Kamene Goro has embarked on her weight loss journey and we are happy to witness it. This is a great thing for the radio personality and we are happy for her. She is finally taking her health and image seriously.

Perhaps she is being spurred on by the fact she has a new man and she wants to look great for him. Or perhaps she knows her DJ boyfriend gets a lot of female attention and that competition anxiety that has resulted from that knowledge is being harnessed positively.

Kamene Goro with ex-husband

Whatever her reasons, we are just happy to witness the transformation but we do have to call her out for lying to her fans for a number of years, perpetuating the beautiful at all sizes myth. Thats right people, Kamene Goro lied to you.

Her long-held belief that she was being body positive or whatever malarky she has been meditating on is not something she viscerally believes or holds as her own personal truth. And she shouldnt because the truth is, obesity isnt attractive and beauty actually serves a great purpose for not just individuals but the human race.

Kamene Goro won the genetic lottery in as far as body composition goes. She lacks any fat adiposity on her face. Regardless of how big she was when she was at her fattest, the weight never showed itself on her face.

And this is something that made her remain attractive to Kenyan men (who by the way are known for having low beauty standards). But the reason for this as I said earlier is because she was able to cheat the code thanks to her amazing genetics.

Kamene Goro opens up about her body size

Beauty is actually a biological marker for fertility, youth, health and great genes. When men look at women and deem them beautiful it is often with the underlying incentive to mate. So she managed to cheat the system thanks to her genes. She was obese but when you looked at her face alone, you couldnt really tell.

And that person, Kamene Goro who has been given the blessing of such above-par genetics is busy lying to your sister and telling her to stay fat? Yet we both know your sister wears her weight poorly and is puffy-faced?! And as if that werent bad enough, the hypocrisy in it all is the fact that she is now actively working to get her weight under control.

Curvy babe, Kamene Goro

She literally sold a fake bill of goods that she herself doesnt find value in because her actions now show she truly does understand that being body positive means taking care of your body by exercising.

Man, I dont want to be the type of person who takes advice from celebrities like Kamene Goro!

For more thought-provoking opinion pieces, click here. And be sure to like our Instagram page.

Sources:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4892674/

My name isOzymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Follow this link:
Kamene Goro lied to her fans, she knows being fat is not right - Ghafla!

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Thats Farming editor, Catherina Cunnane, in conversation with Katie Corridan of Roundhill Limousins, Fedamore, County Limerick, in this weeks Suckler Focus.

My name is Katie Corridan, and I live on our family farm in Fedamore, Co. Limerick. We have a large pedigree Limousin herd, about 200 cattle, with 100 breeding cows on 205-acres divided across two farms.

Farming is on both sides of my family. My father, Tim, has farmed all his life, originally calf-to-beef in partnership with my uncle, Maurice, next door, who is a dairy farmer.

I have great memories of rearing dairy calves up early before school and rushing out after school to help dad have the buckets ready.

Dad always kept some commercial sucklers, and since he married my mother, Doreen, they started breeding pedigree cattle.

Initially, this was a combination of both Charolais and Limousin, but in recent times, purely Limousin, and slowly, the herd became fully pedigree over time.

My fathers sister, Hanora, also has a stud farm in Limerick and breeds thoroughbred horses, so on that side, it is a full house of farmers interested in breeding.

On my mothers side, my grandfather was a dairy farmer who had pedigree British Friesians and some Simmentals.

His passion for breeding has definitely been passed on as four out of his six children breed pedigree cattle (with the other two aunties being very supportive!).

For dad, calving ease is absolutely paramount; each of our cows must calve unassisted.

My dad farms full-time, with both myself and my mother working outside the farm, taking every opportunity in the evenings and weekends to farm.

We chose to breed Limousin as they combine my fathers penchant for sucklers with milk and great mothering abilities with my mothers love of good quality cattle.

The foundations of our herd have come from importing proven French females, often the dams of bulls who have bred very well.

These include Giroflee (dam of Nenuphar), Disette (mother of Ideal 23) and Melodie (mother of Ramses). I regularly go to Europe with mam on the hunt for new genetics.

Sometimes the most difficult part is how to explain to my commercially-minded dad that a 10-year-old cow was worth the price of 10 suckler weanlings.

Travelling around Europe gave us the confidence to make the switch to breeding polled Limousins in 2014.

Our oldest polled cows are in their sixth lactation and equal their horned counterparts. This spring, we had some repeat customers looking for their next polled bull because they did not want to dust off the de-horner.

True to form, we use predominately AI with some ET work with a stock bull for cleaning up in spring.

JK Miro, our stock bull, to me, is the full package; great quality, easy calving and most importantly, a gentle soul who loves scratches. Culling for docility is very important, but so is breeding for it.

My ideal cow would be the perfect balance of show-quality with functionality milk, fertility and correctness. The goal is to have a 100% polled herd while continuing to breed for these traits and maintaining breed characteristics.

We have a split calving pattern, September to December and mid-January to April. This is mostly due to limited calving facilities but does have the advantage of having strong bulls throughout the year.

We calve all heifers between 24-26 months where possible; it takes a little bit more management, but I think it is worth it in the long run to maximise profits.

We sell bulls for breeding, usually between 14-18 months, mostly in autumn/springtime. Furthermore, we have a sale for our heifers every two years, a mixture of in-calf and maiden females.

Our whole herd is genotyped; we do this at birth as we are a member of the DNA calf registration programme.

As pedigree breeders, this is crucial to verifying ancestry, giving confidence to both ourselves and the buyer. And as we are breeding for polledness, genotyping can give us definitive proof if an animal is polled or horned at a young age.

The rising cost of inputs has definitely been challenging this year. We have used far less fertiliser, aiming to put a greater focus on clover and grassland management which can be more difficult with sucklers.

Luckily, I completed my Green Cert last year, and it gave me a greater appreciation and understanding of grass measuring, fertiliser use and soil sampling.

I am passionate about suckler farming and its place in Irish agriculture. I love seeing the bond between mother and calf develop and watching that calf grow all the way through to a breeding animal.

Nothing will beat that sense of pride. I also think suckler farming gives us a unique opportunity to work with the land in some more difficult environments where other farming practices would not be suitable, and this should be applauded.

Often, the best sucklers are found on harsher land; we have sold bulls to farmers in the Burren and the Beara Peninsula.

Growing up, I always had a calf to exhibit at summer shows, and it was often a hard goodbye to my calves at society sales.

Agriculture shows made a welcome return this summer after three years off; it was wonderful to get back in the thick of it meeting everyone.

A lot of our good family friends are known through showing and our local Limousin club, South West.

I became involved in Limerick Show in 2015, at the start of college and have remained cattle secretary ever since. We are always looking for new members; our show is on next weekend, Sunday, August 28th, 2022.

I think the future of farming is bright, and in particular, it is brilliant to see #WomenInAg becoming more mainstream.

Women have always been integral to Irish farms, yet it was often seen as a very male-dominated industry. My mother, Doreen, and aunt, Rosalish, taught me the foundations of breeding and judging cattle.

As an only daughter, I was very lucky to have excellent female role models in agriculture, more of which are needed. I would sincerely hope that in the future, gender will not be a limiting factor to a successful career in agriculture.

Managing my time is definitely challenging, and I know this is not unique to my own circumstances with so many suckler farmers working outside of the farm.

I do not get the balance right all of the time, but this is one of the benefits of a family farm, with everyone working together.

Farming is most definitely a lifestyle, but it is hard to find anything to compare to the pure happiness and satisfaction it brings.

I have always loved horse-riding, and farming has given me the opportunity to keep my two horses at home, who live alongside the cattle. I love my animals and cannot imagine a life without them.

See more Suckler Focus profiles.

To share your story like Roundhill Limousins, email [emailprotected]

Original post:
Roundhill Limousins: 'The goal is to have a 100% polled herd' - Thats Farming

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Summer is by far my favorite season of the year. I love the warm temperatures, the longer, sunnier days and the opportunity to spend more time at the lake. But my love for the season quickly expires when I end up covered in red, itchy lumps after spending a few minutes outdoors.

If you're like me, you get frustrated by the number of mosquito bites that litter your body, making you feel like scratching the skin around the bite until you reach bone. While the bites alone can be annoying, it's just downright infuriating when I come inside sporting several new bright-red welts while my friends so kindly report how they don't have a single one.

Why is that? It's not that we're particularly unlucky. There are actually scientific reasons why mosquitoes single out certain people. Here's exactly why mosquitoes bite, and how you can make yourself less of a target this summer. (You can also find out how to easily remove ticks without tweezers.)

Read more:Best Bug Sprays for 2022

Contrary to what you might think, mosquitoes don't bite people for food -- they feed on plant nectar. Only female mosquitoes bite, and they do so to receive proteins from your blood needed to develop their eggs.

There are several factors that impact why some people are more prone to mosquito bites than others:

A common belief is that mosquitoes are attracted to certainblood types, considering mosquitoes bite humans for their blood. Blood type is determined by genetics, and each blood type is created based on the different sets of specific proteins, called antigens, on the surface of red blood cells. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB and O.

While there are no firm conclusions as to which blood type is more attractive to mosquitoes, several studies have suggested people with type O are most appetizing to mosquitoes. A2019 studyobserved mosquito feeding behavior when presented with different blood type samples, and found mosquitoes fed from the type O feeder more than any other. A2004 studyalso found that mosquitoes land on blood group O secretors (83.3%) significantly more than group A secretors (46.5%).

However, these studies are not definitive, and much is still up in the air about mosquito preferences when it comes to blood type.

Mosquitoes are highly visual hunters when it comes to finding a human to bite. This means movement and dark clothing colors like black, navy and red can stand out to a mosquito.Researchhas shown that mosquitoes are more attracted to the color black, but there has been little additional research into why this is the case.

Mosquitoes use sight and smell to find hosts to bite. One of the quickest ways mosquitoes can sniff out a person is through the carbon dioxide emitted when we breathe. According to research published in the journal Chemical Senses, mosquitoes use an organ called a maxillary palp for carbon dioxide detection and can sense it from 164 feet away.

Because carbon dioxide is a huge attractor, people who emit more of it -- larger individuals and people who are breathing heavily when working out -- are more attractive to a mosquito.

Mosquitoes are attracted to more substances and compounds than just carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes can find people to bite by smelling substances present on human skin and in sweat, including lactic acid, uric acid and ammonia.

Researchers are still learning why certain body odors are more attractive to mosquitoes, but they do know that genetics, bacteria on the skin and exercise all play a factor. Genetics impact the amount of uric acid emitted, while exercise increases lactic acid buildup.

In a small study, mosquitoes were observed to land on participants more frequently after they had drank a small amount of beer. But before you swear off beer for good, know that the study only had 14 participants, and it found that mosquitoes may only be marginally more attracted to people who have been drinking beer.

The size and severity of a bite relate to how your immune system responds to the saliva introduced by the mosquito when it bites.

Mosquito bites can range in size from small little spots to large welts. Why is this the case?

Bites affect people differently. The size and severity of a bite relate to how your immune system responds to the saliva introduced by the mosquito when it bites. When mosquitoes bite, they inject some saliva when drawing blood. This saliva contains certain anticoagulant and proteins, triggering the immune system to respond to these foreign substances.

Our body responds by releasing histamine -- a chemical that is released by white blood cells when your immune system is fighting against allergens -- which causes the itchiness and inflammation of the bite.

The best way to handle a mosquito bite is to not get them in the first place -- but often times, that's easier said than done.

Some common ways to prevent mosquito bites include:

Repellants are highly effective in preventing mosquito bites.

Mosquito bites, while annoying, are often not severe and will resolve in a few days. In the meantime, there are several treatments to alleviate the itchiness and inflammation:

Though difficult, try as best you can to not itch the bite too roughly to prevent any sort of skin reaction or infection.

For more, read about thefive smart ways to repel mosquitos this summer, the mosquito forecast tool launched by Google and Off, and how you can make your own DIY traps for mosquitoes, hornets and other flying pests.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Follow this link:
Why You Might Get a Lot of Mosquito Bites: Blood Type, Clothing Color and More - CNET

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A friend of mine who has been having pains in his fingers was recently diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Kindly let me know more about this disease.

Ebika (by SMS)

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown.Researchers think its caused by a combination of genetics, hormones and environmental factors. Normally, your immune system protects your body from disease. With rheumatoid arthritis, something triggers your immune system to attack your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, which means its caused by the immune system attacking healthy body tissue. However, its not yet known what triggers this. There are several risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis.Youre more likely to develop RA if you have a close relative who also has it. Women and people designated female at birth are two to three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Smokingincreases a persons risk of rheumatoid arthritis and makes the disease worse. Your chances of developing RA are higher if you have obesity.

ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

View post:
What is rheumatoid arthritis? - Tribune Online

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By Mylika Scatliffe, AFRO Womens Health Writer

NKiia Stallworth, 42 of Providence, R.I. needs a match. Her multiple myeloma is not an incurable disease. In fact, you could be the solution she needs.

Stallworth and others like her can be cured by a blood stem cell transplant.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. As defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), plasma cells are white blood cells that make antibodies that protect us from infection. In myeloma the cells grow too much, crowding out normal cells in the bone marrow that make red blood cells, platelets, and other white blood cells. Multiple myeloma is the most common type of plasma cell tumor. It develops in the bone marrow and can spread throughout the body.

The challenge for Stallworth is that Black patients have a 29 percent chance of finding a donor match, compared with a 79 percent chance for White patients. White and Black patients searching for a donor have drastically different experiences due to the fact that there simply are not enough registered Black donors.

Be The Match is an organization that facilitates blood stem cell transplants in efforts to replace a patients malformed blood cells with healthy ones. A majority of the time, donations are collected through a non-surgical procedure. Blood is collected from one of the donors arms, the needed cells are extracted and the blood is returned to the body. The process is similar to donating plasma.

Stallworth was diagnosed with multiple myeloma roughly 14 months ago. She admittedly went through a lot of emotions upon initially receiving her diagnosis and didnt even really want to talk about it. Then she found out she needed a blood stem cell transplant.

I didnt even know this was a thing until I was diagnosed. We as minorities really need to give blood in order for us to have a chance at this life-saving cure, and so no one has to wait for a year or even longer, hoping to get a match, said Stallworth.

A patients chance of having a matched available donor on the registry ranges from 29 percent to 79 percent, depending on the patients ethnic background. Because the genetic markers used in matching are inherited, donors are most likely to find a match with someone of the same ethnic background. More than 75 different diseases including leukemia and lymphoma, aplastic anemia, multiple myeloma, sickle cell disease, and immune -deficiency disorders can be cured or treated with a blood stem cell transplant.

Only 8 percent of Be The Match registrants identify as Black or African American.

Erica Jensen, vice president of marketing and a member of the engagement, enrollment, and experience team at Be The Match, said one of her main responsibilities is to increase the diversity of the registry.

Historically marketing was mostly in White communities and there was not enough emphasis, relationships, and programs to connect with more diverse communities. We are committed to changing that, said Jensen. Among other things, weve hired more diverse staff, and created an HBCU intern program which is being expanded to include 30 HBCUs.

Jensen further explained encountering barriers because of medical mistrust because of the way Black bodies have been treated and the history of predatory practices against Black people.

We are very careful and transparent in answering peoples questions. No, we will not share your DNA with police databases or governmental agencies. Yes, the doctors will hold your safety in as high regard as the recipient patient as the donor patient. No, your stem cells will not be taken to only help White and/or rich people, said Jensen.

Be The Match makes sure to take care of any needs for a donor. When a match is found everything is made convenient for the donor including choosing a collection center close to the donor. However, if travel and accommodations are needed for the donor, it is covered at no cost to the donor, including a travel companion for the donor if needed.

More likely than not a donor will just go to a collection center near them. But, for example, if youre in Nebraska you may need to go to a collection center in Seattle or somewhere in Texas, we will book and cover your accommodations. If you need to take an Uber across town to the appointment, its taken care of. If you need to pay a babysitter or dogwalker so you can donate, its at no cost to you.

As noted above, the collection process is simple. Ahead of the collection, the donor receives daily injections for five days to stimulate the bodys stem cells. A donor can go to a center to have the injections completed or be provided a kit to do the injections at home.

About 85 percent of the time donations are achieved through non-surgical means. The remaining 15 percent of the time bone marrow is collected through a surgical outpatient procedure that takes place at a hospital under general or regional anesthesia.

Individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 who meet the health eligibility criteria can join the Be The Match registry by visiting BeTheMatch.org, completing a health history form, and swabbing cheek cells with a home kit sent to the home of the registrant.

They also sponsor in-person swabbing events to encourage people to register as donors, and where potential registrants can be educated about the process.

More young people of diverse racial and ethnic heritage are needed to register to help patients in search of a match. People between the ages of 18 and 35 are most requested by transplant doctors, because this age group is shown to have the most potential for successful transplantation.

More importantly, anyone thinking of registering for Be The Match should seriously think about their commitment to the process before registering. There is no legal obligation for a registrant to participate but a last-minute decision not to donate could be life-threatening for a patient.

Less than 50 percent of registrants are able or willing to donate when asked.

There are two struggles with having enough Black donors: actually getting enough to register, and then when theyve been matched to a patient, having them follow through with the donation process, said Jensen. Well contact someone and say theyre a match for a patient in need and they will either ghost us or refuse to follow saying they dont have time, or dont like needles.

Donors should be willing to donate to anyone when asked because donations to specific patients are not allowed. All searches of the registry are anonymous, and donor and recipient patients may consent to exchange information one to two years after donation.

Stallworth has pounded the pavement getting people in her area to sponsor swabbing events.

Ive placed fliers all over, even on dumpsters to get people to sign up and to get businesses to sponsor swabbing events or allow them to take place on their premises, said Stallworth. Even if no match is made for me, I dont want anyone to have to wait like Im waiting.

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member subscribers are now members! Joinhere!

Read more:
Black donors: we want you to 'be the match' - Afro American

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Westford, USA, Aug. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow. It is the most common type of leukemia, and the fifth most common cancer around the globe. Prevalence rates of multiple myeloma have more than doubled over the past 30 years and continue to increase, reaching an all-time high of 1.3 million people in 2021. As per SkyQuest analysis of the Multiple Myeloma market, the global prevalence of multiple myeloma is currently pegged at 0.7%, which translates to around 1 case in 132 individuals. However, the rate varies as per country, region, gender, and external conditions. For instance, in the US alone more than 34,470 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with the diseases and men are expected to be more prevalent than men in 2022.

Multiple myeloma can be diagnosed at any age, but most cases are diagnosed in elderly adults (over 60 years old). The risk factors for developing multiple myeloma include being a smoker, having a family history of the disease, and being overweight or obese. There is no one cure for multiple myeloma, but aggressive treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation can result in remission or long-term survival in the global Multiple Myeloma market. Patients are advised to undergo regular blood tests to monitor their tumor status.

The majority of MM patients don't have a cure, almost 50%, and 100% will relapse post-treatment. It's important to find new therapies that will help these patients and improve their quality of life.

Get sample copy of this report:

https://skyquestt.com/sample-request/multiple-myeloma-market

Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation to Become Popular Treatment option in Multiple Myeloma market

As per SkyQuest analysis, the treatment options available for MM are generally based on the stage of the disease. Stages I and II are treated with chemoradiation therapy, which may include alternating doses of radiation and chemotherapy, while stage III and IV are treated with chemo and immunotherapy. Our analysts believe that new multiple myeloma therapies will become available over the next few years, which could change the way MM is treated.

It is expected that multiple myeloma therapies using autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) will become more popular by 2025 in the global Multiple Myeloma market. There are several reasons for this trend: first, autologous HSC transplantation has been shown to be effective in treating MM when other treatments have failed; second, alternative therapies such as targeted therapy and monoclonal antibody drugs have not been as successful as chemo/radiation combinations; and third, HSCT is relatively affordable compared to other treatment options.

Stem cell transplants are controversial because they can be dangerous and often require lengthy rehabilitation. However, recent studies have shown that autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSC transplant) is becoming a more popular treatment option in multiple myeloma. aHSC transplants are reservoir cells from someones own blood, which can be used to treat many types of cancer.

aHSC transplants are safer than bone marrow transplants because they do not require donors who are specifically matched for the recipient. In addition, aHSC transplants only require fractional doses of radiation and chemotherapy, which make them less likely to cause side effects.

SkyQuest published a report on Multiple Myeloma market that covers a detailed insights about available treatment options for treating the condition. We have identified available treatment, their impact on patient health, affordability by pricing analysis and location. The also provides in-depth understanding about market analysis, trends, challenges, threat, and opportunities for the market participants.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://skyquestt.com/report/multiple-myeloma-market

Recent Developments in Multiple Myeloma Market

SkyQuest Analysis of Ongoing Research in Global Multiple Myeloma Market

Multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow, is a leading cause of death in adults. Despite advances in treatment over the years, there remains no cure for multiple myeloma. However, researchers are working on developing new and more effective treatments that can help improve the outlook for those living with multiple myeloma. Currently, more than 670 clinical trials are undergoing across the globe for the finding the treatment for multiple myeloma. Most of these studies are focused on testing efficacy and efficiency of the drugs for improving the treatment outcome of the condition.

The following are some of the ongoing research efforts being conducted to find new and better ways of treatment in global Multiple Myeloma market:

SkyQuest has analyzed all these ongoing clinical trials in the global Multiple Myeloma market in order to understand their impact on the global exosomes market. The report provides complete data on upcoming drugs, number of trials completed, which companies are likely to get affected by the launch of new drugs, how on-going clinical trials are expected to leave impact on overall market analysis, market revenue, and forecast. To get a detailed understanding of the clinical study on the global Multiple Myeloma market,

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/multiple-myeloma-market

Key Players in the Global Multiple Myeloma Market

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Cognition Supplements Market

Global Hereditary Angioedema Treatment Market

Global Softgel Capsule Market

Global Retinal Disease Therapeutics Market

Global Mixed Xylene Market

About Us:

SkyQuest Technologyis leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

Address:

1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886

Phone:

USA (+1) 617-230-0741

Email:sales@skyquestt.com

LinkedInFacebookTwitter

Originally posted here:
Global Multiple Myeloma Market to Hit Sales of $34.89 Billion By 2028 - GlobeNewswire

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Generation of CD31+ endothelial cells derived from hiPSCs and their in vitro characterization

Several previous studies reported successful generation of ECs from hiPSCs (hiPSC-ECs) using a combination of small molecules, including a GSK3 inhibitor22. Based on previous reports, we generated hiPSC-ECs from hiPSCs using the GSK3 inhibitor CHIR99021 (Supplementary materials and methods, Supplementary Fig. 1a). To produce hiPSC-ECs expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP) to facilitate cell tracking in the heart tissues in further experiments, we produced hiPSCs expressing GFP signals by transfecting GFP lentiviral particles, enriched them by FACS based on GFP expression, and used them to differentiate into ECs (Supplementary Fig. 1b). qRT-PCR results verified that the expression level of OCT4, a pluripotency marker, was significantly reduced, and the expression level of CD31, a specific marker for EC, was significantly increased in the hiPSCs differentiating into the EC lineage (Supplementary Fig. 1c, Supplementary Table 1). On differentiation Day 7, we observed that approximately 25.08% of the differentiating hiPSC-ECs were positive for human CD31 antibody, and subsequently, we enriched these CD31+ cells by FACS. Following FACS, the enriched CD31+ hiPSC-ECs were maintained in human endothelial serum-free medium with cytokines, including VEGF, to maintain their characteristics as EC lineage cells (Supplementary Fig. 1c). The CD31+ hiPSC-ECs displayed a typical cobblestone-like EC morphology and expressed similar mRNA levels of EC-specific markers, such as cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-Cadherin), Von Willebrand factor (vWF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), compared with human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs) (Supplementary Fig. 1c, d). The results from flow cytometry analysis further demonstrated that the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs were 97.19% and 85.53% positive for CD31 and CD144, respectively (Supplementary Fig. 1e). In addition, the immunofluorescence results confirmed that the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs expressed abundant levels of the CD31 and vWF proteins (Supplementary Fig. 1f). At the functional level, the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs displayed the capacity for uptake of Ac-LDL (Supplementary Fig. 1g) and the formation of a capillary-like network on top of Matrigel (Supplementary Fig. 1h).

To determine if the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs (hiPSC-ECs afterward) could form de novo vessels via a vasculogenesis-dependent mechanism in MI-induced hearts, we intramyocardially injected hiPSC-ECs at two different sites in the border zone of the MI-induced rat hearts. MI was generated by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery in the heart. hiPSC-ECs continuously expressing the green fluorescence (GFP) signal were used for tracking purposes. To visualize the functional vessels in the MI-induced hearts, we performed perfusion staining with isolection-B4 (IB4) conjugated with a red fluorescent dye, rhodamine, into the heart prior to tissue harvest 8 weeks after injection with hiPSC-ECs. Fluorescent image analyses showed that the number of IB4+ capillaries in the hiPSC-EC-injected hearts was significantly higher than that in the MI control hearts (Fig. 1a).

a Representative images of blood vessels stained with IB4-rhodamine (red) in the infarct zone, border zone, and remote zone and at 8 weeks after injection of hiPSC-ECs and their quantification summary. For quantification, the number of capillaries in five randomly selected fields (mm2) in each heart was counted. n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 100m. b Representative image of blood vessels newly formed by iPSC-ECs-GFP (green), IB4-rhodamine (red) and DAPI (blue). Scale bars: 20m. cj Rats undergoing MI were intramyocardially injected with hiPSC-ECs or control cells, followed by echocardiography analysis. c The schematic timeline from MI modeling and transplantation of iPSC-EC to measurement of cardiac function. d Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), (e) left fractional shortening (FS), (f) left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd), (g) left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVIDs), (h) septal wall thickness (SWT), (i) posterior wall thickness (PWT), and (j) relative wall thickness (RWT). n=6. *p<0.05. k Representative images showing cardiac fibrosis after staining with Massons trichrome in the hearts harvested 8 weeks after cell treatment. Quantification results of cardiac fibrosis (l) and viable myocardium (m). n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 2000m.

Next, to evaluate the potential and magnitude of the contribution of hiPSC-ECs to vasculogenesis in the MI hearts, we traced the GFP and RFP signals from hiPSC-ECs within cardiac tissues. Confocal microscopy images demonstrated a considerable number of vessels, double-positive for both IB4 and GFP signals from hiPSC-ECs, in the infarct region of the heart tissues receiving hiPSC-ECs at 8 weeks post-injection. Interestingly, a substantial number of hiPSC-ECs were incorporated into the host capillary network, and many of them were located in the perivascular area (Fig. 1b). The results clearly suggest that hiPSC-ECs could reconstruct de novo vessels in ischemic hearts.

Given that vascular regeneration improved through vasculogenesis leads to functional recovery from MI, we hypothesized that intramyocardial injection of hiPSC-ECs into MI hearts may promote cardiac function. Subsequently, we performed serial echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function and cardiac remodeling from PRE (1-week post-MI and prior to cell treatment), and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after cell treatment. In this study, we employed a MI model that cells were transplanted one week after induction of MI to mimic the clinical situation of MI patients as close as possible. The results of echocardiography demonstrated that both ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) in all experimental groups were significantly lower compared with the sham group that did not receive any intervention. (Supplementary Fig. 2ag). Of importance, the hearts receiving hiPSC-ECs displayed significantly higher EF and FS than those in the MI control group until 8 weeks after the cell treatment (Fig. 1cd). Among several parameters for cardiac remodeling, such as left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd), left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVISd), septal wall thickness (SWT), posterior wall thickness (PWT), and relative wall thickness (RWT), the LVIDd and LVIDs in the hiPSC-EC-treated hearts were significantly lower than those in MI control hearts, indicating that hiPSC-ECs protected the hearts from adverse cardiac remodeling. (Fig. 1ei and Supplementary Fig. 2h). Similarly, the results of Massons trichrome staining obtained using cardiac tissue harvested at 8 weeks post-cell treatment showed that the area of fibrosis (%) in the hiPSC-EC-injected group was considerably smaller and the viable myocardium (%) was larger than that in the MI control group (Fig. 1jm). Based on these results, we confirmed that hiPSC-ECs can directly contribute to de novo vessel formation in vivo in MI-exposed hearts, resulting in enhanced cardiac function.

Subsequently, we investigated our central hypothesis of whether simultaneous induction of both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis could lead to comprehensive vascular regeneration and functional improvement in the MIhearts. Since we already verified that hiPSC-ECs successfully achieved vasculogenesis in the MI hearts, we sought to identify an additional cellular source that can induce complementary angiogenesis from the blood vessels in the host heart and finally decided to test genetically modified human mesenchymal stem cells engineered to continuously release human SDF-1 protein (SDF-eMSCs)23. The SDF-eMSCs were indistinguishable from normal BM-MSCs. The SDF-eMSCs exhibited a homogeneous spindle-shaped cell morphology, representing hMSCs (Supplementary materials and methods, Supplementary Fig. 3a). The SDF-eMSCs had a high proliferative potential based on the gradual increase in population doubling levels (PDL) during the culture times compared to normal BM-MSCs24 (Supplementary Fig. 3b). The SDF-eMSCs expressed several markers specific for human MSCs, such as CD90, CD44, CD105 and CD73, without the expression of CD34, CD11b, CD19, CD45 and HLA-DR (Supplementary Fig. 3c). The SDF-eMSCs stably secreted human SDF-1 protein, as determined by human SDF-1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis (Supplementary Fig. 3d). The results from SDF-eMSC karyotyping revealed a normal human karyotype of the SDF-eMSCs without chromosomal abnormalities, suggesting the genetic stability of the SDF-eMSCs (Supplementary Fig. 3e).

To investigate whether SDF-eMSCs could augment the angiogenic potential of ECs, we performed various types of in vitro experimental analyses with SDF-eMSCs. Among the first, to determine whether SDF-eMSCs influenced the gene expression associated with ECs and angiogenic properties, we treated 30% conditioned media (CM) harvested from cultured SDF-eMSCs or BM-MSCs to the cultured hiPSC-ECs for 3 days and performed qRT-PCR analyses. The expression levels of stromal-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1), tyrosine kinase with Ig and epidermal growth factor homology domain 2 (Tie-2), vWF, E-selectin (CD62), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were significantly higher in the hiPSC-ECs treated with SDF-eMSC-CM than in the hiPSC-ECs exposed to BM-MSC-CM (Fig. 2a). In particular, the increased expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 is known to be involved in angiogenesis in the presence of activated ECs25,26,27,28,29. Next, in EC migration assays, as shown in Fig. 2, the addition of conditioned media from the SDF-eMSCs (SDF-eMSC-CM) significantly enhanced the migration of hiPSC-ECs or HUVECs compared with the migration of the ECs treated with CM from human bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSC-CM), suggesting that cytokines released from the SDF-eMSCs bolster the mobility of ECs (Fig. 2b and Supplementary Fig. 4a). In addition, to test whether SDF-eMSCs directly promote the angiogenic potential of ECs, we performed Matrigel tube formation assays, a representative experiment to evaluate the vessel formation potential of cells. The results from Matrigel tube formation assays demonstrated that the number of branches formed in both the hiPSC-ECs and the HUVECs treated with 30% CM harvested from the cultured SDF-eMSCs was significantly greater than that in the BM-MSC-CM-treated ECs (Fig. 2c and Supplementary Fig. 4b). Interestingly, treatment with SDF-eMSC-CM not only promoted tube formation by the hiPSC-ECs but also contributed to the maintenance of vessels formed from the hiPSC-ECs. Unlike the hiPSC-EC-generated vessels exposed to BM-MSC-CM that began to disrupt the vessel structure within 24h of vessel formation, treatment with SDF-eMSC-CM supported the integrity of vessels for up to 48h.

a qRT-PCR analysis of relative mRNA expression associated with ECs and angiogenesis in the hiPSC-ECs treated with the conditioned media (CM) from cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC-CM) or SDF engineered MSCs (SDF-eMSC-CM) for 3 days. The y-axis represents the relative mRNA expression of target genes to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). n=3. *p<0.05. b EC migration assay. Representative images of migrated hiPSC-ECs and quantification of the migrated area (%). The hiPSC-ECs were placed in transwells (top), and regular media (EGM, EBM) or the conditioned media (CM) collected from different cell sources (BM-MSC-CM and SDF-eMSC-CM) were placed in transwells (bottom) for 7h. n=3. *p<0.05. c Tube formation assay. The hiPSC-ECs were cultured in 24-well plates coated with Geltrex with regular media (EGM, EBM) or conditioned media (CM) (BM-MSC-CM and SDF-eMSC-CM) for 9, 24, or 48h. Representative images of tube formation and quantification summary for the number of junctions. n=3. *p<0.05.

To provide a cellular reservoir where SDF-eMSC-PAs can constantly release SDF-1 to MI hearts, we produced a patch encapsulating SDF-eMSC (SDF-eMSC-PA) by mixing SDF-eMSCs with a 2% heart-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (hdECM)-based bioink and loaded it onto the polycaprolactone (PCL) mesh (Fig. 3 and Supplementary Fig. 5). Subsequently, to confirm whether SDF-eMSC-PAs are functional and can efficiently release SDF-1, we cultured SDF-eMSC-PAs in vitro for 28 days (Supplementary Fig. 5a) and collected supernatants at various time points for three days to generate the release kinetics of the SDF1-eMSC-PAs using the SDF-1 ELISA kit. The cumulative release curve showed that although the initial concentration of SDF-1 was higher in the SDF-cytokine-PAs (300ng/ml) than in the SDF-eMSC-PAs on Day 0, no SDF-1 was detectable in the SDF-cytokine-PAs from Day 7. However, the expression of SDF-1 released from the SDF-eMSC-PAs increased consistently until Day 21 (Supplementary Fig. 5b), suggesting that SDF-eMSCs continuously secreted SDF-1 within the patch.

a Procedures for manufacturing a cardiac patch encapsulating SDF-engineered MSCs (SDF-eMSC-PA) with a polycaprolactone (PCL) platform produced by a 3D printing system. b Optical image within the hdECM patch. SDF-eMSC-PAs were prelabeled with the red florescence dye DiI for tracing. Scale bars: 1mm. c Image of epicardially transplanted SDF-eMSC-PAs in the MI-induced heart. d Macroscopic view of hearts at 8 weeks after PA transplantation.

To finally determine whether simultaneous induction of both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis by using hiPSC-ECs and SDF-eMSC-PAs could lead to comprehensive vascular regeneration and functional improvement in MI-induced hearts, we induced MI by LAD ligation after the formation of five experimental groups as follows: (1) MI control, (2) SDF-eMSC-PA implanted epicardium of MI hearts (PA only, 1106), (3) hiPSC-ECs, intramyocardial injection (EC only, 1106), and (4) combined platform of hiPSC-ECs and SDF-eMSC-PA (EC+PA, 1106 in each) (Fig. 4). We first performed serial echocardiography for all experimental groups at pre, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after cell treatment. All experimental groups were significantly reduced compared with that in the sham group (Supplementary Fig. 6ag). Of interest, cardiac function in the EC+PA group was significantly preserved until 8 weeks compared with its cardiac function at pre, but cardiac function in other groups, such as the control, hiPSC-EC alone and SDF-eMSC-PA alone groups, continuously decreased until 8 weeks. (Fig. 4ad). Adverse cardiac remodeling determined by the LVIDd, LVIDs, SWT, PWT, and RWT was notably reduced in the EC+PA group compared with the other groups (Fig. 4ei and Supplementary Fig. 6h). To further evaluate cardiac function more precisely, we performed LV hemodynamic measurements using an invasive pressure-volume (PV) catheter, which can measure the hemodynamic pressure and volume of the LV. The results of the PV loop at 8 weeks post-cell treatment showed that the EC+PA group had significantly improved cardiac function and prevented adverse cardiac remodeling compared with the other groups (Fig. 5). The two parameters of general cardiac function, stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO), were significantly higher (Fig. 5ac), and the maximum volume (V max), which is the cardiac remodeling index measured at the maximum diastole, was significantly lower in the EC+PA group than in the other groups (Fig. 5d). Although the pressure max (P max) measured at the maximum systole did not differ significantly between groups, the maximum rate of pressure change (dP/dtmax) and the minimum rate of pressure change (dP/dtmin), which indicate the pressure change in LV per second, were increased in the EC+PA group. (Fig. 5ef and Supplementary Fig. 7a). Temporal variation in the occluded inferior vena cava (IVC) was used to evaluate load-independent intrinsic cardiac contractibility. The end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship (EDPVR), which indicates the absence of diastolic dysfunction, did not differ between the groups, whereas the slope of the end-systolic pressure volume relationship (ESPVR), which indicates cardiac contractibility, was significantly improved in the EC+PA group compared with the other groups (Fig. 5gh and Supplementary Fig. 7b). Collectively, these results from LV hemodynamic measurements consistently demonstrate that treatment with the combined platform with hiPSC-ECs and SDF-eMSC-PAs improves cardiac repair in MI hearts.

a Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). b EF delta change at 8 weeks after cell treatment. c Left fractional shortening (FS). d FS delta change at 8 weeks after cell treatment. e Left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd). f Left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVIDs). g Septal wall thickness (SWT). h Posterior wall thickness (PWT). i Relative wall thickness (RWT). n=611. *p<0.05.

a Representative images of the hemodynamic pressure and volume (PV) curve at steady state at 8 weeks post-cell treatment. b Stroke volume (SV). c Cardiac output (CO). d Volume max (V max) defining the amount of blood volume in the LV at end-diastole. e dP/dtmax refers to the maximal rate of pressure changes during systole. f The minimal rate of pressure changes during diastole (dP/dtmin). g Slope of end-systolic pressure volume relationship (ESPVR) indicating the intrinsic cardiac contractibility as measured by transient inferior vena cava (IVC) occlusion. h Slope of end-diastolic pressure volume relationship (EDPVR). n=4. *p<0.05.

Next, we investigated the in vivo behavior of intramyocardially implanted hiPSC-ECs in the presence or absence of SDF-eMSC-PAs. Since hiPSC-ECs constantly express GFP, we could track their fate in heart tissue sections. Confocal microscopic examination of heart tissues harvested at 8 weeks after cell treatment demonstrated that implantation of SDF-eMSC-PAs significantly improved the retention and engraftment of intramyocardially injected GFP-positive hiPSC-ECs. Quantitatively, the proportion of GFP-positive hiPSC-ECs in the EC+PA group was substantially higher than that in the EC group (Fig. 6a). Of interest, while the hiPSC-ECs in the hiPSC-ECs alone group were localized near the injection sites, the hiPSC-ECs in the EC+PA group were distributed throughout the regions of the left ventricle. Given the ability of SDF-eMSC-PAs to improve the survival and retention of injected hiPSC-ECs, we sought to examine whether SDF-eMSC-PAs exerted direct cytoprotective effects in hiPSC-ECs in vitro. Ischemic injury was simulated by exposing hiPSC-ECs to H2O2 (500M). Administration of CM from SDF-eMSCs (SDF-eMSC-CM) significantly improved the viability of both hiPSC-ECs and HUVECs as determined by the LIVE/DEAD assay and CCK-8 assay (Supplementary Fig. 8af). Treatment with SDF-eMSC-CM substantially increased the number of viable cells, suggesting that SDF-eMSC-CM exerts direct cytoprotective effects on ECs against ischemic insults. Subsequently, we performed thorough histological analyses using heart tissues harvested 8 weeks post-cell treatment to examine whether SDF-eMSC-PAs could concurrently promote hPSC-EC-dependent vasculogenesis as well as angiogenesis of host blood vessels. IB4 conjugated with rhodamine was systemically injected to identify the functional endothelium in these experiments. Initially, confocal images demonstrated that the number of total IB4-positive (IB4+) capillaries in both the border zone and infarct zone of the hearts in the EC+PA group was substantially higher than that in the other groups, including the EC group (Fig. 6b). The number of vessels that were GFP negative but positive for IB4 (GFP-/IB4+) was also significantly higher than that in other groups, including the EC-only group (Fig. 6c). These results suggest that the combined approach significantly promoted the angiogenesis of host vessels in MI hearts. More importantly, the number of de novo vessels formed by hiPSC-ECs-GFP+ was substantially higher in the EC+PA group than in the EC-only group, indicating that SDF-eMSC-PAs facilitates hiPSC-EC-dependent vasculogenesis (Fig. 6de and Supplementary Fig. 9a). Notably, the number of larger blood vessels (diameter range: >5 m), one of the indicators of functional blood vessels in the EC+PA group, was significantly higher than that in the EC group. Of interest, many of those larger vessels in the EC+PA group displayed abundant expression of -SMA, a marker for smooth muscle cells, suggesting that these larger vessels (CD31+/-SMA+) may be arteriole-like vessels, indicating that SDF-eMSC-PA played certain roles in vascular ingrowth and maturation (Fig. 6eg and Supplementary Fig. 9b).

a Representative image of hiPSC-ECs-GFP within the infarct area at 8 weeks post-cell treatment and their quantification summary. n=3. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 1000m. b Representative images of blood vessels stained with IB4-rhodamine (red) in the infarct zone (IZ), border zone (BZ), and remote zone at 8 weeks after cell treatment and a summary of their quantification. n=57. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 100m. c Representative images of blood vessels negative for GFP but positive for IB4 (GFP-/IB4+) in the infarcted area and their quantification summary. hiPSC-ECs-GFP (green), IB4-rhodamine (red) and DAPI (blue). n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 20m. d, e Representative images of GFP and IB4 (GFP+/IB4+)-positive blood vessels in the infarcted area and their quantification. hiPSC-ECs-GFP (green), IB4-rhodamine (red) and DAPI (blue). n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 20m. f, g Diameter of hiPSC-EC-derived GFP-positive blood vessels in the infarcted area and border zone. n=5. *p<0.05.

To further investigate whether the vascular regeneration achieved by the combined platform (EC+PA) was sufficient to salvage the myocardium from ischemic insult, we quantified the viable myocardium by immunostaining for cardiac troponin T (cTnT) antibody using the heart tissues harvested from all experimental groups at 8 weeks post-cell treatment. The number of viable cTnT+ cardiomyocytes in the EC+PA group was significantly higher than that in the other groups (Fig. 7a). These results from histological analyses using heart tissues motivated us to test whether SDF-eMSCs (Supplementary Fig. 10a) could confer direct cytoprotective effects on cardiomyocytes against ischemic insults in vitro. Ischemic injury was simulated by exposing cardiomyocytes to H2O2 (500M). The results from both the LIVE/DEAD assay and the cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) assay demonstrated that the administration of SDF-eMSC-conditioned media (CM) significantly improved the viability of cultured cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal rats (NRCM) against H2O2 treatment compared with other treatments. These results also suggest that SDF-eMSCs have direct cytoprotective effects against ischemic insults (Supplementary Fig. 11ac).

a Representative immunostaining images of myocardium stained with cTnT (green) and DAPI (blue) at 8 weeks after cell treatment and quantification of the number of cTnT-positive cardiomyocytes. SDF-eMSCs labeled with DiI within the cardiac patch (red) n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bar: 300m. b Representative images of Massons trichrome staining using heart tissues harvested 8 weeks after cell treatment. c, d Quantification summary of a percentage of fibrosis and viable myocardium. n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 2000m.

Consequently, the combined treatment group showed a significant decrease in cardiac fibrosis. The results of Massons trichrome staining using cardiac tissue harvested at 8 weeks exhibited an area of fibrosis (%), which was significantly lower in the combined treatment groups than in the other groups (Fig. 7bd). Taken together, our results clearly suggested that the combined treatment resulted in comprehensive cardiac repair through enhanced vascular regeneration and that the SDF-eMSCs contributed at least to some extent indirect protection of myocardium from ischemic injury via consistent secretion of cytoprotective SDF cytokines.

Visit link:
Enhancement strategy for effective vascular regeneration following myocardial infarction through a dual stem cell approach | Experimental &...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

In 2009, I was living in Buckinghamshire, England with my husband. We had a two-year-old and a four-year-old and I had just stopped working for a big bank, so I had no private health insurance.

Around that time, I'd been getting these sore throats, totally out of the blue. They were wiping me out for a week at a time, which with two young kids was pretty difficult. I started to get them almost on a monthly basis. And so I decided I was going to get myself checked, just in case. But I didn't expect anything really.

It never crossed my mind that I would be diagnosed with anything serious. When I went into the doctor's surgery in May, the nurse did a throat swab and actually wasn't going to bother doing a blood test. I remember she then said, "Let's just do a blood test now."

My family and I then went on vacation with friends, but when we came back, I had a message from my doctor saying she wanted to talk to me about the blood tests. So I went in for an appointment, and she told me that the hospital had picked something up and wanted to run some more tests. But she genuinely didn't seem to believe that it was going to be anything serious.

At that stage, I was obviously a bit worried. But I thought of how you hear these situations where people go in and get tested and everything's fine. I thought I'd be a little bit nervous, but that it would all probably be OK and that perhaps I was just being a drama queen.

But when I got to the hospital elevator, I saw that I had been directed to a hematology department and cancer unit and I just burst into tears.

My husband and I then went in and spoke to a consultant and he explained that after seeing this one blood test, they wanted to do some more tests. They wanted to rule out multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer. But they reassured me that typically it was diagnosed people over 70 and more common in men and within the Black population. I was told that at the age of 34, I was likely far too young to have it.

The first tests all came back and looked OK; my bloods weren't as bad as I thought. I had no bone damage and the X rays were all clear. Then I had a bone marrow biopsy and the doctor came back and told me that I had 10 percent cancerous myeloma cells (abnormal plasma cells) in my bones. So I got diagnosed with myeloma less than six weeks after I first went to the doctor. I was classed as having smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) for the first year, an earlier disease stage of multiple myeloma where the abnormal plasma cell levels in my bones and paraprotein levels in my blood weren't quite bad enough for any action to be taken immediately. Even being diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma is quite rare.

I still don't know if my sore throats were related to my diagnosis, but there is research that indicates some people with SMM can have impaired immune systems, because myeloma affects plasma cells, which are part of the immune system. So perhaps I was more vulnerable to picking up illnesses at that time.

I think a lot of doctors don't give a specific prognosis. If I'd asked direct questions, I think they would have talked to me about it. But I didn't really do that. I think I didn't really want to know.

But the general prognosis I saw everywhere in those days for myeloma was around two to five years. It felt like my whole world just fell away overnight really. I genuinely didn't believe I was going get to see my kids get through elementary school, let alone high school.

My myeloma became more active in 2010. I had more than 10 percent cancerous cells in my bone marrow, which rose to 50 percent at worst, my calcium levels had risen, I was borderline anemic and I was suffering from some bone pain. So, the same year I joined the Myeloma XI trial. It involved maintenance therapy with a cancer drug called lenalidomide. The trial started with chemotherapy, then a stem cell transplant and then the maintenance therapy drug.

I went through two different types of chemotherapy and then had my first stem cell transplant in 2011. I was really worried still at this stage, fearing that because my condition had progressed, the prognosis of living for two to five years might be accurate.

The stem cell transplant was one of the worst experiences of my life. I was just so sick. I felt like I wanted the world to swallow me up. During the treatment your stem cells are collected, then you have a high dose of chemotherapy before the stem cell transplant takes place. I got ulcers in my mouth, couldn't eat and had no energy. When my husband visited I would just be asleep. I couldn't talk to him. I couldn't talk to anyone. I didn't see my children for three weeks. They came into the hospital once and it was just so difficult that I told my husband not to bring them again.

The first stem cell transplant put me into a partial remission. I was lucky that that was on the trial from 2011 till 2019, because that maintenance therapy wasn't available to most people at that time. Partial remission allowed my life to return to almost normal. Whilst I still had to be careful to avoid infections, I was able to go back to working, I took up netball for the first time since school, and focused on fundraising. Most importantly, I was there for my family.

But by 2019, my paraprotein levels had been going up for a year or so and they went outside of the trial guidelines. So doctors had to take me off the maintenance therapy, which meant those levels increased at a faster rate. I went back onto a different type of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and then had another stem cell transplant in 2020. Now I'm on immunotherapy.

I think the maintenance therapy was a game changer because it gave me a much longer remission than a lot of people get, though treatments are getting better all the time, and now there are more options. When I do relapse again, which I will, hopefully there will be more options for me.

I hope that I can live with multiple myeloma long term. We're also keeping our fingers crossed for a cure at some stage.

If the nurse hadn't done those blood tests in 2009, it might have been months or years before I'd been diagnosed. And who knows whether that would have been good, in a way, because I'd have lived a few years without knowing, or whether I'd have ended up with bone damage or kidney damage, which is how lots of people get diagnosed with myeloma, when things have gone too far. But over the years I've realized there's nothing to be gained by having that conversation with myself. So I don't have it anymore.

I am hopeful for the future. I've become much more positive about my diagnosis. I began fundraising for the charity Myeloma UK, which has really been my savior because it's allowed me to have a focus on something that feels really positive. And, I now work as a community fundraiser for the charity Brain Tumour Research, and I love my job. It's the first time I've ever loved a job.

So I'm going to hope for the best, and if I relapse then we'll deal with that at the time.

Deb Gascoyne lives in the U.K. with her husband and two children.

All views expressed in this article are the author's own.

As told to Jenny Haward.

View post:
'I Had a Sore Throat, Weeks Later I Was Diagnosed with a Rare Disease' - Newsweek

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A London mum has lost nearly three inches in height after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer. Antoinette Carr, 49, had just returned to work as a Projects Administrator after the birth of her second child when she felt extremely tired.

She assumed that it was simply the result of being a mum to two young children, but it turned out to be multiple Myeloma. The mum from Enfield visited her GP initially thinking her symptoms might be down to a vitamin deficiency and so the shock of the diagnosis caused an "out-of-body experience" and she wasn't to know the diagnosis would result in a years-long ordeal and multiple fractures in her spine.

After a series of tests, Antoinette was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable form of blood cancer in February 2012. She told MyLondon: "I just felt so tired. I thought it would be a vitamin deficiency or something, I never even considered it would be cancer. But when doctors said I needed a bone marrow biopsy, that's when the penny dropped."

Read more: 'Healthy, happy' nursery worker, 21, died with Covid-19 while waiting for liver transplant

"It almost felt like an out of body experience," she added. "It was like I was in the room, and I could see the doctor's mouth moving, but I couldn't actually hear or take in what he was saying to me."

Multiple myeloma, also known as myeloma, is a type of bone marrow cancer. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue at the centre of some bones that produces the body's blood cells . In the early stages, it often doesn't cause any symptoms and is only diagnosed after a routine blood or urine test. Eventually, it may show up with a persistent bone pain and tiredness.

To confirm the diagnosis, Antoinette had to endure a bone marrow biopsy to test how much myeloma is in the blood. Antoinette said doctors numbed the area of her back and took a long needle "like a skewer" and twisted it into her back "like a corkscrew".

"I felt it all," she said. "It was worse than childbirth. The pain was just horrendous.

"Even to this day I've had to have biopsies and every time the doctor says to me, 'we're going to have to do bone marrow biopsy'. I just broke down crying, begging for sedation."

Over the past 10 years, Antoinette has had eight different chemotherapy treatments including a autologous stem cell transplant all to varying degrees of success. She got used to visiting hospital regularly, often up to three times a week as her cancer went through periods of shrinking and growing.

But at its worst, just a week into the COVID-19 pandemic, the cancer cells had spread into Antoinettes spine, weakening it and this caused 13 separate spinal fractures and collapsed vertebrate's, leading to her losing three inches in height.

One day, she was washing her hair over the bath when she stood up and had a sharp pain in her back. Undeterred, she went into her bedroom to get the hairdryer out when she was unable to pick it up. Antoinette explained: "I called my husband. I went downstairs and sat down but then I couldn't move.

"On the way to the hospital I just kept throwing up in the car. By the time we got to the hospital, I was covered in it all and so embarrassed. Doctors then said I had four fractures in my back."

Antoinette had an operation and was given a back brace and told to rest up. However her pain got worse and eventually she was unable to even go to the toilet by herself without the help of her husband Richard.

Doctors believed she may have been given the wrong type of brace, which lead to her back being unsupported and the thirteen total fractures, which were inoperable. She now requires a walking stick.

"A few of the vertebrae had completely collapsed, they couldn't fix them," she explained. "So as a result, I've lost three inches in height. I know because the tap in the kitchen. I used to look down on it. Now the taps are basically in my face. I've got a shorter spine, I've essentially collapsed like a pack of cards.

"If I'm standing up and you look at me from the side, you can see me hunched forward as I've got like a curve in my back. I do try to stand up straight but it's quite painful. When I'm standing up straight and I'm walking, it feels like there's a magnet pulling me forward. So I use the walking stick to give me a more upright posture.

"And there's nothing more doctors can do about the hunch and as someone who's not old, it really does affect me. It took me ages to be able to look in the mirror and not cry."

Although Antoinettes future is determined by the results of her monthly blood tests, she is still determined to live the life that she has in full. Many treatment options have now been exhausted, but she was accepted into a clinical trial for a new experimental drug since November 2021. She has been responding well to the treatment so far, but the trial has been extremely tough on her, due to the many side effects.

Unfortunately a stem cell match has also yet to be found for Antoinette, but she remains hopeful even after all that she has been through. She added: "It's my kids and my husband that keep me going. This is why I keep fighting because I want to see them grow up. Every milestone is a blessing. I just couldn't imagine not being there for them."

Antoinette's best friend Jenesse has been fundraising to get her to Jamaica for her 50th birthday to see family. You can donate here. Jenesse also urges others to add themselves to get stem cell register in case they are a match for Antoinette, or another blood cancer patient.

Stem cells can grow into any other cell in your body and this means they can be used to treat a wide range of blood cancers and disorders. For some people, a stem cell transplant, which is also known as a bone marrow transplant, is the only hope of survival.

However, 65 to 75 per cent of those in need (about 400 UK patients) are unable to find a sibling match so rely on the generosity of strangers. Those interested as in registering as a donor must order a swab kit online which can be done on the Anthony Nolan website here.

Want more from MyLondon? Sign up to our daily newsletters for all the latest and greatest from across London here.

READ NEXT:

Read this article:
London mum loses 3 inches in height due to curved spine after devastating cancer diagnosis - My London

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

For a study, researchers sought to assess the reproductive success of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) patients who underwent in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

From 2010 to 2019, the Center for Reproductive Medicine at Peking University Third Hospital analyzed retrospectively the reproductive outcomes of 81 HH patients and 112 controls who had oocyte retrieval.

The HH group had significantly lower baseline levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), androstenedione (A), and prolactin (PRL) than the control group. The total number of oocytes retrieved, the number of fertilized embryos, the number of 2 pronuclear (2PN) embryos, transferable embryos, fertilization rates, and the number of 2PN rates were comparable between the 2 groups, despite the HH patients needing a significantly longer stimulation and higher gonadotropin (Gn) doses than the control patients. Although the control groups live birth rate (LBR) was greater than the HH groups during the first fresh cycle, there was no statistically significant difference. Then, HH patients were further separated into 2 categories based on the cause. Congenital HH (CHH) was diagnosed in 41 instances, while acquired HH (AHH), which includes pituitary HH (PHH), was diagnosed in the remaining 40 cases. According to the findings, there were no appreciable variations between the two groups in terms of fundamental clinical traits and IVF parameters. About 119 oocyte retrieval cycles were completed in the HH group, and they reacted suitably to ovulation induction. In 90 cycles, urinary human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) was administered alone; in the remaining 29 cycles, HMG and recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) were combined. IVF-related factors did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. After the first, second, and more or less than third cycles, the conservative cumulative live birth rates (CLBRs) were 43.21%, 58.02%, and 60.49%, respectively, whereas the corresponding optimum CLBRs were 43.21%, 68.45%, and 74.19%. Preterm birth (PTB) rates were 8.33% (3/36) and 30.77% (4/13) for singletons and twins, respectively, in HH patients.

IVF-ET is a successful therapy for infertility in HH patients, and patients can experience satisfying pregnancy results.

Reference: frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.850126/full

Read the original here:
The Reproductive Outcome of Women with HH in IVF - Physician's Weekly

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

New Jersey, United States Analysis of Mens Health Market 2022 to 2028, Size, Share, and Trends by Type, Component, Application, Opportunities, Growth Rate, and Regional Forecast

From the name itself, obviously mens health refers to an operation that involves providing therapeutics, drugs, precautionary measures against diseases and infections and surgical offerings to the male population of patients. Mens health is worried about improving the general health of male population. Improving the general nature of healthcare services is an important drive. Providing the best healthcare services ensures better management of diseases and disorders. Male population also suffers numerous problems most of which they are shy of discussing. Yet, with the rising awareness about personal health, the market is set to fill from here on out. IBI analyses that the mens health market is expected to go through a CAGR of 15.00% during the forecast period. Hospitals overwhelm the end use segment of the mens health market attributable to the developing number of hospitals especially in the developing economies.

The Mens Health market, which was valued at US$ million in 2022, is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately percent over the forecast period, according to our most recent report.

Receive the Sample Report of Mens Health Market Research Insights 2022 to 2028 @ https://www.infinitybusinessinsights.com/request_sample.php?id=919214

Developing frequency pace of several male conditions universally is one of the central points fostering the development of the market. Increasing frequency of hypogonadism therapy, prostate disease therapy, erectile dysfunction therapy, premature discharge therapy and others is straightforwardly propelling the market development rate. Rising expenditure for research and development proficiencies especially in the developed and developing economies pertaining to the clinical instruments and devices will additionally set out worthwhile market development open doors. Research and development proficiencies being led for the advancements in clinical technologies and devices is also bolstering the market development rate. Surging focus towards improving the state of healthcare facilities and improving the general healthcare infrastructure is another important variable fostering the development of the market. Rising number of partnerships and strategic collaborations between the public and private players pertaining to subsidizing and application of better than ever innovation is further setting out worthwhile market open doors.

The COVID-19 pandemic essentially impacted the market. This is because of the way that most of the healthcare resources were coordinated towards fulfilling the need arising out of COVID-19 patients. Postponement of non-elective surgeries and unnecessary healthcare procedures has additionally wrecked the market development rate in this pandemic period. Further, restrictions imposed on making a trip inferable from the lockdown regulations further tested the market development rate in this period. In any case, the post pandemic period will help to produce profits and revenues. Also, absence of ideal reimbursement scenario and innovation penetration in the developing economies, significant expenses associated with the procedure, restricted insurance inclusion and administrative compliance, and absence of suitable infrastructure in low-and center pay countries are projected to challenge the market in the forecast period of 2022-2028.

Division Segment

The mens health market is segmented on the basis of application and end use. The development amongst these segments will help you examine small development segments in the industries and provide the users with a significant market outline and market insights to help them pursue strategic choices for distinguishing center market applications. Based on product, the mens health market is segmented into male hypogonadism therapy, prostate malignant growth therapy, erectile dysfunction therapy, premature discharge therapy and others. Mens health market has also been segmented based on the end use into hospitals, diagnostic centers, clinics and others.

Regional Analysis

The nation section of the report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in guidelines in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. North America dominates the mens health market because of the strong base of healthcare facilities, widespread usage of medications, increasing consciousness with respect to the essence of keeping up with great health and rising number of research activities around here.

Asia-Pacific is expected to witness significant development during the forecast period of 2022 to 2028 because of the increase in government initiatives to promote awareness, rise in clinical tourism, developing research activities in the locale, accessibility of massive untapped markets, increasing of the incidences of osteoarthritis, fruitlessness, and different disorders huge population pool, and the developing interest for quality healthcare in the area.

Competitive Analysis

The mens health market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company outline, company financials, income created, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, worldwide presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product send off, product width and expansiveness, application predominance. The above information points provided are simply connected with the companies focus connected with the mens health market.

Some of the central parts operating in the mens health market are:

Novartis AG (Switzerland)Pfizer Inc. (US)Merck & Co., Inc. (Germany)Novo Nordisk A/S (Denmark)Amgen Inc. (US)Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (India)AstraZeneca (UK)F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland)Sanofi (France)Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US)GlaxoSmithKline plc (UK)Bayer AG (Germany)Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (US)

Click here to Download the full index of the Mens Health market research report 2022

Contact Us:Amit JainSales Co-OrdinatorInternational: +1 518 300 3575Email: [emailprotected]Website: https://www.infinitybusinessinsights.com

See original here:
Men's Health Market is Slated to Witness Tremendous Growth in Coming Years | Latest Report by IBI - Digital Journal

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

To find out whether a patient may be at risk of osteoporosis, there is a mechanism that allows for screening: bone densitometry.

Rheumatologists indicate that in osteoporosis, in addition to the loss of mass, the microscopic architecture of the bone is affected. Photo: Shutterstock.

Within the framework of Reuma Expo 2022, experts warn that a variety of Medicine Focusing on getting relief from illnesses or other types of conditions in the body that can have an impact on the development of osteoporosis, In this regard, Dr. Noemi Varela Rosario and Dr. Ramn Ortega Coln, board members of the Puerto Rican Foundation for Rheumatic Diseases, called on patients to consult with their doctors about the effects and risks of certain medications.

In osteoporosis bone resorption occurs, so mass is lost he is And the body is unable to repair it in the same way. In addition to this loss of mass, the bone microarchitecture is affected, which gradually weakens the structure, producing brittleness and potential future fractures in patients.

Dr. Noemi said, We usually see patients who have back pain and buy medication or some who constantly take antacids like omeprazole and pantoprazole without realizing that it may add other risks.

In that sense, Dr. Ortega explained that when we Medicine By which the acid in the stomach dries up, we can create an atrophy of the gastric mucosa and prevent the absorption of minerals that the bone needs, creating a greater risk osteoporosis,

Regarding this condition, rheumatologists also indicated that, as in the case of vertebrae, fractures may be silent, with the patient losing the vertebral mass as well as its height, in addition to falling over the years.

According to the Spanish Foundation of Rheumatology, the drug best known for its effects on bone is glucocorticoid, but many bone metabolisms can also be altered. Medicine,

Various studies indicate that osteoporosis Another major cause of this is glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosisPostmenopausal, and its first cause osteoporosis Secondary. It is also considered a model of osteoporosis drug induced.

It is noteworthy that vertebral fractures are the most frequent consequence of chronic glucocorticoid administration, however, the intensity of the loss of mineral density he is It depends on the daily dose, timing of administration and cumulative dose.

However, according to the Rheumatology Foundation, the following Medicine May also play a role in the development of this condition: L-thyroxine, heparin, antiepileptics, neuroleptics, chemotherapy, aromatase inhibitors, GnRH, methotrexate, cyclosporine A, proton pump inhibitors, antidepressants: tricyclic and selective inhibitors of serotonin, lithium, loop. diuretics, and thiazolidinediones.

In the case of cancer patients, the risk of suffering osteoporosis This is more due to the effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal treatments and non-hormonal treatments.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs have an antigonadotropic effect in men and women. They are used for the treatment of prostate cancer and endometriosis and have a rapid increase in resorption after 6-12 months of treatment. he isMainly trabecular bone loss and increased risk of fracture.

The American Society of Oncology recommends that fracture risk assessment and dual-source X-ray densitometry be performed on all patients with hypogonadism or starting treatment with aromatase inhibitors.

Screening Test: Bone Densitometry

To find out if a patient may be at risk of osteoporosis or even suffer from it, rheumatologists have a mechanism that allows screening and seeing how fragile it is; Densitometry is he is,

In this regard, Dr. Ortega explained that this test is usually done around menopause in the case of women, because estrogens keep bone healthy and strong, but they decrease and estrogen is needed to maintain health. is important. he is,

He also indicated that densitometry he is This is a simple way to measure bone mass in the vertebrae and hip, in the neck of the femur, and in the total area of the hip.

Once the patient learns he has a mass, he is given a follow-up he is Less, it is a preventive treatment on a case by case basis. There are reasons where the patient may have osteoporosis Because she has certain diseases since childhood that weaken her bones, who have intestinal inflammation, who has malnutrition, who has alcohol, who smokes or is extremely thin. Different causes should be investigated in each patient who develops osteoporosisEmphasised the rheumatologist.

After Densitometry Test he isThe expert indicated that there are certain parameters established by the World Health Organization to provide preventive treatment to the patient, according to their risk factors, whether they are lifestyle habits or family history.

We have many ways to deliver preventive treatment. There are Medicine which prevents the loss of mass he isand these are Medicine Most commonly used: alendronate and risedronate. there are Medicine that if we look at a relatively young patient who has lost mass he isStimulates bone formation and helps the patient with A. must be used early to prevent brittleness Quite serious he added.

View the full program here.

See more here:
Why Can Some Medicines Increase The Risk Of Osteoporosis? - Nation World News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Short facts about Erectile dysfunction (aka ED)

Erectile dysfunction (ED) means the continued inability to attain and keep an erection sufficient to allow satisfactory sexual execution. Erectile dysfunction has a substantial impact on the material and psychological fitness of men worldwide and can also impact the quality of life of both the sufferers and their members.

Penile erection is a complicated phenomenon which affects a delicate and coordinated harmony between neurological, vascular and tissue boxes. This has arterial dilation, relaxation of the trabecular soft muscle, and activation of the human VENO-occlusive tool.

The multiple common danger factors for erectile dysfunction have cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, hypogonadism, lower urinary tract signs, and smoking.

Erectile dysfunction signs may seem to most guys as transient, but in fact, the symptomatology is ongoing. It can generate a lot of negativity if not dined.

Experts in sexual medicine report the reality that most cases that confront erectile dysfunction (ED) dont recognise the extent of the disease and tend to forget it.

Penile erection is a spinal reflex that is triggered by autonomic and bodily penile afferents and by supraspinal results from visual, olfactory, and imaginary incentives. There are many central transmitters interested in erectile power, some of them with a facilitatory function and others with an inhibitory function.

The central transmitters with a facilitatory function in the penile erection are:

The degree of compaction of the soft muscle cells in the corpus cavernosal is determined by the ratio between contracting and relaxant factors. Noradrenaline arrangements both smooth muscles of the corpus cavernosum and penile vessels via the push of 1-adrenoceptors, while nitric oxide is believed the most significant element for relaxation of penile vessels and corpus cavernosum.

Nitric oxide is removed during sexual motivation. It starts the enzyme called guanylate cyclase, resulting in an improved status of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the corpus cavernosum. This, in turn, results in soft muscle relaxation, permitting an increased inflow of blood into the penis. The class of cyclic guanosine monophosphate is controlled by the rate of synthesis via guanylate cyclase and by the speed of degradation via cyclic guanosine monophosphate hydrolysing phosphodiesterase (aka PDEs).

Issues with blood flow, nerve stores or hormones can affect regular erectile function. One of the conditions that cause blood flow issues is atherosclerosis. In patients with atherosclerosis, the arteries in the penis are limited and blocked, preventing the required blood flow to the penis to have an erection.

The most typical physical or organic reasons for erectile dysfunction are:

Patients who are carrying drugs and mourning from erectile dysfunction should confer with their healthcare skills to see if any of the drugs may be a cause of the issue. These drugs have also illicit and/or recreational drugs. Drugs and drugs that cause erectile dysfunction or other sexual issues as side consequences are typically named for men without them understanding the dangers.

Drugs that could be interested in the event of erectile dysfunction are:

Selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (aka PDE5Is) describe the first line of therapy for erectile dysfunction These drugs are highly efficacious, are well tolerated, and have very good safety shapes. Four phosphodiesterase kind 5 inhibitors are open on market: sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil and avanafil. These agencies do not instantly cause penile erections but rather affect the reaction to sexual stimulation.

Sildenafil was the foremost in this series of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. As per the European policies the choice between a short-acting phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor and a long-acting phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor relies on the commonness of intercourse (less use or regular therapy, 2-4 times weekly) and the patients unique background.

Other medications for erectile dysfunction have:

Kamagra is also one of the best alternatives to Viagra, due to being less expensive and it works the same as Viagra and that is why people always tend tobuy Kamagra.

Q1- What other therapies are available for erectile dysfunction? Can I dine my erectile dysfunction without drugs?

Lifestyle changes:

DISCLAIMER:

We may receive commissions and other revenues from this article. We are a paid partner of organizations mentioned in this article.

Read more from the original source:
What is Erectile dysfunction (aka ED)? : Buy Kamagra to treat the ED - My MMA News.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Figure 3. tracrRNA directs pre-crRNA cleavage by RNase III in vitro

a, Schematic representation of

a, Schematic representation of tracrRNA89 corresponding to 89-nt long tracrRNA, and crRNA213 and crRNA148 corresponding to a 213-nt long leader-repeat-spacer1-repeat-spacer2 fragment and a 148-nt long spacer1-repeat-spacer2-repeat-spacer3 fragment, respectively. b, Identification of tracrRNA89 binding sites on crRNA148*. 5 end-labeled crRNA148* (~10 nM) was subjected to lead(II), RNase III and RNase T1 cleavage in the absence (lanes 1, 4, 7) and presence of cold tracrRNA89 (final concentration in lanes 2, 5, and 7: ~50 nM; lanes 3, 6, and 9: ~500 nM). Lane C: untreated crRNA148*; Lane T1: RNase T1 digest of crRNA148* under denaturating conditions; Lane OH: alkaline ladder; cleaved G residues are labeled. Vertical bars: crRNA148 region protected by tracrRNA89. Arrows denote specific RNase III cleavages in the two repeat regions of crRNA148 in the presence of tracrRNA89. c, Identification of crRNA148 and crRNA213 binding sites on tracrRNA89. 5 end-labeled tracrRNA89* (~10 nM) was subjected to RNase T1, lead(II) and RNase III cleavage in the absence (lanes 1, 6, 11) and presence of cold crRNA148 or crRNA213 (final concentration in lanes 2, 4, 7, 9, 12 and 14: ~50 nM; lanes 3, 5, 8, 10, 13 and 15: ~500 nM). Lanes C, T1 and OH, positions of cleaved Gs and vertical bars: as above but referring to tracrRNA89* in the presence of cold crRNA148 or crRNA213.

Read more here:
CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small RNA and host ... - PubMed

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

CRISPR is a family of DNA sequences found in the genomes of prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and archaea. These sequences are derived from DNA fragments of viruses called bacteriophages that had previously infected the prokaryote. They are used to detect and destroy DNA from similar bacteriophages during subsequent infections, providing the prokaryote with a sort of immunity.

The following is an interview with CRISPR co-discoverer and Nobel Prize-winner Dr. Jennifer Doudna.

Describe the eureka moment around CRISPR the moment when you realized that this technology was not only possible but actually worked. How did you feel? Has your feeling changed since that eureka moment? If so, how?

Theres one moment that stands out in my mind, right at the time we realized what CRISPR could do and that we could reprogram it to edit specific sequences of DNA. I was cooking dinner and thinking about it, and I burst out laughing. My son was in the kitchen and he asked why I was laughing. So I explained it to him with a little drawing of a car zooming around, grabbing onto viruses, and chopping them up. I think my drawing did the trick, because he started laughing too.

The implications of this finding were too big to understand all at once. Its been ten years since that time now, and everything that has happened since surpassed any expectations I had back then. With multiple therapies in clinical trials, plants in fields that help farmers adapt to a changing climate, and countless uses of CRISPR in life science research, the scope of what has been achieved in just ten years continues to surprise me.

What excites and inspires you most about the possibilities of CRISPR technologies?

I recently spoke with Victoria Gray, one of the first people to receive a CRISPR-based therapy for sickle cell disease. Hearing from her about how her life has changed for the better, how shes no longer in constant pain and able to go back to work and spend more time with her family theres nothing more inspiring than real human impact. Thats what drives the work we do at the institute that I started at UC-Berkeley, the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), where the focus is not just developing new therapies and agricultural products, but making sure they reach the people who need them most.

Subscribe for a weekly email with ideas that inspire a life well-lived.

What is the most interesting, or counterintuitive, use of CRISPR technology that youve encountered thus far?

We talk a lot about the ability of CRISPR to cut DNA, but its ability to find a specific sequence of DNA is just as interesting. Thats not an easy thing to do, and it turns out that it can be really useful in other ways. For example, at the IGI, were developing CRISPR-based diagnostics for infectious disease. Instead of editing DNA, these tests quickly find a specific sequence of DNA from a pathogen, like the SARS-CoV-2 virus or HIV, and then release a fluorescent marker. The great thing about these tests is that theyre fast, can be performed anywhere, and should be quite cheap to produce. After everything weve all experienced during the pandemic, its clear that rapid point-of-need tests are going to be increasingly important.

Are there any parallels in history of a technology that fundamentally changed human life?

In many ways CRISPR genome editing builds on groundbreaking technologies and innovations that came before it, and each one was a watershed moment for science. We needed X-ray crystallography to understand the structure of DNA, Sanger sequencing to be able to read it, PCR to make copies of it, and the Human Genome Project and other large bioinformatics projects to start to understand the bigger picture of how genomes function. Being able to edit the genome is the next chapter in this story, but it couldnt exist without the others that came before it.

How can we most responsibly use the power this technology has unlocked? Where should we put the guardrails?

With any powerful technology, there is always potential for its misuse. And we have already seen this, even though the vast majority of scientists are using it responsibly. Determining what constitutes misuse, what is unethical, what is medically necessary that is where a lot of the discussion is focused at the moment. There is broad agreement on certain topics, particularly around human germline editing, but when it comes to questions of ethics, there will always be gray areas.

One risk that is often overlooked is the real possibility that some of the advances we make in genome editing will benefit a small fraction of society. With new technologies this is often the case at first, so we have to consciously work from the start to make new cures and agricultural tools that are accessible and affordable.

In your mind, what does it mean for humanity to have the ability to directly alter genetic material so precisely?

Its a powerful tool, and one that can be used to do a lot of good. Sickle cell disease affects millions of people worldwide, and its caused by a single-letter mutation in just one gene. This has been understood for a long time, but we didnt have the means to fix that mutation. There are several thousand other genetic diseases, including very rare diseases that are often neglected, that we can now look to address. It goes beyond medicine: Climate change is impacting agriculture, and agriculture itself is contributing to climate change. With genome editing, we can mitigate both of those impacts.

How do you think CRISPR will affect our understanding and definition of what it means to be human?

Understanding even just a little bit about genetic disorders what causes them, how many people are affected by them increases your compassion for what people are going through of no fault of their own. You also start to understand that there are people who have genetic mutations that affect their lives, but dont necessarily view them as diseases or problems to fix. CRISPR itself may not change what it means to be human, but perhaps having a tool that can rewrite our DNA helps to shine a light on all of the diversity that humanity already encompasses.

Go here to see the original:
10 years on, a spin-off use for CRISPR: Infectious disease testing - Big Think

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The invasive Drosophila suzukii fruit fly has caused millions of dollars of damage to berry and other crops. Credit Michelle Bui, UC San Diego

Applying new CRISPR-based technology to a broad agricultural need, researchers at the University of California San Diego have set their aims on a worldwide pest known to decimate valuable food crops.

Nikolay Kandul, Omar Akbari and their colleagues first demonstrated the precision-guided sterile insect technique, or pgSIT, in Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, in 2019. The technology, later adapted to mosquitoes, uses programmable CRISPR techniques to edit key genes that control sex determination and fertility. Under the new system, pgSIT-developed insect eggs are deployed into a targeted population and only sterile males hatch, resulting in a fertility dead end for that species.

Kandul, Akbari and their colleagues have now adapted the technology for use in Drosophila suzukii, an invasive fruit fly (also known as the spotted-wing drosophila) responsible for millions of dollars in crop damage. The advancement is described as the cover paper in the journal GEN Biotechnology.

Former UC San Diego graduate student Stephanie Gamez created this artistic depiction of genetics and the fruit crop pest Drosophila suzukii.

Its a safe, evolutionary stable system, said Akbari, a professor in the School of Biological Sciences Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. Also, the system does not lead to uncontrolled spread nor does it persist in the environmentboth important safety features that will help it gain approvals for use.

D. suzukii flies have invaded many parts of the world and caused widespread agricultural and economic damage to several crops, including apples, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, grapes, olives and tomatoes.

The flies are known to proliferate by depositing their eggs inside growing fruit. They are notoriously difficult to control since their larvae consume ripening fruit pulp, limiting the effectiveness of insecticide sprays. Some flies have been known to become resistant to insecticides and many chemicals used in insecticides are now banned because of threats to human health.

The concepts behind pgSIT date back to the 1930s, when farmers found ways to release sterile males into their crops to reduce damage from pests. By mid-century, United States farmers began using radiation to sterilize pests such as the New World screwworm fly.

With CRISPR, UC San Diego scientists avoided the need for harmful radiation and instead use CRISPR editing to specifically target genes essential for female D. suzukii viability and male fertility. As envisioned, pgSIT eggs could be produced at a factory and released at sites invaded by pests such as D. suzukii. Eggs could be deployed directly into areas where the flies are causing damage and only sterile males would hatch after about two weeks. Since only two genes are knocked out, the males emerge fit enough to compete with their wild counterparts and quickly seek females to mate with, resulting in inviable offspring.

Spotted-wing drosophila flies deposit their eggs inside strawberries and other ripening fruit. Credit Michelle Bui, UC San Diego

This technology would replace the need for insecticides and only suppress the target species population, said Akbari. In the last four years, weve developed pgSIT for several different species. Going forward were hoping to use it as a platform technology that can be ported to a whole range of pests to safely solve real-world problems.

Agragene Inc., a private biotechnology company co-founded by Akbari, has licensed the pgSIT base technology from UC Riverside (where Akbari initially led the technologys development) and is implementing U.S. Department of Agriculture-administered field trials of pgSIT in D. suzukii. The company hopes that the trials will demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of pgSIT and lead to regulatory approval of the technology for broad agricultural use.

The GEN Biotechnology paper was coauthored by: Nikolay Kandul, Junru Liu, Anna Buchman, Isaiah Shriner, Rodrigo Corder, Natalie Warsinger-Pepe, Ting Yang, Amarish Yadav, Maxwell Scott, John Marshall and Omar Akbari.

Support for the research came from the California Cherry Board, Washington Tree Fruit Board (19-CCB5400-06); Agragene (200779); the National Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crops Research Initiative (agreement No. 2015-51181-24252); and the Innovative Genomics Institute at UC Berkeley.

Note: Akbari is a co-founder with equity interest, and former consultant, scientific advisory board member and income recipient of Agragene Inc. Akbari and Kandul, who have submitted a patent application on pgSIT technology, are co-founders of Synvect Inc. with equity interest.

Read the original post:
CRISPR-based Technology Targets Global Crop Pest - University of California San Diego

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The partnership will unlock access to CRISPR DNA editing technology and a consortium of scientists and resources to the thylacine de-extinction effort.

We can now take the giant leaps to conserve Australias threatened marsupials and take on the grand challenge of de-extincting animals we had lost, Professor Pask said.

A lot of the challenges with our efforts can be overcome by an army of scientists working on the same problems simultaneously, conducting and collaborating on the many experiments to accelerate discoveries. With this partnership, we will now have the army we need to make this happen.

Professor Pask said TIGGR will concentrate efforts on establishing the reproductive technologies tailored to Australian marsupials, such as IVF and gestation without a surrogate, as Colossal simultaneously deploy their CRISPR gene editing and computational biology capabilities to reproduce thylacine DNA.

Colossals resources and expertise in CRISPR gene editing the cutting and editing of DNA sequences to produce a genetic code to be developed into living organisms will be paired with TIGGRs work sequencing thylacine genome and identifying marsupials with similar DNA to provide living cells and template genome that can then be edited to recreate a thylacine genome.

The question everyone asks is how long until we see a living thylacine and Ive previously believed in ten years time we would have an edited cell that we could then consider progressing into making into an animal, Professor Pask said.

With this partnership, I now believe that in ten years time we could have our first living baby thylacine since they were hunted to extinction close to a century ago.

Colossal co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm said: We are thrilled to be collaborating with Andrew Pask and the University of Melbourne to restore this amazing animal to Earth while also further developing gestational and genetic rescue technologies for future marsupial conservation efforts.

Colossal Biosciences uses breakthrough gene-editing technologies to advance wildlife and ecosystem conservation and is also pursuing de-extinction of the woolly mammoth once the keystone species to the Arctic Tundra.

TIGGRS partnership with Colossal Biosciences will produce technology and knowledge to also influence the next generation of Australias marsupial conservation efforts and combat increasing extinction events caused by invasive species and climate change.

Our efforts to protect the endangered Northern Quoll long threatened by the invasive cane toad native to South and Central America - will also be aided by this partnership, as we could produce Northern Quolls with a slight genome-edit making them resistant to cane toads, giving Quolls the same evolutionary benefit of the many South and Central American animals resistant to cane toad-poison, Professor Pask said.

On the reproductive technology front, Professor Pask said TIGRR lab is also close to producing the first lab-created embryos from Australian marsupial sperm and eggs.

We are pursuing growing marsupials from conception to birth in a test-tube without a surrogate, which is conceivable given infant marsupials short gestation period and their small size.

Follow this link:
Lab takes 'giant leap' toward thylacine de-extinction with Colossal genetic engineering technology partnership - University of Melbourne

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

For years, Canadian artist Grimes was known for her music. But in the late 2010s, the Oblivion singer became known for making headlines, including having children named X A-Xii and Exa Dark Siderl with billionaire Elon Musk. Now, Grimes is looking to make body modifications to her teeth and her ears.

In August 2022, Grimes took to her Twitter account to ask fans if they know any good plastic surgeons who would be able to modify her appearance.

2 years ago I made an appointment with a great plastic surgeon, thought I might want to change things up by my mid-30s, but then I forgot and never thought about what I should do. Any face mods yall think would look good on me? she asked.

Also does anyone know anyone great/safe/reliable people who could do vampire teeth caps on me in Austin or LA? Also, any reputable elf ear modifiers in either of these cities? she said in another tweet, adding, Still debating this surgery cuz cartilage doesnt heal so it requires permanent stitches.

To ensure that what she was looking into was safe, she asked her followers if anyone had done ear modifications themselves. Has anyone done elf ear mods with a good outcome? she tweeted. Im scared about ear cartilage having a hard time healing. Especially as a musician this surgery seems risky but Ive wanted it my whole life. Curious about peoples experiences!

She then apologized for going through her thought process on social media. Sorry if weird to discuss this openly, just seems unhealthy how everyone in media hides body mods, then people feel self conscious, she tweeted. Im also less interested in conventional beauty (I will keep my nose) but moreso is there anything else that would look sick?

As for what the father of her two children thinks, Elon Musk weighed in by replying to her tweet about the ear modifications. The downside of elf ear surgery probably outweighs the upside, the Tesla CEO said.

Grimes responded with her own wishes to genetically modify her ears. This sounds like a job for CRISPR, she tweeted. Sad to be born just a few generations too early.

According to MIT and Harvards Broad Institute, CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, which are the hallmark of a bacterial defense system that forms the basis for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology.

The term CRISPR, then, is used for systems that can be programmed to target specific stretches of genetic code and to edit DNA at precise locations, as well as for other purposes, such as for new diagnostic tools.

In addition to changing some of her facial and body features, Grimes is also busy working on new music.

She released her fifth album Miss Anthropocene in February 2020, months before giving birth to her first child. Shes set to released her sixth album, Book 1, sometime in 2022.

RELATED: Grimes Insists Shes Not a Communist After Reading Marxs Communist Manifesto Following Her Breakup With Elon Musk

Originally posted here:
Grimes Wants to Get Surgery to Have Elf Ears and Vampire Teeth - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Affected individuals treatment can be guided by the discovery of hereditary prostate cancer, which may also have an influence on cancer screening and monitoring for patients and their families. For a study, researchers sought to identify the variables that influenced men with prostate cancers choice to obtain genetic testing as well as how, why, and with whom the findings of genetic tests are discussed.

In order to learn more about the reasons for genetic testing and how families communicated the results, they questioned 113 patients with prostate cancer who got cancer genetic counseling at a tertiary medical facility in the United States. The 3 factors most frequently cited as slightly or very important by those who underwent genetic testing were: (1) learning about my familys potential cancer risk (98%); (2) learning information that might inform cancer treatment (93%); and (3) learning about my own potential for future cancers (92%).

Male first-degree relatives received more of the participants DNA test results than female first-degree relatives, but there was no discernible difference (P = 0.103). The research may indicate gendered disparities in how families communicated the findings of genetic testing. The findings pointed to the urgent need for genetic counselors to explain to clients how the results of genetic tests would affect both male and female relatives. It was necessary to conduct further studies on motivation and family communication around genetic test findings in various cohorts.

Reference: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jgc4.1624

See the rest here:
Hereditary Prostate Cancer Genetic Testing: Motivation & Family Communication - Physician's Weekly

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

During a pregnancy, women are offered prenatal genetic screening and diagnostic testing to determine whether a fetus is healthy or has certain genetic disorders or anomalies.

This information can help patients and their doctors prepare for the pregnancy. But some opt out of such testing, believing that babies should be born regardless of potential abnormalities.

For those who do choose to undergo such testing, maternal-fetal medicine specialists and genetic counselors usually work closely with the pregnant person or couple to explain in detail what the results mean for a birth, for mother and child, if a genetic disorder or fetal anomaly is detected. These health care providers can also provide the pregnant person or couple with guidance on what options are available to them after a diagnosis, which can include aborting apregnancy. That option, however, is limited or no longer available to women in many U.S. states.

Prenatal tests cant diagnose a genetic condition before 6 weeks

Without the protection of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwideand was overturnedin June, the procedure has become illegal or heavily restricted in at least 14 states. Six states Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, North Dakota, South Dakota and Ohio prohibit abortions when the fetus may have a genetic anomaly, and infive of those states, its now nearly impossible, because it is banned at about six weeks. This is so early in a pregnancy that many women at that point dont even know they are carrying a child.

A person's first [doctors] appointment in pregnancy doesn't usually happen until eight or 10 weeks, so never mind the rest of the story. That's when obstetric care begins, said Philip D. Connors, lead genetic counselor at Boston Medical Center.

Three [percent] to 4% of all pregnancies are going to be affected by some sort of complication related to a difference in fetal or embryonic development, a genetic condition. And essentially none of those can be screened for or diagnosed until after the gestational age limits that are being placed by some of these really discriminatory laws, Connors added.

Story continues

Dr. Tani Malhotra, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Cleveland,Ohio, a state where abortions are now illegal after six weeks and where there are no exceptions for cases of rape, incest or fatal fetal anomalies, said it is impossible to assess whether there are any issues with the fetus at such an early point in pregnancy.

The size of the embryo at six weeks is somewhere between 6 to 7 millimeters. It's less than 1 centimeter, and that centimeter is like the size of my finger, right? So it's just impossible for us to be able to detect abnormal findings on an ultrasound at that point, Malhotra said.

KatieSagaser, director of genetic counseling at Juno Diagnostics, a women's health company, told Yahoo News: Theres no genetic testing or screening that can be done prior to six weeks.

One method of testing which she said has revolutionized the landscape of prenatal chromosome screening and is mostly used today is a noninvasive prenatal screening technology known as NIPT or NIPS. This can detect genetic variations as early as nine weeks into pregnancy, using a blood sample from the mother. But the test, Sagaser said, can only indicate if there is a potential problem, and does not replace diagnostic testing, such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, which study the cells from the fetus or placenta and can confirm a diagnosis.

The earliest a CVS diagnostic test can be performed is at the 10th week of pregnancy. Amniocentesisis usually conducted at between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, but can technically be done up until a person gives birth, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: Abortion-rights activists gather in front of the Supreme Court building following the announcement to the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling on June 24, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Aborting a pregnancy because of genetic anomalies

As prenatal screening testing like NIPS has become more common, selective terminations involving genetic conditions have too. Some studies have shown that parents often decide to terminate a pregnancy, even after finding a mild form of a genetic condition, including Turner and Klinefelter syndromes.

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder in the U.S., and about 6,000 babies are born with it in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A published review of studies, which included 24 publications studying pregnancy terminations after a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome in the U.S., found that 67% ofthose pregnancies end in abortion.

Terminating a pregnancy after the 2nd trimester because of medical complications

Its notable, however, that the majority of abortions in the U.S.(91%) occur at or before 13 weeks of gestation. Abortions late in pregnancy are rare,butMalhotra said some of the main reasons why they do happen include delays and other barriers in obtaining abortion care, or after discovering medical complications. Those complications often include the discovery of lethal fetal anomalies, which can be detected during a fetal anatomy scan that is usually performed at around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Terminations at this stage, Malhotra said, are difficult and traumatic, because these pregnancies are often desired.

It's really tragic, as you're telling these patients who have been continuing their pregnancy. They're at 20 weeks. They're excited about the pregnancy. They're planning their baby showers. They come to that ultrasound hoping to be able to find out the sex of the baby and you tell them this devastating news, that there is an abnormality that is either not compatible with life, or is going to have significant impact on the quality of life after birth, the Ohio doctor said.

Malhotra told Yahoo News that Ohios new abortion law has made her job even tougher, because she also has to tell patients in these situations who wish to terminate the pregnancy that they cannot receive such care in their state.

It is just horrible, because not only are you giving them this tragic, heartbreaking news, but you're stigmatizing their care, because you're saying, Oh, this thing is illegal here, but you could go to another state. So they have to travel to another state to do something that's illegal, which is a part of medical care, Malhotra said. If they're not able to go out of the state, then we're asking them to take on risks associated with a pregnancy, which we know inherently, pregnancy is not risk-free.

In addition, she explained, she needs to inform these patients that they must act rapidly. Abortions later in a pregnancy are more complex and also more expensive. Medication abortion, which can be taken at home, can only be safely used in the first 70 days, or 10 weeks of pregnancy. After that, women need a surgical abortion, which typically takes about two days and requires inpatient care. A patient who needs to go out of state to receive care must therefore also take into account additional costs related to travel and lodging.

Because of the abortion bans that have gone into effect in the Midwest, surrounding states where the procedure is protected have seen an increase in patients, Malhotra said. They are really backed up, currently complicating the scheduling of an abortion, she said.

Another important reason to act quickly in these situations, according to Malhotra, is because most states do not permit abortions after 24 weeks when a fetus has reached viability and can survive outside the uterus. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group focused on reproductive health, 17 states impose a ban at viability.

Little research has been conducted on what happens to women who are unable to terminate a pregnancy because of a fetal genetic condition or anomaly. However, one study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco, that tracked 1,000 women unable to get an abortion because they had passed the gestational limits, found they were more likely to fall into poverty, as well as have worse financial, health and family outcomes, than those who had terminated their pregnancies.

Opponents of abortions conducted as a result of screening for disabilities believe that such procedures are unjust, because all human beings have inherent value from the moment of conception. Malhotra, on the other hand, told Yahoo News that she finds it absolutely horrible to put patients in a position where they dont have a choice anymore.

There are multiple reasons women may choose to terminate a pregnancy because of a genetic condition or anomaly, ranging from the emotional and financial cost of raising a disabled child to the effect that this may have on the existing children in a family, as well as the feeling that it is cruel to give birth to a child who may need a lifetime of constant medical intervention.

Connors said that terminations due to genetic or fetal anomalies are comparatively rare, but are often emphasized unduly in conversations on abortion and abortion care. It inadvertently leads to a narrative about what makes a good or a bad abortion, he said.

Sagaser agreed, saying:There's no benefit to us as a society to say, Oh, there's this one population that really needs access to abortion care more so than other people.'

Everyone deserves to be able to make the choices that are right for them and their family in that unique situation, she added.

Read more:
Restrictive abortion laws are limiting the options parents have after receiving genetic test results, experts say - Yahoo Philippines News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

As the heat of our coffee radiated into our fingertips, we sat in a secluded corner of a frequented coffee shop both with our laptops open, working on our most recent project, both of us deep in thought.

As the air in the room became saturated with the smell of roasted coffee beans and the swirls of conversation mixed with the pattern on the surface of the coffee cup, many a topic was discussed, mainly concerning work and studies.

But, one stood out.

At the time of the conversation, the Bill for IVF genetic testing was being discussed in Parliament waiting for approval.

The Bill has been shrouded with controversy over the inclusion of genetic testing on embryos to determine whether they would be born with eight genetic conditions as determined in the Bill.

Reading for a Masters in Disability Studies, Lara Darmanins opinion on certain matters definitely carries more weight than that of the average person speaking from what he or she has read on the internet.

A fruitful conversation into what the choice for genetic testing means for our future started between Darmanin and this author.

One of the first topics was definitely the higher risk children born through the natural form of conception carry when having certain genetic disabilities.

As the expert on the subject, instinctively the question to ask Darmanin was what this means for the future of children. My personal opinion is that once we have named these eight conditions, there already is a certain amount of discrimination for people who live with these conditions and were born with them because they werent screened.

There is a bit of a feeling that this Bill seeks to remove these eight genetic conditions from the dictionary and make them a problem of the past. The moment choice is added to the equation, the term disability will definitely not be the choice taken, Attard believes.

Darmanin fears that the future will become one in which the stigma faced by people with disabilities will only increase. We are risking a future where disability will become your own burden because it was your choice to have a child with the said disability. This will be more emphasised if the genetic tests in the IVF are increased.

Lets for a moment take a specific scenario; one of the eight genetic conditions tested for in IVF embryos is Huntington's disease. In Huntingtons case, parents can be tested before the IVF process begins in order to see if they can pass on the disease to their children or not.

This process is totally different than going through the IVF process and testing the embryos because the moment you test the embryos there is the option of choice and this is what blurs the lines.

It depends a lot on what a person believes to be the moment of conception or life. If we are choosing which life to carry based on tests to show which conditions the baby will have is what doesnt sit well with me, Darmanin said.

Attard believes to be truth in that, the moment choice is added to the equation, no one is going to choose the harder path and in no way, shape or form is this a derogatory statement to parents and couples who choose not to carry certain pregnancies because of a number of complications but at the end of the day all parents want a healthy child and rightly so.

What is for certain is that the issue being discussed is not always an easy one but one has to keep in mind the repercussions of the future of our decisions.

We live in a society where we are constantly putting ourselves in the us and them categories. In Malta this is even more prevalent; we segregate ourselves according to political parties, saints during village feasts and so on. We even create an us and them scenario when it comes to LGBTIQ situations so the logical question has to be why create another us and them when it comes to child birth? Attard asked.

We have to realise that by choosing who is fit and who is not we are leading into the topic of eugenics. Creating a society which is removing certain conditions from existence is unethical, who are we to choose? Darmanin said.

The thing is, from a young age Attard remembers reading articles about how now scientists can determine what eye colour a child will have before being born. I am 100% sure that the world of science can already test for other disabilities which are not included in the Bill so where do we draw the line? And will morality play a part in the decision of stopping further tests?

It is hard to predict whether Malta will add to the list of genetic testing. What is for certain is that as time and technology progress, this form of testing will become cheaper and more accessible to everyone.

Another observation which both Attard and Darmanin agreed on is that the whole situation of disability is, in their opinion, being looked at from the wrong perspective. As is the case with everything, there is more than one way to look at the solution.

Rather than seeing disability as a burden and looking to remove it as much as possible, why not make it easier on parents who have children with certain conditions.

Darmanin said that yes, its not easy finding yourself in a situation where your child has a certain condition and the first thing many parents say when they find out their child has the said condition unfortunately is what will happen to my child once Im gone?

That is a truly sad realisation which parents have to go through unfortunately, so rather than removing the child who has any condition, why dont we make it easier for both parents and child to live a fruitful and meaningful life without anyone being a burden on anyone else.

We must not become a society where disability is a thing of the past; we must not become the new Hitler and create the perfect race, we have to see the logical and ethical solution to all this, Attard said.

Society in general does need to become more inclusive. Some time ago, while interviewing ex-MP Oliver Scicluna, who was still the commissioner for persons with disability at the time, he had said that although there are laws and regulations in place for buildings to become accessible for everyone, it is still seen as a nuisance to implement such regulations, rather than a necessity for a more inclusive society.

We sometimes cannot accept the fact that there are people with needs that are different to ours. Yes, the laws and regulations in place are aimed at making society more inclusive but do we honestly need these laws and regulations to think of our peers? Without them would we have a society which does not include these people in the grand design of things?

As the coffee was forgotten and our attendant started to clean up the table, Attard and Darmanin came to the same conclusion we have to draw a clear and definitive line on what is acceptable and what is not while steering far away from eugenics. We cannot create a society where disability is a term reserved for couples who choose to conceive naturally without the safeguard which is genetic testing.

Excerpt from:
Conversations with a friend on IVF genetic testing - Malta Independent Online

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Genomics and DNA testing have been hailed as a window into our medical future that could help us live longer, healthier lives.

The first such consumer test available in Dubai, for Dh999, has been trialled to find out exactly what a spit sample can reveal, and what steps should be taken as a result.

Three weeks after a saliva sample was collected by Emirates Post from my home and processed at Dante Labs' $6 million laboratory in Dubai Silicon Oasis, I received a call from the company that my unique genetic profile was ready.

I was invited to meet Alexandra Fonzi, a genomic and molecular biotechnologist at Dante Labs, to discuss my test results.

A little apprehensive about what revelations may be revealed about how my life may end, I was also eager to understand more about my genetics and why my body reacts in certain ways to exercise and diet.

Genetic screening can answer questions such as how some people put on weight, yet others who eat similar foods do not, and why some healthy people get cancer while other sedentary cigarette smokers live well into old age.

My specific DNA report had a number of different colour codes to indicate analysis.

Green icons showed no area of concern, while yellow markers showed genes that could help in fitness and lifestyle.

The $6 million laboratory opened in January and has the capacity to analyse up to 1,000 samples a week. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

An orange flag in my report identified a requirement for action, and a predisposition towards certain illnesses and diseases because of my specific genes.

A blood pressure alert was issued to suggest I was potentially at risk of a heart attack or stroke without changes to my diet, despite regularly exercising, because of the genes I carried.

You can reduce salt or do more outdoor activities like running to help reduce blood pressure, said Ms Fonzi, who provides a one-to-one genetic consultation once results are available.

This information can be passed on to a personal trainer and dietitian to help them develop a personalised plan based on this genetic information.

Isometric exercises were recommended as the test showed I had a genetically poor response to muscle building, but I was physiologically suited to high-intensity sports and endurance events.

Without dietary changes, you may experience problems later in life, with high blood pressure you can have issues when you fly for example, said Ms Fonzi.

If you notify a doctor, they can help with medication to reduce blood pressure.

Chief executive Andrea Riposati shows the sequencer machine at Dante Labs, Dubai Silicon Oasis. Pawan Singh / The National

The report is split into two areas, a fitness report showed what injuries I may be predisposed to in my case tennis elbow and lower back problems, as well as metabolism and genetic markers for disease.

A second report focused on nutrition and revealed what foods could trigger inflammation or digestive problems.

Glucose intolerance in metabolism is connected to diet, so there is a predisposition that should be addressed by altering your diet to avoid the chances of diabetes in the future, Ms Fonzi said.

If we have a high level of oxidative stress, as in your case, you can age earlier and your body will respond differently to someone who does not react to this kind of inflammatory process.

A Mediterranean-style diet, with whole grains, low-fat dairy products, more vegetables, fruits and fish oils was recommended as the test showed I had a slow lipid metabolism and glucose intolerance.

It meant without regular exercise, I was more likely to put on weight and potentially be at risk of diabetes, while impaired glucose tolerance is a common risk factor for ischaemic heart disease.

Some genetic traits revealed in the report can help you, with a good response to working out to help you achieve a high level in sport, but you also have a propensity to put on weight if you ceased to exercise, Ms Fonzi said.

I was also told I was more likely to develop certain injuries, such as shoulder injuries, muscle cramps and arthritis later in life, because of my specific genetic profile.

Cramps could be countered by taking drinks with added sodium and potassium, particularly in the heat, while maintaining a healthy weight could avoid stress on joints in older age, I was told.

Lab technicians working in the Dante Labs at Silicon Oasis in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

More of a worry was the presence of a specific gene that made me more predisposed to some cancers and cardiovascular disease.

As you have a high disposition to oxidative stress and carry the A allele gene, if you were a smoker you would be at greater risk of cancer and other cardiovascular disease, said Ms Fonzi.

The way your body absorbs HDL cholesterol and fats is also making you at risk of high cholesterol, which is also a hereditary condition in this case as you have an active life.

It is something that needs to be monitored with regular blood analysis.

This is a scientific test to you and will give you information as to how you can make your life better in the future by knowing what food you need to avoid, or what nutrition you need to take.

Genetic testing and profiling of patients to predict future care requirements will become a key component of the healthcare strategy in Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere in the GCC.

Thanks to the latest artificial intelligence, G42 Healthcare in Masdar City is one of the leaders in the region, in this kind of medical technology.

At the companys Biogenix Labs, diagnostic tests or biomarkers help assess high-risk patients and aid in the early detection of diseases, their prognosis, therapy selection, response to treatment, and chances of recurrence.

Thousands of genome sequencing procedures carried out weekly can unlock the possibilities for preventive and precision therapies to transform the UAE healthcare landscape, enabling it to transition from 'sick care' to health care.

G42 Healthcare aims to use the technology to provide insights and facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, rare and metabolic diseases and other genetic conditions.

As part of our efforts to support the health of future generations and provide better healthcare every day, Biogenix Labs is expanding its clinical genetics offering in the region and reinforcing its reputation as the regional testing provider of choice, said Dr Fahed Al Marzooqi, chief operating officer of G42 Healthcare.

We will soon be expanding this offering to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region as well.

Updated: August 14, 2022, 4:54 AM

See the rest here:
How a simple home DNA test unravelled the genetic code that could help prolong my life - The National

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Genetic diseases are a common occurrence that happens when, "A mutation (a harmful change to a gene, also known as a pathogenic variant) affects your genes or when you have the wrong amount of genetic material, the Cleveland Clinic states and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Thousands of inherited genetic disorders affect millions of people in the United States." There's two main types of genetic disorders: single-gene and chromosomal and the Cleveland Clinic explains, "You receive half your genes from each biological parent and may inherit a gene mutation from one parent or both. Sometimes genes change due to issues within the DNA (mutations). This can raise your risk of having a genetic disorder. Some cause symptoms at birth, while others develop over time." Eat This, Not That! Heath spoke with Dr. Tomi Mitchell, a Board-Certified Family Physician with Holistic Wellness Strategies who shares why knowing your genetic makeup is important and five disorders that can be passed down. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

Dr. Mitchell states, "Knowledge is power, and when choosing a partner for life, it is essential to be as informed as possible. After all, you want your future children to inherit the best likely traits from both parents. While beauty and wealth may be necessary to some, it is also essential to consider other factors, such as intelligence and family history. Studies have shown that genetic factors largely determine intelligence, so it may be worth investigating their family tree if you are looking for a smart partner. Similarly, certain medical conditions can also be passed down through the generations, so if you have a history of cardiovascular disease or mental illness in your family, you may want to choose a partner who does not share that same history. Of course, ultimately, the decision is up to you, but it is always helpful to be as informed as possible before making such an important decision. Here are five of the many genetic conditions that can be passed down."

Dr. Mitchell explains, "Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. In people with CF, a defective gene causes the body to produce unusually thick and sticky mucus that builds up in the lungs and clogs the airways. The thick mucus traps bacteria and leads to chronic inflammation, persistent lung infections, and progressive damage to the lungs. In addition, the sticky mucus also affects the pancreas and other organs in the body, preventing them from working properly. As a result, people with CF often experience abdominal pain, poor growth, and malnutrition.

The disease is caused by a mutation in the cystic fibrosis gene, and children need to inherit one copy of the mutated gene from each parent to develop the disease. If children inherit only one copy of the mutated gene, they will not develop cystic fibrosis, but they will be carriers of the disease and could pass the gene to their own children. Cystic fibrosis is most common in North Europeans, and family history is the biggest risk factor for the disease. There is no cure for cystic fibrosis, but treatments are available to help improve quality of life and extend life expectancy.

Fortunately, since 2010, it has been mandatory that all 50 states offer cystic fibrosis screening in the newborn stage, for which Connecticut and Texas were the last states to mandate the screening."

"Sickle cell anemia is anemia in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body," Dr. Mitchell says. "This can cause various symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain. The condition is most common among people of African descent, but it can also affect people from other groups, including Hispanics, Arabs, Greeks, Italians, and Turks. Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene. When someone with this mutation has a child with someone who does not have the mutation, there is a 25% chance that the child will have sickle cell anemia. There is no cure for sickle cell anemia, but treatments are available to manage the symptoms. It is essential to be aware of sickle cell anemia if you have it in your family history or if you are considering having children with someone who has it in their family history. The condition can be passed onto future generations, so it is essential to be informed about the risks involved.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Sickle cell is so prevalent in certain countries worldwide that couples are required to get tested for sickle cell before getting married."

Dr. Mitchell tells us, "Huntington's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and loss of thinking ability (cognition). Huntington's disease is also known as Huntington's chorea. It is passed down from parents to children through a mutation in a single gene. The disease usually begins in middle age but can appear earlier or much later in life. Huntington's disease is fatal, and currently, there is no cure. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.

Huntington's disease affects people differently, so symptoms can range from mild to severe. They often develop slowly over time and get worse as the disease progresses. Early symptoms may include irritability, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. As the disease progresses, patients may experience involuntary movements (chorea), problems with speech and swallowing, impaired reasoning and judgment, and dementia. Ultimately, Huntington's disease can lead to complete physical and mental disability.

Huntington's disease is caused by a mutation in the HTT gene. This gene provides instructions for making a protein called huntingtin. In people with Huntington's disease, the HTT gene contains a repeating sequence of Genetic codes (CAG). Repeats in this sequence abnormally increased in size. As a result, it produces an altered form of the huntingtin protein. This defective protein accumulates in brain nerve cells, interfering with normal nerve function and leading to cell death. The death of these cells leads to the physical and mental deterioration seen in Huntington's disease.

A diagnosis of Huntington's disease is usually made based on the results of a physical examination and neurological assessment, along with family history and genetic testing. No one test can definitively diagnose Huntington's disease. However, genetic testing can confirm the diagnosis if the person has a family history of the disorder or if they are at risk of inheriting the mutated gene.

There is no cure for Huntington's disease, but treatments are available to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Medications can help involuntary control movements (chorea), relieve depression and anxiety, and improve sleep problems. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can help patients maintain their abilities and independence for as long as possible.

This condition can be debilitating, and due to the dominant nature of inheritance, you only need to inherit one abnormal gene from your parents to have this condition."

According to Dr. Mitchell, "Marfan syndrome is a genetic condition that affects connective tissue. Connective tissue supports the body and organs and helps hold them in place. Marfan syndrome can damage the blood vessels, heart, eyes, skin, lungs, and the bones of the hips, spine, feet, and rib cage. This can lead to various complications, including heart disease, bone deformities such as a curved spine, eye conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma, and lung or skin problems. Some of these complications can be treated or prevented with medication or surgery. People with Marfan syndrome also need to be monitored closely by a doctor to detect any problems early. With proper treatment and monitoring, people with Marfan syndrome can live long and healthy lives.

Most people with Marfan syndrome inherit the defective gene from a parent with the disorder. Each child of an affected parent has a 50-50 chance of inheriting the defective gene. In about 25% of cases, neither parent has the disorder, and a new mutation develops spontaneously."

"A small percentage of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary, caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child," Dr. Mitchell explains. "In most cases, the abnormal gene is passed down from the mother. These abnormal genes can cause a woman to risk developing breast cancer at an early age. Two different types of abnormal genes can be passed down: BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women with either of these genes have about a 60% chance of developing breast cancer at some point in their lives. The risk is even higher for women who have both genes. There are several things that women with these genes can do to lower their risk of developing breast cancer, including having regular mammograms, staying physically active, and avoiding alcohol.

If you have a family history of breast cancer, it might be important to know if you carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes."

Dr. Mitchell says this "doesn't constitute medical advice and by no means are these answers meant to be comprehensive. Rather, it's to encourage discussions about health choices."

Read this article:
5 Health Issues That are Genetically Passed Down. Do You Have One? Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman in a still from Gattaca. Photo courtesy: Sony Picture

Like many others, the first time I watched Gattaca was in school. It was seventh grade, and we were in the middle of our genetics unit. The film, which was released in 1997 and marked the beginning of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurmans ill-fated relationship, is set in a world in which genetic selection ensures children have the best traits and life possible.It follows Vincent Freeman (played by Hawke), an in-valid who was conceived naturally and at high risk for developing a heart defect. Unable to get hired for anything beyond menial cleaning jobs, he decides to disguise himself as a Valid, using DNA samples from a former swimming star in order to secure a job at Gattaca Aerospace Corp. My teacher hoped to use the film to show us the potential ethical quandaries with genoism discrimination based on genetics and eugenics (and maybe give herself a bit of a break for a few classes).

This October marks the 25th anniversary of the films release. Ever since, the word Gattaca made up of the letters that stand for the four nitrogenous bases that make up our genes has essentially become shorthand for a dystopian future enabled by genetic engineering. We talk about Brave New World, we talk about 1984, we talk about Frankenstein, we talk about Gattaca, Josephine Johnston, an expert on the ethical, legal, and policy implications of biomedical technologies at the Hastings Center, said. Its one of those kinds of cultural representation of a certain seat of concerns.

The film was released about a year after the first mammal, Dolly the sheep, was cloned, so it was really tapping into popular conversation about ethics and genetic technology. At a time when we read about cloned sheep and tomatoes crossed with fish [a reference to genetically modified foods], the science in Gattacais theoretically possible, film critic Roger Ebert wrote in a review right after the film came out.

And ever since, people have been invoking the name as a warning: Gattaca stands for a future in which genetic technology has created a society where scientists determine your genes, and your genes determine who you are. The only protection society has from a slippery slope that basically leads to a Gattaca-type environmentdesigner babies, a master raceis public awareness, public scrutiny, says a doctor during a CNN broadcast in 2000 about designer babies that is, babies genetically designed to have certain traits.

In 2008, Congress passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which prevents employers and health insurance companies from using genetic information against individuals. Although GINA was first proposed a few years prior to Gattacas release, the film was used to talk about it. No Gattaca Here: Genetic Anti-Discrimination Law Goes Into Effect reads the headline of a 2009 Discover magazine article on the law.

In particular, Gattaca seems to be invoked whenever people talk about technologies like the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas-9 or procedures such as pre-implantation genetic testing, which allows doctors to scan embryos for certain traits just like they did in Gattaca. (Using CRISPR-Cas-9 to edit human germline cells such as embryos is banned in the United States, but PGT is used in conjunction with in vitro fertilization in fertility clinics.)

In 2013, a Scientific American article really drew out the comparison when discussing the advancement and ethical implications of using pre-implantation genetic testing, asking Are We Too Close to Making Gattaca a Reality?

And after a scientist used CRISPR to create the first genetically edited babies in 2018, Ed Yong wrote in the Atlantic, Even without any speculation aboutdesigner babiesandGattaca-like futures that may or may not come to pass, the details about what has already transpired are galling enough. (The scientist was widely criticised and sentenced to three years in prison.)

Those are just a few of the countless examples of articles about the ethics of genetic editing invoking Gattaca. In fact, the editor of Future Tense says she is constantly taking references to the film out of pieces because they get a little tired.

Given the seemingly strong connection between the film and modern genetic technologies, I was curious do people who work with these tools and concepts on a daily basis get tired of Gattaca, too? I decided to reach out and see how often the film comes up in their day-to-day and whether they think its been a net good to society or just a way to create a moral panic.

Deanna Darnes is a genetic counsellor in Dallas, where she talks to patients about birth defects, chromosome abnormalities, and single gene disorders and helps them find genetic testing options. Shes found that the movie left some patients if they are more my age or older, she says confused about how genetics work, and what technology can do for fetuses with genetic diseases. Darnes especially noted that some people walked away from the movie with an oversimplified view of genetics as one gene codes for one trait.

Were glad patients know what genetics actually are, but it anchors them to think certain things are permanent when theyre not, she said. People dont understand that genes are a big circuit. They work in concert, its not a light switch. We need to move away from the pea plants and doing the rudimentary Punnett squares of its either this or that because its not. Its a spectrum.

Experts in other areas of genetics also noted that because the film is coming on 25 years old, Gattaca jokes fall flat.

I think I think about it more than my patients do because when they ask what were testing for in the embryos, I on occasion say Its not like Gattaca, we cant test for traits. When we screen embryos broadly, were screening for chromosomes, Paula Brady, a reproductive endocrinologist at Columbia University, said. I think the movies old enough that its not a frame of reference.

Brady also pointed out how the movie exists on the premise that genetics are fate and fails to account for the idea that the manifestation of certain genes can vary significantly from person to person.

It assumes predisposition is inevitability, and we know thats not true, she explained. And some of her patients, who rely on donor eggs and/or sperm struggle with not having control over the reproduction process. She tells them that the way genomes come together and make embryos and individuals is a slot machine. Its not something we have such control over.

Brady also noted how the film fails to address other factors that can influence a childs development. Watching the movie now, it was sad to me the degree to which it peripheralised parents and nurture, which we know is not true.

But geneticist Jonathan Pettitt seems to think the film does hint at the idea that genetics are not the end-all be-all.

In Gattaca, the seductive certainty offered by genetic determinism ends up being cleverly undermined when Vincent (Ethan Hawke), one of the few people born outside the pre-selection process, proves more than a match for his genetically perfect peers, he writes in a 2016 article in the Conversation. The films ultimate message is that DNA is not destiny which is precisely what science is now increasingly backing up. This being the case, allowing ourselves to be misled by science fiction is both an unfortunate and strange state of affairs.

Some people who work directly with Gattaca-like technology dont hear about the film as often as one might think. Megan Hochstrasser, who is currently a lead editor at Arcadia Science, got her PhD working on natural CRISPR systems at University of California, Berkeley. Hochstrasser was part of the lab when CRISPR-Cas-9 really took off as a genetic engineering tool. It wasnt until the gene editing component emerged that it became salient as to how her work was related to Gattaca.

Because my work was so basic and it wasnt like I was doing gene editing in the early days, I didnt really think about Gattaca as something that applied to my life or my own research for a while, she explained. As people started bringing it up all the time, its become this ubiquitous reference, I started thinking about it more. She noted that at some point a bunch of lab members got together to jog their memory (and some watched it for the first time).

I dont think its as hot of a reference for general audiences, Hochstrasser added. It seems like something the scientific community likes to reference a lot and definitely a lot of laypeople do know it, but I think they know it and care about it a lot less than we think they do.

Cliche and misconceptions aside, all the experts I spoke to see it as a decent representation of concerns people had about reproductive genetics and eugenics.

At first I was like, A lot of people reference it, I shouldnt, its kind of overdone, but then I realised its actually ridiculously relevant so Im definitely going to reference it, Johnston said. I have often felt like films and books do a better job than academic bioethicists of bringing alive some of those other concerns and arguments about who we are as humans, who we are as parents, what it means to unconditionally love, and what is healthy, and what is good.

And above all, its a good springboard for conversations about the ethics of genetic research.

I think its a nice shorthand for dystopian futures and a way for people to imagine them, and a kickoff point for thinking about things in a more deep way, Hochstrasser said. Sometimes people are limited in their imagination and when youre trying to have these discussions on the societal implications of science and how we all need to collectively care about these things in order to make the future something we want, it can be useful to have a reference point like that.

This piece was originally publishedonFutureTense, a partnership betweenSlatemagazine, Arizona State University, and New America.

Read more here:
25 Years After 'Gattaca' Released, What Do Genetic Scientists Think About It? The Wire Science - The Wire Science

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The first time I was at City of Hope was as a baby, when my mom took me to her doctor appointments. I was 7 years old when she died. It was a tragedy for our family because my grandma lost both her daughters; my mom died at age 35, and my aunt died at 21. After my mom passed away, my father, Michael Meyer, raised money to help fund research in the clinical cancer genetics department because he was so impressed by her care. The Construction Industries Alliance for City of Hope named him a Spirit of Lifehonoree in 1997. So, City of Hope has been part of my family for a long time.

About 24 years ago, I was a new mom with a baby of my own, living in Colorado, when City of Hope came back into my life.

They told me there was genetic testing available for the type of cancer my mother had, partly due to my fathers fundraising efforts, and said theyd like me to take the test. At the time, I was one of the first people to be tested, which says to me that City of Hope isnt just advanced in its cancer care, but that its the premier institution for cancer.

I came out to California, and everyone at City of Hope was so focused and committed. They had so much compassion. They cared about fighting cancer like their own lives depended on it.

I tested positive for a BRCA-1 gene mutation, which is associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. My doctors gave me my options and enrolled me in a clinical trial for a year. After the trial ended, they recommended I get a preventive double mastectomy and hysterectomy. It wasnt a hard decision for me; I wanted to see my son grow up. After losing my mom when I was 7, Id been fearful that the same thing would happen to me and I wouldnt be alive to be with my son. I knew City of Hope was taking care of me, and that helped me manage my fear and improve my quality of life.

At the time, a preventive double mastectomy and hysterectomy were practically unheard of. It was considered drastic. When my insurance company wouldnt cover my mastectomy reconstruction because it was deemed elective and cosmetic, my City of Hope doctors went to bat for me. They went to court and fought for me. And we won. This landmark case was one of the first of its kind and changed the law of preventive procedures in a way that would help many cancer patients going forward. I take zero credit. I was simply fortunate enough to be a patient in the care of a brilliant City of Hope team.

From fear to hope

Meyer Reimers moved forward in life, living her dream of watching her son, Brigg, grow up. Then, in April 2021, she went to the ER with intense nausea and pain. The doctor there diagnosed her with primary peritoneal cancer.

As soon as I knew I had cancer, I was back at City of Hope. There wasnt a question; theres no other institution I would go to. I want to shout it from the rooftops: If your loved one has cancer, you have to go to City of Hope.

I went to City of Hope in Duarte for surgery. I was staying with family in Laguna Beach, and my surgeon told me there was a City of Hope location nearby in Newport Beach where I could go for chemotherapy. Im in remission now, but I still go to City of Hope| Newport Beach Fashion Island every week for blood work and scans to make sure the cancer is not coming back.

My physician there is Tingting Tan, M.D., Ph.D. The care Ive received from Dr. Tan and everyone on my team is exemplary. Im moved not only by their skills and abilities, but also how hard they worked to keep me comfortable.

At one point, I was in the infusion chair for seven hours every week. My chemo nurse, Linda, could finish my sentences. Everyone there is so kind, and Dr. Tan would personally call me if I ever needed anything. I felt so supported, not only because they were helping me feel well and keeping me alive, but because they had so much compassion. I felt cared for physically and emotionally.

Meyer Reimers has moved from Colorado to Laguna Niguel to be close to City of Hope for her cancer care. Shes happy that Orange County residents will have the same world-class care she has received, close to home.

As the population grows here in Orange County, there are going to be more and more people who are diagnosed with cancer. And theres going to be more and more people like me who live because City of Hope Orange County is here for us.

City of Hope has always been by my side. They have saved my life. I've been to many medical centers and seen many doctors, and I've never experienced anything like the expertise and compassion at City of Hope.

Visit CityofHope.org/OC to learn more. To make an appointment, call 888-333-HOPE (4673).

See the rest here:
A lasting inheritance: City of Hope replaced my family's fear with hope - City of Hope

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith