Boston Business Journal

Cambridge gene therapy firm Dimension Therapeutics to be acquired Boston Business Journal One of the three gene therapy biotechs in Cambridge, Dimension Therapeutics, has agreed to be acquired by a Maryland company in an all-stock transaction that values Dimension at just $86 million a fraction of its value a year ago. ... team and of ...

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Cambridge gene therapy firm Dimension Therapeutics to be acquired - Boston Business Journal

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Gene Therapy Partnering Terms and Agreements 2010 to 2017" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The Global Gene Therapy Partnering Terms and Agreements 2010-2017 report provides an understanding and access to the gene therapy partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.

The report provides a detailed understanding and analysis of how and why companies enter gene therapy partnering deals. The majority of deals are early development stage whereby the licensee obtains a right or an option right to license the licensors gene therapy technology or product candidates. These deals tend to be multicomponent, starting with collaborative R&D, and commercialization of outcomes.

This report provides details of the latest gene therapy, oligonucletides including aptamers agreements announced in the healthcare sectors.

Global Gene Therapy Partnering Terms and Agreements includes:

In Global Gene Therapy Partnering Terms and Agreements, the available contracts are listed by:

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2 - Trends in Gene therapy dealmaking

Chapter 3 - Leading Gene therapy deals

Chapter 4 - Most active Gene therapy dealmakers

Chapter 5 - Gene therapy contracts dealmaking directory

Chapter 6 - Gene therapy dealmaking by technology type

Chapter 7 - Partnering resource center

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/7kw9kp/global_gene

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Global Gene Therapy Partnering Terms and Agreements 2010 to ... - Business Wire (press release)

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Parthenogenesis means virgin birth or the production of offspring by one parent (a female) without genetic input from a male: the females egg is not fertilized by sperm. Thus, the offspring have only their mothers genes and in most cases will be just like their mother. This asexual mode of reproduction is widespread in plants and animals, although it happens in various ways, and the resulting offspring may differ, depending on the way they were made. For example, in alpine bistort (see my recent essay in this section of the paper), the offspring are tiny plantlets, in honeybees only the males are produced parthenogenetically, and in fishes and salamanders this way of reproduction produces only females.

There are so many different life histories and such a variety of organisms that engage in parthenogenesis that it is hard to know where to start a short essay on the subject. So, of necessity, I will simplify things by, first, dealing with some basic distinctions and, second, by focusing chiefly on vertebrates.

Individuals of some organisms can reproduce both sexually and asexually. For example, a honeybee queen makes her worker broods (all females) from fertilized eggs (with two sets of chromosomes) but toward the end of the season, she produces males from unfertilized eggs (with only one set of chromosomes). Dandelions produce most of their seeds by asexual means but reportedly a small fraction of their seeds can be the result of pollination and fertilization.

Some organisms have complex life cycles in which a sexual generation alternates with an asexual, parthenogenetic generation. This pattern is found among lots of plants, such as mosses and ferns, in which the spores are produced asexually but give rise to individuals that are sexual. The pattern is also found in a variety of invertebrates, such as some crustaceans and aphids. Many aphids, for example, reproduce parthenogenetically (and viviparously) in spring and summer, producing only female offspring. As fall approaches, however, female aphids start to produce some males (with one fewer chromosome than females) also. Males and females mate, females lay overwintering, fertilized eggs, and a new generation of parthenogens emerges the following spring.

Among vertebrates, regular parthenogenesis occurs in certain populations of lizards, salamanders, a frog, a snake, and some small fishes. Most of these populations are reported to be hybrids between two or even three other species, and some are polyploid (having more than the usual two sets of chromosomes). Typically, all the offspring are female. Interestingly, in some of these all-female species, females apparently need to go through the courtship process with a male of a related species and may even need to mate with him, but the males genes never contribute to the ensuing offspring. The intricate genetics of how all those females make young with two sets of their own chromosomes are complex and differ among species; I will leave all that aside!

However, for mammals and birds, I have to deal with some genetics. In mammals, each of the normal two sets of chromosomes includes two chromosomes that determine the gender of the offspring. Females have two X chromosomes and males have one X and one Y chromosome (the labels are arbitrary). If a female were to reproduce parthenogenetically, all her offspring would also be female (XX), lacking the necessary Y chromosome to be a male. However, this mode of reproduction is unknown in naturally reproducing mammals, although reportedly it can be induced by experimental tinkering with laboratory mice.

Birds normally reproduce sexually, but here it is the males that have a pair of similar sex chromosomes (called ZZ) and the females that have dissimilar ones (ZW). I know of no reports of parthenogenesis in wild populations of birds, but the females of some varieties of domestic turkeys are known to reproduce parthenogenetically. They produce only male offspring, because, in the process, somehow the W chromosomes get lost.

Why do these organisms reproduce parthenogenetically? They have relinquished the advantages of sexual reproduction, which provide new genetic combinations every generation and hence the ability to adapt to new and changing conditions. Organisms that are sometimes sexual and sometimes parthenogenetic retain this adaptability. In contrast, organisms that are strictly parthenogenetic produce offspring just like themselves (barring mutation), so their offspring typically require exactly the same living conditions as the parents and there is little or no ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Therefore, in general, parthenogenetic reproduction is thought to have a limited evolutionary future, as each lineage meets unsuitable conditions and dies out. So it is not surprising that strict parthenogenesis is not very common in nature.

Mary F. Willson is a retired professor of ecology.

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There is no possible argument that can change a faith. I respect the Aug. 14 letter writers belief (Trump transgender ban the right call). However, his statement that there is no scientific evidence supporting the existence of transgender people begs a disclaimer.

Studies have shown the amygdala a part of the human brain in gay men resembles the amygdala in the female brain. The journal Endocrine Practice noted that researchers reviewed disorders of sexual development, neuroanatomical differences in the male and female brain, and steroid hormone genetics. They concluded the data suggests a biological origin for transgender persons.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association recognizes the existence of transgender people as does the American Psychological Association.

Does the writer know that for the first six weeks of his life in utero that he was female? That would be when his mother released the hormones to change his fetus to male. But what if some mothers dont produce enough of that hormone? Or it is delivered a tad late?

We talk a lot about how wonderful diversity is, but when it shows up in humans it scares the heck out of some people.

Thousands of transgender persons served and thousands continue to serve in the military. I had the privilege of meeting Kristin Beck, who was Christian Beck, Navy Seal Team 6, before she transitioned. Im sorry the writer believes that transgender people are sinners simply because they exist.

To use a biblical reference, Id suggest Genesis 1:27, which tells us God created people in his image, both male and female. So if we are created in his image, then every person has some male and some female in them. I wonder what might happen if a person with male plumbing has a female brain? Hmm?

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Science recognizes transgender people - LancasterOnline

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Sweet Pea3 years 2 months old femaleCalico/Tortie DSH

She was abandoned with 3 other cats by their guardians when they moved. She lived with dogs as well as cats, but not with children. She is strikingly beautiful with her black, orange and white on her face, neck and toes. Did you know Calicos and Torties are always female due to genetics? Her bright green eyes are a contrast to her fantastic markings and then there is her little pink nose. She's a petite girl at only 7 pounds. She has the softest fur and she loves to be petted. She is not the kind of cat that likes to be picked up or held but she does enjoy getting attention.

Her new favorite spot is on the counter so she can watch what is going on in the room. She was having a hard time adjusting to all the cats but she seems to be settling down now. One of the 4 cats that were abandoned has been adopted but we still have Polly Bear, Panda Anne and Sweet Pea. Come meet all three of them in Cat Country. Helping Paws is located at 2500 Harding Lane, Woodstock, Illinois (Off Route 14 at the Lake Shore Drive traffic light). Give us a call at 815-338-4400 or visit us online at http://www.helpingpaws.net.

Sweet Pea is a volunteer favorite!

Photo provided by Helping Paws Animal Shelter

Photo provided by Helping Paws Animal Shelter

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Pet of of the Week: Sweet Pea - Northwest Herald

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Eggs

News Aug 25, 2017337views

Hendrix Genetics has officially opened a new $18.5m hatchery in Nebraska, creating 45 jobs, as it aims to expand its share of the market.

The new layer hatchery has a capacity to produce 24m female chicks per year.

Key contract growers located near the new hatchery will rear and house the birds during production. The company is already working with 8 contract growers in the Grand Island area who have invested in new barns with a capacity of 40,000 birds per barn.

The Grand Island contract growers will complete the new national production hub for Hendrix Genetics in the US, enabling the firm to meet another 10% of the total US layer market needs.

Ron Joerissen, Hendrix Genetics production director layers, said: The new hatchery signifies a major step in supplying the US layer market with top quality laying hens. We are dedicated to breed for the egg producing industry of today and tomorrow.

Nebraskas Governor Pete Ricketts described the plant as a great example of value-added agriculture.

It is not only a $20m investment here that will create between 40 to 50 jobs but it is going to allow area farmers to put up these barns for the eggs that will supply this hatchery and a diversified revenue stream for those farmers who are participating, he said.

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Hendrix Genetics expand layer distribution in the US - Poultry World (subscription)

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In BriefSickle-cell disease, which afflicts approximately 100,000 Americans with immense pain and shortened life-span, is caused by a single mutated nucleotide within the gene that codes for hemoglobin, making it a top candidate for CRISPR and maybe a cure.

Approximately 100,000 people in the US have sickle-cell disease. Most sufferers are African-Americans, but there are also many Latino patients as well as people of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Southeast Asian descent who have sickle-cell disease. The disease is painful, and shortens the lifespan of sufferers to about 40 to 60 years.

Although its cause has been understood for more than a century, patients with sickle-cell have historically been underserved by both the pharmaceutical industry and the medical establishment. However, as CRISPR is changing the face of medicine, it may also be changing this lived reality for people with sickle-cell disease, which is caused by a single mutation that is well-studied, making it an appealing candidate for correction with the gene-editing tool.

CRISPR works by cutting into a DNA sequence in a specific place and either deleting a sequence or editing it. In the case of sickle-cell disease, the mutation that causes the illness is a single nucleotide: a T where an A should be within the HBB gene, which codes for hemoglobin. Red blood cells with healthy hemoglobin are the typical disc-shaped red cells seen microscopically, but the mutation causes unhealthy sickle-shaped cells that stick together. Eventually this causes a buildup of cells, blocked blood vessels, and lack of oxygen to different regions in the body along with pain, organ damage, and eventually premature death.

This one mutated nucleotide is an easy fix for CRISPR, which can simply cut and edit that nucleotide. Thus far researchers have had great success with CRISPR in mice and on human sickle cells in the lab, making the next step a clinical trial and maybe a cure.

CRISPR as a tool is not free from safety concerns, but many sickle-cell patients are eager to take part in clinical trials. Lab experiments have shown impressive results, with CRISPR successfully editing about 85 percent of stem cells extracted from sickle-cell patients in order to create healthy red blood cells a great result, given that patients with sickle cells below 30 percent exhibit no symptoms.

Once those healthy cells are reintroduced to the body, they go back to the bone marrow where they create more healthy blood cells for the body. The researchers say these healthy blood cells will proliferate because they will outnumber the sickled cells, particularly since they live 4.5 to 12 times longer.Click to View Full Infographic

Although CRISPR clinical trials have yet to begin in the US, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is launching a study at the end of August 2017 to explore the opinions people with sickle-cell have about CRISPR technology. If a CRISPR sickle-cell cure does hit the market, access to it will be a defining issue. Ghana-born physician Isaac Odame, who specializes in sickle-cell disease and works at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, told MIT Technology Review that drug costs for hydroxyurea, commonly used to treat the disease, are too expensive for many to afford, even at one to two dollars per day. Scientists and others from all over the world have been meeting and talking about ensuring that people have equal access to CRISPR, although thus far the issue has not passed the discussion stage.

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CRISPR May One Day Cure Sickle-Cell Disease - Futurism

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Gene editing made great strides this month when scientists reported success using a technique called CRISPR Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats to correct a serious, disease-causing mutation in human embryos. Researchers fixed a mutation that leads to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a relatively common inherited disease of the heart muscle that affects about 1 in 500 people. The public response was wildly enthusiastic. But any new technology can spur confusion and hyperbole, and this one is no exception. Here are five myths about what CRISPR can and cant do.

Myth No. 1

CRISPR can build customized babies.

In February 2016, one CRISPR critic predicted in Mother Jones, We are this close to designer babies. And this month, biologist Richard Dawkins mused that the genetically edited designer babies on the horizon shouldnt be any more worrisome than children who are pushed by their parents to hone their natural talents.

But CRISPR is not on the cusp of creating a super-race for one main reason: We dont know how to do that. We dont know how to build baby Einsteins or order up a finely chiseled and uber-flexible Simone Biles, because there is no single smart gene or spunky, lithe gymnast gene.

Much of what goes on inside our bodies and our brains is influenced by a combination of genes and environment, nature and nurture. Beauty, athleticism and musicality dont hinge on a single sequence of base-pairs. Instead, these characteristics are considered complex traits that are shaped by the input of multiple genes, along with lifestyle and environmental factors. This is especially true of intelligence. Studies, many of which have tracked adopted children and twins, have indicated that just 50 percent of the variation in intelligence among people can be chalked up to genetics.

Myth No. 2

CRISPR is the only hope for would-be parents with genetic conditions.

The Genetic Literacy Project, a group dedicated to increasing the publics understanding of gene research, wrote this year that parents worried about passing on genetic disorders to their children have hope: Gene editing. Likewise, an Australian newspaper greeted this months CRISPR news with an ebullient headline: Hope for parents as science deletes mutant killer gene.

While its undeniable that the ability to home in on and fix a genetic error would enable some would-be parents to sidestep the possibility of transmitting a disease to their offspring, gene editing is not the only option in such cases. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis has been used for decades to help couples who go through IVF ensure that they select healthy embryos from among those fertilized in a clinic. The technology has allowed carriers of genetic disease to conceive unaffected children, starting in 1991, when it was first used to avoid cystic fibrosis.

In the event that not enough healthy embryos are created during the IVF process, CRISPR could one day lend a helping hand and repair defective embryos, giving a couple more choices. Still, an essay that accompanied this months research report, published in Nature, concluded that embryo genetic testing during IVF remains the standard way to prevent the transmission of inherited diseases in human embryos.

Myth No. 3

CRISPR will be available for widespread use soon.

I think its really likely that in the not-too-distant future it will cure genetic disease, Jennifer Doudna, one of the scientists behind CRISPR, said at a recent conference . The Chicago Tribunes editorial board shared the sentiment in April 2016, claiming that for some people born with debilitating genetic diseases, scientists could give them relief from their symptoms and maybe even cure them in the not-too-distant future.

Not so fast. In the United States, a human-embryo research ban has been in place since 1996, prohibiting the use of federal money to support research in which embryos are created, destroyed or discarded. Recent embryo-editing studies were paid for by universities and foundations, but the lack of federal funding slows the science down.

Moreover, just because one experiment was successful doesnt mean the next one will be. In fact, even though most embryos were successfully repaired in the recently reported study, more than a quarter werent. Another concern is that CRISPR may solve one problem while unintentionally creating another. A challenge is to avoid off-target edits or mosaicism, a condition that occurred in previous attempts, in which CRISPR successfully edited the specific mutation in some but not all cells. The technique needs much more practice before its ready for widespread public use.

Myth No. 4

CRISPR means a future without genetic diseases.

There is widespread interest in using CRISPR, which allows the targeted editing of specific genes, to potentially end genetic disease in humans, Vice reported in December 2015 . A more recent headline from Wired cheered that CRISPR may cure all genetic disease one day.

While that would certainly be nice, its impossible to edit out all genetic diseases, because not all genetic diseases are simply inherited. There are about 10,000 single-gene disorders that weve discovered diseases caused by a specific, individual gene mutation. But there are thousands more that are caused by multiple genetic factors. Moreover, some genetic conditions are the result of new, spontaneous changes in DNA, called de novo mutations.

Cancer is a prime example. While some types of cancer can be inherited, many others dont appear to have a primary genetic component, and often respond to a variety of environmental factors and other outside causes. Ending genetic disease is a worthy goal, but an extremely complicated one that will require more than eliminating heritable disease.

Myth No. 5

CRISPR technology will one day be broadly available.

Recent advances in gene-editing technology have made the process cheaper , causing some commentators to predict a quick CRISPR proliferation on the horizon. Gene Editing Is Now Cheap and Easy, one 2015 headline claimed. A Wall Street Journal article concerned with amateurs imitating CRISPRs technology likewise fretted that DIY gene editing is fast, cheap and worrisome.

CRISPR may be cheaper than it once was, but its hard to foresee a future when all prospective parents who could benefit will be able to afford it. As a rule, genetic technologies are very expensive: Patients dont pay just for the supplies used, but for doctors time, labor and equipment, often over a number of appointments. You dont have to look any further than IVF to be reminded that using science to have babies costs a lot of money: The median cost of a single IVF cycle is $7,500. It is unclear whether insurance would cover CRISPR gene editing, but its highly unlikely considering that few pay for preimplantation genetic diagnosis or IVF in the first place.

If CRISPR were to become a safe, accepted embryo-editing technique, its likely that only the well-to-do would be able to afford it, essentially making genetic diseases into diseases of poverty. Its not too hard to imagine a wildly disparate economic playing field a dystopian vision, in the words of StatNews writer Jim Kozubek, in which these treatments will be available to only the wealthiest among us who can pay for them.

Twitter:@brochman

Five myths is a weekly feature challenging everything you think you know. You can check out previous myths, read more from Outlook or follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter.

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Five myths about gene editing - The Washington Post - Washington Post

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Marcela V. Maus

CRISPR Therapeutics $CRSP is allying with some top immuno-oncology researchers at Mass General to collaborate on some new gene editing working aimed at creating a new and better generation of T cell therapies.

The biotech based in Switzerland with a big research group in Cambridge, MA has tied the partnership knot with Marcela V. Maus, who runs the cellular immunotherapy group at Mass General. Shell be using the biotechs pioneering CRISPR/Cas9 tech to see how it works in building a new-and-improved T cell therapy just as the original models appear poised to hit the market later in the year.

This is by no means the first such gene editing effort in I/O, but it does reflect the companys continuing effort to build a pipeline of I/O drugs. They hired Jon Terrett (a vet at the South San Francisco-based cancer biotech CytomX) to run the operation on I/O back in February and struck a deal with MaSTherCell SA on making their CAR-T CTX101, targeting CD19 cancers. And they believe that they have potential for next-gen therapies that can work in both liquid as well as solid tumors the Holy Grail in I/O now.

A little more than a year ago Carl June and his team at the University of Pennsylvania, backed by The Parker Institute, obtained permission to run the first gene editing experiment for an immunotherapy with human subjects. That project involved using CRISPR in 18 subjects, extracting T cells and then editing them to add a protein that recognizes cancer cells and issues an attack order, then edit out a protein that interferes with the attack and finally disable the cloaking mechanism cancer cells use to hide from the immune system.

We have already seen the profound benefit that T cell therapies can have for certain patients with a specific set of tumor types, said Maus in a prepared statement.Now the potential with gene editing, and specifically CRISPR/Cas9, exists to create improved versions of these cells that may work for a wider variety of patients with a more diverse set of tumor types. Im glad to see the commitment CRISPR Therapeutics is making to this area, and am excited to collaborate with them.

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Building up its I/O ops, CRISPR Therapeutics allies with Marcela Maus at Mass General - Endpoints News

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The new Stanford Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine will fosterthe development ofstem cell and gene therapies for genetic diseases, including sickle cell anemia.

More than280 million people around the world have diseases with genetic causes, experts estimate. While research has identified the underlying causes of several, scientists have developed few therapies that can address the causes or cure the diseases.

Treatments have been developed thatsignificantly improve patients health, however. They include public health initiatives, targeted therapies and surgery.

Scientists believe stem cell and gene therapy can cure some genetic diseases. They would likely do this either by rewiring cells to fight a disease more efficiently or by correcting a genetic errorin a patients DNA.

Stanford not only does excellent research in disease mechanisms, cell and stem cell biology, but also promotes collaboration between its medical schools and hospitals.

The initiative is a joint venture of theStanford University School of Medicine,Stanford Health CareandStanford Childrens Health.

Dean Predicts Center Will Be Major Force in the Precision-health Revolution

The Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine is going to be a major force in theprecision-health revolution, Dr. Lloyd Minor, dean of the School of Medicine, said in a press release. Our hope is that stem cell and gene-based therapeutics will enable Stanford Medicine to not just manage illness but cure it decisively and keep people healthy over a lifetime.

We are entering a new era in medicine, one in which we will put healthy genes into stem cells and transplant them into patients,said Christopher Dawes, the president and CEO of Stanford Childrens Health. And with the Stanford Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine, we will be able to bring these therapies to patients more quickly than ever before.

The work of the center is not being done anywhere else in the country only at Stanford, said David Entwistle, president and CEO of Stanford Health Care. We have a pipeline of clinical translational therapies that the center is now driving forward, enabling us to translate basic science discoveries into state-of-the-art therapies for diseases which up until now have been considered incurable.

Dr. Maria Grazia Roncarolo will direct the center,which will be in the Department of Pediatrics.The renowned medical doctor and scientist is the George D. Smith Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine.

It is a privilege to lead the center and to leverage my previous experience to build Stanfords preeminence in stem cell and gene therapies, said Roncarolo, who is also chief of pediatric stem cell transplantation and regenerative medicine, co-director of theBass Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases,and co-director of theStanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.

Main Mission Will Be to Turn Scientific Discoveries Into Treatments

Stanford Medicines unique environment brings together scientific discovery, translational medicine and clinical treatment, Roncarolo added. We will accelerate Stanfords fundamental discoveries toward novel stem cell and gene therapies to transform the field and to bring cures to hundreds of diseases affecting millions of children worldwide.

The centers main mission will be to turn scientific discoveries into treatments. A world-classinterdisciplinary team of scientists should help it deliver on that promise.

Leaders of the team will include Dr. Matthew Porteus, an associate professor of pediatrics, and Dr. Anthony Oro, the Eugene and Gloria Bauer Professor of dermatology. Dr. Sandeep Soni will direct the centers stem cell clinical trial office.

The center will provide novel therapies that can prevent irreversible damage in children, and allow them to live normal, healthy lives, said Dr. Mary Leonard, chair of pediatrics at Stanford Childrens Health. The stem cell and gene therapy efforts within the center are aligned with the strategic vision of the Department of Pediatrics and Stanfordsprecision-healthvision, where we go beyond simply providing treatment for children to instead cure them definitively for their entire lives.

A unique feature of the center will be a close association with the Stanford Laboratory for Cell and Gene Medicine, which is working on new cell and gene therapies.

The lab has already developed genetically corrected bone marrow cells as a treatment for sickle cell anemia. Other genetically modified cells it has created include skin grafts for children with the genetic disease epidermolysis bullosa and lymphocytes for children with leukemia.

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Stanford Center Hopes to Take Stem Cell and Gene Therapies to a New Level - Sickle Cell Anemia News

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Charm City wont wait until September to put a spotlight on sickle cell disease.

On Aug. 26 hundreds are expected to join the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) in Baltimore to bring attention to the disease, educate the public, and raise money for research.

This is an awareness event, said Sonja L. Banks, president and chief operating officer of the SCDAA. We want people to understand that sickle cell still exist and we have to raise national awareness.

Banks said that over 80 percent of all the dollars raised goes back into the community based organizations that really serve patients. Were raising money so they can provide those services and bolster research.

Participants can register for the 4th Annual Walk with the Stars 5K beforehand on the SCDAA website, or register on-site from 8-9:30 a.m. at Canton Waterfront Park before the 10 a.m. kickoff.

The walk is one of many sickle cell awareness events taking place from June to Dec. 31, 2017 as the SCDAAs One Community- One Cause campaign sweeps across the country. The disease affects approximately 100,000 Americans- almost all of whom are Black.

Banks said African-American churches, schools, and community organizations need to make sickle cell disease part of our agenda. We have diabetes, heart disease, AIDs, and cancer as part of our agenda. We need to step it up and add sickle cell disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the term sickle cell disease (SCD) covers a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. SCD occurs when red blood cells take on a sickle or C-shaped form instead of a normal circle shape.

Red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout the body via tiny blood vessels, but this job gets complicated when the sickle cells become hard and sticky, die prematurely, and clog blood vessel entrances. This can cause pain and other serious problems such as infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke.

One out of every 13 African Americans born has the sickle cell trait (SCT) but no SCD symptoms. However, when two parents have the sickle cell trait there is a 25 percent chance that their child will be born with SCD, and a 50 percent chance that someone will pass along the trait. One out of every 365 Black births lead to an SCD diagnosis.

Dr. Sophie Miriam Lanzkron, director of the Sickle Cell Center for Adults at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore told the AFRO, The most commonly used therapy is hydroxyurea. It doesnt bring crisis frequencies to zero, but it cuts it in half for people with the most common form of sickle cell disease.

Until last month, hydroxyurea was the only drug approved to treat the disease. Lanzkron said the latest therapy, Endari, is shown to decrease painful episodes by 25 percent. It is not available to the public yet, but could possibly be used along with hydroxyurea in the future.

Lanzkron also said that 98 percent of her patients are African American. Many of them receive chronic transfusion therapy, a monthly blood transfusion that replenishes blood cells and decreases the occurrence of painful crisis. This type of therapy highlights the importance of having blood from the community of the person who needs it.

Other treatments include bone marrow transplants and gene therapy, but both are typically out of reach for patients for a number of reasons.

We used to do bone marrow transplants only with donors who were an exact match but we do half- matches now. A parent or a child can be a donor, said Lanzkron. Still, between the inability to complete preparative regimens, rejection of transplants, the three-month recovery period, and money, bone marrow transplants are rarely an option- especially for adults. In the last decade weve probably had about 50 transplants at Johns Hopkins. That number doesnt include children.

Because pain is the most common symptom of SCD, the disease has presented a unique problem to lawmakers trying to regulate opioid abuse. Lanzkron said pain from SCD can present as early as four to six months, and eventually becomes an everyday occurrence for as many as 60 percent of adults.

These episodes of excruciating pain have been described as worse than child labor. All we can do is give opioids. The new restrictions on the amount and use of opioids thankfully said sickle cell is an exclusion to these new rules.

Lanzkron said, In this day in age everyone should know their trait status, something that Michael L. Matthews, Executive Director of the Childrens Sickle Cell Foundation, urges as well.

Find out if you are a carrier or not- before you decide to have a family, said Matthews, whose own son was diagnosed with SCD. You dont want the first time you hear the term sickle cell to be when the doctor is telling you that your beautiful newborn baby has the disease.

Banks said that information about sickle cell trait status is held by the public health department and some states are not required to tell you if you have the trait- only if you have the disease.

The SCDAA will hold their 45th Annual Convention from Oct. 25- 28 in Atlanta. They will also be raising awareness through social media during Sickle Cell Awareness Month in September with several Twitter campaigns focused on advocacy, awareness, access to treatment, and finding a universal cure.

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Baltimore 5K Aims to Raise Awareness about Sickle Cell Disease - Afro American

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The latest trend in nutrition isn't a fad diet or newly discovered supplement; it's your DNA.

Unlocking the secrets of one's genetic code used to be confined to the laboratory, but increasingly, the big business of DNA is now going after your eating habits.

Scientists already know that variations in our genes determine how well our bodies metabolize certain compounds for example, people with a variation of the CYP1A2 gene metabolize caffeine more slowly, and are at an increased risk of heart attack and hypertension if they drink more than a couple of cups of coffee a day.

Companies now want to take the buzz over DNA testing one step further and market the tests as a way to determine how peoples bodies handle nutrients. And tech firms are stepping up to fill that demand. More and more genetics startups are getting into nutrition, with tests that claim to help people choose the best food to eat to feel good and even lose weight.

Genetic testing service 23andMe has genotyped more than 2 million customers to determine ancestry and genetic health risks, and Nutrigenomix offers tests designed to help medical professionals make recommendations for a person's intake of sodium, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and yes, caffeine.

Ahmed El-Sohemy, a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto and the founder of Nutrigenomix, points to research that shows the "one-size-fits-all model of nutritional guidance" is not the most effective way for people to eat healthily or lose weight.

"There's research now showing that people who get DNA-based dietary advice are more likely to follow recommendations. So not only are people getting more accurate dietary advice, but they are more likely to follow it," said El-Sohemy.

Now, there's a new kid on the block: Oakland-based personalized nutrition company Habit.

"We think we're going to disrupt the diet industry," Habit founder and CEO Neil Grimmer told NBC News. "When you think about moving from a one-size-fits-all approach to food to something that's highly personalized, it changes everything. It changes the way you shop. It changes the way you eat. And quite frankly, it even changes the way you think about your own health and well-being."

Habit's home testing kit containing DNA cheek swabs, three finger-prick blood tests, and a special shake. The bloodwork is designed to show how your body metabolizes the huge amounts of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the shake. Chiara Sottile

At Habit, it's not just DNA data they're using to make diet recommendations. For $299, Habit sends customers an at-home test kit containing DNA cheek swabs, three finger-prick blood tests, and a "metabolic challenge shake loaded with 950 calories. Users take one blood test prior to drinking the shake, and two more timed blood pricks afterwards. The bloodwork is designed to show how your body metabolizes the huge amounts of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the shake.

"You layer in your blood work, your fasting blood work, and you layer in your metabolism, and all of a sudden you have a really clear picture of what's going on inside yourself," said Grimmer.

The Habit test kit also asks you to measure your waist circumference and provide information about your weight and activity level. Users send in the DNA swabs and blood sample testing cards sealed in a pre-paid envelope, and then get their results back a couple weeks later.

Health-conscious San Francisco resident Michelle Hillier was introduced to Habit through a friend. When she received her test results, she was surprised to learn she is a diet type Habit calls a "Range Seeker" meaning she should eat about 50 percent of her daily calories in carbohydrates, about 30 percent from fat, and 20 percent from protein.

"You hear so much about how you need so much protein, and I'm a pretty active person so I had been really upping my protein. And to find out that I'm supposed to have more carbs than anything else was really surprising to me," said Hillier, who is not affiliated with the company.

She also learned that she has genes that are impactful for lactose and caffeine sensitivity, something she had suspected. Like all Habit users get for the $299, after she received her test results, Hillier had a 25-minute phone consultation with a registered dietitian from the Habit team.

Michelle Hillier, pictured, learned she is a "Range Seeker," which means she should eat about 50 percent of her daily calories in carbohydrates, about 30 percent from fat, and 20 percent from protein. Chiara Sottile

The Habit test kit is now available nationally (except in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, because of regulatory restrictions). In the San Francisco Bay Area, Habit users get an added perk: the company will cook you fresh meals in their Oakland kitchen based on your diet recommendations and deliver them to your door weekly.

Hillier receives about three dinners a week costing between $10 and $15 a meal and she can choose her meals with Habit's online dashboard.

For Hillier, the Habit meals have been a positive addition to her already healthy lifestyle, though she admits: "The shake was awful," referring to the metabolic challenge shake. "It was like drinking seven coffees, four avocados, and a scoop of ice cream," said Hillier with a laugh.

Blood pricks and a "Challenge Shake" that lives up to its name could be barriers for some people but, Hillier says, it was well worth it for her.

"I've noticed that my clothes are looser on my body, I feel better. I noticed that I have more energy, honestly, since I started doing the meal plans," said Hillier in an interview, noting she's lost about seven pounds since she started receiving the Habit meal plans in May.

Kristin Kirkpatrick is a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, where they offer DNA testing kits from Nutrigenomix.

"Many of my patients have mentioned to me that it [nutrigenomics] has truly changed the way that they eat. But I don't think it's the first step. I think seeing a professional and going over what those important goals and barriers are is definitely what you want to do first, said Kirkpatrick in an interview with NBCs Jo Ling Kent.

As some urge potential consumers to do their homework and speak with their own healthcare professional before they take the plunge into their genetics, the market for DNA-based products is racing ahead. Just last month, Helix, a personal genomics company, launched the first online "marketplace."

Customers who have their genome sequenced with Helix get access to a slew of services from other emerging genomics companies ranging from Vinome,which aims to pick wine for you based on your genes, to EverlyWell, which offers food sensitivity and metabolism tests.

"People are very interested to go beyond the generalities that they've seen and get more specific to what's actually impacting their genes," said Kirkpatrick, though she warns this kind of testing "may not be ready for primetime."

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics agrees, writing in a 2014 opinion paper that, "...the use of nutrigenetic testing to provide dietary advice is not ready for routine dietetics practice." In the same paper, the Academy did also characterize nutritional genomics as insightful into how diet and genes impact our phenotypes.

"I don't think it's going to answer every single question that you may have about your health and it's definitely not going to answer things that are very specific to health ailments that you may have," Kirkpatrick told NBC News.

"Will it put you in the right direction towards knowing what foods you need to increase? What foods perhaps you should have less of and what's the best source of protein or fat related to weight loss? Absolutely," Kirkpatrick continued.

By 2020, the genomics market is expected to generate a staggering $50 billion globally, and diagnostic tools, health tech, and wireless wearables are expected to boom from $2 billion to $150 billion globally, according to one analysis.

"I think this is the start of a highly personalized future," said Habit CEO Neil Grimmer. "What we really hope to do is actually dispel a lot of the myths, get rid of the fad diets and actually get something that's personal to you."

Michelle Hillier says her Habit "nutrition coach," a registered dietitian, also advised her that she should consider factors beyond just her test results.

"She said take the results with a grain of salt, because you have to first see how you feel when you eat this way. It's not meant to be the 'end all be all,' but it is a guide like anything else," said Hillier.

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Trying to Find a Healthy Diet? Look to Your Genes - NBCNews.com

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By Jane Tiller and Paul Lacaze, Monash University

Posted August 25, 2017 17:11:23

A parliamentary inquiry is currently underway into Australia's life insurance industry, which has raised several issues including discrimination by insurers against people with mental health problems.

In our submission to the inquiry, we argue comparable discrimination is possible based on genetics, with insurers denying applicants life insurance and raising premiums inappropriately based on genetic test results.

There is a concerning lack of regulation over the use of genetic information by the Australian life insurance industry.

Insurance companies are allowed to use genetic test results to discriminate against applicants for life, permanent disability, and income protection insurance (which all come under the life-insurance product category), with little independent oversight or consumer transparency.

This discrimination can deter people from getting genetic tests and being involved in medical research that could prove useful for their future health and scientific understanding of diseases.

Australian insurers can increase premiums, exclude insurance cover for certain conditions such as cancer, or refuse insurance cover altogether purely based on your genetic test results.

Genetic tests look at DNA, the material that contains the instructions for our bodies to grow, develop and function.

Some DNA changes cause diseases such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington's Disease, while others can make us more susceptible to conditions such as cancer.

Doctors can refer patients to a genetics service if they consider such tests might be of value due to family or personal history.

Although cases of genetic discrimination are difficult to identify, they have been documented in Australia.

In one case, a woman with a BRCA gene, which is known to increase breast cancer risk, elected to have both breasts removed to reduce her risk.

However, the consequent, significant risk reduction wasn't taken into account by the insurer.

When she applied for death and critical illness cover, the insurer excluded any cancer cover and imposed a 50 per cent premium loading for death cover.

In another case, a man whose mother had bowel cancer was found to carry a gene increasing his risk of also developing bowel cancer.

He was refused cancer cover despite proactively seeking increased surveillance through colonoscopies, which reduced his risk back down to population average.

The man eventually obtained cover, but only after taking a complaint to the Human Rights Commission.

Under Australian law, life insurance applicants must disclose any known genetic test results if requested by the insurer.

This includes results from approved clinical genetic tests, but also less reliable findings from research or direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests, if they are known to the applicant.

Direct-to-consumer genetic tests are a new concept whereby consumers have genes tested directly through a private company without medical consultation.

Although most of these lack evidence of any predictive medical value, the law does not distinguish between types of genetic tests.

Australian life insurance companies are technically required by law to justify decisions based on genetic results.

In practice, however, consumers have no way of requiring insurers to provide information about how decisions are made.

The Australian Government leaves the life insurance industry to self-regulate its policy through the Financial Services Council (FSC).

This essentially means the insurance industry writes its own rules on the use of genetic data, raising obvious conflicts of interest.

Recently the FSC updated its genetic testing policy to suggest that insurance companies ask applicants if they are considering having a genetic test. This is a concerning development.

Many other countries have protected consumers by restricting or banning the use of genetic information for insurance altogether.

In the UK, a moratorium established in 2001 sets out an agreement between the government and the insurance industry not to ask for, or use, genetic test results (except for Huntington's Disease for policies worth over 500,000).

Canada has just passed legislation prohibiting insurance companies from asking for any genetic test results.

And many European countries such as Belgium, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden have implemented outright bans or other regulation in accordance with the Council of Europe's Oviedo (human rights and biomedicine) Convention.

In Australia, the situation is very different. Patients considering predictive or family-based clinical genetic testing are frequently advised to review their life insurance situation prior to taking the test, due to the obligation to disclose results to insurers.

The fear of unknown insurance implications deters some of these people from having this testing.

This can sometimes mean passing up critical information that can be used to help prevent cancers and other serious diseases.

For example, one study looked at patients at risk of bowel cancer due to family history.

It found more than double the patients, who had been advised of the possible effect of having a positive test on their insurance claim, declined testing compared with patients who had not been advised of this possible effect.

Some participants are also being deterred from involvement in medical research, which can sometimes involve the return of genetic findings.

Fortunately, this issue only affects life insurance and related policies in Australia, not private health insurance, which is treated differently.

However, this distinction isn't always understood by consumers, who may mistakenly believe that these issues affect all insurance types.

As genetic testing becomes more widespread in our society and offers increased potential to help manage patient risk, we must find a way of regulating the insurance implications.

The Australian Government must take action towards an immediate ban (moratorium) on the use of genetic test results in insurance, until adequate long-term regulation is in place.

This would bring us in line with other countries.

Jane Tiller is ethical, legal and social adviser in public health genomics at Monash University.

Paul Lacaze heads Monash University's public health genomics program.

Originally published in The Conversation

Topics:health-policy,regulation,insurance,government-and-politics,australia

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You can be denied life insurance based on genetic tests and there's little protection - ABC Online

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Genetic screening to detect mutations that can predispose women to the development of breast or ovarian cancer has available since the mid-1990s. However, more than 80 percent of women at risk for these malignancies have not taken the test or discussed it with their physician or healthcare provider, a new study says.

The study National Estimates of Genetic Testing in Women With a History of Breast or Ovarian Cancer was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

In the United States, about 15 percent of ovarian and breast cancers cases are caused by heritable genetic mutations, including those affecting the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Because these patients are at risk of developing a second cancer, and their relatives also might have higher chances of getting cancer if they share the same mutations, it is important that they undergo genetic testing.Early identification of these risk factors is critical for treatment decisions and preventive care.

Many of these women have inherited genetic changes that put them and their family members at risk for future cancers, Christopher Childers, MD, first author of the study, said in a press release. Childers is resident physician in the department of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Identifying a mutation is often important for surgical decision-making and cancer therapy, but its importance extends further than that. If individuals are aware that they have these mutations, they can take steps to lower their future cancer risk, Childers said.

Aiming to determine how many patients at risk for these mutations have not been tested, researchers at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Healthanalyzed pooled data from the 2005, 2010, and 2015 National Health Interview Surveys, which are administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To determine women for whom the genetic test would be more beneficial, the team used theNational Cancer Center Network(NCCN)s guidelines for managing care for cancer patients. Women who had had ovarian cancer, or women who had breast cancer at a younger age, or had a mother, sister or daughter who had breast or ovarian cancer, were those for whom a genetic test wouldbe recommended.

Among the 47,218 women included in the surveys,2.7 percent had had breast cancer. Among them, only 29 percent discussed the genetic test with their healthcare provider, and 20.2 percent were advised to be tested; but only 15.3 percent actually took the test.

For the 0.4 percent who had had ovarian cancer, 15.1 percent had discussed the matter with a physician or healthcare provider, and 13.1 percent were advised to undergo genetic testing. But only 10.5 percent were actually tested.

These numbers show that less than one in five women with a history of breast or ovarian cancer who met the NCCN criteria undergo genetic testing.

Many women are not receiving vital information that can aid with cancer prevention and early detection for them and their family, said co-author Kimberly Childers, genetic counselor and regional manager of the Providence Health and Services Southern Californias clinical genetics and genomics program. Thus, we have identified an incredible unmet need for genetic testing across the country.

Originally posted here:
Most Women with History of Ovarian or Breast Cancer Are Not Receiving Recommended Genetic Tests, Study Finds - Ovarian Cancer News Today

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Cryonics is the practice ofdeep-freezing recently deceased bodies(or even justthe brains of thosewho have recently died)in the hopes of one day reviving them.

It has been the subject of serious scientific exploration and study - as well as a fair share of pseudoscience, lore, and myth. Fictional accounts like Batman's Iceman, and the (untrue) rumours of Walt Disney being cryogenically frozen have cast a speculative shadow over the field of cryonics.

Butrecently, for the first time ever in China,a woman has been cryogenically frozen. Zhan Wenlian died at the age of 49 from lung cancer and her husband, Gui Junmin, "volunteered" her for the cryonic procedure.

Bothhe and his late wife wanted to donate her body to science to "give back to society." He told TheMirror UKthat hewas initially "pitched"the idea of cryonicswith it being described as a "life preservation project".

This procedure - which has Wenlian's body restingface downin 2,000 litres of liquid nitrogen - was completed at theYinfeng Biological Group in Jinan.

This project is the collaborative effortof the Yinfeng Biological Group, Qilu Hospital Shandong University and consultants fromAlcor Life Extension Foundation, a nonprofit cryonics company based in the United States.

Even with all the faith many have in the procedure, the question remains: how scientifically possible is a project like this? Is this just an experiment to allow us to better understand human biology, orcould cryonics one day become a feasible option?

Cryonics isall about timing.The bodies of the deceased arecryogenically frozenimmediately after the heartstops beating."Freezing" is a bit of a misleading term, because cryonic freezing is actually very specifically trying toavoidice crystal formation - which damages the cells of the body's tissues.

Rapid cooling, rather than freezing, is a more accuratedescription of the process.

A chemical cocktail of preservatives likeglycerol andpropandiol, in addition to antifreeze agents, are commonly used to get the body into a stable state where it won't be decaying, but also won't suffer damage from being stored at low temperatures for, conceivably, a very long time.

From there, the bodiesare given specific care that caters to the idea that death is a continuing process; one that can ultimately be reversed.

The aim of cryonic preservation would be to one day be able to thaw the bodies and reanimate them at a cellular level - preferably without too many epigenetic changes.

"I tend to believe in new and emerging technologies, so I think it will be completely possible to revive her."

With ourcurrent understanding and technology, this process of reversingdeath so completely is just not possible. The closest kind of revival we have are themoments after clinical death where patients are revived by something such as cardiac defibrillation.

Cryonics acts within this critical, albeit brief, period as well- but works within the belief that death is a grey area. More of a processrather than a definite, final, event.

Just because we haven't succeeded in reviving the dead yetdoesn't mean the field of cryonics isunnecessary or unimportant.This case inChina is a step forward for everyone researchingthe field of cryonics- and those of us who hope to benefit from advancements in it.

We may not be able to reverse death just yet,but it doesn't seem outof the realm of possibility to imagine that, withsuch wild scientific advancements underway, technology could one day allow it to be possible.

Whether or not it does in our lifetimes, this most recent development is certainly an interesting one.

This article was originally published by Futurism. Read the original article.

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For The First Time Ever, a Woman in China Has Been Cryogenically Frozen - ScienceAlert

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From clot-busting drugs to bypass surgery, cardiologists have many options for treating the 700,000-plus Americans who suffer a heart attack each year. But treatment options remain limited for the 5.7 million or so Americans who suffer from heart failure, an often debilitating condition in which damage to the heart (often resulting from a heart attack) compromises its ability to pump blood.

Severe heart damage can pretty much incapacitate people, says Dr. Timothy Henry, director of cardiology at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. You cant climb a flight of stairs, youre fatigued all the time, and youre at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Medication is available to treat heart failure, but its no panacea. And some heart failure patients undergo heart transplantation, but it remains an iffy proposition even 50 years after the first human heart was transplanted in 1967.

But soon, there may be another option.

A patch for the heart

Researchers are developing a new technology that would restore normal cardiac function by covering scarred areas with patches made of beating heart cells. The tiny patches would be grown in the lab from patients own cells and then surgically implanted.

The patches are now being tested in mice and pigs at Duke University, the University of Wisconsin and Stanford University. Researchers predict they could be tried in humans within five years with widespread clinical use possibly coming within a decade.

The hope is that patients will be again to live more or less normally again without having to undergo heart transplantation which has some serious downsides. Since donor hearts are in short supply, many patients experiencing heart failure die before one becomes available. And to prevent rejection of the new heart by the immune system, patients who do receive a new heart typically must take high doses of immunosuppressive drugs.

Heart transplants also require bypass machines which entails some risk and complications, says Dr. Timothy Kamp, co-director of the University of Wisconsins Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center and one of the researchers leading the effort to create heart patches. Putting a patch on doesnt require any form of bypass, because the heart can continue to pump as it is.

To create heart patches, doctors first take blood cells and then use genetic engineering techniques to reprogram them into so-called pluripotent stem cells. These jack-of-all-trade cells, in turn, are used to create the various types of cells that make up heart muscle. These include cardiomonocytes, the cells responsible for muscle contraction; fibroblasts, the cells that give heart tissue its structure; and endothelial cells, the cells that line blood vessels.

These cells are then grown over a tiny scaffold that organizes and aligns them in a way that they become functional heart tissue. Since the patches would be made from the patients own blood cells, there would be no chance of rejection by the patients immune system.

Once the patch tissue matures, MRI scans of the scarred region of the patients heart would be used to create a digital template for the new patch, tailoring it to just the right size and shape. A 3D printer would then be used to fabricate the extracellular matrix, the pattern of proteins that surround heart muscle cells.

The fully formed patch would be stitched into place during open-heart surgery, with blood vessel grafts added to link the patch with the patients vascular system.

In some cases, a single patch would be enough. For patients with multiple areas of scarring, multiple patches could be used.

Inserting patches will be delicate business, in part because scarring can render heart walls thin and susceptible to rupture. Researchers anticipate that heart surgeons will look at each case individually and decide whether it makes more sense to cut out the scarred area and cover the defect with a patch or simply affix the patch over the scarred area and hope that, over time, the scars will go away.

Another challenge will be making sure the patches contract and relax in synchrony with the hearts onto which theyre grafted. We think this will happen because cells of the same type like to seek each other out and connect over time, Kamp says. We anticipate that if the patch couples with the native heart tissue, the electrical signals which pass through the heart muscle like a wave and tell it to contract, will drive the new patch to contract at the same rate.

How much would it cost to patch a damaged heart? Researchers put the price tag at about $100,000. Thats far less than the $500,000 or so it costs give a patient a heart transplant. And regardless of the cost, researchers are upbeat about the possibility of having a new way to treat heart failure.

Using these patches to repair the damaged muscle is likely to be very effective, says Henry. Were not quite there yet itll be a few years before you see the first clinical trials. But this technology may really provide a whole new avenue of hope for people with these conditions who badly need new treatment options.

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'Beating Heart' Patch Offers New Hope for Desperately Ill Patients - NBCNews.com

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In a 2011 New Yorker profile, Peter Thiel, tech-philanthropist and billionaire, surmised that probably the most extreme form of inequality is between people who are alive and people who are dead. While he may not be technically wrong, Thiel and other eccentric, wealthy tech-celebrities, such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, have taken the next step to counteract that inequality by embarking on a quest to live forever.

Thiel and many like him have been investing in research on life extension, part of transhumanism. Drawing on fields as diverse as neurotechnology, artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering and philosophy, transhumanists believe that the limitations of the human body and mortality can be transcended by machines and technology. The ultimate aim is immortality.Some believe thisis achievable by 2045.

Of course, humans have long harnessed technology, from vaccinations to smartphones, to improve and extend our lives. But that doesnt admit you into the transhumanist club. Wanting to live forever, and possessing vast sums of money and time to research, does.

The hows and whens of transhumanism are matters of debate. Some advocatethe "Singularity" a form of artificial super-intelligence which will encompass all of humanity's knowledge, that our brains will then be uploaded to.Others believe in anti-ageing methods like cryonics, freezing your body after death until such a time when you can be revived.

Transhumanism is no longer a fringe movement either. Darpa, the US governments research arm into advanced weaponry, created a functional prototype of a super soldier exoskeleton in 2014, which will be fully functional in 2018, and is researching the possibility of an artificial human brain.

"Transhumanism doesn't have much to say about social questions. To the extent that they see the world changing, it's nearly always in a business-as-usual way techno-capitalism continues to deliver its excellent bounties, and the people who benefit from the current social arrangement continue to benefit from it," says Mark O'Connell, the author of To be a Machine, who followed various transhumanists in Los Angeles."You basically can't separate transhumanism from capitalism. An idea that's soenthusiastically pursued by Musk and Peter Thiel, and by the founders of Google, is one that needs to be seen as a mutationof capitalism, not a cure for it."

Silicon Valley is characterised by ablind belief in technological progress,a disregard for social acceptability and an emphasis on individual success. It's no surprise, then, that it is here that the idea of living forever seems most desirable.

Musk has publicly declared that we have to merge withartificially intelligent machines that overtake humanityin order to survive. Ray Kurzweil, the inventor and futurist who pioneered the Singularity, is now an engineer at Google. O'Connell points out that "you'd have to be coming from a particularly rarefied privilege to look at the world today and make the assessment, as someone like Thiel does, that the biggest problem we face as a species is the fact that people die of old age".

On an even more basic level,a transhumanist society would undoubtedly be shaped by the ideals of those who created it and those who came before it. Zoltan Istvan, the transhumanist candidate for governor of California,toldTech Insiderthat a lot of the most important work in longevity is coming from a handful of the billionaires...around six or seven of them.

Immortality as defined by straight, white men could draw out cycles of oppression. Without old attitudes dying off and replaced by the impatience of youth, social change might become impossible. Artificial intelligence has already been shown to absorb the biases of itscreators. Uploading someones brain into a clone of themselves doesnt make them less likely to discriminate. Thiel andMusk, for example, identify as libertarians and have frequently suggested that taxes are obsolete and that governmental military spending needs to be curbed (and put into life-enhancing technologies).

Thiel himself is a Donald Trump supporter. A one-timeassociateMichael Anissimov, previousmedia officer at Machine Intelligence Research Institute, a Thiel-funded AI think tank, has published a white nationalist manifesto. In a 2013 interview, Anissimov said that there were already significant differences in intelligence between the races, and that a transhumanist society would inevitably lead to people lording it over others in a way that has never been seen before in history. It doesnt take much to guess who would be doing the "lording".

"The first enhanced humans will not be ordinary people;they'll be the people who have already made those ordinary people economically obsolete through automation. They'll be tech billionaires," says O'Connell.

If those who form society in the age of transhumanism aremen like Musk and Thiel, its probable that thissociety will have few social safety nets. There will be an uneven rate of technological progress globally; even a post-human society can replicate the unequal global wealth distribution which we see today. In some cities and countries, inhabitants maylive forever, while in others the residents die of malnutrition.If people dont die off, the environmental consequences from widespread natural resource devastation to unsustainable energy demands would be widespread.

It would be remiss to tar all transhumanists with one brush. In 2014, Istvan claimed inThe Huffington Postthat the membership of transhumanist societies and Facebook groups has started to expand in number and in diversity, drawing in young and old people of all political persuasions and nationalities.

There are some prominent transhumanists who dont fit into the Silicon Valley mould. Natasha Vita-More, the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Humanity+ , the globaltranshumanist organisation, has spoken about the potential for a posthuman society to address issues of economic justice. Other academics and philosophers have even spoken about the need to explicitly ground diversity and tolerance within posthumanism, such as Nick Bostrom, the head of the Future of Humanity institute and one of the original modern transhumanist thinkers.

It remains the case, though, that the majority of the money invested inmaking transhumanism a reality comes from rich, white men. As the descendants of a species with a tendency to exploit thedowntrodden, any posthumans must guard against replicating thosesame biases in a new society. For some, potentially in the near future, death might become optional. For others, death will remain inevitable.

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The first men to conquer death will create a new social order a terrifying one - New Statesman

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Q: Im still getting blackheads in my 50s. What can I do?

A: Many think acne is predominantly a teenage condition, but it peaks at two times in our lives. We see a lot of acne in the teen years with the first rush of hormones into the system. But we also see acne affecting people in their 40s and 50s, often around the mouth. Again, later outbreaks are related to hormones (from menopause, for example).

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

When you come to see a dermatologist, he or she will assess your acne. If it appears to be hormone-related, we may treat it with hormonal therapy, prescribingcommon oral contraceptive drugs or a drug like spironolactone. If the acne is severe, we may prescribe oral tretinoin or isotretinoin products.

However, the majority of acne can be controlled with topical medications, including:

Some over-the-counter products that contain alpha or beta hydroxy acids (like glycolic acid or salicylic acid) are also very helpful.

Also, as stress willdefinitely aggravate any skin condition, modifying the stress in your life as much as you canand adopting healthy stress management habits will help your skin condition.

Dermatologist Christine Poblete-Lopez, MD

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I'm in My 50s and Still Get Acne What Can I Do? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic (blog)

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In a taupe-walled exam room at the Womens Community Clinic in San Francisco, lead clinician Lisa Mihaly plucks a small laminated card from a cabinet. Tethered to the card are three T-shaped IUDs, or intrauterine devicesforms of birth control that are, as the name implies, inserted into a womans uterus to prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years. Mihaly points to each device like friends in a group photo: Paragard, with its thin bands of copper coiled around a white plastic trunk and two arms at attention; Mirena, the first hormonal IUD available in the US; and Skyla, an IUD designed for women who have never had children. But theres one option missing, Mihaly says: a newer model called Liletta.

Liletta, which arrived in the clinics inventory this summer, is a small device that manufacturers hope will make a big difference. Public clinics pay a wholesale price of $336 to $400 for each of the IUDs on Mihalys card. Add in doctors visits for placement and the total cost can exceed $1,000. Liletta's manufacturer hopes to see a wholesale price for public clinics as low as $50.

Price point matters, possibly more than ever before. Under the Affordable Care Act, women rarely pay full price for an IUD because of provisions requiring insurers to fully cover at least one option from each of the 18 FDA-approved birth control methods. But when Donald Trump took office on a promise to repeal the ACA, IUD insertion rates soared as women sought long-term contraceptive solutions.

Though the ACA is safe for now, The Wall Street Journal reported in August that the Trump administration is planning to roll back the birth control requirement, allowing employers to demur based on religious or moral objections. And affordable, accessible birth control will always be a public health concern. In April, Trump signed a law giving states more freedom to restrict their spending of federal money from the Title X program, which supports the clinics that care for women with Medicaid, or no insurance at all, at lower cost.

Politics and pricing aside, the IUD has experienced something of a revival in the United States. For years a negative narrative dogged the devicesin the 1980s, the Dalkon Shield caused infections and even deaths. But new, safe models, including Paragard and Mirena, made it to market and the mainstream. Since 2002, the number of American women using IUDs has roughly doubled every four years. But it remains low, internationally speakingjust 8 percent of reproductive-age American women use an IUD, compared to 20 percent of Belgians and nearly 70 percent of South Koreansbut the trend continues upward.

And why not? The IUD is among the most effective contraceptives, preventing pregnancy in 99 percent of women who use it over the course of a year. The levonorgestrel in hormonal IUDs stops ovulation or thins the uterine lining, so eggs are less likely to implant, and the physical presence of a foreign object often thickens cervical mucus enough to stop sperm. Plus, theyre inserted once and last for years. Theres no room for error. You cant forget to take it, or forget to get the resupplies, says Cynthia Harper, a reproductive health researcher at UCSF. Just set it and forget it.

While many women have now heard of IUDs, few know about Lilettapartly because it's produced by Medicines360, a San Francisco nonprofit edging into a product category long dominated by Bayer, the pharmaceutical giant that makes three of the four hormonal IUDs available in the US. When Mirena received FDA approval in 2000, there wasnt a single other hormonal IUD available in the US. It remained the only option until 2013, when Bayer released Skyla, a model specific for nulliparous women. And in 2016a year after Lilleta earned FDA approvalthe company released its third hormonal IUD, Kyleena.

Bayers IUDs netted the company $900 million in the US in 2016, and theyve been among the companys 15 best-selling drugs for the past decade. It's a big businessand it doesnt look like that will change anytime soon.

Bayer has created a suite of IUDs that target women with different birth control needs: Skyla has a three-year lifetime and lower hormone levels, while Mirena and Kyleena are approved for five-year use with slightly higher doses of hormones. And Skyla and Kyleenas smaller size is aimed at women who havent had children.

The differences arent strictly clinical, though. The timing of Bayers product releases also allowed the company to keep its own patent-protected devices on the market. Drug patents typically last 20 years from the day a company files its application. With IUDs specifically, which bundle a drug (the body of the IUD) with a device (the inserter a doctor uses to place it), there are two ways to restart the patent clock: bring a new IUD through clinical trials or design a new inserter.

So in 2010, Bayer put two new IUDsthen experimental LCS16 and LCS12, now Skyla and Kyleenainto a clinical trial in Europe, North America, and South America. The company could have run each trial for five years so the new offerings would match Mirenas efficacy, but it finalized Skylas data at three, releasing it in 2013, before Mirenas patent ran out in 2015. Kyleena stayed in the same trial for two more years, receiving FDA approval in 2016.

Bayer has made other moves to maintain its market dominance. In 2014, the year before Mirenas first patent expired, the FDA established guidelines for studies to approve a generic form of the device, as it does for many drugs. The agency later withdrew the guidelines, but proposed spending up to $250,000 in grant money for researchers to find ways to evaluate drug equivalence of generic versions of Mirena. In response, Bayer submitted a citizen petition to the FDA, a 10-page statement urging the agency to require that proposed generics undergo comprehensive clinical testing rather than lab experiments to prove equivalence. The company submitted the petition one day before Mirenas patent expiration date.

Citizen petitions allow ordinary people to have input on health policy, but drug companies have historically employed them to discourage generic drug production, says Michael Carrier, an intellectual property lawyer at Rutgers Law School. The petitions are all carefully consideredsafety concerns are nothing to ignorebut the FDA ultimately denies many of the requests that large companies submit. If it really were about safety, Carrier says, then why is the company waiting until the very end?

Bayers petition mentions that the company has been waiting patiently for the FDA to update the guidelines for testing generic forms of the Mirena IUD, and the long timeline has led them to submit a citizen petition. The FDA hasnt issued a final response to Bayers citizen petition, and the agency keeps any inquiries about making a generic product confidential. Bayer did not respond to questions by press time.

Like Mirena, Liletta doesnt have patent protection on its IUD body. And Liletta is closely modeled after the Mirena, although technically its not a generic. Its a hybrid new drug, different enough from Mirena to stand on its own but similar enough to simplify the clinical trials that earned it FDA approval.

Lilettas IUD body was developed in the late 1990s, when Mirena was first approved in Europe. Jean Michel Foidart, an ob-gyn at the University of Liege, in Belgium, loved the concept of the hormonal IUD, but not the cost. The IUD itself is just a tiny piece of plastic, less than a tenth of a gram of hormones, and two small strings for removal. So Foidart figured he and his lab could create a much cheaper alternative. They mimicked Mirenas T-shape and dosed their model with the same hormone, levonorgestrel. An equally effective IUD with a lower price, he hoped, would provide better access to effective birth control.

There appeared to be a need for better and more reliable contraception in the US. In the mid 2000s, American women were largely relying on less-effective birth control methods, says Harper, the health researcher. Half of US pregnancies were unplanned. So in 2009, an anonymous donorsince identified as the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, which Warren Buffett runs in honor of his late wifefunneled $70 million to Medicines360 to get a lower-cost IUD available in the US.

It was an ambitious undertaking for the tiny company. In 2009, the entire team of Medicines360 consisted of Victoria Hale and then COO Ahvie Herskowitz. They licensed Foidarts IUD for distribution in the US and the developing world, changed the name from Levosert to the more marketable Liletta, and inworked with the pharmaceutical company Watson (which has since become a part of Allergan) for manufacturing.

Having a deep-pocketed benefactor gave Hale and her team the freedom to spend time and money on development. Andrea Olariu, who Medicines360 brought on as VP of clinical affairs in 2011, first called clinicians to understand where they needed helpprofessors at medical schools, MDs, and nurse practitioners. The final version of Liletta, they hoped, would be more affordable, and a better product too.

No one they spoke to raised many complaints about the IUDs. Instead, their feedback focused on insertion. To insert an IUD, a doctor or a nurse uses a wandlike gadget to guide it. A small tube at one end holds a flattened device, so when a nurse threads the tube into the cervix, then nudges the IUD upward, it unfolds into the uterus. The procedure takes just a few minutes, but speed doesnt mean precision. Clinicians found it hard to tell whether an IUD had fully exited an inserter, and complained that straight, rigid guiding tubes didnt accommodate the diverse geometries of uteruses. So Olariu worked alongside an engineer, Robert Deckman, to design and test 10 or so inserter prototypes. The finished product is about a foot long, with a thin handle at one end and the floppy tube that contains the IUD at the other. It makes like a little dome, says Jessica Grossman, who took over as Medicines360s CEO in 2015, so when you insert it into the cervix it doesn't cause trauma, and then you deploy the IUD in the uterus by pulling down on this, she says, pressing a small slider down with her thumb. The IUD exits the insertion tube with an audible clickso a nurse, who cant see whats happening, knows insertion took place.

With a finalized device in hand, Medicines360 was ready for the trickiest part of its process: clinical trials.

In 2009, Olariu cast a wide net as she began to enroll patients in Lilettas phase 3 safety trial. In 2000, Mirena was approved based on data from Finland and Sweden, and she hoped to include a wider range of patients in Medicines360s trial in America. Our goal was, as much as we could, to mirror the US population, Olariu says.

They extended their age range to include women between 16 and 45, rather than the typical 18 to 35 demographic of contraceptive studies, to recruit more women who had never given birth. And by enrolling 2,000 women from 27 cities around the country, their enrollment reflected the US census pretty closely. Roughly a quarter of participants were overweight or obese women, who often are excluded from these trials as researchers are uncertain of how weight might affect response to hormones.

Liletta received FDA approval for three-year use in February 2015, two months after Bayer submitted its citizen petition to require stringent testing for any generic versions of Mirena. The unresolved petition never caused Liletta any trouble, as its a unique drugthe Liletta IUD releases a slightly different amount of hormone per day (18.6 micrograms to Mirenas 20), and has a custom-designed inserter.

In rolling clinical trials, Liletta has now been approved for four years of contraception, and Medicines360 will submit their data for five-year approval soon. More than 600 clinics stock Liletta, and in two years theyve provided nearly a hundred thousand patients with IUDs, Grossman says. The difference with Liletta is that its much cheaper than the other IUDs, says Kristyn Brandi, an ob-gyn from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

With more options becoming available, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists maintains that IUDs are one of many good birth control options. There are clearly differences between hormonal and copper IUDs, and even some differences in lower and higher doses of levonorgestrel. But smaller sizing, one of the marketing points for Bayers latest releases, might not make as much of a difference for the majority of women. Some women like the idea that a smaller IUD might be less painful on insertion, but in general all the IUDs are well tolerated, Brandi says.

Lilettas approval might open a faster, easier, and cheaper route to an IUD, particularly for women who are uninsured, as many of the patients who Lisa Mihaly sees are. But the women sitting in the Womens Community Clinic waiting room, like other women around the country, might still lean toward the other options. Say your sister has Mirena, and your best friend uses Skyla, and you see an ad for Kyleena as youre flipping through a magazine while you wait. Its going to be hard to opt for the unfamiliar Liletta. And Medicines360s nonprofit budget doesnt provide for an advertising campaign like the one Bayer once used to offer a free yoga class alongside Break Up With The Pill messaging at Canadian universities.

Since Lilettas initial approval in 2015, Mihaly still hasnt had a patient ask directly for a Liletta IUD. But the devices are in stock, and shes trained to place one as soon as someone is interested. I'm excited that Liletta exists, and that there's another option, she says, because we have, really when you think about it, so few.

View original post here:
The IUD That Gives Women Options - WIRED

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

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Transgender people will be able to access specialist healthcare in Wales at a new gender identity clinic to be built in Cardiff.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said there had been an increase in demand for services.

The clinic will be supported by a network of GPs, who have a specialist interest in gender care, including hormone replacement therapy.

Equality charity Stonewall Cymru said it was a "big step forward".

Currently, transgender patients in Wales are referred to the Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) in London, adding to the time and cost it takes to access healthcare.

The Welsh Government hopes the new service would mean less travelling, improved waiting times and better user experience.

It will also ensure current clinic capacity is freed up for those requiring more specialised services, as well as shortening the steps between initial referral and beginning treatment.

Crash Wigley, policy and campaigns officer for Stonewall Cymru, said getting the clinic had been a "long fight" for patients to access "potentially lifesaving care" in Wales.

"Before this there was no provision of gender identity services in Wales, so in order to access the care that people needed they had to go through a complicated referral procedure," she told BBC Radio Wales.

"You are talking about having to wait over a year in order to get your referral made.

"One of the things we know is that when people are denied access to care for such long periods of time, as they have in Wales, that takes a significant toll on people's mental health and wellbeing."

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Mr Gething said the service, run by the Welsh Gender Team (WGT), was part of the Welsh Government's commitment to "improving health and wellbeing for all".

He added: "All but the most specialist services will soon be delivered in Wales, closer to people's homes, which will improve access and experience for people needing care.

"I look forward to seeing great improvements to those services."

An interim service is due to be launched in the autumn and the WGT will accept new referrals from the end of March 2018.

The new clinic will initially prescribe medication for Welsh patients undergoing treatment at the GIC, but the unit will also be able to treat those who are currently on waiting lists in London.

Any Welsh patient who prefers to continue their treatment in London will be able to do so.

Alongside the new service, the All Wales Gender Identity Partnership Group will develop a full gender identity service and referral pathway.

Group member Jack Jackson: "I'm delighted to be able to be part of the process and hope I can make some contribution and improve things for the future of transgender services and people in Wales."

Read more from the original source:
Wales' first transgender healthcare clinic set for Cardiff - BBC News

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New research examining the link between common flame retardant chemicals and fertility rates finds that women with higher levels of the chemicals in their bodies have lower chances of fertilization, pregnancy and live birth compared with women who have low levels of the chemicals in their bodies.

If this finding is confirmed in a larger number of study participants, couples struggling to get pregnant may want to take a second look at their furniture and carpet, experts say, as some of these items tend to have flame retardant components. However, because this is the first study of its kind to find a link between organophosphate flame retardants and fertility outcomes, couples struggling to get pregnant should not worry about getting a new couch or mattress pad to aid conception just yet.

Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recruited 211 women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments to participate in the study. For each IVF cycle they went through, the women contributed one or two urine samples, and the scientists, led by environmental epidemiologist Courtney Carignan (now of Michigan State University), analyzed the urine for the byproducts of five flame retardant chemicals to estimate how much flame retardant they were exposed to in their everyday life.

The scientists then compared the levels of chemical byproducts to the womens outcomes during IVF and found that the women with the highest levels of three of the chemicals showed a 10 percent decrease in the rate of fertilization, a 31 percent decreased rate of embryo implantation, a 41 percent decreased rate of a clinical pregnancy (when a heartbeat is detected via sonogram) and a 38 percent decreased rate of live birth compared with the women who had the lowest amounts of byproduct in their urine.

Carignan chose to examine women undergoing the IVF process because it was the best way to observe every step of conception and early pregnancy, as opposed to women who conceive naturally and may not know they are pregnant until they are six to eight weeks along. Because of this, Carignan writes in the study, the results are at least generalizable to the population of women seeking treatment at an infertility clinic, and perhaps among all women in general, presuming that their bodies would have the same biological response to these chemicals as the women in the study.

Animal studies suggest that these flame retardant chemicals disrupt the thyroid and sex hormones in animals, as well as harm embryo development.If people want to limit their exposure to these chemicals and theyre due to replace a couch, Carignan suggested looking for furniture that doesnt have flame retardant chemicals, such as furniture with barrier technology or a naturally flame retardant fabric, like leather or wool, that meets flammability standards. She added that while mattresses do not typically contain flame retardants, polyurethane foam mattress pads can.

Other options are carpet-free floors or carpet with padding that isnt made from foam treated with these chemicals. Still, she said she understands these are big purchases that people make only a few times in their life, and many people dont have much choice about the furniture they have. In that case, they should wash their hands often, especially before meals, as Carignans past research has found that people who do this have lower levels of these chemicals in their body.

There are a lot of contributors to infertility, Carignan said. This is just one factor, and people need to be careful not to beat themselves up over these types of exposures.

Still, Carignan takes her research to heart. She waited nine years to upgrade from a futon to a couch because she was waiting for a policy change that allowed furniture without chemical flame retardants to hit the market. She also recently purchased a home, and one of her major concerns was that it be carpet-free, since padding under carpets is often made with recycled foam that is treated with flame retardant chemicals.

I do what I can with the time and the resources that I have, but there are so many things I certainly cant avoid, she said. Thats why we have chemical policies so people dont have to have a Ph.D. in environmental health to be a conscientious consumer.

The organophosphate flame retardants, or PFRs, that Carignan studied have replaced more toxic and long-lasting flame retardants like polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, that were phased out in 2004 over concerns about their effects on hormones and neurodevelopment in children.

The good thing about PFRs, Carignan said, is that they clear out of your body in a matter of days, versus years for the older class of flame retardants. However, her research suggests that PFRs may also disrupt the bodys hormone systems and interfere with fertility, and she called for more research on PFRs effects on male fertility and in children.

Dr. Brian Levine, a practice director at CCRM, a nationwide network of fertility clinics, was not involved in the study, but he said its findings were concerning. Still, he would need more corroboration from other kinds of research before he could start mentioning flame retardants to his patients and advising them to avoid them.

As a reproductive endocrinologist, he already counsels infertile patients under his care to avoid processed foods, eat organic fruits and vegetables, exercise moderately and shun alcohol and illicit drugs while theyre undergoing IVF all reasonable lifestyle changes that may help move the needle, even a tiny bit, in an infertile couples favor.

His clinic also takes pains to make sure that embryos in storage are exposed to the least amount of potentially harmful chemicals. No patient or staffer is allowed to wear cologne, perfume or other scented personal products, as they contain chemicals that could disrupt embryo health. Clients are advised to skip nail salons and exposure to paint and paint thinner, and cleaning crews dont use bleach or any agent with volatile organic compounds, which canalso be harmful to embryos.The clinic walls are also painted with low-VOC paint.

Because of the precautions Levine already employs at his clinic, he takes Carignans research seriously. But a single studys results would not be enough for Levine to add flame retardants to the long list of chemicals his patients should try to avoid. Levine wants to know how Carignans participants were exposed to these chemicals. It could be, for instance, that the women with the highest levels spend the most time in their cars and sedentary lifestyles tend to have a negative effect on fertility health. Hypothetical correlations like this need to be worked out before he can tell his patients to start shopping for new furniture.

You have to always wonder about a very small subset, said Levine. Theres only 211 patients, and asking people to remove all the carpet in their house is quite an expensive endeavor.

Carignans research was published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal.

CORRECTION:A previous version of this story suggested that beds are among the furniture items that contain flame retardants. While mattresses typically do not, foam mattress pads may.

Original post:
Flame Retardants Linked To Lower Fertility Rates In Women - HuffPost

Recommendation and review posted by sam

(WXYZ) - Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic wanted to know if drinking from a garden hose was safe.

It's something people have done for years. But, it looks like it carries some serious risks.

"Probably the biggest risk is some of the chemicals that are in the water itself. Many garden hoses are not made for drinking water and so they'll release lead, they will release different chemicals in the plastics, much like a lot of the plastics that have been banned in kids' products," Dr. Dan Allan said.

Some of those chemicals include BPA or PVC, poly vinyl chloride.

Allan says that ingesting these chemicals can increase your risk of cancer, hormone problems or neurological problems, and can even affect development in children.

If you can't seem to avoid drinking from the garden hose, you can do take some precautions.

Look for hoses made from polyurethane or natural rubber, which will not release any chemicals. Also, let the water run for a few minutes before you take a drink. It's also important to check the hose fitting.

"If it's brass, that will release a lot of lead and if you run the water for enough time to flush the hose, that first bit of water that was up by the brass fitting is going to be loaded with lead, so you have to let it run for a couple of minutes to make sure you're safe," he added.

More here:
Is drinking from a garden hose safe for children? - WXYZ

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Soon we will be closing the pool, putting away the patio furniture, and getting jackets out of the closet. As summer comes to an end, our skin is usually in need of some tender loving care and it is a good time to think about repairing your summer skin damage.

Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa, in Peru, Illinois, provides medical-grade professional cosmetic treatments for the skin. We asked them to give their opinion on the top 3 procedures they do to reverse sun damage. Dr. NicoleNorris says Microneedling, Laser Photofacial and Chemical peels are by far the most effective ways to reverse damage from thermal energy safely and effectively.

We all know that UVA and UVB radiation from the sun is stronger in the summer, although it affects our skin all year long. This radiation produces free radicals in our skin and slows our skins ability to repair itself. When damage persists and the skin cannot keep up with the repair backlog, wrinkles, poor texture and skin laxity are formed. Microneedling, also referred to as collagen induction therapy, utilizes a device with multiple small needles which penetrate the skin, stimulating the skin to repair itself. Through these new open channels in the skin, products can also be introduced into the dermis without any barrier. Dr. Norris comments, At our office, we like to put hyaluronic acid, a building block of collagen, into the skin while the microneedling channels are still open. We are also seeing great results with a new product on the market that stimulates brand new skin stem cells. When we are born, a certain number of skin stem cells are activated that we use our whole lives to repair injured skin. These old stem cells get tired out, so activating new ones is really at the forefront of skin rejuvenation . Microneedling is done with topical numbing medicine making it very tolerable. There is some initial redness after the procedure but special make-up can be applied, if necessary, to cover it. Results are gradually seen over time as it takes our bodies about 3 to 6 months to make new collagen. The degree of skin damage determines how many treatments are needed.

When it heats up outside, we are not only exposed to UVA and UVB radiation that directly contributes to older looking skin, but also to heat. Heat stimulates our pigment cells which produce pigment or melanin. These pigment deposits create our tan, but also freckles, and worse yet, age spots. A laser treatment called Photofacial or Intense Pulse Light (IPL) is the most effective way to destroy pigment that has accumulated in the skin. The treatment is quick and feels like a few warm rubber band snaps. There is no downtime. In 7-14 days, you begin to see the pigment slough off. Depending how deep the pigment is deposited, determines how many IPL treatments you will need.

Medical-grade chemical peels are performed to treat unwanted pigment deposits in the skin as well as lines, skin texture and skin laxity. A combination of acids are applied to the skin for a brief period of time in multiple layers. The acids stimulate the skin to repair itself. A medium to deep chemical peel stimulates skin cell turnover which is important in treating aging skin. When we are 20 years old, our skin cell turnover to repair damaged skin is 10 days. Every 10 years, the time it takes to produce new skin goes up by 10 days. This is the physiologic reason that we gradually look older. Chemical peels decrease our time for new skin production resulting in reversal of facial aging states Tamara Smith, RN at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa. Chemical peels are usually done in a series and are customized to each patient. If done correctly, chemical peels are not painful and you may experience a few days of mild flaking after the procedure.

I think many patients are fearful of these medical-grade skin rejuvenation procedures because of what they see on reality television and what they read on the internet. I encourage anyone interested in improving their appearance, repairing their summer sun damage, or deciding to not age gracefully to try these procedures under the supervision of a qualified physician, advises Dr. Norris. At Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa, they are offering a Flight of Medical Spa Procedures Package. This is a great way to rejuvenate your summer skin while sampling some new procedures. The flight includes 1 Microneedling procedure, 1 IPL Photofacial, and 1 Chemical Peel and is being offered for $300 off through September 30, 2017. Call 815-780-8264 for your appointment today. Mention Medical Spa Flight when you call. Procedures are typically done 3-4 weeks apart.

Go here to read the rest:
Three Medical Spa Procedures to Reverse Your Summer Skin Damage - LaSalle News Tribune

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- Meeting medical and beauty standards, the mask focuses on skincare and rejuvenation with advanced technologies

GUANGZHOU, China, Aug. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- French traditional medicine manufacturer Santinov has developed and launched its CICABEL mask using stem cells as the main material, through its strong technological power and years of research. The mask focuses on daily skincare based on advanced technologies, and meets medical standards, aiming to become a premium beauty product.

Based on 130 years of French brand heritage

In 1887, the great-grandfather of M.D. Jean-Pierre, the owner of the CICABEL brand, founded medical institutions and laboratories for skin wound healing. In 2007, M.D. Jean-Pierre founded a laboratory specializing in the research on facial skin based on more than 130 years of experience in skin rejuvenation and wound healing, and officially created the CICABEL brand. The CICABEL mask is the first mask product under the brand, and is one of the few beauty products on the market that feature bio-medical technologies.

Bold breakthrough, aiming to create revolutionary skin aesthetics

In terms of ingredients, the CICABEL mask selects purified elements that can provide energy for skin stem cells, to protect and activate the cells and promote the proliferation of skin epidermal cells and the anagenesis of skin fibrosis. This improves facial skin's self-healing and rejuvenation speed, achieving the goal of deep skincare.

Future mask innovator goes global

Facial rejuvenation is becoming the main theme of skincare, which provides a huge development space for CICABEL's proprietary technologies and drives the brand to go global. The brand is expected to set off an upsurge in the high-tech medical skincare sector.

CONTACT: 400-639-1958, rel="nofollow">hantao@1958difo.com

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170823/1923965-3-a Photo -https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170823/1923965-3-b

SOURCE CICABEL

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French CICABEL Mask Launched, Changing Traditional Mask Products - Markets Insider

Recommendation and review posted by simmons