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Stem cell therapy — beyond the headlines: Timothy Henry …

September 30th, 2018 12:45 am

There is considerable excitement about the use of stem cells for cardiovascular disease. Stem cells are unspecialized cells with the unique property to self-renew or make copies of themselves and to differentiate into specialized cells. The goal of stem cell therapy is to enhance the body's natural process of regeneration. There are a considerable number of stem cells currently under investigation for patients with heart attacks, angina, heart failure, and peripheral arterial disease. We have made considerable progress but have many questions left to answer.

Timothy Henry, MD, FACC, is Chief of Cardiology at Cedars Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Henry earned his bachelor's degree at the University of North Dakota, graduated from medical school at University of California, San Francisco, in 1982, and was chief medicine resident from 1982--1986 at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He completed his training as a cardiology fellow, chief cardiology fellow, and interventional cardiology fellow at University of Minnesota in 1991. His research interests include interventional cardiology, acute myocardial infarction and novel therapies, including stem cell and gene therapy, for patients who are not candidates for standard revascularization techniques.

Dr. Henry has published over 250 manuscripts and book chapters and has served on the Research Committee for the Minnesota Affiliate of the AHA and the Emergency Care Committee for the ACC; he currently serves on the Advisory Committee for the AHA Mission: Lifeline Program, the AHA Acute Cardiac Care Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology and on the ACC Interventional Subcommittee. He has served as national principal investigator of multiple large, multicenter trials in acute coronary syndromes, myocardial infarction and angiogenesis including several ongoing cardiovascular stem cell trials including RENEW, ALLSTAR and ATHENA. He is also principal investigator for 1 of 7 NIH Clinical Cardiovascular Stem Cell Centers. He is a fellow at ACC and SCAI and a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and the AHA Council on Clinical Cardiology.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

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Canadian clinics begin offering stem-cell treatments …

September 30th, 2018 12:43 am

The arthritis in Maureen Munsies ankles was so intense until barely a year ago, she literally had to crawl on hands and knees to get upstairs.

The pain, she recalls now, took my breath away, and played havoc with the avid hikers favourite pastime.

In desperation, Munsie turned to a Toronto-area clinic that provides a treatment many experts consider still experimental, unproven and of questionable safety.

The 63-year-old says the stem cells she received at Regenervate Medical Injection Therapy 18 months ago were transformational, all but eliminating the debilitating soreness and even allowing her to hike Argentinas Patagonia mountains two months ago.

For me its been a life saver, Munsie says. Ive been able to do it all again I dont have any of that pain, at all.

Canadians drawn to the healing promise of stem cells have for years travelled outside the country to such places as Mexico, China or Arizona, taking part in a dubious form of medical tourism.

But Regenervate is one of a handful of clinics in Canada that have begun offering injections of stem cells, satisfying growing demand but raising questions about whether a medical idea with huge potential is ready for routine patient care.

Especially when those patients can pay thousands of dollars for the service.

Clinics in Ontario and Alberta are treating arthritis, joint injuries, disc problems and even skin conditions with stem cells typically taken from patients fat tissue or bone marrow.

The underlying idea is compelling: stem cells can differentiate or transform into many other types of cell, a unique quality that evidence suggests allows them to grow or regenerate tissue damaged by disease or injury.

Researchers including hundreds in Canada alone are examining stem-cell treatments for everything from ailing hearts to severed spinal cords.

With few exceptions, however, the concept is still being studied in the lab or in human trials; virtually none of the treatments have been definitively proven effective by science or approved by regulators like Health Canada.

The fact that Canadian clinics are now offering stem-cell treatments commercially is concerning on a number of levels, not least because of safety issues, says Ubaka Ogbogu, a health law professor at the University of Alberta.

Three U.S. women were blinded after receiving stem-cell injections in their eyes, while other American patients have developed bony masses or tumours at injection sites, Ogbogu said.

Stem cells have to be controlled to act exactly the way you want them to act, and thats why the research takes time, he said. It is simply wrong for these clinics to take a proof of concept and run with it.

Ogbogu says Health Canada must crack down on the burgeoning industry but says the regulator has so far been conspicuous by its inaction.

Other experts say the procedures provided here typically for joint pain are likely relatively safe, but still warn that care must be taken that the stem cells do not develop into the wrong type of tissue, or at the wrong place.

Alberta Health Services convened a workshop on the issue late last year, concluding there is an urgent need to develop a certification system for cell preparation and delivery to avoid spontaneous transformation of (stem cells) into unwanted tissue.

But one of the pioneers of the service in Canada says theres no empirical evidence that such growths can develop, and suggests the treatments only real risk as with any invasive procedure is infection.

Meanwhile, patients at Regenervate have enjoyed impressive outcomes after paying fees from $750 to $3,900, says Dr. Douglas Stoddard, the clinics medical director.

About 80 per cent report less pain, stiffness and weakness within a few months of getting their stem-cell injection, he said. His treatments efficacy, though, has not been tested in a randomized controlled trial, the gold-standard scientific study which would compare the injections to a sham or other treatment and identify any placebo effect.

I believe medical progress is not just limited to the laboratory and randomized double-blind trials, Stoddard said. A lot of progress starts in the clinic, dealing with patients You see something works, you see something has merit, and then its usually the scientists that seem to catch up later.

The Orthopedic Sport Institute in Collingwood, Ont., the Central Alberta Pain and Rehabilitation Institute and Cleveland Clinic in Toronto all advertise similar stem-cell treatments for orthopedic problems.

Edmontons Regen Clinic says it plans to start doing so this fall.

Ottawas Innovo says it also treats a range of back conditions with injections between the vertebrae, and uses stem cells to alleviate nerve damage.

Orthopedic Sport says its doctor focuses on FDA and Health Canada approved stem-cell injection therapy for patient care.

In fact, no treatment of the sort the clinics here provide has ever been authorized.

Health Canada says the vast majority of stem-cell therapies would constitute a drug and therefore need to be authorized after a clinical trial or new drug submission.

A number of stem-cell trials are underway, but only one treatment Prochymal has been approved, said department spokesman Eric Morrissette. Designed to combat graft-versus-host disease where bone marrow transplants for treating cancer essentially attack the patients body its unlike any of the services the stem-cell providers here offer.

But as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration aggressively pursues the hundreds of clinics in America, Health Canada says only that its committed to addressing complaints it receives.

It will take action based on the risk posed to the general public, said Morrissette, who encouraged people to pass on to the department information about possible non-compliant products.

Stoddard said the injections his clinics provide are made up of minimally manipulated tissue from patients own bodies and any attempt to crack down would be regulation for the sake of regulation.

But academic experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the treatments.

Scientific evidence suggests the injections may help alleviate joint pain temporarily, but probably just because of anti-inflammatory secretions from the cells not regeneration, said Dr. David Hart, an orthopedic surgery professor at the University of Calgary who headed the Alberta workshop.

Theres a need for understanding whats going on here and theres a need for regulation, he said.

Most of the clinics say they use a centrifuge to concentrate the stem cells after removing them from patients fat tissue or bone marrow. But its unclear if the clinics even know how many cells they are eventually injecting into patients, says Jeff Biernaskie, a stem-cell scientist at the University of Calgary.

Munsie, on the other hand, has no doubts about the value of her own treatment, even with a $3,000 price tag.

The procedure from extraction of fat tissue in her behind to the injection of cells into her ankles took barely over an hour.

Within three months, the retired massage therapist from north of Toronto says she could walk her dogs again. Last week, she was hiking near Banff.

Im a real believer in it, and the possibility of stem cells, says Munsie. I just think Wow, if we can heal with our own body, its pretty amazing.

(The story was modified July 6 to clarify lack of clinical-trial evidence for Regenervate procedures.)

tblackwell@nationalpost.com

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Hospitals in Guatemala | Medical Tourism Guatemala

September 30th, 2018 12:43 am

Guatemala City has the largest Medical District of all of Central America, a city within the city, dedicated almost exclusely to private medical providers. Besides the many private clinics and laboratories, the medical district consists of 5 large private hospitals and a top notch radiotherapy center, equipped with the most up to date technology.

Those private hospitals cater to the Guatemalan middle class, as well to the Americans and Europeans residing in Guatemala. The following medical specialties are taken care of in Guatemala-Citys medical district: cardiology, orthopedics, gynecology, obstetrics, bariatric and gastric surgery, organ transplant, pediatry, oncology. The choice of your hospital depends in large extent of which hospital your Specialist MD is affiliated with.

Specialist Doctors are often affiliated with more than one hospital within the medical district. A remarkable unknown fact is that the percentage of nocosomial infection rate in Guatemala Citys private hospitals is lower than the infection rate in most American hospitals. The ratio of nurse/patient is 1 to 3. Anyone who has been a patient in one of Guatemala Citys hospitals can testify about the quality of care and the warm attention given by Doctors and medical staff.

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Achondroplasia – Genetics Home Reference – NIH

September 29th, 2018 6:42 am

Achondroplasia is a form of short-limbed dwarfism. The word achondroplasia literally means "without cartilage formation." Cartilage is a tough but flexible tissue that makes up much of the skeleton during early development. However, in achondroplasia the problem is not in forming cartilage but in converting it to bone (a process called ossification), particularly in the long bones of the arms and legs. Achondroplasia is similar to another skeletal disorder called hypochondroplasia, but the features of achondroplasia tend to be more severe.

All people with achondroplasia have short stature. The average height of an adult male with achondroplasia is 131 centimeters (4 feet, 4 inches), and the average height for adult females is 124 centimeters (4 feet, 1 inch). Characteristic features of achondroplasia include an average-size trunk, short arms and legs with particularly short upper arms and thighs, limited range of motion at the elbows, and an enlarged head () with a . Fingers are typically short and the ring finger and middle finger may diverge, giving the hand a three-pronged () appearance. People with achondroplasia are generally of normal intelligence.

Health problems commonly associated with achondroplasia include episodes in which breathing slows or stops for short periods (apnea), obesity, and recurrent ear infections. In childhood, individuals with the condition usually develop a pronounced and permanent sway of the lower back () and bowed legs. Some affected people also develop abnormal front-to-back curvature of the spine () and back pain. A potentially serious complication of achondroplasia is , which is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can pinch (compress) the upper part of the spinal cord. Spinal stenosis is associated with pain, tingling, and weakness in the legs that can cause difficulty with walking. Another uncommon but serious complication of achondroplasia is hydrocephalus, which is a buildup of fluid in the brain in affected children that can lead to increased head size and related brain abnormalities.

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Autoimmune Disorder Treatment – Stem Cell Therapy, Stem …

September 28th, 2018 3:48 am

Stem Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases

Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by Autoimmune Diseases. StemGenexStem Cell Research Centre provides stem cell therapy for Autoimmune Diseases to help those with unmet clinical needs achieve optimum health and better quality of life.

Stem cell therapy for Autoimmune Diseases is being studied for efficacy in improving the complications in patients through the use of their own stem cells.These autoimmune disorder treatments may help patients who dont respond to typical drug treatment, want to reduce their reliance on medication, or are looking to try stem cell therapy before starting drug treatment.

To learn more about becoming a patient and receiving treatment for autoimmune diseases through the use of stem cells at StemGenex, please contact one of our Patient Advocates at (800) 609-7795. Below are some frequently asked questions aboutstem cell therapy for Autoimmune Diseases.

The bodys immune system is a complex network of special cells and organs that defends the body from germs and other foreign invaders. In order for the immune system to function properly, it needs the ability to tell the difference between what's you and what's foreign. When the immune system cannot, it attacks normal cells by mistake. The result of these misguided attacks is what is known as autoimmune disease.

Millions of people suffer from over eighty different types of known autoimmune diseases. Common autoimmune diseases include:

Stem cells that come from your adipose (fat) tissue have distinct functional properties including immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory functional properties which have the capability of repairing and regenerating damaged tissue associated with disease and injury.

Upholding the highest levels of ethical conduct, safety and efficacy is our primary focus. Five clinical stem cell studies for Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are registered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/stemgenex. Each clinical study is reviewed and approved by an independent Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure proper oversight and protocols are being followed.

Stem cells are the basic building blocks of human tissue and have the ability to repair, rebuild, and rejuvenate tissues in the body. When a disease or injury strikes, stem cells respond to specific signals and set about to facilitate the healing process by differentiating into specialized cells required for the bodys repair.

There are four known types of stem cells which include:

StemGenex provides autologous adult stem cells (from fat tissue) where the stem cells come from the person receiving treatment.

StemGenex provides autologous adult adipose-derived stem cells (from fat tissue) where the stem cells come from the person receiving treatment.

We tap into our bodys stem cell reserve daily to repair and replace damaged or diseased tissue. When the bodys reserve is limited and as it becomes depleted, the regenerative power of our body decreases and we succumb to disease and injury.

Three sources of stem cells from a patients body are used clinically which include adipose tissue (fat), bone marrow and peripheral blood.

Performed by Board Certified Physicians, dormant stem cells are extracted from the patients adipose tissue (fat) through a minimally invasive mini-liposuction procedure with little to no downtime.

During the liposuction procedure, a small area (typically the abdomen) is numbed with an anesthetic and patients receive mild to moderate sedation. Next, the extracted dormant stem cells are isolated from the fat and activated, and then comfortably infused back into the patient intravenously (IV) and via other directly targeted methods of administration. The out-patient procedure takes approximately four to five hours.

StemGenex provides multiple administration methods for patients with Autoimmune Diseases to best target the disease related conditions and symptoms which include:

Since each condition and patient are unique, there is no guarantee of what results will be achieved or how quickly they may be observed. According to patient feedback, some patients report results in one to three months, however, it may take as long as six to nine months. Individuals interested in stem cell therapy are urged to consult with their physician before choosing investigational autologous adipose-derived stem cell therapy as a treatment option.

In order to determine if you are a good candidate for adult stem cell treatment, you will need to complete a medical history form which will be provided by your StemGenex Patient Advocate. Once you complete and submit your medical history form, our medical team will review your records and determine if you are a qualified candidate for adult stem cell therapy.

StemGenex team members are here to help assist and guide you through the patient process.

Patients travel to StemGenex located in Del Mar, California located in San Diego County for stem cell treatment from all over the United States, Canada and around the globe. Treatment will consist of one visit lasting a total of three days. The therapy is minimally invasive and there is little to no down time. Majority of patients fly home the day after treatment.

The side effects of the mini-liposuction procedure are minimal and may include but are not limited to: minor swelling, bruising and redness at the procedure site, minor fever, headache, or nausea. However, these side effects typically last no longer than 24 hours and are experienced mostly by people with sensitivity to mild anesthesia. No long-term negative side effects or risks have been reported.

The side effects of adipose-derived stem cell therapy are minimal and may include but are not limited to: infection, minor bleeding at the treatment sites and localized pain. However, these side effects typically last no longer than 24 hours. No long-term negative side effects or risks have been reported.

StemGenex provides adult stem cell treatment with mesenchymal stem cells which come from the person receiving treatment. Embryonic stem cells are typically associated with ethical and political controversies.

The FDA is currently in the process of defining a regulatory path for cellular therapies. A Scientific Workshop and Public Hearing Draft Guidances Relating to the Regulation of Human Cells, Tissues or Cellular or Tissue-Based Products was held in September 2016 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. Currently, stem cell treatment is not FDA approved.

In March 2016, bipartisan legislation, the REGROW Act was introduced to the Senate and House of Representatives to develop and advance stem cell therapies.

Stem cell treatment is not covered by health insurance at this time. The cost for standard preoperative labs are included. Additional specific labs may be requested at the patients expense.

With over 80 different types of Autoimmune Diseases and hundreds of symptoms, some of the most common symptoms include:

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A review of dental stem cells where are we now in …

September 28th, 2018 3:47 am

Stem cell therapies have great potential to cure currently untreatable diseases and to even extend lifespans. Due to their differentiating qualities, they have been used for novel regenerative protocols. Ongoing progress towards the clinical use of dental pulp stem cells has recently expanded the possibilities for clinical applications based on pulp and periodontal tissue regeneration. Dental stem cells are a kind of mesenchymal cell that reside within the dental pulp and are classified as postnatal stem cell populations.

At present, there are two approved clinical trials and one clinical trial protocol related to dental stem cells that have not yet started recruiting. Nevertheless, these trials are still in an early phase that are testing the feasibility of the stem cells and the tolerance of the stem cell implantation, but have not applied the cells on patients for accruing diseases.

One trial in China is using stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) as the main target for investigation. Investigators from China are aiming to explore and clarify if autologous (cells or tissues obtained from the same individual) SHED stem cell transplantation can efficiently regenerate pulp (the center part of a tooth) and periodontal (connective tissue known as gum) tissue in immature permanent teeth and necrotic pulp of teeth in humans.

Millions of teeth are accidentally and forcibly detached each year, especially causing losses of immature permanent teeth in children. This clinical trial is starting to recruit patients with immature permanent teeth and pulp necrosis. SHED will be used as the cell source for regenerating pulp and periodontal tissue in immature teeth.

One of the main limitations in bone regeneration is lack of vascularization of newly sharp tissue. A new trial starting in France is aiming to use the dental stem cells of a simple and non-invasive tissue source such as dental pulp to develop a brand new pre-vascularized tissue-engineered bone construct. The dental pulp stem cells were isolated from the dental tissue of patients wisdom teeth and then used to assess their endothelial and osteoblastic differentiation to obtain pre-vascularized tissue engineered bone construct. Furthermore, one commercial differentiation medium is also used to evaluate its effect on the cell differentiation and production of a prevascularized bone construct.

TOOTH (The Open study Of dental pulp stem cell Therapy in Humans), a clinical trial protocol, is an open study, phase 1, single-blind clinical trial being conducted by Australian researchers. The protocol is investigating the use of dental pulp stem cell therapy for stroke survivors with chronic disability, with the aims of determining the maximum tolerable dose of the cell therapy, and the safety and feasibility for patients with chronic stroke.

Taken together with those trials, on going or just a start, the regenerating methods are still emphasized on the early phase clinical study of improving human diseases. Although clinical trials using dental pulp stem cells for treating human diseases are not very common, preclinical research has broadened the extent of potential clinical applications. Dental stem cells can differentiate into several cell types, such as neurons, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. From that, their therapeutic potential has been identified for various conditions, including neurological disorders, angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, liver disease, diabetes mellitus, and for regenerative ocular therapy, bone tissue engineering, and, of course, therapeutic applications in dentistry such as regenerative endodontic therapy, dentin regeneration, regenerative periodontal therapy, and bioengineered teeth.

Stem cell therapies have been a hot topic of research for years, but progress toward clinical trials for applications to humans has been slow due to ethical concerns and source obtained for transplantation. Dental pulp stem cells could resolve both these issues, by using human exfoliated deciduous teeth instead of invasive source such as embryonic stem cells. Pending successful completion of ongoing clinical trials, we can hope to see further work towards applying regenerative therapies based on dental stem cells for other organs, ultimately generating novel therapies to cure currently untreatable diseases.

Please note: PreScouter provides secondary research and is not associated with the experiments or getting volunteers for clinical trials.

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Tina is a dedicated, enthusiastic and innovative Pre-Clinical Researcher and Medical Writer who has a strong academic background encompassing a PhD in Clinical Science, a Masters in General Physiology and a Bachelors in Clinical Psychology. She has always been passionate about delivering exciting medical information. Tina is a technically-proficient researcher with exposure to multiple fields including urology, reproductive health, immunology, endocrinology and rheumatology gained across healthcare, clinical trials and pharmaceutical organizations. She joined PreScouter as a Global Scholar recently. Besides her medical research, she also starts up a commercial business with her favorite thing FOOD.

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Health – National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

September 28th, 2018 3:47 am

My Family Health Portrait (MFHP) has a new home

Starting September 6, 2018, My Family Health Portrait has a new home, the CDC Public Health Genomics Knowledge Base (PHGKB). CDC's Office of Public Health Genomics developed PHGKB as a suite of searchable databases, tools and resources to facilitate translation and implementation of genomics in clinical and public health programs.

NHGRI researchers used whole genome sequence data to pinpoint the single origin of the sickle cell mutation to the "wet" period of the Sahara 7,300 years ago. The mutation causes blood hemoglobin to be crescent shaped, reducing its ability to carry oxygen. Charles N. Rotimi, Ph.D., study co-author and NHGRI senior investigator, said the finding overturns previous theories that the mutation arose in multiple locations. This will help clinicians redefine sickle cell subgroups and treat patients more effectively, said lead author Daniel Shriner, Ph.D. Read more in the March 8 American Journal of Human Genetics.

On November 21, 2017,experts from NHGRI's Social and Behavioral Research Branch (SBRB) turned to a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) to answer questions about their work on family health history. AMA hosts were Laura Koehly, Ph.D., SBRB chief, Chris Marcum, Ph.D., a staff scientist, and Jielu Lin, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow. The team answered questions from how to change behaviors after learning disease risk through family health history, to understanding risk when family health history is unknown. Here, we recap the event.

Precision medicine is a revolutionary approach to healthcare that takes into account individual differences in lifestyle, environment - and especially our genomes. However, a recent paper suggested that some people are being left behind. NHGRI recently published a perspective that lays out the challenges to achieving diversity in genomics research and what we are doing to help.Check out the newNature Review Geneticspublication that appeared online (ahead of print) on November 20.

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Necrosis – Wikipedia

September 28th, 2018 3:44 am

Necrosis (from the Greek "death, the stage of dying, the act of killing" from "dead") is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis.[1]

Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, toxins, or trauma which result in the unregulated digestion of cell components.

In contrast, apoptosis is a naturally occurring programmed and targeted cause of cellular death.

While apoptosis often provides beneficial effects to the organism, necrosis is almost always detrimental and can be fatal.[2]

Cellular death due to necrosis does not follow the apoptotic signal transduction pathway, but rather various receptors are activated, and result in the loss of cell membrane integrity and an uncontrolled release of products of cell death into the extracellular space.[1]

This initiates in the surrounding tissue an inflammatory response which attracts leukocytes and nearby phagocytes which eliminate the dead cells by phagocytosis. However, microbial damaging substances released by leukocytes would create collateral damage to surrounding tissues.[3] This excess collateral damage inhibits the healing process. Thus, untreated necrosis results in a build-up of decomposing dead tissue and cell debris at or near the site of the cell death. A classic example is gangrene. For this reason, it is often necessary to remove necrotic tissue surgically, a procedure known as debridement.

Structural signs that indicate irreversible cell injury and the progression of necrosis include dense clumping and progressive disruption of genetic material, and disruption to membranes of cells and organelles.[4]

There are six distinctive morphological patterns of necrosis:[5]

Necrosis may occur due to external or internal factors.

External factors may involve mechanical trauma (physical damage to the body which causes cellular breakdown), damage to blood vessels (which may disrupt blood supply to associated tissue), and ischemia.[11] Thermal effects (extremely high or low temperature) can result in necrosis due to the disruption of cells.

In frostbite, crystals form, increasing the pressure of remaining tissue and fluid causing the cells to burst.[11] Under extreme conditions tissues and cells die through an unregulated process of destruction of membranes and cytosol.[12]

Internal factors causing necrosis include: trophoneurotic disorders; injury and paralysis of nerve cells. Pancreatic enzymes (lipases) are the major cause of fat necrosis.[11]

Necrosis can be activated by components of the immune system, such as the complement system; bacterial toxins; activated natural killer cells; and peritoneal macrophages.[1] Pathogen-induced necrosis programs in cells with immunological barriers (intestinal mucosa) may alleviate invasion of pathogens through surfaces affected by inflammation.[1] Toxins and pathogens may cause necrosis; toxins such as snake venoms may inhibit enzymes and cause cell death.[11] Necrotic wounds have also resulted from the stings of Vespa mandarinia.[13]

Pathological conditions are characterized by inadequate secretion of cytokines. Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are also accompanied by intense necrotic death of cells.[11] A classic example of a necrotic condition is ischemia which leads to a drastic depletion of oxygen, glucose, and other trophic factors and induces massive necrotic death of endothelial cells and non-proliferating cells of surrounding tissues (neurons, cardiomyocytes, renal cells, etc.).[1] Recent cytological data indicates that necrotic death occurs not only during pathological events but it is also a component of some physiological process.[11]

Activation-induced death of primary T-lymphocytes and other important constituents of the immune response are caspase-independent and necrotic by morphology; hence, current researchers have demonstrated that the occurrence of necrotic cell death can not only occur during pathological processes but also during normal processes such as tissue renewal, embryogenesis, and immune response.[11]

Until recently, necrosis was thought to be an unregulated process.[14] There are two broad pathways in which necrosis may occur in an organism.[14]

The first of these two pathways initially involves oncosis, where swelling of the cells occur.[14] The cell then proceeds to blebbing, and this is followed by pyknosis, in which nuclear shrinkage transpires.[14] In the final step of this pathway the nucleus is dissolved into the cytoplasm, which is referred to as karyolysis.[14]

The second pathway is a secondary form of necrosis that is shown to occur after apoptosis and budding.[14] Cellular changes of necrosis occur in this secondary form of apoptosis, where the nucleus breaks into fragments, which is known as karyorrhexis.[14]

The nucleus changes in necrosis, and characteristics of this change are determined by manner in which its DNA breaks down:

Plasma alterations are also seen in necrosis. Plasma membranes appear discontinuous when viewed with an electron microscope. This discontinuous membrane is caused by cell blebbing and the loss of microvilli.[5]

There are many causes of necrosis, and as such treatment is based upon how the necrosis came about. Treatment of necrosis typically involves two distinct processes: Usually, the underlying cause of the necrosis must be treated before the dead tissue itself can be dealt with.

Even after the initial cause of the necrosis has been halted, the necrotic tissue will remain in the body. The body's immune response to apoptosis, which involves the automatic breaking down and recycling of cellular material, is not triggered by necrotic cell death due to the apoptotic pathway being disabled.[20]

If calcium is deficient, pectin cannot be synthesized, and therefore the cell walls cannot be bonded and thus an impediment of the meristems. This will lead to necrosis of stem and root tips and leaf edges.[21] For example, necrosis of tissue can occur in Arabidopsis thaliana due to plant pathogens.

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Genetics of aging – Wikipedia

September 26th, 2018 11:45 am

Genetics of aging is generally concerned with life extension associated with genetic alterations, rather than with accelerated aging diseases leading to reduction in lifespan.

The first mutation found to increase longevity in an animal was the age-1 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans. Michael Klass discovered that lifespan of C.elegans could be altered by mutations, but Klass believed that the effect was due to reduced food consumption (calorie restriction).[1] Thomas Johnson later showed that life extension of up to 65% was due to the mutation itself rather than due to calorie restriction,[2] and he named the gene age-1 in the expectation that other genes that control aging would be found. The age-1 gene encodes the catalytic subunit of class-I phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K).

A decade after Johnson's discovery daf-2, one of the two genes that are essential for dauer larva formation,[3] was shown by Cynthia Kenyon to double C.elegans lifespan.[4] Kenyon showed that the daf-2 mutants, which would form dauers above 25C (298K; 77F) would bypass the dauer state below 20C (293K; 68F) with a doubling of lifespan.[4] Prior to Kenyon's study it was commonly believed that lifespan could only be increased at the cost of a loss of reproductive capacity, but Kenyon's nematodes maintained youthful reproductive capacity as well as extended youth in general. Subsequent genetic modification (PI3K-null mutation) to C.elegans was shown to extend maximum life span tenfold.[5][6]

Genetic modifications in other species have not achieved as great a lifespan extension as have been seen for C.elegans. Drosophila melanogaster lifespan has been doubled.[7] Genetic mutations in mice can increase maximum lifespan to 1.5times normal, and up to 1.7times normal when combined with calorie restriction.[8]

In yeast, NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase Sir2 is required for genomic silencing at three loci: the yeast mating loci, the telomeres and the ribosomal DNA (rDNA). In some species of yeast, replicative aging may be partially caused by homologous recombination between rDNA repeats; excision of rDNA repeats results in the formation of extrachromosomal rDNA circles (ERCs). These ERCs replicate and preferentially segregate to the mother cell during cell division, and are believed to result in cellular senescence by titrating away (competing for) essential nuclear factors. ERCs have not been observed in other species (nor even all strains of the same yeast species) of yeast (which also display replicative senescence), and ERCs are not believed to contribute to aging in higher organisms such as humans (they have not been shown to accumulate in mammals in a similar manner to yeast). Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) has been found in worms, flies, and humans. The origin and role of eccDNA in aging, if any, is unknown.

Despite the lack of a connection between circular DNA and aging in higher organisms, extra copies of Sir2 are capable of extending the lifespan of both worms and flies (though, in flies, this finding has not been replicated by other investigators, and the activator of Sir2 resveratrol does not reproducibly increase lifespan in either species.[9]) Whether the Sir2 homologues in higher organisms have any role in lifespan is unclear, but the human SIRT1 protein has been demonstrated to deacetylate p53, Ku70, and the forkhead family of transcription factors. SIRT1 can also regulate acetylates such as CBP/p300, and has been shown to deacetylate specific histone residues.

RAS1 and RAS2 also affect aging in yeast and have a human homologue. RAS2 overexpression has been shown to extend lifespan in yeast.

Other genes regulate aging in yeast by increasing the resistance to oxidative stress. Superoxide dismutase, a protein that protects against the effects of mitochondrial free radicals, can extend yeast lifespan in stationary phase when overexpressed.

In higher organisms, aging is likely to be regulated in part through the insulin/IGF-1 pathway. Mutations that affect insulin-like signaling in worms, flies, and the growth hormone/IGF1 axis in mice are associated with extended lifespan. In yeast, Sir2 activity is regulated by the nicotinamidase PNC1. PNC1 is transcriptionally upregulated under stressful conditions such as caloric restriction, heat shock, and osmotic shock. By converting nicotinamide to niacin, nicotinamide is removed, inhibiting the activity of Sir2. A nicotinamidase found in humans, known as PBEF, may serve a similar function, and a secreted form of PBEF known as visfatin may help to regulate serum insulin levels. It is not known, however, whether these mechanisms also exist in humans, since there are obvious differences in biology between humans and model organisms.

Sir2 activity has been shown to increase under calorie restriction. Due to the lack of available glucose in the cells, more NAD+ is available and can activate Sir2. Resveratrol, a stilbenoid found in the skin of red grapes, was reported to extend the lifespan of yeast, worms, and flies (the lifespan extension in flies and worms have proved to be irreproducible by independent investigators[9]). It has been shown to activate Sir2 and therefore mimics the effects of calorie restriction, if one accepts that caloric restriction is indeed dependent on Sir2.

According to the GenAge database of aging-related genes, there are over 1800 genes altering lifespan in model organisms: 838 in the soil roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans), 883 in the bakers' yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), 170 in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and 126 in the mouse (Mus musculus).[10]

The following is a list of genes connected to longevity through research [10] on model organisms:

Ned Sharpless and collaborators demonstrated the first in vivo link between p16-expression and lifespan.[11] They found reduced p16 expression in some tissues of mice with mutations that extend lifespan, as well as in mice that had their lifespan extended by food restriction. Jan van Deursen and Darren Baker in collaboration with Andre Terzic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., provided the first in vivo evidence for a causal link between cellular senescence and aging by preventing the accumulation of senescent cells in BubR1 progeroid mice.[12] In the absence of senescent cells, the mices tissues showed a major improvement in the usual burden of age-related disorders. They did not develop cataracts, avoided the usual wasting of muscle with age. They retained the fat layers in the skin that usually thin out with age and, in people, cause wrinkling. A second study led by Jan van Deursen in collaboration with a team of collaborators at the Mayo Clinic and Groningen University, provided the first direct in vivo evidence that cellular senescence causes signs of aging by eliminating senescent cells from progeroid mice by introducing a drug-inducible suicide gene and then treating the mice with the drug to kill senescent cells selectively, as opposed to decreasing whole body p16.[13] Another Mayo study led by James Kirkland in collaboration with Scripps and other groups demonstrated that senolytics, drugs that target senescent cells, enhance cardiac function and improve vascular reactivity in old mice, alleviate gait disturbance caused by radiation in mice, and delay frailty, neurological dysfunction, and osteoporosis in progeroid mice. Discovery of senolytic drugs was based on a hypothesis-driven approach: the investigators leveraged the observation that senescent cells are resistant to apoptosis to discover that pro-survival pathways are up-regulated in these cells. They demonstrated that these survival pathways are the "Achilles heel" of senescent cells using RNA interference approaches, including Bcl-2-, AKT-, p21-, and tyrosine kinase-related pathways. They then used drugs known to target the identified pathways and showed these drugs kill senescent cells by apoptosis in culture and decrease senescent cell burden in multiple tissues in vivo. Importantly, these drugs had long term effects after a single dose, consistent with removal of senescent cells, rather than a temporary effect requiring continued presence of the drugs. This was the first study to show that clearing senescent cells enhances function in chronologically aged mice.[14]

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Do You Know the 5 Types of Stem Cells? | BioInformant

September 26th, 2018 11:45 am

As you start to learn about stem cells, one of the most common questions tohave is, What types of stem cells exist?There is not an agreed-upon number of stem cell types, because one can classify stem cells either by differentiation potential(what they can turn into) or by origin (from where they are sourced).This post is dedicated to explaining the five types of stem cells, based on differentiation potential.

The five different types of stem cells discussed in this article are:

All stem cells that exist can be classified into one of five groups based on their differentiation potential. Each of these stem cell types is explored in greater detail below.

The Rise of Direct Cell Reprogramming | BioInformant https://t.co/q0vwT6CffR#allogeneic #totipotent #pluripotent #multipotent #autologous pic.twitter.com/ycoDP8mYa6

Todd C Bertsch (@todd_bertsch) February 19, 2018

These stem cells are the most powerful that exist.

They can differentiate into embryonic, as well as extra-embryonic tissues, such as chorion, yolk sac, amnion, and the allantois. In humans and other placental animals, these tissues form the placenta.

The most important characteristic of a totipotent cell is that it can generate a fully-functional, living organism.

The best-known example of a totipotent cell is a fertilized egg (formed when a sperm and egg unite to form a zygote).

It is at or around four days post-fertilization that these cells begin to specialize into pluripotent cells, which as described below, are flexible cell types but cannot produce an entire organism.

Theyre aliveeee!! Turned our human pluripotent stem cells into beating cardio!!! ::happy tears::Next up crispR KO fun #stemcellscientist #WomenInScience #futureBIOhacker pic.twitter.com/GVg4pb9Xri

Kristin Pagel (@DeeDeeTroit84) March 31, 2018

The next most powerful type of stem cell is the pluripotent stem cell.

The importance of this cell type is that it can self-renew and differentiate into any of the three germ layers, which are: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. These three germ layers further differentiate to form all tissues and organs within a human being.

There are several known types of pluripotent stem cells.

Among the natural pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells are the best example.However, a type of human-made pluripotent stem cell also exists, which is the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS cell).

iPS cells were first produced from mouse cells in 2006 and human cells in 2007, and are tissue-specific cells that can be reprogrammed to become functionally similar to embryonic stem cells.

Because of their powerful ability to differentiate in a wide diversity of tissues and their non-controversial nature, induced pluripotent stem cells are well-suited for use in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine.

Did you know that bone marrow contains multipotent stem cells that give rise to all the cells of the blood? pic.twitter.com/NcYJsdPJXi

caremotto (@caremotto) January 17, 2018

Multipotent stem cells are a middle-range type of stem cell, in that they can self-renew and differentiate into a specific range of cell types.

An excellent example of this cell type is the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC).

Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into osteoblasts (a type of bone cell), myocytes (muscle cells), adipocytes (fat cells), and chondrocytes (cartilage cells).

These cells types are fairly diverse in their characteristics, which is why mesenchymal stem cells are classified as multipotent stem cells.

The next type of stem cells, oligopotent cells, are similar to the prior category (multipotent stem cells), but they become further restricted in their capacity to differentiate.

While these cells can self-renew and differentiate, they can only do so to a limited extent. They can only do so into closely related cell types.

An excellent example of this cell type is the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC).

HSCs are cells derived from mesoderm that can differentiate into other blood cells. Specifically, HSCs are oligopotent stem cells that can differentiate into both myeloid and lymphoid cells.

Myeloid cells includebasophils, dendritic cells, eosinophils, erythrocytes, macrophages, megakaryocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and platelets, while lymphoid cells include B cells, T cells, and natural kills cells.

Finally, we have the unipotent stem cells, which are the least potent and most limited type of stem cell.

An example of this stem cell type would be muscle stem cells.

While muscle stem cells can self-renew and differentiate, they can only do so into a single cell type. They are unidirectional in their differentiation capacity.

The purpose of these stem cellcategories is to assess thefunctional capacity of stem cells based on their differentiation potential.

Importantly, each category has different stem cell research applications, medical applications, and drug development applications.

Watch this video and learn about the 5 types of stem cells:

In your opinion, which of the following types of stem cells have the best potential to form any tissue type? Mention them in the comments section below.

To learn more, view:Stem Cell Fact Sheet Types of Stem Cells and their Use in Medicine

Do You Know The 5 Types Of Stem Cells?

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Bone marrow transplant – Mayo Clinic

September 26th, 2018 11:43 am

Overview

A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that infuses healthy blood stem cells into your body to replace your damaged or diseased bone marrow. A bone marrow transplant is also called a stem cell transplant.

A bone marrow transplant may be necessary if your bone marrow stops working and doesn't produce enough healthy blood cells.

Bone marrow transplants may use cells from your own body (autologous transplant) or from a donor (allogeneic transplant).

Mayo Clinic's approach

A bone marrow transplant may be used to:

Bone marrow transplants can benefit people with a variety of both cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign) diseases, including:

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some bones. Its job is to produce blood cells. If your bone marrow isn't functioning properly because of cancer or another disease, you may receive a stem cell transplant.

To prepare for a stem cell transplant, you receive chemotherapy to kill the diseased cells and malfunctioning bone marrow. Then, transplanted blood stem cells are put into your bloodstream. The transplanted stem cells find their way to your marrow, where ideally they begin producing new, healthy blood cells.

A bone marrow transplant poses many risks of complications, some potentially fatal.

The risk can depend on many factors, including the type of disease or condition, the type of transplant, and the age and health of the person receiving the transplant.

Although some people experience minimal problems with a bone marrow transplant, others may develop complications that may require treatment or hospitalization. Some complications could even be life-threatening.

Complications that can arise with a bone marrow transplant include:

Your doctor can explain your risk of complications from a bone marrow transplant. Together you can weigh the risks and benefits to decide whether a bone marrow transplant is right for you.

If you receive a transplant that uses stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant), you may be at risk of developing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This condition occurs when the donor stem cells that make up your new immune system see your body's tissues and organs as something foreign and attack them.

Many people who have an allogeneic transplant get GVHD at some point. The risk of GVHD is a bit greater if the stem cells come from an unrelated donor, but it can happen to anyone who gets a bone marrow transplant from a donor.

GVHD may happen at any time after your transplant. However, it's more common after your bone marrow has started to make healthy cells.

There are two kinds of GVHD: acute and chronic. Acute GVHD usually happens earlier, during the first months after your transplant. It typically affects your skin, digestive tract or liver. Chronic GVHD typically develops later and can affect many organs.

Chronic GVHD signs and symptoms include:

You'll undergo a series of tests and procedures to assess your general health and the status of your condition, and to ensure that you're physically prepared for the transplant. The evaluation may take several days or more.

In addition, a surgeon or radiologist will implant a long thin tube (intravenous catheter) into a large vein in your chest or neck. The catheter, often called a central line, usually remains in place for the duration of your treatment. Your transplant team will use the central line to infuse the transplanted stem cells and other medications and blood products into your body.

If a transplant using your own stem cells (autologous transplant) is planned, you'll undergo a procedure called apheresis (af-uh-REE-sis) to collect blood stem cells.

Before apheresis, you'll receive daily injections of growth factor to increase stem cell production and move stem cells into your circulating blood so that they can be collected.

During apheresis, blood is drawn from a vein and circulated through a machine. The machine separates your blood into different parts, including stem cells. These stem cells are collected and frozen for future use in the transplant. The remaining blood is returned to your body.

If a transplant using stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant) is planned, you will need a donor. When you have a donor, stem cells are gathered from that person for the transplant. This process is often called a stem cell harvest or bone marrow harvest. Stem cells can come from your donor's blood or bone marrow. Your transplant team decides which is better for you based on your situation.

Another type of allogeneic transplant uses stem cells from the blood of umbilical cords (cord blood transplant). Mothers can choose to donate umbilical cords after their babies' births. The blood from these cords is frozen and stored in a cord blood bank until needed for a bone marrow transplant.

After you complete your pretransplant tests and procedures, you begin a process known as conditioning. During conditioning, you'll undergo chemotherapy and possibly radiation to:

The type of conditioning process you receive depends on a number of factors, including your disease, overall health and the type of transplant planned. You may have both chemotherapy and radiation or just one of these treatments as part of your conditioning treatment.

Side effects of the conditioning process can include:

You may be able to take medications or other measures to reduce such side effects.

Based on your age and health history, your doctor may recommend lower doses or different types of chemotherapy or radiation for your conditioning treatment. This is called reduced-intensity conditioning.

Reduced-intensity conditioning kills some cancer cells and somewhat suppresses your immune system. Then, the donor's cells are infused into your body. Donor cells replace cells in your bone marrow over time. Immune factors in the donor cells may then fight your cancer cells.

Your bone marrow transplant occurs after you complete the conditioning process. On the day of your transplant, called day zero, stem cells are infused into your body through your central line.

The transplant infusion is painless. You are awake during the procedure.

The transplanted stem cells make their way to your bone marrow, where they begin creating new blood cells. It can take a few weeks for new blood cells to be produced and for your blood counts to begin recovering.

Bone marrow or blood stem cells that have been frozen and thawed contain a preservative that protects the cells. Just before the transplant, you may receive medications to reduce the side effects the preservative may cause. You'll also likely be given IV fluids (hydration) before and after your transplant to help rid your body of the preservative.

Side effects of the preservative may include:

Not everyone experiences side effects from the preservative, and for some people those side effects are minimal.

When the new stem cells enter your body, they begin to travel through your body and to your bone marrow. In time, they multiply and begin to make new, healthy blood cells. This is called engraftment. It usually takes several weeks before the number of blood cells in your body starts to return to normal. In some people, it may take longer.

In the days and weeks after your bone marrow transplant, you'll have blood tests and other tests to monitor your condition. You may need medicine to manage complications, such as nausea and diarrhea.

After your bone marrow transplant, you'll remain under close medical care. If you're experiencing infections or other complications, you may need to stay in the hospital for several days or sometimes longer. Depending on the type of transplant and the risk of complications, you'll need to remain near the hospital for several weeks to months to allow close monitoring.

You may also need periodic transfusions of red blood cells and platelets until your bone marrow begins producing enough of those cells on its own.

You may be at greater risk of infections or other complications for months to years after your transplant.

A bone marrow transplant can cure some diseases and put others into remission. Goals of a bone marrow transplant depend on your individual situation, but usually include controlling or curing your disease, extending your life, and improving your quality of life.

Some people complete bone marrow transplantation with few side effects and complications. Others experience numerous challenging problems, both short and long term. The severity of side effects and the success of the transplant vary from person to person and sometimes can be difficult to predict before the transplant.

It can be discouraging if significant challenges arise during the transplant process. However, it is sometimes helpful to remember that there are many survivors who also experienced some very difficult days during the transplant process but ultimately had successful transplants and have returned to normal activities with a good quality of life.

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this disease.

Living with a bone marrow transplant or waiting for a bone marrow transplant can be difficult, and it's normal to have fears and concerns.

Having support from your friends and family can be helpful. Also, you and your family may benefit from joining a support group of people who understand what you're going through and who can provide support. Support groups offer a place for you and your family to share fears, concerns, difficulties and successes with people who have had similar experiences. You may meet people who have already had a transplant or who are waiting for a transplant.

To learn about transplant support groups in your community, ask your transplant team or social worker for information. Also, several support groups are offered at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

Mayo Clinic researchers study medications and treatments for people who have had bone marrow transplants, including new medications to help you stay healthy after your bone marrow transplant.

If your bone marrow transplant is using stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant), you may be at risk of graft-versus-host disease. This condition occurs when a donor's transplanted stem cells attack the recipient's body. Doctors may prescribe medications to help prevent graft-versus-host disease and reduce your immune system's reaction (immunosuppressive medications).

After your transplant, it will take time for your immune system to recover. You may be given antibiotics to prevent infections. You may also be prescribed antifungal, antibacterial or antiviral medications. Doctors continue to study and develop several new medications, including new antifungal medications, antibacterial medications, antiviral medications and immunosuppressive medications.

After your bone marrow transplant, you may need to adjust your diet to stay healthy and to prevent excessive weight gain. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other negative health effects.

Your nutrition specialist (dietitian) and other members of your transplant team will work with you to create a healthy-eating plan that meets your needs and complements your lifestyle. Your dietitian may also give you food suggestions to control side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, such as nausea.

Your dietitian will also provide you with healthy food options and ideas to use in your eating plan. Your dietitian's recommendations may include:

After your bone marrow transplant, you may make exercise and physical activity a regular part of your life to continue to improve your health and fitness. Exercising regularly helps you control your weight, strengthen your bones, increase your endurance, strengthen your muscles and keep your heart healthy.

Your treatment team may work with you to set up a routine exercise program to meet your needs. You may perform exercises daily, such as walking and other activities. As you recover, you can slowly increase your physical activity.

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Stem Cell Transplantation | Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

September 26th, 2018 11:43 am

Your doctor may recommend astem cell transplantationto treat your acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Stem cell transplantation isn't an option for everyone, especially because of the high, sometimes life-threatening risks associated with it.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the most common type of stem cell transplantation used to treat AML.Studies show that allogeneic stem cell transplantation may benefit high-risk and intermediate-risk patients who are younger than 60 and have an HLA-matched sibling donor. Timing of an allogeneic stem cell transplantation is one of the most important factors influencing transplant outcomes, so it is very important to start a donor search as soon as possible in order to identify a suitably matched related or unrelated donor.

Autologous transplantation is sometimes used for patients who do not have an HLA-matched donor. Autologous transplants are used less frequently than allogeneic transplants for AML patients mainly because of the lack of a graft-versus-leukemia effect and the risk of returning some leukemia cells back to the patient.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation involves transferring stem cells from a healthy person (the donor) to the patient. The procedure follows high-intensity chemotherapy, potent drugs that must be toxic enough to kill leukemic cells. Unfortunately, the drugs also take aim at normal stem cells in the bone marrow.

The main reasons for doing an allogeneic stem cell transplant are:

The decision to do a stem cell transplant depends on:

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is used to treat certain AML patients. It is a curative treatment option for some AML patients in first remission.Allogeneic transplantation is associated with a higher rate of side effects and mortality than autologous transplant. However, it may be considered for patients with higher-risk AML, based on cytogenetic and molecular test results. The decision to perform an allogeneic transplant also depends on the age of the patient and the patients (or his or her familys) understanding of the potential benefits and risks.The upper age limit for transplantation varies by treatment center; many centers use age 60 or 65 years for allogeneic transplantation and 70 or 75years for reduced-intensity allogeneic transplantation.

Reduced-intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation may be a treatment option for patients who are too old or who may have other medical conditions that prevent them from having a standard allogeneic stem cell transplant. The conditioning therapy used for a reduced-intensity transplant is of lower intensity than that for a standard stem cell transplant; it does not completely inactivate the patients immune system or treat the AML as intensively. Thus, if a suitable donor is available, patients up to age 75 may benefit from this form of treatment.

A serious risk of allogeneic and reduced-intensity allogenic stem cell transplantation is graft versus host disease (GVHD), which develops if the donor's immune cells attack your normal tissue. GVHD's effects can range from minor to life threatening.

Autologous stem cell transplantation involves "harvesting," or retrieving, noncancerous stem cells from the patients own body and freezing them. The cells are returned to the patients body after receiving intensive chemotherapy. The procedure is only appropriate for certain patients.

The question of which patients are likely to benefit from transplantation after their first complete remission is under study in clinical trials. The decision to do a stem cell transplant depends on whether the patients AML is favorable risk, intermediate risk or high risk. The doctor also considers:

Autologous transplantation is relatively safe for many patients, including older patients. For some AML patients who do not have an HLA-matched stem cell donor, therapy can be further intensified with very-high-dose chemotherapy followed by an autologous transplant.

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What is Diabetes?

September 26th, 2018 11:41 am

Diabetes can strike anyone, from any walk of life.

And it does in numbers that are dramatically increasing. In the last decade, the cases of people living with diabetes jumped almost 50 percent to more than 30 million Americans. Worldwide, it afflicts more than 422 million people.

Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure and stroke.

Living with diabetes places an enormous emotional, physical and financial burden on the entire family. Annually, diabetes costs the American public more than $245 billion.

Just what is diabetes?

To answer that, you first need to understand the role of insulin in your body. When you eat, your body turns food into sugars, or glucose. At that point, your pancreas is supposed to release insulin. Insulin serves as a key to open your cells, to allow the glucose to enter -- and allow you to use the glucose for energy.

But with diabetes, this system does not work.

Several major things can go wrong causing the onset of diabetes. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the most common forms of the disease, but there are also other kinds, such as gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, as well as other forms.

Do you want to learn more about the basics of diabetes?Read our brochure: "What is Diabetes?" in Englishor"Que es La Diabetes?" in Spanish.

The more severe form of diabetes is type 1, or insulin-dependent diabetes. Its sometimes called juvenile diabetes, because type 1 diabetes usually develops in children and teenagers, though it can develop at any age.

With type 1 diabetes, the bodys immune system attacks part of its own pancreas. Scientists are not sure why. But the immune system mistakenly sees the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas as foreign, and destroys them. This attack is known as "autoimmune" disease.

These cells called islets (pronounced EYE-lets) are the ones that sense glucose in the blood and, in response, produce the necessary amount of insulin to normalize blood sugars.

Insulin serves as a key to open your cells, to allow the glucose to enter -- and allow you to use the glucose for energy. Without insulin, there is no key. So, the sugar stays -- and builds up-- in the blood. The result: the bodys cells starve from the lack of glucose. And, if left untreated, the high level of blood sugar can damage eyes, kidneys, nerves, and the heart, and can also lead to coma and death.

So, a person with type 1 treats the disease by taking insulin injections. This outside source of insulin now serves as the key -- bringing glucose to the bodys cells.

The challenge with this treatment is that its often not possible to know precisely how much insulin to take. The amount is based on many factors, including:

Food

Exercise

Stress

Emotions and general health

These factors fluctuate greatly throughout every day. So, deciding on what dose of insulin to take is a complicated balancing act.

If you take too much, then your body burns too much glucose -- and your blood sugar can drop to a dangerously low level. This is a condition called hypoglycemia, which, if untreated, can be potentially life-threatening.

If you take too little insulin, your body can again be starved of the energy it needs, and your blood sugar can rise to a dangerously high level -- a condition called hyperglycemia. This also increases the chance of long-term complications.

The most common form of diabetes is called type 2, or non-insulin dependent diabetes.

This is also called adult onset diabetes, since it typically develops after age 35. However, a growing number of younger people are now developing type 2 diabetes.

People with type 2 are able to produce some of their own insulin. Often, its not enough. And sometimes, the insulin will try to serve as the key to open the bodys cells, to allow the glucose to enter. But the key wont work. The cells wont open. This is called insulin resistance.

Often, type 2 is tied to people who are overweight, with a sedentary lifestyle.

Treatment focuses on diet and exercise. If blood sugar levels are still high, oral medications are used to help the body use its own insulin more efficiently. In some cases, insulin injections are necessary.

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What is Diabetes?

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Exercising with arthritis: Improve your joint pain and …

September 26th, 2018 11:41 am

Exercise helps ease arthritis pain and stiffness

As you consider starting an arthritis exercise program, understand what's within your limits and what level of exercise is likely to give you results.

Exercise is crucial for people with arthritis. It increases strength and flexibility, reduces joint pain, and helps combat fatigue. Of course, when stiff and painful joints are already bogging you down, the thought of walking around the block or swimming a few laps might seem overwhelming.

But you don't need to run a marathon or swim as fast as an Olympic competitor to help reduce arthritis symptoms. Even moderate exercise can ease your pain and help you maintain a healthy weight. When arthritis threatens to immobilize you, exercise keeps you moving. Not convinced? Read on.

Exercise can help you improve your health and fitness without hurting your joints. With your current treatment program, exercise can:

Though you might think exercise will aggravate your joint pain and stiffness, that's not the case. Lack of exercise actually can make your joints even more painful and stiff.

That's because keeping your muscles and surrounding tissue strong is crucial to maintaining support for your bones. Not exercising weakens those supporting muscles, creating more stress on your joints.

Talk to your doctor about fitting exercise into your treatment plan. What types of exercises are best for you depends on your type of arthritis and which joints are involved. Your doctor or a physical therapist can work with you to find the exercise plan that gives you the most benefit with the least aggravation of your joint pain.

Your doctor or physical therapist can recommend exercises for you, which might include range-of-motion exercises, strengthening exercises, aerobic exercise and other activities.

These exercises relieve stiffness and increase your ability to move your joints through their full range of motion. These exercises might include movements such as raising your arms over your head or rolling your shoulders forward and backward. In most cases, these exercises can be done daily.

These exercises help you build strong muscles that help support and protect your joints. Weight training is an example of a strengthening exercise that can help you maintain or increase your muscle strength. Remember to avoid exercising the same muscle groups two days in a row. Rest a day between your workouts, and take an extra day or two if your joints are painful or swollen.

When starting a strength-training program, a three-day-a-week program can help you jump-start your improvement, but two days a week is all you need to maintain your gains.

Aerobic or endurance exercises help with your overall fitness. They can improve your cardiovascular health, help you control your weight and give you more stamina and energy.

Examples of low-impact aerobic exercises that are easier on your joints include walking, bicycling, swimming and using an elliptical machine. Try to work your way up to 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise per week. You can split that time into 10-minute blocks if that's easier on your joints.

Moderate intensity aerobic exercise is the safest and most effective if it's done most days of the week, but even a couple of days a week is better than no exercise. To determine if you are in the moderate intensity exercise zone, you should be able to carry on a conversation while exercising, though your breathing rate will be increased.

Any movement, no matter how small, can help. Daily activities such as mowing the lawn, raking leaves and walking the dog count.

Body awareness exercises, such as gentle forms of yoga or tai chi, can help you improve balance, prevent falls, improve posture and coordination, and promote relaxation. Be sure to tell your instructor about your condition and avoid positions or movements that can cause pain.

Start slowly to ease your joints into exercise if you haven't been active for a while. If you push yourself too hard, you can overwork your muscles and worsen your joint pain.

Consider these tips as you get started:

Trust your instincts and don't exert more energy than you think your joints can handle. Take it easy and slowly increase your exercise length and intensity as you progress.

You might notice some pain after you exercise if you haven't been active for a while. In general, if you're sore for more than two hours after you exercise, you were probably exercising too strenuously. Talk to your doctor about what pain is normal and what pain is a sign of something more serious.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, ask your doctor if you should exercise during general or local flares. One option is to work through your joint flares by doing only range-of-motion exercises, just to keep your body moving, or exercising in water to cushion your joints.

Check with your doctor about exercise programs in your area for people with arthritis. Some hospitals, clinics and health clubs offer special programs.

The Arthritis Foundation conducts exercise programs for people with arthritis in many parts of the United States. Programs include exercise classes in water and on land and walking groups. Contact your local branch for more information.

.

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Arthritis of the Knee – OrthoInfo – AAOS

September 26th, 2018 11:41 am

There is no cure for arthritis but there are a number of treatments that may help relieve the pain and disability it can cause.

As with other arthritic conditions, initial treatment of arthritis of the knee is nonsurgical. Your doctor may recommend a range of treatment options.

Lifestyle modifications. Some changes in your daily life can protect your knee joint and slow the progress of arthritis.

Physical therapy. Specific exercises can help increase range of motion and flexibility, as well as help strengthen the muscles in your leg. Your doctor or a physical therapist can help develop an individualized exercise program that meets your needs and lifestyle.

Assistive devices. Using devices such as a cane, wearing shock-absorbing shoes or inserts, or wearing a brace or knee sleeve can be helpful. A brace assists with stability and function, and may be especially helpful if the arthritis is centered on one side of the knee. There are two types of braces that are often used for knee arthritis: An "unloader" brace shifts weight away from the affected portion of the knee, while a "support" brace helps support the entire knee load.

Other remedies. Applying heat or ice, using pain-relieving ointments or creams, or wearing elastic bandages to provide support to the knee may provide some relief from pain.

Medications. Several types of drugs are useful in treating arthritis of the knee. Because people respond differently to medications, your doctor will work closely with you to determine the medications and dosages that are safe and effective for you.

Like all medications, over-the-counter pain relievers can cause side effects and interact with other medications you are taking. Be sure to discuss potential side effects with your doctor.

In some cases, pain and swelling may "flare" immediately after the injection, and the potential exists for long-term joint damage or infection. With frequent repeated injections, or injections over an extended period of time, joint damage can actually increase rather than decrease.

In addition, biologic DMARDs like etanercept (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira) may reduce the body's overactive immune response. Because there are many different drugs today for rheumatoid arthritis, a rheumatology specialist is often required to effectively manage medications.

In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not test dietary supplements before they are sold to consumers. These compounds may cause side effects, as well as negative interactions with other medications. Always consult your doctor before taking dietary supplements.

Alternative therapies. Many alternative forms of therapy are unproven, but may be helpful to try, provided you find a qualified practitioner and keep your doctor informed of your decision. Alternative therapies to treat pain include the use of acupuncture and magnetic pulse therapy.

Acupuncture uses fine needles to stimulate specific body areas to relieve pain or temporarily numb an area. Although it is used in many parts of the world and evidence suggests that it can help ease the pain of arthritis, there are few scientific studies of its effectiveness. Be sure your acupuncturist is certified, and do not hesitate to ask about his or her sterilization practices.

Magnetic pulse therapy is painless and works by applying a pulsed signal to the knee, which is placed in an electromagnetic field. Like many alternative therapies, magnetic pulse therapy has yet to be proven.

Your doctor may recommend surgery if your pain from arthritis causes disability and is not relieved with nonsurgical treatment. As with all surgeries, there are some risks and possible complications with different knee procedures. Your doctor will discuss the possible complications with you before your operation.

Arthroscopy. During arthroscopy, doctors use small incisions and thin instruments to diagnose and treat joint problems.

Arthroscopic surgery is not often used to treat arthritis of the knee. In cases where osteoarthritis is accompanied by a degenerative meniscal tear, arthroscopic surgery may be recommended to treat the torn meniscus.

Cartilage grafting. Normal, healthy cartilage tissue may be taken from another part of the knee or from a tissue bank to fill a hole in the articular cartilage. This procedure is typically considered only for younger patients who have small areas of cartilage damage.

Synovectomy. The joint lining damaged by rheumatoid arthritis is removed to reduce pain and swelling.

Osteotomy. In a knee osteotomy, either the tibia (shinbone) or femur (thighbone) is cut and then reshaped to relieve pressure on the knee joint. Knee osteotomy is used when you have early-stage osteoarthritis that has damaged just one side of the knee joint. By shifting your weight off the damaged side of the joint, an osteotomy can relieve pain and significantly improve function in your arthritic knee.

Total or partial knee replacement (arthroplasty). Your doctor will remove the damaged cartilage and bone, and then position new metal or plastic joint surfaces to restore the function of your knee.

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Arthritis of the Knee - OrthoInfo - AAOS

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Arthritis Diet in 4 Steps + 5 Best Arthritis Supplements – Dr …

September 26th, 2018 11:41 am

Arthritis is something that affects a lot of people. In fact, its believed that approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) estimates that more than 54 million in the U.S. alone suffer from arthritis symptoms. (1, 2)

Rheumatoid arthritis is really autoimmune in nature and actually starts in your gut, which is surprising to a lot of people. So Im going to share with you the top natural arthritis treatments that are effective in terms of diet and supplements. Ill also mention the things you want to stay away from when followingthe arthritis diet.

[Below is my transcript of my video about natural treatments for arthritis and the arthritis diet, along with supplemental information on the topic.]

A smartarthritis diet should be full of anti-inflammatory foods. Here are the top foods you should consume.

Numerous scientific studies demonstrate that dietaryomega-3 fatty acidscan help toreduce inflammationin the body. (3) Wild-caught fish, including benefit-packed salmon, is your No. 1 food of choice. After that, grass-fed beef, flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnutsare all excellent choices. You can eat a healthy snack like some walnuts and raisins, wild-caught salmon for dinner, and put some flaxseeds or chia seeds in a morning superfood shake, but just make sure you get those omega-3 fatty acids on a daily basis.

The second thing you want to do diet-wise is consume foods that are high in sulfur. Sulfur naturally contains a form ofmethylsulfonylmethane (MSM). As a 2017 scientific review points out, MSM has been shown to helpreduce joint inflammationalong with joint pain. (4) According to the Arthritis Foundation,MSM acts as ananalgesic agent in the body by decreasing the nerve impulses that transmit pain. (5)

The top foods high in sulfur are onions, garlic, asparagus and cabbage. So you can eatsauted cabbage with some garlic, some onions with yourgrass-fed burger, and of course, asparagus as a side dish or any sort of cabbage, coleslaw or sauerkraut. Those sulfur-rich foods can really help to reduce arthritis symptoms.

The next thing you want to add to your arthritis dietis bone broth. The healing power of bone broth is remarkable. Its loaded with a form of collagen that contains the amino acids proline and glycine, and both proline and glycine help rebuild tissues.

Nutrition researchers from theWeston A. Price Foundation explain thatbone broth alsocontains chondroitin sulphatesand glucosamine, the compounds sold as pricey supplements to reduce inflammation, arthritis and joint pain. (6)

Bone broth is great for the body for so many reasons, but it can be especially helpful if you have any type of degeneration of the joints. Try my Homemade Chicken Bone Broth Recipe orBeef Bone Broth Recipe to get started.

Last but not least, you should eat lots of fruits and veggies on the arthritis diet. Fruits and veggies are packed with digestive enzymes and anti-inflammatory compounds. Some of the best include papaya, which contains papain, and pineapple, which contains bromelain. Other raw fruits and vegetables are fantastic as well.

A 2011 study in publishedMolecular Nutrition and Food Research found that inflammatory markers decreased when human test subjects were given papaya. (7) A more recent review of research published in 2015 points out that both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that papaya extracts and papaya-associated phytochemicals possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. (8)

Bromelain, which can be found in pineapple,was first reported as an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agent for use in both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritic patients all the way back in 1964. Today, bromelain is sometimes taken in supplement form by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis sufferers. More recent studies are warranted, but to date, bromelain appears to possibly decrease joint swelling and improve joint mobility. (9)

So the bulk of your diet should consist of the following:organic and omega-3 rich protein; healthy vegetables; healthy fruits; and some high omega-3 nuts and seeds like flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts.

If youre wondering which foods aggravate arthritis, heres a list of what not to eat if you have arthritis:

If youre following an arthritis diet, you want to stay completely away from these offending foods if you want to start improving your symptoms as soon as possible.

In addition, if you have sensitivitiesor you have a severe autoimmune disease, sometimes nightshade vegetablescontribute to arthritis symptoms as well so youll want to remove those as well. According to the Cleveland Clinic, This food group can aggravate the pain and inflammation of arthritis. It includes tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant, pepper, paprika and tobacco. (17)

Now, here are the best supplements in the natural treatment of arthritis to add to your arthritis diet.

No. 1is a fish oil supplement. Fish oil benefits health in so many ways, including treating arthritis.An 18-month study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicineevaluated how borage oiland fish oil fared against each other in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It was discovered that all three groups (one taking fish oil, one taking borage seed and one taking a combination of the two) exhibited significant reductions in disease activity and no therapy outperformed the others! (18)

I recommend 1,000 milligrams a day of a high-quality fish oil.

Number two, turmeric benefits arthritis patients because its a very powerful anti-inflammatory herb.A study out of Japan evaluated its relationship with interleukin (IL)-6, the inflammatory cytokine known to be involved in the rheumatoid arthritisprocess, and discovered that turmericsignificantly reduced these inflammatory markers. (19) This suggests that regular turmeric use could be a potent strategy to prevent the onset of arthritis from developingto begin with!

You can take turmeric and sprinkle that on your food (or cook with it), and that works great but actually taking it as a supplement can be very effective in the natural treatment of arthritis.I recommend about 1,000 milligrams a day of turmeric.

The thirdsuperfood or super-supplement you should be using is proteolytic enzymes. Proteolytic enzymes like benefit-rich bromelainare supplementsyou take on an empty stomach, and along with fish oil, they are probably the most effective thing you can do to get immediate relief from arthritis.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and comparator-controlled trial, an orally administered combination ofproteolytic enzymes and bioflavonoid wasas effective as an NSAID in managing chronic osteoarthritis of the knee when it was taken for 12 weeks. (20)

Glucosamine chondroitin, or glucosamine sulfate, is very effective at actually giving your body the sort of nutrients and things it needs for rebuilding healthy joints, which is way its a natural remedy for bone and join pain.

5. MSM

MSM is a form of sulfur you can take in supplement form thats also effective, as stated earlier, which is why sulfur-rich foods are effective at treating arthritis.

If you suffer from arthritis, make sure to follow the arthritis diet and supplement recommendations.If youve enjoyed this video and article, make sure you subscribe here to my Dr. Axe YouTubechannel.

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Arthritis Diet in 4 Steps + 5 Best Arthritis Supplements - Dr ...

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Arthritis Treatment – verywellhealth.com

September 26th, 2018 11:41 am

Arthritis medications have long been considered the "traditional" treatment option. Since individual response to drugs can vary and because potential side effects and adverse reactions are also a factor, finding the most effective combination of arthritis medications can be a more difficult process than you might expect. You should become knowledgeable about various arthritis medications, so that you can make an informed decision with your doctor.

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are among the most commonly prescribed and widely used arthritis drugs. There are three types of NSAIDs: salicylates (both acetylated [e.g., aspirin] and non-acetylated [e.g., Disalcid {salsalate}]), Trilisate (choline magnesium trisalicylate), and Doan's Pills or Novasal (magnesium salicylate); the traditional NSAIDs; and COX-2 selective inhibitors.

NSAIDs work by blocking the activity of the enzyme, cyclooxygenase, also known as COX. Research has revealed that there are two forms of cyclooxygenase, known as COX-1 and COX-2. NSAIDs affect both forms. COX-1 is involved in maintaining healthy tissue, while COX-2 is involved in the inflammation pathway. COX-2 selective inhibitors became a subset of NSAIDswith Celebrex (celecoxib) being the first to be FDA-approved in the late 1990s.

Traditional NSAIDs include:

COX-2 Inhibitors include:

Read: NSAIDs - What You Should Know

DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) are also referred to as "slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs" because they typically take weeks or months to work and "second-line agents." Research has confirmed the effectiveness of DMARDs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis as well as the importance of early, aggressive treatment using DMARDs. The goal of being treated with DMARDs is to stop disease progression and halt joint damage.

DMARDs include:

Xeljanz (tofacitinib citrate), an oral DMARD, was approved by the FDA on Nov. 6, 2012, to treat adults with moderately active to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response, or intolerance, to methotrexate. Xeljanz is the first in a class of drugs known as JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitors.

Read: Facts About DMARDs

Corticosteroids or glucocorticoids, often called "steroids," are potent drugs which can reduce swelling and inflammation quickly. These drugs are closely related to cortisol, a hormone produced by the cortex of the adrenal glands. They are prescribed in widely varying doses depending on the condition and goal of treatment. While steroids may be used to control inflammation of the joints and organs in inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatica, and vasculitis, it has been determined that the potential for serious side effects increases at high doses or with long-term use.

Doctors may prescribe short-term, high-dose intravenous steroids in some situations, or your doctor can administer a local steroid injection into a specific joint, such as Kenalog (triamcinolone), to help you get some relief from pain and inflammation.

Corticosteroids include:

Read: Corticosteroids (Steroids) - What You Should Know

Analgesics are pain-relieving drugs. Controlling pain is a vital part of treating arthritis. However, unlike NSAIDs, analgesic medications do not relieve inflammation. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the most commonly used analgesic. Narcotic analgesic drugs may also be prescribed for more severe pain.

Narcotics include:

Read: Analgesic Medications - What You Should Know

Biologic Response Modifiers (BRMs), more commonly referred to as biologics, stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight disease or infection. Biologics are drugs derived from living sources as opposed to being synthesized chemicals.

Enbrel (etanercept), Remicade infliximab), Humira (adalimumab), Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), and Simponi (golimumab) target TNF-alpha, one of the most important cytokines involved in rheumatoid arthritis. TNF blockers (biologic drugs that bind to TNF-alpha) render it inactive, thereby interfering with inflammatory activity and ultimately decreasing joint damage.

Kineret (anakinra), also a biologic drug, is an IL-1 antagonist. Kineret was the first selective blocker of interleukin-1 (IL-1), a protein that is found in excess in some people with rheumatoid arthritis. By blocking IL-1, Kineret inhibits inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Kineret can be used alone, or in combination with other DMARDs, except anti-TNF drugs. While Kineret is an option, it rarely is prescribed.

Orencia (abatacept) was the first T-cell co-stimulation modulator to be approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rituxan (rituximab), the world's best-selling cancer drug, was FDA approved in March 2006 to be used in combination with methotrexate to treat rheumatoid arthritis by reducing the signs and symptoms in adults who have moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis and have failed one or more anti-TNF drugs. Rituxan is the first treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that selectively targets the CD20-positive B-cells.

Actemra (tocilizumab) is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, thereby blocking interleukin-6. Actemra was approved by the FDA on Jan. 8, 2010 for the treatment of adult rheumatoid arthritis in people who have failed one or more TNF blockers.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment - ACR Recommendations

Until 2007, there were no drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Doctors treated fibromyalgia with a variety of drugs developed and approved for other indications. In 2007, Lyrica (pregabalin) was approved to treat fibromyalgia. In 2008, Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) was approved for fibromyalgia. In 2009, Savella (milnacipran HCl) was approved for the condition.

Gout is one of the most acutely painful forms of arthritis. It can be managed with medication, diet, and lifestyle changes. There are three aspects of gout treatment with medication: analgesics, anti-inflammatory medications, and drugs to manage uric acid levels and gout attacks.

Drugs for gout include:

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by porous, brittle bones, which is most common to the elderly, but also may be problematic for people who have taken corticosteroids (steroids) longterm. There are several categories of drug options for osteoporosis: estrogens, parathyroid hormones, bone formation agents, bisphosphonates, and selective receptor molecules. Depending on which drug is used, you can slow bone loss, promote bone growth, and reduce the risk of fractures.

Drugs for osteoporosis include:

The underlying goals of treating arthritis and rheumatic diseases with medication include controlling pain, decreasing inflammation, slowing progression of the disease, and managing disease activity. There are many types of arthritis and many drugs in each drug class. That makes choosing a treatment regimen somewhat complicated. Deciding which medication or combination of medications is right for you can be daunting. It likely will take trial and errorand you will keep trying until you feel you have achieved an adequate response. Verywell has compiled the facts you need to know about arthritis medications. The information Verywell has provided will help you understand why you are taking the medication you are taking and will help you formulate questions for your doctor.

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Arthritis Treatment - verywellhealth.com

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Arthritis | Cleveland Clinic

September 26th, 2018 11:41 am

What is arthritis?

Arthritis, or "joint inflammation," is a general term for a group of more than 100 diseases. Arthritis is inflammation (swelling) in and around the bodys joints. (A joint is a point at which two or more bones come together, such as the hip or the knee.)

Inflammation is one of the body's natural responses to disease or injury. Inflammation can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling, as well as loss of movement in some patients. Some types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout.

Download a Free Guide on Arthritis Pain Treatment

Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing, and bathing. In the United States, one in five adults (52.5 million) reports having arthritis that has been diagnosed by a doctor.

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability among Americans aged 15 and older. However, arthritis affects people in all age groups, including almost 300,000 children.

Other statistics about arthritis:

The causes of most types of arthritis are not known. Scientists are studying how three major factors may play a role in certain types of arthritis:

Although the exact causes of arthritis might not be known, there are several risk factors. A risk factor is a something that increases a person's chance of developing a disease or condition. Risk factors for arthritis include:

The pain of arthritis might be caused by different things, including inflammation of the synovial membrane (tissue that lines the joints), tendons, or ligaments; muscle strain; and fatigue. A combination of these factors can have an effect on how strong the pain is.

The pain of arthritis can be very different for each person. Things that contribute to the pain include the amount of damage and swelling within the joint.

Different types of arthritis have different symptoms, which can be mild in some people and very strong in others. Osteoarthritis usually does not cause any symptoms outside the joint.

Symptoms of other types of arthritis might include fatigue (feeling tired), fever, a rash, and the signs of joint inflammation, including:

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

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Arthritis | Cleveland Clinic

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Simple Exercises for Managing Arthritis Pain | TYLENOL

September 26th, 2018 11:41 am

Simple Exercises for Managing Arthritis Pain | TYLENOLSkip to main content

Before starting or changing an exercise program to help with arthritis pain management, talk with your healthcare provider about whether you are healthy enough to participate. When determining how to relieve arthritis pain, remember that taking a Tylenol 8 HR Arthritis Pain is not the only way.

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People who exercise have a 43% reduced risk of osteoarthritis-related disability.

Provide joint pain relief

Limit the amount and type of pain relievers used

Stay active and energized

Improve sleep, overall health and quality of life

Better function in everyday tasks

Move joints more easily and slow damage

Experts Recommend 3 Types of Exercises for Arthritis

Cardiovascular (cardio) activity

Types:

Low-impact exercisessuch as walking, elliptical machines, or water aerobicsare easier on arthritis hip pain and arthritis knee pain

Amounts:

20-30 minutes daily (If youre inactive, start with 5-10 minutes and increase over time to help what causes arthritis pain)

2 hours weekly of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes weekly of vigorous exercise

Do as much as you can do. Even if you cant fit in much cardio, the strengthening and stretching exercises can help with things like arthritis back pain.

Always warm up for 3-5 minutes before beginning arthritis exercises with light activity like walking around the block or marching in place.

Cool down for at least 5 minutes after strengthening or cardio exercises. You can do more light activity like walking or stretching exercises.

When you start exercising to relieve arthritis symptoms, you may initially have some mild discomfort, but this often improves after a few minutes. Listen to your body if any initial discomfort persists it knows what is arthritis appropriate exercise for you.

Note: If you experience severe arthritis pain during your workout, stop immediately and talk with your healthcare provider about arthritis management. Always read and follow the label before taking any arthritis pain medication.

Get fast pain relief that lasts all day.*

*Up to 8 hours

Tiny changes today can mean less joint pain in the future.

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CTERP International Conference – 2018: About

September 25th, 2018 8:42 pm

CTERP INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCEApril 11-13, 2018Moscow, Russia

In recent years there have been rapid advances in applying the discoveries in cell technologies field into medical practice. Cell technologies are progressing as the result of multidisciplinary effort of scientists, clinicians and businessmen,with clinical applications of manipulated stem cells combining developments in transplantation and gene therapy.Challenges address not only thetechnology itself but also compliancewith safety and regulatory requirements.

The Conference will provide a platform for scientists from basic and applied cell biology fields, practical doctors, and biotech companies to meet and share their experience, to discuss the research associated with developing biomedical clinical products and translating this research into novel clinical applications, challenges of such translational efforts and foundation of bioclusters assisting further developments in cell technology.

The official language of the conference is English.

Conference materials will be published in the Russian Journal of Developmental Biology.

Please download your abstracts in accordance with the journal guidelines (english, russian) for authors provided on their website.

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