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Citius Announces Pre-IND Submission to FDA Under the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program for a Novel Stem Cell Therapy for Acute Respiratory…

CRANFORD, N.J., April 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Citius" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTXR), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing critical care drug products, today announced that it submitted a pre-IND meeting request and supporting briefing documents to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research ("CBER") of the FDA under the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) on April 24. The Company has requested the Division's feedback to support the most expeditious pathway into the clinic to evaluate a novel cell therapy in patients suffering from COVID-19-related ARDS.

The cells, called NoveCite Cells or NC-MSCs, are made by Novellus, Inc. ("Novellus"), a Cambridge-based biotechnology company, using its patented mRNA-based cell-reprogramming process. NC-MSCs are mesenchymal stem cells derived from a single donor's fibroblasts that have been dedifferentiated into an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) master cell bank, thereby avoiding the need to source additional donor cells. The iPSCs are then further differentiated into a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy. Citius and Novellus plan to develop NC-MSCs for the treatment of ARDS, and last month the companies signed an exclusive option agreement.

The Company plans a multi-center randomized placebo-controlled dose-finding study followed by an expansion phase to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of NC-MSCs in patients with moderate to severe ARDS due to COVID-19. The proposed trial, a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial, is titled "A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Dose-Finding Study Followed by a Dose Level Expansion to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of NoveCite MSCs in Subjects with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Due to SARS-CoV-2 Disease (COVID-19)," or "MARCO". The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate the safety and efficacy of NoveCite cells as a treatment for subjects with moderate-to-severe ARDS due to COVID-19 and to identify therapeutic doses.

"MSCs have an established track-record of clinical safety, and have shown promise in the treatment of inflammatory lung disease," said Matt Angel, PhD, co-founder and Chief Science Officer at Novellus, Inc. "Our research has shown that the NoveCite cells, being derived from mRNA-reprogrammed iPSCs, secrete higher levels of immunomodulatory proteins than donor-derived MSCs, and have unique manufacturing advantages."

"We believe we have the key elements in place from a clinical design and manufacturing point of view to evaluate this novel cell therapy approach to deal with the current pandemic," said Myron Holubiak, Chief Executive Officer of Citius. "ARDS is a very serious complication for many patients suffering from COVID-19, and is believed to account for about 80% of the deaths in ventilated patients. There is no proven or FDA-approved treatment for it, other than oxygen therapy, including use of mechanical ventilation, and fluid management. Literature from previous investigational studies with MSCs in the treatment of lung injuries support the idea that MSCs could prove effective in treating COVID-19-related ARDS. We look forward to our FDA discussions and are excited to be at the cusp of what could be a novel and effective therapy for ARDS."

About Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)ARDS is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. ARDS is a rapidly progressive disease that occurs in critically ill patients most notably now in those diagnosed with COVID-19. ARDS affects approximately 200,000 patients per year in the U.S., exclusive of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and has a 30% to 50% mortality rate. ARDS is sometimes initially diagnosed as pneumonia or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs from heart disease). Symptoms of ARDS include shortness of breath, rapid breathing and heart rate, chest pain (particularly while inhaling), and bluish skin coloration. Among those who survive ARDS, a decreased quality of life is relatively common.

About Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP)In response to the pandemic, the FDA has created an emergency program called the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) to accelerate the development of treatments for COVID-19. By redeploying staff, the FDA is responding to COVID-19-related requests and reviewing protocols within 24 hours of receipt. The FDA said CTAP "uses every available method to move new treatments to patients as quickly as possible, while at the same time finding out whether they are helpful or harmful." In practice, that means developers of potential treatments for COVID-19 will benefit from an unusually faster track at the FDA to shorten wait times at multiple steps of the process.

About Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Citius is a late-stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of critical care products, with a focus on anti-infectives and cancer care. For more information, please visit http://www.citiuspharma.com.

About Novellus, Inc.Novellus is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company developing engineered cellular medicines using its non-immunogenic mRNA, nucleic-acid delivery, gene editing, and cell reprogramming technologies. Novellus is privately held and is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. For more information, please visit http://www.novellus-inc.com.

Safe HarborThis press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition, and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: the risk of successfully negotiating a license agreement with Novellus within the option period; our need for substantial additional funds; the ability to access the FDA's CTAP program for the MARCO trial; the estimated markets for our product candidates, including those for ARDS, and the acceptance thereof by any market; risks associated with conducting trials for our product candidates, including those expected to be required for any treatment for ARDS and our Phase III trial for Mino-Lok; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; risks associated with developing our product candidates, including any licensed from Novellus, including that preclinical results may not be predictive of clinical results and our ability to file an IND for such candidates; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; the early stage of products under development; risks related to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under, and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; our ability to identify, acquire, close, and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Contact:Andrew ScottVice President, Corporate Development(O) 908-967-6677 x105 [emailprotected]

SOURCE Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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Citius Announces Pre-IND Submission to FDA Under the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program for a Novel Stem Cell Therapy for Acute Respiratory...

Clariant taps natural sponges and apple trees for new beauty ingredients – Cosmetics Business

By Sarah Parsons 28-Apr-2020

Hair Care | Ingredients | Skin Care

The Swiss-led speciality chemicals manufacturer Clariant Active Ingredients has developed two new plant-based ingredients

Speciality chemicals giant Clariant has unveiled its latest beauty ingredients.

This week, the Swiss-led company launched two new plant-based ingredients for skin and hair.

Clariant Active Ingredients, Clariant's beauty business unit, released Rootness Energize, an extract of Luffa cylindrica, otherwise known as Egyptian cucumber, and can also be used as a natural cleaning sponge.

Developed for the skin, Claraint claims that sustainably-sourced Rootness Energize is rich in bryonolic acid, and can increase energy production in skin cells and stimulate ATP production.

"In turn, Rootness Energize visibly increases skin elasticity and reduces age-related lack of tonicity and firmness appealing factors for products such as firming creams, skin elasticity boosters and revitalising care products for well-aging skin care," explained the company.

Reported visible results include more than a 20% increase in firmness, tonicity and elasticity with 1% Rootness Energize.

For the hair, Clariant Active Ingredients has developed EquiScalp to target tightness, extreme dryness, itchiness and redness.

Based on stem cells from the Central Asian Malus domestica apple tree, according to the firm, the ingredient protects the scalp as it maintains the level of healthy bacteria.

Malus domestica is said to contain concentrated phloridzin, which can control inflammation as well as sebum overproduction.

Clariant Active Ingredients recommends EquiScalp for oily scalp treatments, sensitive scalp formulas and scalp itch erasers.

Alexandre Lapeyre, Global Head of Marketing, Clariant Active Ingredients, described EquiScalp and Rootness Energize as examples of using technology to develop sustainable ingredients.

"We apply science to nature to create potent actives effective at addressing very specific beauty needs, each one underpinned by plant resources preservation, traceability, no exploitation of cultural land and ecological cultivation," Lapeyre said.

"In doing so, we help cosmetic formulators support consumers requests for scientifically-proven and sustainably-sourced plant derived ingredients.

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Clariant taps natural sponges and apple trees for new beauty ingredients - Cosmetics Business

‘A key pillar of the future’: Givaudan tips growth for ingredients developed with green biotech – CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com

Mathais Fleury, Givaudans global category manager of biotech actives, told CosmeticsDesign-Asia that leveraging on green biotechnology would allow companies to find solutions to consumers desire for products that are natural, sustainable and high-performing.

Green Biotech truly is a key pillar of the future. Consumers are looking for more naturality while protecting nature a difficult challenge, made possible by biotech along with a high level of innovation, said Fleury.

Most recently, the Swiss company collaborated with South Korean biotech company BIO-FD&C to tackle two frustrating beauty concerns by leveraging on green biotechnology.

It recently unveiled two actives, K-phyto [SC] Camellia and K-phyto [PP] GHK, which were developed to address dry scalp and oily skin respectively.

This exclusive partnership with Bio FD&C leverages the untapped power of plants through stem cell cultures and unique phytopeptides. It allows our experts to offer innovative natural and reliable solutions for hair and skin care issues such as dry scalp and oily skin, while protecting our planet, said Fleury.

K-phyto [SC] Camellia is an ingredient obtained from camellia phytoplacenta cells culture.

According to the company, the active can increase the scalp moisture content by 13.8%. This reinforces the epidermal cohesion of the scalp keratinocytes and reduces dry flakes and dandruff down by 33.6%.

It also was observed soothe the scalp by being able to reduce erythema down 6.6%.

According to Givaudan, having botanical claims with popular ingredients such as camellia, more commonly known as Tsubaki in the region, can drive hair care product launches by 70% in APAC.

The second ingredient, K-phyto [PP] GHK, is a molecule that combines botanicals and peptides to act on the mechanisms of sebum production.

Clinical studies have shown facial sebum production reduction by 35.5% in two weeks and 67.5% in one month.

Oily skin is a major claim requested by the market, specifically in APAC. Clinical results with the phytopeptide we've chosen to bring to market are outstanding and we definitely believe this could be a game changer, said Fluery.

The Swiss firm believes that the two actives showed a lot of promise for the global market.

Our partner was already doing a very good job in its local market, but we want to leverage our access to different places over the world to highlight its expertise and know-how. This collaboration is a real opportunity to bring innovative ingredients to consumers globally, and that's why we'll offer these products to our partners all over the world, said Fleury.

Additionally, these ingredients are aligned with the ideals of clean beauty, one of the most talked-about trends in the beauty market right now.

The two technologies that we've identified in Bio FD&C portfolio are a perfect answer to this need of clean beauty combined with performance, said Fluery.

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'A key pillar of the future': Givaudan tips growth for ingredients developed with green biotech - CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com

COVIDs devastation on the body includes the skin – Philippine Star

As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 surges past 2.5 million globally with deaths at 177,115 (as of April 22), clinicians and pathologists are struggling to understand the damage its wrought. They realize that although the lungs are ground zero, its reach can extend to many organs: Its viciousness is breathtaking and humbling.

When an infected person expels virus-laden droplets and someone else inhales them, this coronavirus enters the nose and throat. It finds a welcome home in the lining inside the nose. Cells there are rich in a surface receptor (pandikit) called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which the virus requires to enter the cell. Once inside, the virus hijacks the cells reproductive machinery, making myriad copies of itself and invading new cells.

A virus can copy anything it wants and can even make itself comfortably adapt to the environment where it chooses to stay while killing the normal cells of your body.

As it multiplies, an infected person may shed copious amounts of it, especially during the first week or so. Symptoms may be absent or the infected may develop fever, dry cough, sore throat, loss of smell and taste, or head and body aches.

Photo from dermatologyadvisor.com

If the immune system does not fight back, the virus then marches down the windpipe to attack the lungs, where it can turn deadly. This is because the thinner, distant branches of the lungs respiratory tree end in tiny air sacs called alveoli, which are also rich in ACE2 receptors. The virus can attach itself again and wreak havoc.

Normally, oxygen crosses the air sacs into the capillaries, tiny blood vessels that lie beside them. The oxygen is then carried to the rest of the body. COVID infection disrupts this healthy oxygen transfer. The front liners of our immune system, white blood cells, release inflammatory molecules called chemokines that summon more immune cells to target and kill virus-infected cells, leaving a stew of fluid and dead cells pus behind. This results in pneumonia: coughing, fever and rapid, shallow breathing.

Some COVID-19 patients recover, sometimes with no support other than oxygen. But others deteriorate, often suddenly, developing a condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The oxygen levels in their blood plummet and they struggle even harder to breathe. On X-rays and computed tomography scans, their lungs are riddled with white opacities (areas without air). Commonly, these patients end up on ventilators. Many die. Autopsies show their alveoli became stuffed with fluid, white blood cells, mucus and the detritus of destroyed lung cells.

The invaders impact does not end there. The bodys response to destroy it can injure even more organs. Clinicians suspect that the driving force in many gravely ill patients downhill trajectories is a disastrous overreaction of the immune system, or cytokine storm.

Cytokines are chemical signaling molecules that guide a healthy immune response, but in a cytokine storm, levels of certain cytokines soar far beyond whats needed, and immune cells start to attack healthy tissues. Blood vessels leak, blood pressure drops, clots form and catastrophic organ failure can ensue.

Cardiovascular damage occurs.Kidneys, liver, blood vessels, the skin and brain are affected as well.Blood clots can break apart and land in the lungs, blocking vital arteries a condition known as pulmonary embolism that can kill COVID-19 patients.

Brain incursion via the nose can reach the olfactory bulb, inducing loss of smell. Clots from arteries can also lodge in the brain, causing a stroke.

Some people with COVID-19 briefly lose consciousness. Doctors wonder whether in some cases, infection depresses the brain stem reflex that senses oxygen starvation, which explains why some patients are not gasping for air, despite dangerously low blood oxygen levels.

COVID-19 can also infect the lining of the lower digestive tract, where ACE2 receptors are abundant. Viral RNA has been found in as many as 53 percent of patients stool samples, raising the unsettling possibility that it could be passed on through feces. As of this writing, theres no evidence that fecal transmission can occur.

Others develop conjunctivitis pink, watery eyes, others had elevated levels of enzymes indicating injury to the liver or bile ducts.But this may also be due to drugs or an over-driven immune system.

Lastly, cutaneous or skin manifestations have been reported in COVID-19 patients:

Generalized sporadic red rasherupting along the trunk or extremities that are typically transient and resolve on their own. They may be very itchy. Sometimes this can be confused with dengue.

Petechiae.Pinpoint bleeding underneath the skin that does not disappear when pressure is applied.

Generalized urticaria are wheal-like rashes that can coalesce together to form large plaques.

Vesicular eruptionmimicking varicella (chicken pox) blisters.

Vasculopathic presentations. Frostbite-like lesions on the feet and hands multifocal, often asymmetric patches manifest in two to three days. It then evolves to the formation of blisters, to bruises or necrosis (black, dead skin).Sometimes they appear as red, purplish bumps on the feet and hands that evolve into hemorrhagic bullae, or develop a blackish crust due to damage to the lining of the blood vessels, leading to clots that block blood vessels. These can lead to ulcer or gangrene formation, and death.

Acute hemorrhagic edema in infants.Sudden swelling of limbs with patches of bruises in a well-appearing child, before the rash dissipates in 48 hours along with the swelling.

Erythematouslarge patches scattered all over the body that may be slightly itchy.

Localized extreme pruritus,like in the wrist or ankle areas only.

This map of the devastation that COVID-19 can inflict on the body is still just a sketch. It will take years of painstaking research to sharpen the picture of its reach.

* * *

For inquiries, call 8401-8411 or 0917-497-6261, 0999-883-4802 or email gc_beltran@yahoo.com. Follow me on facebook@dragracebeltran.

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COVIDs devastation on the body includes the skin - Philippine Star

Cosmetic Skin Care Market to see impressive Growth by 2027| Leading Companies- L’Oral, Unilever, Espa, Kao, Johnson & Johnson – Cole of Duty

Cosmetic Skin CareMarketBusiness Insights and Updates:

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Global cosmetic skin care market is set to witness a substantial CAGR of 5.5% in the forecast period of 2019- 2026.

Cosmetic skin care is a variety of products which are used to improve the skins appearance and alleviate skin conditions. It consists different products such as anti- aging cosmetic products, sensitive skin care products, anti- scar solution products, warts removal products, infant skin care products and other. They contain various ingredients which are beneficial for the skin such as phytochemicals, vitamins, essential oils, and other. Their main function is to make the skin healthy and repair the skin damages.Get PDF Samplecopy(including TOC, Tables, and Figures) @https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-cosmetic-skin-care-market

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Cosmetic Skin Care Market to see impressive Growth by 2027| Leading Companies- L'Oral, Unilever, Espa, Kao, Johnson & Johnson - Cole of Duty

New type of immune cell discovered in breast ducts – Mirage News

(L-R) Professor Geoff Lindeman and Professor Jane Visvader

are joint heads of the Institutes ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer

Division.

Using advanced three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques, the team observed how the immune cells monitor for threats in the mammary ducts and help to maintain tissue health by eating up dying milk-producing cells needing to be cleared away once lactation stops.

The preclinical research was led by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers Dr Caleb Dawson, Professor Geoff Lindeman and Professor Jane Visvader, along with Dr Anne Rios who is now based at the Princess Mxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Netherlands. It was published today in the journal Nature Cell Biology.

Institute breast cancer researcher Dr Caleb Dawson.

The mammary gland is a dynamic organ that undergoes dramatic remodelling throughout life. The branching ducts bloom to form milk-producing factories in lactation, which must be eliminated once lactation stops. Mammary ducts are of particular interest to breast cancer researchers because this site is prone to cancer development.

While exploring mammary ducts using high-resolution imaging techniques, Dr Dawson said the researchers were surprised to discover a new immune cell type, and its specific role in maintaining healthy, intact breast tissue.

We discovered an entirely new population of specialised immune cells, which we named ductal macrophages, squeezed in between two layers of the mammary duct wall.

We were excited to find that these cells play an essential role at a pivotal point in mammary gland function called involution when lactation stops, milk-producing cells die and breast tissue needs to remodel back to its original state, he said.

We watched incredulously as the star-shaped ductal macrophages probed with their arms and ate away at dying cells. The clearing action performed by ductal macrophages helps redundant milk-producing structures to collapse, allowing them to successfully return to a resting state, Dr Dawson said.

When the researchers later removed ductal macrophages from the mammary ducts they discovered that no other immune cells were able to swiftly carry out this essential process.

Most organs in the body including the brain, liver, lung, skin and intestine have their own population of macrophages a name of Greek origin that means big eater. These cells play important roles in regulating infection, inflammation and organ function within their sites of residence.

Professor Visvader said discovering mammary duct-specific macrophages was a remarkable step forward in understanding how the immune system interacted with the ductal network and impacted upon mammary gland development.

As breast cancer researchers, there is a need to understand which cells are doing what, so that we can identify how these intricate cellular processes become dysregulated, such as in the case of breast cancers, she said.

More than 19,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. It is the most common cancer in Australian women.

Dr Dawson said that going forward, the team hoped to explore the function of ductal macrophages at different stages of mammary gland development, such as the transitions into adulthood and pregnancy.

We also want investigate the role that these duct-specific immune cells play in helping cancer to grow and spread.

Ductal macrophages are spread throughout the mammary ducts. As cancer grows, these macrophages also increase in number. We suspect that theres the potential for ductal macrophages to inadvertently dampen the bodys immune response, which would have dangerous implications for the growth and spread of cancer in these already prone sites, Dr Dawson said.

Professor Visvader said the teams ultimate goal was to understand these cells enough to manipulate them.

Given that tumour macrophages likely promote growth of the tumour, blocking their activity could serve as a treatment strategy for breast cancer, she said.

The research was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, The Qualtrough Cancer Research Fund, Cure Cancer Australia and the Victorian Government.

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New type of immune cell discovered in breast ducts - Mirage News

Stem Cell Restore Helps Regain Youthful Strength And Energy – ZOBUZ – Zobuz

Stem Cell Restore is a formula that works toward improving your health on a cellular level to decrease age-related weakness and fatigue. This product employs natural ingredients for reaching its goals such as resveratrol, black current cocktail, icariin, and grape seed.

Multiple research works from renowned universities back the approach that this product takes. The best part is that it makes you feel stronger, younger, more refreshed, and more energetic without requiring you to get injected with needles. A simple and convenient solution. Another anti-aging plus weight loss supplement that you can opt for is Resurge. This is a new formula by John Barban. Interested folks can learn more about Resurge customer reviews on USAToday.

Stem Cell Restore Review

Aging is the only thing in your life that is bound to happen. Unfortunately, it is not the best experience. Sure, it gives you wisdom, but those wrinkles, that weakness, declining energy levels all these negative factors completely loot the good things. After all, no one likes to wake up in the morning to feel down and weak. No one likes it when it their joints ache or when they look in the mirror to see a dull reflection.

This brings us to possible solutions that you can go for. One of these is Stem Cell Restore. This is a potent dietary supplement that has been made using natural ingredients. The product is backed by science which is what marks it as reliable. Since it comes in the form of capsules, it can be a convenient addition to your routine. Hence, if you are on the lookout for an age-reversing formula, this is one that you can invest in.

Why Choose This Product?

Around the globe, women and men alike are waiting for a magical solution for saving themselves from accelerated aging. There certainly are many options available out there. However, most of these are not worth it. Why? Because they come with negative side effects. Not to mention, these so-called techniques for erasing the effects of aging are all supremely painful. They involve countless injections or an elaborate surgery.

Would you like to still go for these youth preserving tactics? Surely, youre at the very least hesitant. If you decide to go ahead nevertheless, know that the procedures are expensive. They cost hundreds of dollars and still, they are unnatural and eventually make your skin sag. This is where Stem Cell Restore comes into the picture and steals the limelight. The dietary supplement is based on the concept of stem cell surgery.

However, it has three favorable points that win over any surgery. First of all, it doesnt cost as much. In fact, you get to become youthful, energetic, and strong all with a solution that is less than $100. Secondly, the product happens to be completely natural. It doesnt contain any harmful components such as chemicals, additives, preservatives, and the like. This translates to safe usage. Lastly, theres no needles involved; you are just supposed to take the pills regularly.

Working Of This Product

Stem Cell Restore taps into the idea of repairing cells and rejuvenating them. By doing so, it is able to refresh your health completely. All your parts from tendons and joints to your heart and kidneys are able to function better as a result. Old cells are repaired at a fast rate and new ones are created. This makes you feel fresher, and more active. Its not uncommon of people to experience bodily aches and fatigue after crossing 30 years of age.

This product is a suitable solution for everyone. It gets to the core of preserving youth and improves health. Moreover, it also tackles the issue of inflammation which is what disturbs health in numerous ways. Unlike mainstream products, your skin is not the only organ that benefits. In fact, your entire body experiences the effects. To reach its goals, the formula employs only natural ingredients which are effective at their job. As mentioned above, Resurge is another formula for deep sleep and anti-aging. It comes with a money-back guarantee. You can check out more Resurge reviews on Yahoo Finance before deciding which one to buy among the two.

Ingredients Of This Product

Stem Cell Restore has an entirely natural composition. It doesnt comprise of any such ingredients which can have damaging effects in the short- or long-run. The product is a winner mainly because of this. No additives, fillers or other such harmful components are present in the formula. Since all the ingredients are completely organic you dont have to worry about any negative side effects of use. Lets take a look at the ingredients:

Pricing Of The Product

Did you know that you can get this product for absolutely free? Yes, thats true. For a trial period, the dietary supplement is entirely free of cost. You just have to pay for shipping and handling which just requires $9.95 from your wallet. The trail period lasts for 30 days.

If the product satisfies you, its yours and automatically charges are deducted from your account or card. Thats simple and gives you a chance to see whether or not this supplement actually works. There are also three bonus products that tag along with this supplement. These come for free as well. Heres a list of the bonus product that accompany:

Verdict

Stem Cell Restore is a great product for maintaining youthful energy and strength. The product is great for recovering from the pain and fatigue that usually occurs after the age of 30. This formula repairs and encourages the production of cells through the body. In this way, it improves each organs functionality and hence, overall health. You can know more about this dietary supplement by visiting its website online.

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Stem Cell Restore Helps Regain Youthful Strength And Energy - ZOBUZ - Zobuz

Breakouts: Why is my skin worse during the coronavirus pandemic? – Express

The coronavirus crisis is affecting every aspect of our lives, including the condition of our skin. Have you noticed that your skin is particularly spotty, irritated and angry lately? That's another thing you can blame on COVID-19.

Express.co.ukspoke to Dr. Luca Russo, Dermatologist at Urban Retreat, to find out why.Dr. Russo says there are several reasons for your unexpected breakouts.He said: "There might be several reasons for noticing a tendency to break out during this national emergency."It's probably to do with what's going on inside, and what you're putting in your body, says Dr. Russo.

READ MORE- Coronavirus symptoms: Man reveals skin-related warning sign

Are you up all night worrying about the virus?Dr. Russo says: "The most likely cause of your breakout is stress."During such uncertain and stressful times, our system copes with increased production of Cortisol."Cortisol is an androgen hormone that is released when we are facing unusual challenges and prepare us to "fight'."However, it will also increase the sugar level in the bloodstream and production of sebum that might be a cause of the breakout."

In order to prevent breakouts that stem from high levels of stress, you'll need to calm yourself down.Dr Russo recommends doing activities that allow you to relax and unwind, such as yoga.He also suggests exercising regularly, so it's time to start making use of that daily government-approved walk, cycle, or run.

If you hate exercising, don't worry, the antidote to high cortisol levels doesn't have to be physical.Laughing, a solid night of sleep, or practising your favourite hobby are all effective options.

Having a soak in the bath and doing a face-mask may help you feel more in control of your skin.

This relief may cause a decrease in oil production and pimples.

DON'T MISS...How to help your brain through the coronavirus crisis stress [EXPLAINER]Coronavirus: How to look after your mental health during lockdown [EXPLAINER]Lockdown exercise: The eight exercises you can do at home [INFORMER]

Can you honestly say you have been eating well throughout the lockdown?Most people have stocked up on sugary treats and salty snacks in order to cheer themselves up in the face of COVID-19.And what about the good-old "support local businesses" excuse you use every time you order a greasy takeaway?Dr Russo says: "During isolation food becomes one of the few focal points of the day with more consumption of comfort food."Just like any other organ in your body, a poor diet affects your skin negatively.The body breaks down our food into tiny particles of proteins, fats, and carbs, and circulates it to the organs that need them.These nutrients make their way to your skin too, impacting its condition.It makes sense that inflammatory foods, such as sweets, some dairy, processed meat, and refined carbohydrates, will cause a flare-up in your complexion.

Dr. Russo says: "To improve your skin, you must eat well."Eat foods that are packed with vitamins and proteins and snack on fruit and veg."Drinking lots of water will replace the moisture that is lost through sweat and other processes, keeping your skin hydrated.If you fill up on foods rich in healthy oils and omega-3 fatty acids, you will improve the collagen production in your skin.This makes your skin smoother, suppler, and will help you in the longterm by preventing premature ageing.These oils and fats are found in fish, nuts, olive oil, and many more commonly found items.

During the lockdown, we're stuck inside all day and often don't get a chance to let our skin feel the sun.Dr. Russo says: "At the moment, skin isn't being exposed to natural light much at all."When your skin is exposed to natural light, the production of Vitamin D is increased."Endorphins are also produced, and this boosts your immune system and well-being."Make sure you get some fresh air every day, in order to reap these benefits of the sun.The sun is a great natural resource to improve your skin, but make sure you protect yourself with sun protection before you go out.You should wear an SPF of at least 30 on your face whenever you leave the house or are in front of a window for a prolonged amount of time.

Most people are shunning makeup in favour of the natural look since no one other than our household is going to see our faces.This means you may be tempted to skip your cleansing routine and go straight to bed once the day is over.

If you normally get facials and now can't, this may also be why you are breaking out or seeing changes.Dr. Russo explains: "You have probably been unable to receive professional treatments over this time, and this will contribute towards your breakouts."Dr. Russo recommends continuing with your normal skincare routine.He says: "Carry on as normal, but add an exfoliating cleanser to your routine."Exfoliating cleansers make your skincare routine shorter, by combining exfoliating and cleansing in one step.They remove dead skin cells and any build-up of dirt and oil in one go.There are hundreds of physical exfoliating cleansers on the market, as well as chemical exfoliating cleansers, so take your pick!

While surgical masks are thought to protect us against coronavirus, they're not great for our skin, said Dr. Russo.Wearing a mask over your face for many hours is damaging to your skin, especially when it's hot outside.The mask offers the perfect spot for bacteria and germs to harbour.Try double cleansing on the lower half of your face if you've worn a surgical mask for a prolonged period of time.

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Breakouts: Why is my skin worse during the coronavirus pandemic? - Express

Repurpose your sleep masks to keep WFH skin fresh and hydrated all day – Well+Good

Whether youre blasting the heat or AC (or both, because, April), staying inside all day puts you on the fast track to dry skin. Unless youve got a humidifier decorating your WFH space, the air in your home is ripe for sucking the moisture straight out of your face. And while diligently slathering on moisturizer every hour on the hour is certainly one way to hold in the hydration, the easiest method to hydrate skin at home is actually by repurposing your hydrating sleep mask for use during waking hours.

No, were not talking sleeping eye masks. Think of sleep masks, which came to us by way of K-beauty and popularized over the last few years, as a sort of jacket for your skin. Unlike regular masks, they dont need to be washed off, and they create a protective boundary between your skin and environment thats even tougher to permeate than your usual skin products. We recommend using a concentrated mask during the day when working from home, because your skin is so susceptible to losing moisture if you dont adequately hydrate it, says Glow Recipe founder Sarah Lee. Because overnight masks are usually very hydrating with nourishing properties, it really helps to keep that moisture retained throughout the hours. Because of this, its also a great way to maximize the ingredients youre getting from the products youre applying underneath it.

A sleep mask should be the final layer after your usual skin-care routine, and can go on either on top of your moisturizer or in place of it. Scroll through for our favorite picks worth dedicating a spot to in your routine.

This influencer-approved mask is chock full of vitamins (C and E, to be specific) and amino acids that give dull, sleepy skin an instant boost. Its got antioxidants to help protect from free-radical damage, and ceramides to really lock in the moisture it provides.

A combination of watermelon and hyaluronic acid helps to infuse moisture in the skin, and a mixture of AHAs (including glycloic and lactic acids) clear away the top layer of dead skin cells to help moisture penetrate more deeply. The jelly texture is ultra light so that you wont feel like youve got some goopy mask on your face all day long, and can you beat the packaging?

This drugstore beauty buy is not only immensely hydrating (and under $20), but it also leaves behind a pearlescent finish that will make you look luminous while you work. Its formulated with skin-soothing niacinamide and moisture-drawing humectants to hydrate and brighten as it absorbs.

Thanks to its barely-there, water-based formula, this jelly mask absorbs almost immediately into your skin. In addition to highly concentrated mineral water, its also packed with calming and brightening ingredients like orange flower, rose, sandalwood, apricot, and evening primrose. Thirsty pores will drink it right up.

With this mask, youll be waking up, spending your day,and going to sleep beautiful. Its got all kinds of nourishing, natural ingredients like quinoa, mushrooms, and floral stem cells, and is infused with aromatherapy elements to help keep you calm throughout the work day.

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Repurpose your sleep masks to keep WFH skin fresh and hydrated all day - Well+Good

Potential Impact of COVID-19 on Cosmetic Skin Care Market to Show Outstanding Growth by 2025 Profiling Global Players Industry Developments, Outlook,…

The global Cosmetic Skin Care market reached ~US$ xx Mn in 2019and is anticipated grow at a CAGR of xx% over the forecast period 2019-2029. In this Cosmetic Skin Care market study, the following years are considered to predict the market footprint:

The business intelligence study of the Cosmetic Skin Care market covers the estimation size of the market both in terms of value (Mn/Bn USD) and volume (x units). In a bid to recognize the growth prospects in the Cosmetic Skin Care market, the market study has been geographically fragmented into important regions that are progressing faster than the overall market. Each segment of the Cosmetic Skin Care market has been individually analyzed on the basis of pricing, distribution, and demand prospect for the Global region.

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Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market, Product Analysis

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Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market, by Geography

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COVID-19 Impact on Cosmetic Skin Care Market

Adapting to the recent novel COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global Cosmetic Skin Care market is included in the present report. The influence of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the growth of the Cosmetic Skin Care market is analyzed and depicted in the report.

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Potential Impact of COVID-19 on Cosmetic Skin Care Market to Show Outstanding Growth by 2025 Profiling Global Players Industry Developments, Outlook,...

Sustainably Yours: The importance of understanding and trusting in Science – The Phuket News

In his book 21 Lessons for The 21st Century, historian Yuval Noah Harari begins by writing, In a world deluged by irrelevant information, clarity is power. Before the Internet, access to information was relatively limited, and media was concentrated in the hands of a few corporations, which had its problems.

When it comes to supposed facts about COVID-19 posted on the internet, its best to check first with those doing the real checking: scientists. Photo: AFP

Today, with YouTubers, bloggers, and social media at our fingertips, the world is filled with more information than ever. The problem is that much of it is fake news and rumours. Too many voices are clamouring for our attention, but few are fact-checked for accuracy.

Since the spread of COVID-19 began, weve seen snake oil salesmen hawking cures and prophylaxis, and the spread of conspiracy theories about the viruss origins.

In a world where breathing the same air as someone else can kill you, misinformation can be as deadly as the virus. Now more than ever we need to be mindful of what we say, what we post, and how we behave. So, we need to understand and trust in science.

Why Should We Believe in Science?

According to Harvard Professor Naomi Oreskes, author of Why Trust Science?, for several decades there has been an organised campaign to undermine the publics trust in science funded mainly by industries whose financial interests are threatened by its findings.

At its core, science is the study of how the natural world works.

It has a long history of success, and when done correctly it is the single best method of inquiry we have for the pursuit of truth. Because of science, we have aeroplanes, cars, GPS, the Internet, smartphones and modern medicine. The only reason we know that COVID-19 exists is because of science. More importantly, science is a self-policing system of checks and balances that exists to reveal problems and correct inaccuracies.

It begins with the scientific method, something we all learned in school:

Once a scientist has drawn a conclusion, it undergoes rigorous scrutiny by colleagues who are working in the same discipline. This process of scrutiny can lead to rejecting or accepting the hypothesis, redesigning the experiment or finding additional data to support the conclusion. If the claim is valid, the scientist then publishes their work in a reputable scientific journal such as Nature or Science.

Submission of a paper begins the rigorous peer-review process where experts in the same field deliberately challenge the scientists arguments, inspect their data and look for errors in their methodology. So, before a claim is made and the general media gets a hold of it, a study is peer-reviewed and subjected to scrutiny by dozens, if not hundreds of other experts in the same field.

In areas where there is a scientific consensus, such as the relative safety and efficacy of vaccines, or that climate change is anthropogenic, thousands of studies on these topics have been published over decades and reviewed by thousands of scientists in dozens of countries.

Professor Oreskes notes that a critical aspect of scientific judgment is that it is done collectively and not individually. This weeds out personal biases or someone who might have a specific agenda.

Scientific claims are put through a process much like a trial. Questions are posed, data is analysed, and facts are debated before the community comes to a consensus. This process can take years, even decades. So, when your beliefs are founded on scientific consensus, you are relying on the knowledge of dozens if not hundreds, or thousands of experts in their fields.

Because COVID-19 is still so new, there are lots of unknowns. It will take time to review the data and draw definitive conclusions. There remains speculation about how the virus transmits, whether recovered patients acquire sustained immunity, the effect of heat and humidity have on infection rates and the viability of various treatments, among other things. Nevertheless, our reaction to COVID-19 should be grounded in facts, evidence and empirical data rather than, unfounded opinions, suppositions and fears.

Science Makes Mistakes

Like any other human discipline, science has its failures. For example, in 2014, Japanese biologist Haruko Obokata knowingly falsified data regarding the creation of stimulus acquired pluripotent (STAP) cells in mice. If her claim had been valid, it would have revolutionised the production of embryonic stem cells, which are blank cells that can be programmed to become any of 200 different cell types in the human body, including bone, hair, skin or muscle.

However, due to the self-policing nature of science, within days, other biologists in her field refuted her claims after failing to replicate her experiments. Within months, her paper was retracted, and her career ended in disgrace.

Knowing that science sometimes makes mistakes and admits and corrects for them shouldnt make us trust it any less if anything it should make us believe in it more. Especially when compared to other methods of inquiry, which have no process of scrutiny.

The Problem with Intuition

In his book Thinking Fast Thinking Slow, Nobel Prize-winning behavioural economist Daniel Kahneman defined intuition as, Thinking that you know something without knowing why you do. As an example, he poses this problem:

A bat and ball cost $1.10.

The bat costs one dollar more than the ball.

How much does the ball cost?

If you answered 10 cents, you are incorrect. This question confounds 50% of students from some of the best universities in the world.

The correct answer is 5 cents.

Kahneman identifies two methods for problem-solving. System 1 is quick, intuitive, spontaneous and effortless. It instantly helps us to recognise faces, to act when confronted with dangers and to solve simple questions. System 2 is slow, rational, reflective and effortful. It gets into the drivers seat when you focus and concentrate on a complicated problem.

The problems occur when we try to use System 1 to make complex decisions that require System 2. People will often make judgements based on intuition when a given situation is easy to imagine. For example, when asked what the most dangerous method of generating energy is, public opinion is usually most negative toward nuclear. However, on a per terawatt-hour basis, atomic energy has killed far fewer people than oil, coal and even solar. But because most people conflate nuclear power with war, they tend to answer incorrectly.

When our perception of reality is based on stories that people tell us, rather than science, facts and evidence, it leads to poor decisions. In the modern world, we need to learn to think in terms of data as it is a far too complicated a place to always reason by intuition.

Linear Vs. Exponential Thinking

Part of the reason many governments didnt foresee the problems COVID-19 would create is that their leaders are linear thinkers.

As an example, if you take 30 linear steps, you move 30 standard paces from where you started, or about 30 metres. However, if you take 30 exponential steps, one, two, four, eight, sixteen by the time you get to the last step, you end up a billion metres from where your started thats about 26 times around the planet!

Its the reason why at the beginning of March the United States only had 65 infections and by April 14 it had over 500,000.

We are In This Together

Whether we like it or not, we are in this together. The virus doesnt distinguish between race, social class, tourist, expat or Thai.

We must be careful about what we say or post in social media. The virus kills quickly, but misinformation can also kill by influencing people to do foolish things.

For sources of science that have been peer-reviewed or vetted by experts, you can go to the following websites:

PubMed

The Lancet

Nature Medicine

The New England Journal Of Medicine

The British Medical Journal

WebMD

Healthline

When we depend on intuition, gossip, fake news and conspiracy theories to make decisions, we get leaders who make demonstrably poor decisions that lead to disastrous consequences. In this regard many people think of Donald Trump.

To quote John F. Kennedy, We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through that darkness to a safe and sane future.

Science, both literally and figuratively, is that light; to disregard it is to remain in the dark.

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Sustainably Yours: The importance of understanding and trusting in Science - The Phuket News

Exclusive: Meet the scientists reversing robotics by putting the man into the machine – SYFY WIRE

By now, so many cyborg-esque technologies exist that were living in what was the imagined future of yesterday think Neuralink, brain-computer interfaces, and mind-controlled weapons. Its almost like living in Star Trek or The Matrix.

Cortical Labs is not your average robotics startup. Instead of creating artificial technology that is programmed to function like the human brain, they have developed silicon computer chips that merge with actual neurons to think on their own. SYFY WIRE interviewed co-founders Dr. Hon Weng Chong and Andy Kitchen to find out more about this extraordinary biotech that puts the brain into the computer rather than putting a computer in the brain.

So how do neurons and tech connect? There are no invasive procedures involved. The neurons used are actually human skin cells that have been morphed into stem cells (which have the potential to become anything) and then morphed again into neurons. These become integrated with a micro-electrode array that is really a physical grid of microscopic electrodes that are about 17 microns apart. Under a microscope, it kind of looks like the flat, iridescent chips inside of a DSLR camera. The sci-fi tech that comes closest is those bio-neural gel packs from Star Trek: Voyager, whose organic circuitry allowed them to think as if they were alive.

It takes up very very faint electrical signals in microvolts, meaning one millionth of a volt, so very slight changes in the electrical voltage, Kitchen explained. Then what we do is we basically grow cells in contact with that electrode grid so the cells are spread out on top of this grid of electrodes. The cells are so close and the electrodes are so sensitive that you know when neurons are firing.

Such hypersensitive electrodes can pick up when there is action potential, and this is when a spike in neuron firing, which goes up to millions of microvolts, can be observed. Younger cells will fire less strongly while older cells have more firepower. You need to get information out, but you also need to get information in by using biologically compatible stimuli to stimulate the neurons with highly precise and targeted volts. Neurons need to fire with a frequency that will effectively encode a message or other information into this bio-neural network. Its basically the inverse of something like Neuralink.

By the way, these things can play Atari. Anyone who ever spent way too many hours in the arcade playing Pong will know what the neuron chips are up to.

Its about input and output, said Chong, comparing them to denizens of the simulated world in The Matrix. Theres a matrix and these neurons actually live in a vertical simulation where they are constantly stimulated, so they basically live in a virtual simulation where they see a ball, feed themselves that input, then give the output.

He then echoed that eerie Morpheus speechabout consciousness really being just a computer simulation working off electrical impulses in our brains.

But how do these things even concentrate on a video game? They are trained in a computational task called lines of separation. Think of being at a party where the music is blasting, people are shouting over the music and youre the one in the corner struggling to keep a conversation going. Now imagine if you could just focus on whatever youre talking about and filter all that extraneous noise out. The neuron chips can actually separate signals so they know what theyre going. Chong and Kitchen have visions for them that go far beyond the pixelated world of retro video games.

I want to use it in robotics biological systems are really good for that since theyve been evolved to sort of operate in highly stochastic, highly variable environments where they always have to model the world they live in and also learn to remodel themselves to new environments for the betterment of humanity, said Chong. One of the things that Id really love to do is open up this technology to researchers and expand it around the world so it can be applied in whatever way it would be useful.

Of course, the tech wont be running entire data centers right away, though Chong hopes that is one of the things it will eventually be capable of. Just like it started out playing Pong (will it attack Space Invaders next?), its early tasks could be turning thing on and off or making basic calculations that could save you time putting together those spreadsheets you were dreading. Later it might be able to think for something like a Roomba.

Fast-forward to when the chips get more advanced, and the cells will be genetically engineered with specific computation elements, so while they are still the bio-component of this technological Frankenstein, they will evolve enough to break away from basic biological functions and be able to target more specific computational purposes. They could even be the actual brains of humanoid robots.

In terms of where this is going, weve roughly figured out three phases, and we kind of see between them several orders of magnitude in terms of size, number of neurons, number of connections, and the amount of information you get in and out, Kitchen said. So phase one would involve thousands of electrodes and hundreds of thousands of neurons. Then I think we would be moving to hundreds of thousands of electrodes, millions of neurons and so on.

There is one issue with a hybrid computer system like this that you probably dont think of when your smartphone is at 2 percentpower and you have to plug it in to recharge. Neurons need nutrients to keep going. Any device that will use Cortical Labs technology will need refills of nutrient-rich material, which its creators imagine kind of like a Keurig machine. Youd put the refill cartridge in the top much like a K-cup. Unlike our phones, which are always dying at the most inconvenient moments, that would be enough to supply a device using the neuron chips with weeks' and even months' worth of power.

In the future, you will probably have to excuse yourself because you have to feed your computer, Chong laughed.

So is Westworld going to be our new reality? Probably not, if you ask Chong and Kitchen, but they also admitted its too early to tell. Fluid intelligence is what theyre going for right now. The more complex devices that think with these chips should be capable of creativity, not just crunching numbers or other data. They do someday want to see if they can teach the chips right and wrong, starting from correct and incorrect and moving into ethics that are often nebulous.

Humans will someday give robots the ability to decide whether what its doing its right or wrong, and then be able to push it down the right path. This is going to take a while. What seems ethically right to some people could freak others out.

Consciousness is technically possible, but we dont know what it is or how to measure or define it yet, Chong said. These are the very early days, but I do believe that consciousness is achievable. If one of our cultures escapes the lab, well give you a call.

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Exclusive: Meet the scientists reversing robotics by putting the man into the machine - SYFY WIRE

Morning Update: Canadas data gaps are hurting our ability to fight the pandemic – The Globe and Mail

Good morning,

Crucial data gaps are hurting Canadas ability to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving Canadians in the dark about who is being infected or struggling with the devastated economy.

Canada has a long-standing problem of information gaps, The Globe and Mail found in a year-long series, and that has left us vulnerable during public health crises before. But now, these blind spots could blunt the federal economic rescue effort, hide inequities in deaths from the disease and slow our emergence from self-isolation in the months ahead.

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Father Victor Fernandes puts on personal protection equipment prior to visiting with a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul's hospital in downtown Vancouver on April 21, 2020.

JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press

This is the daily Morning Update newsletter. If youre reading this on the web, or it was forwarded to you from someone else, you can sign up for Morning Update and more than 20 more Globe newsletters on our newsletter signup page.

Nova Scotia shooting: Premier Stephen McNeil is urging his mourning province to help investigators unravel questions around a gunmans weekend rampage. A new tip line was created specifically for the killings. He acknowledged there is anger over the RCMPs decision not to use the provincial emergency alert system during the 12-hour manhunt, but he asked people to be patient, and wait for answers.

New details are emerging about the chaos that ensued as police tried to capture the killer disguised as an RCMP officer. Audio recordings of first responders communicating on two-way radios provide a glimpse of frantic attempts to help the first victims in the village of Portapique.

A couple pays their respects at a memorial in Portapique, N.S., on April 22, 2020.

Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press

Economy: Saskatchewan has laid out a detailed, comprehensive plan to reopen its economy, and is the first province in the country to do so. On May 4, the five phases will begin, opening non-essential medical procedures, and the reopening of provincial parks, campgrounds and golf courses.

In Quebec, Premier Franois Legault is preparing to lay the groundwork next week for a plan to gradually restart the provinces economy and get children back to school.

Rent: Ottawa is proposing to offer commercial rent relief, in the form of loans for landlords of small and medium-sized businesses, that would cover up to 75 per cent of tenants payments for three months, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

When it comes to investment properties, small landlords across Canada might not qualify for government assistance and are scrambling to figure out how to accommodate rent reductions while making their mortgage payments.

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World news:

Researchers at the University of Oxford are racing to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 and plan to make a million doses of it this summer. The team has been working since January, and clinical trials involving more than 500 volunteers began yesterday. The testing is expected to take several months, but the researchers have already teamed up with manufacturers globally to produce the doses September and millions more by the end of the year. The Globes Paul Waldie reports.

An aerial view of people queuing outside a bank in downtown Quito, Ecuador, on April 22, 2020.

RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP/Getty Images

Got a news tip that youd like us to look into? E-mail us at tips@globeandmail.com Need to share documents securely? Reach out via SecureDrop

Scheer, Tories refrain from criticizing MP accused of racist comments: People of Asian descent have faced a spike in hate crimes and slurs since the COVID-19 pandemic began in China last year and experts say the comments from an elected official give licence for the attacks to continue.

Child protection organizations seeing significant uptick in predators: In dark-web forums, sexual predators are increasingly discussing the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to exploit children online as they spend more time out of school and on the internet.

Ontarios Serious Fraud Office investigates Bondfield: A special unit of Ontario police officers and prosecutors launched the investigation in 2019, looking into allegations of wrongdoing by a major builder of hospitals, transit stations and other public infrastructure across the province.

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Parents of teen girls killed by Paul Bernardo seek to obtain his file with the parole board: The two families filed for judicial review this month after their requests for the documents under access to information legislation were denied.

MPs seek to overcome hurdle in getting WHO adviser to testify: A parliamentary committee scrutinizing the response to the pandemic is working to get key World Health Organization adviser Bruce Aylward to testify. The WHOs legal counsel has said that Dr. Aylward cannot testify unless he receives authorization from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

World stocks fall on worries over EU stimulus details, coronavirus drug: Global shares fell on Friday, spurred by delays to an agreement on divisive details of the European Unions stimulus package and doubts about progress in the development of drugs to treat COVID-19. In Europe, Britains FTSE 100 was down 0.93 per cent around 6 a.m. ET. Germanys DAX and Frances CAC 40 fell 1.07 per cent and 1.03 per cent, respectively. In Asia, Japans Nikkei fell 0.86 per cent. Hong Kongs Hang Seng fell 0.61 per cent. New York futures were flat. The Canadian dollar was trading at 71.05 U.S. cents.

Canada must protect itself from Americas response to COVID-19

Robyn Urback: It is not implausible that Mr. Trump would retaliate in some sort of petty but potentially grave economic way on supply lines for essential goods, for example if Canada refuses to lift restrictions on non-essential travel if and when the President decides that time is up.

This Ramadan, in solitude, will be more meaningful than ever

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Fatima Al Fahim: But the pandemic need not dampen Ramadan spirits. Physical distancing gives us a reminder of the true meaning of the holy month.

The world has a big China problem now

Campbell Clark: We dont know precisely what happened in China in the early days of COVID-19, but we know some whistle-blowers were stifled and, for whatever reason, officials waited for days to tell the world after learning they faced a serious epidemic.

By Brian Gable

Brian Gable/The Globe and Mail

What you really need is a room edit, not a reno

Especially while in isolation, you may be looking for curatorial guidance, but are keen to avoid the expense of a full interiors overhaul. Some people would rather rip out a wall or buy a bigger house, when all it often takes is reimaging and reworking what you already have, says Joanna Teplin, the Nashville co-founder of the Home Edit. If you want to remodel, read about how you might be able to make the change with what you already have.

Snuppy, right, the first male dog cloned from adult cells by somatic nuclear cell transfer, and the male Afghan hound from which an adult skin cell was taken to clone Snuppy, are seen in this handout photo released in Seoul on Aug. 3, 2005.

Seoul National University via Reuters

Snuppy worlds first cloned dog is born

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If he were born today, Snuppy would be dubbed, in internet lingo, a very good pupper or an excellent doggo. Instead, Snuppy, the first successful clone of a dog, had to settle for merely being hailed as a breakthrough in biotechnology. A team of 45 South Korean researchers, led by stem-cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk, produced the pup using a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer with a cell from the ear of a male Afghan dog, Tai. Snuppy was named for Seoul National University (SNU) and puppy. While other mammals had been cloned successfully starting with Dolly the sheep in 1996 cloning mans best friend proved more challenging. The achievement suggested that, given time and expertise, almost any mammal could be reproduced. Defying concerns that clones would be rife with ailments, Snuppy was generally healthy. He fathered 10 pups by artificial insemination and produced, by stem-cell clone, a litter with three surviving pups. Snuppy died of cancer, a common fate in dogs, just days after his 10th birthday in 2015. Jessie Willms

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Morning Update: Canadas data gaps are hurting our ability to fight the pandemic - The Globe and Mail

Induced pluripotent stem cells and CRISPR reversed diabetes in mice – Drug Target Review

Induced pluripotent stem cells made to produce insulin and CRISPR, used to correct a genetic defect, cured Wolfram syndrome in mice.

Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) produced from the skin of a patient with a rare, genetic form of insulin-dependent diabetes called Wolfram syndrome, researchers transformed the human stem cells into insulin-producing cells and used CRISPR-Cas9 to correct a genetic defect that had caused the syndrome. They then implanted the cells into lab mice and cured the unrelenting diabetes in those models.

The findings, from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, US, suggest this CRISPR-Cas9 technique may hold promise as a treatment for diabetes, particularly the forms caused by a single gene mutation and it also may be useful one day in some patients with the more common forms of diabetes, such as type 1 and type 2.

This is the first time CRISPR has been used to fix a patients diabetes-causing genetic defect and successfully reverse diabetes, said co-senior investigator Dr Jeffrey Millman, an assistant professor of medicine and of biomedical engineering at Washington University. For this study, we used cells from a patient with Wolfram syndrome because, conceptually, we knew it would be easier to correct a defect caused by a single gene. But we see this as a stepping stone toward applying gene therapy to a broader population of patients with diabetes.

Wolfram syndrome is caused by mutations to a single gene, providing the researchers an opportunity to determine whether combining stem cell technology with CRISPR to correct the genetic error also might correct the diabetes caused by the mutation.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have transformed stem cells into insulin-producing cells. They used the CRISPR gene-editing tool to correct a defect that caused a form of diabetes, and implanted the cells into mice to reverse diabetes in the animals. Shown is a microscopic image of insulin-secreting beta cells (insulin is green) that were made from stem cells produced from the skin of a patient with Wolfram syndrome [credit: Millman lab Washington University].

Millman and his colleagues had previously discovered how to convert human stem cells into pancreatic beta cells. When such cells encounter blood sugar, they secrete insulin. Recently, these researchers developed a new technique to more efficiently convert human stem cells into beta cells that are considerably better at controlling blood sugar.

In this study, they took the additional steps of deriving these cells from patients and using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool on those cells to correct a mutation to the gene that causes Wolfram syndrome (WFS1). Then, the researchers compared the gene-edited cells to insulin-secreting beta cells from the same batch of stem cells that had not undergone editing with CRISPR.

In the test tube and in mice with a severe form of diabetes, the newly grown beta cells that were edited with CRISPR more efficiently secreted insulin in response to glucose. Diabetes disappeared in mice with the CRISPR-edited cells implanted beneath the skin and the animals blood sugar levels remained in normal range for the entire six months they were monitored. Animals receiving unedited beta cells remained diabetic. Although their newly implanted beta cells could produce insulin, it was not enough to reverse their diabetes.

We basically were able to use these cells to cure the problem, making normal beta cells by correcting this mutation, said co-senior investigator Dr Fumihiko Urano, the Samuel E. Schechter Professor of Medicine and a professor of pathology and immunology. Its a proof of concept demonstrating that correcting gene defects that cause or contribute to diabetes in this case, in the Wolfram syndrome gene we can make beta cells that more effectively control blood sugar. Its also possible that by correcting the genetic defects in these cells, we may correct other problems Wolfram syndrome patients experience, such as visual impairment and neurodegeneration.

Were excited about the fact that we were able to combine these two technologies growing beta cells from induced pluripotent stem cells and using CRISPR to correct genetic defects, Millman said. In fact, we found that corrected beta cells were indistinguishable from beta cells made from the stem cells of healthy people without diabetes.

Moving forward, the process of making beta cells from stem cells should get easier, the researchers said. For example, the scientists have developed less intrusive methods, making iPSCs from blood and they are working on developing stem cells from urine samples.

The study is published in Science Translational Medicine.

Read more here:
Induced pluripotent stem cells and CRISPR reversed diabetes in mice - Drug Target Review

Team Reveal Key to the Survival of Dormant Breast Cancer Cells – Technology Networks

Most breast cancers utilize the female hormone estrogen to grow, so drug-induced estrogen deprivation is used as a treatment in many patients. However, cancer will recur in one-third of these patients. A research team at Dartmouths and Dartmouth-Hitchcocks Norris Cotton Cancer Center, led by Todd W. Miller, PhD, is trying to understand why dormant breast cancer cells survive despite being starved of estrogen. The team discovered that an anti-diabetes drug, metformin, which is being tested in many clinical trials as an anti-cancer agent, actually activated fat metabolism that protected dormant breast cancer cells during estrogen deprivation. The findings suggest that the drug has context-dependent effects on cancer cells. The results, entitled AMPK activation by metformin promotes survival of dormant ER+ breast cancer cells, are newly published online inClinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Knowledge that metformin has context-dependent effects on cancer cells will inform a better understanding of ongoing and prior clinical trials testing metformin, and help shape the design of trials moving forward. Our study indicates that the development of drugs targeting fat metabolism is warranted for breast cancer. Most excitingly, anti-angina drugs that block fat metabolism may be quickly repurposed as potential treatments for cancer and tested in clinical trials, says Miller.

Next steps include clinical trials testing drugs that block fat metabolism in breast cancer. Were also designing preclinical studies to further dissect the roles of fat metabolism in breast and other cancers, with the goal of identifying more refined therapeutic targets that will selectively kill cancer cells and not harm healthy cells, notes Miller.

Reference:Hampsch, et al. (2020) AMPK activation by metformin promotes survival of dormant ER+ breast cancer cells. Clinical Cancer Research DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-0269.

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Team Reveal Key to the Survival of Dormant Breast Cancer Cells - Technology Networks

The Best Face and Body Skin-Care Products for 2020 – Shape Magazine

When our panelists were asked which innovation showed the best results, scalp injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for hair growth was at the top of many lists. You get significant benefits with very little downside, Dr. Schultz says. First, your blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to separate the PRP, which is then injected all over your scalp. Using your bloods growth factors to stimulate collagen and follicles lets your own body work its magic, says dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D.

Another new option is a laser called Lutronic KeraLase ($750 to $1,000 per treatment), which is paired with a synthetic growth factor serum. The device stamps across your scalp, stimulating the area and creating tiny channels in the follicles, where the serum is then applied. It delivers active ingredients where theyre needed, says dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D. The serum can contain even more growth factors than a persons own PRP, plus stem cells to help hair growth, she says. Nutrafol for Women (Buy It, $79 $88 for 1 month, nutrafol.com), a supplement brand for hair loss, also garnered multiple mentions from our panel. Ive seen promising results, especially in conjunction with the above treatments, Dr. Downie says.

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The Best Face and Body Skin-Care Products for 2020 - Shape Magazine

Global Cell-Based Immunotherapy Market is Thriving with Rising Latest Trends by 2027 | Top Players-AbbVie Inc., Genentech USA, Inc., Amgen Inc,…

Global Cell-Based Immunotherapy Market report endows with the key measurements, the status of the manufacturers and is a significant source of direction for businesses and organizations. Competitive landscape is another major section of this Global Cell-Based Immunotherapy Market research report which presents with a clear insight into the market share analysis and actions of key industry players. This market research report highlights the most important market insights that take your business to the highest level of growth and success. Hence, this Global Cell-Based Immunotherapy Market report helps businesses to define their own strategies for the up gradation in the existing product, possible modifications required in the future product, sales, marketing promotion and distribution of the product in the existing and the new market.

Global cell-based immunotherapy market is set to witness a substantial CAGR in the forecast period of 2019- 2026. The report contains data of the base year 2018 and historic year 2017. Improvement in healthcare infrastructure and rising healthcare expenditure are the factor for the market growth.

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Few of the major competitors currently working in the global cell-based immunotherapy market are AbbVie Inc., Genentech USA, Inc., Amgen Inc, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Takara Bio Inc., Bausch Health, Lonza Group AG, Precision Biosciences., Marker Therapeutics, Inc., Kiadis Pharma, Lyell Immunopharma, Inc., among others.

Key Developments in the Market:

Competitive Analysis:

Global cell-based immunotherapy market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of cell-based immunotherapy market for Global, Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

Market Definition:

Cell-based immunotherapy is a potential future-oriented cancer treatment approach. It is evolving quickly as an alternative to traditional cancer treatment based on chemotherapy. Stem cells are used for the diagnosis of different types of cancer in cell-based immunotherapy. These cells have the ability to create extra placental or embryonic cells to cure cancer. This therapy is widely used in application such as breast cancer, skin cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.

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Market Restraints

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Global Cell-Based Immunotherapy Market is Thriving with Rising Latest Trends by 2027 | Top Players-AbbVie Inc., Genentech USA, Inc., Amgen Inc,...

Diabetes reversed in mice with genetically edited stem cells derived from patients – Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

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CRISPR corrects genetic defect so cells can normalize blood sugar

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have transformed stem cells into insulin-producing cells. They used the CRISPR gene-editing tool to correct a defect that caused a form of diabetes, and implanted the cells into mice to reverse diabetes in the animals. Shown is a microscopic image of insulin-secreting beta cells (insulin is green) that were made from stem cells produced from the skin of a patient with Wolfram syndrome.

Using induced pluripotent stem cells produced from the skin of a patient with a rare, genetic form of insulin-dependent diabetes called Wolfram syndrome, researchers transformed the human stem cells into insulin-producing cells and used the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to correct a genetic defect that had caused the syndrome. They then implanted the cells into lab mice and cured the unrelenting diabetes in those mice.

The findings, from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, suggest the CRISPR-Cas9 technique may hold promise as a treatment for diabetes, particularly the forms caused by a single gene mutation, and it also may be useful one day in some patients with the more common forms of diabetes, such as type 1 and type 2.

The study is published online April 22 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Patients with Wolfram syndrome develop diabetes during childhood or adolescence and quickly require insulin-replacement therapy, requiring insulin injections multiple times each day. Most go on to develop problems with vision and balance, as well as other issues, and in many patients, the syndrome contributes to an early death.

This is the first time CRISPR has been used to fix a patients diabetes-causing genetic defect and successfully reverse diabetes, said co-senior investigator Jeffrey R. Millman, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine and of biomedical engineering at Washington University. For this study, we used cells from a patient with Wolfram syndrome because, conceptually, we knew it would be easier to correct a defect caused by a single gene. But we see this as a stepping stone toward applying gene therapy to a broader population of patients with diabetes.

Wolfram syndrome is caused by mutations to a single gene, providing the researchers an opportunity to determine whether combining stem cell technology with CRISPR to correct the genetic error also might correct the diabetes caused by the mutation.

A few years ago, Millman and his colleagues discovered how to convert human stem cells into pancreatic beta cells. When such cells encounter blood sugar, they secrete insulin. Recently, those same researchers developed a new technique to more efficiently convert human stem cells into beta cells that are considerably better at controlling blood sugar.

In this study, they took the additional steps of deriving these cells from patients and using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool on those cells to correct a mutation to the gene that causes Wolfram syndrome (WFS1). Then, the researchers compared the gene-edited cells to insulin-secreting beta cells from the same batch of stem cells that had not undergone editing with CRISPR.

In the test tube and in mice with a severe form of diabetes, the newly grown beta cells that were edited with CRISPR more efficiently secreted insulin in response to glucose. Diabetes disappeared quickly in mice with the CRISPR-edited cells implanted beneath the skin, and the animals blood sugar levels remained in normal range for the entire six months they were monitored. Animals receiving unedited beta cells remained diabetic. Their newly implanted beta cells could produce insulin, just not enough to reverse their diabetes.

We basically were able to use these cells to cure the problem, making normal beta cells by correcting this mutation, said co-senior investigator Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD, the Samuel E. Schechter Professor of Medicine and a professor of pathology and immunology. Its a proof of concept demonstrating that correcting gene defects that cause or contribute to diabetes in this case, in the Wolfram syndrome gene we can make beta cells that more effectively control blood sugar. Its also possible that by correcting the genetic defects in these cells, we may correct other problems Wolfram syndrome patients experience, such as visual impairment and neurodegeneration.

In the future, using CRISPR to correct certain mutations in beta cells may help patients whose diabetes is the result of multiple genetic and environmental factors, such as type 1, caused by an autoimmune process that destroys beta cells, and type 2, which is closely linked to obesity and a systemic process called insulin resistance.

Were excited about the fact that we were able to combine these two technologies growing beta cells from induced pluripotent stem cells and using CRISPR to correct genetic defects, Millman said. In fact, we found that corrected beta cells were indistinguishable from beta cells made from the stem cells of healthy people without diabetes.

Moving forward, the process of making beta cells from stem cells should get easier, the researchers said. For example, the scientists have developed less intrusive methods, making induced pluripotent stem cells from blood and they are working on developing stem cells from urine samples.

In the future, Urano said, we may be able to take a few milliliters of urine from a patient, make stem cells that we then can grow into beta cells, correct mutations in those cells with CRISPR, transplant them back into the patient, and cure their diabetes in our clinic. Genetic testing in patients with diabetes will guide us to identify genes that should be corrected, which will lead to a personalized regenerative gene therapy.

Maxwell KG, Augsornworawat P, Velazco-Cruz L, Kim MH, Asada R, Hogrebe NJ, Morikawa S, Urano F, Millman JR. Gene-edited human stem cell-derived cells from a patient with monogenic diabetes reverse pre-existing diabetes in mice. Science Translational Medicine, published online April 22, 2020.

This work was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Cancer Institute and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Grant numbers R01 DK114233, DK112921, TR002065, TR002345, T32 DK108742, R25 GM103757, T32 DK007120, P30 DK020579, P30 CA91842, UL1 TR000448 and UL1 TR002345. Additional assistance was provided by the Washington University Genome Engineering and iPSC Center, the Washington University Diabetes Center, and the Washington University Institute of Clnical and Translational Science, with additional funding from the JDRF, the Washington University Center of Regenerative Medicine, startup funds from the Washington University School of Medicine Department of Medicine, the Unravel Wolfram Syndrome Fund, Silberman Fund, Stowe Fund, Ellie White Foundation for Rare Genetic Disorders, Eye Hope Foundation, Snow Foundation, Feiock Fund, Childrens Discovery Institute, Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation, and a JSPS Overseas Research Fellowship.

Washington University School of Medicines 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, ranking among the top 10 medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

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Diabetes reversed in mice with genetically edited stem cells derived from patients - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

12 Top-Rated BB Creams That Can Simplify Your Beauty Routine and Protect Skin, Too – POPSUGAR

Whether you're still completing a lengthy beauty routine each morning or your beloved products are collecting dust, there's one base makeup item that both can simplify things and persuade the fresh-faced crew to change their tune: BB cream. First developed in South Korea, this all-in-one product can replace your foundation and also your serum, moisturizer, primer, and sometimes even sunblock saving you time, money, and effort.

"Beauty balms" (i.e., "BB") are typically more sheer than traditional foundations (and even most tinted moisturizers), and are easy to apply with a brush, sponge, or even your fingers. Nearly all formulas include some form of SPF to protect against the sun, as well as active ingredients to help treat common skin concerns. Now, this versatility could explain why they seem to be flying off the (virtual) shelves at Sephora, but we picked out 12 popular options that get an A+ from us and other shoppers, too.

Here are the top-rated BB creams you can still nab at Sephora ahead.

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12 Top-Rated BB Creams That Can Simplify Your Beauty Routine and Protect Skin, Too - POPSUGAR

Irreversible No Longer: Blind Mice See Again Thanks To New Method of Synthesizing Lost Cells – Good News Network

Reprinted with permission fromWorld At Large, a news website which covers politics, nature, science, health, and travel.

Age-related macular degeneration (MD) is a variety of ocular disease that affects so many millions of people, its downright characterized as nothing more than the process of aging.

In fact, the study of MD has proven itself to be so fruitful for understanding aging as a whole, MD has become one of the first places that scientists have looked to in order to attempt to repair the damage of aging and restoring youthful, or normal function.

Now in a new paper published in Nature, researchers demonstrate an alternative to stem cells by creating replacement photoreceptors from skin fibroblast cells via pharmacological-conversiona process that promises to be cheaper, faster, and unburdened by ethical and legal restrictions.

Containing the genetic code for every protein we need to build and repair our cells, DNA can become damaged over time through the stresses of life. Similarly to how scratches or cracks in a CD prevent lasers from reading the information on the disk, damaged DNA becomes difficult, and even impossible for our RNA (which you could imagine as the laser inside the CD player) to read the genetic information contained therein.

WATCH: Blind Man Develops Smart Cane That Uses Google Maps and Sensors to Identify Ones Surroundings

The photoreceptor is the neuron in the eye that turns on visual circuity in response to light which enables us to have vision, says Sai Chavala, Ph.D. and author of the new paper.

The loss of photoreceptors can result in MD and other retinal diseases that lead to irreversible blindness. In this new study, however, cells called fibroblasts can be chemically reprogrammed to produce photoreceptor-like cells that are now shown to restore vision in mice.

Fibroblasts are cells that help maintain the structural integrity of connective tissues, and a reduction in fibroblast cell count leads to wrinkled skin.

Sai Chavala and colleagues from the Center for Retina Innovation in Dallas, Texas, found a set of five compounds that can drive embryonic fibroblast cells to convert themselves into retinal, rod-like, photoreceptors in both mice and human cells.

Stem cell-based strategies are extremely exciting, Dr. Chavala tells World at Large, but adds that generating these cells can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Describing his strategy of chemically reprogramming existing cells as a breakthrough, Chavala added that the generation of the photoreceptors using his method requires a fraction of the time.

In the study, these converted photoreceptors were transplanted into the eyes of 14 blind mice to see if they would restore vision.

CHECK OUT: LEGO Unveils New Bricks That Will Help Teach Blind Children to Read Braille

Owing to their nature, mice with working vision prefer dark spaces, and so a test of whether or not the transplant was a success was fairly straight forward; create a bright space and a dark space and wait to see which one was preferred by the mice.

Six mice were found to not only have restored visual function and reflexesnotably in the pupilbut they also preferred to spend their time in the dark space. Chavala hypothesizes that it could have been down to how many of the chemically-reprogrammed cells survived the transplant into the retina that determined whether vision was restored in the mice or not.

What makes interventions like thesewhich involve creating brand new cells to replace the damaged onesso effective and exciting in the field of aging is that they present an alternative to natural replication by bypassing the difficulties that our own cells have with trying to repair themselves from DNA that features double-strand breaks or other blemishes.

Adding that these conversions of fibroblasts to photoreceptors has also been done in humans, Chavala detailed why he believes the treatments and future research to spring from this discovery are going to change the field of ophthalmology.

CHECK OUT: In World First Blind People Have Their Vision Restored Thanks to Stem Cells From Deceased Organ Donors

We [] believe this can be a game changer in the field of regenerative ophthalmology. We also believe this is a platform technology and have already started establishing protocols to generate retinal ganglion cells valuable for patients suffering from glaucoma, says Chavala.

In addition to bypassing the ethical and political restrictions and hiccups with using embryonic human stem cells, the process takes two weeks, costs less, and is more scalable than using stem cells.

WATCH: Hundreds of People Are Being Cured of Blindness Every Day With Cheap, Minutes-Long Surgery

It is intriguing to postulate that the addition of other molecules or modifications to the culture conditions can yield other types of neurons beneficial for a variety of neurological diseases, he adds, discussing possible alternatives to photoreceptor generation from fibroblasts.

Finally, Chavala is rapidly approaching human trials and hopes to have an FDA-approved treatment out the other end of the pipeline in 2-3 years, saying he is thrilled with the possibility of allowing millions of people to regain their lost vision.

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Lozier praises promising, and ethical, blindness study – OneNewsNow

New research results show promise in treating people who are blind.

The National Eye Institute funded the study, which is research considered to be ethical.

Dr. David Prentice of the Charlotte Lozier Institute says there have been discussions over using adult stem cells to restore sight, which he calls a different tack for advancing science and medicine.

It's still an ethical way to go about this, he observes. There's no embryonic stem cells, no fetal tissue, none of this unethical type of research direction.

What the scientists did was turn a skin cell directly into a photoreceptor for vision then transplanted it.

Prenticeadvises the testing is very preliminary after the experiment on mice.

But what they find was when they transplanted this newly formed type of vision cell into the eyes of these blind mice, he says, they restored their vision.

The researchers applied chemicals that transformed one cell type into another needed for vision, and there is now potential to help people with all forms of vision blindness or vision correction, which would include macular degeneration and other retinal disorders.

Editor's note: Original posting attribute comments to wrong person.

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Lozier praises promising, and ethical, blindness study - OneNewsNow

Incyte Announces Pivotal REACH2 Study Data Published in NEJM Highlight Superior Efficacy of Ruxolitinib (Jakafi) versus Best Available Therapy in…

- Phase 3 REACH2 data demonstrate that ruxolitinib (Jakafi) improves outcomes across a range of efficacy measures in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) compared to best available therapy (BAT)

- Results show a significantly greater overall response rate (ORR) in patients treated with ruxolitinib (62%) compared to BAT (39%) 1,2

- GVHD is a serious and common complication of allogeneic stem cell transplants with a one-year mortality rate as high as 80% in patients who develop acute GVHD3-5

- The results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, were also selected for an oral presentation during the Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Annual Meeting to be held 30 August to 2 September in Madrid, Spain

Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) today announced that data from the Phase 3 REACH2 study have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine demonstrating that ruxolitinib (Jakafi) improves outcomes across a range of efficacy measures in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) compared to best available therapy (BAT). The results of REACH2, the first Phase 3 study of ruxolitinib in acute GVHD to have met its primary endpoint, reinforce findings from the previously-reported Phase 2 REACH1 study.

In REACH2, patients treated with ruxolitinib experienced a significantly greater overall response rate (ORR) vs. BAT (62% vs. 39%; p<0.001) at Day 28, the primary endpoint of the study. For the key secondary endpoints, patients treated with ruxolitinib maintained significantly higher durable ORR (40% vs. 22%; p<0.001) at Day 56. In addition, ruxolitinib was associated with longer median failure free survival (FFS) than BAT (5.0 months vs. 1.0 months; hazard ratio 0.46, 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.60) and showed a positive trend with other secondary endpoints, including duration of response1,2.

No new safety signals were observed, and the ruxolitinib safety profile in REACH2 was consistent with that seen in previously reported studies in steroid-refractory acute GVHD. The most frequently reported adverse events among study participants were thrombocytopenia and anemia. While 38% and 9% of patients required ruxolitinib and BAT dose modifications, the number of patients who discontinued treatment due to AEs was low (11% and 5%, respectively)1,2.

"The results from the REACH2 study reinforce findings from the pivotal REACH1 trial and demonstrate the potential that ruxolitinib has to effectively and safely improve outcomes for patients with GVHD," said Peter Langmuir, M.D., Group Vice President, Oncology Targeted Therapies, Incyte. "We are committed to continuing our research in GVHD with the goal of providing more effective treatment options for patients living with this disease, and look forward to the results of the REACH3 study in steroid-refractory chronic GVHD later this year."

The REACH2 data were also accepted as an oral presentation as part of the Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Annual Meeting to be held 30 August to 2 September in Madrid, Spain.

"Patients with acute graft-versus-host disease face life-threatening challenges with limited treatment options, particularly for the nearly half of individuals who do not respond to initial steroid therapy," said Robert Zeiser, University Hospital Freiburg, Department of Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Freiburg, Germany. "These new data from REACH2 showing superiority of ruxolitinib over current standard-of-care therapies add to a growing body of evidence on how targeting the JAK pathway can be an effective strategy in this difficult-to-treat condition."

In 2019, Jakafi (ruxolitinib) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older, based on the positive results of the Phase 2 REACH1 trial6. The Phase 3 REACH3 study in patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD is ongoing and results are expected in the second half of this year. Jakafi is marketed by Incyte in the U.S.; ruxolitinib (Jakavi) is licensed to Novartis ex-U.S.

The NEJM publication of the REACH2 results is available online.

Story continues

About REACH2

REACH2 (NCT02913261), a randomized, open-label, multicenter Phase 3 study sponsored by Novartis and conducted in collaboration with and co-funded by Incyte , is evaluating the safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib compared with best available therapy in patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD.

The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) at Day 28, defined as the proportion of patients demonstrating a best overall response (complete response or partial response). Secondary endpoints include durable ORR at Day 56, ORR at Day 14, duration of response, overall survival and event-free survival, among others. For more information about the study, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02913261.

About REACH

The REACH clinical trial program evaluating ruxolitinib in patients with steroid-refractory GVHD, includes the randomized pivotal Phase 3 REACH2 and REACH3 trials, conducted in collaboration with Novartis. The ongoing REACH3 trial is evaluating patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD with results expected later this year. For more information about the REACH3 study, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03112603.

The REACH program was initiated with the Incyte-sponsored REACH1 trial, a prospective, open-label, single-cohort, multicenter, pivotal Phase 2 trial (NCT02953678) evaluating Jakafi in combination with corticosteroids in patients with steroid-refractory grade II-IV acute GVHD. For more information about the study, including trial results, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02953678.

About Jakafi (ruxolitinib)

Jakafi is a first-in-class JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of polycythemia vera (PV) in adults who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea, in adults with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary MF, post-polycythemia vera MF and post-essential thrombocythemia MF and for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older.

Jakafi is marketed by Incyte in the United States and by Novartis as Jakavi (ruxolitinib) outside the United States. Jakafi is a registered trademark of Incyte Corporation. Jakavi is a registered trademark of Novartis AG in countries outside the United States.

Important Safety Information

Jakafi can cause serious side effects, including:

Low blood counts: Jakafi (ruxolitinib) may cause your platelet, red blood cell, or white blood cell counts to be lowered. If you develop bleeding, stop taking Jakafi and call your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will perform blood tests to check your blood counts before you start Jakafi and regularly during your treatment. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of Jakafi or stop your treatment based on the results of your blood tests. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop or have worsening symptoms such as unusual bleeding, bruising, tiredness, shortness of breath, or a fever.

Infection: You may be at risk for developing a serious infection during treatment with Jakafi. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following symptoms of infection: chills, nausea, vomiting, aches, weakness, fever, painful skin rash or blisters.

Skin cancers: Some people who take Jakafi have developed certain types of non-melanoma skin cancers. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any new or changing skin lesions.

Increases in cholesterol: You may have changes in your blood cholesterol levels. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels during your treatment with Jakafi.

The most common side effects of Jakafi include: for certain types of MF and PV - low platelet or low red blood cell counts, bruising, dizziness, headache, and diarrhea; and for acute GVHD low platelet, red or white blood cell counts, infections, and fluid retention.

These are not all the possible side effects of Jakafi. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more information. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Before taking Jakafi, tell your healthcare provider about: all the medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are taking and all your medical conditions, including if you have an infection, have or had tuberculosis (TB), or have been in close contact with someone who has TB, have or had hepatitis B, have or had liver or kidney problems, are on dialysis, have a high level of fat in your blood (high blood cholesterol or triglycerides), had skin cancer or have any other medical condition. Take Jakafi exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Do not change or stop taking Jakafi without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Women should not take Jakafi while pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed during treatment with Jakafi and for 2 weeks after the final dose.

Full Prescribing Information, which includes a more complete discussion of the risks associated with Jakafi, is available at http://www.jakafi.com.

About Incyte

Incyte is a Wilmington, Delaware-based, global biopharmaceutical company focused on finding solutions for serious unmet medical needs through the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, please visit Incyte.com and follow @Incyte.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information set forth herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements about the REACH2 data, when results from the REACH3 study will be available, the effect of the REACH2 results on patients with GVHD, and the overall REACH program, contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including unanticipated developments in and risks related to: unanticipated delays; further research and development and the results of clinical trials possibly being unsuccessful or insufficient to meet applicable regulatory standards or warrant continued development; the ability to enroll sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical trials; determinations made by the FDA; the Companys dependence on its relationships with its collaboration partners; the efficacy or safety of the Companys products and the products of the Companys collaboration partners; the acceptance of the Companys products and the products of the Companys collaboration partners in the marketplace; market competition; sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution requirements; greater than expected expenses; expenses relating to litigation or strategic activities; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Companys reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

References

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422005739/en/

Contacts

Incyte Contacts Media Jenifer Antonacci+1 302 498 7036jantonacci@incyte.com

Catalina Loveman+1 302 498 6171cloveman@incyte.com

Investors Michael Booth, DPhil+1 302 498 5914mbooth@incyte.com

Read more:
Incyte Announces Pivotal REACH2 Study Data Published in NEJM Highlight Superior Efficacy of Ruxolitinib (Jakafi) versus Best Available Therapy in...

This Award-Winning Body Cream Can Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite by 75% – Us Weekly

No matter how many creams and other topical treatments we try, the cellulite on our bodies just doesnt seem to go away. Of course, its very difficult to get rid of cellulite completely but many strive to reduce its appearance as much as possible.

Luckily for Us, products evolve and there are plenty of new developments aimed to make the struggle with cellulite more manageable. Case in point: The Body Cream from Augustinus Bader. Not only has it been getting tons of attention from beauty experts left and right, A-list celebrities are swooning. After hearing the endless buzz surrounding this product, we just had to do a deep dive to find out what its all about.

Get the Augustinus Bader The Body Cream Cellular Renewal Body Cream for $165, available to pre-order from Violet Grey!

When we said it was award-winning, we meant it. Since launching in 2019, this thick and luxurious body cream has snapped up countless industry accolades including 2020s Best Body Lotion prize at this years Glamour Magazine Beauty Awards. Now, thats a seriously competitive market, so we know its the real deal.

This body cream uses a complex known as TFC8, which stands for Trigger Factor Complex. Its a patented formula that was developed by Professor Augustinus Bader, a top biomedical scientist, over the past three decades. This complex is said to help awaken stem cells that have been dormant, which ramps up the renewal process. This results in firmer skin, which can help quickly diminish the appearance of cellulite. This cream can also help even out tone, reduce sun spots and make the skin appear renewed and more youthful.

Get the Augustinus Bader The Body Cream Cellular Renewal Body Cream for $165, available to pre-order from Violet Grey!

If all of these benefits seem too good to be true, Bader has the data to back up the bold claims. The brand conducted a clinical study over the course of 12 weeks with 35 participants in order to evaluate how many achieved the desired results with this body cream. A whopping 75% of the participants saw a noticeable reduction in the appearance of cellulite on the hips, 74% saw a reduction in their posterior areas and 64% saw a reduction in both the appearance of cellulite on the thighs and stretch marks! Yes, if there were any doubts that this body cream was a miracle worker, you can put those right to bed. This may be the investment product youve been dreaming of pre-order now before it sells out again!

See it: Get the Augustinus Bader The Body Cream Cellular Renewal Body Cream for $165, available to pre-order from Violet Grey!

Not what youre looking for? Check out more products from Augustinus Bader and shop all of the beauty and skincare available from Violet Grey here!

Check out more of our picks and deals here!

This post is brought to you by Us Weeklys Shop With Us team. The Shop With Us team aims to highlight products and services our readers might find interesting and useful. Product and service selection, however, is in no way intended to constitute an endorsement by either Us Weekly or of any celebrity mentioned in the post.

The Shop With Us team may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. In addition, Us Weekly receives compensation from the manufacturer of the products we write about when you click on a link and then purchase the product featured in an article. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product or service is featured or recommended. Shop With Us operates independently from advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback at ShopWithUs@usmagazine.com. Happy shopping!

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This Award-Winning Body Cream Can Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite by 75% - Us Weekly

All The Hacks You Need To Know About Sandra Bullock’s Beauty – TheThings

We've all been talking about Sandra Bullock's beauty for several years now, and we still aren't sure how she manages to look stunning in every single photo of hers. Although she dismissed the idea of having plastic surgery, she does affirm that just like almost every Hollywood celebrity, the Bird Box actress uses natural remedies and a particular treatment which even surprised Ellen Degeneres!

Apparently, yes. In 2018, The Oceans 8 star revealed on The Ellen Show that she gets her foreskin facial also famously known as EGF serum by New York-based celebrity beautician, Georgia Louise who also treats stars like Katy Perry, Cate Blanchett, and Emma Stone.

The480 treatment which has the stem cells from foreskin Korean babies is what makes her skin to look younger and fuller. Approved by the state Department for control over products and medicines, Louise wanted to give Sandra something that would prevent her from undergoing any needles or lasers.

Related:Even Kim Kardashian Has Big Beauty Regrets

"I wanted to give Sandra something that would change her skin without having to go through the lasers and would provide long-term results," George Louise told to People. "In her case, the effect of the procedure seems to work great."

"It's this way in which one forces through micro-needlingit's a little roller, I think many of you know it," She said. "It pushes through the skin, ruptures the collagen and boosts it and you look like a burn victim for a day."

Apart from using the strange serum, Bullock also practices wipes her face with slices of fruits that leaves her skin looking fresh and toned. She uses anti-aging cosmetics as well to smooth out those fine lines and conceal the dark circles but avoids using it heavily on her face.

In fact, the one thing which she never forgets is quality cleansing, and she achieves that by using a sponge made of flannel fabric.

Related:10 Weird Beauty Techniques From Around The World

The 55-year-old actress refrains from using bright shades but instead opts for natural skin tones that make her look more elegant and quintessential. All she uses is a moisturizing cream, a neutral eye shadow, lip gloss, blush and, mascara, and she's good to go.

According to Popsugar, Sandra Bullock often consumes lean proteins in her diet and her menu usually consists of salads, steamed rice, tea and, fresh juices. Emirates Woman reports that Bullock sticks to her lean diet for six days a week but gives her body the freedom to indulge in the things that make her (everyone) happy such as chocolates and sweets.

CBS News reports that Bullock enjoys chicken and turkey meals that are sugar and gluten-free and that she eats throughout the day to maintain her metabolism.

Related:Anna Hathaway Reveals These Simple Yet Stunning Beauty Secrets

Apart from all that, the Speed actress's main beauty secret is apples! She eats apples and honey to overcome her sweet cravings.

"I start Friday night and I end Saturday night." She told InStyle.

She has a simple mantra to keep her healthy and young and that's to eat 5 times a day, eat in small portions, drink a lot of water and to avoid eating after 6 pm.

"There's always cardio like dance, jump roping or rebounding," Bullock told Women's Health. "Then we alternate between 10-minute intervals of high-intensity cardio and strength training moves that focus on different body parts."

Well, it's not easy for a Hollywood Star to maintain their health in between their sleepless nights and busy schedules but Bullock does it all with a strong mindset.

"I never did anything according to what anyone else wanted. That's why I think I am happy," She continued, adding. "I know when I'm getting ready to mess up, I'm going to do it full-on. I now know that anything sweet, really sweet, that I have was nothing that I planned."

And that's about all the hacks we know about the mother of two's everlasting beauty.

Next:Here Are 15 Things Sandra Bullock Has Been Up To Since Bird Box

Ellen DeGeneres Tries To Go From Bad Joke To Good Deed

Aaliyah Salia is the author of the 13: We all Start as Strangers, a poet, freelance writer, Vlogger, Travel Enthusiast, Script Writer, Proofreader, and Gamer. She has written many fanfictions on the online writing platform called Wattpad and is a Level 2 Seller on Fiverr.

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All The Hacks You Need To Know About Sandra Bullock's Beauty - TheThings

Cyborg computer chips will get their brain from human neurons – SYFY WIRE

A.I.has already gotten to almost sci-fi levels of emulating brain activity, so much so that amputees can experience mind-controlled robotic arms, and neural networks might soon be a thing. That still wasnt enough for the brains behind one ambitious startup, though.

Cortical Labs sounds like it could have been pulled from the future. Co-founder and CEO Hong Wen Chong and his team are merging biology and technology by embedding real neurons onto a specialized computer chip. Instead of being programmed to act like a human brain, it will use those neurons to think and learn and function on its own. The hybrid chips will save tremendous amounts of energy with an actual neuron doing the processing for them.

Biological neural networks can solve problems in unfamiliar situations independent of acquired knowledge due to their self-organizing properties, says the companys website. Fluid intelligence is an essential requirement for autonomous robots.

Bio-computing was first switched on with neurons from mouse embryos, but can now use human neurons. Cortical Labs can morph human skin cells back into stem cells and then induce them to grow into actual human neurons. This was a process originally developed by Japanese scientists who were looking to eliminate the controversy that comes with using human embryonic stem cells. These cells are so useful because they havent yet decided what their function will be. That means they can be manipulated into just about anything.

After the skin cells undergo their transformation into neurons, a nourishing liquid medium is used to embed them onto a tiny metal oxide chip that has an even tinier grid of 22,00 electrodes. It is these electrodes that speak to programmers about when to zap electrical inputs to the neurons, letting them know what kind of outputs they are getting.

Artificially created neurons turn out the same as neurons that would (hypothetically) be taken from your gray matter, except there is no brain invasion required. Something like that would cross over from science fiction to science horror.

Right now, these chips are close to processing things like a dragonfly brain, so there are still upgrades to be made. Remember spending hours at the arcade playing Pong? Chong is determined to teach the chips to play that retro Atari game, and being powered by neurons uses just a fraction of what they would if they were only functioning on computerized intelligence. Think about it. The human brain has over a billion neurons, and our level of intelligence runs on only about 20 watts of power. Thats more than enough to play a marathon session of Pong.

Biological computing is the new frontier of computational power efficiency, the website says.

By the way, this wasnt the first time Pong got scientific star power. A.I. company DeepMind used it, along with other early Atari games that might be collecting dust in your basement somewhere, to demo how algorithms modeled after human neuron functions could perform. DeepMinds software scored high enough to convince Google into buying it. Now Google is using that tech to control the monster air conditioning units in its data centers, where it gets unbearably hot from servers devouring enough energy to keep entire cities running.

Cortical Labs is currently using mouse neurons on its quest to get hybrid chips to play Pong, but it probably wont be long before they use mutant human neurons. Gnarly.

(via Business Insider/Cortical Labs)

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Cyborg computer chips will get their brain from human neurons - SYFY WIRE

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