FRESNO, California (KSEE/KGPE) After getting a breast cancer diagnosis, your heart health may be the last thing on your mind. But, if the cancer is in your left breast right over your heart treatment is more difficult. The medical director and the manager of radiation oncology at Community Cancer Institute explain a new and improved technique of radiation therapy that keeps your heart safer during treatment.

Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer. It works by damaging genetic material within cancer cellscausing them to die. However, normal cells can also be affected by the radiation.

Alec Beach, the Manager of Radiation Oncology for Community Cancer Institute says, So Surface Guided Radiation Therapy is a new modality relatively new and new to us in the Valley, to help align patients even better and also to provide some techniquesimprovements in accuracy, alignment and also in the breathing cycle of the patient to deliver radiation therapy at the optimal time.

Surface Guided Radiation Therapy or SGRT has been particularly successful in treating breast cancer patients with cancer in the left breast.

Dr. William Silveira the Medical Director of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Community Cancer Institute says, The problem with left sided breast cancer is that the heart is very close to the breast tissue. If we can get the heart out of the way, that helps tremendously. When we monitor the surface of the patient, we can have the patient take a very deep breath, pulling the heart down and out of the way, and therefore we can treat the patient while the heart is essentially completely out of the way, out of the beams, out of harms way.

Its all about timing and the careful placement of SGRT that will minimize the dosage of radiation to the normal tissues while delivering the maximum amount to the cancerous cells.

Theres a significant reduction in the dose received by the heart with this technology. Many of our patients are now surviving, and down the road we dont want them to experience cardiac disease. Radiation therapy for left sided breast cancer can contribute to cardiac disease. So, although it has a tremendous impact on survival and local control for breast cancer, we also have this potential complication down the road. Minimizing the dose to the heart, really saves patients a lot of trouble, said Dr. Silveira.

The possible cardiac risks of radiation therapy are significantly reduced with SGRT treatment.

I think theres a lot of fear regarding radiation therapy and a lot of it has to do with heart disease. I, myself, do worry about heart disease from radiation therapy quite a bit. This technology allows us to reduce the risk of heart disease significantly by essentially taking the heart almost out of the picture. The risk to the heart would be minimalmuch less than 5 percent, Dr. Silveira said.

SGRT helps to keep the heart safe, but can also be used throughout the body.

So SGRT can be used in multiple anatomical sites head and neck treatment in particular. Obviously, were treating the head or neck, the brain or the brain stem areatheres a lot of critical structures in that area and the alignment in that area is crucial so the mm accuracy is crucial so thats a particularly good area that well be implementing this in. But, it can also be used throughout the body, the abdomen, the pelvis for GYN cancer, for example, prostate treatment, basically anything where the surface can be used to align the treatment, said Beach.

Community Cancer Institute is the only one in the Valley using this advanced technology and Beach says the program strives to be second to none.

I would hope that the patients would take away that were here to do the very best that we can for themyes, its technology, but its not just technology for technologys sake, its with an outcome in mind and I want patients to know that we might take a little extra time to treat you, but I think thats worth it, Beach said.

And Dr. Silveira says it takes a collective effort, It takes a lot to implement, however and we have a great team. Our physicist, dosimetrist and therapist all are really fantastic in putting this program together. So its technology plus people.

To learn more about how community medical centers can help you or a loved one in prevention and treatment, visit http://www.CommunityMedical.org/Cancer.

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MedWatch Today: Surface Guided Radiation Therapy Protects the Heart During Treatment - YourCentralValley.com

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on MedWatch Today: Surface Guided Radiation Therapy Protects the Heart During Treatment – YourCentralValley.com | January 30th, 2020

Stem Cell Therapy Market: Snapshot

Of late, there has been an increasing awareness regarding the therapeutic potential of stem cells for management of diseases which is boosting the growth of the stem cell therapy market. The development of advanced genome based cell analysis techniques, identification of new stem cell lines, increasing investments in research and development as well as infrastructure development for the processing and banking of stem cell are encouraging the growth of the global stem cell therapy market.

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One of the key factors boosting the growth of this market is the limitations of traditional organ transplantation such as the risk of infection, rejection, and immunosuppression risk. Another drawback of conventional organ transplantation is that doctors have to depend on organ donors completely. All these issues can be eliminated, by the application of stem cell therapy. Another factor which is helping the growth in this market is the growing pipeline and development of drugs for emerging applications. Increased research studies aiming to widen the scope of stem cell will also fuel the growth of the market. Scientists are constantly engaged in trying to find out novel methods for creating human stem cells in response to the growing demand for stem cell production to be used for disease management.

It is estimated that the dermatology application will contribute significantly the growth of the global stem cell therapy market. This is because stem cell therapy can help decrease the after effects of general treatments for burns such as infections, scars, and adhesion. The increasing number of patients suffering from diabetes and growing cases of trauma surgery will fuel the adoption of stem cell therapy in the dermatology segment.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Overview

Also called regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy encourages the reparative response of damaged, diseased, or dysfunctional tissue via the use of stem cells and their derivatives. Replacing the practice of organ transplantations, stem cell therapies have eliminated the dependence on availability of donors. Bone marrow transplant is perhaps the most commonly employed stem cell therapy.

Osteoarthritis, cerebral palsy, heart failure, multiple sclerosis and even hearing loss could be treated using stem cell therapies. Doctors have successfully performed stem cell transplants that significantly aid patients fight cancers such as leukemia and other blood-related diseases.

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Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Key Trends

The key factors influencing the growth of the global stem cell therapy market are increasing funds in the development of new stem lines, the advent of advanced genomic procedures used in stem cell analysis, and greater emphasis on human embryonic stem cells. As the traditional organ transplantations are associated with limitations such as infection, rejection, and immunosuppression along with high reliance on organ donors, the demand for stem cell therapy is likely to soar. The growing deployment of stem cells in the treatment of wounds and damaged skin, scarring, and grafts is another prominent catalyst of the market.

On the contrary, inadequate infrastructural facilities coupled with ethical issues related to embryonic stem cells might impede the growth of the market. However, the ongoing research for the manipulation of stem cells from cord blood cells, bone marrow, and skin for the treatment of ailments including cardiovascular and diabetes will open up new doors for the advancement of the market.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Market Potential

A number of new studies, research projects, and development of novel therapies have come forth in the global market for stem cell therapy. Several of these treatments are in the pipeline, while many others have received approvals by regulatory bodies.

In March 2017, Belgian biotech company TiGenix announced that its cardiac stem cell therapy, AlloCSC-01 has successfully reached its phase I/II with positive results. Subsequently, it has been approved by the U.S. FDA. If this therapy is well- received by the market, nearly 1.9 million AMI patients could be treated through this stem cell therapy.

Another significant development is the granting of a patent to Israel-based Kadimastem Ltd. for its novel stem-cell based technology to be used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other similar conditions of the nervous system. The companys technology used for producing supporting cells in the central nervous system, taken from human stem cells such as myelin-producing cells is also covered in the patent.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Regional Outlook

The global market for stem cell therapy can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America emerged as the leading regional market, triggered by the rising incidence of chronic health conditions and government support. Europe also displays significant growth potential, as the benefits of this therapy are increasingly acknowledged.

Asia Pacific is slated for maximum growth, thanks to the massive patient pool, bulk of investments in stem cell therapy projects, and the increasing recognition of growth opportunities in countries such as China, Japan, and India by the leading market players.

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Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Competitive Analysis

Several firms are adopting strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships, apart from product development with a view to attain a strong foothold in the global market for stem cell therapy.

Some of the major companies operating in the global market for stem cell therapy are RTI Surgical, Inc., MEDIPOST Co., Ltd., Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., NuVasive, Inc., Pharmicell Co., Ltd., Anterogen Co., Ltd., JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., and Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l.

About TMR Research:

TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.

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Stem Cell Therapy Market Predicted to Accelerate the Growth by 2017-2025 - Jewish Life News

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on Stem Cell Therapy Market Predicted to Accelerate the Growth by 2017-2025 – Jewish Life News | January 30th, 2020

National Research (NASDAQ:NRC) and US Stem Cell (OTCMKTS:USRM) are both small-cap business services companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends and institutional ownership.

Risk & Volatility

National Research has a beta of 0.78, indicating that its stock price is 22% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, US Stem Cell has a beta of 4.87, indicating that its stock price is 387% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

39.7% of National Research shares are held by institutional investors. 4.5% of National Research shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 16.7% of US Stem Cell shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares National Research and US Stem Cells top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

National Research has higher revenue and earnings than US Stem Cell.

Profitability

This table compares National Research and US Stem Cells net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for National Research and US Stem Cell, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Summary

National Research beats US Stem Cell on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About National Research

National Research Corporation (NRC) is a provider of analytics and insights that facilitate revenue growth, patient, employee and customer retention and patient engagement for healthcare providers, payers and other healthcare organizations. The Companys portfolio of subscription-based solutions provides information and analysis to healthcare organizations and payers across a range of mission-critical, constituent-related elements, including patient experience and satisfaction, community population health risks, workforce engagement, community perceptions, and physician engagement. The Companys clients range from acute care hospitals and post-acute providers, such as home health, long term care and hospice, to numerous payer organizations. The Company derives its revenue from its annually renewable services, which include performance measurement and improvement services, healthcare analytics and governance education services.

About US Stem Cell

U.S. Stem Cell, Inc., a biotechnology company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of autologous cellular therapies for the treatment of chronic and acute heart damage, and vascular and autoimmune diseases in the United States and internationally. Its lead product candidates include MyoCell, a clinical therapy designed to populate regions of scar tissue within a patient's heart with autologous muscle cells or cells from a patient's body for enhancing cardiac function in chronic heart failure patients; and AdipoCell, a patient-derived cell therapy for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, chronic heart ischemia, and lower limb ischemia. The company's product development pipeline includes MyoCell SDF-1, an autologous muscle-derived cellular therapy for improving cardiac function in chronic heart failure patients. It is also developing MyoCath, a deflecting tip needle injection catheter that is used to inject cells into cardiac tissue in therapeutic procedures to treat chronic heart ischemia and congestive heart failure. In addition, the company provides physician and patient based regenerative medicine/cell therapy training, cell collection, and cell storage services; and cell collection and treatment kits for humans and animals, as well operates a cell therapy clinic. The company was formerly known as Bioheart, Inc. and changed its name to U.S. Stem Cell, Inc. in October 2015. U.S. Stem Cell, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Sunrise, Florida.

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Contrasting US Stem Cell (OTCMKTS:USRM) and National Research (OTCMKTS:NRC) - Riverton Roll

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on Contrasting US Stem Cell (OTCMKTS:USRM) and National Research (OTCMKTS:NRC) – Riverton Roll | January 30th, 2020

$1 Million in Funding from the USAISR Supporting Collaborative Research Project

Pilot Animal Study Successfully Completed; Larger Preclinical Study Underway

NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MicroCures, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics that harness the bodys innate regenerative mechanisms to accelerate tissue repair, today announced the advancement of its ongoing collaborative research project with the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) in the area of burn wound healing. The collaboration, which is being carried out under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the USAISR and supported by $1 million in funding, is focused on evaluating the therapeutic potential of MicroCures lead product candidate, siFi2, in accelerating the healing of burn wounds. siFi2, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutic that can be applied topically, is designed to enhance recovery after trauma. Following the successful completion of the collaborations initial pilot animal study, MicroCures and the USAISR have initiated a second, larger preclinical burn study of siFi2.

MicroCures technology is based on foundational scientific research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine regarding the fundamental role that cell movement plays as a driver of the bodys innate capacity to repair tissue, nerves, and organs. The company has shown that complex and dynamic networks of microtubules within cells crucially control cell migration, and that this cell movement can be reliably modulated to achieve a range of therapeutic benefits. Based on these findings, the company has established a first-of-its-kind proprietary platform to create siRNA-based therapeutics capable of precisely controlling the speed and direction of cell movement by selectively silencing microtubule regulatory proteins (MRPs).

The company has developed a broad pipeline of therapeutic programs with an initial focus in the area of tissue, nerve and organ repair. Unlike regenerative medicine approaches that rely upon engineered materials or systemic growth factor/stem cell therapeutics, MicroCures technology directs and enhances the bodys inherent healing processes through local, temporary modulation of cell motility. The companys lead drug candidate, siFi2, is a topical siRNA-based treatment designed to silence the activity of Fidgetin-Like 2 (FL2), a fundamental MRP, within an area of wounded tissue. In doing so, the therapy temporarily triggers accelerated movement of cells essential for repair into an injury area. Importantly, based on its topical administration, siFi2 can be applied early in the treatment process as a supplement to current standard of care.

Our ongoing collaboration with the USAISR is progressing well and we greatly value the support that this partnership is providing us as we work to advance siFi2 toward the clinic. To date, our work with the USAISR has resulted in the successful completion of a pilot study of siFi2 in a preclinical burn wound model and the recent initiation of a larger preclinical study in this indication, said Derek Proudian, chief executive officer of MicroCures. This project highlights a deliberate strategy by MicroCures to align with trusted military and government organizations, such as the USAISR, other Department of Defense entities, Federal Agencies, and the National Institutes of Health, to collaboratively support the development of our novel therapeutic platform. We look forward to continuing these relationships and ultimately developing innovative treatments that can provide important therapeutic benefits to those in the military, as well as the broader public.

About MicroCures

MicroCures develops biopharmaceuticals that harness innate cellular mechanisms within the body to accelerate and improve recovery after traumatic injury. MicroCures has developed a first-of-its-kind therapeutic platform that precisely controls the rate and direction of cell migration, offering the potential to deliver powerful therapeutic benefits for a variety of large and underserved medical applications.

MicroCures has developed a broad pipeline of novel therapeutic programs with an initial focus in the area of tissue, nerve and organ repair. The companys lead therapeutic candidate, siFi2, targets excisional wound healing, a multi-billion dollar market inadequately served by current treatments. Additional applications for the companys cell migration accelerator technology include dermal burn repair, corneal burn repair, cavernous nerve repair/regeneration, spinal cord repair/regeneration, and cardiac tissue repair. Cell migration decelerator applications include combatting cancer metastases and fibrosis. The company protects its unique platform and proprietary therapeutic programs with a robust intellectual property portfolio including eight issued or allowed patents, as well as eight pending patent applications.

Story continues

For more information please visit: http://www.microcures.com

Contact:

Vida Strategic Partners (On behalf of MicroCures)

Stephanie Diaz (investors)415-675-7401sdiaz@vidasp.com

Tim Brons (media)415-675-7402tbrons@vidasp.com

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MicroCures Advances Burn Wound Healing Program Under Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical...

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on MicroCures Advances Burn Wound Healing Program Under Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical… | January 28th, 2020

Research using heart cells from squirrels, mice and people identifies an evolutionary mechanism critical for heart muscle function.

Gene defect that affects a protein found in the heart muscle interferes with this mechanism to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a potentially fatal heart condition.

Imbalance in the ratio of active and inactive protein disrupts heart muscle's ability to contract and relax normally, interferes with heart muscle's energy consumption.

Treatment with a small-molecule drug restores proper contraction, energy consumption in human and rodent heart cells.

If affirmed in subsequent studies, the results can inform therapies that could halt disease progression, help prevent common complications, including arrhythmias and heart failure.

The heart's ability to beat normally over a lifetime is predicated on the synchronized work of proteins embedded in the cells of the heart muscle.

Like a fleet of molecular motors that get turned on and off, these proteins cause the heart cells to contract, then force them to relax, beat after life-sustaining beat.

Now a study led by researchers at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital and the University of Oxford shows that when too many of the heart's molecular motor units get switched on and too few remain off, the heart muscle begins to contract excessively and fails to relax normally, leading to its gradual overexertion, thickening and failure.

Results of the work, published Jan. 27 inCirculation, reveal that this balancing act is an evolutionary mechanism conserved across species to regulate heart muscle contraction by controlling the activity of a protein called myosin, the main contractile protein of the heart muscle.

The findings--based on experiments with human, mouse and squirrel heart cells--also demonstrate that when this mechanism goes awry it sets off a molecular cascade that leads to cardiac muscle over-exertion and culminates in the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common genetic disease of the heart and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young people and athletes.

"Our findings offer a unifying explanation for the heart muscle pathology seen in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that leads to heart muscle dysfunction and, eventually, causes the most common clinical manifestations of the condition," said senior author Christine Seidman, professor of genetics in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

Importantly, the experiments showed that treatment with an experimental small-molecule drug restored the balance of myosin arrangements and normalized the contraction and relaxation of both human and mouse cardiac cells that carried the two most common gene mutations responsible for nearly half of all HCM cases worldwide.

If confirmed in further experiments, the results can inform the design of therapies that halt disease progression and prevent complications.

"Correcting the underlying molecular defect and normalizing the function of heart muscle cells could transform treatment options, which are currently limited to alleviating symptoms and preventing worst-case scenarios such as life-threatening rhythm disturbances and heart failure," said study first author Christopher Toepfer, who performed the work as a postdoctoral researcher in Seidman's lab and is now a joint fellow in the Radcliffe Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford.

Some of the current therapies used for HCM include medications to relieve symptoms, surgery to shave the enlarged heart muscle or the implantation of cardioverter defibrillators that shock the heart back into rhythm if its electrical activity ceases or goes haywire. None of these therapies address the underlying cause of the disease.

Imbalance in the motor fleet

Myosin initiates contraction by cross-linking with other proteins to propel the cell into motion. In the current study, the researchers traced the epicenter of mischief down to an imbalance in the ratio of myosin molecule arrangements inside heart cells. Cells containing HCM mutations had too many molecules ready to spring into action and too few myosin molecules idling standby, resulting in stronger contractions and poor relaxation of the cells.

An earlier study by the same team found that under normal conditions, the ratio between "on" and "off" myosin molecules in mouse heart cells is around 2-to-3. However, the new study shows that this ratio is off balance in heart cells that harbor HCM mutations, with disproportionately more molecules in active versus inactive states.

In an initial set of experiments, the investigators analyzed heart cells obtained from a breed of hibernating squirrel as a model to reflect extremes in physiologic demands during normal activity and hibernation. Cells obtained from squirrels in hibernation--when their heart rate slows down to about six beats per minute--contained 10 percent more "off" myosin molecules than the heart cells of active squirrels, whose heart rate averages 340 beats per minute.

"We believe this is one example of nature's elegant way of conserving cardiac muscle energy in mammals during dormancy and periods of deficient resources," Toepfer said.

Next, researchers looked at cardiac muscle cells from mice harboring the two most common gene defects seen in HCM. As expected, these cells had altered ratios of "on" and "off" myosin reserves. The researchers also analyzed myosin ratios in two types of human heart cells: Stem cell-derived human heart cells engineered in the lab to carry HCM mutations and cells obtained from the excised cardiac muscle tissue of patients with HCM. Both had out-of-balance ratios in their active and inactive myosin molecules.

Further experiments showed that this imbalance perturbed the cells' normal contraction and relaxation cycle. Cells harboring HCM mutations contained too many "on" myosin molecules and contracted more forcefully but relaxed poorly. In the process, the study showed, these cells gobbled up excessive amounts of ATP, the cellular fuel that sustains the work of each cell in our body. And because oxygen is necessary for ATP production, the mutated cells also devoured more oxygen than normal cells, the study showed. To sustain their energy demands, these cells turned to breaking down sugar molecules and fatty acids, which is a sign of altered metabolism, the researchers said.

"Taken together, our findings map out the molecular mechanisms that give rise to the cardinal features of the disease," Seidman said. "They can help explain how chronically overexerted heart cells with high energy consumption in a state of metabolic stress can, over time, lead to a thickened heart muscle that contracts and relaxes abnormally and eventually becomes prone to arrhythmias, dysfunction and failure."

Restoring balance

Treating both mouse and human heart cells with an experimental small-molecule drug restored the myosin ratios to levels comparable to those in heart cells free of HCM mutations. The treatment also normalized contraction and relaxation of the cells and lowered oxygen consumption to normal levels.

The drug, currently in human trials, restored myosin ratios even in tissue obtained from the hearts of patients with HCM. The compound is being developed by a biotech company; two of the company's co-founders are authors on the study. The company provided research support for the study.

In a final step, the researchers looked at patient outcomes obtained from a database containing medical information and clinical histories of people diagnosed with HCM caused by various gene mutations. Comparing their molecular findings from the laboratory against patient outcomes, the scientists observed that the presence of genetic variants that distorted myosin ratios in heart cells also predicted the severity of symptoms and likelihood of poor outcomes, such as arrhythmias and heart failure, among the subset of people that carried these very genetic variants.

What this means, the researchers said, is that clinicians who identify patients harboring gene variants that disrupt normal myosin arrangements in their heart muscle could better predict these patients' risk of adverse clinical course.

"This information can help physicians stratify risk and tailor follow-ups and treatment accordingly," Seidman said.

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Researchers trace the molecular roots of potentially fatal heart condition - Jill Lopez

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on Researchers trace the molecular roots of potentially fatal heart condition – Jill Lopez | January 28th, 2020

On Monday, researchers from Japan's Osaka University announced the successful completion of a first-of-its-kind heart transplant.

Rather than replacing their patient's entire heart with a new organ, these researchers placed degradable sheets containing heart muscle cells onto the heart's damaged areas - and if the procedure has the desired effect, it could eventually eliminate the need for some entire heart transplants.

To grow the heart muscle cells, the team started with induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. These are stem cells that researchers create by taking an adult's cells - often from their skin or blood - and reprogramming them back into their embryonic-like pluripotent state.

At that point, researchers can coax the iSP cells into becoming whatever kind of cell they'd like. In the case of this Japanese study, the researchers created heart muscle cells from the iSP cells before placing them on small sheets.

The patient who received the transplant suffers from ischemic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which a person's heart has trouble pumping because its muscles don't receive enough blood.

In severe cases, the condition can require a heart transplant, but the team from Osaka University hopes that the muscle cells on the sheet will secrete a protein that helps regenerate blood vessels, thereby improving the patient's heart function.

The researchers plan to monitor the patient for the next year, and they hope to conduct the same procedure on nine other people suffering from the same condition within the next three years.

If all goes well, the procedure could become a much-needed alternative to heart transplants - not only is sourcing iPS cells far easier than finding a suitable donor heart, but a recipient's immune system is more likely to tolerate the cells than a new organ.

"I hope that (the transplant) will become a medical technology that will save as many people as possible, as I've seen many lives that I couldn't save," researcher Yoshiki Sawa said at a news conference, according to The Japan Times.

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

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Lab-Grown Heart Muscles Have Been Transplanted Into a Human For The First Time - ScienceAlert

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Lab-Grown Heart Muscles Have Been Transplanted Into a Human For The First Time – ScienceAlert | January 28th, 2020

Image: Nur Yucer, PhD, a project scientist, and Clive Svendsen, PhD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. Photo by Cedars-Sinai.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Nearly one million will be living with Parkinson's disease in the US this year, according to the Parkinson's Foundation. This is more than the number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's diseasecombined.

About 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year, and more than 10 million people worldwide are living with it. Incidence of Parkinsons disease increases with age, but an estimated 10 percent of people with Parkinson's disease are diagnosed before age 50. This is called young-onset Parkinson's.

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai, led by Clive Svendsen, PhD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, reported in a study published in Nature Medicine that they found that patients who develop young-onset Parkinsons disease may have been born with dysfunctional brain cells that go undetected for decades.

The research team generated special stem cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), from cells of patients suffering from young-onset Parkinsons disease. These iPSCswhich can produce any cell type of the human body, all genetically identical to the patients own cellswere used to produce dopamine neurons from each patient to analyze their functions.

Two key abnormalities were observed in these neurons:

- Dr. Clive Svendsen

After testing a number of drugs on the abnormal dopamine neurons, the researchers discovered that a drug called PEP005 (ingenol mebutate) reduced the elevated levels of alpha-synuclein in both the dopamine neurons in the dish and in laboratory mice. A gel formulation of PEP005 is marketed by LEO Pharma as Picato and is FDA-approved for the treatment of actinic keratosis, a scaly skin patch that develops from years of exposure to the sun. According to the Mayo Clinic, a small percentage of actinic keratosis lesions can eventually become skin cancer.

Michele Tagliati, PhD, Director of the Movement Disorders Program and Vice Chair and Professor in the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai, said the research team next will study how PEP005 might be delivered to the brain and whether or not the abnormalities found in young-onset Parkinson's patients also exist in other forms of Parkinsons.

- Dr. Michele Tagliati.

Edward Kim is Managing Editor of Equities.com.

_____

Sources: Equities News, Cedars-Sinai

DISCLOSURE:The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer.

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Cedars-Sinai Study Indicates That Parkinson's Disease May Start Before Birth - Equities.com

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Cedars-Sinai Study Indicates That Parkinson’s Disease May Start Before Birth – Equities.com | January 28th, 2020

People who develop Parkinson's disease at a young age might have malfunctioning brain cells -- even before birth. A drug used to treat pre-cancers of the skin may help treat the condition, finds a new study. At least 500,000 people in the US are diagnosed with Parkinson's every year, a majority of them over the age of 60. But about 10% of them develop the condition young -- between 21 and 50 years. People develop the disease when the brain nerve cells that make dopamine -- a substance that helps coordinate muscle movement -- malfunction or die. Consequently, these patients experience difficulty moving due to stiff muscles and tremors. Most often, young-onset patients have a family history of Parkinsons disease.

"Young-onset Parkinson's is especially heartbreaking because it strikes people at the prime of life," said Dr. Michele Tagliati, director of the Movement Disorders Program, vice-chair, and professor in the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai. "This exciting new research provides hope that one day we may be able to detect and take early action to prevent this disease in at-risk individuals," says Dr Tagliati, co-author of the study.

In this study, the team turned cells from these Parkinson's patients into a kind of stem cell, meaning they turned adult cells into an embryo-like state. These cells can be programmed into developing into any cell types, including muscles, nerves or heart, for instance. The team turned these stem cells into cells that produce dopamine and grew them in their lab.

"Our technique gave us a window back in time to see how well the dopamine neurons might have functioned from the very start of a patient's life," said senior author Dr. Clive Svendsen, director of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and professor of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine at Cedars-Sinai.

When the team observed these cells, they saw an abnormal accumulation of a toxic protein called alpha-synuclein, which is seen in patients with most forms of Parkinson's disease. This accumulation could be the result of malfunctioning "trash cans".

These trash cans of the dopamine-producing cells called lysosomes are tasked with the breaking down and the disposing of proteins - but they failed to do so in young-onset Parkinson's patients. As a result, the toxic protein buildup ends up damaging dopamine-producing cells.

"The cells of the brain cannot dispose of the toxic protein called synuclein a hallmark of dying neurons in Parkinsons disease even before birth. This does not kill the neurons until much later in life though," the researchers tell MEA WorldWide (MEAWW). "Now we know that this starts so early in life we can think about ways to reduce this protein early and use this model as a way to detect whether the Parkinsons is starting," they add.

Further, the team also tested several drugs that might reverse the abnormality seen in these cells. They found that that one drug, dubbed PEP005, which is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating precancers of the skin, proved effective in lab studies and mice. The drug brought down the levels of the toxic protein.

Encouraged by these positive results in the young-onset patients, the team is now testing whether these findings hold in patients who develop Parkinson's after the age of 50. "While we have shown our drug is effective in this cell model, it needs to be validated in actual patients before it is proven to be a treatment for Parkinsons. These studies are being planned," they add.

The study has been published in Nature Medicine.

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People who develop Parkinson's before 50 may have been born with damaged brain cells, says study - MEAWW

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People living with Type 1 diabetes are certainly faced with some daily hassles, such as finger-prick blood-glucose tests and insulin injections. An Israeli biomedical firm is now stating that such tasks may soon no longer be necessary, however, thanks to its prototype implant.

Developed by Beta-O2 Technologies, the titanium-bodied device is known as the Bio-artificial Pancreas, or the Air for short.

Measuring about 2.5 by 2.5 inches (64 mm), it incorporates a macrocapsule containing live pancreatic cells (aka islets), along with an oxygen tank. The cells can be obtained from a human donor, from the pancreas of a pig, or they can be grown from the patient's own stem cells in a lab. An external port on the oxygen tank allows the patient to refill it with oxygen on a weekly basis.

Once implanted under the skin, the Air is claimed to continuously monitor blood glucose levels, utilizing the oxygen-fed pancreatic cells to produce and deliver insulin whenever necessary. According to the company, the oxygen supply is the key to the device's success other experimental islet-equipped artificial pancreases, which rely on the limited amount of oxygen within the patient's bloodstream, reportedly have difficulty keeping the cells viable.

Additionally, no immunosuppressive treatments are required in order to keep the new implant from being rejected by the body. That said, the company states that it can easily be removed if necessary.

The device has already been trialled on four patients in Sweden, who experienced no side effects after carrying the implant for 10 months the cells remained viable throughout that period. A second-generation version is now being tested on diabetic rats, which have so far maintained normal glucose levels. A larger human trial should begin later this year.

Source: Beta-O2 Technologies

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Artificial pancreas uses oxygen tank to better-produce insulin - New Atlas

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Parkinsons disease is an illness that most often affects older people, but new research suggests it may actually be present in the brain right from birth and even earlier. Scientists from Cedars-Sinai have now found that in the brains of young-onset Parkinsons patients, malfunctioning neurons are always there but it takes 20 to 30 years for the symptoms to accumulate. Thankfully, a drug thats already on the market could help prevent the disease from taking hold if caught early enough.

Parkinsons disease primarily affects neurons in the brain that produce dopamine, eventually causing muscle weakness and stiffness, tremors, and balance problems. Most of the time, the disease is diagnosed in older people over the age of 60, but around 10 percent of cases occur in those aged between 21 and 50.

In a new study, scientists from Cedars-Sinai set out to investigate whether there were any early warning signs in the neurons of patients whod been diagnosed with Parkinsons before they turned 50. To do so, they created induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) from young-onset Parkinsons patients, which can then be turned into almost any other cells in the body.

The researchers used the IPSCs to grow dopamine neurons in lab dishes. As they watched them develop, the team noticed that cell structures called lysosomes were malfunctioning. These structures are responsible for breaking down unneeded or worn-out proteins so when they dont work as well as they should, proteins begin to pile up. And one such protein that the team spotted in higher amounts is called alpha-synuclein, which is implicated in many forms of Parkinsons.

"Our technique gave us a window back in time to see how well the dopamine neurons might have functioned from the very start of a patients life, says Clive Svendsen, senior author of the study. "What we are seeing using this new model are the very first signs of young-onset Parkinsons. It appears that dopamine neurons in these individuals may continue to mishandle alpha-synuclein over a period of 20 or 30 years, causing Parkinsons symptoms to emerge.

Next up, the team investigated whether the condition could potentially be treated or even prevented. After testing a series of drugs, they found one that looked promising PEP005, which has already been approved by the FDA for use against skin precancers. The researchers found that PEP005 works to reduce the levels of alpha-synuclein, as well as another abnormally-abundant enzyme called protein kinase C, whose role in Parkinson's remains unclear.

The treatment looks promising, but for now its only been shown to work in mice and lab-grown cells, so it wont necessarily translate to human trials. The team plans to continue working on this, as well as figuring out how to adapt PEP005 for use in the brain at the moment, its only available as a topical gel, since it's for treating skin cancer.

The research was published in the journal Nature Medicine.

Source: Cedars-Sinai

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Study suggests Parkinson's present from birth and may be preventable - New Atlas

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The Cosmetic Skin Care report makes available a thoughtful overview of product specification, technology, product type and production analysis taking into account major factors such as revenue, cost, and gross margin. The report is sure to offer brilliant solution to the challenges and problems faced by industry. This business document comprises of extensive study about miscellaneous market segments and regions, emerging trends, major market drivers, challenges and opportunities in the market. This Cosmetic Skin Care business document also displays the key developments in the industry with respect to current scenario and the approaching advancements.

Global cosmetic skin care market is set to witness a substantial CAGR of 5.5% in the forecast period of 2019- 2026. The report contains data of the base year 2018 and historic year 2017. Increasing self-consciousness among population and rising demand for anti- aging skin care products are the factor for the market growth.

Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market By Product (Anti-Aging Cosmetic Products, Skin Whitening Cosmetic Products, Sensitive Skin Care Products, Anti-Acne Products, Dry Skin Care Products, Warts Removal Products, Infant Skin Care Products, Anti-Scars Solution Products, Mole Removal Products, Multi Utility Products), Application (Flakiness Reduction, Stem Cells Protection against UV, Rehydrate the skins surface, Minimize wrinkles, Increase the viscosity of Aqueous, Others), Gender (Men, Women), Distribution Channel (Online, Departmental Stores and Convenience Stores, Pharmacies, Supermarket, Others), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2026 ;

Complete report on Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market Research Report 2019-2026 spread across 350 Pages, profiling Top companies and supports with tables and figures

Market Definition: Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market

Cosmetic skin care is a variety of products which are used to improve the skins appearance and alleviate skin conditions. It consists different products such as anti- aging cosmetic products, sensitive skin care products, anti- scar solution products, warts removal products, infant skin care products and other. They contain various ingredients which are beneficial for the skin such as phytochemicals, vitamins, essential oils, and other. Their main function is to make the skin healthy and repair the skin damages.

Key Questions Answered in Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market Report:-Our Report offers:-

Top Key Players:

Market Drivers:

Market Restraints:

Key Developments in the Market:

Customize report of Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market as per customers requirement also available.Market Segmentations:Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market is segmented on the basis of

Market Segmentations in Details:By Product

By Application

By Gender

By Distribution Channel

By GeographyNorth America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

South America

Middle East & Africa

Competitive Analysis: Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market

Global cosmetic skin care market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of cosmetic skin care market for Global, Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Researchset forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.

Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email:corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com

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Cosmetic Skin Care Market is Thriving with Rising Latest Trends by 2025 | Top Players- L'Oral, Unilever, New Avon Company, Este Lauder Companies,...

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What are progenitor cells?

Every cell in the human body, and that of other mammals, originates from stem cell precursors. Progenitor cells are descendants of stem cells that then further differentiate to create specialized cell types.There are many types of progenitor cells throughout the human body. Each progenitor cell is only capable of differentiating into cells that belong to the same tissue or organ. Some progenitor cells have one final target cell that they differentiate to, while others have the potential to terminate in more than one cell type.

Stem cells share two qualifying characteristics. Firstly, all stem cells have the potential to differentiate into multiple types of cells. Secondly, stem cells are capable of unlimited self-replication via asymmetric cell division, a process known as self-renewal.There are two broad categories of stem cells found in all mammals. The first are embryonic stem cells. These cells arise from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst in an early-stage embryo. Embryonic stem cells are the blueprint used to create every cell in the body. Because they can be used to create any type of cell, they are known as pluripotent.

The second type of stem cells found in mammals are adult stem cells (or somatic stem cells). Unlike pluripotent embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells are more limited in relation to the type of cells that they become. Unlike embryonic stem cells that could be used to create any cell, adult stem cells are limited to generating cell types within a specific lineage, such as blood cells or cells of the central nervous system. This level of differentiation potential is termed multipotent.

Stem cells create two types of progeny: more stem cells or progenitor cells. All progenitor cells are descendants of stem cells. When it comes to cell differentiation, they fall on the spectrum between stem cells and fully differentiated (mature) cells.

Whilst stem cells have indefinite replication (left) progenitor cells can at most differentiate into multiple types of specialized cell (right).

Function:

Cellular repair or maintenance

Cell Potency:

Multipotent, oligopotent, or unipotent

Self-renewal:

Limited

Origin:

Stem cells

Creates:

Further differentiated cells (either progenitor cells of mature/fully differentiated cells)

Progenitor cells are an intermediary step involved in the creation of mature cells in human tissues and organs, the blood, and the central nervous system.

The human central nervous system (CNS) contains three types of fully differentiated cells: neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The latter two are collectively known as glial cells.Every neuron, oligodendrocyte and astrocyte in the CNS evolves from the differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). NPCs themselves are produced by multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs). Both NPCs and NSCs are termed neural precursor cells.Before the 1990s, it was believed that neurogenesis terminated early in life. More recent studies demonstrate that the brain contains stem cells that are capable of regenerating neurons and glial cells throughout the human lifecycle. These stem cells have only been found in certain brain regions, including the striatum and lateral ventricle.

Hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are an intermediate cell type in blood cell development. HPCs are immature cells that develop from hematopoietic stem cells, cells that can both self-renew and differentiate into hematopoietic progenitor cells. HPCs eventually differentiate into one of more than ten different types of mature blood cells.Hematopoietic progenitor cells are categorized based upon their cell potency, or their differentiation potential. As blood cells develop, their potency decreases.

First, hematopoietic stem cells differentiate into multipotent progenitor cells. Multipotent progenitor cells are those with the potential to differentiate into a subset of cell types. These cells then differentiate into either the common myeloid progenitor (CMP) or common lymphoid progenitor (CLP). Both CMPs and CLPs are types of oligopotent progenitor cells (progenitor cells that differentiate into only a few cell types).

CMPs and CLPs continue to differentiate along cell lines into lineage-restricted progenitor cells that become final, mature blood cells.Myeloid progenitor cells are precursors to the following types of blood cells:

Lymphoid progenitor cells (also known as lymphoblasts) are precursors to other mature blood cell types, including:

The primary role of progenitor cells is to replace dead or damaged cells. In this way, progenitor cells are necessary for repair after injury and as part of ongoing tissue maintenance. Progenitor cells also replenish blood cells and play a role in embryonic development.

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are being explored alongside neural stem cells for their potential to treat diseases of or injury to the central nervous system. A deeper understanding of how these cells function on a cellular and molecular basis is needed to progress from early experimental research to therapeutic use.NPCs are currently utilized in research conducted on CNS disorders, development, cell regeneration and degeneration, neuronal excitability, and therapy screening. When compared to induced pluripotent stem cells, which are cells reprogrammed into a pluripotent state, NPCs can cut down on time in some experiments.Hematopoietic progenitor cells and stem cells are being researched for their capacity to treat blood cell disorders. They are also currently used to help treat patients with a variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases via bone marrow transplants that deliver bone marrow and peripheral blood progenitor cells to patients. These procedures can assist patients in recovering from the damage caused by chemotherapy.Additionally, researchers are examining the potential of using progenitor cells to create a variety of tissues, such as blood vessels, heart valves, and electrically conductive tissue for the cardiovascular system.

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What are Progenitor Cells? Exploring Neural, Myeloid and Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells - Technology Networks

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Daratumumab: A Promising Option

Due to promising new data from several big clinical trials, its now believed that daratumumab can benefit patients with multiple myeloma regardless ofwhether theyre eligible to receive a stem cell transplant.

Daratumumab (also known by its brand name, Darzalex), is a type of drug called a targeted monoclonal antibody. It works by binding to a specific protein called CD38, which is found on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Once the daratumumab attaches to these proteins on the surface of the cells, the bodys immune system identifies the need to attack and kill the multiple myeloma cells.

As Dr. Nina Shah,a hematologist at the University of California San Francisco, explains, patients receiving a stem cell transplant can benefit from the addition of daratumumab to a combination of the drugs Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone (a combination that doctors often abbreviate as Dara VRD).

If, on the other hand, a transplant isnt the right course of treatment for you, you may still be able to benefit from daratumumab when its used in whats called the upfront or first-line treatment setting (meaning as the first part of your treatment, before you receive other drugs) when combined withRevlimid and dexamethasone (a combination that doctors often abbreviate as DRD).

If youre not interested in a transplant, or maybe thats not in the works for you at the moment, you may consider daratumumab, Revlimid and dexamethasone, or DRD,' Dr. Shah explains.

One thing thats really gotten a lot of attention is not just three drugs, but four drugs, Dr. Shah says. She explains that a recent clinical trial called GRIFFIN showed that before a stem cell transplant, treatment with daratumumab in combination with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone was more beneficial than treatment with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone alone.

And when patients who received this combination before their transplant, then went on to receive additional daratumumab after their transplant, the benefit was even greater.

Preliminarily, at least, the data seems to indicate that the patients who got four drugs, then went on to a transplant and then got more daratumumab actually did better than the three drugs, Dr. Shah says.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Dr. Nina Shah is a hematologist who specializes in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a type of cancer affecting the blood marrow. She treats patients at the Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic. Read More

Daratumumab (also known by its brand name, Darzalex), is a type of drug called a targeted monoclonal antibody. It works by binding to a specific protein called CD38, which is found on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Once the daratumumab attaches to these proteins on the surface of the cells, the bodys immune system identifies the need to attack and kill the multiple myeloma cells.

If, on the other hand, a transplant isnt the right course of treatment for you, you may still be able to benefit from daratumumab when its used in whats called the upfront or first-line treatment setting (meaning as the first part of your treatment, before you receive other drugs) when combined withRevlimid and dexamethasone (a combination that doctors often abbreviate as DRD).

If youre not interested in a transplant, or maybe thats not in the works for you at the moment, you may consider daratumumab, Revlimid and dexamethasone, or DRD,' Dr. Shah explains.

One thing thats really gotten a lot of attention is not just three drugs, but four drugs, Dr. Shah says. She explains that a recent clinical trial called GRIFFIN showed that before a stem cell transplant, treatment with daratumumab in combination with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone was more beneficial than treatment with Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone alone.

And when patients who received this combination before their transplant, then went on to receive additional daratumumab after their transplant, the benefit was even greater.

Preliminarily, at least, the data seems to indicate that the patients who got four drugs, then went on to a transplant and then got more daratumumab actually did better than the three drugs, Dr. Shah says.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Dr. Nina Shah is a hematologist who specializes in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a type of cancer affecting the blood marrow. She treats patients at the Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic. Read More

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The Benefit of Adding Daratumumab to Multiple Myeloma Drug Combinations - SurvivorNet

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In our regular feature #TheBrand, Bazaars beauty team look into an exciting and efficacious brand taking the beauty industry by storm. This time, its a doctor-backed skincare line combining luxury with lasting results.

In the past, weve happily soaked up skincare advice from celebrities, supermodels and self-appointed influencers. (In fact, weve even bought into brands created by them.) But now, those of us looking to settle down with a serious skincare regime one that promises a healthy, resilient complexion for good are rightfully turning to doctors for direction.

As we become increasingly invested in our skincare, favouring proven formulations over zeitgeisty trends, the door has been opened for a host of dermatologists, surgeons and doctors to launch their own brands. Armed with the best qualifications in the business, these experts combine ingredients knowledge with confidence, ensuring maximum potency with minimal contraindications.

The latest brand in this formidable category is MZ Skin, founded by Dr. Maryam Zamani. Not only is she a leading oculoplastic surgeon (aka eye doctor), but she's also one of London's most in-demand aesthetic doctors, working out of the Cadogan Clinic in Chelsea.

With a background in medical science, Zamani is perfectly positioned to create clinically proven products that speak to womens needs, providing a direct path to the balanced and healthy skin were all hoping to obtain. Truly understanding the actives, how they interact with the skin and what they can achieve is imperative in formulating powerful results, she says.

While most dermatologist and doctor-led brands tend to sit on the cold, clinical side of the skincare fence, MZ Skin is a visibly luxurious affair. Most of the doctor ranges now are made by men for women, which often means we lose an important aspect of skincare and wellness, explains Zamani, who treasures the sense of ritual in her own routine, seeing it as a powerful self-care tool. Taking a few moments to do something that is good for you and feels good to do has compounded positive impact.

Light-Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device

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Replenish & Restore Placenta & Stem Cell Night Recovery Mask

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Cleanse & Clarify Dual Action AHA Cleanser & Mask

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Radiance & Renewal Instant Clarity Refining Mask

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Proven actives are, unsurprisingly, the focal point of MZ Skin here, you can find some of the most effective brightening, rejuvenating and repairing formulas around.

Expect familiar ingredients in optimum levels of potency, and always stabilised for longevity. Vitamin C, peptides, acids, ceramides, stem cells and most recently retinol form the basis. Everything is free from mineral oil, (a harmless yet useless filler ingredient), and controversial paraben preservatives.

Naturally, Zamanis Soothe & Smooth eye cream is a stand-out. Hyaluronic acid provides moisture while ceramides strengthen the skin barrier, but its the unusual addition of albazia bark extract that proves her skincare nous. Also known as Persian silk tree extract, it is said to encourage the skin to produce collagen and elastin, leading to less surface lines.

If youre looking for a quick fix, the Radiance & Renewal mask is worth a try, but the savviest shoppers will head instead for the Cleanse & Clarify cleanser. Ticking off two steps in one, it can be used nightly as a deep cleanser, or left to linger as a pre-event mask. The hefty dose of alpha-hydroxy acids sloughs away dead skin cells, leaving skin looking brighter immediately after use.

Several brands are investing in at-home LED technology now, but MZ Skins Light Therapy Golden Facial Device is one of the most advanced available outside of a professional setting, thanks to the impressive five shades of LED it emits.

Light emitting diodes send out specific wavelengths that are then absorbed by the skin," explains Zamani. Red and yellow light helps boost collagen production, while blue light kills bacteria that can lead to acne. Green LED can be absorbed by melanin in the skin to help improve the appearance of pigmentation.

But it's the inclusion of a fifth light setting that make's Zamani's device a true stand-out. White, or near-infrared light, penetrates remarkably deep into the dermis to promote wound healing and skin repair: a benefit scarcely found in at-home devices.

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Vitamin-Infused Facial Treatment Mask

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Soothe & Smooth Collagen Activating Eye Complex

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Brighten & Perfect 10% Vitamin C Corrective Serum

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Everything you need to know about MZ Skin products - harpersbazaar.com

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LOS ANGELES Extending everyones life in a healthy fashion is one of many goals held by Peter Diamandis, a space, technology, aeronautics and medicine pioneer. But the new field known as longevity is of interest to everyone.

One hundred will be the new 60, he told his Abundance360 conference recently. The average human health span will increase by 10+ years this decade.

He, like others in Silicon Valley, believe that aging is a disease and the result of planned obsolescence, or the wearing down of, or damage to, certain critical mechanisms, sensors and functions within our bodies. Longevity research is about identifying the core problems to mitigate or reverse them.

The average human health span will increase by 10+ years this decade

Peter Diamandis

The exponential technologies of artificial intelligence, machine learning and computational heft have been harnessed, and have resulted in breakthroughs and clinical trials that are just a handful of years away from deployment on human patients. The main areas of research include: Stem cell supply restoration, regenerative medicine to regrow damaged cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone, spinal cords and neural nerves; vaccine research against chronic diseases such as Alzheimers; and United Therapeutics that is developing technology to tackle the organ shortage for humans by genetically engineering organs grown in pigs.

New tools are accelerating the development of new, tailor-made medicines at a fraction of todays costs. Alex Zhavoronkov of Insilico Medicine told the conference that drugs take 10 years and cost $3 billion to research and 90 per cent fail. But his company can test in 46 days using human tissue, then model, design and produce in weeks with the help of advanced computing.

In regenerative medicine, advances appear to be arriving relatively soon. For instance, Diamandis asked the audience if anyone was awaiting a knee replacement operation and suggested that they might be better off postponing these until 2021 when regenerative medicine innovator, Samumed LLC in San Diego, is expected to complete phase three clinical trials of cartilage regeneration.

Samumeds founder, Osman Kibar, said his company has successfully injected a protein that activates nearby stem cells into producing new cartilage in a knee or a new disc in a spine. Preliminary success has also occurred to regenerate muscle and neural cells, retinal cells, skin and hair. Not surprisingly, the private company just raised US$15.5 billion to continue research and product development.

Another hot area of early stage research is called epigenetic reprogramming or identifying how to reverse deficiencies in proteins, stem cells, chromosomes, genes that repair DNA and damaged cells. A leader in this field is David Sinclair, professor of genetics at the Harvard Medical School, whose new book Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Dont Have To explains the science and offers advice.

Aging is a disease, and that disease is treatable, he said. As research progresses toward actual corrections or cures, there are also lifestyle habits that can slow down the aging process, or avert damage. For instance, he said humans should replicate some behaviour that their bodies were designed for. Obviously, exercising and sleep are necessary but so is eating less often. You should feel hungry regularly, he said.

Another condition that is useful to emulate is hormesis, a scientific term for what Neitzsche posited which was that that which does not kill us makes us stronger. Sinclair recommends stressing our bodies with temperature changes such as going from a hot sauna to rolling in the snow. This invigorates the bodys processes and cells.

Theres also xenohormesis or gaining benefits from eating plants that have been environmentally stressed, therefore contain more beneficial nutrients. For instance, drought-stressed or wild strawberries have better flavour but they also are enhanced with additional antioxidant capacity and phenol content.

The age of 100 is easily in sight now, said Diamandis. And kids born today can expect to live to 105.

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Diane Francis: Treating aging like a disease is the next big thing for science - Financial Post

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With so many groundbreaking medical advances being revealed to the world every single day, you would imagine there would be some advancement on the plethora of many female-prevalent diseases (think female cancers, Alzheimer's, depression, heart conditions etc.) that women are fighting every single day.

For Anna Villarreal and her team, there frankly wasn't enough being done. In turn, she developed a method that diagnoses these diseases earlier than traditional methods, using a pretty untraditional method in itself: through your menstrual blood.

Getting from point A to point B wasn't so easy though. Villarreal was battling a disease herself and through that experience. I wondered if there was a way to test menstrual blood for female specific diseases," she says. "Perhaps my situation could have been prevented or at least better managed. This led me to begin researching menstrual blood as a diagnostic source. For reasons the scientific and medical community do not fully understand, certain diseases impact women differently than men. The research shows that clinical trials have a disproportionate focus on male research subjects despite clear evidence that many diseases impact more women than men."

There's also no denying that gap in women's healthcare in clinical research involving female subjects - which is exactly what inspired Villarreal to launch her company, LifeStory Health. She says that, with my personal experience everything was brought full circle."

There is a challenge and a need in the medical community for more sex-specific research. I believe the omission of females as research subjects is putting women's health at risk and we need to fuel a conversation that will improve women's healthcare.,"

-Anna Villarreal

Her brand new biotech company is committed to changing the women's healthcare market through technology, innovation and vocalization and through extensive research and testing. She is working to develop the first ever, non-invasive, menstrual blood diagnostic and has partnered with a top Boston-area University on research and has won awards from The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Northeastern University's RISE.

How does it work exactly? Proteins are discovered in menstrual blood that can quickly and easily detect, manage and track diseases in women, resulting in diseases that can be earlier detected, treated and even prevented in the first place. The menstrual blood is easy to collect and since it's a relatively unexplored diagnostic it's honestly a really revolutionary concept, too.

So far, the reactions of this innovative research has been nothing but excitement. The reactions have been incredibly positive." she shares with SWAAY. Currently, menstrual blood is discarded as bio waste, but it could carry the potential for new breakthroughs in diagnosis. When I educate women on the lack of female subjects used in research and clinical trials, they are surprised and very excited at the prospect that LifeStory Health may provide a solution and the key to early detection."

To give a doctor's input, and a little bit more of an explanation as to why this really works, Dr. Pat Salber, MD, and Founder of The Doctor Weighs In comments: researchers have been studying stem cells derived from menstrual blood for more than a decade. Stem cells are cells that have the capability of differentiating into different types of tissues. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. Adult stem cells have a more limited differentiation potential, but avoid the ethical issues that have surrounded research with embryonic stem cells. Stem cells from menstrual blood are adult stem cells."

These stem cells are so important when it comes to new findings. Stem cells serve as the backbone of research in the field of regenerative medicine the focus which is to grow tissues, such as skin, to repair burn and other types of serious skin wounds.

A certain type of stem cell, known as mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) derived from menstrual blood has been found to both grow well in the lab and have the capability to differentiate in various cell types, including skin. In addition to being used to grow tissues, their properties can be studied that will elucidate many different aspects of cell function," Dr. Salber explains.

To show the outpour of support for her efforts and this major girl power research, Villarreal remarks, women are volunteering their samples happily report the arrival of their periods by giving samples to our lab announcing de-identified sample number XXX arrived today!" It's a far cry from the stereotype of when it's that time of the month."

How are these collections being done? Although it might sound odd to collect menstrual blood, plastic cups have been developed to use in the collection process. This is similar to menstrual products, called menstrual cups, that have been on the market for many years," Dr. Salber says.

Equally shocking and innovative, this might be something that becomes more common practice in the future. And according to Dr. Salber, women may be able to not only use the menstrual blood for early detection, but be able to store the stem cells from it to help treat future diseases. Companies are working to commercialize the use of menstrual blood stem cells. One company, for example, is offering a patented service to store menstrual blood stem cells for use in tissue generation if the need arises."

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Divorce as Seen Through the Eyes of a Child - SWAAY

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Monday, January 27, 2020

Cancer patients could be treated with a one-size-fits-all therapy, following the discovery of an immune cell which kills all forms of the disease.

Researchers at Cardiff University have found a new type of killer T-cell, capable of recognising and destroying most human cancers while preserving healthy cells. The scientists discovered a method of killing prostate, breast, lung and other cancers in lab tests and say there is enormous potential for immunotherapies not previously thought to be possible.

Cardiff Universitys cancer findings came from scientists looking for unconventional ways in which the immune system naturally attacks tumours. They found, inside human blood, a T-cell that can scan the body for a threat, such as cancerous cells, and eliminate the danger while leaving healthy cells alone. The team described the work as at an early stage, but exciting.

T-cell cancer therapies are where immune cells are removed, modified and returned to the patients blood to seek and destroy cancer cells. The most widely-used, known as CAR-T, is personalised to the patient but combats only a handful of cancers and has not been successful in eliminating solid tumours - which account for the vast majority of cancers.

The Cardiff teams discovery involves a new type of T-cell receptor (TCR), which recognises a molecule present on the surface of a wide range of cancer cells as well as in many of the bodys normal cells and is, remarkably, able to distinguish between the two. In tests, T-cells equipped with the new TCR killed lung, skin, blood, colon, breast, bone, prostate, ovarian, kidney and cervical cancer cells.

Professor Andrew Sewell, the lead author on the study and an expert in T-cells from Cardiff Universitys School of Medicine, said it was highly unusual to find a TCR with such broad cancer specificity, raising the prospect of universal cancer therapy.

Prof Sewell said: We hope this new TCR may provide us with a different route to target and destroy a wide range of cancers in all individuals. Current TCR-based therapies can only be used in a minority of patients with a minority of cancers.

Cancer-targeting via MR1-restricted T-cells is an exciting new frontier - it raises the prospect of a one-size-fits-all cancer treatment; a single type of T-cell that could be capable of destroying many different types of cancers across the population. Previously nobody believed this could be possible.

Further experiments and safety testing are now underway, with the hope of trialling this new approach in patients towards the end of 2020. Prof Sewell added: There are plenty of hurdles to overcome; however, if this testing is successful, then I would hope this new treatment could be in use in patients in a few years time.

Cancer is the leading cause of all avoidable deaths in the UK. Breast cancer is the most common, followed jointly by prostate and lung cancer and then by bowel cancer. Obesity is now a bigger cause than smoking of some cancers, namely bowel, kidney, liver and ovarian cancer.

According to financial information business Defaqto*, 38 out of 51 health insurance products include cancer cover, with benefits ranging from breakthrough treatment not otherwise available on the NHS to hormone therapy, reconstructive surgery and stem cell therapy. To find the right cancer cover for your family, use our online comparison tool or speak with our team on 0800 862 0373.

Photo:Cardiff Universitys Professor Andrew Sewell, left, with Research Fellow Garry Dolton.

Credit: Cardiff University

* Data sourced on January 2, 2020.

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Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Cardiff researchers on brink of ‘one size fits all’ cancer therapy – Active Quote | January 27th, 2020

When Marie Antoinette was captured during the French Revolution, her hair reportedly turned white overnight. In more recent history, former U.S. Senator John McCain experienced severe injuries as a prisoner during the Vietnam Warand lost color in his hair.

For a long time, anecdotes have connected stressful experiences with hair-graying.

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Now, for the first time, Harvard University scientists have discovered exactly how the process plays out: stress activates nerves that are part of the fight-or-flight response, which in turn cause permanent damage to pigment-regenerating stem cells in hair follicles.

The work, published inNature, details the molecular mechanisms behind the longstanding biological puzzle.

Everyone has an anecdote to share about how stress affects their body, particularly in their skin and hairthe only tissues we can see from the outside, said senior authorYa-Chieh Hsu, the Alvin and Esta Star Associate Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard. We wanted to understand if this connection is true, and if so, how stress leads to changes in diverse tissues. Hair pigmentation is such an accessible and tractable system to start with, and besides, we were genuinely curious to see if stress indeed leads to hair-graying.

Fingering the culprit

Because stress affects the whole body, researchers first had to narrow down which body system was responsible for connecting stress to hair color. The team first hypothesized that stress causes an immune attack on pigment-producing cells. However, when mice lacking immune cells still showed hair-graying, researchers turned to the hormone cortisol. Once more, it was a dead end.

Stress always elevates levels of the hormone cortisol in the body, so we thought that cortisol might play a role, Hsu said. But surprisingly, when we removed the adrenal gland from the mice so that they couldnt produce cortisol-like hormones, their hair still turned gray under stress.

After systematically eliminating different possibilities, researchers homed in on the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the bodys fight-or-flight response.

Sympathetic nerves branch out into each hair follicle on the skin. The researchers found that stress causes these nerves to release the chemical norepinephrine, which gets taken up by nearby pigment-regenerating stem cells.

Permanent damage

In the hair follicle, certain stem cells act as a reservoir of pigment-producing cells. When hair regenerates, some of the stem cells convert into pigment-producing cells that color the hair.

Researchers found that the norepinephrine from sympathetic nerves causes the stem cells to activate excessively. The stem cells all convert into pigment-producing cells, prematurely depleting the reservoir.

When we started to study this, I expected that stress was bad for the body, but the detrimental impact of stress that we discovered was beyond what I imagined, Hsu said. After just a few days, all of the pigment-regenerating stem cells were lost. Once theyre gone, you cant regenerate pigments anymore. The damage is permanent.

The finding underscores the negative side effects of an otherwise protective evolutionary response, the researchers said.

Acute stress, particularly the fight-or-flight response, has been traditionally viewed to be beneficial for an animals survival. But in this case, acute stress causes permanent depletion of stem cells, said postdoctoral fellow Bing Zhang, the lead author of the study.

Answering a fundamental question

To connect stress with hair-graying, the researchers started with a whole-body response and progressively zoomed into individual organ systems, cell-to-cell interaction and, eventually, all the way down to molecular dynamics. The process required a variety of research tools along the way, including methods to manipulate organs, nerves and cell receptors.

To go from the highest level to the smallest detail, we collaborated with many scientists across a wide range of disciplines, using a combination of different approaches to solve a very fundamental biological question, Zhang said.

One of the study collaborators wasIsaac Chiu, assistant professor of immunology in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, who studies the interplay between the nervous and immune systems.

We know that peripheral neurons powerfully regulate organ function, blood vessels and immunity, but less is known about how they regulate stem cells, Chiu said.With this study, we now know that neurons can control stem cells and their function and can explain how they interact at the cellular and molecular levels to link stress with hair-graying.

The findings can help illuminate the broader effects of stress on various organs and tissues. This understanding will pave the way for new studies that seek to modify or block the damaging effects of stress.

By understanding precisely how stress affects stem cells that regenerate pigment, weve laid the groundwork for understanding how stress affects other tissues and organs in the body, Hsu said. Understanding how our tissues change under stress is the first critical step towards eventual treatment that can halt or revert the detrimental impact of stress. We still have a lot to learn in this area.

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CHICAGO - Brian Wallach wasn't supposed to live to see his younger daughter's first birthday.

Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal disease with no cure, doctors told him in 2017 that he might have six months to live.

Today, he's focused on being there for his daughter's future firsts: kindergarten drop-off, middle school dance, wedding day.

More than two years after his diagnosis, he has been lucky, he said, to experience relatively limited progression of his disease. After some balance issues, the Kenilworth resident now uses a cane - or, as he is careful to specify, a "cool walking stick" - to get around.

When Wallach was diagnosed, neither he nor his wife, Sandra Abrevaya, knew much about ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, eventually paralyzing even the body's ability to breathe.

In response to Wallach's diagnosis, the couple, both 39, launched I AM ALS in 2019. Former staffers in the Obama White House, they marshaled lessons learned while campaigning - gathering information, forming consensus, considering the impossible possible - to build a force to mobilize hope and change for those facing a disease they say can and should be cured.

Rays of hope are beginning to emerge through an innovative trial that received FDA approval last week to test several drugs at the same time, a bipartisan congressional caucus, doubled federal funding, and support from groups like the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which gave the couple's organization a $453,000 grant in September.

"Last year we made hope a word that was OK to use," Wallach said. "This year we have to make hope real."

Audaciousness is the only option, the couple says, in their race against the clock.

Wallach logged 120,000 miles in the air last year, including traveling to Washington, D.C., in April, where he testified before Congress and asked legislators to amp up funding.

"Last year, every time someone said, 'Do you want to speak to us,' I said, 'yes.' Every time someone said, 'There's a meeting,' I said, 'I'm going.'" he said. "Every time there was anything, I said, 'Great, I'm on the plane.'"

Until October, when Wallach fell while exiting a Lyft in Boston after swinging a heavy backpack onto his back. Thirteen staples in his head later, and after terrifying Abrevaya with a phone call, the two agreed he wouldn't travel alone anymore. He's maintaining momentum for the cause with more hours in his home office and fewer in airports.

In December, I AM ALS debuted billboards around Times Square as part of its #CuresForAll campaign aimed at informing the public about the impact a cure or better treatment for a neurodegenerative disease can have on other diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. ALS patients and their families from states including Michigan, Maine and Colorado were in New York for the launch.

The billboards noted the number of people lost to ALS each day - 16 - with photographs of those who died in 2019. Days earlier, Pete Frates, a founder of the viral fundraiser the Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised $115 million, had died. He was 34.

The campaign was also shared on social media. The posts expressed the suffering and loss nationwide: a mother wrote about her son who was diagnosed at 20 and died at 28; a son posted in honor of his dad; Colorado Rep. Jason Crow posted a message honoring his cousin.

It's time, the couple said, to switch ALS conversations from a diagnosis rooted in darkness to the faces of people bravely moving forward. They want to speed development of potential cures and give patients more access to experimental treatments.

That's not an unreasonable goal, said Sabrina Paganoni, a faculty member at The Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General in Boston, which plans to test at least five different medications for ALS at the same time, a first for the disease and something she said could be a huge turning point.

On Wednesday, the Healey Center announced it received FDA approval to move forward with testing the first three drugs: Zilucoplan, Verdiperstat and CNM-Au8. Similar to how cancer drugs are already tested, this gives patients access to more treatments and allows researchers to quickly collect data and accelerate the pace toward a cure.

"This is a very exciting time in the history of ALS," Paganoni said. "I think this is going to be the decade when ALS is changed from a rapidly fatal disease to a more chronic disease that we can manage."

For years, Steve Perrin, the chief executive officer at the ALS Therapy Development Institute, has monitored clinical trials for ALS. So far, he said, the two drugs approved by the FDA, Radicava and Rilutek, are "a very marginal slowing down of disease."

This year, he said the quality of drugs going into trials seems improved. He is excited about several trials, including one studying stem cells and another testing a drug to potentially slow progression in some patients.

"As a patient you want to see something measurable, and I don't mean measurable in days," he said. "If I'm a patient, I want to see something, and I want hope for myself and my family. I want something that is going to slow the disease down so I can watch my kids growing up, I can watch them graduate from college, I can watch them marry."

But that takes resources.

"We are in a time when we can reasonably say that there's going to be new treatments available," Paganoni said. "But we need more funding and support, so all of this can happen, and happen soon."

Nearly every moment feels like a push-pull for Wallach and Abrevaya.

Do they spend more precious minutes with their two daughters, ages 4 and 2, or do they spend time away, among strangers - on a plane, in a researcher's office, walking the halls of Congress - with the hope that those minutes will, someday, result in time banked to create more family memories.

"The hardest balance, if I'm honest, is, I love every minute I have with them," Wallach said about his daughters, "but I also feel this pressing sense of, I need to be working towards a goal of actually finding a cure."

"We're doing that so we have a shot at a real future together," Abrevaya said about their time spent traveling and advocating.

At home, when the family heads for the door, the toddlers reach for their father's shoes, and they get his walking stick.

"While that both fills your heart with joy and appreciation, it's also painful that your toddlers are being put in this position," Abrevaya said.

The parents guard normalcy. They take their daughters to swim at the neighborhood pool and on vacation with friends. Wallach wishes he could lift them above his head to touch the ceiling, like their uncle can. But he can lie on the floor and play with them; he can listen to them belt out songs on their purple karaoke machine.

They find ways to lighten a heavy subject. On New Year's Eve, the two danced in a video on the foundation's Instagram, singing into hairbrushes, and Wallach promised to get an "ALS: You Gone" tattoo if 20,000 people donated $10 to a Healey Center research fundraiser. It raised $40,000 in 24 hours, Wallach said. No matter the outcome, he plans to get the tattoo.

The couple, who both work full-time jobs - Abrevaya is the president of nonprofit Thrive, Wallach works at law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom - want more research, to create a patient navigation system, and to gather signatures for a letter asking new FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn to speed ALS patients' access to possible treatments.

And they keep looking for light. But it takes work.

Changing life with ALS for Wallach, and for other patients and their families, requires bold action from people with the power to make change: politicians, researchers, philanthropists.

As they meet others with ALS, they welcome new friends and face the pain of losing some.

"It does make you uniquely urgent in what you do," Wallach said. "You push because you have to. You push because you know that the time that we have is precious, and that you want to see 20 years from now. And know that you can make that happen."

Wallach often shares moments about his ALS journey on Twitter with his 40,000 followers. Recently, he shared something he wasn't sure he should. It was a time he was unable to find light.

On a recent night, he woke up to pain he's had for the past few months, radiating from his right hip to his right calf.

He clutched a stuffed llama his daughter gave him. And he began to cry.

"I cried because of the pain. I cried because I couldn't be the father to my girls I dreamed of being," he wrote. "I cried because I couldn't be the husband to my wife I dream of being. Because I saw the future zooming ahead, and for a brief moment I wondered if I would be a part of it."

His wife heard him crying that night. She asked what was wrong. And he said maybe they would be better off if he left, living instead in an assisted living facility. Their daughters, he told her, could have a dad who could do everything he dreamed of doing.

She looked at him in the dark. "You are my light," she said. "You are their light. The only way you are leaving us is if you die in my arms, and we aren't going to let that happen for a long, long, long time."

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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In a race against terminal illness, former Obama staffer with ALS and his wife find new hope a year later - PostBulletin.com

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Submerged in liquid nitrogen vapor at a temperature of minus 175 degrees Celsius, hundreds of thousands of stem cells from all over Europe bide their time in large steel barrels on the outskirts of Warsaw.

Present in blood drawn from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby, stem cells can help cure serious blood-related illnesses like leukemias and lymphomas, as well as genetic conditions and immune system deficits.

Polish umbilical cord blood bank PBKM/FamiCord became the industrys leader in Europe after Swiss firm Cryo-Save went bankrupt early last year.

It is also the fifth largest in the world, according to its management, after two companies in the United States, a Chinese firm and one based in Singapore.

Since the first cord blood transplant was performed in France in 1988, the sector has significantly progressed, fuelling hopes.

Health insurance

Mum-of-two Teresa Przeborowska has firsthand experience.

At five years old, her son Michal was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant, the entrepreneur from northern Poland said.

The most compatible donor was his younger sister, Magdalena.

When she was born, her parents had a bag of her cord blood stored at PBKM.

More than three years later, doctors injected his sisters stem cells into Michals bloodstream.

It was not quite enough for Michals needs but nicely supplemented harvested bone marrow.

As a result, Michal, who is nine, is now flourishing, both intellectually and physically, his mum told AFP.

A cord blood transplant has become an alternative to a bone marrow transplant when there is no donor available, with a lower risk of complications.

Stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood are like those taken from bone marrow, capable of producing all blood cells: red cells, platelets and immune system cells.

When used, stem cells are first concentrated, then injected into the patient. Once transfused, they produce new cells of every kind.

At the PBKM laboratory, each container holds up to 10,000 blood bags Safe and secure, they wait to be used in the future, its head, Krzysztof Machaj, said.

The bank holds around 440,000 samples, not including those from Cryo-Save, he said.

If the need arises, the blood will be ready to use without the whole process of looking for a compatible donor and running blood tests, the biologist told AFP.

For families who have paid an initial nearly 600 euros (around P34,000) and then an annual 120 euros (around P7,000) to have the blood taken from their newborns umbilical cords preserved for around 20 years, it is a kind of health insurance promising faster and more effective treatment if illness strikes.

But researchers also warn against unrealistic expectations.

Beauty products

Hematologist Wieslaw Jedrzejczak, a bone marrow pioneer in Poland, describes promoters of the treatment as sellers of hope, who make promises that are either impossible to realize in the near future or downright impossible to realize at all for biological reasons.

He compares them to makers of beauty products who swear their cream will rejuvenate the client by 20 years.

Various research is being done on the possibility of using the stem cells to treat other diseases, notably nervous disorders. But the EuroStemCell scientist network warns that the research is not yet conclusive.

There is a list of almost 80 diseases for which stem cells could prove beneficial, U.S. hematologist Roger Mrowiec, who heads the clinical laboratory of the cord blood program Vitalant in New Jersey, told AFP.

But given the present state of medicine, they are effective only for around a dozen of them, like leukemia or cerebral palsy, he said.

Its not true, as its written sometimes, that we can already use them to fight Parkinsons disease or Alzheimers disease or diabetes.

EuroStemCell also cautions against private blood banks that advertise services to parents suggesting they should pay to freeze their childs cord blood in case its needed later in life.

Studies show it is highly unlikely that the cord blood will ever be used for their child, the network said.

It also pointed out that there could be a risk of the childs cells not being useable anyway without reintroducing the same illness.

Some countries, such as Belgium and France, are cautious and ban the storage of cord blood for private purposes. Most E.U. countries however permit it while imposing strict controls.

Rapid growth

In the early 2000s, Swiss company Cryo-Save enjoyed rapid growth.

Greeks, Hungarians, Italians, Spaniards and Swiss stored blood from their newborns with the company for 20 years on payment of 2,500 euros (around P140,000) upfront.

When the firm was forced to close in early 2019, clients were left wondering where their stem cells would end up.

Under a kind of back-up agreement, the samples of some 250,000 European families were transferred for storage at PBKM.

The Polish firm, founded in 2002 with 2 million zlotys (around P26 million), has also grown quickly.

Present under the FamiCord brand in several countries, PBKM has some 35% of the European market, excluding Cryo-Save assets.

Over the last 15 months, outside investors have contributed 63 million euros to the firm, PBKMs chief executive Jakub Baran told AFP.

But the company has not escaped controversy: the Polityka weekly recently published a critical investigative report on several private clinics that offer what was described as expensive treatment involving stem cells held by PBKM.IB/JB

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Europe's guardian of stem cells and hopes, real and unrealistic - INQUIRER.net

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