StemCell Therapy

Last week, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation launched a new initiative called Path to a Cure. A press release called it an ambitious research agenda to deliver treatments for the underlying cause of the disease and a cure for every person with cystic fibrosis (CF).

It added: The Foundation is challenging potential collaborators to submit proposals that will accelerate the pace of progress in CF drug discovery and development and intends to allocate half a billion dollars to the effort through 2025.

News of the initiative comes nine days after an announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that it has approved the highly anticipated treatment Trikafta, a triple combination therapy of ivacaftor, tezacaftor, and the new elexacaftor (VX-445). Trikaftas clinical trial outcomes were remarkable and on par with the early clinical results from the highly effective Kalydeco several years ago, especially when compared with the outcomes of the not very robust but efficacious Orkambi and Symdeko.

The foundations strategic plan for the next five years is audacious, but I think its an honest pursuit. A year ago, I wrote about what a cure for CF might look like, and I discussed how the progressive and chronic nature of CF makes curing it a sort of nebulous concept.

In CF, the broken protein that is the underlying cause of the disease isnt the killer. The killers are the recurring infections, the inflammation, and the downstream effects of the broken cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. Due to recurring infections, the lungs become damaged, and endemic bacteria become more resistant to traditional antibiotics.

For someone with moderate lung disease, fixing the underlying issue wont heal the scar tissue or reconstruct damaged airways. Most people with CF are pancreatic insufficient. Theoretically, an embryonic cure would prevent sustained damage to any part of the body. Once birth occurs, however, a cure would be too late to prevent even the slightest damage.

In the column from last year, I also wrote: Im not saying a cure is impossible or undesirable. Rather, there are multiple pillars to ultimately curing all the ills that deeply affect our lives. I think looking at a cure in this way is a reason to be hopeful. I added that I didnt believe this change of perspective about what a cure looks like should be a reason for discouragement.

What I like about the CF Foundations Path to a Cure is how theyre discussing what the different paths look like. Current therapies are modulators. At best, they repair CFTR protein, which is different than fixing or replacing it. This initiative also emphasizes the most important tenet of all CF therapies: It is intended to help everyone with CF. Complicated mutations will require different strategies.

A cure for cystic fibrosis is a complicated endeavor. CF is a particularly interesting genetic disease for many reasons, not least of which is that the pathway to curing it could be extrapolated to other diseases with genetic causes or predispositions. I do believe a cure is possible, though Im usually cautious to offer my commentary on the word cure.

Many subpopulations exist in the CF community. Thousands of people in the world have CF. A percentage of that population doesnt have access to the most basic CF treatments. Many people in the United States dont even have good access or care. Modulators arent approved for transplant patients.

Its not for nothing that the CF Foundation and the community itself must ask one important question: What does life look like for someone with feeble lung function that is cured of CF? If other treatment plans arent in place such as better transplant strategies utilizing stem cells, or using stem cells for lung regeneration a cure may not prolong life, but rather prolong the misery of end-stage disease.

Part of planning for the future is predicting the effects of that plan. But we must ask: How are we giving everyone with CF the chance to live well into their 70s and 80s? I think the important discoveries made along the way will be instrumental in learning if its possible to repair diseased lungs through regenerative medicine.

Path to a Cure is one of the most exciting research agendas weve seen. Im looking forward to the day when the CF Foundation announces that a cure has been found.

Follow along with my other writings on my humbly named site, http://www.trelarosa.com.

***

Note: Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.

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What We Should Expect from the CF Foundation's 'Path to a Cure' - Cystic Fibrosis News Today

A huge leap could be made with bioprinting the 3D printing of tissue and organs thanks to an innovative idea which proposes to use aqueous architectures, or in other words, printing in a specially made fluid.

As Science magazine reports, human tissue and organs are very tricky to make using traditional 3D printing methods without putting support scaffolding in place and that scaffolding can later be very difficult (or indeed impossible) to remove.

So the idea as advanced by Chinese researchers is to move away from a solid support structure, and instead use liquid. Specifically, this would be a fluid matrix into which the liquid design for an organ could be injected, and the surrounding fluid then drained away after the organ has set.

This kind of approach has previously been attempted, except the fluid matrix hasnt proven stable enough, and the whole thing has simply collapsed. So instead these researchers from China have used hydrophilic (attracted to water molecules) liquid polymers which are capable of creating a stable membrane.

Using this method, the liquid structure is far more robust and is even capable of holding its shape for as long as 10 days. A further benefit is that during the process of pumping the ink into the fluid membrane, if mistakes are made, the nozzle can actually extract and rewrite the ink as needed.

The researchers believe that this advance in the field of bioprinting will help greatly with the production of complex tissue-like constructs including arteries and tracheae.

And this could have a major impact in terms of regenerative medicine, the scientists say, as well as producing in-vitro tissue models for studies and the likes of disease modeling, or potential applications like drug screening or development.

The researchers note that a commercially available 3D printer has been used in their early experiments thus far, albeit when printing multiple cells, a homemade microuidic nozzle head was employed instead.

See the original post here:
3D printing could have cracked the problem of making human organs - TechRadar

NEW YORK, Nov. 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that the Company will hold a conference call to update shareholders on financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019, and provide a corporate update, at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

BrainStorms President & CEO, Chaim Lebovits, will present a corporate update, after which, participant questions will be answered. Joining Mr. Lebovits to answer investment community questions will be Ralph Kern, MD, MHSc, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer, and Preetam Shah, PhD, Chief Financial Officer.

Participants are encouraged to submit their questions prior to the call by sending them to: q@brainstorm-cell.com; Questions should be submitted by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday, November 12.

The investment community may participate in the conference call by dialing the following numbers:

Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the internet may do so by visiting the Investors & Media page of BrainStorms website at http://www.ir.brainstorm-cell.com and clicking on the conference call link.

A webcast replay of the conference call will be available for 30 days on the Investors & Media page of BrainStorms website:

About NurOwnNurOwn (autologous MSC-NTF) cells represent a promising investigational therapeutic approach to targeting disease pathways important in neurodegenerative disorders. MSC-NTF cells are produced from autologous, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been expanded and differentiated ex vivo. MSCs are converted into MSC-NTF cells by growing them under patented conditions that induce the cells to secrete high levels of neurotrophic factors. Autologous MSC-NTF cells can effectively deliver multiple NTFs and immunomodulatory cytokines directly to the site of damage to elicit a desired biological effect and ultimately slow or stabilize disease progression. BrainStorm has fully enrolled a Phase 3 pivotal trial of autologous MSC-NTF cells for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). BrainStorm also recently received U.S. FDA acceptance to initiate a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in progressive MS and enrollment began in March 2019.

About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of innovative autologous adult stem cell therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to clinical development and commercialization of the NurOwn technology platform used to produce autologous MSC-NTF cells through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement. Autologous MSC-NTF cells have received Orphan Drug status designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in ALS. BrainStorm has fully enrolled a Phase 3 pivotal trial in ALS (NCT03280056), investigating repeat-administration of autologous MSC-NTF cells at six U.S. sites supported by a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM CLIN2-0989). The pivotal study is intended to support a filing for U.S. FDA approval of autologous MSC-NTF cells in ALS. BrainStorm also recently received U.S. FDA clearance to initiate a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in progressive Multiple Sclerosis. The Phase 2 study of autologous MSC-NTF cells in patients with progressive MS (NCT03799718) started enrollment in March 2019. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.brainstorm-cell.com

Safe-Harbor Statement

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information, including statements regarding future clinical trial enrollment and data, constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could causeBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'sactual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Terms and phrases such as "may", "should", "would", "could", "will", "expect", "likely", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "predict", "potential", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, BrainStorms need to raise additional capital, BrainStorms ability to continue as a going concern, regulatory approval of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate, the success of BrainStorms product development programs and research, regulatory and personnel issues, development of a global market for our services, the ability to secure and maintain research institutions to conduct our clinical trials, the ability to generate significant revenue, the ability of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate to achieve broad acceptance as a treatment option for ALS or other neurodegenerative diseases, BrainStorms ability to manufacture and commercialize the NurOwn treatment candidate, obtaining patents that provide meaningful protection, competition and market developments, BrainStorms ability to protect our intellectual property from infringement by third parties, heath reform legislation, demand for our services, currency exchange rates and product liability claims and litigation,; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available athttp://www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BrainStorm's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or assumptions if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, unless otherwise required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

CONTACTS

Corporate:Uri YablonkaChief Business OfficerBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.Phone: 646-666-3188uri@brainstorm-cell.com

Media:Sean LeousWestwicke/ICR PRPhone: +1.646.677.1839sean.leous@icrinc.com

Excerpt from:
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics to Announce Third Quarter Financial Results and Provide a Comprehensive Corporate Update - GlobeNewswire

Psoriatic arthritis causes joint pain and inflammation, usually in people who already have psoriasis. It is impossible to predict who will get psoriatic arthritis, however, and there is no surefire strategy for preventing it.

About 30% of people with psoriasis eventually develop psoriatic arthritis.

Preventive strategies for psoriasis focus on identifying triggers and treating symptoms early. Doing so may prevent psoriasis from transitioning to psoriatic arthritis.

In this article, learn about treatment and prevention strategies for psoriatic arthritis, as well as the risk factors for developing it.

Doctors do not know how to prevent psoriatic arthritis.

Currently, no treatment can guarantee that a person with psoriasis will not develop this form of arthritis.

Also, because a small number of people develop psoriatic arthritis without skin symptoms of psoriasis, it can be difficult to identify everyone who is at risk.

A 2019 medical review article highlights the many challenges that doctors face in trying to prevent psoriatic arthritis. Doctors do not fully understand how or why the disease progresses or who is at risk.

More research could, one day, answer these questions. For now, controlling the symptoms of psoriasis before it progresses into arthritis may help reduce the severity of both diseases.

People with psoriatic arthritis typically develop symptoms about 10 years after they get psoriasis.

Anyone with concerns about the progression of the disease should speak with a doctor about the outlook and managing the symptoms.

No specific treatment can prevent psoriatic arthritis, but the right treatment may lessen the severity of the disease.

Both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases, which means that they occur when the body attacks healthy tissue.

People with psoriatic arthritis develop active inflammation in the joints, as well as markers of inflammation in the blood.

Tests for inflammation may help assess whether a person is at risk of psoriatic arthritis, and working to prevent inflammation may help reduce symptoms of the disease.

For people who develop psoriatic arthritis, the right treatment can minimize disease activity. It may also reduce markers of the disease enough to achieve remission.

A 2010 study explored the outcomes of treatment with antitumor necrosis factor alpha which involves using biologic medication to reduce inflammation in people with psoriatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

The researchers found that, after 1 year of treatment, psoriatic arthritis was in remission in 58% of the people with the disease, compared with 44% of the people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Most people experience psoriatic arthritis as a series of symptom flares. The characteristics of these flares vary from person to person, but many notice a specific pattern.

For example, some people find that psoriasis skin symptoms get worse, or that they feel more fatigued before their joints start to ache.

Tracking symptoms can help a person and their doctor identify the pattern of flares. It may help to take note of meals and new foods, weather changes, stress levels, exercise, and other lifestyle and environmental factors, both between and during flares.

Some common flare triggers include:

Some people find that the following strategies help reduce the severity and frequency of flares:

Some people choose to avoid certain triggering foods or to follow an anti-inflammatory diet.

The Arthritis Foundation recommend eating foods that can reduce inflammation, including:

Reducing salt and alcohol intake may also help curb inflammation. Learn more about an anti-inflammatory diet in this article.

While lifestyle changes can make a big difference, they are not always enough to treat symptoms or prevent flares.

A doctor can offer a wide range of treatments to help with pain and stiffness. Biologic medications, for example, are highly effective for many people.

A doctor may also recommend:

If a person thinks that they may have early symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, they should speak to a doctor.

Also, consult a doctor about:

Psoriatic arthritis damages the joints, intensifying the severity of subsequent flares. Once it happens, arthritis-related joint damage cannot be reversed.

Medication may not cure psoriatic arthritis, but it can prevent joint damage. This means that early, aggressive treatment may offer lasting benefits.

People who develop joint pain or stiffness should see a doctor, even if they do not think that they have psoriasis.

During a person's first few flares, frequent and regular communication with a doctor can help them better understand the disease and identify effective treatments.

Do not stop taking psoriatic arthritis medication without talking to a doctor. When symptoms clear up, it is a sign that the treatment is working, not that it is time to stop the treatment. Some people find that their flares get much worse when they stop using their medication.

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are complex diseases. They likely develop due to a combination of genetics, inflammation, factors such as skin and joint injuries, and specific psoriasis triggers.

There is no psoriatic arthritis prevention strategy, but getting prompt and effective treatment can help reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms.

A rheumatologist can identify risk factors for psoriatic arthritis and help minimize the chances of developing the disease.

However, there is no way to predict who will get psoriatic arthritis and no surefire way to prevent this inflammatory joint disease.

Doctors, loved ones, and support groups can help a person manage stress and their psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

See the article here:
Psoriatic arthritis prevention: Tips and management - Medical News Today

AbbVie blockbuster-to-be Rinvoq only just hit the scene in rheumatoid arthritis, but its already on its way to a second indication.

Thursday, the Illinois drugmaker said its newcomer had hit its primary endpoint in a phase 3 psoriatic arthritis (PsA) trial, topping placebo at reducing symptoms. At Week 12, 57% of patients taking a 15 mg dose and 64% of patients on a 30 mg dose hit ACR20, a benchmark on a commonly used scale from the American College of Rheumatology to measure joint swelling and more. Just 24% of placebo patients reached the same mark.

Full results from the trial, dubbed Select-PsA2, will roll out at a future medical meeting and in a peer-reviewed publication, AbbVie said. Theyll also support regulatory submissions for Rinvoq in PsA, Michael Severino, M.D., company vice chairman and president, said in a statement.

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RELATED:AbbVie scores blockbuster approval for RA med Rinvoq, its crucial Humira follow-up

"Too many people living with psoriatic arthritis still fail to achieve their treatment goals, underscoring a clear medical need for additional therapeutic options," he added.

Those therapeutic options have multiplied recently with the advent of the IL-17A class, beginning with a PsA nod for Novartis Cosentyx in early 2016. Eli Lillys Taltz followed up with its own late the following year, and the two have been battling it outin the market ever since.

AbbVie isnt afraid of a little competition in the anti-inflammatory market, though. After all, its positioning Rinvoq as a follow-up to Humira, the worlds best-selling drug. Analysts expect the med to hit $2.2 billion in annual sales per year by 2023, helping AbbVie fill the gap left by Humira biosimilars.

RELATED:AbbVie's Rinvoq label portends safety warnings for future JAKsincluding Gilead's

Theres just one potential snag: Rinvoq is a member of the JAK inhibitor class, which has recently been plagued by safety issues.

Follow this link:
AbbVie eyes 2nd Rinvoq nod as it hits its marks in psoriatic arthritis - FiercePharma

Conquering Arthritis Meet the University of Arizona Arthritis Center Researchers will be presented Wednesday, Nov. 6, 6-7:15 p.m., at the Health Sciences Innovation Building on the UA Health Science campus, 1670 E. Drachman St., Tucson.

This event features a look into the future of care, prevention, and ultimately a cure, for this debilitating disease. A panel discussion with UArizona Arthritis Center Director C. Kent Kwoh, MD, pain management specialist Mohab Ibrahim, PhD, MD, and mind-body medicine pioneer Esther Sternberg, MD, will follow the researcher open house and poster displays.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate nearly 55 million Americans have some form of arthritis, including almost half of those over age 65. Arthritis affects more women than men and can affect children as young as 6 months old. It is the leading cause of disability in the United States.

The UArizona Arthritis Center is Arizonas only multi-disciplinary center of excellence dedicated to research and education into the causes, treatments and eventually a cure for arthritis. The center conducts basic, translational and epidemiological research to understand why patients get arthritis, the risk factors for who gets arthritis and analyzes the outcomes to understand how arthritis impacts the patients quality of life.

Featured UArizona Arthritis Center researchers who will present at the event include:

Research topics will include:

Seating for the lecture is limited and prior registration is requested. For more information or to register, visit the UArizona Arthritis Center website, arthritis.arizona.edu, or call 520-626-5040 or email [emailprotected]

Free parking is available after 5 p.m. in the Lot Specific 2012 parking lot next to the Health Sciences Innovation Building and the Lot Specific 2147 parking lot across the street on Cherry Avenue between Helen and Mabel Streets, as well as in all Lot Specific parking lots on the UArizona Health Sciences campus and the Health Sciences Garage (formerly the Banner University Medical Center Tucson Visitor/Patient Parking Garage) at 1501 N. Campbell Ave. For disabled parking, or drop off location next to the Health Sciences Innovation Building, please email [emailprotected], or call 520-626-5040.

If you have questions concerning access, wish to request a Sign Language interpreter or disability-related accommodations, contact Tracy Shake, 520-626-5040, email: [emailprotected]

The lecture is part of the Living Healthy with Arthritis series of free monthly talks presented by the UArizona Arthritis Center at the UArizona College of Medicine Tucson and supported through the Susan and Saul Tobin Endowment for Research and Education in Rheumatology.

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Meet University of Arizona Arthritis Center researchers - Jewish Post

INTRODUCTION:

Pain control is one of the most important aspects ofrheumatoid arthritis(RA) management from the patients perspective. Newer generations of RA treatment including tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) have the potential to alleviate pain and thus reduce opioid utilization. However, patterns of opioid utilization before and after TNFi initiation have not been well characterized. This study aims to examine multiple measures of change in opioid utilization after the initiation of TNFi.

Patients aged 18years with RA and 24months continuous enrollment between January 2007 and December 2015 who newly initiated a TNFi in IQVIA Health Plan Claims Data were included in our study. Opioid utilization at baseline and during follow-up were identified and compared.

Of 2330 patients with RAthat were included in the study, 38.8% of patients used opioids in both baseline and follow-up periods. From pre-index to post-index, the proportion of patients receiving any opioid decreased from 54.0 to 51.0%. In addition, the proportion of those who received 50mg median daily MED decreased from 12.6 to 10.6% during pre-post periods.

This real-world study of commercially insured patients with RA suggests that opioid use among thesepatients is prevalent. There was a small decrease in overall opioid utilization after TNFi initiation.

See more here:
Changes in Opioid Utilization Following Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Initiation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis - DocWire News

An established carver in Happy Valley-Goose Bay didn't give up his craft after losing the sight in one of his eyes. In fact, he's continuing to create pieces of art in spite of it.

John Neville spent his summer crafting over 300 carvings in a shack outside his house, something he finds to be therapeutic.

"I love carving because it's good for the mind," Neville said at he satin his work shed surrounded by his work.

Neville, originally from Black Tickle,has spent 45 years of his life doing what he loves.

Neville said it has been a difficult year for many reasons as he struggled with depression as well as the loss ofsight in one of his eyes.

He had a stroke in his sleep in January of 2017, resulting in vision loss.

"It's been a hard struggle, knowing that I had good eyesight and now I only got one [good] eye."

Watch the video above to hear John Neville's story and see his carvings

"Close up me eyes aren'tthat good. Even me good eye's not good close up," he said.

Neville said he isn't one to take medication for an illness, and instead uses carving to heal him.

"Carving is my medicine, it was always my medicine when I get down and that medicine is going to bring me back up and make me the same fella I used to be."

Read more stories by CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

Link:
Loss of vision doesn't keep this Happy Valley-Goose Bay carver from his craft - CBC.ca

Mutations in genes related to the immune systems first line of defense are associated with a greater likelihood of more severe forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) linked to faster vision loss, a team led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report.

Combining high-resolution eye scans and genetic tests, researchers identified three genes involved in the complement immune pathway that are tied to a more rapid degeneration of nervous tissue in the eye and loss of sight.These genetic variants (mutations) could serve as markers for monitoring MS and predicting its severity, the researchers said.

Their study, Early complement genes are associated with visual system degeneration in multiple sclerosis, was published in the journal Brain.

In MS, the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers the fat-rich coat around nerve fibers resulting in inflammation, degeneration, nerve cell death, and ultimately disrupting communication between the brain and spinal cord, and the rest of the body.

Vision problems are among disease symptoms.

Although several genetic risk factors are known to predispose people to MS, no mutations have been linked with MS severity. This gap results in part due to the inability of current clinical scales to detect early degenerative changes that underlie disease progression.

Optical coherence tomography(OCT) is a noninvasive imaging test that enables doctors to see eye structures with exquisite detail. For instance, it is used to look at nervous tissue of the retina in the back of the eye, and check for signs of disease. Taking advantage of OCTs potential, scientists are exploring it as an imaging tool to measure nerve cell degeneration at early stages in MS, as well as disease progression.

To discover possible genetic predictors of MS severity, Peter Calabresi, MD, the studys senior leader and a professor at Johns Hopkins University, and histeam assessed 374 patients (average age of 43 ) with all MS types using OCT, and crossed this information with genetic tests performed on patients blood samples.

Although we have treatments for the type of MS where symptoms come on in bursts called relapsing-remitting MS we dont have any way to stop the kind of MS in which the nerve cells start to die, known as progressive MS, Calabresi, who is a director of the Johns Hopkins Precision Medicine Center of Excellence for MS, said in a universitynews release.

OCT was used to measure thinning (degeneration) in the layer of nerve cells known as ganglion cells in the retina over time. Onaverage, 4.6 OCT scans were performed on each patient between 2010 and 2017.

Scans showed that MS patients lost an average of 0.32 micrometers (one-millionth of a meter) of retinal nervous tissue per year.

Researchers then searched for mutations in patients with the fastest retinal deterioration rates, and identified 23 DNA variations. They all mapped to gene C3, which codes for a protein involved in the complement pathway of the immune system.

The team employed a similar approach to a separate group of 835 MS patients, but instead of searching for OCT degeneration, they now looked for genetic factors in patients with a rapidly declining ability to see faint letters,mimicking low light conditions using the low-contrast letter acuity (LCLA) test.

Researchers based their analysis on this vision test because it correlates with clinical disability and nerve cell loss in MS, and is emerging as a valid clinical measure of the disease.

Specific mutations in the genes C1QA and CR1 were more frequent in patients whose visual ability deteriorated faster. Those with certain variants in C1QA were 71% more likely to develop difficulty detecting visual contrast, while those with CR1 variants were at a 40% greater risk of such problems.

Like C3, both C1QAand CR1 are genes involved in the complement pathway.

These results showed that early complement pathway gene variants were consistently associated with structural and functional measures of multiple sclerosis severity. These results from unbiased analyses are strongly supported by several prior reports that mechanistically implicated early complement factors in neurodegeneration, the researchers wrote.

We believe that our study opens up a new line of investigation targeting complement genes as a potential way to treat disease progression and nerve cell death, Calabresi said in the release.

[O]ther researchers discovered that complement proteins bind to the connections between neurons and helps them grow in specific directions. But, too much complement was found to causes damage to the nerve cells, eventually killing them. Our findings fit well into this system, he added.

The team believes that these three genes could also be used as markers to monitor and predict disease progression and severity.

Our next step will be to repeat these studies in larger populations, said Kathryn Fitzgerald, ScD,a Johns Hopkins professor and the studys lead author of the study.

Animal studies are likely to follow, to detail how the complement system is involved in neurodegeneration during MS. From there we can possibly think about how to design new therapies, Fitzgerald said.

Ana is a molecular biologist with a passion for discovery and communication. As a science writer she looks for connecting the public, in particular patient and healthcare communities, with clear and quality information about the latest medical advances. Ana holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, where she specialized in genetics, molecular biology, and infectious diseases

Total Posts: 1,053

Patrcia holds her PhD in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. She has studied Applied Biology at Universidade do Minho and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Instituto de Medicina Molecular in Lisbon, Portugal. Her work has been focused on molecular genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites.

Continue reading here:
Mutations in 3 Genes Linked to MS Severity and Vision Loss in Hopkins Study - Multiple Sclerosis News Today

It's a phone call no one ever wants to answer. "He said 'Scotty's come face-to-face with a suicide car bomb and it exploded. There's shrapnel in both of his eyes and I don't know if he's going to live'," Tiffany Smiley recalled.In April of 2005, Tiffany's husband Scott Smiley was serving in Iraq. That's when a car bomb took his vision away and could have taken his life. "My eyesight was taken when he blew his car up. And then I found myself woken up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center blind for the rest of my life," Scott said.His wife, Tiffany, said in the moment, her world blew into a million pieces. She said she was presented paperwork to begin his medical retirement. She chose not to sign them.The doctors said 'Mrs. Smiley, you have power of attorney. Sign the paperwork to begin his medical retirement.' And I looked at them and I said 'no'," Tiffany said.Those papers would have retired Scott from the thing that gave him purpose. She couldn't do that."I took the paperwork, I put it in a drawer and I truly believed that there had to be another path," Tiffany added.Scott said that the journey has been tough, but he wouldn't trade it for anything. "It was my wife and family and friends that stood by me and enabled me, not only to forgive but to begin my recovery," Scott explained."He went on to become the first blind active duty officer to continue service to our country. He wrote a book, became a teacher, we had three beautiful boys along this journey," Tiffany said. It's the Smiley's story of perseverance that has impacted so many people.

It's a phone call no one ever wants to answer.

"He said 'Scotty's come face-to-face with a suicide car bomb and it exploded. There's shrapnel in both of his eyes and I don't know if he's going to live'," Tiffany Smiley recalled.

In April of 2005, Tiffany's husband Scott Smiley was serving in Iraq.

That's when a car bomb took his vision away and could have taken his life.

"My eyesight was taken when he blew his car up. And then I found myself woken up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center blind for the rest of my life," Scott said.

His wife, Tiffany, said in the moment, her world blew into a million pieces. She said she was presented paperwork to begin his medical retirement.

She chose not to sign them.

The doctors said 'Mrs. Smiley, you have power of attorney. Sign the paperwork to begin his medical retirement.' And I looked at them and I said 'no'," Tiffany said.

Those papers would have retired Scott from the thing that gave him purpose. She couldn't do that.

"I took the paperwork, I put it in a drawer and I truly believed that there had to be another path," Tiffany added.

Scott said that the journey has been tough, but he wouldn't trade it for anything.

"It was my wife and family and friends that stood by me and enabled me, not only to forgive but to begin my recovery," Scott explained.

"He went on to become the first blind active duty officer to continue service to our country. He wrote a book, became a teacher, we had three beautiful boys along this journey," Tiffany said.

It's the Smiley's story of perseverance that has impacted so many people.

Originally posted here:
Army Major shares story of loss and triumph - KETV Omaha

By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The city saw at least 40 cases of firecracker-related injuries in just the first two days. Unfortunately, the number of cases did not come down even on the last day of Deepavali.

Sankara Eye Hospital in the city received 16 cases of eye injuries on Tuesday, of which eight of the patients were children. Minto Eye Hospital received six cases of eye injuries caused by firecrackers and unfortunately, two of these patients lost their vision in one eye.

Pavan (22), a resident of Chikagolaratti, was a patient. He had placed a Lakshmi bomb in a paint box to increase the noise level. When the bomb burst, the lid of the paint box flew in the air and hit his right eye. Pavan has now lost sight in his right eye.

The impact of the hot paint lid hitting him and the chemicals in the crackers impacted his eye and he has lost his vision in the right eye. We did a surgery in order to retain the globe but now he has lost his eye permanently and in the left eye he had multiple corneal foreign objects, which were cleared, said Dr Sujatha Rathod, Director of Minto Eye Hospital.

In a similar incident, 13-year-old Rohan tried bursting a bomb inside a pipe in order to make it even louder. But due to the impact of the cracker, the pipe flew in the air and hit Rohans right eye.

Rohan was unable to perceive light and it is clear that he has lost his vision in the right eye. His is also a global rupture, Rathod added.

Narayana Nethralaya, Super Speciality Eye Care Hospital, had 10 cases on Monday. They were all minor cases with most of them coming with red-eye and they were cured immediately, a spokesperson from Narayana Nethralaya said.

Manipal Hospital received patients who suffered from hearing issues. We received two cases of adults who suffered persistent ringing in the ears, called tinnitus, and minimal hearing loss owing to noise levels crossing 125 decibels. This could turn into a life long malady if left untreated. If not, it is either self-resolving or can be rectified with medication, said Dr Vijay Rangachari, consultant ENT surgeon, Manipal Hospitals, Whitefield.

Cleaning up: BBMP draws rangolis, educates citizens

A day after the Deepavali revelry, many streets were strewn with cardboard boxes, paper, burnt sparklers and firecrackers, to say the least. On Sunday and Monday, pourakarmikas gathered all such waste from all the 198 wards and assembled the garbage in all the wards.

On Tuesday, the waste was kept in one spot to show the citizens what they have left behind. The message we wanted to give is that this too is their waste and they must take responsibility to clean it up. We got them to join us in sweeping the waste, said Sandhya, medical health officer, BBMP. Colourful rangolis were drawn at the spots where the black spots were.

View original post here:
Bengaluru: Revellers lose sight of safety and also their eyesight on Deepavali - The New Indian Express

Glaucoma is often underestimated by patients. Allergans new campaign, My Glaucoma, looks to raise awareness of the seriousness of the disease, withreal patient and caregiver perspectives on the difficulties of living with it.

The campaign is informed in part by research that Allergan, which markets the glaucoma-fighting treatments Lumigan and Alphagan, did in conjunction with the Glaucoma Research Foundation.They found that while 3 in 4 patients are concerned they will lose their vision to glaucoma, 40% consider it to be only somewhat serious or not serious at all.

In fact, 27% of patients will go blind in one eye over a 10-year period, according to research published inthe American Journal of Ophthalmology.

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RELATED: Eye-med maker Allergan takes on preventable blindness with nationwide vision-screening push

As a pharma company in eye care, Allergan feels responsible that there needs to be more awareness around this. We didnt do this in isolation, we partnered with Glaucoma Research Foundation and did a survey of 500 patients with glaucoma that provided challenges and things that impact their lives, Matthew Bolton, Allergan's executive director of glaucoma marketing, said.

But unlike with the company's previous initiatives, this is "one of the first times we've approached glaucoma from a caregiver's lens," he said.

"I think a lot of times people think about glaucoma and the challenges just that that personal patient experiences, but it impacts a lot of people around them," Bolton added.

In online videos, for instance, the husband and son of Patrice, who has lost 60% of her eyesight to glaucoma, talk about her struggle and its effects on them. Her husband Bob talks about having to give up playing tennis in a group of friends.

RELATED: Rapper Common joins Allergan to warn in rhymeand swirling colorabout vision loss

It was kind of new to me in a sense, how does it affect your life. I didnt really realize. It took me a while to catch on as far as some of the things she needed me to do, her husband Bob says. His voice breaks and he sheds tears as he advises people who are having trouble seeing to get checked before it gets worse. Because it will get worse. Thats what happened to my wife. And it was too late. She makes up for it, but she still cant do a lot of stuff," he says.

The website also includes fact sheets and discussion guides. Another feature on the site is a visual that allows visitors to slide a button to see for themselves the loss of vision over time to glaucoma. The campaign launched on World Sight Day in October but will continue to run through the year and beyond,with additions and evolved content, Bolton said.

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Allergan drives home the seriousness of glaucoma with latest awareness campaign - FiercePharma

PUBLISHED: 14:59 04 November 2019 | UPDATED: 15:28 04 November 2019

Reece Hanson

Nick Barber (right) marching at the Cenotaph. PHOTO: Blind Veterans UK.

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A blind air force veteran who lost his sight through two rare eye conditions has hailed a charity for "changing his life."

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Nick Barber joined the Royal Air Force as a police dog handler in 1983, serving in the UK and in Germany at RAF Laarbruch, the training base for dogs.

He also completed a tour in the Falkland Islands where he was responsible for moving the dog handling facility from Stanley to RAF Mount Pleasant.

In 2001, he lost his sight through a combination of Bull's Eye Maculopathy and the genetic condition Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Mr Barber said: "If you imagine a normal sighted person's sight is like a beach ball, mine is like a ping pong ball.

"I've got some sight in the centre of my vision but absolutely no peripheral vision.

"Losing my sight hit me really hard and that first six months was terribly frustrating with not knowing what was causing it and finding out there was no treatment. I had to give up my job and was left feeling very depressed.

After discovering the charity Blind Veterans UK, Mr Barber has rediscovered a love for photography, going on to run courses at the charity's training and rehabilitation centres in Brighton and Llandudno.

He said: "My wife and I went for an induction week at the charity's Brighton Centre, which was very nerve-wracking for both of us beforehand.

"A man called Martin showed us around the whole building and at the end we found out he had no sight at all. This was a kick up the backside for me and from then on I haven't looked back.

"The biggest affect it had was the one-to-one meetings encouraging me to talk about how I felt about blindness which then made it easier to discuss with my wife. That changed both our lives."

On Remembrance Sunday, Mr Barber will march with 100 other blind veterans at the Cenotaph in London.

He said: "Being at the Cenotaph is different to anything else. Even the build-up is electric. You feel hugely proud and the hairs on the back of your neck really do stand up.

"The day is all about remembering all those who have served and fallen in war. My grandad served and was injured in the First World War and I always think of him during the silence."

Continue reading here:
Air force veteran's fight against blindness from two rare conditions - Eastern Daily Press

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) refers to a group of retinal eye diseases that cause progressive loss of central vision, leaving the peripheral or side vision intact. The condition affects the ability to read, drive, recognise faces and perform activities that require detailed vision.

AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness in Australia, responsible for 50% of all cases of blindness. Vision Australia reports that a person is considered legally blind if they cannot see, at six metres, what someone with normal vision can see at 60 metres or if their field of vision is less than 20 degrees in diameter.

AMD affects one in seven Australians over 50 years and is projected to increase with the nations ageing population.

A recent survey commissioned by the Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) found that although awareness of AMD is high, one in three Australians have not had their macula checked in the last two years.

In partnership with the MDFA, Novartis has launched the See Whats Next campaign to remind older Australians of the importance of regular eye tests to protect against macular degeneration.

The campaign created a video to simulate what life is like for someone living with AMD.

Detecting the disease early can provide a window of opportunity to avoid or delay the burden of vision loss on both the patient and their families. The earlier that AMD is detected, the earlier steps can be taken to help slow its progression and save sight through treatment and/or lifestyle modifications.

The MDFA advises that an optometrist or ophthalmologist should be sought immediately in the case of any sudden changes to vision.

The early signs of AMD may not always be noticeable, but with wet (neovascular) AMD, the most aggressive form, vision changes are often sudden and severe, said MDFA CEO Dee Hopkins.

At the Macular Disease Foundation Australia, we believe in the value of awareness and early detection. It is important to have your eyes examined and macula checked by an eyecare professional on a regular basis.

AMD often affects the ability to read, drive, recognise faces and perform activities that require detailed vision.

Paul Mitchell, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney and Director at the Centre for Vision Research at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, emphasised the importance of seeking help early.

Wet AMD typically causes rapid and severe vision loss, particularly if untreated.

Current anti-VEGF therapy has now been shown in many countries to be associated with a major reduction in blindness and visual impairment from wet AMD. As overall AMD prevalence and incidence are exponentially age related, the ageing of the Australian population is leading to an increase in presentation of wet AMD cases, he explained.

It is critical for the best outcomes from treatment of wet AMD that patients present as soon as possible after developing worsening vision. Regular eye examinations with sensitive testing of retinal function are critical to achieving early diagnosis of wet AMD; the starting vision is the principal determinant of the final vision after treatment, and wet AMD leads to scarring that leads to permanent vision loss.

The aim should be to see patients within days or a week or two of new symptoms, or signs indicating possible progression to wet AMD, Professor Mitchell said.

Two-thirds of AMD-related blindness is caused by wet (neovascular) AMD, a condition that affects 133,000 Australians. Wet AMD is caused by the formation of fragile blood vessels that leak fluid and blood within and under the retina.

As a chronic, degenerative eye disease, wet AMD often has a rapid and devastating impact on patients lives, causing them to lose their independence and struggle to do the things the things they enjoy, particularly if the disease is not managed early.

Dry (atrophic) AMD iscaused by the gradual lossof retinal cells. It may lead to a gradual loss of central vision. Currently there is no treatment available for the dry form.

Read more here:
The importance of early detection in macular degeneration - Australian Hospital + Healthcare Bulletin

New York City, NY: November 04, 2019 Published via (Wired Release) Global Gesture Recognition Market 2019 can be defined as a board in which proficiency test is done to get the statistical surveying Gesture Recognition Market informationwhich will be useful for the new market participants or recognized Gesture Recognition players. Huge informatic data is enclosed in Gesture Recognition market examine through which a record of an advantageous hot spot for investigators, administrators, Gesture Recognition industry specialist and additionally other important individuals prepare to-access alongside Gesture Recognition self-structured examination together side tables and charts which help to derive Gesture Recognition market patterns, drivers and currency or financial battles. As a combination of the Linear Motors data coordination and investigation limits with the findings that are appropriate. Similarly, this report has predicted a strong future rise of this Gesture Recognition market in each geographic and its segments.

The analysis starts up by Gesture Recognition market survey and continues on expanded probabilities of this Gesture Recognition market. By considering all elements examination of this Gesture Recognition market is done from the report. Upstream/downstream, customer analysis, development platform, Gesture Recognition industry change tendency, recommendations, firm outlook, income offer are also included in this Gesture Recognition examination. In this report SWOT analysis of their best players from the Gesture Recognition market are also provided.

Growth Focusing on Major Key Players- Apple Inc, eyeSight Technologies Ltd., Infineon Technologies AG, Cognitec Systems GmbH, GestureTek Inc, PointGrab Ltd., SoftKinetic-Optrima S.A., Cross Match Technologies Inc, Elliptic Laboratories AS, Intel Corporation

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Global Gesture Recognition Market: Regional Segment Analysis

North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico)

Europe (Russia, France, Germany, UK, and Italy)

Asia-Pacific (China Korea, India, Japan, and Southeast Asia)

South America (Brazil, Columbia, Argentina, etc)

The Middle East and Africa (Nigeria, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and South Africa)

Global Gesture Recognition Market Segmentation Analysis:

Segmentation by technology:

Touch-based Gesture Recognitiono Multi-Touch Systemo Motion GestureTouchless Gesture Recognitiono Capacitive/Electric Fieldo Infrared Arrayo Ultrasonic Technologyo 2D Camera-Based Technologyo 3D Vision TechnologiesSegmentation by end-use industry:

Aerospace & DefenseAutomotiveConsumer ElectronicsHealthcareOther Industries (Educational Hub, Advertisement & Communication, Gaming)

Key Highlights of the Gesture Recognition Market Research Report:

The report summarizes the Gesture Recognition Market by stating basic product definition, number of product applications, product scope, product cost and price, supply and demand ratio, market overview.

Competitive landscape of all leading key players along with their business strategies, approaches, and latest Gesture Recognition market movements.

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It performs a comprehensive study of emerging players of Gesture Recognition business along with the existing ones.

It accomplishes primary and secondary research and resources to estimate top products, market size, and industrial partnerships of Gesture Recognition business.

Global Gesture Recognition market report ends by articulating research findings, data sources, results, list of dealers, sales channels, businesses and distributors along with an appendix.

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The researchers have provided quantitative and qualitative analysis along with absolute opportunity assessment in the report. Also, the report offers Porters Five Forces analysis and PESTLE analysis for more detailed contrast studies. Each section of the report has something valuable to offer to companies for improving their sales and marketing strategy, gross margin, and profit margins. Using the report as a tool for gaining insightful Gesture Recognition market analysis, players can identify the much-required changes in their operation and improve their approach to doing business. Moreover, they will be able to give a tough competition to other players of the global Gesture Recognition market while identifying key growth pockets.

The report provides all-inclusive information to identify market segments that help to improve the quality of business decision-making based on demand, sales, and production based on application-level analysis and regional level. Gesture Recognition report provides data analyzed graphically for a better explanation. Our experts have crafted the detailed study of Gesture Recognition market 2019 in a structured format for better interpretation.

Chapters Covered In Global Gesture Recognition Industry 2019 :

Chapter 1: Definition, Specifications, Classification, Introduction and Scope the Gesture Recognition market 2019

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summery like Manufacturer cost structure, Industry chain structure, suppliers, etc

Chapter 3: Drivers, Displays Trends, and Challenges of the Gesture Recognition market

Chapter 4: By the study of SWOT analysis its investment analysis, displays sales analysis, market analysis, etc

Chapter 5: It evaluates the market by share, segments, by countries, and by manufacturers with revenue and sales by key countries in these various regions.

Chapter 6: Evaluate the leading key vendors of the Global Gesture Recognition market which consists of its Competitive Landscape.

Chapter 7: Gesture Recognition Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, system and information source

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Effective Tactics of Gesture Recognition Market Development History Forecast 2028 | Apple Inc, eyeSight Technologies Ltd. - 5Gigs News

Elmwood Park, NJ, Nov. 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioReference Laboratories, Inc., an OPKO Health Company, along with its genetics and genomics laboratory, GeneDx, and womens health division, GenPath, today announced the presentation of new research from its genetics program at the National Society for Genetic Counselors (NSGC) 38th Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, UT from November 5-8. Multiple poster presentations will demonstrate the companys commitment to advancing the research of rare genetic disorders and hereditary conditions, and supporting the genetic counseling community.

Each year NSGC offers a distinct opportunity for genetic counselors and other professionals to learn about the many advancements and extensive research completed within the genetics community, said Jon R. Cohen, M.D., Executive Chairman of BioReference Laboratories. This year, we are proud to add to that body of research with multiple papers, including two that were nominated for best paper, as well as contribute to the networking opportunities throughout the show.

A key focus at GeneDxs booth (#501) is to educate providers about how the laboratory is working to expand genetic testing answers with RNA Studies on select exome and genome results. The adjacent GenPath booth (#611) will highlight the companys full service capabilities as a womens health specialty lab, from preconception through delivery, with a focus on genetic test offerings.

The full set of research to be presented throughout the show includes:

How to Avoid Legal and Ethical Pitfalls as a Genetic Counselor

The Frequency of Cancer-Related Secondary Findings in a Cohort of Individuals Undergoing Clinical Exome Sequencing

Outcomes of Panel Testing in the Context of a Known Familial Variant

Presentation and Germline Status of Individuals Referred for Multigene Hereditary Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Leukemia Testing

Utility and Diagnostic Rates of Exome Sequencing for Ataxia-Related Disorders

Relationship Between Phenotypic Complexity and Diagnostic Results from a Large Autism/Intellectual Disability Panel

Trio-based Genetic Testing for Leukodystrophies: High Positive Diagnostic Rate in Both Adults and Children

Lack of Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in Individuals with DMPK CTG Repeat Expansions

Short-term, Defined Mentorship Program Between Genetic Counselors and Genetic Counseling Assistants

For more information about these sessions, please visit https://www.nsgc.org/conference.

About GeneDx, Inc.

GeneDx, Inc. is a global leader in genomics, providing testing to patients and their families from more than 55 countries. Led by its world-renowned whole exome sequencing program, GeneDx has an acknowledged expertise in rare and ultra-rare genetic disorders, as well as one of the broadest menus of sequencing services available among commercial laboratories. GeneDx offers a suite of additional genetic testing services, including diagnostic testing for hereditary cancers, cardiac, mitochondrial, neurological disorders, prenatal diagnostics and targeted variant testing. GeneDx is a subsidiary of BioReference Laboratories, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of OPKO Health, Inc. To learn more, please visit http://www.genedx.com.

About BioReference Laboratories, Inc.

BioReference provides comprehensive testing to physicians, clinics, hospitals, employers, government units, correctional institutions and medical groups. The company is in network with the five largest health plans in the United States, operates a network of 10 laboratory locations, and is backed by a medical staff of more than 160 MD, PhD and other professional level clinicians and scientists. With a leading position in the areas of genetics, womens health, maternal fetal medicine, oncology and urology, BioReference and its specialty laboratories, GenPath and GeneDx, are advancing the course of modern medicine. For more information, visithttps://www.bioreference.com.

About OPKO Health, Inc.

OPKO Health is a diversified healthcare company. In diagnostics, its BioReference Laboratories is one of the nation's largest full service laboratories; GeneDx is a rapidly growing genetic testing business; the 4Kscore prostate cancer test is used to confirm an elevated PSA to help decide about next steps such as prostate biopsy; Claros 1 is a point-of-care diagnostics platform with a total PSA test approved by the FDA. In our pharmaceutical pipeline, RAYALDEE is our first pharmaceutical product to be marketed. OPK88003, a once-weekly oxyntomodulin for type 2 diabetes and obesity recently reported positive data from a Phase 2 clinical trial. Its among a new class of GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonists. OPK88004, a SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator) is currently being studied for various potential indications. The companys most advanced product utilizing its CTP technology, a once-weekly human growth hormone for injection, successfully met its primary endpoint and key secondary endpoints in a Phase 3 study and is partnered with Pfizer. OPKO also has research, development, production and distribution facilities abroad. More information is available at http://www.opko.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), which statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding advancing the research of rare genetic disorders and hereditary conditions, as well as other non-historical statements about our expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding our business, technologies and products, financial condition, strategies or prospects. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described in the OPKO Health, Inc. Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed and to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, the regulatory process for new products and indications, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA.

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BioReference Laboratories and GeneDx to Present at NSGC 2019, Demonstrating Commitment to Genetic Counselors and the Research of Rare Genetic...

MULTIPLE sclerosis campaigners have hailed a huge step forward for patients in Scotland after a stem cell therapy was recommended for use on the NHS for the first time.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been described as a game-changer for MS after an international clinical trial showed that it could reboot patients immune systems and halt the progress of the disease.

Some patients who had been in wheelchairs prior to treatment said their condition improved so dramatically it was like they had never been diagnosed with MS.

READ MORE: Scots MS patients 'missing out' on pioneering stem cell treatment available in England

The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) said there is now sufficient evidence for it to recommend making HSCT available on the NHS in Scotland to MS patients who have the relapsing-remitting form of the disease, and who were not responding to drug treatments.

Iain Robertson, chairman of the SHTG, said: Our committee members were able to advise that this treatment should be considered for those with this particular type of MS who have not responded to treatment with disease-modifying therapies.

We hope that our advice will be of use in helping decide the best course of treatment for these patients.

The SHTG also stressed that patients must be made aware of the demands, risks and uncertainties of the treatment, which uses chemotherapy to wipe out patients' 'faulty' immune systems before replenishing it with a transplant of stem cells harvested from their own bone marrow.

It puts patients at high risk from infections, which can be fatal, but the theory is that the treatment works by enabling patients to 'reset' their immune system to stop it attacking the central nervous system as is the case in MS.

READ MORE: Anger of Scots MS patients travelling abroad for stem cell therapy available to some on NHS England

HSCT is not considered an effective treatment for patients with the progressive form of MS, however, as stem cells cannot regrow nerves or repair damaged myelin - the protective sheath which coats nerves.

It will also be unavailable to patients with relapsing-remitting MS who no longer show signs of inflammation on an MRI brain scan.

Scotland has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, but until now Scottish patients seeking HSCT have had to travel overseas to Mexico, Russia and Israel and bankroll their own private treatment at a cost of around 40-60,000.

It has also been available privately in London since 2017, but with a 100,000 price tag.

A small number of MS patients in England have been able to access the treatment on the NHS, however, because there are clinical trials into HSCT taking place at NHS hospitals in Sheffield and London.

Morna Simpkins, director of MS Society Scotland, said: The decision from SHTG to approve HSCT for the treatment of MS is good news and could help in the development of a clear pathway, for people who could potentially benefit, to access it.

We will push to ensure that this decision leads to real change for people with MS by continuing to engage with other groups to offer the treatments, including HSCT, which are right for them.

READ MORE: Stem cells help mother with MS make 'remarkable' recovery

The SHTG said eligible patients must have equal access to the procedures regardless of where they live, but it is unlikely all health boards will be able to provide it.

The MS Society wants a centre, or centres, of excellence set up where patients from across Scotland can be referred.

Lucy Clarke from the Scottish HSCT Network said the recommendation was "a huge step forward" for people in Scotland living with MS.

Ms Clarke underwent HSCT in Russia and credits it with substantially reversing her disability.

She added: This important decision supports HSCT as a treatment option where other treatments have failed. We will continue to push so that this treatment is available to people in Scotland who need it.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: We are grateful to the Scottish Health Technologies Group for this important work.

"NHS Boards are expected to consider their advice on technologies in the planning and provision of its services and clinicians are expected to follow their professional judgement, working within the management structure of their Board.

We will work closely with MS Society Scotland, other third sector bodies and the clinical community to consider what the Technologies Groups findings means for provision in Scotland, including the information that needs to be available to people about eligibility and risks.

More:
Stem cell therapy approved for MS patients in Scotland - HeraldScotland

The Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) market report offers a sorted out perspective by the simplified information connected to Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) Market. The Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) Market gives a wide stage offering numerous open doors for different businesses, firms, associations, and start-ups. This report also comprises authenticate estimations to grow universally by contending among themselves and giving better and agreeable administrations to the clients.

With the slowdown in world economic growth, the Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 0.119642753799 from 2911.0 million $ in 2014 to 5122.0 million $ in 2019, Our analysts believe that in the next few years, Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2024, The market size of the Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) will reach 14320.0 million $.

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Global Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) market report includes PESTLE analysis, competitive landscape, and Porters five force model. Market attractive analysis wherein all the segments are benchmarked based on the market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.

The report underscores the segmentation analysis of the global Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) market which is based on vital market segments such as types, regions, applications, technologies, and end-users. The proposed segmentation analysis helps clients in precisely targeting the actual market size and selecting the most lucrative segments for their Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) businesses. Eventually, the report drives clients to make informed market decisions and build effective business stratagems.

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Some of the key players operating in the global Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) market are: Janssen, Qiagen, Advanced Cell Diagnostics, ApoCell, Biofluidica, Clearbridge Biomedics, CytoTrack, Celsee, Fluxion, Gilupi, Cynvenio, On-chip, YZY Bio, BioView, Creatv MicroTech, Fluidigm, Ikonisys, AdnaGen, IVDiagnostics, Miltenyi Biotec, Aviva Biosciences Corporation, ScreenCell, Silicon Biosystems

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) Market Growth by Types: CellSearch, Oncoquick, ISET, MACS

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) Market Extension by Applications: Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

The Global version of this report with a geographical classification would cover regions: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa)

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Other important pointers included in the report: The study presents major market drivers that will augment the Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) market commercialization landscape. The study delivers a detailed analysis of these propellers that will impact the profit matrix of this industry positively. The study presents information about the pivotal challenges restraining market expansion.

We are grateful to you for reading our report. If you wish to find more details of the report or want a customization, contact us. If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.

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Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) Market 2019 to 2024 Structure with Top down & Bottom up Approach, Technological Trends...

Editors Note: Sponsored content brought to you by Aspen Valley Hospital

Theres often a myth that assisted living somehow equates to a loss of independence, but residents often find more time to add healthy, meaningful activities into their daily lives when household chores are eliminated.

In Aspen, senior living at Whitcomb Terrace focuses on enhancing residents quality of life by providing an environment that is stimulating, nurturing, active and fun.

More and more evidence-based research suggests there are a number of benefits to senior-living residences versus remaining at home, said Dr. Joshua Seymour, medical director at Whitcomb Terrace in Aspen. The programming at Whitcomb Terrace provides the optimal structure from routine meals, regular exercise and memory stimulating activities, that lifts mood, lowers anxiety and improves memory.

The not-for-profit community, owned by Aspen Valley Hospital, has just 15 total residences, providing a family-like atmosphere that feels warm and welcoming for residents yet offers privacy and autonomy for those who want it.

Whitcombs current openings present a singular opportunity for Aspen Valley locals to claim a rare spot at Aspens premiere place to age well, said Whitcombs Director Maggie Gerardi, who has worked at the community for more than 18 years.

Timing is everything

Seniors and their loved ones often wait until daily chores and tasks become impossible before making the decision to move to an assisted living environment, but the time when seniors and their loved ones should start considering a senior living community is long before they think they need it.

So often people move in, and love it so much that they wish they had made the transition years before, Gerardi said. People dont realize the negative impact loneliness and isolation have on ones quality of life.

Meredith Daniel, activities coordinator at Whitcomb Terrace and a former, long-time performer at The Crystal Palace, said determining when this transition is an appropriate choice for a family member or loved one, or even for yourself, is understandably hard.

However, weve observed there are benefits derived from giving the responsibilities of daily life over to a qualified and loving team, Daniel said. Quality of life is naturally enhanced by social interaction, activity stimulation, and the relaxation that comes with having your daily needs met.

Your life, only better

The brain is just like a muscle that needs exercise when its not utilized, signs of depression and dementia can worsen, Dr. Seymour said. The National Institute on Aging reports that social isolation and loneliness are linked to higher risks of physical and mental conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimers disease, and even death.

Living in a communal environment with others it just makes people happier, he said, referencing both medical research and personal observations as medical director at Whitcomb Terrace. Many mild types of depression and dementia can be lifted.

While this type of living environment has been shown to lead to longevity, its never forced upon residents at Whitcomb Terrace. Not all residents want to participate in all of the activities or programs and thats OK residents can maintain their personal freedom and privacy while also taking advantage of the services and amenities provided, Gerardi said.

Grateful relatives

In 1960, mom came to ski bum in Aspen and worked for Drs. Whitcomb, Oden and Gould, said daughter Lisa Prior, who returned home to Aspen when it was time for her mother, Sharon, to relinquish some of the burdens of living independently. Dr. Whit was our family doctor so its really wonderful to feel his care living on in this way. Because Whitcomb Terrace is a small community, mom knitted right in with the other residents. The quality of care is so personal, everyone there has different aging issues, and the incredible staff are very responsive. Theres really nothing like it. Having mom at Whitcomb has erased the eldercare anxiety my sister, Bailey, and I have been living with for a few years now. And the icing on the cake is that our time with mom is not taken up with chores we hang out or head out to experience all the things we love about the Roaring Fork Valley.

An engaged community

Positive energy permeates through the community, where residents encourage each other to attend art shows, go for walks outside, head to the theater or to any other activity that piques their interests.

Residents get together daily to enjoy their shared interests, whether its through art, puzzles, bridge, Scrabble, movies, walking, music theyre often creating their own experiences together, Gerardi said.

With just 15 residents at maximum capacity, it really does create a family atmosphere staff included. Residents have their private apartments, and they also have the ability to go out as often as they like, participating in the same activities they did before moving in.

We provide a variety of opportunities for enrichment to encourage residents to remain active, Gerardi said. We have amazing meals and staff who cares for residents like family. We also acknowledge some residents choose to keep the same routines and independence they had prior to moving in. We treat each resident as an individual.

The best care and the best value in the valley

Whitcomb Terraces 15 senior living apartments have been recently renovated, and the cost is more affordable than people might expect. There are four apartment styles, ranging from small studios to large one-bedroom units, ranging from $3,500 to $6,000 per month. The price is all-inclusive of services, meals, salon services and more.

Whitcomb Terrace has several rare openings right now. For more information about the communitys services and amenities, visit aspenvalleyhospital.org/Whitcomb-Terrace-Assisted-Living.

To learn more about becoming a resident, contact Maggie Gerardi at 970-544-1530, or mgerardi@aspenhospital.org.

See the article here:
Social interaction and purpose are essential to longevity - Aspen Times

Want to retire more comfortably? Work longer.

A Stanford University study on the financial benefits of delaying retirement until age 70 found that seniors can gain a significant amount of Social Security income to help offset drawing down their retirement savings.

The May 2019 joint report by the Stanford Center on Longevity and the Society of Actuaries studied how middle-income retirees can best maximize their financial power so they'll have enough to live on as they age.

"Viability of the Spend Safely in Retirement Strategy" found that working even a few extra years can mean a significant increase in retirement income. Most of the increased income comes from delaying Social Security benefits and not drawing down savings from your retirement account.

The "spend safely in retirement strategy" starts with the assumption that most older workers will fall short of commonly recommended retirement income goals -- unless they can continue to work into their late 60s or 70s.

But there are ways to manage even retirement income.

The spend-safely strategy anticipates that middle-income retirees will rely heavily on Social Security benefits. A previous 2017 study by the researchers found that among middle-income retirees who use the spend-safely strategy to build a retirement income, Social Security benefits represent between two-thirds to more than 80% of the portfolio. The dominance of Social Security benefits in the portfolio dampens the volatility in total retirement income from more aggressive investments, such as having a large proportion of stocks. Social Security benefits protect against the risks of longevity, inflation and market changes. The main drawback is if political winds shift and reduce Social Security payouts, the authors wrote.

The study examined 292 different retirement-income strategies. They also looked at five hypothetical models: people who retired completely at age 62 and started Social Security benefits; those who kept working part or full time until full-retirement age 66 1/2; and those who worked part or full time until age 70 before taking the benefits and drawing from their savings.

In one scenario, a 62-year-old, middle-income couple retiring in 2019 has a combined $100,000 household income and $350,000 in retirement savings. Their retirement income would be $70,755 if they worked full time until age 70. If they worked full time until age 66 1/2, their retirement income would drop to $53,031 annually. Retiring at age 62, they would have to live on just $37,585. The amounts are not adjusted for inflation.

Starting with more money doesn't necessarily mean retirees will be better off as they age, the researchers found.

An affluent couple with a $200,000 combined pre-retirement income and $1 million in retirement savings by age 60 would have a retirement income of $69,481 at age 62 and $128,156 if they worked full time until age 70.

Although a seemingly better financial outcome, the affluent couple would also fall short of their common retirement income goals. They would be taking proportionately more income from their savings compared to the middle-income couple. As a result, they have more income subject to the savings-eroding factors, such as longevity, investment and inflation risks, the report found. The researchers suggest the more affluent couple could benefit from refining their strategy or finding alternatives to the spend-safely model.

Since many retirees have inadequate savings, the analysis looked at strategies for boosting retirement income. A large portion of retirement income would come from Social Security, so retirees might put much of their savings in investments such as stocks -- the theory being they have little to lose and potentially much to gain with significant investments.

"If they invest mostly in fixed-income investments, they lock in their modest savings," the researchers said.

They compared retirement incomes based on ages 77 to 80 to see how nominal retirement income amounts might fare under various kinds of investments: annual income with 100% in stocks; annual income with 50/50 stock and bond allocations; and annual income with 100% invested in bonds. Over a 30-year retirement period, despite volatility, the 100% stock investment portfolio out-earned the 100% bonds or even the 50/50 stock-and-bond investments most of the time, but not always, the researchers found.

They acknowledged most retirees would not feel comfortable with a 100% investment in stocks -- even though the allocation of stocks to the total retirement income portfolio would be less than 50% when the value of Social Security benefits are included. Retirees could still benefit favorably with a 75% stock allocation, they said.

There are some savings built into retirement. Workers need a total retirement income that replaces 70% to 80% of their gross pre-retirement income to maintain their standard of living before they retired, the researchers pointed out. They won't need a 100% income replacement because retirees don't pay Federal Insurance Contributions Act payments and Medicare taxes, which account about 7.65% of pay up to the Social Security Wage Base ($132,900 in 2019). Medicare taxes kick in at 1.45% if the income is above the Social Security Wage Base, and are more for higher incomes. Retirees also pay significantly less for state and federal taxes, since a large portion of Social Security income is exempt from income taxes and taxpayers ages 65 and older have larger tax deductions.

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If you haven't turned 70 yet, don't retire - Palo Alto Online