Genetherapy

Life Extension is a natural brand that provides you with supplements based on scientific research to help with many different symptoms and conditions.

Carrying a range of products that aid with brain function, weight loss, energy, and more, anyone can find a supplement to suit their personal needs from this company.

Life Extension has already gained over 48K followers on Instagram and 344K on Facebook, making them popular with their fans online.

With personalized wellness specialists and magazine subscriptions available to help you with your supplemental needs, Life Extension has a variety of options for new customers who want extra information.

Through this Life Extension review, Ill be exploring the brands products, customer ratings, promotions, and more to help you decide whether these are the right supplements for you.

Life Extension is a health and wellness brand that has been around for over 40 years, bringing the public a variety of natural and nutritious supplements to help improve your day-to-day life.

Using science-backed ingredients, Life Extension has found a way to spread their vision of nutrition throughout the world.

Life Extension is based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and manufactures its supplements in the US. Their products are GMP-approved, which means that they are made with Good Manufacturing Practices.

Life Extensions mission is simply that they are committed to finding new ways to empower you to live a healthier, richer life. The brand has their own lab through which they conduct experiments to find the best ingredients.

I will now use this Life Extension review to provide you with a few main highlights of the brand and help you gain more of an understanding of their supplements.

Read on to find out further details about Life Extensions supplements.

If you feel like your mind isnt as sharp as youd like, Life Extension Magnesium Threonate may be your best bet. This supplement is ideal for anyone hoping for a quick brain boost with long-lasting effects.

With a focus on healthy memory and youthful cognitive function, Magnesium Threonate can help you get your mind back on track.

Almost everyone has experienced the struggle of trying to focus when all you want to do is relax. Brain fog isnt easy to fight, but sometimes it can feel like theres so much in your brain that you feel like its overflowing.

Magnesium is vital for brain function, and unfortunately, your brain starts losing magnesium as you age. Because you dont get much magnesium from your diet and environment, supplements like these can give you the extra help that youre missing.

Life Extension Magnesium Threonate comes in bottles of 90 vegetarian capsules, meant to last you for 30 days. The brand offers either a one-time purchase or a subscription option for the following prices:

The brand website also offers you a 10% discount on your order by buying 4 bottles at once ($27 each).

You can find this supplement on the following retail partner websites for a one-time purchase:

The main ingredient of Life Extension Magnesium Threonate is magnesium. Magnesium[1] is essential for brain health, but it starts to deplete with age.

Although mild magnesium deficits arent that noticeable, they can get to a much more serious level. This is reflected in the number of neurodegenerative brain diseases that people experience in their old age.

Magnesium[2] is crucial in providing your brain with a boost, helping with many different cognitive functions like memory and learning. This is especially useful for people as they age because their natural magnesium levels start to drop.

Magnesium can even help after the experience of traumatic brain injury[3], protecting against neurological deficits.

Life Extension Magnesium Threonate comes with three major benefits for everyone:

When you take Life Extension Magnesium Threonate, the magnesium makes its way to your nervous system and brain. This ingredient boosts your natural properties and strengthens the connections to provide you with a long-term brain boost and improved health overall.

You should take 3 capsules of Life Extension Magnesium Threonate a day unless a healthcare provider has recommended something different. Youll see the best results if you take this supplement daily.

Losing weight isnt a one-step process. It requires many different factors coming together to make the change happen.

For most people, that can include eating well, exercising regularly, and avoiding all other temptations. But one thing people forget to add to their healthcare regimen is an excellent natural supplement.

Now Im not saying that taking a supplement can replace the hard work that comes with everything you need to do to lose weight. Still, consuming certain vitamins and minerals can make a difference that can make the process less of a struggle.

With Life Extension Body Trim and Appetite Control, you get the chance to continue making healthy choices without feeling the temptations of all the yummy cravings around you.

With its primary focus on reducing cravings and keeping you full after every meal, you may realize that your weight loss journey has taken on a much more efficient route.

Life Extension Body Trim and Appetite comes in bottles of 30 vegetarian capsules, meant to last you for 30 days. The brand offers either a one-time purchase or a subscription option for the following prices:

The brand website also offers an 11% discount when you buy 4 bottles at once. Each supplement will then cost you $20.

You can find this supplement at Walmart for $27 (one-time purchase).

Life Extension Body Trim and Appetite is made from an ingredient named Metabolaid, a unique compound made of lemon verbena extract and hibiscus.

Lemon verbena extract is derived from a plant, while hibiscus is a flower. Both ingredients have great digestive properties[4] and are useful in helping you control your appetite and curb unhealthy cravings.

There are many nutritional benefits of the ingredients in Life Extension Body Trim and Appetite, all of which work together to provide you with the best support for your digestion and weight loss.

By keeping you full and sated after a regular meal, youre not tempted to eat anything unhealthy, preventing you from overeating.

Life Extension Magnesium Threonate comes with the following benefits for those who use it:

Life Extension Body Trim and Appetite works by helping to control your appetite. A huge portion of weight gain is knowing when to stop eating, even when youre full.

So, the main ingredient in this supplement provides you with a signal so that you dont stuff yourself with food that you cant handle.

Its important that you pair this supplement with a healthy diet and exercise, so you can see the best results of this supplement. The supplement alone may not help you see the results youd like without a healthy lifestyle.

Thats why this supplement comes with a free app for you to track your progress and receive encouragement on your hard work.

You should take 1 capsule of this supplement a day before breakfast. Youll notice the best results if you take the supplement daily.

When youre so busy with life, it can get easy to get down in the dumps. No one thinks about using dietary supplements to get their energy back, but believe it or not, there are natural ingredients out there that can charge your metaphorical batteries and get you back to your peppy self.

Life Extension NAD+ Cell Regenerator and Resveratrol is an energy-boosting supplement that can jump-start your day at a cellular level. With the goal of longevity, this supplement aims to boost your cellular energy, improve your cellular metabolism, and encourage healthy aging.

Life Extension NAD+ Cell Regenerator and Resveratrol comes in bottles of 30 vegetarian capsules, meant to last you for 30 days. The brand offers either a one-time purchase or a subscription option for the following prices:

The brand website also offers a discount of 11% for a 4-pack ($40 each).

You can find this supplement on the following retail partner websites (one-time purchase):

The serving size for this supplement is one capsule, and it contains the following ingredients:

Non-active ingredients include silica, maltodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearate, and vegetable cellulose to form the capsule itself.

This supplement has a few different ingredients. However, the two main ingredients are Niagen and resveratrol, which come together to provide you with cellular health and energy.

Your body naturally produces vitamin B3, which works to repair your cells and make you look younger by releasing the essential enzyme NAD+[5]. Thats exactly what Niagen[6] does as well.

Both Niagen and vitamin B3 are alternatives to each other, so this supplement contains an ingredient that may slow down aging.

Resveratrol[7] generally promotes and maintains health and longevity, ensuring that you live a long and healthy life. More specifically, this ingredient can have an impact on diseases and keep you safe throughout old age.

Other properties of resveratrol[8] include antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.

All ingredients within this supplement work together to increase NAD+ levels in your body, which has enormous benefits for middle-aged and older adults[9].

Life Extension NAD+ Cell Regenerator and Resveratrol can provide you with the following benefits:

The two main ingredients of Niagen and resveratrol work together to heal your cells and keep you healthy and young in the long-term.

Niagen increases NAD+ levels in your system to increase cellular energy, while resveratrol[10] works by managing and even preventing diseases, conditions, and aiding recovery from injuries.

You should take 1 capsule a day of Life Extension NAD+ Cell Regenerator and Resveratrol with or without food. Youll see the best results if you take this supplement daily for a whole month.

Based on this Life Extension review, many products by this brand cater to anyone over 18. This isnt uncommon, as most supplements contain doses and ingredients that may not be suited for young children.

A product like the Magnesium Threonate would be a better fit for you if youre looking to boost your brain function, whereas Body Trim and Appetite Control would be better for you if youre struggling with losing weight and keeping it off.

Meanwhile, a product like NAD+ Cell Regenerator and Resveratrol is more inclusive and almost anyone can benefit from using it, as it helps provide you with long-term cellular energy.

Please note that if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication for any serious illnesses, have a weakened immune system, or have any severe allergies or reactions, you should speak with your doctor before taking Life Extension supplements.

Because Life Extension supplements come from natural ingredients that mimic the bodys vitamins and minerals, there are no official side effects reported about any of the products.

However, as this brand works with dietary supplements, there is still a risk that you may experience stomach cramps, nausea, or poor bowel movements. This is especially likely if you dont follow the suggested dosage.

This Life Extension review found quite a positive reaction to the products I went over. Customers rated the products highly with detailed success stories posted on the brand website, as well as partner websites like Amazon, Walmart, and iHerb.

The Life Extension products I reviewed posted the following ratings on the brand website:

Life Extension targets a variety of different goals with their many products, including improved brain function, weight loss, and boosted energy. The customers who have tried their supplements mostly had great things to say about the benefits that they experienced.

One satisfied customer commented on the change he noticed after taking Magnesium Threonate for 2 months, stating, I experienced an immediate shift in mental clarity on the first dose. Now after two months, I am excited about improved thought organization, increased multitasking ability, and increased short and long term memory.

This was supported by another post on Amazon, where a customer made a comment along the same lines, saying:

Morning of Day 4 the brain fog is gone. After 3 years of the cloud living in my consciousness slowly putting me to sleep, I have taken initiative and made the effort to stop the numbing effects of whatever it is that is slowing me down and not caring.

The Body Trim and Appetite supplement also has positive ratings. One customer commented, After taking this supplement for about a week, I did notice a change in my tendency to snack. The evening is when I tend to snack, not because Im hungry but because I have developed a really bad habit to do so. Its really helping!

The few negative reviews about this supplement were regarding the lack of results, but since all bodies are different, it can take people an additional time to see results.

The brand also holds a 3.1/5-star rating on Trustpilot, with 60% of reviews ranking as excellent. Most customer complaints are about shipping times and customer service, though that does imply that very few people have problems with the products themselves.

All in all, most people who tried the Life Extension products were happy with their purchase, and some even mentioned using them for multiple years. The brands supplements have helped many people and have reached the goals they set out to!

Based on my evaluation of the brand, its products, and the many reviews posted on multiple platforms, I think Life Extension is legit.

The brand has very clear details posted on their website and all third-party retailer sites regarding how each product works and what they are made of.

There are many customer reviews that have commented on the benefits theyve experienced since starting to take Life Extension products which make their effectiveness believable.

There are no complaints about Life Extensions shipping policy, and it seems like everyone who placed an order got their products right on time. Plus, the brand has a transparent approach to deliveries, where theyve outlined the different delivery times and prices on their website.

This Life Extension review can say with confidence that this is a legitimate supplement brand that has done its research.

This Life Extension review finds that this brand is worth purchasing for many different reasons. The variety of products, the effectiveness of the ingredients, and the glowing customer reviews are only the tip of the iceberg when you consider the positive features of this brand.

On the off chance that you buy a Life Extension supplement and discover that its not right for you, you have 12 whole months to contact the customer service team and either get a replacement product or a credit on your account.

Overall, I believe that Life Extension is worth a try.

Life Extension offers a subscription program on their brand website that allows you to get a discount of up to 11% off the retail prices of their products. If you subscribe, you will receive your supplements delivered every month.

The brand also offers the same discount for customers who opt for a one-time purchase but buy four bottles of the supplement instead of just one.

You can purchase Life Extension from its main website at https://www.lifeextension.com/. Some products can also be found at Amazon, Walmart, and iHerb.

Unfortunately, no Life Extension is not vegan. However, their products are 100% vegetarian. If you have a specific dietary restriction, you should be careful to consume Life Extension supplements. They may contain ingredients derived from live animals, such as eggs, dairy, or beeswax.

Yes, all Life Extension products are 100% gluten-free. You are safe to consume this brands supplements if you have this dietary restriction.

Life Extension offers a few different shipping options within the domestic US, including the following:

For shipping internationally, the delivery costs may vary based on where you placed the order. You can find the list of countries that Life Extension ships to at the following link: https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/shipping/shipping-information.

Life Extension offers 12 months to return your products without a penalty. Thats a whole year for you to change your mind! If youre unhappy with your purchase, make sure to contact the customer service team, and you can get your products replaced or add a credit to your account.

Return policies on other websites may vary.

If you have any more questions that this Life Extension review didnt answer, you can contact the company directly. They are available at different times via the following contact information:

You can also find this information at the following website: https://www.lifeextension.com/quest-com

For more health and wellness products, take a peak at these brands:

Restore Hyper Wellness

Love Wellness

Rae Wellness

Originally posted here:
Life Extension Review - Must Read This Before Buying

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

How to live forever: meet the extreme life-extensionists

February 26th, 2023

In 2016, an American real-estate investor named James Strole established the Coalition for Radical Life Extension, a nonprofit based in Arizona which aims to galvanise mainstream support for science that might one day significantly prolong human life. Standards in modern medicine are allowing us to live longer now than ever before. But that is not Stroles concern. What good are a few more measly years? He is interested in extending life not by days and weeks, but by decades and even centuries, to the degree that mortality becomes optional an end to The End. The deathist paradigm has to go, a line on the Coalitions website reads. Its time to look beyond the past of dying to a future of unlimited living. It describes its supporters as early-adopting advocates, numbering in the thousands.

Life extensionists (or longevists, or immortalists) fit neatly into two types. The first are rationalists: scientific researchers at the coalface of gerontology, the study of ageing, chipping away at the many technical difficulties of ending entropy. Strole is the second type. A businessman, he has no formal scientific training, but is nevertheless resolutely committed to the cause, eager to rally behind new findings. He hopes to live indefinitely, or at least until 150. But he is ultimately reliant on researchers finding a way. Consider him less a gerontological groupie than a politely optimistic mega-fan, sitting on the sidelines of science, willing on a major breakthrough.

He isnt alone. Life extensionists have become a fervent and increasingly vocal bunch. Famously, the community includes venture capitalists and Silicon Valley billionaires, non-gerontologists all, and nearly all men, who consider death undesirable and appear to have made so much money they require infinite life in which to spend it. But now mere mortals are joining the throng, heads filled with fantasies of forever. Humans have lusted after immortality for as long as they have been alive. So far the quest has been unsuccessful we still die! But good news: paradise is reported to be closer now than ever before, and private clinics and online pharmacies are promising to help get us there, there being the future, all of it.

Strole has been an evangelist of human immortality since he was a child, when his grandmother died, and he felt a pain you cant even describe, its so deep in your gut. He was 11, still new to the world, and he came to think of death, like most of us do at some point or another, as deeply unfair.

In the early 1970s, when he was in his 20s, he began touring the US as a public speaker, sharing what was then limited gerontological research, but nevertheless extolling its possibilities and advocating the anti-ageing benefits of a positive mindset: Isnt life great? You can live forever if you really try! Because Strole is not scientifically accredited, he mostly based his patter around inspirational healthy-living tips, much of which would now fall under the umbrella of common-sense wellness: exercise, eat well but not too much, look after yourself. But still his message seemed radical, and he was not always well-received. Audiences wary of Stroles ideas condemned him for testing Gods will, or disrupting the natural order. His concepts ran counter to the common world view that we live and then we die. Particularly aggravated spectators referred to him as the devil. Every now and then he received death threats.

Nevertheless, he persisted. He considered himself fortunate to work in a field that meant he was privy to insider information and he became convinced a significant breakthrough was around the corner. To fully prepare his body for the rigmarole of centuries-long life, he adopted a strict health regimen. He fasted, juiced, cleansed and devoured supplements, inviting audiences to do the same. Eventually, a community formed, driven by a shared, urgent aversion to death. We felt then how important it was to do everything you could to stay alive, he says

Strole is now 70. He lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, a desert town. In the life-extensionist mode, he avoids dairy and rarely touches bread, though he devours a whole heap of other things. Recently his diet has included pills, branded Cognitive, which he takes twice a day and claims have all sorts of nourishing effects on his brain. (What good is maintaining the body if not the mind?) The pills are part of a self-directed anti-ageing process that requires a lot of swallowing. On some days, Strole takes 70 supplements, including a tablet that energises the mitochondria (mitochondria produce energy) and whose effects resemble a shot of coffee, minus the jitters, as well as vitamins, multi-nutrients and metformin, a diabetes drug that has become so popular among life extensionists that one referred to it as the aspirin of anti-ageing. In the early mornings, when the Arizona air is still brisk, he takes a cold dip in his pool to shock his immune system into better function, and at some point or another he lies face-up on an electromagnetic mat that whirs silently against his body and opens up the veins, and engages in a breathing regime that, he says, balances the hormones.

These are typical life-extension strategies, though most people supplement regimens with their own ideas. Some fast. Others arrange expensive stem cell replacement therapies. To maintain a supple mind, the gerontologist Marios Kyriazis, who is in his 60s and heads the British Longevity Society, reads the newspaper upside down, and whenever that becomes too easy, he reads the newspaper upside down and reflected in a mirror. Think of it as an alternative to Sudoko.

What good is all of this? The current life-extensionist strategy is twofold. First, achieve a wellness foundation, Strole says. Second, stay alive until the coming gerontological breakthrough. All that is required is to live long enough for the next innovation, and presuming you do, You can buy another 20 years. Twenty years here, 20 years there, it all adds up, and suddenly youre 300. This is a common view. Last year the British billionaire Jim Mellon, who has written a book on longevity, titled Juvenescence, said: If you can stay alive for another 10 to 20 years, if you arent yet over 75 and if you remain in reasonable health for your age, you have an excellent chance of living to more than 110. To most, 110 seems a modest target. Why not forever? Its not some big quantum leap, Strole says, by way of explanation. He invokes the analogy of a ladder: step by step by step to unlimited life. In 2009 the American futurist Ray Kurzweil, another supplement enthusiast, coined a similar metaphor, referring instead to bridges to immortality.

Where to begin with the almighty question: why would anyone think this a good idea? Strole is openly afraid of death (who isnt? He argues), though he seems more motivated by a kind of curiosity. We live our lives knowing they will one day end. Imagine what we might accomplish if they didnt. (It is not clear exactly what Strole might actually want to accomplish: self-actualisation? World peace? That tricky jigsaw?) The American entrepreneur Dave Asprey, who is 46 but hopes to live beyond 180, and who takes 150 supplements a day, told me: I cant imagine running out of exciting new problems to solve!

This motivation is common the burning desire to help and it can be seen as morally virtuous or horribly presumptuous, depending on your opinion on the altruistic potential of a bunch of disproportionately wealthy, middle-aged men. (Is it possible the future will become a refuge for the rich, who experience life as a sequence of exquisite events and who might not understand the concept of entropy as relief or escape?) Few life extensionists openly admit to hedonistic impulses. You can only smoke so many Cuban cigars, Asprey says, before youre like, Ive got to buckle down. Though when I asked the British gerontologist Aubrey de Grey why indefinite life appeals, he replied, half-joking: My hot tub.

De Grey, a serious scientist, considers life extension a health issue, which is perhaps the fields most convincing argument. Gerontologists are not hoping to end death, he says. Instead, Were interested in people not getting sick when they get old. No matter how much society rails against the concept of immortality, nobody really wants to suffer through Alzheimers, or suddenly fall foul of cardiovascular disease. Gerontology is the act of developing treatments for age-related diseases, de Grey argues of reducing the causes of death, not death itself. The benefits of living longer are not the point, he says. The benefits are not having Alzheimers disease. For de Grey, indefinite life is a by-product, not a goal.

Are we anywhere near to a breakthrough? So far, research has produced modest yields. Gerontologists speak prophetically of potential, but most warn a significant human development remains somewhere far off in the distance almost in sight but not quite. Richard Hodes, the director of the National Institute of Aging, a US government agency, told me that, though research in animals has led to dramatic increases in lifespan, some of them multi-fold, There has been far less quantitative effect as those models have moved towards mammalian species. The biologist Laura Deming, who in 2011 established the Longevity Fund, a venture capital firm that supports high-potential longevity companies, told me that startups continue to successfully root out biological markers of ageing inefficient cells, mitochondrial decline but that, in humans, We really dont know right now what will work and what wont.

Much of gerontology focuses on identifying types of damage that accumulate with age and developing ways to halt or reverse that accumulation. It has been discovered, for example, that as we grow older, certain cells become ineffective but nevertheless stick around, getting in the way like comatose guests at the end of a house party. Removing those cells have helped mice have longer, healthier lifespans (this is called senescence.) Similar forms of genetic engineering have been successful in other animal models. But to reach the mainstream, gerontologists must convince government agencies to support human adoption, a complicated and long-winded task, given the general view that death is a normal human process. Why play God?

In any case, it is likely that one single longevity strategy alone wont help us much. Life extensionists enjoy a metaphor: humans are complicated machines, they say, like cars, but mushy. And what happens to a machine if you dont look after it? It rusts. It splutters and spurts, until it reaches its inevitable conclusion. De Grey considers ageing a multifaceted problem. Humans incur many different types of damage. We dont just rust. We scratch. We dent. Rubbish accumulates in our footwells and grime develops in our engines. We require multiple strategies of repair constant fine-tuning. Whats the point in removing those senescent cells if that molecular junk continues to build up?

De Grey shares Stroles belief that innovations are coming. But, unlike Strole, he considers current strategies almost pointless. He does not take hundreds of supplements. He does not pay for stem-cell transfusions. I want to wait and see, he says. At 56, he is content to sit tight for treatments that have become progressively more effective so I dont have to use clunky, first-generation therapies that may have side-effects.

This does not seem to bother Strole, nor others in the community. Time is running out! Bring on the treatments! At RAADfest, the Coalitions annual conference the Woodstock of radical life extension visitors are invited to root through the latest in anti-ageing products, of which there are many. Try DHEA PRO-25, an anti-ageing hormone. Or NAD+PRO, advertised to boost physical and mental energy. Or Piracetam, from the family of smart drugs, or nootropics, which claim to enhance brain function. Strole named the area: The marketplace of your future. It is popular among RAADfest guests for the power of its promise: the opportunity to realise the hoped-for self. This is Wellness 2.0 beyond the cosmetic. We have been anti-ageing our skin for years. Why not our insides, too?

Jim Mellon is reported to have described the longevity market as a fountain of cash, and has urged friends to invest. Business is already lucrative, but it is a market that appears to take little notice of efficacy. The majority of anti-ageing products remain unregulated patent pending, in the vernacular and more than a few appear utterly useless. Earlier this year, the US government released a statement condemning the anti-ageing fad of transfusing young blood into older bodies, a practice researchers have proved effective in mice but which, the FDA said, should not be assumed to be safe or effective in humans. (The treatments cost thousands of dollars, and led to concern that Patients are being preyed upon by unscrupulous actors.)

A decade ago, the American Association of Medicine publicly condemned the sale of anti-ageing hormones, an industry that was reported to be worth $50bn. Despite the widespread promotion of hormones as anti-ageing agents by for-profit websites, the association said, the scientific evidence to support these claims is lacking.

The oldest person to have lived, Jeanne Calment, reached 122, though she was perhaps not the greatest example of good health: she smoked until she was 117. The most successful life-extension methods we know of seem to be those we have known all along: eat well, sleep well, exercise, reduce stress and rely on modern medicine, which has prolonged average lifespans significantly over the past 160 years.

Strole does that and more. So far its working, he says. He is 6ft 4 and 13st the perfect weight with a slick of glossy grey hair. Perhaps his regimen is effective. Or, perhaps, like Calment, he has won a kind of genetic lottery, his healthy hair predisposed. It is difficult to say exactly, but, as of this moment, he will die. What happens if a breakthrough doesnt arrive in his lifetime? Well, then were in a little bit of hot water, he says. But its better to go for it than to not go for it. Its better than just settling in. Dont go quietly into the night.

The rest is here:
How to live forever: meet the extreme life-extensionists

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

7-year-old vows to find a cure for brother in need of bone marrow transplant – WJLA

February 26th, 2023

7-year-old vows to find a cure for brother in need of bone marrow transplant WJLA

Original post:
7-year-old vows to find a cure for brother in need of bone marrow transplant - WJLA

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Inside Philip Rhoades’ bid to be frozen in a new Australian cryonics …

February 18th, 2023

Philip Rhoades plans to be on this earth far beyond his natural expiry date.

"If I got hit by a bus tomorrow then a number of people in various organisations would do what they could to cool me down quickly,"he said.

The 71-year-old is an avid follower of the cryonics movement the practice of deep-freezing human remains in the hope they will be thawed out and reanimated in the future.

The Southern Hemisphere's first cryonics facility, Southern Cryonics,opened its doors last week in Holbrook, in the NSW Riverina.

Mr Rhoades is a member of the American-based Cryonics Institute, where heplans to be frozen.

But as an inaugural employee of Southern Cryonics, henow hopes to become a member and befrozen at the facility when the time comes.

"There's a 70 to 80 per cent chance I'll end up at Holbrook,"Mr Rhoades said.

Human remains will be deep frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored in large, steel chambers at the facility for what Mr Rhoades hopes willbe a future defrosting.

There is currently no method or technology that allows for the reanimation of frozen human remains.

The practice is also costly newer customers at the Holbrook facility have beenasked to take out a life insurance policy worth about $200,000.

Deakin UniversityHuman Ethics Advisory Group faculty chairNeera Bhatia described cryonics as a mixture of "hype and hope"that ethically posed"lots and lots of red flags".

"There is little to no scientific evidence to my mind that suggests it's possible to revive a person and reanimate a person to a living state," Dr Bhatiasaid.

She said while there was an argument a person couldmake their own decisions about how they wanted remains to be disposed of, there were a range of ethical concerns that needed to be considered.

"Do we actually have an obligation at some point to die and hand over the world to the next generation," she said.

Mr Rhoades said he and other members accepted the possibility they may never be revived, and swallowed the cost because they preferred the unknown of freezingover the finality of burial or cremation.

"Even though there's no guarantee about what's going to happen in the future, at least if you're frozenyou're still in the game to some extent,"he said.

Mr Rhoades said he hoped to be reunited with his parents, Gerald and Dorothy, if he was ever thawed.

With their consent, Mr Rhoades had his mother and father's brain tissue preserved at his foundation, the Neural Archives Foundation, after their deaths in 2016.

He said he hoped his parents' consciousness could return to the world in some form, be it a "biological brain in a biological body, or a synthetic brain in a synthetic body, or even a virtual person in a virtual world".

Dr Bhatia described the idea of a virtual world as "a step too far out of reality".

"It just beggars belief that they would not only be preserved and brought back to life, but that even further, they would wake up to an entirely different world to the one you and I and we all live in," she said.

"I think this is probably something for science fiction novels rather than reality."

She said in the unlikely scenario that a person could be reanimated, other factors such as the likelihood of brain damage or the consciousness being "trapped in uncontrollable pain" needed to be considered.

"I don't see how that would be hopeful to wake up to that world, I think it would be a hellish world to be trapped in that kind of consciousness," she said.

Mr Rhoades said he hadweathered years of jokes about "being a popsicle" for his outspoken support of cryonics, but with the opening of the new facility, he believedpublic perception wasshifting.

"Over the last couple of decades people have started to think that anything might be possible," he said.

More:
Inside Philip Rhoades' bid to be frozen in a new Australian cryonics ...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Dr. Nishath Hakim, is Among the First Doctors in America to be Named a Best Doctor by the Womens Choice Award – EIN News

February 18th, 2023

Dr. Nishath Hakim, is Among the First Doctors in America to be Named a Best Doctor by the Womens Choice Award EIN News

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Dr. Nishath Hakim, is Among the First Doctors in America to be Named a Best Doctor by the Womens Choice Award - EIN News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A Possible Connection between Mild Allergic Airway Responses and Cardiovascular Risk Featured in Toxicological Sciences – Newswise

February 10th, 2023

A Possible Connection between Mild Allergic Airway Responses and Cardiovascular Risk Featured in Toxicological Sciences Newswise

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A Possible Connection between Mild Allergic Airway Responses and Cardiovascular Risk Featured in Toxicological Sciences - Newswise

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

VERU INC. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (form 10-Q) – Marketscreener.com

February 10th, 2023

VERU INC. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (form 10-Q) Marketscreener.com

Excerpt from:
VERU INC. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (form 10-Q) - Marketscreener.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Hypogonadism – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

February 10th, 2023

Continuing Education Activity

Male hypogonadism, acquired or congenital, can be caused by defects that interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. It is essential to distinguish between primary hypogonadism (which originates in the testes) and secondary hypogonadism (which originates in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland). Symptoms highly suggestive of hypogonadism include decreased spontaneous erections, decreased nocturnal penile tumescence, decreased libido, and reduced testicular volume. This activity reviews the evaluation and management of male hypogonadism and describes which patients are most likely to benefit from screening. This activity highlights the role of the interprofessional team in improving care for patients with male hypogonadism.

Objectives:

Describe the etiology of male hypogonadism.

Explain the pathophysiology of male hypogonadism.

Review the evaluation of male hypogonadism.

Describe interprofessional team strategies for improving care coordination and communication to patients with male hypogonadism.

Nintey-five percent of the total testosterone in males is synthesized in the Leydig cells of the testis.Defects, whether acquired or congenital, that interefere with interactions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis cancause male hypogonadism It is essential to distinguish between primary hypogonadism (which originates in the testes) and secondary hypogonadism (which originates in the hypothalamus or pituitary). Symptoms highly suggestive of hypogonadism include decreased spontaneous erections, decreased nocturnal penile tumescence, decreased libido, and reduced testicular volume. The normal range for early morning testosterone in amale is between 300 ng/dL to 1000 ng/dL[1]. Hypogonadism is diagnosed when the morning serum testosterone level is less than 300 ng/dL. However, clinicaljudgmentcan be exercised in the diagnosis of hypogonadismfor patients with persistentsymptoms of testosterone deficiency despite having testosterone levels are in the normal range [2]. Of note, total testosterone less than 405.9 ng/dL is below the fifthpercentile[3]. Elderly males should aim for testosterone levels between 500 and 800 ng/dL while young adults should aim for testosterone levels between 600 and 900 ng/dL.

Hypogonadism can be due to congenital or acquired causes. Ambiguous genitalia, micropenis, and bilateral cryptorchidism are all signs of testosterone deficiency in pre-pubertal males. Karyotype testing is done in young adults to rule out conditions such as Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome which can result in testosterone deficiency. Some causes of primary hypogonadism include Klinefelters syndrome, undescended testicles, mumps orchitis, hemochromatosis, cancer treatment, and normal aging. Causes of secondary hypogonadism include Kallman syndrome, pituitary disorders, HIV, obesity, surgery, trauma, and stress-induced hypogonadism[4].

Hypogonadism is often under-reported. According to some studies approximately 40% of men over the age of 45 and 50% of men in their 80s are hypogonadal[5][6]. Testosterone levels have been found to decrease by 100 ng/dL every ten years[7]. There appears to be no relationship between racial and ethnic groups with hypogonadism.

Testosterone production by testicularLeydig cells depends on stimulationfrom the anterior pituitary gland which secretespulses of luteinizing hormone (LH) into thecirculation.When LH binds toits receptors onLeydig cells, it causes cAMP levelsto rise. Increased levels ofcAMPdrives the expression of two proteins:StAR (the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) andCYP11A1 (the cholesterol sidechain clevage enzyme). StAR promotes the transfer of cholesterol from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the inner mitochondrial membrane while CYP11A1 promotes the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone, the precursor of all steroid hormones. Pregnenolone can undergo 17 alpha-hydroxylation to 17 OH pregnenolone which is converted to DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone[8]. DHEA is then converted into androstenediolin orderto maketestosterone.Primary hypogonadism is when the testicular steroidogenesisis insufficient to synthesis adequate levels oftestosterone while secondary hypogonadism is when signaling to the testis(eitherfrom thepituitary, through LH,or from the hypothalamus, through GnRH)is unable to stimulatesufficient Leydig cell testosterone production.

Symptoms highly suggestive of androgen deficiency in men include reduced sexual desire, decreased spontaneous erections, loss of axillary and pubic hair, declining testicular volume, hot flashes, low or zero sperm count. Other less suggestive symptoms include depressed mood, poor concentration, increased body fat, decreased physical performance, reduced muscle mass.

Population screeningis not recommended, butpatients with either HIV, end-stagerenal disease, type 2 diabetes, infertility, severe COPD,orosteoporosisshould be screened[9].The Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male (ADAM) test is the initial step in diagnosis; it consists of a 10-item questionnaire toidentify men who exhibit signs oftestosterone deficiency[10]. Initial laboratory testing should include two early morning (8 am-10 am) measurements of serum testosterone[11]. Ifboth levels are reduced, further testing including FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), LH, prolactin, TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), free T4 (thyroxine), vitamin D, complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, iron, transferrin, and cortisol are indicated. It is also important to measure sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in orderto calculate the bioavailable testosterone which can be affected by obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, and liver disease.

There are several options for testosterone replacement including oral, buccal, transdermal (gel, patch, solution, pellet), and intramuscular injections (add reference: Surampudi, P. et al. An Update on Male Hypogonadism Therapy. Expert Opin Pharmacother 15(9):1247-1264, 2014).Among these transdermal gels and intramuscular injections are the most widely used in the US.Testosterone gels are generallyrecommended due to patient preference, cost, convenience, and insurance coverage. The primary advantage of gels is the maintenance of stable serum testosterone concentrations resulting in stable libido, energy, and mood. There are various commercial prescription testosterone gel products, in varying concentrations. Gels should be applied toshoulder, upper arms, or abdomen and shouldn't be applied to the scrotum.Miller and colleagues (9) showed that the bioavailability of testosterone gel is 30 percent lower when applied to the abdomen compared to the armsor shoulders[12]. It is generally recommended that intramuscular injections of testosteronewith testosterone enanthateor testosterone cypionate be given 50 to 100mg doses every week or 100 to 200mg doses every two weeks. In 2014, the FDA approved an extra-long acting intramuscular injectable form of testosterone called testosterone undecanoate which is administered at an initial dose of 750mg followed by a second dose four weeks laterwith subsequent dosesgiven at ten week intervals. Testosterone undecanoate is not used as a first-line agent but ratherin patients that dont have access to other forms of treatment.

Contraindications to androgen replacement therapy include a history of breast cancer, prostate cancer, uncontrolled heart failure, untreated obstructive sleep apnea,a pre-treatmenthematocrit (Hct) over 48%, palpable undiagnosed prostate nodules, an elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) above 4ng/mL, or an elevated PSA level above 3ng/mL in high-risk patients including African Americans as well as menthat havea first-degree relative with prostate cancer[9].

Monitoring:

Pretreatment: Hgb, Hct, DRE (digital rectal exam), PSA level, two early morning testosterone levels, consider DEXA scan

One month after initiating treatment: morning testosterone level

3 to 6 months after from the start of therapy during the first year: morning testosterone level, liver function tests (LFTs), lipid profile, PSA, DRE, Hgb, Hct

Annually after the first year: morning testosterone level, LFTs, lipid profile, DRE, PSA, estradiol,Hgb, and Hct.

Differential diagnoses include hyperprolactinemia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, anorexia nervosa, androgen insensitivity syndrome, malnutrition, Turner syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and 5-alpha-reductase deficiency.Kallman syndrome should be ruled out in males complaining of anosmia or hyposmia. Pituitary gland masses need to be ruled out in patients complaining of visual disturbances.

It is important for nurses, physicians, and pharmacists to review the risks and benefits of therapy and to be aware of the contraindications to testosterone therapy. There are conflicting trials on the cardiovascular risks of testosterone, most notably the TOM (Testosterone in Older Men) trial and the TEAAM(Testosterone's Effects on Atherosclerosis Progression in Aging Men) trial.

Outcomes: The TOM trial found that the application of testosterone gel daily after six monthswas associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events[13]. The TOM trial used a sample size of 209 men with no monitoring of serum testosterone levels.Recently, the TEAAM trial published in 2015 followed 308 men over three years and found that testosterone administration resulted in no difference in cardiovascular risk[14].A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study found that testosterone undecanoate resulted in reduced fasting glucose, waist circumference, and improved carotid intima-mediathickness and high sensitivityC-reactive protein after 12 weeks of treatment[15]. (Level V)

Read more here:
Hypogonadism - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Male hypogonadism: Symptoms and treatment – PMC – PubMed Central (PMC)

February 10th, 2023

Abstract

Male hypogonadism is a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the testosterone hormone; the hormone that plays a key role in masculine growth and development during puberty. There is a clear need to increase the awareness of hypogonadism throughout the medical profession, especially in primary care physicians who are usually the first port of call for the patient. Hypogonadism can significantly reduce the quality of life and has resulted in the loss of livelihood and separation of couples, leading to divorce. It is also important for doctors to recognize that testosterone is not just a sex hormone. There is an important research being published to demonstrate that testosterone may have key actions on metabolism, on the vasculature, and on brain function, in addition to its well-known effects on bone and body composition. This article has been used as an introduction for the need to develop sensitive and reliable assays for sex hormones and for symptoms and treatment of hypogonadism.

Keywords: Male hypogonadism, pituitary, sex hormone, testosterone, testis

Hypogonadism is a medical term for decreased functional activity of the gonads. The gonads (ovaries or testes) produce hormones (testosterone, estradiol, antimullerian hormone, progesterone, inhibin B, activin) and gametes (eggs or sperm).[1] Male hypogonadism is characterized by a deficiency in testosterone a critical hormone for sexual, cognitive, and body function and development. Clinically low testosterone levels can lead to the absence of secondary sex characteristics, infertility, muscle wasting, and other abnormalities. Low testosterone levels may be due to testicular, hypothalamic, or pituitary abnormalities. In individuals who also present with clinical signs and symptoms, clinical guidelines recommend treatment with testosterone replacement therapy.

There are two basic types of hypogonadism that exist:

Primary: This type of hypogonadism also known as primary testicular failure originates from a problem in the testicles.

Secondary: This type of hypogonadism indicates a problem in the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland parts of the brain that signal the testicles to produce testosterone. The hypothalamus produces the gonadotropin releasing hormone, which signals the pituitary gland to make the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone. The luteinizing hormone then signals the testes to produce testosterone. Either type of hypogonadism may be caused by an inherited (congenital) trait or something that happens later in life (acquired), such as an injury or an infection.

Common causes of primary hypogonadism include:

Klinefelter's Syndrome: This condition results from a congenital abnormality of the sex chromosomes, X and Y. A male normally has one X and one Y chromosome. In Klinefelter's syndrome, two or more X chromosomes are present in addition to one Y chromosome. The Y chromosome contains the genetic material that determines the sex of a child and the related development. The extra X chromosome that occurs in Klinefelter's syndrome causes abnormal development of the testicles, which in turn results in the underproduction of testosterone.

Before birth, the testicles develop inside the abdomen and normally move down into their permanent place in the scrotum. Sometimes, one or both of the testicles may not descend at birth. This condition often corrects itself within the first few years of life without treatment. If not corrected in early childhood, it may lead to malfunction of the testicles and reduced production of testosterone.

If a mumps infection involving the testicles in addition to the salivary glands (mumps orchitis) occurs during adolescence or adulthood, long-term testicular damage may occur. This may affect normal testicular function and testosterone production.

Too much iron in the blood can cause testicular failure or pituitary gland dysfunction, affecting testosterone production.

Because of their location outside the abdomen, the testicles are prone to injury. Damage to normally developed testicles can cause hypogonadism. Damage to one testicle may not impair testosterone production.

Chemotherapy or radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer can interfere with testosterone and sperm production. The effects of both treatments are often temporary, but permanent infertility may occur. Although many men regain their fertility within a few months after the treatment ends, preserving sperm before starting cancer therapy is an option that many men consider. Howell et al. reported that hypogonadism was seen in 30% of the men with cancer and 90% of these gentlemen had germinal epithelial failure.[2]

Older men generally have lower testosterone levels than younger men do. As men age, there's a slow and continuous decrease in testosterone production. The rate that testosterone declines varies greatly among men. As many as 30% of men older than 75 have a testosterone level that is below normal, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Whether or not treatment is necessary remains a matter of debate.[3]

In secondary hypogonadism, the testicles are normal, but function improperly due to a problem with the pituitary or hypothalamus. A number of conditions can cause secondary hypogonadism, including:

Abnormal development of the hypothalamus the area of the brain that controls the secretion of pituitary hormones can cause hypogonadism. This abnormality is also associated with the impaired development of the ability to smell (anosmia).

An abnormality in the pituitary gland can impair the release of hormones from the pituitary gland to the testicles, affecting normal testosterone production. A pituitary tumor or other type of brain tumor located near the pituitary gland may cause testosterone or other hormone deficiencies. Also, the treatment for a brain tumor such as surgery or radiation therapy may impair pituitary function and cause hypogonadism.

Certain inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis, Histiocytosis, and tuberculosis involve the hypothalmus and pituitary gland and can affect testosterone production, causing hypogonadism.

This virus can cause low levels of testosterone by affecting the hypothalamus, the pituitary, and the testes.

The use of certain drugs, such as, opiate pain medications and some hormones, can affect testosterone production.[4]

Being significantly overweight at any age may be linked to hypogonadism.

Stress, excessive physical activity, and weight loss have all been associated with hypogonadism. Some have attributed this to stress-induced hypercortisolism, which would suppress hypothalamic function.[5]

Throughout the male lifespan, testosterone plays a critical role in sexual, cognitive, and body development. During fetal development, testosterone aids in the determination of sex. The most visible effects of rising testosterone levels begin in the prepubertal stage. During this time, body odor develops, oiliness of the skin and hair increase, acne develops, accelerated growth spurts occur, and pubic, early facial, and axillary hair grows. In men, the pubertal effects include enlargement of the sebaceous glands, penis enlargement, increased libido, increased frequency of erections, increased muscle mass, deepening of voice, increased height, bone maturations, loss of scalp hair, and growth of facial, chest, leg, and axillary hair. Even as adults, the effects of testosterone are visible as libido, penile erections, aggression, and mental and physical energy.

The cerebral cortex the layer of the brain often referred to as the gray matter is the most highly developed portion of the human brain. This portion of the brain, encompassing about two-thirds of the brain mass, is responsible for the information processing in the brain. It is within this portion of the brain that testosterone production begins. The cerebral cortex signals the hypothalamus to stimulate production of testosterone. To do this, the hypothalamus releases the gonadotropin-releasing hormone in a pulsatile fashion, which stimulates the pituitary gland the portion of the brain responsible for hormones involved in the regulation of growth, thyroid function, blood pressure, and other essential body functions. Once stimulated by the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, the pituitary gland produces the follicle-stimulating hormone and the luteinizing hormone. Once released into the bloodstream, the luteinizing hormone triggers activity in the Leydig cells in the testes. In the Leydig cells, cholesterol is converted to testosterone. When the testosterone levels are sufficient, the pituitary gland slows the release of the luteinizing hormone via a negative feedback mechanism, thereby, slowing testosterone production. With such a complex process, many potential problems can lead to low testosterone levels. Any changes in the testicles, hypothalamus or pituitary gland can result in hypogonadism. Such changes can be congenital or acquired, temporary, or permanent.

Recent studies have found that testosterone production slowly decreases as a result of aging, although the rate of decline varies. Unlike women who experience a rapid decline in hormone levels during menopause, men experience a slow, continuous decline over time. The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging reported that approximately 20% of men in their 60s and 50% of men in their 80s are hypogonadal.[6] The New Mexico Aging Process Study showed a decrease in serum testosterone of 110 ng/dL every 10 years.[7] As hormone levels decline slowly, this type of hypogonadism is sometimes referred to as the partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM). With the growing elderly population, the incidence of PADAM may increase over the next few decades.

Regardless of the age or comorbid conditions, obesity is associated with hypogonadism. The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging found that testosterone decreased by 10 ng/dL per 1-kg/m2 increase in body mass index.[6] Another study also showed reduced testosterone levels in men with increased total abdominal adiposity.[8] The proposed causes for the effects of obesity on testosterone level include increased clearance or aromatization of testosterone in the adipose tissue and increased formation of inflammatory cytokines, which hinder the secretion of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone.[9] Similar to the projections for an aging population, the increasing incidence of obesity may lead to an increased incidence of secondary hypogonadism. When the risk factors of obesity and age are removed, diabetes mellitus still remains an independent risk factor for hypogonadism. Although diabetes mellitusrelated hypogonadism was previously thought to be associated with testicular failure, study results show one-third of diabetic men had low testosterone levels, but also had low pituitary hormone levels.[10] Population projections expect the number of cases of diabetes mellitus to rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030.[11] This drastic increase in cases will impact the prevalence of hypogonadism as well. Certain medications are shown to reduce testosterone production. Among the medications known to alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis are spironolactone, corticosteroids, ketoconazole, ethanol, anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, opiates, psychotropic medications, and hormones.

Hypogonadism is characterized by serum testosterone levels < 300 ng/dL in combination with at least one clinical sign or symptom. Signs of hypogonadism include absence or regression of secondary sex characteristics, anemia, muscle wasting, reduced bone mass or bone mineral density, oligospermia, and abdominal adiposity. Symptoms of post pubescent hypogonadism include sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, diminished penile sensation, difficulty attaining orgasm, and reduced ejaculate), reduced energy and stamina, depressed mood, increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, changes in cholesterol levels, anemia, osteoporosis, and hot flushes. In the prepubertal male, if treatment is not initiated, signs and symptoms include sparse body hair and delayed epiphyseal closure.

Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce risks associated with hypogonadism. Early detection in young boys can help to prevent problems due to delayed puberty. Early diagnosis in men helps protect against the development of osteoporosis and other conditions. The diagnosis of hypogonadism is based on symptoms and blood work, particularly on testosterone levels. Often the first step toward diagnosis is the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male (ADAM) test a 10 item questionnaire intended to identify men who exhibit signs of low testosterone. Testosterone levels vary throughout the day and are generally highest in the morning, so blood levels are typically drawn early in the morning. If low testosterone levels are confirmed, further testing is done, to identify if the cause is testicular, hypothalamic, or pituitary. These tests may include hormone testing, semen analysis, pituitary imaging, testicular biopsy, and genetic studies. Once the treatment starts, the patient may continue to have testosterone levels drawn to determine if the medication is helping to produce adequate testosterone levels.

Testosterone replacement therapy is the primary treatment option for hypogonadism. Ideally, the therapy should provide physiological testosterone levels, typically in the range of 300 to 800 ng/dL. According to the guidelines from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists,[12] updated in 2002, the goals of therapy are to:

(1)

Restore sexual function, libido, well-being, and behavior

(2)

Produce and maintain virilization

(3)

Optimize bone density and prevent osteoporosis

(4)

In elderly men, possibly normalize growth hormone levels

(5)

Potentially affect the risk of cardiovascular disease

(6)

To achieve these goals, several testosterone delivery systems are currently available in the market. Clinical guidelines published in 2006, by the Endocrine Society, recommend reserving treatment for those patients with clinical symptoms, rather than for those with just low testosterone levels.

Transdermal testosterone patches are available in India under the brand name Androderm. Transdermal patches deliver continuous levels of testosterone over a 24-hour period. Application site reactions account for the majority of adverse effects associated with transdermal patches, with elderly men proving particularly prone to skin irritation. Local reactions include pruritus, blistering under the patch, erythema, vesicle formation, indurations, and allergic contact dermatitis. Approximately 10% of the patients discontinue patch therapy due to skin reactions.[14] In one study, 60% of the subjects discontinued the patch between weeks four and eight due to skin irritation.[15] A small percentage of patients may also experience headache, depression, and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Some patients report that the patch easily falls off and is difficult to remove from the package without good dexterity. Transdermal patches are more expensive than injections, but the convenience of use and maintenance of normal diurnal testosterone levels are advantageous. Some patients report that the patch is noisy and therefore they feel stigmatized by its presence.

Currently, two topical testosterone gels Androgel and Testim, are available in India. Application in the morning allows for testosterone concentrations that follow the normal circadian pattern. Topical testosterone gels also provide longer-lasting elevations in serum testosterone, compared to transdermal patches.[16] Similar to patches, testosterone delivered via gels does not undergo first-pass metabolism. Adverse effects associated with therapy include headache, hot flushes, insomnia, increased blood pressure, acne, emotional labiality, and nervousness. Although application site reactions occur, skin irritation is approximately 10 times less frequent with gels than with transdermal patches.[17] Advantages associated with topical gel include maintenance of normal diurnal testosterone levels and documented increases in bone density.[18] Potential problems associated with the gel are the potential for transfer of the gel from person to person and the cost.

Buccal testosterone tablets, marketed as Striant, release testosterone in a pulsatile manner, are similar to endogenous secretion. With this route, the peak testosterone levels are rapidly achieved and a steady state is reached by the second dose following twice-daily dosing. Similar to gel and transdermal products, buccal administration avoids first-pass metabolism. Food and beverage do not alter drug absorption. Although well-tolerated, transient gum irritation and a bitter taste are the chief adverse effects associated with this route. Gum irritation tends to resolve within the first week. Other adverse effects include dry mouth, toothache, and stomatitis. Some patients find the buccal tablet uncomfortable and report concern about the tablet shifting in the mouth while talking.

Testosterone has also been formulated into an implantable pellet, marketed as Testopel. This surgically implanted pellet slowly releases testosterone via zero-order kinetics over many months (up to six months), although peak testosterone levels are achieved within 30 minutes. The chief complaints associated with this formulation are pellet extrusion, minor bleeding, and fibrosis at the site.

Intramuscular formulations are also available, sold as Depo-Testosterone (testosterone cypionate) and Delatestryl (testosterone enanthate). The testosterone is suspended in oil to prolong absorption. Peak levels occur within 72 hours of administration, but intramuscular administration is associated with the most variable pharmacokinetics of all the formulations. In the first few days after administration, supraphysiological testosterone levels are achieved, followed by subphysiological levels near the end of the dosing interval. Such fluctuations, are often associated with wide variations in mood, energy, and sexual function, and prove distressing to many patients. To reduce fluctuations, lower doses and shorter dosing intervals (two weeks) are often used. Injection site reactions are also common, but are rarely the reason for discontinuation of therapy. Despite the fluctuations in testosterone levels, intramuscular injections provide a cost-effective option and the convenience of two- to four-week dosing intervals. Disadvantages associated with injections include visits to the doctor's office, visits for dose administration, and lack of physiological testosterone patterns.

Although not currently available in the India, oral testosterone tablets, under the brand name Andriol, are available in other countries. In India, Android and Testroid both methyl testosterone products are FDA approved oral formulations. Although relatively inexpensive, oral products undergo extensive first-pass metabolism and therefore require multiple daily doses. Oral products are associated with elevated liver enzymes, GI intolerance, acne, and gynecomastia. Regardless of the treatment option, patients should be aware of the risks associated with testosterone therapy, including:

Worsening of the prostatic hypertrophy

Increased risk of prostate cancer

Lower sperm count with large doses

Swelling of ankles, feet, or body, with or without heart failure

Gynecomastia

Sleep apnea

Blood clots

Patients should be educated on the signs and symptoms of these adverse effects and instructed to notify their doctor if any of these occur.

Hypogonadism affects men of all ages, either through congenital or acquired causes. For patients who have clinical symptoms associated with their low testosterone levels, treatment is essential for the prevention of sexual, cognitive, and bodily changes. A variety of treatment options are available, utilizing different dosage formulations, and providing patients with choices that best meet their needs. Therefore, there is a clear need to increase the awareness of hypogonadism throughout the medical profession, especially in primary care physicians who are usually the first port of call for the patient.

In summary, there is a need for doctors to have an awareness of hypogonadism as a common clinical condition. Key triggers for the physician to consider investigating for hypogonadism are reduced libido, fatigue, osteoporosis and fractures, and erectile dysfunction.

See the original post:
Male hypogonadism: Symptoms and treatment - PMC - PubMed Central (PMC)

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Hypopituitarism – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

February 10th, 2023

Continuing Education Activity

Hypopituitarism is defined as a deficiency of one or more of the hormones produced by the pituitary gland. Hypopituitarism is associated with increased mortality due to increased cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and early diagnosis is essential to prevent further morbidity due to the subtle presentation. This activity reviews the pathophysiology of hypopituitarism and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in its management.

Objectives:

Review the causes of hypopituitarism.

Describe the presentation of a patient with hypopituitarism.

Summarize the treatment options for hypopituitarism.

Explain modalities to improve the care coordination among interprofessional team members to improve outcomes for hypopituitarism patients.

The pituitary gland is responsible for producing and secreting various hormones that play a vital role in regulating endocrine function within the body. The pituitary gland consists of an anterior and a posterior lobe. Hormones produced by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland include growth hormone (GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizinghormone (LH), follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH), adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), and prolactin (PRL). Hormones stored and released from the posterior pituitary are antidiuretic hormone (ADH)/vasopressin and oxytocin. ADH and oxytocin are produced by neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus. Trophic hormones produced by the hypothalamus stimulate or inhibit the production of different anterior pituitary hormones, affecting target organs.

Hypopituitarism is defined as a deficiency of one or more of the hormones produced by the pituitary gland. Hypopituitarism is associated with increased mortality due to increased cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and early diagnosis is important to prevent further morbidity due to the subtle presentation.[1][2][3]

The causes of hypopituitarism can be attributed to either a pathology of the hypothalamus affecting the production of trophic hormones that act on the pituitary or direct pathology of the pituitary gland itself. The most common cause of hypopituitarism (61%) is pituitary tumors. Pituitary tumors may cause the increased production of one hormone with resultant deficiency of the other pituitary hormones as in acromegaly (excess GH with hypopituitarism from the macroadenoma). Most pituitary tumors are benign and may be secretory or non-secretory. Secondary metastases originating from, for example, breast, colon, and prostate cancers do occur less commonly. Hypothalamic and para-pituitary tumors such as suprasellar meningiomas, gliomas, and craniopharyngiomas may also be associated with hypopituitarism. Other causes of hypopituitarism include injury to the pituitary gland following traumatic brain injury or iatrogenic injury during surgery or cranial irradiation.[4]

Inflammatory conditions of the pituitary may also be responsible for the occurrence of hypopituitarism. The infectious agentspotentially related to pituitary insufficiency include Mycobacterium tuberculosisand non-mycobacterial agents such as histoplasmosis, syphilis, viruses, and protozoa. Lymphocytic hypophysitis usually presents in the post-partum period as a mass lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to infiltration of the pituitary with lymphocytes and plasma cells and is responsive to steroid therapy.

Infiltrative diseases such as hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis, and histiocytosis may be associated with the development of hypopituitarism.

Pituitary apoplexy is a medical emergency andoccurs due to acute ischemic infarction or hemorrhage of the pituitary gland. Pituitary apoplexy may occur in the presence of a pituitary adenoma but may also occur in the normal pituitary gland. Sheehan syndrome refers to infarction of the hyperplastic pituitary gland during pregnancy after severe blood loss (post-partum hemorrhage). Because of the rich and complex vascular supply, pituitary adenomas have an increased risk of bleeding compared to other brain tumors.[5]

The congenital absence of the pituitary gland is related to midline craniofacial defects. Genetic mutations in transcription factors such as HESX1, PROP1, and Pit-1 can lead to congenital hypopituitarism. Empty Sella syndrome is a rare disorder that is characterized by enlargement or malformation of the sella turcica resulting in a herniation of the arachnoid membrane into the pituitary fossa, dislodging the pituitary to the floor of the fossa. It is associated with a small or absent pituitary gland. Empty Sella syndrome may be idiopathic or occur secondary to a treated pituitary tumor, head trauma, or a condition known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). Kallmann syndrome is a rare genetic condition associated with an inability to smell (hyposmia/anosmia) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (decreased FSH, decreased LH, and reduced testosterone/estradiol levels) due to a mutation in the Kal1 gene that is the commonest genetic abnormality in males.

There is limited data available regarding the incidence and prevalence of hypopituitarism, and it is placed in the category of rare disorders by the National Institute of Health (NIH). One study from Northwestern Spain conducted by Regal et al. reported a prevalence of 45.5 cases per 100,000 population.[6][7]

It appears that 75% of the pituitary needs to be damaged to result in hypopituitarism. Clinical features of hypopituitarism may be subtle and ill-defined or severe with the acute presentation. Conditions such as Sheehan syndrome/pituitary apoplexy, pituitary infection, hypophysitis, and traumatic brain injury present with acute findings.[8][9][10]

Presenting signs and symptoms may be linked to those of a deficiency of the pituitary hormone, mass effects in the presence of pituitary tumors,and/or features of the causative disease.

Patients with hormonal deficiencies present with the following:

ACTH deficiency - Adrenal insufficiency

TSH deficiency - Hypothyroidism

Gonadotropin deficiency - Hypogonadism

GH deficiency - Difficult to thrive and short stature in children. Adults are usually asymptomatic; however, they may feel fatigued and weak.

ADH deficiency - Diabetes Insipidus presenting with polydipsia and polyuria

Mass effects include visual field defects, with the most common being bitemporal hemianopsia. Visual field defects may also occur unilaterally. Patients may present with headaches secondary to the mass lesions.

Physical examination may not reveal any significant findings as the presentation is usually subtle. Variable features may be present owing to the involvement of different target hormones, such as:

Hypothyroidism - small and soft thyroid gland, dry and coarse skin, thinning of hair and alopecia, delayed tendon reflexes, cold skin with loss of sweating, and non-pitting type edema.

Adrenal insufficiency - fatigue and postural hypotension

Hypogonadism - small and atrophied testes in men; loss of axillary and pubic hair in women

Neurological and ophthalmic involvement - loss of visual acuity, extraocular paresis, and bitemporal hemianopsia

Diabetes Insipidus - hypernatremia, polyuria, and diluted urine

The presence of a secretory pituitary tumor may result in features of hormone excess for the particular hormone produced by the tumor, while other pituitary hormones may be deficient.[11][12][13][14]

Investigations

Laboratory Investigations: Initial testing involves baseline levels of pituitary hormones andhormones produced by target glands. Due to the variation of hormone levels related to the time of day, season, and pulsatile secretion of certain pituitary hormones, baseline levels may not be helpful. In this instance, dynamic function testingcan confirm biochemical deficiency or excess of a particular pituitary hormone. In dynamic function testing, for the investigation of a hormone deficiency, a stimulatory agent that would normally increase secretion of the hormone is given to the patient, and blood levels are measured before and after the administration of the agent.After administering this stimulant, measurements are taken at defined intervals to determine if there has been an adequate response to stimulation.[15]

Insulin Tolerance Test:This is the best provocative test that is used to assess the presence of the deficiency of both GH and ACTH. Following an overnight fast, baseline samples are obtained for cortisol, GH, and glucose. An insulin dose of 0.1 U/kgor 0.05 U/kg is administered intravenously (IV). Further samples for analysis of the hormones measured in the baseline samples are then taken at several other points in timefollowing administration. It should not be performed in those with cardiac disease or epilepsy. The plasma glucose should fall to 40 mg/dl within 30 to 45 minutes or by 50% of baseline. The test is terminated by giving IV dextrose and assessing the patient's status for at least another 90 minutes. A normal/adequate response is indicated by cortisol of more than 20 ug/dL and GH of more than5 ng/mLto 10 ng/mL.

ACTH Stimulation Test: This is used to assess the pituitary-adrenal axis when the insulin tolerance test is dangerous fora patient's health due to the high risk of hypoglycemia. It can be done with ACTH administration, either250 mcg (that is the most commonly used)or 1 mcg, given IV or IM. Cortisol levels are measured before the medication administration and then 30, 60, and 90 minutes after. Cortisol levels over 18 mcg/dL indicate normal response.[16]

Modern Combined Test:The patient is given growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), cortisol releasing hormone (CRH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) as the provocative stimuli and GH, TSH, ACTH, cortisol, LH, and FSH are measured at baseline andat specified time intervals after that. Doses of each stimulating hormone are as follows:

GHRH (1.0 ug/kg)

CRH (1.0 ug/Kg)

GnRH (100 ug)

TRH (200 ug).

However, this testing is rarely required.

Radiological Investigations:Imaging studies of the pituitary using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium enhancement are used to visualize the pituitary, particularly to detect the presence of a mass lesion. Visual field defects needto be assessed if a pituitary mass is the cause of hypopituitarism.

Management is dependent on the cause of hypopituitarism. Initial treatment should aim to address the underlying cause of hypopituitarism. Mass lesions should be removed surgically, and other medical conditions treated accordingly.Many patients may require hormone replacement therapy.[17]

ACTH Deficit

Corticosteroid replacement should be initiated before the replacement of the thyroid hormone to avoid precipitating an adrenal crisis. Hydrocortisone at a dose of 10 mg to 20 mg in the morning and 5 mg to 10 mg in the afternoon are usually recommended. Some endocrinologists still recommend hydrocortisone to be given three times a day on symptomatic patients to imitate the physiologic hormonal secretion. The lastdose of the day (second or third)should not be administered at night as it can cause insomnia. Sometimes patients do well with only once a day dose, which can be trialed on an individual basis.[18] Prednisone may also be used once daily. Increased dosages of corticosteroids are needed during periods of stress, surgery, and pregnancy.

TSH Deficit

Thyroid hormone (L-thyroxine) replacement is required, particularly for the elderly and those with cardiac disease. It is important to start with a low dose of 25 ug/daily and then up-titrate as required according to biochemical findings and clinical signs or symptoms. Peripheral hormone levels (T4 free or total) need to be measured as the TSH is not a reliable marker anymore.

FSH/LH Deficit

In men: testosterone can be delivered by gel, patch, oral, or intramuscular (IM) injections with careful monitoring of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and hemoglobin levels.[19]

In women: estrogen/progesterone hormone replacement therapy via oral, intramuscular, or transdermal routes can be given.

If fertility is desired in men, then one starts with human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG) to augment testosterone levels and improve semen quality. If this is not successful after one year, considerhuman menopausal gonadotropin (HMG)/recombinant FSH concomitant therapy to further enhance fertility. Specialty fertility clinics are dedicated to further evaluate and manage those patients.[20]

Growth Hormone Deficit

Unlike in children with short stature due to GH deficiency, the role of GH replacement in the treatment of adult GH deficiency has not been well established. In children, synthetic growth hormone replacement is used for this purpose, such as somatotrophin. Replacement therapy is titrated against IGF1 levels. The goal of treatment is to ensure that adult height is obtained. Further evaluation is made post-puberty to determine whether GH replacement should continue into adulthood.

ADH Deficit

Replacement of ADH with intranasal or oral desmopressin (synthetic vasopressin) helps stabilize water balance and polyuria. Sodium levels need to be kept within normal range; urinespecific gravityandosmolality can be measured to warranty appropriate replacement of ADH.

A diagnosis of hypopituitarism may be missed or delayed in complex situations where apparently normal pituitary hormone levels are misinterpreted in the context of suboptimal target organ hormone levels. However, adrenal insufficiency shouldreceive treatment based on clinical suspicion without waiting for the biochemical evidence.

Following are some differential diagnoses that may be considered while making a diagnosis of hypopituitarism:

Primary hypothyroidism

Kallman syndrome

Pituitary macroadenomas

Hyponatremia

Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type-1

Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type-2

Patients who are stable on hormone replacement usually have a good prognosis. Mortality increases in patients with acute decompensation who are in a critical state.Morbidity is variable and depends on the type of hormone deficiency. The systemic effects of hypopituitarism are also variable depending on the extent of pituitary involvement.Some clinical states that result from the acute decline in pituitary production may lead to increased mortality risk, such as deficiency of ACTH leading to adrenal crisis or TSH deficiency causing myxedema coma and death.[22]

Otherhormonal deficienciesthat may accompany hypopituitarism can lead to secondary diseases. For example, human growth hormone (HGH) deficiencycorrelates with obesity, increased cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome. Another example isestradiol deficiency, potentially leading to osteoporosis.[23]

Patient education should mainly focus on the need for lifelong hormone replacement therapy, increased glucocorticoid dose during times of stress, and rapid medical access as appropriate. Regular monitoring to preventinadequate or excessivereplacement is crucial.

Patients with hypopituitarism should carry some form of identification of their medical problems with them. This can be in the form of a bracelet to be worn on the wrist or a necklace.

For emergency purposes, patients may also need to carry a vial of hydrocortisone 100 mg and a syringe at home and while traveling.

The diagnosis and management of hypopituitarism are made with an interprofessional team that consists of a neurosurgeon, endocrinologist, pathologist, radiologist, primary care provider, nurse practitioner, and ophthalmologist. Nurses and pharmacists can also play key roles as part of the interprofessional healthcare team. Management is dependent on the cause of hypopituitarism. Initial treatmentshould address the underlying cause of hypopituitarism. Mass lesions may be removed surgically, and other medical conditions treated accordingly.Many patients may require hormone replacement therapy. The outcome in most patients with hypopituitarism is good, but those who have a neurological deficit may continue to have partial deficits even after treatment.[1][24][25][Level5]

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Hypopituitarism - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

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Panhypopituitarism: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment – Cleveland Clinic

February 10th, 2023

OverviewWhat is panhypopituitarism?

Panhypopituitarism is a rare condition in which theres a lack (deficiency) of all of the hormones your pituitary gland makes. It can affect infants, children and adults.

Hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, muscles and other tissues. These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it.

Your pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain below your hypothalamus (the part of your brain that controls your autonomic nervous system). Its a part of your endocrine system.

The pituitary hormones are in charge of several important functions in your body, such as metabolism, growth and reproduction.

Normally, your body carefully controls hormone levels. If the levels of any of these hormones are unbalanced, it causes symptoms and health issues. Panhypopituitarism causes several symptoms since all of your pituitary hormone levels are lower than what they should be.

Panhypopituitarism is a type of hypopituitarism.

If you have a deficiency (lack) of one or multiple hormones your pituitary gland makes, you have hypopituitarism.

Panhypopituitarism happens when theres a deficiency in all of the hormones your pituitary makes. The prefix pan- means all.

Your pituitary gland makes and releases the following hormones:

Your pituitary gland stores and releases the following hormones, but your hypothalamus produces them:

Panhypopituitarism can affect anyone at any age.

Panhypopituitarism is rare. There are approximately four cases of panhypopituitarism per 100,000 people across the globe per year.

Yes, panhypopituitarism can be life-threatening, especially if you have a significant deficiency of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH or corticotropin).

Adrenal crisis (acute cortisol insufficiency) is a life-threatening complication of panhypopituitarism. The cause is a lack of ACTH, which is a hormone that controls your cortisol levels. Its treatable but requires immediate medical treatment.

Signs and symptoms of adrenal crisis include:

If you or your child are experiencing these symptoms, call 911 or get to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.

The signs and symptoms of panhypopituitarism vary widely based on how much of each of the pituitary hormones is lacking and whether the condition develops rapidly or slowly.

Symptoms of panhypopituitarism that children and adults can have include:

Additional symptoms of panhypopituitarism that are specific to infants, children and/or adolescents include:

These symptoms may resemble other conditions or medical issues. Its important to always consult your healthcare provider if youre experiencing new or prolonged symptoms to get a proper diagnosis.

Many conditions and situations can cause panhypopituitarism. In some cases, healthcare providers cant determine the cause. This is called idiopathic panhypopituitarism.

In general, the cause of panhypopituitarism is some type of damage to your hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland that causes either or both of them to not function properly.

Understanding the possible causes of panhypopituitarism involves understanding how your hypothalamus and pituitary gland work together.

Together, your pituitary gland and hypothalamus form a hypothalamus-pituitary complex that serves as your brains central command center to control vital bodily functions.

Your hypothalamus is the part of your brain thats in charge of some of your bodys basic operations. It sends messages to your autonomic nervous system. Your hypothalamus also tells your pituitary gland to produce and release hormones that affect other areas of your body.

Your pituitary gland connects to your hypothalamus through a stalk of blood vessels and nerves (the pituitary stalk). Through that stalk, your hypothalamus communicates with your pituitary gland.

Your hypothalamus makes the following hormones to communicate with and stimulate your pituitary gland:

Since your pituitary gland and hypothalamus work together so closely, if one of them becomes damaged, it can affect the hormonal function of the other. This can result in panhypopituitarism.

Conditions or situations that can damage your pituitary gland and cause panhypopituitarism include:

Conditions or situations that can damage your hypothalamus and cause panhypopituitarism include:

If youre experiencing symptoms of panhypopituitarism, your healthcare provider will ask detailed questions about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical exam.

Theyll then order tests to confirm a panhypopituitarism diagnosis and/or to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.

Healthcare providers typically order multiple tests to diagnose panhypopituitarism, including imaging and hormone levels tests.

Since panhypopituitarism results from damage to your hypothalamus or pituitary gland, your provider may order the following imaging tests to help determine the cause of panhypopituitarism:

If you have symptoms of panhypopituitarism, your provider will need to measure the levels of all the hormones your pituitary gland releases to check how deficient each one is and to help rule out other conditions.

While some pituitary hormones normally maintain a fairly stable level in your bloodstream, other pituitary hormone levels normally vary widely throughout the day. Because of this, some hormone tests are simple blood tests and others are specialized stimulation tests.

Hormone level tests include:

The treatment for panhypopituitarism greatly depends on how deficient each pituitary hormone is and the cause of the condition. Because of this, treatment is very individualized. Your healthcare team will determine what the best treatment plan is for you. Common treatment options for panhypopituitarism include:

In some cases, panhypopituitarism is reversible by treatment of the underlying cause, such as surgically removing a pituitary adenoma that was compressing the pituitary gland without causing damage. But in most cases, the hormone deficiencies from panhypopituitarism require lifelong treatment.

In most cases, you cant prevent panhypopituitarism. But there are ways to catch it in its early phase if youre at risk for developing it.

If youve experienced any of the following situations, youre at greater risk for developing panhypopituitarism:

Your healthcare provider will likely recommend regular testing to check the function and health of your pituitary gland and/or hypothalamus if youre at a greater risk for developing panhypopituitarism.

The prognosis (outlook) for panhypopituitarism depends on several factors, including:

Panhypopituitarism is associated with significant decreases in quality of life and life expectancy.

People with panhypopituitarism often develop obesity, decreased lean body mass and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. People with panhypopituitarism may also have an increased risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Careful, thorough treatment with hormone replacements and aggressive monitoring and treatment for cardiovascular disease risk factors may improve outcomes.

If you have symptoms of panhypopituitarism or received a diagnosis of the condition, youll likely need to see an endocrinologist a healthcare provider who specializes in treating hormone-related conditions.

Youll need to see your endocrinologist regularly throughout your life to ensure that your hormone replacement therapy is working well and to prevent excessive hormone replacement.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

A new diagnosis can be scary, but dont be afraid to ask your healthcare provider questions about panhypopituitarism. Most cases of panhypopituitarism require lifelong treatment and monitoring of your hormones, so its important to see your provider regularly. Be sure to contact your provider if you have new or concerning symptoms. Theyre available to help.

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Panhypopituitarism: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment - Cleveland Clinic

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Female Sterilization Procedures Market: Industry, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast by Allied Market Research – EIN News

February 10th, 2023

Female Sterilization Procedures Market: Industry, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast by Allied Market Research EIN News

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Female Sterilization Procedures Market: Industry, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast by Allied Market Research - EIN News

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On World Cancer Day, find out whats driving the rise in breast and colorectal cancers among young women – The Indian Express

February 10th, 2023

On World Cancer Day, find out whats driving the rise in breast and colorectal cancers among young women The Indian Express

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On World Cancer Day, find out whats driving the rise in breast and colorectal cancers among young women - The Indian Express

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DNA Test – Genetic Testing Overview – Cleveland Clinic

February 10th, 2023

OverviewWhat is genetic testing?

Genetic testing may also be called DNA testing. Its a type of test that can identify changes in the genes, chromosomes or proteins in your body. Genetic testing takes a sample of your blood, skin, hair, tissue or amniotic fluid. The test may be able to confirm or rule out if you have a genetic condition. It may also help determine your chances of developing or passing on a genetic disorder.

Genetic testing looks for changes in your genes, chromosomes and proteins. DNA tests can give you lots of information about the genes that make up who you are. They can confirm if you have or dont have a specific disease. They can determine if you have a higher risk of developing certain conditions. And they can find out if you carry a specific mutated gene that you can pass to your child.

The various types of genetic tests include tests that look at:

Mutations in the genes or chromosomes in your developing baby (fetus) can be detected through a prenatal DNA test while youre pregnant. Prenatal testing doesnt test for all possible conditions. But it can determine the chances of your baby being born with certain conditions that we know how to look for. If your baby has an increased risk of having a genetic condition because of the familys genetic history, your healthcare provider may recommend prenatal testing.

Diagnostic testing can confirm or rule out specific genetic diseases or chromosomal problems. But it doesnt test for all genetic conditions. Diagnostic genetic testing is often used during pregnancy, but it can be used at any time to confirm a diagnosis if you have symptoms of a certain disease.

If a condition is autosome recessive, it means that someone can carry a gene for that condition but not have symptoms. Carrier testing can tell you if you carry a copy of a mutated gene for an autosomal recessive disease. This is generally done because one parents family has a history of a disease that is passed on in an autosomal recessive way, which means that it takes a copy of the gene from each parent. So if one parent knows they carry an autosomal recessive gene, the other should be tested so they know the risk of passing that disease to their kids.

Preimplantation testing can find genetic mutations in the embryos that were made using assisted reproductive techniques (ART), like in-vitro fertilization (IVF). A small number of cells are taken from your embryos and tested for certain mutations. Only embryos without these mutations are implanted in your uterus to attempt to start a pregnancy.

Your newborn will be tested two days after theyre born. A newborn screening tests for certain genetic, metabolic or hormone-related conditions. Newborns are screened immediately after birth so treatment can start right away if needed. States decide which diseases to screen for, but in the United States, hospitals can screen for more than 35 conditions in newborns.

Gene mutations that increase your likelihood of developing a genetic condition later in life can sometimes be detected through predictive and pre-symptomatic testing by looking for changes in your genes that increase your risk of developing certain diseases. These include certain types of cancer such as breast cancer. Presymptomatic testing can tell whether youll develop a genetic disorder before youve developed any symptoms, but not with 100% certainty. There is always a chance for errors when this type of testing is done, so speak with your provider about this before you do it.

Its important to remember that while genetic testing can detect some conditions, it doesnt detect everything. In addition, a positive result doesnt necessarily mean youll develop a condition. But genetic testing can be useful to confirm or rule out many different diseases and conditions. These conditions include:

Your healthcare provider will collect a sample of your blood, hair, skin, tissue or amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds your developing baby (fetus) during your pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will send the sample to a laboratory. At the lab, technicians will look for changes in your genes, chromosomes or proteins. The technicians send the test results to your healthcare provider.

The physical risks of most genetic tests are small. Prenatal testing does carry a small risk of losing your pregnancy (miscarriage). This is because the test requires a sample of amniotic fluid from around your developing baby.

The greater risks of genetic testing are emotional and financial. If you receive unexpected results, you may feel angry, scared, depressed, anxious or guilty. In addition, genetic testing can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Insurance may cover the cost of genetic testing. But it often depends on the type of test and the reason for the test.

Also, genetic testing doesnt provide information about all possible genetic conditions and not all of them are 100% accurate. And they dont necessarily tell you about how severe symptoms may be or when a certain genetic condition may develop.

The results of your DNA test are not always straightforward. Your healthcare provider will use the type of DNA test, your medical history and your family history to interpret the results. Then theyll go over the specific results with you. The results may be any of the following:

Two measures of accuracy apply to genetic tests. Analytical validity looks at whether a DNA test can accurately detect whether a specific gene has a mutation or not. Clinical validity means if there is a mutation, is it related to a specific disease or condition. All labs that perform DNA tests are regulated by federal and/or state standards. The standards are designed to ensure the accuracy of genetic tests.

Some test results may only take a few days. Prenatal test results are usually returned very quickly. Other tests take several weeks to get the results back. Your healthcare provider will give you specific information regarding the timing of your test results.

You should try to find a provider or genetic counselor near you to perform DNA testing. They will order the correct tests and then talk to you about what they mean. But if you cant go through your healthcare provider, you can get a DNA test kit directly from a DNA testing company. These test kits are called direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests. The best DNA test kits offer easy-to-understand information about the scientific basis of their tests, but it is risky to use them because there may not be anyone you can speak to personally about the results.

If you test positive for a genetic condition or find that you have a higher risk of developing a disease, you should call your healthcare provider. They can put you in touch with a genetic counselor who can evaluate you and the information you have and help you decide what to do next.

Scientists discovered a technique called Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in the 1980s. This analysis became the first genetic test to use DNA. But in the 1990s, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) DNA testing was introduced. This type of DNA testing replaced RFLP testing. The science of DNA testing is constantly changing.

A DNA paternity test can determine whether a person assigned male at birth is another persons biological father. You can determine whether someone could be the biological father of your baby or child through a DNA cheek swab or blood test. Paternity tests can also be done using a prenatal paternity test during pregnancy.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

DNA tests (genetic testing) can help you determine if you have a genetic condition or if youre more likely to develop one. Genetic testing may give you peace of mind, but it also comes with many risks and limitations. If youre interested in taking a genetic test, call your healthcare provider. They can refer you to a genetic counselor to give you more information about the process.

See the article here:
DNA Test - Genetic Testing Overview - Cleveland Clinic

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10th Annual Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course and World Stem Cell Summit Return to Live with Virtual Option in 2023 – Newswise

February 10th, 2023

10th Annual Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course and World Stem Cell Summit Return to Live with Virtual Option in 2023 Newswise

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Leukaemia signs and symptoms: How to detect, treat the aggressive blood cancer – Hindustan Times

February 10th, 2023

Leukaemia signs and symptoms: How to detect, treat the aggressive blood cancer Hindustan Times

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About Cryonics – The Cryonics Institute

February 10th, 2023

A Brief Overview of the History of Cryonics

Robert Ettinger(The Father of Cryonics) introduced the concept of cryonics in 1962 with the publication of his seminal book,The Prospect of Immortality.The visionary new concept attracted worldwide attention when Doubleday published the first of several successful commercial editions, including several foreign language editions. Ettinger delved deeper into the subject of cryonics and life extension with his next book,Man Into Superman,further advancing the cryonics movement.

The idea of greatly extending lifespans through the science of cryonics captured peoples imaginations and organizations quickly sprang up in support of the concept. Ettinger himself formedThe Immortalist Society(originally the Cryonics Society of Michigan, and later the Cryonics Association) in 1967 to further promote and explore the concept of cryonics.

Less than a decade later, in 1976, Ettinger and other members of The Immortalist Society took the next logical step and formed a new organization to put the concept of cryonics into actual practice. Their goal was to offer The Prospect of Immortality to the public through reliable and affordable cryonics services.The Cryonics Institutewas formed in 1976 featuring the worlds first fully-operational cryonics facility, located in Clinton Township, Michigan.

Since then, The Cryonics Institute has been dedicated to advancing the concept and practice of cryonics, attracting members world-wide. Membership has grown to over 1,000 members in dozens of countries, including 117 patients cryopreserved at the Michigan facility.

Read More for the complete history of The Cryonics Institute.

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About Cryonics - The Cryonics Institute

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Cryonics: Could you live forever? | BBC Science Focus Magazine

February 10th, 2023

For centuries, the worlds physicists, writers and philosophers have argued over whether time travel is possible, with most coming to the conclusion that its never going to happen.

But on an 800-acre plot of land just outside the small town of Comfort, Texas, a group of architects, engineers and scientists are building a Timeship that they say could transport tens of thousands of individuals to a far-distant future.

Their approach does not involve the use of flux capacitors, or zooming at light-speed through black holes.

Instead, the Timeship aims to store people at such low temperatures that their bodies are preserved for a future civilisation to reanimate them, a concept known as cryonics.

Horror stories of cryonics: The gruesome fates of frozen bodies – Big Think

February 10th, 2023

Several facilities in the U.S. and abroad maintain morbid warehouse morgues full of frozen human heads and bodies, waiting for the future. They are part of a story that is ghoulish, darkly humorous, and yet endearingly sincere. For a small group of fervent futurists, it is their lottery ticket to immortality. What are the chances that these bodies will be reanimated? Will baseball legend Ted Williams frozen head be awakened to coach fighter pilots or fused to a robot body to hit .400 again?

Cryonics attempting to cryopreserve the human body is widely considered a pseudoscience. Cryopreservation is a legitimate scientific endeavor in which cells, organs, or in rare cases entire organisms may be cooled to extremely low temperatures and revived somewhat intact. It occurs in nature, but only in limited cases.

Humans are particularly difficult to preserve because of the delicate structure in (most of) our heads. Deprived of oxygen at room temperature, the brain dies within minutes. While the body may be reanimated, the person who lives is often in a permanent vegetative state. Cooling the body may give the brain a bit more time. During brain or heart surgery, circulation may be stopped for up to an hour with the body cooled to 20 C (68 F). A procedure to cool the body to 10 C (50 F) without oxygen for additional hours is still at the experimental research stage.

After a while, he let the bodies thaw out inside the capsule and left the whole thing festering in his vault.

When a cryonic patient dies, a race begins to prepare and cool the body before it decays and then to place it inside a Dewar: a thermos bottle full of liquid nitrogen (LN). The inner vessel of the Dewar contains a body, or bodies, wrapped in several layers of insulating material, attached to a stretcher, and suspended in LN. The head is oriented downward to keep the brain the coldest and most stable.

This vessel lies within a second outer vessel, separated by a vacuum to avoid heat transfer from the outer room-temperature vessel wall to the cold inner vessel wall. Heat gradually transfers across anyway and boils away the LN, which must be periodically refilled. Bodies were originally, and may still be in some cases, cooled and frozen in whatever condition they were in at death, with better or worse preservation, as we shall see.

The early years of cryonics were grisly. All but one of the first frozen futurists failed in their quest for immortality.

Small freezing operations began in the late 1960s. While the practice of storing bodies has become more sophisticated over the past 50 years, in the early days, technicians cooled and prepared corpses with haste on dry ice before eventually cramming them into Dewar capsules. By in large, these preservations did not achieve preservation. They were nightmarish, gruesome failures. Their stories were researched and documented by people within the field, who published thorough and frank records.

The largest operation was run out of a cemetery in Chatsworth, California by a man named Robert Nelson. Four of his first clients were not initially frozen in LN but placed on a bed of dry ice in a mortuary. One of these bodies was a woman whose son decided to take her body back. He hauled (his dead mother) around in a truck on dry ice for some time before burying her.

The bodies in the container partially thawed, moved, and then froze again stuck to the capsule like a childs tongue to a cold lamp post.

Eventually, the mortician was not pleased with the other bodies sitting around on beds of ice, so a LN Dewar capsule was secured for the remaining three. Another man was already frozen and sealed inside the capsule, so it was opened, and he was removed. Nelson and the mortician then spent the entire night figuring out how to jam four people who may or may not have suffered thaw damage into the capsule. The arrangement of bodies in different orientations was described as a puzzle. After finding an arrangement that worked, the resealed capsule was lowered into an underground vault at the cemetery. Nelson claimed to have refilled it sporadically for about a year before he stopped receiving money from the relatives. After a while, he let the bodies thaw out inside the capsule and left the whole thing festering in his vault.

Another group of three, including an eight-year-old girl, was packed into a second capsule in the Chatsworth vault. The LN system of this capsule subsequently failed without Nelson noticing. Upon checking one day, he saw that everyone inside had long thawed out. The fate of these ruined bodies is unclear, but they might have been refrozen for several more years.

Nelson froze a six-year-old boy in 1974. The capsule itself was well maintained by the boys father, but when it was opened, the boys body was found to be cracked. The cracking could have occurred if the body was frozen too quickly by the LN. The boy was then thawed, embalmed, and buried. Now that there was a vacancy, a different man was placed into the leftover capsule, but ten months had elapsed between his death and freezing, so his body was in rotten shape no pun intended from the get-go and was eventually thawed.

Every cryonic client put into the vault at Chatsworth and looked after by Nelson eventually failed. The bodies inside the Dewar capsules were simply left to rot. Reporters visited the crypt where these failed operations had taken place and reported a horrifying stench. The proprietor admitted to failure, bad decisions, and going broke. He further pointed out, Who can guarantee that youre going to be suspended for 10 or 15 years?

The worst fates of all occurred at a similar underground vault that stored bodies at a cemetery in Butler, New Jersey. The storage Dewar was poorly designed, with uninsulated pipes. This led to a series of incidents, at least one of which was failure of the vacuum jacket insulating the inside. The bodies in the container partially thawed, moved, and then froze again stuck to the capsule like a childs tongue to a cold lamp post. Eventually the bodies had to be entirely thawed to unstick, then re-frozen and put back in. A year later, the Dewar failed again, and the bodies decomposed into a plug of fluids in the bottom of the capsule. The decision was finally made to thaw the entire contraption, scrape out the remains, and bury them. The men who performed this unfortunate task had to wear a breathing apparatus.

Out of all those frozen prior to 1973, one body remains preserved. Robert Bedford was sealed into a Dewar in 1967. Instead of leaving the body to meet a horrific fate under Nelsons care, Bedfords family took custody of the capsule, meticulously caring for it at their own expense. The body was handed off between professional cryonics operations, occupying multiple frozen tanks and facilities for 15 years or so. Eventually it ended up in the hands of the founders of Alcor a modern cryonics outfit one of whom wrote a heartfelt, slightly creepy piece about the body.

Credit: Jeff Topping / Getty Images

Alcor is the leading example of the current state of cryonics. While the ugly events above suggest that your remains might well end up as tissue sludge scraped out of a can, the professionalism of companies like Alcor may offer an increased chance for long-term preservation. This 501(c)(3) organization hosts researchers who work on methods to improve the freezing process, possibly increasing whatever slight odds exist that human popsicles will ever be brought back to life. At a more fundamental level, it appears to be stable and to have deep pockets, so there is a better chance that your corpse will be around long enough for some distant future doctor to recoil in horror at it.

The U.S. industry has consolidated around two main organizations. If not Alcor, your other choice is the Cryonics Institute, which has more than 200 bodies stored in giant tanks and accepts dozens more each year. Apparently, ten years ago, head storage alone at Alcor cost $80,000, while full body storage at the Cryonics Institute was only $30,000. There are international options as well. A Russian cryogenics company stores not only people but pets, including one entry under rodents, a deceased chinchilla named Button.

Modern cryonic preparations at Alcor employ a multistep process to prepare the body for storage. First, they begin to cool the body while anti-clotting agents and organ preservation solutions are injected into the bloodstream and circulated under CPR. The body is then transported to the companys main facility, where the original fluid is replaced with chemicals that vitrify turn to glass the bodys organs. This offers some hope for cutting down on structural damage during the subsequent cooling and storage. Then the body is entombed in its Dewar capsule.

That all sounds scientific and careful. But is it really science or just applying scientific tools to a fantasy proposition? Is it possible to freeze the human body and revive it decades later? Currently, its not remotely plausible. Will it ever be? Thats probably an open question. As it stands now, cryonics is a bizarre intersection of scientific thinking and wishful thinking.

Credit: Annelisa Leinbach / Big Think

While cryonic preparation is now more advanced, the laws of physics demand that the structure of the body will break down rapidly after death, catastrophically upon freezing, and gradually over time, even while frozen. Think of how badly frozen food ages in your freezer. If the medical technology of the future becomes advanced enough, perhaps these corpses can be revived. But thats a big if. Lets say your body remains frozen until the 25th century. Then, lets say that future doctors are interested in reviving you. How much work will they have to do to fix you once youre thawed? The answer lies in the condition of the bodies once theyre thawed. Strangely enough, we know something about this.

In 1983, Alcor needed to lighten three cryonauts, reducing them from bodies to simply heads. (In one transhumanist conception of the future, medical science will be able to revive the brain and then simply make a new body or robot to which to attach it. Neuropreservation is cheaper and easier too.) The three corpses were removed from their Dewar capsules so that the heads could be cut off still frozen, so requiring a chainsaw and stored separately. Once the heads were sawed off and put away, Alcor employees got to work medically examining the state of the bodies. They wrote up their findings in great detail.

At first, things looked reasonably good. While the bodies were still frozen, their skin was only moderately cracked in a few places. But once the bodies thawed, things started to go downhill.

The organs were badly cracked or severed. The spinal cord was snapped into three pieces and the heart was fractured.

Cracks appeared in the warming bodies, cutting through the skin and subcutaneous fat, all the way down to the body wall or muscle surface beneath. One patient displayed red traces across the skin following the paths of blood vessels that ruptured. Two of the patients had massive cutaneous ruptures over the pubis. The soft skin in these areas was apparently quite susceptible to cracking.

While the external damage was extensive, the internal damage was worse. Nearly every organ system inside the bodies was fractured. In one patient, every major blood vessel had broken near the heart, the lungs and spleen were almost bisected, and the intestines fractured extensively. Only the liver and kidneys werent completely destroyed.

The third body, which had been thawed very slowly, was in better condition externally, with only a few skin fractures and no obvious exploded blood vessels. However, the inside was even more annihilated than the others. The organs were badly cracked or severed. The spinal cord was snapped into three pieces and the heart was fractured. The examiners injected dye into an artery in the arm. Rather than flow through blood vessels and into muscles, most of it pooled under the surface in pockets and leaked out of skin fractures.

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The medical examiners extensively detailed the content of the blood, the texture of the muscles, and the extent of the damage. They included pictures. And they earnestly stated their conclusion up front: The tremendous tissue deterioration will require incredibly advanced medical technology to fix. Worse, the probable destruction at the cellular level may require rebuilding the body at the molecular level. Perhaps future medicine might be able to inject swarms of nanobots into your body to repair every bit of tissue, but dont bet on it happening any time soon.

Modern cryonics practices may ward off the horrific failures of the past. And we cant entirely rule out future medicine somehow finding fixes for the terrific damage incurred by the body in freezing, sitting, and thawing. But theres one more hurdle for the future revivification of your frozen form, the last great danger to your immortality: your crazy relatives. Several cases demonstrate the problem.

The family of a man frozen in 1978 eventually got tired of paying for him. The facility offered to cut off his head and store it for free, but the family turned them down. Instead, the body was thawed, submerged in a vat of formaldehyde like a laboratory specimen, and buried in that condition. Two further men were stored by their sons, one of whom had his father thawed, removed, and buried. The other son eventually buried his dads capsule in its entirety with the remains still inside.

Relatives can also go to court and battle over what happens to your corpse. Richard Orvilles family buried him against his wishes and was eventually forced by an Iowa court to dig up his body for preservation. A Colorado womans family went to court to fight Alcor for their mothers head. Alcor eventually got the head, to preserve as best they could. Conversely, another womans will stated that she did not want to be frozen. Her husband froze her anyway, and after a four-year court battle, the State of California ordered that she be thawed and buried.

One particularly well-known family affair is the story of a frozen Norwegian man who was initially stored at a California facility that worked with Alcor. He was removed by his daughter, who stored him in an ice shed behind her house in Colorado. The body was discovered when she was evicted from the property. The small town of Nederland, Colorado now has a Frozen Dead Guy Days celebration every year.

While the chances of immortality may be slim, dozens of people still commit their bodies or brains to cryonics each year. If their remains arent mismanaged or allowed to disintegrate, and if their relatives dont go to court over the body, there is now a good chance that they will remain frozen for decades. Unfortunately, they will come out of the process cracked into a million pieces, and the prospect of putting them back together again is purely science fiction for the foreseeable future. Its a grim practice with ghoulish results; at least it makes for some fascinating stories and a bit of dark humor.

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Horror stories of cryonics: The gruesome fates of frozen bodies - Big Think

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Introduction to Cryonics – Alcor

February 10th, 2023

Cryonics is an effort to save lives by using temperatures so cold that a person beyond help by todays medicine can be preserved for decades or centuries until a future medical technology can restore that person to full health.

Cryonics sounds like science fiction, but is based on modern science. Its an experiment in the most literal sense of the word. The question you have to ask yourself is this: would you rather be in the experimental group, or the control group?

Cryonics is justified by three facts that are not well known:

1) Life can be stopped and restarted if its basic structure is preserved.

Human embryos are routinely preserved for years at temperatures that completely stop the chemistry of life. Adult humans have survived cooling to temperatures that stop the heart, brain, and all other organs from functioning for up to an hour. These and many other lessons of biology teach us that life is a particular structure of matter. Life can be stopped and restarted if cell structure and chemistry are preserved sufficiently well.

2) Vitrification (not freezing) can preserve biological structure very well.

Adding high concentrations of chemicals called cryoprotectants to cells permits tissue to be cooled to very low temperatures with little or no ice formation. The state of no ice formation at temperatures below -120C is called vitrification. It is now possible to physically vitrify organs as large as the human brain, achieving excellent structural preservation without freezing.

3) Methods for repairing structure at the molecular level can now be foreseen.

The emerging science of nanotechnology will eventually lead to devices capable of extensive tissue repair and regeneration, including repair of individual cells one molecule at a time. This future nanomedicine could theoretically recover any preserved person in which the basic brain structures encoding memory and personality remain inferable, which typically occurs well after spontaneous function has been lost.

So

Then cryonics should work, even though it cannot be demonstrated to work today. That is the scientific justification for cryonics. It is a justification that grows stronger with every new advance in preservation technology.

Death occurs when the chemistry of life becomes so disorganized that normal operation cannot be restored. (Death is not when life turns off. People can and have survived being turned off.) How much chemical disorder can be survived depends on medical technology. A hundred years ago, cardiac arrest was irreversible. People were called dead when their heart stopped beating. Today death is believed to occur 4 to 6 minutes after the heart stops beating because after several minutes it is difficult to resuscitate the brain. However, with new experimental treatments, more than 10 minutes of warm cardiac arrest can now be survived without brain injury. Future technologies for molecular repair may extend the frontiers of resuscitation beyond 60 minutes or more, making todays beliefs about when death occurs obsolete.

Ultimately, real death occurs when cell structure and chemistry become so disorganized that no technology could restore the original state. This is called the information-theoretic criterion for death. Any other definition of death is arbitrary and subject to continual revision as technology changes. That is certainly the case for death pronounced on the basis of absent vital signs today, which is not real death at all.

The object of cryonics is to prevent death by preserving sufficient cell structure and chemistry so that recovery (including recovery of memory and personality) remains possible by foreseeable technology. If indeed cryonics patients are recoverable in the future, then clearly they were never really dead in the first place. Todays physicians will simply have been wrong about when death occurs, as they have been so many times in the past. The argument that cryonics cannot work because cryonics patients are dead is a circular argument.

More than one hundred people have been cryopreserved since the first case in 1967. More than one thousand people have made legal and financial arrangements for cryonics with one of several organizations, usually by means of affordable life insurance. Alcor is the largest organization, and distinguished among cryonics organizations by its advanced technology and advocacy of a medical approach to cryonics.

Alcor procedures ideally begin within moments of cardiac arrest. Blood circulation and breathing are artificially restored, and a series of medications are administered to protect the brain from lack of oxygen. Rapid cooling also begins, which further protects the brain. The goal is to keep the brain alive by present-day criteria for as long as possible into the procedure. It is not always possible to respond so rapidly and aggressively, but that is Alcors ideal, and it has been achieved in many cases.

In 2001 Alcor adapted published breakthroughs in the field of organ preservation to achieve what we believe is ice-free preservation (vitrification) of the human brain. This is a method of stabilizing the physical basis of the human mind for practically unlimited periods of time. The procedure involves partly replacing water in cells with a mixture of chemicals that prevent ice formation. Kidneys have fully recovered after exposure to the same chemicals in published studies.

Alcors future goals include expanding ice-free cryopreservation (vitrification) beyond the brain to include the entire human body, and reducing the biochemical alterations of the process to move closer to demonstrable reversibility. Based on the remarkable progress being made in conventional organ banking research, we believe that demonstrably reversible preservation of the human brain is a medical objective that could be achieved in the natural lifetime of most people living today.

To learn more, please read our list of Frequently Asked Questions and the many other articles in the Alcor Library.

Figure 1: Pre-1992 freezing damage in brain tissue after treatment with 3 molar glycerol. This light micrograph prepared by freeze substitution in the frozen state shows extensive ice crystal damage. This is the kind of damage that many commentators assume is common in cryonics patients. Their assumption is outdated and incorrect.

Figure 2: Pre-1992 freezing damage in brain tissue after treatment with 4 molar glycerol. This electron micrograph prepared after thawing shows tears surrounding a capillary, and a naked cell nucleus with no cell membrane (dark rounded object). There seems to be less damage in frozen-thawed tissue than in tissue imaged in the frozen state.

Figure 3: 1992-2001 freezing damage in brain tissue after treatment with 7.5 molar glycerol. This electron micrograph prepared after thawing shows tears surrounding a capillary, but otherwise good structural preservation. With this protocol, ice damage occurs at intervals throughout the brain, but with most of the volume remaining ice-free.

Figure 4: Today brain tissue preserved with a modern vitrification solution shows virtually no freezing damage. Whole neurons are visible with intact membranes and well defined structure. This is the excellent brain preservation which Alcor can now achieve in human patients. Most experts who complain about damage caused by cryonics procedures are unaware that such preservation is now possible.

Excerpt from:
Introduction to Cryonics - Alcor

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

BioRestorative Therapies Announces Notice of Allowance by the European Patent Office for Patent Related to its ThermoStem Program – Marketscreener.com

February 10th, 2023

BioRestorative Therapies Announces Notice of Allowance by the European Patent Office for Patent Related to its ThermoStem Program Marketscreener.com

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BioRestorative Therapies Announces Notice of Allowance by the European Patent Office for Patent Related to its ThermoStem Program - Marketscreener.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith