Blaupunkt, a German audio electronics brand has launched a new set of TWS earbuds in India called theBTW100TWS. They come withENC CRISPR Technologythat filters ambient noises while on a call and only picks up human voices. The earbuds are budget-friendly and have great German quality and technology. These TWS earbuds come with a stem design and charge inside an oval shaped charging case. Moreover, they have a battery life of up to 40 hours playtime.

The earbuds are powered by a powerful 10mm driver that produces punchy bass along with crystal clear mids and highs. The speakers produce Stereo high definition sound. For connectivity, the earbuds use Bluetooth 5.1 which enables a maximum range of 30ft without signal loss or mic dropout. These earbuds also feature an 80ms low latency mode for gaming and are enabled with Intuitive Touch Controls.

The Blaupunkt BTW100 TWS have a straight stem with chrome edges while the charging case has a clamshell-like design. The charging case packs a large 400mAh battery that is backed by TurboVolt Charging feature providing 1 hour of playback time with 15 minutes. Additional features include sweat, water & dust resistance.

The Blaupunkt BTW100 TWS earbuds are priced atRs 2,999and are available in two colour options Black and White. The product is available onAmazon.

Link:
Blaupunkt Launched Its BTW100 Truly Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds with ENC CRISPR Technology - Digit

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The ability to have earth-shattering orgasms is partially genetic, British researchers have uncovered meaning the capacity to climax comes down to your parents, as well as your partner.

The study which focused on female orgasms was initially published back in 2005 but is receiving renewed attention in light of the new film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. In the flick now streaming on Hulu Emma Thompson plays a 60-something woman who hires a sex worker, played by Daryl McCormack, to help her achieve her first-ever orgasm.

The study, which was conducted by St. Thomas Hospital in London and Keele University, quizzed 683 sets of identical twins and 714 sets of nonidentical twins between the ages of 19 and 83.

The women were asked two questions: Overall, how frequently do you experience an orgasm during intercourse? and How frequently do you experience an orgasm during masturbation by yourself or a partner?

Twenty-two percent of respondents claimed they had never or rarely experienced an orgasm during sex, while 21% said they never or rarely experienced a climax during a steamy solo session.

Researchers were interested in uncovering whether there was a difference in answers between the sets of identical and nonidentical twins.

Identical twins share a DNA code with each other, meaning the differences in their answers were likely a result of the different environments in which they were induced into orgasm.

Nonidentical twins, on the other hand, only share 50% of their DNA, meaning differences in their answers come down to genetics as well as the different environments in which they might come to orgasm.

Sure enough, the researchers found that genetic factors played an important role, accounting for up to 60% of a womans ability to reach the big O.

Despite the research revealing its not always a partner whos responsible for a persons pleasure, women are still faking orgasms.

Research published earlier this year in the journal ofSocial Psychological and Personality Sciencecollected data from over 600 women, many of whom admitted to forsaking their own erotic pleasure in order to placate men.

Women are prioritizing what they think their partners need over their own sexual needs and satisfaction, lead study author Jessica Jordan, a doctoral student at the University of South Florida, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Thompson, 63, said last week that Good Luck to You, Leo Grande examines the orgasm gap between men and women.

Ive always been interested in the sort of ostracization really of sexual sort of matters. We dont talk about it nearly enough, she stated. And female sexual pleasure is not on the top of anybodys list.

Read the original here:
Great orgasms are inherited from your parents: DNA experts - New York Post

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, on the 50th anniversary of Title IX being signed into law, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) co-authored anop-edforFoxNews.comcriticizing Democratsfor dismantling Title IX protections and failing to protect womens sports. Whip Scalise and Congresswoman Lesko highlight how Democrats misguided efforts to allow biological males to compete against biological females promotes inequality and is unfair to women athletes. Whip Scalise and Congresswoman Lesko emphasize that women and girls should be allowed a fair playing field in competitive sports by ensuring that school athletics comply with the Title IX recognition of a persons reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

Fifty years after Title IX, we must protect women's sports

Fifty years ago today, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 into law. Title IX mandated parity for men and women at educational institutions that received funding from the federal government. Sadly, Democrats are turning the original intent of Title IX on its head and are advocating for biological males to compete against biological females effectively destroying womens sports.

The purpose of Title IX was to update the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which, at the time, did not ban discrimination against women at educational institutions. A byproduct of the Education Amendments of 1972, which sought to give women an equal playing field in education, led to womens sports teams at the K-12 and collegiate levels receiving the same funding as mens sports teams.

Thanks to this, the number of female athletes has grown exponentially.

According to the National Library of Medicine, from 1973 to 2018, the percentage of high school sports played by girls increased from 24.2 percent to 42.9 percent. The authors note, "Girls participation in high school sports continues to grow not only in numbers but in the types of sports played."

During the 1971-1972 school year, less than 300,000 girls participated in their high schools athletic programs while there were over 3.5 million boys participating during the same time period. Fast-forward to the 2018-2019 school year, and there are more than 3.4 million girls participating in their high schools athletic programs.

This expansion wasnt just limited to high school sports.

In 1972, less than 30,000 female athletes competed in intercollegiate sports. In 2020, a record number of students competed in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports with over 280,000 men and 220,000 women participating in their colleges professional sports teams.

Every American has the right to freely express himself or herself, as long as their actions do not infringe upon the rights of others, but that is exactly what is happening in womens sports. Allowing men to compete in womens sports ignores hundreds of years of science, biology, and reality. It tosses out specific rules designed to keep athletic competition fair.

We have heard the heartbreaking stories of young women and girls from across the country who are losing competitions and even scholarships to biological males who choose to identify as women and girls. Unfortunately, many of these young women who try to speak out have been threatened and silenced.

In an open letter, 16 athletes on the University of Pennsylvania womens swimming and diving team wrote, "It has often felt like Penn, our school, our league, and the NCAA did not support us," and said that they were told that they would be removed from the team or "we would never get a job offer" if they spoke out publicly against Lia Thomas inclusion in womens competition.

Lia Thomas went on to win the NCAA womens 500 freestyle, beating out an Olympic silver medalist. This is a deep distortion of Title IX and takes successes away from the women who have earned them in the name of gender identity politics.

While the world governing body for swimming has banned many transgender athletes from competing in womens events, this measure comes too late for the women who have already lost opportunities and medals because they had to race against biological men.

In order to help protect the future of women and girls sports, Democrats should remember the bedrock of Title IX equality for women.

Womens sports should be reserved for the women and girls who work hard and train for them, not men. Biological males should not be allowed to participate in womens sports. Sports that are designated for girls should only include girls.

This should not be a partisan issue.

As President Biden and Speaker Pelosi perpetuate the lefts radical gender ideology, women deserve better from their elected leaders. It is shameful that Democrats divisive politics and radical gender ideology ignore basic science and are destroying womens sports that Title IX was created to protect.

See original here:
Scalise and Lesko: Fifty Years After Title IX, We Must Protect Women's Sports - Congressman Steve Scalise

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

House Republicans on Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of Title IX by calling for expanded protections of womens sports against transgender athletes.

GOP leader Kevin McCarthy and members of the conservative Republican Study Committee held a round table with female athletes, who talked about the impact of competing with male-born athletes in girls sports.

Fifty years after we made Title IX the law of the land, womens sports are facing an existential threat, Mr. McCarthy said. There are so many things that are unfair about this new system. It erases womens sports. It attacks American values like fair competition and it creates a world where female athletes who speak out are actually bullied by their peers.

The lawmakers at the roundtable included Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, who chairs the Republican Study Committee, as well as Reps. Greg Steube of Florida, Kat Cammack of Florida, Burgess Owens of Utah and Debbie Lesko of Arizona.

Title IX was passed in 1972 to prohibit sex-based discrimination in any school or education program that had received federal funding.

Several former and current high school female athletes discussed the issue, including Riley Gaines, who spoke out after University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship.

SEE ALSO: Senate Democrats block vote on Tuberville bill to ban males from womens sports

Ms. Gaines, who swims for the University of Kentucky, tied Ms. Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle for fifth place.

Several athletes criticized the Biden administrations push for the inclusion of transgender athletes, arguing that it threatened and damaged the independence of womens sports.

We are the ones who these policies are impacting. We are the victims of this ideology, said Macy Petty, who plays volleyball at Lee University in Tennessee.

Members also pledged to take swift action to pass bills to protect womens sports if Republicans take the House majority in November.

I think America needs to know where every member of Congress stands on this issue whether yourea Democrat or a Republican, said Mr. Steube, who introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

Mr. Steubes bill highlights that the language of sex in Title IX could be recognized solely on a persons reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

The White House announced that it would make sweeping changes to Title IX to expand the rights of transgender individuals and roll back a Trump-era policy of due process protections in campus-assault cases.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the changes would add sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics to Title IX discrimination.

Ill continue to fight for the promise of Title IX that every woman and girl can pursue her education and dreams free from discrimination, and every LGBTQI+ student is protected, President Biden tweeted.

See the article here:
McCarthy, House GOP call for protections of women's sports on Title IX 50th anniversary - Washington Times

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

If you didnt already know, there are tiny parasitic mites living in our skin.

They live in the pores on our face (and nipples!) and come out only at night moving between hair follicles in their quest to find a mate. Horrific.

Now, the first-ever full genome sequencing study of these mites (Demodex folliculorum) has revealed the genetics behind why they have such bizarre mating habits and body features, and how they might just be heading towards living within our tissues instead.

The new research has been published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

We found these mites have a different arrangement of body part genes to other similar species due to them adapting to a sheltered life inside pores, says co-lead author Dr Alejandra Perotti, associate professor of Invertebrate Biology at the University of Reading, UK.

These changes to their DNA have resulted in some unusual body features and behaviours.

For instance, males have a penis that protrudes upwards from the front of their body, so they must position themselves beneath the female as they both cling on to a human hair follicle to mate.

Best not to think about the party happening on your face every night as you sleep.

The microscopic eight-legged mites are carried by almost every human. Passed on to us during birth, their numbers peak in adulthood as our pores grow larger.

Inside the pores they eat sebum, an oily, waxy substance that coats, moisturises, and protects your skin that is released by the sebaceous glands there.

Thankfully, since theyre only 0.3 millimetres long theyre too small to be seen with the naked eye; this is very fortunate for us, since living in and on hair follicles apparently also includes our eyelashes.

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The mites isolated existence inside our pores has resulted in a lack of exposure to any external threats, zero competition to infest hosts, and no encounters with other mites containing different genes.

This has meant theyve become extremely simple organisms. And according to the authors, the lack of exposure to genetically diverse mates may have set the mites on course for an evolutionary dead end, and potential extinction.

This has been observed in bacteria living inside cells before, but never in an animal.

The researchers say an indication of a first step towards becoming symbionts is that the mites have many more cells at a young age compared with their adult stage. This contradicts a previous assumption that parasitic animals instead reduce their cell numbers early in development.

A shrinking genome also explains why the mites only become active at night: theyve lost the genes that make it possible to protect against ultraviolet (UV) radiation and to be awakened by daylight.

Not only that, but theyre unable to produce melatonin. While melatonin usually makes small invertebrates (animals without a spine) active at night, the mites fuel their all-night mating sessions using the melatonin secreted by human skin at night.

Some researchers had previously assumed the mites didnt even have an anus and must accumulate their faeces throughout their lifetimes before releasing it all when they die, causing skin inflammation.

But this new study has confirmed they do in fact have anuses and have been unfairly blamed for many skin conditions. Somehow, Im not that sympathetic.

Mites have been blamed for a lot of things. The long association with humans might suggest that they also could have simple but important beneficial roles, for example, in keeping the pores in our face unplugged, says co-lead author Dr Henk Braig, a researcher from the school of Natural Sciences at Bangor University in the UK and the National University of San Juan in Argentina.

Link:
Sorry! Parasitic mites live in the pores on your face - Cosmos

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By guest contributors Dyann Wirth, Rose Leke and Michelle A. Williams

Malaria elimination is possible. Ten countries have been certified malaria-free in the past five years, including China, which eliminated the disease from 30 million cases to zero cases. However, progress toward elimination has been uneven. Today, Africa bears 90% of the malaria burden and progress has stalled. In 2020, there were 240 million cases of malaria and 637,000 deaths worldwide. This is the same level of human suffering as was the case in 2015. Now is the time, we must act.

COVID-19 mobilized the world, proving that it is possible tomeet public health challenges quickly and effectively through international cooperation on health research and innovation, multisectoral coalitions, and collective action. This level of global action is exactly what is needed to end malaria.

Malaria, a threat to the most vulnerable in populations with long-term societal impact, must be approached as asocietal problem of health and economic development, not just as a medical problem. Malaria elimination efforts must beled by endemic countriesin partnership with multiple stakeholders within each country. Leadership must come from all levels of government, from community advocates to national leaders. In countries recently certified malaria free, the common feature is effective governmental leadership coupled with technical expertise and a strong community health workforce.

TheCOVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the limitations and inequities of our global health systems, most particularly in challenges related to the global health workforce. Investing in the health workforce is essential. Empowering health workers througheducation, training, and creating sustainable career paths that include fair wages for community health workers, are fundamental to progress. To end malaria, we need a workforce that takes a problem-solving approach and includes players from multiple sectors. Experts in diverse disciplinesbehavioral and social science, communications, finance, data sciencemust come together with community leaders to focus on resolving the barriers to malaria elimination. Universities and educational institutions can enable the training of this workforce at all levels.

Malaria data should be valued, visible, timely and employed by the public and policymakers in the same way COVID-19 data has been used for decision-making. Real-time data has been critical in other disease elimination programs such as smallpox and polio. Why not create Malaria Dashboards at the community level and national level to track progress and inform policy? Malaria has a toolbox of interventions, including the newly recommended vaccine, and the best mix of these tools will be defined by the locally derived data.

Malaria elimination policy and practices must be integrated into the broader health system without losing the focus on reduction of disease burden. Accelerating innovation for new tools and new ways of using existing tools is critical. Endemic countries have a great potential for entrepreneurship, research, and development. The malaria community should harness that potential.

Now is the time to imagine and keep working towards a malaria-free worldwe know it can be achieved.

Read more from the Rethinking Malaria collection on PLOS Global Public Health:

About the authors:

Professor Dyann F. Wirth (Richard Pearson Strong Professor of Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Chair, WHO Malaria Advisory Group, co-Chair, Rethinking Malaria in the Context of COVID19) has been a major leader in malaria research for more than 30 years. Recognizing the importance of bringing cutting-edge genomic science to the study of infectious diseases, she joined the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard shortly after its establishment to lead its infectious diseases initiative. two-term Using a multidisciplinary approach, her group explores challenges related to mosquito biology and the malaria parasite.

Leveraging the genomic tools of the human genomic project, the group has applied state-of-the-art technologies and novel approaches to better understand the fundamental biology of the malaria parasite, evolution, and mechanisms of drug and insecticide resistance. This work has provided completely new insight into how the malaria parasite has evolved, specifically in the areas of population biology, drug resistance, and antigenicity. The groups current efforts seek to determine both the number and identity of genes expressed by the parasite in response to drug treatment and to evaluate the role of these genes for parasite survival. This work aims to understand basic molecular mechanisms in protozoan parasites. Current findings have made significant contributions to advancing our understanding of malaria vaccine efficacy with long-term R&D goals to discover and apply preventive and therapeutic interventions against malaria infection. The groups research activities are made possible through collaborative research partnerships with investigators, universities, and clinical centers in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

In addition to her research and teaching efforts, Professor Wirth directs Harvards Defeating Malaria: From the Genes to the Globe Initiative, a university-wide effort to produce, transmit, and translate knowledge to support the control and eradication of malaria. Wirth is past chair of the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard Chan (20062018). She is a member and current Chair of the World Health Organizations Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG), fellow and past president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH), a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and member of the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. Professor Wirth is the first female recipient of the ASTMHs Walter Reed Medal, a recipient of ASTMHs Joseph Augustine LePrince Medal, was honored with BioMalPars Lifetime Achievement Award, and earned the USF Presidents Global Leadership Award. She is a past board member of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Marine Biological Laboratory.

Rose Gana Fomban Leke (Emeritus Professor of Immunology and Parasitology, University of Yaound I, co-Chair, Rethinking Malaria in the Context of COVID-19)is Emeritus Professor of Immunology and Parasitology at the University of Yaound I. Her primary research interests center on the immunology of parasitic infections, in particular, malaria. Professor Leke has a keen interest in global health issues and has been involved in the worldwide Polio Eradication Initiative, global malaria elimination activities, and health systems strengthening efforts. She has been very effective in the training of the next generation of scientists, namely the empowerment of the young female scientists and women overall. Higher Women Cameroon, a high-impact mentoring program, is one of her primary initiatives.

In March 2013, she stepped down as Head of the Department of Immunology and Parasitology at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Director of the Biotechnology Centre at the University of Yaound I. Professor Leke is Executive Director of the Cameroon Coalition against malaria, Chair of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Secretariat, member of the Canada Gairdner Foundation Global Health Award Advisory Committee, President of the Federation of African Immunological Societies, a fellow of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences CAS, a fellow of the African Academy of Science AAS, a fellow of the World Academy of Science, and two-term Council member of the International Union of Immunological Societies.

Professor Leke is co-Chair of Harvards Defeating Malaria: From the Genes to the Globe Initiative Executive Board (alongside Michelle Williams, Dean of the Faculty at the Harvard Chan) and Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Medical Research Institute. She serves as Vice President of the Scientific Committee of Cameroon First Ladys Research Centre. She is a member and Chair of the African Advisory Committee for Health Research (ACHR) and Global ACHR; a Board member of the Global Forum for Health Research; and served as Vice-Chair of the Technical Evaluation Reference Group (TERG) of the Global Fund to Fight HIV, TB, and Malaria. She was awarded a Plaque of Honor in recognition of her outstanding Services and dedication in leading the TERG in 2009.

She has served as a consultant on several past/current committees of the WHO, including the Malaria Policy Advisory Group, Malaria Elimination Oversight Committee, Global Certification Commission, Emergency Committee for Polio Eradication, and the Chair of the African Regional Commission for the Certification of the Eradication of Poliomyelitis. She also served as Chair of the Data Management Committee for a trial on Azithromycin-chloroquine, and was a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Ebola vaccine trials in Guinea. In 2011, she was one of six women who received the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award for Women and received the 2012 award for Excellence in Science from the Cameroon Professional Society. In 2014, she served as the Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lecturer at the University of Ghana and was awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa (DSc). In 2015, she was elected International Honorary Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

In 2018, she was elected one of nine women as Heroine of Health and was celebrated at a special event in Geneva in the presence of the Director-General World Health Organization (WHO), the Regional Director of the WHO/African Regional Office, and the Cameroon Minister of Health. On November 23, 2018, she was crowned by the Cameroon Medical Council as Queen Mother of the Cameroonian Medical Community.

Dean Michelle A. Williams is Dean of the Faculty, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Angelopoulos Professor in Public Health and International Development, a joint faculty appointment at the Harvard Chan School and Harvard Kennedy School. She is an internationally renowned epidemiologist and public health scientist, an award-winning educator, and a widely recognized academic leader. Prior to becoming Dean of the Faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in July 2016, she was professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and program leader of Harvards Clinical and Translational Sciences Center (Harvard Catalyst) Population Health and Health Disparities Research Program.

Dean Williams joined the Harvard Chan faculty after a distinguished career at the University of Washington (UW) School of Public Health. While at UW, she served as co-director of the Center for Perinatal Studies at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA. She developed and directed the Reproductive Pediatric and Perinatal Training Program at the UW, held a joint appointment in Global Health from 20082011, and was an affiliate investigator at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center 19922010.

As an acclaimed researcher, Dean Williamss scientific workplaces special emphasis on the areas of reproductive, perinatal, pediatric, and molecular epidemiology. She has extensive experience in carrying out large-scale, multidisciplinary research involving the collection and analysis of epidemiological data (e.g., sleep characteristics, physical activity, dietary intake, and environmental exposures) and biological specimens (e.g., blood-based biochemistry/biomarkers, flow cytometry, genetic variants, whole-genome expression of mRNA and miRNA), both domestically and internationally.

Dean Williams has published more than 425 peer-reviewed research papers ranging from studies of modifiable behavioral and environmental determinants of adverse health outcomes to genetic and genomic studies of common complications of pregnancy and chronic disorders among children and adults. She has successfully administered large-scale, clinical epidemiology studies that seek to understand genetic and environmental causes of adverse pregnancy outcomes and other non-communicable disorders along the life course. Dean Williams also developed and directed (for more than seven years) the Reproductive Pediatric and Perinatal Training Program at the UW. In 1994, Dean Williams developed and is currently directing, the NIH-funded multidisciplinary international research training (MIRT) program that allows for the development and operations of undergraduate and graduate student training in global health, biostatistics, and epidemiology in over 14 foreign research sites in South America, South East Asia, Africa, and Europe. She was appointed Board Co-Chair of Defeating Malaria: From the Genes to the Globe Initiative at Harvard University in 2016.

Dean Williams has been recognized for her excellence in teaching, as the recipient of the Harvard Chan Schools Outstanding Mentor Award (2015), the White Houses Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (2012), the UWs Brotman Award for excellence in teaching (2007), and the American Public Health Associations Abraham Lilienfeld Award for education in epidemiology (2007). She earned undergraduate degrees in Biology and Genetics from Princeton University in 1984. She earned a masters degree in Civil Engineering from Tufts University, and a masters and doctoral degree in Epidemiology from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard University

Disclaimer: Views expressed by contributors are solely those of individual contributors, and not necessarily those of PLOS.

Read more:
Rethinking Malaria Why Now - Speaking of Medicine and Health - PLOS

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

About Flinders

Our bold vision, captured in our Strategic Plan: making a Difference: The 2025 Agenda, is to be internationally recognised as a world leader in research, an innovator in contemporary education, and the source of Australias most enterprising graduates.

To realise this ambition, we recently made a significant organisation change to a six College structure with a professional staff and services alignment.

We recognise the key to our success is exceptional people and were seeking an outstanding individual to join the team of our transformed university.

Employment Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Position Summary

Availability:Fixed-Term for 2 Years | Full-Time

Compensation Grade:Research Academic Level A

Salary Range:$78,340 - $94,938 p.a.

Reporting to:ProfessorFlinders Health and Medical Research Institute

Under general direction of the Professor the Research Associate will work independently on a research project funded by the Australia Research Council (ARC) on nutrient control of cancer development.

The project will examine a key nutrient sensing enzyme and its role in driving cell proliferation within the Environmental Control of Cell Growth and Cell Division laboratory at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (FCIC)/Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) Cancer Research.

Key Position Responsibilities

The Research Associate is accountable for:

Key Position Capabilities

Prescribed Conditions for Employment

Flinders University has introduced aCOVID-19 Vaccination Policythat requires all new staff members to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, subject to medical exemptions and limited exemptions.

Information for Applicants:

You are required to provide a suitability statement of no more than three pages, addressing the key capabilities of the position as outlined above. In addition, you are required to upload your CV.

A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

We are seeking to increase the diversity to improve equal opportunity outcomes for employees, and therefore we encourage female applicants, people with a disability and/or from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders descent to apply.

Please note, late applications and applications sent via agencies will not be accepted.

Applications Close 11:59 pm:

06 Jul 2022

View post:
Research Associate in Cancer Development job with FLINDERS UNIVERSITY | 298210 - Times Higher Education

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Do you remember your science lessons from school? Do you remember learning about chromosomes? We were taught that there are two chromosomes X and Y and that each of us has a set of chromosomes. Individuals with XX (or two X chromosomes) are female, while those with XY (or one X and one Y chromosome) are male. A recently published study has now revealed that many men can actually carry an extra chromosome.The study was published in the journal Genetics in Medicine. It included data on more than 207,000 men. It was discovered that of the participants, over 350 had an extra chromosome, either X or Y.Very few of these men knew about this abnormality or had it mentioned in their medical records.

Talking to the Guardian Dr Ken Ong, co-senior author of the study who is a pediatric endocrinologist in the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge says that they were surprised at how common this abnormality is.

Watch |Robots to solve ocean's pollution menace: 15mm long robo-fish to hunt for plastic

The National Human Genome Research Institute reported that previous estimations indicated that approximately 100 to 200 men out of every 100,000 are XXY. An estimated 18 to 100 out of every 100,000 were believed to be XYY.

Having an extra chromosome can raise the risk of certain health conditions. Those having Klinefelter syndrome (KS) or an extra X chromosome are linked to reproductive problems like infertility and delayed puberty. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, XXY men are four times more likely than XY men to have late puberty.

Also read |A beer a day might keep your gut flora healthy: Study

On the other hand, with an extra Y chromosome or 47,XYY syndrome does not come with reproductive problems but was linked to learning disabilities, including delay in acquiring speech and motor skills. According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, they also have unusually low muscle tone.

Additionally, both XXY and XYY men have a higher rate of type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the artery walls), pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the veins and lung arteries), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (which obstructs airflow to the lungs).

Also read |The tiny mites that have sex on our faces may go extinct

In their report, the authors questioned: "why both KS and 47,XYY should show striking similarities in conferring substantially higher risks for many diseases in common." As per them, future research is needed to examine the reasons causing this elevated risk.

(With inputs from agencies)

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For the men out there: Do you fall sick often? This might be why - WION

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Uveal melanoma (UM) is an intraocular malignancy with poor survival rates due to the propensity for metastatic spread. Although treatment options exist for localized disease, there are fewer definitive guidelines for metastatic UM. Treatment involves a personalized approach that entails patient-specific aspects, including tumor genetics. This case highlights the disease course of a 60-year-old male diagnosed with stage IIB right eye choroidal melanoma. Despite successful therapy for localized UM, he developed widespread metastasis. He received dual immunotherapy and was ultimately maintained on a single-agent regimen. His prognosis has surpassed initial prognosis and survival expectations. This case highlights the use of immunotherapy, both dual and single therapy, to treat this rare malignancy and extend overall survival.

Melanomas of the choroid, ciliary body, and the iris of the eye are collectively known as uveal melanomas (UMs). UM is the most common primary intraocular malignancy. It is commonly seen in middle-aged Caucasian males with a median diagnosis between 55 and 60 years of age [1]. The most common site for UM is the choroid [2]. The diagnosis is made by ophthalmologic slit-lamp biomicroscopy. For small tumors, anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-COT) is useful in making the diagnosis by showing high-resolution imaging of the anterior and lateral segments. For large lesions, ultrasound biomicroscopy and AS-COT assist in the visualization of the extent of the tumor in the posterior segment. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy can be utilized to confirm the diagnosis of small lesions [2]. UM commonly presents as painless loss or distortion of vision. Some lesions are asymptomatic and incidentally identified during routine ophthalmic screening [1]. The initial workup involves imaging of the abdomen to look for metastatic lesions due to the approximately 90% propensity of hepatic spread metastases by UM. Because these tumors are F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is often performed [1]. Treatment is individualized and follows general guidelines and principles from oncologists based on the underlying tumor, which ranges from close serial observation, laser therapy, radiation therapy, to surgery (enucleation) for large tumors [1]. In the case of metastatic UM (MUM), there is an ongoing search to establish an ideal systemic therapy. There is no role of chemotherapy in MUM because it is highly resistant to systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy [1]. Due to the growth of UM in one of the most capillary-rich tissues of the body (choroid), it provokes hematogenous spread. The UM cell lines also strongly synthesize and secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) [3]. Increased angiogenesis is noted in cancer, with the growth of blood vessels supplying the nutritional and metabolic demands of tumors [3]. Therefore, inhibiting VEGF targets angiogenesis and inhibits tumor growth. Currently, immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as ipilimumab, is a therapeutic option as it has shown promising results in treating cutaneous malignant melanoma [2]. When looking at theprogrammed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint, it was noted to be less upregulated in UM compared to cutaneous melanoma. Therefore, ICI therapy is less effective in MUM [4]. Single-agent therapy ICI has shown low response rates, as noted with a 0% overall response rate (ORR) in one phase 2 trial and a 3.6% ORR in another trial [5]. Here, we present the case of a 60-year-old male who was diagnosed with choroidal melanoma in May 2017, subsequently developing MUM and undergoing treatment with dual immunotherapy.

A 60-year-old Caucasian male presented to his primary care physician in January 2017 with the chief complaint of blurry vision in his right eye, sinus pressure, and dizziness for three weeks. On the physical examination, he had right hemianopsia. He was referred to ophthalmology and subsequently to ocular oncology for a definitive diagnosis. In May 2017, through fluorescein angiography and biopsy, the following diagnosis was confirmed: stage IIB cT3a cN0 cM0 right eye choroidal melanoma, measuring 16 mm in base by 7.3 mm in thickness via fundoscopic examination. Treatment ensued with plaque radiation therapy (RT), followed by bevacizumab, a VEGF inhibitor, every three to four months.Genetic analysis was performed, noting monosomy 3 and gain of 8q. To exclude metastatic disease, he underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen which showed a small lesion at the dome of the liver, suggestive of hemangioma and less likely a metastatic focus. He continued to follow up with ocular oncology from 2017 to 2019 and showed good response to RT and bevacizumab. The tumor size regressed from 7.3 mm to 7.1 mm in thickness.

In January 2020, he endorsed lower back pain, radiating down his right extremity to his knee. An MRI of the lumbar spine identified a vertebral L3 lesion measuring 2.8 3.6 cm with extension into the anterior epidural space. The MRI also revealed additional foci of the T1 marrow signal throughout the lumbar spine and sacrum. A computed tomography (CT) of the chest/abdomen/pelvis (CAP) in May 2020 confirmed findings suggestive of widespread metastatic disease with lesions in the lungs, liver, and adrenal glands (Figure 1). Brain MRI showed no intracranial metastasis. Tissue examination of a CT-guided L3 lesion biopsy revealed malignant cells consistent with melanoma. This prompted palliative RT to the spine from June 6, 2020, to June 15, 2020. Further genetic analysis of the vertebral biopsied tissue identified a GNAQ 11 mutation.

In June 2020, he began dual ICI treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab. Two months later, treatment was held during hospitalization due to suspicion of immune-mediated pneumonitis. CT CAP in August 2020 showed an interval decrease in the size of the hepatic lesions; more than 30 liver lesions measured less than 2 mm. His pulmonary nodules remained stable. He resumed treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab.

In September 2020, he was hospitalized for non-severe Candida esophagitis, requiring a nasogastric tube and eventual G-tube placement. Immunotherapy was deferred for one month during hospitalization. Due to concern of increased toxicity from dual ICI, the patient resumed single-agent nivolumab in October 2020.

From October 2020 to January 2021, serial imaging continued to show a positive response to immunotherapy with complete regression of liver lesions and stable pulmonary nodules. However, in January 2021, CT CAP showed an increase in the size and number of pulmonary nodules within both lungs, concerning for progressive metastatic disease within the chest, whereas there was an interval improvement in metastatic disease within the patients liver. From January 2021 to July 2021, he continued to showimprovement and resolution of metastatic liver lesions, which remained stable (Figure 2).

The previously noted L3 vertebral tumor regressed. He currently continues immunotherapy with nivolumab. June 2022 marks his third year of ICI treatment. Furthermore, he has been referred to a national clinical trial seeking patients with comparable genetic mutations; he is pending evaluation for possible inclusion in the trial.

As opposed to the high incidence of cutaneous melanoma, UM is considered to be a rare disease with cases noted in 3-5% of the US population [6]. The initial presentation of this patient with a localized choroidal tumor is consistent with the typical UM disease course. Approximately 95% of patients present with uveal involvement, and more than 50% develop metastatic disease [7]. The most common site of metastasis is the liver [3]. Unfortunately, metastasis is associated with poor prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of less than 5% [3].

This patients initial tumor was consistent with stage IIB cT3a cN0 cM0 right eye choroidal melanoma. UM is typically staged based on tumor characteristics, with stages ranging from one to four [8]. CT CAP at the time of diagnosis was negative for metastatic disease. The choroidal tumor measured 16 mm in max diameter 7.3 mm thickness on fundoscopic examination. These measurements are within the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline threshold of 19 mm base diameter 2.5-10 mm thickness for options including plaque brachytherapy, particle beam radiation, and enucleation [8]. Intravitreal bevacizumab was administered every three months to prevent elevated levels of VEGFs. This was a prophylactic treatment due to the increase in VEGF with radiotherapy, potentiating radiation maculopathy [9]. Close follow-up ensued, and our patient showed slow regression over time. However, in January 2020, he was diagnosed with widespread metastatic disease.

The treatment options for metastatic melanoma are limited, and the literature does not support any specific agents with superior outcomes [8]. If metastatic disease is confined to the liver, liver-directed therapies can be considered, including regional isolation perfusion, embolization, ablation, resection, and RT [8]. Unfortunately, our patient had widespread metastases. One of the first reports of UM responding to immunotherapy was published by Kottsachade et al., where patients with metastatic disease were treated with pembrolizumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor. Half of the patients had rapidly progressive disease, while others had varying outcomes ranging from stable disease to complete response [10]. On the contrary, a study by Algazi et al. showed no durable remission in patients treated with single-agent PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies [11]. Literature concerning PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors as treatment options is mixed. Other ICI therapies have been studied, including cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen antibodies. The first large retrospective study demonstrated a durable response, with average overall survival (OS) of 9.6 months, in patients with MUM treated with ipilimumab [12]. Additionally, two phase 2 studies in 2014 and 2015 utilized ipilimumab for progressive metastatic disease, reporting similar OS of 9.8 and 6.8 months, respectively [13]. It is important to understand that the literature regarding immunotherapy for UM stems from the therapeutic response seen in cutaneous melanoma responding to this treatment. However, there are critical differences between the two malignancies. One such difference is the mutation rates, which are lower in UM. This leads to decreased neoantigens and a smaller chance of immune cell recognition [14].

Recentstudies are focusing on the use of dual-agent immunotherapy. The combination has shown an OS of 15 months which is higher than the average OS noted in single-agent therapy [15]. This prompted our decision to use both nivolumab and ipilimumab. Our patient has surpassed the average expected OS; he remains progression-free for two years.Immunogenetics are targetable characteristics for potential treatment options. Our patient was evaluated for high-risk genetic features using a microscopic needle aspirate sample for micro-assay analysis. Genetic expression analysis divides mutations into a binary classification, Class I and Class II genes [16]. Our patient tested positive for monosomy 3 and gain of chromosome 8q, classified as Class II genes [16]. This was performed at the initial diagnosis of localized disease, with localized disease. Class II genes are associated with poor prognosis [2]. This enforced the need for close monitoring of our patient to discover any potential metastatic disease as early as possible. After radiographic confirmation of metastasis, his spinal lesion was sent for genetic analysis, which confirmed a GNA11 mutation; a common oncogene identified in 80% of UM cases [17]. This oncogene activates the protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways inducing cell signaling and proliferation [18]. PKC inhibitors, individually and in combination with MEK inhibitors, have shown a synergistic effect in halting cell proliferation [18]. This prompted our patients timely referral to a national clinical trial currently in progress, seeking patients with similar presentations and assessing the use of PKC inhibitors.

The future of UM is currently under investigation with increasing clinical trials and hypothesized treatment approaches. Although most cases of UM have not shown a clear and consistent response to single-agent immunotherapy, it continues to be under investigation with dual ICI therapies. Based on oncogene findings and immunogenetics, there may be opportunities for targeted therapy with ongoing research. Our case presents a unique observation of successful treatment with ICI with a progression-free survival of almost two years. Our use of clinical and radiographic response, with the addition of genetic analysis, yields a personalized treatment approach beyond expected statistical survival.

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A Rare Case of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma Responding to Immunotherapy - Cureus

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Until recently, many scientists had been skeptical about the value of attempting to sequence ancient DNA: Samples are often so old that the DNA strands have become degraded and fragile or else contaminated; the process is much more laborious and costly as a result.

Many early studies of ancient DNA were therefore done with mitochondrial DNA. This genetic materialhoused in the mitochondria, the power plants of our cells, and passed from mother to childoffered more reliable data. But advances in sequencing technology means more recent studies have also been able to use Y-chromosome (male) DNA, which is typically more repetitive and difficult to read. The result is a more accurate overview of genetic changes over time, and it is this approach that Shanidar Z should benefit from.

After Hunts unusual flight home, Shanidar Z made it safely to the University of Cambridge for digital scanning and will eventually be transferred back to northern Iraq to feature as the centerpiece of a new museum. The skeleton could be up to 90,000 years old, but its DNA will be used to further understanding of modern human historyby analyzing and statistically comparing the ancient DNA against the genomes of modern populations, to demonstrate when different population groups parted company, Hunt says.

Once a population splits into two or more reproductively isolated groups, the genes in each new population will evolve gradually in new directions as a result of random gene mutations as well as exposure to various environmental factors that prevent successful reproductioncoming into contact with new diseases, for instance.

Its through work like this that scientists have been able to chart the migration of different populations of humans and Neanderthal groups around the planet over the last 70,000 years, and also bust some myths about their habits and migration patterns. We now know that humans and Neanderthals interbred quite commonly, and that Neanderthal communities were likely more caring and intelligent than weve previously given them credit for. According to Hunt, evidence of burial rituals at the Shanidar Cave suggests memory, and that they looked after their injured and sick members.

Separately, analysis of ancient DNA against the modern human genome has revealed that we still carry some genetic sequences that were present in people living millennia ago. Such analysis even helped to identify a new subspecies of humans 12 years agothis discovery of Denisovans, believed to have existed across Asia around 400,000 years ago, demonstrates how much is still unknown about our human origins.

At the Francis Crick Institute in London, a major project is underway to create a reliable biobank of ancient human DNA to help build on such discoveries. Population geneticist Pontus Skoglund is leading the 1.7 million ($2.1 million) project, which will sequence 1,000 ancient British genomes by gathering data from skeletal samples from the past 5,000 years, with help from around 100 other UK institutions. From the database he hopes to determine how human genetics have changed over millennia in response to factors such as infectious diseases and changes in climate, diet, and migration.

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What the DNA of Ancient Humans Reveals About Pandemics - Wired.co.uk

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Several months ago, a lab technologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital mixed the blood components of two people: Alphonso Harried, who needed a kidney, and Pat Holterman-Hommes, who hoped to give him one.

The goal was to see whether Harrieds body would instantly see Holterman-Hommes organ as a major threat and attack it before surgeons could finish a transplant. To do that, the technologist mixed in fluorescent tags that would glow if Harrieds immune defense forces would latch onto the donors cells in preparation for an attack. If, after a few hours, the machine found lots of glowing, it meant the kidney transplant would be doomed. It stayed dark: They were a match.

I was floored, said Harried.

Both recipient and donor were a little surprised. Harried is Black. Holterman-Hommes is white.

Could a white person donate a kidney to a Black person? Would race get in the way of their plans? Both families admitted those kinds of questions were flitting around in their heads, even though they know, deep down, that its more about your blood type and all of our blood is red, as Holterman-Hommes put it.

Scientists widely agree that race is a social construct, yet it is often conflated with biology, leaving the impression that a persons race governs how the body functions.

Its not just laypeople its in the medical field as well. People often conflate race with biology, said Dr. Marva Moxey-Mims, chief of pediatric nephrology at Childrens National Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Shes not talking just about kidney medicine. Race has been used as a shorthand for how peoples bodies work for years across many fields not out of malice but because it was based on what was considered the best science available at the time.

The science was not immune to the racialized culture it sprung from, which is now being seen in a new light. For example, U.S. pediatricians recently ditched a calculation that assumed Black children were less likely to get a urinary tract infection after new research found the risk had to do with a childs history of fevers and past infections not race. And obstetricians removed race and ethnicity from a calculation meant to gauge a patients ability to have a vaginal birth after a previous cesarean section, once they determined it was based on flawed science. Still, researchers say those race-based guidelines are just a slice of those being used to assess patients, and are largely based on the assumption that how a person looks or identifies reflects their genetic makeup.

Race does have its place during a doctors visit, however. Medical providers who give patients culturally competent care the act of acknowledging a patients heritage, beliefs, and values during treatment often see improved patient outcomes. Culturally competent doctors understand that overt racism and microaggressions can not only cause mental distress but also that racial trauma can make a person physically sick. Race is a useful tool for identifying population-level disparities, but experts now say it is not very useful in making decisions about how to treat an individual patient.

Because using race as a medical shorthand is at best imprecise and at worst harmful, a conversation is unfolding nationally among lawmakers, scientists, and doctors who say one of the best things patients can do is ask if and how their race is factored into their care.

Doctors and researchers in kidney care have been active recently in reevaluating their use of race-based medical guidance.

History is being written right now that this is not the right thing to do and that the path forward is to use race responsibly and not to do it in the way that weve been doing in the past, says Dr. Nwamaka Eneanya, a nephrologist with Fresenius Medical Care, who in a previous position with the University of Pennsylvania traced in the journal Nature the history of how race a social construct became embedded in medicine.

The perception that there is such a thing as a Black or white kidney quietly followed patient and donor as Harried and Holterman-Hommes were on the path to the transplant in their medical records and in the screening tests recommended.

Medical records described Harried as a 47-year-old Black or African American male and Holterman-Hommes as a 58-year-old, married Caucasian female. Harried does not recall ever providing his race or speaking with his physicians about the influence of race on his care, but for two years or more his classification as Black or African American was a factor in the equations doctors used to estimate how well his kidneys were working. As previous KHN reporting lays out, that practice distinguishing between Black and non-Black bodies was the norm. In fall 2021, a national committee determined race has no place in estimating kidney function, a small but significant step in revising how race is considered.

Dr. Lisa McElroy, a surgeon who performs kidney transplants at Duke University, said the constant consideration of race is the rule, not the exception, in medicine.

Medicine or health care is a little bit like art. It reflects the culture, she said. Race is a part of our culture, and it shows up all through it and health care is no different.

McElroy no longer mentions race in her patients notes, because it really has no bearing on the clinical care plan or biology of disease.

Still, such assumptions extend throughout health care. Some primary care doctors, for example, continue to hew to an assumption that Black patients cannot handle certain kinds of blood pressure medications, even while researchers have concluded those assumptions dont make sense, distract doctors from considering factors more important than race like whether the patient has access to nutritious food and stable housing and could prevent patients from achieving better health by limiting their options.

Studying population-level patterns is important for identifying where disparities exist, but that doesnt mean peoples bodies innately function differently just as population-level disparities in pay do not indicate one gender is fundamentally more capable of hard work.

If you see group differences theyre usually driven by what we do to groups, said Dr. Keith Norris, not by innate differences in those groups. Still, medicine often continues to use race as a crude catchall, said Norris, a UCLA nephrologist, as if every Black person in America experiences the same amount and the same quantity of structural racism, individualized racism, internalized racism, and gene polymorphisms.

In Harried and Holterman-Hommes case, one striking example of race being used as shorthand for determining how peoples bodies work was an informational guide given to Holterman-Hommes that said African Americans with high blood pressure could not donate an organ, but Caucasians with high blood pressure might still qualify.

The perception that there is such a thing as a Black or white kidney quietly followed patient and donor as Harried and Holterman-Hommes were on the path to the transplant in their medical records and in the screening tests recommended. (Joe Martinez/Kaiser Health News/TNS)

I cant believe they actually wrote that down, said Dr. Vanessa Grubbs, a nephrologist at the University of California, San Francisco. That worries Grubbs because using race as a reason to exclude donors can create a situation in which Black transplant recipients have to work harder to find a living donor than others would.

I do think that criteria such as these become barriers for transplantation, said Dr. Rajnish Mehrotra, head of nephrology at the University of Washington. He said that type of hypertension distinction could exclude potential donors like the 56 % of Black adults with high blood pressure in the U.S. when more of them are sorely needed.

The inclusion of race did not necessarily affect Harrieds ability to receive a kidney, nor Holterman-Hommes ability to give him one. But following their case offers a glimpse into the ways race and biology are often cemented together.

Harried and Holterman-Hommes met 20 years ago when they worked together at a nonprofit that serves youth experiencing homelessness in St. Louis. Harried was the guy who pulled kids out of their ruts and into a creative mindset, from which they would write poems and songs and do artwork. Holterman-Hommes said he was the calm in their storm. Harried calls Holterman-Hommes big stuff because she is the nonprofits CEO who keeps the lights on and the donations coming in. You never knew that she was the president of the company, said Harried. There wasnt an air about her.

Harried resigned in 2018 as his health declined. Then in 2021, Holterman-Hommes saw a KHN article about Harried and decided to see if she could help her former colleague. Although Holterman-Hommes mother was born with one kidney, she had lived a long and healthy life, so Holterman-Hommes figured she could spare one of her own.

As Holterman-Hommes explored becoming a donor candidate, initial tests showed high blood pressure readings, in addition to lower-than-ideal kidney function. But I like to get an A on a test, she said, so she redid both sets of tests, repeating the kidney function test after staying better hydrated and the blood pressure test after a big work deadline had passed. She moved on in the screening process after her results improved.

Grubbs wonders whether, if Holterman-Hommes had been Black, they would have just dismissed her. Grubbs shared an instance in which she suspects thats exactly what happened to the wife of a patient of hers in California who needed a kidney transplant.

The wife, who is Black and was in her 50s at the time, wasnt allowed to give the patient a kidney because of her hypertension.

There are people in this country that will tell you that, Oh, white people donate kidneys, Black people dont donate kidneys, and thats not true, said Mehrotra. You hear that racist trope. But (there are) all of these barriers to kidney donation.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital later said it had given Holterman-Hommes an outdated guide, an unfortunate circumstance that is being corrected, and provided a new one that does not say Black people with hypertension cannot donate. Instead, it says that people cannot donate if they have hypertension that was either diagnosed before age 40 or requires more than one medication to manage.

But at some point, it was a policy, said Harried, whose kidneys have been failing for several years. And its unclear how many years that outdated guidance shaped perceptions among those seeking care at Barnes-Jewish, which performs more living-donor kidney transplants per year than any other location in Missouri, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

There is little transparency into how medical centers incorporate race into their decision-making and care. Guidelines from the United Network for Organ Sharing, the national organization in charge of the transplant system, leave the door open for hospitals to exclude a donor with any condition that, in the hospitals medical judgment, causes the donor to be unsuitable for organ donation.

Tanjala Purnell, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health studying disparities in kidney transplantation, said she knows of several centers that used race-based criteria, though some have relaxed those rules, instead deciding case by case. Theres not a standard set to say, Well, no, you can absolutely not have different rules for different people, she said. We dont have those safeguards. Dr. Tarek Alhamad, medical director of the kidney program at the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Transplant Center, said race-based criteria for kidney donations arent created to exclude Black people it was born of a desire to avoid harming them.

African Americans are more likely to have end-stage renal disease, they are more likely to have end-stage renal disease related to hypertension. And they are more likely to have genetic factors that would lead to kidney dysfunction, said Alhamad.

Compared with white and Hispanic donors, non-Hispanic Black donors are known to be at higher risk for developing kidney failure because of their donation, though its still very rare.

He said it feels unethical to take a kidney from someone who may really need it down the line. This is our role as physicians not to do harm.

Researchers are studying a possible way to clarify who is really at risk in donating a kidney, by identifying specific risk factors rather than pinning odds on the vague concept of race.

Specifically, a gene called APOL1 could influence a persons likelihood of developing kidney disease. All humans have two copies of this gene, but there are different versions, or variants, of it. Having two risk variants increases the chance of kidney injury.

The risk variants are most prevalent in people with recent African ancestry, a group that crosses racial and ethnic boundaries. About 13% of African Americans have the double whammy of two risk variants, said Dr. Barry Freedman, chief of nephrology at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Even then, he said, their fate isnt sealed most people in that group wont get kidney failure. We think they need a second hit, like HIV infection, or lupus, or COVID-19.

Freedman is leading a study that looks, in part, at how kidney donors with those risk variants fare in the long term.

This is really important because the hope is that kidneys wont be discarded or turned down as frequently, said Moxey-Mims, who is also involved in the research.

Researchers who are focused on health equity say that while APOL1 testing could help separate race from genetics, it could be a double-edged sword. Purnell pointed out that if APOL1 is misused for example, if a transplant center makes a blanket rule that no one with two risk variants can donate, rather than using it as a starting point for shared decision-making, or if doctors offer the test based only on a patients looks it could merely add another criterion to the list by which certain people are excluded.

We have to do our due diligence, said Purnell, to ensure that any effort to be protective doesnt end up making the pool of available donors for certain groups smaller and smaller and smaller. Purnell, McElroy, and others steeped in transplant inequities say that as long as race which is a cultural concept defining how someone identifies, or how they are perceived is used as a stand-in for someones ancestry or genetics, the line between protecting and excluding people will remain fuzzy.

Thats the heart of the matter here, said McElroy.

So where does race belong in kidney transplant medicine? Many of the physicians interviewed for this article many of them people of color said it primarily serves as a potential indicator of hurdles patients may face, rather than as a marker of how their bodies function.

For example, McElroy said she might spend more time with Black patients building trust with them and their families, or talking about how important living donations can be, similar to the ways she might spend more time with a Spanish-speaking patient making sure they know how to access a translator, or with an elderly patient emphasizing how important physical activity is.

The purpose is not to ignore the social determinants of health of which race is one, she said. Its to try to help them overcome the race-specific or ethnicity-specific barriers to receiving excellent care.

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While all the science gets sorted out, Eneanya is trying to get the message out to patients: Just ask the question: Is my race being used in my clinical care? And if it is, first of all, what race is in the chart? Is it affecting my care? And what are my options?

Just keep your eyes open, ask questions, said Harried.

In late April, a kidney from Holterman-Hommes body was successfully placed into Harrieds. Both are home now and say they are doing well.

KHN ( Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF ( Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.)

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2022 Kaiser Health News. Visit khn.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Race is often used as medical shorthand for how bodies work. Some doctors, researchers want to change that. - The Virginian-Pilot

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during the forecast period. Rising incomes have prompted households to increase their budgets and spend more on health and nutrition in addition to necessities such as food. Nutrition bars, in addition to protein supplements, are gaining popularity, particularly in urban areas.

New York, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Bone & Joint Health Supplements Market by Type, Distribution Channels, Form, Target Consumers and Region - Global Forecast to 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06288924/?utm_source=GNW According to experts, food/sport supplements are becoming more popular, particularly vegetarians, increasingly feel the need to meet their protein requirements in order to stay healthy.

North America is projected to witness the growth of 7.9% during the forecast period.The bone & joint health supplements market in North America is growing at a CAGR of 7.9% due to the rising awareness related to health trends, the popularity of bone & joint health supplements is witnessing a surge in the region. Insufficient exercise, low vitamin D levels, and inadequate calcium are becoming more widely recognized in modern life. Vitamin D deficiency affects around 70% of children in the United States. Adults have been shown to have a similar level of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is found in oily fish such as salmon and swordfish, as well as smaller amounts in tuna and other seafood. Vitamin D is difficult to obtain in sufficient amounts through diet alone. Along with that, insufficient exercise, low vitamin D levels, and inadequate calcium are becoming more widely recognized in modern life. Vitamin D deficiency affects around 70% of children in the United States. Adults have been shown to have a similar level of vitamin D deficiency. More than three-quarters of Americans take nutritional supplements each year, a clear trend that demonstrates the importance of supplementation in their overall health and wellness routines.

The elderly people segment dominated the bone & joint health supplements market by target consumers. It is estimated at USD 5,410.2 million in 2022.It is projected that the elderly people segment by target consumers will witness the highest growth during the forecast period, owing to the increasing aging populations associated with it.Aging gracefully, adopting a healthy lifestyle, staying active are some of the key goals of the majority of the aging population.

As one ages, it becomes a challenge to get the right amount of vitamins and minerals for the body.Fortunately, consumption of bone and joint health supplement fills the gap for such deficiencies.

Many older adults in the United States take one or more bone and joint supplements either as a pill or drink.Popular supplements include some nutrients that are under consumed among older adults, including calcium and vitamins D and calcium.

Among all other vitamins, vitamin D has been consumed at a higher rate. In older adults, vitamin D helps to support skeletal health by building and protecting bones.

Other distributions channels is fastest growing segment. It is projected to grow at 9.2% during forecast period.Others distribution channels includes speciality food stores, convenience stores, direct-to-consumer, fitness institutes, and E-commerce.Many companies and retailers offer online services to facilitate consumers in terms of placing an order as well as delivering the same.

Several one-stop shops are present on the web in easing the purchasing process of the consumers.These online retails also offer a variety of options for a particular bone and joint health supplement product at discounted rates than traditional retail prices to attract more customers.

Since the last decade, the increased frequency of online shopping had created opportunities to enhance the product sales of leading online players as well as for regional domestic e-retailers, such as Wheafree in India and Healthy Supplies Ltd. in the UK.

Break-up of Primaries: By Value chain side: Supply side-59%, Demand side-41% By Designation: CXOs- 31%, Managers- 24%, Executives 45% By Region: Europe - 29%, Asia Pacific 32%, North America - 24%, RoW 15%

Leading players profiled in this report: Bayer AG(Germany) Procter & Gamble (US) Amway (US) Basf SE (Germany) Archer Daniels Midland (US) Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Pfizer (US) Vita Life Sciences Ltd (Australia) Arazo Nutrition (US) Natures Sunshine Products, Inc (US) (France) Glanbia Plc (Ireland) Vitawin(India) Nutramax Laboratories Consumer Care, Inc(US) Simply Supplements(UK) Love Life Supplements(UK) Now Foods(US) Bellavita Healthcare Pvt Ltd(India) Vitaco(New Zealand) Nutravita(UK) Life Extension(US) Pure Encapsulations, LLC (US) Herbs Nutriproducts Pvt. Ltd. (India) Millennium Herbal Care (India)

Research Coverage:The report segments the bone & joint health supplements market on the basis of type, distribution channel, form, target consumer and region. In terms of insights, this report has focused on various levels of analysesthe competitive landscape, end-use analysis, and company profiles, which together comprise and discuss views on the emerging & high-growth segments of the global starter cultures, high-growth regions, countries, government initiatives, drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.

Reasons to buy this report: To get a comprehensive overview of the bone & joint health supplements market To gain wide-ranging information about the top players in this industry, their product portfolios, and key strategies adopted by them To gain insights about the major countries/regions in which the bone & joint health supplements market is flourishingRead the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06288924/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The global bone & joint health supplements market is estimated to be valued at USD 11.7 billion in 2022. It is projected to reach USD 17.6 billion...

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Magnesium is a mineral that is vital for human health and is available in many foods. People who need magnesium supplementation can purchase supplements online and in stores.

Research suggests that as many as two-thirds of people living in Western countries do not consume adequate amounts of magnesium. Magnesium deficiency can lead to symptoms such as arrhythmia, depression, and tremors.

This article discusses what magnesium is, the benefits of this mineral, and where to buy magnesium supplements online.

Magnesium is vital for many important bodily functions, such as:

It is widely available in many different kinds of food, such as leafy greens and whole grains. Manufacturers may add the mineral to fortified foods such as cereals.

People should always aim to consume enough magnesium through food, as food also contains a variety of other nutrients essential to health, including vitamins, protein, and other minerals. However, many people do not eat enough magnesium-rich foods and may benefit from taking a supplement.

Learn more about which foods are high in magnesium here.

There are several factors a person may look for in a magnesium supplement:

Magnesium supplements are available in different forms, such as:

Some types of magnesium are not as easy for the body to absorb, such as:

People may wish to purchase supplements that have magnesium citrate, aspartate, chloride, or lactate, as these are the more absorbable forms.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that the daily magnesium needs of people of different age groups are as follows:

Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding will need different amounts of magnesium:

Medical News Today chooses products that meet the following criteria where possible:

The following table indicates how MNT chooses to rank the products within this article:

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

The following are some magnesium supplements available to purchase online.

Life Extension states that the proprietary magnesium in this product is highly absorbable and does not have a laxative effect. Additionally, this product is suitable for vegetarians and does not contain GMO ingredients or gluten.

The company uses third-party labs to test each batch for safety. Additionally, people can call the companys toll-free number to receive the products certificate of analysis.

Life Extension recommends taking three capsules per day.

This product is third-party tested, and people can receive the products certificate of analysis from the company.

However, those who left more negative reviews say that they found it difficult to digest this supplement. Additionally, this product requires people to swallow three capsules.

Nature Made states that U.S Pharmacopeia tests all of its products for quality and safety. Additionally, the supplement does not contain gluten or artificial colors or flavors.

The company recommends taking one tablet per day with meals and water.

This supplement is gluten-free and third-party lab tested, which means it does not contain any ingredients that are harmful to human health.

However, this supplement may not be suitable for use on an empty stomach. The company recommends taking the tablets with meals and water.

Additionally, this product contains magnesium oxide. The body does not absorb this type of magnesium well.

This supplement offers 500 mg of magnesium per serving. It does not contain GMO ingredients and is free from many common allergens, such as soy, gluten, dairy, and fish.

The company recommends taking one tablet per day.

Each tablet is coated, which may make them easier for a person to swallow.

However, this supplement contains a high amount of magnesium and may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, the supplement contains magnesium oxide, which the body cannot absorb easily.

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The manufacturer states that this product is vegan and does not contain any GMO ingredients. The active ingredient is magnesium bisglycinate. Additionally, it does not contain any calcium.

Nested Naturals recommends taking two capsules per day.

This supplement is suitable for vegans and does not contain any soy, gluten, or GMO ingredients.

However, This magnesium supplement is more expensive than some other options.

This supplement is free from artificial colors and sweeteners, binders, fillers, and preservatives.

Pure Encapsulations states that it manufacturers products that are suitable for people with allergies. This supplement does not contain:

The company recommends taking 1 to 4 capsules a day with food.

This product is free from most common allergens, which may make it more suitable for those with allergies and sensitivities than other products.

However, people who require four capsules of this supplement may prefer to purchase a product that contains a similar amount of magnesium in fewer capsules.

Naturelo states that this product combines magnesium glycinate chelate with a blend of organic, magnesium-rich, vegetables and seeds.

The blend includes spinach, okra, quinoa, pumpkin seed, sunflower seeds, and flaxseed.

The company recommends taking one capsule per day.

This product has third-party testing. However, the capsules may be too large for some people to swallow easily.

Live Conscious states that this supplement may help support the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, and immune systems. Each bottle contains three different types of magnesium alongside zinc and vitamin D3.

This supplement is free from soy, gluten, dairy, and preservatives.

The company recommends taking two capsules with 8 ounces of water once per day.

Customers state that these supplements have helped improve their sleep and bowel function.

However, this product also contains zinc and vitamin D3. A person who is taking other vitamin and mineral supplements may wish to ensure that they do not exceed the daily recommended intake of zinc and vitamin D3.

This product combines magnesium with glycine, an amino acid that the manufacturer states may make the supplement easier for the body to tolerate and absorb.

The company recommends taking one capsule, 1 to 3 times per day.

These supplements are vegetarian and free from most common allergens, such as shellfish, yeast, and eggs.

Klaire Labs does not state whether its supplements are third-party lab tests. Additionally, this supplement provides a lower dose of magnesium per serving than some other products.

Rainbow Light states that this supplement has a 2:1 ratio of magnesium to calcium. The company states that it may help support healthy muscle function and recovery.

Additional ingredients include an herbal muscular support blend, a digestive support complex, and vitamins C, D3, and B6.

Rainbow Light recommends taking one tablet per day.

Some customers state that these tablets are easy to swallow and do not upset the stomach.

However, Rainbow Light does not state whether its supplements are third-party lab tested. Additionally, it contains other vitamins, and a person may wish to ensure they do not exceed their recommended daily intake if they also have multivitamins.

People may wish to consider the following factors when choosing a magnesium supplement:

Magnesium is generally safe to consume. The NIH states that the upper tolerable limit of magnesium is 350 mg per day for people aged 9 and over.

Studies show that higher doses are safe to consume. For example, 500 mg of magnesium may help improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia.

The NIH also says that consuming too much magnesium through food does not pose a health risk to most people as the kidney filters the excess mineral in the urine.

However, the main side effects of having too much magnesium supplementation include diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramping.

Very high doses of magnesium, often in the form of antacids, can cause magnesium toxicity. This is more common in people who consume around 5000 mg of magnesium with antacids. Symptoms of magnesium toxicity include:

If a person does not receive treatment for magnesium toxicity, they will experience:

People with kidney failure are more likely to develop magnesium toxicity as their kidneys cannot filter the excess magnesium in the urine.

Learn more about magnesium toxicity here.

Below are some common questions about magnesium.

Research on the effects of magnesium on sleep is limited.

However, one study found that taking a 500 mg magnesium supplement led to an improvement in insomnia.

People should try to take any supplements at the same time each day, as this may help form a habit and make it less likely for a person to forget to take the supplement.

However, the NIH warns that people should not take a magnesium supplement within 2 hours of oral bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax.

Additionally, people should take a magnesium supplement at least 4 to 6 hours before taking tetracycline or quinolone antibiotics, or at least 2 hours afterward.

As with any supplement, a person should consult with a healthcare professional before taking magnesium. People with kidney conditions face a higher risk of side effects.

A healthcare professional will advise whether it is safe to take magnesium after checking a persons health conditions and any medications they take.

Magnesium is a vital mineral for human health. However, many people do not consume enough of this mineral through food and may need supplementation. There are several magnesium supplements available to purchase online.

However, taking too much magnesium may lead to nausea, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. People should always consult with a healthcare professional before deciding to take magnesium supplements.

See more here:
9 of the best magnesium supplements - Medical News Today

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Wellness Supplements Market research report brings to light key market dynamics of sector. The report gives correct insights on the current market scenario and future prospects of the industry. It neatly describes historic data, present market trends, market environment, technological improvements, upcoming technologies and the technical progress in the related industry. Major market players, major collaborations, mergers & acquisitions are reviewed comprehensively in the market report. Moreover, this market study also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels, distributors and Porters Five Forces Analysis. Market risks and entry barriers makes industry attentive and help deciding further moves.

Moreover, two more major success factors of the credible market report can be mentioned here which are market share analysis and key trend analysis. The research methodology employed in the report by DBMR research team is data triangulation which includes data mining, studying the impact of data variables on the market, and primary validation by industry experts. Being an outstanding and a comprehensive in nature, this report focuses on primary and secondary market drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. With the nice mixture of integrated approaches and latest technology, best results are achieved in the form of this market research report.

Wellness supplements market is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market to account to USD 386.29 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 6.45% in the above-mentioned forecast period. The growing awareness towards healthy lifestyles among the people globally will help in driving the growth of the wellness supplements market.

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Top Companies of Industry

The major players covered in the wellness supplements market report are Life Extension, OPTAVIA LLC, Beachbody LLC, Natures Sunshine Products, Inc, Organo Gold., Thrive Life, LLC, Phytoscience Trvo, Oriflame Cosmetics AG, Melaleuca Inc, Shaklee Corporation, Arbonne International, LLC., Forever Living.com, L.L.C, Juice Plus+, Herbalife International of America, Inc, and Isagenix Worldwide LLC, Nikken Inc., Wellness Resources, Inc., The Daily Wellness Company, Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd, Glanbia plc, Nestle, Nuskin, USANA Health Sciences, Inc., among other domestic and global players. Market share data is available for Global, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America separately. DBMR analysts understand competitive strengths and provide competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

The Objective of This Report:

The Wellness Supplements Market report is a comprehensive research that focuses on the overall consumption structure, development trends, sales models and sales of top countries in the Wellness Supplements Market. The report focuses on well-known providers in the Wellness Supplements Market industry, market segments, competition, and the macro environment.

Under COVID-19 Outbreak, how the Wellness Supplements Market Industry will develop is also analyzed in detail in this report.

Global Wellness Supplements Market, By Dietary Supplements (Vitamin, Mineral, Botanical, Probiotics, Fatty Acid, Protein, Others), Functional Food and Beverage (Functional Bakery and Confectionary, Functional Dairy, Energy Drink, Sports Drink, Infant Formula and Baby Food, Others), Nutricosmetics (Skin Care, Hair Care, Weight Management, Others), Free From Food (Gluten- Free, Lactose-Free, Trans- Free, Others), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherland, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia- Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East & Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2027

The current trend pertaining to the demand supply and sales together with the recent developments have been given here to provide an exhaustive picture of this market. It also allows voluntarily accessible affordable reports of the research that is the end result of the personalized research carried by the internal team of professionals.

To comprehend Wellness Supplements Market dynamics in the world mainly, the Wellness Supplements Market is analyzed across major global regions.

Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis, Business opportunities, Market Size Estimation Available in Full Report.

Competitive Landscape and Wellness Supplements Market Share Analysis

Wellness supplements market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies focus related to wellness supplements market.

Increasing ageing population, raising disposable income in developing countries and rising demands towards the healthy and cosmetic products will likely to accelerate the growth of the wellness supplements market in the forecast period of 2020-2027. On the other hand, gradual shift towards newer technologies and natural products and growth potential offered by emerging markets will further boost various opportunities that will lead to the growth of the wellness supplements market in the above mentioned forecast period.

Lack of traditional food categories, high cost of supplement food products, regulatory issues and increasing incidence of health issues will likely to hamper the growth of the wellness supplements market in the above mentioned forecast period.

Accomplishment of maximum return on investment (ROI) is one of the most wannabe goals for any industry which can be achieved with the finest Wellness Supplements Market research report. Market insights of this report will direct for an actionable ideas, improved decision-making and better business strategies. The main research methodology utilized by DBMR research team is data triangulation which entails data mining, analysis of the impact of data variables on the market, and primary validation. The Wellness Supplements Market report is mainly delivered in the form of PDF and spreadsheets while PPT can also be provided depending upon clients request. To achieve an inevitable success in the business, this Wellness Supplements Market report plays a significant role.

Key Pointers Covered in the Wellness Supplements Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2027

Global Wellness Supplements Market Scope and Market Size

Wellness supplements market is segmented on the basis of dietary supplements, functional food and beverage, nutricosmetics and free from food. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyse meagre growth segments in the industries and provide the users with valuable market overview and market insights to help them in making strategic decisions for identification of core market applications.

Wellness Supplements Market Country Level Analysis

Wellness supplements market is analysed and market size insights and trends are provided by country, dietary supplements, functional food and beverage, nutricosmetics and free from food as referenced above.

The countries covered in the wellness supplements market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

North America dominates the wellness supplements market due to growing cognizance and acceptance of wellness products and increasing focus towards healthy lifestyles while Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest growth rate in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027 due to rising aging population and growing disposable income of the region.

The country section of the wellness supplements market report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points such as consumption volumes, production sites and volumes, import export analysis, price trend analysis, cost of raw materials, down-stream and upstream value chain analysis are some of the major pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.

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Healthcare Infrastructure growth Installed base and New Technology Penetration

Wellness supplements market also provides you with detailed market analysis for every country growth in healthcare expenditure for capital equipments, installed base of different kind of products for wellness supplements market, impact of technology using life line curves and changes in healthcare regulatory scenarios and their impact on the wellness supplements market. The data is available for historic period 2010 to 2018.

Wellness Supplements Market Development

Table of Contents-Snapshot

Executive SummaryChapter 1 Industry OverviewChapter 2 Industry Competition by ManufacturersChapter 3 Industry Production Market Share by RegionsChapter 4 Industry Consumption by RegionsChapter 5 Industry Production, Revenue, Price Trend by TypeChapter 6 Industry Analysis by ApplicationsChapter 7 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Industry BusinessChapter 8 Industry Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Marketing Channel, Distributors and CustomersChapter 10 Market DynamicsChapter 11 Industry ForecastChapter 12 Research Findings and ConclusionChapter 13 Methodology and Data Source

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Wellness Supplements Market Scope

Wellness supplements market is segmented on the basis of countries into U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

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Insights of the Market in Report

1. The study provides an in-depth analysis of the Wellness Supplements Market along with the current trends and future estimations to elucidate the imminent investment pockets.

2. Comprehensive analysis of the factors that drive and restrict the market growth is provided in the report.

3. Comprehensive quantitative analysis of the industry is provided for the period of 2018-2025 to assist stakeholders to capitalize on the prevailing market opportunities.

4. Extensive analysis of the key segments of the industry helps in understanding the trends in types of Wellness Supplements Market across Glob.

5. Key market players and their strategies have been provided to understand the competitive outlook of the Wellness Supplements Market industry

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Wellness Supplements Market Detailed Analysis Of Current Industry Demand with Forecasts Growth by 2028 Designer Women - Designer Women

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

CHICAGO --- If health care facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes dont follow patient safety rules set by The Joint Commission (TJC) the independent organization responsible for accrediting health care facilities they may lose their accreditation, and consequently, lose patients and millions of dollars every year in funding.

But what if those rules arent supported by evidence?

A new Northwestern Medicine study found of the new rules issued during a one-year period by the TJC, many did not appear to be supported by published evidence. The study showed only six of 20 rules were directly supported by references cited by TJC, six were partly supported and eight were not supported at all.

This paper is among the first to show that TJC may issue rules or standards for hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities that are not backed by evidence showing these are necessary or important for patient safety or health.

While this study only reviewed new rules during a one-year period, the implication is that many rules issued in the past may similarly not be supported by published evidence, the study authors said.

The study will be published June 23 in the British Medical Journal.

Why does it matter?

Following the rules or standards set by TJC can be expensive and use hospital resources and staff time, said lead study author Dr. Murad Alam, vice chair and professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician. "In fact, we started this study because we were approached by colleagues frustrated by TJC rules. As an example, TJC requires hospitals to discard drugs past their printed expiration dates, which results in billions wasted every year, even though the FDA's own Self Life Extension Program has shown that most of the drugs tested were perfectly safe and effective for many years longer.

Because TJC rules are so influential and impactful, it is important that these rules really improve patient care and safety. Our finding is concerning because unhelpful rules can waste money in the health care system and take attention from more important activities.

A common way to justify a rule is to show that evidence, including previous medical studies, improve the quality or safety of care. TJC, when issuing new standards and rules, often lists citations, or the names of medical articles it believes show the value of these rules, Alam said.

However, when the study authors went back to read these articles listed in support of the new rules, they found, in many cases, the articles provided little to no convincing information that the particular standards or rules being recommended by TJC would improve safety or quality of care.

Hundreds of millions of patients, hospital employees, staff affected by TJC rules

Potentially hundreds of millions of patients and millions of hospital employees and staff are affected by TJC rules and standards since the vast majority of U.S. hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission.

We all pay the cost, in terms of insurance premiums and out-of-pocket health expenses, to ensure that hospitals are safe and high quality, with some of this going to make sure that TJC standards are followed, Alam said.

Given that money for health care is limited, we want to make sure that our dollars are being used to truly ensure safety and quality and not just to do busy work that sounds important but doesnt really make a difference in how patients fare, Alam said.

When TJC standards are not supported by evidence, if TJC still believes these are important, they should provide patients, doctors and administrators with other reasons why these standards should be implemented, he said.

In medicine, evidence is often the basis of what we do or dont do, and doctors, researchers and regulators are expected to be transparent in sharing the evidence that influences their behavior, Alam said.

Alam stressed the paper is not critical of TJC's mission, motives or importance.

TJC standards are important and often extremely helpful in making health care very safe and in reducing medical errors, Alam said. We must give a great deal of credit to TJC for being at the forefront of protecting patients in the U.S. We also admire TJC for constantly striving to improve health care safety and quality by considering new standards that may further reduce medical errors. This is an outstanding organization, which we are fortunate to have.

The authors suggest:

The article is titled: The evidence base for US joint commission hospital accreditation standards: cross sectional study.

This study was funded by Feinbergs department of dermatology, section of cutaneous surgery.

Data/statistical analysis

Not applicable

The evidence base for US joint commission hospital accreditation standards: cross sectional study.

23-Jun-2022

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Hospitals bound to patient safety rules that aren't all backed by evidence - EurekAlert

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

In response to requests from raspberry and blackberry growers, Tessara has developed Berrisys Fast, a fully recyclable sulphur dioxide-generating sheet, with only a fast release layer, activated at high relative humidity in order to protect these most delicate of fruit.

Blueberries are climacteric fruit and will continue to ripen after harvest and can be stored and transported for long periods, while non-climacteric fruit such as raspberries and blackberries will not ripen and need to be harvested at full or close to full maturity.

Elton Williams, research scientist and custodian of berries at Tessara, explains that with the successful development of Berrisys and Berrisys LITE for blueberries, Tessara has invested in various experiments since 2018 and has until now started working closely with local raspberries and blackberries growers in South Africa.

"Storage and transport periods on raspberries and blackberries are very short and this is due to the rapid deterioration, from fruit senescence and postharvest diseases," he says.

Major losses can be experienced and an entire pallet of fruit can be unfit for consumption and can therefore be rejected.

We are in the process of releasing Berrisys Fast into the market that contains the same active ingredient, as our popular Berrisys and Berrisys LITE for blueberries, but it differs from these products in terms of the time frame."

The idea is to develop a product for short term protection against postharvest diseases during storage and transport, without negatively affecting other quality parameters such as the natural flavours and colour, he adds.

Whereas Berrisys and Berrisys LITE are dual-release laminated sheets which release an initial higher amount of SO2 over 24 to 48 hours, followed by a lower dosage offering 30 to 42 days of protection, Berrisys Fast only releases SO2 during the first 24 to 48 hours.

Precise concentrations and particle sizes of the active ingredient control the gas concentration and active period of the fast release layer. The fast release layer disinfect the surface of the berries, by releasing a large enough dose of sulphur dioxide to kill and eliminate any actively growing Botrytis (grey mould) fungal spores and to offer immediate protection over the three to four days of airfreight transit or during the storage period.

A blackberry orchard

Shelf life extension of a day and a halfElton points out that raspberries and blackberries have an exceedingly short shelf life and postharvest losses due to Botrytiscan be devastating. Sulphurous acid is formed when SO2 gas reacts with water. Sulphurous acid reacts with the cell membrane and block enzymes of microorganisms and therefore inhibits the multiplication of micro-organisms present on the surface of fruit. While other packaging solutions may delay fruit respiration while the packaging remains intact, the moment conditions change, any spores present will inevitably continue its life cycle.

Moreover, given logistical uncertainties for example temperature fluctuations which are at times an unavoidable reality and can thus lead to condensation within packaging, inviting the development of mould on fruit. The only certain way to protect fruits is by destroying the viability of spores in the first place.

Gerhard Slabbert, Berrisys global product manager, observes that in the current challenging trading environment, it is imperative that berry growers investigate all possible avenues to safeguard the quality of ephemeral products like raspberries and blackberries. Weve had great success in our trials of the Berrisys Fast, while an independent trial in Australia has replicated our results: with Berrisys Fast it is possible to obtain an extension of a day and a half in shelf life, he says.

Tessaras initial focus will be on South African-grown raspberries and blackberries, two categories that have been more under the radar than blueberries, but which have witnessed a steady growth in exports, mostly to the United Kingdom, followed by the Middle East.

For the moment, regulations in the EU governing the use of sulphur dioxide hold back its introduction to raspberry and blackberry growers, but Lionel George, head of regulatory and compliance at Tessara, notes that the company has approached the relevant authorities for amendments to the regulatory framework which they expect could take up to two years.

The argument in favour of sulphur dioxides salient ability to preserve fruit quality and thus reduce food waste is incontrovertible, the company maintains, and it is pursuing regulatory registration trials of Berrisys and Berrisys LITE for blueberries in the USA and Australia.

The Berrisys Fast sheet for raspberries and blackberries (photo supplied by Tessara)

The past season offered a trial by fire for Berrisys on blueberries: it was clear that berries sent under a Berrisys regime handled the huge delays much better than those without. Elton observes that one of their clients had blueberries in transit for an extended period due to delays and nevertheless still managed to sell most of that fruit. He remarks that none of their trials had ever run for such a long period of time.

Realistically, we have to plan for the impact of longer storage periods with the holdups at harbours, both here and on the receiving end, he says.

For more information:Gerhard SlabbertTessara BerrisysTel: +27 82 094 1875Email: gerhards@tessara.co.zahttps://www.tessara.co.za/products/berrisys-2/

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Tessara's Berrisys Fast is quick to unlock the potential of raspberries and blackberries - FreshPlaza.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Some men with a deficit of sex hormones who take testosterone replacement therapy may experience a benefit that goes beyond improved sexual function.

When men have both hypogonadism and poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, testosterone replacement therapy may improve both sexual function and cognitive function, according to preliminary results of a small clinical trial presented at the Endocrine Societys annual meeting in Atlanta.

The findings are welcome news to men with diabetes and hypogonadism, since they often have a poor quality of life, said the lead study author, Preethi Mohan Rao, MD, of the University of Sheffield, England, in a statement.

Hypogonadism in men, often called low T, develops when the body doesnt produce enough testosterone. While men can be born with the condition, it can also develop later in life and cause symptoms like reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, depression, and difficulty concentrating, according to the Mayo Clinic. Not all men with hypogonadism have symptoms, and testosterone replacement therapy is recommended only when they do, according to the Endocrine Society.

Sexual dysfunction is a common symptom of both hypogonadism and type 2 diabetes. Men with type 2 diabetes have about twice the risk of low testosterone, according to the American Diabetes Association. Men with poorly controlled diabetes or obesity, or both, have an even greater risk of low testosterone.

For the new clinical trial, researchers randomly assigned 65 men with hypogonadism and poorly controlled type 2 diabetes to take either placebo shots or injections of testosterone replacement therapy every 12 weeks for six months. Then researchers extended the trial for an additional six months, continuing treatment for men on testosterone and starting testosterone for men in the placebo group.

Over the first six months of the trial, men who took testosterone experienced significantly bigger improvements in quality of life and a larger reduction in symptoms associated with low testosterone.

When these men continued testosterone for an additional six months, they experienced overall symptom improvements as well as increased sexual function and libido, the trial found. In addition, these men performed significantly better on delayed verbal recall tests, assessments done to detect early signs of dementia.

The trial was small, however, and more research is needed before health practitioners change treatment approaches for men with hypogonadism and type 2 diabetes.

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Testosterone May Aid Memory in Men With Uncontrolled Diabetes - Everyday Health

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

In developed countries where there are large populations of older men, prostate cancer becomes a serious public health problem as its prevalence increases throughout life. In the United States, following lung cancer, prostate cancer is the second-highest cause of cancer death in males, with one estimate claiming that 1.3 million newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer were recorded in men in 2018 associated with 359,038 deaths [1].

Since the first observation by Huggins and Hodges in 1941, it has been established that androgens (chiefly testosterone) play a key role in promoting tumor growth in prostate cancer patients [2]. Hence, effective anti-cancer therapy revolves around declining exposure to androgens and is referred to as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). ADT is frequently used with localized treatments such as external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy [3]. Even though orchiectomy (surgical castration) is a simple and cheap procedure, it is less common due to its irreversibility [4]. Multiple strategies are employed to reduce exposure to testosterone including surgically removing the testes that produce 90% of the hormone or undergoing hormonal therapy which entails either reducing testosterone secretion or blocking androgen receptors. Figure1depicts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the sites of action of ADT.

ADThas become more common in prostate cancer patients in recent yearswith approximately 40% of men undergoing ADT within six months of diagnosis [5]. Cooperberg and colleagues documented the significant increase in the use of ADT from 1989 to 2001 in their report. The most dramatic change was the increase in the use of ADT in external beam radiation therapy (RT) from 9.8% to 74.6% of patients [6].

The use of ADT in prostate cancer treatment has expanded beyond symptomatic metastatic diseasetreatment to include asymptomatic metastatic disease, primary treatment in localized disease when men are unable to undergo surgery or radiotherapy, adjunct therapy in high-risk diseases treated with radiotherapy, and salvage therapy after relapse after surgery or radiotherapy for presumed localized disease [7,8]. TheEuropean Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines recommend ADT for patients with metastatic disease (level of evidence: A) or combined with RT for individuals with high-risk cancers (level of evidence: A). Further, ADT can be used as a single treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer who refuse, are incapable to take any other form of local treatment, or are asymptomatic, with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) higher than 50 ng/mL and a tumor that is not well-differentiated (level of evidence: A) [9].

A profound testosterone deficiency created by ADT can cause various adverse short and long-term health effects, including hot flushes, sexual dysfunction, obesity, sarcopenia, dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) [5,7,8]. Despite the fact that male sex is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), evidence is mounting that testosterone may protect men with prostate cancer and men in general against heart disease [8].ADT has been shown to promote adiposity in males; one study reported that after one year of ADT, body fat increased by 9.4% [10].

Most patients with prostate cancer have CVD as comorbidity [11-13]. In men with prostate cancer, CVD is the leading cause of non-cancer mortality. In the mid-1990s, Surveillance, Epidemiologyand End Result (SEER) Medicare-linked data showed that CVD was responsible for around one-fourth of deaths among men with prostate cancer [14]. This piqued the researchers interest in determining what might be causing CVD in this group, focusing on the role of ADT as a contributory factor. In 2010, the American Heart Association, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, and the American Urological Association issued a joint statement to raise awareness of the ADT-CVD relationship [15].

In males with prostate cancer, significant increases in total blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels have also been related to androgen deficiency [16]. CAD is exacerbated by obesity and hyperlipidemia, both of which are risk factors[16]. ADT also raises hemoglobin A1C levels in men who already have DM [17]. Although more research is needed to demonstrate that the link between CVD and ADT is not due to confounding factors, there are multiple physiologically possible mechanisms through which ADT may contribute to CVD development [17].

Dyslipidemia, DM, and obesity are all well-known possible causes of atherosclerotic CVD [18]. Androgens may influence the local inflammatory response, which plays a critical role in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, as well as plaque instability and rupture, via androgen receptor (AR)-dependent and AR-independent pathways, according to recent studies [17]. As a result, these consequences of medically induced hypogonadism may provide a mechanism through which ADT may raise the risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality. Hence, a thorough systematic review of published papers was performed to precisely analyze the relationship of ADT with cardiovascular events in prostate cancer patients and to assist healthcare providers in making related clinical decisions [10].

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards were used to perform this systemic review [19].

Database and Search Strategy

The research was started on November 20, 2021, using online libraries as our database. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar for data collection. Our keywords and medical subject heading (MeSH) search strategiesused are depicted in Table 1.

Eligibility Criteria

Studies investigating the association of ADT with cardiovascular events in prostate cancer patients were included without geographic location or publication status restrictions. The following selection criteria were included: (1) the study was published as an original article and contained the original data (excluding reviews, editorials, and conference summaries); (2) only included patients diagnosed with prostate cancer; (3) the intervention group included ADT (medical or surgical ADT); (4) studies with cardiovascular outcomes as the endpoint. Studies were excluded if any of the following factors were identified: (1) secondary studies; (2) laboratory studies; (3) animal studies; (4) database duplication and lack of detailed results.

Quality Assessment Tools

The assessment was separately conducted by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane risk bias assessment tool for clinical trials and the modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for quality assessment of observational studies [19]. With the help of another field expert, all discrepancies regarding the inclusion of the studies were resolved. High-quality studies were defined as those that received 70% or more of the highest number of stars. We excluded studies that were of low quality. In total, 16 studies were included [4,19-33]. Table 2 shows the quality assessment of clinical trials using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.

Table 3 shows the quality assessment ofcohort studies using the modified version of the NOS.

Table 4 shows the quality assessment of cross-sectional studies using the modified version of the NOS.

Selection and Data Extraction

Two reviewersseparately obtained data utilizing a predefined data extraction formfrom the final articles after quality assessment. With the help of a third reviewer, disagreements were addressed via debate or consensus.The following information was obtained: first authors name, sample size, research features (i.e., year, design, and setting), type of ADT intervention used in the study, cardiovascular events described in every paper, and other non-cardiovascular events described in the study. Extracted data are summarized in Table 5.

Literature Search

Our extensive search resulted in 425 studies. Only 287 studies remained after removing 108 duplicates. In total, 264 articles were omittedafter reviewing the abstractsand titles because they did not fit the inclusion criteria forthe following causes: secondary studies, laboratory searches, and non-relevant topics. Finally, the entire paper was carefully read, of which five were further excluded because of non-cardiovascular end-point. Figure 2 shows the PRISMA flowchart demonstrating the search process and study selection.

Study Characteristics

In total, 14 observational studiesand two randomized control trials (RCTs ) were included in the systemic review [4,19-33]. The key characteristics of the investigations (published between 2006 and 2020) that were considered are listed in Table 5. Seven studies were performed in America, one in Japan, two in Sweden, one in China, two in Canada, one in Taiwan, and one in Brazil. One clinical trial was done in the United States, Australia, and Canada. The sample sizes in the reviewed clinical investigations ranged from 79 to 201,797 participants. All studies had ADT as the intervention.

Seven of these studies did not mention the specific ADT type used and compared outcomes between patient groups that used ADT to those that did not.The other studies mention the specific type of ADT used and compared the outcomes between patient groups receiving different types of ADT such as GnRH agonists, combined androgen blockade (CAB), surgical castration, and oral anti-androgenwith each other and with the patient group that did not receive ADT.

ADT Versus Non-ADT Groups on Cardiovascular Events

Myocardial infarction (MI), sudden cardiac death (SCD), and CAD: According to a study by Wallis et al., radiation (adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) = 1.16-1.28, p< 0.0001-0.04) and ADT (aHR = 1.18-1.32, p< 0.0001-0.0008) were both linked with an elevated risk of CAD, SCD, and fracture requiring hospitalization after adjusting for baseline differences [32].Radiotherapy was associated with a greater risk of MI (aHR = 1.20, p = 0.02) but not ADT (p = 0.5) [32].In a study by Nguyen et al., individuals who used ADT had a greater risk of CAD (HR = 1.12, 95% confidenceinterval (CI) = 1.09-1.14) and acute MI(HR = 1.11, 95%CI = 1.08-1.15) than those who did not [33].

Standardized incidence ratio(SIR) of CVD, arrhythmia, and ischemic heart disease (IHD): Van Hemelrijck et al. reported thatregardless of the history of cardiovascular illness, SIRfor CVD was high in all males undergoing ADT, with the greatest values among those on endocrine treatment [31]. In this study, endocrine treatment was grouped into anti-androgens, estrogens, orchiectomy, GnRH agonists, GnRH agonist combined with long-term anti-androgens, and other types of endocrine therapy. SIR MI for men without circulatory disease history: 1.40 (95% CI = 1.31 to 1.49), 1.15 (95% CI = 1.01 to 1.31), and 1.20 (95% CI = 1.11 to 1.30) for men undergoing primary endocrine therapy, radical prostatectomy/radiotherapy, and surveillance endocrine therapy, respectively.

Arterial stiffness: Within six months following ADT, the entire sample exhibited no significant increase in arterial stiffness, according to Oka et al., although 55.2% of patients had an elevated cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) [28]. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the blood significantly increased one month after starting ADT and remained high thereafter.

Hypertension: Over a five-year follow-up period,Wu et al. found that the incidence of new-onset hypertension was 22.6 per 1,000 person-years in patients who did not receive ADT and 33.0 per 1,000 person-years in those who did receive ADT [4]. There was a 1.78-fold enhanced risk of developing new-onset hypertension in the group that received ADT than in the control group (95% CI = 1.61-1.96; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the CAB group had almost doubled the likelihood of subsequent hypertension (aHR = 1.93; 95% CI = 1.71-2.18; p < 0.001).

Cardiovascular morbidity: According to Saigal et al., patients with prostate cancer who had ADT for at least one year had a 20% greater risk of substantial cardiovascular morbidity than those who did not [29]. The individuals began to encounter this elevated risk after just 12 months of treatment.

Cardiovascular mortality: According to Kim et al., patients with no ADT, six months of ADT, and more than six months of ADT, respectively, had cumulative cardiovascular mortality of 2.6% (95% CI = 1.9-3.5%), 2.1% (95% CI = 1.2-3.5%), and 1.4% (95% CI = 1.0-2.0%) at seven years (Grays p = 0.002) [25]. In this study, compared to the more than six-month ADT group, the non-ADT group had greater cardiovascular disease and risk factors at the start.

GnRH Agonist Versus Surgical Castration Versus CAB Versus Anti-androgenson Cardiovascular Events

General risk of CVD: According to a study by O'Farrell et al., males who used GnRH agonists (HR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.18-1.25) had a greater risk of CVD than the orchiectomy group (HR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.08-1.25) and that of the anti-androgen group(HR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.82-0.91) [27]. CVD risk was higher in males who had two or more cardiovascular incidents before starting ADT, with HR of CVD with GnRH agonist treatment of 1.91 (95%CI = 1.66-2.20), HR of CVD with anti-androgen therapy of 1.60 (95%CI = 1.24-2.06), and HR of CVD with orchiectomy of 1.79 (95%CI = 1.16-2.76) versus comparison cohort. Teoh et al., according to the Kaplan-Meier analysis, determined that the orchiectomy group had a higher incidence of new cardiovascular thromboticevents than the GnRH agonist group (p = 0.014) [30]. Age (HR = 1.072, 95% CI = 1.04-1.11; p = 0.001), hyperlipidemia (HR = 2.455, 95%CI = 1.53-3.93; p = 0.001), and orchiectomy (HR = 1.648, 95%CI = 1.05-2.59; p = 0.031) were all found to be significant risk factors for cardiovascular thrombotic events according to multivariate Cox regression analysis.

CVD prevalence: In a study by Morgia et al., a total of 1,075 people were included, with 285 (26.51%) and 790 (73.49%) being discordant and concordant, respectively, according to the EAU criteria [26].Discordant ADT was linked to a higher incidence of cardiovascular issues (odds ratio (OR) = 2.07; p = 0.01) in a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors, with GnRH agonists (HR = 3.95, 95% CI = 1.01-15.34; p = 0.005) and CAB (HR = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.10-10.30; p = 0.005) both contributing to cardiovascular complications.

CAD, MI, and SCD: According to Keating et al., treatment with GnRH agonists was linked to statistically significantly greater risks of incident CAD (aHR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.10-1.28), MI (aHR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.08-1.5) [23,24]. Oral anti-androgen monotherapy was not linked to any of the outcomes investigated. According to Gandaglia et al., overall, the rates of CAD, MI, and SCD were 25.9%, 15.6%, and 15.8%, respectively after 10 years [21]. After stratification by ADT status (ADT-naive vs. GnRH agonists vs. bilateral orchidectomy), the CAD rates were 25.1%, 26.9%, and 23.2%, respectively. The acuteMI rates were 14.8%, 16.6%, and 14.8%, while the SCD rates were 14.2%, 17.7%, and 16.4%, respectively. GnRH agonists (all p = 0.001) but not bilateral orchidectomy (all p = 0.7) were linked to a greater risk of CAD, MI, and SCD in competing-risk multivariable regression models. According to Amico et al., males aged 65 and over who got six months of ADT had shorter delays to fatal MIs than men in this age group who did not get ADT (p = 0.017) or men younger than 65 years (p = 0.016) [19]. The time to fatal MIs in males aged 65 and older who got six to eight months of ADT compared to three months of ADT revealed no significant difference (p = 0.97). Here, ADT used was GnRH agonists.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and venous thromboembolism (VTE): GnRH agonist usage was linked to a greater risk of PAD (aHR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.12-1.21) and VTE (aHR = 1.10;95% = CI 1.04-1.15). Orchiectomy was also linked to an elevated risk of PAD (aHR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.02-1.26) and VTE (aHR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.11-1.45), according to Hu and colleagues [22].

Cardiovascular mortality: According to Efstathiou et al., cardiovascular mortality was 5.9% for men getting longer-term adjuvant goserelin versus 4.8% for men receiving short-term goserelin after five years (Grays p = 0.16). In multivariate analyses, the treatment arm was not linked to an enhanced risk of cardiovascular mortality when censoring at the time of salvage goserelin (aHR= 1.02, 95% CI = 0.73-1.43; p = 0.9) [20]. Traditional cardiac risk variables such as age, CVD, and DM were all linked to a greater risk of CVD [20].

Systematic reviews are considered the highest level of evidence and are typically emphasized in evidence-based practice because they reduce the errors and biases that can be introduced by single research. A well-conducted systematic review can assist researchers in objectively establishing the boundaries of what is known and what is unknown by summarizing all of the relevant and reliable evidence to enhance clinical decision-making [34,35]. This review attempted to involve all potentially relevant literature related to the research topic, which was cardiovascular events due to ADT in prostate cancer patients.

ADT may be beneficial to prostate cancer patients as part of curative treatment or as a palliative treatment for advanced disease. As the average life expectancy for males with prostate cancer increases, more people may be exposed to the possible adverse effects of ADT over longer periods. Care for cardiovascular events is an important element of the survivorship phase for a significant number of prostate cancer patients.

The 16articles considered in the review were good quality studies as per the NOS andCochrane risk bias assessment tools,out of which 14 were observational studies and two RCTs. Seven of these studies did not mention the specific ADT type used and compared outcomes between patient groups that use ADT to those that did not. The other studies mentioned the specific type of ADT used and compared the outcomes between patient groups receiving different types of ADT such as GnRH agonists, CAB, surgical castration, and oral anti-androgen with each other and with the patient group that did not receive ADT.

ADT Versus Non-ADT Groups on Cardiovascular Events

According to Wallis et al., there is an increase in CAD and SCD in both the groups individually but there is an increase in MI only in the non-ADT group [32]. When discussing the risks and benefits of treatment for localized prostate cancer for formulating a survivorship plan, the increased use of ADT for males with localized disease undergoing radiotherapy, and the observed higher prevalence of CAD, MI, and SCD in these patients should be considered. Nguyen et al. conducted a study thatfound males who received ADT had a higher incidence of CAD, MI, and SCD who did not receive ADT [33].

According to Van Hemelrijck et al., all prostate cancer patients, especially those treated with ADT, have enhanced relative risks of fatal and non-fatal CVD (SIR of CVD, arrhythmia, IHD) [31].According to Oka et al., while the entire cohort did not show a significant change in arterial stiffness with ADT, some patients with CAVI showed an increase in arterial stiffness [28]. The ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C, or LDL-C/HDL-C may impact the development of arterial stiffness following ADT administration. Thus, doctors may be able to use LDL-C/HDL-C values to monitor prostate cancer patients who are at high risk of developing arterial stiffness following ADT therapy in prostate cancer patients.

According to the findings of Wu et al., males who had ADT for prostate cancer are at risk of having hypertension in the future [4]. According to Saigal et al., ADT is related to a significantly higher cardiovascular morbidity in prostate cancer patients and may reduce overall survival in low-risk men [29]. These findings are especially important for deciding whether or not to use ADT in prostate cancer patients in situations where the benefit has not been proven. According to Kim et al., individuals who received longer durations of ADT had a lower cardiovascular mortality rate than those who did not get ADT [25]. These discrepancies are most likely because of patient selection for ADT rather than the impact of ADT.

GnRH Agonist Versus Surgical Castration Versus CAB Versus Anti-androgenson Cardiovascular Events

According to Morgia et al., almost one-third of prostate cancer patients got inappropriate GnRH agonists who in turn had a higher prevalence of CVD [27]. Cardiovascular risk is significantly increased in males who received ADT in the form of GnRH agonists and surgical castration. However, prostate cancer patients who took anti-androgen had a lower chance of developing CVD risk factors. According to the findings of O'Farrell et al., there should be a strong indication for ADT in males with prostate cancer such that the benefits outweigh the risks; this is especially important in males with a recent history of CVD [28].When compared to GnRH agonists, Teoh et al. claimthat surgical castration is linked to a greater risk of cardiovascular thrombotic events. This is an essential factor to consider when choosing an ADT approach, particularly in older men with a history of hyperlipidemia [30].

GnRH agonist treatment for males with locoregional prostate cancer was linked to an elevated risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CAD, MI, and SCD), according to Keating et al. (2006) [23].ADT with GnRH agonists was linked to an elevated risk of diabetes and CVD (CAD, MI, and SCD), ADT with CAB was linked to an enhanced risk of CAD, ADT with orchiectomy was linked to CAD and MI, and oral anti-androgen monotherapy was not linked to any of the outcomes studied, according to Keating (2010) [24]. In males with non-metastatic prostate cancer, Gandaglia et al. revealed that the administration of GnRH agonists, but not orchidectomy, is still associated with a considerably higher risk of CAD, MI, and, especially SCD. In men with a higher risk of CVD, alternative types of ADT should be evaluated [22]. Amico et al. discovered that GnRH agonist use is linked to an earlier onset of fatal MIs in males 65 and older who are treated for six months versus males who are not treated with GnRH agonist [19].

Hu et al. state that ADT in the forms of GnRH agonists and surgical castration for non-metastatic prostate cancer is linked to an enhanced risk of PAD and VTE. The observational research design has limitations as does the inability to examine the usage of oral anti-androgens [22].According to Efstathiou et al., a longer duration of adjuvant GnRH agonist medication does not improve cardiovascular mortality in males with locally advanced prostate cancer, whereas traditional cardiac risk factors, such as DM, prevalent CVD, and age, were significantly associated with higher cardiovascular mortality [20].

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Cardiovascular Effects of Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Prostate Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review - Cureus

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

For more in-depth learning, we recommend Different Approaches in our Patient Education program.

The challenges of gene and cell therapists can be divided into three broad categories based on disease, development of therapy, and funding.

Challenges based on the disease characteristics: Disease symptoms of most genetic diseases, such as Fabrys, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntingtons, and lysosomal storage diseases are caused by distinct mutations in single genes. Other diseases with a hereditary predisposition, such as Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, cancer, and dystonia may be caused by variations/mutations in several different genes combined with environmental causes. Note that there are many susceptible genes and additional mutations yet to be discovered. Gene replacement therapy for single gene defects is the most conceptually straightforward. However, even then the gene therapy agent may not equally reduce symptoms in patients with the same disease caused by different mutations, and even the samemutationcan be associated with different degrees of disease severity. Gene therapists often screen their patients to determine the type of mutation causing the disease before enrollment into a clinical trial.

The mutated gene may cause symptoms in more than one cell type. Cystic fibrosis, for example, affects lung cells and the digestive tract, so the gene therapy agent may need to replace the defective gene or compensate for its consequences in more than one tissue for maximum benefit. Alternatively, cell therapy can utilizestem cellswith the potential to mature into the multiple cell types to replace defective cells in different tissues.

In diseases like muscular dystrophy, for example, the high number of cells in muscles throughout the body that need to be corrected in order to substantially improve the symptoms makes delivery of genes and cells a challenging problem.

Some diseases, like cancer, are caused by mutations in multiple genes. Although different types of cancers have some common mutations, every tumor from a single type of cancer does not contain the same mutations. This phenomenon complicates the choice of a single gene therapy tactic and has led to the use of combination therapies and cell elimination strategies. For more information on gene and cell therapy strategies to treat cancer, please refer to the Cancer and Immunotherapy summary in the Disease Treatment section.

Disease models in animals do not completely mimic the human diseases and viralvectorsmay infect various species differently. The testing of vectors in animal models often resemble the responses obtained in humans, but the larger size of humans in comparison to rodents presents additional challenges in the efficiency of delivery and penetration of tissue.Gene therapy, cell therapy, and oligonucleotide-based therapy agents are often tested in larger animal models, including rabbit, dog, pig and nonhuman primate models. Testing human cell therapy in animal models is complicated by immune rejections. Furthermore, humans are a very heterogeneous population. Their immune responses to the vectors, altered cells, or cell therapy products may differ or be similar to results obtained in animal models.

Challenges in the development of gene and cell therapy agents: Scientific challenges include the development of gene therapy agents that express the gene in the relevant tissue at the appropriate level for the desired duration of time. There are a lot of issues in that once sentence, and while these issues are easy to state, each one requires extensive research to identify the best means of delivery, how to control sufficient levels or numbers of cells, and factors that influence duration of gene expression or cell survival. After the delivery modalities are determined, identification and engineering of a promoter and control elements (on/off switch and dimmer switch) that will produce the appropriate amount of protein in the target cell can be combined with the relevant gene. This gene cassette is engineered into a vector or introduced into thegenomeof a cell and the properties of the delivery vehicle are tested in different types of cells in tissue culture. Sometimes things go as planned and then studies can be moved onto examination in animal models. In most cases, the gene/cell therapy agent may need to be improved further by adding new control elements to obtain the desired responses in cells and animal models.

Furthermore, the response of the immune system needs to be considered based on the type of gene or cell therapy being undertaken. For example, in gene or cell therapy for cancer, one aim is to selectively boost the existing immune response to cancer cells. In contrast, to treat genetic diseases like hemophilia and cystic fibrosis the goal is for the therapeutic protein to be accepted as an addition to the patients immune system.

If the new gene is inserted into the patients cellularDNA, the intrinsic sequences surrounding the new gene can affect its expression and vice versa. Scientists are now examining short DNA segments that may insulate the new gene from surrounding control elements. Theoretically, these insulator sequences would also reduce the effect of vector control signals in the gene cassette on adjacent cellular genes. Studies are also focusing on means to target insertion of the new gene into safe areas of the genome, to avoid influence on surrounding genes and to reduce the risk of insertional mutagenesis.

Challenges of cell therapy include the harvesting of the appropriate cell populations and expansion or isolation of sufficient cells for one or multiple patients. Cell harvesting may require specific media to maintain the stem cells ability toself-renew and mature into the appropriate cells. Ideally extra cells are taken from the individual receiving therapy. Those additional cells can expand in culture and can be induced to becomepluripotent stem cells(iPS), thus allowing them to assume a wide variety of cell types and avoiding immune rejection by the patient. The long term benefit of stem cell administration requires that the cells be introduced into the correct target tissue and become established functioning cells within the tissue. Several approaches are being investigated to increase the number of stem cells that become established in the relevant tissue.

Another challenge is developing methods that allow manipulation of the stem cells outside the body while maintaining the ability of those cells to produce more cells that mature into the desired specialized cell type. They need to provide the correct number of specialized cells and maintain their normal control of growth and cell division, otherwise there is the risk that these new cells may grow into tumors.

Challenges in funding: In most fields, funding for basic or applied research for gene and cell therapy is available through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and private foundations. These are usually sufficient to cover the preclinical studies that suggest a potential benefit from a particular gene and cell therapy. Moving into clinical trials remains a huge challenge as it requires additional funding for manufacturing of clinical grade reagents, formal toxicology studies in animals, preparation of extensive regulatory documents, and costs of clinical trials.Biotechnology companies and the NIH are trying to meet the demand for this large expenditure, but many promising therapies are slowed down by lack of funding for this critical next phase.

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Gene & Cell Therapy FAQs | ASGCT - American Society of Gene & Cell ...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Stem cell technology will transform medical practice. While stem cell research has already elucidated many basic disease mechanisms, the promise of stem cellbased therapies remains largely unrealized. In this review, we begin with an overview of different stem cell types. Next, we review the progress in using stem cells for regenerative therapy. Last, we discuss the risks associated with stem cellbased therapies.

There are three major types of stem cells as follows: adult stem cells (also called tissue-specific stem cells), embryonic stem (ES) cells, and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.

A majority of adult stem cells are lineage-restricted cells that often reside within niches of their tissue of origin. Adult stem cells are characterized by their capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into tissue-specific cell types. Many adult tissues contain stem cells including skin, muscle, intestine, and bone marrow (Gan et al, 1997; Artlett et al, 1998; Matsuoka et al, 2001; Coulombel, 2004; Humphries et al, 2011). However, it remains unclear whether all adult organs contain stem cells. Adult stem cells are quiescent but can be induced to replicate and differentiate after tissue injury to replace cells that have died. The process by which this occurs is poorly understood. Importantly, adult stem cells are exquisitely tissue-specific in that they can only differentiate into the mature cell type of the organ within which they reside (Rinkevich et al, 2011).

Thus far, there are few accepted adult stem cellbased therapies. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can be used after myeloablation to repopulate the bone marrow in patients with hematologic disorders, potentially curing the underlying disorder (Meletis and Terpos, 2009; Terwey et al, 2009; Casper et al, 2010; Hill and Copelan, 2010; Hoff and Bruch-Gerharz, 2010; de Witte et al, 2010). HSCs are found most abundantly in the bone marrow, but can also be harvested at birth from umbilical cord blood (Broxmeyer et al, 1989). Similar to the HSCs harvested from bone marrow, cord blood stem cells are tissue-specific and can only be used to reconstitute the hematopoietic system (Forraz et al, 2002; McGuckin et al, 2003; McGuckin and Forraz, 2008). In addition to HSCs, limbal stem cells have been used for corneal replacement (Rama et al, 2010).

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a subset of adult stem cells that may be particularly useful for stem cellbased therapies for three reasons. First, MSCs have been isolated from a variety of mesenchymal tissues, including bone marrow, muscle, circulating blood, blood vessels, and fat, thus making them abundant and readily available (Deans and Moseley, 2000; Zhang et al, 2009; Lue et al, 2010; Portmann-Lanz et al, 2010). Second, MSCs can differentiate into a wide array of cell types, including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes (Pittenger et al, 1999). This suggests that MSCs may have broader therapeutic applications compared to other adult stem cells. Third, MSCs exert potent paracrine effects enhancing the ability of injured tissue to repair itself. In fact, animal studies suggest that this may be the predominant mechanism by which MSCs promote tissue repair. The paracrine effects of MSC-based therapy have been shown to aid in angiogenic, antiapoptotic, and immunomodulatory processes. For instance, MSCs in culture secrete hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (Nagaya et al, 2005). In a rat model of myocardial ischemia, injection of human bone marrow-derived stem cells upregulated cardiac expression of VEGF, HGF, bFGF, angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2, and PDGF (Yoon et al, 2005). In swine, injection of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells into ischemic myocardium was shown to increase the expression of VEGF, enhance angiogenesis, and improve cardiac performance (Tse et al, 2007). Bone marrow-derived stem cells have also been used in a number of small clinical trials with conflicting results. In the largest of these trials (REPAIR-AMI), 204 patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomized to receive bone marrow-derived progenitor cells vs placebo 37 days after reperfusion. After 4 months, the patients that were infused with stem cells showed improvement in left ventricular function compared to control patients. At 1 year, the combined endpoint of recurrent ischemia, revascularization, or death was decreased in the group treated with stem cells (Schachinger et al, 2006).

Embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass of the developing embryo during the blastocyst stage (Thomson et al, 1998). In contrast to adult stem cells, ES cells are pluripotent and can theoretically give rise to any cell type if exposed to the proper stimuli. Thus, ES cells possess a greater therapeutic potential than adult stem cells. However, four major obstacles exist to implementing ES cells therapeutically. First, directing ES cells to differentiate into a particular cell type has proven to be challenging. Second, ES cells can potentially transform into cancerous tissue. Third, after transplantation, immunological mismatch can occur resulting in host rejection. Fourth, harvesting cells from a potentially viable embryo raises ethical concerns. At the time of this publication, there are only two ongoing clinical trials utilizing human ES-derived cells. One trial is a safety study for the use of human ES-derived oligodendrocyte precursors in patients with paraplegia (Genron based in Menlo Park, California). The other is using human ES-derived retinal pigmented epithelial cells to treat blindness resulting from macular degeneration (Advanced Cell Technology, Santa Monica, CA, USA).

In stem cell research, the most exciting recent advancement has been the development of iPS cell technology. In 2006, the laboratory of Shinya Yamanaka at the Gladstone Institute was the first to reprogram adult mouse fibroblasts into an embryonic-like cell, or iPS cell, by overexpression of four transcription factors, Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4 under ES cell culture conditions (Takahashi and Yamanaka, 2006). Yamakana's pioneering work in cellular reprogramming using adult mouse cells set the foundation for the successful creation of iPS cells from adult human cells by both his team (Takahashi et al, 2007) and a group led by James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin (Yu et al, 2007). These initial proof of concept studies were expanded upon by leading scientists such as George Daley, who created the first library of disease-specific iPS cell lines (Park et al, 2008). These seminal discoveries in the cellular reprogramming of adult cells invigorated the stem cell field and created a niche for a new avenue of stem cell research based on iPS cells and their derivatives. Since the first publication on cellular reprogramming in 2006, there has been an exponential growth in the number of publications on iPS cells.

Similar to ES cells, iPS cells are pluripotent and, thus, have tremendous therapeutic potential. As of yet, there are no clinical trials using iPS cells. However, iPS cells are already powerful tools for modeling disease processes. Prior to iPS cell technology, in vitro cell culture disease models were limited to those cell types that could be harvested from the patient without harm usually dermal fibroblasts from skin biopsies. However, mature dermal fibroblasts alone cannot recapitulate complicated disease processes involving multiple cell types. Using iPS technology, dermal fibroblasts can be de-differentiated into iPS cells. Subsequently, the iPS cells can be directed to differentiate into the cell type most beneficial for modeling a particular disease process. Advances in the production of iPS cells have found that the earliest pluripotent stage of the derivation process can be eliminated under certain circumstances. For instance, dermal fibroblasts have been directly differentiated into dopaminergic neurons by viral co-transduction of forebrain transcriptional regulators (Brn2, Myt1l, Zic1, Olig2, and Ascl1) in the presence of media containing neuronal survival factors [brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3 (NT3), and glial-conditioned media] (Qiang et al, 2011). Additionally, dermal fibroblasts have been directly differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells using the transcription factors Gata4, Mef2c, and Tb5 (Ieda et al, 2010). Regardless of the derivation process, once the cell type of interest is generated, the phenotype central to the disease process can be readily studied. In addition, compounds can be screened for therapeutic benefit and environmental toxins can be screened as potential contributors to the disease. Thus far, iPS cells have generated valuable in vitro models for many neurodegenerative (including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), hematologic (including Fanconi's anemia and dyskeratosis congenital), and cardiac disorders (most notably the long QT syndrome) (Park et al, 2008). iPS cells from patients with the long QT syndrome are particularly interesting as they may provide an excellent platform for rapidly screening drugs for a common, lethal side effect (Zwi et al, 2009; Malan et al, 2011; Tiscornia et al, 2011). The development of patient-specific iPS cells for in vitro disease modeling will determine the potential for these cells to differentiate into desired cell lineages, serve as models for investigating the mechanisms underlying disease pathophysiology, and serve as tools for future preclinical drug screening and toxicology studies.

Despite substantial improvements in therapy, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the industrialized world. Therefore, there is a particular interest in cardiovascular regenerative therapies. The potential of diverse progenitor cells to repair damaged heart tissue includes replacement (tissue transplant), restoration (activation of resident cardiac progenitor cells, paracrine effects), and regeneration (stem cell engraftment forming new myocytes) (Codina et al, 2010). It is unclear whether the heart contains resident stem cells. However, experiments show that bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMCs) can repair myocardial damage, reduce left ventricular remodeling, and improve heart function by myocardial regeneration (Hakuno et al, 2002; Amado et al, 2005; Dai et al, 2005; Schneider et al, 2008). The regenerative capacity of human heart tissue was further supported by the detection of the renewal of human cardiomyocytes (1% annually at the age of 25) by analysis of carbon-14 integration into human cardiomyocyte DNA (Bergmann et al, 2009). It is not clear whether cardiomyocyte renewal is derived from resident adult stem cells, cardiomyocyte duplication, or homing of non-myocardial progenitor cells. Bone marrow cells home to the injured myocardium as shown by Y chromosome-positive BMCs in female recipients (Deb et al, 2003). On the basis of these promising results, clinical trials in patients with ischemic heart disease have been initiated primarily using bone marrow-derived cells. However, these small trials have shown controversial results. This is likely due to a lack of standardization for cell harvesting and delivery procedures. This highlights the need for a better understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying stem cell isolation and homing prior to clinical implementation.

Although stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes, novel clinical stem cellbased therapies for central and peripheral nervous system diseases have yet to be realized. It is widely hoped that transplantation of stem cells will provide effective therapy for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's Disease, amyloid lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Several encouraging animal studies have shown that stem cells can rescue some degree of neurological function after injury (Daniela et al, 2007; Hu et al, 2010; Shimada and Spees, 2011). Currently, a number of clinical trials have been performed and are ongoing.

Dental stem cells could potentially repair damaged tooth tissues such as dentin, periodontal ligament, and dental pulp (Gronthos et al, 2002; Ohazama et al, 2004; Jo et al, 2007; Ikeda et al, 2009; Balic et al, 2010; Volponi et al, 2010). Moreover, as the behavior of dental stem cells is similar to MSCs, dental stem cells could also be used to facilitate the repair of non-dental tissues such as bone and nerves (Huang et al, 2009; Takahashi et al, 2010). Several populations of cells with stem cell properties have been isolated from different parts of the tooth. These include cells from the pulp of both exfoliated (children's) and adult teeth, the periodontal ligament that links the tooth root with the bone, the tips of developing roots, and the tissue that surrounds the unerupted tooth (dental follicle) (Bluteau et al, 2008). These cells probably share a common lineage from neural crest cells, and all have generic mesenchymal stem cell-like properties, including expression of marker genes and differentiation into mesenchymal cells in vitro and in vivo (Bluteau et al, 2008). different cell populations do, however, differ in certain aspects of their growth rate in culture, marker gene expression, and cell differentiation. However, the extent to which these differences can be attributed to tissue of origin, function, or culture conditions remains unclear.

There are several issues determining the long-term outcome of stem cellbased therapies, including improvements in the survival, engraftment, proliferation, and regeneration of transplanted cells. The genomic and epigenetic integrity of cell lines that have been manipulated in vitro prior to transplantation play a pivotal role in the survival and clinical benefit of stem cell therapy. Although stem cells possess extensive replicative capacity, immune rejection of donor cells by the host immune system post-transplantation is a primary concern (Negro et al, 2012). Recent studies have shown that the majority of donor cell death occurs in the first hours to days after transplantation, which limits the efficacy and therapeutic potential of stem cellbased therapies (Robey et al, 2008).

Although mouse and human ES cells have traditionally been classified as being immune privileged, a recent study used in vivo, whole-animal, live cell-tracing techniques to demonstrate that human ES cells are rapidly rejected following transplantation into immunocompetent mice (Swijnenburg et al, 2008). Treatment of ES cell-derived vascular progenitor cells with inter-feron (to upregulate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression) or in vivo ablation of natural killer (NK) cells led to enhanced progenitor cell survival after transplantation into a syngeneic murine ischemic hindlimb model. This suggests that MHC class I-dependent, NK cell-mediated elimination is a major determinant of graft survivability (Ma et al, 2010). Given the risk of rejection, it is likely that initial therapeutic attempts using either ES or iPS cells will require adjunctive immunosuppressive therapy. Immunosuppressive therapy, however, puts the patient at risk of infection as well as drug-specific adverse reactions. As such, determining the mechanisms regulating donor graft tolerance by the host will be crucial for advancing the clinical application of stem cellbased therapies.

An alternative strategy to avoid immune rejection could employ so-called gene editing. Using this technique, the stem cell genome is manipulated ex vivo to correct the underlying genetic defect prior to transplantation. Additionally, stem cell immunologic markers could be manipulated to evade the host immune response. Two recent papers offer alternative methods for gene editing. Soldner et al (2011) used zinc finger nuclease to correct the genetic defect in iPS cells from patients with Parkinson's disease because of a mutation in the -Synuclein (-SYN) gene. Liu et al (2011) used helper-dependent adenoviral vectors (HDAdV) to correct the mutation in the Lamin A (LMNA) gene in iPS cells derived from patients with HutchinsonGilford Progeria (HGP), a syndrome of premature aging. Cells from patients with HGP have dysmorphic nuclei and increased levels of progerin protein. The cellular phenotype is especially pronounced in mature, differentiated cells. Using highly efficient helper-dependent adenoviral vectors containing wild-type sequences, they were able to use homologous recombination to correct two different Lamin A mutations. After genetic correction, the diseased cellular phenotype was reversed even after differentiation into mature smooth muscle cells. In addition to the potential therapeutic benefit, gene editing could generate appropriate controls for in vitro studies.

Finally, there are multiple safety and toxicity concerns regarding the transplantation, engraftment, and long-term survival of stem cells. Donor stem cells that manage to escape immune rejection may later become oncogenic because of their unlimited capacity to replicate (Amariglio et al, 2009). Thus, ES and iPS cells may need to be directed into a more mature cell type prior to transplantation to minimize this risk. Additionally, generation of ES and iPS cells harboring an inducible kill-switch may prevent uncontrolled growth of these cells and/or their derivatives. In two ongoing human trials with ES cells, both companies have provided evidence from animal studies that these cells will not form teratomas. However, this issue has not been thoroughly examined, and enrolled patients will need to be monitored closely for this potentially lethal side effect.

In addition to the previously mentioned technical issues, the use of ES cells raises social and ethical concerns. In the past, these concerns have limited federal funding and thwarted the progress of this very important research. Because funding limitations may be reinstituted in the future, ES cell technology is being less aggressively pursued and young researchers are shying away from the field.

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Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

LONDON, Ontario, May 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sernova Corp. (TSX-V:SVA)(SEOVF, Financial)(FSE/XETRA:PSH), a clinical-stage company and leader in regenerative medicine cell therapeutics, and Evotec SE (FSE: EVT; EVO), a global pharmaceutical and life science company, and leading developer of iPSC cell technologies for therapeutic applications, are pleased to announce an exclusive global strategic partnership to develop a best-in-class cell therapy treatment for people living with insulin-dependent diabetes. The two Companies will combine and leverage their respective technologies and scientific expertise to develop an implantable iPSC-based (induced pluripotent stem cells) beta cell replacement therapy to provide an unlimited insulin-producing cell source to treat patients with insulin-dependent diabetes.

The collaboration agreement is a transformative partnership that combines Sernovas Cell Pouch System technologies, which has demonstrated Phase 1/2 clinical proof-of-concept using human donor islets, with Evotecs iPSC-based beta cells. Incorporating Evotecs insulin-producing, ethically-derived beta cells within Sernovas Cell Pouch platform creates the potential to provide a functional cure for millions of people suffering from diabetes using a cGMP controlled and scalable off-the-shelf product.

With its long-standing beta cell development program, Evotec has demonstrated the ability to reliably produce an unlimited supply of high quality, stable, human iPSC-derived beta cells using its proprietary process for producing islet-like clusters in a quality-controlled scalable bioreactor process. These islet-like clusters have now been proven to be functionally equivalent to primary human islets in their ability to normalize blood glucose using in vivo models of type 1 diabetes (T1D).

The partnership provides Sernova a global exclusive option to license Evotecs iPSC-based beta cells for use in treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In addition to entering into the collaboration agreement, Evotec has made a strategic equity investment of 15M and will make a further investment of 5M. Specifically, concurrently with the entering into the collaboration agreement, Evotec acquired a total of 12,944,904 common shares at a price of CAD $1.57 per share for gross proceeds to Sernova of $20,323,500. In addition, pursuant to an unconditional purchase warrant, Evotec will acquire, on or before August 31, 2022, a further 2,709,800 common shares at a price of CAD$2.50 per share for gross proceeds of $6,774,500. All of the securities issued to Evotec are subject to a four month hold period.

Further to the collaboration and Evotecs strategic equity investment, Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec will join Sernovas Board of Directors.

Dr. Philip Toleikis, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Sernova, commented, In tandem with our current clinical islet cell program, Sernova entered into multiple pharmaceutical research collaborations to identify the highest quality and most compatible iPSC cell technology, and validate the cells preclinically within our Cell Pouch System. Evotec is an iPSC powerhouse having dedicated many years and substantial resources to developing high quality and stable stem cell technologies for multiple therapeutic applications. In every sense, both as a global strategic partner and as an iPSC expert, Evotec has exceeded all our expectations and Dr. Dohrmanns appointment to Sernovas Board adds significant regenerative medicine depth and cell therapy expertise. Todays announcement of this joint iPSC beta-cell partnership completes the three pillars of our diabetes cell therapy platform. Alongside our clinically validated Cell Pouch System and recently acquired conformal coating immune protection technology, this now establishes a total regenerative medicine cell therapy solution for insulin-dependent diabetes.

Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented, We searched long and hard for the right partner. Sernova clearly ticks all boxes with their clinically validated Cell Pouch technology, which fits perfectly to Evotecs iPSC-based beta cells. Together we will progress a highly differentiated first-in-class beta cell therapy into clinical development with the common goal to bring a truly transformative therapy to insulin-dependent diabetic patients. The synergies of Evotecs and Sernovas technologies puts Sernova in position to become the worlds leader in beta cell replacement therapy. Our equity investment underlines our strategic interest in this collaboration with Sernova. I am very much looking forward to collaborating with Sernova on the project as well as contributing to their Board of Directors.

Sernova has acquired an option for an exclusive global license to Evotecs Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)-based Beta cells to treat patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. From an operational perspective, the preclinical development program(s) will be jointly funded by Sernova and Evotec until IND acceptance. Sernova has the right to exercise its option for an exclusive global license upon IND filing. Evotec will contribute its cell manufacturing capabilities through research, development and product commercialization and will decide in the future on the joint funding of clinical development. Upon commercialization, there will be a profit-sharing arrangement between the two companies, with the split being dependent on Evotecs participation in funding the clinical development program.

Joint Sernova / Evotec Conference Call and Webcast Details:

Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2022Time: 8:30 am EDTUS Toll Free: 1-877-704-4453International: 1-201-389-0920Conference ID: 13730121Webcast: https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1550130&tp_key=3de87cce1d

A simultaneous slide presentation will be available via the above webcast link.

ABOUT SERNOVA CORP AND THE CELL POUCH SYSTEM CELL THERAPY PLATFORM

Sernova Corp is developing regenerative medicine therapeutic technologies using a medical device and immune protected therapeutic cells (i.e., human donor cells, corrected human cells and stem-cell derived cells) to improve the treatment and quality of life of people with chronic metabolic diseases such as insulin- dependent diabetes, blood disorders including hemophilia, and other diseases treated through replacement of proteins or hormones missing or in short supply within the body.

The Cell Pouch, as part of the Cell Pouch System, is a proprietary, scalable, implantable macro- encapsulation device solution designed for the long-term survival and function of therapeutic cells. After implantation, the device incorporates with tissue, forming highly vascularized, native tissue chambers for the transplantation and function of therapeutic cells, that release proteins and hormones as required to treat disease.

The Cell Pouch, along with therapeutic cells, has been shown to provide long-term safety and efficacy in small and large animal models of diabetes and has been proven to provide a biologically compatible environment for insulin-producing cells in humans in a Canadian first-in-human study. Sernova is currently conducting a Phase 1/2 clinical trial study at the University of Chicago. Encouraging interim results have been presented at several international scientific conferences.

For more information, please visit http://www.sernova.com

ABOUT EVOTEC AND iPSC

Induced pluripotent stem cells (also known as iPS cells or iPSCs) are a type of pluripotent stem cell that can be generated directly from adult cells. The iPSC technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanakas lab in Kyoto, Japan, who showed in 2006 that the introduction of four specific genes encoding transcription factors could convert adult cells into pluripotent stem cells. He was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize along with Sir John Gurdon for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent. Pluripotent stem cells hold great promise in the field of regenerative medicine. Because they can propagate indefinitely, as well as give rise to every other cell type in the body (such as neurons, heart, pancreatic and liver cells), they represent a single source of cells that could be used to replace those lost to damage or disease.

Evotec has built an industrialised iPSC infrastructure that represents one of the largest and most sophisticated iPSC platforms in the industry. Evotecs iPSC platform has been developed over the last years with the goal to industrialise iPSC-based drug screening in terms of throughput, reproducibility and robustness to reach the highest industrial standards, and to use iPSC-based cells in cell therapy approaches via the Companys proprietary EVOcells platform.

For further information contact:

Corporate and Investors:Sernova CorpChristopher Barnes Tel: (519) 858-5126 [emailprotected] http://www.sernova.com

Investors:Corey Davis, Ph.D. LifeSci Advisors, LLC [emailprotected] Tel: 212-915-2577

Media: Elizabeth Miller, MDLifeSci Communications[emailprotected]

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, potential and similar expressions, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could or should occur. Although Sernova believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of Sernovas management on the date such statements were made, which include our beliefs about the conduct and outcome of clinical trials, and the development of new technologies, cell therapy solutions and or products. The information disclosed represents results from one patient and may not be representative of all study patients or of the final study results. Sernova expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Sernova and Evotec Enter into an Exclusive Global Strategic Partnership for iPSC-Based Beta Cell Replacement Therapy to Develop and Commercialize a...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

As much as we all want the pandemic to be over, it's not. Cases are spiking in many areas and although safety precautions have been lifted, trying to avoid COVID is still recommended because there can be long lasting damaging effects that harm overall health and lingering symptoms that can continue for months. Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with different virus experts who explain what to know about COVID right now, when to still wear a mask and places to avoid in an effort to prevent getting sick. Read on to find out moreand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss Already Had COVID? These Symptoms May "Never Go Away".

Dr. J. Wes Ulm, Harvard and MIT-trained MD, PhD with a background in bioinformatics, gene therapy, genetics, drug discovery, consulting and education says, "That, as exhausted and fed up as we are with the pandemic, unfortunately the virus is not done with us, and we ignore its ongoing threat at our peril above all on a mass scale, as we've since learned, the danger of long COVID and cumulative organ damage from even mild cases in healthy individuals. The very name of the pathogen that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is a bit of a misnomer, since the first four letters are an acronym for 'severe acute respiratory syndrome.' An active COVID infection indeed imperils lung function, but in the two years since its arrival shook the world, it's become clear that, more fundamentally, SARS-CoV-2 is a vascular pathogen. That is, upon gaining access to a human host (usually through a respiratory corridor like the mouth or nose, then into the airways), the virus races through the body through the ramifying blood vessels that supply virtually all our tissues. And since SARS-CoV-2 enters cells through ACE2, one of the most ubiquitous receptors in the body, it poses a serious threat across the spectrum of the body's vital organs, in a way that's rarely seen for infectious diseases.

The upshot is that, as tragic as the 1 million American deaths from acute COVID have been, the virus's most pervasive danger to US society is in its potential to gradually, progressively wreak havoc on victims' organs with each new infection accumulating damage through a thousand cuts, for perhaps tens of millions of Americans. Particularly in the last few months, physicians and researchers have managed to paint an alarming picture of just how insidious and subtly dangerous COVID is to the human body; it is not merely like a cold or flu, even if it presents that way initially for many (as does, for that matter, HIV). Multiple studies have now confirmed that even seemingly innocuous bouts of COVID-19 augment the risk of hypercoagulable states (the blood's tendency to clot) and serious sequelae like pulmonary emboli, of diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2), of permanent lung dysfunction, of heart disease, of liver and kidney conditions, of brain damage, and of immune dysregulation. Moreover, because of SARS-CoV-2's disquieting skill at mutation and immune evasion, and our immune system's difficulty in sustainably 'remembering' the molecular hallmarks of the COVID spike protein after both vaccination and natural immunity, herd immunity is virtually impossible, and any misguided attempts to gain it with repeated infections will pose a serious danger to the organ and tissue function of a multiply infected individual. An increasingly frequent motif in many case reports is of COVID patients who experience what seem to be only mild brushes with the virus, barely sidelining them for a day or two only to suffer from a variety of documentable disorders in a range of tissues weeks or months down the road.

SARS-CoV-2, in other words, is one of the most formidable microbial foes we've ever faced as a society, possessing the contagion of measles and the capacity to disseminate systemically as few other pathogens can, alongside a fluid mutational capability that empowers it to nimbly evade the customary mechanisms of herd immunity. And it now has almost 8 billion human hosts worldwide, capable of disseminating it across borders in a way never seen for the plagues that ravaged communities before the 20th century. There have already been reports of sustained labor shortages in the USA and Britain, two of the hardest-hit countries, ensuing from the travails of millions of Americans and Britons battling the effects of long COVID or the serious illnesses to which COVID-19 predisposes us. If officials simply pursue a "let it rip" strategy for each new COVID variant, we'll be setting up US society for calamity in the months and years down the road as more and more millions of Americans tackle the ramifications of organ damage from the cumulative risk that builds with each infection. It's understandably troubling to have to fight such a tenacious enemy that keeps returning, again and again, with a new wave every few months. But this is effectively a war for which it is our generation's lot to fight; SARS-CoV-2 is a force of nature and will not subside for our convenience, and we ignore or dismiss it at our peril."

Dr. Mary Rodgers, the principal scientist at Abbott says, "I recommend following the guidance and recommendations made by government officials and healthcare experts in your area. If masks aren't required in your area, I recommend tracking cases in your area and if they're on the rise, consider wearing one when indoors and in crowded areas, especially if you are more vulnerable to COVID-19 or going around people who may be at a higher risk. It also comes down to each individual's comfort level; if mask wearing helps provide peace of mind, then I recommend using them."6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Summer is here and we're tired of being isolated but Dr. Rodgers suggests avoiding, "Any crowded area where people aren't wearing masks, including concerts, grocery stores, etc. If cases are on the rise and mask mandates aren't instated in crowded areas, this could increase exposure and potential risk of contracting the virus. If found in this situation, I recommend taking proper precaution including getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing a mask, attempting to maintain a distance from others and testing before and/or after with rapid tests"including BinaxNOW Self Test by Abbott"to help prevent the spread."

Dr. Rodgers suggests staying away from, "bars and restaurants in areas with heightened cases. While some bars and restaurants do still have mask mandates, as soon as you're seated, you're able to remove your mask, allowing for potential spread. If going out to a bar or restaurant, I recommend dining outside as temperatures increase, avoiding times when it's more likely to be crowded, ensuring you're vaccinated and boosted and testing before and/or after with" self tests.

Who doesn't love a good buffet? While we might be tempted to enjoy a spread of gourmet cuisines, Dr. Syeda Amna Husain, a doctor who has partnered with Abbott doesn't recommend it. "People are touching their nose and mouth and then proceed to touch the spoons and containers in the buffet line, so there is always a possibility to transmit any kind of infection, not necessarily just COVID."

Follow the public health fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you liveget vaccinated or boosted ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don't travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Wes Ulm, MD, PhD, is a physician-researcher, musician (J. Wes Ulm and Kant's Konundrum) ,and novelist, and earned a dual MD/PhD degree from Harvard Medical School and MIT. He is part of the Heroes of the COVID Crisis series in relation to his ongoing efforts in the drug discovery and public health arena.

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I'm a Virus Expert and I Warn You Not to Go Here Even if it's Open Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Its rare for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia to occur together, but it is possible.

Mental health conditions arent usually cut-and-dry conditions. Its common for some people to have multiple mental health conditions that might be connected, such as living with depression and anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD).

The same is true for some people with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder (BPD), which can occur together.

To understand what the co-occurring disorders of borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia might look like, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with what each disorder looks like separately.

And despite the seriousness of each condition, managing symptoms is possible with the right treatment plan.

You wont find the term borderline schizophrenia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM 5). It hasnt been a recognized disorder since 1980.

Borderline schizophrenia or pseudoneurotic schizophrenia is an outdated term once used interchangeably with borderline psychosis. Later on, this was split into the current classifications of schizotypal personality disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

But there are some overlapping symptoms between BPD and schizophrenia.

It is possible for someone to have both disorders at the same time, though it is rare. But more research is still needed on the comorbidity of BPD and schizophrenia.

While 2014 research indicates that people with borderline personality disorder often experience co-occurring psychiatric conditions, the exact rate of schizophrenia and BPD comorbidity specifically isnt clear just yet.

A 2010 study found that 17.6% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia also met the criteria for BPD. But research from 2018 illustrated that schizophrenia was present in only 2% of females with BPD.

If you or a loved one has both BPD and schizophrenia, learning the similarities and differences of these conditions can be helpful in understanding how they may interact.

BPD is classified in the DSM 5 as a personality disorder, which is generally characterized by:

Research from 2008 found that up to 5.9% of people may experience BPD at some point in their lifetime. Onset typically occurs during adolescence or young adulthood.

Schizophrenia falls within the schizophrenia spectrum class of disorders in the DSM 5.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), schizophrenia affects less than 1% of the population, and is among the top 15 causes of disability worldwide, with symptoms indicating a diminished connection to reality.

Psychosis refers to a severe disconnection from reality. Psychotic episodes include hallucinations or delusions.

Psychosis can occur in both schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder, but psychotic episodes in BPD are, by definition, short, fleeting, and related to stress.

A significant but smaller percentage of people with BPD experience hallucinations than people with schizophrenia. According to research from 2021, an estimated 29% to 50% of people with BPD report hallucinations.

This is compared to an estimated 60% to 80% of people with schizophrenia who report experiencing these symptoms, based on a 2021 review.

And unlike schizophrenia, BPD psychotic episodes are generally not accompanied by negative symptoms or disorganization.

While its rare for BPD and schizophrenia to cooccur together, some symptoms may overlap.

Knowing the differences in how each conditions symptoms can look and feel can be helpful.

Schizophrenia symptoms generally fall under three categories:

Some of the most common symptoms of borderline personality disorder include:

A significant but smaller percentage of people with BPD may also experience:

If youre considering acting on suicidal thoughts, please seek professional support immediately.

Calling or texting a crisis helpline will connect you with a trained counselor 24/7, any day of the year, completely free of charge:

The causes of both BPD and schizophrenia arent entirely clear to experts at this time, and more research is needed. Its believed that genetics, physiology, and environment all play a role in the development of these conditions.

No single factor is likely to lead to the development of these disorders but rather a complex combination of multiple sources.

Though no single gene has been identified as a cause of BPD or schizophrenia, its clear that family history may play a role in their development.

A 2017 review of twin studies found that if an identical twin develops schizophrenia, the other may have a higher chance of developing it, too.

Family members of those with BPD also have a higher chance of developing the condition, according to research from 2021.

But this doesnt mean that having a family member with one of these conditions guarantees that you will develop it, too.

Experiencing trauma early in life can be a contributing factor to developing BPD.

A 2021 review indicates that up to 90% of people living with BPD experienced childhood trauma, including:

A different 2021 review suggests that environmental sources may account for between 15% to 40% of the chance of developing schizophrenia, but those sources are believed to be more diverse than those that contribute to BPD.

This may include:

Differences in neurotransmitter levels especially serotonin and dopamine may impact the development of both schizophrenia and BPD.

And, its not just your brain chemicals. Regions of the brain in charge of emotion regulation and impulse control including the amygdala and hippocampus may look and function differently in people with BPD.

Neuroimaging research from 2018 of people with schizophrenia showed significant differences in the size and activity of the frontal and temporal lobes, which play a large role in:

Both BPD and schizophrenia require professional treatment to manage. These conditions can be more difficult to address if you havent received an accurate diagnosis.

Working with a doctor or therapist on designing an effective treatment plan can help you manage symptoms.

Treatment plans for both conditions may consist of a combination of:

Finding the best treatment plan for your symptoms can take time. You may have to try multiple strategies before finding what works for you.

Psychotherapy is considered a first-line treatment for BPD and is often used to treat schizophrenia in combination with medication.

Specific types of therapy used for BPD include:

Though research on how well transference-focused therapy performs is mixed.

For those with schizophrenia, therapy may focus more heavily on developing skills for managing everyday life.

Types of therapy commonly used include:

Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications available to specifically treat BPD. But some people with BPD may have overlapping mental health conditions and may be prescribed medications for those conditions, such as:

For people with schizophrenia, antipsychotic medication is commonly prescribed to help manage hallucinations and delusions, including:

Stress can impact both BPD and schizophrenia, and lifestyle changes centered on self-care can be essential for managing symptoms of these conditions.

Some examples of self-care strategies include:

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of BPD and schizophrenia, youre not alone. Its possible to manage the symptoms of these conditions with the right treatment plan.

Consider talking with your doctor or therapist as a first step. Being curious and educating yourself on what these two conditions can look like as well as possible treatment options can be a helpful place to start your mental health journey.

If youre ready to get help but dont know where to begin, you can check out Psych Centrals hub for finding mental health support.

Read the original here:
Borderline Schizophrenia: What It Is and More - PsychCentral.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Clusters of the earliest hematopoietic cells being born in the walls of the umbilical artery of a mouse embryo. The cells colored in red represent embryonic multipotent progenitor cells (eMPPs). Credit: Sachin H. Patel/Boston Childrens Hospital

Barcoding studies discovered two independent sources for blood cells in mice. If confirmed in humans, our understanding of blood cancers, bone marrow transplants, and the aging immune system will change.

The origins of our blood may not be quite what we thought. Using cellular barcoding in mice, groundbreaking research finds that blood cells originate not from one type of mother cell, but two, with potential implications for blood cancers, bone marrow transplant, and immunology. Fernando Camargo, PhD, of the Stem Cell Program at Boston Childrens Hospital led the study, published in the journal Nature on June 15, 2022.

Historically, people have believed that most of our blood comes from a very small number of cells that eventually become blood stem cells, also known as hematopoietic stem cells, says Camargo, who is also a member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and a professor at Harvard University. We were surprised to find another group of progenitor cells that do not come from stem cells. They make most of the blood in fetal life until young adulthood, and then gradually start decreasing.

The researchers are now following up to see if the findings also apply to humans. If so, these cells, known as embryonic multipotent progenitor cells (eMPPs), could potentially inform new treatments for boosting aging peoples immune systems. They could also shed new light on blood cancers, especially those in children, and help make bone marrow transplants more effective.

Camargos team applied a barcoding technique they developed several years ago. Using either an enzyme known as transposase or CRISPR gene editing, they inserted unique genetic sequences into embryonic mouse cells in such a way that all the cells descended from them also carried those sequences. This enabled the team to track the emergence of all the different types of blood cells and where they came from, all the way to adulthood.

Previously, people didnt have these tools, says Camargo. Also, the idea that stem cells give rise to all the blood cells was so embedded in the field that no one attempted to question it. By tracking what happened in mice over time, we were able to see new biology.

Through barcoding, the researchers found that eMPPs, as compared with blood stem cells, are a more abundant source of most lymphoid cells important to the immune responses, such as B cells and T cells. Camargo believes the decrease in eMPPs that they observed with age may explain why peoples immunity weakens as they get older.

Were now trying to understand why these cells peter out in middle age, which could potentially allow us to manipulate them with the goal of rejuvenating the immune system, says Camargo.

In theory, there could be two approaches: extending the life of eMPP cells, perhaps through growth factors or immune signaling molecules, or treating blood stem cells with gene therapy or other approaches to make them more like eMPPs.

Camargo is also excited about the potential implications for better understanding and treating blood cancers. For example, myeloid leukemias, striking mostly older people, affect myeloid blood cells such as granulocytes and monocytes. Camargo thinks these leukemias may originate from blood stem cells, and that leukemias in children, which are mostly lymphoid leukemias, may originate from eMPPs.

We are following up to try to understand the consequences of mutations that lead to leukemia by looking at their effects in both blood stem cells and eMPPs in mice, he says. We want to see if the leukemias that arise from these different cells of origin are different lymphoid-like or myeloid-like.

Finally, the recognition that there are two types of mother cells in the blood could revolutionize bone marrow transplant.

When we tried to do bone marrow transplants in mice, we found that the eMPPs didnt engraft well; they only lasted a few weeks, says Camargo. If we could add a few genes to get eMPPs to engraft long term, they could potentially be a better source for a bone marrow transplant. They are more common in younger marrow donors than blood stem cells, and they are primed to produce lymphoid cells, which could lead to better reconstitution of the immune system and fewer infection complications after the graft.

Reference: Lifelong multilineage contribution by embryonic-born blood progenitors by Sachin H. Patel, Constantina Christodoulou, Caleb Weinreb, Qi Yu, Edroaldo Lummertz da Rocha, Brian J. Pepe-Mooney, Sarah Bowling, Li Li, Fernando G. Osorio, George Q. Daley and Fernando D. Camargo, 15 June 2022, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04804-z

Sachin H. Patel, MD, PhD, of the Stem Cell Program (now at University of California San Francisco) and Constantina Christodoulou, PhD (now at Bristol Myers Squibb) were co-first authors on the paper. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (HL128850-01A1, P01HL13147), the Evans MDS Foundation, the Alex Lemonade Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The authors declare no competing interests.

Here is the original post:
The Origins of Our Blood May Not Be What We Thought - SciTechDaily

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Wilmington, Delaware, United States: The global bone marrow aspirate concentrates market was valued around US$ 130.0 Mn in 2016 is anticipated to register a stable CAGR of over 5.0% during forecast period of 2017 to 2025, according to a new report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrates Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20172025. Growth of the global bone marrow aspirate concentrates market is driven by increased prevalence of and incidences of orthopedic diseases, and sports injuries, along with high growth of the cosmetic surgery industry and increasing applications of the BMAC products in the cosmetic and orthopedic surgeries. The bone marrow aspirate concentrates market in Asia Pacific is expanding with a high potential to grow registering a CAGR above 6.0% on the backdrop of unmet clinical needs, rising geriatric population, large patient pool, favorable government regulations, development in health care sector, and increased focus on research and developmental activities.

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Increase in incidences of Osteoarthritis on the backdrop of rising geriatric population to drive market growth

According to a collaborative survey conducted by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, 1.2 billion people in China are suffering from OA, of which more than 55% are aged 60 years or above. On the backdrop of such a huge patient base, there has been several developments in the field orthopedic surgery. Bone marrow-derived stem cell treatment is considered a promising and advanced therapy. It reduces the injury healing time in orthopedic diseases to five to six weeks from four to six months in case of surgery. Reduction in the healing time is a factor likely to propel the Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrates market during the forecast period. However, pain associated with the treatment, lack of product approval, and preference for alternative treatments are negatively affecting the market growth. Moreover, high investments in R&D and clinical trials, slow approval processes entailing sunken costs, and marginal returns on investment (RoI) for stakeholders are primary concerns faced by manufacturer further hampering growth of the market.

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Rise in the Number of BMAC Assisted Procedures to Boost Growth of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrates Accessories Segment

The product type segment is fragmented into bone marrow aspirate concentrates systems and bone marrow aspirate concentrates accessories. The bone marrow aspirate concentrates accessories segment is anticipated to carry major share of the market on the backdrop of rise in number of BMAC assisted procedures. Cell therapies have been used extensively over the past decade for a variety of medical applications to restore cellular function and enhance quality of life. Owing to the differentiation property, stem cells are being used for repair and regeneration of bone. Moreover, increase in awareness about hygiene and risk of cross-contamination in developing countries such as Brazil, China and India are expected to increase the use of single-use Jamshidi needles for bone marrow stem cell procedures. This is likely to fuel the growth of the accessories segment in the near future.

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Orthopedic Surgery Application to Dominate the Global Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrates Market

The application segment of global bone marrow aspirate concentrates market is divided into orthopedic surgery, wound healing, chronic pain, peripheral vascular disease, dermatology, and others applications. Of which, orthopedic surgery segment is anticipated to dominate the market owing to rising geriatric population, and surge in incidences of osteoarthritis around the globe. The dermatology segment is anticipated to expand at the highest CAGR of over 6.0% during forecast period of 2017 to 2025 owing to current boom in the industry, increase in disposable income, and technological advancements in the market. The utilization of the regenerative ability of fibroblasts and keratinocytes from human skin has formed new ways to develop cell-based therapies for patients. Moreover, capacity of bone marrow derived extra-cutaneous cells is being researched for its plasticity in regenerating skin; it is likely to lead to the future growth of cell therapies in dermatology.

Rise in Healthcare Expenditure to Fuel Growth of Hospitals & Clinics End-user Segment

In terms of end-users, market is divided into hospitals & clinics, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, Contract Research Organizations (CROs) & Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), and academic & research institutes. The hospitals & clinics segment dominated the bone marrow aspirate concentrates market in 2016. The trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. The hospitals & clinics segment is likely to be followed by the biotechnology & biopharmaceutical companies segment in terms of market share during the forecast period. The segment is anticipated to hold more than 8.0% of market share in 2016. Growth of the segment is attributed to increasing number of biotechnology companies and rising partnerships among the market players to expand global presence.

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Large Patient Pool in Developing Countries Like China, India, Brazil, and Taiwan to Create More Opportunities in the Market

Geographically, global bone marrow aspirate concentrates market is divided into major five geographical regions, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. North America is anticipated to hold major share of the market owing to technological advancements and regulatory approval for new devices, awareness about stem cell therapy, and rise in number of cosmetic surgical procedures. While, Asia Pacific orthopedic market is at a pivotal point today, which was valued around US$ 19 Million in 2016 and anticipated to derive massive and augmented growth. The orthopedic market in Asia, including bone graft, spine, and bone substitute, is anticipated to grow more than twice as fast as the overall orthopedic market which will further boost growth of BMAC market in the region.

Semi-consolidated Market with 3-4 key Players Operating in the BMAC Systems Market Segment

Key players covered in this report are Terumo Corporation (Terumo BCT), Ranfac Corp., Arthrex, Inc., Globus Medical, Inc., Cesca Therapeutics Inc., MK Alliance Inc. (TotipotentSC), and Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. Companies operating in the global market for bone marrow aspirate concentrates are focusing on in-licensing and collaboration agreements to put new products in the developing markets like Asia Pacific, and Latin America. For instance, in August 2017, Cesca Therapeutics Inc. announced a distribution agreement with Boyalife WSN Ltd., a China based company. Through this agreement, Boyalife WSN Ltd. will distribute Cescas innovative biobanking and point-of-care solutions in China, India, Singapore, and the Philippines. As India and China represent two of the fastest growing economies in the world, successful penetration of these regions can generate more market opportunity to the companies.

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Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrates Market: Increasing Use in Orthopedic Surgery Applications to Drive Sales in the Global Market - BioSpace

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith