StemCell Therapy

Animal care specialists at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park were concerned when they noticed cloudiness in the left eye of Leslie, a 3-year-old female western lowland gorilla. Closer inspection confirmed the lens had changed and the left eye was shifting haphazardly, prompting Leslie to favor use of her right eye.

Given Leslies young age and developmental stage, Safari Park veterinarians organized a team of internal and external experts, including ophthalmologists and anesthesiologists at UC San Diego Health, to perform the Parks first-ever cataract surgery on a gorilla.

As veterinarians, we are experts in our species but we are not necessarily specialists in all of the different fields of medicine, said Meredith Clancy, DVM, San Diego Zoo Safari Park associate veterinarian. We rely heavily on the amazing community we have here in San Diego to help us out.

On December 10, 2019, surrounded by animal care experts and veterinarians in khaki uniforms and UC San Diego Health medical team members in scrubs, Leslie rested comfortably in the operating room at the San Diego Zoo Globals Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center. A pharmaceutical muscle blocker prevented even the slightest of movement, allowing Chris W. Heichel, M.D., cataract surgery specialist at Shiley Eye Institute at UC San Diego Health, to perform the delicate procedure.

Heichel and his team employed a specialized microscope and instruments designed for cataract surgery to successfully remove the cataract in Leslies left eye using gentle suction. Once the cloudy lens was removed, a new artificial lens was inserted, which is designed to provide Leslie with clear vision for the rest of her life.

While Heichel has performed thousands of eye surgeries on human patients, ranging in age from one day to 105 years, this was his first surgery on a gorilla.

Fortunately, the similarities between the anatomy of human and gorilla eyes are great enough to allow us to safely navigate the procedure without complication, said Heichel. The remainder of the eye appeared to be in excellent health, indicating exceptional vision potential for the rest of Leslies life.

A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens behind the colored part of the eye, known as the iris. Cataracts typically develop over time, as part of the normal aging process, but they can also be caused by trauma to the eye. Once a cataract develops, the lens becomes progressively cloudier and vision deteriorates.

Heichel, Clancy and animal caregivers suspect that Leslies cataract was a result of an injury, either from a fall while the youngster was practicing her climbing skills or from an overly rambunctious play session with other young gorillas in her troop.

As she recovers, Leslie will require both topical and oral antibiotics and steroids to prevent infection and to control postoperative inflammation, said Clancy. Leslie will be monitored closely, but she is already back with her troop in the Gorilla Forest habitat at the Safari Park.

Following successful healing, the remaining concern is the possibility of cloudiness recurring.

The eye has an envelope that holds the lens in place. It should remain clear, but sometimes after cataract surgery, the envelope will get a little cloudy, said Heichel, professor of ophthalmology in the Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology at UC San Diego School of Medicine. In a human patient, we can laser the envelope to remove the cloudiness. That might not be quite so easy for Leslie, therefore I made a little opening in the back of the envelope to maintain her clear vision in the future. I am grateful for the chance I had to work with the exceptional San Diego Zoo Global team to help have a positive impact on Leslies life.

Because of Leslies age, the Safari Parks animal care team was concerned her 31-year-old mother, Kokamo, might be upset about Leslies absence from the gorilla habitat during the procedure. They elected to anesthetize Leslie and Kokamo at the same time, and use the opportunity to perform a routine health check on Kokamo, which included dental, cardiac and overall physical assessments. The results of Kokamos exam showed that she continues to be in good health.

About San Diego Zoo Global

As an international non-profit organization, San Diego Zoo Global works to fight extinction through conservation efforts for plants and animals worldwide. With a history of leadership in species recovery and animal care, San Diego Zoo Global works with partners in science-based field programs on six continents, and maintains sanctuaries and public education facilities in many places. Inspiring passion for nature is critical to saving species, and San Diego Zoo Globals outreach efforts share the wonder of wildlife with millions of people every year. Current major conservation initiatives include: fighting wildlife trafficking and the impacts of climate change on wildlife species; broad-spectrum species and habitat protection efforts in Kenya, in Peru and on islands worldwide; preventing extinction in our own backyard; and expanding efforts to bank critical genetic resources and apply them to the conservation of critically endangered species. To learn more, visitsandiegozooglobal.orgor connect with us on Facebook.

About UC San Diego Health

UC San Diego Health, the regions only academic health system, is dedicated to delivering outstanding patient care through commitment to community, groundbreaking research and inspired teaching. For 2019-20,U.S. News & World Reportranked UC San Diego Health among the nations best in four adult medical and surgical specialties, including pulmonology, geriatrics, neurology and cardiology. The 808-bed academic health system includes UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest and Jacobs Medical Center, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion and Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, all in La Jolla, as well as primary care and same-day services at clinics throughout Southern California. For more information, visithealth.ucsd.edu.

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UC San Diego doctors come together to save eyesight of 3-year-old gorilla - University of California

Across campus, students, faculty, and staff will gather for the 25th annual Commemorative Symposium honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. from Jan. 15 through Feb. 1. Darin Toliver, associate director of the African American Resource Center, says the symposium involves a diverse group of students, faculty, and community members who take great pride in making this as big and impactful as it is. Dr. King once said, Lifes most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?This question is a vital component of the symposium, Toliver says.

The kickoff on Jan. 15 is a sold-out conversation between civil rights activist Angela Davis and feminist studies professor Gina Dent, both of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Margo Natalie Crawford, director of PennsCenter for Africana Studiesand professor of English in the School of Arts and Sciences. This keynote conversation will center on racial, economic, and gender justice. Angela Davis and Gina Dent are social justice warriors who are a part of an unbroken line of black freedom workers like Martin Luther King, Jr., Crawford says. The Center for Africana Studiesand our co-host, the Annenberg School for Communication, aredelighted that Davis and Dent areourspeakers in the 25th annual symposium honoring Kings vision and legacy.

The Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 20, begins with an 8:30 a.m. breakfast hosted by guest speaker Solomon Jones of radio station WURD.Breakout service projects include community beautification projects at several locations, childrens banner painting, audio book creation with the Penn Reads Literary Project, and a career wardrobe clothing drive. There will also be opportunities to make crafts and gifts for womens shelters, nursing homes, and other charities, including a Helping Hands at Houston Hall craft station.

Houston Hall will also host So You Want to Go to College, a workshop about admissions and financial aid for high school students, while the School of Veterinary Medicinewill have free, appointment-only vaccinations for cats and dogs. Approximately 200 appointments will be available; scheduling can be accomplished by calling 215-898-4680 between 8 and 10 a.m. The day will conclude with a candlelight vigil lead by members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. The walk will begin at 7 p.m. at Irvine Auditorium and proceed to the DuBois College House, with songs and quotes from and inspired by King interspersed along the way.

This years social activism roster encompasses an interfaith celebration, criminal records expungement, and increasing diversity in higher education. On Thursday, Jan. 23, the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Commemoration and Conversation in Social Justice will emphasize shared humanity while acknowledging individuals whose service exemplifies Kings vision. This years guest speakers will be Tony Campolo of Mount Carmel Baptist Church and theologian and social activist Ron Sider. The Criminal Record Expungement Projectfeaturing the Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity Group on Friday, Jan. 24, will review the challenges that people with criminal records face and provide opportunities to build relationships within the community.

Joshua Whitehead, an Oji-Cree, Two-Spirit storyteller and academic, and Demian DinYazhi, a Din transdisciplinary artist, will lead a Wednesday, Jan. 29, conversation on social change, hosted by the LGBT Center. Two events, both on Jan. 29 at 5:30 p.m., will discuss historic disenfranchisement. Common Ground: Dismantling Oppression Olympics will reflect on the intersection of black and LGBTQ civil rights, using such historical figures as Bayard Rustin, Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, and Pauli Murray. Communities Partnering with Colleges and Universities to Increase Diversity will highlight efforts to increase teacher diversity and include information on how community members can partner with these initiatives. Representatives from local colleges and universities who participate in the Educator Diversity Consortium will be present.

The MLK symposium will also include musical and cultural events. On Wednesday, Jan. 22, dancer and director Glory Van Scott will offer autobiographical stories about civil rights leaders and Hollywood legends. She will be at the Penn Bookstore from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will be available to sign books after the reading. The African American Resource Centerleads a Thursday, Jan. 30, discussion on activism through music, From King to Kendrick, which will open a conversation about the intersection of pop culture and philosophy. The program will open at 5:30 p.m. with food and a game of Black Jeopardy. The annual music and spoken word event, Jazz for King, will be held at the Inn at Penn from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring musician Glenn Bryan and M.C. Diane Leslie. The theme for this year is Harlem Nights; guests are encouraged to come dressed in 1920s attire.

Events are free and open to the public. Updates will be noted on a calendar or can be obtained by calling the African American Resource Centerat 215-898-0104.

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MLK symposium asks 'What are you doing for others?' - Penn: Office of University Communications

FORT MEADE, Md. -- One night while Danica Goodheart worked the overnight shift at an emergency veterinary clinic in Concord, New Hampshire, a middle-aged couple emerged from the winter cold carrying a bleeding pit bull.

As police sirens flashed outside, another man walked in, clutching a wet and injured golden retriever. Goodheart, only a year removed from graduating veterinary school at Auburn University, learned that two dogs had grappled with another dog on a frozen lake.

Police had fired at the dogs in an attempt to break up the fight and a bullet hit one of the dogs.

For more than two hours Goodheart worked on the pit bull as the distressed couple sat in the waiting room. She mended and treated the bullet wound after the projectile had torn through the dog's abdomen. She also treated the second canine for hypothermia and bite wounds.

When Goodheart approached the couple in the waiting room to tell them that their pit bull would survive, their eyes welled with tears.

"I will never forget the look on their faces," Goodheart said, adding that all the late-night effort was worth it.

Now two years later, her peers say that Capt. Goodheart takes the same determined approach as a military veterinarian -- whether treating military working dogs or conducting physical fitness and weight training.

"She will put 110 percent effort into whatever she's doing," said co-worker Capt. Chelsi Blume.

A fitness junkie since her teen years, Goodheart has continued to train and keep in peak shape. She spends up to 25 hours a week in the gym.

FITNESS FOLLOWING

Her efforts paid dividends last August in her first bodybuilding competition at the Jay Cutler Classic in Richmond, Virginia. There the 29-year-old Goodheart placed first, winning the overall figure championship for women. Goodheart had only trained for four months as a bodybuilder, hiring strength coach Nic Wightman shortly after arriving at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

"I had a really good coach and a good trainer and people that supported me throughout it," she said.

It also helped that she had been in great shape prior to beginning the training. She had been an athlete most of her life, competing in Division I track at the University of New Hampshire. She had powerlifted and took part in CrossFit for four years while attending veterinary school.

Blume also has shared her emergence in the sport through social media, amassing more than 42,000 followers for her Instagram handle, "dr.danimal_111."

In addition, she has built meal plans for fellow Soldiers and friends to help them get in shape.

"She's a very caring, kind person," Blume said.

As a veterinary field services officer assigned to the 248th Medical Veterinarian Medical Detachment, at Fort Bragg, she and her seven-person staff are charged with the medical care of military working dogs that provide security services for U.S. forces in the detection of drugs and explosives.

Goodheart, a New Hampshire native, had always planned on joining the Army. But after graduation from veterinary school, she wanted to test herself in critical situations before commissioning and took the job as an emergency room veterinarian. Goodheart said it takes resiliency to meet the demands of the position, which requires veterinarians to constantly train and prepare for a variety of duties, including providing preventive medicine, outpatient care and disease control for pets at military installations. In addition to providing emergency care for military working dogs and other animals, members of the Army's veterinary Corps must prepare for deployments. They also monitor and inspect conditions of food served at Army dining facilities and could provide veterinary expertise during natural disasters and emergencies.

Even before joining the military, Goodheart had understood how to work under duress, having already dealt with the pressures of working in the ER. There she tended to injured dogs and cats and even injured animals found by roadsides.

This April, Goodheart will take part in Defender 2020 a multi-national joint military exercise that will test the Army's ability to project its capabilities from the U.S. to Europe.

Even though she won't be able to compete in this year's Cutler Classic due to mission requirements, she still continues bodybuilding training.

Even when she doesn't compete, Goodheart continues to dedicate her time to the gym, doing deadlifts, powerlifts and other exercises.

"A lot of discipline and hard work," said Blume. "(Bodybuilding) is something that she enjoys doing, but sometimes it's sacrifice giving up some of the fun and more enjoyable things, to be able to do something like that."

A 'GOOD' HEART

Goodheart had grown up on a 100-acre farm, nestled on the eastern shore of New Hampshire's Lakes Region in the small town of Meredith. There, blanketed by the New England countryside, she cultivated her love of animals. She rode a horse that she named Kodiak and competed in barrel racing while her parents bred mountain dogs.

"I was always around animals," Goodheart said. "My mother has a very strong passion for animals and instilled that in us girls."

While attending high school, Goodheart learned of the importance of military working dogs, who often must go into harm's way when searching for explosive devices. That helped spur her toward a career as an Army veterinary doctor.

In the Granite State she also participated in athletics -- gymnastics and track -- a passion that eventually evolved into weight training and powerlifting. Growing up on a farm, where her family grew fruits, vegetables and grains, also instilled a work ethic that Goodheart said she carries with her to this day.

Goodheart approaches each challenge the same way, whether building muscle in the gym or tending to an injured canine in the field.

"She's very hardworking, motivated and self-driven," Blume said

Read the original here:
Mentally and physically strong: Work ethic carries Army veterinarian - United States Army

Horses have been some of Cassidy Sabrals greatest teachers.

Cowboy, an aging breeding stock paint horse, showed her themeaning of true loyalty, waiting at the fence for her every morning andafternoon. With his devotion and eagerness to please, he taught his young teenpupil responsibility and compassion for a creature that was entirely dependenton her.

Remi, her next horse, was a thoroughbred, and through him, thefreshman animal science major learned the patience and skill required for horsetraining. Ember, her current partner in the extreme sport of rodeo, givesSabral her all with a big heart and deep trust, even as the horse struggleswith an incurable genetic muscle diseaseand together they have gone on to winnumerous awards.

[Horses] have inspired me to never give up when things getrough, Sabral said.

Under normal circumstances, Sabrals dream to become a large-animal veterinarian would likely be out of reachfinancially. But thanks to her equine-encouraged persistence and the support of one inspired donor wishing to pay it forward, that dream is on track to becoming reality.

Sabral is a 201920 recipient of the Universitysprestigious Bell Family Presidential Scholarship for students in agricultureand animal sciences. Established in 2013 by Oregon-based philanthropist Dan Giustinaand expanded this year, the scholarship now supports five high-achievingstudents annually with full tuition and fees.

Without the scholarship, I wouldnt have been able to afford college, at least with my horse, said Sabral, who competes in rodeos around the state with Ember. The scholarship has allowed me to go to college as well as continue doing what Im doing outside of school.

Raised by a single mother and her grandmother, Sabral grewup learning how to care for animals from a young age. Since she can remember,her grandmother has been active in Butte Wildlife Rehabilitation and broughthome to their small farm in Chico a variety of animals in need: dogs, cats,squirrels, raccoons, sheep, pigs, rabbits, opossums, owls, and other birds.Sabral has raised several lambs by bottle, worked on her neighbors ranchlearning basic veterinary skills, and is currently raising a steer for herfinal year of 4-H to show and sell at the Silver Dollar Fair this spring.

An active board member of the Paradise HorsemansAssociation, Sabral has worked with horses since she was 14, training them forrodeo events and barrel racinganother passion she inherited from hergrandmother. Earlier this year, she and Ember qualified for one of 10sponsorships in the California Gymkhana Associations state finals, where theycaptured first place in her favorite event, pole bending. Every dollar Sabralmakes from farm jobs and competitions goes toward caring for Ember, who has agenetic disease that causes her muscles to cramp and break down.

Finances have always been very tight for the family. Hermother and grandmother both work, but income is limited. She is also the firstin her immediate family to attend college. Because her parents had no experiencewith the application process, she turned to her grandmother, who recentlyhelped her cousin successfully apply to Butte College.

Together, they also looked for scholarship opportunities,hoping that Sabrals academic strengths in high school and her extracurricularactivities would make her an appealing candidate for support.

Earning the Bell Family Presidential Scholarship was truly adream come true.

I was really, really happy, she said. The scholarship,when I found out about itnot having to worry about paying for my tuitionwasjust amazing.

The freedom she describes is exactly what motivated Giustinato establish the scholarship endowment in honor of his lifelong friends andmentors, Tom and Dorothy Bell, and Toms sisters, Claudine Bell and Helen Head.The Bells ranched thousands of acres in Oregon and California and were deeplyinfluential in the development of Chico and the North State. They also had deepconnections with Chico State, with many family members attending school here.

The Bells had no children to carry on their lineage, soafter their deaths, Giustina established a scholarship program within theCollege of Agriculture so that their legacy would live on.

Being able to see these folks growits a wonderful feelingand something we believe in, Giustina said. I learned from Tom some of thefundamentals that were important to me in life. Its been my want to pass thosethings along to students and others in agriculture.

Tom Bell believed strongly in education, sustainability, honesty, and the importance of hard work, Giustina said.

The students in our program have those attributes, hesaid. They can come to Chico State and learn and grow as people and dont haveto worry about where their next meal is coming from. Thats so meaningful. The onlything we ask is that they carry that forward. Thats what I learned from Tomand from my father.

Initially funding the endowment for $2 million, this year, Giustina gifted an additional $1 million to ensure the legacy of his mentor and friends would live on in the lives of the students impacted by the scholarship. Bell Family Presidential Scholars are selected based on academic achievement, commitment to agriculture, leadership, and civic engagement. Recipients are awarded full tuition for four years.

Sabral actually learned of the Bell familys legacy yearsbefore receiving their namesake scholarship. Her neighbors, Dean and ElsieHightower, knew the Bells and told her stories of how the sisters took care ofone another throughout their lives, and of the familys impact on agricultureand education in the area.

Last fall, she dove straight into her major, enrolling in classes including Introduction to Animal Science and Veterinary Practices. After earning straight As in her first semester, shes excited to dig deeper into her studies this spring and continue to grow her knowledge.

I wish to represent their determination tosucceed and prosper and their dedication to helping the greater community, shesaid.

Sabral also wants to pave the way for her younger sister, Courtney,who has her own dream of becoming a nurse one day.

I want to create the opportunity to provide a better lifefor my family, she wrote in her scholarship application letter. I want toprove that college is an option for [Courtney], as well. I also want to setup a bright future for my future children.

Her long-term goal is to attend the University of California,Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to train in large animal or equinemedicine. Shes researched the entrance requirements and knows exactly what itwill take to make her dream a reality.

I really want to be a veterinarian, and [CSU, Chico is] teaching me more about the things Im really interested in, she said. It doesnt feel like busy workeverything feels meaningful.

Related

Excerpt from:
The Power of Perseverance and a Gift - CSU Chico News

At least 40 victims of the Ukrainian plane crash in Tehran were students or researchers active in Canadian universities or research communities.

Most were students returning to Canada after spending winter break in Iran, according to University Affairs (UA) of Canada. Dozens of students, professors and researchers from at least 18 universities across the country have been identified among the victims, the UA news service reported. Among the 176 killed in the crash, 140 were traveling to Canada, with a stopover in Kyiv, Ukraine. Sixty-three were Canadian citizens.

"We have learned, with profound sorrow, that several U of T students were among the 176 people killed in the crash," University of Toronto President Meric Gertler wrote. "On behalf of the entire University of Toronto community, I want to say how deeply saddened we are, and how concerned we are for the families and friends of those who lost their lives."

Newlyweds Arash Pourzarabi and Pouneh Gorji were masters students in computer science at the University of Alberta.

The university also lost Mojgan Daneshmand, a Canada Research Chair in radio frequency microsystems, who was returning to Canada with her husband, Pedram Mousavi, a professor of mechanical engineering. The couple's two daughters were also killed in the crash.

University of Alberta President David H. Turpin wrote, "Words simply cannot express the loss I know we all are feeling. On behalf of the University of Alberta, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and loved ones of the victims of this tragedy."

"Ours is a closely interconnected community, and we grieve with everyone touched by this terrible loss friends, classmates, roommates, professors, students, mentors and colleagues," Turpin added.

In some cases, the victims included family members such as Dalhousie University engineering student Masoumeh Ghavi and her younger sister Mandieh Ghavi. The younger sister was an incoming student at the Nova Scotia school, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Among those killed in the crash were undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in fields including electrical engineering, computer systems technology, human and veterinary medicine, geography, finance, business, environment, geomatics, marketing and consumer studies, molecular geneticsand human resources.

"The Science Students' Association is deeply saddened by the loss of our peers in the tragic plane crash in Iran," tweeted @SSA_AES. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those affected. Our thoughts are with you as we face this very sad time."

The educational institutions impacted were the University of Toronto, University of Alberta, Carleton University, Dalhousie University, University of Guelph, McMaster University, University of Manitoba, Ontario Tech University, University of Ottawa, University of Quebec, Queen's University, Ryerson University, Saint Mary's University, University of Victoria, University of Waterloo, Western University, University of Windsor and York University.

"This is not right," London, Ontario, Mayor Ed Holder told the Western News, his voice breaking with emotion. "We should not be here this afternoon grieving the loss of these four young people. We should be celebrating their return home. Its not right."

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Canada's Universities Mourn Their Students in Tehran Plane Crash - Voice of America

You can't predict how dogs will react to a new dog. Shutterstock

Allowing dogs to greet nose-to-nose for their first introduction can prove to be dangerous for one of the pets or even their owners, Zacharias told Insider.

"It takes only a second for a bite to the face to occur if one of the dogs decides they are not a fan of the other, and even those of us with the best reflexes cannot stop this blink-of-an-eye injury from happening," she said.

You can prevent dangerous confrontations from happening by first asking the other pet owner from afar if their dog is good with other animals.

"If the owner gives their OK, guide your pet to the new dog's tail end to let them get to know each other before meeting face to face. This is a natural way for dogs to meet, rather than going nose to nose, which can be offensive to pets," said Zacharias.

If your pet is meeting someone new and you see their ears go back or their fur stand on end, you and your animal should calmly move away from the new dog.

The rest is here:
Vets reveal the 10 common mistakes people make with their pets - INSIDER

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In almost every school program, every teacher is teaching STEM in one way or another. Not just because its a hot topic or because of the down-the-road career opportunities for students; educators mix science, technology, engineering and math with just about everything because of its clear value to learning itself. Many even sneak the artsy A in there and call it STEAM.

The problem is, too many are teaching it wrong.

In particular, educators tend to show STEM to students. Or, even worse, show STEM outcomes. They demonstrate products like robots and rovers and drones, showing and telling their way through. But flying a drone in class, or even letting students do it, is not teaching STEM, its an in-class field trip. Its no more teaching STEM than a trip to a zoo teaches veterinary medicine.

Teachers tend to show and tell STEM because too many think theyre unqualified to teach the mechanics of engineering or the hard edges of technology. They think teaching is a soft skill, and even if they know theyre capable of teaching STEM subjects, too many educators feel they lack the time to learn a complicated, rapidly evolving new thing.

I train teachers every day, and they have told me this more times than I can count.

We need to dispel the belief that you need technology or a background in medicine or engineering to teach STEM. Especially in the early grades, its a stand-in for foundational skills such as logic, sequencing and creative problem solving. It is about trial and error doing things and watching them not work. Nearly all of us remember from our earliest science classes that controlled trial and error is the essence of the scientific method. This is how we learn.

The point is that teaching STEM is supposed to be dirty, messy, playful and filled with failures. Failure is how you know youre doing it right. Teaching STEM (and STEAM) is a mindset, not a specific tool or skill set honed from a specialized graduate education or an undergraduate degree in mathematics or biology. Any teacher can do it, and do it very well, without being an expert.

Letting students figure, reason and fail is a vital part of the education process and something teachers should show and encourage. Let them get their hands dirty and learn by touching and tinkering. STEM and STEAM are creation sciences, not textbooks, so dont ask students to pilot a drone, challenge them to build one. Did they learn something when it crashed? If they did, they deserve an A.

Rewarding failure may seem like an odd thing for a teacher. And it may feel like a leap of faith to jump into STEM teaching if its not your passion or your background. But its not as hard as you think. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to teach rocket science.

You can tinker and innovate; model the science and engineering behavior you want to see in your students. Be curious, be creative. Ask questions. Find help. There are lots of amazing resources and partners in and around our learning spaces that map out the discovery process and can help teachers find and leverage activities, lessons and projects that inspire students to do STEM.

You just need to be the guide.

Hilary Aylesworth is vice president of product for SAM Labs. She has a Ph.D. in educational neuroscience from Columbia University and has taught in the U.S. and U.K.

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Aylesworth: We're teaching STEM wrong but any teacher can do it right. It's about trial and error, doing things & watching them not work - LA...

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Technavio has been monitoring the global head and neck cancer diagnostics market since 2015 and the market is poised to grow by USD 3.41 billion during 2020-2024 at a CAGR of almost 12% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages

Read the 161-page research report with TOC on "Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Market Analysis Report by Geography (Asia, Europe, North America, and ROW), by Diagnostic Methods (Biopsy and blood tests, Imaging, Endoscopy, and Dental diagnostics), and Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024".

https://www.technavio.com/report/head-and-neck-cancer-diagnostics-market-industry-analysis

The increasing number of cancer-related initiatives and rising popularity of immunotherapy in head and neck cancer treatment are anticipated to boost the growth of the market.

Many private and government organizations are undertaking several initiatives to prevent and control cancer by promoting cancer awareness, cancer treatment, and early cancer diagnosis. For instance, the American Cancer Society, established in 1913, has introduced global health programs and global cancer-control initiatives to facilitate early diagnosis of cancers such as head and neck cancer to save lives and minimize suffering. This is driving the demand for head and neck cancer diagnostic equipment such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging scanners, and emission tomography. Thus, the increasing number of cancer-awareness initiatives are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.

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Major Five Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Market Companies:

Accuray Inc.

Accuray Inc. is headquartered in the US and operates the business under the Oncology systems group segment. The company offers Radixact, which is an intensity modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) system. The company also offers TomoTherapy with an integrated 3D image guidance and unique binary MLC.

Apteryx Imaging Inc.

Apteryx Imaging Inc. is headquartered in Canada and offers products through the following business units: Hardware and Software. The company offers VELscope Vx System, which is a powerful device for enhanced visualization of mucosal abnormalities.

Canon Inc.

Canon Inc. is headquartered in Japan and operates under various business segments, namely Office Business Unit, Imaging System Business Unit, Industry and Others Business Unit, and Medical System Business Unit. The company offers an MR system, Vantage Titan 1.5T.

General Electric Co.

General Electric Co. is headquartered in the US and offers products through the following business segments: Aviation, Power, Oil and gas, Healthcare, Renewable energy, Transportation, Lighting, and Capital. The company offers SIGNA Pioneer - 70cm, Discovery MR750w GEM - 70cm, SIGNA PET/MR with QuantWorks, and others.

KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG

KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG is headquartered in Germany and offers products through the following business segments: Human Medicine, Industrial, and Veterinary Medicine. The company offers C-MAC FIVE S and C-MAC S USB.

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Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Diagnostic Methods Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020-2024)

Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020-2024)

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Fallopian Tube Cancer Therapeutics Market Global Fallopian Tube Cancer Therapeutics Market by product (targeted therapy and chemotherapy) and geography (Asia, Europe, North America, and ROW).

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Global Head and Neck Cancer Diagnostics Market 2020-2024 | Evolving Opportunities With Accuray Inc. and Canon Inc. | Technavio - Business Wire

Periodontal disease in pets is entirely preventable yet usually untreated, affecting most cats and dogs by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental College.

Why should a pet owner care? A broken tooth can put your pet in pain.

Pet owners need to be on the lookout for tooth decay because there are few signs of gum disease, which can cause multiple problems in a pet's mouth and spread to internal organs, said Diane Delmain, feline assistant clinical professor community practice at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Warning signs

A broken tooth is incredibly common in dogs and cats, Delmain said. Teeth are tools for cats and dogs. Dogs can fracture a tooth in play biting chew toys, bones, rocks or other hard objects, Delmain said. Cats often break fang teeth when slipping while jumping on and off of things, she said.

"The problem is that animals don't always tell us they're in pain. They're tough," Delmain said.

The most obvious sign of a tooth problem is bad breath, Delmain said. It could be a sign of periodontal or other oral disease. Brown or discolored teeth and bleeding gums are also dental-health warning signs.

At the vet

Pets' teeth are hard bone shells around a core of nerves and blood vessels, just like human teeth, Delmain said. If an infection is left untreated it can lead to an abcess forming, she said.

A fractured tooth can be sealed if it's shallow, but if the fracture reaches the tooth's pulp it needs to be removed, Delmain said. A broken tooth requires a visit to the veterinarian, who can assess the situation.

While human dentistry is about saving a tooth, pet dentistry is about the comfort of the tooth, Delmain said. If a veterinarian has to remove a pet's tooth, the animal can do really well afterward.

"A nicely healed area of gum is nothing to worry about," she said.

Because two-thirds of a tooth is under the gum line, dentistry with anesthesia is necessary to get rid of plaque and tartar, for teeth cleaning and X-rays, Delmain said. Without it, dental care can be scary for a dog or a cat.

Brushing at home

Regular dental checkups by a veterinarian should be augmented by brushing at home, Delmain said. Be sure to use products approved for pets.

Just like learning a new skill, getting a pet used to toothbrushing may take time. Start by letting your pet sniff the toothbrush and paste and try to work your way up to about 30 seconds of brushing on both sides.

Pet owners concerned about their pet's oral health can look for products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, which have undergone research and testing to back up claims for home dental care, Delmain said. Look for a square label the says "VOHC Accepted" on products that help control tartar and plaque build-up.

More here:
Signs of tooth problems in pets - Galesburg Register-Mail

NEW YORK, Jan. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tacitus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company, has launched in collaboration with the Mount Sinai Health System to develop stem cell therapies initially targeting blood cancers and related clotting disorders. Their first therapy, HSC100, currently is being investigated in a Phase I clinical trial1.

Tacitus is building upon technology developed by and exclusively licensed from Mount Sinai. Based on research by scientific co-founders Ronald Hoffman, M.D., and Camelia Iancu-Rubin, Ph.D., the technology includes proprietary cell expansion, differentiation and engineering methods. Together, these methods manufacture healthy cells that overcome the limitations of traditional allogeneic, or donor, cell transplantations.

Blood cancers comprise about 10% of new cancer cases in the U.S. each year, and almost 60,000 people die from blood cancer complications annually. Most blood cancers start in the bone marrow, where blood is produced. A common therapy for such blood cancers is a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) treatment or, as more commonly referred to, bone marrow transplantation. In this process, doctors infuse healthy HSCs into the patient's bloodstream, where they migrate to the bone marrow to grow or engraft.

HSCs for this process can be collected from bone marrow, circulating blood, or umbilical cord blood (CB) of healthy donors. While HSC transplants are common, significant barriers to success exist, including high levels of graft-versus-host disease, low numbers of healthy cells obtained from CB, and increased risk of bleeding due to delayed megakaryocyte, or platelet, engraftment.

Hoffman and Iancu-Rubin are pioneers of bone marrow cell therapy treatments, and development of this technology was enabled by the New York State Stem Cell Science program, NYSTEM. As a New York State Department of Health initiative, NYSTEM awarded a $1 million grant to Hoffman in 2010 that supported the original research underpinning this platform technology. In 2015, NYSTEM awarded Hoffman and Iancu-Rubin an $8 million grant to translate the technology from the laboratory into the clinic, where it is currently in clinical trial1.

Hoffman also serves as Director of the Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Program and Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) and Iancu-Rubin is Associate Professor of Pathology at the Icahn School of Medicine and Director of the Cellular Therapy Laboratory at Mount Sinai Hospital.

"Promising discoveries by Mount Sinai scientific thought leaders may lead to new, essential cell-based therapies that will broadly benefit patients," said Erik Lium, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Innovation Officer, Mount Sinai Innovation Partners. "We're pleased to be collaborating with Tacitus to launch the next stage of development for these technologies."

"Tacitus is committed in its mission to advance next-generation cell therapies with curative potential," said Carter Cliff, CEO of Tacitus. "Based on our founders' solid foundation of research, we are translating these discoveries into broad clinical practice as we look to dramatically improve the standard of care for patients with life-threatening conditions."

About HSC100

HSC100 is an investigational therapy based on allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) expanded from umbilical cord blood. HSC100 is being investigated currently in an open-label Phase I clinical trial1 in the United States for treatment of hematological malignancies. The success of unmanipulated cord blood as a source of stem cells has been hampered by the small number of stem cells present in a single cord, leading to delayed engraftment and frequent graft failure. Our proprietary technology includes the use of an epigenetic modifier, valproic acid, to expand the number and the quality of HSCs found in cord blood collections. For more information on HSC100 clinical trials, please visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

1ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03885947.

About Tacitus Therapeutics

Tacitus Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing advanced medicines for treatment of blood cancers, immune disorders and other intractable disease conditions. Our mission is to pioneer best-in-class therapies using proprietary cell expansion, differentiation and engineering platform technologies that overcome the limitations of traditional cell transplantation. Initial targets include a lead clinical program (HSC100) investigating the treatment of blood cancers, followed by preclinical programs to address clotting disorders and other serious unmet medical needs. For additional information, please visit http://www.tacitustherapeutics.com.

About Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest integrated delivery system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai's vision is to produce the safest care, the highest quality, the highest satisfaction, the best access and the best value of any health system in the nation. The Health System includes approximately 7,480 primary and specialty care physicians; 11 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 410 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. The Icahn School of Medicine is one of three medical schools that have earned distinction by multiple indicators: ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Medical Schools", aligned with a U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" Hospital, No. 12 in the nation for National Institutes of Health funding, and among the top 10 most innovative research institutions as ranked by the journal Nature in its Nature Innovation Index. This reflects a special level of excellence in education, clinical practice, and research. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of top U.S. hospitals; it is one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Gynecology, Nephrology, Neurology/Neurosurgery, and Orthopedics in the 2019-2020 "Best Hospitals" issue. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital also is ranked nationally in five out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 12th nationally for Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai West are ranked 23rd nationally for Nephrology and 25th for Diabetes/Endocrinology, and Mount Sinai South Nassau is ranked 35th nationally for Urology. Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's, Mount Sinai West, and Mount Sinai South Nassau are ranked regionally. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (MSIP)

MSIP is responsible for driving the real-world application and commercialization of Mount Sinai discoveries and inventions and the development of research partnerships with industry. Our aim is to translate discoveries and inventions into health care products and services that benefit patients and society. MSIP is accountable for the full spectrum of commercialization activities required to bring Mount Sinai inventions to life. These activities include evaluating, patenting, marketing and licensing new technologies building research, collaborations and partnerships with commercial and nonprofit entities, material transfer and confidentiality, coaching innovators to advance commercially relevant translational discoveries, and actively fostering an ecosystem of entrepreneurship within the Mount Sinai research and health system communities. For more information, please visit http://www.ip.mountsinai.orgor find MSIP onLinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook,Medium, and YouTube.

Media Contacts:

Mount Sinai Cynthia Cleto Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (646) 605-7359 cynthia.cleto@mmsm.edu

Tacitus TherapeuticsJoleen RauRau Communications(608) 209-0792232130@email4pr.com

SOURCE Tacitus Therapeutics

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Tacitus Therapeutics Launches in Collaboration with Mount Sinai to Develop Stem Cell Therapies for Life-Threatening Diseases - PRNewswire

LEUKOTAC (inolimomab) is available again in France, following the granting of cohort ATU for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease, corticosteroid-resistant or corticosteroid-dependent, with grade II-IV

Lyon, FRANCE, January 9, 2020, ElsaLys Biotech announced today that the cATU has been granted by the ANSM and its clinical experts, after evaluation of a dossier containing data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the drug based on its administration in several hundred patients included in clinical trials or treatedvia named patient Temporary Authorization for Use (ATU nominative) until November 2015. This authorization includes the implementation of a reinforced monitoring (defined in the Protocol for Therapeutic Use) of the efficacy and safety data obtained in patients treated within the framework of this cATU. Inolimomab treatment can only be considered if the patient cannot be included in an ongoing clinical trial.

"We have data that support the benefit of inolimomab treatment in patients with acute corticosteroid-resistant or corticosteroid-dependent graft-versus-host disease (Grades II-IV in Glucksberg classification)," said Dr. David LIENS, Chief Medical Officer, ElsaLys Biotech. "We are delighted with this decision by the ANSM, which allows us to, once again, make inolimomab (1 mg/mL, solution for infusion) available to hematologists in the therapeutic emergency which is this pathology".

"While we continue to work on the filing of marketing authorization applications (MAA) in Europe and in the US, this ATU demonstrates the therapeutic value of inolimomab in the management of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD). The ATU program in France allows patients, whose survival is at stake, to have access to a therapeutic solution before marketing in Europe, in close collaboration with the competent authority, the ANSM. The implementation of this cATU is effective immediately" said Dr. Christine GUILLEN, CEO and co-founder of ElsaLys Biotech.

Considering the potential emergency situation of the indication, it is recommended that hematology specialists anticipate the administrative procedures by contacting the ATU Cell (by Tel: 0800 08 90 81 - Fax: 01 56 59 05 60 or by e-mail: atu-leukotac@pharma-blue.com) which is at their disposal for any further information or request for a Protocol for Therapeutic Use and collection of information.

About inolimomab (LEUKOTAC)

Inolimomab (LEUKOTAC) is an immunotherapy monoclonal antibody that targets the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2), a chemical molecule named cytokine that contributes to the development and proliferation of some white blood cells including T-cells responsible for aGvHD. By linking specifically to the a chain of the receptor (CD25), inolimomab prevents IL-2 from binding on the surface of the donors over-active T-cells which blocks their multiplication.

The efficacy of inolimomab in aGvHD lies mainly in its specificity and its preferential affinity to the CD25 receptor found on the surface of T-lymphocytes.

About steroid-resistant aGvHD

Formerly called bone marrow transplant, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is the last therapeutic option for patients with certain blood cancers or severe immunodeficiency. In practice, the treatment is designed to replace the diseased blood cells of the patient with the hematopoietic stem cells of a matching donor (allograft).

Once grafted, these stem cells will produce new healthy and functional blood cells, including white blood cells that will allow patients to bridge their immune deficiency or to eliminate surviving cancer cells.

If this technique has made considerable progress in 60 years, half of transplant recipients are still victims of complications: side effects of conditioning pretreatment (that aims to prevent transplant rejection), long-term susceptibility to infections and GvHD. In the latter case, the donors over-active T-cells turn against the patients tissues: mucous membranes, skin, gastro-intestinal tract, liver and lungs. The acute form appears just after the transplant, the chronic form occurring several months later (preceded or not by an aGvHD).

Affecting between 30 to 55% of patients, GvHD is the main complication of transplantation. To halt this autoimmune disease, physicians combine corticosteroids with other immunosuppressive agents. The fact remains that some 30 to 50% of aGvHD gradually become resistant or dependant to these first-line treatments. To date clinicians do not have any standard of treatment approved in Europe for these patients for whom there is a strong unmet medical need. Thus, in Europe, 4,000 children and adults die each year from their aGvHD.

About ELSALYS BIOTECH

ELSALYS BIOTECH is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company which designs and develops a new generation of therapeutic antibodies targeting tumors and their immune and/or vascular microenvironment.

To convert these novel targets into drug candidates, the Company is currently conducting 5 proprietary development programs including inolimomab (LEUKOTAC), an immunotherapy antibody that has recently demonstrated its clinical superiority in Phase 3 and that is closed to market approval in an orphan post-cancer disease with very poor prognosis: steroid-resistant acute Graft-versus-Host Disease.

Founded in 2013, ELSALYS BIOTECH is located in the heart of the European cluster LYON BIOPOLE. Its shareholders are TRANSGENE, SOFIMAC INNOVATION, joined in 2015 by IM EUROPE, a subsidiary of INSTITUT MERIEUX, and CREDIT AGRICOLE CREATION, and in 2018 by LABORATOIRES THEA.

Stay in touch with ElsaLys Biotech and receive directly our press releases by filling our contact form on http://www.elsalysbiotech.com

And follow us on Twitter: @ElsalysBiotech

Contacts

ELSALYS BIOTECHDr. Christine GUILLENCEO and Co-founder+33 (0)4 37 28 73 00guillen@elsalysbiotech.com

PRESSEATCG PARTNERS Marie PUVIEUX (France) +33 (0)6 10 54 36 72Cline VOISIN (UK/US) +33 (0)6 62 12 53 39presse@atcg-partners.com

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LEUKOTAC (inolimomab) is available again in France, following the granting of cohort ATU for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease,...

The presence of preleukemic mutations in peripheral blood (PB) samples is termed clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). CHIP is defined as the absence of definitive morphologic evidence of hematologic neoplasms, with the presence of a somatic mutation with a variate allele frequency (VAF) of > 2%. The incidence of CHIP increases with age and comes with an increased risk of developing myeloid malignancies and cardiovascular complications. Therefore, using older donors with CHIP may impact the outcomes of patients undergoing transplantation.

During the 61st meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), Betul Oran, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, US, presented the results from a study which evaluated the impact of donor clonal hematopoiesis on the risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD, aGvHD) and patient outcomes. The trial was conducted in patients with AML or MDS who received a transplant from a matched-related donor (MRD) aged 55 years or older.

Table 1. Impact of CHIP on transplant outcomes

CHIP positive

CHIP negative

HR

95% CI

p value

N

57

245

-

-

-

Relapse incidence (RI) at 5-years

Not reported (NR)

NR

0.9

0.51.5

0.7

Age-adjusted RI at 5-years

NR

NR

0.9

0.61.4

0.7

Progression incidence at 5-years, %

40

44

0.9

0.51.4

0.5

TRM at 6 months, %

12

9

1.6

0.54.9

0.4

Age adjusted RM at 6 months

NR

NR

1.3

0.62.9

0.5

PFS at 5-years, %

38

36

0.97

0.71.4

0.9

Age adjusted PFS at 5-years

NR

NR

0.96

0.71.4

0.8

OS at 5-years, %

43

41

1.05

0.71.5

0.8

Table 2. Impact of donor CHIP on rates of GvHD

CHIP positive

CHIP negative

HR

95% CI

p value

N

57

245

-

-

-

Grade II-IV aGvHD at 6 months

Total, %

51

27

2.1

1.43.3

0.001

Donor > 65 years, %

54

27

2.1

1.054.4

0.04

Donor 65 years %

48

28

2

1.13.5

0.001

Grade III-IV aGvHD at 6 months

Total, %

16

5

3.2

Excerpt from:
ASH 2019 | The impact of donor clonal hematopoiesis on aGvHD and patient outcomes - AML Global Portal

Daily life can be excruciatingly painful and tiring for a West Bridgford mum suffering with a lifelong inherited blood disease.

Oyesola Oni, 37, was born with sickle cell disease and has to have eight pints of blood transfused into her body every six weeks at Nottingham City Hospital.

Sickle cell can cause serious and potentially fatal complications such as organ damage, stroke, death to bone tissue and acute chest syndrome.

People with sickle cell disease produce "unusually shaped" red blood cells that can cause problems because they do not live as long as healthy blood cells. They can also block blood vessels.

If both parents have the gene that affects red blood cells, there's a one in four chance of each child they have being born with the disease.

I mainly get crisis pains in my ribs, legs, hips, my back and my lower abdomen. You cant describe the pain," said Oye, of West Bridgford.

"Its like something stabbing me, at other times its like something crushing my bones. Its excruciating."

The only cure for sickle cell disease is astem cell or bone marrow transplant,but they're not done very often because of the risks involved.

Her story comes as the NHS launch a call for more men to donate blood in 2020 because of a "serious imbalance" in the gender of new donors.

The mum has regular red cell transfusions for sickle cell disease after several years of her condition getting worse.

Having a secure supply of blood is particularly important for people like Mrs Oni, who receive many transfusions over their lives.

The mum to daughter Ade, 12, who does not have sickle cell, said people who donate the blood that she receives are "heroes that dont wear capes".

They give blood to someone they dont know its amazing, very selfless. Its an extraordinary thing to do and I hope more men start donating blood in the New Year," she added.

"Having the transfusions gives me so much more energy, keeps me out of hospital and allows me to spend more time with my family."

The mum said she hopes to return to work as in customer services thanks to the continued transfusions.

During 2019, 43 percent of the new donors at Nottingham Donor Centre were men.

Until the end of November, 1,203 women started donating blood in Nottingham but only 898 men.

The NHS said this is a concern because men have higher iron levels and only mens blood can be used for some transfusions and products.

Without more men starting to give blood, blood stocks will come under increasing pressure in future years, the NHS has warned.

Mike Stredder, the head of donor recruitment for NHS Blood and Transplant, added: All our donors are amazing. But we need more men to start donating blood in Nottingham during the New Year.

"Mens blood can be used in extraordinary, lifesaving ways, but we dont have enough new male donors coming forward.

"This is not about recruiting as many donors as possible its about getting the right gender mix.

If you cant find an appointment right away dont worry your blood will do extraordinary things if you donate in a few weeks instead."

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Mum's 'excruciating' battle with lifelong disease that requires regular blood transfusions - Nottinghamshire Live

Welcome to Try Before You Buy, a monthly series where we talk about the pricey beauty products and in-office treatments that are getting major buzz and give our honest feedback. This month, our Senior Beauty & Fashion Editor, Pia Velasco, talks about theAugustinus Bader cream that has changed her skin.

As a beauty editor, Ive tried hundreds (and maybe even thousands) of skincare products since starting my career seven years ago. There have been creams that promise to give me skin as soft as babys bum, serums that pledge to erase all signs of dark spots, face masks that swear theyll make my skin so radiant that itll blind my enemiesand guess what, most of them fell through on their promises. As such, Ive become skeptical when a brand tells me that their product is life-changing and that there isnt anything like it on the market. So when I met Professor Augustinus Bader, the director of the Applied Stem Cell Biology and Cell Technology at the University of Leipzig in Germany, earlier this year and he and his team told me about his epigenetic skincare line that changes the skin to the point of altering DNA, I have to admit that I did mentally raise an eyebrow.

However, I had heard about epigenetic skincare before and was fascinated by the science behind it. Essentially, epigenetics refers to the naturally occurring biological modification process of the DNA thats influenced by the environment and lifestyle patterns. For example, if you have a healthy diet and exercise on the regular, your genetic coding will eventually change to be healthier, and youll be able to transfer those healthy genes onto your offspring. Epigenetic skincare is the same conceptif you train your skin cells to be healthy, your skins DNA will change. Needless to say,I was curious to try it, and when a fellow beauty editor friend told me that she stopped using all of her skincare products after trying the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, I went from being curious to being eager to try it.

A quick background on my skin. Ive always had acne-prone skin, and because of my medium skin tone, Im also very prone to hyperpigmentation. Most of the skincare products I use target my acne concerns, but I also go ham on texture-refining products in hopes that one day Ill achieve glass-like skin. Im used to looking at ingredients that target specific skincare concerns (salicylic acid for acne, retinol for anti-aging, vitamin C for brightening, etc.), and for the first time, I was using a product that claimed that it would address all my concerns at once. Because of the way epigenetic skincare works, instead of targeting just one skincare concern, the product tells skin cells to be healthy, which in turn helps skin be the best version of itself.I know it sounds too good to be true, and while it may not work for everybody, holy shit it worked wonders for me.

Courtesy of Augustinus Bader

I started testing out the cream the way I approach all my beauty testing, I did a test-drive on half my face. On the left side of my face, I continued to use the products that were already in my arsenal, and on the right side of my face, I used the Augustinus Bader cream and nothing else. After about two weeks I started seeing a shiftmy acne wasnt working up, my skin texture was a lot more smooth, and it just looked overall healthier. I quickly tossed my other products and switched over to using The Rich Creamevery day. After a while, my skin started balancing out and both looked and felt a whole lot better. Now, Im not saying this product is magicbut Im also not saying that its not.

Im currently testing a whole new array of skincare products for the upcoming HelloGiggles Beauty Crush Awards (stay tuned!), and so Ive had to sacrifice the left side of my face to test new products (I switch off between sides). As a result, my skin has started to shift back into its old ways, with a resurgence of blemishes, dark spots, and uneven texture as I test out new formulas. But the right side of my face is still in A+ condition.

Sure, this product is definitely on the pricier side, but its a product that I can say with full confidence that I would actually buy if I wasnt a beauty editor. (Full disclosure: I receive a lot of free products from beauty brands, and Ive only bought about a handful of products with my own money since working in the business.) For me, getting my ideal skin has always been a battle, and Im so happy to have finally found a product that works magic for me, which is why I was excited to learn that the brand recently launched a body cream as well.

Courtesy of Augustinus Bader

Its important to remember that body care requires skincare too, after all, we do have skin on our bodies. The Augustinus Bader body cream fulfills the basic requirement of moisturizing skin, but what makes this anti-aging body product stand out is that it uses its epigenetic technology to target and treat stretch marks and cellulite with continued use. Now, I havent used it long enough to speak to its long-term effects, but I can say that its fast-absorbing formula does make my skin feel baby soft and look way smoother than it did before. Also, Im typically very good about sharing my beauty products with others, but when my boyfriend asked if he could use this cream I may or may not have told him Id put a curse on his ancestors if he dared. Nothing gets in the way of me and my Augustinus Bader products.

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The viral Augustinus Bader rich cream has completely changed my skin for the better - Yahoo Lifestyle

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a new mechanism that helps maintain and repair bones in adults. Ultimately, this could help develop new therapeutic strategies to improve bone healing.

Knee Bones

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease characterized by reduced bone density and changes in the microarchitecture of bones. These changes weaken the bone and increase the risk of fractures.

Osteoporosis develops particularly in older people. Today, a new study could eventually lead to the development of therapeutic strategies to improve bone regeneration in these patients. Results published in the journal Cell Stem Cell on the 5th December 2019 have laid out a new mechanism that contributes to the maintenance and repair of bones in adults.

Adult bone repair relies on the activation of bone stem cells, which still remain poorly characterized. Bone stem cells have been found both in the bone marrow inside the bone and also in the periosteum: the outer layer of tissue that envelopes bone. Previous studies have shown that these two populations of stem cells share many characteristics; however, they also have unique functions and specific regulatory mechanisms, said Dr. Dongsu Park, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics, pathology and immunology at Baylor College of Medicine.

Of these two populations, periosteal stem cells are the least known. Although scientists know that this is a heterogeneous population of cells that can contribute to the thickness, formation, and repair of bone fractures, no one has yet been able to distinguish between the different subtypes of bone stem cells in order to study the regulation of their different functions.

Read Also:HGH Is Now A Solid Treatment For Osteoporosis According To Studies

Here, however, Dr. Dongsu Park and colleagues were able to develop a technique in mice to identify different subpopulations of periosteal stem cells, define their contribution to the repair of bone fractures and identify the specific factors that regulate their migration and proliferation under physiological conditions.

The researchers identified a specific subset of stem cells that contribute to lifelong bone regeneration in adults. They also observed that periosteal stem cells react to inflammatory molecules, chemokines, which are normally produced in bone injuries.

In detail, periosteal stem cells have receptors that bind to the CCL5 chemokine. The CCL5 chemokine sends a signal to the cells to migrate to the injured bone and repair it. By suppressing the CCL5 gene in rats, the researchers found defects in bone repair that delayed healing. However, when they gave CCL5 to rats that had lost CCL5, the bones recovered faster.

Read Also:The Exciting Future of Joint and Cartilage Repair

Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the healing of adult bones. We believe this is one of the first studies to show that bone stem cells are heterogeneous and that different subtypes have unique properties that are regulated by specific mechanisms, said Dr. Dongsu Park.

In conclusion, this study has allowed for the identification of different stem cell subtypes and their distinguishing markers and their roles in bone repair. This discovery gives insight into new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of bone damage in adults, particularly in the setting of osteoporosis or diabetes. Indeed, people with diabetes may be prone to falls and fractures due to neurological, visual or renal complications. In addition, bone fragility in diabetics is likely to be due to changes in bone remodeling and, in particular, an increase in bone resorption.

Read Also:Implants from Own Stem Cells May Offer Solution to Back Pain, Researchers Say

https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/fulltext/S1934-5909(19)30458-8?

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Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine Discover How to Improve Bone Repair - Gilmore Health News

Columbia, MD, Jan. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Foundation Fighting Blindness launches 2020 with a bold, new logo and branding for its signature fundraising event, VisionWalk. VisionWalk includes more than 35 walk events in cities throughout the United States. Each walk is a fun, family-friendly 5K and an opportunity for communities to come together in support of the Foundations mission to fund research leading to treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases.

The new logo utilizes a color palette of deep blue, which represents trust, unity and importance. The turquoise signifies patience, protection, tranquility and healing. An accent of gold will be part of the new branding which represents the guiding light and signifies a beacon of hope and strength for those who are affected with a blinding retinal disease.

Rebranding VisionWalk with a fresh, bold look was a perfect way to celebrate our 15th year and no better way to launch a momentous year, such as 2020. says Michele DiVincenzo, vice president, events and chapters. The new brand identity further connects this signature fundraising event to the new Foundation logo that was adopted early in 2019.

Throughout its 15-year history and through the generosity of more than 200,000 walkers, donors, and corporate sponsors, VisionWalk has raised more than $55 million. These funds have enabled the Foundation to continue to advance its important mission of moving vision-restoring treatments from the laboratory to the patients who need them.

Vision science is making great strides today more than 38 potential treatments are in clinical trials but there is still more work to do. You can join the fight by participating in a walk or sponsoring a walker or a walk team. The 2020 VisionWalk starts Saturday, February 29, in Phoenix, Arizona. To see what walks are in your area or to learn more about how you can get involved, visit VisionWalk.org. Together, we step closer to fighting blindness.

About the Foundation Fighting Blindness

Established in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the worlds leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $760 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.

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Foundation Fighting Blindness Celebrates 15th Year of VisionWalk with New Branding - GlobeNewswire

In a public letter released in the Guardian, Fight for Sight has has called upon leaders in the field to urge the government to develop a national plan to address sight loss.

The eye research charity convened the UKs leading ophthalmologists to draw attention to the 1:20 funding gap, a notion that despite 20% of people in the UK experiencing serious sight loss or blindness in their lifetime, just 1% of the national grant funding is invested in eye research.

On top of this, the prevalence of of sight loss is also on the rise, and the number of people in Europe with the leading cause of blindness, age-related macular degeneration, is projected to hit 10 million by 2050.

Back in October 2019 a WHO World Vision Report found that more than one billion people worldwide are living with sight loss, which is contributed to by a lack of investment in eye care and research.

Adding to this research, Fight for Sight will be conducting a major research study in 2020 which will show the economic and personal impact of sight loss, as blindness can have a huge impact on peoples mental health and ability to work, increasing costs on health systems and infrastructure.

The situation is being regarded as shameful by head of research at Fight for Sight, Dr Rubina Ahmed, who said that Weve seen the first gene therapies for eye diseases become available on the NHS and stem cell treatments are already restoring sight for patients at clinical trial.

She went on to explain that the amount of funding currently is not fit for the scale of the challenge, with hundreds of eye diseases and millions of people affected globally. Science and technology have the answers, the only barrier is the funding to make it happen.

Finally, she encouraged urgent action, as there are currently over two million people in the UK living with sight loss.

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Eyesight leaders urge government to address '1:20 funding gap' - PharmaTimes

Telford & Wrekin Council has been given permission to destroy products found at Eden Horticulture in Hortonwood West.

Council officers visited in December and found the powerful supplements in stock for sale online.

The products are not authorised for sale to the public because they are either drugs in the stages of clinical trials, or have been dropped from ever being safe for human consumption due to severe adverse effects such as cancerous growths, kidney failure and eyesight problems.

They were all sold under the Bodybuilt Labs label and promoted as helping to lose fat.

The products included Bodybuilt Labs S-23, a pre-clinical trial drug intended to be a potent male hormonal contraceptive; Cardarine GW-201516, which caused the rapid development of cancer in rats and mice; and Andarine (S-4), reported to give a yellow tint to eyesight and night-time blindness.

Today justices at Telford Magistrates Court signed off on condemnation orders, giving the council permission to destroy the products.

Councillor Richard Overton, cabinet member for enforcement, said: This is a very serious matter. Products which have been promoted for fitness are either unproven, or have very serious side effects.

"If anyone has taken any of these products and has any concerns, they should contact their GP. If anyone still sees these products for sale, please inform Telford & Wrekin Councils public protection team by either calling 01952 381818 or emailing public.protection@telford.gov.uk."

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Found in Telford: Illegal bodybuilding drugs that cause cancer and blindness to be destroyed - shropshirestar.com

(PRESS RELEASE) HAUPPAUGE, NY ClearVision Optical, in partnership with Aspire Eyewear and Revo, announces the sponsorship of Miles of Portraits: India.

Miles of Portraits is an aspirational magazine and film designed and developed by Erik Douds and Annalisa van den Bergh that highlights the journey of two cyclists as they pedal 700 miles across southwest India over a four-week period. While this journey is tough for seasoned cyclists, the pair have an added challenge, as they are both type 1 diabetics.

However, this isnt the duos first ride together. In fact, they have cycled over 20,000 miles on their bikes in support of a mission to raise awareness for what they describe as an invisible disease and the notion that despite a T1D diagnosis, anything is possible including riding the TransAmerica trail from Virginia to Seattle. More recently, Erik and Annalisa have completed a 1,000-mile loop around Alaska in addition to a Southwestern U.S. tour.

Riding while constantly monitoring their glucose levels, often in remote and isolated areas of the country, the cycling pair is looking to complete their next ride in South India, kicking off on Jan. 6.

The route covers approximately 700 miles over four weeks and will begin in Kochi then venture into the tropical, lush hills of Kerala and finally along the southwestern coast of India.

Throughout the trip, Erik and Annalisa will be capturing photos and video footage of the people they meet along the way, and will compile that footage into a magazine and film upon returning to the U.S. Miles of Portraits showcases all of the ways the bicycle brings people together. Erik and Annalisas story has appeared on the cover of Adventure Cyclist Magazine, Outside Magazine, The Washington Post, and the REI Co-op Journal.

In order to aid in their efforts, ClearVision Optical, in tandem with Aspire Eyewear and Revo, has teamed up to sponsor Miles of Portraits: India.

As health ambassadors, specifically for type 1 diabetics, both Erik and Annalisa recognize and routinely speak to the importance of routine eye exams and vision health for the diabetic community.

As a global traveler and endurance athlete, Erik Douds has served as an Aspire Eyewear ambassador benefitting from the brands thin and lightweight yet durable construction. Both Annalisa and Erik have also worked with Revo in the past and benefitted from the brands performance sunwear features during their biking trips, which reduces sun glare and eye fatigue.

In the past few years, Erik and I have found pure happiness in the liberation that is riding a bicycle, and more importantly, weve had the chance to bring home the message that representation matters, stated Annalisa van den Bergh. Our aim is to show that people living with type 1 diabetes (or any condition for that matter) can go anywhere and do anything. We are proud to work with a company that shares this message so passionately.

To view past Miles of Portraits magazines and videos, visit https://milesofportraits.com/.

To follow Erik and Annalisa on their ride through India, visit the Miles of Portraits Instagram or Facebook pages.

Also join Aspire Eyewear, Revo and Erik and Annalisa on their social pages for additional information on the cycling duos trip.

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Glaucoma, The Sneak Thief of Sight, Continues to Affect Vision of Millions of Americans - InvisionMag

The dangers of closed viewpoints and political partisanship are becoming costly realities for American corporations. CNN and AT&T have learned expensive lessons that the rest of corporate America would be wise to heed.

CNN is floundering as a business. Its ratings have fallen through the floor. Given that it remains the staple of airports across the country, it seems possible that, within a rounding error, there is often nobody voluntarily watching CNN.

There is also little doubt that CNN is a deeply ideological left-wing organization. Recently Chief Media Correspondent Brian Stelter and his CNN colleagues pulled long faces about Justice Neil Gorsuch appearing on Fox News to promote a book, even though Stelter had cheered Justice Stephen Breyers appearance on Stephen Colberts show, and CNN had hosted Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to promote the hagiographic movie RBG.

Just days ago, CNNs disinformation reporter worried that a right-of-center satire site was really generating disguised fake news, even thoughthat same reportermerrily retweets satirical fare from left-of-center humorous-news siteThe Onion. Similarevidenceofbiasabounds.

The effects of that partisanship are appearing directly in CNNs bottom line, as it has now had to settle with Nick Sandmann, the high-school student of Covington Kid fame who was falsely accused by CNN and other ostensibly objective new sources of racial insensitivity and perhaps even darker misdeeds.

Despite these indicia ofovert bias, CNNcontinues to insist it is an objective news organization, not leaning in favor of any party or ideology. This willful blindness is unjustifiable, but is better understood when one realizes that it is genetic, inherited from CNNs corporate parents.

CNN is owned by AT&T. AT&T plays the same duplicitous partisan blindness games as its once-respectable media outlet.

This fall, we at the Free Enterprise Project (FEP) of the National Center for Public Policy Research asked AT&T to allow its shareholders to vote about whether they would like AT&T to provide them reasonable information about the ideological perspectives (which we further defined as the political/policy positions) of its board of director candidates, on which shareholders vote each year. In response, AT&T went to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to try to block our proposal from going to shareholders.

AT&T told the SEC that it just couldnt figure out what we were talking about, or how to report on it. Noting that political positions can be divvied up more finely than just liberal versus conservative, it complained that providing meaningful information, while allowing for nuance, would tax their information-conveying powers past the breaking point. This from a telecommunications company that owns a purported news station.

AT&Ts claim is absurd on its face, and the reason for it is clear. From the biographical information thatAT&T does provideabout its current board members (who are also the corporations slate of board candidates for next year), we have concluded that every member of the board who reveals his or her political activities has served only in Democratic administrations and for Democrats.

This is true despite the fact that AT&T proudlyif, it seems, only rhetoricallydirects its employees to get out of their echo chambers to represent the values of all customers. Meanwhile, the AT&T board remains the archetype of a partisan echo chamber, even while leftwing politicians and activists threaten to break up AT&T again while accusing it of having dark designs to destroy open access to the Internet without highly disruptive, Democrat-supported regulation.

AT&T is hardly alone in this arguably self-destructive high-level partisanship. As Baron Political Affairs, LLC revealed in 2019, every single director of a Fortune 100 company who has been elected or has worked for an administration has been (or worked for) a Democrat. The ratio shifts to two Democrats for every Republican in the Fortune 100 generally, and to 5:1 for financial or tech firms within that group.

FEP tries to get Americas biggest companies to recognize the potential risks of their high-level partisanship. CNN provides just one illustration of the ways echo chambers at the highest levels can affect businesses bottom lines and the tenor of civic life generally. Another example arises from the aggressive resistance we at FEP encounter when asking these corporations to protect their employees from workplace discrimination on the basis of their civic viewpoints or participation.

Everyone agrees that partisan rancor has gotten far out of hand. But rancor will not fade while those who ostensibly bemoan partisanship actually practice it with abandon while pretending they cant even see it.

Scott Shepard is the coordinator of the Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research.

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Covington Settlement Should Warn Business That Bias Costs Big Bucks - The Federalist