StemCell Therapy

"The mind and the body are so intertwined," Fulop says. "If a person is dealing with the constant stresses of daily life it is likely to manifest in physical aches and pains in the body." To break it down: When the brain releases stress hormones, triggering the fight-or-flight response, heart rate and blood pressure can increase. When these two vitals go up, Fulop says the muscles will tighten.

"When muscles will stay in a contracted state and shorten, pain will eventually set in," she says. "How we treat our body through our eating habits, exercise habits, and dealing with stress will play an extremely important role in our overall health and wellness."

On top ofthat, living with chronic pain will begin to change how the body processes pain over time, Nerurkar says. "And long-standing chronic pain can have an impact on the mind-body connection." Managing these symptoms before they become chronic can increase the overall quality of life.

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A Vanderbilt team of experts in virology, genetics, structural biology, chemistry, physiology, medicine, immunology and pharmacology have together developed technology to understand and predict animal susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, the scientific name for the strain of coronavirus causing COVID-19. providing evidence that horses and camels may be at increased risk of the virus. The group has also released a publicly available tool to enable people to understand the likelihood of other animals susceptibility.

The article, Predicting susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection based on structural differences in ACE2 across species, was published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal on Oct. 5.

The investigators applied a combination of sophisticated genetic sequence alignment and structural analysis of ACE2, the receptor protein for SARS-CoV-2, to a variety of known susceptible and non-susceptible species. Through the analysis they identified five particular amino acid sites within the protein that distinguish virus susceptibility or resistance, and using these sites developed an algorithm to predict susceptibility of unknown species. The algorithm has been made public on a website where people can upload the aligned ACE2 sequence of animals with unknown susceptibility to generate a COVID-19 susceptibility score.

Jacquelyn Brown, a staff scientist at the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, initiated the project. When I first learned that COVID-19 had crossed the species barrier into cats and dogs, I became worried about other animals that might act as reservoirs for the disease or be at risk, explained Brown, an avid equestrian who practices medieval mounted archery. Since MERS infects camels, I was concerned about what would happen if my horse could get it?! Horses have massive lungs and a sensitive respiratory system, and we humans often touch their noses and mouths.

206,000 horses live on horse farms and properties in Tennessee and 3.2 million of the states 10 million farm acres are devoted to the horse industry. Brown proposed a collaborative research project on the topic to Gordon A. Cain University Professor John Wikswo, who holds appointments in physics, biomedical engineering, and molecular physiology and biophysics.

As the director of VIIBRE, an institute established to foster and enhance interdisciplinary research in the biophysical sciences, bioengineering and medicine at Vanderbilt, Wikswo immediately assembled a trans-institutional team spanning Vanderbilt schools and colleges and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. I speak each disciplines language well enough to make the necessary connections, Wikswo said. This proved to be an outstanding group brought together by their interests and skills that produced an important result in very short order.

The project gave meaning to each researcher, at a time when we all were searching for ways to contribute to fighting COVID-19, noted Wenbiao Chen.

The work could not have been achieved without the collaboration of many researchers. The multidisciplinary approach revealed how much information can be wrung from the same basic information, noted Wenbiao Chen, the papers co-corresponding author and associate professor of molecular physiology and biophysics. We found potential targets by sequence comparison but wouldnt have been able to interpret our findings without structural information. The project gave meaning to each researcher, at a time when we all were searching for ways to contribute to fighting COVID-19.

Understanding the animals we should more closely scrutinize based on their susceptibility to COVID-19 can help us protect people, pets, wildlife, livestock and our food sources, said Matthew Alexander, assistant professor of medicine. The algorithm the team developed is particular to SARS-CoV-2 because it focuses on its particular receptor binding protein ACE2, but the approach is broadly applicable to predicting susceptibility to other viruses or during future outbreaks.

There is also the opportunity to investigate if the identified five sites on ACE2 that most distinguish susceptible from non-susceptible species can be used as targets to develop drugs that inhibit these sites specifically. I hope that our results will inspire future research on both rational drug design and closer examination of at-risk species, said Meena Madhur, the papers co-corresponding author, associate professor of medicine and associate director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation at VUMC.

Of note, the work and collaboration were conducted remotely, with an analysis of publicly available data. This experimental approach of using extensive and rapidly accumulating publicly available data in new ways allowed us to efficiently answer a timely question without having to generate new datasets. The collaboration was fun and rewarding, and we were able to answer an important question that none of us could have solved alone, Alexander, the papers co-first author said. Wikswo pointed out that while the source data was public, the project required massive calculations of how different versions of the virus would bind to each animals ACE2.

Members of the collaborative project also include Distinguished Research Professor of Chemistry Jens Meiler, Clara Schoeder, co-first author and postdoctoral scholar, , Charles Duncan Smart, graduate student in molecular physiology and biophysics, Chris Moth, computational chemist in the biological sciences department, and Tony Capra, research associate professor of biological sciences.

The work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants F32HL144048-01, DK117147, UH3TR002097 and U01TR002383, U19AI117905, U01AI150739, and R01AI141661, R35GM127087, and DP2HL137166 and American Heart Association grants 20PRE35080177 and EIA34480023

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Vanderbilt researchers develop publicly available COVID-19 animal susceptibility prediction tool; suggests increased risk to horses - Vanderbilt...

Most mornings can benefit from a cup of coffee, but that doesn't mean every morning should start with a cup of coffee.

"Something that's become a big game-changer for me is starting the morning off with two large glasses of water," Bulsiewicz says. "I have not given up coffee. I will not give up coffee. I've just found that my body responds better when I reach for water first."

Think about it. To avoid waking up in the middle of the night to pee, urologist Vannita Simma-Chiang, M.D., recommends taking a final sip of water about three hours before bed. If people follow that rule, by the time they wake up, about 11 hours will have passed without any source of hydration.

"Your body needs that water to start working properly," Bulsiewicz says. "My brain, my gut, and my kidneys all seem to function better when I start with water instead of coffee."

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Cold Water Therapy & Hot Coffee: A GI Doc Shares His Morning Routine Essentials - mindbodygreen.com

Joseph Duffy PhD brings 20+ years of small molecule discovery chemistry and operations to his role as SVP Chemistry of Skyhawk Therapeutics, Elliot Ehrich MD brings 20+ years of clinical development for novel pharmaceuticals to his role as Chief Medical Officer of Skyhawk Therapeutics,and Rob Hershberg MD-PhD with 25+ years of biotech and pharma experience has joined Skyhawk's Scientific Advisory Board.

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Skyhawk Therapeutics today announced that Dr. Elliot Ehrich has joined the Company as Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Joseph Duffy has joined as Senior Vice President of Chemistry. The Company also strengthened its Scientific Advisory Board with the addition of Dr. Rob Hershberg.

"We are delighted that Joe and Elliot have come on board at Skyhawk," said Bill Haney, co-founder and CEO of Skyhawk Therapeutics. "Their combined scientific and clinical accomplishments will be invaluable in shepherding our novel RNA-targeting small molecule drug candidates successfully into the clinic. We are also excited to welcome Rob to our Scientific Advisory Board. His clinical and scientific insight and deep experience as a drug developer will be a tremendous addition to Skyhawk."

Elliot Ehrich, MD most recently served as a Venture Partner at 5AM Ventures and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Expansion Therapeutics, a 5AM Ventures portfolio company. Previously, Dr. Ehrich spent 17 years at Alkermes ultimately as Executive Vice President of R&D and CMO. At Alkermes he led the development and successful FDA registration of multiple new medicines. Dr. Ehrich has also worked in clinical pharmacology and clinical research at Merck &Co, Inc..

Dr. Ehrich received a BA in biochemistry from Princeton University and an MD from Columbia University. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in immunology and rheumatology at Stanford University Medical School followed by postdoctoral research the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

Over the past four years, Joseph Duffy PhD, served as Executive Director of Discovery Chemistry atMerckResearch Laboratories in Rahway and Kenilworth, New Jersey, where he oversaw multiple preclinical drug discovery teams. Dr. Duffy's contributions over 24 years at Merck included all phases of drug discovery, from lead identification through clinical phase candidate development. He directed successful lead optimization efforts for multiple indications, resulting in clinical candidates and Investigational New Drug (IND) applications from both internal projects and international collaborative research with biotech organizations. Dr. Duffy received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Kent State University and his Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Rob Hershberg MD-PhD began his career as an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Later, Dr. Hershberg co-founded VentiRx Pharmaceuticals and, as President and Chief Executive Officer, led the company through its transformational partnership with Celgene. Dr. Hershberg joined Celgene in 2014 to lead their efforts in Immuno-Oncology, was promoted to Chief Scientific Officer in 2016, and was subsequently Executive Vice President and Head of Business Development & Global Alliances and served as a member of the Executive Committee until the acquisition of Celgene by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2019. Rob is currently a Venture Partner on the Frazier Life Sciences team. He completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles and received his Ph.D. at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Dr Hershberg joins Skyhawk's distinguished Scientific Advisory Board which includes:

Skyhawk Therapeutics is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing therapies that use its novel SkySTARTM (Skyhawk Small molecule Therapeutics for Alternative splicing of RNA) platform to build small molecule drugs that bring breakthrough treatments to patients.

For more information visit: http://www.skyhawktx.com, https://twitter.com/Skyhawk_Tx, https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyhawk-therapeutics/

SKYHAWK MEDIA CONTACT:Anne Deconinckanne@skyhawktx.com

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Skyhawk Therapeutics Expands Leadership Team with Chief Medical Officer and Head of Chemistry, and adds to its Scientific Advisory Board - BioSpace

New Zealand, which will go into elections on October 17, will also be holding a referendum to decide whether cannabis should be legalised or not.

If New Zealanders are to vote for legalising cannabis for recreational usage, it would join the likes of countries such as Canada, Uruguay and certain states in the United States where consumption of marijuana is legal. Early poll numbers, from the latest Newshub Reid-Research poll, however, reveal that only 37.9 per cent population support the proposition.

In India, the investigations into Sushant Singh Rajputs death has thrown open a Pandoras box of drug abuse in Bollywood. The arrest of actor Rhea Chakraborty by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) over the discovery of 59 gms of curated marijuana seized, and the questioning of lead Bollywood actors such as Deepika Padukone over certain WhatsApp chats which referred to maal and hash, has brought back a much-debated topic - that of legalisation of marijuana.

Also known as Weed, Pot or Ganja, Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world.

Around 3 crore people use it in India, alone, with Delhi the third-largest cannabis consumer in the world and Mumbai, the 6th largest.

India also grows some of the most sought after varieties of weed in the world the stunning Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh is a Hippies paradise, where the hugely popular Malana weed is cultivated. Keralas Idukki Gold is renowned as one of the best strains of weed in Asia.

Ariel view of and from the mountain village of Malana, India. The place lushes with greenery in the summers, but as it is at 10000 ft, conical rooftops are made to stand the snowfalls of the winter. Its famous for its Quality Hashish, 5K

India is no stranger to marijuana, a drug that has been used for thousands of years, dating back as far as 4000 BC. The cannabis plant even finds a mention in the Vedas and is closely associated with Lord Shiva. The drink Bhang or thandai served during Holi is prepared from dried cannabis leaves and milk, with other spices added to it. Bhang is legal in the country and is sold at specific government authorised shops.

Weed also has a connection with Ayurveda, which, while connoted as a toxic substance in Ayurvedic texts, has traditionally been used in medicines. In 2018, the Centre Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences in collaboration with Gujarat Ayurved University found that cannabis leaves can be effective in alleviating pain and other symptoms in cancer patients post-chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Further, research is being conducted to develop cannabis-based drugs for the treatment of pain in illnesses such as epilepsy, anaemia and cancer by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR - IIIM) in collaboration with Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO), a startup which works with industrial hemp.

So, with such religious and historical connections to it, how can the consumption of marijuana be illegal in India?

The recreational usage of marijuana is illegal in India and is governed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Consumption of marijuana is punishable with a jail term of six months or a fine of Rs 10,000, while illegal production and cultivation can be punished with a jail term of up to 10 years.

However, marijuana was legal in India until 1984. It was in the 1960s that the United States launched an offensive against the drug and a drive to ban it. During the 1961 Convention on Narcotics Drugs, India had even opposed the classification of marijuana as a hard drug.

Bucking under pressure, the Rajiv Gandhi administration passed the NDPS Act in 1985 which criminalised cannabis in its resin and bud form, but allowed the sale of bhang at government-approved shops.

Ironically, several states in the United States have now either legalised marijuana or are considering it. In India, various NGOs and activists have been asking for its legalisation. Their argument is that the criminalisation of marijuana has pushed the drug underground and to onto the hands of criminals who make it more potent and dangerous.

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Arguments favouringlegalising marijuana also say that it could lead to fewer chances of addiction. A study conducted in 1994 by epidemiologistJohn Anthony who surveyed more than 8,000 people about their marijuana usage, discovered that the chances of getting addicted to the drug were 9 per cent. For alcohol, this figure was 15 per cent, for heroin 23 per cent and for nicotine, 32 per cent.

Legalisation will also help villagersin areas like the Parbati Valley and the upper reaches of Kullu and Manali, and Idukki in Kerala whose main source of income comes from cannabis. Currently, with marijuana being illegal, farmers are forced to sell it to drug peddlers at low prices, and have problems with the police. Those for legalising the drug argue that by making the drug legally available, farmers would benefit from a more regulated market.

However, the fact remains that cannabis, when taken recreationally still remains a drug which could have harmful effects on the consumer. While a plant, it contains the mind-altering chemical, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC), which is responsible for the intoxication that people who consume it feel.

The plant also has over 400 other chemicals. Researchers from the University of Alberta have identified potentially toxic chemicals in marijuana smoke which could have health effects. In a single puff of cannabis smoke, researchers have isolated around 110 toxic chemicals which may have carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic effects, which could affect the development of the embryo or foetus.

Research conducted in Pittsburgh has also discovered that children of frequent marijuana users have relatively less attention span than their peers. Early marijuana usage has also been linked to a loss in I.Q levels of pre-teens.

Further, The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study conducted in Dunedin, New Zealand has found that people who smoke even one joint a week are prone to developing respiratory illnesses. Occasional smokers who cut down on weed, also had reduced symptoms, while heavy smokers had a persistent cough and wheeze even after cutting down, or quitting completely. This proves that the side effects of smoking weed on heavy smokers may linger for long.

Those who are against the legalisation of weed are also worried that its usage could prove to be a gateway to other, more potent, hard drugs.

Marijuana, if used responsibly, could help those cultivating it and using it. However, with India already grappling with problems of alcoholism, excessive tobacco usage, much more research needs to be carried out to ensure that the risks do not outweigh the potential benefits.

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Hazy road to legalise marijuana: The case for it and risks involved - Yahoo Canada Shine On

Child Care of the Berkshires Inc.staff have returned to the office as of June 15.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) BerkshireCountyhas announced the addition of a Warm Line, 413-445-1136,a phone number that people can call to talk toeither a NAMI BC staff or a community trained volunteer having lived experience with mental health issues, trauma, and/or to assist individuals through a difficult time, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.NAMI Berkshire County will provide support over the phone as well as resources as available. Calls will be accepted during the day and evening until 8 p.m. Callers experiencing isolation, fear, stress can speak to someone so they will not feel as isolated and find some coping strategies that have worked for the operators staffing the phone.If operators are not available callers can leave their phone number and first name and they will be called back within 24 hours or sooner. The information is strictly confidential.

BHS Helpline.People should contact their primary care physician if theyhave concerns. Testing must be authorizedthroughthe primary care. TheBerkshire Health Systems helpline can answer many questions regarding findinga primary care, testing, or other health related issues.The Nurse Triage line has reduced its hours to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, still available seven days a week. The number remains 855-BMC-LINK, or 855-262-5465.

Northern Berkshire Adult Education has gone virtual!All classes are offered online, even the PCA class. Free to all adult learners. Brush up your skills to get your GED or to prepare to return to college from the comfort of your home. Contact Bob or AnnaMaria at 413-662-5330 or 413-662-5386.

nbCC Changes to Open Hours and Programs-The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC), in an effort to help combat the spread of COVID-19, has made the following changes to open hours and programs:

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nbCC E-Zine - Oct. 1, 2020 - News and Events in Northern Berkshire - iBerkshires.com

As you age, and as a normal response to just going through life, proteins and organelles in your body get damaged or die. If theyre not cleared out, these damaged particles accumulate in your cells and jam things up. When this happens, your cells cant divide and function normallythis can cause cell death and age-related diseases, contribute to poor tissue and/or organ function, and even become cancerous.

Enter the process called autophagy. During autophagy, the body marks damaged parts of cells, unused proteins, and other junk in the body for removal and clears them out. This is a form of cellular cleansing and, really, the true meaning of a detox. Autophagy also helps deliver nutrients to cells that need them.

Autophagy can dictate not only how well we live but perhaps how long we live, says board-certified integrative neurologist Ilene Ruhoy, M.D., Ph.D. It is a key physiological mechanism that has been conserved throughout evolution for the distinct purpose of allowing the human species to thrive. But when the autophagic mechanisms are overwhelmed or dysfunctional, cells are unable to perform optimally and disease can occur, as well as more rapid aging.

Autophagy is absolutely essential for healthy, functioning cells and if its never kicked on to its full potential, you can get sick. One of the most notable ways these dead proteins accumulate is seen in Alzheimer's disease. Because they are never cleared from the body, dead proteins travel to the brain and get stuck there, causing the characteristic plaques associated with the disease.

Think of it this way: autophagy is like the robot vacuum you have in your house. When things get messy, it kicks on, cleaning up debris and unwanted junk, leaving you with a nice clean slate and preventing a buildup that can lead to a bigger mess down the road.

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The Healthy Aging Benefits Of Autophagy & How To Activate The Cellular Process - mindbodygreen.com

Frances Jean Beebe, 78, of West Monroe, passed away Sept. 22, 2020. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at Apostolic Restoration Church in West Monroe. Interment was in Kilpatricks Serenity Gardens in West Monroe, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe.

Mrs. Adrienne Delery Day, 82, of Monroe, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe. Interment was at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe. Visitation was 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at the funeral home.

Funeral service for Marc Felts, 55, of West Monroe, will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, at First West, West Monroe. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Calhoun, under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the funeral hoe, and from noon until time of service Friday at the church. He passed away Monday, Sept. 28, 2020.

Mr. Alex John George, 88, of Monroe, passed away Sept. 21, 2020. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. 2020 at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, in Monroe. Interment was at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe.

Memorial services for Billy Ray Johnson, 69, of West Monroe, will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe. Interment will follow at Carter Cemetery. Visitation is from 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home. He passed away Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020.

A celebration of life for Steve Mitchel Netherland, 62, of Farmerville, was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, 2020, at Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe. Visitation was from 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home. He passed away Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.

Shonda Lea Carroll Parker

Shonda Lea Parker, a devoted wife, mother and author of Christian herbalist study courses, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the age of 53 after battling cancer for several years. She was with her family in Calhoun when she peacefully departed to be with her Lord Jesus Christ.

Shonda was born Oct. 17, 1966 in DeRidder. She grew up in Pitkin under the care of her parents, Shelvia Shelby and Virginia Ginny Carroll, each of whom previously died.

Shonda met her husband, Keith Parker, at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. They married in 1986 and reared seven children in Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana.

In the late 1980s, Shonda pursued an interest in integrative medicine and herbal therapies. At the time, American herbalism was mostly associated with New Age movements, but Shonda believed she could help reclaim a Christian view of herbal therapies that had been lost in the 20th Century. For more than 30 years, Shonda shared her faith-based approach to understanding Gods creation and how such knowledge could improve the treatment of the human body. She traveled for speaking engagements at midwifery conferences and wrote four books about herbal therapies, family health and food. Under her Naturally Healthy brand, Shonda developed an exhaustive course in Christian herbalism and formulated a line of herbal medicines as well. Though she focused her career on using herbal therapies to assist healthy living, Shonda encouraged reliance on medical professionals as well as the enjoyment of delicious food and drink items like Dr. Pepper.

In addition to her career as a successful author and businesswoman, Shonda devoted herself to her family and church. Whether aiding her children in their various pursuits or hosting large gatherings, Shonda was passionate about helping other people find satisfaction in their calling or meals. Many people knew Shonda as an enthusiastic hostess through her dinner parties and festal work at large gatherings.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Redeemer in West Monroe, 715 Cypress St., West Monroe, Louisiana, 71291. Pastor Steve Wilkins, of Church of the Redeemer, will officiate the service and David Alders, of Nacogdoches, Texas, will deliver the eulogy. Services can be livestreamed at redeemertwincities.org

Shondas remains were cremated and will be spread in Texas.

Shonda is survived by her beloved husband, Keith, her seven children and their spouses: Zachary and his wife, Samantha; Emily and husband, Jonathan, of Fort Worth, Texas; Eryn and husband, Braden; Eliana; Zebediah and wife, Bayley; Samuel; Simon; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Mrs. Margaret Johnson Rhone, 103, of West Monroe, were at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe, with Rev. Ted Freeland officiating. Interment was in Hasley Cemetery in West Monroe. Visitation was 9-11 a.m. Thursday.

Margaret Johnson Rhone was born on Jan. 11, 1917, in Crockett, Texas, the ninth child of Mary Eldora Harrison Johnson and James E. Johnson. She died in West Monroe, on Sept. 22, 2020, after a long illness. Mrs. Rhone married her childhood sweetheart, Robert Franklin Rhone and they made their home in West Monroe, where he was employed by Brown Paper Mill. While many of their peers were offended by the smoke and cinders from the mill, they considered it their bread and butter. They were blessed by the births of two daughters, Barbara Jean Rhone and Denna Maureen Rhone. When the daughters were aged 13 and 10, they were blessed by the birth of a son, Robert F. Rhone Jr.

Margaret and her family were charter members of Brownville Methodist Church, which later evolved into Asbury United Methodist Church. Her church family was very important to her. She was very talented and could do anything she set her mind to. Mrs. Rhone enjoyed all kinds of crafts, canning and freezing vegetables and fruits. She was always busy. She enjoyed quilting and sewing especially. She sewed all her mothers clothes without benefit of patterns and sewed for her daughters until they started working. She also sewed for a good friend, Mrs. Shirley Works Moore, sewing pretty dresses, and gowns for every season and occasion up until she was 95. Mrs. Rhone was a good cook and enjoyed preparing home-cooked meals. It was a source of pleasure for her to provide a safe haven in her home for recreation and social activity for her children and their friends. The last months of her life were difficult as she was forced to admit she couldnt do what she used to and wanted to do.

When her son entered school, she enrolled in and completed the Louisiana Practical Nursing Course, so shed be prepared for his education should she be required to do so. Luckily that was not required.

Mrs. Rhone is preceded in death by her parents; eight siblings; her husband; her son; and grandson-in-law, Mark Zachry.

Survivors include her daughters, Barbara Jean Rhone, and Denna Maureen Rhone Ballard and husband, Richard; daughter-in-law, Frances Luffey Rhone; granddaughter, Tammy Ballard Zachry; great-granddaughter, Katie Zachry Meredith and husband, Jamie and their sons, Noah, Jonah, Luke, and Levi; great-grandson, Paul Zachry and wife, Lauren and their children, Haylea and Owen.

Pallbearers were Paul Zachry, Jamie Meredith, Joey Gardunio, Alex Gardunio, Rick Ray, and Richard Ballard.

Mrs. Gayla Banks Rogers, 73, of Monroe, passed away Sept. 22, 2020. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe. Interment was in the Old Union Church Cemetery in Grayson, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe.

Timothy Corbin Sanderford

Timothy Corbin Sanderford, 62, of West Monroe, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Arrangements are under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe.

Riley Dale Sanderson, 84, of Calhoun, died on Sept. 24, 2020. Private family graveside services were held on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Calhoun, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe.

Mr. James E. Smith Sr., 80, of Bastrop, passed away Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Funeral services were at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe. Interment was at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe.

Memorial service for L.D. Smith, 77, of Monroe, was at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at Rowland Road Baptist Church. Services were under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home, Monroe. L.D. passed away, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020.

Funeral service for Jerry Lynn Taylor , 65, of Calhoun, was at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at Griffin Funeral Home, West Monroe. Interment followed at Cheniere Baptist Church Cemetery. Jerry passed away, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020.

Funeral services for Justin M. Vallery, 37, of Keller, Texas, were at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home, West Monroe. Interment was at Kilpatricks Serenity Gardens. Visitation was from noon Saturday until service time.

Mrs. Gail Wheelis, 83, of West Monroe, passed away Sept. 27, 2020. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe. Interment was in Rutledge Cemetery in West Monroe.

Mr. Dan Paul White, 64, of Monroe, passed away Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. A celebration of life service was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe. A private family interment followed at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe.

Lois Ann Whittington, 81, of Calhoun, LA, died on Sept. 27, 2020. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church in West Monroe with Dr. Marty Black officiating. Interment was at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe.

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Obituaries published on Oct. 1, 2020 | Obituaries - The Franklin Sun

Sponsored Content by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

When it comes to new therapies, patients with lung cancer face a significant global unmet medical need. Not only does lung cancer have the highest mortality rate of all cancers worldwide, its associated with significant heterogeneity with many driver mechanisms that make it complex and difficult to treat.

The driver mechanisms we have come to understand have provided important insights into new approaches for treating lung cancer, said Matt Lorenzi, PhD., Vice President, Disease Area Leader, Solid Tumor Targeted Therapy, Janssen. Through deeper knowledge about the biology of lung cancer, we are making progress in the advancement of precision medicines that target specific pathways, including patients who have developed a resistance to other therapies.

Ongoing research efforts are continuing to show promise. Targeted therapy approaches that have derived from an understanding of driver mechanisms have helped contribute to a decline in mortality from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer, as recently reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. In addition, immunotherapy-based approaches to reactivate or redirect a patients immune system for tumor targeting are standard of care or showing future promise, respectively.

For key oncogenic driver pathways, researchers are learning much more about the role that various genetic mutations and alterations play, and development efforts are focused on precisely targeting these defects. One of the most common genetic alterations in NSCLC is epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a mutation that helps cells grow and divide. While targeting EGFR has proven to be an effective treatment intervention, tumors eventually become resistant to treatment. Therefore, the role of bispecific therapies, meaning treatments that target more than one pathway, is becoming increasingly important in the treatment of lung and other types of cancer, along with new combination-based regimens.

As researchers learn more about non-small cell lung cancer specifically as it relates to how certain genetic factors can influence the severity of disease and how a patient responds to treatment the importance of genetic testing is becoming clear, as is the importance of novel modalities and combination therapies, said Lorenzi. The complexity of lung cancer highlights the importance of developing regimens that incorporate multiple mechanisms of action to target the key pathways underlying the disease. We aim for treatment to act against each persons unique cancer, as effectively and safely as possible.

While targeted therapies are among the most discussed current research avenues, other areas are proving promising as well. One uses an approach called synthetic lethality against additional genetic alterations in lung cancer, and another uses immune cell re-direction to leverage the immune system to specifically target lung cancer cells with tumor-associated antigens.

These therapeutic developments offer a promising outlook for the future of lung cancer treatment and are further complemented by exciting efforts underway through the Johnson & Johnson Lung Cancer Initiative, which are focused on unique approaches to intercept the disease at its earliest stage or to prevent it altogether.

Despite many encouraging treatment advances in lung cancer, its five-year survival rate remains among the lowest of any cancer. Improving this statistic will require the ongoing development of novel treatments, the identification of strategic collaborators, and the advancement of scientific leadership in disease prevention and interception. As an organization that has been at the forefront of the discovery and development of new cancer therapies for more than a decade, Janssen, together with the Johnson & Johnson Lung Cancer Initiative, is committed to advancing novel approaches to support efforts throughout the medical community to transform the trajectory of lung cancer.

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Addressing Unmet Medical Needs of Patients with Lung Cancer - Cancer Therapy Advisor

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Passage Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: PASG), a genetic medicines company focused on developing transformative therapies for rare, monogenic central nervous system disorders, today announced that management will participate in the virtual 2020 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa, October 12-16, 2020.

Passage Bios Chief Operating Officer, Jill M. Quigley, J.D., will deliver an overview of the company as part of the 2020 company presentations segment of the conference. Passage Bios company presentation will be available to view on-demand throughout the entirety of the conference.

Additionally, Alex Fotopoulos, Chief Technical Officer of Passage Bio, will participate in the panel discussion titled, Accelerating Biotherapeutics Development and Production for Increased Market Impact of Life Saving Therapeutics, moderated by Susan DCosta, Ph.D., Senior Director, Technical Program Design, Viral Vector Services, Thermo Fisher Scientific. The session will cover key topics such as integrated vs. modular manufacturing approaches, ensuring security of supply, proactive approaches to regulatory compliance, and ultimately, the panels vision for the future. The panel session will be available on-demand to attendees as of Monday, October 12, 2020.

Organized by the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, the Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa is a five-day virtual conference featuring more than 120 dedicated company presentations by leading public and private companies, highlighting technical and clinical achievements over the past 12 months in the areas of cell therapy, gene therapy, gene editing, tissue engineering, and broader regenerative medicine technologies. The meeting also includes over 100 panelists and featured speakers taking part in 20 in-depth sessions covering all aspects of cell and gene therapy commercialization.

Please visit http://www.meetingonthemesa.com for full information including registration. Complimentary attendance at this event is available for credentialed investors and members of the media only. Investors should contact Laura Stringham at lstringham@alliancerm.org and interested media should contact Kaitlyn Dupont at kdupont@alliancerm.org.

About Passage BioPassage Bio is a genetic medicines company focused on developing transformative therapies for rare, monogenic central nervous system disorders with limited or no approved treatment options. The company is based in Philadelphia, PA and has a research, collaboration and license agreement with the University of Pennsylvania and its Gene Therapy Program (GTP). The GTP conducts discovery and IND-enabling preclinical work and Passage Bio conducts all clinical development, regulatory strategy and commercialization activities under the agreement. The company has a development portfolio of six product candidates, with the option to license eleven more, with lead programs in GM1 gangliosidosis, frontotemporal dementia and Krabbe disease.

For further information, please contact:

Investors:Sarah McCabe and Zofia MitaStern Investor Relations, Inc.sarah.mccabe@sternir.com zofia.mita@sternir.com

Media:Gwen FisherPassage Bio215.407.1548gfisher@passagebio.com

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Passage Bio to Participate in 2020 Virtual Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa - GlobeNewswire

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Oct. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Ambry Genetics(Ambry), a leading clinical genetic testing lab, is launching its CARE for COVID Program with Western Springs School District 101 and The Green Alliance International. The Ambry Genetics Comprehensive, Assessment, Risk, and Education (CARE) for COVID Program is designed to help identify and test individuals in need of coronavirus testing. The program provides Western Springs School District 101 with the system, tools, and support needed to screen and test their faculty and other employees as they return to their offices and classrooms this fall. The Western Springs School District, located in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, serves students from kindergarten to eighth grade. The Green Alliance International will be using the CARE for COVID Program's screening and exposure questionnaire as part of their Gateway Entry Systems program. The Gateway Entry Systems program provides school systems, sports venues, and businesses across the U.S. with the tools needed to safely reopen, including disinfecting technology, wristband body temperature screening, and the CARE for COVID program's symptom and exposure digital questionnaire for remote monitoring.

The CARE for COVID program includes viral testing by RT-PCR for individuals who are exhibiting symptoms or have known exposure, with results returnedwithin 24-48hours of receipt of the sample. Ambry's RT-PCR test uses saliva collection and creates a simpler and more convenient experience than the nasopharyngeal swabs commonly used by other labs.

The CARE for COVID Program also includes:

The robust, one-stop nature of the CARE for COVID Program ensures that individuals are not missed through multiple engagement points. The CARE for COVID Program incorporates the latest guidance from federal agencies, including the CDC. Ambry worked directly with noted experts in academia, industry, and government to develop the program.

"Over the last six months or so, our team has worked tirelessly to transition our lab and the CARE Program into a comprehensive, end-to-end solution to support workforce and community testing efforts," Ambry Genetics CEO Aaron Elliott said. "We look forward to helping more businesses and schools to safely reopen."

Ambry is expanding the CARE for COVID Program to other school districts and businesses this fall. The Program can be tailored depending on the organization's needs, and employers can choose the frequency for asking individuals to complete the screening questionnaire, whether daily or less often. Ambry is contracted with health plans representing over 90% of insured individuals, making it convenient for the employers to bill insurance for the testing performed.

"With the development of our CARE for COVID program, we learned that organizations want an end-to-end solution," Ambry Genetics Chief Commercial Officer Tom Schoenherr said. "If a critical component is missing in the solution, it will not work. The CARE for COVID program includes education, evaluation, assessment, counseling, testing, post-test counseling, workplace exposure tracing, and reporting."

The Ambry CARE program is a population-health, precision-medicine tool that can address employee health and wellness across a range of medical issues. Already used to help people learn whether they are at risk for hereditary cancers including, breastand colon cancers, the program can also be adapted to help identify and manage diabetes, cardiovascular, and other diseases. To learn more about the CARE program and hereditary cancer risk, please visitambrygen.com/care.

ABOUT AMBRY GENETICS

Ambry Genetics, as part of Konica Minolta Precision Medicine, excels at translating scientific research into clinically actionable test results based upon a deep understanding of the human genome and the biology behind genetic disease. Our unparalleled track record of discoveries over 20 years, and growing database that continues to expand in collaboration with academic, corporate and pharmaceutical partners, means we are first to market with innovative products and comprehensive analysis that enable clinicians to confidently inform patient health decisions. We care about what happens to real people, their families, and the people they love, and remain dedicated to providing them and their clinicians with deeper knowledge and fresh insights, so together they can make informed, potentially life-altering healthcare decisions. For more information, please visitambrygen.com.

For more information on risk factors for hereditary cancer, please visit cancer.gov's fact sheet on hereditary cancer and genetic testing.

Press Contact:Liz Squirepress@ambrygen.com(202) 617-4662

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Konica Minolta Precision Medicine (KMPM) Company Ambry Genetics Announces Comprehensive COVID-19 Screening, Management, and Testing Program To Help...

Philadelphia, October 5, 2020Through genetic sequencing and targeted treatment, researchers from Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have resolved a severe lymphatic disorder in a young woman with kaposiform lymphangiomatosis (KLA), a complex and rare disorder that causes lymphatic vessels around the heart and lung to leak fluid, causing breathing difficulties, infections, and often death. The treatment, which the research team has used successfully in other patients with lymphatic disorders, led to a complete resolution of the patients symptoms and fully remodeled her lymphatic system within a matter of months.

The findings were recently published in EMBO Molecular Medicine.

The resolution of lung disease with lymphatic remodeling is remarkable and potentially should change how we evaluate and treat lung disease in this patient population, said first author Jessica B. Foster, MD, an attending physician in CHOPs Division of Oncology. These results offer hope to other patients with lymphatic-induced lung disease and warrant further investigation.

Brenna, the patient described in the paper, first developed symptoms related to KLA at age 6 and was diagnosed with the condition when she was 10. For nearly a decade, she was treated with a variety of therapies, including rapamycin, an immunosuppressant; prednisone, a steroid; and vincristine, a chemotherapy drug. Despite aggressive treatment, her debilitating symptoms persisted, and so her clinical team at CHOP decided to explore other therapies.

Many patients with KLA have a mutation in the NRAS gene, and the team had previously used a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor called trametinib in another patient with a severe lymphatic disorder and NRASmutation. The drug resolved his symptoms and completely remodeled his lymphatic system. Although that patient did not have KLA, the researchers felt the success of trametinib in treating his severe lymphatic symptoms, combined with Brennas rapidly deteriorating condition, warranted the request for expanded access to treat Brenna with the drug.

As Brenna began taking trametinib, a drug historically used to treat metastatic melanoma, the researchers sent samples of her lymph fluid for genetic sequencing. The researchers learned that Brenna did not harbor an NRAS mutation and instead had a mutation in a different gene: CBL, a gene that operates along the Ras pathway, the same genetic pathway implicated in other lymphatic disorders, including the one for which they had used trametinib with great success. Mutations along the Ras pathway result in an overproduction of MEK, which leads to the uncontrolled proliferation of lymphatic vessels. A MEK inhibitor like trametinib brings the production of MEK under control, putting the brakes on a system in overdrive.

Brenna was the first patient with KLA to take trametinib for a lymphatic issue, and within four weeks of starting a low dose, her symptoms improved. Her shortness of breath, coughing, and difficulty breathing while lying flat disappeared. She was able to exercise again, and during the second cycle of her therapy, she began training for a 5K race.

The relatively low dose required for dramatic improvement in this case highlights that a small amount of trametinib may be sufficient to treat lymphatic disorders, which will likely limit the side effect profile compared to the higher doses used for oncologic cases, said senior author Yoav Dori, MD, PhD, Director of the Jill and Mark Fishman Center for Lymphatic Disorders at CHOP. We are now preparing ongoing prospective studies to evaluate Ras pathway inhibition in clinical trials of large cohorts of patients.

Follow up tests have shown significant improvement in Brennas restrictive lung disease, and the fluid in her lungs has disappeared. Her overabundant lymph vessels have remodeled themselves and are now behaving normally. Now 20 years old, she continues to take a daily dose of trametinib, which has kept her symptoms at bay.

Genomic evaluation of vascular anomalies such as KLA have only just begun in recent years, said Denise Adams, MD, Director of the Comprehensive Vascular Anomalies Program (CVAP), a CHOP Frontier Program. This case study demonstrates the power of collaborative, cutting-edge research that reaches across disciplines, from genetics to oncology to cardiology, to bring breakthrough treatments to patients.

Foster et al. Kaposiform lymphangiomatosis effectively treated with MEK inhibition, EMBO Molecular Medicine, online September 7, 2020, DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012324

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About Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia: Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nations first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Childrens Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 564-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu

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CHOP Researchers Use Precision Medicine to Reverse Severe Lymphatic Disorder in a Patient with KLA - Newswise

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Editas Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq: EDIT), a leading genome editing company, today announced that management will participate in the following upcoming investor conference:

Chardan Virtual 4th Annual Genetic Medicines ConferenceFireside ChatDate: Monday, October 5, 2020Time: 10:30 a.m. ET

The event will be webcast live and may be accessed on the Editas Medicine website in the Investors and Media section. Archived recordings will be available for approximately 30 days following the event.

About Editas MedicineAs a leading genome editing company, Editas Medicine is focused on translating the power and potential of the CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas12a (also known as Cpf1) genome editing systems into a robust pipeline of treatments for people living with serious diseases around the world. Editas Medicine aims to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize transformative, durable, precision genomic medicines for a broad class of diseases. For the latest information and scientific presentations, please visit http://www.editasmedicine.com.

Investor ContactMark Mullikin(617) 401-9083mark.mullikin@editasmed.com

Media ContactCristi Barnett(617) 401-0113cristi.barnett@editasmed.com

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Editas Medicine to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conference - GlobeNewswire

Oct. 7, 2020 11:00 UTC

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Stoke Therapeutics, Inc., (Nasdaq: STOK), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new way to treat the underlying cause of genetic diseases by precisely upregulating protein expression, today announced plans to move forward with dosing of STK-001 in children and adolescents in its ongoing Phase 1/2a MONARCH study for Dravet syndrome. Following recent interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related to the partial clinical hold on higher dose levels in the MONARCH study, the FDA will allow the Company to add an additional higher dose level to the single ascending dose (SAD) portion of the study (previously Part A). A total of three dose levels will now be evaluated in this portion of the study: 10 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg. Dosing above 30 mg in this study remains on FDA partial clinical hold.

In addition, subject to FDA review, the Company is preparing to add a multiple ascending dose (MAD) portion to the MONARCH study, replacing Part B. This decision is based on new preclinical repeat-dose toxicology data, which were reviewed by the FDA as part of ongoing discussions with the Company. There were no adverse effects observed in the non-human primate (NHP) repeat dose study. The Company plans to submit a protocol amendment to the FDA, which will reflect these changes to the SAD and MAD portions of the study.

There is an urgent need for more effective medicines for people who are living with Dravet syndrome, so we are pleased to be moving ahead quickly with our plans to continue dosing children and adolescents in this important Phase 1/2a study of STK-001, said Edward M. Kaye, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Stoke Therapeutics. We appreciate the FDAs timely review of our additional data and look forward to evaluating a total of three individual dose levels in the single ascending dose portion of the study. In addition, we are encouraged by preclinical data that demonstrated the ability to safely achieve greater exposure levels with multiple doses of STK-001. Based on these data, we plan to also evaluate multiple ascending doses of up to 30 mg in this ongoing study. Our team is working diligently to submit a revised protocol to the FDA in the coming days.

In March 2020, the Company announced the FDA had placed a partial clinical hold on higher doses of STK-001 in the MONARCH study, pending additional preclinical testing to determine the safety profile of doses higher than the current no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). When intrathecal doses above the NOAEL were administered to NHPs, adverse hind limb paresis was observed. This finding is known to occur following intrathecal delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to NHPs and is not known to translate to the human experience. When extremely high dose levels were administered, acute convulsions were observed immediately following STK-001 administration. The dose levels were well above the range of corresponding human doses that would ever be administered in the clinic, and were delivered in a formulation that was at a higher concentration than would be administered in the clinic. There is no apparent correlation of these acute adverse events with the mechanism of action of STK-001.

Enrollment and dosing in MONARCH is ongoing. Preliminary safety and pharmacokinetic data are still anticipated in 2021.

About STK-001

STK-001 is an investigational new medicine for the treatment of Dravet syndrome. Stoke believes that STK-001, a proprietary antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), has the potential to be the first disease-modifying therapy to address the genetic cause of Dravet syndrome. STK-001 is designed to upregulate NaV1.1 protein expression by leveraging the non-mutant (wild-type) copy of the SCN1A gene to restore physiological NaV1.1 levels, thereby reducing both occurrence of seizures and significant non-seizure comorbidities. Stoke has generated preclinical data demonstrating proof-of-mechanism and proof-of-concept for STK-001. STK-001 has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA as a potential new treatment for Dravet syndrome.

About Phase 1/2a Clinical Study (MONARCH)

The MONARCH study is a Phase 1/2a open-label study of children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 who have an established diagnosis of Dravet syndrome and have evidence of a pathogenic genetic mutation in the SCN1A gene. The primary objectives for the study will be to assess the safety and tolerability of STK-001, as well as to characterize human pharmacokinetics. A secondary objective will be to assess the efficacy as an adjunctive antiepileptic treatment with respect to the percentage change from baseline in convulsive seizure frequency over a 12-week treatment period. Stoke also intends to measure non-seizure aspects of the disease, such as quality of life, as secondary endpoints. Stoke plans to enroll approximately 48 patients across 20 sites in the United States.

About Dravet Syndrome

Dravet syndrome is a severe and progressive genetic epilepsy characterized by frequent, prolonged and refractory seizures, beginning within the first year of life. Dravet syndrome is difficult to treat and has a poor long-term prognosis. Complications of the disease often contribute to a poor quality of life for patients and their caregivers. The effects of the disease go beyond seizures and often include intellectual disability, developmental delays, movement and balance issues, language and speech disturbances, growth defects, sleep abnormalities, chronic infections, disruptions of the autonomic nervous system and mood disorders. Compared with the general epilepsy population, people living with Dravet syndrome have a higher risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, or SUDEP. Dravet syndrome affects approximately 35,000 people in the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, and it is not concentrated in a particular geographic area or ethnic group.

About Stoke Therapeutics

Stoke Therapeutics (Nasdaq: STOK), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new way to treat the underlying causes of severe genetic diseases by precisely upregulating protein expression to restore target proteins to near normal levels. Stoke aims to develop the first precision medicine platform to target the underlying cause of a broad spectrum of genetic diseases in which the patient has one healthy copy of a gene and one mutated copy that fails to produce a protein essential to health. These diseases, in which loss of approximately 50% of normal protein expression causes disease, are called autosomal dominant haploinsufficiencies. Stoke is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/ or follow the company on Twitter at @StokeTx.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to: our expectation about the dosing, timing and execution of our Phase 1/2a MONARCH study of STK-001, including our ability to include a multiple ascending dose portion in the study and the partial clinical hold on Part B of the study; the expansion of our pipeline and the use of the TANGO platform to treat other genetic diseases; our ability to use study data to advance the development of STK-001; the ability of STK-001 to treat the underlying causes of Dravet syndrome; and the ability of TANGO to design medicines to increase protein production and the expected benefits thereof. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as aim, anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, forecast, goal, intend, may, might, plan, potential, possible, will, would, and other words and terms of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including: our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize STK-001 and future product candidates; the timing and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials; the risk that positive results in a clinical trial may not be replicated in subsequent trials or success in early stage clinical trials may not be predictive of results in later stage clinical trials; risks associated with clinical trials, including our ability to adequately manage clinical activities, unexpected concerns that may arise from additional data or analysis obtained during clinical trials, regulatory authorities may require additional information or further studies, or may fail to approve or may delay approval of our drug candidates; the occurrence of adverse safety events; failure to protect and enforce our intellectual property, and other proprietary rights; failure to successfully execute or realize the anticipated benefits of our strategic and growth initiatives; risks relating to technology failures or breaches; our dependence on collaborators and other third parties for the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of products and other aspects of our business, which are outside of our full control; risks associated with current and potential delays, work stoppages, or supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic; risks associated with current and potential future healthcare reforms; risks relating to attracting and retaining key personnel; failure to comply with legal and regulatory requirements; risks relating to access to capital and credit markets; environmental risks; risks relating to the use of social media for our business; and the other risks and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of our most recent annual or quarterly report and in other reports we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.

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Stoke Therapeutics Announces Plans to Move Forward With Dosing of STK-001 in Children and Adolescents in its Ongoing Phase 1/2a MONARCH Study for...

THE zebrafish a popular addition to many fish tanks may hold the key to curing blindness.

Scientists found the fish can regrow body parts, including retinas.

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Damage to cells in the retina, light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, is one of the most common causdes of blindness.

The fish can repair the optic nerve carrying vital information to the brain in just a week.

Zebrafish share around 70 per cent of their genes with humans.

And because their flesh is nearly transparent during development, researchers can observe their internal organs.

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HOT SPOTSCoronavirus cases soar in Manchester and 6 other parts of UK after testing glitch

TRACK & DISGRACE'50k' Brits not told to isolate after 'Excel spreadsheet file got too big'

Warning

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US research showed a reduction in a chemical in the fishs brain triggered cells into action.

Prof James Patton said: These cells then migrate to damaged retina and differentiate into whatever is needed for repair.

It is hoped one day, under the care of their doctor, patients will simply be able to grow new retinas - just like the zebrafish.

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAILexclusive@the-sun.co.uk

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Fish tank favourite zebrafish could hold the key to curing blindness in humans - The Sun

A LANDMARK will be turned yellow to mark Blindness Awareness Day in support of little Elsie Steinbach.

The two-year-old, who regularly visits the Clacton Pier with her family, was diagnosed with an underdeveloped optic nerve when just four and a half months old.

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) is a very rare condition and was formed in early pregnancy.

It means Elsie has a severe visual impairment and she has her own Facebook page to raise awareness and combat blindness with her latest fundraiser topping 10,000.

Elsie, who lives in Basildon with parents, Hayley and Zak, and the family has a caravan in Harwich.

Along with her Auntie Kerrylea Collins and her family, they go to Clacton Pier about once a month.

It was Kerrylea who contacted the pier to make a request for the lighting to be turned yellow on Thursday, October 8.

It has been very difficult for my sister and brother-in-law but along with Elsie they have done amazingly well as a family, she said.

Now they are trying hard to raise awareness and money for research.

Elsie loves the pier and feels safe there with her cousins.

"We will all be going to see it lit up yellow as this is a shade she can recognise.

Fundraising has been particularly hard this year due to Covid so the pier doing this for Elsie and us all as a family is really a lovely thing to help raise awareness.

Elsie goes to pre-school in Basildon where she is doing well with one-to-one help.

Pier director Elliot Ball said it is a pleasure to be able to support the family.

We love to hear from our customers, and they are all important to us, he added.

Little Elsie is battling to cope with her condition, and we are delighted to be able to back her by turning our lights yellow.

"They will remain that colour until October 11.

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Family raise awareness of rare condition in support of Elsie, 2 - Gazette

Electrogas director and shareholder Paul Apap Bologna was cautioned several times by the Board of Inquiry looking into journalist Daphne Caruana Galizias assassination as he told the judges he was unaware of a number of factors tied to Electrogas, some of which had been in the public domain for several months if not years.

Apap Bologna said he did not know why prime murder suspect Yorgen Fenech had resigned from Electrogas in November 2019 and that he was unaware of the reason for Azerbaijani-British national Turab Musayevs resignation in December 2019 both happened at a time when protests were being held daily in Malta following revelations of links between Caruana Galizias death and the Electrogas project.

He also said he did not know that Electrogas had gone into default, despite it being mentioned in the Auditor Generals report. Apap Bologna said that he did not read the Auditor Generals report in its entirety. The Board of Inquiry was incredulous, with Judge Abigail Lofaro warning him repeatedly that he was under oath.

How do you not know the conclusions of the report? You have a right to disagree with it, but do not tell me that you do not know! Judge Emeritus Joseph Said Pullicino said in disbelief.

You dont care, it doesnt bother you. Thats a logical conclusion, Judge Lofaro added.

Asked about whether Electrogas had confronted Fenech after the media reported that he was the owner of 17 Black, Apap Bologna said that they had asked Fenech if 17 Black was his and he did not answer.

A director is involved in a transaction and youre asking about his involvement and he isnt answering you! Said Pullicino stressed.

This is incredible, Im sorry, Judge Lofaro said.

They were media accusations, Apap Bologna said.

He also told the Board that he was not aware of the contents of a statement issued by Gasan saying that they are seeking to exit the project. He said that they had not discussed the statement.

You are business partners, you are family, and he doesnt tell you, said Lofaro, who grew increasingly frustrated throughout the sitting. Apap Bolognas wife is a member of the Gasan group.

On several occasions, the Electrogas director told the Board that he will need to check and get back on basic questions related to operations and financials.

He repeatedly denied having presented the project to the Labour Party prior to the Party winning the elections in 2013 and the energy project being one of the main electoral promises.

He told the Board that he had presented a research paper, drawn up with the help of a friend in the electricity generation sector overseas, in 2007 to the then-Nationalist administration, including to John Dalli. Yet the project did not move forward with the administration and it was eventually shelved, Apap Bologna said.

It is not the first time that Dallis name has cropped up in connection to the Electrogas project. Dalli had been one of the faces published by Caruana Galizia in her first mention of 17 Black. Dallis sister, Anna Fenech, is also a shareholder in the company.

Asked whether Fenechs company New Energy Supply Ltd, which holds 8.17% of the project over and above the other families shares was a vehicle for kickbacks, Apap Bologna replied that Fenech had requested that share as compensation for dedicating his time to the project.

Apap Bologna denied contributing money to the Labour Party prior to the election and said that the first time they presented the project to the Labour Party was following statements on the matter by disgraced former minister Konrad Mizzi in January 2013.

It was then that he spoke to Fenech about it since the Fenech family has the team, the experience with project management as well as the financial means.

Yet it was pointed out to him by the lawyers representing the Caruana Galizia family that the financials Mizzi presented were very specific and matched the proposal he had presented in previous years. The fact that the project was put together in six weeks including tech giant Siemens and Gasol was also noted.

Apap Bologna told the Board that it was Gasol that got SOCAR and Siemens on board. He did not have any qualms about the Azerbaijani interest since they were traders in oil and were introduced by Gasol, whom he trusted.

Did Apap Bologna know of Gasols financial problems? Again, no.

In a post following the sitting, former PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier retorted that it was in 2009 that Apap Bologna had approached him and that at that time research he had done on Gasol showed them to be very shady, to say the least.

Borg Olivier said Apap Bologna had mentioned a different year in a bid to distance the meeting to a time before Joseph Muscat became Leader of the Opposition.

Apap Bologna insisted that he was not aware of Fenechs relationship with former Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Muscat.

That sounds naive, but anyway, be that as it may, said Lofaro.

Apap Bologna said he got to know about the relationship between Fenech and Schembri/Muscat well after the bid.

Did you not question it? asked Comodini Cachia.

Asked what action was taken, Apap Bologna said they spoke to Fenech and after allegations started an audit, which was also encouraged by their auditors PWC.

Following the Panama Papers, Apap Bologna said they were assured by the directors that there was no wrongdoing.

The former prime minister, his chief of staff and the minister who was the face of the Electrogas project were forced to resign.

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A tale of wilful blindness - The Shift News

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: APLS), a global biopharmaceutical company and leader in targeted C3 therapies, today announced the results of a post hoc analysis of the Phase 2 FILLY study investigating intravitreal pegcetacoplan (APL-2) for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The post hoc analysis found that monthly treatment with pegcetacoplan significantly reduced the rate of progression from nascent GA to GA in areas of the retina outside of existing GA lesions. The data were presented today in a late-breaking oral session at the European Society of Retina Specialists 2020 Virtual (EURETINA).

Pegcetacoplan is the only targeted C3 therapy in Phase 3 clinical trials for GA, a complement-driven eye disease1,2 that causes blindness, affects approximately five million people globally3,4 and has no approved treatment.

Our findings from this post-hoc analysis demonstrate that intravitreal pegcetacoplan, a targeted C3 therapy, significantly lowers the rate of progression from nascent GA to GA in patients when compared to sham controls, said SriniVas Sadda, M.D., President & Chief Scientific Officer of the Doheny Eye Institute and lead investigator. This study provides exciting evidence to support further exploration of the potential of pegcetacoplan for earlier intervention in the course of GA.

The post hoc analysis, a collaboration with the Doheny Image Reading Research Lab, included FILLY patients from the monthly pegcetacoplan-treated group (n=42) and sham-treated group (n=69) who completed the Month 12 study visit and who did not develop exudative or neovascular AMD. The objective of the analysis was to investigate the effects of pegcetacoplan on complement-driven progression of AMD outside of GA lesions.

Patients with geographic atrophy experience changes in the retina that progress from the earlier stages of AMD to the beginning of atrophy and ultimately irreversible vision loss, said Federico Grossi, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Apellis. This post hoc analysis of the FILLY study demonstrates that pegcetacoplan slows early disease progression and may have the potential to delay the onset of GA and vision loss in patients.

Earlier this year, Apellis announced the completion of patient enrollment in the ongoing Phase 3 DERBY and OAKS studies investigating pegcetacoplan in patients with GA secondary to AMD. Top-line results from these pivotal trials are expected in Q3 2021.

About Pegcetacoplan (APL-2)Pegcetacoplan is an investigational, targeted C3 therapy designed to regulate excessive complement activation, which can lead to the onset and progression of many serious diseases. Pegcetacoplan is a synthetic cyclic peptide conjugated to a polyethylene glycol polymer that binds specifically to C3 and C3b. Apellis is evaluating pegcetacoplan in several clinical studies including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), geographic atrophy (GA), cold agglutinin disease (CAD), and C3 glomerulopathy (C3G). Pegcetacoplan was granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of PNH and the treatment of GA. For additional information regarding our clinical trials, visit https://apellis.com/our-science/clinical-trials.

About Geographic Atrophy (GA)GA is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness. Excessive complement activation drives irreversible lesion growth in GA5, and C3 is the only target to precisely control complement overactivation. Pegcetacoplan, studied in early and late-stage trials comprising a total of approximately 1,500 patients, is the only targeted C3 inhibitor being evaluated in late-stage trials to control lesion growth in GA.6

GA lesions affect the central portion of the retina, known as the macula, which is responsible for central vision. GA is progressive and irreversible, leading to central visual impairment and permanent loss of vision. Based on published studies, approximately one million people have GA in the United States and 5 million people have GA globally.1,2 There are currently no approved treatments for GA.

About FILLYThe FILLY study was a 246-patient, Phase 2, multicenter, randomized, single-masked, sham-controlled clinical trial evaluating pegcetacoplan in patients with GA secondary to AMD conducted at over 40 clinical sites in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Pegcetacoplan was administered as an intravitreal injection monthly or every other month (EOM) for 12 months, followed by six months of monitoring after the end of treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in GA lesion area from baseline to Month 12 in pegcetacoplan-treated patients compared to sham.

About DERBY and OAKSDERBY (621 patients enrolled) and OAKS (638 patients enrolled) are Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled studies to compare the efficacy and safety of intravitreal pegcetacoplan with sham injections in patients with GA secondary to AMD. The primary objective of the studies is to evaluate the efficacy of pegcetacoplan compared to sham injection in patients with GA secondary to AMD assessed by change in the total area of GA lesions from baseline as measured by fundus autofluorescence (FAF).

About ApellisApellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company that is committed to leveraging courageous science, creativity, and compassion to deliver life-changing therapies. Leaders in targeted C3 therapies, we aim to develop best-in-class and first-in-class therapies for a broad range of debilitating diseases that are driven by uncontrolled or excessive activation of the complement cascade, including those within hematology, ophthalmology, and nephrology. For more information, please visit http://apellis.com.

Apellis Forward-Looking StatementStatements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the implications of preliminary clinical data. The words anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will, would and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: whether the companys clinical trials will be fully enrolled and completed when anticipated; whether preliminary or interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial; whether results obtained in preclinical studies and clinical trials will be indicative of results that will be generated in future clinical trials; whether pegcetacoplan will successfully advance through the clinical trial process on a timely basis, or at all; whether the results of the companys clinical trials will warrant regulatory submissions and whether pegcetacoplan will receive approval from the FDA or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies for GA, PNH, CAD, C3G or any other indication when expected or at all; whether, if Apellis products receive approval, they will be successfully distributed and marketed; and other factors discussed in the Risk Factors section of Apellis Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2020 and the risks described in other filings that Apellis may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Apellis specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact:Mark Dolemedia@apellis.com617.997.3484

Investor Contact: Sam Martin / Maghan MeyersArgot Partnerssam@argotpartners.com / maghan@argotpartners.com212.600.1902__________________________________

1 Weber, BHF, Issa, PC, et al. The Role of the Complement System in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2014; 111(8): 1338.

2 Heesterbeek, TJ, Lechanteur YTE, et al. Complement activation levels are related to disease stage in AMD. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020;61(3):18.

3 Rudnicka AR, Jarrar Z, Wormald R, et al. Age and gender variations in age-related macular degeneration prevalence in populations of European ancestry: a meta-analysis. Ophthalmology 2012;119:571580.

4 Wong WL, Su X, Li X, et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2014;2:e106116.

5 Seddon, JM, Rosner, B. Validated prediction models for macular degeneration progression and predictors of visual acuity loss identify high-risk individuals. Am J Ophthalmol 2019;198:223261.

6 Yates, JRW, Sepp T, et al. Complement C3 Variant and the Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. N Engl J Med 2007;357.

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Apellis Announces New Analysis Demonstrating Targeted C3 Therapy Pegcetacoplan Slows Progression of Early Disease in Patients with Geographic Atrophy...

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in India

Maxivision super speciality eye hospital, Madinaguda/Chandanagar, Hyderabad.

It is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October, to focus on global blindness and vision impairment. It falls on 8 th October 2020 .it is coordinated by International Agency for prevention of blindness (IAPB) under WHO VISION 2020 , The Right to Sight , Global initiative.

This year the theme is Hope in Sight

More than 75% of visual impairment is avoidable. After Cataract, Refractions Errors and Diabetic eye disease comes Glaucoma. The blindness due to these major problems can be prevented.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in India and at least 12 million people affected and nearly 1.2 million people blind from the disease. More than 90% of glaucoma cases remain undiagnosed.

Early diagnosis and treatment of Glaucoma is the main goal to prevent blindness.

This world sight day, the main focus is on the awareness of importance for regular eye check up in people above 40 years ,

The public are requested to take note of these above points and have a complete eye examination by an ophthalmologist for early diagnosis of Glaucoma and prevent their eyes from going blind.

A slit lamp examination, applanation tonometry, visual field testing and dilated fundus examination are the key tests to be undergone periodically for prevention of blindness.

Glaucoma can be prevented if diagnosed early and further progress can be stopped by local eye drops medications, LASER treatment to the eyes or surgical interventions.

Therefore, the public are requested to take this initiative of Hope in Sight on this world sight day by IAPB and get their eyes examined for Glaucoma and other eye disease for early detection and prevention of the problem. Maxivision eye hospitals have all the latest equipment and technology for an early detection of the diseases.

An appeal to the public in this Covid times we at Maxivision super speciality eye hospital are taking all precautions for a safe eye examination or surgery to the patient and all our staff and Doctors are following the covid protocols sincerely.

BY:Dr K.UMA,Senior consultant, Glaucoma & Cataract services

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World sight day 2020(WSD) on 8th October: This year theme 'Hope in Sight ' - NewsPatrolling

Professor Mark Gillies with a patient.

Co-author and ophthalmologistProfessor Mark Gilliesfrom the University of SydneyFaculty of Medicine and HealthandSave Sight Institutesaid the findings reinforced the need for more education.

Ninety-eight percent of serious vision loss from diabetes can be prevented with regular eye examinations and early treatment, said Professor Gillies.

I encourage people to use services like KeepSight to keep on top of their appointments. Its also important they understand the kind of eye check required, as only eye checks that include dilation of the pupil with eye drops (fundus dilation) is appropriate to detect changes in the eye-related to diabetes.

Diabetes AustraliasKeepSight program, which commenced just over 12 months ago, is helping to ensure that the proportion of people with diabetes accessing eye checks increases in coming years and ultimately, every person with diabetes get the necessary eye checks and this helps prevent vision loss and blindness.

KeepSight is an online eye check reminder program easily accessed from a mobile phone.

Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said KeepSight has enrolled 100,000 people since it started last year.

Having 100,000 Australians with diabetes registered with KeepSight is an important milestone for the program but there are currently over 1.36 million Australians living with diabetes so we are encouraging every person with diabetes, and all health professionals, to register with KeepSight, said Professor Johnson.

Keep Sight provides electronic alerts and reminders to help people with diabetes remember their diabetes eye checks. When its time for a diabetes eye check you get a reminder. Its that simple. KeepSight can also help you find an optometrist if you dont know one.

The KeepSight program, which is run by Diabetes Australia in partnership with Vision 2020 Australia, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Oculo, has been co-funded by the Australian Government, Specsavers, Bayer, Novartis and Mylan. The program has widespread support from leading diabetes and eye health groups including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, Orthoptics Australia, Optometry Australia, the Australian Diabetes Society and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association.

The University of Sydney-led research is part of a series of population-based record linkage projects using the NSW 45and Up study to evaluate the uptake and long-termhealth impact of government-funded services and programs implemented to support care and reduce complications in people with diabetes.

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Living with diabetes Get your eyes checked - News - The University of Sydney