuratelyor prevented before they can occur. By selecting drugs that match each patients unique genetic readout or by tweaking molecular pathways instead of blasting away like a shotgun, treatments will be more effective and will have fewer side effects.

After having gone through a period where blockbuster drugs and massive screening were the norm, we are actually moving back to a place where were trying to tailor care to the individual, says Dr. Jeff Balser, Vanderbilt Universitys vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

I try to think of this as not getting more high-tech and therefore more distant from the patient, Balser says. But through technology were becoming more familiar with our patients as individuals and, along with that, always remembering to be personableNorman Rockwell with a DNA sequencer.

In 2010 Vanderbilt University Medical Center launched two major personalized medicine initiatives to advance cancer treatment and to individualize and improve drug therapy. Already this approach is showing promise.

Patients scheduled for cardiac or orthopedic procedures are being tested in advance for genetic variations that can affect their response to common blood thinners. Based on the test results, their doctors may adjust the dose or order a different drug entirely.

Similarly, by reading the genetic fingerprints of tumors removed from patients with certain forms of cancer, doctors can choose targeted drugs that are most likely to work.

Using genetic information to guide drug therapy is just the beginning. In the near future, genomicsthe science of reading and interpreting the DNA sequencewill help Vanderbilt physicians select the best tests and procedures for their patients. Eventually, genetics will help guide efforts to prevent disease and maintain good health.

Personalized medicine is more than genetics, of course. Social, family and behavioral factors, as well as environmental and economic circumstances, also have a profound impact on health. Those things are just as important in tailoring care to the individual as their genetic background, says Balser. Its almost like genomic medicine is what were using to learn how to individualize medicine, but then we can apply it to a broader set of data and circumstances.

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The Promise of Personalized Medicine - Vanderbilt Magazine

The Immune System and Cancer - An Antibody (The Immunoglobulin)

Here are a few facts about the immune system and cancer. For most of your life, your immune system successfully fought cancerous cells, killing them as they developed. That's its job. In fact, the only job Natural Killer cells have is to kill cancer cells and viruses. For cancer to develop, your immune system must either be worn out, ineffective, unable to kill cancer cells as fast as they normally develop, or you must be exposed to a mass of cancer causing toxins, radiation or some such thing, that increase the rate of development of cancer cells to an abnormally high level that your immune system can't handle.

Either way, it is vital to strengthen the immune system in your battle against cancer . Especially if you are getting medical treatments that wipe out your immune system.

Many natural supplements support the immune system. This is why so many of them are touted as being able to help you beat cancer. If someone has an immune system that is almost able to handle the cancer, even a poor immune system supplement can be enough to improve the immune system to the extent that it beats cancer.

Of course, for folks with more seriously compromised immune systems, this supplement or group of supplements would not work well because they are in worse shape. This is why it can get so confusing in deciding what to use. When a supplement or procedure has been used for years, especially if it is popular, you'll hear how it has beat cancer.

But what you don't know is if it worked 2% of the time or 15% of the time. Given the number of people who die from cancer, the success rate of most of these supplements is fairly low. In this report we try to find and recommend the supplements that work the best, so that you have the greatest likelihood of success. It is easy to squander money and more importantly time, on products that won't get the job done.

The other concern is to make sure you do enough to wipe out the cancer. Cancer is not something to pussyfoot around with. While it is always hopeful and great to read about how someone took just one supplement and beat their cancer, and while that could happen to you, your odds of success are much higher if you take many different supplements in order to hit the cancer as hard as you can.

In order to determine which cancer fighting supplements are the most effective ones, we energetically test them for what we call their healing power. We have found this to be the most effective way of determining which supplements are likely to be the best to use. Our experience is that this works much better than taking a guess at what is good, and what isn't as good as it sounds.

When we started doing this we were surprised at how poorly the well known supplements and procedures tested. Many had been around for years and were popular, used by many patients and naturopaths, etc. But they actually weren't highly effective. Though they are good enough to help some people, and thus over time, produced plenty of testimonials, as you see in this report, we've been able to find many stronger products. Most of them new and thus unknown.

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Immune System - Cancer Fighting Strategies

Bacteria are the unicellular organisms and cannot be seen with naked eye. There is no particular method of cell division, they simply divide by binary fission in which cell divides into two daughter cells. They do not have proper nucleus within the cell but the genetic material is attached to the cell membrane in an irregular form. They are found everywhere like top of the mountains, rivers, on land and in ice. Bacteria have the property of living in extreme weathers like extreme cold and extreme heat. They are able to live long because they become inactive for a long period of time.

Bacteria play an important role in the environment: Decomposition of Dead/Complex Organic Matter:

Ever imagined the fate of nature with dead matter of animals/plants lying around? Bacteria play a very crucial role of silently getting the nature rid of the dead matter through the decomposition of dead organic matter by the micobes. Bacteria use them as a source of nutrients, and in turn help in recycling the organic compounds trapped in the dead matter. Through this process, other organisms also get benefited, who can use the simpler forms of organic compounds/nutrients released from the dead matter by various bacteria.

Bioremediation by bacteria Bioremediation refers to the process of depletion/degradation of toxic compounds present in the natural environment by living organisms. Bacteria are one of the key players in Bioremediation. For example, oil spills due to oil digging operations or accidents on oil transport channels in the ocean or on the soil, is highly determinant to the healthy environment. Bacteria like Pseudomonas have been well known for the degradation of oil spills on oceans/soils.

Similarly, Contamination of heavy metals in the environment is a major global concern because of their toxicity and

threat to human life and environment. Bacteria like Alcaligenes faecalis (Arsenic),Pseudomonas fluorescens and Enterobacter clocae (Chromium) are well known for heavy metal uptake/compound metabolism. Waste Water Treatment Owing to their characteristics of degrading harmful chemicals and pollutants, bacteria naturally (as well as deliberately used by industries), help in treatment of waste water.

Image source: biologia.laguia2000.com

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Role of Bacteria in Environment - Biotechnology Forums

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints (the points where bones meet) in one or more areas of the body. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, all of which have different causes and treatment methods. The symptoms of arthritis usually appear gradually but they may also occur suddenly. Arthritis is most commonly seen in adults over the age of 65 but it can also develop in children and teens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis is more common in women than men and in those that are overweight (CDC).

Cartilage is a flexible, connective tissue in joints that absorbs the pressure and shock created from movement like running and walking. It also protects the joints and allows for smooth movement.

Some forms of arthritis are caused by a reduction in the normal amount of this cartilage tissue. Osteoarthritis, one of the most common forms of arthritis, is caused by normal wear and tear throughout life; this natural breakdown of cartilage tissue can be exacerbated by an infection or injury to the joints.

The risk of developing osteoarthritis may be higher if you have a family history of the disease.

Another common form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, occurs when your bodys immune system attacks the tissues of the body. These attacks affect the synovium, which secretes a fluid that nourishes the cartilage and lubricates the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can eventually lead to the destruction of both bone and cartilage inside the joint. The exact cause of the immune systems attacks has not yet been discovered, but scientists have discovered genetic markers that increase your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis tenfold.

The most common symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Joint pain and stiffness, mostly in the morning, are typical signs, along with swelling of the joints. You may also experience a decrease in range of motion of your joints or redness of the skin around the joint.

In the case of rheumatoid arthritis you may feel tired or experience a loss of appetite because of the inflammation caused by your bodys attacking immune system. You may also become anemic (experience decreased red blood cells) or have a slight fever. Severe rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint deformity if left untreated.

Diagnosis of arthritis will start with your physician performing a physical exam, during which he or she will check for limited range of motion in the joint, the feeling of fluid around joints, or warm or red joints. Extraction and analysis of your bodily fluids like blood and joint fluid can help your doctor determine what kind of arthritis you have by checking for inflammation levels. Imaging scans such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans are commonly used to produce an image of your bones and cartilage so your doctor can better determine whether something like a bone spur is the cause of your symptoms.

The main goal of treatment is to reduce the amount of pain youre experiencing and prevent any additional damage to the joints. Improving your joint function is also important, and you may be prescribed a combination of treatment methods to achieve the best results.

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Arthritis : Causes, Signs & Diagnosis - Healthline

Abstract Introduction

The control of differentiation of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) is crucial for tissue engineering strategies employing MSCs. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the transcriptional co-factor Yes-associated protein (YAP) regulates chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Expression of total YAP, its paralogue transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), and individual YAP transcript variants during in vitro chondrogenesis of human MSCs was determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). YAP expression was confirmed by western blotting. To determine the effect of high YAP activity on chondrogenesis, C3H10T1/2 MSC-like cells were transduced with human (h)YAP and treated in micromass with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Chondrogenic differentiation was assessed by alcian blue staining and expression of chondrocyte-lineage genes. BMP signalling was determined by detection of pSmad1,5,8 by western blotting and expression of BMP target genes by quantitative RT-PCR. Finally, YAP and pYAP were detected in mouse embryo hindlimbs by immunohistochemistry.

YAP, but not TAZ, was downregulated during in vitro chondrogenesis of human MSCs. One of the YAP transcript variants, however, was upregulated in high-density micromass culture. Overexpression of hYAP in murine C3H10T1/2 MSCs inhibited chondrogenic differentiation. High YAP activity in these cells decreased Smad1,5,8 phosphorylation and expression of the BMP target genes Inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation (Id)1, Id2 and Id3 in response to BMP-2. In developing mouse limbs, Yap was nuclear in the perichondrium while mostly phosphorylated and cytosolic in cells of the cartilage anlage, suggesting downregulation of Yap co-transcriptional activity during physiological chondrogenesis in vivo.

Our findings indicate that YAP is a negative regulator of chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. Downregulation of YAP is required for chondrogenesis through derepression of chondrogenic signalling. Therapeutic targeting of YAP to promote cartilage repair and prevent secondary osteoarthritis is an exciting prospect in rheumatology.

Symptomatic joint surface defects require treatment to achieve repair and attempt prevention of secondary osteoarthritis (OA). Biological repair of the joint surface is becoming a clinical reality. Autologous chondrocyte implantation remains the gold standard of cell therapy for cartilage repair; however, chondrocyte preparations are known to be difficult to manufacture robustly because chondrocytes in culture have a limited lifespan and undergo de-differentiation, thereby losing their ability to form cartilage [1],[2].

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs), present in bone marrow [3] and connective tissues such as periosteum [4],[5] and synovium [6],[7], are attractive alternative cells for the repair of articular cartilage due to their easy access and culture expansion and their capacity to form cartilage [8]. To fully harness the therapeutic value of these cells for cartilage repair, an in-depth understanding of the molecular regulation of chondrogenesis is essential.

Yes-associated protein (YAP; gene symbol YAP1) is a key transcriptional co-factor that has been implicated in recent years in the regulation of stem cell fate [9]. YAP and its paralogue transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus and interact with transcription factors to regulate their activity. Uncontrolled activity of YAP causes tissue overgrowth due to modulation of stem cell proliferation in multiple tissues and organs, including liver [10],[11], intestine [11], brain [12], and epidermis [13], and we have shown that YAP increases proliferation in muscle satellite cells [14].

YAP is regulated by the Hippo pathway, comprising the kinases Mst1/2 (mammalian Ste20-like; a class II GC kinase) and Lats1/2 (large tumour suppressor; an Ndr kinase). Activation of the Hippo pathway, for example through cell-cell contact [15] or GPCR signalling [16], leads to phosphorylation of YAP on specific serine residues, most notably Ser127. Phosphorylation at Ser127 promotes its cytosolic retention and proteasomal degradation [10],[17]. In addition, YAP is regulated by actomyosin cytoskeletal tension, thereby acting as transducer of mechanical cues exerted by extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness and cell shape, with a stiff ECM and cell spreading increasing YAP activity [18].

YAP and its paralogue TAZ have been shown to be key factors in the regulation of MSC lineage commitment, with low YAP/TAZ activity promoting adipogenesis, while high YAP/TAZ activity drives MSCs towards osteogenesis [19]-[21]. The role of Yap in chondrogenesis is less clear and the mechanism of how YAP modulates chondrogenesis is not known.

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Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a negative regulator of ...

Medical genetics is the specialty of medicine that involves the diagnosis and management of hereditary disorders. Medical genetics differs from human genetics in that human genetics is a field of scientific research that may or may not apply to medicine, but medical genetics refers to the application of genetics to medical care. For example, research on the causes and inheritance of genetic disorders would be considered within both human genetics and medical genetics, while the diagnosis, management, and counseling of individuals with genetic disorders would be considered part of medical genetics.

In contrast, the study of typically non-medical phenotypes such as the genetics of eye color would be considered part of human genetics, but not necessarily relevant to medical genetics (except in situations such as albinism). Genetic medicine is a newer term for medical genetics and incorporates areas such as gene therapy, personalized medicine, and the rapidly emerging new medical specialty, predictive medicine.

Medical genetics encompasses many different areas, including clinical practice of physicians, genetic counselors, and nutritionists, clinical diagnostic laboratory activities, and research into the causes and inheritance of genetic disorders. Examples of conditions that fall within the scope of medical genetics include birth defects and dysmorphology, mental retardation, autism, and mitochondrial disorders, skeletal dysplasia, connective tissue disorders, cancer genetics, teratogens, and prenatal diagnosis. Medical genetics is increasingly becoming relevant to many common diseases. Overlaps with other medical specialties are beginning to emerge, as recent advances in genetics are revealing etiologies for neurologic, endocrine, cardiovascular, pulmonary, ophthalmologic, renal, psychiatric, and dermatologic conditions.

In some ways, many of the individual fields within medical genetics are hybrids between clinical care and research. This is due in part to recent advances in science and technology (for example, see the Human genome project) that have enabled an unprecedented understanding of genetic disorders.

Clinical genetics is the practice of clinical medicine with particular attention to hereditary disorders. Referrals are made to genetics clinics for a variety of reasons, including birth defects, developmental delay, autism, epilepsy, short stature, and many others. Examples of genetic syndromes that are commonly seen in the genetics clinic include chromosomal rearrangements, Down syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome), Fragile X syndrome, Marfan syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, Turner syndrome, and Williams syndrome.

Physicians who practice clinical genetics are accredited by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG). [1] In order to become a board-certified practitioner of Clinical Genetics, a physician must complete a minimum of 24 months of training in a program accredited by the ABMGG. Individuals seeking acceptance into clinical genetics training programs must hold an M.D. or D.O. degree (or their equivalent) and have completed a minimum of 24 months of training in an ACGME-accredited residency program in internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, or other medical specialty. [2]

Metabolic (or biochemical) genetics involves the diagnosis and management of inborn errors of metabolism in which patients have enzymatic deficiencies that perturb biochemical pathways involved in metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids. Examples of metabolic disorders include galactosemia, glycogen storage disease, lysosomal storage disorders, metabolic acidosis, peroxisomal disorders, phenylketonuria, and urea cycle disorders.

Cytogenetics is the study of chromosomes and chromosome abnormalities. While cytogenetics historically relied on microscopy to analyze chromosomes, new molecular technologies such as array comparative genomic hybridization are now becoming widely used. Examples of chromosome abnormalities include aneuploidy, chromosomal rearrangements, and genomic deletion/duplication disorders.

Molecular genetics involves the discovery of and laboratory testing for DNA mutations that underlie many single gene disorders. Examples of single gene disorders include achondroplasia, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, hereditary breast cancer (BRCA1/2), Huntington disease, Marfan syndrome, Noonan syndrome, and Rett syndrome. Molecular tests are also used in the diagnosis of syndromes involving epigenetic abnormalities, such as Angelman syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Prader-willi syndrome, and uniparental disomy.

Mitochondrial genetics concerns the diagnosis and management of mitochondrial disorders, which have a molecular basis but often result in biochemical abnormalities due to deficient energy production.

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Medical genetics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Do you suffer from premature aging, fine lines, wrinkles, crow feet or skin allergies? Or are you plagued by acne and have tried all kinds of facial creams to no avail?

The No. 1 principle in keeping your skin healthy and young is to do no harm to your skin. Smoking and over exposure to the sun are 2 major culprits in causing premature aging. Do you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body and therefore very susceptible to absorbing toxins into our body which ultimately affects how we look? If you dont observe this principle, the best anti aging serum or facial cream in the world will not produce the optimal result you desire.

There is a bewildering array of skin care products to choose from: Organic skin care products, herbal skin care products, bio skin care products to sheep stem cell skincare, etc. There is an equally bewildering array of skin care brands to choose from: Elizabeth Arden, SK-II, Kiehls, Origins, Philosophy, etc. Which one is suitable for you? Or does it really work? Or what worked for you 5 years ago, may not work for you today. What worked for you as a teenager may not work for you as a middle aged adult. What worked for you when you lived in a tropical country like Singapore or Malaysia may not work for you when you relocate to a city like Beijing or Chicago with its harsh winter climate.

The best skin care product is the one that works for you in all climates whether you live in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Australia or the US. It should also work for you regardless of your age or your race.If you are looking for an anti aging serum to rejuvenate your skin, or a facial cream to repair your damaged skin, you should consider the Jeunesse Luminesce skin care products manufactured by Jeunesse Global.

Jeunesse is a French word for youth. Jeunesse Luminesce skin care range of products is entirely based on stem cell technology. Stem cell technology is the latest in cutting edge technology in health science. The scientist behind the Jeunesse Luminesce skincare range is Dr. Nathan Newman, a world-renowned cosmetic surgeon who also pioneered Stem Cell Lift cutting edge cosmetic surgery, without cutting. Dr. Nathan Newman is able to tap his pioneering work experience in the Stem Cell Lift procedure and produce a unique stem cell technology based skincare which enables thousands and thousands of women and men(yes, men) to experience skin rejuvenation without resorting to expensive botox injections. Anti-aging has never been less expensive. The philosophy behind Jeunesse Luminesce skin care products is simple: it must work, it must be safe and it must be based on proven cutting edge health science(stem cell technology).

The potential of stem cell technology is immense. It holds the promise that one day it will change the world, but today, it will change your skins.

Unfortunately a lot of the skin care products out in the market are based on voodoo science. Some products work quite fast but are extremely toxic to the body causing long term damage to your vital organs. If you are using any skin care products which contain harmful chemicals, please stop immediately. It is recommended that you go on a detoxification program to remove the toxins from your body. Start using Jeunesse Luminesce Cellular Rejuvenation Serum and see the difference yourself.

When you update your Facebook photo, dont be surprised if your friends ask you if you had a facelift.

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Best Stem Cell Skincare By Jeunesse

Front Range Sports Medicine

Front Range Sports Medicine is a unique multidisciplinary clinic with an expertise in the diagnosis and management of sports related injuries.Front Range Sports Medicine houses a diverse group of practitioners under one roof, including chiropractors, a physical therapist, an athletic trainer, massage therapists, and an acupuncturist.This environment creates a collaborative approach to treating patients, resulting in an unrivaled level of care.Front Range Sports Medicine improves on the traditional model for athlete care, which can lack proper communication and integration between isolated practitioners.The focus of the clinic is not solely limited to injury care.Practitioners address improper biomechanics, emphasize injury prevention, and create programs to improve physical performance.

Front Range Sports Medicine is the official team clinic for Douglas County High School Athletics, Castle View High School Athletics and Olympian Wrestling Club.The clinic also works with the Legend High School and Rock Canyon High School athletic departments.A multitude of athletes are treated at Front Range Sports Medicine, ranging from youth to professional levels and everyone in between.

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The Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has been a leader in its field since its founding in 1977 and has made many noteworthy contributions to the understanding of public health and disease etiology, treatment, and prevention. These include pioneering research on the relationship between hormones and cancer, the ability of exercise to reduce breast cancer risk, demonstration of the impact of air pollution on childhood lung function development, advances in the etiology, treatment and prevention of pediatric obesity, as well as novel methodological research focusing on the interaction between genes and the environment. The foundation for many of these advances stems from a highly collaborative faculty implementing a transdisciplinary approach to research an approach hallmarked by the integration of biologically and behaviorally motivated hypotheses, advanced technology, and extensive study populations. Such examples include one of the first research groups to exploit the Cancer Surveillance Program to enhance population-based studies of disease, the use of multiple ethnic groups within the Multiethnic Cohort Study to localize genetic findings, and the integration of Geographic Information Systems in the Children's Health Study to create a detailed history of the pollution within the Los Angeles basin to investigate its potential influence on patterns of childhood diseases.

The Department of Preventive Medicine has a blend of expertise, research, and teaching that makes it unique among departments in the University. Between its five diverse divisions, Preventive Medicine is home to worldwide authorities on prevention research in biostatistics, environmental health, health behavior, epidemiology, and bioinformatics. The department's faculty members are widely sought for peer review and advisory activities and participate in diverse committees of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Our research is at the very core of our goals to promote the public health of diverse populations in the California and Pacific Rim region. This is also reflected in our training programs with undergraduate degrees in Health Promotion and Global Health and advanced degrees in Public Health, Global Medicine, Biostatistics, Applied Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Epidemiology, Molecular Epidemiology, and Statistical Genetics & Genetic Epidemiology. Our strong history, coupled with our talented faculty and the ability to utilize new technologies, places USC in a position to be a leader in many future discoveries and in the training of the next generation of prevention/public health researchers.

With the goal of enhancing research in lung disease, which affects millions of Americans each year, the Hastings Foundation has pledged $7.5 million over five years to establish The Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research (HCPR) at Keck Medicine of USC.

Keck School of Medicine graduates received their diplomas during commencement week 2015. Pictures featured below are from commencement ceremonies for the MS, PhD and MPH, Health Promotion and Global Health, Physician Assistant and MD programs.

For many medical students, four years of study go by in a blur of lectures, labs and clinical care.

USC Stem Cell researcher Justin Ichida, PhD, is forming partnerships between academia, industry and government to accelerate the development of new treatments for patients with ALS, or Lou Gehrigs disease.

The six-person Keck School of Medicine medical response team includes two critical care/trauma surgeons, an emergency department physician, an anesthesiologist, a nurse anesthetist and a registered nurse.

Considered the largest public literary celebration in the country, the L.A. Times Festival of Books swept through the University Park Campus April 18 and 19.

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Department of Preventive Medicine

This article is about genetic tests for disease and ancestry or biological relationships. For use in forensics, see DNA profiling.

Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases, and can also be used to determine a child's parentage (genetic mother and father) or in general a person's ancestry or biological relationship between people. In addition to studying chromosomes to the level of individual genes, genetic testing in a broader sense includes biochemical tests for the possible presence of genetic diseases, or mutant forms of genes associated with increased risk of developing genetic disorders. Genetic testing identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins.[1] The variety of genetic tests has expanded throughout the years. In the past, the main genetic tests searched for abnormal chromosome numbers and mutations that lead to rare, inherited disorders. Today, tests involve analyzing multiple genes to determine the risk of developing certain more common diseases such as heart disease and cancer.[2] The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help determine a person's chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder. Several hundred genetic tests are currently in use, and more are being developed.[3][4]

Because genetic mutations can directly affect the structure of the proteins they code for, testing for specific genetic diseases can also be accomplished by looking at those proteins or their metabolites, or looking at stained or fluorescent chromosomes under a microscope.[5]

This article focuses on genetic testing for medical purposes. DNA sequencing, which actually produces a sequences of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts, is used in molecular biology, evolutionary biology, metagenomics, epidemiology, ecology, and microbiome research.

Genetic testing is "the analysis of chromosomes (DNA), proteins, and certain metabolites in order to detect heritable disease-related genotypes, mutations, phenotypes, or karyotypes for clinical purposes."[6] It can provide information about a person's genes and chromosomes throughout life. Available types of testing include:

Non-diagnostic testing includes:

Many diseases have a genetic component with tests already available.

over-absorption of iron; accumulation of iron in vital organs (heart, liver, pancreas); organ damage; heart disease; cancer; liver disease; arthritis; diabetes; infertility; impotence[15]

Obstructive lung disease in adults; liver cirrhosis during childhood; when a newborn or infant has jaundice that lasts for an extended period of time (more than a week or two), an enlarged spleen, ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), pruritus (itching), and other signs of liver injury; persons under 40 years of age that develops wheezing, a chronic cough or bronchitis, is short of breath after exertion and/or shows other signs of emphysema (especially when the patient is not a smoker, has not been exposed to known lung irritants, and when the lung damage appears to be located low in the lungs); when you have a close relative with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; when a patient has a decreased level of A1AT.

Elevation of both serum cholesterol and triglycerides; accelerated atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease; cutaneous xanthomas; peripheral vascular disease; diabetes mellitus, obesity or hypothyroidism

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Genetic testing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Programmed cell-death (or PCD) is death of a cell in any form, mediated by an intracellular program.[1][2] PCD is carried out in a regulated process, which usually confers advantage during an organism's life-cycle. For example, the differentiation of fingers and toes in a developing human embryo occurs because cells between the fingers apoptose; the result is that the digits are separate. PCD serves fundamental functions during both plant and metazoa (multicellular animals) tissue development. Apoptosis and autophagy are both forms of programmed cell death, but necrosis is a non-physiological process that occurs as a result of infection or injury.[3]

Necrosis is the death of a cell caused by external factors such as trauma or infection and occurs in several different forms. Recently a form of programmed necrosis, called necroptosis, has been recognized as an alternate form of programmed cell death. It is hypothesized that necroptosis can serve as a cell-death backup to apoptosis when the apoptosis signaling is blocked by endogenous or exogenous factors such as viruses or mutations.

The concept of "programmed cell-death" was used by Lockshin & Williams[4] in 1964 in relation to insect tissue development, around eight years before "apoptosis" was coined. Since then, PCD has become the more general of these two terms.

The first insight into the mechanism came from studying BCL2, the product of a putative oncogene activated by chromosome translocations often found in follicular lymphoma. Unlike other cancer genes, which promote cancer by stimulating cell proliferation, BCL2 promoted cancer by stopping lymphoma cells from being able to kill themselves.[5]

PCD has been the subject of increasing attention and research efforts. This trend has been highlighted with the award of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Sydney Brenner (United Kingdom), H. Robert Horvitz (US) and John E. Sulston (UK).[6]

Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death (PCD) that may occur in multicellular organisms.[8]Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes (morphology) and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation. It is now thought that- in a developmental context- cells are induced to positively commit suicide whilst in a homeostatic context; the absence of certain survival factors may provide the impetus for suicide. There appears to be some variation in the morphology and indeed the biochemistry of these suicide pathways; some treading the path of "apoptosis", others following a more generalized pathway to deletion, but both usually being genetically and synthetically motivated. There is some evidence that certain symptoms of "apoptosis" such as endonuclease activation can be spuriously induced without engaging a genetic cascade, however, presumably true apoptosis and programmed cell death must be genetically mediated. It is also becoming clear that mitosis and apoptosis are toggled or linked in some way and that the balance achieved depends on signals received from appropriate growth or survival factors.[9]

Macroautophagy, often referred to as autophagy, is a catabolic process that results in the autophagosomic-lysosomal degradation of bulk cytoplasmic contents, abnormal protein aggregates, and excess or damaged organelles.

Autophagy is generally activated by conditions of nutrient deprivation but has also been associated with physiological as well as pathological processes such as development, differentiation, neurodegenerative diseases, stress, infection and cancer.

A critical regulator of autophagy induction is the kinase mTOR, which when activated, suppresses autophagy and when not activated promotes it. Three related serine/threonine kinases, UNC-51-like kinase -1, -2, and -3 (ULK1, ULK2, UKL3), which play a similar role as the yeast Atg1, act downstream of the mTOR complex. ULK1 and ULK2 form a large complex with the mammalian homolog of an autophagy-related (Atg) gene product (mAtg13) and the scaffold protein FIP200. Class III PI3K complex, containing hVps34, Beclin-1, p150 and Atg14-like protein or ultraviolet irradiation resistance-associated gene (UVRAG), is required for the induction of autophagy.

The ATG genes control the autophagosome formation through ATG12-ATG5 and LC3-II (ATG8-II) complexes. ATG12 is conjugated to ATG5 in a ubiquitin-like reaction that requires ATG7 and ATG10. The Atg12Atg5 conjugate then interacts non-covalently with ATG16 to form a large complex. LC3/ATG8 is cleaved at its C terminus by ATG4 protease to generate the cytosolic LC3-I. LC3-I is conjugated to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) also in a ubiquitin-like reaction that requires Atg7 and Atg3. The lipidated form of LC3, known as LC3-II, is attached to the autophagosome membrane.

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Programmed cell death - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The restorative properties of stem cells:

Stem cells are unique because they drive the natural healing process throughout your life. Stem cells are different from other cells in the body because they regenerate and produce specialized cell types. They heal and restore skin, bones, cartilage, muscles, nerves and other tissues when injured.

As a result, amazing new medical treatments are being developed to treat a range of diseases contemporary medicine currently deems difficult or impossible to treat. Among them are:

While stem cells can be found in most tissues of the body, they are usually buried deep, are few in number and are similar in appearance to surrounding cells. With the discovery of stem cells in teeth, an accessible and available source of stem cells has been identified.

The tooth is natures safe for these valuable stem cells, and there is an abundance of these cells in baby teeth, wisdom teeth and permanent teeth. The stem cells contained within teeth are capable of replicating themselves and can be readily recovered at the time of a planned dental procedure. Living stem cells found within extracted teeth were routinely discarded every day, but now, with the knowledge from recent medical research, your Doctor provides you the opportunity to save these cells for future use in developing medical treatments for your family.

Aside from being the most convenient stem cells to access, dental stem cells have significant medical benefits in the development of new medical therapies. Using ones own stem cells for medical treatment means a much lower risk of rejection by the body and decreases the need for powerful drugs that weaken the immune system, both of which are negative but typical realities that come into play when tissues or cells from a donor are used to treat patients.

Further, the stem cells from teeth have been observed in research studies to be among the most powerful stem cells in the human body. Stem cells from teeth replicate at a faster rate and for a longer period of time than do stem cells harvested from other tissues of the body.

Stem cells in the human body age over time and their regenerative abilities slow down later in life. The earlier in life that your familys stem cells are secured, the more valuable they will be when they are needed most.

Accessible The stem cells contained within teeth are recovered at the time of a planned procedure: Extraction of wisdom teeth, baby teeth or other healthy permanent teeth.

Affordable when compared with other methods of acquiring and preserving life saving stem cells: Peripheral blood, Bone Marrow, Cord blood etc, recovering Stem Cells from teeth is the most affordable and least invasive.

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Stem Cells Columbia MD, Stem Cells From Teeth

Personalization is threaded into the social fabric of America. Innovation is rooted in customizing and personalizing even the smallest parts of our lives, stemming from technology and retail to travel, media and wellness. The future continues to promise even smarter applications where personalization fits, but what about our health? Enter, precision medicine -- this new era of personalized medicine has arrived to healthcare and the possibilities in treating cancer unimaginable just a few years ago, are closer than ever. Imagine a world where your treatment was tailored to you, taking into consideration every cell and gene throughout your individual genetic profile, using that data to specifically design a treatment to fight the exact cancer you have? Sound too good to be true? Think again. The future is here, and the healthcare industry is preparing for massive disruption but for once disruption couldn't have come at a better time.

The Road to Personalized Medicine for Cancer Treatment

For decades, physicians had the same approach for all patients with the same type of cancer, be it breast, lung, liver or prostate cancer, the same way, even through they were aware drug treatments may work on some and fail in others. This is not to say all cancers are treated the same, but the basic approach and process is used when it comes to diagnosing, staging, and recurrence. As significant advances in research progressed over the course of the last 30 years, the medical community created standards of care and treatment when it came to diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. However, treating cancer cannot be classified with a standard approach. What we're learning more and more comes down to the individual. Each person is as unique on the inside as they are on the outside. Therefore, why wouldn't we treat their cancer using an individual approach?

For the last 20 years, cancer cells have outsmarted us by protecting themselves, building a wall, not allowing the immune system to identify and kill them. Current treatments are not aimed at stopping cells from spreading and have almost no selective capacity to distinguish between cancer cells and healthy cells. We've basically poisoned the body to kill cancer using chemotherapy and even radiation. But advancements in research has led to a number of potential targeted therapies designed to fight cancer, among them one approach is gaining more and more support -- immunotherapy. This type of targeted therapy teaches our own immune system to fight cancer cells and spare healthy ones. By injecting bacteria inside cancer cells and putting them back into the body, the immune system can learn to recognize and kill them. Think of your T cells as guided missiles aimed at killing the bad cancer cells versus a bomb that kills every cell in its path such as chemotherapy. But an approach we could've never foreseen 10 years ago is right around the corner, leading a transition not just from the diagnosis and treatment of these cancers but much more emphasis on prediction and prevention.

Welcome to the world of precision medicine also deemed "personalized medicine," where each patient is treated individually based on their genetic makeup and the specific genetic mutations present in their body. The National Institutes of Health defines precision medicine as an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that integrates an individual's variability in genes, environment and lifestyle. To take it even further, precision health may be the new approach to medicine, rooted in prevention and prediction of various diseases while also maintaining overall health and quality of life.

In my field, which is prostate cancer, we talk a lot about an individual patient's risk factors such as family history, which is a huge proponent of the disease and how aggressive it is. While oftentimes surgery is the first line of defense, the right way to treat prostate cancer and any cancer is through individualized care. Recently at the 110th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association, a significant study was presented which showed a combined assessment of genetic bio markers and the genetic profile for a patient would lead to better methods for diagnosing, treating and measuring the likelihood of the disease recurring. The breakthrough here is the role genetic testing plays in cancer, throughout the entire process, from diagnosis to recurrence. We can gather more information about the patient at each step of the way.

Precision Medicine Meets Individualized Care

I've always spoken about the importance of individualized care, especially when it comes to diagnosing and treating cancer. Innovations in genomic testing are leading this emerging era of cancer therapy -- analyzing a group of genes and their activity, which can influence how a cancerous tumor is likely to grow and respond to treatment. This type of diagnostic testing analyzes and detects very specific abnormalities in the tumor cells in a patient's individual cancer. Unlocking the mysteries of genetics holds the promise of finding more customized cures with drugs that attack genetic mutations or repair genetic defects based on the individual patient. Advances in genetic sequencing has increased the likelihood of detecting mutations driving tumor growth and even specific cells inside the tumor. This is the future of treating and diagnosing cancer, integrated with the promise of precision medicine.

Is this revolutionizing everything we know about cancer, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and recurrence? I would say yes. We've always identified cancer based on the organ it originates in such as the prostate, colon or liver, grouping these together as if they grow the same. What we know now is just because it's deemed "prostate cancer" doesn't mean all prostate cancers develop or progress in the same way. Testing the genetics of an individual patient has opened up an entire new conversation in oncology leading us to define within the cancer what actually drives its development and progression.

The Precision Medicine Initiative

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Conquering Cancer: Personalized Medicine Is the Future ...

When people are told they have chronic kidney disease (CKD), the first questions they often have are "How long will I live?" and "How well will I live?" This section answers these and other questions about CKD, while also presenting thoughts from patients.

A: Many people think that if their kidneys fail, they will die. Right away. This used to be true50 years ago. Back then, there were not enough dialysis machines to go around and medical knowledge about kidney disease was limited. It is no longer true today.

How long you can live with CKD depends on your age, other health problems, and how involved you become in your care. Most people with early CKD will never have kidney failure. Others will reach kidney failure and may live for decades with dialysis or kidney transplants.

There are major advances in today's healthcare. We have better drugs, know more about how to slow down kidney failure, and have updated dialysis machines. But the most important factor is still the person who has the disease. Research shows that people who become partners in their care live longer. So, ask questions, and explore with your doctor and care team the best way for you to help manage your disease.

A: How good your life can be with CKD depends on YOU! In the early stages, CKD may have symptoms that are so subtle you may not even notice them. In later stages, fatigue, itching, loss of appetite, and other symptoms can reduce your quality of lifeif you don't act. How? All of these symptoms can be treated.

Learn what to watch for and tell your doctor, so you can get the help you need. You can also keep a good quality of life by following your treatment plan. For example, taking your medications in the right doses at the right times may help slow your kidney disease. Your quality of life with CKD depends on your attitude, and how you accept the changes and take control of your health and your life.

A: Yes, you can live long and live well with dialysis. Many peopleeven those with loved ones on dialysisdon't know that there are many types of dialysis. You can choose a treatment that lets you keep doing all or most of the things you value.

People who are very sick before they start dialysis are often surprised to find that they feel much better a few weeks or months later. The unknown you imagine is often much scarier than the reality. Learn all you can, and talk to people who are doing welllike people who do their treatments at home, or while they sleep. You'll see that you can have a good life on dialysis.

A: Even healthy people complain of being tired. But people with CKD can be so exhausted that they fall asleep during the dayeven after 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. One reason for fatigue can be anemia, a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. People with CKD often have anemia because damaged kidneys make less of a hormone called erythropoietin (epoetin, or EPO). EPO tells the bone marrow to make new red blood cells. Without a fresh supply of red blood cells, the body has less oxygen. This makes you more tired and cold, and less able to focus and fight disease. If your fatigue is due to anemia, your doctor may prescribe iron and injections of a man-made form of EPO.

A: There are a number of treatments, including medications and lifestyle changes, that may help keep your kidneys working longer. People can even get transplants before having dialysis, especially if they have a willing living donor. Ask your doctor what would help you. To learn more about possible treatments, see Chronic Kidney Disease: What You Can Do.

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Kidney Disease Info | 10 Symptoms | Life Options

Kidney disease is a fairly common, yet troubling, disease because its symptoms usually do not appear until the disease is well along. There are few early warning signs, so if you are at a higher risk for kidney disease, it's important to know what to look for. Kidney disease, if untreated, can lead to kidney failure, which can ultimately be fatal. Keep up with your physicals, including blood work and urinalysis.

The kidneys are two fist-sized filtering systems near the back on either side of the spine. The kidneys filter waste and excess water from the bloodstream and start the process of converting those waste products and water into urine. When kidney disease strikes, those organs do not function efficiently, resulting in chemical imbalances in the bloodstream, as well as too much or too little water in the body, which affects cellular health.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can linger for years before kidney failure develops. But along the way there can be signs, especially changes in urination. If you notice that you're getting up at night to urinate more often, or if you find yourself urinating more or less than you used to, you could be experiencing kidney dysfunction. Pay attention to changes in your urine. Is it pale all the time, or is it foamier? If any of these changes develop, tell your doctor immediately.

Because the kidneys play a key role in maintaining the chemical balance in the bloodstream, manage your blood pressure and have your blood work done with every annual physical. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or any form of heart disease, you're at higher risk for kidney problems. Have your kidney health evaluated, even if you don't have outward signs of kidney dysfunction.

If your failing kidneys aren't removing fluid from the body efficiently, fluid will be retained, especially in the feet and ankles, legs, hands and face. If you notice swelling in any area of the body, have it evaluated promptly. If kidney disease is diagnosed at this point, it may be advanced, but it still can be treated and managed.

Kidney disease is a condition that affects an estimated 26 million Americans, or about one in nine adults. Many others are at risk of developing the condition. If you're at high risk for diabetes and/or heart disease, you're at risk for some kidney dysfunction.

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Physical Signs of Advanced Kidney Failure

Your kidneys are important bean-shaped organs that remove the waste products and excess materials from your circulation system. They also release important...

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Early Signs of Kidney Disease | eHow