(WXYZ) - When we get sick, it's common for us to reach for some medicine or maybe even have surgery to deal with disease or pain, but what if you could use your own healthy cells to fight back instead?

Right now, there's a procedure being performed in metro Detroit where healthy stem cells are stored so they can be reintroduced to your system and potentially have life changing or life saving benefits.

Dr. Michael Schenden is the first plastic surgeon in the US to perform the Forever Labs stem cell collection. He starts by harvesting her bone marrow to save those healthy stem cells.

"They should be available for many, many different medical applications is a wonderful thing," says Dr. Schenden.

The company behind this procedure is based in Ann Arbor and it's called Forever Labs.

We're told about 30 people have decided to store their stem cells this way. Sonja Michelsen is one of them. She had her daughter in her early 40s and felt like storing her own stem cells could pay off in the future.

"I want to be able to be here with her throughout her life," she says.

She knows there's no guarantee banking her stem cells will help her in the future, but she sees it as an investment that could pay off if her health takes a turn.

"To have that peace of mind that you do have something to use down the road .. is huge," she says.

Steven Clausnitzer is CEO of Forever Labs. He says by re-introducing your own healthy cells, you may be able to fight disease in the future.

"There are a number of ways people are already using these cells. Maybe the most promising .. orthopedic surgeons .. are reintroducing them into joints in lieu of surgery," he says.

Clausnitzer says there are about 500 clinical trials right now that are using stem cells that, one day, may be able to treat everything from osteoarthritis to multiple scleroses to cardiovascular disease.

This kind of stem cell banking is a 15 minute outpatient procedure. It starts with a local anesthetic in the lower back.

He says the number of your stem cells diminishes with age, as does their therapeutic quality.

"My stem cells were stored at 38. I'm going to turn 40 this year. I rest assured knowing I have my 38-year-old stem cells rendered biologically inert. They're no longer aging .. even as I do," says Clausnitzer.

Mark Katakowski is president of Forever Labs. He says his research showed him the rejuvenating and healing power of stem cells in animals. He believes it can have the same effect in humans.

He says the best time to store the stem cells is when you're young.

"There's a slower decline between 20 and 40 years-old and then it picks up. When you put them in the right place at the right time, they can actually improve recovery in a bunch of therapeutic applications," he says.

Katakowski says there's no limit as to how long they can be stored.

Should a person pass away, their stored stem cells would be destroyed unless arrangements have been made for them to be given to a family member.

At this point, the procedure is not FDA approved. The Forever Labs stem cell collection isn't covered by insurance. It costs around $3,500 to have the procedure done and $250 a year for storage.

The company says it plans to bring the first clinical trials for longevity to market in the next 7-10 years, once there is a large enough differential time between when our first clients stored their cells and can then reintroduce.

It says its goal is that its clientele will be able to participate in the first longevity based human trials utilizing autologous stem cell treatments of healthy individuals.

To learn more about Forever Labs, go to: https://www.foreverlabs.co/

Link:
Can storing your stem cells be the key to fighting disease and living longer? - WXYZ

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

This post was originally published on this site New Facility at Sunnybrook Part of Plan to Expand Care for People with Blood Diseases

Ontario is investing in a new facility at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre that will offer specialized treatment for people with blood cancers such as leukemia.

Premier Kathleen Wynne was at Sunnybrook in Toronto Tuesday to announce the governments support for a new Complex Malignant Haematology (CMH) site. Sunnybrook will become the second hospital in the Greater Toronto Area along with Princess Margaret Cancer Care to provide a full range of potentially life-saving CMH services, including stem cell transplants.

Ontario is also improving treatment for people with blood diseases by:

Investing to improve care for people with blood cancers and disorders is part of our plan to build a better Ontario by providing patients with faster access to the right health care.

Kathleen Wynne: Premier of Ontario

Stem cell transplants can help lessen the terrible toll that cancer takes on families. We are providing support so hospitals can offer more patients access to a life-saving treatment and the chance for a new lease on life.

Dr. Eric Hoskins: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

Today marks a major milestone for Ontario patients needing stem cell transplants. With this investment, patients will have better access to timely service and state-of-the-art treatment, but most importantly, more patients will be able to receive stem cell transplants right here in Ontario.

Dr. Barry McLellan: President and CEO, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

This is a life-saving investment. We are grateful to the Ontario government for the funding to provide care and build a new state-of-the-art facility for patients who are afflicted with this serious illness.

Michael Sherar: President and CEO, Cancer Care Ontario; Co-convener, Complex Malignant Hematology Hematopoietic Cell Therapy Consultation Group

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is an important and valued partner in Ontarios cancer care system. The addition of a new Complex Malignant Haematology site is a critical step in our efforts to ensure that patients receive timely access to transplant services in Ontario.

Source Government of Ontario press release

Originally posted here:
More people to get access to life-saving stem cell transplants - Erie Media

Recommendation and review posted by sam

A blood test could help predict the risk of complication following a bone marrow transplant in some blood cancer patients, according to a new US study.

The test could help identify which patients given a transplant are likely to develop a potentially fatal complication, the researchers report in The Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight.

"The test worked in different hospitals and in different groups of patients in the US and Europe, suggesting that it could be used widely" Professor Ronjon Chakraverty, Cancer Research UK

In doing so, the test could allow early intervention and potentially save many lives, said lead researcher Professor James Ferrara from Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Bone marrow transplants, in which a patients blood stem cells are replaced with those from a donor, are given to some patients with blood cancer to cure their disease. But around half of patients who receive the procedure develop a serious and often fatal complication called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

This happens when the donated immune cells recognise the patients body as a threat and launch an attack against it, causing inflammation that sometimes doesnt respond to treatment.

For this latest study, researchers from 11 cancer centres in the US and Europe looked at blood samples from almost 1,300 bone marrow transplant patients to see if they could predict whether a patient will develop GVHD, and also their outlook.

They developed a test, called MAGIC (Mount Sinai Acute GVHD International Consortium), looked at four different molecules in the blood. The researchers found that measuring the levels of two of these molecules ST2 and REG3a just one week after the transplant procedure, could help identify those at high risk of developing the complication and dying.

Researchers at Mount Sinai are now using these results to design clinical trials looking into whether certain immunotherapy drugs, normally given at the onset of GVHD, could improve the outlook for some patients if given earlier on, after the test identifies them as high risk.

Professor Ronjon Chakraverty, a Cancer Research UK expert on stem cell transplants, said: This study reveals that a blood test performed just one week following a bone marrow transplant accurately identifies which patients are at the greatest risk of this life-threatening condition.

Importantly, the test worked in different hospitals and in different groups of patients in the US and Europe, suggesting that it could be used widely. Tests such as this could spot patients who are most at risk, and make sure they get special targeted treatment before GVHD develops.

Originally posted here:
'Magic' blood test could make bone marrow transplants for blood ... - Cancer Research UK

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

In 2016, scientists in Japan revealed the birth of mice from eggs made from a parent's skin cells, and many researchers believe the technique could one day be applied to humans.

The process, called in vitro gametogenesis, allows eggs and sperm to be created in a culture dish in the lab.

Though most scientists agree we're still a long way off from doing it clinically, it's a promising technology that has the potential to replace traditional in vitro fertilization to treat infertility.

If and when this process is successful in humans, the implications would be immense, but scientists are now raising legal and ethical questions that need to be addressed before the technology becomes a reality.

In vitro gametogenesis, or IVG, is similar to IVF -- in vitro fertilization -- in that the joining of egg and sperm takes place in a culture dish.

Trounson believes IVG can provide hope for couples when IVF is not an option.

This procedure can "help men or women who have no gametes -- no sperm or eggs," said Trounson, a renowned stem cell scientist best known for developing human IVF with Carl Wood in 1977.

Another potential benefit with IVG is that there is no need for a woman to receive high doses of fertility drugs to retrieve her eggs, as with traditional IVF.

In addition, same-sex couples would be able to have biological children, and people who lost their gametes through cancer treatments, for instance, would have a chance at having biological children.

In theory, a single woman could also conceive on her own, a concept that Sonia M. Suter, professor of law at George Washington University, calls "solo IVG." She points out that it comes with some risk, as there will be less genetic variety among the babies.

She added that the risk is even greater than with cloning and although you could use genetic diagnosis to find disease in embryos before implantation, it wouldn't fully reduce the risk.

This all contributes to the fact that IVG is much more complicated than one might think, and experts add that the process will be even more complex in humans than in mice.

"It's a much tougher prospect to do this in a human -- much, much tougher. It's like climbing a few stairs versus climbing a mountain," Trounson said.

"Gametogenesis (in a mouse) is much faster. Everything is much faster and less complicated than you have in a human. So you've got to make sure there's very long intervals to get you the right outcome. ... Life, gametogenesis, everything, is much, much briefer than it is in a human."

Most scientists are reluctant to commit to an exact time frame, but it's probably safe to say they're many years away.

Knoepfler used the example of an unapproved and, he says, potentially dangerous three-person baby produced in Mexico in 2016 by a US doctor without FDA approval.

Creating a three-person baby involves a process known as pronuclear transfer, in which an embryo is created using genetic material from three people -- the intended mother and father and an egg donor -- to remove the risk of genetic diseases caused by DNA in a mother's mitochondria. The mitochondria are parts of a cell used to create energy but also carry DNA that is passed on only through the maternal line.

This process recently received approval in the UK, but it remains illegal in many countries, including the US.

"Because it seems rogue biomedical endeavors are on the increase, someone could try IVG without sufficient data or governmental approval in the next five to 10 years," Knoepfler said.

"IVG takes us into uncharted territory, so it's hard to say legal issues that might come up," he said, adding that "even other more extreme technologies, such as cloning, of the reproductive kind are not technically prohibited in the US."

For IVG to be researched further, it will be necessary to perform IVF using the derived gametes and then to study the embryos in ways that would involve their destruction. "At a minimum, federal funding could not be used for such work, but what other laws might come into play is less clear," Knoepler said.

In several countries, the implantation of a fertilized egg is not allowed if it's been maintained longer than 14 days.

Dr. Mahendra Rao, scientific adviser with the New York Stem Cell Foundation, explained that in the US, scientists can legally make sperm and oocytes (immature eggs) from other cells and perform IVF. But they would not be able to perform implantation, even in animals.

He said there needs to be clarity that this rule doesn't apply to "synthetic" embryos scientists are building in culture, where there's no intention of implanting them.

Daley and his co-authors highlight concerns over "embryo farming" and the consequence of parents choosing an embryo with preferred traits.

"IVG could, depending on its ultimate financial cost, greatly increase the number of embryos from which to select, thus exacerbating concerns about parents selecting for their 'ideal' future child," they write.

With a large number of eggs available through IVG, the process might exacerbate concerns about the devaluation of human life, the authors say.

Also worrying is the potential for someone to get hold of your genetic material -- such as sloughed-off skin cells -- without your permission. The authors raise questions about the legal ramifications and how they would be handled in court.

"Should the law consider the source of the skin cells to be a legal parent to the child, or should it distinguish an individual's genetic and legal parentage?" they ask.

As new forms of assisted reproductive technology stretch our ideas about identity, parentage and existing laws and regulations around stem cell research, researchers highlight the need to address these thoughts and have answers in place before making IVG an option.

See the article here:
Could we one day make babies from only skin cells? - CNN

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

PARIS and STOCKHOLM, Feb. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Laboratoire Fleur de Sants new Champagne Collection uses Extrait de Champagne, fueled by grape seed Phyto-StemCell's Resveratrol, for the ultimate antioxidant protection and photo-aging prevention. By reinforcing the skin's structural matrix (collagen and elastin) and stimulating its natural regeneration process, this powerful antioxidant postpones skin aging and leaves it smooth and even toned. One more reason to love Champagne!

"Antioxidant rich, Champagne extract is used in our products because it's incredibly effective at protecting and nourishing your skin. We believe that beautiful, healthy skin is worth celebrating every day," says Mathias Tonnesson, CEO of Laboratoire Fleur de Sant.

Champagne takes on a whole new meaning in skin care

The most famous sparkling wine in the world isn't just for drinking any more.

Fleur de Sant has captured its essence for the ultimate global anti-aging range of products. Extremely rich in antioxidants (Resveratrol), Champagne is one of the most beneficial ingredients protecting skin from free radicals and stress to which we are exposed every day by breathing in pollution or being unprotected from UV light.

By counteracting these factors, Champagne extract reduces the damaging marks photo-aging leaves on your skin (wrinkles, sagging skin, dark spots). It works by restoring the skin's structural tissue collagen and elastin to make it more resistant to various environmental aggressors. Antioxidants, which Champagne owes to grape seed extract, are of the highest potency, being at least 20 times more powerful than Vitamin C or E. In Fleur de Sant products, the exclusive Extrait de Champagne is further enhanced by grape seed Phyto-StemCell Infusion, which together deliver tremendously strong anti-aging force.

For more information about Fleur de Sant Champagne Collection, visit http://www.fleurdesante.com/products/

What makes phyto-stem cells so special?

Phyto-stem cells counteract the negative effect of the UV light, help maintain skin stem cell's functions and reinforce their capacity to grow, which in turn slows down the skin aging process. On top of this, they accelerate regeneration and the tissue building functions of skin, resulting in restoration of firmness and wrinkle reduction.

About Laboratoire Fleur de Sant

Fleur de Sant was founded in 1980, with the distinction of being the only brand in the world to utilize Swedish and French medicinal flowers in their beneficial formulations. The tradition continues as the brand is experiencing a re-birth with CEO Mathias Tonnesson. His passion to create skin care with "every detail considered" sees the latest clinically proven collections containing antioxidant-rich Champagne extract, plant stem cell-boosted flowers, and airless packaging that makes every formulation more effective. 95% natural and never tested on animals, Fleur de Sant is more than premium skin care it is the result of one man's passion to create products made from love.

Visit: http://www.fleurdesante.com

Contact: Mathias Tonnesson CEO, Laboratoire Fleur de Sant +1 (646) 893-4100Ext: 100 145363@email4pr.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celebrate-your-skin-with-champagne--phyto-stemcells-300404181.html

SOURCE Laboratoire Fleur de Sante

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Excerpt from:
Celebrate Your Skin with Champagne & Phyto-StemCells - PR Newswire (press release)

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Using stem cells and gene therapy to treat orcure disease may still sound like science fiction, but a scientific meeting here last week emphasizedall the fronts onwhich it is moving closer and closer to fact.

Were entering a new era in medicine, said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the School of Medicine, in his opening remarks at the first annual symposium of the schools new Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine. Stanford researchersare poised to use stem cells and gene therapy to amelioratea wide swath of diseases, from common diagnoses such as diabetes and cancerto rare diseases ofthe brain, blood, skin, immune system and other organs. Ultimately, the goal is to create one-time treatments that can provide lifetime cures; hence the definitive and curative part of the centers name. Stanford is a leader in this branch of medical research, Minor said, addingThis is a vital component of our vision for precision health.

Stanford has a long history of leading basic-science discoveries in stem cell biology, andis now engaged in studyingmany different ways those discoveries couldbenefit patients, saidMaria Grazia Roncarolo, MD, who leads the new center.Our job is to produce clinical data so compelling that industry will pick up the product and take it to the next stage, Roncaraolo told the audience.

Among otherevent highlights:

More coverage of the days events is available in a story from the San Jose Mercury News that describeshowAnthonyOro, MD, PhD, and his colleagues are fighting epidermolysis bullosa, a devastating genetic disease of the skin. Oro closed his talk with a slightly goofy photo of a man getting a spray tan. It got a laugh, but his point was serious: Our goal for the cell therapy of the future is spray-on skin to correct a horrible genetic disease.

Ambitious? Yes. Science fiction? In the future, maybe not.

Previously: One of the most promising minds of his generation: Joseph Wu takes stem cells to heart,Life with epidermolysis bullosa: Pain is my reality, pain is my normaland Rat-grown mouse pancreases reverse diabetes in mice, say researchers Photo of Matthew Porteus courtesy of Stanford Childrens

Link:
Stanford scientists describe stem-cell and gene-therapy advances in scientific symposium - Scope (blog)

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

What happened

After updating investors on its wide-ranging gene therapy research program at a key industry conference early in the month,shares ofbluebird bio(NASDAQ: BLUE) surged 20.7% higher in January,according toS&P Global Market Intelligence.

At the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in early January, Bluebird Bio's management outlined how it hopes to transform treating rare disease, including cerebral ALD (CALD), transfusion dependent beta thalassemia (TDT), and sickle cell disease.

Image source: Getty Images.

The company provided an outlook for 2022 that includes a goal of having two gene therapies on the market, two other therapies near commercialization, and four or more research programs in clinical studies.

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In 2017, Bluebird Bio's plans include prepping a filing of its TDT therapy, LentiGlobin, for approval in Europe, and developing a pathway to regulatory approval of its CALD therapy, Lenti-D.

The company is also going to continue early stage research into its CAR-T program, including its work on bb2121, a BCMA-targeting therapy that's being developed with Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG) for multiple myeloma.

The potential to significantly reduce, or eliminate, the need for blood transfusions in TDT patients has industry watchers estimating that LentiGlobin could reshape patient treatment. If so, this gene therapy could be a nine-figure (or higher) top-seller. A similar opportunity exists for Lenti-D.

Perhaps most compelling, however, is the potential market opportunity for bb2121. Although a number of new multiple myeloma treatments have been launched over the past few years, the need for new treatment options remains high. Roughly 30,000 people are newly diagnosed with myeloma in the U.S. each year, and sadly, the five-year survival rate is just 48.5%, according to the National Cancer Institute.Clinical trials for bb2121 are early stage studies, so a lot could go wrong from here. But successfully targeting BCMA and improved outcomes without a lot of safety risks could significantly change how doctors treat their patients. If that happens, bb2121 could become a billion-dollar blockbuster someday.

10 stocks we like better than Bluebird Bio When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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Todd Campbell owns shares of Celgene.His clients may have positions in the companies mentioned.The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Celgene. The Motley Fool recommends Bluebird Bio. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Read more from the original source:
Why bluebird bio Stock Surged 20.7% Higher in January - Fox Business

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Tortoiseshell is a cat coat coloring named for its similarity to tortoiseshell material. Tortoiseshell cats are almost exclusively female.[1][2][3] Male tortoiseshells are rare and are usually sterile.[4][a]

Also called torties for short, tortoiseshell cats combine two colors other than white, either closely mixed or in larger patches.[2] The colors are often described as red and black, but the "red" patches can instead be orange, yellow, or cream,[2] and the "black" can instead be chocolate, grey, tabby, or blue.[2] Tortoiseshell cats with the tabby pattern as one of their colors are sometimes referred to as a torbie.[6]

"Tortoiseshell" is typically reserved for particolored cats with relatively small or no white markings. Those that are largely white with tortoiseshell patches are described as tricolor,[2] tortoiseshell-and-white (in the United Kingdom), or calico (in Canada and the United States).[7]

Tortoiseshell markings appear in many different breeds, as well as in non-purebred domestic cats.[7] This pattern is especially preferred in the Japanese Bobtail breed,[8] and exists in the Cornish Rex group.[9]

Tortoiseshell cats have particolored coats with patches of various shades of red and black, and sometimes white. A tortoiseshell can also have splotches of orange or gold, but these colors are rarer on the breed.[4] The size of the patches can vary from a fine speckled pattern to large areas of color. Typically, the more white a cat has, the more solid the patches of color. Dilution genes may modify the coloring, lightening the fur to a mix of cream and blue, lilac or fawn; and the markings on tortoiseshell cats are usually asymmetrical.[10]

Occasionally tabby patterns of black and brown (eumelanistic) and red (phaeomelanistic) colors are also seen. These patched tabbies are often called a tortie-tabby, torbie or, with large white areas, a caliby.[10] Not uncommonly there will be a "split face" pattern with black on one side of the face and orange on the other, with a dividing line running down the bridge of the nose. Tortoiseshell coloring can also be expressed in the point pattern, referred to as a "tortie point".[10]

Tortoiseshell and calico coats result from an interaction between genetic and developmental factors. The primary gene for coat color (B) for the colors brown, chocolate, cinnamon, etc., can be masked by the co-dominant gene for the orange color (O) which is on the X Chromosome and has two alleles, the orange (XO) and not-orange (Xo), that produce orange phaeomelanin and black eumelanin pigments, respectively. (NOTE: Typically, the X for the chromosome is assumed from context and the alleles are referred to by just the uppercase O for the orange, or lower case o for the not-orange.) The tortoiseshell and calico cats are indicated: Oo to indicate they are heterozygous on the O gene. The (B) and (O) genes can be further modified by a recessive dilute gene (dd) which softens the colors. Orange becomes cream, black becomes gray, etc. Various terms are used for specific colors, for example, gray is also called blue, orange is also called ginger. Therefore, a tortoiseshell cat may be a chocolate tortoiseshell or a blue/cream tortoiseshell or the like, based on the alleles for the (B) and (D) genes.

The cells of female cats, which like other mammalian females have two X chromosomes (XX), undergo the phenomenon of X-inactivation,[11][12] in which one or the other of the X-chromosomes is turned off at random in each cell in very early development. The inactivated X becomes a Barr body. Cells in which the chromosome carrying the orange (O) allele is inactivated express the alternative non-orange (o) allele, determined by the (B) gene. Cells in which the non-orange (o) allele is inactivated express the orange (O) allele. Pigment genes are expressed in melanocytes that migrate to the skin surface later in development. In bi-colored tortoiseshell cats, the melanocytes arrive relatively early, and the two cell types become intermingled, producing the characteristic brindled appearance consisting of an intimate mixture of orange and black cells, with occasional small diffuse spots of orange and black.

In tri-colored calico cats, a separate gene interacts developmentally with the coat color gene. This spotting gene produces white, unpigmented patches by delaying the migration of the melanocytes to the skin surface. There are a number of alleles of this gene that produce greater or lesser delays. The amount of white is artificially divided into mitted, bicolor, harlequin, and van, going from almost no white to almost completely white. In the extreme case, no melanocytes make it to the skin and the cat is entirely white (but not an albino). In intermediate cases, melanocyte migration is slowed, so that the pigment cells arrive late in development and have less time to intermingle. Observation of tri-color cats will show that, with a little white color, the orange and black patches become more defined, and with still more white, the patches become completely distinct. Each patch represents a clone of cells derived from one original cell in the early embryo.[13]

A male cat, like males of other therian mammals, has only one X and one Y chromosome (XY). That X chromosome does not undergo X-inactivation, and coat color is determined by which allele is present on the X. Accordingly, the cat's coat will be either entirely orange or non-orange. Very rarely (approximately 1 in 3,000[14]) a male tortoiseshell or calico is born. These animals typically have an extra X chromosome (XXY), a condition known in humans as Klinefelter syndrome, and their cells undergo an X-inactivation process like that in females. As in humans, these cats often are sterile because of the imbalance in sex chromosomes. Some male calico or tortoiseshell cats may be chimeras, which result from the fusion in early development of two (fraternal twin) embryos with different color genotypes. Others are mosaics, in which the XXY condition arises after conception and the cat is a mixture of cells with different numbers of X chromosomes.

In the folklore of many cultures, cats of the tortoiseshell coloration are believed to bring good luck.[15] Dating back to Celtic times, tortoiseshell cats have been perceived to bring good fortune into their homes. Even today, the Irish and Scottish believe stray tortoiseshell cats bring them luck.[16] In the United States, tortoiseshells are sometimes referred to as money cats.[17]

One study found that tortoiseshell owners frequently believe their cats have increased attitude ("tortitude");[18] however, little scientific evidence supports this.[19] According to celebrity cat expert Jackson Galaxy, tortoiseshell cats tend to have a much more distinct personality.[20]

See the rest here:
Tortoiseshell cat - Wikipedia

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Knowing the real South Africa is to know, and be familiar with, the ambitious entrepreneurial spirit that runs through its tributaries and flows like a river into the heart of a nation. South Africans have always been opportunistic, from J.B.M Hertzog who founded Naspers, which is now Africa's largest company and globally the 7th largest internet company, to MTN and Discovery, both of which can now be found all over the world. We can even highlight the contributions of one of the world's most foremost thinkers and innovators, Elon Musk, the driving force behind SpaceX.

Recently, Ventureburn did an article on the Top Entrepreneurs Under 40 in South Africa, highlighting how this spirit continues to grow and is a far cry from fading anytime soon. But what differentiates the men and women who started these companies from those of us 'normal' people who would not regard ourselves as entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurs are a rare breed of humans who choose to innovate and forge their ideas into successful business from the ground up. They're fearless and believe that what they are creating is going to change the world forever. And guess what, research shows that this could be genetic.

A recent study at Kings College in London, headed up by Scott Shane, identified that 37 to 48 per cent of the tendency to be an entrepreneur is genetic, and that the tendency to identify new business opportunities is in your genes. If you take this study as anything to go by, then this is remarkable as genetics account for almost half of what is a determining factor in becoming an entrepreneur.

What we know about genetics is that in some cases almost half of who we are is genetic, or how we are made, and the rest is down to environmental factors (in other words, what we do and how we live). This presents us all with an incredible opportunity to take control of our environment to use our genetic strengths to reach our goal. For some, and I would encourage any young South African with ambition to consider this path, that goal is entrepreneurship.

Take the environment in South Africa, for instance. South Africa is still a young country that is constantly growing, discovering who it is, and where its place in the world will be. This is what makes it the ideal environment for those predisposed, by either genetics, environment or desire, to entrepreneurship to thrive. It's not all dependent on your genotype, but a large proportion of it could be, according to this study, and this could be what drives certain people to tackle new, exciting business ventures that other people may be dissuaded from due to fear of failure and the unknown.

This isn't the only study that associates entrepreneurship with being genetics.

Nicos Nicolaou is a researcher who has been heading up these new discoveries that attempt to link genetics to entrepreneurship. Although they still require more research, which will come as the science around the human genome develops, their findings are interesting. They explain that there is a "single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1486011) of the DRD3 gene on chromosome 3 to be significantly associated with the tendency to be an entrepreneur. This result is the first evidence of the association of a specific gene with entrepreneurship."

Wouldn't you like to know if you had this gene, especially if you can already be considered an entrepreneur? I know I would, as it would be interesting to discover if my genes influenced me to start DNAFit, or any of my other business ventures.

I would also like to know if this gene is related to not requiring as much sleep as the average person - entrepreneurs never rest while there is opportunity to innovate and expand our ideas!

Going even deeper, Zhang did twin studies to find out if personality and gender play a role in the development of entrepreneurship as well. Their study can be regarded as verging on epigenetic as it uses the environmental impact, as well as genes.

It is based on "1285 pairs of identical twins (449 male and 836 female pairs) and 849 pairs of same-sex fraternal twins (283 male and 566 female pairs), we found that females have a strong genetic influence and zero shared-environmental influences on their tendency to become entrepreneurs. In contrast, males show zero genetic influence, but a large shared-environmental influence... such individuals appear to be 'both born and made'."

The difference in gender also make clear the notion that genes influence females and males differently, but they still eventually reach the same conclusion on their journey. As with everything, we still do not know enough about our genes to get conclusive, definite answers, and, even then, never forget environmental effects could re-direct people in a variety of ways.

How much start-up capital are you able to attain? How dedicated is your work force to your vision so that make it a success? How well-received are you not only by the market but by the influential people who rely on to believe in your brand as well?

And those are just a few factors...

Studies like the ones above do show how genetics are becoming more important than ever before when it comes to our understanding of the world. It's not only about predisposition to disease, ancestry, and race.

We are becoming more and more capable of harnessing the power of genetics and applying it to our daily lives, and there is an opportunity to make South Africa the best environment for entrepreneurship in the world. Take the example of other great startup cities, such as Lisbon. In Lisbon, they went to great lengths to provide great access to capital, human resource, and cut red-tape for new businesses. Now, Lisbon is one of the top startup cities in the world - nominated European Capital of Entrepreneurship in 2015.

In South Africa, we have the ability to follow Lisbon, and go even further. With a talented, ambitious, and abundant workforce, great access to high quality office space and a low cost of living, we have everything the country needs to be the next Silicon Valley. Coupled with our incredible quality of life (and weather!), it seems to me that for all South Africans, this a time where nothing should be holding you back.

It's inspirational to think that our entrepreneurial fire has only been started, and we as a country should do everything we can to foster an environment supportive of entrepreneurship and startup culture for everybody no matter how or where they were born. With this approach, we can make South Africa a world leader in both our genetic talent pool, and our fostering environment for entrepreneurship.

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Entrepreneurship Is Genetic, And South Africa Is The Ideal Environment For Young Entrepreneurs To Thrive - Huffington Post South Africa (blog)

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

WSU forms ask non-inclusive race and gender questions, even though these answers are not important to the evaluation of the form.

While our country has become increasingly more accepting of individuality, there are still many instances where our society is failing to adequately represent minorities.

For example, the WSU Junior Writing Portfolios (JWP) cover sheet asks students to specify their gender as either male or female, giving no option for individuals who do not identify as one or the other.

Freshman mechanical engineering major Nicklaus McHendry said that they have had difficulties with how to identify themself for others.

Ive been out as a non-binary person for many years, McHendry said. At this point (it is exhausting to see) a question with a binary male or female box on a form that I dont particularly feel I need to be asked that on.

So, why is WSU asking questions such as these on forms where specifying something such as gender or race isnt necessary? For the JWP, WSU just wants a representation of a students writing ability.

I dont feel that my gender or anyone elses should be specified on a form that doesnt have anything to do with it, McHendry said.

The director of writing assessments, Xyanthe Neider, wrote in an email that students can mark the gender that they feel most adequately represents them or they can leave the question blank.

We understand that gender is much more fluid beyond the binary male/female designators and we revisit this regularly, Neider wrote.

However, there is no indication on the form to suggest that specifying ones gender is optional.

Consequently, attempting to answer this question has left many students confused and frustrated while they ponder which of the two boxes most correctly identifies them.

Its hard not to be upset, McHendry said. In order to get through the day and not spend every waking moment of my life being bothered, angry and upset ... I try to focus on things that are more important.

If they want to ask about gender, they should add the option to write it in on the JWP form, which would make certain minority students feel more accepted.

In addition to the JWP, the WSU online application for admission requires students to report their gender as either male or female. The application also asks students to report their race.

Many universities across the country consider ethnicity and gender in the admission process, which unfairly puts some students at a disadvantage and gives others the upper hand.

According to ballotpedia.org, Washington is one of eight states that currently bans public universities from considering race in admissions, a policy known as Affirmative Action.

WSU does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression (or) religion, the Office for Equal Opportunity states on its website.

It is completely inappropriate to ask students to specify certain personal demographics when those responses have absolutely nothing to do with the reason the form is completed.

So, if WSU is not allowed to consider race during the application process, then why are they asking students to specify it on their application?

Emily Hogan is a freshman genetics and cell biology major from Harrington, Delaware. She can be contacted at 335-2290 or byopinion@dailyevergreen.com. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the staff of The Daily Evergreen or those of The Office of Student Media.

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Binary thought suppresses identity - The Daily Evergreen

Recommendation and review posted by sam

The Strehler-Mildvan Correlation

The scientific team of biotech company Gero recently published a study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology that debunks a long-held misconception regarding two parameters of the Gompertz mortality law a mortality modelthat represents human death as the sumof two components that exponentially increases with age. The Gero team studied whats called the Strehler-Mildvan (SM) correlation and found no real biological reasoning behind it, despite having been held true for more than a half a century now.

The SM correlation, derived from the Strehler-Mildvan general theory of aging and mortality, is a mechanism-based explanation of Gompertz law. Specifically, the SM correlation uses two Gompertz coefficients called the Mortality Rate Doubling Time (MRDT) and Initial Mortality Rate (IMR). Popularized in the 1960s in a paper published in Science, the SM correlation suggests that reducing mortality rate through any intervention at a young age could lower the MRDT, thus accelerating aging. As such, the hypothesis disrupts the development of any anti-aging therapy, effectively making optimal aging treatments impossible.

The Gero team, however, realized that the SM correlation is a flawed assumption. Instead of using machine learning techniques for anti-aging therapy design, the researchers relied on an evidence-based science approach. Peter Fedichev and his team tried to determine the physical processes behind the SM correlation. In doing so, they realized the fundamental discrepancy between analytical considerations and the possibility of SM correlation. We worked through the entire life histories of thousands of C. elegans that were genetically identical, and the results showed that this correlation was indeed a pure fitting artifact, Fedichev saidin a press release.

Other studieshave questioned the validity of the SM correlation, but in their published study, Fedichev and his team were able to show how the SM correlation arises naturally as a degenerate manifold of Gompertz fit. This suggests that, instead of understanding SM correlation as a biological fact, it is really an artifactual property of the fit.

This discovery is particularly relevant now as more and more scientists are coming to the conclusion that aging is a disease and, as such, could be treated. They are working hard to find ways to extend human life, and many of theseanti-aging studies are yielding curious developments.

Elimination of SM correlation from theories of aging is good news, because if it was not just negative correlation between Gompertz parameters, but the real dependence, it would have banned optimal anti-aging interventions and limited human possibilities to life extension, Fedichev explained. In order words,human life extension has no definitive limit.

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There is No Limit to Human Life Extension - Futurism

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Orbital ATK files suit against DARPA Inside Defense (subscription) It is developing the Mission Extension Vehicle, which it describes as a "satellite life extension service for Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites." According to the lawsuit, ATK -- which merged its defense and aerospace groups with Orbital ... and more »

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Orbital ATK files suit against DARPA - Inside Defense (subscription)

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Progressing at breakneck speed, genetic engineering has seen significant advancements since the first time Jamie Metzl addressed the topic at the Vail Symposium in 2015 to a sold-out audience. Metzl will return today, offering the latest update on the science and implications of this world-changing technology.

Metzl, an annual speaker at the Symposium, is a senior fellow of the Atlantic Council and an expert on Asian affairs and biotechnology policy. He previously served as executive vice president of the Asia Society, deputy staff director of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, senior coordinator for International Public Information at the U.S. State Department, director for multilateral affairs on the National Security Council and as a human-rights officer for the United Nations in Cambodia.

Also a novelist, Metzl explores the challenging issues raised by new technologies and revolutionary science in his science fiction writing. His latest novel, Eternal Sonata, imagines a future global struggle to control the science of extreme human life extension. This world, according to Metzl, is not far off.

Jamie Metzl is a brilliant thinker and eloquent speaker who will be discussing a captivating subject based very much in reality, said Kris Sabel, Vail Symposium executive director. His background in biotechnology allows him to understand this complex science, his experience with international affairs lets him place science in a geopolitical context and his dynamic and creative mind can break it all down into digestible information for everyone

Here, Metzl elaborates on the progress of the genetics revolution, his new book, how this unique science fits into the landscape of technological breakthroughs and how the new administration may impact scientific progress.

VAIL SYMPOSIUM: What sort of progress has the genetics revolution made since you first addressed the issue in front of the Vail Symposium audience two years ago?

METZL: The genetics revolution is charging forward at a blistering, exponentially accelerating pace. Virtually every day, major progress is being made deciphering the genome; describing gene-editing tools to alter the genetic makeup of plants, animals or even humans; and outlining how gene drives can be used to push genetic changes across populations. Even if this rate of change slows, then its absolutely clear to me that these new technologies will transform health care in the short to medium term and alter our evolution as a species in the medium to long term.

VS: Despite your scholarly background on the topic, youve again chosen to use science fiction writing as a way to encompass real issues surrounding the progress in genetics science. How does your new book, Eternal Sonata, based in 2025, two years after the setting of your first genetics thriller, Genesis Code, reflect the true pace, opportunities and consequences of genetic science?

METZL: The genetic revolution is too important to be left only or even primarily to the experts. I write nonfiction articles and spend a lot of time with expert groups, but the general public must be an equal stakeholder in the dialogue about our genetic future. I aspire for my novels to be fun and exciting, but also to help people who might be a little afraid of science find a more accessible on-ramp to thinking about the many complex, challenging human issues associated with technological innovation.

I fully believe well be seeing significant growth in human health and lifespans throughout the coming decades, but this progress will also raise some thorny questions well need to address. Like Genesis Code, its based on real science and tries to explore what it will mean on a human level when new technologies begin to transform our understanding of our own mortality.

VS: How much weight should society put on concerns and opportunities of genetics science, or actually making conscious alterations to humans as a species?

METZL: Advances in genetic technologies will help us live longer, healthier, more robust lives, and we should all be very, very excited about that. Like all technologies, however, there will also be new opportunities for abuse. Thats why we need to have the broadest, most inclusive global dialogue possible to help us develop new norms and standards that can guide our actions going forward. The technologies are new, but the best values we will need to deploy to use them wisely are old.

VS: Has there, then, been any progress in policy to regulate genetics science or legal framework created to limit the radical changes this could have on society?

METZL: There is a real mismatch between the rapid pace of scientific advancement and the glacial pace of regulation. On the one hand, we dont want over-regulation killing this very promising field in its relative infancy. On the other, it is clear that all aspects of altering the human genome must be regulated. This challenge is all the greater because different countries have different belief systems and ethical traditions, so there is a deep need for a global norm-creation and then regulatory harmonization process.

VS: Do you have any insight on how changes in the administration will affect progress in this field of science?

METZL: Many people are worried about how the new administration will deal with these very complex scientific issues. Viewing genetic technologies in the context of the abortion debate would be a significant blow to this work in the United States. But the science is global, and even if the U.S. shuts down all of its labs for ideological or other reasons, then the science will advance elsewhere. Well lose our lead building the future as we wait forever for the coal mining and low-end manufacturing jobs to come back.

Read more from the original source:
Biotechnology xpert Jamie Metzl addresses realities of genetics revolution, Feb. 9 - Vail Daily News

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Endocrine diseases are disorders of the endocrine system. The branch of medicine associated with endocrine disorders is known as endocrinology.

Broadly speaking, endocrine disorders may be subdivided into three groups:[1]

Endocrine disorders are often quite complex, involving a mixed picture of hyposecretion and hypersecretion because of the feedback mechanisms involved in the endocrine system. For example, most forms of hyperthyroidism are associated with an excess of thyroid hormone and a low level of thyroid stimulating hormone.[2]

In endocrinology, medical emergencies include diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, hypoglycemic coma, acute adrenocortical insufficiency, phaeochromocytoma crisis, hypercalcemic crisis, thyroid storm, myxoedema coma and pituitary apoplexy.[3]

Emergencies arising from decompensated pheochromocytomas or parathyroid adenomas are sometimes referred for emergency resection when aggressive medical therapies fail to control the patient's state, however the surgical risks are significant, especially blood pressure lability and the possibility of cardiovascular collapse after resection (due to a brutal drop in respectively catecholamines and calcium, which must be compensated with gradual normalization).[4][5] It remains debated when emergency surgery is appropriate as opposed to urgent or elective surgery after continued attempts to stabilize the patient, notably in view of newer and more efficient medications and protocols.[6][7][8]

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Endocrine disease - Wikipedia

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017

(WRDW/WAGT) -- A new study with Occupational and Environmental Medicine shows work schedules and physically demanding jobs hurt women's fertility. However, what else causes infertility, how is it diagnosed, and how can it be treated?

Infertility can occur in either the male or female. Female infertility accounts for 50% or one-third of all infertility cases, and is a common problem with women between the ages of 15 and 44.

Causes of male infertility include varicocele (when veins become enlarged inside your scrotum), low or absent sperm count, sperm damage or certain diseases.

Female infertility is caused by a number of factors including age, a hormone imbalance, a tumor or cyst, eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, alcohol or drug use, thyroid gland problems, excess weight, stress, intense exercise that causes a significant loss in body fat, and extremely brief menstrual cycles. In addition, ovulation disorders, tubal blockage, uterine fibroids, and endometrial polyps can also cause female infertility.

In women, these tests could include a urinalysis or a blood test to check for infections or a hormone problem. A physician might also want to conduct a pelvic exam, breast exam, or an ultrasound of the reproductive organs.

In men, these tests would include looking at your medical history. A physician may also want to conduct a seminal analysis, a urinalysis, or an ultrasound of the reproductive organs.

In men, surgery and sperm retrieval techniques can be performed. Antibiotic treatment and hormone treatment can also treat infertility issues.

A physician may also recommend intrauterine insemination (a process where the sperm is washed and injected) or In Vitro Fertilization where eggs are collected and fertilized by sperm outside the body, and then inserted into a surrogate.

In women and men, this means taking steps to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, avoiding illicit drugs, avoid heavy or frequent alcohol use, avoid smoking, reduce stress, keeping your weight off, adopt good personal hygiene and health practices, and have annual checkups with your doctor once you're sexually active.

Original post:
What causes infertility and how can it be treated? - WRDW-TV

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Dear Dr. Roach: I'm a healthy female in my mid-70s. I've taken the recommended calcium citrate with vitamin D for years, until about three months ago, when test results showed I have slightly higher than normal calcium levels. I stopped the calcium, but testing results were the same three months later. Since women have been advised to take calcium, especially as we age, this is quite a surprise.

A: Most of the calcium in the body is locked away in the bones. The body has several systems to carefully regulate the calcium level in the blood. The two most powerful of these are vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Abnormalities in either of these can cause problems in blood calcium levels, which is very dangerous, because it can affect the muscles. A very low blood calcium level causes tetany, severe cramping and inability to move muscles normally (tetanus is an infectious disease that causes muscle cramps via an entirely different pathway).

With low calcium intake, blood calcium remains normal or near normal, but the calcium in the bones is depleted. That's why adequate calcium intake is important in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Calcium through the diet is preferred to calcium via supplements, because supplements increase the risk of kidney stones and may increase the risk of heart disease.

High levels of blood calcium are more likely to be due to excess parathyroid hormone than high vitamin D (which is very uncommon). With the body systems working normally, excess dietary calcium is simply excreted by the kidneys.

Since the most likely cause for high calcium is an excess of parathyroid hormone, often made by a benign tumor of the parathyroid gland, your doctor should test your parathyroid hormone level.

The osteoporosis pamphlet furnishes details on calcium intake and how it affects bones. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach, Book No. 1104, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 with the recipient's printed name address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

Dear Dr. Roach:I read your recent column regarding Fosamax. I'm 55, female and recently have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. My left hip was at the -2.5 threshold for the diagnosis. My primary-care physician and gynecologist both are recommending Fosamax. With so much confusing information about this drug, I am questioning taking it. What is the alternative to taking Fosamax? Is there anything else I can do to increase my bone mass? Would you advise one of your family members to take Fosamax?

A:If there are no other treatable causes, such as low vitamin D or high parathyroid hormone levels, then I think Fosamax or another bisphosphonate is a good choice. There are others, but Fosamax has been well-studied. The recent critical column I wrote was about atypical femur fractures in women taking Fosamax and other similar medications for longer than three to five years without any re-evaluation of whether it is still needed.

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Dear Dr. Roach: Elevated calcium level may signal excess hormone - Herald & Review

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Get daily under-the-radar research with StreetInsider.com's Stealth Growth Insider Get your 2-Wk Free Trial here.

Veracyte, Inc. (NASDAQ: VCYT) will extend access to its Afirma Gene Expression Classifier (GEC) through an agreement with Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services. The agreement is intended to meet growing physician demand for innovative genomic testing services to improve thyroid cancer diagnosis.

The Afirma GEC is a laboratory-developed test that is widely ordered by physicians who perform fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies to evaluate thyroid nodules for potential cancer. Under the agreement, physician clients of Quest Diagnostics will be able to order the test on behalf of patients and refer patient specimens to Veracyte for genomic testing. Quest Diagnostics will make the service available through AmeriPath, the anatomic pathology business of Quest Diagnostics, for use on cytopathology results of these biopsies in cases when they are indeterminate (not clearly benign or malignant).

Veracyte currently makes the Afirma GEC available to physicians at institutions and community-practice settings throughout the country. Quest Diagnostic serves approximately half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, further broadening access to the Afirma GEC for patients who could benefit.

Quest Diagnostics is expected to begin offering the test to its customers nationally in the second quarter of 2017. Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We are pleased to partner with Quest Diagnostics to further make the Afirma GEC available to physicians and their patients as our test increasingly becomes the new standard of care in thyroid cancer diagnosis," said Bonnie Anderson, Veracyte's chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer. "We believe Quest's leadership in innovation and quality and its extensive reach to endocrinologists and other physicians will enable us to further accelerate growth for the Afirma GEC."

Since launching the genomic test in 2011, Veracyte has performed over 65,000 Afirma GEC tests and estimates that the test has helped prevent more than 25,000 unnecessary thyroid surgeries. Such surgeries are invasive, costly and because they involve removal of all or part of the thyroid often render patients dependent on lifelong daily thyroid hormone replacement drugs. The Afirma GEC is supported by more than 20 published studies, including a clinical validation study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, and is recommended in leading clinical practice guidelines. The Afirma GEC is covered by Medicare and most leading private insurance companies, which collectively represent approximately 200 million Americans.

"Indeterminate thyroid nodules pose a significant challenge to physicians and patients, and many people have undergone unnecessary surgeries because it was difficult to rule out cancer in advance. It puts the physician and the patient in a difficult position," said Christopher C. Fikry, M.D., general manager, oncology, Quest Diagnostics. "The Afirma GEC is a terrific example of how diagnostic innovation can help replace uncertainty with clarity to promote better care and outcomes. We look forward to making it available through our already significant offering in cancer and endocrinology so that fewer people face the specter of unnecessary surgery and treatment."

About 15 to 30 percent of the more than 520,000 patients who undergo evaluation for potentially cancerous thyroid nodules in the United States each year receive an indeterminate result. Historically, most of these patients were directed to thyroid surgery for a definitive diagnosis. Following surgery, however, 70 to 80 percent of cases proved to be benign, meaning the surgery was unnecessary.

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Veracyte (VCYT) Enters Agreement with Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to Expand Patient Access to GEC - StreetInsider.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Oroville >> Oroville Hospital has added two doctors to its Doves Landing facility, one of whom is an Oroville native.

Primary care physician Gladys Wyles is an Oroville native, who will be treating patients for a variety of conditions including hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes.

She earned her bachelors degree in community medicine with an emphasis in hospital administration from Chico State University. She took pre-medicine classes at UC Davis before being accepted to medical school at the University of Minnesota.

After earning her medical degree, Dr. Wyles returned to UC Davis to complete her residency and internship in family medicine. She was the first rural track resident at UC Davis which allowed her to practice medicine in Oroville, Yuba City and Marysville while completing her training.

I always knew I wanted to give back to my local community, Dr. Wyles said in a press release. I chose family medicine because it allows you to touch on many aspects of health from dermatology to obstetrics. I enjoy the challenge of finding out what is happening with patients as well as figuring out how to manage their chronic health issues.

Also new to Doves Landing is endocrinology specialist Leena Singh, who focuses on treating disorders of the endocrine system related to hormone imbalances such as diabetes, osteoporosis and pituitary, thyroid and parathyroid conditions.

She has been a resident of Butte County since 2005.

After receiving her medical degree, Dr. Singh pursued a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Tufts University which furthered her knowledge of the use and effects of various medications on the body. This motivated her to specialize in endocrinology and she completed additional medical training with an internship and fellowship at the University of Massachusetts.

I have always been fascinated by the way hormones are released and interact with the bodys systems to function cohesively, Dr. Singh said. When these systems do not communicate properly or excessive levels of hormones are released, medical issues can arise. I enjoy working with patients to determine the best treatment options based on their endocrine disease.

The Doves Landing Multispecialty Practice is located at 2450 Oro Dam Blvd. For more information call 712-2171.

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Hospital adds doctors at Dove's Landing - Oroville Mercury Register

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By Dr. Brian Irwin

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, also known as BPH, is an extremely common condition. It's also an extremely despised condition that results in significant discomfort and inconvenience for those who have to live with the disorder. One study showed that up to 90 percent of all men will develop symptomatic BPH by age 90.

What is a prostate anyway? The prostate is a male reproductive gland that resides deep in the pelvis. Its function is to produce the fluid that comprises a significant portion of ejaculate. The urethra, the "tube" through which we urinate, leaves the bladder, tunnels through the prostate gland and eventually runs to the end of the penis. Because the urethra courses through the prostate, enlargement of the prostate presents primarily with urinary symptoms.

Because the prostate is a reproductive organ, its function depends on male sex hormone levels. Unfortunately, over a man's lifetime the relentless exposure to circulating testosterone also causes the gland to slowly grow. Enlargement of the prostate over time eventually causes impingement on the prostatic urethra, leading to discomfort and symptomatic BPH.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia can present a number of ways. The most common symptoms are urinary hesitancy, weak urinary stream or post-urination dribbling. Because the symptoms stem from occlusion of the internal urethra, urinary retention (the inability to void), bladder stones or even urinary incontinence (from an overflowing bladder) can also be symptoms of BPH. In some cases, the presentation is as vague as more frequent nighttime urination, which can in turn delay the diagnosis of BPH for a number of years.

A careful physical exam and history by your primary health provider is necessary to diagnose BPH. While the history provided by the patient is most likely to reveal underlying BPH, your provider will likely also perform a digital exam of the prostate. The prostate itself is located adjacent to the front most wall of the rectum, so it can only be felt by performing a rectal exam. In addition to this exam, your provider may tap on your bladder to screen for urinary retention.

If you are diagnosed with BPH, there are treatment options for you. Two classes of medications exist that help relieve BPH. One class, which includes medications such as terazosin, acts on the muscular portion of the prostatic urethra, allows it to dilate and pass urine more easily. The other class of drugs works by blocking the conversion of a hormone called DHT to testosterone, which eventually leads to shrinkage of the prostate itself. Saw Palmetto, an herbal remedy, is another option that in my experience does seem to work for some patients; however, studies have failed to prove true efficacy when compared to placebo.

While these medications provide significant relief, many cases of BPH still progress to a more severe degree that requires a more aggressive treatment. In these cases, sometimes the only successful treatment is surgery on the prostate itself. Urologists have many options, from surgically cutting the occluded portion of the prostate, to laser vaporization of the hyperplastic prostate tissue. These procedures are feared by many men due to their anticipated discomfort or the potential complications. However they are generally considered very safe, very well tolerated and most patients are delighted with the results.

If you have symptoms suggestive of BPH, talk with your health-care provider. Early treatment not only makes your life more livable, but also delays progression of the condition and decreases the chance you'll need a more invasive procedure. By treating BPH early, you'll be more comfortable and your condition will be, in a sense, water over the dam.

Dr. Brian Irwin is a family physician at Tamworth Family Medicine, a division of Huggins Hospital.

The rest is here:
Dr. Brian Irwin: BPH is a common but uncomfortable disorder - Conway Daily Sun

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Monkeybusinessimages/Thinkstock

A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Somerville campus of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The Somerset County hospital is now the first in the entire state of New Jersey to open a family health center tailored to the LGBTQ community.

PROUD Family Health will offer services most important to LGBTQ New Jerseyans. In a recent press release, RWJUH president Michael Antoniades said, We recognized that the health care needs of the LGBTQIA community were not being met and in many cases, LGBTQIA individuals were traveling outside of New Jersey for their medical care. PROUD Family Health will offer them the care they need close to home.

A resource like this can be extremely beneficial to many New Jerseyans. It also sets a precedent for other New Jersey hospitals moving forward. The fact of the matter is the LGBTQ community has different priorities when it comes to healthcare.

I reached out to Christian Fuscarino, the Executive Director of New Jerseys largest civil rights organization, Garden State Equality, about this news. He had this to say:

Today we take an important step forward as a community and a state, with the opening of the first full service LGBT health clinic.

The PROUD Family Health Clinic at Robert Wood Johnson will provide medical care for children and adults, hormone therapy and monitoring, HIV care, referrals for specialty services, health education and counseling, and support groups for LGBT individuals and their family members.

Garden State Equality is proud to partner with RWJ on this project that makes New Jersey a national leader in the health care space.

Currently, operating hours will be on Mondays from 6 pm to 9 pm, although I would expect that to expand as demand increases. Medicare, Medicaid and most major insurance plans are accepted.

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Hospital in Somerset becomes first in NJ to open LGBTQ health center - New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus got a little more trans-friendly on Feb. 1. The University Health Center opened a new clinic geared toward transgender and non-binary students, staff and faculty. After years of requests for the clinic, Dr. Jean Amoura will begin treatment for transgender patients at the university as an extension of her Nebraska Medicine practice in Omaha.

With easy access to a safe, affordable and knowledgeable clinic, trans students, faculty, and staff are now able to focus more on education, rather than whether or not they will have the care they need. It eliminates a concerning barrier, and it is validating for these individuals to have their needs recognized.

Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the amount of resources and services available to queer and trans individuals on campus. This includes other health services like LGBT-friendly counseling, with the option to see someone who has specialization in LGBT issues. There are also LGBT-centric social and community resources and organizations such as Spectrum and The Change, the LGBTQA+ Resource Center, a growing number of gender-inclusive housing options and numerous gender-inclusive bathrooms scattered around campus. Finally, there are opportunities for allies and queer people to be educated about queer issues, and there is also an LGBT-geared mentor program. As the campus continues to become more diverse, these various services become even more vital.

The Transgender Care Clinic is yet another massive step toward a more welcoming environment for queer and trans individuals at UNL. This should be an example to not only the rest of the universities in the Nebraska system, but also to universities across the nation. Currently, only 75 of all American colleges and universities cover both hormone treatment and gender-affirming surgeries under student health insurance.

Across the country, it is already incredibly difficult to find healthcare professionals who know how to treat transgender patients. Unfortunately, some insurance providers do not cover trans-related health services, and with the threat of the Affordable Care Act being repealed, queer and transgender patients face the risk of having even fewer options.

In Nebraska specifically, some health insurance providers can legally exclude transgender-specific services. In the case of discrimination from private health insurance providers, there is no protection for trans and queer folks, and Nebraska Medicaid does not cover transgender-related healthcare.

According to a Movement Advancement Project report, Nebraska ranks number three for the worst state for gender identity related policies, ranking up the most negative points in the category of healthcare and safety. As a nation, 52 percent of the queer and transgender population lives without LGBT-inclusive health insurance.

With such disparities in these services across the nation, and particularly in Nebraskas healthcare, the transgender health clinic on campus is a victory for some. While helping transgender Nebraskans, it also provides reliable care to out-of-state students who may or may not have inclusive healthcare in their home state. This simplifies the difficult process of finding a healthcare provider and professional willing to cover said treatments, while aiming to protect the wellbeing of those who use or need this type of care.

The next step for Nebraska as a state is to follow the footsteps of the university. With trans people experiencing dishearteningly high rates of depression, attempts of suicide and substance abuse, the need for healthcare designed for transgender people is always growing. Queer and trans people deserve to receive the healthcare they need. Ideally, Nebraska will take steps to provide that in the future.

Ellie Bruckner is a sophomore global studies major. Reach her at opinion@dailynebraskan.com or via @DNOpinion.

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BRUCKNER: UNL a national model for trans, LGBT care - Daily Nebraskan

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation (TSX:ASP) announces the acceptance of two posters highlighting the clinical benefits of NATESTO for presentation at the Endocrine Society 2017 Annual Meeting (ENDO) to be held on April 1-4, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. Both abstracts will also be published in future issues of Endocrine Reviews. Developed by Acerus, NATESTO is the first and only testosterone nasal gel available in Canada and the US indicated for androgen replacement therapy in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone (hypogonadism).1

The acceptance of these posters, in addition to the two abstracts accepted for presentation at the American Urology Association Annual Meeting announced last month, further expands the body of evidence in support of NATESTO, said Tom Rossi, Chief Executive Officer of Acerus Pharmaceutical Corporation.

The following summarizes the two abstracts accepted for presentation at ENDO:

Title: Seasonal Allergies Do Not Significantly Impact the Absorption of NATESTO (Testosterone) Nasal Gel in Hypogonadal Men Abstract-ID: 32092 Presenter: Alan Rogol, MD, PhD, Professor, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA Conclusions: The pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of NATESTO for restoring normal testosterone levels in men with Low T is not adversely affected by seasonal allergies.

Title: One-Year Hematologic Safety of NATESTO (Testosterone) Nasal Gel in Men with Hypogonadism Abstract-ID: 32161 Presenter: Margaux Guidry, Ph.D. and Gerwin Westfield, Ph.D., both Aytu Bioscience, Englewood, CO Conclusions: Treatment with NATESTO helped hypogonadal men achieve normal testosterone levels, while on average keeping hematologic levels, particularly hematocrit, well within the normal range.

About NATESTO(Testosterone) Nasal Gel

NATESTO is a testosterone nasal gel developed by Acerus Pharmaceutical Corporation and indicated as a replacement therapy for men diagnosed with conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone (hypogonadism). It is the first and only nasally-administered testosterone product approved by the U.S. FDA and Health Canada, and available in a no-touch dispenser with a metered dose pump for reduced transference risk. The recommended starting dose of NATESTO in Canada is 11 mg of testosterone (one actuation per nostril) administered twice daily for a total daily dose of 22 mg. A copy of the NATESTO product monograph can be found at: http://www.aceruspharma.com/English/products-and-pipeline/NATESTO/default.aspx.

For further information, specific to the U.S. product dosing and administration, please visit: http://www.NATESTO.com.

About Acerus

Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation is a Canadian pharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacture, marketing and distribution of innovative, branded products that improve the patient experience.

Acerus currently markets two products in Canada: ESTRACE,a product indicated for the symptomatic relief of menopausal symptoms; and NATESTO, the first and only testosterone nasal gel for testosterone replacement therapy in adult males diagnosed with hypogonadism. Acerus pipeline includes two new innovative products: GYNOFLOR, an ultra-low dose vaginal estrogen combined with a probiotic, used in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis, restoration of vaginal flora and treatment of certain vaginal infections; and TEFINA, a use as required drug development candidate, aimed at addressing a significant unmet need for women with female sexual dysfunction.

For more information, visit http://www.aceruspharma.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Notice regarding forward-looking statements

Information in this press release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Implicit in this information are assumptions regarding our future operational results. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by the company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned that actual performance of the company is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and could differ materially from what is currently expected as set out above. For more exhaustive information on these risks and uncertainties you should refer to our annual information form dated March 1, 2016 that is available at http://www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on our current estimates, expectations and projections, which we believe are reasonable as of the current date. You should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While we may elect to, we are under no obligation and do not undertake to update this information at any particular time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law.

References:

1. NATESTO Product Monograph, October 25, 2016 and Rogol et al. J Andrology 2015, 4(1), 46

Original post:
Posters to Be Presented at the Endocrine Society 2017 Annual Meeting - Business Wire (press release)

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

February 8, 2017 Nikolina Jovancevic and Hanns Hatt research why the heart is able to smell. Credit: RUB, Kramer

Researchers have for the first time identified the function of olfactory receptors in the human heart muscle, such as are also present in the nose. One of the receptors reacts to fatty acids that occur in the blood, in patients with diabetes significantly above the normal range. If a fatty acid activates the receptor, it triggers a negative effect: the heart rate and the force of muscular contraction are reduced. The team headed by Dr Nikolina Jovancevic and Prof Dr Dr Dr habil. Hanns Hatt from Ruhr-Universitt Bochum has published its findings in the journal "Basic Research in Cardiology".

The researchers analysed the genetic composition of myocardial cells using state-of-the-art gene sequencing technology. They discovered active genes for ten olfactory receptors. The OR51E1 receptor occurred very frequently. For the purpose of additional experiments, the researchers generated myocardial cells from embryonic stem cells and human skin cells, in collaboration with the lab headed by Prof Dr Jrgen Hescheler at the University of Cologne. In the cardiomyocytes, they activated the OR51E1 receptor with the odorant nonanoic/decanoic acid, which causes a rancid-fatty olfactory sensation. It reduced the pulse frequency of the cultivated mini hearts; the higher the odorant concentration, the more significant the reduction. Once the researchers removed the odorant, the mini hearts returned to their normal rate.

Reduced cardiovascular capacity

Moreover, in collaboration with Prof Dr Henrik Milting at the Heart and Diabetes Center in Bad Oeynhausen, the researchers from Bochum analysed isolated myocardial cells from explanted hearts of patients. If they activated the OR51E1 receptor with fatty-acid scent, the force of muscular contraction was reduced. These results were verified in experiments with tissue slices of explanted human hearts, which were conducted in collaboration with Prof Dr Andreas Dendorfer from the clinic at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitt Mnchen.

In humans, the fatty acids that have the capability of docking to OR51E1 occur in the blood and the fat tissue of the heart in a concentration that is sufficiently high to activate the receptor. That was confirmed in analyses carried out in collaboration with Prof Dr Erwin Schleicher from the University Hospital in Tbingen. The blood of diabetic patients, in particular, contains high concentrations of these fatty acids.

Negative effect in diabetic patients assumed

"This might have a negative effect on the cardiac functions of diabetic patients," speculates Hanns Hatt, Head of the Department of Cellphysiology in Bochum. His team has now developed a blocker for the OR51E1 receptor that blocks the negative effect of the activating scents. That blocker is the molecule 2-ethylhexanoic acid.

"Applying a blocker might help to reduce the negative effects on the human heart that are caused by medium-chain fatty acids, especially in patients with increased fatty acid levels in blood," concludes Hatt. He also believes it is possible that the treatment might be beneficial for patients with dramatically increased heart rates. According to the Bochum-based scent researcher, it is conceivable that the odorant might be administered percutaneously. "If the ointment is applied over the heart, the concentration of odorants that penetrate through the skin might be sufficient to have an effect on the heart; there are some hints of that," says Hatt.

Explore further: Olfactory receptors discovered in bronchi

More information: Nikolina Jovancevic et al. Medium-chain fatty acids modulate myocardial function via a cardiac odorant receptor, Basic Research in Cardiology (2017). DOI: 10.1007/s00395-017-0600-y

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Function of olfactory receptor in the human heart identified - Medical Xpress

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Ally Little described the past month of her life as a nightmare from which she just cant wake up.

On Dec. 22, the University of Southern Maine soccer player learned she had a rare and life-threatening disease in which her bone marrow stops producing healthy blood cells. However, the words severe aplastic anemia meant nothing to Little at the time.

Its really hard because I didnt know what this was before I had it, said Little, a 20-year-old sophomore from Stoneham, Massachusetts. No one has really heard of aplastic anemia or what the treatment is.

A bone marrow transplant is the cure for this disease, and Little has yet to find a matching donor. Littles teammates have organized a bone marrow donor registry drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Abromson Mezzanine at the USM Portland campus and from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Costello Complex at the Gorham campus.

Diagnosed during winter break, Little broke the news to her teammates on social media.

It hit home, said USM womens soccer coach Lisa Petruccelli. This is really the first time someone their age at this juncture is struggling with something like this.

Littles initial symptoms didnt seem serious. She started getting pounding headaches around Thanksgiving, but she had gotten headaches before. Physical activities such as skiing or working out for soccer became unusually exhausting, which Little attributed to dehydration. She didnt go to her doctor until she noticed blood in her stool.

(Aplastic anemia) is believed to be an autoimmune system gone wrong, said Paul Scribner, Senior Director of Patient Advocacy Programs with the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDS). The disease usually results from the destruction of bone marrow stem cells by the immune system. Other symptoms include infections and the tendency to bruise and bleed easily. With such innocuous warning signs, Scribner said a lot of people find out when they go to their doctor because theyre feeling run down.

After bloodwork, Little was told that her results were very abnormal. She spent the next few days in the hospital undergoing tests while doctors prepared her for the worst case scenario leukemia.

That was obviously horrifying, Little said. We didnt find out until about three days later that it was severe aplastic anemia.

Aplastic anemia is rare and can occur at any age. In the United States, about 600 to 900 people are diagnosed each year, according to AAMDS. The disease is considered severe when all three types of blood cells red blood cells (carry oxygen), white blood cells (fight infections) and platelets (help blood to clot) are very low in number.

I was kind of relieved it wasnt cancer, Little said. Then, doctors explained to me that its really not that good. It was devastating.

Little couldnt go back to school. With her compromised immune system, crowds are off limits. She cant play contact sports or do anything that could put her at risk of internal bleeding. She gets blood transfusions every week, and she can tell when shes due for another by the dizziness and headaches she gets. The long-term risk of too many transfusions, Scribner said, is iron overload.

Most days, I feel OK, Little said. I dont really feel sick, which is good. But its hard to remember I cant do certain things.

Little is buying time until she can get a bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside of the bones that produces the bodys blood cells. She didnt find a match among her family or with Be The Match a national bone marrow registry that contains 22.5 million adult donors.

Registering at the drive is simple. Potential donors must be between 18-44 years old and fill out basic paperwork and get their cheek swabbed to have their tissue type added to the registry a process that takes just a few minutes. After that, they will remain registered until age 61, unless they withdraw.

However for those in need of bone marrow finding a perfect match is not so easy.

Think about Megabucks and how hard it is to match that, said Jackie McLoon, Assistant Account Executive with Rhode Island Blood Center as well as a bone marrow donor. McLoon, a representative with Be the Match, has helped the USM soccer team organize its drive. Everyday, there are donors getting added to the database. Hopefully, her match shows up one of these days.

Only 30 percent of patients in need of a marrow transplant have a matching donor in their family. Be The Match helps the 14,000 patients a year who suffer from leukemia, lymphoma or a variety of bone marrow functioning diseases. McLoon said a protein called human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is used to match patients with donors, and potential matches will then undergo bloodwork to determine if they would be a good fit. Only about 1 in 500 registrants go on to actually donate marrow.

There are 10 things that they are supposed to match, Little said. They think one of my 10 is very rare.

But her teammates are optimistic. On Saturday, they attended a home basketball game clad in T-shirts adorned with the phrase: All for Ally. They gushed about Littles kind personality and reminisced about all the times they crashed in her room.

Shes the best teammate ever. Shes so sweet oh my god, I love her, said Jessica Preble, a sophomore on the team. If you ask anything of her, shell drop everything and do it.

This team is kind of used to bad things happening to our girls, said Dayna Staffiere, noting that one of their teammates lost her dad at sea last season when the cargo ship El Faro sank after encountering Hurricane Joaquin. It just brings us all closer.

When Little isnt at the hospital, shes usually working on her online classes or walking her dog. She said the support from family, friends and her soccer team is what keeps her going.

Were the ones who are supposed to be strong for her, but shes so strong for us, Preble said. Just a cheek swab and some paperwork could help save her life.

More here:
USM women's soccer players organize bone marrow drive for teammate with rare disease - Press Herald

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An act of kindness can change your life in a positive way. But how much better would it be if that same act ends up changing someone elses life in an amazing way too? Jillian Altenburg can answer that.

It will change me for the better, but I am even happier I have the ability to change someone elses life for the better, Jillian said.

This month, Jillian will go through a bone marrow donor procedure for a little child struggling with leukemia. Not only will this change Jillian forever, but it gives a small child a new chance at life.

Jillian, the daughter of Gary Altenburg and Lori Altenburg, is a Cut Bank High School 2013 graduate. She will be part of another graduation this May when she receives her nursing degree from the MSU-BSN college of nursing program in Great Falls.

Jillian first learned about being a bone marrow donor while in her freshman year of college at MSU-Bozeman. It was during one of my classes we heard about a child who was looking for a bone marrow match and after class the organization called Be the Match was introduced to us.

Be the Match is an organization that matches bone marrow donors to patients in need of a bone marrow transplant. Jillian became a potential donor that day after class when she had her cheek swabbed and entered into the program.

It was a few years before she heard anything from Be the Match, but this past December Jillian received a call saying she could be a match for a patient needing bone marrow.

I didnt know if I was the only match or if there were other potential matches too, Jillian stated. They asked me to do some blood work and they said it usually takes 60 days to determine if I would be a perfect match. But it only took a week for them to get back to me and let me know I was a perfect match for this little child with leukemia.

It was then that things started happening fast for Jillian. They told me that the child was in remission and that there is a window of time to do the procedure, so they gave me the date it would be done and where I needed to be for the procedure and explained what would be happening. And Be the Match would be picking up the tab for everything.

According to Jillian, there are two ways to collect bone marrow. One of those is by putting needles in my arm to gather stem cells. The other is by cutting a slit on both sides of my pelvis and inserting a hollow needle into the bone to pull out what they need. Normally they can take up to six cups of bone marrow, but with this being a child needing the bone marrow, they probably will not need that much.

After the procedure, Jillian will be discharged but will need to stay close to the hospital for another night in a hotel to make sure all is okay. Once that is determined, she can return home.

They say the procedure is painful and I will be sore. But ever since I learned I was a match, there was no choice in this for me. I actually feel like the lucky one, having this opportunity to help this child, Jillian said.

Within seven days of harvesting Jillians bone marrow, the child will receive the bone marrow that is so desperately needed for survival. During that time, Jillian should feel better and better each day. And within two weeks of having made the donation, Jillians body will have replaced the bone marrow taken from her.

Even though Be the Match tells all their potential donors that they can opt out of the program at any time, that was not an option for Jillian. Once they start prepping the patient to receive a bone marrow transplant, they really dont want people to say they have changed their minds. I have no intention of doing that anyway. When they called me, it was not a decision I had to think about. I knew I was going to do it. It feels good to be able to help someone and change their life for the better, she said.

The day Jillian shared the news with her mom Lori, that she was a potential bone marrow match for someone, Lori said, I got that warm, fuzzy feeling, but as we spoke longer it turned to worry, mostly for this child who has had to deal with these awful circumstances. I knew Jillian would be fine. She is strong, very physically fit and young. She has everything going for her in being a good donor.

Lori will be accompanying Jillian when she has the procedure done and will be there for her all the way through to recovery. We have always teased Jillian that she is still attached to her moms umbilical cord, so we both know I have to go, even though I know it doesnt stretch quite that far, laughed Lori.

Lori admitted she did not know Jillian had even put her name into the Be the Match program. We have lost many loved ones due to cancer, with number one being Jillians Grama Nancy (Loris mom). Even so, when I got the call from Jillian that she was contacted by the Be the Match program because she was a possible bone marrow match, it was very, very surprising. But I feel super proud and very blessed that she was chosen. To say I am not a little nervous would be a fib, but she will be in good hands and we know friends and family are praying for her and the child who will receive the donation, Lori shared.

For a year following the transplant, Jillian will not know the name of the child she made the donation to. I can find out through Be the Match how this little one is doing, but for up to a year they want me to remain anonymous. After a year, we can have contact.

As Jillian said, she knew without a doubt, she would be going through this procedure the minute she was called and told she was a perfect match. And while she admitted she is a little scared, she countered that with, It will be worth it.

There are two lives being changed with one procedure. Jillians life will be forever changed by this. And the young child? With Jillians donation, there is hope that many years can be added to that young little life.

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Jillian Altenburg: Sharing her gift of lifeand bone marrowwith young leukemia patient - Cut Bank Pioneer Press

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