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By Nathan Sager

Published July 14, 2022 at 5:16 pm

A renowned burns specialist and his entire lab are continuing their work to develop 3-D printed skin at McMaster University in Hamilton.

Earlier this month, Dr. Marc Jeschke began a dual role at McMaster and Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS). Jeschke, who previously worked at the University of Toronto and Sunnybrook hospital, is now a professor of surgery at Mac and vice-president, research at HHS as well as medical director of its burns unit.

As part of the move, Jeschke is bringing his nearly 20-scientist burn research lab to Hamilton. The lab is supported by a gift from Charles and Margaret Juravinski through the Juravinski Research Institute. In a release from the university, Jeschke said McMaster is uniquely positioned for work across verious medical disciplines, since there are many partnerships with HHS and St. Josephs Healthcare Hmailton.

(McMaster) offers a more intimate environment than other institutions of its calibre and the quality of collaboration here is outstanding, said Jeschke.

People who suffer extensive and serious burns often end up with scarring for life. The Jeschke-headed lab has been developing a skin derivative that uses a patients own stem cells. It might one day greatly reduce scarring for people with extensive burns.

In 2020, researchers and developers from U of T and Sunnybrook became the first Canadian team to be honoured with a top prize from the 3D Pioneers Challenge for building and refining of the ReverTome handheld 3D skin printer. The printer can make new skin grown from stem cells in order to improve healing. Jeschke and his team contributed stem cell research to help inform development of the device.

The 3D Pioneers Challenge honours innovations in digital printing. The U of T-Sunnybrook team won from among a field of 52 finalists from 28 nations.

Jeschke said in the release that the therapy his lab is testing proved effective in porcine models. The clinical trial stage would be next.

The human body is so complex, but this stem-cell based therapy, if successful, will certainly change the way we care for burns and other injuries, he said.

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Original post:
McMaster in Hamilton founds burn injury research program that is working on 3-D skin | inTheHammer - insauga.com

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on McMaster in Hamilton founds burn injury research program that is working on 3-D skin | inTheHammer – insauga.com | July 16th, 2022

In molecular biologist David Sinclair's lab at Harvard Medical School, old mice are growing young again.

Using proteins that can turn an adult cell into a stem cell, Sinclair and his team have reset aging cells in mice to earlier versions of themselves. In his team's first breakthrough, published in late 2020, old mice with poor eyesight and damaged retinas could suddenly see again, with vision that at times rivaled their offspring's.

"It's a permanent reset, as far as we can tell, and we think it may be a universal process that could be applied across the body to reset our age," said Sinclair, who has spent the last 20 years studying ways to reverse the ravages of time.

"If we reverse aging, these diseases should not happen. We have the technology today to be able to go into your hundreds without worrying about getting cancer in your 70s, heart disease in your 80s and Alzheimer's in your 90s." Sinclair told an audience at Life Itself, a health and wellness event presented in partnership with CNN.

"This is the world that is coming. It's literally a question of when and for most of us, it's going to happen in our lifetimes," Sinclair told the audience.

"His research shows you can change aging to make lives younger for longer. Now he wants to change the world and make aging a disease," said Whitney Casey, an investor who is partnering with Sinclair to create a do-it-yourself biological age test.

While modern medicine addresses sickness, it doesn't address the underlying cause, "which for most diseases, is aging itself," Sinclair said. "We know that when we reverse the age of an organ like the brain in a mouse, the diseases of aging then go away. Memory comes back; there is no more dementia.

"I believe that in the future, delaying and reversing aging will be the best way to treat the diseases that plague most of us."

A reset button

In Sinclair's lab, two mice sit side by side. One is the picture of youth, the other gray and feeble. Yet they are brother and sister, born from the same litter -- only one has been genetically altered to age faster.

If that could be done, Sinclair asked his team, could the reverse be accomplished as well? Japanese biomedical researcher Dr. Shinya Yamanaka had already reprogrammed human adult skin cells to behave like embryonic or pluripotent stem cells, capable of developing into any cell in the body. The 2007 discovery won the scientist a Nobel Prize, and his "induced pluripotent stem cells," soon became known as "Yamanaka factors."

However, adult cells fully switched back to stem cells via Yamanaka factors lose their identity. They forget they are blood, heart and skin cells, making them perfect for rebirth as "cell du jour," but lousy at rejuvenation. You don't want Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" to become a baby all at once; you want him to age backward while still remembering who he is.

Labs around the world jumped on the problem. A study published in 2016 by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, showed signs of aging could be expunged in genetically aged mice, exposed for a short time to four main Yamanaka factors, without erasing the cells' identity.

But there was a downside in all this research: In certain situations, the altered mice developed cancerous tumors.

Looking for a safer alternative, Sinclair lab geneticist Yuancheng Lu chose three of the four factors and genetically added them to a harmless virus. The virus was designed to deliver the rejuvenating Yamanaka factors to damaged retinal ganglion cells at the back of an aged mouse's eye. After injecting the virus into the eye, the pluripotent genes were then switched on by feeding the mouse an antibiotic.

"The antibiotic is just a tool. It could be any chemical really, just a way to be sure the three genes are switched on," Sinclair said. "Normally they are only on in very young developing embryos and then turn off as we age."

Amazingly, damaged neurons in the eyes of mice injected with the three cells rejuvenated, even growing new axons, or projections from the eye into the brain. Since that original study, Sinclair said his lab has reversed aging in the muscles and brains of mice and is now working on rejuvenating a mouse's entire body.

"Somehow the cells know the body can reset itself, and they still know which genes should be on when they were young," Sinclair said. "We think we're tapping into an ancient regeneration system that some animals use -- when you cut the limb off a salamander, it regrows the limb. The tail of a fish will grow back; a finger of a mouse will grow back."

That discovery indicates there is a "backup copy" of youthfulness information stored in the body, he added.

"I call it the information theory of aging," he said. "It's a loss of information that drives aging cells to forget how to function, to forget what type of cell they are. And now we can tap into a reset switch that restores the cell's ability to read the genome correctly again, as if it was young."

While the changes have lasted for months in mice, renewed cells don't freeze in time and never age (like, say, vampires or superheroes), Sinclair said. "It's as permanent as aging is. It's a reset, and then we see the mice age out again, so then we just repeat the process.

"We believe we have found the master control switch, a way to rewind the clock," he added. "The body will then wake up, remember how to behave, remember how to regenerate and will be young again, even if you're already old and have an illness."

Science already knows how to slow human aging

Studies on whether the genetic intervention that revitalized mice will do the same for people are in early stages, Sinclair said. It will be years before human trials are finished, analyzed and, if safe and successful, scaled to the mass needed for a federal stamp of approval.

While we wait for science to determine if we too can reset our genes, there are many other ways to slow the aging process and reset our biological clocks, Sinclair said.

"The top tips are simply: Focus on plants for food, eat less often, get sufficient sleep, lose your breath for 10 minutes three times a week by exercising to maintain your muscle mass, don't sweat the small stuff and have a good social group," Sinclair said.

What controls the epigenome? Human behavior and one's environment play a key role. Let's say you were born with a genetic predisposition for heart disease and diabetes. But because you exercised, ate a plant-focused diet, slept well and managed your stress during most of your life, it's possible those genes would never be activated. That, experts say, is how we can take some of our genetic fate into our own hands.

Cutting back on food -- without inducing malnutrition -- has been a scientifically known way to lengthen life for nearly a century. Studies on worms, crabs, snails, fruit flies and rodents have found restricting calories "delay the onset of age-related disorders" such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, according to the National Institute on Aging. Some studies have also found extensions in life span: In a 1986 study, mice fed only a third of a typical day's calories lived to 53 months -- a mouse kept as a pet may live to about 24 months.

Studies in people, however, have been less enlightening, partly because many have focused on weight loss instead of longevity. For Sinclair, however, cutting back on meals was a significant factor in resetting his personal clock: Recent tests show he has a biological age of 42 in a body born 53 years ago.

"I've been doing a biological test for 10 years now, and I've been getting steadily younger for the last decade," Sinclair said. "The biggest change in my biological clock occurred when I ate less often -- I only eat one meal a day now. That made the biggest difference to my biochemistry."

Additional ways to turn back the clock

Sinclair incorporates other tools into his life, based on research from his lab and others. In his book "Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don't Have To," he writes that little of what he does has undergone the sort of "rigorous long-term clinical testing" needed to have a "complete understanding of the wide range of potential outcomes." In fact, he added, "I have no idea if this is even the right thing for me to be doing."

With that caveat, Sinclair is willing to share his tips: He keeps his starches and sugars to a minimum and gave up desserts at age 40 (although he does admit to stealing a taste on occasion). He eats a good amount of plants, avoids eating other mammals and keeps his body weight at the low end of optimal.

He exercises by taking a lot of steps each day, walks upstairs instead of taking an elevator and visits the gym with his son to lift weights and jog before taking a sauna and a dip in an ice-cold pool. "I've got my 20-year-old body back," he said with a smile.

Speaking of cold, science has long thought lower temperatures increased longevity in many species, but whether it is true or not may come down to one's genome, according to a 2018 study. Regardless, it appears cold can increase brown fat in humans, which is the type of fat bears use to stay warm during hibernation. Brown fat has been shown to improve metabolism and combat obesity.

Sinclair takes vitamins D and K2 and baby aspirin daily, along with supplements that have shown promise in extending longevity in yeast, mice and human cells in test tubes.

One supplement he takes after discovering its benefits is 1 gram of resveratrol, the antioxidant-like substance found in the skin of grapes, blueberries, raspberries, mulberries and peanuts.

He also takes 1 gram of metformin, a staple in the arsenal of drugs used to lower blood sugars in people with diabetes. He added it after studies showed it might reduce inflammation, oxidative damage and cellular senescence, in which cells are damaged but refuse to die, remaining in the body as a type of malfunctioning "zombie cell."

However, some scientists quibble about the use of metformin, pointing to rare cases of lactic acid buildup and a lack of knowledge on how it functions in the body.

Sinclair also takes 1 gram of NMN, or nicotinamide mononucleotide, which in the body turns into NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. A coenzyme that exists in all living cells, NAD+ plays a central role in the body's biological processes, such as regulating cellular energy, increasing insulin sensitivity and reversing mitochondrial dysfunction.

When the body ages, NAD+ levels significantly decrease, dropping by middle age to about half the levels of youth, contributing to age-related metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Numerous studies have shown restoring NAD+ levels safely improves overall health and increases life span in yeast, mice and dogs. Clinical trials testing the molecule in humans have been underway for three years, Sinclair said.

"These supplements, and the lifestyle that I am doing, is designed to turn on our defenses against aging," he said. "Now, if you do that, you don't necessarily turn back the clock. These are just things that slow down epigenetic damage and these other horrible hallmarks of aging.

"But the real advance, in my view, was the ability to just tell the body, 'Forget all that. Just be young again,' by just flipping a switch. Now I'm not saying that we're going to all be 20 years old again," Sinclair said.

"But I'm optimistic that we can duplicate this very fundamental process that exists in everything from a bat to a sheep to a whale to a human. We've done it in a mouse. There's no reason I can think of why it shouldn't work in a person, too."

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The 'Benjamin Button' effect: Scientists can reverse aging in mice. The goal is to do the same for humans - KITV Honolulu

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Endometriosis is a condition that can occur when tissue that is normally found lining the uterus, known as the endometrium, begins to grow outside of that organ. With this disorder, the tissue can be found growing around other nearby organs the ovaries, intestines, and even tissue that lines your pelvis.

Because endometrial tissue is affected by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, its not uncommon for people with endometriosis to experience pain and discomfort just like they would with endometrial tissue in the uterus. And just like that tissue, this tissue breaks down too but isnt expelled.

As a result, endometriosis can lead to the growth of scar tissue, irritation, and even infertility. But while much is known about endometriosis in adult women, the condition isnt as well-researched in children or adolescents.

Officially, there is no known cause of endometriosis regardless of the age at which its discovered. And almost all researchers agree that limited studies in younger age groups, as well as healthcare professionals delaying diagnosis by several years, can contribute to its progression that often leads to infertility and other negative outcomes.

There are a few theories that highlight potential reasons, but no theory has proven to be conclusive yet. Well take a closer look at the best supported theories to-date:

Retrograde menstruation is a condition in which blood that is expelled from the uterus flows back toward the fallopian tubes rather than out of the body through the vagina. This scenario is more common than you may expect, with roughly 90% of women experiencing it at some point during their menstruating lives.

But for some, this backflow can lead to endometrial cells adhering to organs or cavity tissues, or whats known as endometrial lesions. This is why it is currently considered a key factor in developing endometriosis.

A 2013 study conducted in Japan found a link between the incidence of menstrual pain and the need for medical interventions. While the study found that roughly a third of all menstruating Japanese women experienced pain significant enough to require medication, of that group, 6% did not experience any improvement after taking medication.

More importantly, this study found that roughly 25 to 38% of adolescents that complained of chronic pelvic pain were later diagnosed with endometriosis. Meanwhile, the most common solution offered to adolescents is pain medications, which will not treat the cause of the pain.

That same 2013 Japanese study noted that some respondents were diagnosed with endometriosis while having never menstruated (premenarchal). This discovery has encouraged researchers to consider that other underlying mechanisms might contribute to endometriosis rather than retrograde menstruation.

Some researchers further hypothesized that endometriosis diagnoses in premenarchal participants could be caused by stem cells that later develop into endometrial tissue and are later activated when menstruation begins.

While we often think of endometriosis as a condition exclusively impacting women, the reality is that it can also develop in nonbinary or transmasculine (people assigned female at birth that later transition to boys) adolescents as well.

A 2020 study reviewed previous research that focused on 35 trans participants ages 26 and younger that were diagnosed with dysmenorrhea (or menstruation-related pain) and treated for that condition. Of the 35, seven of the patients were evaluated and found to have endometriosis some of which were diagnosed after transitioning and included one participant that had already begun testosterone treatment.

Of the seven patients, treatment varied from oral contraceptives, testosterone treatment, and other drugs such as danazol and progestins. The study found that results were mixed. While some respondents found success with testosterone therapy for resolving symptoms, this wasnt the case for everyone.

Ultimately, the study recommended that trans masculine people experiencing dysmenorrhea symptoms should be screened for endometriosis, and that testosterone therapy alone isnt necessarily a complete solution.

Although less is known about endometriosis in adolescent or teenage populations, symptoms tend to be consistent with those found in adult women. These include:

If you or your child is experiencing symptoms of endometriosis, keep reading to learn about getting diagnosed.

Consistently, the research and medical communities agree that early detection of endometriosis is the best way to prevent acute spread which can lead to infertility. Checking for endometriosis on your own is not possible. But letting your doctor know that youre experiencing chronic pelvic pain, heavy or long periods, or any of the other common symptoms associated with endometriosis is important.

Your physician might start the diagnostic process by performing a pelvic ultrasound to ensure that any other underlying conditions or infections arent causing your symptoms. Usually, endometriosis is diagnosed with laparoscopy. This is a minimally invasive procedure where your physician inserts a thin tube with a light and lens through a small incision into the lower abdomen. With this procedure, they can look for endometrial lesions to determine if endometriosis is present.

Unfortunately, its common for period pain to be dismissed as a regular part of life, and for many people it can take more than a decade to receive a proper diagnosis. If this is the case for you, dont hesitate to advocate for yourself and seek a second opinion if youre unable to find a treatment plan that works for you.

Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis. However, just as in adults, the goal of treating adolescent endometriosis is to control and prevent disease progression, provide symptom relief, and preserve fertility.

Several treatment methods may be recommended depending on the amount of endometrial tissue that is present (disease progression).

Treatment options can center on hormonal therapy to control estrogen levels a key factor that influences endometrial growth. For some patients, this might include taking oral contraception, or a progestin-only agent to prevent or minimize the onset of periods, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain management.

Be aware that you might need to try several different types of hormonal therapies before you find the right option that controls your condition.

Some patients might also be prescribed Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy. But this is usually reserved for adults, because research suggests that this treatment can impact bone mineralization in adolescents.

Surgery is often used for both diagnosis and treatment. While some surgeries can remove endometrial lesions, this is not a permanent solution for everyone.

Research has proven that even with surgery, endometrial lesions can return.

Most endometriosis conversations center around female patients. But its important to remember that trans men as well as those born male are also at risk of developing this disease.

Once thought to only be an issue for menstruating females, research suggests that endometriosis can also be detected in premenarchal youth.

Theres no cure for endometriosis. But experts, advocates, and the medical community agree that early interventions for the condition are critical for limiting its spread, controlling symptoms that can impact everyday life, and preserving fertility especially in adolescents.

Excerpt from:
Endometriosis in Teens: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment - Healthline

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ICYMI: Amazon Prime Day is coming to an end tonight and truth be told, the sales appear to be gifts that keep on giving. One of our favorite skin-care tools is having a major discount across all of its devices and treatments. Yep, you guessed it, it's NuFace.

If you're unfamiliar with the brand and the magic it can do, let us school you quickly. NuFace devices use microcurrent technology that the brand calls "fitness for your face." In the same way that consistently hitting weights and cardio whips our body's muscles into shape, the metal nodes on the head of the tools send electrical currents through the various layers of facial skin, down to the muscles, to basically give them a workout.

Into it? Well, lucky for you NuFace products will be available at a discount throughout this two-day epic sale. Starting right now through July 13, you can snag devices, boosters, and activators for up to 36 percent off. The sale includes top-selling products like the Trinity, NuBody, Fix, and more.

So what are you waiting for? This luxury tool rarely goes on sale so get to shopping because these discounts end later on when Prime Day closes its virtual doors.

NuFace Trinity Starter Kit

NuFace Trinity Complete Kit

Both the Trinity Starter Kit and Complete Kit are essentially the same thing, but the complete kit comes with some additional attachments. Both kits feature a NuFace device and a gel primer to apply prior in order to activate the current. However, the Complete Kit holds a dual wand that targets specific areas like around the lips and eyes and a LED light attachment that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

If you're not into breaking the $200 mark, consider the Mini Starter Kit it holds the same device and gel primer, just in a smaller (more portable!) version that achieves the same results.

The NuBody features those same nodes on the head as the Trinity but in a handheld body version that utilizes four nodes. With four electrical currents, this device sends waves through the skin down to the muscles to help sculpt and tone the body. Plus, you get a 10-ounce gel primer to ensure the device glides smoothly and evenly.

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NuFace Is Having a Major Sale During Amazon Prime Day 2022 See Deals on Trinity, NuBody, and More - Allure

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Chemotherapy has transformed cancer care, but its benefits come with side effects. Chemo brain is the name some people give to the brain fog and fuzziness that can result from these lifesaving treatments.

Chemotherapy works by destroying fast-reproducing cancer cells. But it can kill other healthy cells along the way, including certain brain cells. The destruction of brain cells can impact your emotional state and ability to think, leading to memory and concentration problems, among other concerns.

This article will explore what types of cognitive and emotional changes you might expect from chemotherapy, what factors increase your risk for these symptoms, and what you can do to treat them.

Various emotional and cognitive symptoms can occur during chemotherapy, and they should be categorized separately. Even though they both apply to your brain and can be considered mental side effects, emotion and cognition are different.

Cognition refers broadly to the intellectual processes of absorbing, analyzing, and using information. Emotions are our feelings and responses to experiences, environments, and relationships. For example, trouble focusing is a cognitive side effect, whereas irritability is an emotional one.

Lets go over some of the most common chemotherapy side effects in both categories.

Cognitive changes are usually the most noticeable impacting daily functioning, work or school performance, and personal relationships.

Confusion or delirium is the most common of these symptoms, affecting roughly 57 to 85 percent of people undergoing chemotherapy, compared to 15 to 30 percent of people hospitalized for other medical reasons.

Cognitive changes can look different depending on the individual but commonly include:

In addition to chemo, other factors can contribute to emotional stress as part of a cancer diagnosis. The emotional impacts of chemo can look like shifts in mood, depression or anxiety. Personality changes are common, too.

These can be linked to chemotherapy treatments, the disease process, and coping with a cancer diagnosis.

Learn more about the emotional impacts of a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment.

There are several reasons why chemotherapy can impact your mental and emotional health.

One reason is that chemo medications cross the blood-brain barrier, causing inflammation. Brain shrinkage, or a loss of neurons, has been observed as a result of both cancer and chemotherapy.

Cognitive changes can also be heightened by complications of cancer treatment or other medical conditions. Chronic pain and lack of sleep or appetite from chemotherapy treatments can have profound negative life impacts.

This can affect your energy and strength levels, making it hard to focus or regulate your emotions.

Cancers spread to the brain can also directly affect cognitive and emotional functioning. This can be separate from, or in addition to, chemo.

While chemotherapy aims to slow or stop the spread of cancer, increased changes in mental status and cognition can also be signs of metastasis, or that the cancer is spreading.

Your doctor may also want to rule out intolerances or reactions to your chemotherapy treatment.

Treating cancer requires an individualized and multidisciplinary approach. Often, a rehabilitation plan is involved in helping you cope with or heal from the effects of chemotherapy and other intensive treatments, including any surgeries.

Your doctor may want to adjust your chemotherapy regimen depending on your side effects.

Cognitive rehabilitation is sometimes included in a chemotherapy plan and offers activities or exercises to help keep your mind sharp and focused during treatment.

The American Cancer Society suggests that exercise and meditation can go a long way in reducing the mental toll of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.

Also, talk therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may help you process the complex emotions arising from a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Talk therapies can help you develop coping techniques that may help you manage fatigue, confusion, and any depression or anxiety you are experiencing due to chemotherapy.

There are particular cancer and chemotherapy medications that can increase the chances of confusion, delirium, and other cognitive changes in some people. Your doctor should review any risks of a potential treatment option with you when designing your chemo regimen.

Consider coming to your appointment prepared with questions about what risk of physical and mental impacts chemo may cause. Ensure your doctor knows all medications you are currently taking to avoid adverse reactions.

If you choose to move forward with treatment, your doctor may be able to help you find ways to preserve your thinking abilities should chemo affect them, or at the very least learn to cope with the changes.

There are certain risk factors that may increase your chance of experiencing mental side effects during chemotherapy.

Besides taking specific medications or having brain cancer, this can include having:

Chemotherapy can effectively manage cancer and bring about remission. But the medications for chemotherapy are strong and highly toxic to other cells and systems in your body. This treatment can cause unpleasant physical, mental, and emotional symptoms.

The physical effects of chemotherapy like nausea and hair loss are well-known, but substantial mental and cognitive changes can also happen with this therapy. Chemo brain refers to the fatigue, confusion, and overall brain fog some people experience.

Talk with your doctor about the specific risks versus benefits for your type of cancer, stage, and prescribed chemotherapy regimen. Your medical team should be able to help you with therapies and strategies that can help you cope with the emotional and cognitive toll of cancer and chemotherapy.

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Does Chemotherapy Have Cognitive and Emotional Side Effects? - Healthline

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Cells in the body have specific purposes, but stem cells are cells that do not yet have a specific role and can become almost any cell that is required.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can turn into specific cells, as the body needs them.

Scientists and doctors are interested in stem cells as they help to explain how some functions of the body work, and how they sometimes go wrong.

Stem cells also show promise for treating some diseases that currently have no cure.

Stem cells originate from two main sources: adult body tissues and embryos. Scientists are also working on ways to develop stem cells from other cells, using genetic reprogramming techniques.

A persons body contains stem cells throughout their life. The body can use these stem cells whenever it needs them.

Also called tissue-specific or somatic stem cells, adult stem cells exist throughout the body from the time an embryo develops.

The cells are in a non-specific state, but they are more specialized than embryonic stem cells. They remain in this state until the body needs them for a specific purpose, say, as skin or muscle cells.

Day-to-day living means the body is constantly renewing its tissues. In some parts of the body, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to produce new body tissues for maintenance and repair.

Stem cells are present inside different types of tissue. Scientists have found stem cells in tissues, including:

However, stem cells can be difficult to find. They can stay non-dividing and non-specific for years until the body summons them to repair or grow new tissue.

Adult stem cells can divide or self-renew indefinitely. This means they can generate various cell types from the originating organ or even regenerate the original organ, entirely.

This division and regeneration are how a skin wound heals, or how an organ such as the liver, for example, can repair itself after damage.

In the past, scientists believed adult stem cells could only differentiate based on their tissue of origin. However, some evidence now suggests that they can differentiate to become other cell types, as well.

From the very earliest stage of pregnancy, after the sperm fertilizes the egg, an embryo forms.

Around 35 days after a sperm fertilizes an egg, the embryo takes the form of a blastocyst or ball of cells.

The blastocyst contains stem cells and will later implant in the womb. Embryonic stem cells come from a blastocyst that is 45 days old.

When scientists take stem cells from embryos, these are usually extra embryos that result from in vitro fertilization (IVF).

In IVF clinics, the doctors fertilize several eggs in a test tube, to ensure that at least one survives. They will then implant a limited number of eggs to start a pregnancy.

When a sperm fertilizes an egg, these cells combine to form a single cell called a zygote.

This single-celled zygote then starts to divide, forming 2, 4, 8, 16 cells, and so on. Now it is an embryo.

Soon, and before the embryo implants in the uterus, this mass of around 150200 cells is the blastocyst. The blastocyst consists of two parts:

The inner cell mass is where embryonic stem cells are found. Scientists call these totipotent cells. The term totipotent refer to the fact that they have total potential to develop into any cell in the body.

With the right stimulation, the cells can become blood cells, skin cells, and all the other cell types that a body needs.

In early pregnancy, the blastocyst stage continues for about 5 days before the embryo implants in the uterus, or womb. At this stage, stem cells begin to differentiate.

Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into more cell types than adult stem cells.

MSCs come from the connective tissue or stroma that surrounds the bodys organs and other tissues.

Scientists have used MSCs to create new body tissues, such as bone, cartilage, and fat cells. They may one day play a role in solving a wide range of health problems.

Scientists create these in a lab, using skin cells and other tissue-specific cells. These cells behave in a similar way to embryonic stem cells, so they could be useful for developing a range of therapies.

However, more research and development is necessary.

To grow stem cells, scientists first extract samples from adult tissue or an embryo. They then place these cells in a controlled culture where they will divide and reproduce but not specialize further.

Stem cells that are dividing and reproducing in a controlled culture are called a stem-cell line.

Researchers manage and share stem-cell lines for different purposes. They can stimulate the stem cells to specialize in a particular way. This process is known as directed differentiation.

Until now, it has been easier to grow large numbers of embryonic stem cells than adult stem cells. However, scientists are making progress with both cell types.

Researchers categorize stem cells, according to their potential to differentiate into other types of cells.

Embryonic stem cells are the most potent, as their job is to become every type of cell in the body.

The full classification includes:

Totipotent: These stem cells can differentiate into all possible cell types. The first few cells that appear as the zygote starts to divide are totipotent.

Pluripotent: These cells can turn into almost any cell. Cells from the early embryo are pluripotent.

Multipotent: These cells can differentiate into a closely related family of cells. Adult hematopoietic stem cells, for example, can become red and white blood cells or platelets.

Oligopotent: These can differentiate into a few different cell types. Adult lymphoid or myeloid stem cells can do this.

Unipotent: These can only produce cells of one kind, which is their own type. However, they are still stem cells because they can renew themselves. Examples include adult muscle stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells are considered pluripotent instead of totipotent because they cannot become part of the extra-embryonic membranes or the placenta.

Stem cells themselves do not serve any single purpose but are important for several reasons.

First, with the right stimulation, many stem cells can take on the role of any type of cell, and they can regenerate damaged tissue, under the right conditions.

This potential could save lives or repair wounds and tissue damage in people after an illness or injury. Scientists see many possible uses for stem cells.

Tissue regeneration is probably the most important use of stem cells.

Until now, a person who needed a new kidney, for example, had to wait for a donor and then undergo a transplant.

There is a shortage of donor organs but, by instructing stem cells to differentiate in a certain way, scientists could use them to grow a specific tissue type or organ.

As an example, doctors have already used stem cells from just beneath the skins surface to make new skin tissue. They can then repair a severe burn or another injury by grafting this tissue onto the damaged skin, and new skin will grow back.

In 2013, a team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital reported in PNAS Early Edition that they had created blood vessels in laboratory mice, using human stem cells.

Within 2 weeks of implanting the stem cells, networks of blood-perfused vessels had formed. The quality of these new blood vessels was as good as the nearby natural ones.

The authors hoped that this type of technique could eventually help to treat people with cardiovascular and vascular diseases.

Doctors may one day be able to use replacement cells and tissues to treat brain diseases, such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers.

In Parkinsons, for example, damage to brain cells leads to uncontrolled muscle movements. Scientists could use stem cells to replenish the damaged brain tissue. This could bring back the specialized brain cells that stop the uncontrolled muscle movements.

Researchers have already tried differentiating embryonic stem cells into these types of cells, so treatments are promising.

Scientists hope one day to be able to develop healthy heart cells in a laboratory that they can transplant into people with heart disease.

These new cells could repair heart damage by repopulating the heart with healthy tissue.

Similarly, people with type I diabetes could receive pancreatic cells to replace the insulin-producing cells that their own immune systems have lost or destroyed.

The only current therapy is a pancreatic transplant, and very few pancreases are available for transplant.

Doctors now routinely use adult hematopoietic stem cells to treat diseases, such as leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and other immunodeficiency problems.

Hematopoietic stem cells occur in blood and bone marrow and can produce all blood cell types, including red blood cells that carry oxygen and white blood cells that fight disease.

People can donate stem cells to help a loved one, or possibly for their own use in the future.

Donations can come from the following sources:

Bone marrow: These cells are taken under a general anesthetic, usually from the hip or pelvic bone. Technicians then isolate the stem cells from the bone marrow for storage or donation.

Peripheral stem cells: A person receives several injections that cause their bone marrow to release stem cells into the blood. Next, blood is removed from the body, a machine separates out the stem cells, and doctors return the blood to the body.

Umbilical cord blood: Stem cells can be harvested from the umbilical cord after delivery, with no harm to the baby. Some people donate the cord blood, and others store it.

This harvesting of stem cells can be expensive, but the advantages for future needs include:

Stem cells are useful not only as potential therapies but also for research purposes.

For example, scientists have found that switching a particular gene on or off can cause it to differentiate. Knowing this is helping them to investigate which genes and mutations cause which effects.

Armed with this knowledge, they may be able to discover what causes a wide range of illnesses and conditions, some of which do not yet have a cure.

Abnormal cell division and differentiation are responsible for conditions that include cancer and congenital disabilities that stem from birth. Knowing what causes the cells to divide in the wrong way could lead to a cure.

Stem cells can also help in the development of new drugs. Instead of testing drugs on human volunteers, scientists can assess how a drug affects normal, healthy tissue by testing it on tissue grown from stem cells.

Watch the video to find out more about stem cells.

There has been some controversy about stem cell research. This mainly relates to work on embryonic stem cells.

The argument against using embryonic stem cells is that it destroys a human blastocyst, and the fertilized egg cannot develop into a person.

Nowadays, researchers are looking for ways to create or use stem cells that do not involve embryos.

Stem cell research often involves inserting human cells into animals, such as mice or rats. Some people argue that this could create an organism that is part human.

In some countries, it is illegal to produce embryonic stem cell lines. In the United States, scientists can create or work with embryonic stem cell lines, but it is illegal to use federal funds to research stem cell lines that were created after August 2001.

Some people are already offering stem-cells therapies for a range of purposes, such as anti-aging treatments.

However, most of these uses do not have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Some of them may be illegal, and some can be dangerous.

Anyone who is considering stem-cell treatment should check with the provider or with the FDA that the product has approval, and that it was made in a way that meets with FDA standards for safety and effectiveness.

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Stem cells: Sources, types, and uses - Medical News Today

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Stem cells: Sources, types, and uses – Medical News Today | June 30th, 2022

Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder where immune cells attack and destroy hair follicles, causing hair loss. Uncovering a molecular target of a common treatment for alopecia in a new study, scientists at the Salk Institute claim regulatory T cells (Tregs) and glucocorticoids do not just suppress the immune system, they also make hair grow.

Originally discovered as a specialized subset of T lymphocytes that suppress excessive immune response and maintain balance in immune functions, recent studies have shown Tregs also play a role in tissue repair and regeneration.

First author of the study, Zhi Liu PhD, a research associate at Salk Institute said, We were fascinated by Tregs non-traditional function in tissue repair and the way they communicate with tissue stem cells to facilitate tissue regeneration.

Balance in tissue niches depends on communications between stem cells and supporting cells. That Tregs communicate with stem cells and play a critical role in balancing self-renewal and differentiation in stem cell niches has been reported in earlier studies. Yet, how Tregs sense signals in tissue microenvironments and communicate with stem cells has been unclear until now.

Liu said, Our study identified the glucocorticoid hormone as the upstream signal that alerts Tregs, and the growth factor TGF-beta3 as the downstream signal that promotes stem cell activation and hair regeneration. These signals could be potentially conserved in other tissue injury and repair processes.

The study, led by Ye Zheng, PhD, an associate professor at Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, was published on June 23, 2022, in an article in the journal Nature Immunology titled Glucocorticoid signaling and regulatory T cells cooperate to maintain the hair-follicle stem-cell niche. The findings explain how Tregs interact with stem cells in the skin using the steroid hormone glucocorticoid as a messenger to generate new hair follicles and promote hair growth. This regenerative role of Treg cells is independent of its immunosuppressive functions.

Zhengs team was initially interested in uncovering the role of Tregs and glucocorticoids in autoimmune dysfunctions such as multiple sclerosis, Crohns disease, and asthma. However, they detected no functional significance of glucocorticoids or Tregs in these diseases. They then focused on the skin because here Tregs express high levels of glucocorticoid receptors.

The researchers shaved hair off the back of adult mice that lacked the gene encoding the glucocorticoid receptor in their Tregs or had a normal set of genes. After two weeks, the normal mice grew back their hair, but the mice without glucocorticoid receptors barely could, said Liu. It was very striking, and it showed us the right direction for moving forward.

The findings indicated a glucocorticoid-mediated communication between Tregs and stem cells in hair follicles that need to be activated for hair regeneration. Moreover, the authors showed lack of the glucocorticoid receptor in Tregs blocked hair regeneration without affecting immune balance.

After hair loss, skin cells stained blue, from a normal mouse can activate hair follicle stem cells, stained red [left], whereas skin cells in mice without glucocorticoid receptors in their regulatory T cells cannot activate hair follicle stem cells [right] (Salk Institute).The authors found glucocorticoids instruct Tregs to activate hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs), which leads to hair growth. This crosstalk between the T cells and the stem cells depends on a mechanism whereby glucocorticoid receptors cooperate with a regulatory protein in Tregs called Foxp3, to induce a growth factor called transforming growth factor beta3 (TGF-beta3), which then activates the signaling molecules Smad2/3 in HFSCs to stimulate stem cell proliferation and differentiation into new hair follicles, promoting hair growth. The authors uncovered Tregs dont usually produce TGF-beta3, as they do in the skin. Databases analysis revealed this phenomenon occurs in injured muscle and heart tissue, similar to how hair removal simulated a skin tissue injury in this study.

In acute cases of alopecia, immune cells attack the skin tissue, causing hair loss. The usual remedy is to use glucocorticoids to inhibit the immune reaction in the skin, so they dont keep attacking the hair follicles, said Zheng. Applying glucocorticoids has the double benefit of triggering the regulatory T cells in the skin to produce TGF-beta3, stimulating the activation of the hair follicle stem cells.

In future studies, Zheng and his team would like to explore whether compromised glucocorticoid signaling in Tregs of the skin can cause alopecia. Zheng said, It will be interesting to see if skin Treg cells can be targeted for the treatment of alopecia patients.

Beyond the regeneration of hair follicles, Zheng would like to build upon studies that have shown Tregs help repair and regenerate multiple tissue types. They will study other injury models and isolate Tregs from injured tissues to monitor increased levels of TGF-beta3 and other growth factors.Wed like to explore whether glucocorticoids function as a universal signal to trigger Tregs non-traditional function to promote tissue regeneration.

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Hair Regeneration Requires Regulatory T Cells Signal Skin Stem Cells - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Hair Regeneration Requires Regulatory T Cells Signal Skin Stem Cells – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News | June 30th, 2022

Hematopoietic Stem Cells: In living organisms, a specialized system that consist of blood and its progenitors are referred to as the hematopoietic system.

In particular, this system is made up of cells with specialized functions such as the red blood cells (for carrying oxygen to tissues), white blood cells (for immune defense against pathogens, and foreign agents), platelets (for blood clotting), macrophages and lymphocytes (also for immune defense).

However, many of the said blood cells are temporary and need to be replaced with new ones continuously. But fret not because a single cell can solve the problem!

Every day, almost billions of new blood cells are synthesized within the body with each coming from a specific progenitor cell called the hematopoietic stem cell.

How to pronounce Hematopoietic Stem Cells?

What is Hematopoiesis?

The formation of all kinds of blood cells including creation, development, and differentiation of blood cells is commonly known as Hematopoiesis or Haemopoiesis.

All types of blood cells are generated from primitive cells (stem cells) that are pluripotent (they have the potential to develop into all types of blood cells).

Also referred to as hemocytoblasts, hematopoietic cells are the stem cells that give rise to blood cells in hematopoiesis.

Where Does Hematopoiesis Occur?

In a healthy adult, hematopoiesis occurs in the bone marrow and lymphatic tissues, where 1000+ new blood cells (all types) are generated from the hematopoietic stem cells to main the steady-state levels.

Where Are Hematopoietic Stem Cells Found?

They can also be found in the umbilical cord and in the blood from the placenta.

Who Discovered Hematopoietic Stem Cells?

It was long believed that the majority of hematopoiesis occurs during ontogeny (origination and development of organism) and that the mammalian hematopoietic system originated from the yolk sac per se.

Functions of Hematopoietic Cells

As alluded to earlier, blood cells and blood cell components are formed in a process called hematopoiesis.

Coming from the Greek words hemato and poiesis which mean blood and to make respectively, hematopoiesis occurs in the bone marrow and is responsible not only for the synthesis but also the multiplication, and differentiation of blood cells.

Shown below is a diagrammatic illustration of the different blood cell types that hematopoietic cells can give rise to:

Clinical uses of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

The mammalian blood system showcases the equilibrium between the functions of hematopoietic stem cells. Intensive studies have already shown the structures and molecules that control these stem cells, but the exact picture of the underlying molecular mechanisms is still unclear.

Above everything else, it is important to note that such issues are not just of academic interest but can also be relevant in devising future novel methods of diagnosing and treating various diseases associated with cells.

Key References

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Hematopoietic Stem Cells | Hematopoiesis | Properties & Functions

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Hematopoietic Stem Cells | Hematopoiesis | Properties & Functions | June 30th, 2022

Research into the retina and optic nerve using stem-cell models has unveiled specific genetic markers of glaucomathe worlds leading cause of permanent blindness possibly opening up new treatments for the condition.

Glaucoma is a blanket term describing a group of eye conditions that do damage to the retinal ganglion cellsneurons near the inner eye that make up the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the part of the eye that receives light and transmits it to the brain; thus, the damage that glaucoma does leads to permanent blindness. Thecondition is predicted to affect around 80 million people by 2040, yet treatments are extremely limited.

This study linked 97 genetic clusters to the damage done by the most common form of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma or POAG, revealing important genetic components that control the way the condition attacks. POAG is a genetically complicated condition that is likely hereditary and, at the moment, cannot be stopped or reversed. The only treatment of POAG available involves releasing pressure on the eye, and this will only slow down the condition.

The research project was led jointly by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, the University of Melbourne, and the Centre for Eye Research Glaucoma.

We saw how the genetic causes of glaucoma act in single cells, and how they vary in different people, said joint lead author of the study and Melbourne University academic, Prof. Joseph Powell, in a Garvan Institutemedia release.

Current treatments can only slow the loss of vision, but this understanding is the first step towards drugs that target individual cell types, Powell said.

The research behind the discoverywas published in the journalCell Genomicsand wasthe result of a lengthy collaboration between Australian medical research centres involving the investigation of complicated diseases and their underlying genetic causes, using stem-cell modelling; which the researchers said demonstrated the success of this study and the power of this approach.

Previously, glaucoma research was limited because samples of the optic nerve could not be obtained from participants in a non-invasive fashion. However, stem-cell modelling addressed this issue as it allowed researchers to develop optic nerve samples from skin, a much easier part of the body to extract.

The team administered skin biopsies on183 participants, 91 of whom had advanced primary open-angle glaucoma, to gather skin cells that they could reprogram to revert into stem cells and then guide into becoming retinal cells. Of the 183 samples collected, 110 samples, 54 from participants with POAG, were successfully converted from skin cells into retinal, and over 200,000 of these converted cells were sequenced to generate molecular signatures.

The researchers of this study employedsingle-cell RNA genetic sequencing in order to study individual cells. This form of sequencing creates an incredibly detailed genetic map, which looks for genetic variations that affect the expressionthe process of turning instructions from DNA into functional products like proteins of one or more genes. Through identifying these key genes, further deductions on the influence that genetic variations have on glaucoma can be made.

The signatures of those with and without glaucoma were compared to establish key genetic components that control the way that glaucoma attacks the retina.

The researchers first identified, using the signatures of both those with and without glaucoma,312 genetic variants associated with the ganglion cells that eventually degenerate in a person living with POAG. Further analysis of the genes associated with POAG linked the 97 clusters mentioned above to the damage done by glaucoma.

Another joint-lead author of the paper and Melbourne University professor, Alice Pebay, said that by studying glaucoma in retinal cells, a context-specific profile of the disease was created.

We wanted to see how glaucoma acts in retinal cells specificallyrather than in a blood sample, for instanceso we can identify the key genetic mechanisms to target, Pebay said.

Equally, we need to know which genetic variations are healthy and normal, so we can exclude them from a treatment.

To improve the understanding of complex conditions such as glaucoma, researchers noted it was important to establish a profile of the disease which promotesthe understanding of causes, risks and fundamental mechanisms of diseases. Furthermore, genetic investigations are critical to drug development and pre-clinical trials because they assist in constructing complete human models of diseases.

University of Tasmania professor and a third joint-lead author of the paper,Alex Hewitt said that the findings of this study set up future research into novel glaucoma treatments.

Not only can scientists develop more tailored drugs, but we could potentially use the stem-cell models to test hundreds of drugs in pre-clinical assays, said Hewitt.

This method could also be used to assess drug efficacy in a personalised manner to assess whether a glaucoma treatment would be effective for a specific patient.

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Secrets of Permanent Blindness Revealed by Stem-cell Research - The Epoch Times

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Secrets of Permanent Blindness Revealed by Stem-cell Research – The Epoch Times | June 30th, 2022

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Vitiligo, a skin de-pigmentation disorder which affects 0.1 to 8% of population, is a cause of worry especially for women as it mainly affects face, neck and hands. It relapses in 40% of patients, within a year after stopping treatment. But Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy can be a hope, experts say.

On World Vitiligo Day on Saturday, dermatologist, Aster R V Hospital, Dr Sunil Prabhu said the disorder is affecting at least 2.16% of children/adolescents. Vitiligo is a long-term condition, where pale white patches develop on the skin due to lack of melanin pigment. According to Dr Praveen Bharadwaj, dermatology consultant, Manipal Hospital, Whitefield, vitiligo is a condition in which the patients immune system weakens which affects the normal functioning of melanin producing cells.

Dr Bharadwaj explained, Mesenchymal stem cells, which are multi-potent adult stem cells, are found in bone marrow, fat tissues, umbilical cord and human foreskin. They are promising agents for therapy for the re-pigmentation of skin in vitiligo. This therapy reduces the main trigger of vitiligo that is immune-mediated melanocyte degeneration (stopping the immune destruction of melanocytes which produces melanin), promotes melanocytes and prevents relapse of the condition, he said.

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Experts offer hope to vitiligo patients - The New Indian Express

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Experts offer hope to vitiligo patients – The New Indian Express | June 30th, 2022

This is the season to soak up the warm, wonderful sun and show off our glowing skin in shorts, tanks and bathing suits.

But this time of year can be most treacherous for skin we can get blasted by everything from poison ivy and mosquitoes to sunburns if were not careful. And even just a little bit of extra sun means we should be doubling down on our hydration and moisturizing, and pulling out the big-gun products to help keep our skin safe.

One of my new favorite products is Lancme Rnergie H.C.F. Triple Serum ($135 on Lancome-usa.com) Its a triple-dose serum that targets volume loss, wrinkles and dark spots, and helps prevent damage with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C+, niacinamide and ferulic acid. That means its a gel, a cream and an emulsion a combo that results in both hydration and moisturizing (the first adds water; the second softens dry skin, so theyre not the same things, and we do indeed need both).

And if the aforementioned glowing is on your summer skin to-do list, then reach for Pat McGrath Labs Divine Skin: Rose 001 The Essence ($86 on Patmcgrath.com). It boosts moisture big-time, illuminates, softens and smooths with natural floral ingredients. Apply it to your face in between cleansing and moisturizing every morning to nourish and replenish the skin barrier, There are zero silicone, parabens, sulfates, gluten, mineral oil and phthalates.

Onto sunscreens. For starters, make SPF a year-round thing, if you havent already. Its your safeguard against hyperpigmentation, inflammation, fine lines and, yes, skin cancer. Use it on your face all year, and then on your body too, especially this time of year. Get one with broad-spectrum coverage (to shield you from both UVB rays that cause burning and UVA rays that cause lasting damage) and with an SPF of 30 or higher. And choose one that smells good, if you have the option. On that front, Chanels UV Essentiel ($55 on chanel.com) is as light in texture as it is in its fragrance a delicate floral that smells fresh as can be.

For anyone with acne-prone skin, non-oily formulas are imperative. Look for liquid sunscreens instead of thick creams that clog pores. A great choice is TIZO 2 Non-Tinted Facial Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 ($43 on amazon.com).

And if youre in the opposite situation and concerned about dry skin instead go in big for moisturizing and hydration, with EleVen by Venus Williams: Natural Unrivaled Sun Serum ($50 on elevenbyvenuswilliams.com). Its a lightweight mineral protection, SPF 35 and is safe for reefs (so wear it on any beach you like before swimming), cruelty-free, and vegan. It also blends in incredibly well, has a velvety finish, and contains prickly pear extract, to hydrate and soothe inflamed skin in case youve gotten a sunburn.

For sunburns, an RX treatment may be in order. At my day spa, GSpa at Foxwoods, we offer a Soothing Facial ($175 for 50 minutes at foxwoods.com) that uses antioxidants, peptides and botanical stem cells. Each of those ingredients protects the skin from free radical damage and restores hydration soothing and refreshing dry and sensitive skin.

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Youve got skin in the game protect it from summer sun damage - Boston Herald

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Youve got skin in the game protect it from summer sun damage – Boston Herald | June 30th, 2022

Collagenits the fountain-of-youth protein that makes skin smooth and plump by stimulating tissue growth. But as the body ages and slows down its own collagen production, many turn to supplements for a fix. The downside? Theyre usually made using animal bones, skin, and cartilage. Gross. Thankfully, vegan alternatives that boost our bodys natural collagen production or actually replicate the amino acids in animal-derived collagen are totally in fashion.

Collagen is a protein the body makes naturally that can be found in hair, skin, nails, and bones. The protein is vital for keeping bones strong and skin looking wrinkle-free, and as you age, your body naturally slows down the production of collagen. The much-buzzed-about beauty trend usually refers to the intake of animal-sourced collagen that typically comes animal bones, skin, and cartilage.

There are many ways to boost your bodys collagen by eating foods high in vitamin C, zinc, and copper. These nutrients can be found in foods such as beans, oranges, broccoli, and tomatoes. As demand for plant-based collagen grows, brands are stepping up to create completely vegan collagen using genetically modified yeast and bacteria. Other innovative brands like Geltor are also utilizing high-tech methods to create vegan collagen that will be more widely available in the future. Geltors Type 21 collagen begins with a set of microbes that naturally produce proteins, which are programmed to make collagen without sourcing it cruelly from animals. Its first protein product, Collume, launched in 2018 for use in skincare formulations.

In the meantime, weve rounded up six products thatll give you the best beauty bang for your buck.

Andalou Naturals

Using a first-of-its-kind, bio-designed vegan collagen from tech company Geltor, this nourishing eye cream boasts unparalleled improvement in skin moisture. Apply day and night to let the collagen, hyaluronic acid, and fruit stem cells work their magic to revitalize tired under-eyes.Learn more here

Pacifica Beauty

A mascara that keeps lashes looking thicker and healthier after taking it off may seem too good to be true, but not when vegan beauty brand Pacifica is on the case. Formulated with vegan collagen and plant-based fibers, this glossy, black formula is a must-have for your beauty bag.Learn more here

Moon Juice

For those looking to preserve their natural collagen, why not drink it with your morning cup o joe? With this three-ingredient coffee creamer, supple skin and minimized fine lines are just a sip away thanks to a powerful combination of rice bran, silver ear mushroom, and salt of hyaluronic acid.Learn more here

Follain

A concentrated blend of niacinamide, bakuchiol (a plant-derived retinol alternative), and a peptide complex work together to bring out smoother, firmer skin and tackle signs of aging in this velvety-soft serum. Layer under moisturizer every morning and night to reap the benefits.Learn more here

Carrot & Stick

With a powerful formulation of plant proteins, vitamins, amino-collagen, and alpine rose stem cell extract, this lightweight antioxidant moisturizer nourishes skin to help smooth lines and wrinkles without any unwanted sulfates, parabens, or phthalates.Learn more here

Sourse

Chocolate and beautycould there be a better combo? An infusion of skin-boosting collagen powder and detoxifying spirulina in this low-sugar, functional dark chocolate means were just two heavenly bites away from improved skin texture and elasticity.Learn more here

For more on vegan beauty, read:The VegNews Vegan Beauty AwardsThe 8 Best Vegan Hydrating Skincare ProductsThe 10 Colorful, Vegan Makeup Products for Summer

Aruka Sanchir(@ruukes) is the Beauty & Style Editor at VegNews who is always looking for exciting new vegan products to test out.

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JUST LAUNCHED! Get our 10 Easy Vegan Summer Meals recipe book as a FREE instant download.

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What Is Vegan Collagen? And the 6 Best Products to Try - VegNews

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on What Is Vegan Collagen? And the 6 Best Products to Try – VegNews | June 30th, 2022

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a potential complication of sickle cell disease (SCD). It involves the sudden onset of respiratory symptoms, which may lead to lung injury.

SCD is an inherited disorder that affects red blood cells. In people with SCD, red blood cells are crescent- or sickle-shaped instead of disc-shaped. This impairs their ability to carry oxygen and causes them to stick together.

A person with SCD may develop ACS if sickle cells stick together to form a blood clot in the small blood vessels within the lungs. Other possible causes include viral and bacterial lung infections and postsurgical complications.

The article below takes an in-depth look at ACS, including its causes, treatment, and prevention.

ACS is a serious and potentially life threatening condition involving sudden, severe respiratory symptoms and reduced blood oxygen levels. The condition is a potential complication of SCD.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common symptoms of ACS include:

Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen. Healthy red blood cells are disc-shaped, allowing them to move freely through blood vessels to deliver oxygen to the bodys tissues and organs.

In those with SCD, the hemoglobin inside red blood cells is abnormal and causes the cells to take on a characteristic sickle shape. These cells do not move through the blood vessels in the typical way and have a tendency to clump together.

A person with SCD may develop ACS as a result of sickle cells blocking a pulmonary blood vessel within the lungs. The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America notes that oxygen deprivation within the lungs can result in permanent lung damage. In some cases, ACS is life threatening.

Various factors can cause or contribute to ACS in SCD. Examples include:

In children, doctors are able to identify the cause of ACS in about 40% of cases. In the other cases, the triggering event is unclear.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, more than 100,000 people in the United States have SCD. There are several types of SCD, each of which involves different gene mutations. According to a 2022 literature review, people with certain genotypes hemoglobin SS (Hb SS) and Hb S-beta0-thalassemia have an increased risk of developing ACS.

Some additional factors that may increase a persons risk of developing ACS include:

A diagnosis of ACS relies on both clinical symptoms and imaging tests.

Clinical symptoms that may indicate a diagnosis of ACS include:

Doctors may perform several tests to help rule out other illnesses and confirm a diagnosis of ACS. Examples include:

Without treatment, ACS may progress rapidly. Early treatment reduces the risk of complications and death.

Most people with ACS require hospitalization for careful respiratory monitoring and treatment. According to a 2017 review, treatment may include the following:

An individual cannot eliminate all risk factors for ACS. For example, people with certain genotypes of SCD have an increased risk of developing ACS. This is a nonpreventable risk factor.

However, people can take steps to reduce their risk of developing ACS. These include:

A 2017 study notes that almost half of all ACS cases develop during hospitalization. In this study, the frequency of an ACS diagnosis decreased from 22% to 12% after implementing a protocol for using incentive spirometry during hospital stays.

Among people with SCD, ACS is the second most common cause of hospitalization and one of the most common causes of death. The condition has a mortality rate of 4.3% in adults and 1.1% in children.

The outlook for people with ACS varies according to the nature and extent of any complications. Possible complications include:

The condition can also be fatal.

According to the British Society for Haematology (BSH), a person who develops ACS will require follow-up treatment, which may include blood transfusions or the chemotherapy agent hydroxycarbamide, which is also known as hydroxyurea.

Acute chest syndrome is a complication of sickle cell disease. People with ACS develop sudden respiratory symptoms, including chest pain and breathing difficulties, along with coughing, wheezing, or rales.

A person with SCD may develop ACS as a result of sickle cells sticking together and forming a blood clot within a pulmonary blood vessel. The condition can also occur due to a viral or bacterial infection, asthma, or complications following surgery.

ACS is a severe and potentially life threatening condition. However, people who receive prompt treatment tend to have a much more favorable outlook. As such, it is important that people with SCD familiarize themselves with the symptoms of ACS so that they can recognize and act on the warning signs, should they occur.

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Acute chest syndrome and sickle cell disease: What is the link? - Medical News Today

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Acute chest syndrome and sickle cell disease: What is the link? – Medical News Today | June 30th, 2022

The biotechs all new neurorestorative approach aims to rebuild and replace lost brain cells in Alzheimers that underlies clinical symptoms.

On the back of the trial, the company plans to launch a world-first human trial in 2024.

The veterinary trial, led by Skin2Neuron and published this month in Stem Cell Research and Therapy, reversed the dementia-like syndrome that strikes down many older pet dogs with Alzheimers.

Dementia was reversed in more than half of the canine patients, with a clinically meaningful improvement in 80%. Typically, improvement lasted around two years.

Skin2Neuron champions its new approach as a ray of hope for Alzheimers disease: championing a completely different approach to the amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimers disease.

Our target is the ultimate cause of dementia: lost neurons and synapses. We do this by microinjecting a patients own HFN cells directly into the hippocampus, the brains memory center and first area to be devastated by Alzheimers, explains the company.

While its lead therapeutic target is Alzheimers, it says its technology also has potential to treat neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinsons disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and more.

A dogs thinking neocortex and hippocampus is similar to the human brain, says the company. Meanwhile, older dogs often develop a dementia syndrome similar to human dementia: becoming forgetful, irritable, lost, wandering around aimlessly, failing to recognize owners and experiencing disrupted sleep.

"Because of deep parallels between the canine brain and human brain, and canine Alzheimer's and human Alzheimer's, I started this trial 10 years ago with the assumption that if it's going to work in humans, then it needs to work in dogs first. And the results exceeded my wildest expectations, said co-founder Professor Michael Valenzuela.

"The hippocampus, the memory center of the brain, was packed with baby neurons and new synapses, precisely where we delivered the cells. Compared to untreated dogs, it was like night and day".

Microscopic analysis confirmed the dogs had classic Alzheimer pathology: meaning the cell therapy worked in the setting of natural disease, a first of its kind, according to the company.

"Given our doggie patients also had many of the same health issues that older people face, it gives me even greater confidence," said Valenzuela.

Study:Valenzuela, M., Duncan, T., Abey, A.et al.Autologous skin-derived neural precursor cell therapy reverses canine Alzheimer dementia-like syndrome in a proof of concept veterinary trial.Stem Cell Res Ther13,261 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-022-02933-w

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'A new Alzheimer's treatment is on the horizon': Cell therapy reverses dementia-like syndrome in dogs - BioPharma-Reporter.com

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on ‘A new Alzheimer’s treatment is on the horizon’: Cell therapy reverses dementia-like syndrome in dogs – BioPharma-Reporter.com | June 30th, 2022

Retinol has been shown to increase collagen production, eradicating fine lines and wrinkles. Cop these top retinol eye creams right now.

This goes without saying dermatologists adore retinol.

The vitamin A derivative has been shown to increase collagen production, eradicating fine lines and wrinkles. When it comes to your eyes, however, a product created particularly for the delicate skin around the eyes is preferable to your normal retinol cream. So weve compiled a list of the top retinol eye creams you should be using right now.

Because it has the thinnest skin on the body, the under-eye region is extremely sensitive. According to experts, retinol in this region may be overly irritating and, if not used correctly, might potentially induce inflammation. If youre concerned about irritation, only apply the product in the evening. Retinols have traditionally been used at night because UV exposure can inactivate vitamin A derivatives, and retinols can make the skin more UV sensitive, according to dermatologists.

When used on a daily basis, retinol will tighten and smooth the skin beneath and around your eyes. The best part is that there are so many eye cream compositions available that there is no need to use a one-size-fits-all strategy. Instead, we discovered 8 retinol eye products, each of which addresses a distinct issue while leaving all skin types smooth, moisturised, and irritation-free.

Charlottes Magic Eye Rescue dramatically enhances elasticity and firmness with a cocktail of cell-energising winter daphne stem cell extract, rice and soy peptides, saccharide isomerate and free radical-fighting vitamins A, C and E all alongside a proprietary botanical eye contour complex that works to increase stretch, resilience and density for younger-looking eyes. Reparative and protective, this replenishing cream has an instant skin-smoothing and lifting effect ideal for disguising signs of a too-late night while the inclusion of moisturising coconut oil and shea butter helps to lock in precious moisture to restore skins bounce and softness.

Intensely nourishing, this luxurious Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask is crammed with moisturising, age-defying and brightening ingredients to leave you looking bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning. Rich in antioxidants including conditioning vitamins E and C, avocado oil and extract soothe and nourishe the delicate under-eye area while protecting it against harmful environmental aggressors like free radicals.

Other hard-working ingredients include niacinamide, which helps to strengthen the skins barrier while visibly improving the appearance of dullness, fine lines and wrinkles, along with caffeine-laced coffeeberry to reduce puffiness and dark circles. The star of the show? Encapsulated retinol, which helps to firm, smooth and plump fine lines and wrinkles without the harsher side effects often associated with retinol.

Vitamin A derivatives have been proven to work at the cellular level to brighten skin and stimulate collagen production. The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream offers an alternative to traditionally irritating retinoids: a ground-breaking slow-release formula plus rich but lightweight oils so its gentle enough to use around the eyes. This night-time eye cream is formulated with Shea Butter to moisturise and soothe while also reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Its an eye cream that actually works.

This quick-absorbing serum features the brands signature Phyto-Retinol Blend that targets signs of ageing around the eyes through three methods of firming skin, boosting hydration, and reducing the look of fine lines. Besides retinol, bakuchiol, rambutan, and ferulic acid also work their magic to smoothen out visible wrinkles.

A supercharged treatment for skin that shows signs of a cellular slow-down, this revitalising serum is jam-packed with instant and time-released retinol to rev your cells engines and rapidly minimise lines while recovering radiance. From firmness to furrows and texture to tone this breakthrough formula has a rapid impact; smoothing and softening wrinkles and boosting resilience, leaving your face looking less lined and youthfully dewy. Created to deliver results without retinols side-effects, this non-irritating elixir is great for all skin types

The Laneige Perfect Renew Youth Retinol Eye Cream penetrates deep into the delicate skin surface around your eyes. Its said to reduce deep and surface wrinkles of each skin layer in only a week by dimishing the number, depth, length and area of wrinkles with pure retinol. Five hyaluronic acids in different sizes work alongside to replenish moisture in the skin to densify the skin and boost 3firmness zones.

This silky, weightless eye cream improves the appearance of skin firmness, texture and elasticity and reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles around the eye area. It firms with retinol and bioretinols, natural ingredients that mimic the effort of retinol but with less sensitivity. Hyaluronic acid increases hydration and helps smooth the appearance of skin.

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In his February 2, 2022 column in the Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam, journalist 'Abd Al-Ghani Salameh contrasted the scientific breakthroughs taking place in the world today with the situation of the Arab and Muslim world, which he said is mired in backwardness, chaos and internal strife, stemming from an obsolete thinking and hostility towards the West. If this situation persists, he said, the Arab peoples may find themselves in danger of extinction.

'Abd Al-Ghani Salameh (Source: Hadfnews.ps)

The following are translated excerpts from his article:[1]

"Over the last two decades, scientists have made great strides in all areas. Some [of the developments] changed our lives completely, while others brought about a smaller change, but all of them had a significant impact on the future of humanity, laying the foundations for a completely new era and a historic turning point. Just as the steam engine launched the Industrial Revolution and the discovery of electricity led to the invention of countless apparatuses, the internet launched the era of the information and media revolution.

"The achievements of this [20-year] period, a very short time in the life of humanity, are even more important than the achievements of the previous eras. Their significance lies in their potential to bring change, just like the earlier inventions and discoveries

"The following is a summary of the most important achievements [of the last two decades]. The most significant, and also the most expensive, was the establishment of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, on the border between Switzerland and France, built through the most extensive international scientific cooperation since [the construction of] the international space station. [Housing] the world's largest particle accelerator, 27 km long, it is meant to provide a better understanding of the emergence of the cosmos by simulating the Big Bang

"In the realm of space [exploration], the giant James Webb Telescope was recently launched into orbit and will replace the Hubble Telescope. It is the fruit of 25 years of labor by scientists from NASA and the Canadian and European space agencies, and it is hoped to provide answers to many questions that have preoccupied humanity Scientists have also discovered the closest planet to earth that may be hospitable to life, although it is very far away, and a black hole has been photographed for the first time, in the center of a faraway galaxy. The Phoenix space probe landed on the surface of Mars and took detailed photos of the Red Planet while the Voyager I Space probe continues its journey to the edges of the cosmos

"The most important medical development, which will take biology to another level, is the complete mapping of the human genome, and the discovery of the molecular structure of human [DNA]. This breakthrough allowed the development of synthetic biology, and scientists have managed to create the first living organism using synthetic DNA Also in the field of medicine, American and Japanese scientists managed to clone human stem cells from skin cells, in a way that does not violate any ethical principles and ensures that the body will not reject them. Using these stem cells, they developed the first complete cure for diabetes. The first artificial heart was developed as well as well as a smart prosthetic hand that can be controlled by the mind.

"In the realm of technology, there were incredible breakthroughs in the area of carbon nanofibers, artificial intelligence and robotics; the 3D printer and Bluetooth technology were developed as well as smart surfaces, virtual keyboards, touch screens, smartphones, social media and audiovisual media. Ecommerce is thriving, and distributers like Amazon and Alibaba have emerged. Electric and hybrid cars, as well as self-driving cars, are being made, Google has mapped every part of the [planet] and all its road systems using GPS, and the G5 internet has arrived

"If we go into detail, we will find dozens of additional important inventions and discoveries. But more important is that we [Arabs] understand our situation compared to the world. Where do we stand, and where are we headed? How far can we go?... It is important to give some profound thought to our local reality and remember our [own] achievements in the last [20] years, [namely] the growing corruption of the Arab regimes, which triggered the Arab Spring revolutions that produced a reality no less corrupt. Throughout these years and before them, we have been mired in backwardness, chaos, civil war, bombings, terror, tribal and sectarian conflict and the reduplication of totalitarian regimes. This is due to the fact that we refuse to even acknowledge the problem and are unable to understand its essence, for we are trapped in an obsolete Salafi mentality and are hostile to the entire world, refusing to integrate in the [global] human culture. The truth, gentlemen, is that we Arabs and Muslims are isolated from the world and from reality, light years removed from the train of progress. True, many recent inventions and discoveries were produced by Arab scientists, but they were made in laboratories and research centers located in the 'infidel' West. If we stay on this course, we will be among the peoples in danger of extinction."

[1] Al-Ayyam (Palestinian Authority), February 2, 2022.

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Introduction

Spiradenoma is a rare type of adnexal tumors originating from the eccrine glands.1,2 The etiology remains unknown. This condition was first introduced by Kersting and Helwig in 1956.1 Its clinical features consist of skin-colored, erythematous, gray, or bluish2 nodules1 accompanied with pain.1,2 The lesions of spiradenoma are generally solitary,1 with the most common predilection being on the ventral part of the body,3 especially on the upper part of the trunk.1 Atypical clinical features of spiradenoma may occur as multiple lesions arranged in a linear or zosteriform arrangement.2,3 Spiradenoma can occur at any age,1 most commonly between 15 and 35 years old.2 There is no difference of incidence among genders.1,2 There are various therapeutic modalities for spiradenoma, including surgical excision, dermabrasion, electrodesiccation, cryosurgery, radiotherapy, and CO2 laser.2,4 However, the efficacy of some of these modalities has not been determined.4 In 2013, Gordon et al5 in the United States reported a case of spiradenoma treated using injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) 10 mg/mL with minimal improvement. Gottschalk et al6 administered TA 40 mg/mL in one case of adnexal tumor with a 75% reduction in lesion size. This study aims to report a rare case of giant spiradenoma which was treated by 10 mg/mL TA injection.

A 31-year-old man presented with giant painful skin-colored and erythematous nodules on his left eyelid and left temple (Figure 1A). The lesion first appeared 15 years prior to consultation as a skin-colored papule on the left eyelid which enlarged into a nodule after 5 years. New nodules appeared on his left temple around 5 years ago and grew larger one year prior. There was no other significant past medical or family history. Dermatological examination revealed firm, skin-colored nodules with smooth surface and well-defined boundaries, painful upon palpation, measuring 1.52.8 x 0.3 cm and 1.61.7 x 0.4 cm. We performed a punch biopsy on the left temple. The histopathological result revealed a tumor mass consisting of round to oval cells with hyperplastic, compact, and nodular characteristics. Some cells formed a tubular structure, and some appeared paler and larger. The cells had monomorphous nuclei with few inflammatory cells. There were no signs of malignancy (Figure 2A and B). The patient refused surgical therapy. Therefore, we performed intralesional injection of 10 mg/mL TA, consisting of five injections per visit. After four sessions of TA injections with one month interval, the lesions grew thinner and smaller and the pain disappeared (Figure 1B). There were no side effects reported.

Figure 1 (A) Clinical manifestations of spiradenoma in the form of skin-colored and erythematous nodules on the left eyelid and left temple before triamcinolone acetonide injection. (B) Spiradenoma lesions after triamcinolone acetonide injection.

Figure 2 Histopathological findings. (A) Red arrow shows one tumor mass. (B) Tumor mass consisted of round, oval cells showing hyperplastic, compact, and nodular characteristics. Some formed a tubular structure. Some cells appeared paler and larger.

Adnexal tumors are classified based on their differentiation in forming skin adnexal structures into eccrine, apocrine, follicular, and sebaceous gland tumors. They are further divided into benign and malignant types. Benign tumors of the eccrine glands include cylindroma, hidradenoma, syringoma, poroma, and spiradenoma.3 There was no report on the prevalence of spiradenoma worldwide. It is considered to be a very rare disease.1,2

The exact etiology and pathogenesis of spiradenoma are unknown. It is suspected that a defect in the tumor suppressor gene plays a role in this disease.2 Several recent hypotheses have been proposed regarding spiradenoma, including abnormal multipotent stem cells in the folliculosebaceous unit and trauma as a triggering factor.7

Spiradenoma is characterized by skin-colored, erythematous, gray, or bluish2,3 nodules1 accompanied by pain.1,2 The lesions are generally solitary,1 and are often found on the ventral part of the body,3 especially the trunk.1 Our case of spiradenoma manifested as painful skin-colored and erythematous nodules on the patients face. This is in accordance with the signs, symptoms, and predilection of spiradenoma.

Some tumors of the skin are difficult to diagnose clinically due to the lack of external characteristics that allow recognition through inspection alone. Several painful subcutaneous tumors which can be considered as differential diagnoses are spiradenoma, neuroma, glomus tumor, leiomyoma, angiolipoma, neurilemmoma, and dermatofibroma.8 Histopathological examination is therefore necessary to establish the diagnosis of spiradenoma.9 The histopathological features of spiradenoma include non-capsulated dermal neoplasms with single or multinodular nodules,10 consisting of basaloid cells, arranged in a tubular structure.3 There are two types of cells that can be found: small basaloid cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and little cytoplasm located at the edge of the nodules, and large basaloid cells with vesicular nuclei and pale cytoplasm located in the center of the nodules.3,8,10 Lymphocytes are also scattered throughout the tumor.3 The histopathological examination result in our case supported the diagnosis of spiradenoma.

Surgical excision is the current gold standard for treating spiradenoma with low recurrence rates. Meanwhile, the efficacy of several other therapeutic modalities has yet to be determined.4 Several investigators had studied other less invasive therapies for spiradenoma. In 2013, Gordon et al5 in the United States reported a case of spiradenoma treated using intralesional 10 mg/mL TA injection, but there was minimal improvement. Gottschalk et al6 treated a skin adnexal tumor with intralesional 40 mg/mL TA injection. A total of 1 mL of 40 mg/mL TA aqueous suspension was injected into a single 4 cm lesion. After one injection, the size of the tumor was reduced by 75%.6 Steroid use in this case aimed to reduce inflammation that can be associated with pain.5 Corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, antiproliferative, and vasoconstrictive effects.11 The intralesional skin injection method was chosen to achieve a localized corticosteroid concentration in the lesion with less systemic absorption, thereby avoiding systemic side effects. The mechanism of how intradermal steroid affects the course of the disease remains unknown.12 Our patient was treated with intralesional 10 mg/mL TA injections due to refusal to undergo surgery. Improvement was observed after the fourth injection: the skin lesions became thinner and smaller. The pain also diminished.

Intralesional injection of TA can be a therapeutic option for spiradenoma patients who refuse surgical therapy. TA injection is easy to administer and showed good efficacy in spiradenoma case, although further research with a larger number of patients remains needed.

The publication of case images was included in the patients consent. Institutional approval to publish case details has been obtained.

The authors have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. The patient signed a consent form for the publication of case details and images.

The authors would like to thank the entire staff of the Dermatology and Venereology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung, West Java Indonesia.

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

1. Kanwaljeet S, Chatterjee T. Eccrine spiradenoma: a rare adnexal tumor. Indian J Cancer. 2017;54(4):695. doi:10.4103/ijc.IJC_301_17

2. Dhua S, Sekhar DR. A rare case of eccrine spiradenomatreatment and management. Eur J Plast Surg. 2016;39(2):143146. doi:10.1007/s00238-015-1103-4

3. Foreman RK, Duncan LM. Appendage tumors of the skin. In: Kang S, Amagai M, Bruckner AL, Enk AH, Margolis DJ, McMichael AJ, editors. Fitzpatricks Dermatology. 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2019:18201853.

4. Nath AK, Kumari R, Thappa DM. Eccrine spiradenoma with chondroid syringoma in Blaschkoid distribution. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2009;75(6):600. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.57723

5. Gordon S, Styron BT, Haggstrom A. Pediatric segmental eccrine spiradenomas: a case report and review of the literature. Pediatr Dermatol. 2013;30(6):e285e286. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1470.2012.01777.x

6. Gottschalk HR. Dermatological clinical conference scientific program for the 102nd annual session California medical association. Arch Dermatol. 1974;110(3):473479. doi:10.1001/archderm.1974.01630090095041

7. Englander L, Emer JJ, McClain D, Amin B, Turner RB. A rare case of multiple segmental eccrine spiradenomas. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2011;4(4):38.

8. Naversen DN, Trask DM, Watson FH, Burket JM. Painful tumors of the skin: LEND AN EGG. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993;28(2):290300. doi:10.1016/0190-9622(93)70039-V

9. Sharma A, Paricharak DG, Nigam JS, et al. Histopathological study of skin adnexal tumoursinstitutional study in South India. J Skin Cancer. 2014;2014:14. doi:10.1155/2014/543756

10. Weedon D. Tumors of cutaneous appendages. In: Weedons Skin Pathology. 3rd ed. Brisbane: Elsevier Inc; 2010:758807.

11. Kerscher M, Williams S, Lehmann P. Topical treatment with glucocorticoids. In: Ring J, Przybilla B, Ruzicka T, editors. Handbook of Atopic Eczema. 2nd ed. New YorkSpringer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg; 2006:477491.

12. Firooz A, Tehranchia-Nia Z, Ahmed AR. Benefits and risks of intralesional corticosteroid injection in the treatment of dermatological diseases. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1995;20(5):363370. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2230.1995.tb01351.x

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As eerily relevant as 1992s Death Becomes Her is in 2022, there is an unexpected difference. Unlike Madeline (Meryl Streep) and Helen (Goldie Hawn), we arent hiding our facelifts. Instead, some of us are live streaming the whole experience. Dermal fillers and Botox are getting as common as getting a facial in your local salon.

"There has been a shift of mindset and increased acceptability of these procedures, says Dr Madhuri Agarwal of Yavana Aesthetics, Mumbai. In the next few years, the trend is going to be more innovations and better delivery mechanisms of these minimally invasive procedures that deliver long term, healthy skin.

What you want to do to look and feel good is not up for discussion. While lasers and acids are wonderful for skin texture and even tightening, a non-surgical facelift involving needles can be more effective for the latter. For example, filler that is more natural looking, because a laser isnt doing anything to make up for the lost volume.

Our bodies are dynamic and need maintenance as we age. Even, and especially, our facial skin. But with so many options of non-surgical face lifts available, it can be overwhelming to make a choice. We spoke to a few dermatologists to help break down the details of the best non-surgical facelift treatments involving needles.

Botox involves injecting a very safe neurotoxin called Botulinum to freeze muscles, and relax them, ironing out wrinkles. Wary but curious first timers can choose to start with very minute unitsthey wont erase all wrinkles but will smoothen them out enough to look a little more natural. I suggest this only when fine lines form, says Dr Kiran Sethi, a dermatologist based in Delhi and author of Skin Sense. It lasts 3-6 months, and there isnt much downtime. Its great when combined with fillers or skin boosters. Theres also been a focus on preventive Botox. If you get it done before the lines set in, you will have fewer lines as you age, explains Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta of ISAAC Luxe Clinic in Mumbai and Delhi. You will need less and less Botox as you age, because those muscles are not contracting as much. And by early I mean, when you see certain lines of ageing.

Fillers are usually injections of hyaluronic acid that add back lost volume to parts of your face. The Indian bone structure is such that our cheekbone is a little flat on the centre part of the face, explains Dr. Chytra V Anand, founder, Kosmoderma located in Chennai and Bengaluru. So most Indians, even teenagers, get dark circles and hollows. Its a loss of volume. So you have to put a filler in there. And people are accepting of that. Its not because they want to look like someone else, or they want to look younger. They just want to maintain their body and skin. The down time for fillers is usually 2-7 days, depending on how easily you bruise. And a good treatment can last anywhere between 1 and 2 years.

The vampire facial might have shocked people a few years ago, but today its one of the most popular treatments in India. Platelet-rich plasma is extracted from your blood, rich in growth hormones that renews blood flow and tissue regeneration wherever it is injected back, including your scalp. Its usually a course of 3-4 sessions, monthly, says Dr Sethi. It treats melasma, dehydration, has a mild filler effect too. And when used on the scalp, new hair growth can show in 6 months.

Theres also stem cell therapy for hair and skin rejuvenation. We take a small biopsy of the skin, splice the cells, and use the extract for regenerative therapy, says Dr Anand. It takes less time and commitment than PRP and is great for scar healing.

Its good to remember that these treatments are addictive too, says Dr Akber Aimer, Director of Aesthetic Medicine, Maya Medi Spa. You need to understand your limit. Always look for a good doctor who is experienced and talk about your problems and ask their opinions. Understand everything clearly. Your decision-making is a multi-step procedure. You need to have done proper research on the materials used and the treatment. Understand the technology. Trust your gut. And dont forget to ask for before and after pictures!

LED light therapy can help you achieve your skincare goals

In-clinic skincare treatments: How theyve evolved with the lockdowns

Here's how to get glowing skin for the summer, according to experts

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While historically lacking in foreign investments, Japans biotech scene is thriving with global investors showing increasing interest. Here are five of the hottest Japanese private companies innovating in the healthcare space.

Japan boasts one of the highest life expectancies in the world, and, faced with a rapidly aging population, is witnessing a growing burden of chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. For this reason, the Japanese healthcare authorities are encouraging research into the treatment and prevention of these diseases, in addition to promoting the potential of regenerative medicine.

In addition to having a roster of healthcare giants including Takeda, Astellas Pharma and Eisai, Japan is also an Asian hotspot for biotech companies. Upcoming startups have historically been limited in foreign funding and reliant on local venture capital players such as Nippon Venture Capital, Shinsei Capital Partners, and the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners.

In 2021, however, the amount of foreign investment flowing into the Japanese biotech space rose to $98 million, almost triple the haul of previous years. The most prominent global backers included Newton Biocapital, F-Prime Capital, and SoftBank Group. This trend arose as the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a wave of investor enthusiasm in biotechnology around the world.

With the help of local experts, weve listed five of the hottest private biotech companies in Japan. These firms, shown in alphabetical order, have raised large funding rounds in the last two years and are developing innovative treatments for a range of conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory disorders.

Source: Shutterstock

Founded: 2017

Headquarters: Fujisawa

Chordia Therapeutics derives its name from the English term chord referring to a collection of musical notes normally played in harmony. In a similar way, the company aims to work in harmony with stakeholders and collaborators to develop first-in-class small molecule treatments for cancer.

Chordias lead program is a drug that disrupts the processing of RNA in tumor cells. In a healthy cell, RNA molecules are typically transcribed from a DNA template and spliced together to guide the production of new proteins. Some cancer cells accumulate mutations in the RNA splicing machinery and become vulnerable to Chordias drugs that interfere with this process.

Chordia raised $31 million (4 billion yen) in a Series C round in May 2022. The aim of the round was to push the companys lead drug through phase I testing and fund the preclinical development of the rest of its pipeline.

This month, the company announced interim results from the phase I trial of its lead candidate, with four of the recruited patients so far showing signs of responding to the treatment.

Founded: 2015

Headquarters: Tokyo

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is irreparably damaged and is unable to pump blood. While this deadly condition can be treated with a heart transplant, there is a general shortage of donors available, making a pressing need for alternatives.

In June 2021, the stem cell therapy developer Heartseed raised $36.5 million (4 billion yen) in a Series C round. The mission is to provide a regenerative route to saving the heart via stem cell therapy.

In the lab, Heartseed reprograms skin cells from the patient into a type of stem cell called induced pluripotent stem cells and grows these stem cells into heart muscle cells. The company then injects the muscle cells as a small cluster, or seed, into heart tissue to repair the muscle.

The proceedings from its Series C round will allow Heartseed to take its lead candidate into clinical development, including a phase I/II trial scheduled for later this year. Last year, Heartseed also licensed its treatment to Novo Nordisk in Denmark to co-develop the treatment outside of Japan.

Founded: 2018

Headquarters: Tokyo

LUCA Science hit the headlines in the last week for raising an impressive $30.3 million (3.86 billion yen) in a Series B round. The company is developing an unusual approach for treating a wide range of diseases: delivering a therapy based on mitochondria, the energy production plants in human cells.

One example where the technology could work well is in strokes and heart attacks, where blood flow is blocked to critical tissue in the brain and heart respectively. The reperfusion of blood to these tissues after the blockage can kill the tissue by damaging its mitochondria. Delivering healthy mitochondria could keep the tissue working properly and protect it from harm.

LUCA Science plans to use its recent Series B winnings to accelerate the preclinical development of its mitochondrial therapies and establish its manufacturing process. In May 2022, the firm also inked a collaboration deal with compatriot pharmaceutical company Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. to co-develop a mitochondrial therapy for rare genetic diseases.

Founded: 2016

Headquarters: Boston, U.S., and Tokyo

Modulus Discovery is a preclinical-stage drug discovery specialist. The company focuses on developing small molecule treatments for conditions such as cancer, inflammatory disorders and rare genetic conditions.

The firm uses a mixture of strategies to speed up the drug discovery process. These include simulating target proteins using a supercomputer; structural protein biology; forming collaborations such as with the peptide drug expert PeptiDream; and tapping into global networks for biological expertise. Modulus most advanced drug program is in late-stage preclinical testing for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

In March 2022, Modulus bagged $20.4 million (2.34 billion yen) in a Series C round. The cash is earmarked to advance the companys R&D programs by expanding its infrastructure, collaborations and headcount.

Founded: 2015

Headquarters: Tokyo

The name Noile-Immune is derived from blending together the phrases no illness and no immunity, no life. This company is developing CAR-T cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, which traditionally consist of extracting the patients immune T cells, engineering them in the lab to hunt down cancer cells, and reinfusing them into the patient.

Unlike approved CAR-T cell therapies, which are limited to treating forms of blood cancer, Noile-Immune aims its therapies at treating solid tumors. The company does this by engineering immune T cells to produce proteins that cause immune cells to migrate into the tumor site.

Noile-Immune is testing its lead candidate in a phase I in patients with solid tumors. The firm is also co-developing therapies with partners including Takeda and the European cell therapy specialists Adaptimmune and Autolus. Additionally, Noile-Immune has an allogeneic version of its cell therapy in the pipeline where immune T cells are sourced from healthy donors rather than the patient.

To finance the clinical development of its lead candidate, Noile-Immune raised $21.8 million (2.38 billion yen) in a Series C round in early 2021. The company hit a setback in January 2022 when a collaboration deal fell through with the U.S. player Legend Biotech. Nonetheless, other external companies remain interested in Noile-Immunes offering, including Japan-based Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd., which opted to assess Noile-Immunes technology in late 2021.

Cover image via Elena Resko.

Thanks to feedback from Shiohara Azusa, VC Investor at The University of Tokyo Edge Capital, and Hironoshin Nomura, Chief Financial Officer, Sosei Group Corporation.

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The last decade of immunotherapy progress was based on decades of prior research, including other forms of immunotherapy.

Until recent years, cancer treatment revolved around surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. But the FDA approval of ipilimumab (Yervoy) in 2011 led to a fourth leg of that treatment stool: immunotherapy. This enabled new treatment paradigms, sometimes with shocking levels of success.

The types of immunotherapy treatments available are proliferating, with approved immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and cellular therapies like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells as well as other modalities in the research and discovery phases. Some even include more established approaches like vaccines that are being revisited with new information and iterations.

The last decade of immunotherapy progress was based on decades of prior research, including other forms of immunotherapy. The Bacillus Calmette-Gurin vaccine, used to prevent tuberculosis for a century, has also been used as an immunotherapy to treat nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer since 1990.1 And rituximab (Rituxan), a monoclonal antibody therapy approved in 1997 for B-cell malignancies, is seen by some as an early immunotherapy as well.2

What many clinicians think of in terms of immunotherapy, however, are treatments targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 pathways, brought from the bench by James P. Allison, PhD, and Tasuku Honjo, PhD, respectively, leading to a Nobel Prize awarded jointly to them in 2018.3

Immune responses are tightly controlled by T cells, and these T cells have on/off switches that help control their responses, according to Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD, a professor in the Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology in the Division of Cancer Medicine and the scientific director of the James P. Allison Institute at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Previously, she said, clinicians were not aware of the off switches. Sharma showed that CTLA-4 was an inhibitory pathway and that by blocking it, the T cells could stay longer to eradicate the tumors.

With 8 ICIs approved for immunotherapy in hematological and solid tumors,4 researchers are not only investigating newer forms of therapy, but also combining them to fi nd more effective and durable treatments and introducing them into earlier lines of treatment (TIMELINE). Current research is also attempting to predict who will respond to which therapy based on current and emerging biomarkers.

Ipilimumab, which kicked off the current era of cancer immunotherapy treatment with FDA approval in 2011, targets CTLA-4 for newly diagnosed or previously treated unresectable or metastatic melanoma.5 Ipilimumab blocks CTLA-4, removing its inhibitory signals. This allows the T cells to activate and launch an immune response to the tumors antigens.

CTLA-4 is basically the fi rst inhibitory pathway that comes up on the T cells, Sharma said. CTLA-4 is a member of an immunoglobulin-related receptor family responsible for some immune regulation aspects of T cells.6 It is thought to regulate T-cell proliferation mostly in lymph nodes, early in an immune response, by having an inhibitory role.7

What ipilimumab really did and what the immune checkpoint inhibitors really did is they opened up this whole different way to approach the immune system, Elizabeth Buchbinder, MD, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, said. Ipilimumab provided amazing durable responses in patients with melanoma with widely metastatic disease, some of whom were alive 10 years later, she said.

The PD-1 and PD-L1 blockades build on ipilimumabs success. Like CTLA-4, PD-1 is a negative regulator of T-cell immune function, inhibiting the target to increase immune system activation. PD-1 suppresses T cells mostly in the peripheral tissues.7 As of November 2021, 8 ICIs have been approved that target CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 pathways and treat 18 types of cancer.3

AntiPD-1 inhibitors

The percentage of people who benefi tted from ipilimumab was on the low side, Buchbinder said, with only an 11% response rate and 20% of people doing well long term in clinical trials. With PD-1 inhibition, however, there was approximately a 40% response rate and many more patients doing well long term, as demonstrated in clinical trials. So [PD-1 inhibition is] both far more effective and also less toxic, Buchbinder said.

When choosing an agent in the PD-1 class, we dont need to differentiate them. Theyre all antiPD-1, Sharma explained. There arent any data to indicate that patients will respond any differently to pembrolizumab [Keytruda] vs nivolumab [Opdivo]. The mechanism of action for both drugs [is] exactly the same.

Instead, clinicians should consider the FDA approvals for each drugs indications and combinations. But from a scientific standpoint, theres no distinguishing between [them], Sharma said.

AntiPD-L1 inhibitors

PD-1 and PD-L1 targeting drugs were found to work beyond melanoma and kidney cancer, the early indications for treatments targeting the CTLA-4 pathway, Buchbinder said. That was a huge opening up of this fi eld to all of these other cancers, like lung cancer, head and neck cancer, GI [gastrointestinal] cancer, breast [cancer], and beyond, she said.

Before receiving these immunotherapies, patients may need to show PD-1 or PD-L1 expression, although this may not identify all patients who can benefi t from the treatments. Researchers continue to try to identify additional and better biomarkers to indicate which patients may respond.13

In March, the FDA approved the newest ICI, nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw (Opdualag), for adult and pediatric patients (12 years and older) with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. 3 Nivolumab is a PD-1 inhibitor, and relatlimab blocks LAG3 proteins on immune cells. It is being tested in a lot of other tumors, Buchbinder noted.

Another target in the discovery phase is T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3, which is a checkpoint receptor expressed by many immune cells and leukemic stem cells.14 It is activated by several ligands and is being tested in different cancer types.

Also in clinical trials are tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) that recognize cancer cells as abnormal, entering the tumor to kill the cells. TILs already recognize the targets because they originate from the tumor itself.15 Although they need to be expanded, they are not the same as CAR T cells, which must be engineered to recognize the targets.

In addition, older therapies are experiencing a resurgence, with research underway to make interleukin 2 (IL-2) help cytokines function better. That work is trying to optimize what those cytokines do in the body and the immune system, Buchbinder said. There are so many areas where the goal of the therapy is activation of the immune system.

One of these areas includes a return to vaccines. In earlier vaccine therapy, We had no idea that while we were giving therapy to turn on the cells, we were also rapidly turning off the cells because an on switch will automatically drive an off switch for the immune system, Sharma said. The yin and the yang of the immune response is very important to understand because when the immune response is driven in one direction, it will always try to control itself. With that in mind, newer vaccines might work better if given in combination with an antiCTLA-4, for example, to block the inhibitory pathways, she said.

Vaccines are taking many forms, including the mRNA vaccine used for COVID-19, peptide vaccines that include a tiny bit of protein that is expected to be expressed on the tumor surface, and vaccines constructed from dendritic cells, which stimulate T cells, Buchbinder said.

There are also viral therapies injected directly into tumor vaccines, such as talimogene laherparepvec (Imlygic) approved in 2015 for the treatment of some patients with metastatic melanoma that cannot be surgically removed.16 It is a is a modifi ed herpes virus directly injected into the tumor to bring about a local immune response, Buchbinder said.

According to Sharma, approximately 60 targets are currently being evaluated for immunotherapy development.

The FDA has approved 2 CAR T-cell therapies, both in 2017: tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) for patients 25 years and younger with relapsed B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia17 and axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta) for the treatment of adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma that is refractory to fi rst-line chemoimmunotherapy or that relapses within 12 months of fi rst-line chemoimmunotherapy.18 These treatments involve collecting T cells from the patient and engineering them to express CARs that recognize the patients cancer cells. The cells are then enlarged and infused back into the patient, where they can target the antigen- expressing cancer cells. CARs have been shown to greatly improve clinical response and disease remission in some patients.19

I think CAR T cells are clearly building on the concept that T cells are the soldiers of immune response. They are basically engineering the cell to have an antibody that recognizes a specifi c antigen, Sharma said, adding that its important to ensure the targeted antigen is part of the cancer.

CAR T cells have had limited effectiveness in treating solid tumors, given the low T-cell infiltration and immunosuppressive environment that challenges the immune system from successfully reaching and killing solid tumor cancer cells.20

Natural killer (NK) cells are another cell type being researched to attempt tumor eradication, and this therapy is in the early stages, according to Sharma. CAR NK cells can be generated from allogenic donors, making them more attractive as off the shelf treatments compared with CAR T cells, which are collected from the patient. As of early 2021, more than 500 CAR T-cell trials and 17 CAR T-cell/NK-cell trials were in the works globally.21

A major consideration when choosing any treatment, including immunotherapies, is the adverse event (AE) profile. Immunotherapy drugs have different AEs than oncology treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. [With immunotherapy,] what we see is infl ammation because youre turning on the immune system in such a powerful way, Sharma said. Inflammatory reactions include a skin rash or dermatitis, infl ammation in the colon (colitis and diarrhea), and/or infl ammation in the lung with pneumonitis. Clinicians are now aware of these AEs and can monitor them closely, stopping therapy if needed to control them before they become severe, Sharma said.

Toxicities with ipilimumab can be severe, and patients requiring hospital admission might need high-dose steroids, Buchbinder noted. Common AEs for the CTLA-4 inhibitor are typically GI related, including diarrhea, colitis, and hepatitis. Some patients may experience fatigue or a small rash, but most generally make it through treatment with minimal AEs.

The stronger AEs with ipilimumab can be seen from a trial comparing ipilimumab plus nivolumab to nivolumab and relatlimab. Almost 60% of patients experienced AEs with the ipilimumab combination vs 20% in the latter group.17

PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibition typically involve AEs that cause lung issues rather than GI. The types of organ systems affected by immunotherapy AEs can vary based upon which checkpoint inhibitor you use but in some ways, the mechanism by which these occur is very similar, Buchbinder said. Its all an overactivation of the immune system leading to infl ammation in an organ, and there are very few organs that we have not seen toxicity from immunotherapy.

Buchbinder noted that cellular therapies can cause more severe AEs, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Patients can get very sick very quickly, she said, because the therapies given with the cellsincluding the chemotherapy given before and the IL-2 given aftercause most of the AEs. With a lot of the injection therapies, the AEs are related to delivery method, like injection-site issues, but there are also potential systemic AEs like fever, chills, and reactions someone would get to a virus. Its really a huge range in terms of the different [adverse] effects, Buchbinder said.

CRS is the most common AE of CAR T-cell therapy, and it is caused by large numbers of T cells activating, which releases inflammatory cytokines. Although this demonstrates that the therapy is working, it can cause worrisome symptoms. The CRS and the related neurotoxicity can be treated with tocilizumab (Actemra).

One question in the immunotherapy world is whether the development of immune-related AEs predicts a positive or negative response to treatment. With melanoma, we think the data have been very tricky, Buchbinder said. Early trials appeared to show a higher response rate for patients who developed severe symptoms, but as trials developed, that signal was not always there. I think the overall impression is that yes, severe AEs are associated with a better response, she said. A cosmetic AE that clinicians who treat melanoma are excited to see, she said, is vitiligo. It suggests that the immune system is attacking normal melanocytes and that it is attacking cancer cells as well. Those patients generally do far better than patients who dont get vitiligo.

A meta-analysis of 30 studies on the topic, including 4971 individuals, showed that patients who developed immune-related AEs experienced an overall survival benefi t and a progression-free survival benefi t using ICI therapy compared with those who did not. The authors stated that more studies are needed and that the results are controversial.22

Melanoma has been the proving ground for ICIs, Buchbinder said, But now the bar is higher in terms of immunotherapy.

ICIs are now being tested in more immuneresistant tumors. Although there are huge hurdles in terms of some cancers where its going to be hard for immune therapy to do muchlike pancreatic cancer or prostate cancerthere are still diseases where theres opportunity and a possibility that the correct approach or combination might get to some great therapy for those diseases, Buchbinder said

Immunotherapies are being combined with conventional therapies to better integrate treatment. We dont see cancer as a death sentence anymore, Sharma said. We really do see a lot of hope, [and patients with cancer] should be encouraged to discuss immunotherapy with their physician either in a clinical trial or an FDA-approved agent. If you do have a response, its a pretty phenomenal response.

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10 Years of Immunotherapy: Advances, Innovations, and Better Patient Outcomes - Targeted Oncology

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