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On Friday afternoon, multiple Rowan clubs, departments, sports teams and others in the Rowan community convened at the Intramural Field to hold the inaugural Fitness Festival in support of ALS awareness, as well as to promote fitness as part of a healthy life.

The event was also held to commemorate the life of Dr. Theresa Cone, a former Rowan Health and Exercise Science professor, who was battling ALS.

Cone passed away Sept. 27 but had planned on attending the event. Her family, including her husband (Dr. Stephen Cone, who is also a former Rowan professor), her mother and a few more of her relatives attended the event.

The Fitness Festival consisted of stations for participants to do various exercises, such as throwing medicine balls, pushing sleds and doing push-ups.

All equipment was provided by Appenzeller Training Systems, a gym located in West Berlin and owned by Rowan alumnus CJ Appenzeller. Appenzeller facilitated the opening warm-up for participants.

The festival had a high turnout of Rowan sports teams, faculty, alumni and others in the Rowan community.

The goal of the fitness part of the event was to show people that exercising is essential to being healthy, as well as something that can be fun instead of doing boring timeworn exercises like going on a treadmill or lifting weights.

William Samalonis, a sophomore human performance in clinical settings major and the president of Exercise is Medicine, spearheaded the planning of the event and emphasized the role of exercise in our lives.

The overall goal of this event, for Exercise is Medicine, is to get people excited to get active and healthy, Samalonis said. Exercise is the best preventative medicine out there; it prevents pretty much everything you can think of on the chronic spectrum of disease.

On the other hand, the event sought to raise awareness for ALS.

Also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, ALS is a disease that attacks motor neurons. Neurons control muscle movement, and as the disease progresses, those who suffer from it are unable to move their bodies.

As of now, there isnt a cure for ALS. However, the event helped to fund research to find a cure by donating 50% of the proceeds to the ALS Association, as well as helped raise awareness for the disease.

One of the participants, Claire McKissick, attended as part of a bonding activity for the swimming and diving team. Though she had become aware of the disease originally through the Ice Bucket Challenge that overtook the internet five years ago, McKissick heightened her awareness by attending the festival.

I think this definitely helps [bring awareness] because I think a lot of the attention has kind of died down a little bit with the challenge, but I think this is a really great way of reminding people that its still an issue, its still out there and its still something that we can come together and help fix, said McKissick, a senior Radio, Television and Film major.

Dr. Theresa Cone dedicated most of her life to teaching health and physical education, both in public schools and at Rowan. She focused much of her attention on promoting funding for those with disabilities.

Cone had an immense impact on those with whom she came into contact.

Dr. Gregory Biren, a health and exercise science professor and coordinator of exercise science at Rowan, was one of those people.

[She was] energetic beyond belief, compassionate beyond beliefshes the greatest teacher Ive ever met in my life, Biren said. She looks at you, she talks to you, shes patient with you, and she just has nothing but goodness to give to people to help them overcome their issues.

In light of his wifes passing, Dr. Stephen Cone had a few words to say as a reminder to everyone at the event.

Its a little sappy, he said, but Im going to say it: Love those who are close to you, bring those who are further away from you close to you. Dont waste a day; dont waste a moment.

For comments/questions about this story, emailfeatures@thewhitonline.com or tweet @TheWhitOnline.

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Rowan community hosts first annual Fitness Festival to promote fitness and ALS awareness - The Whit Online

Medical device manufacturers can now supply patients with devices that are tailored specifically to their physiology. As the nature of patient care evolves, so do global regulations governing the manufacture and supply chain for these personalized medical devices. These devices require more consistent monitoring and service and thus demand greater traceability. In the current complex environment, medical device organizations are turning to cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions to enable them to better manage their devices. The ability to maintain visibility at a global scale requires a solution that has the capacity to reach across oceans and borders while maintaining compliance. Medical device manufacturers require ERP solutions that can analyze vast volumes of data that can be used to enhance the patient experience and the quality of treatment. Cloud-based ERP gives medical device manufacturers the software and the tools they need to effectively manage personalized patient devices.

ERP solutions have evolved from being installed on-premise at a manufacturers facility to living in the cloud in order to adapt and solve the challenges posed by distance. Organizations operate on a global scale, and as their footprint expands throughout the world, so do the regulatory and compliance complexities governing their operations in various regions. Cloud-based ERP has enabled medical device manufacturers to develop more agile and responsive solutions that allow their organization to keep up with the changing nature of the industry. Regional governing bodies, like FDA, Health Canada, and European Medicines Agency, modify regional regulations and compliance expectations regularly. Recent regulation changes, such as the transition from the Medical Device Directives (MDD) and Active Implantable Medical Device Directive (AIMDD) to the Medical Device Regulation (MDR), have a direct impact on medical device management. The introduction of Unique Device Identification (UDI) allows for increased traceability of medical devices. In order for medical device manufacturers to continue operations globally, they must comply with regional requirements in each of the countries in which they operate. The cloud has allowed medtech companies to shed the one-size-fits-all approach that previously hindered the effectiveness of their ERP solutions.

Medical device manufacturers are finding that one of the most beneficial aspects of cloud-based ERP comes from the ease of gathering and sharing data and the improved decision making enabled through better analysis. Organizations can eliminate constraints posed by traditional on-premise solutions enabling businesses to operate in a more real-time capacity.

ERP solutions are feature-rich now more than ever and continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of the industry. The use of advanced technology in conjunction with an organizations ERP solution critically impacts the relationship between the manufacturing organization and its customers. ERP companies are investigating how they can utilize IoT, machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotic process automation (RPA), data lakes, and blockchain to enhance how their cloud software can improve patient outcomes.

Of these, Internet of Things (IoT) has been a primary focus for medical device manufacturers. Many medical devices are now paired with sensor technology to deliver real-time monitoring and transmission of patient information. This has allowed healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers to partner closely in providing thorough treatment to their patients across the globe. Traceability of the device gives the healthcare provider and manufacturer the opportunity to continuously and strategically monitor their devices. Manufacturers can trace a device to a particular customer and in turn analyze this patient information throughout the life span of the device to develop a comprehensive picture of the patients care. These sensors can signal when the device is malfunctioning and give the care provider an opportunity to respond quickly to preserve patient care. An ERP solution can record these malfunctions, adjustments, and repair as part of the complaint, non-conformance, and Corrective and Preventative Action (CAPA) process allowing the manufacturer to retain a comprehensive real-time Device History Record (DHR). The medical device manufacturer can gather significant data from a substantial sample of patients and analyze this data to advance R&D and develop more reliable products and treatments.

For instance, medical devices like the pacemaker can be uniquely configured to the patient and their physiology to help control the rate at which the patients heartbeats. These pacemakers have become so sophisticated that healthcare providers can now monitor and make real-time adjustments to a device inside a patients body. They monitor the patients heartbeat and relay the information, which allows the healthcare provider to develop a comprehensive healthcare plan. Patient mobility is no longer constrained, and cloud-based ERP allows real-time data to be gathered and analyzed regardless of the devices location.

Medical device management has moved beyond the confines of the walls of the hospital or doctors office. The search for improved patient outcomes has led to the emergence of personalized medicine. The strict tracking of critical device and patient information has become integral to achieving more efficient and effective care. The maturity of cloud-based ERP, through the integration of advanced technology and improved data gathering and analysis, has helped to facilitate a boom in patient-centric care.

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Medical Device Management in the World of Personalized Medicine - Medical Device and Diagnostics Industry

If your doctor told you she was going to give you a pill camera to swallow so she could see inside your intestines, would you be afraid? Already by 2008 pill cameras had been used in more than two million procedures since they were approved by the FDA in 2001, and they are becoming more common every day. When faced with the choice between a scope and swallowing a tiny pill, which sounds like a more pleasant experience? Nanotechnology in medicine is making procedures that once required anesthesia and hospital stays as simple as swallowing a pill. So whats next for nanotechnology in medicine?

Wound care is probably one of the most interesting advancements in the world of nanotechnology. There are bandages that can detect infection and dispense antibiotics right to the point of infection, both preventing the overuse of antibiotics as a preventative measure and also ensuring patients dont need constant monitoring during the healing process.

Nanotechnology can also be used to track the dosing and compliance of medications, ensuring patients who are already feeling poorly can get their medications at the right doses at the right times without forgetting whether they took it or not. Treatment non-adherence costs $290 billion in the United States from subsequent medical issues, and smart pills can help to curb those costs.

There are a wide variety of smart pills that solve a multitude of problems in a minimally invasive way, from clearing blockages to testing the gut microbiome. The question now is when will these technologies become affordable enough to be used en masse? There are also ethical concerns with certain types of technology being able to track patients or leading to vulnerabilities from hackers. Whats more, some tracking devices can enhance and confirm feelings of persecution from patients with certain types of mental health disorders.

Are you ready for the world of minimally invasive nanotechnology in medicine? Learn more about the future of nanotechnology in medicine below!

Last Updated on October 11, 2019

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Infographic: Is nanotechnology the future of medicine? - Techaeris

Riverton athletic trainer Ross Anderson met with the Worland coaches before their game on Sept. 27 to see which Warrior players had any special interests or medical histories. Thats part of his job since Worland is currently without a dedicated athletic trainer. Both sidelines have their own policies, some overlapping, when dealing with potential injuries. So they discussed those policies, knowing theyre not often implemented.

Both teams discovered policy importance and the importance of medical professionals that night.

When a Worland player was unresponsive after going to the turf, his sideline quickly signaled to the official and the referees signaled to Anderson, who came onto the field. He helped stabilize the Worland player and performed CPR on the field. The ambulance came on and the player was transported for further medical attention.

That was just one instance of a high school athlete in Wyoming undergoing a frightening medical episode. As possible head injuries across sports but especially in football continue to occur, Wyoming high schools have faced the reality of seeing those policies put into practice.

Riverton knew the value in having a dedicated medical professional, thats why they brought in Anderson. Anderson instructs CPR classes. He says regardless of that, his response came from his time at the University of Wyoming being taught by Bill Lyons, the universitys former head athletic trainer.

Its a standard of care. Any medical professional would have reacted in the same exact way and the more that we can, in our state, get athletic trainers and physicians on sidelines, the more that will help, Anderson said. When you get there you evaluate the situation as much as possible and keep a clear head as much as you can. You wonder how youll handle the situation each time but you kind of just react on training.

Anderson enacts policy set forth by Fremont County School District No. 25. They looked at the national recommendations made by the National Federation of High Schools and enacted policies adopted by the Wyoming High School Activities Association.

Communication has proven to be the key, for them, because coaches and parents alike stress the importance of athletes being forthright with possible symptoms. Riverton uses a 1-10 grade system and has literature available that instructs parents on what symptoms to watch for at each level.

With the evaluation all the way through, it helps everybody being on the same page, Anderson said. Everyone understands what we need to do.

***

Communication also proved critical in Rock Springs back in August. While Sweetwater County School District No. 1 refused to share results of its investigation into the injury that led to sophomore Jaciel Granados being life flighted to Salt Lake City, a district spokesperson did say that their results would not result in any changes to district policy when dealing with potential head injuries.

Rock Springs activities director Tom Jassman couldnt share many details with the Star-Tribune, but did stress his confidence in how the injury was handled. He was absolutely satisfied by the proactive measures taken by coaches, who pulled Granados out of a scrimmage before summoning emergency medical treatment.

Jassman stressed the key of communication when addressing potential player injury. Not only is their policy set forth by district personnel, but the communication loop keeps district officials involved. That adds the potential for more resources than limiting response between player, coach, parent and medical professional.

All Class 4A teams, like Rock Springs, and most Class 3A teams at this point, like Riverton, have designated medical professionals on-hand. Rock Springs goes through a priority checklist to ensure its athletic trainer, Jami Wiseman, is at the event where shes the most irreplaceable.

Schools below that 3A level can also attest to the importance of medical professionals, while also representing communities that dont necessarily have them readily available.

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Moorcroft, for instances, contracts a designated professional through Gillette Physical Therapy. Activities director Dusty Petz has already found benefits of that agreement, now in its fifth year. Together theyve implemented a Return to Play protocol. That starts with the universal impact testing done on each athlete in the preseason, which has become the baseline for nearly every program nationally. Then, when a possible concussion occurs, Moorcroft conducts another impact test within 24 hours of that impact, taking the player out of action if a concussion is diagnosed. All of that is essentially ordinary among programs state-wide, but its importance cannot be overstated.

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How Wyoming high schools have enacted on head injury policy - Casper Star-Tribune Online

While trauma, divorce and bereavement can send anyone into a downward spiral of depression, there are some surprising, everyday, factors that also heighten our risk for mental illness.

A leading pharmaceutical firm concerned about SAs high use of antidepressant medication has launched an education campaign to shed light on the ordinary, often unsuspecting things that could have an impact on the publics mental well-being.

Abdurahman Kenny, Central Nervous System Portfolio Manager at Pharma Dynamics says the growing incidence of depression and anxiety worldwide implies that there are other factors too that make modern-day society more vulnerable to mental illness.

Research shows that spending too much time indoors, being stuck in traffic, heavy social media use, lack of movement and even slouching could all be triggers, he says.

According to research done by Harvards Medical School, staying cooped up indoors is not only bad for our physical health, but mental health too. These days most of us spend the majority of our days inside denying our bodies of much-needed vitamin D, which may provide some protection against depression.

Kenny says exposure to sunlight increases the brains production of serotonin a hormone associated with an elevated mood. By just spending 10 to 15 minutes outside with our arms and legs exposed to the sun (without sunscreen), is enough for our bodies to produce the required amount of vitamin D.

READ:SADAG urges men to seek mental health treatment

Our indoor lifestyle has led to more than a billion people across the glove being Vitamin D deficient even in the sunnier parts of the world, such as Australia, more than a third are deficient. Evidence shows that a lack of vitamin D increases the likelihood of depression by up to 14% and suicide by 50%, so be sure to make safe sun exposure either in the morning or late afternoons a habit, he remarks.

Life satisfaction and happiness also takes a dip among those who have to suffer through long commutes to work and back. A report by the UKs National Office of Statistics showed that people who commute for longer than half an hour to work each way (regardless of the mode of transport) have greater levels of stress and anxiety.

Kenny says the average South African spends almost three hours a day in traffic, which doesnt do our mood any good. He suggests speaking to employers about working flexi-hours or from home if the type of job you do allows for this arrangement. Alternatively, put on your favourite tunes or listen to motivational or interesting podcasts to keep you positive.

Heavy social media use equal to two or more hours a day has also been associated with poor mental health. Researchers from Ottawa Public Health found that those who spend more than two hours a day on social networking sites are more likely to suffer from psychological distress and suicidal thoughts than those who spend less time online.

READ:4 ways walking can boost your mental health

Based on the latest Global Digital Yearbook published by 'We Are Social' and 'Hootsuite', South Africans already spend almost three hours a day trawling Twitter, Facebook and other social platforms about half an hour more than the average global user which can take a toll on our mental well-being.

While social media isnt all bad, its important to set boundaries, as too much time on networking sites can have damaging consequences. Commit to not checking social media at meal times and when spending time with family and friends. Also, schedule regular breaks from social media. Studies have shown that week-long breaks from Facebook can lower your stress levels and lead to higher life satisfaction. Review your social media habits and instead of spending an exhaustive 30 to 45 minutes at a time on social media, rather limit it to five minutes in the morning, afternoon and early evening.

Sitting too long also makes us anxious! According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine which tracked almost 9 000 women over a ten-year period. Researchers grouped them based on how much time they spent sitting each day (four or less hours a day or four to seven hours a day, or more than seven hours a day). Researchers found that those who were sedentary for more than seven hours a day were 47% more at risk of developing depression than those who sat for four or fewer hours a day. Women who didnt exercise at all, were 99% at risk of depressive symptoms, compared with those who exercised regularly.

Kenny says its no wonder that depression rates are on the increase when one considers that almost 40% of SA adults (men and women) are inactive based on the latest WHO statistics. Make a point of including exercise into your daily routine. Find something that you enjoy and stick to it. Exercise has shown to improve mood and forms part of a holistic treatment regime to help prevent the onset of depression.

Surprisingly, a bad posture and slouching in ones chair have also been linked to an increase in depressive symptoms.

San Francisco State University found that those who slouched felt more negative about themselves and had lower energy levels. Kenny points out that the way we sit or stand not only has an emotional effect on ourselves, but also on the way others view and treat us. So next time, pay special attention to how you sit and take notice of how you feel and how others treat you.

He also encourages the public to follow a healthy, balanced diet, getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol intake, spending quality time with friends and family, and making time for hobbies and interests, which all contribute to a healthy mental outlook.

In the past decade, depression rates have risen by nearly 20%, making it the leading cause of disability worldwide. More than 300 million people are affected and at its worst, could lead to suicide. In South Africa, an estimated 20% will experience a depressive disorder at least once in their lifetime.

This message comes in the wake of Mental Health Awareness Month this October and aims to curb climbing depression rates in the country.

If you have felt unusually down and depressed for a prolonged period and dont know who to turn to, contact Pharma Dynamics toll-free helpline on 0800 205 026, which is manned by trained counsellors who are on call from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. For additional support, visit http://www.letstalkmh.co.za.

READ:Dont ignore mental health problem warning signs

Article source:Meropa Communications on behalf of Pharma Dynamics

Image courtesy of iStock/Srdjanns74

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Shocking every day factors that can cause mental illness - East Coast Radio

Photo by Alec Douglas on Unsplash.

While trauma, divorce and bereavement can send anyone into a downward spiral of depression, there are some surprising everyday factors that also heighten the risk for mental illness.

A pharmaceutical firm, concerned about SAs high use of antidepressant medication, has launched an education campaign to shed light on the ordinary, often unsuspecting things that could have an impact on the publics mental well-being.

Abdurahman Kenny, central nervous system portfolio manager at Pharma Dynamics, stated that the growing incidence of depression and anxiety worldwide implies that there are other factors too that make modern-day society more vulnerable to mental illness.

Research shows that spending too much time indoors, being stuck in traffic, heavy social media use, lack of movement and even slouching could all be triggers, he explained.

According to research done by Harvards Medical School, staying cooped up indoors is not only bad for our physical health, but mental health too.

These days most of us spend the majority of our days inside denying our bodies of much-needed vitamin D, which may provide some protection against depression. Exposure to sunlight increases the brains production of serotonin- a hormone associated with an elevated mood. By just spending 10 to 15 minutes outside with our arms and legs exposed to the sun (without sunscreen), is enough for our bodies to produce the required amount of vitamin D, he shared.

An indoor lifestyle has led to more than a billion people across the glove being vitamin D deficient- even in the sunnier parts of the world, such as Australia, more than a third are deficient.

Evidence shows that a lack of vitamin D increases the likelihood of depression by up to 14 percent and suicide by 50 percent, so be sure to make safe sun exposure either in the morning or late afternoons a habit.

Life satisfaction and happiness also takes a dip among those who have to suffer through long commutes to work and back.

A report by the UKs National Office of Statistics showed that people, who commute for longer than half an hour to work each day(regardless of the mode of transport), have greater levels of stress and anxiety.

Kenny said the average South African spends almost three hours a day in traffic, which doesnt do moods any good.

He suggested speaking to employers about working flexi-hours or from home if the type of job you do allows for this arrangement.

Alternatively, put on your favourite tunes or listen to motivational or interesting podcasts to keep you positive, he advised.

Heavy social media use, equal to two or more hours a day, has also been associated with poor mental health.

While social media isnt all bad, its important to set boundaries, as too much time on networking sites can have damaging consequences. Commit to not checking social media at meal times and when spending time with family and friends. Also schedule regular breaks from social media, he added.

Sitting too long also makes you anxious! According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine which tracked almost 9, 000 women over a 10-year period.

Researchers grouped them based on how much time they spent sitting each day (four or less hours a day or four to seven hours a day, or more than seven hours a day). Researchers found that those, who were sedentary for more than seven hours a day, were 47 percent more at risk of developing depression than those who sat for four or fewer hours a day.

Women, who didnt exercise at all, were 99 percent at risk of depressive symptoms, compared with those, who exercised regularly.

Kenny explained that its no wonder that depression rates are on the increase when one considers that almost 40 percent of SA adults (men and women) are inactive based on the latest WHO statistics.

Make a point of including exercise into your daily routine. Find something that you enjoy and stick to it. Exercise has shown to improve mood and forms part of a holistic treatment regime to help prevent the onset of depression, he suggested.

Surprisingly, a bad posture and slouching in ones chair have also been linked to an increase in depressive symptoms.

So next time, pay special attention to how you sit and take notice of how you feel and how others treat you, he stated.

He also encouraged the public to follow a healthy, balanced diet, getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol intake, spending quality time with friends and family, and making time for hobbies and interests, which all contribute to a healthy mental outlook.

In the past decade, depression rates have risen by nearly 20 percent, making it the leading cause of disability worldwide. More than 300 million people are affected and at its worst, could lead to suicide. In South Africa, an estimated 20 percent will experience a depressive disorder at least once in their lifetime.

This message comes in the wake of Mental Health Awareness Month this October and aims to curb climbing depression rates in the country.

Read the original here:
Surprising 'everyday' factors that affect mental health - Rising Sun Chatsworth

Incidence of vincristine-induced neuropathy does not appear to be associated with nutritional deficiencies, according to research published in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.

Vincristine, a vinca alkaloid chemotherapy drug, is commonly used in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) but can lead to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, an important dose-limiting toxicity. However, little research has been conducted in patients with possible concomitant nutritional deficiencies.

Therefore, researchers conducted a prospective observational study over a period of 2 years at a childrens hospital in India. They evaluated 30 children with newly diagnosed ALL, 28 (93.3%) of whom had B-cell ALL and 2 (6.7%) of whom had T-cell ALL. Vitamin B12, folate, and serum ferritin levels were measured for all patients.

Over 4 weeks of observation, clinical peripheral neuropathy developed in 12 patients. Autonomic nervous system involvement was the most common, but involvement of the sensory and motor systems occurred as well. Electrophysiologic testing found that 15 patients (50%) had neuropathy.

Undernutrition, defined using criteria from the World Health Organization, was identified in 14 patients (46.7%). No difference was found in incidence of vincristine-induced neuropathy between patients with undernutrition (7 patients) and patients without undernutrition (8 patients). Additionally, the researchers found no correlation between presence of undernutrition and development of neuropathy (P =1.0). Levels of vitamin B12, folate, and serum ferritin were similar in children with and without neuropathy.

The researchers concluded that although optimal nerve function is dependent on a constant supply of macronutrients and micronutrients, nutritional deficiencies may not influence development of neuropathy in Indian children with ALL. However, they acknowledged that their study had some limitations, such as the inability to measure expression of CYP3A5 (an enzyme responsible for vincristine metabolism) and serum albumin and the use of ferritin to assess iron deficiency. They noted that further research is warranted to evaluate the role of micronutrient deficiencies in the development of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in childhood ALL.

Reference

Dudeja S, Gupta S, Sharma S, et al. Incidence of vincristine induced neurotoxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its correlation with nutritional deficiencies [published online September 13, 2019]. Pediatr Hematol Oncol.

This article originally appeared on Hematology Advisor

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No Link Between Nutritional Deficiencies, Vincristine-Induced Neuropathy in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia - Cancer Therapy Advisor

SAN FRANCISCO Aspirin does not appear to reduce the risk of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy development in men, according to data presented at the 2019 American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting in San Francisco, CA.

Using multivariate Cox regression models, the researchers sought to determine the relationship between certain factors (ie, age, race, BMI, diabetes, smoking status, Charlson comorbidity index, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease; aspirin, statin, warfarin, clopidogrel, sildenafil use) and a new diagnosis of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy using data from the California Mens Health Study.

Results showed that among 45,281 participants who completed surveys between 2002 and 2006, 130 individuals developed nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy between 2002 and 2015. Factors that were associated with a new diagnosis of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy included age (>60 years; hazard ratio [HR] 3.74; 95% CI 1.50 to 9.31) and long-term use of aspirin (HR 1.68; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.61).

Aspirin did not protect against a first episode of [nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy], the researchers concluded, adding that Aspirin users had a higher incidence of [nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy], most likely due to unaccounted-for confounders.

Reference

Modjtahedi, B S, et al. The Relationship Between Aspirin Use and NAION in Men. Poster number: PO252. The American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting; October 12-15 2019.

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Does Aspirin Protect Against Nonarteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Development in Men? - Monthly Prescribing Reference

Declines in global health status and quality of life, physical functioning, fatigue, and pain begin to appear 2 to 3 months before progression of the underlying malignant disease, multiple myeloma researchers said in a new study.

Whereas previous studies have focused on response rate, the quality of the response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), increased attention is being paid to QOL issues, as patients live longer and there is a greater emphasis placed on shared decision making and a greater focus being placed on QOL data, noted the authors.

This median age of the 90 patients with relapsed/refractory MM in this study was 67 years; 41% were stage I, 33% were stage II, and 26% were stage III.

Researchers found significant impairment in health-related QOL, physical, role, and social functioning and several other dimensions, as well as more pain and fatigue, compared with the general population. Induction therapy resulted in significant improvement of pain and worsening of neuropathy, with no significant change in other categories. During maintenance treatment, health-related QOL, physical functioning, and pain improved, but neuropathy did not.

Time to deterioration (10 or more score points) of health-related QOL, physical functioning, pain, and neuropathy was distinctly shorter than time to progression. Health-related QOL and physical functioning at baseline correlated with OS.

Previous studies have shown that physicians often underestimate the impact of cancer-associated symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, or pain on patients well-being, and they presume that PFS and good QOL go hand-in-hand; that is, that as long as patients maintain their response without progressing, that they are enjoying a good QoL.

That is not supported by the evidence in this study, the researchers said, which showed that global health-status/QOL, physical functioning, fatigue, and pain begin to deteriorate 2 to 3 months before progression of the underlying malignant disease.

However, better health-related QOL was associated with increased PFS, and both higher health-related QOL and physical functioning were associated with prolonged survival. Patient-reported outcome assessments are vital for understanding "individual needs and impairments, for prognostication, and for elucidating the impact of therapy on the various dimensions of QOL," the authors said.

Reference

Ludwig H, Pnisch W, Knop S, et al.Quality of life in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma during ixazomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone induction and ixazomib maintenance therapy and comparison to the general population [published online September 26, 2019].Leuk. Lymphoma. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2019.1666381.

The rest is here:

Quality of Life Declines for Patients With Relapsed or Refractory MM Before Progression Appears - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network

Global Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment Market is a complete research study which portrays the present Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment industry situations. Our latest study will provide the readers a complete knowledge about the past, present, and futuristic Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment market aspects. In the beginning, elemental information stating the basic overview, product type, applications and Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment development status is presented in this report. The key Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment market trends which have led to the development of Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment will drive useful market insights.

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PfizerRoche HoldingNovartisAmgenPrivi PharmaSilverline ChemicalsAnthem BiopharmaPraxis Pharmaceutical

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Solid OralInjectable

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HospitalsCardiac CentersAmbulatory Surgical Centers

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Hence Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment report evaluates all the crucial factors including the key players analysis, their business tactics and Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment development expected during the forecast period. The analysis of top companies, their Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment market revenue, consumer volume, emerging and existing Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment market segments will help all the market players.

View Detailed Report Here:https://market.us/report/cardiac-autonomic-neuropathy-treatment-market/

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Global Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy Treatment Market Top Insights 2020:-Novartis, Pfizer and Roche Holding - Tech News Today

With a major research university right in our backyard, a strong military presence and innovative companies throughout the metro region, theres often a plethora of interesting science and technology news to be found in Southern Arizona. Heres a breakdown of the most interesting recent developments.

Smartphones and Depression. While a growing body of evidence connects technology addiction with depression and loneliness, its been unclear which leads to the other. Does constant smartphone usage make people depressed, or are depressed people more likely to spend time on their smartphones? A new study from researchers at the University of Arizonas College of Social and Behavioral Sciences found that smartphone dependency predicts higher reports of depressive symptoms and loneliness, rather than the other way around. The study examined 346 people aged 17-20 and the links between their smartphone engagement and psychological well-being. According to researcher Matthew Lapierre, the main takeaway from the study is smartphone dependency directly predicts later depressive symptoms. The study recommended health practitioners communicate with patients and parents about the links between smartphone use and psychological well-being.

Tech Jobs in Arizona. The Arizona Technology Council recently announced Arizonas tech sector is growing at a rate 40 percent faster than the U.S. overall. The announcement was in the Arizona Technology Councils quarterly impact report, which found the state has added 2,600 technology jobs since the beginning of the year. This brings the total number of technology-related jobs in Arizona to more than 180,000. These jobs tend to be high-paying, more than average Arizona wages, with an average annual salary of more than $80,000. Even more, these types of jobs are seeing consistent wage growth. This means Arizonas technology wages are now 20 percent higher than the national average. And although these STEM-related jobs generally require higher-education, nearly 30 percent of these STEM post-secondary graduates are staying in the state to work.

Quantum Sounds. A new paper published by researchers at the University of Arizonas Department of Materials Science and Engineering shows the possibility for acoustic waves to work in quantum information processing. In traditional computing, information is stored in binary (with a value of either 0 or 1), but in quantum computing, information can be stored in both positions at once (described as a superposition). While this massively increases the potential for computing, these entangled quantum bit states, or qubits, usually last less than a second before collapsing. Units of light are used in quantum mechanics for data processing, but the UA researchers are taking this a step further. In their paper The sound of Bell states they demonstrated for the first time that classical nonseparability can be applied to acoustic waves, not just light waves. Light lasers and single photons are part of the field photonics, but soundwaves fall under the umbrella of phononics, or the study of phonons, said Pierre Deymier, MSE department head. In addition to being stable, classically entangled acoustic waves are easy to interact with and manipulate.

Treating Chemotherapy Pain without Opioids. Researchers at UA Health Sciences are researching an effective, non-opioid treatment for neuropathic pain caused by chemotherapy. While chemotherapy remains one of the key treatments for cancer, it often causes damaging side effects, such as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which is defined as damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, and is detected in 64 percent of cancer patients. In an attempt to create a less addictive treatment for CIPN, researchers are developing potent and selective T-type calcium channel antagonists. While initial results in pain management on rodent models have been promising, the research is still in its very early stages. According to professor of pharmacology Rajesh Khanna, this is the first step in developing non-opioid pain treatments for CIPN. This research is partially funded by a $340,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health as part of the Helping to End Addiction Long-Term initiative.

Link:

Connecting smartphones to depression | News - Inside Tucson Business

A research report on Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market 2019 Industry Research Report is being published by researchunt.com. This is a key document as far as the clients and industries are concerned to not only understand the competitive market status that exists currently but also what future holds for it in the upcoming period, i.e., between 2018 and 2025. It has taken the previous market status of 2013 2018 to project the future status. The report has categorized in terms of region, type, key industries, and application.

A sample of report copy could be downloaded by visiting the site:marketreports.co/global-peripheral-neuropathy-treatment-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025/103336/#Free-Sample-Report

Global Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment revenue was xx.xx Million USD in 2013, grew to xx.xx Million USD in 2017, and will reach xx.xx Million USD in 2023, with a CAGR of x.x% during 2018-2023.

Major Geographical Regions

The study report on Global Peripheral Neuropathy TreatmentMarket 2018 would cover every big geographical, as well as, sub-regions throughout the world. The report has focused on market size, value, product sales and opportunities for growth in these regions. The market study has analyzed the competitive trend apart from offering valuable insights to clients and industries. These data will undoubtedly help them to plan their strategy so that they could not only expand but also penetrate into a market.

The researchers have analyzed the competitive advantages of those involved in the industries or in the Peripheral Neuropathy Treatmentindustry. While historical years were taken as 2013 2017, the base year for the study was 2017. Similarly, the report has given its projection for the year 2018 apart from the outlook for years 2018 2025.

Key Players and Type

Like any other research material, the report has covered key geographical regions such as Europe, Japan, United States, India, Southeast Asia and Europe. Researchers have given their opinion or insights of value, product sales, and industry share besides availability opportunities to expand in those regions. As far as the sub-regions, North America, Canada, Medico, Australia, Asia-Pacific, India, South Korea, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe, Russia, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa are included.

Major players in the report included are :

Types covered in thePeripheral Neuropathy Treatmentindustryare :

Applications covered in the report are :

Report Aims

The objective of the researchers is to find out sales, value, and status of the Peripheral Neuropathy Treatmentindustry at the international levels. While the status covers the years of 2013 17, the forecast is for the period 2018 25 that will enable market players to not only plan but also execute strategies based on the market needs.

Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @marketreports.co/global-peripheral-neuropathy-treatment-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025/103336/

The study wanted to focus on key manufacturers, competitive landscape, and SWOT analysis for Peripheral Neuropathy Treatmentindustry. Apart from looking into the geographical regions, the report concentrated on key trends and segments that are either driving or preventing the growth of the industry. Researchers have also focused on individual growth trend besides their contribution to the overall market.

There are 15 Chapters to display the GlobalPeripheral Neuropathy Treatmentmarket.

Sections 1. Industry Synopsis of Global Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market.

Sections 2. Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Organization Producers analysis and Profiles.

Sections 3. Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Size by Type and Application.

Sections 4. Global Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market 2018 Analysis by key traders.

Sections 5. Europe Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Industry Report Development Status and Outlook.

Sections 6. Japan Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Industry Report Development Status and Outlook.

Sections 7. Development Status and improvements of Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market in the United States.

Sections 8. Southeast Asia Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Improvement Status and Outlook.

Sections 9. China Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Report Development Status and Outlook.

Sections 10. India Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Development Status and Outlook.

Sections 11. Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Figure by Aoplications, areas, and Sorts (2018-2023)

Sections 12. Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Factors Analysis.

Sections 13. Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Dynamics.

Sections 14. Research Findings and Conclusions of Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market.

Sections 15. Appendix.

Browse Detailed TOC, Tables, Figures, Charts And Companies Mentioned In Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market Research Report At@marketreports.co/global-peripheral-neuropathy-treatment-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025/103336/#Buying-Enquiry

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Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Market 2025: Topmost manufacturers With Size, Regions, Types, Major Drivers, Profits - TheFinanceTime

On the good news front in today's series, Stealth BioTherapeutics (MITO) and Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) have agreed to co-develop and commercialize elamipretide for mitochondrial diseases. Elamipretide, an inner mitochondrial membrane-targeting therapeutic, is Stealth BioTherapeutics' lead product candidate, which is being investigated in late stage clinical studies in three primary mitochondrial diseases - primary mitochondrial myopathy (PMM - an inherited disorder), Barth syndrome (enlarged & weakened heart) and Lebers hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON - an inherited vision loss), and in an earlier stage clinical study in dry age-related macular degeneration (dry-AMD).

It is good to see that small biopharma is still able to make quick bucks in short spans of time, isolated from the big economy. While there is undoubtedly a lot of pressure, and many portfolio and individual stocks have lost money, there are some that are doing well on science and fundamentals.

Today, I was reading an article about how isolationist tendencies are gripping countries the world over. The US is going its own unfathomable way; Britain is becoming an island again; the EU is like a robotic voice that continues running without power; and China is a sepulchre, boxed in, isolated, trying to buy its way out. I mention these things in an investment article because unlike 2008, the nature of the depression that is being predicted in some quarters is political. It is as macro as macro can get.

We discussed Stealth BioTherapeutics and PMM in July 2019 - and were not very enthusiastic about its prospects. However that may be, elamipretide is currently in phase 3 trial for PMM. Alexion's option will be exercised based on results from this study, which are expected by the end of 4Q-2019. These results are also important as phase 2 trials did not produce statistically significant data. If the drug is approved, Alexion and Stealth will co-promote the product in the U.S. on equal basis, while outside the U.S., Alexion will have exclusive rights for development and commercialization. Stealth will receive $30M upfront, which includes an option fee, equity investment and development funding. Alexion will make additional payments, including an option exercise fee, an additional equity investment, development funding and milestones if it exercises its option.

Stealth BioTherapeutics has the below pipeline in the lead indications for elamipretide.

(Image source: company website)

There are no therapies approved by the U.S. FDA or the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of PMM. Stealth Bio has received Fast Track designation and Orphan Drug designation from the FDA for the development of elamipretide in this indication. Prevalence of PMM in the U.S. is estimated at 40,000. There are no therapies approved by the FDA or the EMA for treating Barth syndrome, which is estimated to affect between one in 300,000 to 400,000 births. The company has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designation from the FDA for the development of elamipretide in this indication too. LHON has been diagnosed in approximately 10,000 individuals in the U.S. There are no therapies approved by the FDA for the treatment of LHON either, and Stealth BioTherapeutics has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designation from the FDA for this indication as well. Dry-AMD is estimated to affect over 10 million individuals in the U.S., and it also does not have any therapies approved by the FDA or EMA.

Stealth BioTherapeutics is developing a Mitochondrial Carrier Technology (MCT) platform, which will utilize their proprietary compounds to deliver biologically active cargo to mitochondria. Preliminary data demonstrates the ability of the carrier compounds to direct the distribution of biologically active cargo to mitochondria. This approach shows possibilities for mitochondrial localization of small molecules, and may also have the potential to deliver peptides, proteins and oligonucleotides.

OncoSec Medical Inc. (ONCS) has entered into a strategic transaction with Grand Decade Developments Limited, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of China Grand Pharmaceutical (CGP) and Healthcare Holdings, and its affiliate, Sirtex Medical US Holdings. CGP and Sirtex are investing $30 million in OncoSec at $2.50/share, a 25% premium over the company's average share price over last 20 days. This would take the shareholding of CGP and Sirtex to 53% of OncoSec common shares. CGP can offer to buy the remaining shares within 12 months at the greater of $4.50 per share or 110% of the closing share price as on the prior date of such offer.

The present arrangement grants CGP "an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, commercialize, or exploit OncoSec's current and future products, including TAVO and OncoSec's new Visceral Lesion Applicator (VLA), in Greater China and 35 other Asian countries (the "territory")." CGP will pay up to 20% royalties on the net sales of such products in the territory, while "Sirtex will support and assist OncoSec with pre-marketing activities for TAVO and VLA in exchange for low single-digit royalties on TAVO and VLA net sales" outside the territory. With this transaction, OncoSec will have the funds needed to complete its ongoing pivotal clinical trial (KEYNOTE-695) of TAVO in combination with Merck's keytruda, in checkpoint-refractory metastatic melanoma, and the ongoing clinical trial (KEYNOTE-890) in chemo-refractory metastatic triple negative breast cancer. OncoSec anticipates filing for accelerated approval in the U.S. in 2020 after the completion of the KEYNOTE-695 trial. We discussed OncoSec's options back in December 2018, when the company was on the OTC market.

Amicus Therapeutics' (FOLD) shares were up in the premarket yesterday on preliminary Q3 results. Q3 sales of Galafold are expected to be around $48 million, above consensus of $45 million and 133% increase over previous year. Full-year revenue from Galafold is expected to be between $170 million and 180 million. Amicus expects to end the year with over $420 million cash, which should carry the company's operations well into 1H-2022.

Last week, the company presented additional positive data from the phase 1/2 study of AT-GAA in Pompe disease (GAA deficiency). The U.S. FDA previously granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to AT-GAA for the treatment of late onset Pompe disease based on clinical efficacy results from this Phase 1/2 clinical study, including improvements in six-minute walk distance in late onset Pompe patients and comparison to natural history of treated patients. John F. Crowley, Chairman and CEO of Amicus, stated, Collectively these data continue to represent meaningful and durable improvements in functional outcomes, in addition to persistent reductions in key biomarkers of muscle damage and disease substrate." Further, he said that these results show that "AT-GAA has the potential to become the new standard of care for people living with Pompe." We analysed the company back in February 2019, and looks like the company is on track as we predicted.

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI) is down further 6%, almost to near its 52-week low. Not much volume, though. Puma Biotechnology had recently raised the price of its breast cancer drug Nerlynx (neratinib) by 20%, which is being criticized by various influencers including Senator Bernie Sanders. Early this week, PBYI fell over 20% on the news of the exit of the company's chief commercial officer, Steven Lo, effective October 18. Steven Lo is taking over as CEO at Zosano Pharma. The stock was also downgraded at Goldman Sachs to "Sell" with a price target of $8.

Taro Pharmaceutical (TARO) has been hit with a patent infringement lawsuit by Aclaris Therapeutics (ACRS) together with Allergan plc (AGN). Taro had filed an ANDA with the U.S. FDA, seeking approval to manufacture and market a generic version of rhofade (oxymetazoline hydrochloride) cream 1%, before the expiry of the patents listed in the Orange Book, which are set to expire in 2035. Rhofade is an alpha1A adrenoceptor agonist, specifically indicated for the topical treatment of persistent facial erythema (redness) associated with rosacea in adults. Allergan developed and commercialized rhofade, which was approved by the U.S. FDA in January 2017. Allergan had acquired the drug as part of its 2011 acquisition of Vicept Therapeutics, Inc., which was established by some members of the current senior management at Aclaris. Aclaris acquired worldwide rights to rhofade from Allergan in November 2018, and its revenue will accrue to Aclaris from 4Q-2019.

Thanks for reading. At the Total Pharma Tracker, we do more than follow biotech news. Using our IOMachine, our team of analysts work to be ahead of the curve.

That means that when the catalyst comes that will make or break a stock, weve positioned ourselves for success. And we share that positioning and all the analysis behind it with our members.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Original post:

Stealth BioTherapeutics Does The Deal With Alexion, And Other Headlines: The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Biopharma - Seeking Alpha

Differences in lifestyles between socioeconomic groups are pretty pronounced. And now scientists have found a depressing new marker. Hidden in the sewage lies a clear difference between wealthy areas and poorer ones.

No, it's not gold in sewage this time. It's the remnants of the food we eat and the drugs we take that can paint a broader picture of how we live.

The study took place in Australia, where, over the course of the week of the national census in 2016, samples were taken from 22 wastewater treatment plant catchments, and examined for 42 biomarkers of things such as drugs and dietary metabolites.

These were later compared with census data on metrics such as rent prices, employment and education levels for each area.

"We show the extent to which consumption of chemicals such as opioids and illicit drugs are associated with sociodemographics. We also examine chemicals that reflect individuals' consumption of food components in wastewater and show that disparities in diet are associated with educational level," the researchers write in their paper.

"Our study shows that chemicals in wastewater reflect the social, demographic, and economic properties of the respective populations and highlights the potential value of wastewater in studying the sociodemographic determinants of population health."

What they found is sobering.

In wealthier areas, biomarkers were consistent with a better diet. Metabolites produced by the dietary intake of B vitamins (not supplements) were significantly more abundant in areas with higher rents, in agreement with previous research that found socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are less likely to meet nutritional guidelines.

Wealthier and better educated areas also had much higher concentrations of the biomarkers associated with eating a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as grains. All of these are associated with a healthier overall diet.

Interestingly, wealthier areas also had higher caffeine consumption. Coffee consumption is pretty universal, but is higher among better-off socioeconomic groups, especially ground coffee and espresso as opposed to instant coffee.

"We suggest," the researchers wrote, "that increased caffeine consumption in socioeconomically advantaged groups may reflect 1) greater financial freedom to indulge in caffeinated beverages (i.e., coffee) and/or 2) cultural institutionalisation of regular coffee drinking among advantaged and/or educated populations."

In lower socioeconomic areas, there were significantly higher levels of prescription medication for treating depression (desvenlafaxine, amitriptyline and citalopram), chronic pain (opioids such as methadone, codeine, tramadol and oxycodone, as well as pregabalin, for neuropathy) and blood pressure (atenolol).

"We considered antidepressants as a proxy for psychological distress," the researchers noted.

They were even able to link demographics with specific types of antidepressants. A higher proportion of labourers were prescribed desvenlafaxine. Amitriptyline was most often prescribed to people who didn't finish high school. And people taking citalopram tended to live alone, and were often separated or divorced.

We don't have to take the sewage at face value, either. All of these results appear to be consistent with other studies into the lifestyles of demographic groups.

Wastewater-based epidemiology is relatively new, and to date has been used primarily to study and monitor the use of drugs, both legal and illegal.

This study, the researchers said, shows that it can also be used as a means of studying the general health of human populations, and identifying areas that aren't doing so well.

"Our study shows that chemicals in wastewater reflect the social, demographic, and economic properties of the respective populations and highlights the potential value of wastewater in studying the sociodemographic determinants of population health," the researchers wrote.

The research has been published in PNAS.

Go here to read the rest:

There's a Depressing Difference Between The Sewage of Wealthy Areas And Poorer Ones - ScienceAlert

Image source: Freepik

By: vectorgraphit

Scientists from Russia, China, and the US have drawn the attention of the scientific community to one of the newest and most promising areas in bioprinting - laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT). The researchers have compared laser printing parameters, bioink composition, donor ribbons, and collector substrates for LIFT bioprinters, as well as post-printing treatments of fabricated materials - all of this may affect the properties of printed tissues and organs. The study will help scientists select the most appropriate techniques and materials, avoid many pitfalls in the process of bioprinting, and set the priorities for the development of this technology in the coming years. The details of the analysis were published inBioprinting.

Tissue-engineering materials are increasingly used in medicine, mainly because they are created through mimicking the natural environment for cell development. The use of cell carriers (scaffolds) is a step forward compared to traditional cell therapy, which employs stem cells on their own. Bioprinting technologies allow to recreate tissues or organ models ("organs-on-chips") through layer by layer deposition of cells and biomolecules such as drugs or growth factors (compounds regulating cell growth and development) on a three-dimensional support structure.

LIFT technology transfers cells and biomolecules using laser pulse energy. The laser beam of a LIFT bioprinter focuses on the donor ribbon - a glass slide coated with an energy absorbing material (e.g. metal) and a layer of bioink (hydrogel with cells and biomolecules). Where the laser beam hits the surface, it heats and evaporates the energy absorbing layer, generating a gas bubble that propels a jet from the hydrogel layer. The resulting jet lands on another glass slide, the collector substrate, depositing a droplet.

LIFT technology provides a high print speed and cell survival rate, precise transfer of cells or molecules, and allows to work with various objects including microorganisms and whole cell structures such as spheroids. However, each hydrogel-cell combination requires a calculation of specific laser transfer parameters.

The authors of the paper analyzed 33 studies of bioprinting using LIFT. They systematically analyzed the descriptions of laser sources, energy absorbing materials, donor ribbons, and collectors substrates, as well as comparing the objectives and outcomes of the studies.

The most commonly used laser wavelengths were 193 and 1064 nanometers (short ultraviolet and near infrared ranges, respectively), although much longer and shorter wavelengths were successfully experimented with as well. Gold, titanium, gelatin and gelatin-containing mixtures were used as an energy absorbing material, while researchers in five studies did not use this layer at all.

Most of the studies used murine fibroblasts (connective tissue cells that synthesize extracellular matrix proteins) or mesenchymal stromal cells (cells that can differentiate into various connective tissue cells). The choice depended on cell availability.

The bioink used by many research teams contained glycerol and methylcellulose to help the bioink retain moisture, or blood plasma to support cell growth. Another common component was hyaluronic acid because it improved bioink viscosity as well as promoting cell growth. One of the best bioink materials was collagen, the main component of connective tissue. In some studies, the bioink also formed a "functional pair" with the collector substrate: for instance, if the donor ribbon was alginate-based, then the collector substrate contained calcium ions, while fibrinogen-containing donor ribbons were used with collector substrates containing thrombin. Such "functional pairs" allow to maintain the shape of the printed constructs effectively, because the substances in the collector substrate act as bioink fixatives.

The studies also used different types of printing: 2D, whereby the cells were arranged in a single layer (the researchers printed lines, shapes, letters, numbers, or the Olympic flag), or 3D, which allows to recreate complex cellular structures such as stem cell niches. Three-dimensional structures were created by depositing the bioink layer by layer.

The authors of the studies used various techniques to assess the impact of the bioprinting process on cells. Most researchers note that cell viability was fairly high, and there was no damage to the DNA despite the mechanical impact and the spike in temperature. There were no changes in either the proliferation rate of cells or the ability of stem cells to differentiate (transform into more specialized cells). In some of the studies, printed tissues were implanted into laboratory animals. The authors of the review believe that with the improvement of this technology in the next few years, there will be more studies involving animals.

"LIFT technology is quite new, and is only beginning to 'conquer' the world of biomedicine. Naturally, it will be improved and further used in tissue engineering, possibly even in clinical practice. In my opinion, however, its most promising application is in combination with other technologies, which will allow to create tissues and organs for transplantation", says Peter Timashev, one of the paper's authors, Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University.

Source: Sechenov University

Related journal article:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00052

Excerpt from:
Laser printing technology: Creating the perfect bioprinter - posted by Biophotonics.World at Biophotonics.World - Biophotonics.World

The San Diego Zoos project to save the northern white rhino is now researching how to make sperm and egg cells to help resurrect the nearly extinct species, a zoo scientist said Thursday.

Marisa Korody, a conservation genetics scientist at the zoos Institute for Conservation research, gave the update to a scientific audience at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine in La Jolla.

ICR scientists have developed induced pluripotent stem cells from frozen tissue samples, Korody said. These cells act like embryonic stem cells. In theory, they can be converted into nearly any cell type in the body.

A number of tests have confirmed that these are true pluripotent stem cells, she said, displaying a video of beating heart cells, or cardiomyocytes, made from the cells.

In theory, sperm and egg cells can be united to produce embryos, which can be implanted into closely related southern white rhino females, serving as surrogate mothers. Six of these are now being trained at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

But making these gametes is complicated, she said. They require supporting structures to mature properly, and nobody knows how to determine if they do mature properly. This means the zoo and colleagues are performing original science.

So-called primordial germ cells, the common ancestor of eggs and sperm, have arisen spontaneously. But they need to be reliably generated under controlled circumstances.

All rhino species and subspecies are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching for their horns, Korody said. Its our fault, we really need to help these species, she said.

On the positive side, Korody said the dozen or so tissue samples from northern white rhinos contains enough genetic diversity to bring back a viable population.

This is known because that diversity is greater than that in the southern white rhino, which rebounded from near-extinction to a population of about 18,000.

A long-discussed state initiative to refund Californias stem cell program with $5.5 billion has at last begun.

Backers filed the initiative Thursday, according to the California Stem Cell Report, which closely tracks the program, called the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, or CIRM. If it gets 633,212 valid signatures, the initiative will appear on the November 2020 ballot.

CIRM was founded by the passage of Proposition 71 in 2004. It got $3 billion from the sale of state bonds. It has been severely criticized for overpromising the speed at which stem cell treatments would get to patients. Advocates said the agency has had to go slow because of safety reasons.

Theres also the question of whether the agency should get more money, or whether its work should be transferred to private entities. California has the biggest biomedical industry in the nation, but it also has billions in state liabilities for purposes such as pensions. Critics say the state needs to address these unfunded liabilities.

Robert N. Klein, a real estate investment banker who led the original campaign to create CIRM, said in a recent interview that the new funding was necessary to ensure that therapies now in the clinic can reach patients.

The initiative sets aside $1.5 billion for research and development of treatments for neurological conditions, such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and stroke. It also provides money to help disadvantaged patients receive these treatments, Klein said.

Patients who live far away from major academic centers may have difficulty arranging to stay nearby while awaiting or receiving treatment, Klein said.

Initiative supporters need to convince the public that the $5.5 billion from state bonds is a wise use of public money. Earlier this week, a study from University of Southern California professors said that it was.

CIRM, funded with $3 billion from state bonds, has yielded $10.7 billion of additional gross output, or sales revenue, the study said. In addition, more than 56,000 full-time jobs were created. Go to http://j.mp/cirmeireport for the study.

The agency said the study and another report were funded by $206,000 from CIRM, which said the study was independent.

However, the California Stem Cell Report said the study didnt convince critics of the agency, who said the agency has received enough money as it is.

Read more:
Saving rhinos with stem cells; $5.5 billion stem cell ballot measure readied - The San Diego Union-Tribune

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) Osteoarthritis affects millions of people in the US. Symptoms range from minor pain to crippling pain that compromises quality of life. A groundbreaking study is underway at four prestigious research facilities in the United States. One of those is right here on the Gulf Coast. Tonight, Drexel Gilbert is on the road in Gulf Breeze.

Lori Jamison is a Pensacola native who, as a teenager, played basketball at Pine Forest High School. Today, she suffers from osteoarthritis in her knee. She believes its a result of basketball injuries.

I get stiffness, it interferes with my mobility. Sometimes its like a sharp needle going down your leg. When I go to the movie theater, I have to sit on the back row so I can stretch it out, Jamison said. She is participating in a clinical trial at Andrews Research and Education Foundation in Gulf Breeze.

The research is studying stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis in the knee. AREF is one of only four facilities in the country participating in the study. The others are Emory Orthopedics & Spine Center, Duke University and Sanford Health. Researchers hope it leads to FDA approval for the treatment. If that happens, it could be life-changing for patients.

Hopefully reduce their pain if not actually get rid of their pain. That is our goal. We want to delay, if not prevent, total knee replacement, said Dr. Josh Hackel, who is the primary investigator for the Andrews phase of the study. Were comparing three different stem cell sources. Bone marrow from their pelvis, adipose- thats tissue from their belly fat- and the third is umbilical cord tissue donated from pregnant mothers.

The bone marrow and belly fat stem cells are harvested from the study participants, under local anesthesia. The stem cells are later implanted into the knee joint using ultrasound guidance to implant the cells into the knee joint.

Jamison has already undergone stem cell harvesting.

It was very easy, very convenient, no downtime after the procedure was done, Jamison said

This $13 million clinical trial is being funded entirely by a grant from Bernie Marcus, founder of the Marcus Foundation and co-founder of Home Depot. Osteoarthritis is an issue that is close to the philanthropists heart because his mother was left disabled by the illness at a young age.

There will be around 120 participants at each of the four sites. There are plenty of openings. If youd like to be considered for the study, call AREF at 850-916-8591.

Read the rest here:
Drexel on the Road: Stem cell study for osteoarthritis - WKRG News 5

Michael J. Holtzman, MD, has received close to $7.5 million in total funding for research aimed at developing stem cell-based treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and other disorders.

Holtzmans research atWashington University School of Medicine in St. Louis identified a subset of stem cells cells that are able to grow into other more specialized types of cells that line the airways and help drive mucus production in the lungs.

Stem cells that give rise to mucus cells lining the airway and other sites are part of our immune defense strategy, Holtzman, the director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, said in a university press releasewritten by Julia Evangelou Strait.

These cells are activated by common respiratory viruses and other inhaled agents, and prevent airway injury and promote repair.

Once the problem is resolved, the [immune] system should go back to a normal baseline level. But in some people, the stem cell is changed in a way that continues to promote inflammation and mucus production and ultimately compromises airway function even for normal breathing, Holtzman said.

Thus, Holtzmans team is searching fortherapeutic targets to control this stem cell response.

The largest of the grants hes received at $6.6 million is the outstanding investigator award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Instituteof theNational Institutes of Health (NIH), given to researchers with proven expertise in innovative research and considered likely to make major advances. The grant will provide seven years of funding for research intended to further characterize these cells and their underlying mechanisms of action.

The award also supports ongoing efforts to identify pharmacological strategies to manipulate these stem cells. One lead compound has shown promise in animal models, preventing airway inflammation and mucus production after a respiratory viral infection.

Pending clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, clinical trials for this potential therapy are planned in people with COPD, asthma exacerbations, and related upper airway disorders.

Holtzman also received a NIH Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) of $300,000 to support a startup company he launched in anticipation of the successful development of these treatments.

Besides lung diseases, Holtzman received another $300,000 STT and a $250,000 award from the Siteman Investment Program in support of a stem cell-targeting compound aimed at treating breast cancer.

Your first reaction might be to wonder how in the world such similar compounds could be effective in what seem to be such different tissues, Holtzman said. But airway and breast tissues and other related sites share secretory function and overlap in how this function is controlled.

As a result, he concluded, our compounds can be precisely tailored to address whether the dysregulated stem cell is in airway versus breast tissue, or other sites as well.

Marisa holds an MS in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. She specializes in cancer biology, immunology, and genetics. Marisa began working with BioNews in 2018, and has written about science and health for SelfHacked and the Genetics Society of America. She also writes/composes musicals and coaches the University of Pittsburgh fencing club.

Total Posts: 157

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.

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To Find Therapies for COPD, Other Disorders, Researcher Awarded $7.5M - COPD News Today

Timothy Caulfield is a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta and host of A Users Guide to Cheating Death

It happened with stem-cell research. Ditto genetics and precision medicine. And now we are seeing it play out with microbiome research. Good science is being exploited to market bunk products and ideas.

Gut hype is everywhere.

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The pattern is now familiar, as highlighted by what happened with regenerative medicine. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, stem-cell research started receiving a massive amount of media coverage. It was presented as a potentially revolutionizing field of study. This hyped language was then exploited by clinics around the world to push unproven and dangerous stem-cell therapies. And now regulators, including the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. and Health Canada, are trying to contain the mess.

Microbiome research is headed down the same path, but at an accelerated pace.

There is no doubt that the human microbiome the vast collection of microorganisms that live on and in all of us plays an important role in our health and well-being. Researchers around the world are now studying the complex relationship between the microbiome and a range of conditions, including obesity, depression and cardiovascular disease. This is a genuinely exciting area of scientific inquiry with great promise. Indeed, Im involved with an interdisciplinary research team, led by the University of British Columbias Stuart Turvey, exploring the impact of the microbiome on the development of childhood asthma.

But it is still early days for microbiome research. There are, in fact, only a few microbiome-related interventions that are ready for the clinic, such as the use of probiotics to help prevent diarrhea when taking antibiotics and fecal transplants for the treatment of a particular severe intestinal infection. Despite this reality, the idea that the microbiome is relevant to our health in ways that are immediately applicable to the massive wellness industry has permeated pop culture incredibly quickly. (A Google Trends analysis of the word microbiome in the United States reveals an increase in interest starting around 2013.) The ubiquity of microbiome-related products and promises often framed in the rhetoric of gut health has led to growing concern that the research is being inappropriately hyped.

As with stem cells, the language of microbiome research is now being used to legitimize some potentially harmful and thoroughly unproven alternative therapies, including the idea that we need to do regular colonics (basically, an enema) to cleanse and detox our bodies.

As is so often the case, proponents of these kinds of alternative gut-health practices want the best of both worlds. They want to situate the therapy as both ageless wisdom (many ancient civilizations practised inner cleansing) and rooted in modern, cutting-edge science (colonic hydrotherapy helps to detoxify the colon and increase peristaltic activity). And they claim it has both amorphous wellness benefits (youre feeling lighter, your futures brighter) and can treat serious health conditions (one of the most important high-blood-pressure natural remedies).

But despite the use of ancient anecdotes and science-y, microbiome-infused language, there is absolutely no evidence to support the practice or the too-good-to-be-true claims. Indeed, studies have found that while colon cleanses can affect the gut microbiome it is, after all, a pretty dramatic assault on your innards the change doesnt last. After a few weeks, our gut reverts back to its precolonic state.

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The language of gut health and microbiome research is also used to sell a range of foods and supplements. While research continues, there is still little evidence to support the use of probiotics by healthy individuals. As noted in a recent commentary in the journal The Lancet: increasing evidence suggests that both commercial and clinical use of probiotics is outpacing the science. And there may be situations where probiotics might even be harmful, adversely affecting the way our body reacts to some drugs. But the lack of evidence to support the claims of health benefit hasnt stopped the rapid expansion of the probiotic industry, which is estimated to be worth almost US$74-billion by 2024.

But perhaps the most absurd example of the twisting of microbiome research is the marketing surrounding the raw water phenomenon. Over the past few years, a number of bottled water companies have started offering water that is straight from the natural source, such as a stream or spring. It is untreated and unfiltered. One of the arguments for the practice is the idea that drinking raw water improves microbiome health because it contains healthy microbes and minerals removed by public water-treatment facilities. This is, of course, beyond absurd (as are the ridiculous prices people are willing to pay). The production and distribution of clean water is one of the single greatest public-health achievements. Raw water kills more than 500,000 people a year.

In this era of misinformation, scientists must take extra care not to hype their work. Indeed, we need the scientific community particularly those working in these emerging and genuinely exciting fields of study to speak up when science is being misrepresented. We need credible voices to explain what is and isnt currently possible.

And we all need to be aware that science-y language is often used to market bunk.

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Microbiome research needs a gut check - The Globe and Mail

A newly designed viral vector the vehicle that delivers a gene therapyto a patients cells for use insickle cell anemia is more efficient than earlier vectors at introducing healthy copies of genes into stem cells and can be produced in greater amounts, studies in animal models show.

The study Development of a forward-orientated therapeutic lentiviral vector for hemoglobin disorders was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen, allowing oxygen to be transported around the body. Mutations in the HBBgene, which encodes a component of hemoglobin, causessickle cell.

Gene therapies involve either altering the mutated gene or introducing a healthy version of that gene to the body. Still under development for sickle cell, an estimated 27 patients have undergone experimental gene therapy. One strategy involves removing hematopoietic stem cells (which function to produce blood cells) from a patients bone marrow. A healthy copy of the HBB gene is then introduced into the cells using a modified, harmless virus known as a viral vector. The cells are then transplanted back into the patient where they will produce healthy red blood cells.

Traditionally, viral vectors for sickle cell have been designed in a way known as reverse structural orientation. This means that the HBB gene is translated or read from right to left, like reading an English sentence backwards. The reverse structural orientation design ensures that a key section of the gene (known as intron 2), which is necessary for the production of high levels of the HBB gene, is retained during viral vector preparation.

However, this design makes preparing the viral vectors more difficult, and decreases the efficiency of introducing the gene into the stem cells.

Researchersat the National Institutes of Healthdesigned a new viral vector, one in which the HBB gene is forward orientated and read from left to right. Genes essential for the virus were inserted into intron 2, meaning that only vectors that retained intron 2 would be produced (a type of positive selection).

Our new vector is an important breakthrough in the field of gene therapy for sickle cell disease, John Tisdale, MD, chief of the Cellular and Molecular Therapeutic Branch at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the studys senior author, said in a press release.

Its the new kid on the block and represents a substantial improvement in our ability to produce high capacity, high efficiency vectors for treating this devastating disorder, he added.

The researchers compared the new vectors to traditional reverse-orientated vectors in mouse and monkey models. The new vectors were four to 10 times more efficient at introducing the healthy HBBgene into the stem cells, and could carry up to six times more HBB genes compared to the conventional vectors.

Furthermore, the new vectors remained incorporated into the cells of monkeys up to four years after a transplant. These vectors could also be produced in greater amounts, which may lessen the time and costs required for large-scale vector production.

The researchers hope that these characteristics will make gene therapy for sickle cell disease more effective and increase its use. The new vector design still needs to be tested in clinical trials in patients.

Our lab has been working on improving beta-globin vectors for almost a decade and finally decided to try something radically different and it worked, Tisdale said.

These findings bring us closer to a curative gene therapy approach for hemoglobin disorders, he added.

Patricia holds her Ph.D. in Cell Biology from University Nova de Lisboa, and has served as an author on several research projects and fellowships, as well as major grant applications for European Agencies. She also served as a PhD student research assistant in the Laboratory of Doctor David A. Fidock, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, New York.

Total Posts: 94

Margarida graduated with a BS in Health Sciences from the University of Lisbon and a MSc in Biotechnology from Instituto Superior Tcnico (IST-UL). She worked as a molecular biologist research associate at a Cambridge UK-based biotech company that discovers and develops therapeutic, fully human monoclonal antibodies.

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New Viral Vector for Sickle Cell Gene Therapy Likely to Be More Effective, NIH Study Says - Sickle Cell Anemia News