StemCell Therapy

Glaucoma. Cataracts. Blurry vision. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Myopia. If not detected and treated early, these are vision problems in the elderly that could lead to partial or complete vision loss.

I understand how it feels because I was once in your shoes. My name is Mrs. Damilola, and for several years, I used to battle eye problems that made me had blurry, unclear and poor vision.

After trying several eye drops and glasses for over 3 years, I noticed that instead of improving, my eye condition had worsened.

After an eye exam, I was diagnosed with glaucoma in the right eye.

You see, when patients are diagnosed with glaucoma, one of the most common treatment options is a prescription eye drop medication that lowers eye pressure, which prevents damage to the optic nerve and helps to preserve vision.

Several types of drugs lower pressure.

The choice depends on a lot of factors, including the type of glaucoma, its severity, the pressure goals the doctor wants to reach, and the patients other medical problems.

For my own case, the doctors recommended eye drops, drugs and even eye surgery.

Eye surgery which was the best long term treatment was really expensive, and even comes with its own side effects after several months or years.

So, I decided to start using eye drops just so I could manage to see because at this point, I was literally going blind.

You see, the problem with eye drops is that most of them came with serious side effects, so one has to continue changing them until you see the most suitable one.

Sadly, within few months I used about 4 eye drops.

While for over the counter eye drugs, they take almost forever to work and give you perfect eye so you keep on spending and spending on the drugs for several years.

So, I decided to start searching for an alternative solution, something herbal that comes with no side effects and will naturally reverse glaucoma, cataracts, near-sightedness, and other severe eye problems.

But the entire situation changed when I came in contact with an old time friend, Uwem, he used to work in a particular eye clinic in Abuja .

We have been friends since our NYSC days for over 7years till date. Although, it has been a long time we spoke because he relocated to Canada to continue his profession.

We started talking as usual, and he asked me about my eye condition, if it has improved for better.

I explained how I was already tired of looking for solution to the eye problem, and how I have spent lots of money on drugs, supplements, eye drops and glasses, desperately looking for solution but without any improvement, insteadI was almost getting blind instead!

He explained that most people wearing eye glasses suffer from myopia (nearsightedness), glaucoma and cataract.

He later explained that there ispermanent cure for most of the eye problems, and natural remedy that helps treat and reverse glaucoma, cataract, myopia and other severe eye problems.

Most of these cases he has handled in the eye specialist clinic he works with in canada, and his patients improved their eyesight, and they never had to wear glasses or go for expensive eye surgery again.

But sadly, the solution is very rare to find because its imported, specially for Eye clinics in the USA, UK, Canada and some developing African countries as well.

That was when he introduced me to aspecial herbal teathat have been in existence for several years, that help cures severe eye problems, reverse cataract, glaucoma and myopia.

At first, I was shocked and surprised. But he told me the exact plant extracts contained inside the herbal tea, and how they improves overall eyesight health and restores vision.

I quickly pleaded with him to help me send a complete supply of the herbal tea. The next morning, I quickly sent the money to him.

After about a week, the complete supply of the herbal tea was delivered to me.

Immediately, I started it using it as prescribed (serving size of 1 tea bag in morning, and 1 tea bag in the evening).

To my surprise, in less than 2 weeks of using it, it was almost like a miracle cure to my eyesight problem and it helped improve my vision.

My eyes became crystal clear, my vision was never blurry again, and I started to feel that my glaucoma was gone.

To ensure it was really effective,I had to give the same herbal tea to about 2 of my colleagues in a different branch office, and some of my relatives using spectacles just to confirm if it could help them improve their eye health and cure eye problems.

Within 30 days or less of using it, all of them came back to testify that this herbal tea helped them improve their eyesight and cure eye problems like cataracts, glaucoma, near-sightedness, hyperopia, and blurry vision, and they didnt have to continue wearing glasses anymore.

To ensure that this solution really works, I went to my eye doctor, just to be completely sure be about it.

After several eye exams, he confirmed that my eye was much better than before, and that the herbal tea also contained some ingredients that are very rare to find, but are highly effective in improving eyesight naturally.

Without wasting time, let me introduce you to the Herbal Remedy that Has Helped me and over 642 Nigerian men and women Improve Eyesight, vision and PROVEN to cure Severe Eye Problems

Eye Restore Tea

Eye Restore Teais a herbal remedy formulated to treat and permanently cure all kinds of eye problems such as glaucoma, myopia, hyperopia, cataracts and lot more

It helps restore your eyesight, promotes eye health and improves vision.

Eye Restore Tea is made up of finely blended plant herbal extractssuch as bilberry extract, chrysanthemum, chinese wolfberry, cassia seed and green tea.

A pack of eye restore tea contains 20 tea bags, which you use daily, morning and evening.

The best part is that the Eye Restore tea is purely herbal, comes without any side effect and curative for the treatment of most eye problems. And within few days of taking this herbal tea, you can start seeing improvement in your vision and eye health.

Eye Restore Tea has the highest standard of approval by International FDA bodies. Its produced in the best, biggest and professional tea manufacturing factory withcertificate of GMP Good Manufacturing Practice, HACCP, Food Production License, QS etc.

So you can be sure that, Eye Restore Tea is Safe, 100% Herbal and Healthy, No Side Effects.

Do you want to dump your glasses, and also put an end to using expensive eye drugs that takes almost forever to work?

Then pay attention to this.

Eye Restore Teais made of herbal extracts, that after several years of research, scientist prove that these herbs help eliminate any form of eye problems, gives a crystal clear eye, improves eye sight and vision naturally.

Heres how this special herbal tea works

When you order for the Eye Restore Tea, each pack contains 20 tea bags. Put 1 tea bag in the cup, add boiled water, you can add honey or lemon (depending on your taste). Drink the tea in the morning when you wake up, and in the night before bed.

Within 3 weeks or less, I can guarantee that it will cure whatever eyesight problem you are experiecing at the moment. It will improve and perfect your eyesight, you will be able to read better anytime of the day. It will help you see comfortably without your glasses.

THATS how powerful it is.

Right now, my eyes are crystal clear, no more blurry vision, I see clearly without my eye glasses, glaucoma has gone, and no more cataracts.

And after this worked for me, Ive gone to share this amazing eye restore secret with almost everyone (family, friends and collegues) that I know that uses spectacles, or have severe eye problems for many years.

And once they started using Eye Restore Tea, they experienced similar results, their joy knew no bounds and they were able to dump their glasses, save money on expensive drugs and eye drops.

While it has also helped them to have a much improved vision, eyesight and totally natural cure to glaucoma, cataracts, myopia, hyperopia, eyestrain and other eye problems.

And to Prove It, Here Are What People Who Have Used theEye Restore Tea Are Saying About it, and How TheyveSeen Great Results Using it

For over 3 years of having glaucoma in my right eye, Ive been eye drops that my eye doctors prescribed. After using it for a long time, I noticed that the eye was becoming useless, and I only had my left eye for all purpose.

Until I came accross Eye restore tea, I decided to use it instead. Within few weeks, I began to see better. I went to the Eye center, and after the examination doctor say that my eye has improved and the IOP has dropped.Thanks so much for this wonderful solution that saved my eyes

James Gwarimpa, Abuja=================

I suffered from Glaucoma for about 2 years now, and I had to use eye drops to control it. But the eye drops have serious side effects that made me uncomfortable so I had to keep changing them and used 5 types of eye drop.

Luckily, a friend introduced me to Eye restore tea, so I decided to give it a trial. My vision now have improved up to the extent that I no longer need spectacles or any eye drop again.

Mrs. Tolulope Ketu, Lagos===============

Immediately after my cataract sugery, I used to have a foggy or cloudy vision and colors are not vivid as they were. I got corrective sight vision lens, and after many months I still get this blurry vision sometimes which is frustrating.

My wife helped me order for the Eye Restore tea, and I decided to use it, within 6weeks, my eyesight is clear and has corrected itself with time. Ive gone on to recommend this for my elder brother with similar eye problems. Thanks so much for this miracle tea

Mr. Victor Onitsha, Anambra

============

After seeing an opthalmologist for an eye exam, it was revealed an eye pressure of 25 in both eyes, and my right eyes looked suspicious for glaucoma. I continued using eye drops.

I stumbled upon your eye restore tea product, and decided to go for it. Within few weeks of using the tea, am seeing obvious changes, and finally stopped using eye drops. i will keep you updated on my progress, really appreciate this!

Olawale warri, Delta

Truth is, I could load more and more testimonials from these people who have used the Eye Restore tea but it will only be saying the same thing this product works like crazy!

As you have seen, these people were once like you suffering form similar eye conditions that were a threat to their vision, but they took action got the Eye Restore tea and cured severe eye problems.

As we speak lots of people are raving about this natural miracle eye treatment solution. I wonder what happens when people begin to post experiences and testimonials on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.)

Customers will continue telling friends, and the news keeps on spreading like wildfire.

By word of mouth, theres so much huge demand, supplies are going off the shelf fast even my colleagues and inner circle friends picked up 143 packs of the Eye Restore Herbal tea.

So, there are just 257 packs remaining.

The miracle eye treatment solution is spreading like wildfire and demand is so heavy much of the stocks are running out fast.

Right now, thousand of people are on this website and stocks are extremely limited.

We have no idea when the next stocks will arrive, so get your supplies now while you can.

The best part is, you can get it at an affordable discount price when you place order right away.

I cannot assure you will get it at the same discount price if you procrastinate.

SO WHATS IT COST?

Let me ask you whats something like this worth?

What would it be worth to be able to see clearly again, without spending lots of money on presciption pills, eye drops or expensive surgery?

What would it be worth to improve all aspects of your vision using a natural solution that completely reverses glaucoma, cataract, shortsightedness and other eye problems?

A natural solution that makes you never scared again about having dry itchy eyes, blurred vision, or even worse going blind.

So that, you will be able to enjoy your eyes, watch tv, read newspapers, reports, documents without depending on your glasses ever again.

Eye restore tea, is like giving you a brand new set of perfect eyeballs faster, more safer, and more easily.

What would that be worth?

You see, you wont pay a lot for this miracle herbal tea.

And if you go ahead and get it now, you will enjoy

=> the discount introductory price

=> 100% FREE Shipping to every state in Nigeria

=> Payment at the point of delivery (or at your DOORSTEP)

This means you will pay for the products only when it has been brought down to you face to face by our courier company or delivery man.

Heres a breakdown of the price (depending on the supply you are ordering for)

Eye Restore Tea 1 Month Supply3 packs (60 tea bags)

]

Discount Price = N24,000

Read the original post:
62year old Lagos woman Reveals Eye treatment Remedy that Reverses Glaucoma, Cataracts and Improves Vision without surgery or eyedrops - Vanguard

One of the studys researchers demonstrating the set-up used to confirm the success of the gene therapy treatment, including the use of specialized goggles seen above. Image: Sahel, et al., Nature Medicine

Researchers say their experimental gene therapy was able to partially restore a mans eyesight 40 years after he lost most of his vision. The findings are exciting, but the authors of the new study caution that more research will be needed to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment.

Gene therapy has emerged as a promising approach for largely incurable ailments that are often caused by defective genetic mutations. It can include editing the genes of cells collected from the body in the lab, then putting them back in (CAR T-cell therapy for cancer is one example of this) or editing cells inside the body directly, also known as in vivo gene therapy. In 2017, the very first in vivo gene therapy was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The treatment, called Luxterna, helps prevent people with inherited retinal dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder, from losing their vision completely.

Luxterna is only helpful for people with a form of retinal dystrophy caused by a specific mutation, though, and only before they completely lose their functional retinal cells, which usually happens before adulthood. So scientists have been trying to develop other kinds of gene therapy that can broadly help people with these retinal disorders, no matter the mutation causing it and long after its onset. One approach being tested now relies on something called optogenetics. The idea is to edit nerve cells collected from a patient so that they respond to light in a particular way, which should then essentially turn these cells into a version of the photosensitive cells normally found in the retina that allow us to see.

Researchers in Europe and the U.S. have been working on one of these therapies as part of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial called PIONEER. Like other gene therapies, this treatment uses a neutered adenovirus to deliver its payload to cells: genetic code that allows cells in the retina to produce a protein called ChrimsonR that responds to amber light. They then use specialized goggles to collect information from the outside world and turn that information into pulses of amber light. The hope was that these pulses would then allow the gene-edited retina, and by extension the brain, to perceive visual information the way people with undamaged retinas canthus restoring sight.

In a paper published Monday in Nature Medicine, the team detailed the case of a 58-year-old patient involved in the trial, who regained eyesight following treatment, albeit with some caveats.

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The patient, who did retain an ability to perceive light even with his disorder, was given the treatment in one eye. In that eye, and while wearing the goggles, he became able to see nearby objects, to the point where he could reliably tell multiple objects apart from one another and reach out to touch themsomething he couldnt do before. ECG readings also showed brain activity in the man linked to vision. Whats more, these improvements remained even five months after the initial treatment.

The mans restored vision was only possible while wearing the goggles, and the vision he did gain back was blurry and limited in range. But according to the authors, this is the first evidence in humans to definitively demonstrate that the therapy has potential to someday treat this rare but life-altering form of blindness.

In this study, we present the first evidence that injection of an optogenetic sensor-expressing gene therapy vector combined with the wearing of light-stimulating goggles can partially restore visual function in a patient, they wrote.

Other researchers are developing treatments for blindness using optogenetics, some with different approaches than the amber light translating goggles used in this study. Time will have to tell whether any of this research will ultimately pan out.But for now, hopes are high for good reason.

Read this article:
Man Blinded for 40 Years Has Sight Partially Restored Using Gene Therapy - Gizmodo

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the name given to a group of hereditary eye conditions called retinal dystrophy.

Retina dystrophy, such as RP, affects the retina behind the eye, and over time the retina becomes non-functional.

This means that RP causes gradual but permanent changes that reduce vision.

How much vision you lose, how quickly this happens, and the age at which it begins depends on the type of RP you have.

Changes in your eyesight occur over the years, not months, and some people lose their eyesight more than others.

What are the symptoms of RP?

With retinal dystrophy like RP, the rod and pyramidal cells of the eye gradually fail.

Depending on the type of RP you are using, you may notice the first symptoms between the ages of 10 and 30 after infancy.

Some people are asymptomatic until later in life.

With RP, the first symptom you notice is that you dont look like a person without vision in dimly lit places, such as at dusk or at night. This is often referred to as night blindness.

People without vision can fully adapt to dim light in 15-30 minutes, but when using RP it takes much longer or does not occur at all.

You may start to have trouble seeing things in the peripheral vision. You may miss things on either side of you, and you may trip over or bump into what you might have seen in the past.

As the RP progresses, peripheral vision is gradually lost, leaving a narrow central vision. This is often referred to as tunnel vision. You may still have a central vision until you are in your 50s, 60s, or older.

However, advanced RP often affects central vision, which can make it difficult to read and recognize the face.

RP is a progressive state. In other words, eyesight keeps getting worse year by year.

In many cases, changes in vision can occur suddenly in a short period of time. That way, you may get some vision for quite some time. However, the vision may change further in the future.

This may mean that you need to continue to re-adapt to lower levels of vision. The type of RP you are using can affect how quickly these changes occur.

What is the cause of RP?

RP is a hereditary disease caused by a defect in one of the genes involved in maintaining retinal health.

In RP, defective genes cause retinal cells to cease functioning and eventually die over time.

Researchers have identified many of the genes that cause RP and defects in it, but there are still other genes to discover.

Genetic testing

You can perform a genetic test to find out if there is a defective gene that causes RP.

This allows you to identify the defective gene that causes RP and to find out if your child has a defective gene that they may inherit.

A genetic test uses a blood test to look at a gene to see if it is defective.

Testing for RP and other hereditary retinal dystrophy is complex. Not all forms of these conditions are identified, as new defective genes are still being discovered.

Genetic counseling

Genetic counseling helps you understand the type of RP you have, how it may affect you in the future, and the risks of communicating that condition to the child you may have. Useful.

Genetic counseling is usually recommended when undergoing a genetic test. A genetic counselor will ask you more about your family tree and try to understand how RP is passed down to your family.

A genetic condition in your family can cause emotional concerns. Talking to a genetic counselor may help you and your family discuss your familys eye condition.

If you are thinking of starting a family, knowing the possibility of passing in any condition you have can help.

What tests are used to detect RP?

Optometrists (also known as opticians) can examine the retina to detect RP. If there are early signs of classic RP, there is a small but characteristic dark pigment mass around the retina.

Changes in peripheral vision can be detected by visual field testing. If your optometrist is worried after your eye exam, they can refer you to an ophthalmologist (hospital ophthalmologist) for further examination.

There are various tests that can diagnose RP. These tests also allow you to monitor how the RP changes over time.

Your ophthalmologist may be able to say that you have RP when you get the results of these tests, but the type of RP you have and the long term to your eyesight Tests that may not be known exactly if the effects are not genetic.

Some tests you may need to take include:

Source: Royal National Institute of Blind

Health: Blind (58 years old) partially recovered vision with pioneering gene therapy

Source link Health: Blind (58 years old) partially recovered vision with pioneering gene therapy

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Health: Blind (58 years old) partially recovered vision with pioneering gene therapy - Texasnewstoday.com

When kids struggle at school, parents and teachers try to identify the cause of the problem. They wonder whether the student can see or hear properly, or whether he or she has learning problems such as dyslexia. An ordinary eye test might show that a child can see perfectly well, but it may not tell the full story. Visual skills can be just as important as eyesight itself, and this point is often poorly understood or overlooked, says Gary Rodney, a behavioural optometrist and fellow of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control.

Being able to focus on an eye-test chart isnt enough. Its also important to be able to focus at various distances and change focus easily from one distance to another. Apart from being able to focus, eyes need to be able to track from one thing to the next. For example, when reading, the eyes must be able to scan from one word to the next without losing their place. At the same time, both eyes need to be able to work together as a team.

Over and above these basic visual skills, people need the ability to process spatial information, notice small differences between one thing and another, be able to coordinate what is done in relation to what is seen (eye-hand coordination), and be able to associate what is seen with what is heard.

Any issues with these visual skills will naturally result in problems with schoolwork. Up to 25 percent of children have visual difficulties of one kind or another, so having a thorough eye examination that includes testing of visual skills is a sensible step to take when children struggle at school.

Regular Optometrists and eye surgeons (Ophthalmologists) are trained to test how well one can see, but it takes further training to be able to comprehensively test all the visual skills needed to succeed at school.

Thats why many parents and educators eliminate issues with vision as a reason for children having difficulty with schoolwork too soon. After all, ordinary eye tests may show that a child has 20/20 vision, but without evaluation of the additional visual skills that will allow children to use their eyesight in learning, parents and teachers can mistake visual processing disorders for learning problems. As a result, the real issue is not addressed, and a child may be unable to fulfil his or her true potential.

Gary Rodney acknowledges that although full evaluation of vision and related visual skills can identify issues that are holding children back, other factors may contribute to difficulties with learning.

If a child is struggling at school, testing of visual and auditory skills are a good first step. Garys practice, Eyes in Design, located in Mosman, will also be able to refer parents to the relevant health practitioners if dyslexia or other learning problems are suspected but have not been diagnosed. Even when a formal diagnosis has occurred, addressing any visual skills difficulties will help children to deal better with the challenges they face.

Vision therapy is not a panacea, says Gary. However sometimes, its all thats needed to get kids on track. After all it has been shown that 80% of how we learn comes through the visual pathway. In other cases vision may not be the cause of the problem, or it may only be a contributing factor. Either way, Eyes in Designs vision therapists are ready to assist parents in finding the practitioners they need to help children with the learning challenges they face.

HEAR: Ultra106.5FM Interview with Gary Rodney Covid and Myopia: What you need to know!

For more information on vision therapy, or to book an appointment for a visual perception test online, visit the Smart Vision website:Optometrists Sydney: Optometry Services For Children and Adults | Smart Vision; for specific information about Myopia treatment and prevention visitMyopia Prevention: Solutions, Control And Treatment In Sydney; and for detailed information about Myopia Treatment visitOrthokeratology In Sydney: The Non Surgical Alternative.

To book an appointment for a thorough eye check-up,click hereor Call the Bondi clinic on (02) 9365 5047 or the Mosman clinic on (02) 9969 1600.

Syndicated byBaxton Media,The Market Influencers,Your Digital Marketing Agency.

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Eye Care Clinic Mosman Behavioural Optometrist Vision Therapy Visual Skills Test - PRWire

Global Bionic Eye Market is valued at approximately USD 183.5 million in 2019 and is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 12.7% over the forecast period 2020-2027. Bionic eye, also referred to as visual prosthesis, is an experimental visual device used to restore the visual function of the patient experiencing partial or complete blindness. Many devices and surgeries have been developed, typically modeled on the cochlear implant or bionic ear device, so as to heal the blindness of the individuals.

Bionic eye is usually considered as artificial eye which can deliver visual sensation to the brain and often helps the people to improve the vision abilities, which is resulting in the higher market growth across the globe. Furthermore, the rise in prevalence of ophthalmic diseases due to growing geriatric population, increasing funding by public and private organizations, and intensive research and development (R&D) focused on product innovation are the few factors responsible for the impressive CAGR of the market during the forecast period. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 2.2 billion people were affected with vision impairment or blindness in October 2019, of which at least 1 billion people had preventable or unaddressed conditions around the world. Similarly, as per the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, in 2018, more than 21 million of Vietnamese required eye care services, Out of which over 3 million Vietnamese students are having eyesight problems. Thus, surge in vision-related complications may promote the adoption of the therapeutic or corrective devices, which has led to a boost in the demand for bionic eye all over the world. However, the high cost of bionic eye and the high research and development cost are the prime factors limiting the market growth over the forecast period of 2020-2027.

Request for a FREE sample of this market research report@ https://www.reportocean.com/industry-verticals/sample-request?report_id=bw1695

The regional analysis of the global Bionic Eye market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Rest of the World. North America is the leading/significant region across the world in terms of market share owing to the rising awareness concerning vision-related problem, intensive research activities, and the presence of a significant number of market vendors in the region. Whereas Asia-Pacific is also anticipated to exhibit the highest growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2020-2027. Factors such as the rising prevalence eye-related or ophthalmic disorder such as myopia and presbyopia coupled with growing geriatric population across developing countries, such as China and India, would create lucrative growth prospects for the Bionic Eye market across the Asia-Pacific region.

Major market player included in this report are:Second Sight Medical Products LLCNidek Co. Ltd.Nano Retina Ltd.MetaModal LLCBiomedical TechnologiesBionic Vision TechnologiesNeoStrataMonash Vision GroupPixium Vision

The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:

By Type:External EyeImplanted Eye

By Technology:ElectronicMechanical

By End-Use:HospitalsOphthalmic ClinicsOthers

By Region:North AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeUKGermanyFranceSpainItalyROE

Asia PacificChinaIndiaJapanAustraliaSouth KoreaRoAPACLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of the World

Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year 2017, 2018Base year 2019Forecast period 2020 to 2027

Send a request to Report Ocean to understand the structure of the complete report @https://www.reportocean.com/industry-verticals/sample-request?report_id=bw1695

Target Audience of the Global Bionic Eye Market in Market Study:

Key Consulting Companies & AdvisorsLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprisesVenture capitalistsValue-Added Resellers (VARs)Third-party knowledge providersInvestment bankersInvestors

Read more:
Bionic Eye Market Size Prognosticated to Perceive a Thriving Growth by 2027 interpreted by a new report The Courier - The Courier

Published:Monday,May 24, 202123:28

After 40 years of blindness from a neurodegenerative disease, a man has partially regained his sight thanks to visual therapy. The treatment consists of Injection of an adenovirus into the eye Which carries a light-sensitive protein from moss and special glasses. This is the first case of partial healing of vision in a blind patient after visual genetics therapy, a technique developed at the beginning of the century that It is based on processing microbial proteins that are sensitive to light And cells across the light.

The study, published in Nature Medicine, was signed by scientists from the Sorbonne (France), the University of Pittsburgh (USA) and the University of Basel (Switzerland). The patient is a 58-year-old man who lives in Paris He was diagnosed four decades ago with retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys light-sensitive cells in the retina and causes complete blindness. After treatment and after a period of adaptation and learning to use technology, The patient was able to locate, recognize, and count the various objects Using the treated eye while wearing glasses.

The man could not visually detect any objects before the injection or without glasses after the injection. Hope its a breakthroughFirst author Jos Alan Sahel of the University of Pittsburgh and the Sorbonne said that the eye is an extremely complex system that allows our vision to adapt to different levels of light. Very fragile, so when the vision disappears, he noted, there are few treatments, except for the use of prostheses or the reactivation of the remaining cells in the retina.

Retinitis pigmentosa is caused by mutations in more than 71 different genes, leading to the development of gene therapies that replace a small number of proteins to repair broken cellular machinery It is tricky and not very effective. So the team approached the problem from a different angle: Instead of fixing mutated genes one by one in cells that respond to light by activating retinal neurons, they decided to directly activate neurons, which they used. Opto-Genetic Tools.

The team injected one of the patients eyes A vector associated with an adenovirus that carries genetic information, Which encodes a photosensitive protein called ChrimsonR channelrhodopsin, which is found in natures shiny algae. This protein responds to light by changing its shape and allowing ions to flow in and out of cells, which activates them, and in the case of neurons experimentally designed to express the rhodopsin channel, causes them to be released and the signal to be transmitted through the nerve endings to the brain.

Scientists have devised a way to convert light bouncing off objects in our environment into a single wavelength of the amber spectrum

Researchers chose ChrimsonR due to its preference for activation by amber light, which is safer and causes less pupillary constriction than the blue spectrum. The target was retinal ganglion cellsThat is, neurons that capture signals from the sticks and rods and transmit them through the optic nerve to the brain, where this information is processed to be perceived as a visual image. Scientists to activate ganglion cells in this way They have devised a way to divert the light that bounces off objects in our environment With a single wavelength of the amber spectrum, they used special glasses equipped with a special camera.

The University of Pittsburgh said in a statement that this camera captures images from the visual world and converts them into light pulses that are projected onto the retina in real time to activate the modified cells during visual tasks. It takes time to adjust to the use of glasses, Sahl recalls. At first, the patient didnt find them very helpful, however After a few months, he began to see the white lines of the pedestrian crossing After several training sessions, he was able to learn about other things, big and small.

Originally posted here:
Scientists create a blind man for 40 years who partially regains his eyesight - thedailyguardian.net

Tesla announced this week that a key component in its self-driving technology platform is about to move from radar sensors to optical sensors. Tesla calls its technology "Pure Vision." This is not exactly a shift to some higher level of technical know-how. Subaru has been using optical sensors to provide driver-assist features for much of the past decade. Armchair engineers and Tesla fans are now debating the shift in technology from one type of transducer to another. All I want to know is will the new sensor array stop Teslas cars from crashing into police cars, firetrucks, semi-trailers, highway barriers, and other static objects.

What Do Driver Assist Sensors Do?Stopping cars from crashing is one of the objectives behind the move to driver-assist technology. Tesla calls its two packages Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. Those names were chosen specifically to give you the impression that these vehicles can drive themselves. This begs the question; If they can drive themselves, even in certain circumstances, they must be able to see and avoid parked firetrucks with flashing lights, reflective tape and flares deployed ahead of the vehicle, right? Nope. Or they must at least be able to stop instead of crashing straight into the side of the largest vehicles on the road, tractor-trailers, right? Nope.

Does Teslas New Technology Prevent Crashes?For five years, Tesla vehicles equipped with the old technology have been regularly driving themselves straight into huge things anyone with eyes could see. Maybe this shift away from radar and toward optics is Teslas attempt to stop these seemingly preventable crashes from happening. Or maybe not. If not, then will Tesla vehicles continue to drive at high speed into emergency vehicles assisting motorists during highway emergencies? Although Tesla has not said if this technology shift will prevent the high-profile seemingly preventable crashes showering it with bad press, Teslarati reports that Elon Musk did say it would stop the phantom-braking reported by many Tesla drivers.

Are Tesla Crashes Common?If you are not up to speed on the types of crashes we are referring to, simply type Tesla hits firetruck into your browser. In under one second, your computer will provide you with over 7 million options to read more about this topic. The first story that comes up when I do the search is one from Car and Driver titled, NHTSA Investigating Indiana Crash Where Tesla Model 3 Hit Fire Truck.

Alternatively, you can type, Tesla hits semi. This search will show you about three million results. The top story on my browser is one from the Tesla-advocacy publication Inside EVs titled UPDATE: Tesla Crashes Into Another Semi: Federal Investigation Underway.

Whether or not an occupant (the word "driver" is so old school) enables a system inside of her Tesla or not is irrelevant. Driver-assist safety systems dont need to be turned on to work. All modern cars have advanced automatic emergency braking designed specifically to stop you from accidentally driving straight into firetrucks and semi-tractors. Yet, Teslas system seems to ignore these hazards on a regular basis and allow the vehicle to drive into them. How does that square with a company that advertises a product called Full Self Driving? Perhaps it doesnt, and perhaps the new sensors are an attempt to stop the seemingly preventable crashes.

How Can I Learn More About Unusual Tesla Crashes?The below list of prior stories may help provide background on the subject of Tesla vehicle crashes that were not prevented by the radar-based technology that Tesla has employed up to now.

Tell us in the comments below if you think Teslas technology shift will help stop future crashes of its vehicles into large, easy-to-see objects.

Image note: The top of page image is an old picture of Subaru's now mature Eyesight camera-based driver-assist system.

Past Stories Related To This Topic:May 2021: Five Years After First Tesla Tragedy Seemingly Preventable Crashes Still OccurApril 2021: Video of Tesla Model Y On Autopilot With No Driver Demonstrates Need For Government InterventionMarch 2021: Another Tesla Hits Another Semi From the Side - This Time It Looks Like a Model YAugust 2020: Tesla Operated By Full Self Crashing System Hits Two Parked First Responder Vehicles - AgainJuly 2020 - Police: Tesla On Autopilot Hits Not One, But TWO Parked First Responder VehiclesJanuary 2020: Second Crash In One Month Of A Tesla Into A Parked Firetruck Results In FatalityDecember 2019: Tesla Model 3 On Autopilot Hits Yet Another Police Vehicle - Why Won't They Stop?August 2018: Third Tesla Crashes Into Back of Firetruck - That's Four Crashes Into Emergency Vehicles This YearMay 2018: Another Tesla On Autopilot Hits Another Emergency Vehicle - You Can't Make This Stuff UpJanuary 2018: Tesla Police Blotter News - Tesla Driver Hits Parked Firetruck - Blames AutopilotJuly 2016: Understanding the fatal Tesla accident on Autopilot and the NHTSA probe

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. John's interest in EVs goes back to 1990 when he designed the thermal control system for an EV battery as part of an academic team. After earning his mechanical engineering degree, John completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers, in the semiconductor industry, and in biotech. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on TikTok @ToknCars, on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin

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Teslas New Optical Sensors - The End Of The Weird Crashes? - Torque News

a blind man He partially regained his eyesight for the first time with the help of light-sensitive proteins that researchers had extracted from algae.

Scientists have used a type of gene therapy called optogenetics to add light-sensitive proteins to the retina of the 58-year-old French to control cells at the back of his eye. Although he did not regain full vision as a result, a man who wore special glasses could once again recognize and count different objects.

The man, who was being treated in Paris, 40 years ago was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes the light-sensitive cells to die on the surface of the retina. It is said that around two million people worldwide suffer from this disease.

In optogenetics, a relatively new approach in medicine, light-sensitive proteins are placed in individual neurons, allowing neuroscientists to influence the activity of these neurons with light. Researchers who published their findings in the professional journal Nature Medicine, Proteins used from algae and other microbes. Thus they can make every neuron sensitive to light.

At first, the patient wasnt able to see anything with the system, and that was very frustrating of course, explains co-author Jos-Alain Sahel of the University of Pittsburgh. And then he became spontaneously excited and reported that he was capable of white lines (From a pedestrian crossing, ed.) Across the street.

Christopher Petkoff, Professor of Neuropsychology at Newcastle University, Talks about a new teacher and indicates the importance of a follow-up study. This is a great development to restore vision using an innovative approach. The goal now is to find out how well this works in other patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

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The blind man regains partial vision after algae gene therapy - Dividend Wealth

As explained in the journal Nature, in a healthy retina, photoreceptors detect light and send electrical signals to the retinal ganglion cells (RGC), which then transmit the signal to the brain. The optogenetic therapy used completely bypasses damaged photoreceptor cells by using a virus to deliver light-sensitive bacterial proteins into the RGCs, allowing them to detect images directly bypassing the photoreceptors.

In the case study, the researchers injected the virus into the eye of a man with retinitis pigmentosa and waited four months for protein production by retinal ganglion cells to stabilize. The researchers then designed a prototype of glasses that capture visual information and optimize it for detection by bacterial proteins. The trial participant had to train with the glasses for several months before his brain adapted to interpret the points correctly. Finally, he was able to make out high-contrast images, including objects on a table and the white stripes on a crosswalk. When the researchers recorded your brain activity, they found that your visual cortex reacted to the image in the same way it would if you had normal eyesight. Of course, because the retina contains around a hundred times more photoreceptors than RGCs, the resolution of the images detected by RGCs will never be as good as natural vision.

Although the trial has been completed in just one person, six others have been injected with the same light-sensitive proteins, but the pandemic has delayed their training and the researchers hope to have results soon. We will have to wait to find out if these results are replicable, since the results cannot be generalized since it is a single person. This is a high-quality study, which is carried out and controlled with great care, James Bainbridge, professor of retinal studies at Global University in London, told the Science Media Center, who was not involved in the study. . The problem is that the findings are based on laboratory tests performed on a single person, so more work will be needed to find out if this technology is really useful. The press release describes improved recognition of the objects, but there is no evidence in the study results, He clarifies.

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A blind man partially recovers his vision thanks to optogenetic therapy Explica .co - Explica

The latest analysis released by HTF MI on Global Eyesight Test Equipment Market Outlook 2020 Survey results sheds light on how investment and competitive landscape is impacted due to significant changes in the Eyesight Test Equipment Industry. The research coverage includes analysis on companies such as Bhavana MDC, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, EyeNetra, Essilor International, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care.Inc., Alcon, Inc., Shenzhen Certainn Technology, Heine, Abbott Medical Optics.Inc., Nidek Co., Ltd., Seiko Optical Products Co., Ltd., Carl Zeiss AG & Hoya Corporation etc. It is expected that the healthcare and life sciences industry will likely continue to be an attractive target market showing noteworthy sign to Eyesight Test Equipment for the foreseeable future.

Get one step closer to market leaders and emerging players of Eyesight Test Equipment Market.Get Sample Pages for Quick Illustration @:https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3228050-global-eyesight-test-equipment-market-17

Eyesight Test Equipment Companies are expanding their roles to deliver value beyond the services or offerings by helping clinics and hospitals authority report on quality, offering services that engage patients in real time, improving safety, regulatory compliance and physician performance.

According to Sources, national healthcare spending is projected to grow at an average of 5.5% annually

Lot of Eyesight Test Equipment Companies expect that health cares evolution will have far-reaching impacts as upcoming business models emerge that blur boundaries and drive cross-sector and cross-industry convergence. With this edition, HTF MI have come up with a scope that actually delivers answer to current and future scenario.

Make an Enquiry for Global Eyesight Test Equipment Market Study @https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3228050-global-eyesight-test-equipment-market-17

The titled segments and sub-section of the Global Eyesight Test Equipment market are illuminated below:

The Global Eyesight Test Equipment market has been divided into, application, type, technology and region/country.

On The Basis Of Type, Market is segmented by , Portable & Stationary, by Application/End Users it includes Children, Adults & The older

Geographically, the Eyesight Test Equipment Market Study provides Revenue Sizing as

North America: USA, Canada and MexicoEurope: Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Russia , Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands and Rest of EuropeAsia-Pacific: China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia and OthersSouth America: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, OthersMEA: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa & Rest of MEA

Additionally the connected stakeholders of Eyesight Test Equipment such as distributors, suppliers, health care providers, governments, other payers, patients, and other stakeholders were also considered in the survey to derive Eyesight Test Equipment market estimation and demand side analysis.- To better explore trend and current state to deliver closer view towards changing market dynamics of Eyesight Test Equipment Market.

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Some Frequency Asked Questions

1) How can we add or get new players profile as per our need?

Yes, we can add or profile new company as per client need in the report. Final confirmation to be provided by research team depending upon the difficulty of survey. The Standard version of the report currently profiles players such as Bhavana MDC, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, EyeNetra, Essilor International, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care.Inc., Alcon, Inc., Shenzhen Certainn Technology, Heine, Abbott Medical Optics.Inc., Nidek Co., Ltd., Seiko Optical Products Co., Ltd., Carl Zeiss AG & Hoya Corporation.

** Data availability will be confirmed by research in case of privately held company. Up to 3 players can be added at no added cost.

2) Can we have different set of Segmentation added or further granularity in existing segmentation is possible?Yes, inclusion of additional segmentation in Eyesight Test Equipment Market Study is possible subject to data availability and difficulty of survey. Also, granularity can be checked contacting sales team as customization are subject to final approval and feasibility check by research team.

3) What years are considered in Global Eyesight Test Equipment Market study; When it was last released?Historical year 2016-2020Base year 2020Forecast period** 2021 to 2026 [** forecast year can be customized]Version of Study: 2021 Published

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Thanks for showing interest in Eyesight Test Equipment Market publication; you can also get Individual Chapter or Regional or Country wise report USA, GCC, Southeast Asia, North America, Europe, APAC or LATAM.

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Eyesight Test Equipment Market Poised For Disruptive And Explosive Growth | Heine, Abbott Medical Optics, Nidek The Shotcaller - The Shotcaller

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells are currently being used for a broad spectrum of applications such asregenerative medicine,tissue engineering, cell therapy, and stem cell differentiation studies. ADSCs have a massive potential for regenerative medicine and demonstrate more robust yields than other stem cells. This can be attributed to its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-scarring, and anti-apoptotic properties, among others.

Stem cells derived from adipose tissues confer several advantages. The significant advantage is that fat tissues consist of over 100 to 1000 times more mesenchymal stem cells than the bone marrow. Moreover, the method of isolating these adipose tissue-derived stem cells is minimally invasive and relatively easier than bone marrow collection.

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Over the last couple of years, companies and academic institutions have adopted new business strategies and expansion plans to gain a robust footing in the market. Some of the prominent players of the industry include:

Market Segmentation:

The report categorizes the market into different key segments based on types and applications, along with key regional segmentation. The report offers insights into the segment expected to garner traction during the forecast period, and the region expected to dominate the market in the coming years.

Cell Type

Product Type

Disease Indication

End-user Industries

Application

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Regional Analysis:

The global Adipose-derived Stem Cell market consists of various significant regional segments. Under this section of the report, the product demand, output, and estimated revenue share of each region have been ascertained. The most prominent regions dictating the global market include:

Some Fundamental Market Parameters Elucidated in the Report:

Market dynamics: The Adipose-derived Stem Cell market report explains the scope of various commercial possibilities over the next few years and further estimates revenue build-up over the forecast years. It analyzes the key market segments and sub-segments and provides deep insights into the market to assist readers in developing vital strategies for profitable business expansion.

Competitive Outlook: The established market players operating in the Adipose-derived Stem Cell industry have been listed in this report, with a major focus on their geographical reach and production facilities. To gain a competitive advantage over the other players in the Adipose-derived Stem Cell industry, the leading players are focusing more on offering products at rational prices.

Objectives of the Report: The chief aim of the research report is to provide the manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and buyers engaged in this sector with access to a deeper and improved understanding of the global Adipose-derived Stem Cell market.

Gain access to the full report by clicking here on the link @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/adipose-derived-stem-cell-market

Thank you for reading our report. For further information or queries regarding the report or its customization, please get in touch with us. Our team will ensure you get a report well-suited to your requirements.

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Emergen Research is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target, and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries, and help clients make smarter business decisions. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across multiple industries, including Healthcare, Touch Points, Chemicals, Types, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware of the latest trends existent in the market. Emergen Research has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise. Our industry experience and ability to develop a concrete solution to any research problems provides our clients with the ability to secure an edge over their respective competitors.

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Adipose-derived Stem Cell Market Analysis, Key Company Profiles, Types, Applications and Forecast To 2027 The Courier - The Courier

DUBLIN, May 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cell Therapy - Technologies, Markets and Companies" report from Jain PharmaBiotech has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report describes and evaluates cell therapy technologies and methods, which have already started to play an important role in the practice of medicine. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is replacing the old fashioned bone marrow transplants. The role of cells in drug discovery is also described. Cell therapy is bound to become a part of medical practice.

The cell-based markets was analyzed for 2020, and projected to 2030. The markets are analyzed according to therapeutic categories, technologies and geographical areas. The largest expansion will be in diseases of the central nervous system, cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Skin and soft tissue repair, as well as diabetes mellitus, will be other major markets.

The number of companies involved in cell therapy has increased remarkably during the past few years. More than 500 companies have been identified to be involved in cell therapy and 316 of these are profiled in part II of the report along with tabulation of 306 alliances. Of these companies, 171 are involved in stem cells.

Profiles of 73 academic institutions in the US involved in cell therapy are also included in part II along with their commercial collaborations. The text is supplemented with 67 Tables and 26 Figures. The bibliography contains 1,200 selected references, which are cited in the text.

Stem cells are discussed in detail in one chapter. Some light is thrown on the current controversy of embryonic sources of stem cells and comparison with adult sources. Other sources of stem cells such as the placenta, cord blood and fat removed by liposuction are also discussed. Stem cells can also be genetically modified prior to transplantation.

Cell therapy technologies overlap with those of gene therapy, cancer vaccines, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Pharmaceutical applications of stem cells including those in drug discovery are also described. Various types of cells used, methods of preparation and culture, encapsulation, and genetic engineering of cells are discussed. Sources of cells, both human and animal (xenotransplantation) are discussed. Methods of delivery of cell therapy range from injections to surgical implantation using special devices.

Cell therapy has applications in a large number of disorders. The most important are diseases of the nervous system and cancer which are the topics for separate chapters. Other applications include cardiac disorders (myocardial infarction and heart failure), diabetes mellitus, diseases of bones and joints, genetic disorders, and wounds of the skin and soft tissues.

Regulatory and ethical issues involving cell therapy are important and are discussed. The current political debate on the use of stem cells from embryonic sources (hESCs) is also presented. Safety is an essential consideration of any new therapy and regulations for cell therapy are those for biological preparations.

Key Topics Covered:

Part One: Technologies, Ethics & Regulations

Executive Summary

1. Introduction to Cell Therapy

2. Cell Therapy Technologies

3. Stem Cells

4. Clinical Applications of Cell Therapy

5. Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Disorders

6. Cell Therapy for Cancer

7. Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders

8. Ethical, Legal and Political Aspects of Cell therapy

9. Safety and Regulatory Aspects of Cell Therapy

Part II: Markets, Companies & Academic Institutions

10. Markets and Future Prospects for Cell Therapy

11. Companies Involved in Cell Therapy

12. Academic Institutions

13. References

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/oletip

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Global Cell Therapy Markets, Technologies, and Competitive Landscape Report 2020-2030: Applications, Cardiovascular Disorders, Cancer, Neurological...

How is artificial meat made?

Also known as cultured or cell-based meat, artificial meat is grown from animal cells in a laboratory. Start-up companies have grown artificial beef, pork, chicken and even fish. However, none is commercially available yet.

There are different ways to grow artificial meat, but most use adult stem cells from a live animal. For beef, a tiny muscle sample is taken from a cow, under local anaesthesia. The muscle is chopped into smaller pieces, using enzymes to digest it and release the stem cells.

In a huge vat called a bioreactor, the stem cells are immersed in a broth containing salts, vitamins, sugars and proteins, as well as growth factors. The oxygen-rich, temperature-controlled environment allows cells to multiply dramatically. The stem cells then differentiate into muscle fibres that bunch together, aided by scaffolding material. The meat is ready for processing or cooking in a matter of weeks.

Producing a thick piece of steak is still some way off, with minced meat far easier to replicate. 3D printing is one possible option for creating a juicy steak layer by layer, but this technology is still in its infancy.

The first artificial beef burger (unveiled to great fanfare in 2013 and developed at a cost of 250,000) was reported to be rather dry and dense, consisting solely of muscle fibres.

A good meat replacement needs to mimic smell, texture and taste, which is no mean feat. In an animal, muscle comprises organised fibres, blood vessels, nerves, connective tissues and fat cells. Thousands of flavour molecules contribute to real meats rich taste. Its possible to add synthetic flavours to artificial meat, but balancing and distributing them is tricky.

Progress has been made since 2013 and a Dutch company called Meatable now claims to be able to reprogram stem cells collected from bovine umbilical cord blood, turning them into master cells that can differentiate into fat or muscle. This allows muscle and fat cells to grow together as they do in animals. In theory, cells from different species could be grown together to create completely new flavours.

Artificial meat is touted as being as safe or safer than the real thing, produced in a highly controlled environment.

It is highly unlikely to become contaminated with harmful bacteria such as E. coli because there are no digestive organs to worry about. With whole animals, theres always a risk of meat becoming contaminated with bacteria after slaughter.

Having said that, artificial meat producers do need to take extra care to keep everything sterile because the nutrient-rich environment in the bioreactors is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Some people have raised concerns over the growth factors added to stem cells, which include hormones. These hormones are naturally present in animals as well as in real meat. However, overexposure can have adverse health effects in humans. This is why growth hormones have been banned in agriculture in the EU since 1981.

Artificial meat is packed with protein and newer versions also contain fat. The nutritional content can be controlled to a certain extent by adjusting fat levels and playing with the levels of saturated fatty acids and healthier polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Saturated fats can be replaced with other types of fats, such as omega-3s, found naturally in fish or flaxseed oil. Its also possible to add extra micronutrients such as vitamin B12 to artificial meats, as is routinely done to breads and breakfast cereals.

The fact remains that eating too much red meat is bad for our health, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. With its controlled fat levels, artificial meat may be slightly healthier, but it would still need to be eaten in moderation.

Plant-based meat alternatives may be the healthiest option, with similar protein levels and lower levels of saturated fat compared to conventional meat burgers.

The global food system is under huge pressure from climate change, a growing population and increasing demand for animal products. As such, investors have poured vast sums into artificial meat start-ups in recent years. One estimate by US consultancy firm Kearney suggests that 35 per cent of all meat consumed globally will be cell-based by 2040.

Artificial meat can be produced faster and more efficiently than traditional meat, requiring a tiny fraction of the land. But it faces competition from insect-derived products and plant-based imitation meats, which consumers are already buying in increasing numbers.

Livestock produce a big proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Large numbers of people switching to artificial meat, could lead to big cuts in these gases, particularly methane. But a study at Oxford University has suggested that the CO2 emissions from powering artificial meat production facilities could be more damaging over the next 1,000 years.

Emma is a science writer specialising in environment, food and toxicology.

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What is lab grown meat? A scientist explains the taste, production and safety of artificial foods - BBC Focus Magazine

Rheumatoid arthritis stem cell therapy has been demonstrated to induce profound healing activity, halt arthritic conditions, and in many cases, reverse and regenerate joint tissue. Today, bone marrow transplant, adipose or fat-derived stem cells, and allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (human umbilical cord tissue) are used for rheumatoid arthritis stem cell therapy. As the rheumatoid arthritis worsens, the body initiates autoimmune response and attacks the cells. Rheumatoid arthritis stem cell therapy is growing in popularity across hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and specialty clinics, as it increases the healing of joints and further treats the entire system that causes the joint pain and inflammation.

The latest research report published by Fact.MR on the Rheumatoid Arthritis Stem Cell Therapy Market is intended to offer reliable data on various key factors shaping the growth curve of the market. This report works as a rich source of information for key entities such as policy makers, end-use industries, investors, and opinion leaders.

The segment accounted for a considerable share in the Rheumatoid Arthritis Stem Cell Therapy Market in forecast period 2018-2028. The share in this segment comes with a wide range of opportunities including manufacturing products, distribution, retail, and marketing services.Extensive rounds of primary and a comprehensive secondary research have been leveraged by the analysts at Fact.MR to arrive at various estimations and projections forDemand of Rheumatoid Arthritis Stem Cell Therapy Market, both at global and regional levels.

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The analysts have used numerous industry-wide prominent business intelligence tools to consolidate facts, figures, and market data into revenue estimations and projections in the Rheumatoid Arthritis Stem Cell Therapy Market. Key stakeholders in the Rheumatoid Arthritis Stem Cell Therapy Market including industry players, policymakers, and investors in various countries have been continuously realigning their strategies and approaches to implement them in order to tap into new opportunities.

Many in recent months have overhauled their strategies to remain agile in the backdrop of worldwide disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Stem Cell Therapy Market: Segmentation

Tentatively, the global rheumatoid arthritis stem cell therapy market can be segmented on the basis of treatment type, application, end user and geography.

Based on treatment type, the global rheumatoid arthritis stem cell therapy market can be segmented into:

Based on application, the global rheumatoid arthritis stem cell therapy market can be segmented into:

Based on distribution channel, the global rheumatoid arthritis stem cell therapy market can be segmented into:

Based on geography, the global rheumatoid arthritis stem cell therapy market can be segmented into:

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Stem Cell Therapy Market share, growth drivers, demand, supply, challenges, and investment opportunities by 2028 - WhaTech

Obesity, COVID-19 and Inflammation

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put into evidence another pandemic obesity, an increasing threat to societies around the world.1 The first studies of COVID-19 did not provide body mass index (BMI) data,2 and the association between disease severity and obesity was not perceived initially. Subsequent data from several countries, however, cast light on this association,3,4 and several studies have documented the association between obesity and COVID-19 severity.47 Currently, obesity may be considered a true independent risk factor for COVID-19 mortality.8

The mechanisms underlying the increased risk of complications and mortality in obese patients with COVID-19 are many, and of diverse nature (Figure 1). Obesity is associated with several disorders, related to defective homeostasis of the dysfunctional adipose tissue, in which local and systemic chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, altered release of cytokines, and impaired immune response play important roles911; all of these have been demonstrated to be associated with higher risk and worse prognosis of infectious diseases in this patient population.1214

Figure 1 The mechanisms underlying the increased risk of complications and mortality in obese patients with COVID-19 based on the association of low-grade inflammation, adipose tissue dysfunction and endothelial dysfunction: In obese patients with COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2, as well as, the bacterial endotoxins (LPS) of the intestinal bacterial translocation promote the activation of TLR4 in favor of the MyD88-dependent pro-inflammatory pathway. The activation of NF-B is linked to the production of TNF-, IL-1, IL-6, IL-12 and other cytokines, contributing to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and increased expression of ECA2. In the adipose tissue of patients with COVID-19, there is an increase in the expression of ECA2, promoting greater entry of SARS-CoV-2, making this tissue a viral reservoir. Metabolic inflammation in obese patients is characterized by dysfunctional adipose tissue, with mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased fatty acid oxidation, causing an amount of inflammatory cells showing an increase in the influx of M1 macrophages and chemotactic signaling, via MCP-1 and release of IL-8 by adipocytes, associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species. Associated with this process of immune activation, obese patients with COVID-19 have systemic microvascular dysfunction and a predisposition to thrombus formation that is exacerbated by higher levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-, IL-1 and IL-6, worsening the outcomes in COVID-19.

Inflammation plays a central role in obesity.15 Obesity promotes profound changes in the structure and function of adipose tissue, as adipocytes undergo hypertrophy and hyperplasia, increasing oxygen need, which remains unmet due to the insufficient vascularization relative to the enlarged adipose tissue. This leads to tissue hypoxia and immune cell infiltration that perpetuates local inflammation.1618 Insulin resistance is also a link between obesity-related metabolic disorders and inflammation, as the remodeling of the adipose tissue leads to activation of NLRP3-inflammasome, which ultimately impairs of the insulin-signaling pathway and insulin resistance, a key factor in the development of the metabolic syndrome.19

Additionally, mitochondrial dysfunction in adipocytes may be a cause of adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance. The defective mitochondrial function and decreased fatty acid oxidation in adipocytes increase triglyceride accumulation, adipocyte enlargement and consequent adipose tissue hypoxia; this, in its turn, leads to accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), which promotes adipose tissue inflammation and fibrosis.20 This continuous inflammatory cycle also contributes to a neuro-immuno-endocrine dysregulation in the context of the metabolic syndrome.21 The inflammatory state affecting obese individuals is called metabolic inflammation or metainflammation, in which there is also an increased influx of M1 macrophages occurring, as well as decreased M2 macrophages and Treg cells in the visceral adipose tissue22 through chemotactic signaling, via MCP-1 and IL-8 released by adipocytes.23

The excessive intake of carbohydrates is an important trigger for these processes.24 In addition, peripheral inflammation and various pro-inflammatory signals in the nucleus accumbens, including reactive gliosis, increased expression of cytokines, antigen-presenting markers and transcriptional activity of NFB25 contribute to the activation of the innate immune response, mainly through activation of Toll-type receptors (TLR), specifically TLR-4, considered an intersection of dysfunctional metabolism and activated immunity in obesity.26 NF-B is a molecular hub for pro-inflammatory gene induction both in innate and adaptive immune responses since it is highly regulated and regulates the expression of a vast array of genes.27 Among many different immune effects, NF-B activation is linked to the production of TNF-, IL-1, IL-6, IL-12 and other cytokines, and is also involved in NLRP3 inflammasome regulation and activation of CD4+ T-helper cells.28 It is noteworthy that there is evidence that the virus can bind and activate TLR4 signaling in favor of the proinflammatory MyD88-dependent and contributing to increased expression of ACE2 and promoting greater viral entry.29

The chronic impairment of systemic vascular endothelial function in patients with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, including hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and heart failure, when intensified by the detrimental effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) over the endothelium, may explain their worse outcomes in COVID-19.3033 Regarding obesity, a community-based clinical trial (n=521; mean follow-up of 8.5 years) showed that increases in weight, body mass index, waist circumference and body-fat percentage over time were associated with worsening of microvascular endothelial function, assessed by flow-mediated dilation in the brachial artery.34 Most subjects (84%) were overweight or obese at baseline; those who lost weight over time had improved vascular endothelial function.34

In fact, vascular endothelial dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness are thought to contribute to a unfavorable response of the endothelium to the infection by SARS-CoV-2, whereas alterations in cardiac structure and function and the prothrombotic environment in obesity could provide a link for the augmented cardiovascular events in these patients.35 Moreover, fast increasing evidence from basic science, imaging and clinical observations suggest that COVID-19 could be considered as a vascular disease.36,37

Obesity is accompanied by functional and structural systemic microvascular dysfunction,38 and endothelial-dependent microvascular vasodilation is severely impaired in obesity.3941 Endothelial-dependent capillary recruitment, induced either by reactive hyperemia or by shear stress, is blunted in obese subjects, compared to non-obese counterparts.42,43 In the clinical setting, endothelial function and reactivity can be assessed using different technologies that evaluate microvascular flow and tissue perfusion coupled to physiological or pharmacological stimuli,44,45 to activate different vasodilator pathways resulting in increased microvascular conductance. The most commonly used provocations are the administration of endothelial-dependent vasodilators by transdermal iontophoresis,4648 thermal hyperemia49,50 and post-occlusive reactive hyperemia.5153 In this context, the cutaneous microcirculation is now considered as an accessible and representative vascular bed for the assessment of systemic microcirculatory reactivity.45,5456 A reduced vasodilation response to these different stimuli is indicative of microvascular endothelial dysfunction and is also considered to be predictive for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and clinical prognosis.5760

In patients with established cardiovascular disease, the reduction of microvascular endothelial-dependent vasodilation (ie, endothelial dysfunction) is associated with increasing BMI, even after adjustment for treated diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking.61 In that study, BMI was classified in three different intervals: <25, 25-to 30 and >30 kg/m2.61 Moreover, Csipo et al showed that weight loss (reduction of BMI from 31.8 to 27.5 kg/m2, accompanied by a reduction of serum cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and increased HDL) after a low-carbohydrate, low-calorie diet, resulted in improvement of microvascular endothelial function in geriatric obese (class 1) patients,62 assessed by laser speckle contrast imaging in the skin, after post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. Additionally, endothelial function of resistance arterioles of the gluteal subcutaneous tissue is impaired in non-diabetic subjects with moderate levels of obesity (BMI 34.7 4.0 kg/m2), in association with systemic inflammation. In women, BMI was significantly associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.63

Regarding mechanisms of microvascular dysfunction, using a new methodology of microdialysis in the skeletal muscle, La Favor et al showed a significant increase in superoxide anions, as well as in NADPH oxidase subunit expression, associated with microvascular endothelial dysfunction in obese subjects relative to lean and overweight/mildly obese subjects.64 Interestingly, 8 weeks of aerobic exercise training resulted in decreased H2O2 levels and improved microvascular endothelial function in the muscle tissue of obese subjects.64 The study therefore linked NADPH oxidase, as a source of reactive oxygen species, to microvascular endothelial dysfunction in obese individuals, with amelioration induced by aerobic exercise.

Microvascular dysfunction has been considered to be a pathophysiological link between overweight/obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, including arterial hypertension, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance.43,6569 Acknowledged mechanisms include changes in the secretion of adipokines, leading to increased levels of free fatty acids and inflammatory mediators, and decreased levels of adiponectin, all of which may impair endothelial insulin signaling.7073 It is also of note that there are changes at the level of the microvascular network in obesity, involving a reduction in the number of arterioles or capillaries within vascular beds of various tissues (such as the skeletal muscle and skin), which is defined as vascular (capillary) rarefaction.7477 In fact, obese individuals have both structural and functional alterations in skin microcirculation that are proportional to the increase in the degree of global and central obesity, arterial pressure levels and with the degree of insulin resistance.42 In non-diabetic, untreated hypertensive patients, reduced capillary density has also been related to obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors.78 In addition, in adults and also in prepubertal children, visceral adiposity measured with magnetic resonance imaging is inversely associated with endothelial-dependent skin capillary recruitment, and is accompanied by increased plasma levels of inflammatory markers.79

Impaired left ventricular diastolic function and higher risk of heart failure in obese individuals has been suggested to be associated with myocardial microvascular dysfunction.80 In obese patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, coronary microvascular density is significantly lower, compared to non-obese patients, and accompanied by increased body mass index and percent body fat together with increased left ventricular filling pressures.80 Moreover, in patients with suspected coronary artery disease, increasing body mass index is associated with reduced microvascular endothelial function, even after adjustment for treated diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking.61 Interestingly, the study evaluated microvascular endothelial function three different technologies, including peripheral arterial tonometry, laser Doppler flowmetry and digital thermal monitoring.61

Reduced skeletal muscle capillary density and microvascular reactivity in obese subjects improved after 4 weeks of either sprint interval training, or moderateintensity continuous training, together with increased endothelial eNOS content.81

It has also been shown that bariatric surgery improves microvascular dysfunction in obese patients who were free of metabolic syndrome after surgery, in association with postoperative increases in HDL-cholesterol levels and decreases in oxidized LDL levels.82

Another clinical study investigated microvascular endothelial function using flow-mediated dilation in arterioles isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue in young women presenting with obesity (age: 33 2 years, body mass index: 33.0 0.6 kg/m2).83 The results showed that a 6-week low-carbohydrate diet, associated or not with caloric restriction, improve endothelial-dependent microvascular function through increases in nitric oxide bioavailability.83 On the other hand, this nutritional intervention did not affect macrovascular endothelial function, evaluated using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation.83

Regarding putative pathophysiological mechanisms, a study by Dimassi et al84 in young individuals with obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2, n = 69), compared with controls with normal weight, suggested that the expression of circulating microparticles containing endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is significantly reduced in obesity individuals with endothelial-dependent microvascular dysfunction characterized using cutaneous laser Doppler flowmetry.84

Low-grade inflammation is the common feature that encompasses all the high-risk patients for developing severe COVID-19. Obesity is associated with a fivefold increased risk of developing SARS in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals, and the well-documented increased susceptibility of obese patients to develop severe forms of COVID-19 may be linked to the elevated systemic metabolic inflammation in these patients.19 Metabolic alterations seen in obese and in diabetic patients are related to an inflammatory response,85,86 and several studies report elevated levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-, IL-1 and IL-6 in obese patients.87 Furthermore, visceral fat shows significant univariate association with the need for intensive care in COVID-19 patients,15 and deregulated expression of adipokines, such as leptin and resistin, increases the expression of vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) that contribute to increased vascular leukocyte adhesiveness and additional oxidative stress.88 To further complicate the scenario, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ASCs), a specialized cell population in adipose tissue, are functionally compromised in obesity and changes its regulatory protective activity to a pro-inflammatory profile increasing its ability to secrete TNF-, IL-8, IL-6 and MCP-1.89,90 Therefore, ASCs from obese patients may not be able to modulate the immune response and tissue repair in SARS-CoV-2 infection contributing to more severe tissue injury.10

SARS-CoV-2 uses its viral spike (S) protein to invade target cells, such as epithelial cells, through binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) after proteolytic activation by transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPSS2).91 Others enzymes like furin, trypsin and elastase may also activate the S protein and facilitate cellular entry by the virus.9294 Interestingly, adipose tissue highly expresses ACE2 and the expression is even higher in visceral adipose tissue.95 Of relevance, ACE2 expression is upregulated in obesity.96 Also, another suggested receptor for SARS-CoV-2, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), is expressed in adipose tissue and is upregulated in obesity.97,98 Finally, CD147, the alternative receptor for SARS-CoV-2, is positively correlated with an increase in body mass index.99 Taken together, the evidence of high expression of different SARS-CoV-2 receptors in adipose tissue may be the basis for increased severity of COVID-19 in obese patients involving at least two different possibilities: First, infection of adipocytes with SARS-CoV-2 may exacerbate the innate immune response through pathogen recognition receptors in an already inflammation-primed tissue, increasing the magnitude of the response. Second, adipocytes may function as a reservoir for the SARS-CoV-2 and therefore may fuel the inflammatory response in adipose tissue and elsewhere in the organism by releasing viral NA and antigens that, by reaching the circulation generate ripple inflammatory effects across the organism. Importantly, these two possibilities are not mutually exclusive and may well combine their pathophysiological potential towards a deregulate systemic inflammatory response with widespread tissue injury and consequent organ dysfunction. It is important to add that as the pandemic evolves, new mechanistic interactions may unravel. For instance, new virus variants with mutations at the receptor-binding domain of the S protein may change the infectivity of the virus by changing its interactions with cellular receptors. In Brazil, a variant designated as P1, with multiple mutations in the S protein, was recently identified and is seemingly more infective than previous lineages of the virus.100 How this variant may interact with adipocytes increasing infectivity to these cells or potentiating the formation of an adipocyte reservoir of the virus causing a more severe disease in obese individuals is yet unknown. What is known is that a second wave caused by this new P1 variant is promoting devastating effects in Brazil with apparently higher mortality and a faster progression of the disease.

Severe COVID-19 is characterized by a massive production of pro-inflammatory mediators, in special cytokines. Frequently, the term cytokine storm is called up to describe the massive production of cytokines that occurs in viral infections (including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV), in sepsis and more recently, in severe COVID-19.101 Increased levels of IL-6, TNF-, IP10 are commonly found in patients with severe COVID-19.102 It is reasonable to propose that obese patients who already have an underlying chronic inflammation when infected with SARS-CoV-2 are prone to develop a more intense and deregulated response, and in doing so, developing a severe presentation of the disease. In addition, dysfunctional metabolism, endothelium, and overall immune response would further contribute to an unfavorable evolution of the disease in the obese patients. The questions about the molecular mechanisms behind this disproportional response remain unanswered, but our knowledge about this disease is growing in an unprecedented velocity and we may soon have the answer. However, a few possibilities may be put forward (Figure 1).

As stated above, obesity is characterized by the induction of a low-grade chronic proinflammatory state and NF-B is described as a key factor in the low-grade inflammation state in atherosclerosis and hypertension.103,104 Also, the NF-B pathway is involved in insulin resistance, a condition frequently seen in obese patients, and in -cell dysfunction.105 In addition, free fatty acids can also promote inflammation and activate the NF-B and JNK1 pathways.106 All those pieces put together may point to NF-B being a key player in obese patients with COVID-19. Importantly, cell culture experiments combined with system biology approach showed that overexpression of Nsp1 during infection with SARS-CoV-2 strongly increases signaling through the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and increases cytokine production and immune-dependent pathogenesis. Both NF-B and NFAT pathways share common regulation signals, such as Foxp3 and Foxd1, and a similar mechanism of activation against infection.107

We must also consider that binding of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 leads to receptor internalization and high cytosolic levels of angiotensin II, which is a recognized activator of NLP3 inflammasome in the lung108 and other tissues. The NLRP3 inflammasome regulates pyroptosis through gasdermin D, along with the release of cytosolic contents into the extracellular spaces. The release of alarmins, ATP, ROS, cytokines, chemokines, LDH and viral particles elicits an immediate reaction from surrounding immune cells, inducing a pyroptotic triggered reaction further fueling inflammation. Interestingly, different studies have reported elevated levels of LDH, a cytosolic enzyme that is measured for monitoring pyroptosis in patients with the severe form of COVID-19.109 On the other hand, diet-induced alterations in the gut leading to increased gut permeability to bacterial endotoxins are known to promote activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes via Toll-like receptors (TLRs). This event is followed by the accumulation of IL-1 family cytokines, which modulate insulin production by pancreatic beta cells.110 Importantly and at the same time, a decrease in endogenous protective mechanisms occurs.111 NLRP3 inflammasome activation is involved in endothelial lysosome membrane permeabilization, cathepsin B release, and impaired glycocalyx thickness,112 thus further contributing to the endothelial cell dysfunction, enhanced susceptibility to cardiovascular injury and thrombotic events, a common complication in severe COVID-19 patients.

In fact, thrombotic events are now recognized as a common feature in COVID-19 patients, and COVID-19 has recently been suggested to be a thrombotic viral fever.113 Obese patients are prone to thrombotic events for many different reasons,113 and COVID-19 may contribute even further to this complication. The imbalance of the ACE/ACE2 system caused by internalization of ACE2 after binding to virus S protein causes a switch towards pro-thrombotic activity by decreasing Ang-(1-7)-Mas axis (antithrombotic) and increasing angiotensin II (prothrombotic). This mechanism may be of central pathogenic relevance explaining the poor outcome of obese patients with COVID-19.113

In summary, there are many different ways by which low-grade inflammation caused by metabolic changes in obesity may contribute to the worse prognosis of obese patients infected by SARS-CoV-2, in a combination of factors and mechanisms leading to a subversion of the defensive responses of the organism against the virus.

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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67. De Jongh RT, Sern EH, Ijzerman RG, De Vries G, Stehouwer CDA. Impaired microvascular function in obesity: implications for obesity-associated microangiopathy, hypertension, and insulin resistance. Circulation. 2004;109(21):25292535. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000129772.26647.6F

68. Sern EH, DeJongh RT, Eringa EC, Ijzerman RG, DeBoer MP, Stehouwer CDA. Microvascular dysfunction: causative role in the association between hypertension, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome? Essays Biochem. 2006;42:163176. doi:10.1042/bse0420163

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Obesity-Related Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in COVID-19: | JIR - Dove Medical Press

Patent applications only hint at what companies might be working on, but both Flack and Stout agree that genetically-engineered cells might be the only way to drive down the costs of cultured meat. I think that getting from $300,000 (211,000) for a burger to $50 (35) for a burger is going to be easier than getting from $50 to $2 (1.40), Stout says. Im not at all confident that, without improving the cells themselves, you can get to $2.

But why stop at gene-editing cells to make them grow more efficiently? There are all kinds of funky things you could do with engineered cell lines. One idea Stout has is to edit chicken cells so they can express limonene the oil that gives citruses their fruity aroma to make lemon chicken at a cellular level. In 2020, he published a study detailing how he inserted three genes into cow muscle cells so they produced antioxidants that mitigate some of the negative effects of eating red meat. Take them out of an animal, and cells could become a blank canvas for new kinds of culinary creativity.

WITHOUT CELL LINES to start with, researchers are having to go it alone. Stout got his cow stem cells from his universitys veterinary school, but not every lab has that kind of access, and even that source of cow stem cells is much less useful than the holy grail: a cell bank of immortalised cow cells that anyone can access.

There are at least 40 companies vying to bring cultured meat to the market and venture capital funding is pouring in from all angles. Eat Just, which became the first cultured meat company to sell its products in a restaurant after Singapore approved its cultured chicken at the end of 2020, has raised 318 million in funding in 2021 alone. In February, Mosa Meat closed its Series B funding round after securing 59m and a month later another Dutch firm, Meatable, announced it had raised a further 33m.

Cell lines are the secret sauce of the cultured meat industry, so its unsurprising that most companies are keeping theirs under wraps. A spokesperson for Eat Just said that the company could not share details about its cell lines for intellectual property reasons. Neta Lavon at Aleph Farms said that the company is working with pre-embryonic stem cells, but that it had no plans to share its cell lines in the short-term. Other cultured meat companies contacted did not make themselves available for interview.

One of the things I dont like about the cultured meat industry is how lots of the best research, probably the furthest-advanced research, is all locked up in companies that arent saying anything, says Flack. Swartz says three cultured meat firms have contacted him about taking part in the GFIs cell line banking project, which lets companies retain their intellectual property, but none of them have deposited cell lines yet. Companies are likely to only use the best-performing cell lines for their meat production, Swartz says, leaving other less developed cell lines unused. This gives them an opportunity, in my opinion, to share those cell lines at no cost.

In the meantime, companies that specialise in cell lines might fill the gap. Edinburgh-based Roslin Technologies usually produces cell lines for toxicology and drug screening, but now sells pig stem cells to the cultured meat industry. It already has a contract with one cultured meat firm and has evaluation licenses with other companies that are trialling its stem cells. The cells the company is licensing are called induced pluripotent stem cells cells that have been reprogrammed back into a state where they can develop into many different types of cells. Because this reprogramming doesnt alter the genetic makeup of the cell they might escape European Union regulations that limit the sale of any genetically modified foods, says Richard Freeman, commercial manager at Roslin Technologies.

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The hunt for the master cow that will feed the world - Wired.co.uk

Founded to meet the future protein demands of an expanding global population, Australias Magic Valley is developing cell-cultured lamb products including mince, strips, steaks and chops. With lambs currently slaughtered at an incredibly young age using traditional farming methods, its founder tells us this particular meat became the obvious choice for the companys first product range.

There is absolutely no need for the mass slaughter of animals for food and hopefully intensive animal agriculture will soon be a thing of the past

Vegconomist spoke with Founder Paul Bevan, who says that he had become frustrated by the pace of change and effectiveness of his own activism so he turned his attention to technology, specifically the development of slaughter-free cultured meat, beginning with lamb.

Utilising induced pluripotent stem-cells and FBS-free media, Magic Valley is able to grow real animal meat from animal cells, using animals such as Lucy, who Paul refers to as cell volunteers.

Eventually we would like to expand into developing cultured meat products for all other animal species

Lucy the lamb is our very special cell donor. From just a tiny skin biopsy less than 4mm in diameter we are able to generate an infinite number of muscle and fat cells without ever having to interfere with an animal again. That is one of the distinct advantages of our technology and using induced pluripotent stem cells.

Meanwhile, Lucy gets to live out the entirety of her natural life (up to 20 years of age) happy and unharmed, blissfully unaware that her cell donation has potentially saved the lives of billions of lambs that would otherwise have been slaughtered at just 6 months of age.

Magic Valleys team consisting of Australias leading scientists have extensive experience in both stem cell biology and livestock production. As part of its ambitions to become a leader in the field, the company also announced this week the onboarding of industry pioneer Dr. Sandhya Sriram, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO of the cell-based crustacean producers Shiok Meats, to its advisory board.

Eventually we would like to expand into developing cultured meat products for all other animal species that have traditionally been farmed for human consumption. With the advancement of this technology, there is absolutely no need for the mass slaughter of animals for food and hopefully intensive animal agriculture will soon be a thing of the past, Bevan commented to vegconomist.

Our immediate goal is to develop the safest, healthiest and tastiest cultured lamb products possible. We know that to be successful, cultured meat products have to become the obvious choice for consumers and that means taste, price & convenience are paramount. We know that ethical or environmental concerns alone are not enough to change consumer behaviour it has to be a better product.

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Australia's Magic Valley On How to Turn Cells From "Cell Volunteer" Lucy the Lamb Into Lamb Steaks and Chops - vegconomist - the vegan...

For many years now, the topic of senescent cells has been the subject of plenty of research work. Back in the 1960s the Hayflick limit was noticed in cell culture: there was an apparent limit to the number of cell divisions that could take place before the cells just sort of stalled out. For human fibroblasts, that kicks in at around fifty divisions. Over time it was worked out that a primary mechanism involved is the shortening of telomeres with each cell division, specialized nucleotide sequences out at the ends of the chromosomes, and this cellular clock phenomenon has been making its way into the public consciousness ever since.

Its strange to think, but before these experiments human cells were considered to be more or less immortal and capable of unlimited numbers of divisions. Now, there are cells like that, but that (outside of some stem cell populations and a few other special cases) is a very short working definition of cancer. Those cells do indeed seem to be able to carry on for as long as conditions permit which in the artificial world of cell culture labs, means apparently forever. Henrietta Lacks died in 1951, but HeLa cells are still with us, and can be all too vigorous when they contaminate other lines. Tumor cells can pile up mutations that will make them die off, but short of that the jams have indeed been kicked out.

Its gradually become apparent that many aging or damaged tissues have a (sometimes substantial) population of cells that have reached their limit. Theyre alive and metabolically active but not really contributing much, in a stage of permanent growth arrest. Cellular senescence is a complex phenomenon, but its importance in aging, cancer, and tissue damaged by other factors (radiation, oxygen stress, etc.) is by now undeniable. Many of these non-aging states can be traced back to early telomere damage by other mechanisms, emphasizing that as a key countdown mechanism. But its clear that senescent have a different secretory profile (cytokines, growth factors and more) from the more vigorous cells around them and a number of other protein expression differences that can be used the characterize them.

Naturally enough, thoughts have turned to targeting such cells for therapy. There are a couple of very easy-to-picture hypotheses: first, could you keep telomeres from shortening (or shortening so much) and therefore keep cells in a non-senescent state for longer, potentially delaying biological aging? And second, could you somehow target cells that have already become senescent, and would doing so improve the health of the surrounding tissue? Though pretty obvious ideas, both of these are still very much in play. For now, Im going to talk about the second one, in light of a new paper.

That ones on the kidney. Younger people can regain some kidney function after an injury, but that ability goes down with aging, as youd imagine. It also goes down in states of chronic kidney disease, or after radiation damage. This new paper shows that targeting and removing senescent cells actually starts to reverse this phenotype once youve done that, the kidney tissue after injury shows increased function, increased regenerative ability, and less development of fibrosis. This is demonstrated both in aged tissue and in younger tissue exposed to radiation damage, in human cell culture and in mouse animal models.

You may well ask: how exactly does one target senescent cells? That takes us to ABT-263 (navitoclax), shown at right. This rather hefty molecule is part of a series of AbbVie protein-protein inhibitors for the Bcl-2 (B-cell-lymphoma) family. There are several of those, and navitoclax inhibits the function of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-w. All of these proteins are intimately tied up in the pathways of apoptosis, programmed cell death, which is another monstrously huge pathway all its own. But one of the questions about senescent cells is why they dont go down some apoptotic pathway and just fall on their on cellular swords, instead of hanging around forever gumming up the works.

This one, like the others in its class, was developed to cause this to happen to tumor cells as an adjunct to other types of chemotherapy, but these have also turned out to be useful against senescent cells (although not all types of them). Similar to the kidney results reported in the new paper linked above, there have been reports in lung, CNS, muscle and other tissues of broadly similar enhancements (many of these summarized in this paper). So at this point you might be wondering why we dont just go ahead and put these things into the water supply already.

Theres a problem, unfortunately. It was clear from the clinical studies of the AbbVie compounds that platelet effects were dose-limiting. Cells in that pathway are sensitive to messing with these apoptosis pathways, and while you might be able to deal with that side effect in a chemotherapy situation, it doesnt exactly make for a good-for-what-ails-you drug. Navitoclax has alsorecently been shown to have profoundly bad effects on bone density and deposition, which is the exact opposite of what youd want for an aging population.

AbbVies next generation of such compounds, though, includes venetoclax, at right, also a lunker of a molecule and now approved for several types of leukemia. It still has platelet effects, but they arent nearly as disastrous as with navitoclax, thanks to deliberately lower binding to Bcl-xL. That also makes it a bit less of a mighty sword across senescent cell types for example, it appears that you need that pathway for activity against glioblastoma cells. But it has been reported to show strong protective effects against the development of Type I diabetes through the elimination of senescent cells in the islets of Langerhans. Meanwhile, other groups are looking at turning these ligands into targeted protein degraders, which (at least in some cases) seems to decrease the platelet problems and increase senolytic activity.

And before leaving the topic, it has to be noted that there are plenty of other ways to target these cells other than the Bcl pathway (although that one seems to be one of the most developed so far). What can I say? Im 59, and I doubtless have more senescent cells than I want or need, so I (and plenty of others) are interested in the idea. The whole cellular senescence pathway presumably developed as a way to avoid slipping into a tumor phenotype the more cellular divisions, the greater the chance of something going wrong along the way. Its a tradeoff, and evolution seems more than willing to shortchange older members of the species who have generally passed on their genes to all the offspring that theyre going to. But humans have other goals. We are looking at a rather rapidly aging planet, if current demographic trends hold up, and it would be extremely desirable to have that associated with less of a disease burden. Can we split the difference?

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Clearing Cellular Dead Wood | In the Pipeline - Science Magazine

I testified at the Pennsylvania House Health Committee's hearing on "Fetal Experimentation" earlier this month.

Pennsylvania has a pro-life reputation, yet the University of Pittsburgh hosts disturbing and barbaric government-sponsored experiments on aborted babies: infant scalping, exporting fetal kidneys and killing live-aborted infants by organ harvesting. Mounting evidence connects Planned Parenthood to it all.

Despite the serious questions about these experiments and Pitt's inextricable relationship with Planned Parenthood, Pitt stonewalled lawmakers with an unprepared, newly hired witness who could not answer basic questions. Perhaps Pitt could not send a qualified witness to defend these programs, because what takes place in them is indefensible.

In one study published last year, Pitt scientists described scalping 5-month-old aborted babies to stitch onto the backs of lab rats. They wrote about how they cut the scalps from the heads and backs of the babies, scraping off the "excess fat" under the baby skin before stitching it onto the rats. They even included photos of the babies' hair growing out of the scalps. Each scalp belonged to a little Pennsylvania baby whose head would grow those same hairs if he or she were not aborted for experiments with lab rats.

Pitt's explanation? "Lab mice, not lab rats," the university's witness told the committee indignantly.

In fact, the published study used both rats and mice to grow the babies' scalps. How was this paid for? With a $430,000 grant from Dr. Anthony Fauci's NIAID office at the NIH. Pitt's witness implied that government NIH grants somehow did not concern taxpayers in Pennsylvania.

Previously, I wrote about another Pitt scientist who developed a nightmarish "protocol" for harvesting the freshest, most pristine livers from 5-month-old aborted babies in order to isolate massive numbers of stem cells for experimental transplants. This technique calls for aborting late-term fetuses alive via labor induction, rushing them to a sterile laboratory, washing them and then cutting them open to harvest the liver. This Pitt scientist received $3 million from the NIH.

At the hearing, Pitt asserted, without evidence, that this experiment was done only in Italy and ended in 2013. But the Pitt scientist responsible published further research in 2019 and described obtaining the same uniquely massive, two-billion-stem-cell yield from "complete" fetal livers harvested in Pittsburghindicating the same technique he outlined was still being used in America.

Starting in 2016, Pitt received $1.4 million in NIH grants to operate a distribution "hub" for aborted fetal kidneys and other organs in NIH's GenitoUrinary Development Molecular Anatomy Project. Pitt's grant application advertises the university's unique access to a large number of high-quality aborted fetuses and that "collections can be significantly ramped up."

Pennsylvania law makes experimentation on a living fetus or failure to provide immediate medical care to a born-alive infant a third-degree felony. Sadly, fetal experimentation, including on babies delivered alive in late-term abortions, has been documented at Pitt for decades.

Astonishingly, at and after the hearing, Pitt doubled down on a demonstrably false talking point: "There is no procurement relationship for tissue with Planned Parenthood."

Pitt's fetal research projects generally obtain fetal tissue through the university's tissue bank from local abortion providers. Two years ago, sources told me Pittsburgh was one of the major hubs of the FBI's investigation into Planned Parenthood's human trafficking of aborted fetuses. Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania (PPWP) abortion providers, who were on staff at Pitt, confirmed this information. When I was undercover, they told me they supply the university's tissue bank.

What is Pitt so afraid of admitting?

Since 2005, Pitt has been a major location for Planned Parenthood's Ryan Residency and Family Planning Fellowship abortion training programs. Some of the most notorious Planned Parenthood abortion doctors came up through the program.

Dr. Jennefer Russo, VP of Planned Parenthood Orange and San Bernardino Counties, supplied the aborted fetuses to the criminal company DaVinci Bioscienceswhich admitted to illegally selling the fetal body parts and was shut down by local law enforcement. She did her abortion training fellowship at Pitt. And there are many others.

Today, Dr. Beatrice Chen, PPWP's medical director, also runs the abortion programs at Pitt. Dr. Sharon Achilles, the laboratory director at PPWP and a prominent Pitt faculty member, is on Planned Parenthood Federation of America's National Medical Committee.

Shockingly, Dr. Chen is also vice chair of the university's Institutional Review Board, which reviews and supervises all fetal research projects. This obvious conflict of interest makes the Pitt-and-Planned-Parenthood lead abortionist a supervising participant in every fetal research project, contravening federal requirements that fetal researchers be separated from clinical abortion practice.

Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania, meanwhile, is a "contracted care" site for Pitt, receiving access to medical students, medical resources, medical infrastructure, patient population and referrals at the university.

We know this much, just from public sources: first, Planned Parenthood abortionists supply fetuses to Pitt; second, Pitt uses its access to fetal tissue and organs to get major NIH grant money; third, Planned Parenthood enjoys access to people and resources at Pitt.

Needless to say, a quid pro quo over aborted fetal body parts, funded by taxpayers, would be illegal. If what we know publicly about Pitt is damning, imagine what we do not know. Public officials at every level of government must unearth the full scope of the human trafficking and experimental use of aborted infants, and stop enabling these atrocities.

David Daleiden leads The Center for Medical Progress and is responsible for the multi-year undercover video reporting that exposed the trafficking of aborted fetal body parts at Planned Parenthood and other institutions.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.

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University of Pittsburgh Won't Explain its Planned Parenthood Ties | Opinion - Newsweek

A decline in sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing among men and women in the early months of the pandemic may translate into a future surge in new cases, researchers said. A study conducted by Penn State and Quest Diagnostics reviewed more than 18 million STI test results from patients ages 14-49 from January 2019 through June 2020 and found that at-risk individuals and asymptomatic people may not have received timely testing during the pandemic, resulting in potential unknown spread.

The study, which was published May 19 in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, found that STI screening and testing for men decreased by 63% during the studied time period, and fell by 59% for women. Researchers in part pointed to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines that recommended halting STI tests except for patients exhibiting symptoms, which they said could have led to missed cases of asymptomatic infections, such as the majority of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.

"The quickest way for people to spread STIs is to not know that they have one," Casey Pinto, assistant professor of public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine and researcher at Penn State Cancer Institute said, in a statement. "The inability to detect asymptomatic cases could have negative repercussions for years to come."

US CERVICAL CANCERS FALL BUT OTHER SEX-RELATED CANCERS RISE

The data showed that despite about a 60% decrease in STI testing in early April, the positivity rate for both chlamydia and gonorrhea infections were increasing. The researchers also noted that early findings suggest people continued to be sexually active with others outside of their household despite the declines in screening and testing.

Data showed about a 60% decrease in STI testing in early April, but an increasing positivity rate for both chlamydia and gonorrhea. (iStock)

Researchers said that once testing returns to pre-pandemic levels, they expect to see a surge in new infections, which could lead to long-term health repercussions such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease or even other STIs.

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"This research highlights the importance of maintaining resources for STI management even in the midst of a pandemic," Pinto said. "Moving forward, health care providers should strike a balance between responding to emerging crises and continuing to provide routine sexual health services. In addition, STI treatment and intervention efforts should be considered when allocating resources to manage public health emergencies."

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Decreased STI testing early in pandemic could lead to surge in new cases, researchers warn - Fox News