Bagsværd, Denmark, 14 January 2022 – Novo Nordisk today announced that the company has settled a securities lawsuit in Denmark filed in August 2019. The settlement contains no admission of liability, wrongdoing or responsibility by Novo Nordisk and no payment will be made by Novo Nordisk to the plaintiffs.

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Novo Nordisk announces settlement of securities lawsuit in Denmark

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RADNOR, Pa., Jan. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NRx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: NRXP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, responded to today’s press release issued by Relief Therapeutics.

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NRx Responds to Relief’s Allegations of January 14, 2022

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— Meeting to Reconvene on January 18, 2022 —

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Nabriva Therapeutics Adjourns Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders

Global News Feed Comments Off on Nabriva Therapeutics Adjourns Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders | January 18th, 2022

NANTES, France, Jan. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OSE Immunotherapeutics SA (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE) today announced the departure of Alexis Peyroles as Chief Executive Officer. Dominique Costantini, current Chairwoman of OSE Immunotherapeutics’ Board of Directors, and previously CEO from 2012 to 2018, has been appointed interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. A search for a new CEO has been launched with the assistance of a leading executive search firm.

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OSE Immunotherapeutics Announces the Appointment of Dominique Costantini as Interim CEO Following the Departure of Alexis Peyroles

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John Dawson to retire from Oxford Biomedica

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John Dawson to retire from Oxford Biomedica

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evelo Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:EVLO), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing SINTAX™ medicines as a new modality of orally delivered treatments for inflammatory disease, today announced data for EDP1815, the Company’s lead product in inflammation, detailing its mechanism of action and supporting further clinical development in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The data were presented in two posters on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at the 2022 Winter Clinical Dermatology Congress in Koloa, Hawaii.

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Evelo Biosciences Presents Data on EDP1815 Mechanism of Action and Supporting Ongoing Clinical Development for Inflammatory Diseases

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Clinical trial begins in the UK to investigate 3-in-1 high blood pressure pill

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Clinical trial begins in the UK to investigate 3-in-1 high blood pressure pill

Global News Feed Comments Off on Clinical trial begins in the UK to investigate 3-in-1 high blood pressure pill | January 18th, 2022

IRB approval to initiate Phase 2 study for methamphetamine abuse disorders

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Revive Therapeutics Provides Update of Psilocybin Pharmaceutical Programs

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Information concerning the total number of voting rights and shares, provided pursuant to article L. 233-8 II of the Code de commerce (the French Commercial Code) and article 223-16 of the Règlement général de l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers (Regulation of the French stock market authority)

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Sanofi: Information concerning the total number of voting rights and shares – December 2021

Global News Feed Comments Off on Sanofi: Information concerning the total number of voting rights and shares – December 2021 | January 18th, 2022

Phase 1/2 ABILITY study of MDNA11 remains on track for an update on additional safety pharmacokinetic (PK), and pharmacodynamic (PD) data in low-dose cohorts in Q1 2022 and initial efficacy results in mid-2022 Phase 1/2 ABILITY study of MDNA11 remains on track for an update on additional safety pharmacokinetic (PK), and pharmacodynamic (PD) data in low-dose cohorts in Q1 2022 and initial efficacy results in mid-2022

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Medicenna Announces Management Change and Appoints Experienced Development Advisory Committee

Global News Feed Comments Off on Medicenna Announces Management Change and Appoints Experienced Development Advisory Committee | January 18th, 2022

Report Oceanpresents a new report onglobalcell therapy processing marketsize, share, growth, industry trends, and forecast 2030, covering various industry elements and growth trends helpful for predicting the markets future.

The global cell therapy processing market was valued at $1,695 million in 2018, and is projected to reach $12,062 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 27.80% from 2019 to 2026.

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In order to produce a holistic assessment of the market, a variety of factors is considered, including demographics, business cycles, and microeconomic factors specific to the market under study. Global cell therapy processing market report 2021 also contains a comprehensive business analysis of the state of the business, which analyzes innovative ways for business growth and describes critical factors such as prime manufacturers, production value, key regions, and growth rate.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services report that US healthcare expenditures grew by 4.6% to US$ 3.8 trillion in 2019, or US$ 11,582 per person, and accounted for 17.7% of GDP. Also, the federal government accounted for 29.0% of the total health expenditures, followed by households (28.4%). State and local governments accounted for 16.1% of total health care expenditures, while other private revenues accounted for 7.5%.

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This study aims to define market sizes and forecast the values for different segments and countries in the coming eight years. The study aims to include qualitative and quantitative perspectives about the industry within the regions and countries covered in the report. The report also outlines the significant factors, such as driving factors and challenges, that will determine the markets future growth.

Cell therapy is the administration of living cells to replace a missing cell type or to offer a continuous source of a necessary factor to achieve a truly meaningful therapeutic outcome. There are different forms of cell therapy, ranging from transplantation of cells derived from an individual patient or from another donor. The manufacturing process of cell therapy requires the use of different products such as cell lines and instruments. These cell therapies are used for the treatment of various diseases such as cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders.

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Increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, rise in the demand for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, increase in the R&D for the advancement in the research associated with cell therapy, increase in the potential of cell therapies in the treatment of diseases associated with lungs using stem cell therapies, and rise in understanding of the role of stem cells in inducing development of functional lung cells from both embryonic stem cells (ESCs) & induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are the key factors that fuel the growth of the cell therapy processing market.

Moreover, increase in a number of clinical studies relating to the development of cell therapy processing, rise in adoption of regenerative drug, introduction of novel technologies for cell therapy processing, increase in government investments for cell-based research, increase in number of GMP-certified production facilities, large number of oncology-oriented cell-based therapy clinical trials, and rise in the development of allogeneic cell therapy are other factors that augment the growth of the market. However, high-costs associated with the cell therapies, and bottlenecks experienced by manufacturers during commercialization of cell therapies are expected to hinder the growth of the market.

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The cell therapy processing market is segmented into offering type, application, and region. By type, the market is categorized into products, services, and software. The application covered in the segment include cardiovascular devices, bone repair, neurological disorders, skeletal muscle repair, cancer, and others. On the basis of region, the market is analyzed across North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, and rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, and rest of Asia-Pacific), and LAMEA (Latin America, Middle East, and Africa).

KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS The study provides an in-depth analysis of the market along with the current trends and future estimations to elucidate the imminent investment pockets. It offers a quantitative analysis from 2018 to 2026, which is expected to enable the stakeholders to capitalize on the prevailing market opportunities. A comprehensive analysis of all the geographical regions is provided to determine the existing opportunities. The profiles and growth strategies of the key players are thoroughly analyzed to understand the competitive outlook of the global market.

LIST OF KEY PLAYERS PROFILED IN THE REPORT Cell Therapies Pty Ltd Invitrx Inc. Lonza Ltd Merck & Co., Inc. (FloDesign Sonics) NantWorks, LLC Neurogeneration, Inc. Novartis AG Plasticell Ltd. Regeneus Ltd StemGenex, Inc.

LIST OF OTHER PLAYERS IN THE VALUE CHAIN (These players are not profiled in the report. The same will be included on request.) Beckman Coulter, Inc. Stemcell Technologies MiltenyiBiotec GmbH

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KEY MARKET SEGMENTSBy Offering Type Products Services Software

By Application Cardiovascular Devices Bone Repair Neurological Disorders Skeletal Muscle Repair Cancer Others

By Region North Americao U.S.o Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo UKo Italyo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia-Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEAo Latin Americao Middle Easto Africa

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What are the aspects of this report that relate to regional analysis?

The reports geographical regions include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of market trends, including information on usage and consumption at the regional level.

Reports on the market include the growth rates of each region, which includes their countries, over the coming years.

How are the key players in the market assessed?

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leading competitors in the market.

The report includes information about the key vendors in the market.

The report provides a complete overview of each company, including its profile, revenue generation, cost of goods, and products manufactured.

The report presents the facts and figures about market competitors, alongside the viewpoints of leading market players.

A market report includes details on recent market developments, mergers, and acquisitions involving the key players mentioned.

Following are the questions answered by the Market report:

What are the goals of the report?

This market report shows the projected market size for the cell therapy processing market at the end of the forecast period. The report also examines the historical and current market sizes.

On the basis of various indicators, the charts present the year-over-year growth (%) and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the given forecast period.

The report includes an overview of the market, its geographical scope, its segmentation, and the financial performance of key players.

The report examines the current state of the industry and the potential growth opportunities in North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, and Africa.

The research report includes various factors contributing to the markets growth.

The report analyzes the growth rate, market size, and market valuation for the forecast period.

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The report analyzes companies across the globe in detail.

The report provides an overview of major vendors in the market, including key players.

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This report includes a comparison of market competitors and a discussion of the standpoints of the major players.

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This report provides comprehensive information on factors expected to influence the market growth and market share in the future.

The report offers the current state of the market and future prospects for various geographical regions.

This report provides both qualitative and quantitative information about the competitive landscape of the market.

Combined with Porters Five Forces analysis, it serves as SWOT analysis and competitive landscape analysis.

It provides an in-depth analysis of the market, highlighting its growth rates and opportunities for growth.

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Cell Therapy Processing Market CAGR of 27.80% Share, Scope, Stake, Trends, Industry Size, Sales & Revenue, Growth, Opportunities and Demand with...

IPS Cell Therapy Comments Off on Cell Therapy Processing Market CAGR of 27.80% Share, Scope, Stake, Trends, Industry Size, Sales & Revenue, Growth, Opportunities and Demand with… | January 3rd, 2022

Definition

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the tight bundle of cells and nerves that sends and receives signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body. SCI can be caused by direct injury to the spinal cord itself or from damage to the tissue and bones (vertebrae) that surround the spinal cord. This damage can result in temporary or permanent changes in sensation, movement, strength, and body functions below the site of injury. Some injuries that cause little or no cell death may allow for an almost complete recovery while those that occur higher on the spinal cord and are more serious can cause paralysis in most of the body. Motor vehicle accidents and catastrophic falls are the most common causes of SCI in the United States.

An incomplete injury means the spinal cord is still able to trasnmit some messages to and from the brain to the rest of the body. A complete injury means there is no nerve communication and motor function (voluntary movement) below the site where the trauma occurred.

A spinal cord injury can cause one or more symptoms including:

Definition

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the tight bundle of cells and nerves that sends and receives signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body. SCI can be caused by direct injury to the spinal cord itself or from damage to the tissue and bones (vertebrae) that surround the spinal cord. This damage can result in temporary or permanent changes in sensation, movement, strength, and body functions below the site of injury. Some injuries that cause little or no cell death may allow for an almost complete recovery while those that occur higher on the spinal cord and are more serious can cause paralysis in most of the body. Motor vehicle accidents and catastrophic falls are the most common causes of SCI in the United States.

An incomplete injury means the spinal cord is still able to trasnmit some messages to and from the brain to the rest of the body. A complete injury means there is no nerve communication and motor function (voluntary movement) below the site where the trauma occurred.

A spinal cord injury can cause one or more symptoms including:

Treatment

Immediate treatment at the accident scene includes putting the person on a backboard with a special collar around the neck to prevent further damage to the spinal cord. Treatment at a trauma center may include realigning the spine and surgery to remove any bone fragments or other objects that might press on the spinal column.

Rehabilitative care may include breathing assistance using a machine that produces forced air, treatment for any respiratory or circulatory problems, pain medications, and learning new ways to address bladder and bowel problems. A rehabilitation team will assess the individual's needs and create a rehabilitation program that combines plysical and other therapies with skill-building activities, training, and counseling to aid recovery and provide social and emotional support, as well as to increase independence and quality of life.

Treatment

Immediate treatment at the accident scene includes putting the person on a backboard with a special collar around the neck to prevent further damage to the spinal cord. Treatment at a trauma center may include realigning the spine and surgery to remove any bone fragments or other objects that might press on the spinal column.

Rehabilitative care may include breathing assistance using a machine that produces forced air, treatment for any respiratory or circulatory problems, pain medications, and learning new ways to address bladder and bowel problems. A rehabilitation team will assess the individual's needs and create a rehabilitation program that combines plysical and other therapies with skill-building activities, training, and counseling to aid recovery and provide social and emotional support, as well as to increase independence and quality of life.

Definition

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the tight bundle of cells and nerves that sends and receives signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body. SCI can be caused by direct injury to the spinal cord itself or from damage to the tissue and bones (vertebrae) that surround the spinal cord. This damage can result in temporary or permanent changes in sensation, movement, strength, and body functions below the site of injury. Some injuries that cause little or no cell death may allow for an almost complete recovery while those that occur higher on the spinal cord and are more serious can cause paralysis in most of the body. Motor vehicle accidents and catastrophic falls are the most common causes of SCI in the United States.

An incomplete injury means the spinal cord is still able to trasnmit some messages to and from the brain to the rest of the body. A complete injury means there is no nerve communication and motor function (voluntary movement) below the site where the trauma occurred.

A spinal cord injury can cause one or more symptoms including:

Treatment

Immediate treatment at the accident scene includes putting the person on a backboard with a special collar around the neck to prevent further damage to the spinal cord. Treatment at a trauma center may include realigning the spine and surgery to remove any bone fragments or other objects that might press on the spinal column.

Rehabilitative care may include breathing assistance using a machine that produces forced air, treatment for any respiratory or circulatory problems, pain medications, and learning new ways to address bladder and bowel problems. A rehabilitation team will assess the individual's needs and create a rehabilitation program that combines plysical and other therapies with skill-building activities, training, and counseling to aid recovery and provide social and emotional support, as well as to increase independence and quality of life.

Prognosis

Retention of movement depends on the type of injury and where it occurs along the spine. Loss of nerve function occurs below the level of injury. An injury higher on the spinal cord can cause paralysis in most of the body and affect all limbs (called tetraplegia or quadriplegia). A lower injury to the spinal cord may cause paralysis affecting the legs and lower body (called paraplegia).

People who survive a spinal cord injury will most likely have medical complications such as chronic pain and bladder and bowel dysfunction, along with an increased susceptibility to respiratory and heart problems. Successful recovery depends upon how well these chronic conditions are handled day to day.

x

Prognosis

Retention of movement depends on the type of injury and where it occurs along the spine. Loss of nerve function occurs below the level of injury. An injury higher on the spinal cord can cause paralysis in most of the body and affect all limbs (called tetraplegia or quadriplegia). A lower injury to the spinal cord may cause paralysis affecting the legs and lower body (called paraplegia).

People who survive a spinal cord injury will most likely have medical complications such as chronic pain and bladder and bowel dysfunction, along with an increased susceptibility to respiratory and heart problems. Successful recovery depends upon how well these chronic conditions are handled day to day.

Prognosis

Retention of movement depends on the type of injury and where it occurs along the spine. Loss of nerve function occurs below the level of injury. An injury higher on the spinal cord can cause paralysis in most of the body and affect all limbs (called tetraplegia or quadriplegia). A lower injury to the spinal cord may cause paralysis affecting the legs and lower body (called paraplegia).

People who survive a spinal cord injury will most likely have medical complications such as chronic pain and bladder and bowel dysfunction, along with an increased susceptibility to respiratory and heart problems. Successful recovery depends upon how well these chronic conditions are handled day to day.

Definition

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the tight bundle of cells and nerves that sends and receives signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body. SCI can be caused by direct injury to the spinal cord itself or from damage to the tissue and bones (vertebrae) that surround the spinal cord. This damage can result in temporary or permanent changes in sensation, movement, strength, and body functions below the site of injury. Some injuries that cause little or no cell death may allow for an almost complete recovery while those that occur higher on the spinal cord and are more serious can cause paralysis in most of the body. Motor vehicle accidents and catastrophic falls are the most common causes of SCI in the United States.

An incomplete injury means the spinal cord is still able to trasnmit some messages to and from the brain to the rest of the body. A complete injury means there is no nerve communication and motor function (voluntary movement) below the site where the trauma occurred.

A spinal cord injury can cause one or more symptoms including:

Treatment

Immediate treatment at the accident scene includes putting the person on a backboard with a special collar around the neck to prevent further damage to the spinal cord. Treatment at a trauma center may include realigning the spine and surgery to remove any bone fragments or other objects that might press on the spinal column.

Rehabilitative care may include breathing assistance using a machine that produces forced air, treatment for any respiratory or circulatory problems, pain medications, and learning new ways to address bladder and bowel problems. A rehabilitation team will assess the individual's needs and create a rehabilitation program that combines plysical and other therapies with skill-building activities, training, and counseling to aid recovery and provide social and emotional support, as well as to increase independence and quality of life.

Prognosis

Retention of movement depends on the type of injury and where it occurs along the spine. Loss of nerve function occurs below the level of injury. An injury higher on the spinal cord can cause paralysis in most of the body and affect all limbs (called tetraplegia or quadriplegia). A lower injury to the spinal cord may cause paralysis affecting the legs and lower body (called paraplegia).

People who survive a spinal cord injury will most likely have medical complications such as chronic pain and bladder and bowel dysfunction, along with an increased susceptibility to respiratory and heart problems. Successful recovery depends upon how well these chronic conditions are handled day to day.

What research is being done?

Scientists at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and those at other institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and fund research to better understand SCI and how to treat it.

Current research on SCI focuses on advancing our understanding of four key principles of spinal cord repair:

Basic spinal cord function research studies how the normal spinal cord develops, processes sensory information, controls movement, and generates rhythmic patterns (like walking and breathing). Research on injury mechanisms focuses on what causes immediate harm and on the cascade of helpful and harmful bodily reactions that protect from or contribute to damage in the hours and days following a spinal cord injury. Neural engineering strategies also offer ways to restore communication and independence.

Information from the National Library of Medicines MedlinePlusSpinal Cord Injuries

Patient Organizations

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

636 Morris Turnpike

Suite 3A

Short Hills

NJ

Short Hills, NJ 07078

Tel: 973-379-2690; 800-225-0292

Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

1095 NW 14th Terrace

Lois Pope LIFE Center

Miami

FL

Miami, FL 33136

Tel: 305-243-6001; 800-STANDUP (782-6387)

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Administration for Community Living

330 C St., NW

Washington

DC

Washington, DC 20201

Tel: 202-401-4634; 202-245-7316 (TTY)

National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)

8400 Corporate Drive

Suite 500

Landover

MD

Landover, MD 20785

Tel: 301-459-5900; 800-346-2742; 301-459-5984 (TTY)

National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center

1717 6th Avenue South

Birmingham

AL

Birmingham, AL 35232

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)

801 18th Street, NW

Washington

DC

Washington, DC 20006-3517

Tel: 800-424-8200

United Spinal Association

120-34 Queens Boulevard, #320

Kew Gardens

NY

Kew Gardens, NY 11415

Tel: 718-803-3782; 800-962-9629

Publications

Spasticity information sheet compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Myoclonus fact sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Patient Organizations

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

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Spinal Cord Injury Information Page | National Institute ...

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Spinal Cord Injury Information Page | National Institute … | January 3rd, 2022

After the therapy performs its function, the materials biodegrade into nutrients for the cells within 12 weeks and then completely disappear from the body without noticeable side effects.This is the first study in which researchers controlled the collective motion of molecules through changes in chemical structure to increase a therapeutics efficacy.

Samuel I. Stupp

Our research aims to find a therapy that can prevent individuals from becoming paralyzed after major trauma or disease, said NorthwesternsSamuel I. Stupp, who led the study. For decades, this has remained a major challenge for scientists because our bodys central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, does not have any significant capacity to repair itself after injury or after the onset of a degenerative disease. We are going straight to the FDA to start the process of getting this new therapy approved for use in human patients, who currently have very few treatment options.

Stupp is Board of Trustees Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern, where he is founding director of theSimpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology(SQI) and its affiliated research center, theCenter for Regenerative Nanomedicine. He has appointments in theMcCormick School of Engineering,Weinberg College of Arts and SciencesandFeinberg School of Medicine.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, nearly 300,000 people are currently living with a spinal cord injury in the United States. Life for these patients can be extraordinarily difficult. Less than 3% of people with complete injury ever recover basic physical functions. And approximately 30% are re-hospitalized at least once during any given year after the initial injury, costing millions of dollars in average lifetime health care costs per patient. Life expectancy for people with spinal cord injuries is significantly lower than people without spinal cord injuries and has not improved since the 1980s.

I wanted to make a difference on the outcomes of spinal cord injury and to tackle this problem, given the tremendous impact it could have on the lives of patients.

Currently, there are no therapeutics that trigger spinal cord regeneration, said Stupp, an expert in regenerative medicine. I wanted to make a difference on the outcomes of spinal cord injury and to tackle this problem, given the tremendous impact it could have on the lives of patients. Also, new science to address spinal cord injury could have impact on strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and stroke.

A new injectable therapy forms nanofibers with two different bioactive signals (green and orange) that communicate with cells to initiate repair of the injured spinal cord. Illustration by Mark Seniw

The secret behind Stupps new breakthrough therapeutic is tuning the motion of molecules, so they can find and properly engage constantly moving cellular receptors. Injected as a liquid, the therapy immediately gels into a complex network of nanofibers that mimic the extracellular matrix of the spinal cord. By matching the matrixs structure, mimicking the motion of biological molecules and incorporating signals for receptors, the synthetic materials are able to communicate with cells.

Receptors in neurons and other cells constantly move around, Stupp said. The key innovation in our research, which has never been done before, is to control the collective motion of more than 100,000 molecules within our nanofibers. By making the molecules move, dance or even leap temporarily out of these structures, known as supramolecular polymers, they are able to connect more effectively with receptors.

100,000molecules move within the nanofibers

Stupp and his team found that fine-tuning the molecules motion within the nanofiber network to make them more agile resulted in greater therapeutic efficacy in paralyzed mice. They also confirmed that formulations of their therapy with enhanced molecular motion performed better during in vitro tests with human cells, indicating increased bioactivity and cellular signaling.

Given that cells themselves and their receptors are in constant motion, you can imagine that molecules moving more rapidly would encounter these receptors more often, Stupp said. If the molecules are sluggish and not as social, they may never come into contact with the cells.

Once connected to the receptors, the moving molecules trigger two cascading signals, both of which are critical to spinal cord repair. One signal prompts the long tails of neurons in the spinal cord, called axons, to regenerate. Similar to electrical cables, axons send signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Severing or damaging axons can result in the loss of feeling in the body or even paralysis. Repairing axons, on the other hand, increases communication between the body and brain.

Zaida lvarez

The second signal helps neurons survive after injury because it causes other cell types to proliferate, promoting the regrowth of lost blood vessels that feed neurons and critical cells for tissue repair. The therapy also induces myelin to rebuild around axons and reduces glial scarring, which acts as a physical barrier that prevents the spinal cord from healing.

The signals used in the study mimic the natural proteins that are needed to induce the desired biological responses. However, proteins have extremely short half-lives and are expensive to produce, said Zaida lvarez, the studys first author. Our synthetic signals are short, modified peptides that when bonded together by the thousands will survive for weeks to deliver bioactivity. The end result is a therapy that is less expensive to produce and lasts much longer.

A former research assistant professor in Stupps laboratory,lvarez is now a visiting scholar at SQI and a researcher at theInstitute for Bioengineering of Catalonain Spain.

While the new therapy could be used to prevent paralysis after major trauma (automobile accidents, falls, sports accidents and gunshot wounds) as well as from diseases, Stupp believes the underlying discovery that supramolecular motion is a key factor in bioactivity can be applied to other therapies and targets.

The central nervous system tissues we have successfully regenerated in the injured spinal cord are similar to those in the brain affected by stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease, Stupp said. Beyond that, our fundamental discovery about controlling the motion of molecular assemblies to enhance cell signaling could be applied universally across biomedical targets.

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Dancing molecules successfully repair severe spinal cord ...

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Dancing molecules successfully repair severe spinal cord … | January 3rd, 2022

Whether a deadly disease like cancer and Alzheimers or a lifelong affliction like diabetes, eczema, or arthritis, 2021 has been a year of breakthroughs and advancements.

Beyond COVID-19 and the developments of the mRNA vaccines created to halt the pandemic, medical researchers around the world continued to focus on the long-entrenched problems that have plagued our health for centuries.

Here are some of the top Health stories from 2021:

Routinely polled as one of the most-feared diseases, Alzheimers researchers have hailed several achievements this year.

One fascinating focus has been on prevention, or what contributes to the disease.

A neuroscientist who authored a book called The First Survivors of Alzheimers is not so much focused on drugs as he is focused on brain prevention and is achieving results never before seen in the history of Alzheimers treatment. (Read more)

The findings of a drug that seemed to restore normal cognition in a variety of cases ranging from traumatic brain injury, to noise-related hearing loss, to neurodegenerative disease seem to suggest, its creators write, that age-related cognitive loss may be down to a physiological blockage rather than permanent damage. (Read More)

As seen many times before, sometimes the best new cure is an old drug. Four drugstwo non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, along with two anti-hypertensives, proved effective at reversing Alzheimers disease and neutralizing symptoms in mice suffering from various stages of the illness. (Read More)

As long as theres lifeforms, there will be cancer, but that doesnt mean we cant learn how to treat it, strike at the root cause, and hopefully turn at least some forms of it from one of the major killers to a minor inconvenience.

With 12,000 Britons diagnosed with head and neck cancer every year, the results of a phase III trial that saw complete eradication in some patients, and side-effect-free life extension in others, has the country excited. (Read More)

Discovering an RNA molecule that regulates a key driver in the growth of prostate cancer cells is noteworthy because prostate cancer is one of the most common in men around the world, and because most drugs work for a short period of time before the cancer becomes resistant to it. (Read More)

Despite the gradual awareness of the harmful effects of sugar and bread on the body, chronic diabetes and juvenile diabetes continues to be a major problem in our society.

It turns out that all it takes for this potential cure to rid a patient of a debilitating autoimmune disease is a small piece of adult skin no larger than a housefly. With FDA trials underway, hundreds of thousands of Type-1 diabetics have a chance at a potential cure. (Read More)

Nearly 500 million diabetics around the world need to mildly stab themselves in order to ensure they are in no danger of going into shock. An Australian med-tech company has a new solution. (Read More)

Afflicting a quarter of all Americans, and the leading cause of workplace disability resulting in $303 billion in lost productivity, arthritis took a step towards a cure in 2021.

An alternative to highly addictive painkillers is offering those who undergo knee replacements a large measure of safe relief. Many arthritis patients have knees and hips replaced in the hope of regaining some measure of mobility later in life, but the resulting pain and stiffness can sometimes only be treated with opioids. (Read More)

Osteoarthritis is the most common form, and it affects 8.5 million people. Nasal cells come from a special class of adaptive tissues produced in the brain and spinal cord that can be used to relieve chronic inflammation in the knee and lay the groundwork for a therapeutic treatment that spares patients of surgery and prosthesis. (Read More)

It would seem silly to write a list such as this without addressing the elephant in the room, but as the pandemic petered on through 2021, breakthroughs continued to be made.

One of Americas most favorite medicines was found, unsurprisingly to some doctors, to have as strong an effect as vaccines in some cases at mitigating the severe symptoms of COVID-19. (Read More)

Along with an Israeli nasal spray that prevented infection in 99% of patients, another was found in trials at the University of Oxford which killed 99% of the virus in the nasal passage. (Read More)

Some demonstrations of prosthetic internal organs have shocked the world in 2021, providing a glimpse of a sci-fi future for human anatomy.

A bio-tech implant that allowed a 78-year old blind man to see his family again actually binds with the inside of the eye-socket in a way that had never been done before. (Read More)

The worlds first legit prototype for an artificial kidney was successfully tested when the blood filter and bio reactor components were demonstrated to work together, offering hope to free kidney disease patients from dialysis machines and transplant lists. (Read More)

Ticks, as awful as they are, have their place in the Web of Life. Researchers have identified a soil microbe that eliminates Lyme Disease but essentially nothing else, not even the ticks, opening the door to ecosystem wide treatment against Lyme Disease. (Read More)

Stem cells prepared with the patients own bone marrow were used to repair damaged spinal cords and restore mobility and motor functions in more than half of a Yale scientists trial. (Read More)

An incurable autoimmune disorder that results in progressive motor function loss and neurodegeneration, an MS breakthrough was achieved using the same mRNA vaccines that worked so well originally to stop the COVID pandemic. (Read More)

A monoclonal antibody that reduces the amount of inflammatory molecules that cause a hormonal dysregulation leading to eczema was a treatment generated by this totally surprise finding. (Read More)

Habit Cough the name for a cough without a cause has been cured through a YouTube video relying mostly on the power of suggestion. While this may seem a little sketchy, many people with habit cough have no underlying respiratory condition of any kind, and therefore an ounce of suggestion may beat a cure. (Read More)

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Though there are several skin care treatments available, people should look for the one which is most suitable for their skin and their bank balance (Image: Shutterstock)

If you are looking forward to taking extra care of your skin in the upcoming year, you should be well aware of the best products and treatments available in the market. When it comes to picking a product or a treatment for your face, people are very cautious and they want to go with a brand that has a good reputation in the market and has garnered good reviews. Though there are several skin care treatments available, people should look for the one which is most suitable for their skin and their bank balance. Dr Kiran Sethi Lohia, Integrative Aesthetic and Skin Specialist, who hails from New Delhi in a chat with ETimes, shared some trends that are likely to dominate the beauty industry in 2022.

Stem cells: Stem cells are new to the game, they are added post laser or through micro-needling or even injecting for anti-ageing. In case you have suffered an injury on the face, they are known for wound healing too. Stem cells promote cell turnover, and they also increase collagen production.

Patch-based skincare: We get patches to apply on zits to make them smaller, and soon you will be able to buy and apply patches with tiny microneedles.

Skin boosters: Skin boosters that use injections to hydrate the skin deeply will definitely become a big trend in 2020. As we get older our skin becomes weaker letting out hydration, hence it is difficult to stay hydrated by just drinking water and good skincare. These skin boosters keep our skin supple, elastic, moist, and also prevents aging!

Sculpsure: Sculpsure is the new treatment to lose fat in 2020. The side effect free Sculpsure is approved by the US FDA. It takes 25 minutes per area.

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Cardiac muscle cells or cardiomyocytes (also known as cardiac myocytes) are the muscle cells (myocytes) that make up the heart muscle. Cardiomyocytes go through a contraction-relaxation cycle that enables cardiac muscles to pump blood throughout the body.

[In this image] Immunostaining of human cardiomyocytes with antibodies for actin (red), myomesin (green), and nuclei (blue).Photo source: https://www.fujifilmcdi.com/products/cardiac-cells/icell-cardiomyocytes

Cardiomyocytes are highly specialized cell types in terms of their structures and functions. Each cardiomyocyte contains myofibrils, unique organelles consisting of long chains of sarcomeres, the fundamental contractile units of muscle cells.

[In this image] Cardiomyocyte geometry and cellular architecture are controlled by micropatterned ECM substrate. Scientists used this technique to study how cells sense and respond to mechanical forces.Photo source: https://diseasebiophysics.seas.harvard.edu/research/mechanotransduction/

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. It is composed of individual heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) and several other cell types.

[In this figure] The anatomy of the human heart showing 4 heart chambers (left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium, right ventricle) and the blood flow. The myocardium is referred to the cardiac muscle layers building the wall of each chamber.

[In this figure] The thickness of the heart wall (or myocardium) consists of cardiac muscle cells.Photo source: biologydictionary

[In this video] Structure of the human heart.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. Nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiac causes each day, one death every 37 seconds.

As the chief cell type of the heart, cardiac muscle cells primarily dedicate to the contractile function of the heart and enable the pumping of blood around the body. If anything goes wrong in the heart, it can lead to a catastrophic outcome. A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow ceases to a part of the heart, causing massive cardiomyocyte death in that area. Severe cases can, ultimately, lead to heart failure and death.

[In this figure] The progress of myocardial infarction or heart attack. At time post-infarction:

0-12 hours: Beginning of necrotic coagulation due to the blockage of coronary arteries Cardiomyocytes suffer the lack of oxygen (hypoxia)

12-72 hours: Culmination of necrotic coagulation Neutrophils infiltrate by an inflammatory response.

1-3 weeks: Disintegration of death myocytes and formation of granulation tissue (collagenous fibers, macrophages, and fibroblasts)

> 1 month: Formation of fibrous scar (fewer cells with an abundance of collagenous fibers)

A human heart contains an estimated 23 billion cardiomyocytes. There are several non-myocyte populations in the heart, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, myofibroblasts, epicardial cells, endocardial cells, valve interstitial cells, resident macrophages, and other immune system-related cells, and potentially, adult stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells and cardiac stem cells). These distinct cell pools are not isolated from one another within the heart but interact physically to maintain the function of the whole organ. Overall, cardiomyocytes only account for less than a third of the total cell number in the heart.

[In this image] Immunostaining showing highly vascularized heart muscle.Cardiomyocytes are labeled by the striated pattern of sarcomeric -actinin (green). Capillaries are red and nuclei are blue.Photo source: biocompare.

The three main types of muscle include: Cardiac muscle, Skeletal muscle, and Smooth muscle.

[In this figure] Morphology and comparison of cardiac, skeleton, and smooth muscles.

Note: Involuntary muscles are the muscles that cannot be controlled by will or conscious.

There are two types of cells within the heart: the cardiomyocytes and the cardiac pacemaker cells.

The heart is composed of cardiac muscle cells that have specialized features that relate to their function:

These structural features contribute to the unique functional properties of the cardiac tissue:

Like other animal cells, cardiomyocytes contain all the cell organelles that are essential for normal cell physiology. Moreover, cardiomyocytes have several unique cellular structures that allow them to perform their function effectively. Here are five main characteristics of mature cardiomyocytes: (1) striated; (2) uninucleated; (3) branched; (4) connected by intercalated discs; (5) high mitochondrial content.

[In this figure] Main characteristics of cardiac myocytes.Modified from lumen Anatomy and Physiology I.

Lets get closer to look inside a cardiomyocyte and learn its unique ultrastructure.

All cardiomyocytes and pacemaker cells are linked by cellular bridges. Intercalated discs, which form porous junctions, bring the membranes of adjacent cardiomyocytes very close together. These pores (gap junctions) permit ions, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium, to easily diffuse from cell to cell, establishing a cell-cell communication. This joining is called electric coupling, and it allows the quick transmission of action potentials and the coordinated contraction of the entire heart.

Intercalated discs also function as mechanical anchor points that enable the transmission of contractile force from one cardiomyocyte to another (by desmosomes and adherens junctions). This allows for the heart to work as a single coordinated unit.

[In this figure] Cardiac muscle cells are connected together to coordinate the cardiac contraction. This joining is called electric coupling and is achieved by the presence of irregularly-spaced dark bands between cardiomyocytes. These bands are known as intercalated discs.Photo source: bioninja.

[In this figure] Cardiac myocytes are branched and interconnected from end to end by structures called intercalated disks, visible as dark lines in the light microscope.Photo source: https://doctorlib.info/physiology/medical/49.html

There are 3 main types of junctional complexes within the intercalated discs. They work in different ways to maintain cardiac tissue integrity and cardiomyocyte synchrony.

The term desmosome came from Greek words of bonding (desmo) and body (soma). Desmosomes serve as the anchor points to bring the cardiac muscle fibers together. Desmosomes can withstand mechanical stress, which allows them to hold cells together. Without desmosomes, the cells of the cardiac muscles will fall apart during contraction.

The ability of desmosome to resist mechanical stress comes from its unique 3-D structure. Desmosome is an asymmetrical protein complex bridging between two adjacent cardiomyocytes, with each end residing in the cytoplasm. The intracellular part anchors intermediate filaments in the cytoskeleton to the cell surface. The middle part bridges the intercellular space between two cytoplasmic membranes.

[In this figure] Desmosomes connect intermediate filaments from two adjust cardiomyocytes. This job is accomplished by the formation of a dense protein complex or plaque in the intercalated discs. Major protein players include transmembrane cadherins: desmogleins (Dsgs) and desmocollins (Dscs), cytoplasmic anchors: plakophilins (PKPs) and plakoglobin (PG), and cytoskeleton adaptor: desmoplakin (DP). Cadherins link cells together, and other proteins form a dense complex called plaque.

In addition to desmosomes, adherens junctions (Ajs) are another type of mechanical intercellular junctions in cardiomyocytes. The difference is that adherens junctions link the intercalated disc to the actin cytoskeleton and desmosomes attach to intermediate filaments.

Adherens junctions keep the cardiac muscle cells tightly together as the heart pump. Adherens junctions are also the anchor point where myofibrils are attached, enabling transmission of contractile force from one cell to another.

[In this figure] Adherens junctions link actin cytoskeleton from two adjust cardiomyocytes together.Adherens junctions are constructed from cadherins and catenins. Cadherins (in cardiomyocytes N-Cadherin is the main cadherin) are transmembrane proteins that zip together adjacent cells in a homophilic manner. The transmembrane cadherins form complexes with cytosolic catenins, thereby establishing the connection to the actin cytoskeleton. At the adherens junctions, the opposing membranes become separated by 20nm.

Gap junctions are essential for the chemical and electrical coupling of neighboring cells. Gap junctions work like intercellular channels connecting the cytoplasm of neighboring cells, enabling passive diffusion of various compounds, like metabolites, water, and ions, up to a molecular mass of 1000 Da. Thereby they establish direct communication between adjacent cells.

[In this figure] Neonatal rat cardiac myocytes in cell culture.Cells were immunostained for actinin (green), gap junctions (red), and counterstained with DAPI (blue).Photo source: bioscience

Gap junctions are present in nearly all tissues and cells throughout the entire body. In cardiac muscle, gap junctions ensure proper propagation of the electrical impulse (from pacemaker cells to neighboring cardiomyocytes). This electrical wave triggers sequential and coordinated contraction of the cardiomyocytes as a whole.

[In this figure] A gap junction channel consists of twelve connexin proteins, six of which are contributed by each cell. The six connexin subunits form a hemi-channel in the plasma membrane, which is called a connexon. A connexon docks to another connexon in the intercellular space to create a complete gap junction channel. The intercellular space between adjacent cells at the site of a gap junction is 2-4 nm.

A second feature of cardiomyocytes is the sarcomeres, which are also present in skeletal muscles. The sarcomeres give cardiac muscle their striated appearance and are the repeating sections that make up myofibrils.

[In this image] Freshly isolated heart muscle cells showing intercalated discs (green), sarcomeres (red), and nuclei (blue).Photo source: https://christianz.artstation.com/

Cardiac muscle cells are equipped with bundles of myofibrils that contain myofilaments. These fiber-like structures can occupy 45-60% of the volume of cardiomyocytes. The myofibrils are formed of distinct, repeating units, termed sarcomeres. The sarcomeres, which are composed of thick and thin myofilaments, represent the basic contractile units of a muscle cell and are defined as the region of myofilament structures between two Z-lines (see image below). The distance between Z-lines in human hearts ranges from around 1.6 to 2.2 m.

[In this figure] Labeled diagram of myofibril showing the unit of a sarcomere. A sarcomere is defined as a segment between two neighboring Z-discs.

[In this image] Immunofluorescence image of adult mouse cardiomyocytes showing the Z-lines of the sarcomeres. 3D color projection of alpha-actinin 2 acquired with a confocal microscope.Photo source: Dylan Burnette.

The thick filaments are composed of myosin II. Each myosin contains two ATPase sites on its head. ATPase hydrolyzes ATP and this process is required for actin and myosin cross-bridge formation. These heads bind to actin on the thin filaments. There are about 300 molecules of myosin per thick filament.

The thin filaments are composed of single units of actin known as globular actin (G-actin). Two strands of actin filaments form a helix, which is stabilized by rod-shaped proteins termed tropomyosin. Troponin proteins, which function as regulators, bind to the tropomyosin at regular intervals. Whereas troponin lies in the grooves between the actin filaments, tropomyosin covers the sites on which actin binds to myosin. Their respective actions, therefore, control the binding of myosin to actin and consequently in the contraction and relaxation of cardiac muscles.

To generate muscular contraction, the myosin heads bind to actin filaments, allowing myosin to function as a motor that drives filament sliding. The actin filaments slide past the myosin filaments toward the middle of the sarcomere. This results in the shortening of the sarcomere without any change in filament length.

[In this figure] Sliding-filament model of muscle contraction.

Sarcolemma (also called myolemma) is a specialized cell membrane of cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle cells. It consists of a lipid bilayer and a thin outer coat of polysaccharide material (glycocalyx) that contacts the basement membrane. The sarcolemma is also part of the intercalated disks as well as the T-tubules of the cardiac muscle.

Basement membrane is an extracellular matrix (ECM) coat that cover individual cardiomyocytes. Its composed of glycoproteins laminin and fibronectin, type IV collagen as well as proteoglycans that contribute to its overall width of about 50nm. Basement membrane provides a scaffold to which the muscle fiber can adhere.

[In this figure] A cross-section of a mouse heart showing the basement membrane (green) wrapping around an individual myocyte.

In cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle cells, the sarcolemma (i.e. the plasma membrane) forms deep invaginations known as T-tubules (or transverse tubules). These invaginations increase the total surface area and allow depolarization of the membrane to penetrate quickly to the interior of the cell.

Without t-tubules, the wave of calcium ions (Ca2+) takes time to propagate from the periphery of the cell into the center. This time lag will first activate the peripheral sarcomeres and then the deeper sarcomeres, resulting in sub-maximal force production.

The t-tubules make it possible that current is simultaneously relayed to the core of the cell, and trigger near to all sarcomeres simultaneously, resulting in a maximal force output. T-tubules also stay close to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) networks, which is the modified endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of calcium storage in myocytes.

[In this figure] T-tubules (transverse tubules) are extensions of the cell membrane that penetrate into the center of skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. T-tubules permit the rapid transmission of the action potential into the cell and also play an important role in regulating cellular calcium concentration.

Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell because they generate most of the cells energy supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is no doubt that the normal functions of cardiomyocytes require a lot of energy. Effective heart pumping is primarily dependent on oxidative energy production by mitochondria. Cardiomyocytes have a densely packed mitochondrial network, which allows them to produce ATP quickly, making them highly resistant to fatigue.

Different types of mitochondria can be distinguished within cardiomyocytes, and their morphological features are usually defined according to their location: intermyofibrillar mitochondria, subsarcolemmal mitochondria, and perinuclear mitochondria.

[In this figure] Mitochondrial morphology in cardiomyocytes.(Top) The anatomy of a mitochondrion. (Bottom left) Schematic diagram of the location of subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SSM), interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM), and perinuclear mitochondria (PNM). (Bottom right) TEM images of mitochondria in cardiomyocytes.Photo source: researchgate, wiki

Intermyofibrilar Mitochondria are found deeper within the cells and strictly ordered between rows of contractile proteins, apparently isolated from each other by repeated arrays. They play a huge role in producing enough energy for muscle contractions.

[In this figure] Immunofluorescent confocal imaging showing the densely packed mitochondria in cardiomyocytes. (A): Z-line (actinin); (B): Mitochondria; (C): Merge image.Photo source: MDPI

Subsarcolemmal Mitochondria reside beneath the sarcolemma. They collect oxygen from the circulating blood in the arteries and are responsible for providing the energy needed for conserving the integrity of the sarcolemma.

Perinuclear mitochondria are organized in clusters around the nucleus to provide energy for transcription and translation processes.

The cardiac function requires high energy demands; therefore, the adult cardiomyocytes contain numerous mitochondria, which can occupy at least 30% of cell volume. They meet >90% of the energy requirements by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in the mitochondria, which requires a huge demand for oxygen consumption.

In humans, at a heart rate of 6070 beats per minute, the oxygen consumption of the myocardium is 20-fold higher than that of skeletal muscle at rest (compared by a normalization per gram of cell mass). In order to meet this high oxygen demand, the capillary density in the heart is 2-8 times higher than that in skeletal muscle (3,0004,000/mm2 compared to 5002,000 capillaries/mm2, respectively). Also, cardiomyocytes maintain a very high level of oxygen extraction (from blood) of 7080% compared with 3040% in skeletal muscle.

[In this image] Myofibrils in cultured cardiomyocytes.Photo source: https://christianz.artstation.com/

Cardiomyocytes go through a contraction-relaxation cycle that enables cardiac muscles to pump blood throughout the body. This is achieved through a process known as excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) that converts action potential (an electric stimulus) into muscle contraction.

[In this figure] Schematic diagram of the process of cardiac excitation-contraction coupling.Key steps in the cardiac excitation-contraction coupling:

Step 1: An action potential is induced by pacemaker cells. It travels along the sarcolemma and down into the T-tubule system to depolarize the cell membrane.

Step 2: Calcium channels in the T-tubules are activated by the action potential and permit calcium entry into the cell.

Step 3: Calcium influx triggers a subsequent release of calcium that is stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR).

Step 4: Free calcium binds troponin-C (TN-C) that is part of the regulatory complex attached to the thin filaments. Calcium binding moves the troponin complex from the actin binding site. As a result, actin is free to bind myosin. The actin and myosin filaments slide past each other thereby shortening the sarcomere length, thus initiating contraction.

Step 5: At the end of a contraction, calcium entry into the cell slows and calcium is sequestered by the SR by calcium pumps. Lowering the cytosolic calcium concentration releases myosin-actin binding and the initial sarcomere length is restored.

In human beings (and many other animals), cardiomyocytes are the first cells to terminally differentiate, thus making the heart one of the first organs to form in a developing fetus. This makes sense because the function of the circulatory system is so crucial for a growing embryo so that the heart is the top priority.

In the embryo of a mouse, for instance, precursor cells of the cardiac muscles have been shown to start developing about 6 days after fertilization. In human embryos, the heart begins to beat at about 22-23 days, with blood flow beginning in the 4th week. The heart is therefore one of the earliest differentiating and functioning organs.

The heart forms initially in the embryonic disc as a simple paired tube (heart tube formation; week 3) derived from mesoderm. Then, the heart tubes loop and begin segmenting to separate chambers primitive atrium, and primitive ventricle. During this period, the first heartbeat begins.

[In this figure] The timeline of heart development.LA means left atrium; RA means right atrium. For more details, seehttps://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Cardiovascular_System_-_Heart_Development

Here, cardiomyocytes grow into a spongy-like tissue (cardiac jelly), called trabeculation, to build up the thickness of myocardial muscles. Thus, the heart begins to resemble the adult heart in that it has two atria, two ventricles, and the aorta forming a connection with the left ventricle while the pulmonary trunk forms a connection with the right ventricle.

As you can see that our hearts went through a complex developmental process. Inevitably, heart developmental abnormalities could happen (affect 8-10 of every 1000 births in the United States).

Can cardiomyocytes divide? Scientists used to believe that damaged human cardiac muscles cannot regenerate themselves by cell division in adults. In other words, all cardiomyocytes are terminally differentiated. In humans, our cardiomyocytes lose the ability to divide at around 7 days after birth. However, studies have recently shown that myocytes renew at a significantly low rate throughout the life of an individual. For instance, for younger people, about 25 years of age, the annual turnover of cardiomyocytes is about 1 percent. This, however, decreases to about 0.45 percent for older individuals (75 and above). Over the lifespan of an individual, less than 50 percent of these cells are renewed. Comparing to many of the other cells, cardiomyocytes have a very long lifespan. In contrast, small intestine epithelium renews every 2-7 days and hepatocytes (liver cells) renew every 0.5-1 year.

[In this figure] Radiocarbon dating establishes the age of human cardiomyocytes.Scientists used a pretty smart way to estimate the turnover of human heart cells. Generally speaking, the half-life of 14C is too long to date a lifetime of less than a century. However, the dramatic increase in the atmospheric 14C caused by nuclear bomb tests (during the Cool War) in the 1950s and 1960s increased the sensitivity of radiocarbon dating to a temporal resolution of 1-2years.Photo source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5837331/

Low turnover of human cardiomyocytes suggests that the regenerative ability of cardiac muscles may be poor (another example is neural cells in the brain). In the event of injuries or myocardial infarction, the injured heart muscles of human beings do not regenerate sufficiently to allow the heart to heal itself. Instead, fibrotic scar tissue forms in the injured site (fibrosis), and the heart functions are compromised, leading to heart failure.

Currently, a number of methods have been studied to repair a broken heart by regenerating cardiomyocytes. These new inventions benefit from the recent advances in biotechnology, especially stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering. Hopefully, this can bring new therapeutic options to patients with cardiovascular diseases in the near future.

Studies suggested that even in adults, a very small population of progenitor cells reside in the heart and are capable of producing new cardiac myocytes. These cells, known as cardiac stem cells, may not be able to regenerate fast enough to repair a large area of damaged myocardium naturally in humans. However, these cells have shown to be powerful in regenerative capability in other species, like zebrafish.

Scientists believe that once we understand these cardiac progenitors more, we may isolate and expand these cells in quantity, and transplant them to repair damaged heart tissues. For example, we already learned that these cardiac stem cells express cell surface markers like c-Kit (sca-1 in mouse) and aggregate into cardiac spheres.

[In this figure] Multiple different stem cell populations have been described in the adult heart, including c-Kit and Sca-1 cells that were shown to be cardiac progenitors.Photo source: https://dev.biologists.org/content/143/8/1242

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology is a huge revolution in biotechnology. Patients cells (easily obtained from skin biopsy or even urine) can be converted into powerful pluripotent stem cells that have unlimited proliferation capacity and can differentiate any cell type of our body. This eliminates the need to use human embryos for this purpose. Furthermore, these cells are autologous, meaning they wont be rejected by the immune system after transplantation.

Using iPSC technology, researchers have been able to obtain unlimited amounts of functional cardiomyocytes for cell transplantation. Basically, they control the Wnt pathway to convert iPSCs to mesodermal progenitor cells, then play with several growth factors to direct the cardiac vascular progenitors (Flk1+). Following glucose starvation, pure cardiomyocytes can be selected. You can even see these cells beating in the dish.

Therapeutic implantation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes progresses pretty fast. We already witnessed successful cell engraftment and cardiac repairing in non-human primates and human patients.

[In this video] Heart cells derived from iPSC stem cells beating in a cell culture dish.

Cardiac fibroblasts make up a significant portion of the total cardiac cells. In the injured heart, these fibroblasts will become active myofibroblasts and form scar tissue. Myofibroblasts survive very well and have ability to coupled with neighboring cells; therefore, myofibroblasts have been shown to be particularly ideal for direct reprogramming to convert them into cells that resemble cardiomyocytes.

Over the past decade, a number of studies have been successfully conducted, reprogramming fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells. In principle, scientists expressed transcription factors (i.e., Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5) that play critical roles in cardiomyocyte differentiation to force the conversion of fibroblasts. Ideally, these genes can be delivered directly to the injured heart via viruses or nanoparticles to perform in situ reprogramming.

Scientists also put their efforts into how to stimulate mature cardiomyocytes to proliferate again (Mature cardiomyocytes typically do not proliferate.) This strategy, called cell cycle re-entry, recently gained success by screening many cell-cycle regulators. Scientists found a combination of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) and cyclins, or regulators of the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway can do so. These findings reveal the possibility to efficiently unlock the proliferative potential in cells that had terminally exited the cell cycle.

[In this figure] Potential cardiac regenerative therapies.Photo source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41536-017-0024-1

Cardiomyocytes can be observed by staining of histological sections of the heart. Since the heart is a 3-D organ, make sure you cut the heart at the right angle.

[In this figure] (Left) A longitudinal section through both ventricles should be made from the base to the apex of the heart. (Right) A cross-section of the heart. H&E staining.(Ao: aorta, At: atrium, Lv: left ventricle, Rv: right ventricle)

Common histological staining for heart tissues includes Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Massons trichrome staining.

[In this figure] A cross section of mouse heart stained by Massons trichrome. Blue color indicates the formation of fibrous scar tissues in the infarction area.

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EMERYVILLE, Calif., Dec. 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gritstone bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the next generation of cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies, today announced that Gritstone management will participate in the following upcoming investor conferences in January.

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WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Repligen Corporation (NASDAQ:RGEN), a life sciences company focused on bioprocessing technology leadership, today announced that it will present virtually at the 40th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference being held January 10-13.  Tony J. Hunt, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 9:45 a.m. EST.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lotus Ventures Inc. (CSE: J) (OTC: LTTSF) (“Lotus” or the “Company”), a trusted cannabis producer in Canada is pleased to report its Fiscal 2021 full year results and a second consecutive year reporting a profit for the year ended August 31, 2021.

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