StemCell Therapy

An overview of the study 'Genetic Regulatory Effects Modified by Immune Activation Contribute to Autoimmune Disease Associations'. Credit: New York Genome Center

It is widely recognized that people respond differently to infections. This can partially be explained by genetics, shows a new study published today in Nature Communications by an international collaboration of researchers from Germany and the United States. The study, "Genetic Regulatory Effects Modified by Immune Activation Contribute to Autoimmune Disease Associations," maps genetic variants that affect how much gene expression changes in response to immune stimulus. The findings offer novel insights into the genetic contribution to varying immune responses among individuals and its consequences on immune-mediated diseases.

"Our defense mechanisms against microbial pathogens rely on white blood cells that are specialized to detect infection. Upon encounter of microbes, these cells trigger cellular defense programs via activating and repressing the expression of hundreds of genes," explained one of the senior authors of the study, Dr. Veit Hornung from the Ludwig-Maxmilians-Universitt in Munich and formerly from the University of Bonn. "We wanted to understand how genetic differences between individuals affect this cellular response to infection," added Dr. Johannes Schumacher from the University of Bonn, another senior author of the study.

The human immune system plays a central role in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer, metabolism and aging. The researchers discovered hundreds of genes where the response to immune stimulus depended on the genetic variants carried by the individual. "These genes include many of the well-known genes of the human immune system, demonstrating that genetic variation has an important role in how the human immune system works," noted Dr. Sarah Kim-Hellmuth, the lead author of the study, from the New York Genome Center, Columbia University, the Max Planck Institute in Munich and formerly from the University of Bonn. "While earlier studies have mapped some of these effects, this study is particularly comprehensive, with three stimuli and two time points analyzed."

The study captured genetic variants whose effects on gene regulation was different depending on the different infectious state of the cells. These included four associations to diseases such as cholesterol level and celiac disease. Furthermore, the researchers discovered a trend of genetic risk for autoimmune diseases such as lupus and celiac disease to be enriched for gene regulatory effects modified by the immune state. "This supports a paradigm where genetic disease risk is sometimes driven not by genetic variants causing constant cellular dysregulation, but by causing a failure to respond properly to environmental conditions such as infection," said co-senior author Dr. Tuuli Lappalainen, from the New York Genome Center and Columbia University.

The investigators collected blood from 134 volunteers and treated monocytes - a type of white blood cells - in the laboratory with three components that mimic infection with bacteria or a virus. They then analyzed how cells from different individuals respond to infection by measuring gene expression both during the early and late immune response. Integrating the gene expression profiles with genome-wide genetic data of each individual, they were able to map how genetic variants affect gene expression, and how this genetic effect changes with immune stimulus.

"It's been known for a long time that most diseases have both genetic and environmental risk factors. But it's actually more complicated than that because genes and environment interact. As demonstrated in our study, a genetic risk factor may manifest only in certain environments," explained Dr. Lappalainen. "We are still in early stages of understanding the interplay of genetics and environment, but our results indicate that this is a key component of human biology and disease. The molecular approach that we took in our study can be a particularly powerful way for researchers to delve deeper into this question."

The study's analyses of gene expression patterns in a population scale provide a highly robust and comprehensive dataset of innate immune responses and show wide variation among individuals exposed to diverse pathogens over multiple time points. The research identified population differences in immune response and demonstrated that immune response modifies genetic associations to disease. The research sheds light on the genomic elements underlying response to environmental stimuli, and the dynamics and evolution of immune response.

Explore further: Study describes key RNA epigenetic marker's role in immune system

More information: Sarah Kim-Hellmuth et al, Genetic regulatory effects modified by immune activation contribute to autoimmune disease associations, Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00366-1

Journal reference: Nature Communications

Provided by: New York Genome Center

See more here:
Genetic variants found to play key role in human immune system - Medical Xpress

No parent likes seeing their child have injections. Yet, around 93% of parents across Australia protect their children against 15 serious diseases by giving them all the recommended vaccines on the National Immunisation Program Schedule. This success is due in part to the value of combination vaccines, which protect against two or more diseases in one go.

Combination vaccines mean kids need fewer injections overall. By adding several antigens (the part of the germ that stimulates the immune system) together in one vaccine, we can protect kids against up to six diseases in a few shots. These shots are typically given in a series of two or three injections over time.

Our new study released today in JAMA Pediatrics, backs the safety of a four-in-one combination vaccine designed to protect against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) and known as the MMRV vaccine. We also show its added benefits in protecting kids by the time they reach pre-school.

Read more: Six myths about vaccination and why theyre wrong

Making a combination vaccine typically involves decades of research to ensure the precise balance of active components is included, the immune response to each component is effective, and even the slightest change in a vaccine doesnt change its safety profile.

This is stringently regulated across the world, by groups such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia and Food and Drug Administration in the USA, before a vaccine is even trialled in humans, or indeed ultimately licensed for use.

Once these combination vaccines are used, their safety (as well as the safety of other vaccines) is also actively monitored. One new way we do this in Australia is by monitoring any side-effects in real time. Parents respond to an SMS survey about their childs recent vaccination, the results of which are collated and posted online.

However, some parents question if giving an injection that protects against multiple diseases will overwhelm the immune system or be too much to handle. The answer is no for many reasons.

A review into parental concerns about combination vaccinations confirms the moment babies enter the world they are covered in millions of foreign germs. The infant immune system is no longer considered immature but is finely tuned to respond to the incredible number of viruses, bacteria and other things it meets early in life. Vaccines contain just a few antigens compared to what babies meet every day.

The researchers estimate that even if 11 vaccines were given to infants at one time, only about 0.1% of the immune system would be used up.

Read more: Explainer: how does the immune system work?

Rather than weaken the immune system, or putting it under strain, vaccines train the infant immune system to respond, without causing the terrible consequences of the disease itself. Combination vaccines do the same.

The design of vaccines has been increasingly tailored to leverage this unique biology, including the development of new combination vaccines.

Read more: Vaccine program changes protect kids, but with fewer ouches

For instance, in 2013, two new combination vaccines the MMRV vaccine and a combination vaccine against the Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcus type c bacteria (Hib-MenC) were added to Australias immunisation schedule, reducing the number of injections babies needed.

Our new study evaluated the impact of one these the MMRV vaccine since it was added to the schedule.

Before the MMRV vaccine was introduced, kids were protected against varicella (or chickenpox) with a separate vaccine. And they received their second dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine at age four years, quite a big gap after their first-birthday dose of MMR.

By introducing this combination MMRV vaccine earlier (at 18 months), our study showed the second dose of vaccine against measles provided early comprehensive protection against this deadly disease.

While the first vaccine dose (given at 12 months) only gives a full immune response in about 90% of children, giving a second dose boosts immunity to more than 95% and also helps to provide longer lasting protection.

Our study showed not only that the percentage of children fully protected against all four diseases is now greater compared with when MMR was separated from the varicella vaccine, it is also occurring at a much earlier age.

On time vaccination (within 30 days of the recommended age) has now improved by 13.5% (from 58.9% to 72.4% of children). This means many more children are protected against measles, chickenpox, mumps and rubella (German measles) before entering pre-school.

Another important part of our evaluation was to ensure that introducing this vaccine was safe. If the combination MMRV vaccine is given as the very first dose of measles-containing vaccine in very young children, it causes more cases of fever and a small increase in febrile seizures (a common, usually benign, but frightening convulsion in children) compared with giving the vaccines separately.

Our study examined if using the MMRV shot in the Australian program as the second dose would be linked to an increase in febrile seizures. When we examined all children who came to paediatric hospitals across the country with a febrile convulsion, then looked at what vaccines they had received, we found no increase in febrile seizures associated with this second dose given at 18 months.

So introducing this combination vaccine in 2013, which has taken decades to develop, has:

Combination vaccines not only mean fewer visits to the doctor or nurse for injections, they can have other benefits, as well as being safe.

Our study highlights how much information is considered before making any change to the immunisation schedule to introduce combination vaccines, and importantly, how carefully changes to the schedule are monitored and evaluated.

While combination vaccines might introduce extra antigens to a childs immune system in one go, they are a tiny, tiny proportion of what children meet as they grow. Being vaccinated trains a childs immune system to withstand some of the biggest and baddest germs they will encounter.

Link:
No, combination vaccines don't overwhelm kids' immune systems - The Conversation AU

With Australia in the midst of what is likely to become its worst flu season in 15 years you can consider yourself lucky if you havent been hit yet.

Over 70,000 people have been struck down so far this year, but with many of us skipping a visit to the doctor the number is likely to be much higher.

Some of the confirmed cases were people that fell ill despite the flu vaccination. So we thought wed look at some other ways you can strengthen your immune system naturally including things we can do and eat.

There have been over 70,000 confirmed cases so far. Photo: Getty

With pregnant women, young children, and senior citizens most at risk, leading naturopath and sports nutritionist, Kira Sutherland, shared her three food immune boosters with Be.

AntioxidantsAntioxidants are nutrients within foods that are supportive to a strong immune system. Berries are packed with antioxidants, are low in sugar, and usually contain lots of fibre, Kira tells Be. Blueberries, for example, contain both vitamin C and K, and resveratrol, which is a fabulous antioxidant.

Kira also suggests juice, such as H2melon. Watermelon is high in water and lower in sugar than most regular juices, and contains vitamin C, lycopene, and beta-carotene, which are all antioxidants that help to support the immune system.

Berries are high in antioxidants and can strengthen the immune system. Photo: Getty

ProbioticsAccording to research, the digestive system represents almost 70 per cent of the entire immune system. Yoghurts contain great gut bacteria known as probiotics which are important for good digestive and gut health, Kira says.

RELATED: Sick man, 29, 'told by doctor he had flu' one day before he diedRELATED: Matt De Groot: What women don't realise about man flu

ProteinProtein is important for stabilising blood sugar levels and our immune systems depend on good quality protein to keep it working properly. Kira says many people will use protein powders to easily get their protein hit. Other good sources of protein include meat, fish, chicken, eggs, dairy, beans, soy foods, nuts and seeds.

Pregnant women, young children and elderly are most at risk. Photo: Getty

In terms of things you can do, Brisbane natural health expert Jo Formosa shares a few tips to ward off the flu.

Avoid rapid changes in temperature: The biggest one is going from warm to cold these dramatic changes impact how our system recovers.

Eat smaller meals: When youre sick you dont need to eat as much.

Avoid dairy products when you have the flu: This contributes to mucous and phlegm production, instead go for ginger and turmeric - in juice, milk or honey.

Jo says to avoid dairy when fighting the flu. Photo: Getty

Eat more warm soups: in particular with garlic, ginger and black pepper as this breaks up mucous and phlegm.

Stay warm when out in the elements: Even if it's sunny outside, its important to take care to keep the head and neck warm.

Stay warm. Photo: Getty

Want more celebrity, entertainment and lifestyle news? Follow Be on Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Link:
Flu epidemic: How to boost your immune system naturally - Yahoo7 Be

In 1898, scientists in Uruguay noticed that some of their laboratory rabbits were dying from a mysterious illness, their skin riddled with tumors and weeping wounds. The researchers named the disease myxomatosis. They showed that it was caused by a new virus. And they argued that this myxoma virushighly lethal, specific to rabbits, and spread by mosquito biteswas exactly what the Australian government was looking for.

Europeans had introduced rabbits to Australia at the end of the 18th century, whereupon the fuzzy critters started breeding like, well, yknow. A century later, they had become a serious problem for both the nations wildlife and its farmers. Perhaps a disease could control the bunny blight?

In 1950, after some resistance and much cajoling, government scientists finally released myxoma-infected rabbits into the Murray Valley of southeastern Australia. That summer, the virus blazed brightly, but its spark appeared to peter out. Then, by years end, it rekindled into an almighty conflagration that swept through southern Australia, killing millions of rabbits. Thus, inadvertently, began one of the great experiments in natural selection, conducted on a continental scale, wrote Australian scientist Peter Kerr.

The myxoma virus quickly evolved. The strain that had initially been used was almost inescapably lethal, killing virtually every rabbit it infected. But virologist Frank Fenner discovered that, within a few years, this strain had been replaced with milder ones, which killed less rapidly and frequently.

These events provided an unprecedented view of how viruses evolve in the wild. Theyve also permeated into the popular consciousness, creating an intuitive sense that lethal viruses eventually evolve into milder forms, which are less likely to completely wipe out their hosts. But the notion that everythings heading toward a state of long-term co-existence and happiness is not always the case, says Andrew Read, an evolutionary biologist based at Pennsylvania State University. There are plenty of examples where the virus has got nastier over time.

And as it happens, myxoma is one such example. It went from exceptionally nasty to just nasty, and now has turned round and cranked up the nastiness again, Read says.

The virus was never entirely defanged. After its release in 1950, it went from killing more than 99 percent of rabbits to killing around 75 percent of them, or under 50 percent in some cases. In response, the rabbits evolved resistance, shrugging off strains that would once have finished them off. And that relaunched the arms race between myxoma and rabbits, prompting the virus to evolve its own countermeasures, which it still deploys today.

Read worked out how it responded by teaming up with Peter Kerr, who had collected and stored myxoma samples from the last several decades. By exposing lab rabbits to these archived strains, the team showed that by the 1990s, the virus had gained a new ability: It could completely shut down a rabbits immune system. This stops the animals from effectively clearing the virus. Inadvertently, it also means the bacteria that normally live peacefully in the rabbits bodies run amok, spreading through their internal organs and causing septic shock. These rabbits never develop the skin tumors or any of the classic symptoms of myxomatosis. Instead, they die from massive and sudden infections. Their lungs fill with fluid and they start bleeding uncontrollably.

These immune-suppressing strains might have emerged as early as the 1970s, and theyre circulating broadly now. Still, their effects are hard to spot in wild rabbits, which still die from the same kinds of symptoms as they used to. Thats because their genetic resistance partly counteracts the viruss new ability, which only becomes clear when it infects lab animals that have no history of coevolving with this virus. The wild rabbits started to resist the virus, the virus started to kill them in a new way, and neither side gained any ground. Its like a duck in a stream, paddling like crazy under the water and not getting anywhere, says Read.

Laboratory experiments using bacteria and their viruses have shown that when hosts evolve resistance against infections, viruses can rapidly overcome host immunity, says Lotta-Riina Sundberg, from the University of Jyvskyl. But monitoring these long-term coevolutionary arms races in natural settings with such accuracy is challenging. Thats why the myxoma story is so important, she adds.

The same dynamics played out in Europe, where a different strain of myxoma was used to control rabbits, following the Australian success. There, too, the virus evolved into milder forms. And there, too, new immunosuppressive strains have emerged. No one knows what will happen in the future. In South America, myxomas birthplace, the virus causes an innocuous disease in the local cottontails. But theres no indication that the Australian or European strains are heading in that direction.

The broad lesson is that theres a variety of evolutionary trajectories that pathogens can take, says Read. There are situations, no question, where virulence can go quite low. Sexually transmitted diseases, for example, require hosts to be sexually active and that requires that they stay alive for some time. But theres no reason to think that the average long-term state will be coexistence, and thats a mistake thats permeated the public.

Consider rabbit hemorrhagic diseaseanother infection that Australia considered as a way of controlling rabbits, and that escaped from a quarantine facility in 1995. The virus behind the disease is transmitted by corpse flies, which are attracted to cadavers, so this virus actually benefits by killing its hosts in spectacular fashion. Its present in huge numbers at the time of death. As such, it started off lethal and has only become more so with time. In the United States, West Nile virus has become more virulent in house sparrows, in response to the birds evolving resistance. And Mareks diseasean illness of fowlbecame fouler after farmers treated birds with a leaky vaccine, which stops them from developing the disease, but not from becoming infected or spreading the virus.

These consequences are relevant to various companies and researchers who are trying to make farmed animals more resistant to diseases. Some are doing it by traditional breeding. Others are looking to genetic engineering. Whatever the route, the myxoma example shows that such measures could drive the evolution of more potent viruses. These may not be a problem for the resistant animals, just as immunosuppressive myxoma strains arent especially deadly to wild rabbits. But if the viruses spread to naive animals, they would suffer.

If you had a bunch of companies in one river system, and one is creating more resistant fish, causing pathogens to become more virulent, what does that do to the wildlife and the fish belonging to other companies? says Read. You have to ask about the long-term consequences. Maybe there are some types of resistance that are less likely to provoke this arms race than others. We need to understand that.

Read more:
The Next Chapter in a Viral Arms Race - The Atlantic

By: PTI | Los Angeles | Published:August 15, 2017 6:54 pm Understanding the critical role metabolism plays in hair growth and stem cells.

Scientists have discovered a new way to activate the stem cells in the hair follicle, an advance that may pave the way for novel drugs to promote hair growth. Hair follicle stem cells are long-lived cells in the hair follicle; they are present in the skin and produce hair throughout a persons lifetime. They are quiescent, meaning they are normally inactive, but they quickly activate during a new hair cycle, which is when new hair growth occurs.

The quiescence of hair follicle stem cells is regulated by many factors. In certain cases they fail to activate, which is what causes hair loss.

Researchers from University of California, Los Angeles in the US found that hair follicle stem cell metabolism is different from other cells of the skin. Cellular metabolism involves the breakdown of the nutrients needed for cells to divide, make energy and respond to their environment. The process of metabolism uses enzymes that alter these nutrients to produce metabolites.

As hair follicle stem cells consume the nutrient glucose a form of sugar from the bloodstream, they process the glucose to eventually produce a metabolite called pyruvate. The cells then can either send pyruvate to their mitochondria the part of the cell that creates energy or can convert pyruvate into another metabolite called lactate. Our observations about hair follicle stem cell metabolism prompted us to examine whether genetically diminishing the entry of pyruvate into the mitochondria would force hair follicle stem cells to make more lactate, and if that would activate the cells and grow hair more quickly, said Heather Christofk, an associate professor at UCLA.

The research team first blocked the production of lactate genetically in mice and showed that this prevented hair follicle stem cell activation. Conversely, they increased lactate production genetically in the mice and this accelerated hair follicle stem cell activation, increasing the hair cycle. Before this, no one knew that increasing or decreasing the lactate would have an effect on hair follicle stem cells, said William Lowry, a professor at the UCLA.

Once we saw how altering lactate production in the mice influenced hair growth, it led us to look for potential drugs that could be applied to the skin and have the same effect, said Lowry. The team identified two drugs that, when applied to the skin of mice, influenced hair follicle stem cells in distinct ways to promote lactate production.

The first drug, called RCGD423, activates a cellular signalling pathway called JAK-Stat, which transmits information from outside the cell to the nucleus of the cell. The research showed that JAK-Stat activation leads to the increased production of lactate and this in turn drives hair follicle stem cell activation and quicker hair growth. The other drug, called UK5099, blocks pyruvate from entering the mitochondria, which forces the production of lactate in the hair follicle stem cells and accelerates hair growth in mice.

Through this study, we gained a lot of interesting insight into new ways to activate stem cells, said Aimee Flores, first author of the study published in the journal Nature Cell Biology. The idea of using drugs to stimulate hair growth through hair follicle stem cells is very promising given how many millions of people, both men and women, deal with hair loss, said Flores.

I think weve only just begun to understand the critical role metabolism plays in hair growth and stem cells in general; Im looking forward to the potential application of these new findings for hair loss and beyond, she said.

For all the latest Lifestyle News, download Indian Express App

More:
Potential stem cell therapy may help promote hair growth - The Indian Express

In the days after a heart attack, surviving patients and their loved ones can breathe a sigh of relief that the immediate danger is over but the scar tissue that forms during the long healing process can inflict lasting damage. Too often it restricts the hearts ability to fill properly between beats, disrupting rhythm and ultimately leading to heart failure. Yet a new possible treatment may help to revitalize an injured ticker.

A cadre of scientists and companies is now trying to prevent or reverse cardiac damage by infusing a cocktail of stem cells into weakened hearts. One company, Melbourne, Australiabased Mesoblast, is already in late-stage clinical trials, treating hundreds of chronic heart failure patients with stem cell precursors drawn from healthy donors hip bones. A randomized trial that includes a placebo group is scheduled to complete enrollment next year.

Mesoblasts earlier-stage trials, published in 2015 inCirculation Research, found that patients who received injections of its cell mixture had no further problems related to heart failure.

Promising results from the new trial would be a major step forward for a field that has long been criticized for studies that are poorly designed, incomplete or lack control-group comparisons, as well as for the peddling of unproved therapies in many clinics worldwide.

Another company, Belgium-based TiGenix, hopes to attack scar tissue before it forms by treating patients with a mixture of heart stem cells within seven days of a heart attack. This approach has just completed phase II trials, but no findings have yet been published.

There are still many unanswered questions about how stem cells typically derived from bones could help heal the heart. Leading theories suggest they may help fight inflammation, revitalize existing heart cells, or drive those cells to divide or promote new blood-vessel growth, says Richard Lee, leader of the cardiovascular program at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Other stem cell scientists, including Joshua Hare, who conducted earlier-stage Mesoblast research and directs the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University of Miami, say the cells may work in multiple ways to heal scar tissue. According to Hare, the stem cells could ultimately be a truly regenerative treatment.

Read the original post:
Stem cell therapy for heart failure gets a gold-standard trial - Salon

Q: I read that you can use your own stem cells to rejuvenate worn-out knees. Does this really work?

A: Worn out is a good way to term what happens to the knee joint with prolonged use. Lets look at how this happens, starting with cartilage.

The lower portion of the knee joint (at the tibia) contains shock absorbers called menisci made of cartilage. You have one on the inner portion and another on the outer portion of each knee. The upper portion of the knee joint (at the femur) is lined with cartilage as well. All of this cartilage helps protect the bones at the joint but it doesnt heal or regenerate well due to limited blood supply. When severe, worn cartilage leads to arthritis of the knee. In knee X-rays of people over age 60, 37 percent have shown evidence of arthritis of the knees.

The intriguing thing about stem cells is that they have the ability to become any type of cell that the body needs. The cells used for stem cell injections in the knees are called mesenchymal stem cells, and they can differentiate into bone, fat or cartilage cells. These stem cells can come from the fat cells of your body, from your bone marrow or from the inner lining of your knee joint; theyre then replicated in the laboratory and injected into the knee joint.

Heres what the research shows so far.

In a 2013 study, 32 patients with meniscal tears of the knee were injected with a combination of stem cells, platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid. The study reported improved symptoms and even MRI evidence of meniscal cartilage regeneration.

In a 2014 study, 55 patients who had surgery for meniscal tears of the knees were separated into three groups, with two of the groups receiving stem cell injections. Researchers found that, after six weeks, pain had decreased substantially in the two groups that received stem cell injections and that the decrease was even greater at one and two years after the injection.

In a 2017 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers analyzed six studies that used stem cells for osteoarthritis of the knees. In five of the studies, stem cells were given after surgery to the knee; in the other study, stem cells from a donor were administered without surgery. All the studies showed reduced pain and improved knee function. Further, in three of the four trials, MRIs corroborated the cartilage improvements.

There may be benefit to stem cell injections for cartilage loss of the knees, but more data are needed. Id also like to see more data on this type of therapy as a preventive measure for younger patients before their knees are worn out.

ASK THE DOCTORS is written by Robert Ashley, M.D., Eve Glazier, M.D., and Elizabeth Ko, M.D. Send questions to askthedoctors@

mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o Media Relations, UCLA Health, 924 Westwood Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90095.

Read the original here:
Stem cell therapy may help knees - News - Citizens' Voice - Citizens Voice

The two entities join hands for all-inclusive stem cell treatment in Los Algodones, Tijuana, and Guadalajara. Package includes personalized therapy protocol, travel assistance, and more. GIOSTAR is a global stem cell leader with more than 4,000 people treated.

DALLAS-August 14, 2017- (Newswire.com)

The major medical tourism facilitator has added another much-needed treatment to its comprehensive list of medical services, stem cell treatment in Mexico, as a way of helping people with degenerative, immunological, and blood-based diseases receive alternative healthcare and lead a happy, healthy life.

About GIOSTAR Mexico

Founded by a leading stem cell scientist, Dr. Anand Srivastava who is credited with setting up stem cell research programs in Sal Research Institute, UCSD, UCI and Sanford Burnham Institute, GIOSTAR is a visionary organization in the field. With its headquarters in San Diego and multiple top-notch facilities, offices and hospitals in various locations including India, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, the venture is expanding its reach and making treatment for several devastating immunological and blood- related diseases accessible for all.

GIOSTAR Mexico offers stem cell therapy in Tijuana, Guadalajara, and Los Algodones. Current treatments include Diabetes Type I and Type II, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI), among others. The therapies for Alzheimer's, Autism, Anti-Aging Treatments, Parkinson's disease, Heart and Retinal Degeneration, and many more diseases are being developed by the dedicated and skilled members of the institute.

Some prominent features of GIOSTAR are:

About Medical Tourism Corporation (MTC)

The Texas-based Medical Tourism Corporation is a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited health tourism organizer. The corporation aims to connect medical tourists from all over the world to excellent healthcare services without the underlying stress. The most daunting part of the medical tourism process is the lack of information about quality treatments in Mexico, India, and other health tourism hubs. MTC emerges as a helping hand, and assists its customers in planning every little detail of their medical trip and even offers generous post-op services and follow-up care for a safe recovery.

With the introduction of alternative therapies for taxing and draining conditions, such as stem cells for Parkinson's in Mexico, the organization is expanding its arsenal of services and treatments offered.

Medical Tourism Corporation has recently partnered with GIOSTAR with the goal of making quality healthcare come true. The two entities have collaborated to offer personalized protocols for various conditions and injuries, including stem cell therapy for spinal injuries in Mexico.

Aiming to provide exemplary stem cell treatment in Mexico, MTC provides a host of services and features that set the venture apart:

What to Expect?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates up to 23.5 million Americans suffer from autoimmune diseases. All that is standing between these patients and life-altering medical treatments is a border away.

This timely collaboration between GIOSTAR and MTC is an important step forward in bridging the gap between demand and supply of effective alternative treatments for people suffering from the aforementioned ailments when conventional therapies fail to treat. More information on stem cell therapy in Mexico is available on the official website of Medical Tourism Corporation.

Related LinksStem Cell Treatment for Diabetes Type 1 and 2 in MexicoStem Cell Treatment for Arthritis in Mexico

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Medical Tourism Corporation Announces Stem Cell Therapy in Mexico With GIOSTAR - NBC Right Now

Researchers have created a method to kill cancerous tissue without causing the harmful side effects of chemotherapy.

Medical researchers at the University of California, Irvine have created a stem cell-based method to zero in on cancerous tissue. This method kills the cancerous tissue without causing the nasty side effects of chemotherapy. Such side effects are avoided by treating the disease in a more localized manner. The advancement was spearheaded by associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences Weian Zhao. The details of the stem cell therapy were recently published in Science Translational Medicine.

About the new Stem Cell Therapy

Zhao's team programmed stem cells derived from human bone marrow to pinpoint the specific properties of cancerous tissue. They implemented a portion of code to these engineered cells to identify stiff cancerous tissue, lock onto it and implement therapeutics. The researchers safely used this new stem cell therapy in mice to kill metastatic breast cancer that had moved to the lungs. They transplanted these engineered stem cells in order for the teamto pinpoint and settle in the site of the tumor.

Once the stem cells reached the tumor, they released enzymes referred to as cytosine deaminase. The mice were then provided with an inactive chemotherapy known as prodrug 5-flurocytosine. The tumor enzymes stimulated the chemotherapy into action. Zhao stated his team zeroed in on metastatic cancer that occurs when the disease moves to additional parts of the body. Metastatic tumors are especially dangerous. They are responsible for90 percent of all cancer deaths.

Why the new Stem Cell Therapy is Important

Zhao is adamant his stem cell therapy represents an important newparadigm in the context of cancer therapy. Indeed, Zhao has blazed a trail in a new direction that others will likely follow in the years to come. It is possible his new stem cell therapy serves as an alternative and more effective means of treating cancer. This stem cell therapy will serve as an alternative to numerous forms of chemotherapy that typically have nasty side effects. Chemotherapy certainly kills plenty of growing cancer cells yet it can also harm healthy cells. The new type of treatment keys in on metastatic tissue that allows for the avoidance of the undesirable side effects produced by chemotherapy.

Though the published piece describing this stem cell therapy is centered on breast cancer metastases within thelungs, the method will soon be applicable to additional metastases. This is due to the fact that numerous solid tumors are stiffer than regular tissue. The new system does not force scientists to invest time and effort to pinpoint and create a brand new protein or genetic marker for each kind of cancer.

The Next Step

At this point in time, Zhao's team has performed pre-clinical animal studies to show the treatment is effective and safe. They plan to segue to human studies in the coming months and years. Zhao's team is currently expanding to additional types of cells such as cancer tissue-sensing and engineered immune system CAR-T (T cells) to treat metastasizing colon and breast cancers. Their goal is totransform this technology for the treatment of additional diseases ranging from diabetes to fibrosis and beyond.

Link:
Stem Cell Therapy Selectively Targets and Kills Cancerous Tissue - Anti Aging News

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Gene Therapy market forecastsfrom2017-2027

This reportassesses the approved gene therapy productsin the market and givesrevenue to 2027 for Neovasculgen

Providesqualitative analysis and forecastof thesubmarket by indicationfor the period 2017-2027: Cancer Cardiovascular disorders Rare diseases Ophthalmological diseases Other therapeutic uses

Profilesleading companiesthat will be important in the development of the gene therapy market. For each company, developments and outlooks are discussed and companies covered in this chapter include: UniQure Biogen Bluebird Bio Spark Therapeutics Applied Genetics Technologies Corporation Oxford Biomedica GenSight Biologics

Assesses the outlook for theleading gene treatment R&D pipelinefor 2016 and discusses technological progress and potential. Profiles appear for gene therapy drug candidates, withrevenue forecasts for six leading agents: SPK-RPE65 (Spark Therapeutics) Collategene (AMG0001, AnGes MG/Vical) Invossa (TissueGene-C, TissueGene Inc/Kolon Life Science) BC-819 (BioCancell) Lenti-D (Bluebird Bio) GSK2696273 (GlaxoSmithKline)

Provides qualitative analysis of trends that will affect the gene therapies market, from the perspective of pharmaceutical companies, during the period 2017 to 2027.SWOT analysisis provided andan overview of regulation of the gene therapy market by leading regiongiven.

Our study discussesfactors that influence the marketincluding these: Translation of research into marketable products modifying human DNA - gene transfer for therapeutic use, altering the nuclear genome Genomic editing technology and other supporting components Collaborations to develop and launch gene-based products - acquisitions and licensing deals Supporting technologies for human genetic modification, gene replacement and targeted drug delivery Gene therapies for ophthalmologic diseases - next-generation medicines Regulations in the United States, the European Union and Japan - overcoming technological and medical challenges to pass clinical trials.

Visiongain's study is intended for anyone requiring commercial analyses for the gene therapy market. You find data, trends and predictions.

Buy our report todayGene Therapy R&D and Revenue Forecasts 2017-2027: Cancer, Cardiovascular, Rare Diseases, Ophthalmologic, Other Diseases.

To request a report overview of this report please email Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongain.com or call Tel: +44-(0)-20-7336-6100

Or click on https://www.visiongain.com/Report/1954/Gene-Therapy-R-D-and-Revenue-Forecasts-2017-2027

List of Companies and Organisations Mentioned in the Report:

Active Medical, Inc.

AngioDynamics, Inc.

Aspen Laboratories

AtriCure, Inc.

Barcapel Foundation

Biosense Webster, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)

BSD Medical Corporation

C.R. Bard

Cosman medical, Inc.

Covidien

DFINE, Inc.

Endosense SA

Ethicon

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Galil medical, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson

Linvatec Canada ULC

Macmillan Cancer Support

Medtronic

Microsulis Medical Ltd.

Monteris Medical

National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

nContact, Inc.

NeuroTherm, Inc.

NeuWave Medical, Inc.

NxThera, Inc.

Olympus Corporation

Perseon Corporation

Profound Medical Corp.

Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Philips

Shandong Provincial Hospital

Smith & Nephew

SonaCare Medical

St Jude Medical

Terumo Europe

The American Heart Association

Trod Medical N.V.

University College London

To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongain.com

SOURCE Visiongain Ltd

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Gene Therapy R&D and Revenue Forecasts 2017-2027 - PR Newswire (press release)

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Cancer Gene Therapy Market 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The global cancer gene therapy market to grow at a CAGR of 20.63% during the period 2017-2021.

The report, Global Cancer Gene Therapy Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

According to the report, one driver in the market is rising geriatric population. The global geriatric population is continues to grow at a faster pace due to several factors such as rapidly falling fertility rates and growing life expectancy due to better medical facilities. The US Census Bureau reported that the total population aging 65 years and above was estimated at 617 million in 2015 and is expected to rise to 1,566 million by 2050.

Asia has the largest and fastest growing aging population due to several factors such as the huge population of the region, government policies such as one child policy of China has reduced the addition of young population, and higher investment in the healthcare sector has led to better medical facilities and longer life expectancy.

Key vendors

Other prominent vendors

Key Topics Covered:

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope Of The Report

Part 03: Research Methodology

Part 04: Market Landscape

Part 05: Pipeline Analysis

Part 06: Market Segmentation By Therapy

Part 07: Geographical Segmentation

Part 08: Decision Framework

Part 09: Drivers And Challenges

Part 10: Market Trends

Part 11: Vendor Landscape

Part 12: Key Vendor Analysis

Part 13: Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hrzr8h/global_cancer

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Global Cancer Gene Therapy Market to Grow at a CAGR of 20.6 ... - Business Wire (press release)

Arthritis is a joint disease that can cause cartilage destruction and erosion of the bone, as well as tendon inflammation and rupture. Affected areas are highlighted in red in this enhanced X-ray.

American doctors have been noticing an increase in osteoarthritis of the knee. They have suspected two driving forces: more old people and more people who are overweight.

A study published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences argues that's far from the whole story. Even correcting for body mass index and age, osteoarthritis of the knee is twice as common now as it was before the 1950s.

"That's an incredible difference," says Daniel Lieberman, a professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University and co-author of the study.

Lieberman started wondering about arthritis a few years ago as he was compiling a list of diseases that modern humans aren't well adapted to cope with such as heart disease, lower back pain and nearsightedness.

"I wanted to include arthritis in the list, but realized that there wasn't any good data," he tells NPR.

So Lieberman asked Ian Wallace, a post doctoral research fellow in his lab, to fly around the country and study human skeletons that had ended up in museums or had been donated to medical schools for scientific research. The skeletons were from people who died as long ago as 4,000 B.C..

"The oldest specimens that we looked at were some skeletons from prehistoric Inuit hunter-gatherers from Alaska," Wallace says. The most recent were the remains of people who died in Tennessee in 2015.

Conventional wisdom is that osteoarthritis of the knee results mostly from wear and tear, which is why, these days, it's more common among older people and those whose excess body weight puts extra stress on those joints..

"So, going into it, I suppose my expectation was that people in the past, especially early hunter-gatherers and early farmers, would have had a much higher prevalence of osteoarthritis than people do today," Wallace says. Surely all that running around, squatting, twisting and other activity in the days before cars and couches would have worn out joints quickly.

But that's not what the evidence showed.

"I was actually extremely surprised to find that [osteoarthritis] is much more common today" than it was in Americans long ago, says Wallace.

That higher rate held true even after scientists corrected for body mass and age. So there's apparently something else driving the increase in knee arthritis. The current study doesn't pinpoint that cause.

"If I were a betting man, I would guess physical activity is especially important," Lieberman says. "One of the things that's really shifted in our world today is that we sit all the time, and kids sit all the time. And that may be affecting how our joints are forming and how our joints are aging."

This makes sense to Dr. Richard Loeser a rheumatologist who directs the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

"Your joints aren't just like your automobile tires that wear out as you use them," he says. In fact, exercise helps nutrients diffuse into cartilage in the knee and keep it strong and healthy.

If cartilage "is formed and more healthy when you're younger, then your joints are more likely to be functioning better and have less osteoarthritis when you get older," Loeser says. And exercise also helps fully grown people.

"By strengthening your muscles and by stimulating your cartilage you can still improve the health of your joint," Loeser says.

That's not to say that exercise fully explains the trend that the Harvard researchers have noted.

"There may be dietary factors that may be important," Loeser suggests And sports injuries, which he says "have become more and more common" may be contributing to arthritis, too.

As Lieberman and his colleagues try to figure out exactly what's behind the problem, they're hopeful that a lot of what's driving it may be preventable.

You can contact Richard Harris at rharris@npr.org.

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6000-Year-Old Knee Joints Suggest Osteoarthritis Isn't Just Wear And Tear - NPR

The majority of rheumatologists indicate that "ideal" Cosentyx patients have previously failed at least one TNF agent, a group representing nearly half of all biologic-treated PsA patients, so what is at the source of Cosentyx's apparent plateau? Just under one-third of rheumatologists report high satisfaction with the IL-17 inhibitor, a lower percent compared to the leading TNF agents and Janssen's Stelara. Furthermore, despite Cosentyx's association with strong efficacy in skin clearance, more rheumatologists prefer AbbVie's Humira over Cosentyx for patients with severe psoriasis. Finally, use of Cosentyx continues to be hampered by rheumatologists' perceptions of inferior market access compared to more established biologic brands.

Additional pressure on Cosentyx is ahead in the form of pipeline PsA agents which will offer even more options for non-TNF treatment. Among those is the second IL-17 inhibitor, Eli Lilly's Taltz. Although nearly one-third of respondents see Cosentyx's first-to-market status as a significant advantage over Taltz, over the past year there has been a significant increase in Taltz familiarity and a growing percent of rheumatologists anticipate routine use of Taltz once approved.

Taltz is expected to have a competitive position in the PsA treatment paradigm if available, however most rheumatologists agree that there is a higher unmet need for new, oral, small molecule agents for PsA than for any additional alternate MOA biologics. Indeed, when asked directly which agent they would most like to see gain the PsA indication, 61% selected a JAK inhibitor, such as Pfizer's Xeljanz, whereas the remaining respondents were split between BMS' Orencia, an additional IL-17 such as Taltz, and an IL-23 inhibitor.According to RealWorld Dynamix: Biologic and Otezla Switching in PsA, which evaluated over 1000 PsA patients recently switched from one biologic or Otezla to a different brand, Xeljanz has already captured 2% of the switch population and one in five recently switched patients are considered by the treating rheumatologist to be good candidates for future treatment with Xeljanz.

RealTime Dynamix: Psoriatic Arthritis is an independent report series published on a quarterly basis. The series tracks the evolution of the PsA market, provides a deep dive on launch effectiveness, and highlights opportunities for pipeline agents. The next wave of research will be published in September 2017.

About Spherix Global Insights Spherix Global Insights is a business intelligence and market research company specializing in renal, autoimmune, neurologic and rare disease markets. We provide clients with strategic insights leveraged from our independent studies conducted with healthcare providers and other stakeholders.

All company, brand or product names in this document are trademarks of their respective holders.

For more information contact: Lynn Price, Immunology Franchise Head Email: info@spherixglobalinsights.com

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SOURCE Spherix Global Insights

Spherix Global Insights

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Novartis' Cosentyx Beginning to Plateau in Psoriatic Arthritis, as US Rheumatologists Prepare for an Influx of Non ... - PR Newswire (press release)

(Reuters Health) - Oral glucosamine, a natural supplement often marketed for joint pain, has no more effect than a dummy pill, according to a new review of available research.

The analysis of randomized controlled trials from which data have been made public found that at both three-month and 24-month follow-up points, the supplement had no effect on either hip or knee pain from arthritis.

Even analyses of the results for sub-groups of study participants, such as overweight people or those with high inflammation, found no benefit with the supplements.

Most recent guidelines conclude there is an overall lack of efficacy of glucosamine, however, we knew that osteoarthritis could affect subgroups differently, said senior study author Sita Bierma-Zeinstra of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The most recent report from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics found that Americans spent nearly $13 billion in 2012 on natural product supplements, and glucosamine was one of the most popular.

The Osteoarthritis Research Society International and the U.S. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recently issued guidance about the lack of evidence for glucosamine as a cure for joint pain.

Before we threw the baby out with the bathwater, however, it was important to know whether different subgroups could have some effect, Bierma-Zeinstra told Reuters Health by email.

The researchers analyzed data from randomized, controlled trials conducted between 1994 and 2014. Of the 21 studies they found on the subject, only six shared data through the OA Trial Bank, an international collection of data from trials conducted worldwide. None of the trials included in the analysis was funded by industry, the authors note.

Five of the trials, which altogether included more than 1,600 patients, compared glucosamine with a placebo. Five of the six studies investigated knee osteoarthritis, and one looked at hip osteoarthritis.

Overall, the effects of glucosamine and the placebo on pain and physical functioning didnt differ, either in the short-term or one or two years later. The supplement was also no better than placebo among subgroups based on pain severity, severity of osteoarthritis, age, body mass index, gender or signs of inflammation.

Of course, the most striking thing in this study is that when a commercial party funded the source, data sharing became difficult, Bierma-Zeinstra said. Open access to data from clinical studies, although propagated by many research organizations worldwide, is still far from common practice.

In addition, the researchers found that data for a study published in 2006 was no longer available. Although data from older studies may disappear, that doesnt often happen with recent ones, she added.

The research team plans to update subgroup data in the OA Trial Bank every five years. Theyll continue to contact clinical trial researchers to encourage them to contribute data to the project.

Future studies should look more closely at knee versus hip osteoarthritis and specific supplement types such as glucosamine sulfate versus glucosamine hydrochloride, the Bierma-Zeinstras team writes in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Consumers should be cautious about spending money on unproven treatments, said Dr. C. Kent Kwoh, director of the University of Arizona Arthritis Center in Tucson.

For instance, side effects of glucosamine include heartburn, drowsiness, headaches, allergic reactions, weight gain, diarrhea and abdominal pain, said Kwoh, who wasnt involved in the study.

Most consumers believe that, as a natural product, glucosamine is safe, but there are potential side effects, he told Reuters Health by email. There is very little evidence that oral glucosamine is beneficial for pain.

SOURCE: bit.ly/2vTqE5h Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, online July 28, 2017.

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Glucosamine supplements don't help knee or hip arthritis pain - Reuters

CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB:ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) (ISCO or the Company), a California-based clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel stem cell-based therapies and biomedical products, today provided a business update and announced operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.

Over the period ended, we have substantially improved our business indicators, including a significant decrease in our cash burn, said Andrey Semechkin, PhD, Co-Chairman and CEO of ISCO. Additionally, we are successfully continuing with phase I Parkinsons disease clinical trial. Based on our success in the current clinical trial, we are working towards commencing phase II of the traumatic brain injury, for which a more detailed update will be released shortly.

Year-to-Date Financial Highlights

Recent Clinical Trial Highlights

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). hpSCs avoid ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications, please click on the following link: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0

To like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for company updates and industry related news, visit: http://www.facebook.com/InternationalStemCellCorporation

Safe harbor statement

Statements pertaining to anticipated developments, expected clinical studies (including timing and results), progress of research and development, and other opportunities for the company and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates,") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, application of capital resources among competing uses, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements.

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International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Operating Results for the Three and Six-Months ended June 30, 2017 - GlobeNewswire (press release)

Forkhead box O3, also known as FOXO3 or FOXO3a, is a human protein encoded by the FOXO3 gene.[3]

FOXO3 belongs to the O subclass of the forkhead family of transcription factors which are characterized by a distinct fork head DNA-binding domain. There are three other FoxO family members in humans, FOXO1, FOXO4 and FOXO6. These transcription factors share the ability to be inhibited and translocated out of the nucleus on phosphorylation by proteins such as Akt/PKB in the PI3K signaling pathway (aside from FOXO6, which may be constitutively nuclear).[4] Other post-translational modifications including acetylation and methylation are seen and can result in increased or altered FOXO3a activity.

This protein likely functions as a trigger for apoptosis through upregulation of genes necessary for cell death, such as Bim and PUMA,[5] or downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins such as FLIP.[6]

Gopinath et al.(2014)[7] demonstrate a functional requirement for FOXO3 as a regulator of Notch signaling pathway (an essential regulator of quiescence in adult stem cells) in the self-renewal of stem cells during muscle regeneration.

It is thought that FOXO3a is also involved in protection from oxidative stress by upregulating antioxidants such as catalase and MnSOD. Ron DePinho's group generated Foxo3 knockout mice, and showed that female exhibit a dramatic age-dependent infertility, due to premature ovarian failure.

Deregulation of FOXO3a is involved in tumorigenesis,[8] for example translocation of this gene with the MLL gene is associated with secondary acute leukemia. Downregulation of FOXO3a activity is often seen in cancer (e.g. by increase in Akt activity resulting from loss of PTEN). FOXO3 is known as a tumour suppressor.

Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding the same protein have been observed.[9]

A variant of FOXO3 has been shown to be associated with longevity in humans. It is found in most centenarians across a variety of ethnic groups around the world.[10][11] The homologous genes daf-16 in the nematode C. elegans and dFOXO in the fruit fly are also associated with longevity in those organisms.

This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.

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FOXO3 - Wikipedia

Energy organisation SSE has hedged pension longevity risks of 1.2 billion across two of its defined benefit (DB) pension schemes through the completion on one longevity insurance and two buy-in transactions.

The two buy-in transactions, conducted with Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), totalled 350 million. This included a buy-in for SSEs Scottish Hydro-Electric pension scheme (SHEPS), which covers 250 million of scheme liabilities and approximately 800 pensioners, as well as a buy-in for its Scotia Gas Networks pension scheme (SGNPS). This SGNPS buy-in covers 100 million of pensioner liabilities and 600 pensioners of the schemes 2,000 members.

The longevity insurance, provided by Legal and General, covers a further 800 million of pensioner longevity risk for SHEPS, and transfers the risk to the end reinsurer. This covers around 2,400 pensioners. SHEPS has approximately 5,800 members in total.

Hymans Robertson advised the organisation on all areas of the project, CMS offered legal advice to trustees, Club Vita provided longevity analytics, and Eversheds Sutherland gave legal advice to Legal and General.

Tony Fettiplace, chair of trustees for the Scotia Gas Networks pension scheme, said:This deal is great news for the scheme. Reducing risk over time is an absolute priority for us and it is important to do this in the most cost effective way.

Graham Laughland, chair of trustees for the Scottish Hydro-Electric pension scheme, added:I am delighted to have taken this positive step in reducing risk and improving the security of members benefits.

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SSE hedges 1.2bn of longevity risk for two defined benefit pension schemes - Employee Benefits

As medical instruments and technologies grow more sophisticated and complex, it is increasingly important to guard sensitive components from the autoclaving process while supporting their longevity. Glass offers a solution.

Jochen Herzberg, Schott Electronic Packaging

Autoclavable glass-sealed connector from Schott [Image courtesy of Schott Electronic Packaging]

Implementation of high-quality connectors using the right materials is crucial. Inferior components can weaken the protection of the devices electronics. Glass-to-metal sealing technology, already used in other harsh-environment applications such as aviation, aerospace and automotive safety, has emerged as an ideal solution in the development and manufacture of medical connectors. Glass-to-metal sealed connectors offer a resilient and dependable option that remains reliably gas-tight for over 3,500 autoclaving cycles, subsequently helping extend the lifespan of medical devices.

Many medical connectors are sealed with polymers or epoxy resins, which are not capable of maintaining a dependable seal over a long period. During the autoclaving process and especially after repeated cycles, polymer-based connectors will allow for a certain permeability of moisture. This can cause damage to electronic components. The binders and chemicals that make up polymer seals deteriorate over time, leaving a brittle shield incapable of providing truly reliable protection from autoclaving conditions.

The aging process and breakdown of these organic materials can happen quickly, sometimes after as few as 100 autoclaving cycles. The potential inability of polymer seals to stand up to the fundamentally important autoclaving process can lead to a plethora of problems: shortened device lifespan, failure during a procedure and increased total cost of ownership from compromised seal integrity.

A common argument against glass as a material is the idea that it is easily broken. Glass-to-metal sealing technology challenges this concept. Using advanced manufacturing processes, the glass preform and metal pieces are heated to a temperature that melts the glass, fusing glass and metal to create a gas-tight and pressure-proof seal.

During their use, glass seals maintain integrity because glass is inorganic and non-aging. It is non-porous and resistant to drastic environmental changes. This makes it a choice material to use in the manufacture of medical connectors because it has a proven ability to withstand the autoclaving process more than 3,500 times. The strong seal effectively prevents the ingress of moisture and other outside contaminants, safeguarding electronics from damaging humidity and particulates.

Confidence is of the utmost importance in medicine. A doctors confidence in his abilities, decisions, colleagues and treatment all come together in the effort to create a successful patient outcome. The same need for confidence applies to medical devices. Medical professionals must be able to have trust in their equipment. The use of devices with glass-to-metal sealed connectors goes a long way to help establish this on many fronts.

Cross-contamination incidents are one of the most substantial threats to patient safety and professional integrity in the medical industry. Mitigating the risk of such incidents is why the autoclaving process is extremely important in medical environments. Traditionally, steam sterilization presents a major strain on devices because it can accelerate wear on components. With protection for electronics from glass-to-metal connectors, devices can undergo a complete and intensive autoclaving cycle over 3,500 times without risk of accelerated damage or wear on the electronics.

Increased reliability aided by the use of glass-to-metal connectors eases worry both in the operating room and finance office. Glass-to-metal connectors can help extend device service life, reduce maintenance costs, and lessen the chance of warranty claims and physician frustrations. Surgeons and patients can experience the safety benefit of a decreased chance of device failure, while hospital budgets can experience a reduced burden thanks to a less-frequent device replacement schedule.

Versatility is another key benefit that sets glass-to-metal sealed connectors apart in a constantly developing medical landscape. Integration possibilities for medical applications include surgical tools, endoscopes or instruments for spectrometry and pulse oximetry. Customization possibilities can be met for individual and exact application needs, enabling design flexibility for medical device engineers. This creates the opportunity to conceptualize distinct ideas while still meeting strict regulatory requirements for medical devices.

Glass-to-metal sealed medical connectors can be custom-designed in a number of ways, including varying shapes, sizes and pin configurations to match requirements for integration in medical devices that require power and data supply and must be repeatedly autoclaved.

Devices and techniques will change, but the rigid standards for autoclaving requirements for hygienic operating rooms will remain a constant. As medical instruments and technologies grow more sophisticated and complex, it is increasingly important to guard sensitive components from the autoclaving process while supporting their longevity. Glass, in its distinct role as an inorganic and reliable sealing material, offers a way.

Jochen Herzberg is an innovation leader at Schott Electronic Packaging in Landshut, Germany.

(See the best minds in medtech live at DeviceTalks Boston on Oct. 2.)

Continue reading here:
How glass-sealed connectors increase medical device longevity - Medical Design & Outsourcing

Dancing is the secret to longevity carehome.co.uk News An inspirational lady who celebrated her 103rd birthday at a Sanctuary Care home in Redditch this week says dancing has been her secret to her longevity. Ivy Flaherty marked her milestone birthday yesterday (Monday 14 August) with a tea party at ... and more »

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Dancing is the secret to longevity - carehome.co.uk News

by: Clark HowardUpdated: Aug 10, 2017 - 4:15 PM

Worried about living a life of poverty during your golden years? Heres an insurance policy that could prevent that!

Read more: 2 kinds of annuities that actually make sense for your wallet

The number of people living past their 100th birthday is growing. So when you stop working, the great anxiety inherent in retirement planning is not knowing how much to save for later in life vs. how much you can afford to live on and spend in the early years of your retirement.

Enter the longevity insurance policy. It is a simple insurance product you buy that most people will never get the benefit of. Thats because it doesnt start paying a living benefit until you hit 85!

The idea is that with a longevity policy in place, you could plan to blow through all the cash in your retirement plan through age 84. Because the minute you turn 85, you get a check every month for as long as you live.

Insurers offer a great benefit on longevity policies. Why? Because they know from actuarial tables that most people who buy the policy wont live to receive any money. But if you do live to age 85, you get that nice monthly check.

You wont hear a lot of insurance agents talk about longevity policies because the commissions on them are so small. But they can be a great idea for so many situations where people might otherwise outlive their money.

If you want to explore the idea of buying a policy, ask the agent for the insurance policy that doesnt pay any money until age 85. Theyll know what you mean; different people call it different things, but theyll know what you mean based on that description.

A longevity insurance policy is kind of like a life annuity. People tend to buy either of them in $100,000 increments. The money you put down generates far more income each month than you could on your own.

The optimum time to buy longevity insurance is at the time of retirement. It could prevent you from living a life in poverty if you dont have to. Of course, when you do buy longevity insurance, the money you use is no longer available for your heirs.

Read more: 5 scary facts about nursing home costs (and what to do about them)

Clark.com

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Longevity insurance is a smart buy at retirement | WSB-TV - WSB Atlanta