Biogen $BIIB just won one of the biggest fights its ever faced.

The big biotech beat Mylans challenge on the patents that guard their cash cow, Tecfidera, the multiple sclerosis drug that drove the companys comeback under George Scangos and sustains his successor Michel Vounatsos as they search for new drugs.

In the inter partes review ruling, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board or PTAB determined:Having considered all the evidence, petitioner has not demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence the unpatentability of claims 1-20 of the 514 patent.The news, a closely watched catalyst that had analysts on high alert, immediately triggered a huge 29% spike in their share price. Tecfidera earned $3.3 billion in 2019, almost half its revenue for the year.

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Kymriah pioneer Carl June is back, with first US human evidence for CRISPR use in cancer - Endpoints News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A company developing means to edit genes at the single-letter level has raised nearly $200 million in its initial public offering.

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Beam Therapeutics said Wednesday evening that it had priced its IPO at $180 million, or $17 per share. The company began trading Thursday on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol BEAM.

The company had filed to go public in September, aiming at a $100 million IPO. J.P. Morgan, Jeffereies and Barclays acted as joint book runners.

Its last major financing before the IPO was a Series B funding round that it raised in March worth $135 million. The company launched with an $87 million Series A round in May 2018 after operating in stealth mode for a year.

Beams work focuses on base editing, a technology that enables editing of the genome letter by letter, as opposed to the cutting technique usually involved in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Each letter of the genome corresponds with a specific nucleobase: A for adenine, G for guanine, T for thymine and C for cytosine. In other words, base editing would enable changing C to T, G to A and so forth. The company has a licensing agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Universitys Broad Institute for co-founder and CRISPR/Cas9 pioneer Feng Zhangs RNA base-editing technology.

Its most recent presentation of data was in April 2019, when it showed preclinical data from its base editing platform at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapys annual meeting in Washington. For the study, Beam used the base editor BE4 for multiplex base editing of engineered CAR-T cells, showing the ability to knock out expression of three cell surface targets TRAC, B2M and PD-1 in 95%, 95% and 88% of cells, respectively. That technique, the company said, may be able to create CAR-T cells with improved therapeutic properties.

Gene editing is a key technology used for the creation of CAR-T cells derived from donors rather than from patients own T cells, also known as allogeneic or off-the-shelf CAR-Ts, with both CRISPR/Cas9 and TALEN gene-editing technology being used. Without such modifications, off-the-shelf CAR-T cells would be rejected by the body.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Original post:
Beam Therapeutics raises $180M in IPO - MedCity News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

MarketResearch. Biz provides in-depth market analyzes, including refined forecasts, growth factors, birds eye view of competitive landscape, and key market insights to help companies make strategic decisions. One of the report we provide is CRISPR and Cas Genes Market 2020 Analyzes Current Market Size and Upcoming 10 years Growth of this industry.

The CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Research report provides in-depth analysis and insights into developments impacting businesses and enterprises on the global and regional levels. The report covers the globalCRISPR and Cas Genes Marketperformance in terms of revenue contribution from various segments and includes an in-depth analysis of the latest trends, restraints, drivers, and opportunities influencing revenue growth of the global CRISPR and Cas Genes market.[Download Free Sample Report Here ]This report studies the global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market by product, application, end user, and region.

The CRISPR and Cas Genes Market report mainly includes the major company profiles with their annual sales & revenue, business strategies, company major products, profits, industry growth parameters, industry contribution on the global and regional level. This report covers the global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market performance in terms of value and volume contribution. The impact analysis of key growth drivers and restraints is included in this report in order to better equip clients with crystal clear decision-making insights.

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The CRISPR and Cas Genes Market research Growth report mainly segmented into product, application, end user, and region. The market overview section highlights the CRISPR and Cas Genes market definition, classifications, and an overview of the parent market over the globe and region wise. To provide better understanding of the global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market, the report includes in-depth analysis of restraints, drivers, and trends in all key regions namely, North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America which influence the current market scenario and future status of the global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market over the forecast period 2020-2029.

Competitive Landscape :

The CRISPR and Cas Genes Market report provides company market size, share analysis to give a broader overview of the key players in the market. Additionally, the report also includes key strategic developments of the market including acquisitions & mergers, new product launch, agreements, partnerships, collaborations & joint ventures, research & development, product and regional expansion of major participants involved in the market on the global and regional basis.

Major Company Profiles Covered in This Report:

Addgene Inc, AstraZeneca Plc., Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc, Caribou Biosciences Inc, Cellectis S.A., Cibus Global Ltd, CRISPR Therapeutics AG, Editas Medicine Inc, eGenesis Bio, GE Healthcare, GenScript Corporation

The Global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Can Be Segmented As:

Segmentation on the basis of product:

Vector-based CasDNA-free CasSegmentation on the basis of application:

Genome EngineeringDisease ModelsFunctional GenomicsKnockdown/ActivationSegmentation on the basis of end user:

Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical CompaniesAcademic & Government Research InstitutesContract Research Organizations

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Key Questions This Study Will Answer-

What are the key drivers which will drive the CRISPR and Cas Genes market to the next level?

What are the demand-dominating regions and how will these regions grow in the years to come?

Who all are the key players providing CRISPR and Cas Genes?

What is the share of key players in CRISPR and Cas Genes market?

How CRISPR and Cas Genes market share dynamics will change in the forsee years?

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Part 01: CRISPR and Cas Genes Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope of The CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Report and Executive Summary

Part03:Global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Dynamics

Part 04: CRISPR and Cas Genes Market View (Market ecosystem, Market characteristics, Market segmentation analysis)

Part 05: Five Forces Analysis (Bargaining power of buyers, Bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, Threat of rivalry, Market condition)

Part 06: CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Segmentation by product, application, end user, and region

Part 07: Customer Landscape

Part 08: Regional Landscape

Part 10: Decision Framework

Part 11: CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Drivers and Challenges

Part 12: CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Trends

Part 13: CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Vendor Landscape (Overview, Landscape disruption, Competitive landscape)

Part 14: CRISPR and Cas Genes Market Vendor Analysis (Vendors covered, Vendor classification, Market positioning of vendors)

Part 15: Research Methodology Used

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Global CRISPR and Cas Genes Market 2020 : An Incredibly Research Insight That Works For All - TheLoop21

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Their nine lives may be running out but if a major project works, Scottish wildcats could eventually roam the nation once again, finds Sandra Dick

Somewhere between the polar bear, the Bactrian camel and the Japanese macaque, Felis silvestris, among the rarest of them all, is usually found hiding behind a cairn, up a tree or curled up in a ball, snoozing.

At noon most days, however, visitors to the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig near Aviemore will be treated to a fleeting glimpse of its bushy tail, mean green-yellow eyes and thick fur, as one of the nations most elusive creatures emerges to snatch a lump of meat for lunch before retreating to the shadows.

For most park visitors, that brief glimpse of the Scottish wildcats is at the top of their list of must-see attractions, possibly alongside Hamish the juvenile polar bear, a national treasure and the first cub born in the UK for 25 years, and the Amur tiger.

What they wont see, however, is a massive behind-the-scenes effort spanning the UK and Europe, and which its hoped will throw a lifeline to ensuring Scottish wildcats 70 times more endangered than the giant panda will not just be around for generations to come, but could eventually become established in locations right across Scotland.

Tucked out of sight on a patch of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotlands park which is out of bounds to visitors, a new wildcat reintroduction centre is about to become "ground zero" for the survival of a fragile species entwined in Scottish national identity but currently in a fierce catfight for its very survival.

A combination of cross-breeding with feral and domestic cats, habitat loss, road accidents, historic persecution and disease has all but wiped out the purest of Scotlands treasured wildcat population.

Left to their own devices, the tiny number with genes not already severely diluted from mating with outsiders, will dwindle, fade and disappear.

Hopes are now pinned on a 5.5 million scheme led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and, almost certainly, some amorous intervention from the species closest European cousins to help the Scottish wildcat get back on its feet.

By the end of this year, the first wildcats will be in settled in at the new reintroduction centre, 12 breeding pairs which assuming nature takes it course should produce enough healthy offspring to see 60 wildcats reintroduced to carefully picked spots in the Cairngorms over a three-year period.

Eventually its hoped they could be reintroduced elsewhere in Scotland raising the possibility of the creatures becoming commonplace across the country.

Although, according to David Barclay, cat conservation project officer with the RZSS who currently oversees the 107 wildcats in the UK-wide breeding programme, the first challenge is to save the handful of remaining Scottish wildcats from extinction.

Theres perhaps a very small number of wildcats left in Scotland, he admits. And we have a lot of evidence that says the population is non-viable.

Without putting more wildcats back, they will almost certainly go extinct in the next few years.

Wildcats are in that short list of animals that are iconic species for Scotland, such as the golden eagle and the red squirrel, he adds.

For Scotland not to have wildcats would be a very sad day.

At Kincraig, a recent 3.2million EU LIFE grant added to funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the National Trust for Scotland, the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species and the European Nature Trust, has enabled work to start on building the new centre.

A recruitment drive is now under way to find 16 staff while plans are being drawn up for a major campaign to encourage domestic cat owners to neuter their pets to avoid the main threat to wildcats future, hybridisation.

Feral or domestic cats that enter the wildcat reserve will be trapped, neutered, vaccinated and released.

Most of the 12 breeding pairs are expected to be sourced mainly from the UK-wide wildcat breeding programme but some are likely to make the journey from Europe, in particular Spain, where wildcats have been found to share physical similarities to their Scottish relations, and populations are more stable.

It may sound like a further erosion of the Scottish wildcats precious gene pool, however Mr Barclay insists the European presence will strengthen, not weaken, the wildcats chances of survival.

The European wildcats will improve the gene pool, he states. The cat we have is a European wildcat, its just a different population thats more critically endangered.

If we have to bring some cats from Europe and it would be a relatively small number we would want to bring them from a population where we feel that there are similarities with Scottish cat.

And Spanish wildcats look very similar to Scottish wildcats.

If you bring wildcats from Europe, you are bringing new genetic material which gives Scottish wildcats a boost in terms of the gene pool.

The fight to save Scotlands wildcats has already crossed international boundaries: as well as working with Scottish Natural Heritage, the Cairngorms National Park Authority and Forestry and Land Scotland, the RSZZ Saving Wildcats project the only official wildcats project in the country is partnered with Swedish wildlife park Nordens Ark, and Spains Junta De Andaluca, which led the successful recovery of the Iberian lynx.

It has been boosted by the arrival of two potential "Adam and Eve" wildcats: male and female, both accidentally trapped, both found to have surprisingly strong wildcat genes.

While the male is now at an English zoo where its hoped nature will soon play its part in boosting wildcat numbers, the female, Lossie, has already produced five kittens from two litters.

Last year, one of her offspring, Katrine, delivered her first litter four kittens, each carrying on its tiny shoulders the future of a species which has roamed Scotlands hills since the Ice Age.

For next few years its about getting all the right tools in one place so we can create a viable, sustainable population of wildcats in one location, adds Mr Barclay.

Once we have been through that process and know that the reintroduction technology works, then we can replicate that across Scotland.

The crucial element is controlling the threat: we cant release them until the threat is removed, and one of the biggest threats in hybrid and domestic cats.

The reintroduction of wildcats would follow in the wake of the reintroduction of sea eagles, water voles and beavers to the wild each native to Scotland but brought to extinction through hunting and loss of habitat.

The wildcats return could also pave the way for other animals including lynx and wolves. Campaign group Rewilding Britain has also suggested the reintroduction of long-gone species including the dalmatian pelican, bison, boar and moose.

Worryingly, however, are further signs that Scottish wildcats and in some cases their European cousins are hanging by the thinnest of threads.

Last month an international genetic study of wildcats in 13 European countries published in the journal Conservation Genetics warned it had failed to identify a single pure wildcat in Scotland.

Across Europe, wildcat numbers were also found to be affected by hybridisation, with the first example of a hybrid cat in the Eastern Alps of Austria.

In Scotland, we found exclusively hybrids of different classes, indicating hybridisation has been occurring for several generations, it states. All samples from Scotland were identified as hybrids supporting previous findings that the genetic integrity of that wildcat population has been seriously compromised.

It also presented a dire warning for the future of the species.

Frequent hybridisation with the domestic cat may regionally threaten the genetic integrity of the European wildcat, as documented by the example of the wildcat in Scotland, it adds, potentially leading even to the genetic extinction of local populations.

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Meet the kittens with the future of a species on their shoulders - HeraldScotland

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The Fulton County Health Department has scheduled the following health clinics and services.

CANTON The Fulton County Health Department has scheduled the following health clinics and services. Please call the number listed with each service for an appointment or more information.

Maternal child health: Health screenings, WIC nutrition education and supplemental food coupons for women, infants and children. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254). For Astoria clinic appointments call 329-2922.

Canton - Clinic - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-4 - Appt needed

Canton - WIC Nutrition Education - Tuesday, Feb 11 - 8-4 - Appt needed

Astoria - Clinic, WIC Nutrition Educ. - Wednesday, Feb 12 - 9-3 - Appt needed

Canton - Clinic - Thursday, Feb 13 - 8-4 - Appt needed

Adult Health Immunizations: Various vaccines are available. There is a fee for immunization administration. Medicaid cards are accepted. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254).

Other times available by special arrangement at Canton, Cuba and Astoria.

Blood Lead Screening: Blood lead screenings are available for children ages one to six years. A fee is based on income. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254). For Astoria appointments call 329-2922.

Family Planning: Confidential family planning services are available by appointment at the Canton office for families and males of child-bearing age. Services provided include physical exams, pap smears, sexually transmitted disease testing, contraceptive methods, pregnancy testing, education and counseling. Services are available to individuals of all income levels. Fees are based on a sliding fee scale with services provided at no charge to many clients. Medicaid and many insurances are accepted. After hours appointments are available. To make an appointment or for more information call the 647-1134 (ext. 244). *Program funding includes a grant from the US DHHS Title X.

Pregnancy testing: Confidential urine pregnancy testing is available at the Canton and Astoria offices. This service is available to females of all income levels. A nominal fee is charged. No appointment is needed. A first morning urine specimen should be collected for optimal testing and brought to the health department. Services are provided on a walk-in basis on the following days each week:

Canton: Every Wednesday & Thursday, 8-3:30 (for more information call 647-1134 ext. 244)

Astoria: Every Wednesday, 9-2:30 (for more information call 329-2922)

Womens Health: A womens clinic for pap tests, clinical breast examinations and vaginal examinations is available by appointment. There is a nominal fee for this service. Medicaid cards are accepted. Financial assistance is available for a mammogram. Cardiovascular screenings may be available to age and income eligible women. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 244).

Mammograms: Age and income eligible women may receive mammograms at no charge. Speakers are available to provide information to clubs and organizations. For more information or to apply for financial assistance, call 647-1134 (ext. 254).

Mens Health: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood tests are available for men for a fee. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 224).

Canton - Clinic - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-12 - Appt needed

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Clinic: Confidential STD and HIV testing services are available by appointment to males and females at the Canton office. Services include physical exams to identify STDs, a variety of STD testing, HIV testing, education, counseling, medications and condoms. There is a nominal fee for services. Services are available to individuals of all income levels. Medicaid cards are accepted. To make an appointment or for more information call 746-1134 (ext. 224).

HIV Testing and Counseling: Confidential HIV testing and counseling services are available by appointment through the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic at the Canton office. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 224).

Tuberculosis (TB) Testing: TB skin tests are available at no charge by appointment. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254).

Blood Pressure Screenings: The Fulton County Health Department provides blood pressure screenings at no charge on a walk-in basis during the following times:

Canton - Screening - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-4 - Walk in/Room 108

Cuba - Screening - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-12 - Walk in

Astoria - Screening - Wednesday, Feb 12 - 9-12 - Walk in

Health Watch Wellness Program: The Health Watch Program provides low cost lab services. Through this program adults can obtain venous blood draws for a variety of blood tests. Blood tests offered without a doctors order Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), Complete Blood Count (CBC), Lipid Panel, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, Hepatitis C test, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). A wide variety of blood tests are also available with a doctors order. There is a charge at the time of service. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254).

Canton - Clinic - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-12 - Appt needed

Dental Services: The Dental Center offers a variety of basic dental services to children and adults. An appointment is needed. Medicaid and Kid Care cards are accepted. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 292).

Read the rest here:
Health Department announces services for the week of Feb 10 - Canton Daily Ledger

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Margot* always felt confident taking her contraceptive pill. I never experienced any side effects aside from getting slightly larger breasts, which I thought was great, she says. I took it religiously for four years and everything was going great until my GP told me they could no longer offer me that same pill because it had run out.

Instead the 26-year-old from London was offered a cheaper alternative that she was promised contained the same ingredients, just with different branding. It made me so unwell, she recalls. Suddenly I was experiencing constant nausea in the mornings, vomiting and I had the mother of all periods. Thankfully, Margot was eventuallyable to get hold of her old pill through private healthcare provided by her employer. If I didnt have that, Id be screwed.

Margot is just one of the women across the UK who has suffered the consequences of contraceptive shortages, which health officials havewarnedis causing chaos. Its not clear why the shortages are happening, but without access to their regularcontraception, women around the country are being forced to find alternatives that require major expenses, lifestyle changes or leave them with awhole host of uncomfortable side effects.

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On Friday, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the British Menopause Society and The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) wroteto the secretary of state for health and social care, Matt Hancock, urging for a working group to be set up to address ongoing supply constraints for both contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy in the UK. As well as this affecting the physical and mental wellbeing of women and girls, the professional bodies are concerned that contraceptive shortages will affect the most vulnerable in society. TheRCOGhas also said shortages could lead to a rise in unplanned pregnancies and abortions.

Speaking toThe Independent, Julia Hogan of MarieStopes one of the UKs leading abortion providers explains that they regularly speak to women who have experienced difficulties accessing contraception. Not only have many services been shut down due to cuts to sexual health clinics, but when women do manage to find a clinic many are being denied the full range of contraception, including some of the most effective long-acting methods, she says.

Such restrictions, Hogan says, put limits on womens bodily autonomy and leave them with fewer choices. Its enormously concerning and frustrating, she adds, because investment in contraceptive care is one of the most cost-effective public health measures, with every 1 invested in contraception saving 11 in averted costs.

One form of contraceptive that has been impacted isSayana Press, a self-injectable contraceptivefor which there is no exact alternative. Women who use Sayana Press now have to see a healthcare professional to access a non-self-injectable alternative, which is undoubtedly an extra burden for them, increasing demand in busy GP practices and sexual and reproductive healthcare clinics, saidDr Asha Kasliwal, president of the FSRH.At the moment, the resupply date for Sayana Press is unknown.

Paige, 26,had been on Sayana Press for 11 months and found it an accessible and easy to manage form of contraception. But when she recently went to her GP for a top-up, she was told they had run out and was promptly sent around to walk-in clinics, pharmacies and other doctors to no avail. The whole experience left me feeling anxious and stressed, Paige says, explaining that she regularly had to leave work early to make calls to clinics or attend doctorappointments.

I felt as though my right to access my chosen contraception was being taken away from me and I didnt want to drastically change my contraceptive during a time when I was already moving house and going on holiday. While on her hunt for Sayana Press, Paige, who is based in London, visited one walk-in clinic, calledtwo, attended one GP appointment, one appointment with a nurse and visited three different pharmacies.

Not one of these informed me that there was a shortage of Sayana Press in the UK. It was only through her own research that she discovered Sayana Press had been recalleddue to a manufacturing fault, which had resulted in the shortage. Ultimately, I had to change my contraception and am now using Depo-Provera, which Ive been on for four weeks so far.

Paige said the changeover has been fairly straightforward, although she can no longer administer the injections herself at home and must visit a nurse every 12 to 13 weeks to receive it. I liked using Sayana Press becauseit removed the issue of trying to book an appointment so often with the nurse, she says. Securing appointments is getting harder and harder and when you do, managing to get one out of work hours is nearly impossible.

Funding for sexual health services has plummeted in the last eight years after sexual health clinics were made the responsibility of local councils, rather than NHS England in 2013. This meant that funding clinics receive is part of the same pool that also pays for bin collections and speed bumps. The change has seen a reported 64m less being spent on sexual health services, according to the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. With less funding, clinics around the UK are closing while others have started turning patients away. These contraceptive shortages mean there is additional strain being put on an already stretched service.

Alex*, 42, also had a negative experience when the pill shed been taking for years was suddenly discontinued. I liked itbecause I had very slight monthly bleeds and it gave me no side effects, she explains. Suddenly it just stopped being manufactured, and my GP could give me no explanation as to why. Instead, my doctorprescribed me another pill that was the wrong dose and severely affected my mental health.

I just had a tough time emotionally, and it was hard to know if it was just life loador it was because the levels of oestrogen in my body were wrong.Now, Alexhas started using a different pill that seems to be okay so far, though it gives her headaches. Ill try it for a couple of months to see if it settles and just takeparacetamol in the meantime.

Alexsays the impact is undoubtedly gendered and creates an unfair burden on women. Its just yet another responsibility that falls to me as a woman, she says. Its up to me to go to three chemists in my lunch hour to see if theyve got it in. Its up to me to go back to the doctor and ask for a new script. Its up to me to collect it, try it, feel ill, go back, try another one. But ultimately Ive just had to get on with it.

Sex Education star says she thought masturbation was only a boy thing

Molly*, 27, from south east England, suffers from an autoimmune disease, which means shes not medically allowed to use any of the hormonal contraceptives. I can only use the copper coil, she explains.It took months just to get an initial consultation appointment at my local sexual health clinic. Then I had to book another appointment after that before I could even book my coil fitting. I called seven different clinics looking for someone who could sort me out sooner.

Molly now has to wait four months for her copper coil to be fitted; the waiting time is making her anxious. Im just trying to be a responsible adult, she says, explaining that shes just started seeing a new romantic partner. I feel like Im gambling every time I have sex. Its not fair and is making me feel really uneasy, which I shouldnt have to feel in a new relationship when everythings meant to be so fun and natural.

*Some names have been changed to protect identity

More here:
Im gambling every time I have sex: How contraception shortages are affecting women in the UK - The Independent

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

After giving birth, a woman's hormones are all over the place, and many women can experience either baby blues or postpartum depression. Though both can affect a woman's mental well-being there is a huge difference between the two of them.

RELATED: 10 Ways To Get Baby To Laugh

Baby blues is something that can go away by itself after a while, whereas the postpartum depression is something that women would need to go seek help for. But knowing the difference between the two can be difficult, and you do not want to mistake postpartum depression for baby blues. So keep reading discover the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression.

After a woman gives birth, her hormones are going to be acting up. And according to Web MD, if a woman is beginning to feel down when their baby is 2 or 3 days old, then she most likely will have baby blues.

This is just because of the hormone increase since giving birth and them trying to get back to how they were before the pregnancy.Any women who are feeling a bit down when her baby is a few days old is normal.

Postpartum depression is a mental illness where a woman can experience more than just feeling sad when it comes to it. Help Guide mentions that when a woman has postpartum depression, she may also experience the feeling of anxiety and lack of sleep.

Depression and anxiety typically coincide together, meaning that it's not just the baby blues. Additionally, with the lack of sleep, it's going to make a woman more emotional than she is since she is not resting her body too. Any woman that is experiencing depression, anxiety, and lack of sleep needs to talk to their doctor.

Afact that many women might find surprising about baby blues is 80% of moms experience it, as reported by Seleni. This means that a woman is not alone if she is feeling down after giving birth, and knowing that she is not alone in this situation can help her feel better.

RELATED: 10 Of The Most Popular Boy Names From The Past Decade

With 80% of moms experiencing baby blues, it is great idea for any mother that is experiencing it to reach out to her mom friends to see it if anyone has any advice for dealing with the situation.

With strong feelings behind postpartum depression, Mayo Clinic reports that another side effect that women can experience is feeling hopeless. The sense of feeling helpless overtakes a person's mind and body andmay results in them not getting out of bed or wanting to socialize.

That is why any woman who is experiencing any symptoms of postpartum depression should keep a journal about how she's feeling to track her symptoms. This can help her when she's talking to her doctor to know when each symptom started.

A symptom of baby blues that you and your partner could look out for after giving birth is mild mood swings. Help Guide mentions that a woman can experience mild mood swings from feeling happy to sad to angry and everything in between.

RELATED: 10 Myths About Postpartum Depression

Mood swings are very common with baby blues since it's just about the hormone balance in a woman's body. Though any women experiencing mild mood swings can tell you that it can be tiringto go through so many emotions in a short period of time. It is something that many doctors do not worry about.

A clear sign that a woman has postpartum depression instead of baby blues is that she is feeling disconnected fromher spouse and baby, according to Seleni. Feeling disconnected from others or even feeling disconnected from the world is a very concerning sign of postpartum depression.

Any woman that does have that these feelings need to speak with her medical team right away to start getting treatment for postpartum depression. Feeling disconnected from people in the world can result in dangerous behavior that medical professionals want to avoid.

A very common feeling that many women feel after giving birth is feeling stressed. American Pregnancy reports that many women can feel stressed after giving birth because of how much demand a newborn needs within their first few weeks alive.

RELATED: 10 Things Which Happen Inside Of You When You Become 'Mom'

Many times people are not prepared for how tired they are going to be when it comes to caring for their newborn. Newborns need attention twenty-four/seven; they need to be changed, fed, swaddled, held, and so much more. This can lead to a woman feeling overwhelmed from lack of sleep, and overall feeling stressed.

A majormyth behind postpartum depression is that it's something that happens to a woman right after she gives birth. But humans brains are very complex, and according to Mayo Clinic, postpartum depression can occur anytime to a year after a woman gives birth.

So any woman that is feeling depressed within a year of giving birth to her baby can end up having postpartum depression. And this is why many doctors recommend that new moms keep journals to keep track of their mood and mental mentality so they can easily spot when an abnormality occurs.

With postpartum depression, the only way to treat it is to seek medical help. Whereas baby blues is something that will naturally go away on its own. Web MD mentions that any person that is experiencing baby blues starts to feel better on their own when their little one is around one to two weeks old.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Women Experience Postnatal Depression

This is because by then, a woman's hormones will start to even out to what they were before the pregnancy allowing a woman to have a clear mind and more stable emotions.

One of the more serious symptoms of postpartum depression is the feeling that a woman wants to harm herself or others. Mayo Clinic reports that this symptom should not be ignored and needs to be talked about with her partner and withher doctor.

Though a woman may feel that she may never act on those feelings of harming herself or others, it is important that she gets checked out and get the medical help. The feeling of wanting to hurt yourself or others can be a very scary to admit, but the only way that a woman can get better from postpartum depression is to seek proper treatment.

NEXT: 10 Props To Consider For Baby Photoshoots

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Baby Blues Vs Postpartum Depression: 10 Things You Need To Know - BabyGaga

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The mechanism that controls the switch to meiosis has been a topic of scientific investigation for some time, and this breakthrough offers a unique look at a gene trigger that only sometimes becomes active. An important issue for reproductive medicine, researchers are excited for what this discovery could mean.

Knowledge of this process and the gene will be useful in providing a potential answer, but more answers could also mean more treatment options for people struggling with infertility.

"If it eventually becomes possible to control meiosis," said Ishiguro, "the benefits would be far-reaching for reproductive medicine, agricultural production, and even assisting rare species reproduction."

This research is still in early stages, with the announcement of the genetic discovery only being published this week. But it does provide a starting point for a whole new area of research in reproductive medicine going forward, that could result in even more new breakthroughs. Further studies will need to investigate the process of Meiosin in human subjects.

While we may not see this breakthrough being used in medicine anytime soon, it's exciting to know that it may help people in the future. If you're hoping to start a family and are worried about fertility, there's plenty of expert advice for boosting fertility that can be easily adopted.

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Researchers May Have Found A Genetic Cause Of Infertility - mindbodygreen.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Personalized medicine has taken a big step forward with the launch of non-profit n-Lorem Foundation, which will create patient-tailored antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutics for people with rare diseases at no cost to the patients. This comes at the same time as custom gene therapies for rare disease patients are being developed, including some combined with CRISPR. As a result, more peopleeven those with ultra-rare diseasescould finally have access to treatments.

The process of developing these treatments is still burdensome and expensive. Only a few patients will benefit at first. But this concept has only been a dream until now, with most of these patients being completely shut out of the typical drug development process. Whats more, the scientists and sponsors pioneering these approaches are hoping to create blueprints for the treatment of ultra-rare diseases in general.

One of the goals is to create a replicable protocol, said Simon Frost, the father of Annabel Frost, a child who suffers from the ultra-rare disease alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC). We want to do it for our disease, and then take that process and give it to more patients across many more diseases. Frost, who is CEO of Tiber Capital Group, has been in discussions with multiple labs and investigating several approaches, including ASOs, gene editing, and gene therapy.

The blueprint for the ASO-based approach was a made-to-order treatment for a child with Battens disease, a rare neurodegenerative disorder. In 2018, Timothy Yu, a doctor at Boston Childrens Hospital, sequenced the genome in then six-year-old Mila to diagnose the condition. It turned out Mila had a retrotransposon which had inserted into her CLN7 gene. That aberration was blocking normal protein production by that gene.

Yus team then created a tailor-made ASO, which they called milasen, to mask the mutation in Milas genome, as detailed last year in the New England Journal of Medicine. It took about one year from sequencing to delivery of the therapy. Then, nine months after her treatment began, Milas doctors reported being hopeful about her prognosis, although they noted that she may already have experienced substantial effects from the disease. Hundreds of people, including parents and researchers, have since reached out to Yu to try and have this process replicated. Yus lab is reportedly developing several more personalized oligos, including ones for a rare form of epilepsy and ataxia-telangiectasia, which is a neurological disease.

Addressing the challenges

The demand for more custom ASOs is intense. But there are many issues standing in the way of such therapies.

ASOs are at the point where the investment in the technology has paid off commercially, said Art Krieg, an expert in oligonucleotide therapeutics as well as founder and chief scientific officer of Checkmate Pharmaceuticals. And now Tim Yu has shown the process for making customized ASOs. The questions is whether you can standardize that and could companies find it profitable to develop those therapies. Further, ASOs only block mutations and need to be given for life.

n-Lorem is funded with $1.5 million from Ionis (formerly Isis) Pharmaceuticals, another $1.5 million from Ioniss founder and former CEO Stanley Crooke and his wife Rosanne Crooke (a researcher at Ionis), $1 million from Biogen, and additional funds from other donors. Crooke started Ionis in 1989, as a pioneer in RNA-targeted therapeutics. Today, the company has three drugs on the market and more than 30 in development for a wide range of conditions. Biogen is partnered with Ionis on several of these.

Biogen declined to comment for this article, but sent this statement: Antisense oligonucleotides have been a game changer in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and we believe they could hold promise in tackling other diseases. So, we are pleased to help support the establishment of n-Lorem Foundation and their mission to provide advanced, experimental RNA-targeted medicines free of charge to patients with ultra-rare diseases.

I knew we could do this and I knew there was a need, said Crooke, who started working on n-Lorem two years ago. But he also realized it was going to be challenging. The patients need a full genomic workup, and you need an investigator who can submit the IND and oversee it, he said. One major development that convinced Crooke the concept was feasible was the 2014 establishment of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN), a research study funded by the National Institutes of Health Common Fund. The UDN comprises clinical and research experts from across the U.S. who work to solve medical mysteries. As of 2019, 12 UDN clinical sites were open.

While UDN will be a key source of qualified patients, Crooke says n-Lorem will not be restricted to those. We announced the launch last week, and we already have six proposals for patients to treat. But patients need a confirmed genetic diagnosis and treating physicians. Then they must submit a proposal to treat to n-Lorems Access to Treatment Committee.

Another critical issue is the FDAs response. Crooke said he has already approached regulators and they are supportive. But n-of-1 trials like these raise special issues. In an editorial that accompanied the Yu teams report in NEJM, FDA regulators point out the many challenges to evaluating n-of-1 drugs what are the differences between treating one, ten, or thousands of patients? they asked.

But they also acknowledge that the field is moving ahead rapidly. Academic clinicianinvestigators now have the capacity to rapidly uncover specific mutations and pinpoint the putative mechanisms leading to certain rare disease phenotypes. Various ASOs or other compounds can be produced by third parties, and investigators can evaluate them using in vitro assays or animal models, the regulators wrote. FDA is holding a workshop in March on individualized therapies to try and advance thinking around this topic.

Ioniss long experience with ASOs should help in this regard. There are several generations, or classes, of ASOs that the company has developed over the last 30 years. Many years ago I began putting together integrative safety databases about the different classes of ASOs we have developed, Crooke says. Each class has generally similar properties, but they also have important differences such has ligands that work in different organs. Ionis has published on these databases and the properties they reveal, as well as providing the FDA access to the databases. That doesnt mean, however, that researchers will be able to predict all the effects of any ASO in any patient.

Finally, there is the question of cost, which is a particular boondoggle for rare diseases. We know this is feasible but we want to reduce the costs as far as we can, Crooke says. n-Lorem and Biogen are both already working on processes to further cut costs, But we will need to raise even more money to help more patients, he added. Patients shouldnt have to be on the internet raising funds for this.

While hes aware of the challenges, Crooke said hes feeling optimistic. Ive been overwhelmingly impressed with the commitment and advice weve gotten from physicians, experts on antisense and clinical trials,and others. He also hopes more modalities, besides ASOs will be able to work with n-Lorem and start similar endeavors. Im hopeful a gene therapy company can join us or do the same thing, he noted.

Gene therapy too

While there is nothing equal to n-Lorem yet, other researchers are already pursuing customized gene therapies, even for patients who have mutations that are very rare or that are not correctable with standardized gene therapy.

Monkol Lek, for example, is a geneticist at Yale who has been working on a gene therapy for a single patient with an ultra-rare mutation in a muscular dystrophy gene. There are more than 30 types of muscular dystrophy, and some are caused by mutations that affect different genes or varying sections within those genes. Lek himself has limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (MD). When he was first diagnosed, he remembers hearing over and over again that there were no treatments for his condition.

That was enough to inspire Lek to leave a career in IT while in his 20s and obtain degrees in physiology, bioinformatics, and genetics. Soon after he arrived at Yale in 2018, Lek met Rich Horgan, founder of the non-profit Cure Rare Disease, and whose younger brother Terry has a type of MD. Lek analyzed Terrys genomic data, and found he is missing the dystrophin genes promoter region, which needs to be activated in order for that protein to be made. Terry is also missing part of exon 1, which is also necessary to generate the production of dystrophin.

While they originally considered using ASOs, Rich Horgan and Lek realized that wasnt feasible because rather than needing to turn off a gene, they needed to turn on a gene, or at least its promoter.

One twist in this particular case is that people have two alternative versions, or isoforms, of this promoter and exon 1one set in muscle cells and another in brain cells. With that in mind, Lek is using a modified version of CRISPR called no-cut CRISPR to introduce a transcription activator attached to the Cas9 enzyme to turn on the brain-specific set, and thus make up for the deficit in muscle. He uses an AAV and CRISPR activation construct as well as guide RNA to direct the CRISPR to the right spot in the DNA.

Lek has already tested his putative therapy on Terrys cells and successfully corrected the mutated gene in the lab. Next, the treatment will be tested in mice. However, Lek is also exploring the possibility of an n-of-1 clinical trial in which the therapy would only be tested in Terry or anyone with his specific mutation.

Rich Horgans Cure Rare Disease group is now leading new projects for two boys with different forms of Duchenne MD as well as a patient with the limb girdle form of the disease.

Frost, meanwhile, is still investigating the best options for treating his daughter Annabel. His family has spent $250,000 so far and he expects it will cost another $250,000 to $500,000 to reach proof of concept. Annabels mutation is in ATP1A3, a gene that is associated with at least 12 different rare diseases (See table). However, Annabels specific mutation is very rare. Were not sure yet how many of these other conditions would be treated by the same transgene, but it could be a large proportion, Frost said.

Krieg noted that we are not yet at the point where any for profit company will want to develop n-of-1 therapies. It doesnt cost that much to manufacture DNA, and its a fully automated process, he said. It has taken billions of dollars already to get the technology this far and develop applications for some more common diseases. But the overall cost of lifetime treatment is still prohibitive. Right now, I dont know why any company would want to do this, he added. But there will come a time when there are the right incentives and someone will try it.

For families such as Annabel Frosts, these developments are still encouraging, and give them hope that they can help shape the future of the new field of n-of-1 therapeutics. This also supports the idea that more children should undergo whole genome sequencing as soon after birth as possible. With many rare diseases, the damage is compounded the longer the child is untreated. Further, greater understanding of how the full range of possible mutations in any gene impact health, and how that can be treated, will press the field forward.

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Dawn of the Customized Cure - Clinical OMICs News

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Latest Research Report on Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market size | Industry Segment by Applications (Hospitals, Drugstores and Others), by Type (Parenteral, Transdermal, Oral and Others), Regional Outlook, Market Demand, Latest Trends, Male Hypogonadism Therapy Industry Growth, Share & Revenue by Manufacturers, Company Profiles, Forecasts 2025.Analyzes current market size and upcoming 5 years growth of this industry.

New research report to its expanding repository. The research report, titled Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market, mainly includes a detailed segmentation of this sector, which is expected to generate massive returns by the end of the forecast period, thus showing an appreciable rate of growth over the coming years on an annual basis. The research study also looks specifically at the need for Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market.

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The report contains the profiles of various prominent players in the Global Male Hypogonadism Therapy Market. Different strategies implemented by these vendors have been analyzed and studied to gain a competitive edge, create unique product portfolios and increase their market share. The study also sheds light on major global industry vendors. Such essential vendors consist of both new and well-known players. Besides, the business report contains important data relating to the launch of new products on the market, specific licenses, domestic scenarios and the strategies of the organization implemented on the market.

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At-home DNA testing companies 23andMe and Ancestry each laid off about 100 employees over the past month, cutting around 14 and 6 percent of their workforces, respectively.

23andMe pointed to declining sales as the reasons for the layoffs, and Ancestry CEO Margo Georgiadis cited a slowdown in demand across the entire DNA category in a blog post. Interest in DNA testing skyrocketed through 2016, 2017, and 2018, with millions of people buying kits from direct-to-consumer companies. But in 2019, interest started to wane Illumina, which makes products used by these companies, said that the market was weak.

Thats probably because the market is saturated, and most people who would want to buy a DNA test kit already have, says David Mittelman, founder and CEO of the forensic genomics company Othram and former chief scientist at Family Tree DNA. That market is a certain size, and its being tapped out, he says.

It may also just be that all of the early adopters have bought and used DNA testing kits, says Shawn Baker, a genomics consultant and former scientist and manager at Illumina. They need to broaden out past the early adopters to everyone else, he says.

Compounding the problem, the service doesnt lend itself to repeat customers. You get tested once and youre done, Baker says. Theres also no real reason for users to return to the platform, except to see if any previously unknown or distant relatives have joined the service. But even then, the companies dont see additional revenue.

23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki speculated that genetic privacy concerns could be one reason for the dip in sales. But Mittleman doesnt think that plays a big role. Im sure some people are worried about privacy, he says. I think people are burned by privacy more with Facebook than with genetic testing. Thats what they worry about.

23andMe and Ancestry did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

Ancestrys growth was also linked to their advertising spending they spent over $100 million on television ads in 2016, for example. Their growth was proportional to their spending, but thats since plateaued, Mittelman says. Acquiring more customers, who arent already inclined to be interested in existing products, would be expensive, he says.

But bringing in more customers for personal testing kits may no longer be the priority at these companies: instead, theyre turning their focus towards health. Ancestry says its shifting focus towards Ancestry Health, and plans to introduce new products that give customers information about their health risks. 23andMe plans to concentrate its research on a drug development arm, which has already proven lucrative: it started partnering with pharmaceutical companies in 2018, and in January, the company sold the rights to a drug it developed in-house.

The companies may want to keep pulling in customers to bolster their databases of genetic information, Baker says. Subscriber growth matters in terms of how good that database is.

But over the past few years, both companies have built up their databases of genetic data, and they may already be large enough to answer health care questions. These databases only need so much information before they can be useful to researchers and drug developers. If theyve reached that point, and it will take expensive marketing and advertising to pull in new customers, it might not be worth the investment to try and expand the pool, Mittelman says.

From the outside, that seems to be what the situation is, he says. You dont see 23andMe running sales trying to get people on board. Its not the priority.

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Layoffs at genetic testing companies reflect the changing market - The Verge

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The DNA-testing fad is ending, and it's hitting one of the biggest players in the space hard.

On Wednesday, Ancestry CEO Margo Georgiadis wrote in a blog post that the company is laying off 6% of its 1,700-person workforce, or roughly 100 employees. In the post, Georgiadis cited the slowdown in the consumer genetics market as the reason, noting that the market is at an "inflection point," and most early adopters have already taken one of the tests.

The layoffs come just weeks after rival 23andMe also laid off 100 employees, representing about 14% of its staff.

"Over the last 18 months, we have seen a slowdown in consumer demand across the entire DNA category," Georgiadis wrote in the post. "Future growth will require a continued focus on building consumer trust and innovative new offerings that deliver even greater value to people."

CNBC reported on the Ancestry layoffs earlier on Wednesday.

Read more: The DNA-testing 'fad' is over, and one company just halted operations. The CEOs of Ancestry and 23andMe reveal how they're fighting back.

Over the past few years, genetic tests have grown in popularity. That's helped consumer genetics companies like 23andMe grow to 10 million users who've shipped off their spit with the hopes of learning more about their family trees, genetic traits, or even some health information.

Along the way, there have been beenflags raised about ethics and privacy, along with a slew of tough questions about identity and family.

Still, for years, it seemed like interest in genetic testing was only increasing. But in 2019, the companies started to run into a slowdown.

The first warning was raised by Illumina, the company that makes all the tech that's used to read info about your genes. On an earnings call in July, the company noted "softness" in the market.

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And in December, Veritas Genetics, a company that provides whole-genome sequencing for $600, said it had suspended its US operations, citing issues raising additional funding.

The layoffs at Ancestry come just months after the company unveiled its Ancestry Health tests, its first foray into the health market.

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Genealogy giant Ancestry lays off 6% of its employees - Business Insider - Business Insider

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

In determining risk of future disease, Ian Scott and colleagues argue there is little value in genetic testing of asymptomatic people with no family history of disease

Low cost genetic testing is increasingly being used by patients and the public to predict risk of developing disease in asymptomatic people in the hope that more precise risk stratification might facilitate targeted interventions for reducing risk

The proliferation of genetic variants might cause clinicians and citizens to misread their clinical relevance, potentially leading to overestimation of risk, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment

In appraising the value of genetic testing for clinical decision making, consideration must be given to validity, predictive accuracy, clinical utility, potential harms, cost effectiveness, and feasibility of use in routine care

Moving from traditional genetic testing for rare monogenic disorders within families to wider polygenic testing for common diseases in heterogeneous populations requires robust evidence of benefits and harms of this paradigm shift

Increasing numbers of patients and clinicians are undertaking low cost genetic testing in asymptomatic people to identify genetic variants that might predict risk of developing diseases. By early 2018, an estimated one in 25 citizens of the United States had undergone genetic testing, more than double the rate in the previous year.1 Although testing for risk of monogenic diseases such as cystic fibrosis in people with family histories is often appropriate, extending testing for polygenic diseases such as cardiovascular atherosclerosis to people with no family history is problematic and might cause harm.

Tests for approximately 75000 genetic variants are now commercially available from companies such as 23andMe, Navigenics, and deCODE Genetics, which can be ordered on the internet by consumers anywhere in the world and are increasingly advertised in lay media in the US, Canada, Australia, and various European countries.2 These tests aim to predict individual

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Promises and perils of using genetic tests to predict risk of disease - The BMJ

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Germline testing for prostate cancer (PCA) is revolutionizing treatment, management, and risk assessment. Pathogenic mutations in multiple DNA repair genes, and particularly BRCA2 and others, are informing targeted therapy options in the metastatic and advanced disease setting, active surveillance discussions in the early-stage setting, and PCA early detection discussions.1 Furthermore, germline testing may identify a spectrum of cancer risks important to address for men and their male and female blood relatives. Many thousands of men with PCA now meet criteria for germline testing due to expanded genetic testing guidelines.2 This rising demand for germline testing has created a relative shortage of genetic counseling impacting timely access to testing that can significantly impact treatment or management plans for men. As such, oncologists and urologists are now increasingly ordering germline testing in their practices, necessitating assessment of practice patterns and responsible implementation of germline testing for PCA.

Our publication Germline Genetic Testing in Advanced Prostate Cancer; Practices and Barriers: Survey Results from the Germline Genetics Working Group of the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium (PCCTC)3 investigated practice patterns and barriers to germline testing among academic oncologists at PCCTC participating institutions. Key findings included that (62%) of oncologists at academic centers surveyed reported taking personal responsibility for some or all of the genetic education and testing of their patients with PCA. Furthermore, the majority of oncologists ordered comprehensive or large cancer panels, requiring that men understand considerations of larger panels such as testing of genes with a range of associated risk for PCA and some with limited guidance, higher rates of variants of uncertain significance with larger panels, potential to uncover multiple additional cancer risks beyond PCA, and the implications of test results for blood relatives.

A major practice need is a genetic education of oncologists and urologists in order to gain a working knowledge of germline testing, responsibilities of ordering providers, and familial impact.1The collection of family history is a key aspect of germline testing and recommendations due to the hereditary nature of germline testing. Providers need to consider optimal ways to collect family history in their practices and how best to collaborate with genetic counselors to address comprehensive recommendations for men and their families. Laboratory selection for testing is critical. Choosing a lab with long-standing experience with germline testing, full gene sequencing, and assessment, a variant reclassification program, and panel options is important to identify pathogenic mutations and have long-term variant updates.

Some patients may need to see a genetics professional upfront due to complex family history, psychosocial needs, and insurance constraints. While several insurance plans cover genetic testing for PCA, many still do not cover testing for men with PCA or require a visit with a genetic counselor to cover testing. Men also need to understand the potential financial implications of testing, which is critical for men who are long-term PCA survivors or men who are otherwise healthy. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008 provides protections from genetic discrimination regarding health insurance and employment (except for small businesses with fewer than 15 employees). However, the GINA law does not cover long-term care, disability, or life insurance plans.

Finally, germline testing has implications regarding additional cancer risks for men and their families with potential management implications. For example, men with germline BRCA2 mutations may be at increased risk not only for PCA, but also pancreatic cancer, male breast cancer, and melanoma. Therefore, men with BRCA2 mutations would not only need PCA risk or treatment addressed, but also screening for male breast cancer with clinical breast exams and pancreatic cancer screening if there is also a family history of pancreatic cancer.Female relatives who inherit BRCA2 mutations are at increased risk for cancers of the breast, ovary, pancreas, and melanoma with significant management and risk reduction decisions to consider.4 Thus, oncology and urology practices who undertake ordering germline testing need to have mechanisms in place either within their practices or in collaboration with genetic counselors to address these and many other genetically-related issues.

New initiatives are emerging to enhance the field of germline testing for PCA. Technology-based tools may be helpful in facilitating family history collection, genetic education, and identification of men with PCA for germline testing. Dr. Giri is leading a team of investigators to develop a mobile-friendly tool for providers regarding germline PCA testing. This tool will undergo user testing as part of the Technology-enhanced AcceleRation of Germline Evaluation for Therapy The TARGET study, a nationally-funded study from the Prostate Cancer Foundation (2019 Prostate Cancer Foundation VAlor Challenge Award - Principal Investigator: Giri and Co-Principal Investigator: Loeb). Similarly, Dr. Paller and Dr. Cheng are leading the PROMISE registry: A Prostate Cancer Registry of Outcomes and Germline Mutations for Improved Survival and Treatment Effectiveness with the help of the PCCTC which will focus on identification, recruitment, and treatment response of germline carriers and selected variants of uncertain significance in genes of interest.5

The registry will help provide education about genes and match patients with the proper treatment or trial based on their mutation. Dr. Giri is leading the upcoming Prostate Cancer Genetic Risk, Experience, and Support Study: PROGRESS Registry. This national registry will collect information from men who have had germline testing for PCA and assess their experience with testing from various clinical settings to rapidly inform responsible PCA germline testing. Furthermore, the 2019 Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference addressed implementation of germline testing for PCA, focused on topics such as optimal testing strategies, testing indications, and alternate genetic evaluation models to meet the needs of men with PCA and their families regarding germline testing.6 Results from the conference will be forthcoming in publication.

Written by:Veda N. Giri, MD, Associate Professor, Director of Jefferson Clinical Cancer Genetics Service, Jefferson University Physician, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Heather H. Cheng, MD, PhD, Director of the Prostate Cancer Genetics Clinic, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Associate Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Associate Member, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington; Channing J. Paller, MD, Medical Oncologist, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington D.C., USA, Associate Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

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Germline Genetic Testing in Advanced Prostate Cancer; Practices and Barriers: Survey Results from the Germline Genetics Working Group of the Prostate...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

My Retina Tracker Program is the highest volume IRD genetic testing program in the U.S.

LEIDEN, Netherlands and CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Feb. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq:PRQR), a company dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for severe genetic rare diseases, announced today its participation in the Foundation Fighting Blindness My Retina Tracker Program, a collaborative, open access program run by Blueprint Genetics and InformedDNA providing no-cost genetic testing and genetic counseling for individuals with a clinical diagnosis of an inherited retinal disease (IRD) such as Lebers congenital amaurosis (LCA) and Usher syndrome, amongst others.

Many people diagnosed with an IRD have not received genetic testing. In absence of knowing the genetic mutation, eligibility for clinical trials or available treatments is more difficult to determine. Genetic testing in the My Retina Tracker Program is performed by Blueprint Genetics and tests a broad panel of known mutations causing IRDs, including mutations causing LCA10, Usher syndrome, and retinitis pigmentosa for which ProQR is developing medicines. As a partner of the program ProQR has access to expert physicians and de-identified data from specific participating IRD patients, which would facilitate efforts to advance new treatments for IRDs.

Daniel de Boer, Chief Executive Officer of ProQR, said, We are honored to be the first industry partner for the My Retina Tracker Program as we strive to be at the forefront of the IRD field with a patient-focused approach. Genetic testing is crucial to receiving an accurate diagnosis and to then move forward with the best care.

The My Retina Tracker Program is a key initiative that supports the development of treatments and cures for inherited retinal diseases and we are delighted to be expanding our partnership with ProQR, says Brian Mansfield, Executive Vice President Research, Interim Chief Scientific Officer of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. As part of the program, the My Retina Tracker Registry has over 15,000 patients registered, which is the most comprehensive international patient database with individuals affected with an IRD.

With over 7,000 patients tested to date, and hundreds more tested monthly, this program provides IRD patients with the highest-quality test available in the market, while setting a high standard for patient data privacy practices. We are happy to have ProQR join our efforts to provide IRD patients with easier access to genetic diagnostics, improve access to clinical trials and facilitate therapeutic development in IRDs associated with CEP290, RHO and USH2A genes. The My Retina Tracker Program is currently the most effective pathway for Biopharma to enhance patient identification, said Tero-Pekka Alastalo, Executive Director, Medical at Blueprint Genetics.

About My Retina Tracker Program

The My Retina Tracker Program offers an open access, no-cost genetic testing and genetic counseling for individuals living in the United States with a clinical diagnosis of IRDs. The program offers people with an IRD access to the highest quality genetic testing and genetic counseling. InformedDNA provides genetic counseling by certified genetic counselors with IRDs expertise. Although it is not required for participation, this program offers an easy opportunity to join the My Retina Tracker Registry. This gives individuals the opportunity to contribute to focus groups, patient journey analyses, research studies, and the opportunity to be enrolled in relevant natural history studies and clinical trials.

The program provides patients with a 285 gene panel targeting relevant genes associated with IRDs. Unique features of the panel include full RPGR coverage, high resolution copy number variant detection and comprehensive coverage of IRDs related non-coding variants. Customized detection of non-coding variants is critical for diagnosis of IRDs, especially with genes such as USH2A, CEP290 and RHO. The current panel will include mitochondrial DNA testing to further enhance the clinical utility and quality of the test.

For more information on the My Retina Tracker Program, please visit https://www.fightingblindness.org/open-access-genetic-testing-program

About ProQR Therapeutics

ProQR Therapeutics is dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases such as Lebers congenital amaurosis 10, Usher syndrome and autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Based on the unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies, they are growing their pipeline with patients and their loved ones in mind. http://www.proqr.com

About the Foundation Fighting Blindness

Established in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the worlds leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $760 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardts disease. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.

About Blueprint Genetics

Blueprint Genetics is one of the fastest growing genetic diagnostics businesses globally in the field of clinical genetic testing of rare inherited diseases. The company is based in Helsinki and Seattle, with a customer base spanning over 70 countries. http://www.blueprintgenetics.com.

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ProQR Therapeutics Teams Up with the Foundation Fighting Blindness and Blueprint Genetics to Support the My Retina Tracker Program for People Living -...

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Like most medical students, I struggled to memorize the Krebs cycle, the complex energy-producing process that takes place in the body's mitochondria. Rote learning of Sir Hans Krebs' eponymous cascade of reactions persists and has been cited as a waste of time in modern medical education. However, it looks like that specialized knowledge about mitochondrial structure and function may finally come in handy in the clinic.

Advances in genetics have contributed to improved diagnostic accuracy of a diverse spectrum of mitochondrial disorders. Respiratory chain, nuclear gene, and mitochondrial proteome mutations can lead to multisystem or organ-specific dysfunction.

A new potential treatment for mitochondrial disorders, elamipretide, has received orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is in clinical trials sponsored by Stealth Biotherapeutics. [Dr Wilner has consulted for Stealth Biotherapeutics.] Recently I had the opportunity to interview Hilary Vernon, MD, PhD, associate professor of genetic medicine at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, and an expert on mitochondrial disorders. Dr Vernon discussed her research on elamipretide as a treatment for Barth syndrome, a rare form of mitochondrial disease.

I am the director of the Mitochondrial Medicine Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital. I work with individuals from infancy through adulthood who have mitochondrial conditions. I became interested in this particular area when I was early in my pediatrics/genetics residency at Johns Hopkins and saw the toll that mitochondrial disorders took on patients' lives and the limited effective therapies. At that point, I decided to focus on patient care and research in this area.

Mitochondrial disorders can be difficult to recognize because of their inherent multisystem nature and variable presentations (even between affected members of the same family). However, there are several considerations that should raise a clinician's suspicion for a mitochondrial condition. Ascertaining a family history of disease inheritance through the maternal line can raise the suspicion for a mitochondrial DNA disorder. Identification of a combination of medical issues in different organ systems that are seemingly unrelated in an individual (ie, optic atrophy and muscle weakness or diabetes and hearing loss) can also raise suspicion for a mitochondrial condition.

Due to the nature of mitochondria as the major energy producers of the cells, high-energy-requiring tissues such as the brain and the muscles are often affected. Perhaps the best known mitochondrial diseases to neurologists are MELAS (mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke) as well as MERFF (myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers). There is a nice body of literature on the effects of arginine and citrulline in modifying stroke-like episodes in MELAS, and this is a therapy that is in current practice.

Mitochondria are complex organelles whose structure and function are encoded in hundreds of genes originating from both the nucleus of the cell and the mitochondria themselves. Mitochondria have many key roles in cellular function, including energy production through the respiratory chain, coordination of apoptosis, nitrogen metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and much more.

Various cofactors and vitamins can be employed to improve mitochondrial function for different reasons. For example, if a specific enzyme is dysfunctional, supplying the cofactor for that enzyme may improve its function (ie, pyruvate dehydrogenase and thiamine). Antioxidants have also been considered to help reduce the oxidant load that could potentially cause ongoing damage to the mitochondrial membrane resulting from respiratory chain dysfunction (ie, coenzyme Q-10).

It is important to remember that the highest number of individual mitochondrial disorders result from mutations in genes located in the nuclear DNA. For example, the TAZ gene that is abnormal in Barth syndrome is a nuclear gene located on the X chromosome. These genes are amenable to the "regular" approaches to gene therapy.

Targeting mitochondrial DNA for gene therapy requires a different set of approaches because the gene delivery has to overcome the barrier of the mitochondrial membranes. However, research is ongoing to overcome these obstacles.

Barth syndrome is a very rare genetic X-linked disorder that usually only affects males. The genetic defect leads to an abnormal composition of cardiolipin on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Cardiolipin is an important phospholipid involved in many mitochondrial functions, including organization of inner mitochondrial membrane cristae, involvement in apoptosis, and organization of the respiratory chain (which is responsible for producing ATP via the process of oxidative phosphorylation), and many of these functions are abnormal in Barth syndrome. Individuals with Barth syndrome typically have early-onset cardiomyopathy, myopathy, intermittent neutropenia, fatigue, poor early growth, among other health concerns.

Early in my post-residency career, I followed several patients with Barth syndrome and was quickly welcomed into the Barth syndrome community by the families and the Barth Syndrome Foundation. From there, I founded the only interdisciplinary Barth syndrome clinic in the US and began to focus a significant amount of my clinical and laboratory research on this condition.

Most commonly, these individuals come to medical attention because of cardiomyopathy, but a minority of patients do come to attention due to repeated infections and neutropenia. Patients were identified for study participation through the Barth Syndrome Foundation or because they were already patients of my study team.

All participants were known to have Barth syndrome prior to study entry, and all had confirmatory genetic testing showing a pathogenic mutation in the TAZ gene.

By binding to cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane, elamipretide is believed to stabilize cristae architecture and electron transport chain structure during oxidative stress. I thought it would be great if this could help to stabilize the abnormal cardiolipin components on the inner mitochondrial membrane in Barth syndrome.

We observed improvements in several areas across the study population in the open-label extension part of the study. This includes a significant improvement in exercise performance (as measured by the 6-minute walk test, with an average improvement of 95.9 meters at 36 weeks) and a significant improvement in muscle strength. We also observed a potential improvement in cardiac stroke volume. Most of the adverse events were local injection-site reactions and were mild to moderate in nature.

The TAZPOWER trial has an ongoing open-label extension with the same endpoints as the placebo-controlled portion evaluated on an ongoing basis. In addition, in my laboratory, we are using induced pluripotent stem cells to learn more about how cardiolipin abnormalities affect different cell types in an effort to understand the tissue specificity of disease. This will help us to understand whether different aspects of Barth syndrome would necessitate individual management or clinical monitoring strategies.

Mitochondrial inner membrane dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a major aspect of the pathology of a wide range of mitochondrial conditions. Therefore, based on the role of stabilizing mitochondrial membrane components, elamipretide has a potential role in many disorders of the mitochondria.

Yes, this is what we would call "secondary mitochondrial dysfunction" (meant to differentiate from "primary mitochondrial disease," which is caused by defects in genes that encode for mitochondrial structure and function). Approaches intended to protect the mitochondria from further damage, such as antioxidants or strategies that can bypass the mitochondria for ATP production, could overlap as treatment for primary mitochondrial disease and secondary mitochondrial dysfunction.

This is something that is much discussed as a newer consideration for families who are affected by disorders of the mitochondrial DNA, but not something I have experience with firsthand.

Yes. The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and the Mitochondrial Medicine Society collaborated to develop the Mito Care Network, with 19 sites identified as Mitochondrial Medicine Centers across the US.

Andrew Wilner is an associate professor of neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, a health journalist, and an avid SCUBA diver. His latest book is The Locum Life: A Physician's Guide to Locum Tenens.

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As of February 7 at 13:00 UTC, Chinas National Health and Health Commission had received a total of 31,261 confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) outbreak and 26,359 suspected cases, which was a leap of 4,833 from the day before. As of February 8 at 03:00 UTC the 2019-nCoV had killed 725 people, all but one of them in China.

Like SARS, HIV, Ebola, and influenza, the 2019-nCoV is an RNA virus. Its single-strand structure makes it more susceptible to mutation and more difficult to develop vaccines for. In mid-January, Chinese scientists isolated the first 2019-nCoV strain and published its genetic sequence to aid in independent detection of the virus. The World Health Organization categorizes 2019-nCoV risk as Very High in China and High in the rest of the world. Globally, there are now 15 laboratories providing reference testing for the virus.

The crucial step now is to develop matching vaccines and drugs to uproot its existence, and Chinas big tech companies have stepped up to help.

On January 29th Alibaba Cloud made its AI computing capabilities free to global public research institutions to help expedite virus gene sequencing, new drug R&D, and protein screenings. The cloud arm of Chinas e-commerce giant has already broken the world record for high-precision whole-genome sequencing doing in 15 minutes what used to take scientists 120 hours.

Beijing-based Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) and Alibaba Cloud also jointly launched a big data platform archiving historical drug R&D for coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS to make relevant preclinical and clinical information available and provide a platform to study new virus variants.

Coronavirus RNA sequences are very spatially fluid. These structures can determine the function of RNA, which in turn can help in the design of molecular drugs and molecular detectors. Using classic algorithms to recognize the RNA sequence may be prohibitively time-consuming, as the coronavirus genome is one of the longest among all RNA viruses, reaching 30,000 Bases.

Deep learning algorithms are much more adept at such large-scale parallel repetitive calculations: the Baidu linear time LinearFold algorithm takes 27 seconds to solve the RNA secondary structure of the 2019-nCoV 120 times faster than the top classic algorithms. On January 30, Baidu Research Institute opened LinearFold to global genetic testing institutions, epidemic prevention centres and scientific research centres for free. It is hoped this can continue to accelerate research and prediction on the 2019-nCoV RNA structure.

On February 8, Baidu opened its Smart Cloud Tiangong IoT platform to epidemic prevention-related projects and national epidemic prevention enterprises as part of the companys AIOT Epidemic Shield Program,

Most Chinese hospitals are presently using the common nucleic acid detection approach to confirm their diagnosis of suspected 2019-nCoV cases. This manual method however can only detect parts of virus genes, and loses accuracy when facing mutations. From a patients perspective, nucleic acid detection also means waiting many hours for diagnosis confirmation, and potentially being quarantined even longer in the case of local or regional outbreaks.

All of the Alibaba DAMO Academy AI algorithms employ a whole genome detection approach, whereby the whole genome sequences of a virus are considered. This method can effectively prevent errors such as false negatives caused by virus mutation, and reduce the time required for genetic analysis of suspected cases to about 30 minutes.

The technology is now available on an automated genome detection and analysis platform jointly launched by the Zhejiang Province Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alibaba Medical AI team, and Jieyi Biotechnology Company.

Source: Synced China

Localization: Meghan Han | Editor: Michael Sarazen

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Battling the Coronavirus: Alibaba and Baidu AI Accelerate Vaccine and Drug R&D - Synced

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Call us biased, but the skincare industry, in particular, is one of our favorites to watch when it comes to technological advancements. From laser zapping to weird-looking at-home devices, the anti-aging sphere is constantly evolving, with new treatments and procedures being launched on the daily. Just 10 years ago, Blackberries (the phone, not the fruit Gisele Bndchen says she avoids) were still the epitome of cool, and no one except makeup artists ever used the word contouring. Ten years from today, will wrinkles, dark spots, and sagging be a thing of the past? Its a slightly exhilarating (and also completely terrifying) thought.

As beauty editors, its our job to stay on top of all thats new in the quest for younger, tauter skin. Right now, were intrigued by a new ingredient trend thats very unexpected (yes, even compared to salmon sperm): human stem cells. Yeah, well let that sink in for a minute. If applying a strangers stem cells on your face sounds creepy or the start of a very niche horror movie, youll want to keep readingthe information ahead might just change your mind. We asked Dr. Hal Simeroth, founder of Stemology skincare and possessor of a Ph.D. in Bioethics, to tell us if human stem cells (and their extracts) are the key to eternal youthor, at the very least, a more prolonged youth. Ready to get really scientific?

Keep scrolling to school yourself on this anti-aging trend.

Everyone likely has a vague notion of what stem cells are, but its probably best to let an expert explain. The term stem cells refers to a rather broad category of cells that participate in tissue generation, regeneration, and renewal, Hal says. In other words, they are the cells that help you, your dog, and the tomatoes in your vegetable garden heal; humans, animals, and plants all have these types of cells. And this is what makes stem cells special: theyre undifferentiated and have the invaluable properties of self-renewal and differentiation, according to Hal. In laymans terms, this means they have the much-coveted ability to divide to make more stem cells, and more stem cells you get the idea. Human stem cells are divided into three primary categories: embryonic, which are the initial stem cells after birth that control the development into a human baby; adult mesenchymel stem cells, which exist in our bodies and are responsible for the repair and renewal of structural tissues; and tissue-specific stem cells, which only repair and rejuvenate specific tissues such as your skin. Remember these, because well touch on them again later.

Before we dive headfirst into human stem cells, lets first talk about plant stem cells. In the skincare industry, theyre the popular crowd: Theyve largely been accepted and welcomed with open arms, touted for their skin-regenerating abilities. The idea is that if this stem cell helps a flower flourish in the freezing temps in some far-off exotic locale, then it must be able to keep your skin dewy and glowing too. But does that logic really make sense? According to Hal, not really. Its false at a primary level, but true at a secondary level, he says. Um, what? The directing of repair and renewal by plant stem cells within the plant is orchestrated by cellular signals that would not be recognized by human cells, he says. Plant stem cell material cannot mimic the activity of our stem cells in the human body in a primary way. There are genetic boundaries that cannot be crossed. So, just because rose stem cells can help a rose grow and flourish doesnt mean it can do the same for your skin. However, Hal does say that some plant stem cells do provide nutrients and metabolites that have been shown to stimulate human epidermal stem cell productionthus, the secondary way he mentions. Either way, he says to always check to see if a plant stem cell material in your skincare product that promises to plump your skin is backed up by scientific research and clinical testing (a quick Google search should yield results).

Now that weve covered plant stem cells, lets dive right into the nitty-gritty and talk human stem cells. Hal mentions adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) specifically, citing many research studies and scientific papers published over the last two decades about their ability to be the natural healers of all our bodys structuresmuscle, bone, skin, neural tissue and more. Because of their potent ability to rejuvenate and repair, and also because they do not carry the negative ethical stigma of embryonic stem cells harvested from human embryos, they have been embraced by many for use in potential clinical protocols, Hal explains. Right now, these human stem cells have already been in practice in Europe with success and are currently in FDA-approved testing programs in the U.S. Without getting too technical, heres how these MSCs work. Like a master coordinator, MSCs respond to biochemically transmitted needs from any areas of traumafor example, if you get a cut, scrape, or a more severe injury. Sensing the need, the MSCs begin to multiply and release different biochemical signals to bring on other anti-inflammatory and immune cells, like a commander rallying his troops to fight a battle. Thus, it would be logical to assume that this healing, regenerating ability that works with wound-healing can also apply to overall skin renewal. We can conclude from a large body of scientific evidence that MSCs do their work by releasing messengers and helpers such as growth factors, peptides, and matrix proteins that provide rejuvenating instructions and assistance to the targeted body cells, Hal says. As we age, these "messenger" proteins the MSCs attract might just be the key to helping our skin renew (read: stay wrinkle-free).

Stemologys hero product (and the product that inspired this story) is their Cell Revive Serum Complete ($189), which lists human stem cell-derived conditioned media as the number two ingredient after aloe. Notice how it's a human stem cell-derived mediaand not an actual human stem cell. So, what's the difference? Actual human stem cells can actually be grown outside of the body by stimulating human body conditions, and can create a massive number of cells since theyre self-renewing; a single original MSC can generate large numbers of offspring cultures that grow naturally and are encouraged to secrete the helpers and messengers we mentioned earlier. Those growth factors, cytokinal peptides, matrix proteins, and helper molecules are the human stem cell-derived conditioned media. Under controlled conditions, the MSCs are completely removed, so that there are no actual cellular components, and the harvested small secreted proteins are retained in this conditioned medium, Hal says. This conditioned medium contains all the important, renewing and healing components originally drawn to the human stem cell, which can be integrated into a skincare formula and penetrate the skin. Whewyou still with us?

So, the catch is that as of now, there are no actual human stem cells used in products in the U.S. In fact, Hal says actual human stem cells are not suitable for topical skin care applications since they are fragile and easily destroyed, as well as too large to be absorbed. Instead, brands like Stemology will extract one human stem cell to grow hundreds more, which in turn generates the helper ingredients that plump your skin. The result? More youthful skinat least according to science. Hal cites one published study that confirms the application of topical growth factors from MSC stimulate the repair of facial photo-aging resulting in new collagen synthesis, epidermal thickening, and the clinical appearance of smoother skin with less visible wrinkles.

So, no actual human stem cells are being used in topical skincare (yet). But what about all those self-generating powers and benefits we mentioned earlier? Human stem cell extracts sound great, but what about the real dealthe genuine original? Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. and stem cell expert says that actual human stem cells can disrupt the skincare industry, but only under three conditions: theyll need to be from a human who is preferably the one seeking the treatment, alive, and delivered directly to the skin (most likely with an injection). Otherwise, the stem cells are simply too large to penetrate the skins surface, and will just sit there instead of absorbing and encouraging other cells to regenerate (which they'll slowly do less and less of with time).

Until the FDA approves those things, well be giving products with human skincare extracts our attention. And, who knowsthe time when injecting your own stem cells back into your skin might be sooner than you think (a fact we cant decide whether thrills or frightens us).

StemologyCell Revive Serum Complex$189

Read more from the original source:
Human Skin Cells: The Next Anti-Aging Frontier?

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Electron micrograph showing ridges and grooves on MAP hydrogel microbeads caused by developing stem cells.

Courtsey of Daniel Alge

Baby diapers, contact lenses and gelatin dessert. While seemingly unrelated, these items have one thing in common theyre made of highly absorbent substances called hydrogels that have versatile applications. Recently, a type of biodegradable hydrogel, dubbed microporous annealed particle (MAP) hydrogel, has gained much attention for its potential to deliver stem cells for body tissue repair. But it is currently unclear how these jelly-like materials affect the growth of their precious cellular cargo, thereby limiting its use in regenerative medicine.

In a new study published in the November issue of Acta Biomaterialia, researchers at Texas A&M University have shown that MAP hydrogels, programmed to biodegrade at an optimum pace, create a fertile environment for bone stem cells to thrive and proliferate vigorously. They found the space created by the withering of MAP hydrogels creates room for the stem cells to grow, spread and form intricate cellular networks.

Our research now shows that stem cells flourish on degrading MAP hydrogels; they also remodel their local environment to better suit their needs, said Daniel Alge, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. These results have important implications for developing MAP hydrogel-based delivery systems, particularly for regenerative medicine where we want to deliver cells that will replace damaged tissues with new and healthy ones.

MAP hydrogels are a newer breed of injectable hydrogels. These soft materials are interconnected chains of extremely small beads made of polyethylene glycol, a synthetic polymer. Although the microbeads cannot themselves cling to cells, they can be engineered to present cell-binding proteins that can then attach to receptor molecules on the stem cells surface.

Once fastened onto the microbeads, the stem cells use the space between the spheres to grow and transform into specialized cells, like bone or skin cells. And so, when there is an injury, MAP hydrogels can be used to deliver these new cells to help tissues regenerate.

However, the health and behavior of stem cells within the MAP hydrogel environment has never been fully studied.

MAP hydrogels have superior mechanical and biocompatible properties, so in principle, they are a great platform to grow and maintain stem cells, Alge said. But people in the field really dont have a good understanding of how stem cells behave in these materials.

To address this question, the researchers studied the growth, spread and function of bone stem cells in MAP hydrogels. Alge and his team used three samples of MAP hydrogels that differed only in the speed at which they degraded, that is, either slow, fast or not at all.

First, for the stem cells to attach onto the MAP hydrogels, the researchers decorated the MAP hydrogels with a type of cell-binding protein. They then tracked the stem cells as they grew using a high-resolution, fluorescent microscope. The researchers also repeated the same experiment using another cell-binding protein to investigate if cell-binding proteins also affected stem cell development within the hydrogels.

To their surprise, Alges team found that for both types of cell-binding proteins, the MAP hydrogels that degraded the fastest had the largest population of stem cells. Furthermore, the cells were changing the shape of the MAP hydrogel as they spread and claimed more territory.

In the intact MAP hydrogel, we could still see the spherical microbeads and the material was quite undamaged, Alge said. By contrast, the cells were making ridges and grooves in the degrading MAP hydrogels, dynamically remodeling their environment.

The researchers also found that as the stem cells grew, the quantity of bone proteins produced by the growing stem cells depended on which cell-binding protein was initially used in the MAP hydrogel.

Alge noted that the insight gained through their study will greatly inform further research and development in MAP hydrogels for stem-cell therapies.

Although MAP hydrogel degradability profoundly affects the growth of the stem cells, we found that the interplay between the cell-binding proteins and the degradation is also important, he said. As we, as a field, make strides toward developing new MAP hydrogels for tissue engineering, we must look at the effects of both degradability and cell-binding proteins to best utilize these materials for regenerative medicine.

Other contributors to the research include Shangjing Xin from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M and Carl A. Gregory from the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the Texas A&M Health Science Center.

This research was supported by funds from theNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseasesof the National Institutes of Health.

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Researchers Explore Hydrogels That Are Promising Materials For Delivering Therapeutic Cells - Texas A&M University

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

AESTHETICS medicine encompasses non-invasive treatments that do not involve surgery and aim to improve or correct the appearance of patients. Less intensive than cosmetic surgery, aesthetics medicine procedures are carried out by doctors to give natural and reversible results. Depending on your areas of concern, different techniques may be employed in combination to produce the best results - there is no "cookie-cutter" approach to your skincare needs.

Our skin has three layers:

The epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, provides a waterproof barrier to protect our body from germs and harmful UV rays. Its bottom-most layer makes new skin cells, and these skin cells travel up to the top layer and flake off, about a month after they form. It also gives you your skin colour, due to the presence of special cells called melanocytes, which produce the pigment melanin.

The dermis, the middle layer, contains tough connective tissue, blood vessels, hair follicles, and sweat glands.

The hypodermis, the innermost layer, is made of fat and connective tissue.

Ageing happens in every layer of the skin. Changes within the skin's layers show themselves on the surface as signs of ageing.

In the epidermis, a slower cell turnover and reduction in lipid production on the skin's surface means rough and dry skin as we age. Our skin is less efficient at repairing itself from harmful infections and UV rays. This causes pigmentation problems, like sunspots.

In the dermis, from the age of 25, there is a 1 per cent annual decrease in collagen, one of the "building blocks" of the skin. Elastin also decreases as we age. Hence, the structure of the skin is compromised, and wrinkles and saggy skin start to appear.

In the deeper layers, the hypodermis, the changes to the size and number of fat cells leads to deep wrinkles and hollow cheeks.

Skin ageing manifests by:

Fine lines and wrinkles: The first noticeable sign of ageing from 25 onwards are fine lines and wrinkles, especially around your eyes. Your dermis, the second layer of your skin, contains the collagen and elastic fibres that keep young skin plump, taut and wrinkle-free. The amount of collagen and elastic fibres in your dermis dwindles as the years roll on. As a result, your skin becomes less elastic, sags and you start to see the tell-tale signs of wrinkles.

Open pores and sagging skin: Ageing causes your skin to lose its elasticity, which stretches your pores and make them look larger. The accumulation of excess oil, dead skin cells and dirt trapped inside your pores also enhances their appearance. Hormonal changes such as pregnancy, menstruation and puberty can also enlarge your pores.

Dry and dull skin: Your epidermis forms the outer layer of your skin - a physical barrier from the external environment. On average, your body will produce an entirely new epidermis about every 60 days. Cells on the surface of your skin rub and flake off, continuously being replaced with new ones from below.

As you get older, it takes longer for your epidermis to renew itself, hence, more dead skin cells accumulate on the top layer of our skin. This diffuses light away and produces a dull skin tone. In addition, as we age, oil production slows down and this makes our skin dry - we soon lose that "Korean glass-skin effect".

Hyperpigmentation

Melanocytes located in the epidermis produce pigment called melanin. Hyperpigmentation is caused by an overproduction of melanin in patches of the skin.

This overproduction is triggered by a variety of factors, including sun exposure, genetic factors, age, hormonal influences, and skin injuries or inflammation.

Common types of hyperpigmentation encountered in our population are:

Melasma: Melasma is a common skin problem among Asians. Women are far more likely than men to get melasma, especially during pregnancy. They present as brown to gray-brown patches, usually on the face. Most people get it on their cheeks, nose bridge, forehead, chin, and above their upper lip. It also can appear on other parts of the body that are exposed to sunlight, such as the forearms and neck.

Solar lentigo: Solar lentigo, also known as age spots, are non-cancerous lesions that occur on the sun-exposed areas of the body. These flat lesions usually have well-defined borders, are dark in colour, and have an irregular shape. The backs of hands and face are common areas.

The lesions tend to increase in number with age, making them common among the middle age and older population. Age spots occur in 50 per cent of women and 20 per cent of men over the age of 50, due to stimulation from UV rays.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): It is temporary pigmentation that follows injury, for example, a cut to the skin, or inflammation of the skin, for example, acne or eczema. PIH can occur in anyone, but is more common in darker-skinned individuals, in whom the colour tends to be more intense and persist for a longer period than in lighter skin.

Freckles: Freckles are common, especially among fairer-skinned individuals. They start early on in life, even in childhood, and are due to your genetic makeup and sun exposure.

Dull skin, enlarged pores, pigmentation - How can they be corrected?

Avoid sun exposure: Sun exposure is the main cause of ageing. Choose a sunscreen with "broad spectrum" protection, meaning that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays also contribute to skin cancer and premature aging, UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn and skin cancers.

Ensure your sunscreen has a SPF30 or higher. Physical sunscreen, those that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, provide better sun protection compared to chemical sunscreens, and are less likely to clog pores and cause pimples.

Protect your eyes with sunglasses and cover up with a wide-brimmed hat or an umbrella. Limit your direct exposure to the sun, especially between 10am and 4pm, when UV rays are strongest. Avoid tanning beds, which can cause serious long-term skin damage and contribute to skin cancer.

Lightening creams: Abnormal accumulation of melanin results in hyperpigmentation. Lightening creams contain ingredients to reduce the production of melanin. Powerful lightening creams are available through a prescription from a doctor, while milder ingredients do not require a prescription.

Hydroquinone is a major ingredient in lightening creams. However, frequent adverse reactions experienced by patients, such as skin irritation and inflammation, have prompted research into other agents. Several alternatives such as tranexamic acid, and 4-n-butyl resorcinol, arbutin and kojic acid have been developed.

Lasers: There are many different lasers in the market, for many different types of indications. The property of the laser, which determines what it is used for, is the specific wavelength it emits. Different structures in the skin will absorb light energy at different wavelengths. Therefore, in pigmentation treatments, we can deliver light energy at the correct wavelength to heat up the pigmentation, while sparing the other nearby structures that absorb different wavelengths.

The pigmentation absorbs the light energy and is broken up into small fragments and eventually is cleared from the skin.

My personal favourite protocol is to use two very effective lasers for pigmentation treatment, via a Rejuvenation Laser protocol.

The Nd:YAG laser emits wavelengths of 1064nm and 532nm. It is a gentle cleansing machine that helps to remove surface dirt and oil, cleanse your skin, dry up pimples, build collagen and is very effective to break up pigmentation into small fragments.

The yellow laser, made in Germany, emits a wavelength of 577nm. It helps with improving radiance, giving you radiant skin, reducing redness and effectively vaporising pigmentation.

The Rejuvenation Laser is non-ablative, gentle and has no downtime.

Combined with a potent post-procedure serum, it synergistically enhances the anti-ageing effect of the laser protocol. The serum employs proteins secreted by umbilical cord-lining stem cells to produce collagen, restore healthy skin function and treat symptoms of ageing.

This series is produced in collaboration with The Aesthetics Medical Clinic

See the article here:
Aesthetic treatments can help you maintain your youthful glow - The Business Times

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Contrary to what you've probably (definitely) read on the internet, there is at least one benefit to the month with an average national contiguous temperature of 32 degrees. It is that you are automatically granted the excuse to send that "raincheck? lol" text any chilly evening you so choose, and instead snuggle up with your ugliest jogger sweatpants, a glass of Rioja, and brand-new skincare products. (It's called self-care, look it up.)

With the plethora of face creams, cleansers, serums, treatments, and oils hitting the market this February, however, it can be hard to decide which formulas are truly deserving of your Friday night. That's why we've asked our beauty editors to share their favorite at-home spa-day indulgences ahead, so you can stock up on the skincare products worth canceling all your plans for this month. (Well, at least until your friends start responding with the eye roll emoji.)

The rest is here:
17 Brand-New Skincare Products Our Editors Are Using to the Very Last Drop This Month - POPSUGAR

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Do you ever wonder why celebrities are never seen with dark circles under their eyes? Well, we discovered the secret behind the flawless complexions of the rich and famous and its something you can use at home.

After we were especially impressed by the performance of Cardi Bs enviable complexion on the red carpet ahead of the Grammy Awards a few weeks ago, we investigated her skincare routine. As it turns out, this pop stars go-to treatments are Lancer Method 3-step regimen and Dr. Lancers Eye Lifting Cream for an extra boost under the eyes.

These impressive at-home skincare products are designed to promote a youthful appearance in the skin by supporting collagen regeneration and speeding up cell turnover. The result is skin that looks and feels younger, in a natural way.

Lancer The Method: Normal-Combination Set ($255)

Everything You Need To Know About The Lancer Method

The Lancer Method works in three steps used once a day to give you glowing, rejuvenated skin. Dr. Harold Lancer explained to SheFinds, The Lancer Method was developed to help skin act younger by accelerating cell turnover, supporting natural collagen regeneration, and feeding skin essential nutrients. Polish is a dual-action exfoliator that improves the look of fine lines, texture, discoloration and pores for a smoother, younger-looking complexion.

The hydrating, pH-balanced cleanser comes next and gently removes makeup, dirt and oil for a fresh, healthy-looking complexion. Nourish is an ultra-hydrating moisturizer that reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles while delivering essential nutrients for a dewy and glowing appearance.

Lancer Eye Contour Lifting Cream ($95)

What The Dr. Lancer Eye Lifting Cream Does

Even with the best daily anti-aging skincare routine, we all need to give a little extra love to the skin under our eyes from time to time. This skin is extra sensitive and therefore, more prone to the effects of stress and environmental damage. Dr. Lancers Eye Lifting Cream specifically targets this area to brighten and smooth the skin to reduce the appearance of aging.

Eye Contour Lifting Cream is a triple-action eye treatment and hydrator that targets multiple eye are concerns for a brighter, more youthful experience, Dr. Lancer said. Its proprietary complexes work to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles and loss of elasticity. When used together, this powerful combination of products targets all areas of the face and top skincare concerns, leaving you with a clear and youthful complexion.

Dr. Lancer said that the best way to promote a youthful glow in your skin is to use hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamins A, C and E and bioactive phytocompounds.

Hyaluronic Acid is a component of connective tissues that cushions and hydrates. Hyaluronic Acid is found in the skin naturally, but decreases with age so it is important to replenish it topically in conjunction with other ingredients to treat wrinkled skin, Dr. Lancer explained. Peptides are short snippets of linked amino acids reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines as they stimulate collagen production. Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants that prevent free radical damage and combat oxidation.

And bioactive phytocompounds have been isolated from natural plant sources- some examples: natural fruit enzymes, moisturizing ingredients such as sea algae and aloe vera, grape polyphenol, lilac stem cells, skin lighteners from licorice root, anti-inflammatory agents from ginger root, natural tea tree oil, chamomile oil and marula oil.

Link:
The Eye Contour Cream Celebrities Swear By To Look FLAWLESS On The Red CarpetIt Works Immediately! - SheFinds

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Its no secret that loading your plate with fruits and vegetables and eschewing processed meat products is good for your insides. But is a vegan diet good for healthy skin, too?

Many celebrities say that it is; Natalie Portman and Billie Eilish have noticed significant improvements in their skin since going vegan and cutting out dairy.

Portman told the Cut a few years ago, Im vegan and I found my skin is much, much better than when I was a vegetarian. I cut out dairy and eggs, and I never had a breakout after. Eilishwho went vegan for ethical reasonssaid in a Tumblr post in 2018, Im lactose intolerant and dairy is horrible for your skin and my skin is VERY aware of that.

But its not just celebrities who think veganism is good for your skin, experts agree that theyre onto something. Blade Tiessena medical aestheticianwho owns the Ontario-based Anti-Aging Clinic and has worked in skincare for 33 yearsbelieves that ditching animal products for a healthy vegan diet can have a dramatic effect.I say this from both personal and professional experience. I suffered from acne since my early teens until months after going vegan at 35, being in the industry I had every treatment and product at my disposal over the years, he told LIVEKINDLY. Some helped to keep breakouts under control but nothing solved the issue permanently until shortly after becoming vegan.

Multiple studies say that ditching dairy could help acne-sufferers. Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States; it affects around 50 million Americans every year.

There are a few different theories on why dairy can cause an acne flare-up; some studies suggest that hormones in cows milk are the culprit. These hormones are intended to stimulate growth in calves. When humans ingest them, they release insulin, which can trigger breakouts.

According to a medically-reviewed article on Healthline, sometimes the hormones in milk can also interact with our own hormones, confusing our bodys endocrine system and signaling breakouts.

Nonprofit PlantPure Communities (PPC) recently launched a social media campaign called Ditch Dairy for Clearer Skin. The campaign aims to educate the public about the link between acne and dairy consumption.

In a supporting article, pediatrician Dr. Jackie Busse, MD, FAAP, says, removing dairy is the first and most important dietary change you should make to prevent and treat acne.

A vegan diet could also help people who suffer from eczemaa condition where patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, and cracked. According to Healthline, a handful have studies have shown that a raw, vegan diet, in particular, can be very beneficial, although there isnt conclusive evidence.

Plant-based foods have also been linked with easing psoriasis, an immune-mediated disease. Similar to eczema, it causes raised red flaky patches to appear on the skin.

Eating a whole food plant-based diet can help psoriasis sufferers because it is naturally low in inflammatory foods, says dietician Deirdre Earls, RD, LD. She was once hospitalized with psoriasis as a child, but switching to a plant-based diet helped her manage the condition effectively.

She told Everyday Health,I drastically changed my diet. I took all of the diet coke, all of the ultra-processed stuff out, and then I replaced it with simple, whole, mostly plant-based foods. Within six months, my skin had cleared.She added,psoriasis is an inflammatory condition, so anything you can do to cut down on inflammation should help.

Reality TV personality and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian-West has suffered from psoriasis for more than a decade and was recently diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. She opened up on sister Kourtney Kardashians website Poosh about her battle with the disease, and how switching to a plant-based diet has helped her.

I love a healthy life and try to eat as plant-based as possible and drink sea moss smoothies,she said, adding that she also tries to keep her stress levels to a minimum.I hope my story can help anyone else with an autoimmune disease feel confident that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Eating vegan foods can help with painful conditions, but they can also just make your skin glow too.

According to Tiessen, patients who follow a vegan diet achieve superior skin results to those who do not. They also have more energy and they sleep better. He says, eating a healthy vegan diet free of inflammatory foods along with drinking lots of water, sleeping well, exercising, reducing levels of stress, taking care of and protecting your skin will help ensure beautiful glowing skin that will last a lifetime.

He also recommends using cruelty-free vegan skincare products. Skincare should be looked at as nutrition and protection for the skin, he added. Supplying the skin with nutrients from organic plants can offer benefits that are unavailable from chemicals and or animal-based ingredients.

If you want to opt for cosmetic intervention, Tiessens clinicsin Orillia Ontario and Port Severn Ontariooffer many cruelty-free and vegan treatments, including microneedling. The chain is also an ambassador for vegan medical skincare brand ElaSpa.

If you prefer to stick to just consuming whole foods, here are seven of the best plant-based foods to eat to keep your skin looking glowing and healthy.

Eating spinach regularly can benefit your skin. Its rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, which are particularly good for your skin. Its also a great source of iron, as well as folate and magnesium.

Blueberries are packed with skin-beautifying antioxidants. Stephanie Clarkeco-owner of C&J Nutritiontold Self, that deep blue/purple color that makes blueberries so gorgeous translates to helping your skin look young too. This color is a result of compounds called anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that shield the skin against harmful free radicals that can damage the collagen that keeps your skin firm.

Eating avocados is good for your skin, as theyre rich in vitamins C and E. You can also apply them directly to your face and feel their benefits that way. Registered dietician Maureen Eyerman told Elle, the hydrating properties may reduce fine lines and wrinkles, help keep skin smooth, and boost skins immunity against stress and other environmental factors.

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin E and vitamin C, which helps to boost collagen. Theyre also rich in anthocyanins, which can help to prevent blemishes and dark spots. Sweet potatoes are also a source of fiber, iron, calcium, and selenium.

Walnuts contain omega-3 fats, which, according to Clarke,strengthen the membranes of your skin cells.They also contain nourishing fats which attract soothing moisture from the air and reduce inflammation, helping to avoid breakouts.

Carrots are associated with good eye health, but theyre good for the skin, too. According to Healthline, vitamin C-rich carrots can help skin recover from conditions like psoriasis and rashes. They can also help you heal faster from cuts and other wounds.

Kiwis have more vitamin C than oranges, and theyre packed with vitamin E. You can also place them over the top of your eyes, which can help to reduce the appearance of dark circles.

Summary

Article Name

The Vegan Diet and Healthy Skin: Everything You Need to Know

Description

Is the vegan diet the best defense against skin conditions? Here's everything you need to know about eating plant-based and healthy skin.

Author

Charlotte Pointing

Publisher Name

LIVEKINDLY

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The Vegan Diet and Healthy Skin: Everything You Need to Know - LIVEKINDLY

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

"Signs of cancer can appear long before diagnosis," reports The Guardian.

Most cells in the body divide and reproduce constantly, picking up replication errors in their DNA over time as we age. Many of these errors may be harmless, but some can cause or increase the risk of cancer.

Cancers begin when harmful errors, or mutations, cause our cells to divide in an uncontrolled way. It's usually impossible to tell if this is happening, until the cancer starts to cause physical signs or symptoms.

In this new study, an international team of researchers sequenced the genomes (the entire DNA and genetic material) of 2,658 tumour samples.

They used the information to work out the order in which mutations and copying of mutations happened, because usually more than one mutation is needed before cells become cancerous. The researchers then modelled how different types of cancer develop over time.

They found that harmful mutations for some types of cancer, such as ovarian cancer, characteristically happen very early, in some cases decades before people have any physical signs of the disease. The findings raise hopes that some cancers could be detected and treated much earlier.

However, at present it's not clear whether this research could lead to a cancer screening system based on checking for "genetic early warning signs", both in terms of effectiveness and feasibility.

At present, the best way to detect cancer early is to be alert to the possible signs and symptoms, attend cancer screening when invited, and know about your family history of the disease.

Find out more about:

The research was carried out by the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, an enormous collaboration between hundreds of scientists from 4 continents. 46 scientists worked on this particular paper, from 38 universities or research institutes.

The PCAWG group published 6 papers this week, but we're focusing on just 1, which looked at the way cancers evolve over time. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature on an open-access basis, so it is free to read online.

The Guardian, BBC News and Mail Online focused on the discovery that DNA changes to cells may happen many years before cancer can currently be diagnosed, and the reporting was generally accurate.

This was a modelling study, using data from the whole genome sequencing of 2,658 cancers to reconstruct the likely evolution of DNA in these cancers over time. The study helps scientists to better understand how cancers begin and evolve.

However, at this stage, the results cannot be used to test for cancers in people.

A team of scientists worldwide worked with 2,778 samples of cancers, taken from 2,658 people with cancer. Some people gave just 1 sample, while others gave a sample of newly diagnosed primary tumours, and later, a sample of a metastatic cancer (when cancer has spread to another part of the body). 38 cancer types were represented in the samples.

The scientists carried out whole genome sequencing of the samples. This showed where DNA mutations arose, and whether they had been copied and duplicated as more DNA changes accumulated.

Researchers could look for so-called "driver" mutations, which are known to be linked to cancer, and see whether they happened early or late in the cancer's evolution.

They used this information to model a typical "life history" for each of the 38 types of cancer. This showed whether important mutations happened early or late in the cancer's development. They then estimated how that mapped against a person's life. For example, whether cancer-causing mutations happened a short time before cancer was diagnosed, or whether they had been present for years or decades before cancer was detected.

The researchers found that the time between cancer-driving mutations and diagnosis varies a lot between cancers. Some (such as liver and cervical cancer) happen 1 to 5 years before the cancer was diagnosed. By contrast, ovarian cancers showed significant mutations 10 to 40 years before diagnosis. This suggests the original mutations that lead to some adult cancers could happen during childhood or adolescence.

Other results included:

The researchers said: "Our study sheds light on the typical timescale of tumour development, with initial driver events seemingly occurring up to decades before diagnosis." They say the results "highlight opportunities for early cancer detection."

This study represents an enormous achievement by many scientists working together to find out more about how cancers develop over time. This type of work is likely to be important in developing future tests for cancers, and possibly new treatments that can target cancers at a very early stage.

However, the study does not change how cancer is diagnosed or treated at present. It can take years before early-stage research like this leads to changes in clinical practice.

As one of the scientists involved in the study told journalists, the idea of being able to target mutations by doing blood tests during childhood, then eliminate dangerous mutations, is "science fiction".

This research is very complex and, as with all modelling, it relies on some assumptions about the time it takes for mutations to arise, be duplicated and copied. The accuracy of the findings will depend on the accuracy of these assumptions.

All samples in the study came from people who had developed cancer. It would be interesting to compare findings with non-cancerous tissue samples from these people, or samples from people who did not develop cancer.

It's good news that DNA sequencing technology now allows scientists to work on such a large scale, and that theyre able to work together to find out more detail about the way that cancers evolve. This type of work could make a big difference to the way doctors approach cancer in future.

Analysis by BazianEdited by NHS Website

Continued here:
Could findings of large new study change how cancer is diagnosed and treated - NHS Website

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Research into alternative stem cell sources has identified urine derived renal progenitor cells (UdRPCs) as a possible option for use in regenerative kidney therapies in the future.

Scientists have demonstrated their protocol for the reproducible isolation of kidney stem cells from human urine. These urine derived renal progenitor cells (UdRPCs) could be used to provide easier access to stem cells for regenerative kidney therapies and modelling diseases for R&D.

A shortage of donor organs and the risks and pain associated with bone marrow stem cell extractions and third trimester amniotic fluid collection have encouraged researchers to find alternative sources of stem cells. According to scientists, several laboratories have indicated urine could be an alternative source, at least for kidney stem cells, so the researchers from Heinrich Heine University-Duesseldorf (HHU) Germany,set out to complete a comprehensive molecular and cellular analysis of these cells.

UdRPCs should be considered as the choice of renal stem cells for facilitating the study of nephrogenesis, nephrotoxicity, disease modelling and drug development

Their study, published in Scientific Reports, revealed that UdRPCs isolated from ten individuals express both markers typically seen in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and renal stem cells. The renal stem cell markers, according to the paper, allow UdRPCs to be differentiated into cell types present in the kidney, eg, podocytes and the proximal and distal tubules. The study also showed that these progenitor cells have similar properties to amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (AFCs).

Wasco Wruck, bioinformatician and co-author of the study, said: It is amazing that these valuable cells can be isolated from urine and comparing all the genes expressed in UdRPCs with that derived from kidney biopies we could confirm their renal and renal progenitor cell properties and origin.

According to Martina Bohndorf, a study co-author, UdRPCs can also be easily and efficiently reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells using a non-viral integration-free and safe method.

Dr James Adjaye, study senior author and professor at the Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine (ISRM) in the medical faculty of HHU, revealed that one of the most promising options in the near future is the use of transplantable renal stem cells (UdRPCs) for treatment of kidney diseases as a complementary option to kidney organs. He concluded that human UdRPCs should be considered as the choice of renal stem cells for facilitating the study of nephrogenesis, nephrotoxicity, disease modelling and drug development.

Read more:
Kidney stem cells isolated from urine could be regenerative therapies - Drug Target Review

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith