Usama Gergis, MD, MBA Professor of Oncology Director, Bone Marrow Transplant and Immune Cellular Therapy Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia, PA, reviewed that difference in acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and the treatment available for each.

Targeted OncologyTM: How would you treat a patient with GvHD in the second line?

GERGIS: If you [have a patient with] second-line acute GVHD, your answer should be ruxolitinib [Jakafi] because its the only drug that has been tried in phase 3 trials. If you get a [case of] chronic GVHD, your answer should be ibrutinib [Imbruvica].

What is the efficacy of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) versus bone marrow from unrelated donors in patients with acute and chronic GvHD?

[Results from] a phase 3 study of bone marrow versus stem cells for unrelated donors [showed] the acute GVHD population [cumulative incidence] was the same between both.1 For the chronic population, the bone marrow did better [PBSC 53% vs bone marrow 41%; P = .01]. This was published almost 8 years ago, [and it] was reported almost 10 years ago, but we still use stem cells.

This has not changed practices, and the reasons are, number 1, there was more primary graft failure on the bone marrow than the PBSC, and number 2, its pretty involved to do bone marrow harvest, although I have done it for 15 years, at least a few every month.

The benefit of bone marrow versus PBSCand this benefit was only studied in unrelated donors, not in matched related donorswas seen across all organs affected with chronic GVHD except lungs, [gut, and serosa].2 So, there was no real benefit in the lungs.

Can you explain the difference between acute and chronic GvHD?

Chronic GVHD is more complicated and involved than acute GVHD. In acute, you have the skin, gastrointestinal organs, and the liver [that may be affected]. Thats it. In chronic, all the patients other organs can be affected. The patients weight can be affected. [Chronic GVHD is] more debilitating over a long time and [can] go unrecognized for a while. [If a patient is] experiencing acute GVHD, you see them twice a week, whereas if the patient has chronic GVHD, you probably see them once a month. So you can see a very stark change in your patients within that month if they lose 10% of their body weight and they already lost a lot of weight in the period right after [transplantation], so that can be obvious to you.

[In my institution], we have the GVHD clinic where we [grade the patient based on] studying the degree of fibrosis, how many organs are affected, the patients range of motion, and the degrees in range of motion. We do frequent pulmonary function tests and various [other] testing. By looking at all the affected organs, you reach a grade, and that can be mild, moderate, or severe [chronic GVHD].

How do you treat moderate-to-severe chronic GVHD at initial presentation and in the second line?

First-line treatment for chronic GVHD are steroids. For second line, there are many agents [to consider]. Ive tried most of them. I like photopheresis because its not pharmacological, but its pretty involved. Your patient will need a permanent catheter, and they will need to come to the transplant center twice a week, and you see a response after a long time. It takes an average of 50 photopheresis sessions for a response. But the beauty of photopheresis [is that] you could try it with other agents, so its not mutually exclusive. You could use it with ruxolitinib, ibrutinib, or any other agents.

The answer will be ibrutinib [for chronic GVHD], and thats based on the [results of a] phase 2 clinical trial that treated 42 patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD, and the efficacy was 69% [best overall response rate], and 31% complete response rate.3

What do you think of these poll results?

Everybody agrees on giving ibrutinib. When I gave this talk a couple months ago, lenalidomide [Revlimid] was not included in the poll. I added it because [recently], a nice study in Blood came out from the National Institutes of Health where they tried lenalidomide at a small dose, 2 mg, in steroid-refractory chronic GVHD. Its a large trial; I think its about 100 patients. Theyve seen responses that are comparable with ibrutinib....I treated a patient for multiple myeloma; he received a transplant for multiple myeloma, and now, 6 months later, he has chronic GVHD and some clonal plasma cells. So for him, I was comforted to know the results of the lenalidomide trial.

How does ruxolitinib play a role in this setting?

Ruxolitinib was reported in the REACH3 trial [NCT03112603] with very good responses in chronic GVHD.4 I think it probably will get approved for that indication. Looking at this study about 2 years ago, nothing was studied well in this indication, and ibrutinib was approved.

REACH3 was a large trial, almost 300 patients, and everybody was randomized to ruxolitinib 10 mg twice a day versus best available treatment. They looked at everybody about 6 months later for response.

What should physicians keep in mind when treating?

Chronic GvHD is pretty involved. Your patients will need a multidisciplinary approach. You need to pay attention to their bones. In the first 100 days post transplant, the average bone aging is 17 years.

So although were trying to treat acute GVHD, viruses, and prevent relapses, [by putting] your patients on some steroids, you are aging your patients bones by 17 years only in the first 100 days. No matter what you do, give your patients vitamin D, calcium, and Fosamax [alendronate sodium].

See the original post:
Gergis Explains the Differences Between Acute and Chronic GVHD - Targeted Oncology

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Gergis Explains the Differences Between Acute and Chronic GVHD – Targeted Oncology | February 17th, 2021

New smart stem cells show a promising power to heal.

Researchers have reprogrammed human fat cells into adaptive smart stem cells that can lie dormant in the body until they are needed to heal various tissues. They demonstrated the cells' effectiveness at healing damaged tissue in a mouse study.

To create the smart stem cells, the team from UNSW Sydney exposed human fat cells to a compound mixture. After about three and a half weeks, the cells lost their original identity and began acting like stem cells, or iMS (induced multipotent stem cells).

"The stem cells acted like chameleons. They followed local cues to blend into the tissue that required healing."

"The stem cells we've developed can adapt to their surroundings and repair a range of damaged tissues," said UNSW hematologist John Pimanda, and co-author of the study, which they published in Science Advances.

"To my knowledge, no one has made an adaptive human multipotent stem cell before. This is uncharted territory."

Next, they injected the experimental iMS cells into healthy mice to see how the cells would respond. The cells remained dormant for some time, but they activated when the mouse was injured. Because of the cells' regenerative ability to act as "smart stem cells," they transformed themselves into whatever tissue was needed to heal the injured mouse --- like bone tissue, heart, or skin.

"The stem cells acted like chameleons," said Avani Yeola, lead author on the study at UNSW Medicine & Health. "They followed local cues to blend into the tissue that required healing."

All cells in a human body contain the same DNA. To differentiate between tissues, like a skin cell versus a bone cell, the cells only use a small portion of their total DNA. The rest of the DNA is shut down naturally by local modifications.

"The idea behind our approach was to reverse these modifications," said Pimanda. "We wanted the cells to have the option of using that part of the DNA if there was a signal from outside the cell."

Tissue-specific stem cells, like those that are restricted to becoming parts of the liver or lung, are limiting. But smart stem cells that can respond to their environment and become any tissue, like multipotent stem cells, will have many uses.

In the future, doctors could take a patient's fat cells, incubate them with the compound, and inject them into the patient to heal heart damage or trauma injuries.

But applications like this could be a long way off. The team needs to do much more research to prove this is safe in humans for different kinds of trauma before it becomes a real therapy.

We'd love to hear from you! If you have a comment about this article or if you have a tip for a future Freethink story, please email us at [emailprotected]

Excerpt from:
Smart Stem Cells Made From Fat Have the Power to Heal - Freethink

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Smart Stem Cells Made From Fat Have the Power to Heal – Freethink | February 14th, 2021

UCART19 produced a manageable safety profile in 2 separate phase 1 studies examining heavily pretreated pediatric and adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to data published in The Lancet.

For the first time, these studies support the feasibility of UCART19 and other genome-edited, donor-derived allogeneic anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells to treat this group of patients with aggressive forms of ALL.

Phase 1 trials in paediatric and adult patients with late-stage relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia have shown the feasibility, safety, and activity of UCART19, an off-the-shelf CAR T-cell product, wrote the investigative team. The results of these trials represent a substantial step forward in the development of CAR T cells and could herald a new, effective, and easily accessible cell therapy for patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The results determined that the most common adverse event between both phase 1 studies was cytokine release syndrome (CRS), observed in 19 patients (91%). Three patients (14%) experienced grade 3/4 CRS.

More, 8 patients (38%) experienced grades 1/2 neurotoxicity, 2 (10%) experienced grade 1 acute skin graft-versus-host disease, and 6 (32%) had grade 4 prolonged cytopenia.

The research team recorded 2 treatment-related deaths between the 2 studies. The first was caused by neutropenic sepsis in a patient with concurrent CRS and the other was from pulmonary hemorrhage in a patient with persistent cytopenia.

Overall, 14 of 21 patients (67%) experienced a complete response or complete response with incomplete hematological recovery at 28 days following infusion. Median duration of response was recorded at 4.1 months, with 10 of 14 adult patients (71%) progressing to subsequent allogeneic stem cell transplant. The progression-free survival rate at 6 months was 27%, with an overall survival rate of 55%.

The adverse effects observed with UCART19 to date seem similar to those reported for autologous anti-CD19 CAR T cells, wrote the investigators. Cytokine release syndrome was encountered in the majority of patients in whom UCART19 expansion was detected and appeared no more severe than with approved autologous products.

The 2 ongoing, multicenter, clinical trials (NCT02808442 and NCT02746952) enrolled 7 pediatric and 14 adult patients from June 3, 2016, through October 23, 2018, to examine the safety profile and antileukemic activity of UCART19.

The dose-escalation studies began with patients undergoing lymphodepletion with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, with or without alemtuzumab (Lemtrada), followed by different doses of UCART19 for adults and children. The primary end point of the data was adverse events.

The small sample size for the investigation is the leading limitation for the research, but the research team also mentioned the differing trial designs, lymphodepletion regimens, and UCART19 cell doses to be among limitations of both trials.

The results [of these studies] are an encouraging step forward for the field of allogeneic CAR T cells, and UCART19 offers the opportunity to treat patients with rapidly progressive disease and where autologous CAR T-cell therapy is unavailable, wrote the investigators.

Reference:

Benjamin R, Graham C, Yallop D, et al. Genome-edited, donor-derived allogeneic anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells in paediatric and adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: results of two phase 1 studies. Lancet. 2020;396(10266):1885-1894. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32334-5

Visit link:
Manageable Safety Profile Observed in Phase 1 Studies Examining UCART19 for Pediatric and Adult Patients with B-Cell ALL - Cancer Network

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Manageable Safety Profile Observed in Phase 1 Studies Examining UCART19 for Pediatric and Adult Patients with B-Cell ALL – Cancer Network | February 11th, 2021

You might associate platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) with the renowned vampire facial and youd be right. However, theres so much more to this ground-breaking treatment than what youve seen in mainstream media. Founder of Anti-Aging Art Medical Aesthetics, Dr Reza Mia, shares more on this cutting-edge procedure.

PRP, or platelet rich plasma therapy, as its technically known, is a non-invasive treatment performed to accelerate healing, minimise the signs of ageing, accentuate parts of the body and to relieve pain. Incredibly versatile, this therapy is used among athletes to accelerate the healing of injuries, it is used to treat arthritis and tendonitis and is also popularly used as an anti-ageing facial treatment. PRP is considered a long-lasting solution to the bodys natural healing process, with results ranging from instant, to appearing after a couple of weeks, and lasting up to several years.

The science behind it

Plasma is the liquid part of the blood, consisting mainly of water and protein. It allows red and white blood cells, as well as platelets (a type of blood cell responsible for making blood clot, as well as for facilitating healing) to move through the bloodstream. Platelets are rich in connective tissue growth and healing factors; they initiate repair in the body and attract stem cells to injuries. This amazing healing ability is what makes them so effective in platelet rich plasma therapy.

To collect plasma, we draw blood from the body and then inserts it into a machine called a centrifuge, which spins the blood at high speeds, separating platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood. The red blood cells are discarded, and one is left with a concentration of platelets above normal values. This concentration can then be injected into various areas of the body to treat injuries or concerns.

Sports-related injuries

PRP has become a popular therapy among athletes. It is used to treat injured tendons, ligament sprains and tears, damaged ligaments and joints. Not only does it stimulate the healing of cartilage but it also helps reduce pain. Soft tissue injuries are most responsive to PRP treatment. Depending on the type of injury and the severity of it, some athletes who would have been side-lined for months have seen major results after around 6 weeks.

The vampire facial or facelift gained worldwide fame when reality star Kim Kardashian famously posted about it on Instagram a few years ago. Today, it is a common anti-ageing treatment. PRP is injected into the face to reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate the skin. The treatment provides a gradual increase in volume by helping to stimulate the bodys natural collagen production. Other benefits of the treatment include skin tightening, lifting and smoothing, and a more even skin tone.

Also known as a vampire breast lift, PRP for breast enhancement is a non-surgical form of breast augmentation. Unlike a traditional breast lift or augmentation which requires incisions, this treatment is performed by utilising PRP injections to create a fuller and firmer bust. A vampire breast lift wont increase your cup size or change the shape of your breast. However, it will create a fuller and firmer appearance and minimise the appearance of wrinkles and stretch marks. The results have been likened to those achieved by wearing a great quality push-up bra.

PRP therapy can be used to improve sexual function in both men and women. Platelet rich plasma sexual rejuvenation, involves injecting your own activated blood into the vagina or penis. The v-shot can enhance clitoral orgasms; increase arousal and lubrication and vaginal tightness. The benefits of the p-shot are longer, firmer and more sustainable erections and proven penis enlargement. The question on everyones lips is, of course, whether or not the latter procedure is painful. No. It is completely painless!

Did you know that PRP therapy is also successful when used to enhance hair growth? The treatment has shown to effectively treat androgenic alopecia (also known as male pattern baldness). PRP injections trigger and maintain natural hair growth by stimulating blood flow to the hair follicles. This treatment may be combined with otherhair loss procedures or medications.

Undergoing PRP therapy is simple and painless. The entire procedure, from drawing the blood to solution preparation, takes around half an hour and is performed in your aesthetic practitioners office. The time spent on the treatment performed with the PRP afterwards, is dependent on the individual treatment. Generally speaking, PRP injections are not painful,. We make use of various pain management techniques to ensure the comfort of our patients during their procedures. Depending on your treatment, you may experience some swelling and bruising for a few days, but this clears up quickly.

While the vampire facial put PRP on the general publics map, theres so much more that can be achieved by making use of this incredible treatment. Whether youre looking to treat an injury, minimise your wrinkles, rejuvenate your sex life or increase your hair growth, Plasma rich platelet therapy is a safe and effective treatment option to consider.

Visit http://www.drreza.co.za or or follow Dr Mia on Instagram @drreza.sa and @antiagingart

Visit link:
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy: The answer to a rejuvenated body, skin, hair and sex life! - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy: The answer to a rejuvenated body, skin, hair and sex life! – Longevity LIVE – Longevity LIVE | February 11th, 2021

Paragon Biosciences, a life science innovator that creates, invests in and builds life science companies in biopharmaceuticals, cell and gene therapy and synthetic biology utilizing artificial intelligence, has launched CiRC Biosciences, a cell therapy company developing treatments for serious diseases with high, unmet needs with an initial focus on the eye."The addition of CiRC Biosciences to our portfolio builds upon our cell and gene therapy platform, an area that has tremendous potential to address serious genetic diseases," said Jeff Aronin, founder, chairman and chief executive officer, Paragon Biosciences. "CiRC Biosciences gives us the science to target retinal diseases that could lead to vision restoration with numerous other applications in the years ahead."CiRC Biosciences is currently advancing pre-clinical development of chemically induced retinal cells for vision restoration in Geographic Atrophy Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD), which is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss over the age of 65, and advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a genetic disorder that causes tunnel vision and eventual blindness. There are no U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatments to restore vision loss in Dry AMD or RP.The company's novel mechanism of action is designed for direct chemical conversion of fibroblasts into other cell types using a cocktail of small molecules in an 11-day chemical conversion process. Pre-clinical studies have shown efficacy in blind mice that demonstrated vision restoration. CiRC Biosciences has provisional patent applications to protect its platform."Our technology transforms ordinary skin cells into specialized retinal cells using a cocktail of small molecules," said Sai Chavala, M.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer, CiRC Biosciences. "This process is potentially safer, quicker, more cost effective and easier to manufacturer than using traditional stem cells. Working with Paragon Biosciences to build and advance CiRC Biosciences provides us the opportunity to efficiently progress this technology through research and development stages.CiRC Biosciences first reported its discovery in the highly respected scientific journal Nature (April 15, 2020). A recently published New England Journal of Medicine article (Nov. 5, 2020) discussed CiRC's technology of using chemically induced cells to restore retinal function. The article concluded, "The new and emerging strategies for the rescue, regeneration, and replacement of photoreceptors suggest a bright future in the fight to preserve and restore vision in blinding eye diseases."The abstract in Nature is available here.Access to the NEJM article is available here.

Excerpt from:
Paragon Biosciences Expands Cell And Gene Therapy Platform - Contract Pharma

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Paragon Biosciences Expands Cell And Gene Therapy Platform – Contract Pharma | February 10th, 2021

Introduction

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the major causes of cancer-associated illness and death, with more than 600,000 newly diagnosed cases worldwide each year1 and a continuously increasing incidence rate.2 HNSCC includes cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. The anatomical structures of the head and neck can be damaged by the tumor itself or treatments such as surgical resection and chemoradiotherapy, which sometimes cause speech, swallowing, and breathing impairments.3,4 Patients with HNSCC have been shown to bear greater psychological distress than those with other types of cancer.5

Despite the currently available therapies, patients with advanced HNSCC still experience poor outcomes.68 For example >50% of patients with locoregionally advanced HNSCC experience recurrence or metastases development within 3 years of treatment.911 Treatment options for patients with the recurrent and metastatic disease following progression after a platinum-based regimen are limited, and the median overall survival of such patients is less than 7 months.1215

The recurrence and metastasis of HNSCC are facilitated by immune evasion;16 therefore, as one of the methods to inhibit immune evasion, the use of programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway inhibitors is considered effective in the treatment of recurrent HNSCC.1719 Nivolumab, a fully human IgG4 antiPD-1 monoclonal antibody, has shown remarkable antitumor efficacy and safety when administered to patients with recurrent HNSCC whose disease had progressed within 6 months of platinum-based chemotherapy;19 Furthermore, nivolumab treatment has been shown to improve the quality of life of these patients.20 However, PD-1 inhibitors can upregulate T cells in vivo, which may lead to the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).2123 To the best of the authors knowledge, no studies have investigated the safety and efficacy of nivolumab in patients with HNSCC after allo-HSCT. Here, we report the case of a patient who experienced excellent control of left buccal squamous cell carcinoma with nivolumab after the failure of platinum-based chemotherapy despite receiving allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Without any family history of tumor, a 33-year-old man was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on March 19, 2014. He received one course of vincristine and prednisone therapy and four courses of vincristine, daunorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone therapy. He was in complete remission at the end of therapy. Subsequently, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation was performed; the donor was his human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical sibling (sister). He experienced chronic GVHD (c GVHD) of the oral cavity and skin 3 months after transplantation, for which he was treated with steroid hormone- and cyclosporine-based therapies. Skin rejection lasted for more than 3 years. Imatinib mesylate was administered for 2 years after transplantation, and his leukemia was well controlled.

In August 2018, the patient developed an ulcer of approximately 0.5 0.5 cm size in the left buccal mucosa; the ulcer was slightly painful and covered with white moss. In September 2018, the patient was admitted to Peking University Stomatological Hospital, where a biopsy of the buccal mucosa was performed. The pathology results showed the presence of squamous cell carcinoma in the left cheek. Unfortunately, this patient was not a right candidate for HNSCC in terms of exposure to risk factors, such as long terms of smoking and drinking. On October 10, 2018, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) showed that the mass in the left cheek was metabolically active, which is consistent with the activity of a malignant tumor. One course of an adjuvant therapy regimen (nimotuzumab [200 mg d0] + docetaxel [60 mg d1, 8]+ nedaplatin [60 mg d2, 3]) was administered on October 26, 2018. Following this, the patient developed degree II thrombocytopenia and redness, swelling, and ulceration of the cheek, which had discharge with a peculiar smell. On November 29, 2018, a head and neck CT scan showed a left buccal malignant tumor with the destruction of the neighboring mandibular bone and lymph node enlargement in the left submaxillary region and right carotid sheath. The CT examination revealed disease progression. Following a multidisciplinary consultation in our hospital, surgery was not recommended; instead, a chemotherapy-based comprehensive treatment was recommended as a better option for the patient. The patient received chemotherapy with albumin paclitaxel (200 mg d1, 8)+ bleomycin (15,000 units d2, 9) from November 30, 2018 to January 9, 2019. On another CT scan, the curative effect was evaluated as partial remission (showed in Video 1, Figure 1A); subsequently, two courses of a chemotherapy regimen comprising nivolumab (140 mg d1) + albumin paclitaxel (200 mg d1, d8) were administered. A CT examination showed stable disease (SD) on March 12, 2019, following which the patient was administered 120 mg of nivolumab once every 2 weeks from March 15 to May 23, 2019. Another CT examination was performed on May 28, 2019 (showed in Video 2, Figure 1B). During the therapy course, the related tumor markers showed an overall downward trend, the new metastases did not appear, the patients status became better than before. Subsequently, another CT examination performed in August 02, 2019 showed the extent of the tumor was obvious reduction than before (showed in video 3, Figure 1C). And the corresponding CT report in August 02, 2019 was described as follows Compared with the CT on 28 May, 2019, the extent of the tumor in the left cheek became obviously smaller, the tubercle in the left submandibular and the lymph nodes in the left neck also became smaller. There were no other significant changes in this image. Most importantly, the patient did not develop any form of GVHD following nivolumab administration.

Figure 1 Head and neck CT images showing tumor before (A) and after treatment with nivolumab (B, C, respectively).

Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.

Note: The arrows indicate the maximum length diameter of tumor or tumor site.

Reliable data on the clinical safety and efficacy of nivolumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic HNSCC have been obtained in a Phase III randomized clinical trial (CheckMate 141).19 In this trial, 361 patients with recurrent HNSCC for whom disease had progressed within 6 months after platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled between May 29, 2014, and July 31, 2015. The median follow-up duration for overall survival (OS) was 5.1 months (range, 016.8 months). OS was significantly greater in patients randomized to receive nivolumab than in those who received standard second-line, single-agent systemic therapy with either methotrexate, docetaxel, or cetuximab (hazard ratio, 0.70; 97.73% confidence interval (CI), 0.510.96; P = 0.01). The median OS was 7.5 months (95% CI, 5.59.1) in the nivolumab group versus 5.1 months (95% CI, 4.06.0) in the standard therapy group. The one-year survival was also greater in patients who received nivolumab than in those who received standard therapy (36.0%vs. 16.6%). Furthermore, the response rate was higher in those who received nivolumab than in those who received standard therapy (13.3% vs 5.8%); however, the median progression-free survival was not significantly different between the groups (2.0 vs 2.3 months; P=0.32). In this study, patients who were treated with nivolumab had a longer OS than those treated with standard therapy, regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression or p16 status. Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 13.1% of patients who received nivolumab and 35.1% of those who received standard therapy. Physical function, role functioning, and social functioning were stable in the nivolumab group, whereas they were substantially worse in the standard therapy group.20 Moreover, among Asian patients, the survival benefits were consistent with the global group.24

It was unclear whether nivolumab could be used in patients with recurrent HNSCC after allo-HSCT, though Khaddour et al proved the efficacy and safety of Pembrolizumab in patients who underwent allo-HSCT after relapsed and refractory Szary Syndrome and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.25 However, some case reports (Table 1) and clinical trials (Table 2) have reported the efficacy and safety of nivolumab when administrated to patients with recurrent hematological malignancies (mostly Hodgkins lymphoma) after allo-HSCT.

Table 1 Case Reports of Nivolumab Use After Allo-HSCT

Table 2 Studies on Nivolumab Use After Allo-HSCT

In Herbaux et al, nivolumab (3 mg/kg, once every 2 weeks) was administered to 20 patients with Hodgkins lymphoma who experienced relapse after allo-HSCT. The overall response rate was 95%, the 1-year progression-free survival rate was 58.2%, and the 1-year OS rate was 78.8%.26 Compared with other treatment options, nivolumab was more effective in these patients.2730 Haverkos et al reported results after a median follow-up duration was 428 days (range, 133833 days). After treatment with PD-1 inhibitors [nivolumab 3 mg/kg, once every 2 weeks (n = 28) and pembrolizumab (n =3)], the overall response rate of 31 patients with relapsed lymphoma after allo-HSCT was 77%, the median progression-free survival was 591 days (range,400644 days), and 68% of the patients survived to the end of the study.23 These two studies showed that nivolumab is effective when administered to patients with recurrent blood cancers after allo-HSCT, which is consistent with the results of several other case reports3134 and case series.35,36 The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway plays a key role in the regulation of the balance among T cell activation, T-cell tolerance, and immune-mediated tissue damage. This pathway protects healthy cells from excessive inflammatory or autoimmune responses.37,38 Some studies have shown that the activation of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can reduce acute and chronic GVHD, whereas its blockade can accelerate the graft-versus-host response and increase the associated mortality.21,22,39 It is unclear whether the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab increases the risk of GVHD and the associated mortality in patients after allo-HSCT.23,26 Some clinical studies and case reports have shown that nivolumab treatment-related GVHD and consequent death in patients after allo-HSCT might be affected by the following factors. First, GVHD after antiPD-1 treatment has been observed most frequently in matched sibling donor transplants; for which Haverkos et al reported an incidence of 75%.23 In a Phase I pilot study, without GVHD or G3/G4 immune toxicity after receiving multiple doses of nivolumab was only among one patient whose donor source was Haploidentical+cord blood Fludarabine.40 Second, a history of GVHD, especially for the acute GVHD, may lead to an increased risk of nivolumab treatment-related GVHD after allo-HSCT. In a French cohort, all patients who presented with acute GVHD after nivolumab treatment had a prior history of acute GVHD, among which three patients presented with steroid-refractory nivolumab-induced GVHD, and GVHD was not observed among patients without a history of GVHD.26 This phenomenon was also observed in Steinerovs medical report.41 In the study by Haverkos et al, 63% of patients with a history of GVHD prior to antiPD-1 treatment developed treatment-emergent GVHD after receiving antiPD-1.23 Third, the shorter the interval between transplantation and nivolumab use, the greater the risk of GVHD. In the study by Herbaux et al, the median intervals between transplantation and nivolumab use in cases with the presence and absence of GVHD were 8.5 months and 28.5 months, respectively.26 In another study by Wang et al, the reported four patients all experienced immune-related adverse events following nivolumab treatment and the median time from transplantation to nivolumab use was 7.8 months.40 Fourth, dose is a risk factor for nivolumab treatment-related GVHD. In a case report, chronic skin GVHD was observed when the dose of nivolumab was adjusted from 0.5 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg.33 Other factors, such as immunosuppressive therapy at the time of nivolumab administration, may also influence nivolumab treatment-related GVHD. Recently, a comprehensive literature review was launched by Awais et al to assess the safety and efficacy of the use of checkpoint inhibitors (ipilimumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab) in blood cancers before and after allo-HSCT. Collective data showed that checkpoint inhibitors use after allo-HSCT for post-transplant relapse had higher efficacy but the risk of GVHD was significant. Moreover, the investigation indicated that higher drug doses, shorter intervals between checkpoint inhibitors exposure and allo-HSCT and prior history of GVHD had a positive correlation with the risk of GVHD.42

In the present case, HNSCC was effectively controlled without any nivolumab treatment-related acute or chronic GVHD after nivolumab administration, while the weight loss being the only adverse event. After comprehensive analysis, we found that many factors may impede the development of nivolumab treatment-related GVHD in our patient. On one hand, the appropriate donor, no use of checkpoint inhibitors prior to allo-HSCT, the long interval between nivolumab administration and allo-HSCT (36 months) and the standard dose use of nivolumab were the negative factors for GVHD development. On the other hand, the chronic GVHD of the oral cavity and skin before nivolumab use might lead to the development of GVHD. However, it remained unknown what role the immunosuppressant therapy played in the occurrence of GVHD, though we definitely known that immunosuppressant was administered more than 2 years after allo-HSCT and discontinued for 2 years before treatment with nivolumab in our patient. Finally, whether the two primary cancers in our case affected the efficacy and safety of nivolumab by some unknown pathways were unclear, which needed further exploration.

Nivolumab has been shown to be effective in patients with HNSCC for whom platinum-based therapy has failed. However, little is known about the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in patients with HNSCC who have undergone allo-HSCT. Our case report shows that nivolumab could be used effectively and safely in such patients, however, more clinical trials are required to confirm these results.

This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. The authors state that they have obtained verbal and written informed consent from the patient for the inclusion of their medical and treatment history within this case report.

This work was supported by the Tianjin Science and Technology Commission (18ZXXYSY00070), Key Task Project of Tianjin Health and Family Planning Commission (16KG128), Anticancer Key Technologies R&D Program of Tianjin (12ZCDZSY16200), and Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin (18JCYBJC91600).

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

1. Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Dikshit R, et al. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. Int J Cancer. 2015;136(5):E359E386. doi:10.1002/ijc.29210

2. Jakobsen KK, Gronhoj C, Jensen DH, et al. Increasing incidence and survival of head and neck cancers in Denmark: a nation-wide study from 1980 to 2014. Acta Oncol. 2018;57:11431151. doi:10.1080/0284186X.2018.1438657

3. Sobecki-Ryniak D, Krouse HJ. Head and neck cancer: historical evolution of treatment and patient self-care requirements. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2013;17(6):659663. doi:10.1188/13.CJON.659-663

4. Licitra L, Mesia R, Keilholz U. Individualised quality of life as a measure to guide treatment choices in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Oral Oncol. 2016;52:1823. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2015.10.020

5. Singer S, Krauss O, Keszte J, et al. Predictors of emotional distress in patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2012;34(2):180187. doi:10.1002/hed.21702

6. Licitra L, Felip E. Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: ESMO clinical recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2009;20(Suppl 4):121122. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdp149

7. Adelstein D, Gillison ML, Pfister DG, et al. NCCN guidelines insights: head and neck cancers, version 2.2017. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2017;15(6):761770. doi:10.6004/jnccn.2017.0101

8. Warnakulasuriya S. Global epidemiology of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Oral Oncol. 2009;45(45):309316. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2008.06.002

9. Bernier J, Domenge C, Ozsahin M, et al. Postoperative irradiation with or without concomitant chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer. N Engl J Med. 2004;350(19):19451952. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa032641

10. Blanchard P, Baujat B, Holostenco V, et al. Meta-analysis of chemotherapy in head and neck cancer (MACH-NC): a comprehensive analysis by tumour site. Radiother Oncol. 2011;100(1):3340. doi:10.1016/j.radonc.2011.05.036

11. Tanvetyanon T, Padhya T, McCaffrey J, et al. Postoperative concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Head Neck. 2015;37(6):840845. doi:10.1002/hed.23684

12. Guardiola E, Peyrade F, Chaigneau L, et al. Results of a randomised Phase II study comparing docetaxel with methotrexate in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2004;40(14):20712076. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2004.05.019

13. Vermorken JB, Herbst RS, Leon X, Amellal N, Baselga J. Overview of the efficacy of cetuximab in recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in patients who previously failed platinum-based therapies. Cancer. 2008;112(12):27102719. doi:10.1002/cncr.23442

14. Argiris A, Ghebremichael M, Gilbert J, et al. Phase III randomized, placebo-controlled trial of docetaxel with or without gefitinib in recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer: an eastern cooperative oncology group trial. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(11):14051414. doi:10.1200/JCO.2012.45.4272

15. Saloura V, Cohen EEW, Licitra L, et al. An open-label single-arm, phase II trial of zalutumumab, a human monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody, in patients with platinum-refractory squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2014;73(6):12271239. doi:10.1007/s00280-014-2459-z

16. Ferris RL. Immunology and Immunotherapy of head and neck cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(29):32933304. doi:10.1200/JCO.2015.61.1509

17. Chow LQM, Haddad R, Gupta S, et al. Antitumor activity of pembrolizumab in biomarker-unselected patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: results from the phase Ib KEYNOTE-012 expansion cohort. J Clin Oncol. 2016;34(32):38383845. doi:10.1200/JCO.2016.68.1478

18. Seiwert TY, Burtness B, Mehra R, et al. Safety and clinical activity of pembrolizumab for treatment of recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE-012): an open-label, multicentre, phase 1b trial. Lancet Oncol. 2016;17(7):956965. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(16)30066-3

19. Ferris RL, Blumenschein G Jr, Fayette J, et al. Nivolumab for recurrent squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(19):18561867. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1602252

20. Harrington KJ, Ferris RL, Blumenschein G Jr, et al. Nivolumab versus standard, single-agent therapy of investigators choice in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (CheckMate 141): health-related quality-of-life results from a randomised, Phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2017;18:11041115. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30421-7

21. Blazar BR, Carreno BM, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, et al. Blockade of programmed death-1 engagement accelerates graft-versus-host disease lethality by an IFN-gamma-dependent mechanism. J Immunol. 2003;171:12721277. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.171.3.1272

22. Saha A, Aoyama K, Taylor PA, et al. Host programmed death ligand 1 is dominant over programmed death ligand 2 expression in regulating graft-versus-host disease lethality. Blood. 2013;122:30623073. doi:10.1182/blood-2013-05-500801

23. Haverkos BM, Abbott D, Hamadani M, et al. PD-1 blockade for relapsed lymphoma post-allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant: high response rate but frequent GVHD. Blood. 2017;130:221228. doi:10.1182/blood-2017-01-761346

24. Kiyota N, Hasegawa Y, Takahashi S, et al. A randomized, open-label, Phase III clinical trial of nivolumab vs. therapy of investigators choice in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a subanalysis of Asian patients versus the global population in checkmate 141. Oral Oncol. 2017;73:138146. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2017.07.023

25. Khaddour K, Musiek A, Cornelius LA, et al. Rapid and sustained response to immune checkpoint inhibition in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma after allogenic hematopoietic cell transplant for szary syndrome. J Immunol Cancer. 2019;7:338. doi:10.1186/s40425-019-0801-z

26. Herbaux C, Gauthier J, Brice P, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of nivolumab after allogeneic transplantation for relapsed hodgkin lymphoma. Blood. 2017;129:24712478. doi:10.1182/blood-2016-11-749556

27. Peggs KS, Kayani I, Edwards N, et al. Donor lymphocyte infusions modulate relapse risk in mixed chimeras and induce durable salvage in relapsed patients after T-cell-depleted allogeneic transplantation for hodgkins lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29:971978. doi:10.1200/JCO.2010.32.1711

28. Anastasia A, Carlo-Stella C, Corradini P, et al. Bendamustine for Hodgkin lymphoma patients failing autologous or autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a retrospective study of the fondazione Italiana linfomi. Br J Haematol. 2014;166:140142. doi:10.1111/bjh.12821

29. Carlo-Stella C, Ricci F, Dalto S, et al. Brentuximab vedotin in patients with hodgkin lymphoma and a failed allogeneic stem cell transplantation: results from a named patient program at four Italian centers. Oncologist. 2015;20:323328. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2014-0420

30. Tsirigotis P, Danylesko I, Gkirkas K, et al. Brentuximab vedotin in combination with or without donor lymphocyte infusion for patients with hodgkin lymphoma after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2016;51:13131317. doi:10.1038/bmt.2016.129

31. Angenendt L, Schliemann C, Lutz M, et al. Nivolumab in a patient with refractory Hodgkins lymphoma after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2016;51:443445. doi:10.1038/bmt.2015.266

32. Yared JA, Hardy N, Singh Z, et al. Major clinical response to nivolumab in relapsed/refractory hodgkin lymphoma after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2016;51:850852. doi:10.1038/bmt.2015.346

33. Onizuka M, Kojima M, Matsui K, et al. Successful treatment with low-dose nivolumab in refractory hodgkin lymphoma after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Int J Hematol. 2017;106:141145. doi:10.1007/s12185-017-2181-9

34. Shad AT, Huo JS, Darcy C, et al. Tolerance and effectiveness of nivolumab after pediatric T-cell replete, haploidentical, bone marrow transplantation: a case report. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2017;64. doi:10.1002/pbc.26257

35. Godfrey J, Bishop MR, Syed S, Hyjek E, Kline J. PD-1 blockade induces remissions in relapsed classical hodgkin lymphoma following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. J Immunol Cancer. 2017;5:11. doi:10.1186/s40425-017-0211-z

36. El Cheikh J, Massoud R, Abudalle I, et al. Nivolumab salvage therapy before or after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in hodgkin lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2017;52:10741077. doi:10.1038/bmt.2017.69

37. Keir ME, Butte MJ, Freeman GJ, Sharpe AH. PD-1 and its ligands in tolerance and immunity. Annu Rev Immunol. 2008;26:677704. doi:10.1146/annurev.immunol.26.021607.090331

38. Francisco LM, Sage PT, Sharpe AH, The PD-1. pathway in tolerance and autoimmunity. Immunol Rev. 2010;236:219242.

39. Fujiwara H, Maeda Y, Kobayashi K, et al. Programmed death-1 pathway in host tissues ameliorates Th17/Th1-mediated experimental chronic graft-versus-host disease. J Immunol. 2014;193:25652573. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1400954

40. Wang AY, Kline J, Stock W, et al. Unexpected toxicities when nivolumab was given as maintenance therapy following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2020;26:10251027. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2020.01.021

41. Steinerov K, Jindra P, Lysk D, Karas M. Development of resistant GvHD in a patient treated with nivolumab for hodgkins lymphoma relapse after allogeneic unrelated transplantation. Klin Onkol. 2019;32:6669. doi:10.14735/amko201966

42. Ijaz A, Khan AY, Malik SU, et al. Significant risk of graft-versus-host disease with exposure to checkpoint inhibitors before and after allogeneic transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2019;25:9499. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2018.08.028

43. Albring JC, Inselmann S, Sauer T, et al. PD-1 checkpoint blockade in patients with relapsed AML after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone marrow transplantation. 2017. doi:10.1038/bmt.2016.274

44. Covut F, Pinto R, Cooper BW, et al. Nivolumab before and after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Bone marrow transplantation. 2017. doi:10.1038/bmt.2017.44

45. Herbaux C, Gauthier J, Brice P, et al. Nivolumab Is Effective and Reasonably Safe in Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Study from the Lysa and SFGM-TC. Blood. 2015. doi:10.1182/blood.V126.23.3979.3979

46. Schoch LK, Borrello I, Fuchs EJ, et al. Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy and Graft Versus Host Disease in Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant Recipients of Haploidentical and Matched Products with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide. Blood. 2016. doi:10.1182/blood.V128.22.4571.4571

47. Davids MS, Kim HT, Costello C, et al. Optimizing Checkpoint Blockade As a Treatment for Relapsed Hematologic Malignancies after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Blood. 2017. doi:10.1182/blood.V130.Suppl_1.275.275

View original post here:
[Full text] Successful Use of Nivolumab in a Patient with Head and Neck Cancer Aft | OTT - Dove Medical Press

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on [Full text] Successful Use of Nivolumab in a Patient with Head and Neck Cancer Aft | OTT – Dove Medical Press | February 10th, 2021

With her sun-kissed hair and flawless golden skin, it's easy to forget that Heidi Klum is in her mid 40s. Genetics certainly help. But so do Heidi Klum's favourite skincare products by Glossier and Drunk Elephant, plus a reminder of home courtesy of German beauty brand The Cream by Augustinus Bader.

In a rare selfie, Klum showed off the Perfectil Hair Skin And Nails Vitamins she takes daily, alongside this smorgasbord of beauty products, which proves the supermodel takes her skincare seriously.

Here are some of her favourite products:

More from womanandhome:

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum

This night serum contains a hefty dose of glycol acid to exfoliate built-up dead skin cells and resurface dull, uneven skin. Expect brighter, smoother skin when you wake.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 25% AHA + 2% BHA Mask

If you like to feel a product working, you'll positive love this mask. Like an AHA/BHA facial in a bottle, it resurfaces skin to reveal greater clarity and improved skin tone.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum

This vitamin C day serum is packed with antioxidants to protect skin from urban aggressors.

Glossier Solution

A liquid exfoliator that you apply a bit like toner, it buffs away dead dulling skin with a single swipe.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

We know, we know, even supermodels get spots. This cult zit lotion contains salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide to dry up blemishes - fast.

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream

The brainchild of a stem cell scientist no less, this overnight treatment uses amino acids and vitamins to re-energise cells to repair damage more effectively.

Read the original here:
Heidi Klum loves to pamper her skin with goodies from Drunk Elephant and Glossier - woman&home

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Heidi Klum loves to pamper her skin with goodies from Drunk Elephant and Glossier – woman&home | February 4th, 2021

Gaining more fat cells is probably not what most people want, although that might be exactly what they need to fight off diabetes and other diseases. How and where the body can add fat cells has remained a mystery - but two new studies from UT Southwestern provide answers on the way this process works.

The studies, both published online in Cell Stem Cell, describe two different processes that affect the generation of new fat cells. One reports how fat cell creation is impacted by the level of activity in tiny organelles inside cells called mitochondria. The other outlines a process that prevents new fat cells from developing in one fat storage area in mice - the area that correlates with the healthy subcutaneous fat just under the skin in humans. (Both studies were done in mice.)

In the second study, a commonly used cancer drug was able to jump-start healthy fat cell creation in mice, a finding that raises the possibility of future drug treatments for humans.

While fat isn't popular, as long as people overeat they will need a place to store the excess calories, explains Philipp Scherer, Ph.D., director of the Touchstone Center for Diabetes Research at UT Southwestern and senior author of the first study focusing on mitochondria. There are two options, he says: squeezing more lipids (fat) into existing fat cells and ballooning their size, leading to problems such as inflammation and, eventually, diabetes; or creating new fat cells to help spread the load. Fat stored properly - in fat cell layers under the skin (subcutaneous fat) that aren't overburdened instead of around organs (visceral fat) or even inside organs - is the healthy alternative, he says.

Problems follow if existing fat cells are left on their own to become engorged, adds Rana Gupta, Ph.D., associate professor of internal medicine and senior author of the second study. "When these cells are so overwhelmed that they can't take it anymore, they eventually die or become dysfunctional, spilling lipids into places not intended to store fat."

Those lipids may move into the liver, leading to fatty liver disease; to the pancreas, resulting in diabetes; or even to the heart, causing cardiovascular disease, Gupta says. Visceral, or belly fat, may surround the organs, creating inflammation.

The healthiest place to store fat is in subcutaneous fat, adds Gupta. Ironically, that is where mice in his study were least able to create new fat cells, despite the fact that stem-cell-like progenitor cells primed to become fat cells were present there as well, he says.

Gupta's study identified a process that prevents progenitor cells from developing into fat cells in mouse subcutaneous inguinal fat.

The protein HIF-1a (short for hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha) is central to the process. It kicks off a series of cellular actions that ultimately inactivate a second protein called PPARgamma, the key driver of fat cell formation.

These proteins are found in both humans and mice. In fact, in a culture of human subcutaneous fat cell progenitors, HIF-1a also inhibited new fat cells from being created, according to Gupta.

In Gupta's mouse study, researchers used a genetic approach to inhibit HIF-1a and found that the progenitor cells could then make subcutaneous inguinal fat cells and fewer were inflamed or fibrotic.

Next, they tested the cancer drug imatinib (brand name Gleevec) and found it had the same effect. The cancer drug was tried because it was known to have beneficial effects against diabetes in cancer patients with both diseases, Gupta says.

In Scherer's study, researchers manipulated a protein called MitoNEET in the outer membrane of the precursor cells' mitochondria, organelles known as the cells' power plants. The resulting mitochondrial dysfunction and drop in cell metabolism caused precursor cells to lose the ability to become new fat cells and increased inflammation.

"This study shows we can manipulate the precursor cells' willingness to become fat cells," Scherer says. "The ability to recruit new fat cells by tickling these pre-fat cells to become fat cells is very important and has profound beneficial effects on health, particularly in the obesity-prone environment that we all live in."

He says his goal is now to design a drug that could stimulate mitochondrial activity.

"Understanding the mechanism is an important first step," Scherer says, referring to the findings from the two studies. "We will have to learn in the future how to manipulate these processes pharmacologically."

Reference: Joffin N, Paschoal VA, Gliniak CM, et aI. Mitochondrial metabolism is a key regulator of the fibro-inflammatory and adipogenic stromal subpopulations in white adipose tissue. Cell Stem Cell. doi:doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2021.01.002

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

See the original post here:
Two Studies Shed Light on How and Where the Body Can Add New Fat Cells - Technology Networks

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Two Studies Shed Light on How and Where the Body Can Add New Fat Cells – Technology Networks | February 4th, 2021

There is no incorrect time of day to take fish oil supplements. However, some evidence suggests that people absorb omega-3 fatty acids more effectively when they take them with a meal that contains dietary fat.

This comes from a study in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care.

Fish oil is a major source of omega-3 fatty acids, which may have a number of health benefits.

In this article, we will discuss when people should take fish oil, how to take it, dosage, and any health benefits and side effects.

There is no significant benefit to taking fish oil at a specific time of day. However, people may wish to take fish oil with a meal that contains dietary fat.

A 2019 study on omega-3 found that taking an omega-3 concentrate with food that contains fat increased bioavailability, making it easier for the body to absorb.

Additionally, an older 2015 study found that taking omega-3 fatty acids with a low fat meal reduced absorption.

Both of these studies looked at omega-3 fatty acids specifically, so the results may not apply to people taking fish oil. Additionally, the amount of omega-3 in fish oil can vary, depending on factors such as the type of fish, and the brand.

People can take fish oil capsules with water during a meal. If a person typically does not eat much fat at breakfast, they may wish to wait until lunch or their evening meal before taking it.

Some people experience gastrointestinal side effects when taking fish oil. If a person experiences this side effect, they may find it helpful to split their fish oil into two doses and take them at different times of the day.

People who split their dose in half may need to take each one at different mealtimes.

Researchers have found it difficult to define an optimal amount of omega-3 fatty acids to get per day.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend adults take between 5001,000 milligrams of omega-3 per day. However, other countries and organizations recommend different doses.

The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) note that while some types of omega-3 have no official recommended dose, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is an exception. This table shows the recommended daily amounts by age and sex:

The amount of ALA in omega-3 supplements can depend on the type of supplement and the manufacturer. Read the product label to determine how much a supplement contains.

Omega-3 fatty acids may have a positive effect on human health in a number of ways. Research into its benefits is ongoing, but there is evidence that it may:

However, many studies on omega-3s health benefits focus on getting these fatty acids from fish and seafood, rather than from fish oil capsules. If a person is thinking of taking fish oil for a health condition, they should speak with a doctor first.

Some specific conditions that may benefit from a higher intake of omega-3 include:

According to a 2015 review, there is some evidence that consuming omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent or manage cardiovascular conditions. Omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce triglyceride levels in the blood and reduce the risk of cardiovascular death.

Omega-3 fatty acids may also have antiarrhythmic effects, which means they help a persons heart beat in a regular pattern. The effect that omega-3 fatty acids have on arrhythmia may significantly reduce the risk of fatal ventricular arrhythmias.

However, more recent studies show that there may not be a clear benefit to taking omega-3 to prevent adverse effects of cardiovascular conditions. There is also some evidence that taking statins at the same time as omega-3 fatty acid supplements may reduce their protective effect on cardiovascular conditions.

Scientists need to carry out more research on omega-3 and its relationship with preventing or managing cardiovascular diseases.

Some studies have shown that a high omega-3 intake can reduce the risk of inflammatory disease mortality.

Some have also found that omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for people with Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, two types of inflammatory bowel disease.

However, there is no clinically significant evidence on whether omega-3 fatty acids help prevent relapses for people with these conditions.

Several in vitro studies show that omega-3 fatty acids have an effect on colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSC). CCSC have a long lifespan and can self-renew, leading to colon tumors.

CCSC can lead to cancer relapse and chemotherapy resistance. Omega-3 fatty acids may stop CCSC from growing and may reduce chemotherapy resistance.

Omega-3 fatty acids may have several positive effects with regards to prostate cancer, although research on this is mixed.

Several studies have found that consuming fish or omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer, including aggressive forms.

However, other studies suggest that there is no clear benefit to consuming omega-3 fatty acids to prevent prostate cancer.

Side effects of fish oil supplements are usually mild. They include:

Additionally, omega-3 supplements can have an adverse interaction with drugs that affect blood clotting.

People should contact their healthcare provider to ensure it is safe for them to take a supplement before trying it.

Some evidence suggests that taking supplements that contain omega-3 with a meal that contains fat can increase absorption. As a result, people may wish to take fish oil at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. However, there is no correct or incorrect time to take it.

Always speak with a doctor before starting a new supplement. If a person experiences side effects, they may benefit from splitting their dose in two.

Read more:
When to take fish oil: Timing, dosages and side effects - Medical News Today

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on When to take fish oil: Timing, dosages and side effects – Medical News Today | February 4th, 2021

There's no better time than a national lockdown to test out the coolest new skincare/makeup/hair trends and snazzy innovations in beauty tech from the comfort of your own home. That said, there's nothing more frustrating than spending upwards of 100 on a snazzy new hair treatment or at-home facial system, only to find out it doesn't *actually* work.

Enter GLAMOUR Tries: the weekly Instagram series which sees GLAMOUR editors do all of the time-consuming (and expensive) work for you.

We've been busy trying out all of the (sometimes) wacky but always wonderful beauty crazes to take the internet by storm - from the FOREO's UFO 2 Smart Mask Treatment to Sarah Chapman's 138 Meso-Melt Infusion at-home facial and Toni&Guy's Hello Day! Secret Volumising Crimper. These are the products that every veteran beauty sleuth is talking about - but that you want to do a bit of research into before buying.

Thanks to GLAMOUR Tries, you won't need to waste your hard-earned pennies on testing these innovations yourself. We're getting in their first, giving you the lowdown and making sure you invest in products that genuinely work. Like what you see? You can shop all of the products seen on GLAMOUR tries, with the click of a button, down below. Don't say we don't treat you.

On GLAMOUR Tries this week, our Beauty Editor Lottie Winter tried MAC's brand new virtual try-on tool, in an attempt to find her perfect shade of the classic Studio Fix foundation - from the comfort of her sofa. But was the tool accurate? Was the selected foundation *actually* Lottie's exact match? Here's what happened...

First thing's first: how can you access the tool? "All you have to do is go to the MAC website, find the Studio Fix foundation and simply click on "find your shade match" - and it'll take you straight through to the virtual try-on tool," said Lottie. Click "start now", "allow access to your camera" and then - strike a pose!

"Within just a few seconds, it has selected not only my best match but options for a more golden, more rosy, darker and lighter finish," Lottie continued. "N6 is the shade of Studio Fix Fluid foundation that the virtual try-on tool has chosen for me. So, let's put it to the test..."

Buy It Now

"I'm using a MAC 170 brush to apply. I've just half of my face so we can compare the results - but it couldn't be a better match. It has blended so effortlessly and it has knocked out all the redness around my nose and my eyes.

"What I love most about this foundation is that it's super long-wearing and it helps to control shine throughout the day which is great if you're like me and you have very oily skin. But also the coverage is buildable which means you can get that believable finish."

Any final thoughts? "It couldn't have been easier to get my perfect shade match. It just makes shopping for foundation online so much easier and totally reliable," said Lottie. We're sold.

Would you MAC's virtual try-on tool a go? Have you already tried it? Let us know your thoughts over on Instagram @glamouruk.

See the article here:
I Tried MAC's Virtual Try-On Tool & Here's What Happened - GLAMOUR UK

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on I Tried MAC’s Virtual Try-On Tool & Here’s What Happened – GLAMOUR UK | February 4th, 2021

World Cancer Day 2021: It is observed on 4 February every year and this year the theme is "I Am and I Will".The campaign shows that our actions have an impact on everyone around us, within our neighbourhoods, communities, and cities. This year is a reminder of the enduring power of cooperation and collective action i.e. together, all our actions matter.

What are Blood Cancers?

It is a type of cancer that affects blood cells and affects the production and function of blood cells.

This type of cancer starts in the bone marrow which is the main source of blood production.

It occurs when abnormal blood cells start growing out of control and interrupt the function of normal blood cells that fight off infection and produce new blood cells.

World Cancer Day 2021: Current Theme, History and Key Facts

Blood Cancer: Types

Mainly, there are three types of blood cancers namely leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.

Leukemia

It is a blood cancer that originates in the blood and bone marrow. It is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells and interferes with the bone marrow's ability to make red blood cells and platelets. These high numbers of abnormal white blood cells are not able to fight infection.

Lymphoma

This type of blood cancer affects the lymphatic system, which removes excess fluids from the body and produces immune cells. As we know that lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Therefore, abnormal lymphocytes become lymphoma cells that multiply and collect in the lymph nodes and other tissues. And over time, these cancerous cells impair the immune system of the body.

Myeloma

It is a type of blood cancer that begins in the plasma cells of blood which is a type of white blood cell made in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight against infection and disease in the body. So, myeloma cells prevent the normal production of antibodies which make the immune system weak and susceptible to infection.

Blood Cancer: Symptoms

Loss of appetite, nausea

Fever, chills

Night sweats

Persistent fatigue, weakness

Unexplained weight loss

Bone/joint pain

Shortness of breath

Abdominal discomfort

Frequent infections

Itchy skin or skin rash

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms or groin

Delirium and confusion

Decreased urination and difficulty while urinating

What is High Grade Metastatic Cancer?

Blood Cancer: Treatment

On the type of cancer, treatment depends and how fast the cancer is progressing, where cancer has spread, and other factors. Some common treatment for blood cancer are:

Chemotherapy: In this anticancer cancer drugs are provided to the patient to interfere with and stop the growth of cancer cells in the body. In blood cancer, in chemotherapy treatment, sometimes several drugs are given together in a set regimen. This treatment may also be given before a stem cell transplant.

Radiation therapy: In this type of cancer treatment high-energy rays are given to kill cancer cells. It may also be given before a stem cell transplant.

Stem cell transplantation: In this type of treatment, healthy stem cells are infused into the patient body to help resume healthy blood production following therapy to destroy malignant blood cells. Stem cells may be collected from the bone marrow, circulating blood, and umbilical cord blood.

Blood Cancer in India

In India, over 20,000 new cases of childhood blood cancer are diagnosed every year of which nearly 15,000 of those cases are leukemia as per Globocan 2020.

The most common type of blood cancer is leukemia that affects children and teens (0-19 years) and one of the leading causes of death.

As per some studies, India ranks 3rd highest in reported cases of Blood Cancer after the US and China. Several factors are responsible like low accessibility of affordable healthcare in rural areas, lack of awareness and education on Blood Cancer, etc.

So, now you may have come to know about the blood cancer, types, symptoms, treatment, etc.

GK Questions and Answers on Types of Cancers

More:
World Cancer Day 2021: What are Blood Cancers, Types, Symptoms, Treatment and data in India? - Jagran Josh

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on World Cancer Day 2021: What are Blood Cancers, Types, Symptoms, Treatment and data in India? – Jagran Josh | February 4th, 2021

With her sun-kissed hair and flawless golden skin, it's easy to forget that Heidi Klum is in her mid 40s. Genetics certainly help. But so do Heidi Klum's favourite skincare products by Glossier and Drunk Elephant, plus a reminder of home courtesy of German beauty brand The Cream by Augustinus Bader.

In a rare selfie, Klum showed off the Perfectil Hair Skin And Nails Vitamins she takes daily, alongside this smorgasbord of beauty products, which proves the supermodel takes her skincare seriously.

Here are some of her favourite products:

More from womanandhome:

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum

This night serum contains a hefty dose of glycol acid to exfoliate built-up dead skin cells and resurface dull, uneven skin. Expect brighter, smoother skin when you wake.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 25% AHA + 2% BHA Mask

If you like to feel a product working, you'll positive love this mask. Like an AHA/BHA facial in a bottle, it resurfaces skin to reveal greater clarity and improved skin tone.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum

This vitamin C day serum is packed with antioxidants to protect skin from urban aggressors.

Glossier Solution

A liquid exfoliator that you apply a bit like toner, it buffs away dead dulling skin with a single swipe.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

We know, we know, even supermodels get spots. This cult zit lotion contains salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide to dry up blemishes - fast.

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream

The brainchild of a stem cell scientist no less, this overnight treatment uses amino acids and vitamins to re-energise cells to repair damage more effectively.

Visit link:
Heidi Klum loves to pamper her skin with goodies from Drunk Elephant and Glossier - Woman & Home

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Heidi Klum loves to pamper her skin with goodies from Drunk Elephant and Glossier – Woman & Home | February 3rd, 2021

CHICAGO, Feb. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Paragon Biosciences, a life science innovator that creates, invests in and builds life science companies in biopharmaceuticals, cell and gene therapy and synthetic biology utilizing artificial intelligence, today announced the launch of CiRC Biosciences, a cell therapy company developing treatments for serious diseases with high, unmet needs with an initial focus on the eye.

"The addition of CiRC Biosciences to our portfolio builds upon our cell and gene therapy platform, an area that has tremendous potential to address serious genetic diseases," said Jeff Aronin, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Paragon Biosciences. "CiRC Biosciences gives us the science to target retinal diseases that could lead to vision restoration with numerous other applications in the years ahead."

CiRC Biosciences is currently advancing pre-clinical development of chemically induced retinal cells for vision restoration in Geographic Atrophy Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD), which is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss over the age of 65, and advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a genetic disorder that causes tunnel vision and eventual blindness. There are no U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatments to restore vision loss in Dry AMD or RP.

The company's novel mechanism of action is designed for direct chemical conversion of fibroblasts into other cell types using a cocktail of small molecules in an 11-day chemical conversion process. Pre-clinical studies have shown efficacy in blind mice that demonstrated vision restoration. CiRC Biosciences has provisional patent applications to protect its platform.

"Our technology transforms ordinary skin cells into specialized retinal cells using a cocktail of small molecules," said Sai Chavala, M.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer of CiRC Biosciences. "This process is potentially safer, quicker, more cost effective and easier to manufacturer than using traditional stem cells. Working with Paragon Biosciences to build and advance CiRC Biosciences provides us the opportunity to efficiently progress this technology through research and development stages.

CiRC Biosciences first reported its discovery in the highly respected scientific journal Nature (April 15, 2020). A recently published New England Journal of Medicine article (Nov. 5, 2020)discussed CiRC's technology of using chemically induced cells to restore retinal function. The article concluded, "The new and emerging strategies for the rescue, regeneration, and replacement of photoreceptors suggest a bright future in the fight to preserve and restore vision in blinding eye diseases."

The abstract in Nature is available here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2201-4

Access to the NEJM article is available here: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcibr2027602

About CiRC Biosciences CiRC Biosciences is a privately held cell therapy company dedicated to developing treatments for serious diseases with high, unmet needs with an initial focus on the eye. Currently it is pre-clinical phase for Geographic Atrophy Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD) and advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). CiRC Biosciences is a portfolio company of Paragon Biosciences. Visit our website: https://circbiosciences.com/.

About Paragon Biosciences Paragon is a life science innovator that creates, invests in and builds life science companies in biopharmaceuticals, cell and gene therapy and synthetic biology utilizing artificial intelligence. The company's current portfolio includes Castle Creek Biosciences, CiRC Biosciences, Emalex Biosciences, Evozyne, Harmony Biosciences, Qlarity Imaging, Skyline Biosciences, and a consistent flow of incubating companies created and supported by the replicable Paragon Innovation Capital model. Paragon stands at the intersection of human need, life science, and company creation. For more information, please visit https://paragonbiosci.com/.

Media Contact:

Evelyn M. O'Connor Paragon Biosciences 312-847-1335 [emailprotected]

SOURCE Paragon Biosciences

Home

Read the original:
Paragon Biosciences Launches CiRC Biosciences to Expand Cell and Gene Therapy Platform - PRNewswire

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Paragon Biosciences Launches CiRC Biosciences to Expand Cell and Gene Therapy Platform – PRNewswire | February 3rd, 2021

From nourishing curl creams to moisturizers loaded with stem-cell technology.

It hardly seems possible that the first month of 2021 is behind us, but here we areand luckily, our beauty cabinets and drawers have never been better stocked. With the new year, weve dedicated precious shelf space to testing everything new in beauty, and there is plenty to be excited about. Whether youve been searching for a vitamin C serum to kiss those dark spots goodbye, a nourishing curl cream to help your texture pop, or perhaps a hydrating SPF to protect against sun damage and UV rays (remember, it is your most powerful anti-aging tool), there is something out there to fit in perfectly with your routine. Check out our picks for the 32 best beauty product launches of January.

Advertisement

$145

The perennial favorite Dr. Barbara Sturm has finally released a vitamin C serum, which harnesses kakadu plum (more plums please!) to protect your cells from free-radical damage and lighten hyperpigmentation. The 5-percent formulation also contains two other sources of vitamin Coil-soluble THD ascorbate (a highly stable variety) and synthetic vitamin C in glycosidic form (aka ascorbyl glucoside). And the white, milky texture? Thats the added zinc, which helps your skin absorb the vitamin C faster and more effectively.

Buy

$28

Posh is back with another addition to her clean collection of cosmetics. This mascara features a curved wand filled with short, almost teeth-like bristles that coat your lashes in a perfectly thin, even layer of formula. Do you want an ultra-voluminous lash look? This might not be the mascara for you. But for a gorgeous, minimalist, and clump-free effect, this launch delivers. And if you like adding product to your lower lashes but hate the potential smudging, be prepared to truly sing this mascaras praises.

Buy

Advertisement

$20

Navigating between creams, gels, and oils can be tricky for anyone with curly hair, but this new milky serum is a serious gamechanger. Founder Babba C. Riveras recent launch not only gives you definition without the frizz, but the acai, chia seed, and castor-oil-rich formula also nourishes your hair for more flexibility and shine throughout the day. If youve yet to find your holy-grail texturizing product, give this one a try.

Buy

$34

Finding an affordable, comfortable, and effective physical SPF can seem like the unreachable trifecta, but clean beauty brand Saie nails it with their first sunscreen. The formula has a silky, lightweight feel with zero white cast, and the added aloe vera, viola extract, argan, grapeseed, and vitamin E will have your skin feeling nourished and soft all day long. No more excuses for not wearing your daily SPF when it feels this good.

Buy

Advertisement

$68

The trio of algae, licorice root, and hyaluronic acid makes this creamy formula ideal for dry under-eyes that are showing signs of premature aging (like darkness and fine lines). The delicate area is strengthened, dark circles are minimized, and dehydration is nowhere to be found. If youre new to eye creams, this is a great place to start.

Buy

$28

Media maven Katherine Power has debuted her next product line to accompany Versed Skincare: Merit Beauty, a collection of EU-compliant, clean cosmetics for the minimalist-minded consumer. There are six products with a few various shade options plus a brush in the line, but its the creamy Flush Balm blush that has us swooning. The Cheeky shade, a cool, almost russet pink melts into your skin for a natural flush that lights up your whole face. You can even add a swipe to your lips for a monochromatic effect.

Buy

$12

Clarifying shampoos are one of our favorite products to keep the scalp clean and free of buildupwhich in turn promotes strong, healthy hair. But that doesnt mean you have to drop a ton of money to find a quality formula. Clean beauty brand Odele debuts their first clarifying product utilizing a rising-star ingredient, quinoa, to help fortify and repair your hair. Swap out your go-to shampoo once a week for this formula, and admire your endless good hair days.

Buy

$69

This serum contains .3 percent retinol, the highest recommended for topical retinoids, along with over a dozen other skin-nourishing and brightening ingredients. These include moisturizing humectants like glycerin, hydroxyethyl urea, and sodium hyaluronate, mango seed butter for nourishing fatty acids, and squalane to boost your skins moisture levels. Brighter, more even, and highly moisturized skin is in your future.

Buy

$23

We all know that moment after you spent part of your morning perfecting your brow shape only to spot a droopy tail by lunchtime. Youll never have a hair out of place with this new translucent wax which provides long-lasting hold and a full, fluffy effect. Just gather the product onto the applicator, sweep it through your brows, and apply your color product after to fill in any gaps. The brows of your dreams are easier to achieve than ever before.

Buy

$265

Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud has created a dreamy new fragrance for 2021, with notes of creamy osmanthus, Chinese magnolia blossom, and sensual jasmine. If youre looking to update your fragrance collection for spring, this sophisticated blend (in a gorgeous bottle) is the perfect addition.

Buy

$58

Exfoliation is non-negotiable if you want skin thats free from congestion, which is why incorporating this alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid serum into your routine is a wise idea (especially if you dont use an exfoliating cleanser on the regular). The AHA blend helps to loosen dead skin cells while the smaller BHA molecules dive deep into pores and clear out excess dirt and sebum. The boost of rosehip oil also keeps your skin from drying out or growing irritated. Use it a few nights a week to start, and watch your complexion begin to glow.

Buy

$70

If you can bear to disturb this beyond-gorgeous palette, youll find that the powder duo gives you the kind of radiant flush that we thought only the women on Bridgerton could manage. The satiny peach highlighter gives you the kind of glow that says No, I havent been burrowed under blankets for the last six months, while the complementary coral orange blush brings a much-needed boost of energy to your complexion. CHANEL resident makeup artist Lucia Pica definitely nailed it with this spring collection.

Buy

$32

Curly girls, rejoice, because Jen Atkin has finally dropped a curl cream for the Ouai line. After two years of formulation, the linseed and chia seed oil create soft definition for your texture, while a mix of babassu, coconut, and soybean oils hydrate and repair damage from the environment, heat, or your recent color appointment. Start with a pea-sized amount and work it through damp hair, adding more depending on your thickness and curl pattern, and enjoy the touchable, bouncy curls you always wanted.

Buy

$10

Our at-home manicures are looking better than ever, but we sometimes struggle with getting the polish to last longer than a day or two. Enter this new vegan nail primer which promises a 20 percent increase in durability for your latest mani. The consistency is much thinner than what youre used to for a nail primermore like alcoholwhich is why the brush is shorter: It can easily evaporate before it reaches your nail bed, so founder Sarah Gibson-Tuttle made the process quicker and more manageable. Prep your nail with a thin coat, allow it to dry, and carry on with your favorite polisheasy!

Buy

$110

Loaded with skin-renewing longoza flower and plenty of ceramides to rebuild and restore your skin, this rich moisturizer is a must for anyone battling a dry complexion this winter. The brand spent 20 years researching stem-cell technology to perfect their topical anti-aging blend of ingredients and has the clinical data to back it up. If impossibly radiant skin is what youre after, this cream will be a wise investment.

Buy

$78

While its impossible to eliminate cellulite with a topical product (tear), it is doable to minimize the appearance and improve tone and definition. This new, patented serum from Susanne Kaufmann uses a blend of caffeine, tiger grass, and boldo (a South American tree known for its anti-inflammatory properties) to smooth and firm your skin. We recommend slathering on a generous layer following a relaxing bath.

Buy

$25

Tracee Ellis Ross is back with her newest launch for Pattern: a lightweight conditioner for fine or thin hair (that still doesnt sacrifice moisture or nutrients for your curls). The rich, creamy texture feels almost mask-like in the shower, but once you rinse it out, you can immediately notice the difference in your hair fiberseverything is smoother, stronger, and once you style to your hearts content, frizz is minimized. It took the brand over 60 iterations to get the formula right, so rest assured that this launch is worth your coveted shower space.

Buy

Price Upon Request

You cant beat a charcoal mask to rid your skin of dirt and buildup, which is why this new blend of Japanese charcoal and botanicals is high on our must-have list. Environ is a dermatologist and aesthetician favorite for a reason, and the soothing blend of botanicals and protective antioxidants have us asking our providers for a bottle ASAP. Use it a few times a week for a deep clean that gives your skin a much-needed reset.

Buy

$16

Sake is slowly making its way onto each of our dinner tables, but did we ever think it would make its way into our skin-care routines? Certainly not, but we are so glad it has. Sake has a ton of skin-care benefits, including light exfoliating properties that will slough off dead skin cells and prebiotics to reintroduce balance in the skin. This body lotion has a pH level of about 5.75, making it ideal for maintaining the integrity of our skin as we battle winter dryness and flakiness.

Buy

$95

We know you might be thinking a balm near your eyes is going to be way too greasy or stickyeven if it provides a boost of hydrationbut we were pleasantly surprised by the lightweight texture of this oil-free formula. Skin care is a new addition to the Hourglass lineup, but so far were enjoying the brands new product innovation. Keep the appearance of fine lines minimized with consistent hydration.

Buy

$9

We all love applying heaping loads of hyaluronic acid to our faces, but have we ever stopped to wonder what the ingredient would look like in our hair-care routines? This new hair mask introduces hyaluronic acid for a surge of moisture in hair that is otherwise frizzy and dry. This is a fabulous weekly hydrating mask to protect dry, color-treated, or heat-damaged hair and works great as a deep conditioner on days where you feel you need an extra boost for parched stands.

Buy

$19

Jess Hannah Rvszs cult-favorite polish line has debuted the first new color of 2021 with Patina, an ultra-pale green that is basically spring in a jar. The non-toxic formula provides a subtle pop of color that looks gorgeous on any skin tone and is a perfect addition to our at-home manicure kit. Dont be afraid of green polish! This is the perfect minimalist shade to try it out.

Buy

$90

Chebula is a healing fruit extract with roots in Ayurvedic traditions. In skin care, chebula acts as a cascading antioxidant, meaning that as it fights off free radicals, its chemical composition evolves to fight off even more free radicals throughout the day. Its a potent protector against environmental stressors for those of us living in cities or for those with active lifestyles. With elderberry, ginger, and echinacea for additional antioxidant support and antibacterial properties, and both low and high molecular hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, this is the perfect addition to anyones routine which needs an extra protective pick-me-up.

Buy

$34

Get you a lipstick that can do both. Charlotte Tilbury releases an innovative lipstick this month that delivers on color impact while also supplying the skin with beneficial skin-care ingredients. This lipstick balm penetrates the skin on the lips with hyaluronic acid, providing ample hydration to dry winter lips. Additionally, it washes the lips with color in a balmy yet pigmented way that feels like velvet during wear. Add a pat or two to your cheeks for some gorgeous complementary color.

Buy

$135

Its time to energize with a sativa strainbut not in the way you might think. This creamy serum contains whole-flower cannabis sativa extract to soothe any inflammation in the skin and help it return to a glowing state of balance. In addition to being ultra soothing for your skin, this serum also contains chlorophyll, aloe, and squalane to lock moisture in for a radiant shine that never feels too heavy.

Buy

$30

Its Aquarius season, and what better way to celebrate a time of eccentric energy than by dabbing some colorful metallic and matte shadows around your eyes? This cool-toned palette contains a range of shades that will work well with every eye color, whether you are looking for a vibrant liner on your lash line or a bold, technicolor halo. This formulation is highly pigmented and has a staying power that will last throughout the entire day.

Buy

$275

If you cannot tell by now, we love retinol here at Coveteur. And why is that? Its a powerful ingredient that speeds the cell renewal process, igniting the production of skin-plumping collagen and elastin in the skin. Another thing we love about retinol is its ability to rid the complexion of post-hyperpigmentation, which is why we are so excited about RVives new dark-spot corrector. In addition to containing the powers of retinol, this night cream also contains vitamin C to improve the skins tone and peptides to provide the building blocks for a youthful, bouncy effect.

Buy

$42

Cover FX enters the skin-care category this month, and we must admit that their first foray into such a congested industry is quite impressive. The lightweight moisturizer contains both prebiotics and probiotics to maintain the integrity of the skins microbiome. Simultaneously, ceramides protect against environmental stressors, and olive and jojoba oils moisturize the skin while adding a dewy glow. We love using this as a base for a seamless makeup application that makes skin look like skin.

Buy

$11

Covergirls first full-coverage foundation is finally here, with 21 shades infused with SPF 18. Not only is it surprisingly breathable for being so full-coverage, but its also humidity- and transfer-proof, so no rubbing off on your mask if you need to travel anywhere. For a more minimal, dewy effect, we like adding equal parts moisturizer and blending with a makeup sponge. Skin looks impossibly airbrushed without draining your bank account. Its a win-win.

Buy

$42

For most people, winter skin care means amping up the rich moisturizers and oils in our routines, scaling back on heavy cleansers, and using all the hydrating masks we can get our hands on. Yet, some of these typical winter routines just wont cut it for those with oily skin, as they create a slickness in the skin that will inevitably clog pores. If you have oily skin and are looking for a great winter moisturizer, consider this one from founder Marianna Hewitt. Its formula is oil-free, meaning it will not exacerbate breakouts, and contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides for a plumping action that will last all day.

Buy

$28

We believe that our curls are beautiful, but they are sometimes so difficult to tame. In a perfect world, they would air-dry into perfect ringlets with shine and volume after every wash. Unfortunately, our hair dries in a frizzy and flat way most of the time, despite our best efforts. If your hair-care woes are anything like ours, consider this new defining gel as your hair savior. It holds curls natural shape without weighing them down or amping up their crunch factor. It also maintains curls integrity in high levels of humidity.

Buy

$295

This month, Cl de Peau Beaut releases a mask that is as efficacious as it is luxurious. The Precious Gold Vitality Mask contains 24-karat gold to inhibit oxidation in the skin, resulting in a more youthful and even-toned appearance. Additionally, it envelops your skin in ginseng extract, which speeds up collagen production for a plumper feel. This mask is perfect for nourishing and restoring your skin as you nourish yourself with some self-care after a long and taxing day.

View original post here:
The 32 Best Beauty Products That Launched in January - Coveteur

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on The 32 Best Beauty Products That Launched in January – Coveteur | January 31st, 2021

Were starting the new year fresh with new skincare routines that help beat the harsh and dry winter, and beauty products to keep our glow on.Drunk ElephantThe Drunk Elephant Trunk 3.0 isnt exactly a new product. It came out in 2019, but the fully functional mini-fridge, which can chill (even warm!) your essential skincare products is still a favourite in our office. The trunk set comes with 10 best-selling, full-sized Drunk Elephant products, including the Sweet Biome Fermented Sake Spray.La MerLa Mers eye treatment combo is a lifesaver during the harsh winter days. The Eye Concentrate is a more advanced treatment that can help reduce dark circles and fine wrinkles even before visible damage begins. A pro tip: you could keep the eye treatment applicators in the fridge for a couple of minutes before you use them to massage the eye area for a quick microcirculation boost.DiorThe Dior Capture Totale Super Potent Rich Creme targets skin dryness with its heavily-researched science in mother cells and floral expertise. The rich creme combines bio-cellular technology with French peony oil extract.BenefitOur eyes and eyebrows are what most people tend to see these days, so its extremely pertinent that we keep our brows beautifully shaped and well-groomed. Benefits Brow Microfilling Pen mimics natural brow hair, comes in four versatile shades and is all-around the most essential beauty product you need these days.NarsNars is celebrating Chinese New Year with a new limited-edition collection that is beautifully packaged in a rich red floral design. To bring in good fortune for the Year of the Ox, the eyeshadow palette comes in soft neutral hues with a slight shimmer. There are two new shades of lipstick: Wen Wo (a brownish neutral shade) and China Rose (with a more rosy tint).TatchaTatchas Dewy Sin Creme is formulated with Hadasei-3, the brands proprietary complex of double-fermented Uji green tea, Akita rice and Mozuku algae. The result is super rich, smoothing cream that allows your make-up to glide on without a glitch.Laura MercierAlso perfect for Chinese New Year is Laura Merciers limited-edition beauty set, wrapped up in glorious shades of red and gold. The set comes with the Flawless Lumire Radiance-Perfecting Cushion, the Rouge Essentiel Silky Crme Lipstick, and the Translucent Loose Setting Powder that comes with a puff.YSL BeautyGlass skin was a term that came from K beauty to mean skin that appears poreless, luminous, clear as glass. YSL Beautys Soft Polish Double Essence is extremely gentle but comes with an effective peeling effect. Used alongside the Night Reboot serum and the Perfect Plumper Cream, glass skin is at your fingertips.AesopCold winter weather is not always the culprit sometimes, its the unpredictability of it, colder days and milder days, that disrupt our skin. Aesops latest winter skincare essentials are here to help. The selected products are gentle and nourishing on the skin, while keeping a balance, and comes in a range to suit different skin types.OribeOur focus is so often on skincare and make-up, but we shouldnt forget to care for our hair too. Available at Joyce Beauty, Oribes Signature Shampoo and Conditional set is a rich daily cleanser that is formulated to silken, detangle and protect.Este LauderThe Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Eye Serum is part of Este Lauders premium line, and comes infused with Black Diamond Truffle Extract that lifts tired eyes instantly.Augustinus BaderFounded by Professor Augustinus Bader, globally recognized as one of the leaders in stem cell biology, theres no doubting the potency of the brands products. Its creams and oils are backed by 30 years of proprietary research, which resulted in its TFC8 complex, said to kickstart the skins natural abilities to rejuvenate itself. Available at Joyce Beauty.

Read more from the original source:
Unboxing: the Best Beauty Items We Tried in January - Prestige Online

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Unboxing: the Best Beauty Items We Tried in January – Prestige Online | January 31st, 2021

[Courtesy of ToolGen]

SEOUL --ToolGen, a South Korean developer of genome editing technology, tied up with T&R Biofab, a 3D bioprinting company, to cooperate in applying induced pluripotent stem cells to gene correction. ToolGen has original technology related to third-generation gene scissors to cut out genetic information in cells.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are derived from skin or blood cells that have been reprogrammed back into an embryonic-like pluripotent state that enables the development of an unlimited source of any type of human cell needed for therapeutic purposes. iPSCs can be derived directly from adult tissues and bypass the need for embryos.

ToolGen signed a memorandum of understanding T&R Biofab, which prints human organs and tissues for clinical transplantation, to develop and utilize cells that combine iPSCs and gene calibration technologies. "Inductive pluripotent stem cells are an ideal platform for developing gene correction therapy because they can be segmented into various cells," said ToolGen co-CEO Kim Young-ho.

ToolGen has partnered with VivaZome Therapeutics, an Australian biotech company, to develop therapies based on exosomes which are recognized for their critical role in cell-to-cell communication and transportation. The market for exosome therapeutics has been growing rapidly, and many life science companies have launched tools and systems to support exosome research.

See the article here:
ToolGen ties up with 3D bioprinting company to apply induced pluripotent stem cells to gene correction - Aju Business Daily

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on ToolGen ties up with 3D bioprinting company to apply induced pluripotent stem cells to gene correction – Aju Business Daily | January 29th, 2021

News Release

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Approach could provide new path for difficult-to-treat forms of Leber congenital amaurosis.

Scientists at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have developed a promising gene therapy strategy for a rare disease that causes severe vision loss in childhood. A form of Leber congenital amaurosis, the disease is caused by autosomal-dominant mutations in the CRX gene, which are challenging to treat with gene therapy. The scientists tested their approach using lab-made retinal tissues built from patient cells, called retinal organoids. This approach, which involved adding copies of the normal gene under its native control mechanism, partially restored CRX function. The study report appears today in Stem Cell Reports. NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health.

Our treatment approach, which adds more copies of the normal gene, could potentially treat autosomal-dominant LCA caused by a variety of mutations, said Anand Swaroop, Ph.D., chief of the NEI Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory and senior author of the report.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Luxturna in 2017 for the treatment of LCA patients with mutations in a gene called RPE65. Although hailed as a major advance in gene therapy, Luxturna is ineffective against other forms of LCA, including those caused by autosomal-dominant mutations in CRX.

The CRX gene encodes a protein (also called CRX) that binds to DNA and instructs the retinas photoreceptors to make light-sensitive pigments called opsins. Without functional CRX protein, photoreceptors lose their ability to detect light and eventually die.

Disorders like autosomal-dominant LCA are tricky to treat with gene therapy, because adding more of the normal gene does not always restore function. People with autosomal-dominant mutations still have one normal copy of the gene, but the mutant version of the protein interferes with the normal protein. Sometimes, instead of restoring normal function, simply adding more of the normal protein can enhance the disease in unpredictable ways.

To explore how gene augmentation adding copies of the normal gene would affect autosomal-dominant LCA, Swaroops team, developed retinal organoids from two volunteers with LCA and from their unaffected family members. Led by Kamil Kruczek, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in Swaroops lab, they built the complex retina-like tissues in several stages, starting with skin cells, inducing the production of mature photoreceptors and other retinal cells with the genetic profile of each volunteer. As expected, patient organoids made far less light-sensing opsin than the organoids made from unaffected family members.

To carefully control how much CRX gene would be expressed by the recipient photoreceptors, the team re-engineered the CRX promoter so it could be delivered with the CRX gene as part of the gene therapy. A promoter is a neighboring sequence of DNA that controls when and how genes are expressed. The researchers packed the gene and their engineered promoter inside a virus that shuttled them into the organoid photoreceptors.

The teams gene augmentation strategy restored some CRX protein function for organoids from both patients, driving expression of opsins in both types of photoreceptors: rods and cones.

The fact that this strategy worked for both CRX mutations was pretty exciting, said Swaroop. Gene augmentation may be a viable therapy for LCA caused by other autosomal-dominant mutations.

This proof-of-concept gene therapy study is the first step toward a potential treatment for a rare form of LCA, said Brian Brooks, M.D., NEI clinical director and co-author on the study. Its a great example of bench-to-bedside science, when researchers in basic and clinical science collaborate.

The current study was funded through the intramural programs of the NEI and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, both part of NIH. Patient samples were collected at the NIH Clinical Center, clinical trial number NCT01432847.

NEI has protected intellectual property around this technology which is available for licensing and or co-development. Details can be found on the NIH OTT Licensing website: Gene Therapy for Treatment of CRX-Autosomal Dominant Retinopathies | Office of Technology Transfer, NIH or by contacting NEI Office of Translational Research mala.dutta@nih.gov

Additional authors include: Zepeng Qu, James Gentry, Benjamin Fadl, Linn Gieser, Suja Hiriyanna, Zacahry Batz, Mugdha Samant, Ananya Samanta, Colin Chu, Laura Campello, and Zhijian Wu.

NEI leads the federal governments research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs to develop sight-saving treatments and address special needs of people with vision loss. For more information, visit https://www.nei.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

Kruczek K. Qu Z, Gentry J, Fadl BR, Gieser L, Hiriyanna S, Batz Z, Samant M, Samanta A, Chu CJ, Campello L, Brooks BP, Wu Z, and Swaroop A. Gene therapy of dominantCRX-Leber congenital amaurosis using patient stem cell-derived retinal organoids.Stem Cell Reports, January 28, 2020.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.12.018

###

The rest is here:
Researchers use patients' cells to test gene therapy for rare eye disease - National Institutes of Health

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Researchers use patients’ cells to test gene therapy for rare eye disease – National Institutes of Health | January 29th, 2021

If you have cancer and your doctor recommends Opdivo to treat it, you may be wondering what side effects this drug might cause.

Opdivo (nivolumab) is a brand-name prescription medication used in adults to treat certain types of cancer. These include specific forms of bladder, colorectal, and esophageal cancer, as well as several other cancer types. Its also used in some children to treat colorectal cancer.

Opdivo is a biologic drug (a type of drug made from living cells). Specifically, its an immunotherapy treatment, which means it can cause side effects involving your immune system. Its given as an intravenous infusion (an injection into a vein thats given over a period of time). For more information about Opdivo, see this in-depth article.

Opdivo may be a long-term cancer treatment. Your doctor will decide the length of your treatment based on various factors, including what side effects you experience.

Read on to learn more about the possible mild and serious side effects of Opdivo.

Like all drugs, Opdivo may cause side effects in some people.

The more common side effects of Opdivo include:

For more information about rash as well as muscle, bone, and joint pain, see the Side effects explained section below.

Certain side effects may be more common if other cancer drugs, such as ipilimumab (Yervoy), are part of your treatment plan. You may have a higher risk for certain side effects depending on the type of cancer you have.

Talk with your doctor about your risk for side effects, given your specific treatment plan. Also tell them about any side effect symptoms you may have.

Learn more about Opdivos side effects in the next sections.

You may experience mild side effects with Opdivo, such as:

For more information about muscle, bone, and joint pain, see the Side effects explained section below.

Opdivo may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the Opdivo Medication Guide for details.

Opdivos mild side effects should be manageable, and theyll likely go away during your treatment. But some could also be signs of more serious side effects.

If any side effects bother you, get worse, or dont go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Try to keep all of your appointments to get Opdivo unless your doctor stops your treatment.

Opdivo may cause serious side effects. While these are generally rare, some people may be at higher risk for certain serious side effects. For example, your risk for some side effects may increase if youre receiving both Opdivo and other drugs for your cancer.

Call your doctor right away if youre having any new or worsening symptoms. If your symptoms feel life threatening, call 911 or get emergency medical care right away.

Serious side effects can include:

For more information on hepatitis, type 1 diabetes, and allergic reaction, see the Side effects explained section below.

Talk with your doctor about your risk for serious side effects. Also let them know about any concerns you may have.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Opdivos side effects.

No, Opdivo shouldnt cause confusion. In clinical studies of Opdivo, confusion wasnt a reported side effect.

However, confusion may be a symptom of rare, serious side effects of Opdivo, such as:

Also, Opdivo can cause hyponatremia (low blood sodium levels). Confusion is a symptom of this condition, which was a common side effect in certain clinical studies of Opdivo.

If youre feeling disoriented or having trouble thinking clearly during Opdivo treatment, contact your doctor right away.

In clinical studies of Opdivo as a melanoma treatment, reported side effects were similar to those researchers found when looking at the drug to treat other cancers.

However, Opdivo isnt always used alone to treat melanoma. The risk of side effects may differ depending on your treatment plan. For more information, see the Opdivo Medication Guide.

If youre receiving Opdivo infusions to treat melanoma, ask your doctor about your side effect risks.

Side effects with Opdivo can happen at any time, including after stopping treatment.

For example, severe reactions have happened during Opdivo infusions. However, these are rare compared with mild or moderate infusion-related reactions. Some people have had reactions within 2 days after their infusion, although these are rare as well.

Opdivo may cause your immune system to attack healthy tissues or organs. This can happen anytime during or after stopping Opdivo treatment.

Symptoms of a severe reaction that may happen during an Opdivo infusion can include:

If you have these or other symptoms during an Opdivo infusion, immediately tell the healthcare provider who is giving you the infusion.

Though rare, people have had reactions up to 2 days after their infusion. You should watch for any new or bothersome symptoms on the days between your infusions, too.

If you have a severe reaction, your healthcare provider may stop your Opdivo infusion. If you have a mild or moderate reaction during your infusion, they may slow the rate of infusion or pause it to help manage your symptoms.

Yes, it can. For example, Opdivo treatment could increase your risk for pneumonia. Pneumonia is a serious infection of the air sacs in one or both of your lungs.

In clinical studies for certain cancers, pneumonia was one of the more common serious reactions when Opdivo was used alone or with the cancer drug ipilimumab (Yervoy).

In clinical studies for certain cancers, rare but fatal infections have also occurred when Opdivo was used alone or with other cancer drugs.

Upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold, is a common side effect of Opdivo. Though upper respiratory tract infections arent usually serious, they can lead to secondary infections such as pneumonia.

See your doctor if you have any infection symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath, or fever.

Learn more about some of the side effects Opdivo may cause.

You may have painful joints from treatment with Opdivo. Joint pain is a common side effect of the drug.

Muscle, back, and bone pain are also common side effects of Opdivo.

Opdivo can cause your immune system to attack healthy tissues, even after youve stopped the drug. This can happen to any part of your body, including your joints. Rarely, arthritis (swelling in your joints) has occurred with Opdivo treatment.

If youre experiencing pain in your joints or other areas of your body during or after Opdivo treatment, talk with your doctor. They can check your symptoms and suggest ways you can manage them.

For mild joint pain, they may recommend you take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). They may also suggest applying ice packs or warm compresses to your joints.

Rash is a common side effect of Opdivo.

In rare cases, Opdivo may cause a severe skin reaction, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome. It may also result in allergic reactions, which may be mild or serious. Rash can be a symptom of both of these reactions.

During and after Opdivo treatment, contact your doctor if you have a rash that bothers you, gets worse, or doesnt go away. Get emergency medical care right away if you have blisters, peeling skin, or rash accompanied by fever, swelling, or trouble breathing. These could be signs of a severe, life threatening reaction.

If your symptoms are mild to moderate, your doctor may suggest that you manage them with a topical cream or ointment, such as hydrocortisone cream.

If youre having a severe skin reaction, your healthcare provider will pause or permanently stop your Opdivo infusions. Theyll manage the reaction with corticosteroids, such as prednisone, or other immune-suppressing drugs.

Though rare, Opdivo treatment may cause your immune system to attack healthy tissues, including your liver. When this happens, it can cause inflammation (swelling and damage) of your liver known as hepatitis.

This side effect may be more likely to happen if your treatment plan includes both Opdivo and the cancer drug ipilimumab (Yervoy).

If you have hepatitis from Opdivo treatment, your healthcare provider will pause or permanently stop your infusions. Theyll manage the condition with a corticosteroid drug, such as prednisone. In some cases, you may need to take another immune-suppressing drug.

During and after stopping Opdivo treatment, tell your doctor if you have any symptoms of hepatitis, such as:

Rarely, Opdivo may cause type 1 diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, your blood glucose (sugar) level becomes too high because your pancreas isnt releasing insulin. If untreated, this can lead to serious complications. An example is diabetic ketoacidosis (high levels of blood acids called ketones), which can be fatal.

Your doctor may check your blood glucose level while youre getting Opdivo. During and after your treatment, watch for any diabetes or ketoacidosis symptoms, such as:

Remember, high blood glucose can cause severe complications. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor or get medical care right away.

Like most drugs, Opdivo can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild skin rash or itching, call your doctor right away. They may suggest an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or a topical product, like hydrocortisone cream, to manage your allergic reaction.

If your doctor confirms you had a mild allergic reaction to Opdivo, theyll decide if you should continue receiving this drug.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you had a serious allergic reaction to Opdivo, theyll stop your Opdivo treatment and decide if another cancer treatment is right for you.

During your Opdivo treatment, consider keeping notes on any side effects youre having. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful to do when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things like:

Sharing such notes with your doctor will help your doctor learn more about how Opdivo affects you. Your doctor can also use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Opdivo may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Opdivo. Factors to consider include those mentioned below.

Stem cell or organ transplant. Opdivo treatment before or after an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (transplant of blood-forming cells from a genetic match) could cause serious or fatal problems.

If youre planning a stem cell transplant or have had one, talk with your doctor about the safety of Opdivo treatment. Also tell your doctor if youve received an organ transplant.

Allergic reaction. If youve had an allergic reaction to Opdivo or any of its ingredients, Opdivo shouldnt be part of your cancer treatment. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

Immune system problems. With Opdivo treatment, your immune system may attack healthy tissues.

Before starting Opdivo, tell your doctor if you have an autoimmune or inflammatory condition, such as Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus. Tell them even if your condition is in remission (times when youre symptom-free).

History of chest radiation. Opdivo may cause a serious side effect of the lungs called pneumonitis. Your risk for pneumonitis may be higher if youve had radiation treatment to your chest.

Before starting Opdivo, tell your doctor about any past chest radiation treatments youve had and if youve received other drugs similar to Opdivo.

Nervous system problems. In rare cases, Opdivo treatment may cause your immune system to attack your nervous system, including your brain, spinal cord, or nerves.

Before starting Opdivo, tell your doctor if youve had a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barr syndrome.

Opdivo doesnt interact with alcohol.

However, alcohol can harm your liver. In rare cases, Opdivo can cause inflammation (swelling and damage) of your liver known as hepatitis. Opdivo can be used to treat some liver cancers.

Ask your doctor if its safe to consume alcohol while being treated with Opdivo.

Its unsafe to be treated with Opdivo during pregnancy. If youre able to become pregnant, youll need to get a pregnancy test before starting Opdivo to make sure youre not pregnant.

Youll also need to use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 5 months after your last infusion.

Opdivos manufacturer hasnt given recommendations about contraception for people taking Opdivo who have a partner who can become pregnant. If you have questions or concerns about this, talk with your doctor.

Its unknown if Opdivo is safe to use while breastfeeding. You shouldnt breastfeed during Opdivo treatment or for at least 5 months after your last infusion.

Before starting Opdivo, talk with your doctor about safe ways to feed your child.

Opdivo may help treat your type of cancer. At the same time, it can put you at risk for rare but serious side effects. However, most common symptoms of Opdivo are mild or manageable.

If youre wondering about Opdivos side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Ask questions to get the answers you need to feel confident about your cancer treatment. Here are a few to get you started:

My doctor said thyroid problems are possible serious side effects of Opdivo. What symptoms should I watch for?

Opdivo may cause your immune system to attack your thyroid gland, resulting in thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland). Though thyroiditis isnt usually serious, it can lead to hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) or hyperthyroidism (high thyroid levels).

Hypothyroidism may happen more often, especially when Opdivo is used with ipilimumab (Yervoy).

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include increased weight, fatigue (lack of energy), and feeling cold. They also include a slow heart rate, depression, and a puffy face.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include a fast heart rate, high blood pressure, shaking hands, and trouble sleeping.

Call your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms. They may pause or stop your Opdivo treatment depending on how severe the side effect is. Your doctor may also recommend that you take other medication to treat your hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

View post:
Opdivo Side Effects: What They Are and How to Manage Them - Healthline

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Opdivo Side Effects: What They Are and How to Manage Them – Healthline | January 29th, 2021

Scientists have identified a protein that can slow or stop some signs of Parkinsons disease in mice.

The team found that the bone morphogenetic proteins 5 and 7 (BMP5/7) can have these effects in a mouse model of the disease.

This research, which appears in the journal Brain, may be the first step toward developing a new treatment for Parkinsons disease.

This type of brain disorder typically affects people over the age of 60, and the symptoms worsen with time.

Common symptoms include stiffness, difficulty walking, tremors, and trouble with balance and coordination.

The disease can also affect the ability to speak and lead to mood changes, tiredness, and memory loss.

Parkinsons Foundation report that about 1 million people in the United States had the disease in 2020, with about 10 million affected globally.

Despite this prevalence, scientists are still unsure why Parkinsons disease affects some people and not others, and there is currently no cure.

The National Institute on Aging note that some cases of Parkinsons disease seem to be hereditary. In other words, the disease can emerge in different generations of a family but for many people with the disease, there appears to be no family history.

Researchers believe that multiple factors may affect a persons risk, including genetics, exposure to environmental toxins, and age.

Since there is currently no cure for Parkinsons disease, treatments typically focus on alleviating its symptoms.

Existing treatments can help alleviate of Parkinsons disease, such as stiffness. However, they may work less well, or not work, for others, such as tremors or a loss of coordination.

Though researchers are still unsure why some develop the disease and others do not, they understand what occurs in the brain of a person with Parkinsons.

The disease causes the neurons in the part of the brain that controls movement to stop working or die. The brain region, therefore, produces less of the chemical dopamine, which helps a person maintain smooth, purposeful movement, as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke observe.

Also, Lewy bodies occur in the brains of some people with Parkinsons disease. These bodies are clumps primarily made up of misfolded forms of the protein alpha-synuclein.

In their recent study paper, the scientists refer to research suggesting that neurotrophic factors molecules that help neurons survive and thrive could, in theory, restore the function of neurons that produce dopamine. However, the clinical benefit of these factors had yet to be proven.

The team focused on bone morphogenetic proteins 5 and 7 (BMP5/7). They had previously shown that BMP5/7 has an important role in dopamine-producing neurons in mice.

In the latest study, the scientists wanted to see whether BMP5/7 could protect the neurons of mice against the damaging effects of misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins.

To do this, they injected one group of mice with a viral vector that caused misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins to form in their brains. They used other mice as a control group. The scientists then injected the mice with the BMP5/7 protein.

The researchers found that the BMP5/7 protein had a significant protective effect against the misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins.

According to senior study author Dr. Claude Brodski, of the Israel-based Ben-Gurion University of the Negevs Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, We found that BMP5/7 treatment can, in a Parkinsons disease mouse model, efficiently prevent movement impairments caused by the accumulation of alpha-synuclein and reverse the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. He continues:

These findings are very promising, since they suggest that BMP5/7 could slow or stop Parkinsons disease progression. Currently, we are focusing all our efforts on bringing our discovery closer to clinical application.

The universitys technology transfer company, BGN Technologies, is currently looking to bring the development to the market.

Dr. Galit Mazooz-Perlmuter, the companys senior vice president of bio-pharma business development, notes that There is a vast need for new therapies to treat Parkinsons disease, especially in advanced stages of the disease.

Dr. Brodskis findings, although still in their early stages, offer a disease-modified drug target that will address this devastating condition. We are now seeking an industry partner for further development of this patent-pending invention.

Original post:
Protein identified that may help treat Parkinsons disease - Medical News Today

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Protein identified that may help treat Parkinsons disease – Medical News Today | January 29th, 2021

Lets get into the science behind it: As hair is being formed, melanocytes inject pigment into keratinocytesthe cells containing keratinwhich is the protein making up hair, skin and nails, says Wayne, NJ plastic surgeon and hair specialist Jeffrey B. Wise, MD. Over time, melanocytes continue to inject pigment into the hairs keratin, which is where hair gets its color. In the aging process, melanocytes slow down and eventually stop secreting melanin, which causes a lack of pigment, and the hair turns gray.

According to Chicago dermatologist Dr. Quenby Erickson, going gray is programmed in our genetic code, which means we can get clues as to how extensively and when it will happen by looking at our parents. However, a 2020 study published in Science Daily shows there may also be a link between stress and gray hair. When testing on mice, researchers found that the type of nerve involved in the fight-or-flight response causes permanent damage to the pigment-regenerating stem cells in the hair follicle. The study makes perfect sense, says Dr. Wise. Stress is a huge factor in premature aging, as well as hair thinning. Naturally, it should also affect hair graying as well. There is also a lot of evidence that shows smoking cigarettes plays a role in making hair go gray earlier.

Color isnt always the only factor either; textural changes can ensue as well. Some people are blessed with gorgeous gray hair, but for most of us, the gray is accompanied with thinning and rougher texture that leave our hair finer and harder to style, Dr. Erickson says. There are no proven ways to prevent hair from turning gray, but both Drs. Erickson and Wise have seen some promising results from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Because these treatments are aimed at waking up your own stem cells, they could potentially reinvigorate melanocyte production as well, explains Dr. Wise. We have seen growth of darker, thicker hairs on some of our stem cell therapy patients, even though the original goal was to combat thinning. Treatment results are dependent on the patients individual conditions, so realistic expectations should be set by your doctor.

Celebrity colorists Chad Kenyon and Rita Hazan say none of their clients embraced their grays during quarantine, or they tried, but caved eventually. For those in camp cover them up, topical dyes and root concealers can help camouflage. The process to cover gray hair is the same on both blonds and darker shades, but my clients with lighter hair can go longer in between touch-ups because gray hairs blend with blond hairs more easily, says Kenyon. Celebrity colorist Aura Friedman often suggests adding a darker pepper tone to silver hair for people who feel more comfortable being darker, but dont want the two-, three- or four-week regrowth touch-up thats needed.

For those who want to permanently cover their grays at home, Nikki Lee, celebrity colorist and cofounder of Nine Zero One Salon, recommends Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme ($8). There are more than 75 shades and you can easily find your match using a virtual shade selector, she says. If DIY color makes you nervous, temporary root sprays are great to use in between salon appointments.

At NewBeauty, we get the most trusted information from the beauty authority delivered right to your inbox

Find a NewBeauty "Top Beauty Doctor" Near you

Here is the original post:
Why Hair Goes Gray, and How to Cover It If You Want To - NewBeauty Magazine

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Why Hair Goes Gray, and How to Cover It If You Want To – NewBeauty Magazine | January 29th, 2021