Archive for the ‘Skin Stem Cells’ Category

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DUBAI: Plasma and stem cell (SC) therapies are two of the emerging star treatments being used in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Against COVID-19, they're considered stop-gap measures, while the world awaits a vaccine. Both, however, have proven effective against severe cases infections caused by the novel coronavirus, which has already killed over 502,000 and infected 10.1 million as of Monday (June 29, 2020).

Plasma and SC therapies have similarities, as well as obvious differences. We outline them below:

Q: What are their similarities?

Both plasma and stem cell therapies rely on rejuvenating damaged body tissue. Theyboth form part of what's described as regenerative medicine, a fast-emerging branch of medical science involving techniques thathelp restore the functionof tissues or organs.

Being regenerative treatments (or therapies), they encourage your body to use its natural abilities to heal injuries or other types of tissue damage or inflammation.

The journal Platelets refer to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell (SC) therapies as the "mainstream medical technologies" to repair and rejuvenate a damaged tissue or organ caused by injury or chronic diseases.

Q: What are the key differences?

Plasma-rich platelets are components of blood that contain platelet concentrations above the normal level.

Platelets are the frontline workers in carrying out a healing response to injuries. They release growth factors for tissue repair.Plasma therapy uses the liquid portion of blood (plasma, yellowish) which includes a higher concentration of platelets the part of blood that contributes to clotting and healing.

Stem cells, on the other hand, are generic cells. They are the prime cells -- unspecialised, undifferentiated, immature cells. Based on specific stimuli, they can divide and differentiate into specific type of cells and tissues.

Q: What are stem cells?

Stem cells are the basic, generic building blocks of life. In a sense, they unspecialised, undifferentiated, immature cells. They can divide and differentiate into specific type of cells and tissues, based on based on specific stimuli.

Its this ability to differentiate into other types of cell that make stem cells interesting to medical science.

In adults, they are usually obtained from bone marrow. In infants, stem cells are usually taken from the umbilical cord.

Scientists have found stem cells present in blood vessels, the brain, skeletal muscles, skin and the liver.

They can be difficult to find and work with. Stem cells are also categorised by their potential to differentiate into different cell types. These include, pluripotent and multipotent stem cells.

Q: What are the advantages of stem cell-based therapies?

SCs are generic (or primitive) cells obtained either from embryos or from the adult tissues, that have the capacity of self-renewal and can differentiate into as many as 200 different cell types of the adult body.

SC also produces certain growth factors and cytokines that accelerate the healing process at the site of tissue damage. Cytokines are secreted by certain cells of the immune system and have an effect on other cells. SC is used to treat degenerative and inflammatory conditions by replacing the damaged cells in virtually any tissue or organ, where PRP applications serve no benefit.

Q: How is stem cell therapy helping fight COVID?

In the UAE, a medical research team has developed a first-in-the-world technique using inhaled stem cells that harvestedfrom the patients themselves. Following the initial success of the technique in 73 patients, the procedure has been ramped up.

In May, the ADSCC team, led by Dr Yendry Ventura, unveiled the new treatment. The UAECell19 is an autologous (cells obtained from the same individual)stem cells therapy which helped cut hospital stay from 22 days to six, relative to patients who were given standard treatment.

Q: What's the record of UAECell19 stem cell therapy?

According to the Abu Dhabi team, patients given the stem cell therapy were up to 3.1x more likely to recover in less than seven days compared to those given standard treatment.

Researchers also stated that 67% of the patients who received the stem cells treatment owed this recovery to the new treatment.

ADSCC has secured a patent for UAECell19. Protection of the intellectual property rights for the therapy opens doors for it tobe shared more widely so more patients can benefit.

Q: What is convalescent plasma?

Plasma is the liquid portion of whole blood. It is composed largely of water and proteins, and it provides a medium for red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to circulate through the body.

Convalescent refers to a person recovering from an illness or medical treatment.

Convalescent plasma, also known as immunoglobulins, is plasma taken from the blood of a person who has recovered from a disease.

Research shows that recovered COVID-19 patients develop antibodies in the blood against the virus. Antibodies are proteins that might help fight the infection.

Q: What are platelets?

Platelets, a component of the blood, are repair agents. They are frontliners in the healing response to injuries. Platelets are also called thrombocytes, blood cells that trigger blood clotting and other necessary growth healing functions.

PLATELET FACTS

[] When the platelet count is less than 50,000, bleeding is likely to be more serious if you're cut or bruised.

[] Some people make too many platelets. They can have platelet counts from 500,000 to more than 1 million.

Q: What is platelet-rich plasma (PRP)?

PRP is a component of blood that contains platelet concentrations above the normal level -- usually five times higher concentrations of platelets above the normal values. It includes platelet-related growth factors and plasma-derived fibrinogen (a blood plasma protein that's made in the liver), among others.

Q: Has it been used to treat other diseases?

Yes. Convalescent plasma hasbeen used as a last resort to improve the survival rates of patients with SARS (2003), as well as the "Spanish Flu" (1918-1920), as well as other infectious diseases.The Lancetcitesseveral studies that showed a shorter hospital stay and lower mortality in patients treated with convalescent plasma than those who were not treated with it.

It's been gaining ground in the COVID-19 fight around the world. In the last few weeks, convalescent plasma therapy has helped treat at least 170 patients at the Infectious Disease Department at Rashid Hospital in Dubai.

THROMBOCYTOPENIA

[] This can be caused by many conditions by medicines, cancer, liver disease, pregnancy, infections (including COVID-19), and an abnormal immune system.

Q: Why is convalescent plasma important?

If you are one of the thousands of patients fully-recovered from COVID-19, you may be able to help patients currently fighting the infection by donating your plasma. That's because you fought the infection, your plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies.

These antibodies provided one way for your immune system to fight the virus when you were sick, so your plasma may be able to be used to help others fight off the disease.

Q: I have fully recovered from COVID-19. Am I eligible donate plasma?

Yes, you are. Health authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration, encourage people who have fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks to consider donating plasma.

You can help save the lives of other patients.

However, you must first undergo some tests to check if you're eligible to meet donor criteria. Doctors will determine that. COVID-19 convalescent plasma must only be collected from recovered individuals if you are eligible.

A lab test must document a prior diagnosis of COVID-19. In general, FDA protocol requires individuals to have complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days prior to donation.

Q: Is a negative lab test for COVID-19 a must before being considered to donate blood plasma?

No. The FDA guideline states: A negative lab test for active COVID-19 disease is not necessary to qualify for donation.

Q: I havent had COVID-19. What can I do to help?

You shouldconsider donating blood. One blood donation can save up to three lives.

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COVID-19: Plasma therapy vs stem cell therapy, what's the difference? - Gulf News

The Global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market is expected to exceed more than US$ 4.5 Billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 4% in the given forecast period.

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Autologous stem-cell transplantation (also called autogenetic, autogenic, or autogenic stem-cell transplantation or auto-SCT) is that the autologous transplantation of stem cellswhich is, the uniform cells or stem cells (cells from which different styles of cells develop) area unit taken from someone, accumulated, and given back to an equivalent person later. Although its most frequently dead by means that of hematogenic vegetative cells (antecedent of cells that forms blood) in hematogenic stem cell transplantation, in some cases internal organ cells square measure used profitably to mend the damages because of heart attacks.

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The Global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market has been segmented as below:

The Global Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market is Segmented on the lines of Product Analysis, Application Analysis, End-User Analysis and Regional Analysis. By Product Analysis this market is segmented on the basis of BP monitoring devices, Pulmonary pressure monitoring devices and ICP monitoring devices. By Application Analysis this market is segmented on the basis of Treating neurodegenerative, Autoimmune, Cardiovascular disorders skin transplant, Oncology and Other.

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Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3 AUTOLOGOUS STEM CELL & NON STEM SELL THERAPY -TECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS

4 AUTOLOGOUS STEM CELL & NON STEM SELL THERAPY TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT POTENTIAL

4.1 INVESTMENT CLIMATE ASSESSMENT4.1.1 INVESTOR NETWORKS4.1.1.1 PUBLIC FUNDING BODIES4.1.1.2 FUNDING/GRANTS FROM NGO ORGANIZATIONS4.1.1.3 PRIVATE INVESTORS AND VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS4.1.1.4 INSIGHTS ON CURRENT AND FUTURE TECH-INVESTMENT TRENDS4.1.1.5 INVESTOR INCLINATION AND PATTERNS4.2 INVESTMENT OPPURTUNITIES4.2.1 LICENSING AND ACQUISITION4.2.2 ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL APPLICATION AREAS FOR TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT

5 AUTOLOGOUS STEM CELL MARKET LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS

6 AUTOLOGOUS STEM CELL & NON STEM SELL THERAPY TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION POTENTIAL AND DEVELOPMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

7 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

8 PATENT ANALYSIS

9 TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS AND ROAD MAPPING

10 ANALYST INSIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

11 COMPANY PROFILES

11.1 ANTRIA (CRO) (U.S.)

11.2 BIOHEART (U.S.)

11.3 BRAINSTORM CELL THERAPEUTICS (U.S.)

11.4 CYTORI (U.S.)

11.5 DENDREON CORPORATION (U.S.)

11.6 FIBROCELL (U.S.)

11.7 GENESIS BIOPHARMA (U.S.)

11.8 GEORGIA HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY (U.S.)

11.9 NEOSTEM (U.S.)

11.10 OPEXA THERAPEUTICS (U.S.)

11.11 ORGENESIS (U.S.)

11.12 REGENEXX (U.S.)

11.13 REGENEUS (AUSTRALIA)

11.14 TENGION (U.S.)

11.15 TIGENIX (BELGIUM)

11.16 VIRXSYS (U.S.)

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Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market 2020: Challenges, Growth, Types, Applications, Revenue, Insights, Growth Analysis,...

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On February 67, 2020, the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) convened a two-day workshop to explore the possibility of gene therapies for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition associated with changes in over 100 genes. Inspired by the recent, stunning successes of gene therapy for the fatal neuromuscular disorder spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)1, and by the accumulation of genes confidently associated with ASD2, SFARI welcomed a diverse collection of researchers to begin to think about whether a similar approach could be taken for ASD. Because gene therapy attempts to fix what is broken at the level of a causative gene, it would offer a more direct and imminent strategy than mitigation of the many and as yet mostly unclear downstream effects of a damaged gene.

The workshop was organized in 20 talks and several discussion panels, which tackled many outstanding issues, including how to choose candidate target genes and predict outcomes; how to optimize vectors for gene delivery; how to decide when to intervene; which animal models to develop; how to find appropriate endpoints for clinical trials and understand the available regulatory pathways. SFARI also raised the question of how its funding might best propel gene therapy efforts amid the emerging, complex ecosystem of academic laboratories, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical industries.

Even the opportunity to have this discussion is very rewarding, said SFARI Investigator Matthew State of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), one of the investigators who directed teams of geneticists to analyze the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC).

These efforts have offered up multiple potentially feasible therapeutic targets. Though rare, de novo disruptive mutations in the highest confidence ASD genes often result in severe impairment characterized not only by social difficulties, but also by intellectual disability and seizures. The combination of a single gene mutation of large effect coupled with particularly severe outcomes that include ASD are likely to offer the most immediate targets for gene therapy. For now, this leaves out a large number of individuals with autism for whom genetic causes are not yet known and are likely the result of a combination of many small effect alleles across a large number of genes.

Highlights from talks and discussion panel, chaired by Rick Lifton of Rockefeller University

In the first talk of the workshop, State brought the group up to speed on ASD genomics. The most recent tally from exome-sequencing in simplex cases of ASD highlighted 102 genes in which rare mutations confer individually large risks2. In contrast, the task of identifying common variants carrying very small risks remains quite challenging, with less than a half dozen alleles so far identified with confidence3. The rare, disruptive mutations that result in loss of function of one gene copy are an attractive focus for gene therapy because of the tractability of targeting a single spot in the genome per individual and because, in the vast majority of cases, there remains a single unchanged allele. This points to ways to boost gene and/or protein expression back toward the normal state by leveraging the unaffected copy. But both the limited number of cases known so far combined with the possibility that different mutations to the same gene may have different effects complicate thinking about how to prioritize targets for gene therapy.

State made several points that were continually touched on throughout the workshop. Many ASD genes are highly expressed during midfetal development in the cortex, and additional experiments will need to determine whether and how long a window of opportunity may be present for successful gene therapy postnatally. Given the relatively small number of people with these conditions, new clinical trial designs are needed that dont rely on comparisons between large control and intervention groups (see also Bryan Kings talk below).

Beyond the gene-crippling mutations found in the exome, disruptions to transcription may also dramatically raise risk for autism and may be corrected with a type of gene therapy using ASOs. SFARI Investigator Stephan Sanders of UCSF focused on the role of splicing, the process by which an initial transcript is turned into messenger RNA by removal of introns and joining together of exons. Splicing is disrupted in at least 1.5 percent of individuals with ASD4, and possibly many more, as suggested by transcript irregularities found in postmortem autism brain5. Sanders described Illuminas Splice AI project in which machine-learning helps predict noncoding variants that can alter splicing, including those beyond typical splice sites found near a gene6. As a result of incorporating sequence information around and between splice sites, this computational tool detected more mutations with predicted splice-altering consequences in people with ASD and intellectual disability than in those without the condition.

An ASO designed to bind specific portions of RNA could conceivably correct errors in transcription. ASOs have already been approved for use in other disorders in order to skip exons, retain exons or to degrade mRNA. Unlike other forms of gene therapy, ASOs do not permanently alter the genome, making it a kind of gene therapy lite. This reversibility has both disadvantages (having to re-infuse the ASO every few months) and advantages (multiple opportunities to optimize the dose and target; serious adverse effects are not permanent).

Jonathan Weissman of UCSF discussed the available toolbox for controlling gene expression developed by many different laboratories. To turn genes on or off, he has developed a method to combine CRISPR with an enzymatically inactive (dead) Cas9, which can then be coupled with a transcriptional activator (CRISPRa) or repressor (CRISPRi)7 (Figure 2). In the case of loss-of-function mutations, Weissman outlined strategies to make the remaining good allele work harder: increase transcription via CRISPRa, decrease mRNA turnover, increase translation of a good transcript via modification of upstream open reading frames (uORFs) or increase a proteins stability, possibly through small molecules acting on the ubiquitin system8. That said, the effects on a cell may be complicated. Using Perturb-Seq screens, Weissman described genetic interaction manifolds that show nonlinear mapping between genotype and single cell transcriptional phenotypes9. Additionally, Weissman summarized recent work from his laboratory that has identified large numbers of uORFs that result in polypeptides, some of which affect cellular function.

SFARI Investigator Michael Wigler of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories echoed the idea of a gene-therapy strategy that increases expression of the remaining good copy of a gene, especially given that in his estimate, 45 percent of simplex cases of autism carried a de novo, likely disrupting variant. He also called attention to the uterine environment, especially the challenge posed by expression of paternally derived antigens in the fetus and the impact of a potential maternal immune response, and the need to understand how it interacts with de novo genetic events.

Highlights from talks and discussion panel, chaired by Arnon Rosenthal of Alector

The discussion turned to finding ways of getting genes into the central nervous system. The AAV is the darling of gene therapy, given that it does not replicate and is not known to cause disease in humans. A version that can cross the blood-brain barrier (AAV9) was used to deliver a gene replacement to children with SMA intravenously; though this effectively delivered the genetic cargo to ailing motor neurons in the spinal cord, it does not work that well at delivering genes throughout the brain.

Ben Deverman of the Stanley Center at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard detailed his efforts to optimize AAV for efficient transduction of brain cells through a targeted evolution process: his team engineers millions of variants in the capsid of the virus, then screens them for entry into the nervous system and transduction of neurons and glia. This has yielded versions (called AAV-PHP.B and AAV-PHP.eB) that more efficiently enter the brain10,11. One successfully delivered the MECP2 gene to the brain of a Rett syndrome mouse model, resulting in ameliorated symptoms and an extended lifespan12. Unfortunately, these viruses dont work in human cells or in all mouse strains. A quick mouse genome-wide association study (GWAS) revealed that the Ly6a gene mediates efficient blood-brain barrier crossing of AAV-PHP.B and AAV-PHP.eB13. Now his group has identified Ly6a-independent capsids that may translate better to humans. He also noted that the PHP.B vectors have tissue specificity for brain and liver.

With an estimated 87 percent of autism-associated genes raising risk through haploinsufficiency (having only one functional gene copy out of the two), SFARI Investigator Nadav Ahituv of UCSF made the case for approaches that boost expression of the remaining good copy of a gene through endogenous mechanisms a strategy he called cis-regulation therapy. This method also provides a way to work around the small four kb payload of AAV, which strains to contain cDNA of many autism genes. A recent study by his group used CRISPRa targeted at an enhancer or promoter of SIM1 and promoter of MC4R, both obesity genes, in mice. Using one AAV vector for a dCas9 joined to a transcription activator, and another AAV vector having a guide RNA targeting either a promoter or an enhancer, and a guide RNA targeting a promoter, the researchers injected the vectors together into the hypothalamus, which resulted in increased SIM1 or MC4R transcription and reversed the obesity phenotype brought on by loss of these genes14. Targeting regulatory elements had the added benefit of tissue specificity, and there seemed to be a ceiling effect for SIM1 expression, which suggested an endogenous safeguard against overexpression at work. He is now collaborating with SFARI Investigator Kevin Bender, also at UCSF, to apply this approach to the autism gene SCN2A.

Botond Roska of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology in Basel, Switzerland pointed out that getting genes to the cells where they are needed is crucial when treating eye diseases. Off-target effects there can induce degeneration of healthy cells. For this reason, Roska and his group have created AAVs that target specific cell types in the retina by developing synthetic promoters that efficiently promote expression of the viruss cargo15. The promoters they designed were educated guesses based on four approaches: likely regulatory elements close to genes expressed with cell-type specificity in the retina, conserved elements close to cell typespecific genes, binding sites for cell typespecific transcription factors and open chromatin close to cell typespecific genes. Screening a library of these in mouse, macaque and human retina revealed some with high cell-type specificity (Figure 3). Importantly, macaque data predicted success in human retina much better than did mouse data. In preliminary experiments, and more relevant to gene therapy for ASD, these cell-specific vectors also had some success in mouse cortex, for example lighting up parvalbumin neurons or an apparently new type of astrocyte.

Roska also described new methods for delivery, in which nanoparticles are coated with AAV, then drawn into the brain using magnets16. This magnetophoresis technique allows a library of experimental AAVs to be tested at the same time in one monkey. Steering nanoparticles with magnets gives more control of vector placement and gene delivery. He argued that these in the future could access even deep structures of the brain.

Highlights from talks and discussion panel, chaired by Steven Hyman of the Broad Institute at MIT and Harvard

Kathy High of Spark Therapeutics reviewed the story of gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1. Though she was not directly involved in that research, she is well aware of the regulatory atmosphere surrounding gene therapy, given that Spark Therapeutics developed the first approved AAV-delivered gene for a form of retinal dystrophy. The SMA story is a useful case study in that an ASO-based therapy (nusinersen, marketed as Spinraza), approved in 2016, set the stage for a gene-replacement therapy, marketed as Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec). Ultimately, the amount of data supporting Zolgensmas approval was modest: a Phase one dose study of 15 infants1, and an ongoing Phase three trial of 21 infants and safety data from 44 individuals. Yet the approval was helped by the dramatic results and clear endpoints: those receiving a single intravenous infusion of an AAV9 vector containing a replacement gene all remained alive at 20 months of age, whereas only 8 percent survived to that age in the natural history data, which compiles the diseases untreated course. High mentioned that maintaining product quality for gene therapeutics may prove trickier than for typical medications.

The attractive, highly customizable nature of gene therapy might have a regulatory downside in that different vector payloads, even when designed to do the same thing, could invite separate approval processes. Though not knowing how regulatory agencies would view this, High said that their perspectives are bound to evolve as more gene therapy trials are completed.

Getting to ASD-related syndromes, Bender talked about SCN2A, which encodes the sodium channel Nav1.2. SCN2A mutations in humans can be gain of function or loss of function; gain-of-function mutations are associated with early onset epilepsy, and loss-of-function mutations with intellectual disability and ASD. In a mouse model missing one copy of SCN2A, Bender and his group have discovered a role for SCN2A in action potential generation in the first week after birth, and in synaptic function and maturation afterward through regulation of dendritic excitability18 (Figure 4). Using AAV containing CRISPRa constructs developed with the Ahituv lab, the researchers successfully increased SCN2A expression, and recovered synapse function and maturity, even when done several weeks postnatally. Getting the appropriate dosage is critical since gain-of-function mutations are linked to epilepsy. However, Bender reported even when SCN2A expression increased to double normal levels, no hints of hyperexcitability appeared. We might be able to overdrive this channel as much as we want and actually may not have risk of producing an epileptic insult, he said. Next steps are to figure out the developmental windows for intervention, evaluate changes in seizure sensitivity and extend this kind of cis-regulatory approach to other ASD genes.

Angelman syndrome is another condition that attracts interest for gene therapy, in part because neurons already harbor an appropriate replacement gene. Angelman syndrome stems from mutations to the maternally inherited UBE3A gene, which is particularly damaging to neurons because they only express the maternal allele, while the paternal allele is silenced by an antisense transcript. SFARI Investigator Mark Zylka of the University of North Carolina and colleagues showed in 2011 that this paternal allele could be unsilenced with a cancer drug in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome19. Since then, three companies have built ASOs to do the same thing, and these are going into clinical trials. To get a more permanent therapeutic, Zylka has been developing CRISPR/Cas9 systems to reactivate paternal UBE3A, and preliminary experiments show that injecting this construct into the brains of embryonic mice, and then again at birth, results in brain-wide expression of paternal UBE3A and is long-lasting (at least 17 months). Zylka is now making human versions of these constructs. He later noted rare cases of mosaicism for the Angelman syndrome mutation people with 10 percent normal cells in blood have a milder phenotype20, which suggests that even inefficient transduction of a gene vector could help.

Zylka also made a case for prenatal interventions in Angelman syndrome: studies of mouse models indicate that early reinstatement of UBE3A expression in mouse embryos rescues multiple Angelman syndrome-related phenotypes, whereas later postnatal interventions rescue fewer of these21; for humans, a diagnostic, cell-based, noninvasive prenatal test will be available soon22; ultrasound-guided injections into fetal brain of nonhuman primates have been developed23; prenatal surgeries are now standard of care for spinal bifida; and intervening prenatally decreases the risk of an immunogenic response to an AAV vector or its cargo. During the discussion, it was noted that another benefit of acting early was that less AAV would be needed to transduce a much smaller brain; however, a drawback is the lack of data on Angelman syndrome development from birth to one year of age. This natural history would be necessary for understanding whether a prenatal therapy is more effective than treatment of neonates.

SFARI Investigator Guoping Feng of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been investigating SHANK3, a high-confidence autism risk gene linked to a severe neurodevelopmental condition called Phelan-McDermid syndrome, which is marked by intellectual disability, speech impairments, as well as ASD. SHANK3 is a scaffold protein important for organizing post-synaptic machinery in neurons. Mouse studies by Feng have shown that SHANK3 re-expression in adult mice that have developed without it can remedy some, but not all, of their phenotypes, including dendritic spine densities, neural function in the striatum and social interaction24. Furthermore, early postnatal re-expression rescued most phenotypes. This makes SHANK3 a potential candidate for gene therapy; however, it is a very large gene 5.2kb as a cDNA that is difficult to fit into a viral vector. To get around this, Fengs group has designed a smaller SHANK3 mini-gene as a substitute for the full-sized version. Preliminary experiments show that AAV delivery of the mini-gene can rescue phenotypes like anxiety, social behavior and corticostriatal synapse function in SHANK3 knockout mice. Feng also discussed his success in editing the genome in marmosets and macaques using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and showed data from a macaque model of SHANK3 dysfunction25. These models may help test gene therapy approaches and identify biomarkers of brain development closely related to the human disorder.

For people with rare conditions brought on by even rarer mutations, individualized gene therapies can provide a pathway for treatment. SFARI Investigator Timothy Yu of Boston Childrens Hospital/Harvard described his N-of-1 study in treating a girl with Batten disease, a recessive disorder in which a child progressively loses vision, speech and motor control while developing seizures. In a little over a year, an ASO that targeted her unusual splice-site mutation in the CLN7 gene was designed, developed and given intrathecally to the girl26. The lift was in negotiating with the FDA and working with private organizations, not just in the science, Yu said. After a year of treatment with the ASO (dubbed milasen after the girl, Mila), there were no serious adverse events; seizure frequency and duration had decreased (Figure 5); and possibly her decline had slowed. Though she remains blind, without intelligible speech and unable to walk on her own, she was still attentive and could respond happily to her familys voices. The highly personalized framework for this drugs approval is completely different from how medications meant for populations are approved, and it opens a regulatory can of worms, Yu said, though he added that the regulators were willing to countenance drug approval for an individuals clinical benefit.

Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition caused by mutations to the MECP2 gene that has a substantial research base in mouse models. Over 10 years ago, mouse models highlighted the possibility for therapeutics in this condition when Rett-associated phenotypes were rescued by adding back MECP2, even in adulthood27. This reversibility has spurred interest in gene therapy for Rett syndrome, but getting the MECP2 dose right is critical, said Stuart Cobb of the University of Edinburgh and Neurogene: just as too little MECP2 leads to Rett syndrome, too much also results in severe phenotypes. For this reason, it would be nice to package a replacement MECP2 gene with other regulatory elements to control its expression, but this results in constructs that do not fit into viral vectors. To make more room, Cobb and his colleagues have been able to chop away two-thirds of the MECP2, reserving two domains that interact to make a complex on DNA (Figure 6). Mice with this mini-gene are viable and have near normal phenotypes; likewise, injecting this mini-gene into MECP2-deficient mice extended their survival28. Doubling the dose, however, substantially lowered survival. Putting in safety valves to prevent overexpression is going to be quite important, he said. One idea is to add back a construct containing only the last two exons of MECP2, which is where most Rett mutations land. These would then be spliced into native transcripts (called trans-splicing), and thus their expression controlled by endogenous regulatory elements.

Underscoring the double-edged sword of MECP2 dosage, Yingyao Shao from Huda Zoghbis lab at Baylor described an MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS) in humans, which features hypotonia, intellectual disability, epilepsy and autism. Experiments in an MDS mouse model, which carries one mouse version and one human version of MECP2, recapitulates some of the phenotypes of the human condition and can be rescued by an ASO targeting the human allele29. Shao described work to optimize the ASO for translation into humans, which involved developing a more humanized MDS model that carries two human MECP2 alleles. An acute injection of the ASO was able to knock down MECP2 expression in a dose-dependent manner in these mice, and RNA levels dropped a week after injection, with protein levels falling a week later. MECP2 target genes also normalized their expression level, and one maintained this for at least 16 weeks post-injection. The ASO also rescued behavioral phenotypes of motor coordination and fear conditioning, but not of anxiety; these corrections followed the molecular effects, and these timelines would be important to keep in mind while designing clinical trials. Shao also noted that overtreatment with the ASO resulted in Rett-associated phenotypes, but that this was reversible, which suggests that some fine-tuning of dosing in humans might be possible.

To avoid overtreatment and toxicity of any MDS-directed therapy, Mirjana Maletic-Savatic, also at Baylor, is leaving no stone unturned in a hunt for MDS biomarkers that can predict, in each individual, the safety of a particular dose and regimen. Such biomarkers would also help monitor individuals during treatment, give information about target engagement and identify candidates for a particular treatment. Anything found to be sensitive to expression levels of MECP2 could also be useful for Rett, though she noted that MECP2 levels measured in blood do not track linearly with gene copy number. Thus, because of interindividual variability, her approach is to collect a kitchen sink of data deriving composite biomarkers that accurately reflect the stage and severity of disease in a given case. She and her colleagues are collecting clinical, genetic, neurocircuitry (such as EEG and sleep waves), immunology and molecular data detected in blood, urine and CSF. These measures are also being explored in induced neurons derived from skin samples of people with MDS. She highlighted two interrelated potential biomarkers in the blood of those with this condition; both measures are downstream targets of MECP2 and are responsive to ASO treatment.

Highlights from Early detection and clinical trial issues talks and panel discussion, chaired by Paul Wang of SFARI

Coming up with objective measures of a persons status either their eligibility for a treatment, or whether the treatment has engaged with its target or even whether the treatment is effective is a real necessity in autism-related conditions, which comprise multiple interrelated behaviors. Eye-tracking methodology may provide such a marker, argued SFARI Investigator Ami Klin of Emory University. Focusing on the core social challenges of autism, Klin, Warren Jones and colleagues have been studying children as they view naturalistic social scenes to quantify their social attention patterns. This has revealed how remarkably early in development social visual learning begins and that this process is disrupted in infants later diagnosed with ASD prior to features associated with the condition appearing. By missing social cues, autism in many ways creates itself, moment by moment, Klin said. In considering gene therapy, it may be useful to know that eye looking (how much a subject looks at a persons eyes, an index of social visual engagement) in particular and social visual engagement in general are under genetic control30; that eye-tracking differences emerge as early as 26 months of age; and that homologies in social visual engagement exist between human babies and nonhuman infant primates.

In getting to a point to test gene therapies, identifying those who need them is essential. Wendy Chung of Columbia University and the Simons Foundation illustrated how diagnosis is yoked closely to therapy. To illustrate this, she described her pilot study of newborn blood spots to screen for SMA; at the start, no treatment was available, but the screen identified newborns for a clinical trial of nusinersin. Notably, the screen only cost an additional 11 cents per baby. In the three years since her pilot screen began, the FDA approved two gene therapies for SMA and the SMA screen was adopted for nationwide newborn screening. Currently she is piloting a screen for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and plans to develop a platform that will allow researchers to add other conditions. In prioritizing genetic conditions for gene therapy, she outlined some ideas for focus, such as genes resulting in phenotypes that would not be identified early without screening, those that are relatively frequent, those that are lethal or neurodegenerative, those with a treatment in clinical trials or with FDA-approved medications, and those conditions that are reversible.

In the meantime, Chung also outlined SFARIs involvement in establishing well-characterized cohorts of individuals with autism, which can help lay a groundwork for gene therapy. People with an ASD diagnosis can join SPARK (Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge), which collects medical, behavioral and genetic information (through analysis of DNA from saliva, at no cost to the participant). If a de novo genetic variant is found in one of ~150 genes, that person is referred to Simons Searchlight, which fosters rare conditions communities and which is also compiling natural history data on people with these mutations.

Bryan King of UCSF discussed how current trial designs for ASD were inadequate for gene therapy trials. As ASD prevalence has grown, parallel design trials with one group receiving an experimental medicine and the other a placebo are the standard, but these wont be possible for the rare conditions that are candidates for gene therapy. Also, change is hard to capture, given the malleable nature of ASD: with no intervention, diagnosis can shift between ASD and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) in 1284 months (as defined by the DSM-IV). Current scales are subjective and may miss specific items of clinical significance. (Last year, SFARI funded four efforts to develop more sensitive outcome measures.) King outlined other pitfalls in ASD clinical trials, including significant placebo responses, inadequate sample sizes and not being specific enough when asking about adverse effects. King also mentioned improvements that may arise from just enrolling in a study, which could prompt previously housebound families to venture out with their child, which could kick off a cascade of positive effects. He reiterated how, for gene therapy, a natural history comparison group may be more appropriate, combined with solid outcome measures.

SFARI Investigator James McPartland of Yale University then underlined the need for objective biomarkers for clinical trials, for which there are currently none that are FDA qualified for ASD. As the director of the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials (ABC-CT), he works with other scientists to develop reliable biomarkers that can be scaled for use in large samples across different sites. McPartland noted a biomarker studied in the ABC-CT: an event-related potential (N170) to human faces, which is on average slower in ASD than in typically developing children. He is working on ways to make it easier for people with ASD and intellectual disabilities to participate in biomarker studies and to make them more socially naturalistic. In discussion, he mentioned he thought it would be possible to look for these kinds of biomarkers in younger children.

SFARI Investigator Shafali Jeste of the University of California, Los Angeles recounted her experience in working with children with genetic syndromes associated with neurodevelopmental conditions. Though she is asked to participate in clinical trials for these conditions, she senses the field has some work to do to be ready for these trials, particularly in those with additional challenges such as epilepsy and intellectual disability. Meaningful and measurable clinical endpoints are still insufficient, and there needs to be more ways to improve accessibility of these trials for these rare conditions. This means developing new measures, such as gait-mat technology that senses walking coordination, or EEG measures in waking and sleep, which have been applied to people with chromosome 15q11.2-13.1 duplication (dup15q) syndrome, who have severe intellectual disability and motor impairments. Jeste also emphasized that increasing remote access to some measures can make a big difference for a trial; for example, a trial of a behavioral intervention for tuberous sclerosis complex that required weekly lab visits was disappointingly under-enrolled until researchers revamped it so most of the intervention could be done remotely31.

By grappling with the challenges to gene therapy for ASD, the workshop marked out a faint road map of a way forward. As the scientific questions are answered, the regulatory and clinical trial infrastructure will need to develop apace, and coordination between private, academic and advocacy sectors will be essential. But as gene therapy for diverse human conditions continues to be explored and gene discovery in ASD continues, there is reason to believe that some forms of ASD can eventually benefit from this strategy.This workshop provided a terrific discussion about the challenges in developing targeted gene interventions and their potentially transformative effects as therapies, said John Spiro, Deputy Scientific Director of SFARI. We are grateful to all theparticipants, and SFARI looks forward to translating these discussions into focused funding decisions in the near future.

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SFARI | SFARI workshop explores challenges and opportunities of gene therapies for autism spectrum disorder - SFARI News

Two rounds totalling $83 million have propelled Surrozen through preclinical proof-of-concept, culminating in two antibody candidates modulating the Wnt pathway for tissue regeneration. Now, the South San Francisco biotech is topping up $50 million to complete the sprint to the clinic.

One of the two IND candidates targets liver disease while the other will be initially positioned for inflammatory bowel disease. With the cash infusion, Surrozen can also pursue more discovery projects in different tissues and areas.

Our goal is to file IND applications in 2021 and 2022, CEO Craig Parker said in a statement, 5 and 6 years after the company first set out to catch and push a second wave of regenerative medicine.

Christopher Garcia and Roeland Nusse, two Stanford professors, provided some of the scientific legs for the company. Aside from its role in cancer, Wnt a portmanteau integrating Wingless and Int-1 signaling is also key to the control of cell development and regeneration, but the instability means they are hard to manufacture. As Nusse elucidated crucial aspects of Wnt biology, Garcia inspired the idea to activate or enhance response to endogenous Wnts, through either bispecific or antibody-based molecules.

While it has long been known that the Wnt signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the maintenance and self-renewal of stem cells in a variety of tissues, scientists had been unable to overcome the technical challenges inherent in developing a therapeutic based on Wnt signaling, Nusse, the Virginia and Daniel K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research and Professor of Developmental Biology, said. I am hopeful that Surrozens approach to modulating the Wnt pathway, with the flexibility to address insufficient endogenous Wnt or insufficient receptors, may someday lead to therapeutics that have the potential to repair damaged tissue.

Claudia Janda, a postdoc at Garcias lab whos since moved on to the Princess Mxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, remains a scientific advisor alongside Princess Mxima director Hans Clevers and Stanfords Calvin Kuo.

Both tech platforms were represented in the lead nominated candidates.

SZN-043 was designed on SWEETS, or Surrozen Wnt signal enhancers engineered for tissue specificity. Through stabilizing the Frizzled receptors that Wnt proteins signal through, the compound was shown to stimulate hepatocyte proliferation in the liver and reduce fibrosis something that should be helpful in conditions like severe acute alcoholic hepatitis or even cirrhosis.

The possibilities are almost endless, with Surrozen spelling out potential applications in NASH and decompensated liver disease.

SZN-1326, meanwhile, was born out of SWAP (Surrozen Wnt signal activating proteins). The molecule binds to Frizzled receptors directly and should stimulate regeneration of intestinal epithelial cells. Researchers also noted anti-inflammatory effects in animal models.

It is still a ways from human data. But old investors are returning to take that leap with Surrozen, including The Column Group, Hartford Healthcare Trust and Horizons Ventures. Euclidian Capital and three other new believers are jumping on board.

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Surrozen reloads with $50M for final dash to the clinic, shines some light on lead Wnt-modulating candidates - Endpoints News

Mostpeople know breastfeeding is one of the best ways to help a baby thrive. And now it seems a mother's milk has beneficial effects even when her child reaches adulthood.

New University of Toronto research has found that if people genetically at risk of becoming obese are exclusively breastfed as a baby it can help ward off weight gain when they're young adults.

The study is part of a growing body of evidence about the benefits of breastfeeding yet the World Health Organisation says nearly two out of three infants aren't exclusively breastfed for the recommended six months a rate that hasn't improved in 20 years.

READ MORE:Leona O'Neill: I'm very nervous about prospect of sending my children back to school

When asked, 80 per cent of the women who stopped breastfeeding before six months said they would have liked to continue for longer, but often lacked support and guidance.

"Our society is letting mothers down there needs to be much more investment in breastfeeding support and education," says NCT breastfeeding counsellor Cordelia Uys, a breastfeeding expert for the holistic new mums' wellness app Biamother (biamother.com).

"Breastfeeding confers numerous health protections on both mother and child and creates a strong sense of emotional connection. In addition, for a mother to see her baby growing and thriving on her milk can be one of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences of her life."

Here, Uys outlines ten surprising breastfeeding facts...

1. Breast milk is personalised medicine

There are numerous antiviral and antibacterial properties in breast milk that protect a baby from infection. These infection-fighting properties are being continually updated in response to the mother and baby's environment. When a mother's body encounters a new germ, her mature immune system will deploy millions of white blood cells to fight it off and quickly pass them on to her baby via her milk.

2. Breast milk contains stem cells

Every time a mother breastfeeds her baby, stem cells in her breast milk cross the baby's gut and into their blood, and then travel to all the baby's organs, including their brain. These stem cells are capable of becoming functioning cells all over the infant's body. It's believed they can boost and support the infant's optimal development and protect them against infectious diseases.

With antiviral and antibacterial properties, breast milk is personalised medicine, for one thing

3. Breastfeeding has to be learned

Many people think breastfeeding will come naturally to mothers, but in fact, for all female apes, breastfeeding is a learned behaviour. A juvenile female gorilla in Ohio Zoo, having been separated from her mother at a young age, had no idea how to feed her first baby. But during her second pregnancy, zookeepers had the inspired idea of asking human mothers to regularly breastfeed their babies in front of her. When her second baby was born, the gorilla immediately picked it up and put it to the breast.

In the past, human mothers would have learned how to breastfeed by watching relatives and friends. For this reason, it's a good idea for pregnant women who want to breastfeed, to spend some time with a friend who's successfully nursing her baby. The National Breastfeeding Helpline and apps can also offer advice on breastfeeding.

4. Over 95 per cent of women can produce all the milk their baby needs

The vast majority of women can make all the milk their baby needs and, contrary to popular belief, the size of a woman's breasts doesn't impact the volume of milk she can produce.

Milk production depends entirely on supply and demand: in the early months, milk needs to be removed effectively from both her breasts at least eight times in 24 hours for a mother's supply to be established and maintained. By far the most common reason for low milk supply is under-stimulation of a mother's breasts, either because her baby isn't feeding frequently enough or isn't removing milk effectively.

5. Breastfeeding acts as a natural painkiller

Breast milk contains natural painkillers called endocannabinoids. Breastfeeding before and during vaccination injections has been shown to reduce pain in babies.

6. Breastfeeding protects mothers against breast cancer

The Tanka Fisherwomen of Southern China traditionally only breastfeed their babies from their right breast. In the early 1970s, a medical student at a Hong Kong clinic noticed that if Tanka women developed breast cancer, in 79 per cent of cases, it was in their left breast. It was this observation that led to the discovery that breastfeeding is protective against breast cancer.

Breastfeeding expert Cordelia Uys

7. Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt

Pain is there to tell us something is wrong, and this is true for breastfeeding too. Pain and damage happen when a mother's nipple isn't positioned correctly in her baby's mouth. In the majority of cases, when a baby is well-positioning and deeply latched, breastfeeding will be completely comfortable. If breastfeeding hurts, it's important to seek out qualified support as soon as possible.

8. The temperature of a mother's breasts adapts to her baby's needs

A mother's breasts can warm up by 2C if the baby is too cold, and cool down by 2C if the baby is too hot. In fact, it has been shown that when newborn twins are placed in skin-to-skin contact with their mother, each of her breasts will heat up to a different temperature according to each baby's needs. This is called thermal synchrony.

9. Breastfeeding mothers get more sleep

Studies have shown breastfeeding mothers sleep on average 45 minutes more a night than mothers who formula feed. Human milk contains substances that promote sleep and calmness in babies. Mothers release the hormone prolactin into their own blood while breastfeeding, which helps them to fall asleep more easily.

10. Breastfeeding is carbon neutral

When a mother is breastfeeding, there is zero waste and no carbon emissions. Research at Imperial College London has shown breastfeeding for six months saves an estimated 95-153kg CO2 equivalent per baby compared with formula feeding.

:: National Breastfeeding Helpline (nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk): 0300 100 0212

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Breastfeeding 'even better than previously thought' - The Irish News - The Irish News

Introduction

Breastfeeding is the cornerstone of infant and young child survival, nutrition and development and maternal health. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years and beyond.1 Early and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in2 and kangaroo mother care3 also significantly improve neonatal survival and reduce morbidity and are recommended by WHO.

However, concerns have been raised about whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus to their infant or young child through breastfeeding. Recommendations on mother-infant contact and breastfeeding must be based on a full consideration of not only of the potential risks of COVID-19 infection of the infant, but also the risks of morbidity and mortality associated with not breastfeeding, the inappropriate use of infant formula milks, as well as the protective effects of skin-to-skin contact. This scientific brief examines the evidence to date on the risks of transmission of COVID-19 from an infected mother to her baby through breastfeeding as well as evidence on the risks to child health from not breastfeeding.

WHO recommends that mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate or continue to breastfeed. Mothers should be counselled that the benefits of breastfeeding substantially outweigh the potential risks for transmission.4

Mother and infant should be enabled to remain together while rooming-in throughout the day and night and to practice skin-to-skin contact, including kangaroo mother care, especially immediately after birth and during establishment of breastfeeding, whether they or their infants have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

A living systematic review of evidence that followed the procedures of the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions was carried out with the latest search done on 15 May 2020 to identify studies including mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and their infants or young children.5 The search was conducted on Cochrane Library, EMBASE (OVID), PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science Core Collection (Clarivate Analytics) and the WHO Global Database. A total of 12,198 records were retrieved, 6945 were screened after removing duplicates, and 153 records with mother-infant dyads in which the mother had COVID-19 were included in full-text review.

A total of 46 mother-infant dyads had breastmilk samples tested for COVID-19. All mothers had COVID-19, while 13 infants tested COVID-19 positive. Breastmilk samples from 43 mothers were negative for the COVID-19 virus while samples from 3 mothers tested positive for viral particles by RT-PCR. Among the 3 infants whose mothers breastmilk tested positive for virual RNA particles, not live virus, one infant tested positive for COVID-19 but infant feeding practices were not reported. The two other infants tested negative for COVID-19; one was breastfed, and the other newborn was fed expressed breast milk after viral RNA particles were no longer detected. In the single child with COVID-19, it was unclear through which route or source the infant became infected, i.e. through breastmilk or droplet from a close contact with the infected mother.

A preprint article reported secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) immune response against the COVID-19 virus found in 12 of 15 breastmilk samples from mothers with COVID-19.6 The implications of this finding on the effect, duration and protection against COVID-19 for the child was not addressed.

To date, studies of mother-infant dyads with data on feeding practices and COVID-19 infection have come from case reports, case series or a report of a family cluster. Other study designs such as cohort studies or case-control studies were eligible for inclusion, but none were identified. We are thus unable to measure and compare risks of infection based on feeding practices.

Although 1 of the 3 infants of mothers with viral particles in breast milk had COVID-19, it was unclear through which route or source the infant was infected, i.e., through breastfeeding or close contact with the mother or other infected person. RT-PCR detects and amplifies viral genetic material in samples, such as breastmilk, but does not provide information on viability or infectivity of the virus. Documented presence of replicative COVID-19 virus in cell culture from breast milk and infectivity in animal models are needed to consider breast milk as potentially infectious.

The presence of IgA in breast milk is one of the ways in which breastfeeding protects infants against infection and death. IgA antibodies with reactivity to the COVID-19 virus have been detected in breastmilk of mothers previously infected with COVID-19 but their strength and durability have not yet been adequately studied to address protection from COVID-19 among breastfed infants.

Detection of COVID-19 viral RNA in breastmilk is not the same as finding viable and infective virus. Transmission of COVID-19 would need replicative and infectious virus being able to reach target sites in the infant and also to overcome infant defense systems. If in the future COVID-19 virus from breastmilk were shown to be replicative in cell culture it would need to reach target sites in the infant and overcome infant defense systems for transmission of COVID-19 to occur.

The implications of transmission risk need to be framed in terms of COVID-19 prevalence in breastfeeding mothers and the scope and severity of COVID-19 infection in infants when transmission occurs compared to the adverse consequences of separation and using breastmilk substitutes and also separation of newborns and young infants from mothers.

Children appear to be at low risk of COVID-19. Among the cases of confirmed COVID-19 in children, most have experienced only mild or asymptomatic illness.7,8 This is also the case with other zoonotic coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV), which seem to affect children less commonly and to cause fewer symptoms and less severe disease compared with adults.9

Secretory IgA have been detected in breastmilk of mothers with previous COVID-19 infection. Although the strength and durability of sIgA reactive to COVID-19 have not yet been determined, multiple bioactive components have been identified in breastmilk that not only protect against infections but improve neurocognitive and immunologic development of the child since Lars A Hanson first described sIgA in breastmilk in 1961.10-12

Skin-to-skin contact and kangaroo mother care facilitate breastfeeding as well as improve thermoregulation, blood glucose control, and maternal-infant attachment, and decrease the risk in mortality and severe infection among low birth weight infants.13,14 Beyond the neonatal period, positive effects of mother-infant holding include improved sleep patterns, lower rates of behavioural problems in the child and higher quality parental interaction.15,16

Exclusively breastfed infants, the risk of mortality is 14-fold higher in infants who are not breastfed.17 Over 820 000 childrens lives could be saved every year among children under 5 years, if all children 0-23 months were optimally breastfed. For mothers, breastfeeding protects against breast cancer and may protect against ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes.18 On the other hand, children are at low risk of COVID-19.

It is still not clear whether the virus can or cannot be transmitted though breast milk. Risk of transmission based on feeding practices have not been quantified, compared, or modelled against the benefits of breastfeeding and nurturing mother-infant interaction.

At present, data are not sufficient to conclude vertical transmission of COVID-19 through breastfeeding. In infants, the risk of COVID-19 infection is low, the infection is typically mild or asymptomatic, while the consequences of not breastfeeding and separation between mother and child can be significant. At this point it appears that COVID-19 in infants and children represents a much lower threat to survival and health than other infections that breastfeeding is protective against. The benefits of breastfeeding and nurturing mother-infant interaction to prevent infection and promote health and development are especially important when health and other community services are themselves disrupted or limited. Adherence to infection prevention and control measures is essential to prevent contact transmission between COVID-19 suspected or confirmed mothers and their newborns and young infants.

Based on available evidence, WHO recommendations on the initiation and continued breastfeeding of infants and young children also apply to mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

WHO continues to monitor the situation closely for any changes that may affect this interim guidance. Should any factors change, WHO will issue a further update. Otherwise, this scientific brief will expire 2 years after the date of publication.

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Breastfeeding and COVID-19 - World Health Organization

Starbucks will be a part of the rising listing of company entities pausing promoting on social media platforms, the corporate said in a blog post Sunday. The espresso big says that it stands in opposition to hate speech and believes each enterprise leaders and coverage makers want to return collectively to have an effect on actual change.

We are going to pause promoting on all social media platforms whereas we proceed discussions internally, with our media companions and with civil rights organizations within the effort to cease the unfold of hate speech, the weblog submit, titled Creating Welcoming and Inclusive On-line Communities states.

A Starbucks spokesperson informed The Verge Sunday that the corporates social media promoting pause wont embrace YouTube, and whereas Starbucks will proceed to submit to social media, it gainedt do paid promotions.

Starbucks additionally will not be formally becoming a member of the Stop Hate For Profit campaign organized by the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, and different social justice organizations. The marketing campaign is aimed particularly at Fb and its moderation insurance policies round violent threats, misinformation, and hate speech, and requires a boycott of promoting on the platform for the month of July. Unilever, Verizon, the North Face, Patagonia, Ben & Jerrys, Magnolia Photos, Honda, and Hershey have all signed on to the Cease Hate for Revenue marketing campaign.

The Coca-Cola Firm went a step additional and introduced Friday it was pausing all digital promoting on all social media platforms globally starting July 1st. Multinational beverage firm Diageo made a similar pledge.

Fb CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced a collection of modifications final week which werent immediately in response to the advertiser boycott, however tackle a few of the criticisms of the corporates insurance policies. Fb stands for giving individuals a voice, and that particularly means individuals who have beforehand not had as a lot voice, or as a lot energy to share their very own experiences, Zuckerberg stated in a company town hall. Its actually essential that we be sure that our platforms dwell as much as these rules.

Tech specialist. Social media guru. Evil problem solver. Total writer. Web enthusiast. Internet nerd. Passionate gamer. Twitter buff.

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Top 10 Best Cream Serum With Vitamin Es 2020 - Best gaming pro

There are so many skincare brands on the market today, their number may flood your social media feed that it may be difficult to choose the right one for you this summertime. Sensitive skin, aging, tired skin, fair, dark, or a combination, its particularly rare for a single product or brand that can nourish and protect you during this season. However, by using a variety of brands that suit you, you may achieve that glowing healthy skin youve always wanted.

Here is a list of 8 products and options that can help you obtain the perfect skin this summer:

This brand is inspired and designed by leading cosmeceutical scientists for skincare, anti-aging, removal of blemish, and other skin issues. Their products are clinically tested, which makes SkinPro represent the industrys advanced skincare technology. Its perfect for enjoying the sun during the day and experience the rejuvenating effects with strengthened efficacy while being sensitive to the skin. The formulations are made by proprietary technology to give you a special combination of active ingredients that will remedy skin problems and provide lasting results.

Pair your tan with skincare that keeps your skins aging process to a minimum while enjoying the sun. You can use the Nimni Day Cream to protect and smoothen your skin with special collagen boosting complex infused with environmental shields. Summer-soft touchable skin is truly achievable while preventing possible daytime sun damage. When the sun sets and before going to bed to close another day, use the Nimni Night Cream and take some time to yourself.

Caudalie is a French skincare brand, based on all-natural grape extracts from the Bordeaux, Champagne, and Burgundy regions. Red wine drinkers already know this to be true: grapes are high in antioxidants and resveratrol compounds and polyphenols which give the whole line its unique and successful philosophy of anti-aging.

The whole line of SK-II revolves on a special ingredient called Pitera. History has it that workers who were subjected to a fermentation substance at a Japanese factory have remarkably ageless and spotless palms. In a slew of anti-aging creams, serums, masks, and most famously a skin-brightening facial treatment essence the secret sauce was packaged up and shipped.

It is one of those skincare brands that you can apply by yourself or as an aftercare treatment based on your preferences and goals. CosmetiCare has everything you need to fix anti-aging, acne, or pigmentation so you can get a sun-radiant, healthy, vibrant complexion. Using their Amplify-Hyaluronic Acid Enhancing Serum to lighten your dry skin with moisture when strengthening the skins lipid barrier. It is especially good for your summer skin, which requires the extra boost from day to day activities to keep your skin moisturized.

Think of skincare product creativity! If youre hunting for skincare brands with coveted distinctions to be the best-selling brands, then youll meet Factor Five Skin here. With this best-selling serum, take your regimen to a whole new dimension that dares to deviate from conventional anti-aging products. Their Regenerative Serum works on wrinkles, sun spots, uneven texture, and more. Combining human stem cell growth factors with copper peptides will make your skin look renewed and restored in as little as 4 weeks!

Your time in the sun is not supposed to reveal the years of skin life. This youth-infusing bundle of skin-loving ingredients is nicely packaged in the Mature Skin Anti-Aging Kit to help you reverse or prevent premature aging. Turn back the time or stand still with this scientifically crafted and evidence-based ingredient combination. Prepare to erase the fine lines, wrinkles, and discolorations of the skin, and shrink large pores with this impressive collection of anti-aging skincare:

This summer, when you apply the Mature Skin Anti-Aging Kit to your regimen, your sun-kissed lips, eyes, and dcolletage region will be completely plumped up and beautifully radiant. Cap off the week with the Hydroxy Overnight Mask, an exfoliating and hydrating leave-on-night mask composed of salicylic acids.

If you tend to have skin that is prone to acne, oily, sun-damaged, or sensitive, then you will want to use this product a few times a week. The Aloe Veras soothing compounds help soothe drained, old skin cells when youre asleep! You can use it as a mask or even best as a spot-treatment for rare breakouts, and youd wake to clean and healthy skin.

Who wouldnt love skincare brands that make an utter joy in washing your face? Only the word Kale Cleanser makes you want to make every morning and evening a spa day in your house! Its a concentrated combination of superfoods and antioxidants that hydrate your skin while reducing oxidative damage to the blue light. Its so sweet, you should probably use it twice a day and wash the dirt and extra grime of the day away. Follow it up next with the Moisturizer Adaptogens Superfruits.

This yummy moisturizer feeds some of the most powerful anti-aging ingredients to amplify the natural development of collagen in your skin while helping to prevent free-radical damage. Then what better way to soothe your exposed skin during the summer than with the Adaptogens Superfruits Mask. The sun may be bright, but if it is not revitalized, it can quickly dull your skin. Its creamy, smooth, and not only smells great, but after just one try, it leaves your skin smooth and rejuvenated. Piper Berry is one of the skincare brands that we love for quick fixing and refreshing the skin anytime, anywhere.

With these products, youll be summer-ready to enjoy activities that you can only do when the suns out while protecting and nourishing your skin. If you have sensitive skin make sure to apply only a small amount and gradually increase when you dont show any signs of negative reaction. Investing in the protection and rejuvenation of your skin will surely hold off father time from getting his hands on your glowing face.

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Skincare Brands To Try Out This Summer - GirlTalkHQ

Just like your skin, your hair also needs pampering to look good. For lustrous and long tresses, you need to provide your scalp and hair follicles with the essential nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Though there are various supplements available in the market that can stimulate your hair growth, if you wish to go natural, there is a plethora of food items that can give you the same benefit. Read further to know about foods that can promote hair growth. Also Read - Want to Promote Hair Growth And Relieve Insomnia? Opt For Spikenard Essential Oil

Being rich in procyanidin B-2, apples can stimulate epithelial cells and promote hair growth. Also, the antioxidants present in this fruit can fight against the free radicals and reduce hair damage. Even if you wish to improve your hair thickness, you can have apples as they are packed with protein. Also Read - Potential stem cell therapy may help promote hair growth

Strawberries contain vitamin C and other strong antioxidants, that can improve the health of your hair. If anecdotal evidences are to be believed, silica present in strawberries can stop hair loss and prevent the onset of baldness. Eating strawberries every day can treat dandruff and also make your hair appear shiny. Also Read - Top 5 essential oils for hair growth and how to use them

Bananas can help in hair growth by preventing dandruff and improving the quality of your scalp. Its rich nutritional content can also unclog the scalp pores. If you want your hair to impart shine, have a banana every day. It can also prevent breakage and split-ends.

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Best Hair Growth Tips: 5 Food Items to Include in Your Daily Diet For Long And Strong Tresses - India.com

Unfortunate news for those hoping the coronavirus pandemic was fading away: models suggest that an apocalyptic resurgence could be coming in the near future.

Multiple U.S. states, including Florida, Texas, and California, are currently experiencing record daily numbers of new COVID-19 cases, CNN reports. And they all still seem to be on the upswing.

Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of Baylor College of Medicines National School of Tropical Medicine, told CNN that Houston is on track to be the most coronavirus-ravaged city in the U.S. but that other Texas cities arent far behind.

The big metro areas seem to be rising very quickly and some of the models are on the verge of being apocalyptic, Hotez told CNN.

The three states hitting record numbers right now are also the most populous in the country. Combined, their new surges put more than 27 percent of the U.S. population at risk, CNN reports.

Hotez, whos also working on an experimental COVID-19 vaccine, warns that Houston in particular may quadruple its coronavirus case load over the next two weeks, which would put the same devastating strain on its healthcare system that places like New York City experienced earlier in the year.

That is really worrisome and as those numbers rise, were seeing commensurate increases in the number of hospitalizations and ICU admissions, Hotex told CNN. You get to the point where you overwhelm ICUs and thats when the mortality goes up.

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Professor: Looming COVID Surge on "Verge of Being Apocalyptic" - Futurism

In order to understand how COVID-19 spreads throughout the body, ravaging it in myriad ways, doctors are growing miniature balls or organ-like tissue called organoids, and infecting them again and again.

The results, Nature News reports, are particularly troubling: the miniature lungs, livers, kidneys, hearts, intestines all showed signs of damage. The series of studies reveals with shocking clarity that COVID-19 can cause far more than a lung infection.

Of course, thats not exactly news. This harrowing list of survivors and medical workers horror stories gathered by SFGate includes heart attacks, strokes, long-term lung damage, incontinence, skin damage, and other serious complications for supposed mild cases of the coronavirus:

Thats just one of the many, many stories they gathered about the ways a road to recovery from COVID-19 is neither linear nor something that shouldnt be feared.

That said, for all their benefits, organoids are still imperfect. Per Nature, theyre far more simplistic than a full-sized organ. And because theyre not all connected in the same body, doctors can only use them to study the impacts on a single organ in isolation.

We know the cells die but we dont know how, Weill Cornell Medicine stem cell biologist Shuibing Chen told Nature of her study on miniature lungs.

Even though questions remain, its clear those impacts are serious. Various studies found that the coronavirus caused serious damage in several organs, and may lead to indirect damage in others. It also became clear that the coronavirus can infect and spread through blood vessels, leading to a more serious, widespread case.

To figure that out, biologists will need to develop more sophisticated and realistic organoids and try their experiments again, Nature reports.

It is too early to say how relevant they are, Bart Haagmans, an Erasmus MC virologist who ran a study on gut organoids, told Nature.

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Mini-Organ Research Reveals What COVID-19 Does to the Body - Futurism

Its a little before midnight as I write, and thats breaking this storys rules. As the science surrounding circadian rhythms and the skin continue to solidify, my teenage-night-owl trail of wee-hours inspiration could actively be throwing off my skin from functioning in its optimal state. Skin circadian rhythm is a concept that brands and derms are studying as custom skin cares next breakthrough hinges on teeny, tiny metabolites, which play into the skins ability to stay in sync with the rest of our systems.

The beauty of studying metabolomics is that it takes into account your genetics, your microbiome and your environment to give an overall image of whats happening specifically to your skin at any time, explains Nadine Pernodet, PhD, Vice President of Skin Biology and BioActives at Este Lauder. When launching Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Complex II ($72) two decades ago, the brand targeted initial findings that skin metabolites oscillated, following a circadian rhythm, and those oscillations grow weak and erratic with age, impeding repair. Today, with even more evidence that a steady rhythm is the mark of healthy cells, its worth figuring out how to keep the beat for the betterment of skin.

Today, with even more evidence that a steady rhythm is the mark of healthy cells, its worth figuring out how to keep the beat for the betterment of skin.

The skin is the bodys largest organand also the easiest organ to accessso it can provide a lot of direct information, explains New York City-based dermatologist Jessica Weiser, MD FAAD. One means of assessing the skins natural rhythms is through the use of metabolites. All of the bodys organs produce small compounds during their metabolic processesthese metabolites account for genetic differences, environmental variations, behavioral changes, age, UV exposure, and more, she says. An assistant clinical professor of Dermatology at Columbia University and founder of Weiser Skin MD, she is keenly aware that this metabolic fingerprint is a promising therapeutic tool.

These metabolites can be retrieved from the skin surface to demonstrate what is happening on a cellular level, and then used to help better target skin-care treatment in an effort to affect the skins natural activities, she explains. Metabolite samples, when taken repeatedly at various times of the day, show cycles of protection and repair, which help guide how to maximize the repair processes in damaged skin. According to Dr. Weiser, we arent yet taking full advantage of this information. In the future, the new normal may be tailoring product routines to personal rhythms. Until then, heres how to maximize what we know and hack your general skin beat.

Since optimal repair processes require optimal rest, theres a direct tie between abbreviated sleep schedules and accelerated skin aging. The most familiar circadian rhythm is the sleep-wake cycle, Dr. Weiser explains. Since sleep is partially regulated by melatonin levels which typically peak at night, exposure to light sourceslike this screenafter a certain point causes an abrupt decrease in melatonin levels.

Why does melatonin matter? Interestingly, melatonin has many other roles including hair growth, reduction of UV damage in skin cells, wound healing, and more, says Dr. Weiser. When we alter the bodys natural melatonin production, we equally diminish its ability to repair damage at night. Hum Nutrition Mighty Night ($40) blends sleep-supporting herbs, antioxidants, and hydrating ceramides into an evening supplement designed to enhance overnight cell renewal, while Milk Makeups Melatonin Overnight Serum ($36) blends topical melatonin with Persian Silk Tree extract and hyaluronic acid for a push-pop-sized stick of solid serum.

According to Dr. Weiser, catching adequate ZZZs should be a natural prescription from forward-thinking derms. As a result of lack of sleep, the quality of someones skin can deteriorate cosmetically and medically, reinforces dermatologist Robert Anolik, MD, of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. From a cosmetic perspective, the stressors can weaken the quality of collagen fibers and skin tones, leaving the skin with fine lines and enlarged pores.

Generally, daylight is the time to protect, darkness is the time to regenerate. The founders of The Route, which designed a 24-Hour Skin Rhythm approach to their Everything Day ($90) and Everything Night ($90) multitasking moisturizers say that skin is a nocturnal animal. When the sun is out, its closed off to intruders. At night, it works to replace water loss and shifts into repair mode.

The brands product duo uses the bodys circadian clock to target the delivery of ingredients at optimal times for skin cells unique shifts. And metabolites play a role here as well. Its important that products have the right concentration of daytime metabolites to help with neutralizing the negative environmental effects and nighttime metabolites to support skin renewal, says Anne Chapas, MD, a dermatological advisor to Noble Panacea who notes that these are universal concepts nonspecific to age or gender.

She touts the brands Absolute Intense Renewal Serum ($420) for its Organic Molecular Vessels delivery system. As OMVs travel through the skin once they are applied, each vessel is programmed to deliver an ingredient for absorption at the optimal moment with control over a course of the day or through the night. And in addition to ingredients like the activation enzyme teprenone, which aids in the stabilization of telomeres at the end of chromosomes to delay cellular degeneration (more on DNA to come), theres a constant focus to keep skin protected and better able to meet the outside world in defense mode.

Ultimately, the goal is to keep up cells ability to repair themselves and their DNA.One specific skin-care company looking to stimulate the DNA repair and protection process is Defenage, says Dr. Weiser, who notes that a combination of alpha and beta defensins, natural immune peptides found in products like Defenage 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream ($127), have been shown to activate a stem cell found in the hair follicle. This specific stem cell is considered the source of most new epidermal cells during acute wound healing, and the defensin-mediated stimulation helps to promote a wound healing-like response. Results range from increased epidermal thickness to reduced appearance of pores and even pigmentation.

In the hyper-prestige market, La Prairie just introduced Platinum Rare Cellular Night Elixir at a price point of $1,275. The four functions essential to the skins complete regeneration process are addressed: nutrition, respiration, detoxification and immunity, the brand shares of the first-of-its-kind recipe. The elixir boasts the highest concentration of La Prairies Exclusive Cellular Complex, which provides nutrients like amino acids, nucleotides, and sugars required to synthesize biomoleculeslike proteins and DNAessential to cellular structure. And while the steep price point might make the serum out of reach for many, the science driving the innovation will no doubt inform how we approach skin care in the years to come.

As Dr. Chapas mentions, skin dehydration is a factor in accelerated cell dysfunction. Aside from drinking sufficient H2O, there are topical measures that can be taken. To help prevent transepidermal water loss, Pause Well-Aging Collagen Boosting Moisturizer ($72) maintains moisture balance for both morning and night while simultaneously encouraging cell turnoverand though it launched as a solution to increase activity in menopausal cells, its hormone-free formula is safe for all skin types.

At night in particular, skin blood flow and temperature are higher, which causes permeability of the skin barrier and increases water loss and skin itch, Dr. Weiser points out. This explains, at least partially, why many eczema patients feel more itchy in the evening. It would make sense to encourage the use of topical moisturizers or anti-inflammatory products at night. Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray ($28) not only received the National Eczema Associations Seal of Acceptance, its rich in hypochlorous acid that triggers an immune boost in skin and helps fight inflammationanother rhythm disruptor.

Not only do we have a global body clock, but almost all of our cells have their own clocks, says Ben Van Handel, PhD, co-founder of Heraux and stem cell biologist at the University of Southern California. In an ideal world, these are keeping the same time. However, inflammation can influence crosstalk between these clocks, causing them to fall out of sync. (Think of a piece of spoiled fruit in a bowl encouraging other fruits to go bad sooner.)

These interruptions are bad news, as they can cause the production of more pro-inflammatory molecules, which further speeds up the biological clock in our skin in a feed-forward loop, explains Dr. Van Handelof of how this cyclical relationship between inflammation and aging led to the term inflammaging. Heraux Molecular Anti-Inflammaging Serum ($250) utilizes a proprietary biomimetic lipid HX-1, which boasts over a decade of research and 18 patents.

Designed to shield skin stem cells from the stress factors that drive inflammation, Dr. Van Handel explains that this protective effect allows skin stem cells, and their clocks, to function better and maintain sync with the rest of the body. Internally, a dose of Omega 3slike the vegan version found Athena Club Daily Multi ($28)have been shown to further support reduced inflammation levels in skin.

To back up the practice of using daytime UV protection and nighttime reparative topicals, Dr. Weiser points to a study that showed sun damage persisting for three hours after exposure actually occurred. When we think of this in terms of treatment options, it is possible that early use of potent antioxidants could stop this prolonged damage and thereby reduce the increased risk of skin cancer development, she shares.

Dr. Loretta Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 40 ($50) provides antioxidant protection from free radical damage caused by pollution and UV radiation while harnessing Indian ginseng extract as a way to protect skin from HEV light emitted from the sun and electronic devices. Adding a few drops of RVive Defensif Environmental Antioxidant Booster ($175) to your moisturizer levels-up antioxidants and ingredients known to protect from smoke, blue light wavelengths and environmental aggressors that stress skin from morning to night.

And so, until the ability to test your personal cell rhythm exists, the complexities of skins rhythm net out to a fairly simply takeaway that we can implement starting today and forevermore: Protect, feed, and rest your skin as needed, when needed, and itll do its best to keep working its natural biomimetic magic.

Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.

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The Future of Skin Care Hinges on Keeping Time With Your Complexions Natural Rhythm - Well+Good

Stem cells are biological cells which have the ability to distinguish into specialized cells, which are capable of cell division through mitosis. Amniotic fluid stem cells are a collective mixture of stem cells obtained from amniotic tissues and fluid. Amniotic fluid is clear, slightly yellowish liquid which surrounds the fetus during pregnancy and is discarded as medical waste during caesarean section deliveries. Amniotic fluid is a source of valuable biological material which includes stem cells which can be potentially used in cell therapy and regenerative therapies. Amniotic fluid stem cells can be developed into a different type of tissues such as cartilage, skin, cardiac nerves, bone, and muscles. Amniotic fluid stem cells are able to find the damaged joint caused by rheumatoid arthritis and differentiate tissues which are damaged. Medical conditions where no drug is able to lessen the symptoms and begin the healing process are the major target for amniotic fluid stem cell therapy. Amniotic fluid stem cells therapy is a solution to those patients who do not want to undergo surgery. Amniotic fluid has a high concentration of stem cells, cytokines, proteins and other important components. Amniotic fluid stem cell therapy is safe and effective treatment which contain growth factor helps to stimulate tissue growth, naturally reduce inflammation. Amniotic fluid also contains hyaluronic acid which acts as a lubricant and promotes cartilage growth.

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With increasing technological advancement in the healthcare, amniotic fluid stem cell therapy has more advantage over the other therapy. Amniotic fluid stem cell therapy eliminates the chances of surgery and organs are regenerated, without causing any damage. These are some of the factors driving the growth of amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market over the forecast period. Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases which can be treated with the amniotic fluid stem cell therapy propel the market growth for amniotic fluid stem cell therapy, globally. Increasing funding by the government in research and development of stem cell therapy may drive the amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market growth. But, high procedure cost, difficulties in collecting the amniotic fluid and lack of reimbursement policies hinder the growth of amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market.

The global amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market is segmented on basis of treatment, application, end user and geography:

Rapid technological advancement in healthcare, and favorable results of the amniotic fluid stem cells therapy will increase the market for amniotic fluid stem cell therapy over the forecast period. Increasing public-private investment for stem cells in managing disease and improving healthcare infrastructure are expected to propel the growth of the amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market.

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Some of the key players operating in global amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market are Stem Shot, Provia Laboratories LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Mesoblast Ltd., Roslin Cells, Regeneus Ltd. etc. among others.

However, on the basis of geography, global Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Therapy Market is segmented into six key regionsviz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding China, China and Middle East & Africa. North America captured the largest shares in global Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Therapy Market and is projected to continue over the forecast period owing to technological advancement in the healthcare and growing awareness among the population towards the new research and development in the stem cell therapy. Europe is expected to account for the second largest revenue share in the amniotic fluid stem cell therapy market. The Asia Pacific is anticipated to have rapid growth in near future owing to increasing healthcare set up and improving healthcare expenditure. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa account for slow growth in the market of amniotic fluid stem cell therapy due to lack of medical facilities and technical knowledge.

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Global Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Therapy Market Revenue to Record Stable Growth Through 2026 - Cole of Duty

Serena Williams is an athlete with a busy schedule who has early morning activities. However, she makes sure to go live on Instagram for her Serena Saturdays series where she talks about fashion, beauty and relationships. While Serenas schedule is full of training, the athlete always finds time to practice wellness and is dedicated to show her daughter, Olympia Ohanian how to take care of her skin. In a recent live video, the 38-year-old tennis player revealed her go-to moisturizer and daily skincare practice. One of her most essential beauty product is the eye serum. Eye cream doesnt work unless you put some serum on before, shared Serena.

Though Serena forgot to add serum on her face, she confesses this is an essential step during her skincare regimen. The professional athlete swears by Trilogy Vitamin C Moisturising Lotion which features antioxidants that helps skin prevent damage and recover from free radical exposure. In addition, this moisturizer is known for its radiance-boosting properties which helps the complexion look fresher and brighter. Trilogys formula includes daisy extract and mandarin oil with extra brightening properties such as certified organic Rosehip Seed Oil to help the skin hydrate, replenish and strengthen skins moisture barrier. Aside from using a vegan product, Serena applies Neocutis restorative eye cream after applying eye serum and uses it on her entire face whenever her skin feels extra dry.

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Serena Williams reveals her skincare regimen - HOLA USA

Oncology is a branch of study and treatment of cancer. Cancer is disease in which abnormal cells grow and divide without control. Oncology drugs help in diagnosis cancer. Some of the causes of cancer are tobacco and smoking, viral infections, genetic causes, carcinogens, bacterial infections, physical activities, eating habits and age. Various types of cancer that can be treated by oncology drugs are blood cancer, endocrine cancer, lung cancer, bone cancer, skin cancer, genitourinary cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer, eye cancer, head and neck cancers and gynaecologic cancer. On the basis of treatment, oncology drugs market can be segmented into chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, hormone therapy and others.

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North America, followed by Europe, has the largest market for oncology drugs due to new drug development, government initiatives and developed healthcare infrastructure in this region. Asia is expected to show high growth rate in the oncology drugs market in next few years due to increasing incidence of cancer cases, rise in the use of tobacco products and growth in aging population in the region.

Technological advancement, increasing incidence of various type of cancers, rise in need for R&D activities in cancer and growing concerns over high death rates due to cancer are driving the market for oncology drugs. In addition, introduction of new drugs and therapies for cancer and government support to improve healthcare condition are expected to drive the market for oncology drugs. However, high cost of cancer treatments, strict government regulations, huge investment involvement in the development and clinical trials of the therapies and side effects of cancer treatments are some of the major factors restraining the growth for global oncology drugs market.

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Growing demographics and economies in the developing countries such as China and India are expected to offer good opportunities in oncology drugs market in Asia. In addition, new innovations in cancer drugs and therapies and rise in awareness about the new drugs and therapies available in the market are expected to offer new opportunities for global oncology drugs market. Personalized medicines, increasing number of mergers and acquisitions, new product launches and rise in number of collaborations and partnerships are some of the trends that have been observed in global oncology drugs market.

Some of the major companies operating in the global oncology drugs market are Amgen, Bayer Healthcare AG, CELGENE CORPORATION, GlaxoSmithKline, ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Pfizer and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries.

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Rapid Unit Sales of Oncology Drugs to Account for Incremental Revenues in the Global Market - Cole of Duty

Physicians Wish More Women Understood They Are Not To Blame

DUBLIN, June 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixty percent (60%) of women surveyed feel it's their fault they have cellulite and 57% feel judged for their cellulite,i according to new Harris Poll survey results released today by Endo Aesthetics LLC, an affiliate of Endo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP). Conversely, 92% of physicians surveyed wish more women understood having cellulite is not their fault.Although celluliteii is common, many women are unsure about its root causes, lack knowledge about treatment options and feel a sense of blame and judgment for having cellulite.

The Harris Poll survey was conducted online among 2,006 U.S. women and captured feedback from those ages 18-59 who have cellulite, as well as 302 board certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Harris polled the women and physicians about their experience with cellulite and current treatment options.

Of aesthetic physicians surveyed, 93% said most women want to know how to improve their cellulite. Additionally, one-third of women surveyed (34%) feel that having information on what does and does not cause cellulite would make it easier to have conversations with their physician about this topic.

"It doesn't surprise me that 60% of women surveyed feel it's their fault they have cellulite," says Lisa Donofrio, MD, a New Orleans based board-certified dermatologist, past president and board member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. "I've consulted with patients who are embarrassed and frustrated with having cellulite; however, I want them to know that they are not alone. In fact, 80% of women surveyed said they have cellulite and over three-quarters of them noted they spend time or effort focused on it. It's a very common issue that can stem from a variety of factors, including but not limited to hormones, genetics, skin structure and skin texture."

Cellulite can have a negative impact on how women perceive themselves. Nearly half of women surveyed (49%) say they are bothered "a great deal" or "a lot" by their cellulite. Women most commonly think about their cellulite at certain times, including when looking in the mirror (65%), at the beach or pool (54%) and during warmer weather (46%).iii

"The Harris Poll survey results reinforce that many women are looking for trusted information and resources from their healthcare professionals," says Robert Catlin, Vice President of Aesthetic Sales and Marketing at Endo. "We undertook this survey to understand how women feel about their cellulite and to help remove the blame and replace it with data and information."

Additional highlights from the Harris Poll survey include:iv

Scientists continue to explore treatments that target the root causes of cellulite in minimally invasive ways.iCurrently, surgical and invasive options get to the bands under the skin's surface that can cause cellulite.iiTheHarris Poll survey showed many of the women surveyed tried to improve their cellulite using various methods, including exercise (71%), diet (58%), topical treatments (36%), massages (25%) and in-office procedures (12%).By releasing the Harris Poll survey results, Endo Aesthetics is seeking to clear up the misinformation that exists around the etiology of cellulite,which may be one of the reasons 74% of women surveyed said that "no matter what I do, I will always have cellulite."v

Research MethodThis survey was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll between January 2, 2020 and January 26, 2020 on behalf of Endo Pharmaceuticals among two groups: 2,006 women, ages 18-59 who have cellulite; and 302 licensed U.S. healthcare professionals, including 151 dermatologists and 151 plastic surgeons.

Patient data were weighted by age, education, race/ethnicity, region, income, household size, marital status, and employment status to be representative of the broader population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online. Dermatologist and plastic surgeon data were weighted by gender, years in practice, and region, and a post-weight was applied to the total data to reflect the proportions of dermatologists and plastic surgeons within the U.S. population.

About CelluliteCellulite is a localized alteration in the contour of the skin that has been reported in over 90 percent of post-pubertal females and affects women of all races and ethnicities.vi,vii The presence of cellulite is associated with changes in dermal thickness, and in the fat cells and connective tissue below the skin. A primary factor in the cause of the condition is the collagen containing septae which attach the skin to the underlying fascia layers. The septae tether the skin which, with additional contributing protrusions of subcutaneous fat, causes the surface dimpling characteristic of cellulite.viii,ixThese fibrous septae are oriented differently with varying thickness in females than in males, which helps our understanding of cellulite as a gender-related condition.xi Cellulite clinically presents on the buttocks, thighs, lower abdomen and arms.

It is known that cellulite is different from generalized obesity. In generalized obesity, adipocytes undergo hypertrophy and hyperplasia that is not limited to the pelvis, thighs, and abdomen.xIn areas of cellulite, characteristic large, metabolically stable adipocytes have physiologic and biochemical properties that differ from adipose tissue located elsewhere.An anatomical study in 2019 found that women have increased fat lobule height compared with men, which may also contribute to the mattress-like appearance seen as a result of the tension of the fibrous septae.xi Weight gain can make cellulite more noticeable, but it may be present even in thin subjects.

About The Harris PollThe Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm established in 1963 to help support decision making among leaders. Harris workswith clients in three primary areas: crafting brand strategy, building corporate reputation, and earning organic media through public relations research. To learn more, visitwww.theharrispoll.com.

About Endo Aesthetics LLCEndo Aesthetics is embarking on a mission devoted to pushing the boundaries of aesthetic artistry. Driven by world-class research and development, Endo Aesthetics is advancing solutions to address unmet needs beginning with an investigational treatment for cellulite. Headquartered in Malvern, PA, Endo Aesthetics is an affiliate of Endo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP). Learn more at https://www.endoaesthetics.com.

About Endo International plcEndo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP) is a highly-focused specialty branded and generics pharmaceutical company delivering quality medicines to patients in need through excellence in development, manufacturing and commercialization. Endo has global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and U.S. headquarters in Malvern, PA. Learn more at http://www.endo.com.

Forward Looking StatementsThis press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, the statements by Dr. Donofrioand Mr. Catlin, and other statements regarding the purpose and results of the survey. Statements including words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plan," "will," "may," "look forward," "intend," "guidance," "future" or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Because these statements reflect Endo's current views, expectations and beliefs concerning future events, they involve risks and uncertainties. Although Endo believes that these forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, readers should not place undue reliance on them, or any other forward-looking statements or information in this news release. Investors should note that many factors, as more fully described in the documents filed by Endo with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and with securities regulators in Canada on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR"), including under the caption "Risk Factors" in Endo's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filings, and as otherwise enumerated herein or therein, could affect Endo's future results and could cause Endo's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements contained in this communication. The forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these risk factors. Endo assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

References:

iEndo Pharmaceuticals data on file 2020. Cellulite Survey: Women and HCP Survey Results, The Harris Poll online survey, 1/2/20 1/26/20 of2,006 U.S. women ages 18-59 who have cellulite and 302 U.S. licensed physicians aged 18+iiZerini I et al. Cellulite treatment: a comprehensive literature review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015 Sep 14(3):224-40 iiiEndo Pharmaceuticals data on file 2020. Cellulite Survey: Women and HCP Survey Results, The Harris Poll online survey, 1/2/20 1/26/20 of2,006 U.S. women ages 18-59 who have cellulite and 302 U.S. licensed physicians aged 18+ivEndo Pharmaceuticals data on file 2020. Cellulite Survey: Women and HCP Survey Results, The Harris Poll online survey, 1/2/20 1/26/20 of2,006 U.S. women ages 18-59 who have cellulite and 302 U.S. licensed physicians aged 18+v Endo Pharmaceuticals data on file 2020. Cellulite Survey: Women and HCP Survey Results, The Harris Poll online survey, 1/2/20 1/26/20 of2,006 U.S. women ages 18-59 who have cellulite and 302 U.S. licensed physicians aged 18+viHexsel, D., & Mazzuco, R. (2013). Cellulite. Update in Cosmetic Dermatology, p.2viiKhan MH et al. Treatment of cellulite: Part I. Pathophysiology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 Mar;62(3):361-70. viiiQuerleux B et al. Anatomy and physiology of subcutaneous adipose tissue by in vivo MRI and spectroscopy: Relationship with sex and presence of cellulite, Skin Research and Technology; 8: 118-124. ixQuerleux B et al. Anatomy and physiology of subcutaneous adipose tissue by in vivo MRI and spectroscopy: Relationship with sex and presence of cellulite, Skin Research and Technology; 8: 118-124. xKhan MH, Victor F, Rao B, Sadick NS. Treatment of cellulite: Part I. Pathophysiology. J Am Acad Dermatol 2010;62(3):361-370xi Rudolph C, Hladik C, Hamade H, Frank K, et al. Structural gender-dimorphism and the biomechanics of the gluteal subcutaneous tissue - implications for the pathophysiology of cellulite. Plast Reconstr Surg 2019; 143: 1077-86.

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New Harris Poll Survey Shows 60% of Women Surveyed Feel It's Their Fault They Have Cellulite - PR Newswire UK

This post deals with suicide and might be triggering for some readers.

Yesterday morning, I woke up to the usual 10-minute morning cuddle session with my girlfriend who seemed uber content to be on the receiving end of my stream of kisses. Of course, I complained about how Im not working from home anymore, I worried about a bunch of things I cant change, and then I dropped my girlfriends five and eight year old kids to school on my way to work.

A quick Instagram scroll sent me into a spiral of shock, worry, and grief.

Sara Hegazy, 30, was found dead in her apartment in Canada by suicide.

Image: Twitter.

If youre not an Arab, news about Sara wouldnt have been in your feed. But my algorithms work differently. So I already knew that Sara is an Egyptian LGBT+ activist who rose to prominence after raising the LGBT rainbow flag at a concert in Egypt in October 2017.

What I didnt know was that Sara was charged with promoting sexual deviancy and debauchery, and was jailed for three months following that October 2017 incident. I also had no idea that she then suffered horrific beatings and abuse at the hands of other inmates, while prison officials would violently assault and torture her with electrocutions.

I cant help but think, this couldve been me.

Despite being warned by some friends, I decided to take a look at some of the comments and reactions to the post about Sara.

Ill do the honour of translating some for you.

Hell and misery is awaiting her.

Its not okay to have any form of empathy towards her.

Dont you know how to hide your sexuality? Do you think its okay to be public about your queerness while youre living in a conservative society? Whats next to come? Maybe someday, someone will come along and tell me its alright to have sex with children and animals too. Would you then consider this some sort of freedom of expression?

This couldve been written about me.

Im in conflict while writing this. I want to tell you that the Arab world is full of the warmest people Ive ever had the experience of knowing, food to die for, and a rich culture and heritage to be proud of.

But I also have to tell you that Im ashamed of the ignorance that is infiltrating my community. Ashamed of the debilitating inflexibility in the mindset of so many in that community.

Read more:
'Sara Hegazy was jailed and tortured for a photo. It could have been me.' - Mamamia

Stephen Raffone had difficulty breathing. He coughed up sputum and was wheezing. Doctors told him he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that causes blocked airflow from the lungs.

As a result, he was being treated for stage 4 COPD.

His doctor was also treating him for cellulitis, an inflammatory and painful bacterial skin infection where extremities appear red and swollen and the area can feel hot and tender to the touch, as well as poor circulation.

My legs were beginning to get ulcerated and they were breaking down, said Raffone.

He was administered the Roman Catholic Churchs Last Rites three times several years ago when he was a patient in Richmond University Medical Center.

Raffone, who is now 63, was in need of a lung transplant.

He was a heavy smoker and it took its toll. However, because he was in a weakened state due to other serious health conditions, doctors told him hed never survive the surgery.

The Westerleigh resident, who has been in need of 24-hour care for the last several years, requires the assistance of two nurses who rotate 12-hour shifts.

One, a close family friend, suggested Raffone see a medical specialist who performs stem cell therapy, a procedure where the patients own stem cells are removed, treated and returned to his or her own body after a conditioning regimen.

She contacted Dr. Alexandre M. Scheer of Scheer Medical Wellness and he agreed to see Raffone.

Dr. Alexandre M. Scheer (Courtesy/Stephen Raffone)Staten Island Advance

But since Raffone was unable to leave his home, Scheer visited Raffone for a consultation and to evaluate his condition.

Fast forward a year and a half and Scheer has continued with those visits almost every Saturday free of charge also underwriting the cost for treatments, as well as Uber rides from Manhattan to Staten Island, in order to perform the stem cell procedure.

RAFFONES NURSE SPEAKS

One of Raffones nurses recounted Raffones journey.

She explained that when they started to explore stem cell therapy she placed calls to several doctors, but the biggest thing that jumped out at her was the astronomical cost.

But there was something about Dr. Scheer. And I just knew he was the right one, said the registered nurse for more than 30 years. "He wasnt interested in money. His goal is his patients outcome. Stephen did pay for the first set of treatments, but since then, Dr. Scheer has not taken a dime.

When the patient began treatments, the first therapy was a tremendous boost and then every week after that he was treated for seven weeks. In the beginning, the doctor visited every week and brought whatever supplies was needed. The PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatments are daily.

I draw the blood, I spin the blood," she said. We have a small centrifuge here so it separates the blood. The PRP is given by a nebulizer. It takes about 30 minutes. And once a week he gets a protein enriched plasma, which takes about a half hour, she added.

He has chronic venous ulcerations of the both lower extremities from the knee down, she said.

Raffone has end stage COPD. But since he started the treatments, hes gone to the hospital only once. And he has tested negative for antibody COVID-19.

RAFFONES TREATMENT BEGINS

Raffone was required to install the centrifuge machine with needles and plasma tube, a laboratory device used for the separation of fluids, gas or liquid, based on density. Separation is achieved by spinning a vessel containing material at high speed.

Initially, Dr. Scheer sent a plastic surgeon to my home to perform liposuction, a type of fat-removal procedure used in plastic surgery, where they separate the fat and preserve the stem cells, Raffone said. They did this four times weekly at the beginning. Dr. Scheer has been visiting my home pretty much each week since Sept. 22, 2018. But right now the stem cell therapy is done once a month."

They draw blood out and spin it. Its all done through IV. Right now stem cell infusion is done once a month and daily through a nebulizer. Dr. Scheer does it on Saturday and my nurse and dear friend to Dr. Scheer does it during the week. My house looks like a hospital. Dr. Scheer is keeping me alive and everything is healing up so well, said Raffone.

Stephen Raffone's left leg before stem cell treatment. (Courtesy/Stephen Raffone)Staten Island Advance

Raffone says he wanted to come forward with his account at this time because hes so grateful and especially today when so many negative stories are in the news.

We need some good stories. There are very few people like Dr. Scheer, especially now during the COVID-19 crisis, he said.

My nurse draws the blood and puts it in a centrifuge when the doctor cant make it from the city. But Dr. Scheer is still coming to my house in spite of the COVID-19 crisis," Raffone continued.

Raffone has been confined to a bed one that he says turns you from side to side and upside down. But Dr. Scheer is confident that when restrictions are lifted and physical therapy sessions resume, Raffone will be able to walk.

The stem cell therapy is not only helping to combat Raffones COPD, but it has also helped him with cellulitis on his leg.

Stephen's Raffone healed left leg after stem cell therapy. (Courtesy/Stephen Raffone)Staten Island Advance

Scheer, a staunch supporter of stem cell therapy, has a background in neurosurgery and regenerative medicine. He performs surgery at several surgical centers in Manhattan.

It has to do with the amount of cells your bone marrow," he said. What we do is . . . saturate the body with stem cells. It suppresses the inflammatory response. COVID-19 also is an inflammatory disease. The COVID-19 kills the lungs. So you dont have oxygen going through. The stem cells protect, so you have continual oxygen transfer.

Dr. Scheer, who practices at Sheer Medical Wellness in Manhattan, says you can regenerate yourself.

I want my patients to be fine. I will pay for the patient. Im happy Stephens alive. And then my life is made. Stephen will now be able to walk after physical therapy. He was on 12 liters of oxygen daily. Hes now on two liters. I know his nurse very well and thats how we connected. The stem cell treatment is the appropriate treatment for him. I pay out of pocket because I know the right treatment for his condition," he added.

Dr. Scheer points out in China and in Israel stem cell therapy is the treatment they use for COVID- 19.

Its where you take Eastern and Western medicine and put it together. The patients body and will to live and having the right outlook on life has a lot to do with proper health. Our group is so big. We have 40 different doctors in my practice. Im the medical director, he said. Stem cell treatment is the future of medicine. At $10,000 a treatment, its very expensive. And the number depends on the issue at hand.

THE INITIAL CALL

When Scheer spoke to Raffone, He said I cant get out of bed,' the doctor said. "I drove to Staten Island and I got to know Stephen and his family very well. Its not a one-time treatment. Im seeing him on a weekly basis. There is a relationship that occurs. And thats what matters and thats what keeps people alive. Hope is what keeps them alive. And Im doing this since 2001. The treatment involves platelet enriched plasma that suppresses inflammatory reactions in the lungs. Whats happening is youre able to suppress the inflammatory reaction. His legs and his heart are getting better as well. This is a treatment until we can get him walking.

Scheer says Raffone must undergo physical therapy in oder for him to walk around freely.

And hell be able to travel to my office. Im not giving up on him. Im paying out of pocket. A quarter of my patients, I pay for. Stephen has gone through so much. Hes alive because of stem cell therapy. And due to his lung condition with COVID, he has not contracted it."

Scheer says its been a team effort, with multiple doctors coming into play.

Stephen is keeping himself alive. Im just the tool that can help. I just do the best I can for as many people as I can.

Original post:
Westerleigh resident is alive because of stem cell therapy by his doctor -- for free. Heres his story. - SILive.com

Beijing-based Sinovac has posted a positive preliminary snapshot of human data from the Phase I/II study of their vaccine for coronavirus, showing that the jab was able to safely spur protective antibodies in more than 90% of the volunteers involved.

The biotech reported Saturday that they had recruited 743 patients for the two-step trial, with 143 in Phase I and the rest in Phase II.

The neutralizing antibody seroconversion rate is above 90%, the company states, which concludes the vaccine candidate can induce positive immune response. Thats about all youre getting at this stage of the process, though, with little hard data in their statement to decipher.

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Sure, Bit Bio got some significant cash for its cell coding work. But it's the insiders who are backing them that will garner the attention -...

Taking care of your neck is important for any anti-aging skincare routine. If neglected, wrinkles and sagging skin on your neck can be a major giveaway for your age. With that in mind, its important to not only focus on your face (especially forehead lines, eyes bags and crows feet, and smile lines), but also to pay attention to your neck when it comes to skincare.

Keep reading for neck creams dermatologists swear by!

Key Ingredients And Benefits

-Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera, Citric Acid, Vitamin C, and Collagen: supports cell renewal, boosts elasticity and skin radiance, and reduces signs of aging

Promising Review

"I've only used this collagen cream from Maryann Organics for 3 days now which is only a short amount of times but noticed some amazing changes in my skin. I love that it is not greasy, nor shiny, and absorbs very quickly. The best part was the push pump to dispense the cream without getting your fingers into the cream. I'm 43 years old and started seeing lines from all areas of my face. Since I used the cream, my lines are less noticeable and my complexion is clearer and more brighter. I LOVE this cream! I cant wait to see more amazing results!!! I highly recommend trying this product." -Amazon Reviewer

Key Ingredients And Benefits

-Retinol: helps diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles

-Vitamins A and E, Hyaluronic Acid, Green Tea, and Aloe Vera: helps improve texture and tone and increases skin's firmness and elasticity

Promising Review "Ive never used a moisturizer that works this well this fast! I was worried that it would be drying or sensitive because of the retinol but it feels so good on the skin and makes your skin look and feel amazing. It actually works so well that I only use it at night and for my skin it doesnt need to be used in the morning. My mother introduced me to it after I noticed how good her skin was looking lately. Cant believe how inexpensive this is for how high quality the ingredients and results are! The design of the container and pump is really cool too. It helps control the amount you want to use and insures that no product gets wasted. All in all I highly recommend this for any one at any age! My mom is in her 50s and Im in my 20s and it works well for the both of us!" -Amazon Reviewer

Key Ingredients And Benefits

-Peptides, Stem Cells, Collagen, and Elastin: helps tighten and rejuvenate the skin of the neck and dcolletage

-Vitamins C, Vitamin E, and Hyaluronic Acid: help restore firmness and elasticity and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Promising Review

"I really didnt have high expectations for this product. I panicked when I noticed my neck was making these crepe-y folds when I turned my head. I am so not happy about aging. Anyway, I shopped around and came upon this fabulous product and saw all the high ratings and great testimonials. This cream works! Im not even halfway through the bottle and I see a noticeable reductions in the folds and crepey-ness! My dcollet was fine before but now I notice the skin is more supple. Full disclosure: at night, I add a few drops of Vitamin E oil for extra oomph. In the morning, I apply sunscreen over it. Will definitely buy again." -Amazon Reviewer

Key Ingredients And Benefits

-Retinol SA: helps renew the surface of your skin

-Hyaluronic Acid: helps plump and hydrate the skin

-Glucose Complex: strengthens skin barrier

Promising Review

"This cream is amazing and best of all its easily absorbed and you can see the positive effects in a few days! I have been using it on my neck specifically at the back and sides where I have gotten these extremely deep and rough wrinkles. Its always embarrassed me that my skin is like this and Ive never been able to wear ponytails because its just too embarrassing to have my skin seen like this by others. Well, not anymore thanks to this cream! Now my neck area has made an incredible improvement, my deep wrinkles/creases have diminished incredibly and my double chin seems tighter/firmer and for a cream that I just recently started using- its improved my confidence so much already!" -Amazon Reviewer

SheFinds receives commissions for purchases made through the links in this post.

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4 Neck Creams Dermatologists Swear By To Get Rid Of Wrinkles And Sagging Skin - SheFinds

This was reprinted with permission from Joe Boggs, OSU

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) and wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) are two of our nastiest non-native weeds found in Ohio. Poison hemlock is one of the deadliest plants in North America. Wild parsnip can produce severe, painful blistering. Both are commonly found growing together.

Poison hemlock and wild parsnip are members of the carrot family, Apiaceae. The old name for the family was Umbelliferae which refers to the umbel flowers. They are a key family feature with short flower stalks rising from a common point like the ribs on an umbrella.

Poison hemlock produces white flowers on stalks that create a more rounded look; perhaps a bit more like an umbrella. Wild parsnip has intense yellow flowers with the stalks producing a more flat-topped appearance.

Both are biennial weeds meaning that it takes two years for plants to produce seed. The seeds currently being produced will give rise to plants that spend their first year as low-growing basal rosettes. The plants produce a long, thick taproot while in this stage.

During their second year, plants "bolt" by producing erect, towering stalks and multi-branched stems topped with umbel flowers. Mature wild parsnip plants may top 6' tall while poison hemlock plants can tower to as much as 8 - 10' tall. Both are prolific seed producers

Wild parsnip plants have leaves that look vaguely like celery, another member of the carrot family. Mature plants have a single, thick, deeply grooved, greenish-yellow stem that sprouts lateral branches topped with flowers.

All stages of poison hemlock plants have bluish-green leaves that are 3-4 times pinnately compound. The deeply cut parsley-like leaflets have sharp points. Flowering plants have hairless, light-green to bluish-green stems that are covered with obvious reddish-purple blotches. However, the blotches may occasionally coalesce to cause stems to appear an almost solid color.

What are the Risks?

Poison hemlock plants contain highly toxic piperidine alkaloid compounds which cause respiratory failure and death in mammals. The roots are more toxic than the leaves and stems; however, all parts of the plant including the seeds should be considered dangerous.

The toxins must be ingested or enter through the eyes or nasal passages to induce poisoning; they do not cause skin rashes or blistering. Regardless, this plant should not be handled because sap on the skin can be rubbed into the eyes or accidentally ingested while handling food.

Wild parsnip sap contains psoralen which presents a completely different mode of action compared to the piperidine alkaloids in poison hemlock sap. Psoralen acts as a photosensitizing compound by inhibiting DNA synthesis in epidermal cells which kills these light-shielding cells responsible for protecting us from long-wave ultraviolet radiation (LWUVR) bombarding us in sunlight.

Severe blistering occurs when affected skin is exposed to LWUVR. The synergistic effect is called phytophotodermatitis (a.k.a. Berloque dermatitis) and the burn-like symptoms, as well as skin discoloration, may last for several months.

However, connecting skin blistering to exposure to wild parsnip sap can be a challenge. It takes around 24 hours for symptoms to first appear after exposure to LWURV and severe blistering typically doesn't peak until 48 -72 hours. The time required for symptoms to appear after exposure to the sap means the effect may be disconnected from the cause.

Another challenge with connecting the dots is that wild parsnip commonly grows in and around other weeds, particularly poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). Gardeners who are exposed to wild parsnip sap while weeding a mixed-patch may mistakenly blame the poison hemlock for their ultimate misery.

To Mow, or Not to Mow

The potential for poisonings from poison hemlock sap and the extreme skin reaction to the wild parsnip sap means these non-native invasive weeds should not be allowed to grow where they can be easily contacted by people. However, mechanical control through mowing, weed trimming, or hand-pulling is problematic. Certainly, wild parsnip presents a much higher risk with reports of sap spattered by mowers and string trimmers producing phytophotodermatitis on exposed arms and legs of equipment operators.

Still, mowing provides one option for managing poison hemlock and to a lesser degree wild parsnip. However, timing is everything: plants should be mowed in the spring once they've bolted but prior to the appearance of flowers. Waiting until after flowering presents a risk the cut flowers will still mature to seed.

Chemical Control: Case Study

A strong case can be made for herbicides providing the most effective and safest approach to managing both poison hemlock and wild parsnip.

Wild parsnip and poison hemlock are both susceptible to non-selective post-emergent herbicides such as glyphosate (e.g. Roundup). However, "non-selective" means all plants - both good and bad - may be killed and there is a considerable downside to killing the competition as well as the targeted weeds.

Post-emergent herbicides do not affect seeds. Thus, "herbicidal openings" that occur when all plants are killed provide the perfect opportunity for more wild parsnip and/or poison hemlock to spring forth from previously deposited seed. Thus, it's important to have a plan for establishing competitive plants after the wild parsnip dies off such as over-seeding with grasses.

Selective post-emergent herbicides that will preserve competitive plants, particularly grasses, while removing poison hemlock and wild parsnip include 2, 4-D, clorpyralid (e.g. Transline), metsulfuron (e.g. Escort XP), and some 2 and 3-way products such as Triamine (2,4-D + MCPA). However, timing is equally important. Apply after the spring emergence of the targeted weeds but before flowering.

For more information, contact the Pulaski County Extension Service at 606-679-6361. Learn about timely events or things to do in your home gardens by becoming a fan of Pulaski County Horticulture on Facebook, or following @hortagentbeth on Twitter, kyplants on Instagram, and Pulaski County Horticulture YouTube channel.

The Pulaski Co Extension office is open to the public by appointment only through the month of June. Extension employees are still on the job and can be reached via office phone. Read the entire directive on the Pulaski County Cooperative Extension website at pulaski.ca.uky.edu.

The Lake Cumberland Master Gardeners are temporarily out of pine straw. Another load will be coming soon.

Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

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Poison hemlock and wild parsnip, A couple of bad actors - Commonwealth Journal's History

When Eoin OBrien found out he had a rare form of cancer, he was told he would have died within a week had he not gone to hospital.

Now, five years on, the dad of four is remarkably free of the disease.

Eoins life changed in May 2015 when he went to A&E with chest pains.

He was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, which causes abnormal growth of cells in the lymphatic system.

Due to fluid build-up, Eoins heart would have suffocated within days had he not been treated.

And after half a decade of pain and suffering, he is finally in remission.

The news came on his wife Karens birthday, making it all the more special for the pair and their daughters Sophie, 13, Abbie, 11, Maddie, eight, and three-year-old Emelie.

Karen said: To say that that was the best news ever would be an understatement, I would rather be told that 10 times over than even win the lotto.

Eoin was only 31 when he was diagnosed following a hospital visit after he started getting pains in his chest.

Doctors drained three-and-a-half litres of fluid from his chest and found a tumour between his lungs and heart.

After his first round of chemo didnt work, Eoin found a lump on his neck.

He was started on a higher dose of chemo which was, in his wife Karens opinion, the hardest one on him.

She explained: Eoin got the moon-face, he got the cancer look. Darkness under the skin of his eyes and that.

The pair hoped this treatment was working but were disappointed again when doctors told them it hadnt.

Two years later in 2017, when Karen was pregnant with Emelie, Eoin still wasnt responding to treatments.

He was due to go into hospital after his daughter was born for a planned stem cell transplant which was later cancelled.

The pair fought to get Eoin immunotherapy, which slowed down but didnt cure his cancer.

In 2019, he was told he could get an allogeneic stem cell transplant from a donor. Karen explained: So on the 6th of November, which we now class as Eoins re-birthday, he was given the transplant and he became so, so bad.

Eoin was at the stage where he wanted to give up. He didnt want to live anymore, he didnt want to go through it anymore.

Results of a scan in February had alarming results which left the two terrified the cancer had spread.

Thankfully, it was only an infection.

Eoin was hospitalised for six weeks and due to the coronavirus, wasnt allowed outside or to have visitors.

In May, the pair were given the news his transplant worked.

Karen said: Theres been a lot of ups and a lot of downs but were finally out the other side, so hopefully we can look forward to many, many years cancer-free.

Originally posted here:
Irish dad with rare form of cancer would have died within a week if he didn't go to hospital - Irish Mirror

Vitamin C Face Serum Triple Strength Anti Aging, Wrinkle & Brightening Facial Care Antioxidant Rich, Hydrating, Softening & Even Skin Tone Treatment Made With Niacinamide & Glycolic Acid 1 oz Price, Features and Real Customers Reviews.

Check The Updated Price of Vitamin C Face Serum Triple Strength Anti Aging, Wrinkle & Brightening Facial Care Antioxidant Rich, Hydrating, Softening & Even Skin Tone Treatment Made With Niacinamide & Glycolic Acid 1 oz:

Price: Check Price on Amazon

Top Features of Vitamin C Face Serum Triple Strength Anti Aging, Wrinkle & Brightening Facial Care Antioxidant Rich, Hydrating, Softening & Even Skin Tone Treatment Made With Niacinamide & Glycolic Acid 1 oz Are:

3 POWERFUL FORMS OF VITAMIN C Our Triple Strength facial serum incorporates three powerful forms of Vitamin C to effectively address aging concerns within multiple layers of the skin, while reducing signs of aging. Our anti aging serum also leverages the power of Glycolic Acid to boost cell turnover and exfoliating dulling skin cells, allowing for enhanced absorption of the active ingredients into the skin.ANTI AGING FACE SERUM The 3 advanced forms of Vitamin C in our anti wrinkle serum effectively addresses aging concerns. Enhanced with Glycolic Acid, Niacinamide and NASA Stem Cell Technology, our hydrating serum targets the appearance of deep wrinkles while renewing, brightening and softening the skin for a smooth and even complexion.HEALTHIER SKIN COMPLEXION Our brightening serum defends against external aggressors, supporting overall skin barrier strength. This anti aging skin care treatment leverages Niacinamide and Glucosamine to support skin strength and improve moisture. These benefits further support a reduction in the look of wrinkles and improves radiance, while brightening the look of skin.PERFECT FOR ALL SKIN TYPES Our vitamin c facial serum works great for men, women and all skin types including normal, dry, oily or combination. Its great for naturally treating anti aging skin concerns, deep wrinkles and mature skin! On cleansed & toned skin, apply a dime sized amount of the serum in light, upward motions. For best results, we recommend applying at night & following with your favorite moisturizer. Daily application of an SPF is strongly encouraged while using this product.100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE InstaNatural products are developed and manufactured in registered, GMP compliant facilities in the USA. Every product is free from parabens, sls/sles, mineral oil, formaldehyde releasers, synthetic dyes, petroleum, polyethylene glycol (PEGs), DEA/MEA/TEA, and unsafe preservatives. We are Leaping Bunny Certified meaning we do not test our products on animals at any stage in product development. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Verified Customers Reviews of Vitamin C Face Serum Triple Strength Anti Aging, Wrinkle & Brightening Facial Care Antioxidant Rich, Hydrating, Softening & Even Skin Tone Treatment Made With Niacinamide & Glycolic Acid 1 oz:

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Vitamin C Face Serum - Triple Strength Anti Aging, Wrinkle & Brightening Facial Care - Antioxidant Rich, Hydrating, Softening & Even Skin Tone...

Trusted Business Insights answers what are the scenarios for growth and recovery and whether there will be any lasting structural impact from the unfolding crisis for the Skin Toner market.

Trusted Business Insights presents an updated and Latest Study on Skin Toner Market 2019-2026. The report contains market predictions related to market size, revenue, production, CAGR, Consumption, gross margin, price, and other substantial factors. While emphasizing the key driving and restraining forces for this market, the report also offers a complete study of the future trends and developments of the market.The report further elaborates on the micro and macroeconomic aspects including the socio-political landscape that is anticipated to shape the demand of the Skin Toner market during the forecast period (2019-2029).It also examines the role of the leading market players involved in the industry including their corporate overview, financial summary, and SWOT analysis.

Get Sample Copy of this Report @ Global Skin Toner Market 2020 (Includes Business Impact of COVID-19)

Global Skin Toner Market, Trends, Industry Analysis, Market Size, and Growth Forecast till 2029 is an upcoming report in the process of preparation by the research and analysis team at Trusted Business Insights. The global skin toner market report is structured to deliver insightful details on the various market trends, industry analysis, growth and potential revenue opportunities, and micro and macro indicators. The report has been generated using exhaustive primary and secondary research efforts. The global skin toner market report includes a market competitive landscape, market revenue (US$) and value share (%), market growth, characteristics, regional breakdowns, trends, and market strategies. The report also delivers a full analysis of competitors and key players. The report offers information on market restraints, limitations, and market scenarios, which can impact market growth. In the report, the market is segmented on the basis of product type, product form, distribution channel, and regions and countries.

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Skin Toner: Introduction

Among cosmetics products, skin toner or toner, is usually used on the face, and is considered a product that is designed to cleanse the skin and reduce pore size and appearance. Skin toner can be applied using a piece of cotton (a commonly used method), spraying onto the face, or by applying a toner gauze facial mask. A toner, enhances skin surface and imparts a fresh and smoother texture, and keeps the skin hydrated. Toner is a popular beauty product among women consumers, and use of the product has been increasing in the recent past.

Global Skin Toner Market: Dynamics

Drivers: Revenue growth of the global skin toner market is driven by growing awareness about skincare products and ability of some products to rejuvenate and repair damaged or aging cells and tissue. Taking care of skin and hair health and shifting to a healthy lifestyle is a popularly growing trend among millennial consumers in countries across the globe. Toner can alleviate incidence of acne and oily skin-related issues. A variety of skin toners are available in the market, and some have unique properties. Products have been developed and formulated to suit specific skin-related issues, while others are for general use and application. Consumers with dry skin are recommended to use rosewater-based skin toner for improved skin hydration. A current preference among consumers is rising towards plant stem cell-based skin toners, which contain antioxidants and offer anti-aging benefits.

Many cosmetic product manufacturers are increasing investments on the R&D to develop and formulate more ranges of natural or organic beauty products. Awareness among end-users is increasing regarding benefits associated with use of natural ingredients such as coconut oil, almonds, aloe vera, and others. Consumer preference for natural skin toners is based on ingredients source, and is currently among some of the factors that could influence purchase decision.

By Product Type:

The inorganic segment currently accounts for higher revenue share in the market as market penetration, awareness, and product visibility of organic-based products is relatively low, especially in some developing economies. However, rising concerns regarding potential adverse effects associated with skin creams and lotions that contain chemical or synthetic ingredients and formulations is expected to negatively impact revenue growth of the inorganic segment over the next few years.

By Product Form:

Among the product form segments, the fluid segment is projected to continue to lead in terms of revenue share, as this type of product is easier to apply and more convenient to use.

By Distribution Channel:

Among the distribution channel segments in the global skin toner market report, the conventional stores segment as well as the supermarket segment are expected to account for significantly high revenue growth over the forecast period.

However, revenue from the online channel segment is projected to expand at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. This high projected growth can be attributed to convenience of shopping anytime-anywhere, and high visibility on e-Commerce platforms, as well as free and prompt home delivery and discount offers available online. Social media platforms and influencers using such channels to influence purchase potential, and a number of beauty bloggers or vloggers providing tips on usage and a broader understanding of toners and features, which makes purchasing beauty products is driving market growth. Online channels provide access to a larger product range, some of which might not be accessible in a conventional store.

By Region

The market in North America is expected to account for significant revenue growth. Followed by markets in Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa respectively.

Analysis by Region: Global Skin Toner Market

North America Market Analysis:

North American market growth is driven significantly by revenue contribution from sales in countries such as the US and Canada.

Europe Market Analysis:

Europe is a major market for skin toner owing to significantly high awareness regarding benefits of skincare. Many premium skin toner brands are France-based, and countries in Europe experience long and cold winters, which are major factors driving demand for cold creams, lotions, and other products designed for cleansing and nourishing the skin.

Asia Pacific Market Analysis

Asia Pacific market is projected to register fastest CAGR over the forecast period, which can be attributed to growing population in countries in the region, and expanding younger potential consumer base in counties in the region. These factors, clubbed with increasing consumer base that is focused on health and wellness, as well as personal appearance resulting in a more streamlined beauty regimen, along with increasing need for beauty and skincare products among consumers is projected to continue to drive market growth. Furthermore, launch of new products in countries in the region is expected to open up new avenues for existing players in the skin toner market in Asia Pacific.

Global Skin Toner Market Segmentation:

Segmentation by Product Type:

OrganicInorganic

Segmentation by Product Form:

FluidsMists

Segmentation by Distribution Channel:

SupermarketsConventional StoresOnline

Quick Read Table of Contents of this Report @ Global Skin Toner Market 2020 (Includes Business Impact of COVID-19)

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Skin Toner Market 2020: Analysis Of Sales, Overview, Segmentation And Growth Rate To 2027 - 3rd Watch News